Chapter 92: Helping a Girl on a Rainy Day
Our new employee exhaled, his princely pride thoroughly massaged. "Very well. If my presence is so... indispensable , then I shall grace this role with my expertise." He flicked an imaginary speck of dust off his sleeve. "But mark my words—I will not tolerate mediocrity."
"Of course not, Honored Custodian!" I bowed slightly to hide my triumphant grin. "We wouldn’t dare disappoint you."
And there was also this:
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[Hidden Scenario - "The Fiery Sun Tames The Arrogant Moon" - Completed!]
"The princess of the sun was meant to scorch the spoiled moon into submission, her wildfire fury destined to temper his arrogance. But fate is a fickle weaver—where she sought to burn, a stray star swept him away with nothing but a broom."
Rewards:
- 100,000 Aura Coins
- [Veil of the Unseen Burden] A weightless armor rumored to be woven from stardust
- [Arrogant Moon’s Temporary Submission]
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Oh, great. Even the System was acknowledging my bullsh*t.
But hey, a win was a win.
Now, I only needed to keep this spoiled prince from realizing he’d just been tricked into unpaid janitorial work...
One crisis at a time.
First, let’s get him leave.
"Honored Custodian," I began with practiced deference, "might I ask if you have other companions with you?"
Nolan’s eyes narrowed. "...No. Why?"
I clasped my hands eagerly. "I merely wished to know if you required lodging! If you’d permit me to recommend an establishment worthy of your stature—"
"Ah." His posture relaxed marginally. "You’re as perceptive as I suspected, human."
"You flatter me," I ducked my head, biting back a smirk. "My meager intellect is but a candle to your radiant wisdom."
The prince’s lips curled in satisfaction. "This... recommendation?"
"Three streets east—the Gilded Quill Inn." I painted the air with my hands. "Impeccable service, discrete staff, and their lavender-scented linens are said to rival royal bedding. Though of course," I added quickly, "no mortal luxury could truly compare to—"
"Yes, yes." Nolan waved a dismissive hand, though his eyes gleamed at the mention of royal comparisons. "I’ll inspect it myself."
With a final dramatic flourish, he snapped his fingers—presumably canceling whatever charm aura he’d been maintaining. As I felt the mental pressure dissipating. I immediately let my eyes glaze over, swaying slightly like the dazed twins downstairs had done.
"W-Who...?" I blinked rapidly, rubbing my temples. "Who are you?"
The prince’s smirk could have powered a small village with its sheer smugness. "I’m your new employee. You just appointed me Honorary Custodian Manager." He arched an eyebrow. "Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already?"
"I... did?" I frowned, then brightened with manufactured realization. "Ah! Of course! We’ve been desperately needing someone of your... er..."
"Exalted standards?" Nolan supplied helpfully.
"Exactly!" I beamed. "You may begin tonight after dinner. The night shift suits your radiant presence—like pale moonlight purifying the shadows."
Nolan inclined his head, clearly pleased with the poetic nonsense falling from my lips. "I shall return at sundown then. Ensure the... lesser staff don’t interfere with my work."
"Of course, and let me escort you."
So I can make sure you won’t cause unnecessary trouble. I finished inwardly.
As we descended to the first floor, I made sure to walk half a step behind him like a proper subordinate. Students instinctively parted before Nolan’s regal presence, though whether from his aura or the sheer force of his arrogance remained unclear.
"Until later," I said after reaching the entrance.
Then I watched as our new janitor—ahem, Honorary Custodian—strode toward the exit without so much as a backward glance, his pristine cloak flaring dramatically behind him—as if the very air owed him reverence. I watched from the doorway, arms crossed, my earlier triumph now tempered by the weight of what I’d just done.
Woah, I really convinced a prince to become a janitor.
The System’s notification still burned in my mind, a reminder that I’d altered yet another storyline just by preventing a cliche.
But, it’s really strange...
Outside, the rain had begun to fall—soft at first, a quiet murmur against the cobblestones. The students who had been milling about earlier had vanished, either seeking shelter or hurrying home before the weather worsened. The air smelled of damp earth and impending winter.
It’s been raining too much lately. Is it a sign of an early winter?
"SWOOSH!"
Just then, the drizzle sharpened—a sudden downpour crashing down like a curtain of silver needles. Nolan, who had taken all of three steps, froze at the threshold, his perfect features twisting in displeasure as the rain lashed at his immaculate attire.
Oh, this is priceless.
I bit back a laugh as he scowled at the sky, as if personally offended by the audacity of the weather.
And then—
A flash of blue.
My breath hitched.
A girl—no, the girl—passed through the entrance, her azure hair a vivid streak against the gray.
Shaking open a sturdy umbrella with practiced ease, she glanced around absently, her gaze sliding right over me (thanks, Background Character’s Aura) before landing on...
Oh no.
My pulse spiked.
Oh no.
This was the textbook cliche/cringe - "Helping a Girl on a Rainy Day" - except gender-flipped and wrong-way-round.
The universe was trying to course-correct the meet-cute I’d derailed earlier!
Damn, if there is a rain, is this scenario bound to happen one way or another?
And every damn time?!
Yesterday, it was Aeron who almost got caught in this trope—Livia and Emilia "coincidentally" forgetting their umbrellas, forcing him to share one with them. I’d thwarted it by providing him with two spare umbrellas.
Funny thing is, they also copied it from other people.
But now, the variables had shifted.
The rain.
The girl.
I think I have a clear idea of who she is.
And Nolan, standing there like a disgruntled statue, his pride warring with the fact that he was about to get drenched.
If she offers him shelter under that umbrella...
That’s how it would start. A single act of kindness. A conversation. A spark.
Just like how the original storyline was supposed to go.
I observed as the blue-haired girl hesitated, her fingers tightening around the umbrella’s handle. I watched the realization dawn in her eyes—the noble-looking stranger caught in the rain, the obvious solution, the inevitable offer about to form on her lips.
My hand twitched at my side.
I have another umbrella, I should-!
"..." I suddenly froze, halting my hand.
"..."
Wait...
A cold droplet slid down my neck, snapping me back to myself.
Why am I even bothered about this?