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“Please… spare me! I was foolish and failed to understand Your Young Master’s intentions!”
There was no way I was dying like this.
I threw myself flat on the ground and begged 적이건 first, without hesitation.
“When did I ever say I would kill you?”
He let out a scoffing laugh, as if amused.
“I’ve noticed it since earlier today. You have a tendency to fear me excessively. Has some rumor spread that I devour maids or something?”
“N-no, that is not the case! I have heard endlessly of Second Young Master’s noble character ever since I became a maid within the estate!”
“Is that so?”
“Even so, I have dared to disturb Your Young Master’s peace of mind. I deserve death, but I beg you to grant me a chance to explain!”
When I cautiously lifted my head, 적이건 had already turned fully toward me.
The slight curl at the corner of his lips made it clear he was enjoying this situation.
You bastard.
I’m dying of fear here, and you’re smiling?
It was absurd, but if I showed it, I might truly end up bidding farewell to this world.
I took a deep breath and began my explanation as calmly as I could.
“Rice balls are originally food for those of lower status, something they quickly put together to stave off hunger. Naturally, such a thing does not suit someone as noble as Your Young Master. They are made crudely by mixing leftover rice and side dishes. How could I possibly serve such a thing to you?”
“Cheongang seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.”
“If you are curious about the taste, then although it may not befit your status, shall I prepare some alongside your dinner? I will make them entirely from fresh ingredients, not leftovers.”
“Very well. Do so.”
Only after seeing 적이건 turn away, answering as if he had been waiting for it, did I realize.
That was what he wanted to hear.
He frightened me just to make me say those words.
If he wanted rice balls, he could’ve just ordered them. Why toy with someone’s life like that?
Good thing I knew he was insane. If I hadn’t, I might’ve stood there confused and ended up dead.
From iced water to kalguksu, and now rice balls…
Did I take a wrong turn somewhere?
The original story never mentioned him being a glutton.
“Then I shall take my leave so that dinner may be prepared immediately after your bath.”
I didn’t want to stay with him for even a second longer. The moment I got permission, I hurried backward and escaped the bath chamber.
“Haah!”
All the strength left my legs.
As the tension drained away, I collapsed to the floor after only a few steps.
I really almost died that time.
If I hadn’t begged for my life, I’d probably be a cold corpse lying on the ground right now.
That muttering habit right before he acts.
He pretended otherwise, but if I hadn’t caught it, there would’ve been only one ending.
“Sniff… Grandma…”
The relief of surviving lasted only a moment.
I desperately missed Lady Shingeum, who would be diligently making noodles at the shop.
She wouldn’t know.
How many times I had brushed against death today.
Once I escape this Demonic Cult, and someday when 적이건 invades the martial world, I’ll tell these stories.
I’ll boast about how I survived these two months.
I’ll say I even saved Grandma’s life.
Clinging to a resolve I could tell no one, I forced myself up.
There was no time to waste. I had to prepare dinner, including the rice balls.
The Zami Hall was about to be thrown into chaos again.
“What? The Second Young Master wants rice balls? Me?”
As expected, So-ok looked like she was on the verge of fainting.
A girl who could make rice balls with her eyes closed was now trembling, nearly in a panic.
Still, under my pressure, she somehow managed to finish them, and I successfully served dinner to 적이건.
It was worth increasing the number of rice balls, remembering lunchtime.
적이건 ignored all the formal dishes and kept stuffing only the rice balls into his mouth.
If only those were stones.
Then maybe a few of his teeth would’ve cracked.
Just imagining it gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
But if that actually happened, it would be a disaster.
I had to survive.
It was miserable and unfair, but serving him well was the only way.
“Phew… now only the late-night snack is left.”
A long sigh escaped me as I returned after delivering the dinner tray.
What a long day.
And this was only the first day.
I didn’t even want to imagine what the remaining days would be like.
If every day were like today…
Maybe I could endure it somehow.
“Seolha!”
Just as I was lost in such absurd thoughts from sheer exhaustion, someone was waiting at the gate of Geonyeong Pavilion.
“Senior Gaye?”
I knew her name, but we weren’t close. She was a third-year senior maid.
“What brings you here?”
She smiled and linked arms with me.
“What do you mean? I came to congratulate you.”
“Congratulate me?”
“It’s your first day as the Second Young Master’s personal maid. We usually celebrate occasions like this among ourselves. Come on, let’s go.”
“Uh… I’m not supposed to leave my post…”
There wasn’t anything urgent at the moment, but I still had to remain on standby for 적이건.
All the other maids had gone home, so there was no one to replace me.
“He’ll be reading right now, so it’s fine. You think we’d bring you along without knowing that?”
Gaye reassured me and pulled me toward the wall.
Her grip was surprisingly strong, and before I knew it, I was following her.
“You’re finally here?”
A bad feeling crept in as we moved toward a more secluded area.
And soon, my suspicion was confirmed.
At the end of the wall, a woman who had been squatting and chewing something stood up as soon as she saw me.
Behind her stood a familiar face.
“I told you I’d see you later, didn’t I?”
It was Do-ae, waving at me with a grin.
So that strange farewell earlier had been about this.
“You dare lay a hand on my sister?”
Sister?
