"Hey! I came because of the job posting too! Let me through!" I shoved my shoulder against the stone-faced guard. He didn't budge an inch.
"Are you deaf or just dumb? We're not accepting anyone else. Get lost."
"Oh, come on!" I rolled my eyes. "You just let a whole crowd of girls in! And now this one? What, is she some kind of special case?"
"Uh… she's here for something else," the guard mumbled, clearly at a loss.
"Right. 'Something else,'" I snorted. "Just say it already—that my appearance is weird! AAAAAAAA!"
I buried my face in my hands, utterly done.
Yeah, who would believe that a girl with bright pink-raspberry hair and orange eyes was here to apply as the personal maid of Duke Lucien Aurelius Noctifer?
Sounds like the start of a bad joke.
Of course they'd take girls with stealth skills, combat etiquette, or holy magic. But me? Cooking. And other useless life skills. I can sew, organize bookshelves, braid things, and… burn water.
But I couldn't give up. Not now. Not when I was this close to meeting the very reason I reincarnated!
"LET ME IN RIGHT NOW!" I screamed, practically possessed by a demon of obsession. "I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ADMIRE LUCIEN WITH MY OWN EYES!"
The guards flinched.
I panted like a lunatic.
Inside, I shouted: Real fangirls never back down!
"Could you stop already? My ears are hurting," came a lazy but clearly annoyed voice from behind me.
I froze.
Oh no.
OH NO.
That tall silhouette… that arrogant posture… that flaxen-blond mop of hair… and those crimson eyes staring at me with absolute disdain.
Wait… I know that face…
"D-D-Duke! Forgive us!" the guards straightened up at once, like well-trained dogs, swallowing their fear.
And me? I just stood there.
No way… that's…
[Relationship and Info System Activated]
Name: Lucien Aurelius Noctifer
Age: 15 (Current)
Title: Duke, Head of House Noctifer
Role: Main Villain of the Novel
Eye Color: Crimson
Hair Color: Light Gold (Temporary)
Magic: High-Level Dark Magic
Threat Level: Extremely Dangerous
Madness Level: 86%
Aesthetic Attractiveness: 999/100
Relationship with You: Stranger
Progress to Next Level: 0 / 1000
Emotions: Annoyance (98%) | Mild Curiosity (0.001%)
Special Note: "Who the hell is this noisy girl?"
I swallowed.
Holy crap. It's really him. MY villain. MY Lucien. ALIVE. AND HE SPOKE TO ME!
A wave of emotions slammed into me. My eyes welled up with tears.
I wasn't reborn for nothing. I'm breathing the same air as Lucien! That voice! That irritation! He looked at me! Even with disgust, BUT STILL!
I squeaked softly,
"I... just wanted to apply for the maid position..."
He narrowed his eyes.
Lucien looked down at me.
Cold. Piercing. Contemptuous.
"…Looks like a monkey," he said, tilting his head slightly.
"Are you from another universe or something?"
I grinned.
"Ha-ha! For you, my Duke, I'll gladly be an alien! Though honestly, you're not wrong…"
I gestured to my ridiculous outfit, my pink hair sticking out in every direction, and the lopsided ribbon that looked like a toddler tied it.
"I look like a drunken system generated me mid-dream."
He raised an eyebrow.
"…What fascinating self-awareness."
I suddenly stepped forward and gave the deepest bow of my life.
"I came here to become your personal maid! Please accept me!"
System Alert: Your audacity has reached +100!
Relationship with Lucien: +1.001% (Amusement)
Lucien touched his chin thoughtfully, squinting at me… and then slowly smirked.
"Personal maid, huh? Hm… One just quit, actually."
He turned to the guards.
"Let the freak in."
System Alert: Congratulations! You've landed your dream job… that might kill you.
We stepped into the mansion.
I couldn't help but gasp.
A massive hall, ceilings stretching forty meters high, eerie paintings that gave me goosebumps, and a soft, almost sinister gloom...
"Wow... It's so... so... gothic and luxurious!"
Damn, I love it! Lucien really is a villain with taste!
But behind us came a piercing scream.
"I'm not staying here another second! This place is insane!"
"Please, calm down..." someone tried to stop her.
"How can you say 'calm down' when he just SLIT A MAN'S THROAT?!"
The former maid shrieked, her dress splattered with blood.
She broke free and ran out the gate without looking back.
I froze.
Ah... So that's why the position was open.
"…So that was the 'maid' you mentioned earlier?" I asked, staring at the bloodstains.
"Welcome home, my Lord..." started Valente with a calm smile, but Lucien cut him off immediately:
"Shut up. I was gone for a few minutes and there's already drama."
He sighed wearily, then gestured toward me.
"This is my new maid."
He looked at me, clearly expecting something. I blinked.
Oh... Right. My name! Crap, what was it again?
"Uh... Floretta... no, Floralia... um... Floralitta! That's it! M-Mimelaria... uh... Persiphonia?"
Silence.
Even the air inside the mansion became awkward.
Lucien tilted his head.
"…What a stupid name."
I nodded seriously.
"I know. I can barely remember it myself."
System: Relationship with Lucien: +0.002% (Mild amusement)
It's him… Valente!
Those snow-white hair, golden eyes, that sweet, almost angelic smile...
And that—the same smiling psycho who bows cheerfully while people are being dismembered next to him!
AAAAAAA!
Both of my favorite villains… in the same room!
I couldn't take it anymore.
"He-he-hehehe…"
Lucien squinted at me suspiciously.
"…What are you giggling about?"
"A-hem… Forgive me, my lord. I'm just… really… really happy…"
I'm going to live here.
With both of them.
TWO of my favorite villains.
My fangirl soul officially died from joy.
Blood gushed from my nose.
I think I'm about to lose consciousness.