MTLNOVEL 10
The first day of the Northern Festival had dawned.
The surroundings were unbearably noisy. Waking up early in the morning, I plopped down onto the sawdust-covered floor without even bothering to smooth down my messy hair.
I wanted nothing more than to sleep in, but there was too much to do. First and foremost, if I wanted to extend the duration of Reload even a little, I needed to increase my Miracle value.
I had no idea how I would fill up the remaining points, but one thing was certain—I wouldn’t be able to do it in this damned house, infested with mealworms and crickets.
Yeah. I need to get out.
I should go out, get a feel for the atmosphere of the castle, check what events were happening around Winter’s Heart at this time of year, and if possible, tweak certain incidents to raise my Miracle value.
I only had 30 minutes a day. I had to make the most of it…
[Would you like to use Reload? (｡❛ᴗ❛｡)]
‘No!’
No way! Not now! I don’t even have any clothes!
But this was the perfect time to leave. Kyle had gone out to inspect the festival just ten minutes ago. Even if he was only taking a simple tour of the castle, it would take him at least an hour.
So if I could just find something to wear other than the clothes the damn mages took—
‘Ah! That’s right!’
Just then, a brilliant idea struck me.
The space I had seen beyond where Sen and the other maids had been talking yesterday—there had been a literal mountain of laundry piled up there. Which meant there had to be spare clothes used by the servants who lived and worked here.
I just needed to grab a single set of clothes. The thought of wearing something someone else had worn was unpleasant, but considering my current situation, I should be grateful to have anything at all.
Who knows? I might even find a neatly washed butler’s uniform. …Would that even suit my Korean face?
Entertaining the thought, I activated Reload, aiming for the farthest corner of the room I had remembered.
[Good luck! (ෆ`꒳´ෆ)]
***
But then, another problem arose.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…”
They say life is unpredictable, but if things were going to go down like this, shouldn’t I at least have gotten a preview?
Sitting on a secluded stone staircase, legs spread apart, I rested my elbows on my knees and stared blankly at my own attire with an utterly lifeless expression.
“…”
I should have seen this coming from the moment I realized that all the people gathered in the laundry room yesterday were maids.
There was no such thing as a butler’s uniform. No shirt, no vest, no pants, no shoes…
The best I could find was a plain black skirt that reached my ankles and an unadorned white apron. And unfortunately, that was my only option.
I silently screamed, ruffling my hair in frustration. How the hell was I supposed to walk around like this?! A maid outfit? I’m a man!
“This is no different from being naked!”
[Would you like to deactivate Reload?]
No, no! That’s not what I meant! Now that I think about it, this isn’t so bad. Uh, yeah… The outfit is fine. It’s warm, it’s easy to move in… Damn it.
“Life is fucking hard…”
Dressed like this, my best option was to avoid being seen by the other maids. No, scratch that—I needed to avoid everyone. Was there no such thing as an invisibility skill? Seriously, this is insane.
But I had to move. I only had 30 minutes a day. This time was precious. I sprang to my feet and headed downstairs.
“I can’t wait for the banquet to start.”
“I wonder what formal attire His Highness will wear this year…”
“Doesn’t it seem like there are more people than last year?”
Blending smoothly into the crowd of workers, I listened in on their conversations.
The Northern Festival was a week-long celebration held once a year, beginning on the longest night of the year. It was the grandest event in the Blake territory.
For once, the bleak and frigid Blake Castle was lively, people were raiding their storerooms for food, and merchants arrived with carts overflowing with goods.
‘A festival is a festival, I guess.’
The last festival I remember attending was my university’s, where I had drunk too much makgeolli and suffered through a brutal hangover the next day.
Then, I overheard something useful.
“I hope nothing goes wrong this year…”
“My thoughts exactly. I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling. Last year, the pro-imperial nobles came and caused a nuisance, and this year, I heard a prince is coming in person.”
“That rumor was true?”
‘A prince? Coming here? To the North?’
I pricked up my ears and discreetly followed them. Of course, I made sure to move my broom occasionally, pretending to sweep.
