After several weeks of transmigrating to the novel, Once Upon The Light, Yuri felt like other than the world itself that has changed, the lifestyle of hers hasn't been much of a difference from her previous world. With the fact that she is still a slave to society as a maid this time, instead of a convince store clerk. Her lifestyle sequence stayed the same. Wake up early in the morning for work, eat, work again, then once the day has ended, she will go back to her room and call it a day. Then the sequence of events will repeat itself once the sun rises again. However, in addition to her tasks during her work hours, she also made sure to pay attention to every details that can bring her more information about the world that she just got bombarded with.
With that said, she made some points in her head about this world:
Firstly, unlike how the transmigration novels usually points out that a soul has possessed one of the character's body, be it either a protagonist or an antagonist role, Yuri appearance hasn't changed at all. Her appearance is still the same as her last life. Dark brown curly hair that gets tangled easily, and the deep brown eyes that look at the world nonchalantly are still part of her original appearance. Especially the three moles that spread around her right eye, which somehow enhanced the mysterious aura that she carries around with her. Plus, she found a deep long scar on her stomach that she didn't have until she was stabbed to death before transmigrating to the novel. Which means that not only her soul transmigrated, but her physical body also followed.
Secondly, it seems like the background of this novel appears to be similar to a European historical period. The storyline of this world contain of three main empires, The Sun Empire, The Moon Empire and the Star Empire. These three empires have existed for over several centuries, and the Sun Empire has always been the strongest out of all the other empires. Which is also the empire that Yuri is currently residing in. Since political subject has always been one of the main subject for people to gossip about, it seems like the three main empires never really gets along. Especially on how the Star Empire and the Moon Empire has formed an allied agreement secretly in order to bring the Sun Empire down. Which is the reason why this empire seem to be more prone to getting into wars and battles. Although there are a lot of wars and battles within the empire, the experience also comes with it. Making this empire the most powerful and richest one out of all of them.
With this information in mind, Yuri has a feeling on how the plot of this world will be directed. The genre of this world does not even matter to Yuri anymore, since whatever the genre is, political subjects will definitely be heavy in the plot. Yuri never likes being part of any form of political events, including voting itself. She has never voted in her life, since she felt like it doesn't really matter who takes over the country. Afterall, other than it being annoying arguing with others on who's better and who's not, life is still the same for her no matter who takes over the leadership. Which is the reason why Yuri made note to herself that in order for her to have less headaches in the future for this current life of hers, she would never create any forms of relationships with the main characters. Matter of fact, she doesn't even want to know who they are, which lessen her chance to become part of this world's plot. Unfortunately, luck is not on her side.
Which comes to the third point. The mansion that Yuri currently works and lives in, belong to a person who is the Grand Duke of the Sun Empire, named Lumen Augustine. She heard that although her employer gained his title as a duke at a young age because of his parents early death, it seems that heis still a very powerful individual because of all the war victories that he won for the empire back when he was still a teen. To the point where the military power is in his hand, and not the emperors. Being an employee of the Grand Duke is not the worst case for Yuri, but she has a feeling that the Grand Duke is one of the main characters of this world. Actually, Yuri is sure that he is one of the main characters, after all, he is a very handsome, very tall and very rich.
Rich, handsome, tall, and powerful.....aren't these the keys of being the main characters of novels and stories?
Several days ago, Yuri was able to have the chance to take a peak on her employer's side profile. He was wearing a light blue waistcoat under a white button-up that hugs a body that has obviously been very well trained. While a white coat lay over his broad shoulder and his silver hair that was sleek back, giving him a neat and clean look. At that moment, Yuri felt like her energy was sucked away. Not because of Lumen's good look, but because on that day, she realized that he is one of the main characters because of his good look. Although Yuri does not distinguish her and her colleague's appearance as ugly, but compare to their employer, Lumen Augustine, she can see why her and her co-workers plays the mob character roles.
At this point, Yuri was already thinking of a way to get away from this household, since she felt very unsettling after knowing who her employer is. Be it either the plot has good ending or a bad one, after reading several transmigration novel, she realized that main characters will always bring calamities to the side characters. Ally or foe, it does not matter since that is how the novel system works. But then because of her lack of knowledge of this world and her lack of money, Yuri can only put her plan on hold. Even after she ran away from the mansion she doesn't know where to go nor does she have a place to stay. After learning about this world's currency, it seems like the salary that she's getting are just crumbs. Which made Yuri curse out the duke in her heart for being a cheap bastard. But it's not like there's no perks working in this mansion household. From what she have heard from other maids who have worked at other households before, other than the salary, everything else is great. All the servants get to have their own individual room, they get to eat meat everyday, work loads are not as stressful because of the high volume of employment, and it seems like the uniform that they wear are also high quality materials. In which Yuri does agree to. Her life in this household is actually pretty comfortable compared to her old jobs back in her other world. Everything is provided, from food to boarding to even daily necessities. However, she still prefer hard cash on her hand.
"Nothing is better than cash itself~"
Yuri sighed as she mumbles out her thoughts in her heart while she sweeps the garden's floor.
"I guess as a start, I should start saving up some money just in case I have to make an emergency runaway"
Yuri made a promise to herself as she sweep all the dirt into a pile, then put it in a wagon for her to dumb it in the wastebin later.
