Chapter 8
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Only after I spoke did the maid seem to realize the door had been locked. She quickly scanned the surroundings and bit her lip hard.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Oh, wearing a mask of shamelessness now?
I chuckled softly.
“It’s unfortunate that the young master was hurt, but taking it out on an innocent person like me isn’t right, don’t you think?”
“Innocent, huh.”
I slowly approached the maid. She backed away just as slowly.
“I’ll ask you again. Are you really innocent?”
“Yes!”
She answered without even a moment’s hesitation. Sigh, then I have no choice.
Splaash!
“Kyaa!”
The maid let out a sharp scream. I had taken the kettle from the trolley and dumped its contents on her.
“It’s hot!”
She thrashed about, desperately trying to wipe the water away.
What’s with the overreaction?
It had cooled down a lot since earlier.
“To think you used water hot enough to burn an adult as wash water for a three-year-old.”
Clang! I dropped the kettle to the floor and kept walking toward her.
Very slowly.
The maid flinched, retreating in fear.
“Have you lost your mind?”
With one step from me, she took two steps back. After a few repetitions of this dance—thud—her back hit the wall. Nowhere left to go.
“I asked if you’ve lost your mind.”
“Hhkk…”
The maid, trapped against the wall, tried to hold back her sobs. But the venom in her eyes still glared at me like she wanted me dead.
“Tell the truth. Or I’ll call everyone outside to drag it out of you.”
“……”
Maybe she realized there was no way out.
She squeezed her eyes shut, then screamed.
“Fine! I played a little prank, so what?! Isn’t that lighter than the awful things you did?”
Her eyes were bloodshot with rage.
“I heard you used the child to force His Grace into an engagement! Hah! It’s obvious the kid doesn’t even look like him, so stop with the lies!”
She gave a cold laugh, glaring at me with pure hatred.
“At least I didn’t use the kid like you did. Doesn’t that make me better than you?”
“Hah.”
Now that’s a fresh new kind of nonsense.
Maybe she misunderstood my smile, because she started spitting out words with clenched teeth.
“You’re blackmailing His Grace for an engagement, aren’t you?! Stop tormenting the man—he just came back from the battlefield!”
She panted, breathless.
“And now you’ve even taken over his room!”
Ah, so this was the Grand Duke’s room? No wonder the furniture was so fancy.
“And another thing—!”
Not even worth the effort to tell her to shut up.
Thud!
I slammed my fist into the wall. The room instantly fell silent.
Hmm. Nice. Peaceful. I don’t even have to raise my voice now.
“Want me to tell you two things you didn’t know?”
“What?”
“One.”
I held up a finger and smiled sweetly.
“That child is the Grand Duke’s one and only nephew. His Grace has already confirmed it himself.”
The maid blinked slowly. What, is it hard to believe because of the hair color?
“Two.”
I raised a second finger.
“I’m staying in this mansion because the Grand Duke loves me dearly. We’ve already agreed to get engaged. You know what that means?”
Forgive me, Your Grace.
I might be lying just a bit.
But the most important part is—it’s all true anyway, right?
“You tried to harm His Grace’s only nephew and injure me, his fiancée.”
In other words, your life is over.
“H-Huh…?”
Maybe the words were finally sinking in.
Terror slowly began to creep into her eyes.
“Well then.”
I smiled wide, narrowing my eyes.
“I’ve kindly answered your questions, so now it’s your turn.”
I grabbed her chin to stop her from looking away. The fear in her eyes came into full view.
Much better. That look suits you.
“So, who told you?”
Who said I was using the child to force an engagement and putting His Grace in a difficult position?
Tell me. Please?
I’m dying to know.
*
*
Thud!
A booming noise shook the mansion, and Milton, the accountant of House Leandro, looked up.
‘What the hell was that?’
It hadn’t been long since the maid had stormed upstairs after hearing the bell.
‘Ignore it. Just ignore it.’
This wasn’t the kind of thing he should concern himself with.
He had to pack quickly, gather the important documents, and escape.
Another region—no, another country!
Once he crossed the border, even the mighty Grand Duke Leandro wouldn’t be able to touch him.
He had the money to make it across, so there was no problem.
‘Damn it, why did it have to be her of all people who crawled in as the Grand Duke’s fiancée?!’
He’d thought she was just visiting briefly yesterday.
He was sure she’d be kicked out in less than two hours, without even getting a glass of water.
I mean, this was Grand Duke Leandro we’re talking about.
Butcher. Hero. Cursed One. Slayer of the Demon King.
He had many names, but Milton’s favorite by far was—
Misantrope.
For the glory of the family, and because he saw it as his duty, the Grand Duke had gone to war while still just a boy.
But each time he returned, all he heard were horrific rumors spread by those who feared him.
Because of that, he learned of his parents’ funeral and his sister’s disappearance after the fact. He ended up hating people altogether.
‘Only those he fought with in war or those he’s known since childhood can get close to him.’
To strangers, he never let his guard down.
Even Milton, who had worked in the mansion for years, was always kept at a distance.
“I brought the documents you requested.”
“Leave them.”
He’d visited many times, but the Grand Duke never opened up. Not even small talk was easy.
‘So I could never sound him out.’
Maybe the Grand Duke already knew.
Maybe he’d figured out all the things Milton had done while he was away.
It always felt like walking on thin ice.
And now, that idiot Ermia Tekins had rolled in as the Grand Duke’s fiancée?
Milton gnashed his teeth.
‘No, calm down.’
Milton rubbed his face aggressively and tried to think.
‘She’s a fool anyway. She was tossed around by those half-commoner types, wasn’t she?’
Milton had once worked on a job with Count Tekins and knew Ermia’s true nature.
Villainess?
She wasn’t anything that impressive.
She was just a pushover.
‘Yeah, she won’t say anything.’
She’d just bow her head and mumble something about hot water being uncomfortable.
‘Once I disappear, that’s the end of it.’
If he could just get through this crisis, a rosy future awaited him.
