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"Are you locking me inside here?"

I wanted to be here forever, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Cold eye like a sharp sword headed towards me.

"I'm planning to lock you in prison."

It was quite different from a rough voice towards the knights It was too soft that it gave me s.h.i.+vers. It wasn't cold but I instinctively covered myself with two arms. If I open my mouth, I would talk like a baby. My eagerness to survive was much stronger than shame so I said without hesitation.

"I can't go to prison!"

"Why not?"

He looked at me with wariness and looked as if he was lost for words. I was absolutely the one who impolitely refused his kindness. I must look like a betrayer but I couldn't let myself locked in prison. Why did I save the Duke? My loyalty towards my master? It was a complex feeling as I had the memory of my previous life.

To be honest I actually wished for a precious reward. For example, s.h.i.+ny hard golds…. Don't say I am secular! If I was born as a child of royal family I would have been curious and said, "I can't believe she acts like that." But I was born poor, so I need to act this way. I swallowed the tears and said what's in my mind.

"Because I saved your life!"

That is a fact. I soon gained confidence and spoke clearly with my hands on my wrist. This was a habit I had since I was a maid.

"….."

He didn't answer. He looked at me with wicked eyes as if he was looking at a kitten hostile to its master. Okay, I understand. I know what he is feeling. So I lowered my head. You just want to lock me in prison for being not loyal. You don't know how to reward; you only know how to revenge!

'But things are going on quite strange here.'

He said he would lock me in prison, but I was talking with the Duke on a cushy bed. All we talked was why I touched the cup Duke was about to drink. When I said the same thing the eyebrow of Fergie went up.

"I, a ma kind maid."

Perse said 'nonsense' to himself and eagerly looked at me. I was starting to feel stuffy. I looked at the Duke with lively eyes pulling the blanket up to my eyes. Oh, why are you staring at me? He replied with this message in his eyes, so I dropped my eyes.

My hands were shaking. The yellow duck drawn on the blanket was crinkled because of me. It's embarra.s.sing but the Duke seemed as if he already knew this fact.

"You should thank the butler."

Later, I realized the reason why I could lay down on a bed in the guest room wasn't because of the Duke. Whether if I became a child or an old woman, he would always slash me with his sword anytime. But the butler must have stopped him from doing that because I am still alive. I could see a bunch of knights peeking at us through a gap in the door. They looked anxious rather than interested.

Only then did I know the reason why I survived. I remembered the moment before I fainted. The reason why I survived is because the staff in the house stopped him from killing me because I was a young girl.

Even though I was considered as an a.s.sa.s.sin, there's a saying: you could be naked anytime so you must wear a cute underwear.

Because the Duke couldn't show his underwear in front of me, so he accepted the knights' opinion. I glanced at him while thinking. But I got caught again. Even though only my body is a child, he could ask why if a child looks at him? He would look only coldly look at me.

"Don't frighten me because I saved your life…"

"Save my life? Should I thank you for this?"

"Oh. You know well."

"Then how should I express my appreciation?"

He answered with a low voice. s.h.i.+vers went through my body.

"I don't know…"

Sorry, I was too harsh towards the villain of the century. I lost courage again and was deep in thought with my eyes half closed.

"What would you like?"

He was much scarier with that naïve tone! I was frightened and organized my thoughts to not make a mistake. All I want is gold. He sure won't give me enough gold to use forever, so how about suggesting he shouldn't kill me and give some gold? His expression was too cold to say this to him. So I tried my best to not make him angry.

"Uh, I want a yellow circle thing that people likes, but if you don't want to give it to me, then you can just ignore my efforts to save you and don't give me any reward."

"Reward?"

He noticed the purpose of my suggestion. His two long fingers made a sound of friction. Even though my p.r.o.nunciation wasn't fluent, he could make out of it. The Duke said in a low voice:

"So, she wants a reward."

I nodded confidently, listening to his words.

"Okay, I would reward you as much as you wish."

"Th… Thank you Sir!"

I stood up and bent my back. Don't you say I am servile! Nothing is more important than money. If you get old, you will know one thing. Money is the best. I have to live in an exotic place without insurance so I sure need enough money.

"I never said you could have a foolish look on your face."

I must have looked stupid because I was pleased. Duke looked at me pathetically as I grinned. I felt quite upset.

"Okaaay…."

I had to answer politely despite my feelings. I nodded several times to his orders. Anyway this person lacks emotion but I should thank him for saving my life.

"A..and can I work as a maid again."

"As a maid?"

The Duke looked curious. I took my opportunity to state my opinion.

"I still have to work. I don't want unpaid leave. But it is too greedy to want to be paid during vacation."

Actually I was thinking of it for the whole time. I said paid during vacation sneakily but he didn't reply clearly. I guess my vacation is over. It's a shame but I was satisfied because he would give me plenty of gold. An astrologer I met last year said I would be lucky and unlucky at the same time this year so I guess he's right. This sure is a lucky day for me. I wanted to dance but I barely managed to stop myself. I wanted to thank him sincerely but he left first.

'Is the negotiation finished?'

I grinned hiding my heroic face but soon stopped laughing. I remembered his caution. Duke suddenly stopped walking on the way out of this room.

'I have nothing to say… Negotiation shouldn't continue for a long time. Yes, sure it shouldn't go long.'

I pretended to sleep as I laid again. I was a little anxious as I couldn't hear a thing for a while. He might be hiding? This might be a moment in a horror movie

'He might say he has nothing to give me and the negotiation is breached.'

When I slightly opened my eyes, I made eye contact with the Duke. He would only look at me without saying anything. The old butler who was peeking from a long distance suddenly said:

"Duke Perse, you shouldn't kill a child!"

Duke turned again as he witnessed that I was sleepy. I could hear a clear sound of his shoes beating the floor. Every member of the Knights of the White Night were rough but their leader was just perfect.

He was a perfect example of a villain. I must have become sleepier as I became younger. At first, I pretended to be asleep but I later really fell asleep. He might send me to prison while I am sleeping?

Even though I was quite anxious, I couldn't stop falling asleep. I closed my eyes. When I closed my eyes, I was wondering what reward the Duke will give me. As I was quite nervous, I was starting to relax. Soon, I fell asleep. At that night, I had the weird dream for the first time.

I was playing with the Duke where colorful balloons and rainbows were in the sky. Is this a silly dream? No it is said a leader—he was more like a tyrant. In fact, this is a good dream.

I don't want to wake up. I was wis.h.i.+ng for a huge fortune even in my dreams. It was just until tomorrow when I received the real reward from him.

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