The maid’s glance lingered on his forehead. The mark was missing. Now she couldn’t even say who was in front of her: a miserable low-ranking scum or a high-born gentleman with good manners. However, she was well aware of his true nature!

«Why are you still alive?» – The girl asked blatantly the question that interested her most of all. Not that it was such a curious fact. She never went to the training ground, and her servants didn’t usually expatiate upon the events that took place there. Anyway, the whipping boy could tell everything himself.

Kyon stretched lazily and gave a big yawn. Then he looked at the girl with a mischievous smile on his lips:

«Do you want me to die?»

Now Dinah was speechless. Once again, the miserable slave was staring at her as if he owned her and treating her with no respect just like he did when they first met. Could it be his real identity? Of course, not... He must be so cheeky because of the lady’s order forbidding to do him any harm. Apparently, he asked the young lady, and she gave that order. It was totally unexpected... As if the value of the close and trusted maid was less important for the lady than a pitiful servant... It just didn’t make any sense!

A burning desire to nail 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 make a move against him because of the order.

«I would gladly kill you myself but you, little prick, 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 at her. No one would ever suspect that he had branded Juno with a subjugating formation. Besides, he had 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. But I won’t tell you a word.» – Kyon slowly approached the maid.

«That's how you’re talking now... You got the lady’s protection and now you have the nerve! Did you stop wetting your pants at my appearance as it was often the case? Look at yourself! you think you’re a proud lion. But in reality, you’re still worthless nullity. Bravo!» – Dinah smiled with contempt and clapped twice her hands to mock him...

Unfortunately, her attempt to hurt him failed. Kyon was smiling ominously and getting closer to the girl.

«And that’s coming from a noble, proud maid who tried to finish me off because of some 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 for your nasty temper.»

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

Kyon enjoyed that nervous and helpless movement. He had been moving to Dinah step by step until the maid bumped 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, dare to move against me at least once, pathetic maid, and you are in big trouble. Did you get the message?»

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.

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

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

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The cutie was wearing a pearl gray skirt, silver sandals, and a tight blouse with thin straps. Her bare white shoulders magnetized the eyes. The outfit was not suitable for training. She had put it with a purpose to arouse certain suspicions of her maid because she always trained in a special uniform. Juno was trying to leave hints through the network of rigid orders but... When she saw Dinah pressed against the wall, she understood that 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 girl, all thanks to orders.

Dinah instantly slipped out of the boy's grip. It was no good if lady Juno saw her in such an embarrassing situation.

«My lady, forgive me. This cheeky young boy was misbehaving. Will you let me punish him properly?» – Dinah asked slightly stammering and visibly reddening with shame. The young lady had seen her compromise the honor of a superior maid.

Kyon bent over in a respectful bow. He 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 all about it. That’s why I asked you to bring him breakfast. You are free to go now.»

«But my lady! This boy dared to…»

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

Dinah pursed her lips, visibly displeased. Then she obediently bowed and left shooting a ray of hatred from her icy eyes at the boy who playfully smiled at her as if she was a sweet and harmless pet. It was a bad day, a very bad day...

On the way to the mansion, the girl was tormented by curiosity. She had no end of questions, from the possible reasons for the newly-minted servant’s arrogance (what if there’s something else behind his confidence?) to the young lady’s strange behavior (why on earth did she protect him?)

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

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

«The black-haired upstart is still alive.»

«Uhm... Are you talking about... Is he really 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 strength nor 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 let anyone see her feelings. And for the first time, lady Juno gave an order to one of them. Something big was going on!

«I have no reason to lie to you. Be so kind and interrogate this little scoundrel properly. Torture him, if necessary. We are experts on tortures for a reason.»

Anna sighed with annoyance. Pity and sympathy for the unfortunate toothless boy still lived in her kind heart. She took a decision to spare him the suffering if he told her everything himself. The beautiful blonde had no doubt that she would find out everything she wanted. She promised her sister to settle things up.

Dinah already had the usual cold and unemotional expression on her face. She nodded to Anna gratefully and left.

…

As soon as the maid left the training ground, Kyon made Juno a sign with his finger to check her formation. She shook her head which meant that no one was nearby or watching them with some concealment technique. Meanwhile, certain orders had expired in Juno’s formation, 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 carelessly began eating his breakfast. «I don’t think she will dare when she finds out why I’m so valuable to you.»

«I would personally give away all the wealth of my family and the mansion to boot just to get rid of you! What value are you talking about?!»

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

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

For the first time in a long, long time, Kyon guy had eaten his fill. He rose solemnly, straightened his back, flexed his shoulders. It was time to try out the pure energy in practice, to figure out the average speed of his movements, to estimate the effect of his blows. All in all, he wanted to have an idea what his body was capable of... He needed to find out asap what would happen if he met the little demon at the hot spring now that he had mastered the basic grade of pure energy. He was eager to punish her by himself (if he was ready.) The proper Juno’s upbringing had just begun...