Thanks to her father being an irredeemable doting fool who couldn’t say no to his daughter, Callista actually managed to sneak Livia into the academy’s General Branch.
It was the standard track for commoners and lesser nobles seeking a traditional education, and with a lethal mix of protagonist plot armor and sheer talent, Livia would likely reign supreme over the entire department in no time.
Days passed and today was officially the first day of classes.
Sitting inside the velvet-lined carriage, Callista inhaled the crisp morning air.
It felt glorious to be outdoors, right up until she remembered she was being dragged back into the soul-crushing machinery of academia that she had spent her past life trying to escape.
God dammit. School again.
I graduated you several years ago!
When the carriage pulled up to the grand gates, Callista stepped out alongside Livia, who was now wearing the official academy uniform.
Up close, without her apron, Livia looked less like domestic help and more like a high-born lady who casually owned the place.
"Wow, look at you!" Callista beamed. "That uniform suits you so well!"
Livia gave her a deadpan stare. "My lady, why are you speaking like a middle-aged uncle at a family gathering?"
URGH!
I was old and I wasn’t a creepy uncle in my past life!
Also, how does she keep calling me out like this?!
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: MAIN QUEST ACTIVATED] ╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
[MAIN QUEST: The Master’s Bidding] ────────────────────────────────────────────
Status: ACTIVE (Day 1 / 7)
Current Objective: Report to Corvina for duty.
Time Remaining: 168:00:00
Target Approval Rating: 0% / 80%
System Warning: Jealous upperclassmen and rival noble factions have taken notice of your new dynamic. Expect increased hostile attention. ╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
"Oh, right..." Callista murmured, her knees buckling as she sank right onto the manicured grass.
Today was Day One of her contractual servitude under Corvina.
So on top of managing a perpetually snarky maid, she now had an arrogant, high-tier villainess waiting to pull her leash.
A profound, bone-deep exhaustion washed over her at the grim prospect of navigating two wildly unpredictable women.
"Well, well. Look who finally decided to present herself..."
A smooth, velvety voice echoed from the pathway ahead.
Corvina glided forward, her sharp red eyes locking onto Callista before shifting down to the stoic, lavender-haired girl standing beside her.
"And already stepping stepped out on me, I see?"
"I-I’m not cheating!" Callista gasped, scrambling back to her feet and pressing her palms together in a panic. "She’s my maid! She’s... um, just attending school here!"
Why does shoujo logic always insist on thrusting unnecessary romance-drama tropes?
’My Sister Stole My Husband’, ’The Evil Maid Tempts The Duke’, could people just focus on their own self-worth for five minutes?!
Corvina ignored Callista’s rambling, her gaze narrowing on Livia. "A maid? How precisely does a common servant secure entry into West Trinity?"
"My lady insisted," Livia replied smoothly, her voice utterly devoid of tremor or deference.
The two women locked eyes. Neither backed down and blinked.
Callista stood squeezed between them, sweating profusely as an unsettling, invisible pressure suffocated the surrounding people.
It was seeing two wild animals seize each other up.