Coping with Roses

After having met the 2nd young master called Mikhail Arka Delmondo, Maria let out a long exasperated sigh, looking around the random hall she wandered into before leaning against the wall. She may have acted as if nothing was bothering her in front of the esteemed young master but it was far from the truth. Her heart rate was going hundreds of miles an hour as her hands trembled. It's true Maria should be disliked by all in the mansion. After all, in the books, it seemed as if the Duke favored her more than his own biological sons due to being Estria's one and only daughter.

This left many to think the Duke actually is in love with Estria but due to him being a Duke and her a commoner, they could never truly show it. "It was also something the author never actually brought up" She told herself, taking a deep breath, holding it for three seconds then letting it out.

It doesnt matter, what matters is she mends her relationship with the young masters. If not a relation of friendship then a relation of mutual respect is all she needs. It's quite possibly the only way she can somehow avoid any karma to come her way in the future.

"What're you doing?" Maria jumped away from the wall she rested on, spinning around to see a young butler with crossed arms flinching at her reaction. Her jumpy self startled him.

"Oh...I was thinking to myself. I apologize" She bowed, hearing nothing from the other, Maria lifted her head to see what's with the delay. She raised a brow, noticing the butler remained quiet, eyes wide while staring at her.

Did Maria really just say sorry and bow? To him? For some reason, he had thought he was in a dream with how polite she spoke rather than the usual yelling or tantrum throwing. "Sir?" She questioned, taking a step closer to check on his condition, standing perfectly in front of the large window, shining onto the beautiful Maria. Her wide, innocent looking murky blue eyes full of worry caused the boy to fall in a trance.

Truly, the rumors of Maria's beauty wasn't a lie in the slightest.

"Ahem!" Noticing his spacing out, the butler turned away with his fisted hand against his lips, hiding the bit of pink forming on his cheeks. "I was ordered to retrieve you by your mother. Let us be on our way" The boy started walking down the hall as Maria furrowed her brows with a pout, stabilizing her reputation will be a lot harder than she thought.

Letting out a light huff, she tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear, running a little to catch up to the man. Wondering why Maria's mother is looking for her. She thought of many reasons but it mainly had to do with what part of the novel she transmigrated in. If its the first book where the male lead and female lead meet before the war, then she'll have enough time to change the outlook for her "demise". But, if it's the second book where the two are at war, saving, killing, protecting, etc and coming back as heroes, it'll be a lot harder to mend anything.

"Can I ask where the eldest young master Maxwell is?" After walking in silence for a few minutes, Maria finally gained the courage to pop out a question that'll onee and for all pinpoint just how much of the novel had passed. Only to watch the man in front of her remain quiet for a few moments. "He's at war. Did you forget already, lady Maria?" She flinched, feelings a chill in the air when the butler glanced back at her, his cold tone mocking the word lady.

Right, Maria had forced servants to call her lady Maria when no one of the Arka blood was around, threatening them with false accusations to the Duke, she thought to herself. The more she interacted with others, the more Maria started to remember details of the novel. Especially since she read it right before dying helped as well. Although she might have to buy a journal and write down everything she can. Before she forgets.

"Right..." She lowered her head, pursing her lips. After her question, the atmosphere wasn't awkward anymore, rather, it was tense. At least for her as the butler no longer seemed to enjoy her presence.

...

"I have brought her" He bowed to Estria, the lovely older woman who stood up from the lounge as she smiled brightly. Her wrinkles coming out. "Thank you so much Tyler. I'm sorry for troubling you" The said boy Tyler only cheekily shrugged his shoulders, scratching the back of his head. "Of course not. It's the least I could do for you" As Estria giggled hearing him, he excused himself, giving Maria one last glare before exiting.

This made her huff. Although knowing well of her situation, Maria still couldn't get used to being despised for things she never did in the first place. Damn Maria and her childish attitude, she cursed internally. Hoping wherever the real Maria is, she's burning in hell or something similar.

