«Why are you still alive?» – The girl asked blatantly the question that interested her most of all. Not that it was such an interesting fact: she never goes to the training ground, and her servants do not usually expatiate upon the events taking place there. Actually, the whipping boy could tell everything himself.

Kyon stretched lazily, gave a great yawn, and then looked at the girl with a mischievous smile on his lips:

«Do you want me to die?»

Now Dinah was speackless. The miserable slave was staring at her as if he owned her, addressing her absolutely disrespectfully, just like he did when they first met. Could it be his real ident.i.ty? Of course, not... Most likely he was so insolent because of the lady's order forbidding to do him any harm. He must have asked the young lady, and she had really given that order, which was most unexpected... As if the value of the close and trusted maid was less than that of a pitiful servant... It just didn't make any sense!

A burning desire to pinch the jerk to the wall and punish him properly boiled in her chest, but there was no way she could it - her body wouldn't move because of the order.

«I'd gladly killed you myself, but you, a little p.r.i.c.k, have somehow convinced the lady of your non-existent value. How did you do that?!» – she slammed the tray on the bench and folded her arms arrogantly waiting for his reply.

Kyon grinned crookedly. No one would ever think that he could brand Juno with a subjugating formation. Also, he'd already invented a cover story that fully justified his sudden value and position.

«I'd love to tell you this interesting story, only... I won't. If your lovely little sister asks, I'll tell her everything with great pleasure, as for you - not a word.» – Kyon was slowly approaching the maid.

«That's how you're talking now... You got the lady's protection and now have the nerve! You've even stopped wetting your pants at my appearance, as it was often the case. You're downright a proud lion, although in reality, you're the same worthless nullity. Bravo!» – Dinah smiled with contempt and clapped twice her hands mocking him...

Unfortunately, her attempt to hurt him failed. The guy was still smiling ominously and coming closer to the girl.

«And that's coming from a n.o.ble, proud maid who strived to finish me off because of the miserable sausage that Marina had brought to save me from starvation. You know, I'm even glad that Master Jean has been using your cute little things for his dirty business. You deserve even more than this with your nasty temper.»

The girl gasped with shock and anger. The guy didn't just go for her biting words, but instead, he stung her in response, and to the very heart. His merciless words were like salt on her fresh wounds that had not healed after the past trauma. She meant to reach for the dagger, but her hand froze aimlessly in the air halfway through.

Kyon noticed with pleasure that nervous and helpless movement, approached Dinah closely, pus.h.i.+ng her step by step until the maid b.u.mped against the wall.

* bang *

Kyon hit the wall near her head, cutting off the girl's further retreat, and said with a threat in his voice:

«Now listen carefully to me. Starting with this moment, if you, pathetic maid, dare to move against me at least once - you're asking for it. Dou understand me?»

Kyon didn't mean to say "pathetic maid," but the words just slipped out. He was looking straight into her eyes with his heavy unblinking gaze of a seasoned killer.

It seemed to Dinah that she was drowning in his eyes. A whole stream of various feelings and emotions overwhelmed her. She'd never been treated like that, never been pushed or threatened... She'd never been scared. It was especially unpleasant to get that from a miserable servant, a boy. Who is he anyway?! Why does he have a frigid and overpowering aura? Why is he so sure of himself?

Just then, the gate creaked open again, and Juno arrived on the scene.

The cutie was wearing a gray skirt, silvery sandals, and a tight blouse with thin straps. Bare white shoulders magnetized his gaze. The outfit was not suitable for training, she'd put it with a purpose to arouse certain suspicions of the maid, as she always trained in a special uniform. She was trying to leave hints through the network of rigid orders, but... When she saw Dinah pressed against the wall, she thought she shouldn't have bothered.

{What?! Is it a sophisticated way to commit suicide?!} - contrary to her happy thoughts, not a single emotion was reflected on the face of the high-born slave - thanks to orders.

Dinah instantly slipped out of the boy's grip - it's no good if Lady Juno sees her in such an embarra.s.sing situation.

