Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.
The final anthem marking the end of the heavy downpour was the incessant dripping upon the forest floor, bringing about a certain calmness. The scent of drenched foliage drifted through the forest, fading as the sun slowly emerged from behind the dark clouds.
"What the hell is wrong with her?" Anderson muttered with a deep frown, staring in irritation at the maid who stood outside the gate—drenched but unmoving, her head hung low.
At this moment, Anderson had reached his breaking point. It had been a week since he'd arrived here, and throughout that entire time, the maid had vehemently refused to leave.
He sighed heavily. What was he even doing? She was someone close to Anderson—someone special to him.
He might not be the real Anderson, but he still possessed his memories and emotions. Emotions that made seeing her standing out there in the rain physically painful to witness.
Damn it. He turned toward the stairs and hurried down as quickly as his heavy frame would allow, grabbing an umbrella which he clicked open upon reaching the mansion's exit.
Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.
The drops of rain splattered against the umbrella as the corpulent young man walked carefully toward the ornate gate.
He sighed again as he stood before the gate with its intricate floral designs, crafted in such a way that he could see through to the sight of a young woman in a maid's dress. She stood perfectly still, though upon closer inspection, she was shivering violently.
"Hey," he called out, and she looked up. Her face was deathly pale, and she appeared noticeably thinner compared to ten days ago. It was a wonder she could still stand upright after not having eaten for so long. Water trailed steadily from her soaked hair down to her chin, dripping incessantly.
"Young master," she said, and he could sense it clearly in her trembling voice—the helplessness.
Why? Why won't she just leave? He harbored a growing suspicion that the duke had placed her here to monitor him. It was the reason he hadn't made any major moves since realizing he was trapped in what appeared to be a game world. He still wasn't completely certain and needed more concrete proof to come to terms with his situation, but deep down he knew this was exactly why the keeper had planted this memory in his mind. The reason he hadn't left this mansion in search of a way to 'fix' this borrowed body was because he couldn't afford to appear suspicious. He desperately needed this maid to leave, but it seemed she was going absolutely nowhere.
"Why won't you go back? According to what you said, I shouldn't have any maids or other noble privileges, so why are you here?" he asked seriously, genuinely curious about her persistence.
"I... I only go where my master goes," she said quietly.
"But I am no longer your master. You serve the main estate," he pointed out.
"I... was relieved of my duty to the estate," she admitted, and his eyes widened in shock.
"What?! Why?" He couldn't believe it. Why had she been dismissed?
"I could either remain at the estate and abandon you, or leave with you and lose my position," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you insane?! Why would you do that for me?!" He couldn't fathom it. Why would she sacrifice anything for someone like Anderson? It made absolutely no sense.
She remained silent, simply looking him directly in the eyes with an expression he couldn't quite decipher, and then...
Thud!
"What—?" Anderson stared in complete confusion as she suddenly collapsed to the ground, unconscious from exhaustion and starvation.
What the hell is happening here?!