To My Arrogant Master - Chapter 10

Seeing how her complexion had changed unrecognizably after two weeks, it seemed she had been eating and living well. Her articulate retorts also seemed to have more spirit than before.

‘Is she trying to make a show of it to me now?’

She might be deliberately acting like this to show off, upset that she, with her outstanding martial prowess despite her reputation, was given mere maid work.

By the time he thought that far, the head maid, who had hurriedly come at the duke’s call, also discovered Flora precariously hanging outside the window and drew in a sharp breath.

But she was experienced enough not to forget that she should first pay her respects to the duke present here.

“Master, I heard you called for me.”

“It seems that while I was away, the maids have changed to clean in such a manner.”

The head maid’s face clearly showed her embarrassment at the sarcastic remark implying that she should look at that sight if she had eyes.

“Mrs Melady. Did you order this?”

The duke’s words, which usually used some level of respect for the elderly Mrs Melady, were short.

Mrs Melady frowned and quickly shook her head.

“How could that be? It seems there must have been some misunderstanding.”

“You heard that? Come down immediately.”

Seeming to have grasped the situation somewhat with the head maid’s appearance, Flora swiftly climbed over the window into the office.

Her movement stepping on the window frame and coming down was without any unnecessary motion, and her landing on the floor was as light as a feather. It was an extremely light gesture, like a squirrel climbing a tree. However, Claude, who had meant for her to come down through the roof, was once again exasperated.

“Didn’t you say it was the head maid’s order?”

“Celine directly told me it was the head maid’s order.”

Flora answered clearly with a face that showed not a hint of falsehood.

At that moment, the face of Celine, who led the bullying, flashed before the eyes of the head maid who thought Flora might have held a grudge for being scolded a little earlier.

She immediately grasped the situation. After quickly calculating the severity in her head, she bowed.

“It seems the message I conveyed to another maid was distorted in the middle. I will be more careful.”

But even with Mrs Melady’s acknowledgment, Claude still seemed displeased.

“Miscommunication can cost lives. The head maid should know that… Am I wrong?”

The duke, whom she had known since childhood, was usually a master who would trust and let things go if she apologized sincerely, but today was different. In front of the duke who was somehow taking the side of a young maid, Mrs Melady swallowed her humiliation and bowed her head deeply.

“I apologize for causing you concern. I will pay more attention to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.”

Until the summoned head maid left after hearing unpleasant words, Flora just blinked her eyes, not understanding what was happening.

Even then, the duke, who had strangely furrowed his brow, was staring intently at her. As Flora was about to open her mouth, thinking she should apologize too, the duke was faster.

“Don’t just do whatever you’re told without thinking first. In your current position, you don’t need to follow unreasonable orders.”

“…Yes.”

Her eyes naturally lowered to the floor. She had tried her best, but honestly, it was hard to understand why even the head maid was called. It sounded like she was being told not to overstep her bounds as a maid, which made her feel a bit intimidated.

The duke, who was about to tell her to leave, said with a slightly weakened voice, as if sighing,

“Be more relaxed and slack off like the other maids. No one here but me will scold you for that.”

Although he had admonished her rather gently, Claude didn’t think Flora had properly understood what he meant.

Watching Flora’s back as she left after bowing her head, he shook his head and turned towards the window.

His office was on the 5th floor, and right above it was a balustrade connected to the roof, but he couldn’t understand what kind of thinking would make someone consider climbing up there.

In fact, Claude didn’t want to see anyone dying in front of him even after the end of the war. After all, it directly led to violent dreams.

Then, realizing that she wouldn’t fall and get hurt from a place like this, Claude let out a low sigh.

“I said something unnecessary, which is unlike me.”

He chuckled, wondering who he had been worried about in that brief moment.

* * *

“I meant it as a joke, but to act like that… Did she deliberately set us up?”

“Um, Celine. Are you okay?”

“Don’t touch me!”

Celine snapped at the maids’ cautious concern, covering one cheek that had been slapped by the head maid with her hand.

The duke, who was rarely angry, was aggrieved when he saw Flora’s dangerous posture while cleaning the window. It was understandable to be surprised and displeased seeing a person suddenly appear beyond the 5th-floor window, but to Celine, it seemed excessive.

Didn’t it seem like he was protecting that lowly maid?

Because of that, the head maid, who had become the main culprit for ordering this task, had just unleashed her anger and left.

‘That insolent thing. How dare she use my name?’

She gulped down the cold water brought by another maid, recalling the recent situation. Right now, she was on the verge of losing her mind with anger.

‘There’s no such thing as a generous master who takes the side of a maid. She must have seduced him with her body.’

Her premonition had come true. Celine, who had been glaring with both eyes and biting her nails, suddenly looked out the window where darkness was falling and raised the corners of her mouth.

It might be better to show her directly.

Originally, beating was the answer for maids who couldn’t understand words.