They carried loads of supplies into the banquet hall, then began decorating the central dance floor with flowers and rearranging tables.
“Yeah, it’s true. Back when this land was nothing but wasteland, they didn’t care no matter how much we begged for support.”
“But since Lord Kyle took over, Blake has visibly improved. We even hold festivals every year now. That’s why they’re trying to stir up trouble—because they can’t stand to see it. Everyone knows the imperial siblings don’t get along.”
“They sent him here expecting him to die, but since he didn’t, they’re pissed. Tch, tch…”
“Which means Prince Belial is coming. He’s from the former Queen Serena’s line, so he and Prince Kyle have the worst relationship. The age gap between them is practically—”
“Oh-ho. Is that so?”
‘For people just preparing the banquet hall, they sure know some valuable information, huh?’
I subtly inserted myself between the two workers who were fiercely debating what to do with an old chandelier, trying to eavesdrop on even one more piece of useful intel…
“Wah! What the hell?!”
Just then, the worker who had been grumbling about the chandelier’s worn-out hook turned around—and our eyes met.
Damn, he’s loud. I was so startled that I practically jumped in place.
“Wait a second. I’ve never seen you before…”
…Shit.
Reload always restores me in my original form. It seems to pull my physical data from my past life into this world, but the system has clammed up about how that’s even possible, so I haven’t been able to get any answers. In any case, Baek Soo-hyun is a 100% pure-blooded Korean.
Which means… my face sticks out like a sore thumb in this world.
I turned away, still holding the broom. As naturally as possible. Act natural… act natural…
“Hey, you.”
Every joint in my body felt like it was creaking audibly.
I had never been good at acting. In school plays, I was always cast as a tree or a rock. Not because I wanted to be—somehow, people just always assigned me those roles.
The man, who had been eyeing me suspiciously, reached out toward me. Just before his hand could touch my shoulder, I quickly strode away.
Forget acting. If I got caught here, I’d be screwed.
‘Hey! System! How much time is left on my skill?’
[Reload will be deactivated in 7 minutes.]
Not even ten minutes left.
If push comes to shove, I can just escape by letting the skill deactivate.
“W-Wait. Isn’t that a man?”
No, it’s just your imagination. Just… your—yeah, no. They can tell just by my shoulders and height.
‘This is a fucking nightmare.’
What was I supposed to do? The only clothes available were a maid outfit. If anything, I was the victim here.
“A few days ago, someone snuck into His Lordship’s study and stole a shirt—”
“W-Wait, could it be that guy…?”
“Hey! You with the brown hair! Stop right there!”
Ah, I can’t hear you. Nope, don’t hear a thing.
I all but sprinted away. My bare feet were freezing to the point of numbness, but I had no choice. There had been socks in the laundry room, but no shoes.
‘This is disgusting. First thing I’m doing when I get back is washing my hands and feet.’
And this time, I’ll make sure to knock over the damn water basin. Maybe then they’ll bring me fresh water.
I fled from the banquet hall, dashed up a flight of stairs, and raced down the left corridor. At some point, I had ditched the broom.
‘God, I should’ve worked out more.’
I’d severely overestimated the stamina of an office worker. The only reason I was even able to shake off the workers was thanks to the treadmill I used in my half-assed attempt at staying fit.
Thud.
“…Ah.”
The moment I turned the corner, I collided with someone.
Today just keeps getting worse.
“S-Sorr—”
I was the one who ran into them first, yet I was the one who stumbled backward. My opponent, on the other hand, didn’t even budge.
It was like hitting a fucking wall. His shoulders were built.
“Are you alright?”
A deep, steady voice. And… it was familiar.
Very familiar.
‘…I’m so fucked.’
[Kyle Jane Meinhardt. Grand Duke of Blake.]
I know. I know! You don’t have to rub it in!
I immediately turned away.
Seven minutes still hadn’t passed. It’d be weird to deactivate the skill now.
You did wish me luck before I teleported here, right? That wasn’t sarcasm, was it?
[(◐▽◐);;;]
‘Fucking hell.’
As I awkwardly bolted, Kyle started chasing after me.
The heavy thud of his boots echoed down the hallway. It was like something out of a horror movie.
