Episode 3: Let’s First Seduce the Maids (Part 1)
With an excited heart, I faced my grandmother.
“You, Sien?” she asked.
“Yes!” I replied.
“I am Lucella, the Duchess and the ruler of the top tower. I’m not the one who can be called your grandmother.”
No one is unfamiliar with the term “ruler of the top tower.”
During her young days of training at the top tower, she had killed other wizards and taken control of that tower.
She even became a wizard of the fourth rank, “Aniak,” among the top twelve ranks of magic classes.
Considering that there isn’t a single Grand Sorcerer ranked first at the moment, her position was extremely high.
…For some reason, it seems like she’s not using magic now though.
Duchess Lucella drew a clear boundary.
‘Such a waste. I thought she’d like cute children.’
Seems like my aegyo (cute behavior) didn’t work on her.
Well, it’s time to step back a bit. Just managing to lighten the atmosphere momentarily could be considered a success.
I nodded.
“Y-yes…”
Though I took a step back, it’s not over, Grandma!
Grandma stared at me silently, then lifted the corner of her mouth and spoke slowly.
“You’re quite an amateur at begging.”
Not only was I rebuffed… I even got scolded.
I turned away, tapping my lips that were about to pout.
“I’m sorry…”
My aegyo used to be unbeatable.
Perhaps because she’s the villainess Duchess, or maybe she’s like a fortress.
But just because I failed once didn’t mean I was giving up.
I lifted my head, which I had lowered in humility, and looked at Grandma again.
Her eyes momentarily slanted like crescent moons before quickly regaining their cold gaze.
“It’s been a while since someone properly met my eyes.”
“You should watch your words, Mother. And Sien.”
Dad was the one who broke the situation.
“Huh?”
Dad, who had somehow risen to his feet, lifted me up in a swift motion and turned toward Duchess Lucella, speaking with force. As if marking his territory.
“I’ll take Sien to the maids and be back.”
“I see.”
Summoning all my strength, I whispered faintly towards Grandma.
“Grandma, goodbye. Take care.”
Duchess Lucella slightly raised an eyebrow.
It was strange.
I don’t really know Duchess Lucella well.
But at least I had suspected that if anything unexpected were to happen during a conversation, she would react with a cold demeanor…
Surprisingly, she remained silent.
Guided by my dad’s hand, I stood outside the door.
‘The “Seduce Grandma” plan may have failed, but they say the first step is always the hardest. Alright, alright!’
My dad will protect me! I clenched my fists tightly, as if holding a bat, and glared at the maids carrying something from a distance.
That’s right. Bring it on, anyone. Even if you’re strong, you’ll never be able to harm my dad!
As long as I’m here!
***
As Sien was led away by the maids, Duchess Lucella and her first son, Matthias, sat across from each other at a large table.
An icy silence hung in the air.
She spoke, her voice calm and composed.
“Sien has grown quite a bit. I remember when she was just a newborn.”
Round eyes brimming with light, plump cheeks that seemed to hide honey, and even her small lips resembling pink flower petals.
She had certainly grown up adorably, and she even resembled ‘that woman.’
Was it because of her that Matthias, who normally wouldn’t show any interest, was acting so differently?
“Don’t pay too much attention to Sien.”
Duchess Lucella chuckled mockingly as she looked at her son’s changed attitude.
Every child feared her. So, a child calling her ‘grandma’ was an unexpected twist.
But that was all.
‘Even if she’s just a young child, she’ll lose her innocence once she enters this Duke’s domain.’
In a cutthroat place like the Duke’s domain, someone young and weak like her would easily crumble.
More than that, Duchess Lucella had something else to say.
“You’ve been quite audacious since earlier.”
“I thought you already knew that’s my usual temperament.”
Duchess Lucella looked at Matthias and let out a bitter smile.
Indeed, she knew.
He had spent nine years quietly honing his strength, hiding in the shadows to protect his child.
Matthias had completely fallen from grace in the line of succession, only to make a last-minute comeback. Everyone had anticipated his defeat.
With no proper power and no wings to stand on, he was a man with nothing.
But Duchess Lucella had a different judgment when it came to him.
Matthias was even more dangerous because he had already lost everything and because he had something more precious to protect.
“That’s true.”
Now, it was time to discuss the main topic.
“The trial of the Demon Incident in the succession is invalidated, so resume the interrupted succession education.”
“Yes.”
“Things are different from seven years ago. Back then, you were the only heir, but now all the adult members of our bloodline are eyeing the heir’s position.”
“I’m aware.”
“Don’t forget there are many factions within and outside the family opposing you. Think about the devilish deeds you’ve committed.”
Duchess Lucella finished speaking and quietly looked at her son.
Matthias’ expression was as cold and stern as ever. He had a completely different demeanor from when he had affectionately embraced his daughter, Sien, just a moment ago. With her chin in her hand, she silently observed her son.
At that moment, Matthias mumbled expressionlessly.
“If I thought I would lose to someone, I wouldn’t come back.”
“Even though the Council of Elders, the Bloodline Council, and even the Tower all hold you in contempt?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“What if your daughter gets hurt?”
“Absolutely not.”
He stated firmly, but his voice carried a chilling undertone.