* * *

After finishing her work, Flora ate a simple dinner and headed to her room.

Even as she walked towards the annex where the maids stayed, her mind was complicated. She kept feeling strange. She wondered if the duke had already forgotten who she was.

Maintaining balance at a height of about 5 floors was easier than eating cold porridge for her.

She was excellent at horseback riding and good at climbing trees. She had often slept in trees at night to prepare for enemy surprise attacks.

So, to say that she might fall and get seriously hurt… It doesn’t make sense, does it?

Her ongoing thoughts were scattered by someone suddenly blocking her way. It was a group of maids led by Celine.

“Look at me. I have something to say.”

“I don’t.”

When Flora tried to pass by, her arms were suddenly grabbed. Celine, who had brought her face close to Flora’s puzzled one, flashed her eyes ominously.

“Do you think you have the right to refuse? When I say I want to see you, you come.”

Fatigue was already setting in. After pondering for a moment, Flora recalled that today’s incident was due to Celine’s lie and changed her mind to follow.

The place they arrived at was a small storage room in the annex where the maids resided.

Those who had said they just wanted to talk briefly changed their expressions coldly when there was no one watching, as expected.

“Confess your wrongdoing with your own mouth about why you were brought here.”

“It was you who said you had something to say, Celine, not me.”

Without showing any sign of fear, Flora stood straight and looked directly at Celine. Despite having done all sorts of menial tasks in the unit, her words flowed quite elegantly.

Momentarily at a loss for words, Celine swallowed and regained her composure.

“I’m here in a position to guide you.”

“Celine, since you are not my master, you have no right to say anything to me.”

“…What?”

When Flora rebutted logically, Celine was momentarily flustered. Until now, hadn’t she always lowered her head, knowing her place, despite various mistreatments?

Concluding that she had become arrogant because of today’s incident, Celine’s index finger unpleasantly poked Flora’s shoulder.

“That’s exactly your problem. There are clear rules here, and you are the main culprit disrupting the order we have established.”

While it’s the head maid’s duty to manage the servants, the master had never brought anyone in until now.

Since everyone here knew this fact, Flora’s existence not only caused divided opinions but also invited envy.

“You don’t seem to understand, so I’m going to teach you a little.”

At Celine’s signal, the other maids grabbed Flora’s arms from both sides.

Flora calmly looked at the hands touching her body and was about to shake them off when at that moment, the head maid peeked her face through the slightly opened back door.

The head maid, who said she had dropped by because the light was on as she was passing by, glanced at Flora who was clearly surrounded by the maids and left after saying, “Go easy on her.” Flora’s brow furrowed as she tilted her head in confusion.

Yeah. Now you’re starting to understand the situation, aren’t you?

Usually, the head maid of a noble household pretends not to know about the maids who subtly bully others. This is because they old-fashionedly think that it naturally determines the hierarchy among the servants and makes them serve the master better.

Celine, with her arms crossed, raised her chin high and lowered her gaze.

“So this is the discipline that I, as your senior, should rightfully show you.”

Slap!

The slapped cheek stung. Something must have been hit wrong because her lip was split, and she tasted the metallic flavor of blood in her mouth.

Experiencing pain after a very long time, Flora slightly opened and closed her mouth. Although this level of pain wasn’t even worth mentioning, perhaps because it had been so long, the stinging sensation felt unfamiliar.

The maids restraining Flora’s limbs were startled and rolled their eyes at the sudden slap. Celine, with a look of satisfaction, sneered.

“Does it hurt? This is what happens when you don’t listen to me.”

Usually, by this point, other maids would tremble and burst into tears. Celine, too, firmly believed that soon, chicken-pea sized tears would burst from that fair face.

“Yes. It hurts.”

But Flora, who spoke, didn’t look hurt at all. Rather, her lips were slightly curved as if she was a bit happy, enough to send chills down Celine’s spine.

“But I don’t understand why I should be hit.”

Flora smiled faintly. A strange light dwelled in her blue eyes that had always seemed dull.

You’re smiling? With an expression tinged with ridicule, Celine finally exploded.

“Bring that!”

“Um… Celine.”

The maids who had seen blood hesitated and called out to Celine, but she had already lost her reason, her eyes rolled back.

To be ridiculed by a woman who had only dealt with men on the battlefield. For that reason alone, the pride she had enjoyed until now cracked.

“Bring it! Bring it right now!”

Celine screamed as if possessed, telling them to bring the whip that was no longer used.

She hated it immensely. The fact that a maid who just rolled in bed was holding her head high in front of her. The way she acted as if she were some noble lady.

What she hated most was those eyes that shone clearly despite that attitude that seemed to find everything trivial.

One of the maids who had been eyeing each other, unable to resist Celine’s force, brought a long whip. Celine snatched it at once and waved it in Flora’s face.

“This is the whip used on maids who committed grave mistakes. Maids just like you.”