Chapter 31
“ No, then the tail will get stepped on. Just kill her. That girl made my face like this.”
The woman lifted the veil covering her face and let out a sigh. For a moment, her sharp eyes swept across Psyche’s face like a sting.
“That pale, skinny girl?”
The man looked Psyche up and down, snickering. His eyes suggested he was ready to make another cheap joke.
“She looks like she can’t even lift a spoon on her own. Does she even use a sword? Well, they say noble ladies in the Grand Duchy learn fencing as basic etiquette. My daughter started lessons too. Guess we’ll need extra danger pay.”
“Our young lady? Holding a sword? Her fragile wrist would snap the moment she tried. She’s a pretty flower to look at, so stop talking nonsense and finish her. I’ll pay more if you end it quickly.”
Psyche knew her.
Once the woman’s whole face was revealed, Psyche became certain.
Her skin was warped and uneven as if burned. Her right eye was gone, the eyelid permanently shut.
It was hard to recognize the face—but Psyche knew exactly who she was.
“Lady Psyche.”
The scarred face twisted into a strange smile. Because the skin had hardened, her pulled-up lips twitched unnaturally.
“Originally, I didn’t plan to go this far. I’m sorry, but I need this to survive. It’s all because of you that I ended up like this, isn’t it? You cast out someone who devoted her whole life for you, and now you plan to live happily with your pretty little face?”
“…Head Maid.”
The words slipped out without thought.
“You recognize me? Hm?”
Of course—it was the head maid. Psyche had spent so many years with her, there was no mistaking her.
“Stop this right now. Please. Stop before this becomes something you can’t undo.”
“You still think I’m your servant? I don’t have to listen to you anymore.”
“It’s not an order. I’m saying this for your sake. You’ll regret what you do today.”
“Shut up! I lost everything! There’s nothing left to regret.”
The head maid seemed to think Psyche’s words were a lecture.
Her anger exploded; she began grabbing and throwing everything her hands could reach. The masked man beside her quickly backed away from her rampage.
Then, unable to control her fury, the head maid grabbed Psyche’s chin roughly. Sharp pain spread through Psyche’s jaw.
“Beg. Get on your knees and beg for mercy, miss. Come on. Maybe then I’ll want to let you live.”
Her neck veins bulged from the force she used to shout—then suddenly she started laughing crazily.
Her eyes were dull, empty of reason, and filled with madness.
‘Don’t provoke her now.’
The head maid was not sane. Her anger had burned away her reason, leaving only an animal-like urge for revenge.
“I’ll beg like this, Head Maid. Let me kiss your feet and apologize. But to do that, you’ll need to untie me first.”
Psyche judged that if she followed the head maid’s madness, she might be able to make her move.
‘This place doesn’t seem far from the central district… probably a semi-basement.’
Voices and footsteps from above could be heard. Thin beams of light slipped in through the cracks of wooden boards nailed over the window—only the top part had a reddish glow.
There were only two people who could stop Psyche here:
The head maid
and the masked man.
Psyche pretended to sigh and glanced sideways to check the man’s position. Thanks to the head maid’s violent rampage, he was far from them.
“That tone of yours. Acting all elegant when you live like a beggar. You’re nothing but a ruined noble!”
“……”
“You thought the Madam was a fool, didn’t you? Poor thing. You and the young master—both of you were completely fooled. I was fooled for a long time too. The Madam is a con artist! Do you know how many times she hit me the day I left?”
Rambling to herself, the head maid started untying the ropes around Psyche’s arms. In an instant, Psyche’s arms and upper body were free.
‘Just my legs left.’
Then she would be free.
Psyche swallowed dryly and waited for the head maid’s hands to reach her feet.
But the head maid, still fuming, breathed heavily.
“I impersonated the Madam and sent letters everywhere. Letters praising the beauty of Psyche—the Swan of the Sigar Empire! I even leaked your portrait!”
“……”
“When the Madam found out, do you know what she said? She said I did well. She said she’d raise my salary if she married you off. How wicked—!”
“…Do not insult my mother, Head Maid.”
“It’s all true, miss. Now then, since I was hit that many times, you should be hit too, right?”
Suddenly, the head maid raised her large hand to slap Psyche.
Smack.
Psyche’s head snapped to the side. A ringing sound filled her ears.
Her mind went blank white. Her lip had split—she tasted blood inside her mouth.
“I was hit three times. With interest, you deserve six.”
As soon as Psyche turned her stiff neck back, she heard the air swish for another blow.
“…Stop.”
“L-let go.”
Psyche barely managed to grab the head maid’s wrist.
Her lips were swollen, her mouth tasted metallic, and her face hurt too much to even open her eyes fully.
She had never been beaten like this in her life.
She also learned that when someone slaps you, the pain is not the worst part—your mind goes empty first.
But because of that, Psyche held on even tighter. If she got swept away by violence now, she would be dragged exactly where the head maid wanted.
“Let go!”
Their forces clashed—one trying to pull away, the other trying to restrain.
But there was no miracle. Compared to the once-fragile Psyche, the head maid was far stronger.
Psyche eventually lost her grip.
Enraged at being held, the head maid screamed and lunged at her.
Thud.
The chair Psyche was tied to fell backward with a loud crash.
Her ankles had been tied to the chair legs—so when the chair fell, her feet slipped free.
Psyche quickly pushed herself up.
Then she rushed toward the disoriented head maid.
Smack!
Smack!
Two blunt impacts sounded.
Psyche opened her fist after slapping the head maid twice and said:
“I’ll give it back double, Head Maid.”
