Episode 3
I swallowed dryly.
Right before my eyes, crimson-red eyes gleamed ominously.
The shadow falling across his face contrasted with his dazzling golden hair, creating an unsettling, gloomy aura.
Truly, his appearance fit the title “the Duke’s young master possessed by a demon” perfectly.
…He’s handsome.
The thought slipped out before I could stop it, and I coughed awkwardly. Would I be punished for blasphemy if that got found out?
Anyway, the important thing now was cleaning.
I carefully set down the bucket I was holding at the doorway and spoke brightly:
“Hello, young master! I’m Sissi, newly assigned here at the Duke’s household as of yesterday. Today, I’ve been tasked with cleaning your room! Please excuse me while I get started.”
“……”
His cold eyes narrowed.
From the stiff look on Ian’s face as he leaned against the doorframe, it was clear he had no intention of letting me in.
But honestly, this was nothing.
No matter how nasty he got, there was no way he could be worse than James, that bastard from the viscount’s house.
That guy once shoved caterpillars into my clothes, among other things.
So no matter what tricks this young master tried, the immediate problem was simply that he wasn’t moving out of the doorway.
“Shall I start by wiping down the threshold, then?”
No answer.
“Alright, then I’ll clean the corridor in front of your room first!”
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“Get lost.”
SLAM!
The door shut with a thunderous bang.
It had barely been open five minutes.
The passing servants, seeing me left behind in the corridor, clicked their tongues sympathetically.
“How long do you think that girl will last?”
“What was Margaret thinking, assigning a new hire to serve Young Master Ian?”
And as I overheard all this…
I dipped a rag into the bucket and scrubbed the corridor floor diligently.
Did he curse at me? Not really.
Compared to James, who nitpicked everything I did just to lord his authority over me, this was nothing.
At worst, I’d just never be let into the room. But even that wasn’t a big deal.
The head servants would understand—it was Ian Brighton, after all. His reputation was infamous.
And those eerie “rules” about him? They weren’t anything special either.
I’d read this novel multiple times. A heavy reader like me wasn’t going to tremble over some silly rules.
I’d read it so many times, and our kindhearted protagonist had even spelled out every breakthrough for the readers!
Granted, none of those tips involved handling the child-tyrant version of Ian…
But this much? I could manage on my own. Absolutely.
“Young master, I’ve finished cleaning the corridor.”
After tidying up the mop, I knocked on the door again.
Instead of a reply, there was a loud crash! Something had shattered.
Sounded like an expensive teapot had been sacrificed.
“Oh no! Forgive me for the intrusion, but I’ll come in for just a moment!”
I pushed the door open.
If glass or porcelain had broken, this was no time to hesitate.
If Ian got cut by a shard and they blamed it on my negligence?
I can’t afford to get fired on my first day.
The daily wage here was a whopping five silver coins. Enough to buy a whole new outfit.
“Young master, are you alright?!”
“Didn’t you hear me tell you to get out?”
“I heard you loud and clear. I also heard the sound of glass shattering. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Get out!”
“I’ll leave right after I make sure you’re unharmed and clean up the shards. May I check you quickly, young master?”
Despite it being midday, Ian’s room was chilly and dim.
He sat on the bed, bloodshot eyes glaring at me, before hurling a pillow my way.
“Do my words mean nothing to you? Do you want to be fired on your first day?”
“I assure you, young master, I respect everything you say. I’m more than willing to listen.”
Hmph. Cute. The best he could throw was a pillow.
It hit my shoulder, but that was it. It didn’t even sting.
“But before that, I need to confirm your condition.”
“Every last one of you…” Ian growled low in his throat.
I knew the signs of a real threat.
James, the head maid, the viscount and his wife—I’d faced them enough to tell when someone truly meant harm.
But Ian… carried no such intent. Just hostility, but not danger.
So I stepped closer without hesitation. Even if he threw a few more things, I didn’t mind.
Didn’t Margaret say the Duke’s estate even pays injury compensation?
