The Maid Who Feared the Devil
"Haa... haa..."
Marie panted raggedly as she trudged down the forest path leading to the annex.
Her footsteps felt as heavy as lead.
Her mind was entirely consumed by what had just happened in the servants' quarters.
Why me, of all people...
It was morning roll call.
The head maid had gathered the servants with a stern expression.
"As you're all aware, Lady Bellaph returned from the main estate yesterday."
The air in the quarters froze at those words.
Elise de Bellaph.
That name alone was pure terror to the servants of the Bellaph Ducal Residence.
Marie was a newbie hired after Elise had left for the academy, so she knew nothing firsthand, but she'd heard endless horror stories from her seniors.
"Hey, newbie. You know what happened to that girl who quit last year? Nearly got a hole punched through the back of her hand."
"A h-hole?"
"Yeah. Lady Bellaph didn't like where the fork was placed during her meal. Tried to stab it right through her hand on the spot."
"Eek..."
"And that's not all. She once cut off a passing maid's hair because she didn't like it. Poured scalding tea on someone because the dessert wasn't to her taste."
The seniors shuddered as they spoke.
There were more tales: smashing a knight's arm for a sloppy salute, storming the imperial palace because her fiancé the crown prince missed a communication crystal call, slicing out a maid's tongue for badmouthing her behind her back. A whole litany of atrocities.
But every story about Lady Bellaph ended the same way.
"If you so much as make eye contact with Lady Bellaph, run. Don't even breathe. That's your only shot at survival."
As a clueless newbie, Marie had just nodded along every time.
But now...
That Lady Bellaph was back.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"While Lady Bellaph stays in the annex, we need one dedicated maid to attend her. Any volunteers?"
The moment the words left the head maid's mouth, the seniors averted their eyes or stared at the floor.
No one wanted to leap into that hellfire pit.
As the silence dragged on, the head maid's eyebrow twitched.
"No volunteers? Fine. I'll assign someone."
Her gaze swept over the servants.
Seniors and peers alike flinched wherever it landed.
And finally, it stopped—on Marie, standing right up front.
"Marie."
"Y-yes?"
"You'll do it."
"M-me? But I'm still clumsy, and I've only been here a short time..."
"That's exactly why you're going."
The head maid was unyielding.
"You can't even clean the main house properly—always having to redo it. Your cooking's so bad no one uses it. Might as well go to the annex and quietly tend to the lady."
"Ah..."
She couldn't argue; it was all true.
A few months in, and Marie was still a bundle of mistakes, treated like half a person.
"There's not much to do in the annex. Just handle her meals and some cleaning. Got it?"
"B-but..."
"No buts. Or do you have a problem? Then get out of the ducal residence right now."
Fired.
That word choked back her refusal.
Getting booted from the ducal residence meant the streets were her only home.
The seniors gave her pitying looks, briefing her on dos and don'ts.
"Never wake her when she's sleeping. Wait until she opens her eyes herself. Last time someone tried, a vase came flying."
"Yes..."
"If she raises her hand, drop flat. It's a signal for a slap—dodge, and you'll get hit worse."
"Y-yes...?"
Fidgeting with the snacks her seniors had slipped her, Marie arrived at the annex feeling like crying.
The vine-choked building looked downright eerie.
But the person inside terrified her far more.
I'd rather there were ghosts...
Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door with the key from the head maid.
-Creak...
Inside, heavy curtains made the living room dim and shadowy.
A figure lay sprawled on the old sofa.
A woman with jet-black hair spilling long around her, fast asleep.
Skin pale as porcelain, lips blood-red.
That's... Lady Bellaph...
Marie crept forward, holding her breath.
Her seniors' warnings flashed in her mind.
Never wake her.
But the head maid's command echoed too.
If she complains about missing breakfast, it's on you.
A rock and a hard place.
Gathering courage, she sidled up to the sofa.
Just wake her quietly—no trace it was me.
"Um... Lady...?"
She whispered like an ant crawling.
No response.
A bit louder, voice still shaking.
"L-Lady... It's morning..."
"Mm..."
Lady Bellaph frowned, shifting slightly.
Marie's heart nearly stopped.
Slowly, the lady's eyes opened.
Amethyst irises gazed hazily at her.
Eye contact froze Marie solid.
Eye contact means a beating.
She dropped her gaze instantly.
Don't hit me. Don't hit me.
Against her prayers, the lady sat up sleepily and reached toward her.
Hand raised—drop flat!
Terror overwhelmed reason.
"I-I'm Marie! P-please take care of me this month!"
She screamed her introduction.
But the hand kept coming closer.
"Uh, sure. Looking for—"
The lady's mouth opened, hand inches from her nose.
Reason snapped.
"Kyaaack!"
Marie clutched her head and flattened herself on the floor.
"Please spare my life! No beating! No hot water! Please!"
"..."
In the annex living room.
I stared down at the maid trembling face-down on the floor, my outstretched hand frozen in mid-air.
I couldn't process it.
Still groggy from waking up, and her reaction had me baffled.
I'd just been reaching for a handshake.
"Hey."
"Eek! S-sorry! For daring to disturb your sleep... I've committed a mortal sin!"
She groveled from the floor.
"No, it's not that bad."
"Please don't hit me! I haven't married yet... Never even dated... Just spare my tongue!"
Sigh...
Seeing her like this, I couldn't even gauge how low my reputation had sunk.
This was ghost-story level.
I let out a deep sigh.
"Lift your head first."
"Hic... hiiic... I was wrong..."
"I won't hit you. No water. No tongue-cutting. So get up."
At my words, she peeked up hesitantly.
Face a mess of tears and snot.
Eyes like a cow headed to slaughter.
I tried my best kind smile.
"Hiiik...!"
Seemed to backfire.
"You're Marie, right?"
"Y-yes... Marie..."
This maid clearly had massive misconceptions about me.
Or maybe not misconceptions, given my original personality.
Anyway, if I didn't clear this up, my month of house arrest would be exhausting.
But explaining in detail felt weird.
Maybe lean into the scary vibe.
"Right, Marie. You'll be my personal maid for the next month. How can you serve properly shaking like that?"
"S-sorry! I'll do better!"
I waved dismissively, annoyed.
"As long as you don't cross lines, I won't lay a hand on you. Got it?"
"Y-yes! Understood! Thank you, milady!"
Relief buckled Marie's knees.
One promise of no hands-on punishment, and she was that grateful.
I couldn't help a smirk.
"More importantly, help me up. I'm hungry."
Marie hesitated, then gingerly took my hand.
Hers was cold and clammy from nerves.
I felt her jolt when I gripped it, but ignored it and let her help me stand.
"Is breakfast ready?"
"Y-yes! Simple stuff in the kitchen."
"Good. Let's go."
The table held fresh-baked bread, scrambled eggs, and salad.
Spartan for ducal fare, but perfect for my modern tastes.
I speared some eggs with a fork.
Soft, nutty flavor filled my mouth.
"Tasty."
Marie, hovering shrunk-up beside me, jumped at my casual mutter.
"D-does it suit your palate?"
"Yeah. Seasoning's spot-on, perfectly cooked. You made it?"
"Y-yes... Sorry my skills are lackluster... Huh?"
She started apologizing out of habit, then caught the praise, eyes widening.
"It's good. You did well."
"Ah..."
Marie's mouth fell open.
Incredulous.
"What, something on my face?"
"N-no! Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
Tears welled in her eyes, moved.
That thrilled over egg praise?
I shrugged it off and kept eating.
I had no idea how much that tiny compliment meant to a girl always chewed out.