IVMF 12

Chapter: 12

“Did he… take care of me?”

Miliana carefully examined the outfit.

The top resembled a white blouse, fitted tightly at the waist, with a skirt that flowed all the way down. It looked like formal attire.

When she stood in front of the mirror and held the clothes up to her body, she looked nothing like her former self—who had only ever worn shabby garments.

I can’t believe I’m wearing something like this…

Miliana gently touched the new clothes. They were soft—almost trembling beneath her fingers. One glance was enough to tell that the fabric was high quality. There was even a brooch prepared as an accent on the chest.

With trembling hands, she touched the brooch. It was her first time seeing a gemstone this close.

She had bought accessories before, but they were always just cubic zirconia. Real gems truly shone differently.

Even maids of modest status usually owned at least one piece of jewelry if they served a noble household. This must have been given so Miliana wouldn’t go around looking plain without a single ornament.

After putting everything on, she looked at herself in the mirror.

She herself hadn’t changed—but the clothes had, and that alone altered the impression, the atmosphere. Somehow, she felt as though she had been reborn.

“Ah! This isn’t the time to be spacing out!”

It was her first step as Heos’s personal maid. At first she walked awkwardly, like someone wearing unfamiliar clothes, but before she realized it, her steps grew steadier.

Though this was her first time serving as a personal maid, she had been summoned by Heos often enough to know where his room was.

Let’s do our best starting today! I’ll definitely lift the curse! Master, please wait for me!

She reaffirmed her resolve.

Now that she could legally remain by his side, she would be able to try many different approaches.

A vision of the future suddenly flickered before her eyes—the clear image of him driving a sword into Kaiden’s heart. Along with Kaiden’s words, and Heos’s expression.

But she couldn’t give up yet.

This was only the beginning.

The knights had apparently already heard the news. Though their brows furrowed when Miliana approached, they still inclined their heads slightly.

She returned the greeting and stood before Heos’s door, taking a deep breath. Though she had fussed over her appearance in front of the mirror long enough for it to be perfect, she still checked the brooch once more.

Knock, knock.

There was no response from inside. Miliana glanced toward the window. It was already time for the sun to rise.

It should be about time for him to wake up… Is it okay to go in?

Since this was her first day, she was cautious about everything. Leaving a good first impression was important—especially right after becoming a personal maid.

She hoped Heos wouldn’t think, like the gossiping maids from yesterday, that he had been used as a stepping stone for her rise in status.

After pacing back and forth in front of the door, she finally asked the knights for help. They too would need to be at his side once he woke up.

“Is the young master still asleep? Around what time does he usually wake?”

“I don’t know. You should decide for yourself.”

The knight’s polite tone made Miliana stare at him. He was the same man who had once shouted at her for not stopping Heos’s rampage.

Yet, as she had noticed earlier, his eyes held clear displeasure. He was only treating her properly because she had become the personal maid.

This isn’t the time to dwell on trivial things.

She knew there would be many people like this going forward.

“Um… What did the previous maid do?”

Since the former personal maid had been dismissed almost immediately, Miliana had no idea what she was supposed to do. She could only rely on prior experience.

“She didn’t interfere with the young master.”

“And… attending to him?”

“Not interfering” basically meant leaving him alone.

Recalling the maid who had previously served at Heos’s side, Miliana thought that made sense. That maid had seemed afraid to even approach him.

The knights stopped responding altogether, deliberately avoiding her gaze.

“….”

After a moment of hesitation, Miliana called out from outside.

“Young master? Are you still asleep? It’s Miliana.”

There was still no reply. Having made up her mind, she opened the door wide.

A regular lifestyle—sleeping early and waking early—was important for a child. Especially for the young master!

“Young Master Heos! How long are you planning to sleep?”

“M-Miliana?”

Heos, who had been lying with his back to the door under the covers, froze when he actually saw Miliana standing there.

Though he had heard her voice outside, he hadn’t believed she would really come in.

As Heos stared at her with a stunned expression, Miliana smiled warmly. Recalling the etiquette she had once seen a noble lady perform, she followed it exactly.

“I’ve been appointed as your personal maid starting today. I look forward to serving you.”

“Really?!”

Seeing Heos beam with happiness made Miliana happy as well.

“Yes. Didn’t His Grace tell you?”

But Heos’s expression soon turned strange.

“Was it Father’s order?”

“If we’re being precise… yes.”

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to do it…”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing good ever happens when you’re with me. The rampages, and all… If you didn’t choose this yourself, don’t get hurt because of me.”