I was practically sprinting, and he was just walking, yet the distance between us was shrinking at an alarming rate.
“You. Stop.”
I don’t know you. I am not your runaway hamster.
I muttered that to myself like a prayer, but when I snuck a glance over my shoulder, his shadow—cast by the light behind him—had already reached my feet.
‘…Fuck.’
He was terrifying. No wonder he was called the Tyrant of the North.
I gave up on subtlety and broke into a full-on sprint. The ankle-length skirt was a nuisance, so I ended up grabbing handfuls of the fabric and running like a madman.
Goddammit. No shoes, no dignity—what the fuck kind of hell am I in?
“Stop.”
‘Oh yeah? Like hell I will.’
Panting heavily, I pushed my body past its limits.
When I didn’t stop, Kyle must have sensed something was off, because he picked up the pace.
Why the hell is his stride so big?! What, just because he’s tall, he gets to trample my self-esteem too?!
Tap, tap. Thud, thud.
The erratic sounds of my bare feet slapping against the floor and his boots striking down rang through the corridor. The cold, hard surface was tormenting my heels, and a wave of helpless frustration surged up inside me.
Hey! Stop following me! You should’ve given up by now!
[Reload will deactivate in 1 minute.]
For once, I wasn’t disappearing without warning, and my return point was properly saved. I could go straight back to my hamster home…
But before I knew it, Kyle had closed the distance. At this rate, I’d be caught before the minute was up.
I had run all this way trying to shake him off, but there was no helping it now. My only option was to head downstairs, turn a corner, and deactivate Reload out of sight.
As I sprinted down the corridor, I veered sharply toward the staircase. Taking the steps two at a time—
“W-Woah…?”
My body pitched forward. My vision tilted as I felt myself losing balance.
And then—a large hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back.
Spun around by the force, I widened my eyes and stared up at Kyle. My heart had already plummeted down the staircase and was probably still rolling along somewhere below, but thankfully, my body remained firmly in his grasp.
“…Who are you?”
Even if you ask, I can’t answer that.
[Reload will deactivate in 10 seconds.]
‘Might as well give up. My luck today is absolute trash.’
Still caught in Kyle’s grip, I let my unsteady body remain tilted. Then I smiled—not to make a good impression, but purely out of spite.
Who am I?
“Your mate—”
At that moment, my body erupted in a white light.
Kyle’s brows furrowed as the sudden flash engulfed his vision.
And in that instant, I—
Squeak. (…Hamster.)
…was back in hamster form.
—…
I found myself staring at familiar sawdust, transparent walls, and the quiet of the study.
I clutched my tiny hamster head in despair.
Hey! If I was going to be pulled back, at least let me finish my sentence first! Why did you leave it at mate?!
Collapsing onto the floor, I groaned in pure anguish.
First, I was a clothes thief. Then, a crossdressing man. Now, I had just straight-up confessed to being the mate of an unmarried grand duke. A complete pervert.
Squeak! (Ah!)
You know what? Maybe staying a hamster is the better option. Yeah. I should just live like this forever.
That thought disappeared the moment I spotted the mealworms overflowing in my food bowl.
***
As the fading light slowly receded, Kyle blinked his eyes shut for a moment before reopening them.
His vision was still hazy from the direct flash, but he could still make out his surroundings well enough.
The problem was the piece of clothing in his hand.
Kyle recalled the unknown man he had just been holding.
An exotic face rarely seen in these lands. Soft brown hair, scattering loosely with every movement. And a weight so light, he could support it with one hand despite it being a man.
Yet, all of that vanished in an instant—leaving only the maid uniform he had been wearing.
“…A mage?”
But if that were the case, the man should have cast a spell. Instead, his last words before disappearing had been something far stranger.
Mate.
More than that, though, something about him had felt eerily familiar.
Kyle knew no one with a taste for crossdressing. And yet…
Raising a brow, he adjusted his grip on the clothing.
He wasn’t the type to sit still after hearing something as ridiculous as mate.
‘I need to find him.’
Even if it was utter nonsense—he suddenly wanted to track that man down.