Chapter 18: Daily Quest
When Julian woke up the next morning, the first thing he noticed was the system screen hovering before him with a new notification. It read:
[Daily Quest Available]
His brows lifted slightly.
[Quest: Basic Servant Duties]
[Description: As a servant of the Averill household staff, fulfilling your responsibilities properly is expected. Complete your assigned tasks efficiently.]
[Objective: Complete three tasks given by the household]
[Reward: +500 Coins]
[Penalty:-500 Coins]
Julian exhaled softly, rubbing his temples as he processed the information.
A daily quest, huh? That was new.
Unlike the previous quest, which had been more significant in terms of reward and impact, this one seemed tied directly to his role as a servant. It made sense, if he was going to live under the Averill family, the system probably saw it as part of his current "training."
Still, the penalty caught his attention. Losing 500 Coins wasn't life-threatening, but it was still annoying. That was the same as what he'd get from completing the tasks, which meant the system was clearly trying to push him into taking this seriously.
He swiped the notification away and stretched his arms. The sunlight filtering through the window told him it was still early, and judging by the faint sounds of movement outside, the rest of the household was beginning to stir.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Julian?" It was a servant's voice."The Head Maid has assigned your tasks for the day. You're expected in the main hall shortly."
"Got it," Julian responded, standing up and rolling his shoulders.
The moment he stepped out of his room, he could already feel the shift in his routine. Before, he had been mostly doing normal stuff such as mopping the floor, running errands, help the cook when needed, etc. Now though, he felt that it was going to be different, somehow.
***
Julian made his way through the corridors, his mind still lingering on the system's daily quest.
The Averill household was already alive with movement, servants moving about, attending to their duties, and preparing for another busy day. He had seen most of them before in passing, but now that he was officially assigned tasks, he was expected to interact with them more directly.
And apparently, that started with the Head Maid.
Until now, he had only caught glimpses of her, never getting the chance to see her up close. But even from a distance, she had always stood out.
As he entered the main hall, his gaze immediately landed on the woman waiting for him.
The Head Maid.
And in an instant, Julian understood why she was impossible to ignore.
She was gorgeous—in a way that was both refined and sinful at the same time.
Long, midnight-black hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, contrasting beautifully against the fitted dark uniform she wore. The fabric clung to her lush, curvy figure in all the right places, emphasizing her full chest, narrow waist, and rounded hips. Even though the maid uniform was supposed to be modest, on her, it looked anything but.
Her skin was flawless, a smooth porcelain shade that almost seemed to glow in the morning light. Deep, sultry violet eyes framed by long lashes settled on him, filled with an unreadable intensity. Her lips—painted a deep shade of red—curled into a slow, knowing smirk, as if she had already taken his measure and found him entertaining.
She radiated a kind of dangerous elegance, the kind that made it impossible not to stare.
Julian forced himself to blink.
Shit.
He had seen beautiful women before, but this? This was on another level.
The way she carried herself—graceful yet dominant—made it very clear that she wasn't just some ordinary maid.
She was the one in charge.
"Julian, was it?" Her voice was smooth and velvety, laced with amusement as she tilted her head slightly. "It's good to finally speak with you properly."
Julian nodded, keeping his expression neutral despite the way her gaze practically dragged over him, as if she were assessing every inch of his body.
"Likewise," he replied.
She chuckled softly. "Oh, you don't have to be so tense, dear. I don't bite… unless you give me a reason to."
Julian arched a brow. "Noted."
Her smirk deepened. "You may call me Lady Isabella. I oversee the household staff, which means from now on, you report to me, not Lady Evelyn. Understood?"
Julian gave a slight nod. "Understood."
"Good boy." She turned slightly, the movement making the fabric of her uniform tighten around her curves. "Now then, let's not waste time. Your tasks for today are simple."
She lifted a delicate hand, ticking them off on her fingers.
"First, you will assist in the main hall's upkeep—sweeping, dusting, and making sure everything is in perfect condition before the Lady of the house arrives."
"Second, you'll be helping Lilia with inventory in the storage rooms. She has a tendency to be careless, so make sure she doesn't misplace anything."
Julian's brow twitched. That sounded… frustrating.
"And lastly…" Isabella's violet eyes gleamed. "You will be assisting me personally in my office."
Julian hesitated.
"Something wrong?" Selene asked, her voice dripping with amusement.
"Not at all," Julian said smoothly. "Just making sure I heard that correctly."
"Oh, you did." She stepped closer, and for the first time, he caught a hint of a delicate, intoxicating fragrance—a mix of jasmine and something darker, more alluring. "Let's just say… I like to get a proper feel for new additions to the household."
Julian met her gaze. Was she teasing him? If so, then she succeeded. At her words and the thoughts of what might happen made his rod stand and felt his pants bulge.
[Objectives Updated]
[1. Clean and prepare the main hall]
[2. Assist Lilia with inventory]
[3. Assist Isabella in her office]
[Time Limit: Until sunset]
This was going to be an interesting day.
Julian exhaled. Time to get to work.