Male Lead Obsesses Over the Wicked Maid – Episode 8
Despite my confidence, my lips shriveled up, unsure of what to say.
Now that I’d said it, I was in trouble. What should I say to avoid suspicion?
I turned my eyes back to Hider and gave him an awkward smile.
Ahem, ahem.
Right now, I look like a shy 15-year-old girl. Sure, I’ve got muscles built from maid work, but I don’t have the kind of muscles you’d get from formal training.
What kind of excuse would work?
“Actually, I had a dad, but…”
“You said you were born without a father.”
He knows that much about Rani? That’s… impressive. I quickly changed my story.
“…I meant I had an older brother. He was a knight. I watched him train for years, maybe that’s why—haha—it just comes naturally.”
That sounded pretty natural, right? Wait… did Rani have an older brother? I can’t remember. My question was answered by Hider.
“…Didn’t you say he died three years ago from gambling and drinking?”
Hider knew more about my character’s backstory than I did.
How the heck does he know all that? Maybe Rani blabbed a lot before. That would make sense. I could easily picture Rani chatting away, not caring whether Hider was even listening.
People used to say Rani was quite the chatterbox. Some even thought she’d matured just because she was quieter these days.
Well, you need something to talk about to keep talking. And listening is a better way to gather information anyway.
“Before that, he was a knight! He was pretty good too, but then he injured his leg in an accident…”
Check out my improvisation skills. With reflexes like this, can’t you at least pretend to believe me out of sheer admiration?
Though Hider frowned, he didn’t ask anything else that would put me on the spot. Cold sweat ran down my back.
He stared at me, then slightly moved his lips.
“…Then I’ll ask you properly. Will you teach me? I don’t have anything to offer in return right now. But I’ll never forget this favor.”
Honestly, what I really care about is after that. The future where Hider regains all his power.
I nodded eagerly at his words.
If even the system wants it this badly, how could I refuse?
“Yes, young master! I’ll do my best!”
Hider wore a conflicted expression as he watched Rani come in, happily carrying a huge load of potatoes.
What he’d learned about Rani so far was that she was seriously strong.
Just recently, she’d caught him by the waist and lifted him up like it was nothing when he was about to fall. The memory made Hider’s cheeks flush red.
He rubbed his face.
The close contact. The nearness of their lips.
Hider was this affected, and yet Rani didn’t seem to think anything of it.
Right now, she was happily peeling potatoes, her back radiating joy.
Hider lowered his hand.
‘I can’t protect Rani like this.’
He looked down at his hands. There was truly nothing Rani couldn’t do. Even her sword skills were better than most kids her age. She was practically perfect.
So perfect, it made him wonder why someone like her was by his side at all.
Hider clenched his fist.
And began training again. His goal now was to become someone even stronger than Rani.
All while helping her carry those massive baskets of potatoes like they were nothing.
“Rani, hey. I was curious about this part. Do you know anything about it?”
The most frustrating part was wanting to grow stronger for her… but having to learn from her in the first place.
Hider let out a quiet sigh.
“Of course! So you were staring because you wanted to ask this! You can ask me anything, anytime!”
Rani jumped up from her seat, potato peeler in hand. Her energy was so intense, the little knife in her hand looked more like a legendary greatsword in the moment.
As she swung the peeler around, showing him a demonstration—
[Status Window Updating…]
The window changed.
Name: Rani
Age: 15
Role: Male Lead’s Childhood Mentor (Updating)
Additional Skill: [Potato Peeler v.1]
What on earth?! For the first time, the word “instant death” disappeared from my role screen. It looked like my hard work was finally paying off.
‘Ugh, do you even know what I’ve been through to get here?’
Right now, Rani felt like she could break out into a ridiculous butt-dance in the middle of a crowded plaza.
‘But seriously… what’s with the added skill?’
Oh, come on!
Can’t I get something actually cool and useful?!
Rani screamed internally.
While Rani and Hider were having their sweet little training moments, a new storm was brewing in the previously peaceful duke’s estate.
A new character had entered the scene.
“It’s been a while, child.”
The Duchess bowed her head, her face pale as a ghost.
It was none other than Tybern—the former Duke who had passed down the title and disappeared to wander the continent.
“F-Father…”
The Duchess bit her lip hard. Unlike her husband, who was indifferent to everything and kept his distance from all matters, Tybern had always taken a great interest in the family’s affairs.
Which is why he’d occasionally pop up out of nowhere and shock everyone.
And he was especially obsessed with his bloodline—always a recipe for disaster.
“Karte and Sornya are here. My son is probably holed up in the office. That leaves just one. Where’s Hider?”
The Duchess quickly racked her brain. Then she shut her eyes tight and opened them again.
“He stepped out briefly. Said he wanted to buy something. He’ll be back soon. Have you had lunch, Father?”
“You’re still tormenting him, aren’t you?”
“N-No! Of course not! I swear, please believe me!”
“…I’ll know when I see him. Send him to my room when he returns.”
“Y-Yes!”
As Tybern climbed the stairs to his room on the second floor, the Duchess sharply turned to her handmaid, Dania.
“You!”
“Y-Yes, Duchess!”
“Go to the attic and tell Rani to get that thing ready and come down. Dress her up properly! You got it?!”
“Yes, Duchess!”
After watching Dania run off toward the attic, the Duchess spun around.
There was no time to waste. She had to move Hider out of his room and get the staff to keep their mouths shut.
With Tybern’s sudden appearance, a cold wind had swept through the Duke’s estate.
The Duchess bit her lip tightly, eyes sharp as she stared up the stairs to the second floor.
While Rani was cheerfully demonstrating how to wield a potato peeler to Hider—
Clunk!
Both of us turned toward the noise at the same time. Someone was at the door.
Then a voice we absolutely didn’t want to hear called out from the hallway.
“Rani! Are you in there? Rani! Something’s happened!”
It was Dania.
One of the youngest and most efficient of the Duchess’s lackeys. We were about the same age, but she’d stood out with her competent work.
Still, one thing was clear—she should NOT be here.
I swallowed hard and scanned the room.
The attic looked more like a luxurious hotel suite than a maid’s quarters.
Click!
The terrifying sound of a key being inserted into the lock.
I turned wide eyes toward Hider. He was dressed in even fancier clothes than Karte ever wore.
We’re doomed. This is it.
The door swung open, and Dania stepped inside.
“You were in here the whole time—why didn’t you say anyth—Oh my god! What is this place?!”
Dania screamed. Just as she was about to freak out further, Hider moved in a flash. He darted to her, covered her mouth, and pressed a wooden sword to her neck.
Dania’s eyes widened in terror from the sheer pressure of his presence.
He was a natural genius.
Unlike me, who relied on skill buffs, Hider had rapidly grown stronger through his raw talent and physique.
He didn’t become the youngest Sword Master for nothing.
Anyway, thanks to that, Hider had subdued Dania in an instant.