"You over there"
Suddenly, a familiar mature female voice spoke out. Yuri looks over at the direction where the voice came from. She then saw a mid forty woman who has her grayish hair neatly tied up in a bun. She is the head-maid of this household named Leah. She always has a strict demeanor surrounding her, but also a noble and elegant aura at the same time. Which makes sense since she is born as a lower rank noble. It is normal in this world for lower-class noble to become a higher status servant in a high-rank noble household, like the Grand Duke itself.
"If you are finished with what you are doing, go up to the second floor to help those three girls get ready for the duke's attire for tonight's banquet."
Leah stated as Yuri nodded her head gently as she quietly put the broom back to the original spot and walks up to the second floor where the three girls are cleaning a set of expensive and fancy looking clothes. A dark blue waistcoat with intricate designs that are lined with gold threads, in which it is a paired together with the coat that he will also be wearing. There are also several accessories laid out that go together with the fancy outfit.
"Do you know who is holding the banquet that the duke is attending tonight?" One of the girls whispered. Though Yuri looks like she is focused on polishing the fancy accessories, but she starts to put her attention towards the girls that are starting to gossip.
"I've heard that this banquet is to celebrate the crown prince 20th birthday," another girl whispered
"I bet this banquet is held mostly because the crown prince has reached the age of marriage, and the emperor and the empress want to start finding candidates for the crown princess position." A girl snickered quietly.
The same girl continued to whisper.
"...I've heard that the emperor has been trying to recommend several duchess candidates for Duke Lumen these couple days also, but the duke kept rejecting them. Maybe the emperor is using the banquet as an excuse to find the duke a duchess also..."
The other two girls nodded then added,
"True, after all, duke Lumen is already 24 this year. I wouldn't be surprised that the emperor is rushing him to get married. "
Yuri quietly listened to their conversation as she polish the pair of black dress shoe that the duke would be wearing tonight.
"You girls, stop chatting and get back to work!" The head-maid yelled from behind
The three girls jumped a little bit after suddenly hearing the head-maid's voice and quickly zipped their mouths up. Even Yuri got surprised for a second she she didn't hear the head-maid walking up to them.
The head-maid sighed a bit then said in the same strict tone, but softer "Also, after you four girls are finished with your work, clean yourself up, since you four will be attending with the duke in the banquet tonight."
---Four girls?
Yuri thought to herself
--Does that include me?
The three girls didn't say anything and just looked at each other with an excitement in their eyes. Afterward, they bowed their waist and replied back to the head-maid in sync
"Yes ma'am!"
After a few seconds, Yuri followed their bows to the head-maid without saying anything. Then, all four of them went back to work in silence until they finished their work. The head-maid reminded them that after changing to a new set of maid uniform, they will be waiting for the duke in the front gate.
So after getting changed, Yuri realized that her and Leah were the first one to arrive to the front gate while the other three girls are still not here. Yuri looked around and saw two carriages, the one in the front is a big fancy carriage with intricate design, while the other one is smaller plain wooden carriage. It is very obvious which one her and the other three girls will be riding.
---At least I don't have to walk there.
Yuri thought to herself quietly as she saw the three girls running towards her. Other than changing a new set of clothes, it seems like they also tidied up their hair and put on a bit of light makeup. Yuri shrugged a bit as she put her loose curly hair behind her ear.
---Since it is a banquet to celebrate the crown prince 20th birthday, I guess a lot of nobles will also be attending...then...maybe...the rest of the other main characters will be there also?
Yuri furrowed her brows a bit when she thought of meeting the main characters all together. She kind of don't want to know who they are but it seems like it's inevitable since she's already one of the main lead's employee.
---...whatever, I guess it is also a good thing for me, so that I can gain more information on how the plot of this world will be like...
As Yuri was trying to look on the brighter side of the situation, the head-maid quietly and firmly said to the four girls,
"The duke is coming, mind your etiquette"
The three girls and the head-maid lined up on the side of the big fancy carriage door and bent their head slightly downward. Within a beat, Yuri copied whatever the three girls were doing. As Yuri stared at the ground, she started to see a black pair of familiar dress shoes passing by her sight. She then looked up a bit and saw Duke Lumen waiting for the head-maid to open up the fancy carriage door. The dark blue waistcoat and out coat that are accessorized with a bit of gem and gold heightened up the duke's noble aura. Especially with his silver hair sleeked back and his transparent clear blue eyes, Yuri almost felt like there's a gold halo surrounding him.
---....very blinding.....actually, too blinding....
Yuri closed her eyes as she thought of needing a pair of sunglasses.
Yuri opened her eyes again when Leah's strict voice spoke out again after Duke Lumen went inside the carriage.
"You four girls, get in the carriage."
As followed, the four girls went into the small wooden carriage. Luckily, all four of them are more on the petite and skinny side. If not, the ride to the banquet will be very suffocating for all of them. The head-maid continues to speak with a strict demeanor after the four girls sat down.
"Remember that you guys will be meeting a lot of nobles of the empire, possibly, even other kingdom's nobles. Don't forget your teaching as a maid and servant of the Augustine household. Don't say and do unnecessary things. Only act when our duke tells you to, if not, be quiet and stay on the side. "
All four of the girls replied in sync
"Yes ma'am"