To Embrace the Devil - Chapter 9
“Ah…”
Yelena instinctively obeyed Diago’s words and tried to stand, but as soon as she straightened her bent leg, a sharp pain took her breath away.
“Ugh…!”
She clenched her teeth tightly to stifle the moan. Her vision swirled for a moment as the muscles bruised by Fabio screamed in pain.
But Diago waited ahead. No maid kept her master waiting. She forced her leg to move, but her body wobbled uncontrollably.
With a snap, the sleeve that had barely clung to her arm slipped off, fully exposing her right forearm.
Yelena squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them again.
She wanted to cover her bare skin, but the fallen cloth piece already lay on the bloodstained floor.
“…I’m sorry.”
She limped forward. With each syllable came a sharp sting through the torn corner of her mouth.
Diago stood silently in the underground corridor, watching her approach with a deep breath, almost as if savoring the air.
Yelena felt both willing and fearful under his piercing gaze locked onto her crown.
What was he thinking? She couldn’t guess Diago’s thoughts.
Had he been displeased to face such a hideous scene right after returning home?
A Frostborn maid with a torn forehead, a bloodstained face, and tattered clothing. It’s surely not a pleasant sight.
The words she’d heard countless times over the past three years echoed in her mind. A witch who brings misfortune.
‘This must not get worse.’
Though Diago held absolute power in Mediol, only one person could best him. His father and the lord, Marquis Martinas.
The Marquis might resent this incident and fear that his favored son would bear the fallout. After all, someone had died in the main tower.
‘But why did he kill Fabio outright…?’
It would have been more reasonable to subdue Fabio first and interrogate him afterward, proving Diago’s action justified.
She briefly wondered but knew a mere maid had no right to question her master.
Most of all, the pain dulled her mind. Her whole body screamed in agony. Still, she gritted her teeth and took another step.
But her weak body was barely capable of moving. Her steps staggered, struggling to keep balance.
After silently scanning Yelena for a long moment, Diago spoke.
“You can’t walk properly.”
“I’m, ugh, I’m sorry…”
Yelena couldn’t finish her words due to the pain.
“Did Fabio hit you?”
She hesitated but nodded.
“Why?”
“Because I’m… a, a Frostborn…”
If she weren’t Frostborn, this trouble wouldn’t have arisen.
Suddenly, she thought it wouldn’t be strange if Diago grew displeased and expelled her from the mansion.
Diago only nodded slightly, encouraging her to continue. Gathering her strength, Yelena stood straight and spoke intermittently.
“The other servants at the mansion… feel uncomfortable around me. If you order me to leave, I will… immediately.”
“You talk a lot.”
“…Yes?”
Yelena blinked in confusion. She was caught off guard by Diego’s words.
“I said you talk a lot.”
Huhp. She took a deep breath. She hurriedly wiped the blood trickling down her forehead with the back of her hand.
‘He remembers me.’
Maybe because she was Frostborn with a unique trait, but she felt overwhelmed that Diago still knew of her existence after all these years. Years had passed… suddenly her vision fluttered, and her heart raced.
Yelena moved her lips a couple of times and spoke in a trembling voice.
“I’m sorry. I was startled… I didn’t expect the young master to recognize me…”
Diago chuckled dryly as his gaze followed the bloodstain on her hand.
“I’m not exactly slow.”
Yelena shuddered in surprise.
“No, no, that’s not what I meant.”
“Did you learn the continental tongue from someone?”
“I… bought a textbook and studied on my own…”
This was the first time she’d exchanged so many words with Diago.
When she had been his personal maid before, simple commands and replies were all there was.
There had been no reason for conversation.
Now, Diago was asking questions, not orders, about a lowly maid’s personal affairs.
Yelena shrank in embarrassment, making herself even smaller than her already slight frame that barely reached his chest.
Diago slowly scanned her from crown to toe. His gaze lingered long and persistently, especially on the bloodstained areas.
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