Heos worried that Miliana might only be here because he had insisted on calling her so often—and that, like the other servants, she might secretly dislike him.

He was the one who had hurt her, and his careless words had dragged her into trouble.

Seeing Heos hesitate and fumble over his words made Miliana’s chest ache.

“What are you talking about? Being with you has brought me nothing but good things. Look—this is the first time I’ve ever worn such nice clothes.”

“They suit you…”

“Right? So stop thinking like that. Now, I know you’re tired, but you need to get moving. And wipe the sleep out of your eyes.”

She approached him as he sat on the bed and gently wiped the eye gunk away with her finger. Miliana acted naturally, as though caring for a younger sibling. Heos’s face flushed a soft peach color.

“I’ll bring some water for washing. Don’t fall back asleep—wait for me.”

He nodded silently.

By the time Miliana returned with the washbasin, one of the knights who had been outside was now inside the room, watching Heos closely. Since he was awake, they needed to monitor him in case of a rampage.

Miliana felt the suffocating silence. She placed the basin on the table, then pulled the curtains wide open and opened the window to air out the gloomy room.

“Doesn’t the sunlight smell nice?”

“……”

As soon as she set the basin down, Heos began washing his face himself. It was a habit ingrained in him.

Don’t children usually wait for someone to do it for them?

The young lady Miliana had once cared for certainly had.

He washed his face with warm water and wiped it clean with the towel Miliana handed him. When she took the towel back, she noticed his expression had darkened slightly.

Something was bothering him. He seemed strangely uneasy.

“Um… Miliana. Did Father say anything? Like… how long this would last?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just… No matter how I think about it, I can’t believe Father suddenly assigned you to me.”

His distrust toward himself ran deep. Miliana replied with a bright smile.

“Maybe I left a good impression on His Grace? You and I get along well too.”

“……”

“Don’t we…?”

Miliana lowered her head as if hurt. Heos hurriedly shook his head.

“I like you because you’re different from the others! You’re not forceful, you’re kind… and you actually listen to me!”

He counted the reasons on his fingers. His cuteness made her laugh softly.

“But… Father hates me… If you stay close to me, the other servants will ostracize you…”

Heos muttered quietly, glancing at the knights.

So they talked behind his back when I wasn’t around. Honestly, what is wrong with the servants in this estate?

Miliana tightly clasped Heos’s hand. How much neglect and oppression had he suffered to be so conscious of the servants’ eyes? Her head began to ache again.

Is that the child?
Yes. The one we’re supposed to serve.
It’s not even confirmed. His Grace said he isn’t his son. You think every Transcendent automatically becomes the Grand Duke’s son?
Who says he isn’t? They say he was conceived in a single night… He could’ve been born from some other man she slept with.

Mocking laughter.

Cleaning up after his rampages is entirely our job. Wouldn’t it be safer to isolate him? What kind of order is it to guard a walking bomb?
It’s His Grace’s command. Stop complaining and follow it.
Was His Grace like that too?
As if.
How utterly disgraceful.

Then another scene appeared.

“P-Please… spare us…”
“…Why should I listen to you? You never listened to me.”

Red eyes blazing with hatred turned mercilessly toward the people.

Miliana struggled to erase the images overtaking her mind. The shifting scenes held both past and future.

And then—she stood alone in a vast mansion.

Though molten lava seemed to boil within his red eyes, they looked more like the ashes left after a volcano had erupted. His past was miserable. His future, sorrowful.

When Miliana failed to speak, Heos asked in a gloomy voice,

“…You don’t like it either, do you?”

“No. I just want to stay by your side.”

She answered calmly, gently holding his thin, bony fingers. His red eyes trembled slightly.

“I should thank His Grace. I’ll thank him for allowing me to serve someone so precious.”

“…Precious?”

“Yes. Precious.”

Because only you can change the future.

Though he would one day kill her master, it hadn’t been by choice. He had simply been consumed by a curse he couldn’t control.

And that curse had been the work of Erpilsia—another of her master’s disciples, a witch.

He was the key to resolving the regret her master had carried in his heart.

“Young master, shall we go have breakfast?”

Seeing his frail body, Miliana tried to lead him to the dining hall. She tugged his hand—but he didn’t budge.

“I’m not going.”

“What?”

The firm refusal from Heos—who had seemed like he would follow her easily—made sweat bead on her forehead.

He often looked like a gentle lamb, only to resemble a beast in the next moment.

That gentle appearance came from his unstable heart. The calm, beast-like composure was closer to his true self.