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Chapter : 2
“Haah… the bed really is the best. Guess it’s the same everywhere—outside the blanket is dangerous.”
Living as ‘Frea’ was harder than she had expected.
The first few days were manageable. It was awkward, but thanks to the memories she’d inherited, it wasn’t all that difficult.
Still, even with those memories, she was living among people she was meeting for the first time, so she had no choice but to be careful with her words and actions. It was especially nerve-racking whenever she dealt with Frea’s family.
But as they say, humans are creatures of adaptation. After about two days, she’d gotten somewhat used to it, and now she could live fairly comfortably.
Her new life as a working professional was also similar to what she’d done in her original world, so amid the mix of unfamiliarity and familiarity, she somehow managed to work diligently.
‘The problem is…’
As expected, the biggest hurdle lay elsewhere.
Namely, her role as the attendant to the female lead, Astella Vinok.
Based on the memories she’d inherited, playing the sucker who devotedly attended to her wasn’t all that hard.
The problem was that, whether she looked back on the memories from before possession or experienced it herself at Astella’s side, this “being a doormat” had absolutely no answer—it was just hopeless.
“Astella, when you walk in a dress, don’t take big steps. And so your heels don’t make noise, place your feet lightly…”
“Oh, I see. I’ll try again, Sister Frea!”
Teaching noble etiquette.
“Astella. How about we invite about ten people this time—just a bit more than before—for the tea party? As for the list of recommendations…”
“Wow, that sounds great! It’ll be fun again, right? What kind of dress should I wear?”
“For the dress, considering the weather and current trends…”
Managing social activities.
“Sister Frea! I want to go buy some accessories today. Could you go with me? I’m still scared to go alone…”
What on earth was so scary about going out in broad daylight just to buy a few trinkets?
Astella acted like a five-year-old, and it was frustrating, but Frea couldn’t say anything directly.
It felt like her chest was completely clogged up, like she’d eaten a sweet potato. She needed some soda to wash it down.
Letting out a deep sigh, Frea endured it and said,
“The maids and the knights will go with you.”
“I like going with you more than with anyone else! You’re good at picking things that suit me.”
“…Fine, I get it.”
Even helping with everyday life like this.
Anyone who saw them would think Frea was Astella’s maid, given how thoroughly she was involved in her life.
She literally did everything she was told, leaving nothing undone.
‘She’s truly the biggest sucker of all.’
Astella used Frea like her own hands and feet, and while Frea wanted to escape immediately, she couldn’t.
Because it was something Duke Vinok had personally asked of Marquis Balche—Frea’s father and older brother.
‘This concerns my honor and that of our family. You know what you must do, don’t you? Carry it out perfectly, without a single flaw.’
‘…Yes, Father.’
Frea was also Astella’s closest female cousin, and since Marquis Balche, who hated losing to his brother yet also hated falling out of his good graces, had pressured her, she couldn’t easily refuse.
‘You’re telling me I have to do this for more than three months.’
Thinking of the long road ahead, Frea clenched her teeth.
After living this way for a week, she’d come to understand well how the previous “Frea” had lived.
On weekdays, she had to handle her job and also cater to Astella’s whims whenever she showed up unannounced. On weekends, she had to “go to work” at the Vinok ducal estate, overseeing Astella’s education and schedule all day long.
As the perfect underdog, Frea had no choice but to become Astella’s complete doormat in the process.
Because under the guise of Duke Vinok’s request, she was bound by a contract not to offend Astella in any way.
Truly, there was no other hell like this.
“No, it’s still too early to despair.”
Fortunately, in the original story, Frea had made a deal with her father in exchange for attending to Astella.
Namely, a “guarantee of single life.”
If she took good care of Astella to Duke Vinok’s satisfaction, he would not interfere at all in Frea’s marriage and would allow her to live as a single woman.
‘Of all the things about possessing Frea, this is the best part.’
The original Frea was devoted to staying single. And by coincidence, Seol-ah was also a single-life devotee.
In a world rife with political marriages, how great was it to be able to live without marrying?
On top of that, she had a secure job as a department head in the Imperial Palace administration, with guaranteed tenure, so she didn’t have to worry about making a living.
Right. She was already stuck as a doormat, and given the circumstances there was nothing she could do about it, so…
“I’ll just have to bring Astella and the male lead, Raiden, together.”
Like the original Frea did, if she could just get the two of them married, wouldn’t she be able to enjoy a peaceful single life?
In the original story, after Astella and Raiden married, Frea lived single and occasionally helped her mother-in-law with her in-law duties.
But after Astella even won over her mother-in-law, Frea’s appearances gradually decreased, and by the ending she almost didn’t show up at all.
It was simply the logic that once a supporting character’s role is over, they no longer appear.
It was a pitiful disappearance for a doormat side character, but when you thought about it, it wasn’t that bad.
It meant that once she finished her assigned role, it wouldn’t matter what she did or how she lived.
‘If it comes to that, I won’t have to struggle to escape the original story, and unlike other transmigrators, my life won’t be in danger—so it’s actually better.’
If she followed the original plot as closely as possible, she could look forward to a guaranteed free single life.
“Astella’s been back at the Vinok estate for half a year now. As expected…”
Today, just like in the original, she made a request of Frea.
“Sister Frea. The man who came to your office before, with golden hair and red eyes—who is he?”
Astella’s attitude of barging into the Imperial Palace office and asking questions right away was uncomfortable, but Frea, already used to it, answered obediently.
“That’s Duke Raiden Bethelheim.”
“Oh! So he’s the Duke Bethelheim, the youngest genius and iron-blooded prime minister of our empire?”
“…But why?”
When Frea asked cautiously, Astella’s eyes sparkled as she said,
“I think I’ve… fallen for him at first sight! Could you help me get together with Duke Bethelheim, Sister Frea?”
“…Mm, sure.”
So that was it.
Knowing that around this time Astella would fall in love with Raiden at first sight and start actively pursuing him, Frea accepted it more calmly than she’d expected.
What kind of doormat side character even sets up meetings for the male lead?
Thinking, So it’s finally here, she spent the entire day pondering how to bring the two together, just waiting for quitting time.
“It really starts now.”
There were many hurdles to overcome, but she wasn’t afraid. She knew everything from the original story—how Astella and Raiden met, what trials they overcame, and how they eventually married.
‘There are about four months left until they get married. If I can just endure until then, the hardship ends and true freedom begins.’
Because she knew the original plot, Frea believed there was nothing to worry about and that everything would proceed smoothly.
Yes. That’s what she thought…
But then—
“Sister Frea! I’m here.”
Two days later, Astella visited Frea’s office with a bright expression. Frea, who had just been taking meeting documents out of her bag, froze.
She’d definitely told her the meeting time yesterday. Why was she here?
“What brings you here at this hour, Astella? I have a meeting soon.”
When Frea asked with an uneasy expression, Astella smiled and said,
“I know. You’re having a meeting here with Duke Bethelheim, right?”
“…But why?”
“Could I stay here until the meeting is over?”
“What?”
“I want to observe while you and the Duke have your meeting!”
Astella’s sudden suggestion left Frea momentarily speechless.
What is she talking about? Observe? What for?
After looking at her for a moment, Frea spoke calmly.
“…Astella, meetings are official business. I can’t let an outsider like you take part.”
“Not take part—just observe, Sister.”
“…No, I can’t let you observe either. Why all of a sudden?”
“Well… I’ve been curious for a while. About what you and Duke Bethelheim are like during meetings. You said you’d help me, but you’re the young lady closest to the Duke among all the noble ladies of the empire, aren’t you?”
“So I’m a little worried.