"Honey, I asked for you because...the Grand Duke informed me of some important news" Estria walked over to her daughter, lightly grabbing her hands and leading her to the couch, gently guiding her to sit beside her. The worry in the woman's eyes making Maria curious.

"What's this 'important news'?" She asked, quite light heartedly as Estria was the only one Maria can talk to normally without earning a cold shoulder. "Young master Maxwell" Maria flinched hearing that name. She asked about him not too long ago. Noticing the drop in her daughters mood, Estria quickly corrected herself. "It's nothing bad! Young master Maxwell is completely fine! He's...He's actually on his way back from the war" This caused Maria's eyes to widen and her mouth fly open in shock. No way?

Taking this reaction as a good sign, Estria smiled. "He informed the Duke the war had ended a few weeks ago after the neighboring Empires surrender. They'll arrive in a month from now" No! No no no no no! This is not the ideal time for Maria! "That's...great!" Maria smiled along, grabbing her mothers hands. "But what's that got to do with me?" She had to ask. Why os Estria informing Maria of Maxwells return? Why did that mans demeanor do a 180 after she mentioned Maxwell? She couldn't wrap her head around it.

"My...did you even forget that?" Estria bit her lip, feeling her heart hurting for her fragile daughter after her memory loss. "Yes?" She questionably answered. "Well, where do I start?" Estria let go of Maria's hands, leaning back in the couch as she thought of how to explain why she told Maria about Maxwell.

"You have a crush on Young Master Maxwell. As far as I know, you have been trying to pursue him as well..." Now Maria's eyes widened for a whole different reason.

Maria pursued Maxwell? "As in, romantically?" She asked to confirm. When Estria nodded her head, Maria slapped the palm of her hand on her forehead, a loud smack sounded in the quiet room while Estria shot up in surprise.

How could the author forget such an important detail?! Maria, a maid, has been seducing the eldest Young Master of the Arka Ducal house! It's too late! Eunwool is too damn late to change Maria's actions!!

"How long?" Maria, eyes shut and a red spot forming in the middle of her face, asked Estria. "W-well- about a year before Maxwell went to war, after you became of age" She admitted since Maria did seem hurt from her slapping herself.

A year...a year of this crazy villainous woman trying to seduce Maxwell...although it made sense the author never mentioned it since a year before the war was all about Anakin and Yulia meeting for the first time. Still, why didn't they make a little note at the end!? Like, by the way, Maria originally liked and obsessed over Maxwell before liking Anakin, is that so hard?! She thought, groaning.

Now all she can do is avoid Maxwell, Anakin, and Yulia for now. If that's impossible, then she'll just have to remain as quite as possible around them.

"Honey? Is everything alright? You seem out of it today" Estria asked, scooting a bit closer to her and pressing the back of her hand against Maria's cheeks. Maria scrunched her brows together feeling her cold hand. Yet, the warmth behind her action reminded Eunwool of her grandmother.

At first, she felt scared. Mad at the fact she left behind the last bit of her family but if Deoksu survived the attack, then she felt relived. Her mind wandering to the kid she protected. Although they butted heads every time they were together, she knew he's a responsible person. Hard working and sweet. He'll take great care of her grandmother while she can't. That much she knew.

"I'm fine. Just in shock of everything I've done to the people around me." Maria said, sitting up as she looked around the room. This place is her new reality, she must accept it sooner or later. The faster she adapts, the better.

Still, the novel was an amazing read for a reader. But now that Eunwool sat there, a rush of memories of the future events for Anakin and Yulia as well as the other male leads who grew to love Yulia with all their hearts, she felt sick. Especially with the resurrection of the demon king in the third book. Since she never read it, or lived long enough to, she has no idea what'll happen.