«Lady, forgive me. This cheeky young man misbehaved. Will you allow me to punish him properly?» – Asked the maid, slightly stammering and visibly reddening with shame because the young lady had seen her in the way compromising her honor of a high-ranking maid.

Kyon bent over in a respectful bow, imperceptibly waved his little finger and coughed politely, giving Juno a sign.

Juno promptly addressed the maid in a calm, persuasive tone:

«Dear Dinah, please do not pay attention to this ill-trained servant. He has no manners whatsoever, but he has something else, no less important. I guess he has already told you about this. That's why I asked you to take him breakfast. You are free to go now.»

«But madam, this guy dared to…»

«Don't worry, I'll punish him myself. You'd better take care of your other duties.»

Dinah pursed her lips, displeased but obediently bowed and left, shooting an almost visible ray of hatred from the icy eyes at the guy who playfully smiled at her as if she was a sweet and harmless pet. A bad day for her, a definitely bad day...

On the way to the mansion, the girl was tormented by curiosity, and not only that, she wanted to get answers to many questions - from the possible reasons for the sudden arrogance of the newly-minted servant (maybe there's something else behind his confidence?) to the strange behavior of the young lady who protected him.

As soon as she got to the mansion, she found her sister and, without explaining anything, grabbed her hand and took her to the nearest empty room.

«What's the matter? Is it something important?» – Anna asked anxiously, alarmed by such an unusual behavior of her usually impa.s.sive sister.

«That black-haired upstart slave is still alive.»

«Uhm... Are you talking about... is he still alive?! I haven't seen him for three weeks...» – the blonde muttered in shock.

«But that's not the point! The lady has ordered me not to harm him! And now... he is being a little too much! Anna, ask him everything in person, please, everything you can. I have neither the strength nor the desire to do anything with this impudent street rat!»

«Oh! It can't be true!» – Anna covered her mouth with her little hand in disbelief. For the first time, her sister had expressed her negative feelings. And for the first time, Lady Juno had given an order to one of them. Something big was going on!

«I have no reason to lie to you, so, be so kind and interrogate this little scoundrel properly. If necessary, torture him, we aren't experts on that for nothing.»

Anna sighed with annoyance. Pity and sympathy for that unfortunate toothless young man still lived in her kind heart, so she'd immediately taken a decision that she'd never interrogate him by force without a specific reason. Besides, the beautiful blond girl had no doubt that she'd find out anything she wanted anyway, so she promised her sister to settle things up.

Dinah already got the usual cold and unemotional expression on her face, she nodded her gratefully and left.

…

As soon as the maid left the training ground, Kyon made Juno a sign with his finger: she checked her formation and shook her head. It meant that no one was nearby, and therefore, no one was following them with some kind of concealment technique. At the same time, certain orders expired in Juno, and she growled in a fury:

«You're insane! I swear to you that your death will be long and painful! If I don't kill you, Dinah will do it someday!»

Kyon had carelessly begun his breakfast. «I don't think she'll dare when she finds out why I'm so valuable to you.»

«I'd personally give away all the wealth of my family, and the mansion itself, only to get rid of you! What value ​​are you talking about?!»

«I am Marina's friend, and I also have incredible combat skills. These two factors are enough to justify my role as a servant.»

Juno hissed something angrily under his breath, and then ran to let off steam on a dummy, imagining in its place all know whose sly countenance.

For the first time in a long, long time, the guy had eaten his fill. He rose solemnly, straightened his back, and slightly twisted his shoulders. Well, it was time to try out the pure force in practice, to figure out the average speed of his movements, to estimate the effect of his blows - in general, he needed to understand what his body was capable of... He needed to know as soon as possible if he could have survived against the little demon if he had not accidentally met her at the hot spring on the condition of mastering the baseline of pure force. At the same time to punish her by himself (if it worked out) for the proper upbringing of the girl had just begun...

(Author's comment: In Chapter 0, you can find the structured hierarchy of energy, synergy, ranks and many other things, intrinsic to the world described in the book.)