“Time will tell if your words are driven by recklessness or determination.”
“Neither.”
He stared at the Duchess.
“I am confident that I can protect Sien.”
“….”
Meeting his cold gaze, Duchess Lucella realized that her son had become even stronger and more resolute over the past seven years.
“First, allow me to receive the succession education.”
“Permission granted. You and your daughter will reside in the Northern Tower of the central mansion. It was requested by both the Council of Elders and the Bloodline Council. Is that acceptable?”
“The Northern Tower… I don’t mind.”
The direct bloodline members of the Duke’s family lived in the central mansion.
The Northern Tower of the Northern Mansion was secluded. Although it was close to the central mansion where the bloodline resided, it was worlds apart in terms of status.
Nevertheless, he nodded with a face that seemed indifferent.
“Then, leave.”
Duchess Lucella, who had recalled Sien’s innocent face and voice, softened slightly and spoke quietly.
“Ensure that the pure honey jar is thoroughly cleansed before she is educated.”
Having nothing personal to discuss with her son after their long separation, she simply flicked her fingers.
***
I trembled in fear as I looked at the maids who had come to serve me.
‘Are you, are you the maids? Not knights?’
In typical medieval romance fantasy novels, maids usually wore delicate maid outfits with fluttering wings, like fragile bedtime clothes.
However, this was the villainous duke’s estate!
As if all of that was just my trivial prejudice, the two maids were over 180cm tall with sturdy bodies. They looked powerful enough to eliminate someone like me, a young child, without hesitation.
They had arms thicker than the actor ‘Ma Dong-seok,’ (a Korean actor) whom I knew from my previous life, and those arms were covered in strange tattoos and henna-like designs.
I didn’t want to know more about their physical attributes.
‘Scary!’
It was clear that these people were no ordinary maids.
But I couldn’t be a pushover here. I lifted my chin high, looked at them boldly, and spoke with confidence.
“Hello, maids?”
“Yes, we greet you, Lady Sian.”
They replied bluntly.
If I showed any sign of weakness here, even my father would appear vulnerable! As the only knight protecting my pure father, I spoke with dignity.
“I am Sien, my noble maids.”
I would never back down.
For the sake of my innocent father, I was willing to do even wicked things to threaten the maids.
As I stood there, my chin raised with solemnity, I could hear them giving an unenthusiastic response.
“Very well then. Allow us to guide you to the tower.”
“The tower?”
“Yes. You will be residing in the northern tower.”
I tapped my round forehead and found myself in a huge dilemma for the first time in my five-year-old life.
“The situation is dire.”
The northern tower.
That place was a bleak tower within the villainous duke’s estate, rumored to have been the site of executions for past wrongdoers. It was also known as the place where the lowest-ranking members of the family stayed when they visited the mansion.
And now, my father, who was supposedly the duke’s enemy and the firstborn son, was going to the northern tower.
‘North tower? Seriously, is Dad and I going to die? Did they bring us here to kill us?’
Oh, this was bad.
I absolutely had to turn this situation around.
Innocent Dad surely knew nothing. Therefore, I had to coax the maids and extract every piece of information from them!
‘How can I manipulate the maids of the north tower to extract the information I want?’
I let out a long sigh and decided to follow them.
Of course, it wasn’t just about following them. My mind was busy recalling various pieces of information.
‘The maids of the north tower are said to be simple and ignorant, only focused on their physical strength. They are even described as outcasts within the duke’s estate!’
So, I needed to make good use of their personality traits to manipulate them. I pondered on how to manipulate these simple, ignorant, muscular maids.
“Shall we go, Lady Sien?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
As I hurriedly followed the maids, I thought hard.
However, in the novel, “The Life of Melodia”…
There was no mention of how to conquer the muscular maids of the villainous duke.
‘How do I conquer them? What should I do?’
While I was racking my brain, we had already arrived at the pointed northern tower.
Seeing the tower covered in thorns, I felt a shiver of fear. The chilly wind brushed against me, sending a shiver down my spine.
“This is the place. Isn’t it beautiful?”
…What’s beautiful?
The maid with muscular arms who opened the door beneath the tower started to guide me in a blunt manner.
“After changing your clothes and taking a bath, we will inform you about the education you’ll be having with the young nobles tomorrow.”
I replied with an exaggeratedly cheerful tone, my cheeks puffing up like a chipmunk’s.
“Ok.”
Naturally, deep inside, I was rolling my eyes with all my might.
‘If they are young nobles, who could they be? If they’re the young nobles of the villainous duke, could it be Crawford? Or maybe Killian?’
As I seriously pondered who the young nobles I would meet might be, I found myself staring blankly at their arms, which were guiding me into a large room.
I was filled with curiosity about the northern tower and information about the antagonist young nobles I would meet tomorrow. Although we weren’t on familiar terms, I still felt a bit uneasy.
“Oh, wait a minute.”
At that moment, I looked up and suddenly noticed a white powder near their wrists. I sniffed lightly, and a familiar scent reached my nose.
“It’s rosin powder…!”
I smiled triumphantly.
As if a balloon of hope was inflating inside me.
It seemed like I might have found a way to win them over.