"Miss Estria!" Both people sitting on couch jumped hearing the door slam open. The maid gasped, saying sorry repeatedly while Estria assured her it's alright. "Uh- Th-The grand Duke as requested your assistance" She said, referring to Estria who smiled. "I'll be there, thank you" The maid blushed hearing her calm kind voice, feeling accomplished until her eyes caught sight of Maria standing behind her. The glistening eyes full of admiration contorted into judgement as well as scorn. Leaving Maria to lightly huff again.

"I'll be on my way" With that, the maid left.

"Gosh...He can never do anything without me..." Estria sighed, turning to Maria and tip toeing, placing a light peck on the reddened spot on Marias forehead. "Wait for me at the gates. Let's eat out tonight" She smiled, watching as Maria smiled back. "I will" With that, Estria hesitated but left soon after. Leaving the girl alone in the room.

She let out a long sigh. Summing up everything.

"The war ended...that means Maxwell alongside Anakin and Yulia will be here too...then...that includes the other three male leads" She ran a frustrated hand through her black hair. Carefully rubbing her temples.

"I'll just do whatever I want for now. As long as I don't cause any more problems for the leading characters, everything should be fine" She resolved, nodding her head and getting up. Examining the room once more, leaving. Looking down the halls, she rubbed her chin. "Let's explore for now. I need to get used to this mansions layout" She nodded at her own decision, deciding to go right.

Passing a few other workers, they hardly looked nor scolded her. Seeing this, she thought maybe it wasn't a first to see Maria slacking off and just wandering around anywhere. She smiled, humming while familiarizing herself with where the bathrooms were located, kitchens, storage rooms, the study's for all young masters and the duke, their bedrooms, especially the Duchess's tea room. Later she popped up at the library, vowing to come back to learn more about Cosmos Empire.

Only for her to become stumped when realizing there were way more places within this mansion than she thought. A ball room so huge she thought she entered a lounge of some huge company, a living room as big as her own house, a dining room that could fit a dozen families, laundry room for servants, mudroom where guest enter half as big as the ball room full of luxurious decor, and more. It wasn't even half of what Maria knew.

Usually, in the novel she read, they would give brief descriptions of the setting their characters were in. Hell, there were even rooms in the mansion never mentioned in the novel!

"I should...make a map or something. Maybe index cards, I can't memorize all this..." She told herself, now feeling nervous since as a maid, it's basically muscle memory to know where everything is.

Then it made her wonder, does this mansion have a dungeon underneath or do they have a separate place for that?

Lost in thought, Maria passed by an open window, the scent of fresh roses tickling her nose. She came to a halt, turning right around to see a massive garden before her eyes. "Wow!" She gasped, like a child entering an aquarium for the first time, she couldn't help but awe at the amount of flowers the ducal house owns.

It reminded her of her grandmother again. How much she cared for her plants. Even in the hospital, she kept her roses near her to care for herself. Not trusting Eunwool nor anyone because it was a precious gift from her passed husband.

Then, her eyes glanced down at the grumpy looking gardener, mumbling away as he watered the flowers. Examine each rose. Looking around him, Maria tried to find any other gardeners around since such a huge place couldn't possibly be maintained by a single person but alas, she couldn't find another person around.

This made her feel bad. So, after contemplating, she ran down the stairs and outside, finding the gardener after a few minutes.

"H-hi.." She waved a little when the rather tall old man looked down at her, grimacing once he saw her. At this rate, Maria felt like she'll become used to that reaction over time. "What do you want?" He grumbled, wondering what the useless little girl who thinks she's all that wants from him, a lowly gardener. "I want to help" This made him drop the water can he held, brows furrowed as he snapped his gaze back towards her. "Excuse me?" He asked.

"I said, I wish to help you maintain the garden" Maria smiled, hand clasped together as she bowed down. Since she cannot meet her lovely grandmother anymore, she wished to at least pick up a hobby she loved. Eunwool decided to take care of the roses whenever she could. Feeling her heart hurt every time she smelt the roses.