With a broken teapot and a red cheek as evidence, I could definitely claim it.
But to my surprise, instead of slapping me across the face, Ian grabbed me by the collar.
Before I knew it, I’d been yanked forward and shoved onto the soft bed.
Blinking, I found myself staring up at a beast-like face, half-devoured by shadow.
“I know. That woman must have sent you to spy on me.”
His voice was low, raspy, scraping my ear along with his breath.
That woman? Spy? What…?
“Pardon? I only came to clean your room, young master.”
“Looks like my esteemed mother still refuses to stop treating me like a monster. It’s pathetic, really…”
Ah. He meant the Duchess. His relationship with his family must be pretty bad.
“I see. Even so, I believe your room needs cleaning.”
“I’m done being fooled. I’m sick of it. Tell her this: leave me alone.”
“If that’s your wish, I’ll pass it along. But first, may I finish cleaning?”
“Then get out.”
“Yes, I will—right after cleaning the room.”
“……”
A pause of silence.
“…What are you?”
“I’m here to clean your room, young master.”
I answered patiently.
“So… may I clean now?”
The pressure on my collar vanished. In the next moment, Ian had retreated to the far side of the room.
Finally free, I dusted myself off and cheerfully picked up a broom.
“Good, you don’t seem injured. No cuts or bruises that I can see—though it is a bit dark. If you notice anything later, please let me know immediately.”
“Spare me.”
Ian spat the words like venom.
“Don’t pretend to care. It disgusts me.”
Honestly, compared to James, who would sneer and twist my words until he got the reaction he wanted, Ian’s insults were practically cute.
“Hehe…”
Ah, damn. I’d only meant to think it. The laugh slipped out.
“What’s so funny?”
“Ah—apologies. I was just recalling all the curses I’ve heard before, and I realized you speak quite kindly in comparison, young master.”
“…What?”
“This is really such a wonderful workplace. I’d love to continue working here for a long time.”
I gripped the broom tightly. Every word was one hundred percent sincere.
“I look forward to serving you, young master!”
My spirited, ambitious declaration.
Sunlight streamed through the window then, finally illuminating Ian’s face in full.
He wore an expression that said plainly: What the hell is wrong with this girl?
The Duke’s estate had cheerful mealtimes!
Unlike at the viscount’s house, where I had to eat scraps while working or nibble on stairs in between tasks, here we could dine properly in the servants’ dining hall.
I was about to dig in happily when a panicked voice called for me.
“Sissi! Miss Sissi!”
“Hello, Miss Margaret. Lovely lunch today! Did something happen?”
“Sissi, did you… did you clean Young Master Ian’s room?!”
“Eh? Yes! I cleaned both the corridor and inside his room. Well, I didn’t manage to dust the window frames since he kicked me out midway, but if that’s the issue, I can take care of it right after eating—”
“No, no! Forget the window frames! Dust is nothing!”
“But that was my duty. I thought you came to scold me for neglecting it.”
“Young Master Ian was in the room? While you cleaned?!”
Margaret was so flustered she didn’t even adjust her crooked glasses.
Her voice rang through the dining hall.
The servants, busily grabbing their meals and finding seats, all turned to look.
“She cleaned his room… while he was inside?”
“And she didn’t get her hair ripped out?”
“She’s not out of her mind?”
“She looks perfectly fine…”
So he pulled people’s hair too? I’d better remember that for next time.
“Yes, Miss Margaret. I’m sorry, was that a problem? I was told to finish cleaning before he returned, but when I opened the door, he was already inside…”
“And he… didn’t say anything?”
“Oh, he seemed really angry. But he didn’t actually stop me from cleaning. So I don’t think his anger was aimed at me. It was fine.”
“……”
“Miss Margaret?”
Her expression was strange. Like a professor who had just discovered a graduate student-level prodigy by accident.
And judging by her face, she really did feel that way.
Because the very next day—
After only a single day of employment, I was appointed as Ian Brighton’s personal attendant.
