I Owe the Villain

Chapter Three

It was already dusk when Lory found the butler to ask for her job. At first, the butler was suspicious about her and had to ask for a confirmation from the Duke first before he guided her to the laundry area which is, unfortunately, separated from the main mansion.

The sole of her feet are aching. She was walking for many hours just to find the butler and the House of Ivalo is enormous so she almost got lost. The sun is setting when they passed the garden, it was big, variety of flowers and vegetables grow from it.

The orange sky makes all the plants and flowers look like they are part of a painting.

‘If this place exists, I’m sure a lot of tourists will visit this place.’ She thought.

“If you go this pathway, there will be a well just a few steps ahead. But there’s a lake near the laundry area so it would be easy for you to have water. However, in stormy or winter days, you have no choice but to get water from the well, though quite far but for your own safety, you must.” The butler instructed.

“Yes, I understand,” Lory responded, her voice sounded hoarse because of her crying-moment a while ago. “But is the lake dangerous?” She asked.

“The lake is safe when the weather is good.” The butler shortly replied.

“I see,” she replied as they continued to walk but upon remembering the cruelty of the Duke her lips started to frown feeling upset.

“Don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say, but are you sure you’ll be fine for this job?” He asked.

Lory gazed at the old man, he looks like he is in his late forties, with strands of white hairs on his head and wearing some old spectacles.

‘He looks like someone who works in a bank than a butler. He has a very clean fashion and a refreshing aura.’ Lory described.

“Ah, yes, I am sure.” She answered.

“You don’t look like you can… But since you’re sure, I have faith in you.” The butler muttered, “call me Bernard by the way. If you have questions, you may ask me or Miss Rosy, she is the head maid here. She’ll be glad if she heard the news that someone already occupied this job,” he added.

“Oh…Why’s that?” She asked.

“Oh, nothing in particular, the Duke is just meticulous in all matters, most especially to all the things that has direct contact with him. So which means, he observes what he wears, what he eats and what he drinks.” Bernard replied.

‘Oh, right. In the novel, there are countless assassinations to Zyon’s life, because, aside from his connections and achievements, the House of Ivalo is an independent house, which means not even the royal family can hold it under their rule. The pressure and danger made him distrustful on everything.’ Lory thought.

“I understand,” Lory commented.

‘Well, when he meets the female lead, Aelin Eruña, he began to trust her. Aelin is the only one who soften his heart.’ Her inner self remarked.

After a few minutes, she saw a little and old cottage. A few distance from where it stands, there is a lake nearby.

“We’re here.” Bernard announced.

When they entered the cottage, Lory saw a pile of dirty laundries. Her expression became disappointed when she saw the dirty white bed sheets that looks heavy.

“Okay, Miss Lory—

“Please, call me Lory,” she uttered with a polite smile.

“…Lory, your room is right upstairs, the tools for washing the clothes and the bed sheets are right in the cabinet beside. You must not move around leisurely unless it’s time for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Unless you are finished with your laundry, you may do the rest of the chores. Oh, and the kitchen will be close around eight in the evening so no midnight snacks. If it’s too cold in here, there is a fireplace in your room, you may get woods from the kitchen but you have to get permission from the head maid first,” Bernard instructed.

‘…Goodbye to my freedom,’ her soul whispered tragically when she heard his instructions.

“Well… What if I need to drink water in the middle of the night?” She questioned.

“You may fill a water pitcher for that,” he answered.

“…Ah, okay.” She replied hoping she doesn’t sound dull.

“Well, I should go now.” Bernard uttered.

“Wait! If I may ask, how about my clothes?” Lory mumbled. She didn’t have the chance to pack her clothes because of the sudden circumstances.

“Ah, right. There’s an old clothes in your room, probably from the former maid who used to work here so it’s going to be fine.” Bernard responded.

“Ah…What I mean is… I didn’t have the chance to pack some underwear,” Lory mumbled, embarrassed that she could feel her face heated in shame.

There was an awkward silence between them.

‘C’mon!!! Say something before I’d die from embarrassment!!!’ Her soul shouted in frustration.

