The Beautiful Maid, Maya

At the sound of the voice, Yuuya immediately turned toward the door, where a beautiful woman in a maid's uniform entered, pushing a food trolley.

It was none other than Maya—Arthur Vanitas' personal maid in the story and the very figure he had mistaken for a ghost.

Her eyes widened slightly upon seeing him awake, but she quickly composed herself and approached, guiding the trolley forward.

After setting it near the bed, she sat at the edge and studied Yuuya with a calm yet concerned gaze.

"Master, are you alright? Has your memory still not returned?" She asked carefully.

Though her expression remained indifferent and cold, the worry in her purple eyes was unmistakable.

Yuuya offered a small, reassuring smile and shook his head lightly. "Sorry for making you worry, Maya. I'm fine. Maybe I just had a brain cramp earlier, so my memory's a little foggy."

Recalling his earlier reaction, he felt a wave of embarrassment. But really, could anyone blame him?

After all, he never expected that his wish to transmigrate into The Monarch Mage's Journey to Conquer the World would actually come true.

If he had known, he wouldn't have acted like a fool, getting defensive against Maya.

Speaking of Maya, Yuuya clearly remembered that Maya was one of the few people who had a close and genuine relationship with Arthur Vanitas in the novel.

Her devotion was evident—while others hesitated to take on the role, she willingly became his personal maid.

Beyond that, Maya was always by Arthur's side whenever he was troubled or lost in despair.

Her loyalty reached its peak during the Academy arc when Arthur Vanitas met his end at the hands of the novel's protagonist, Abel. At that moment, Maya, usually composed, was consumed by uncontrollable fury.

Despite her status as a maid, Yuuya didn't know if the author had done it on purpose, but Maya was actually incredibly powerful!

Unfortunately, the novel did not explain in detail just how powerful Maya truly was.

"Master? Why are you silent?"

Maya's voice quickly snapped Yuuya out of his daze.

However, when he realized that she was right in front of him, her face only centimeters away, he was stunned.

"What are you doing?" Yuuya exclaimed in surprise, quickly stepping back while patting his chest.

Maya let out a small sigh and looked at him gently. "I saw you spacing out, so I was worried something had happened. Fortunately, it was just my imagination."

Hearing this, Yuuya smiled helplessly and quickly composed himself.

"By the way, you brought food, didn't you? Can you prepare it right away? I'm quite hungry," Yuuya said with a hint of sadness, patting his stomach.

If it were his past self, he would have found it disgusting to act so pathetic. But now, he was Arthur Vanitas, and he had to play his role accordingly in the novel.

"Okay." Maya gave a small nod, a faint smile on her lips.

She then got off the bed and began moving the food from the trolley to the table near the sofa.

Yuuya slowly followed, stepping off the bed and quietly sitting down on the sofa.

Watching Maya work with such skill and efficiency, he couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

'Being served like this is actually pretty nice,' he murmured.

Back in Tokyo, he had lived alone and handled everything himself. But now, those mundane tasks no longer concerned him—he had a maid to take care of them.

Even so, he wouldn't let himself grow complacent. Arthur Vanitas' status in the Duke Vanitas Mansion was incredibly low, and he needed to be fully prepared for the challenges ahead.

A minute later, Maya finished arranging the food on the table.

As Yuuya gazed at the mouthwatering spread before him, his throat tightened slightly, and he swallowed in anticipation.

'Damn! The aroma of these dishes is incredible!'

On the table were stir-fried beef, grilled fish fillets, and an assortment of other delicacies.

At first glance, these might seem like ordinary dishes, but this was not the real world—it was a novel world built on magic and swords.

Whether it was beef, chicken, lamb, or fish, every ingredient carried traces of magic, making meat incredibly expensive.

Not everyone could afford to indulge in such luxuries. Yet, right in front of him was a feast made from these rare ingredients. How could he not be thrilled?

Back when he read the novel, he had often drooled over the author's descriptions of food, wishing he could taste them himself. Now, that wish had finally come true!

Without hesitation, he grabbed a fork, stabbed a piece of stir-fried beef, and popped it into his mouth.

"Hap!"

The moment it touched his tongue, a burst of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors exploded in his mouth.

His eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "This is amazing!"

This stir-fry was far more delicious than anything he had ever eaten at restaurants when he was too lazy to cook.

"If you like it, please eat as much as you want, Master," Maya said softly, watching him from across the table.

"Um!" Yuuya nodded and eagerly devoured the stir-fried beef.

Of course, he didn't stop there—he also indulged in the other dishes.

However, in the midst of his enjoyment, Maya hesitated, lowering her gaze slightly before speaking.

"By the way, Master, Lady Elizabeth asked me to inform you that your fiancée, the Third Princess, will be arriving in a few hours. She requests that you prepare to welcome her."

The moment those words reached his ears, Yuuya's cheerful expression stiffened.

"My fiancée... the Third Princess?"

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A/N: Ahem! Don't forget to show your support with a power stone! It'll motivate me to write even more! Thank you!