As I looked between them in confusion, Do-ae proudly lifted her chin.
So they were sisters.
No wonder they looked alike. Equally nasty and ill-tempered.
“Are your ears blocked? A senior is speaking, and you just stand there?”
“Jiae, Seolha looks scared. Don’t push her too hard.”
Gaye had already moved to their side.
Even though I hadn’t done anything to her, her gaze toward me was full of hostility.
“So you think you can act up just because you have a pretty face? Do you think the Second Young Master will see you differently for that?”
Ah, so that’s what this was about.
For a moment, I had wondered if I had unknowingly offended her.
Turns out, she was just like the others. She didn’t like that I had become 적이건’s personal maid.
“And among us maids, there are ranks and rules. Even if you’re his personal maid, how dare you hit a senior?”
“She attacked me first.”
And it had been three against one.
That was self-defense.
“Wow, she finally speaks.”
Do-ae’s sister spat on the ground in front of me, then suddenly swung her hand.
I stepped back quickly, avoiding the slap.
“You dodged that?”
Her expression twisted immediately.
“I was going to end this with one slap, but forget it. I’ll beat you properly today!”
Her hand flew again.
But once more, I evaded it easily.
However, her next movement made me pause.
This wasn’t just closing distance.
She was subtly controlling my movement, herding me like prey.
Footwork.
Unlike her sister, she definitely knew martial arts.
So that was why she brought me here.
But unfortunately for her…
I wasn’t someone who would just take it.
I hadn’t mastered extraordinary techniques like the protagonists in martial arts novels, but I was more than capable of defeating a mere maid.
Lady Shingeum didn’t raise me carelessly.
Smack!
Her palm came flying again.
Is slapping people her hobby?
I pursed my lips and bent my knees, leaning my upper body backward.
Not quite the perfect horizontal stance of a master, but impressive enough.
“How long do you think you can keep dodging!”
Her hand twisted into a claw midair.
Rolling away would’ve been the easiest option, but that would earn me their ridicule.
My grandmother told me not to reveal my martial arts unless necessary.
But this was practically a battlefield.
I extended my left foot and lightly pushed her hip joint.
Her body jolted, and her hand barely grazed past my chest.
I quickly straightened up.
“So you know martial arts?”
She glared at me, furious.
“You’re barely third-rate. You must’ve picked it up somewhere. I’ll fix your attitude today!”
She charged again, her steps filled with force.
But something about it felt… off.
Clumsy.
As my grandmother said, footwork isn’t just about stepping. It requires balance, control, and internal energy.
But she charged like an enraged colt.
Too many openings.
I could pick anywhere.
Maybe I’ll provoke her first.
I shifted half a step and hooked my foot.
“Ahh!”
She fell hard to the ground.
“You witch! What kind of trick was that?!”
It was just a simple trip.
Her flushed face and anxious glances at the others looked almost pitiful.
Why pick a fight with someone who just wants to live quietly?
“Damn it, I’ll kill you!”
Despite her threats, she couldn’t land a single hit on me afterward.
The difference in skill was obvious, yet she kept charging out of pride.
Do-ae and Gaye both looked increasingly uneasy.
I should wrap this up.
Hopefully, 적이건 hasn’t noticed.
“Hah!”
I moved swiftly, stepping in and striking her chin upward.
Bang!
Her body flew up and dropped.
She was unconscious.
“U-unnie!”
“Jiae!”
They rushed to her, pale-faced.
And at that moment—
Whoosh—whoosh—
Martial artists poured down from the wall.
Dozens surrounded us, weapons drawn, killing intent thick in the air.
W-what is this?
I stepped back, stunned.
I had never experienced anything like this before.
But the real danger came from elsewhere.
“Make way! Or I’ll kill this girl!”
A cold blade pressed against my neck.
I had become a hostage.
The attackers weren’t here for me, but for the man holding me.
Is this guy an idiot?
Why take a maid hostage?
No one would risk anything for me.
The blade cut slightly.
The faint smell of blood filled the air.
Only then did I realize how dangerous this was.
Should I try to escape?
No. He was far too skilled.
A wrong move would mean death.
Grandma… what do I do?
My body trembled uncontrollably.
And then—
Bang!
“Ugh!”
A sharp sound rang out.
The man staggered, loosening his grip.
I broke free immediately.
And saw him.
적이건, leaping over the wall, flicking his fingers.
Bang! Bang!
Invisible energy shot like bullets.
One pierced the man’s wrist, another his ankle.
Blood poured from his ear.
“Ah!”
Now I remembered.
Paoktan Jagyeol.
A technique where internal energy is fired outward.
A high-level martial art.
And he could already use it at nineteen.
He was even stronger than I imagined.
“Are you alright?”
…What?
Did he just ask me that?
As I stood stunned, 적이건 walked past me toward the fallen man.
Energy surged in his raised hand.
If that struck, the man would be torn apart.
I turned away—
“Stop!”
A commanding voice echoed.
All the martial artists dropped their weapons and prostrated.
“We greet the Heavenly Demon!”
“We greet the Heavenly Demon!”
My forehead hit the ground instinctively.
The absolute ruler of the Demonic Cult.
One of the Ten Supreme Masters.
The strongest in the world.
The Heavenly Demon.
My heart pounded violently.