“I will ask the Duke about that,” Bernard uttered.

“…Thank you.”

“Glad to help. Now, I must go. See you around, Lory,” Bernard said before he walks his way out from the cottage.

In the morning, after she spent a cold night in her new home and before the sun rises, she was shock seeing all her clothes including her inner clothes packed inside a wooden box and was left just outside the door of her room.

‘Woah, I didn’t expect the Duke would agree.’ She thought.

“Thankfully my inner clothes are here. I wouldn’t know what to do if I have none,” Lory whispered.

After changing into simple clothes, she went directly to the pile of dirty laundries and sort everything by color, thereafter, she carried three baskets full of clothes to the lake nearby.

‘Wait… Bernard forgot to tell me what time should I eat.’ Lory’s inner self mumbled.

The sun was rising and she decided to walk herself to the mansion to grab something to eat.

Seeing the enormous garden which she cannot help herself but to get mesmerized by the beauty of it made herself happy, not until she saw the Duke from a distance training himself with swordsmanship.

‘If he is not a rude and cruel character I might as well be a fan. But no.’ She thought as her lips frowned.

Zyon Oulixeus Arvanni who was sweating while he moves his well-developed body as he sways his sword is just a surreal view, Lory thought for a moment, how could someone as beautiful as him become a heartless devil who was bound to ruin everything in his way?

But later on, she remembered a passage in the novel.

‘Zyon Oulixeus Arvanni who was deprived of affection and love is fated to give every pieces of him in a form of shards of broken glasses that are meant to cut everything. He was born to be a sword not destined for peace.’ She reminisced.

“What a tragic character,” Lory whispered.

“Who’s the tragic character?” A deep voice muttered as she saw the tip of a sharp blade aiming at her throat.

When she lifted her gaze, the Duke was already in front of her with his dark and menacing stare.

His deep blue eyes darken with the sun behind him.

“Duke!” She exclaimed in surprise. “I was… only referring to a character I read before…” She explained.

“Why are you here? You’re supposed to be working for the laundry?” Zyon questioned.

“…Breakfast?” She managed to say as she gazed at his sharp sword ready to end her.

“How insolent of you. Your master has not yet had his breakfast and here you are, demanding for it.” He uttered icily gripping the sword tightly.

‘I am not demanding for it!! What the heck?! This cruel man doesn’t know how to chill his anger and his sword!’ Her soul whine.

But then she gazed at the sharp blade of his weapon.

“…You’re right, Duke. Well, I should probably go back,” she replied before she let out a nervous chuckle.

“Did I said you could go? Come here.” He uttered halting her from walking away.

“Yes, Duke?” Lory answered in agitation.

“Listen carefully, you do not have the privilege to walk away from me first, understand?” He said in the most threatening voice she heard from him.

“Yes, I’ll make sure to remember, Duke.” Lory responded, her tone is almost a whisper to him.

“Second, I do not permit any flirting here in my territory so drop the idea on finding a husband here in my house.” He said sharply.

‘Yeah right… I would rather finish those mountain of laundries than to find someone, Duke!’ Her soul reacted with irritation. ‘Seriously, I hate this man!’

For a moment she was silent as she felt her blood boiled inside her but she keeps her composure. Then, she smiled at him politely as if she was not upset at all.

“Oh no, don’t worry, Duke. I assure you I’d make sure to prioritize my laundries and my debt than to get married.” Lory answered, she almost bit her tongue in annoyance.

“How bold of you to think I am worried. Do not hope anything from me, I don’t care whether you’ll end up alone or die nonchalantly. What I think about is the fact that you dared to scam me and that you took something from me, so do not forget that I hold your life,” Zyon responded as he glared at her with his dark smile.

‘Ah! Who the hell would think that you cared for anything? Only stupid people do that!’ She reacts in her thoughts.

“Now go, be on your way, and don’t let me catch you daydreaming again or else I will start making your dreams into nightmares,” he said before he returned his sword back to its scabbard and walk away.

She was stunned by his words, almost wishing that a lightning could strike her and wake her up from this mess.