"He is scary, but I don't think we should be talking about him right now," she disagreed, her voice low but firm. She had no intention of getting into trouble because of this clueless newcomer.
"You're right. Why waste time talking about an animal when we have better things to chat about?" she added with a slow, uneasy chuckle.
---
Thirty Minutes Earlier
"Call a maid to clean this mess!" Maximus snapped, striding out of the room with frustration evident in his voice. He stopped abruptly, spotting a maid walking past.
"Where is she?" he demanded.
The maid blinked, unsure of who he was referring to, and simply shook her head. Maximus ignored her, quickly making his way to the housekeeper.
"Where is my new personal maid?" he asked sharply.
"I sent Serah to show her to her room, sir," the housekeeper answered promptly.
"Where exactly?" he pressed.
The housekeeper led him toward Ella's assigned room. But when they arrived, the room was empty. Puzzled, they asked another maid, who pointed them toward Serah's quarters. As they approached, the housekeeper raised her hand to knock.
"Wait," Maximus said, halting her.
He paused, listening closely—and what he overheard made his blood boil. Ella's voice was clear and accusing, calling him names, belittling him. An animal? How dare she!
His temper flared. Without warning, he kicked the door open. It slammed against the wall, causing both Serah and Ella to jump. He stormed in and grabbed Ella by the wrist, yanking her toward him.
"Who are you calling an animal?" he growled.
Ella froze, eyes wide with terror. "W... w... what?" she stammered, her heart thudding violently in her chest.
How did he get here so fast? Why couldn't he just leave her alone for a moment? Was she really going to have to live in constant fear now?
All these questions swirled in her head like a storm. "W-what are you talking about?" she tried again, feigning ignorance.
But the next moment, she was gasping—his hand now gripped her neck tightly.
"How dare you," he hissed, eyes blazing with fury. Serah and the housekeeper instinctively stepped back, too afraid to intervene.
"You must be ready to die," he said coldly.
The housekeeper hesitated for a moment but then turned and hurried out of the room, Serah close behind. Maximus suddenly loosened his grip and shoved Ella hard. She stumbled to the floor, landing on her knees, the impact sharp and painful.
Her knees trembled under the pressure, and dread bloomed inside her. Was he really capable of killing her?
"If you ever come into this room again, don't blame me for being rude," he warned with venom in his tone.
Truth to be told, Maximus wasn't furious about her calling him a monster. Deep down, he agreed with her—he was a monster. What enraged him was the fact that she had dared to come to a maid room, crossing a boundary she shouldn't have. And even that felt irrational to him.
Ella didn't reply. Slowly, she pushed herself up and stood, brushing off her gown.
"Let's go," he muttered and walked out. Without thinking, she followed him, her mind numb.
They walked into the sitting room, where Ella halted in surprise. Seated comfortably on the couch was Mrs. Florida.
"Hello, Daniella," the woman greeted with an all-too-familiar smile.
Oh Lord... It hasn't even been a full day, and she's already seeing this woman's face again.
"We're going to a party tomorrow, and she will be the one to prepare you for it," Maximus announced.
"I can handle it myself," Ella quickly replied, trying to sound calm.
"I'm not asking you," he snapped. "I'm telling you."
What?!
She clenched her fists, then glanced at Mrs. Florida, her glare unmistakable.
Maximus noticed the silent exchange and raised a brow. Do they know each other? Why else would Ella look at her like that?
'She's more interesting than I thought' he mused silently.
"You can go to your room now," he said curtly.
Not wanting to risk angering him further, Ella turned and walked away quickly.
Once she was gone, Maximus turned to Mrs. Florida.
"Do you two know each other?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
"No, we just met today," she replied smoothly.
He smirked devilishly.
---
The Next Morning
The sun had barely risen when Ella got up and rushed to the kitchen. The enticing aroma of spices and fresh ingredients had dragged her out of bed. The kitchen was bright, spacious, and bustling with activity. Maids moved about expertly, preparing what promised to be a delicious breakfast.
Ella inhaled deeply and smiled. "You guys really cook well," she said sincerely.
Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn't eaten much the day before. She began to nibble at a piece of bread, savoring the warmth.
Then came the voice.
"Maidi."
No no no!
This was supposed to be her peaceful morning how dare he ruin it? did he always have to ruin everything?
She ignored him. After all, there were other maids here—he could be calling anyone.
"Maidi," he repeated, louder this time. The kitchen fell silent. No one dared speak. Maximus stood outside, smirking devilishly.
Ella tried to focus on her food, though her heart felt like it was pounding in her ears.
He strolled into the kitchen, walked right up to her, and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to face him.
He nearly laughed at her startled expression—those wide, anxious eyes made her look like a frightened puppy.
"I was calling you," he said casually.
"Huh?"
"I said I was calling you. Why didn't you answer?" he repeated, his voice oddly calm.
"Oh... I didn't hear my name," she lied.
"But you heard me, didn't you?" he asked knowingly.
Reluctantly, she nodded.
She hated the way he made her feel—cornered, vulnerable. All she wanted was to stay far away from him.
"So why are you being disobedient?" he asked, feigning curiosity.
What?! Her eyes widened. What did he take her for—a child?
Not wanting another outburst like yesterday's, she quickly bowed her head. "I'm sorry, sir…"
He smirked. He was thoroughly enjoying this. He'd have to thank Isabella later.
"Don't you know what a personal maid should be doing in the morning?" he asked smoothly.
"Huh? B-but I'm in the kitchen," she said, genuinely confused.
"Oh, but you're my personal maid," he said, dragging out the word personal, making her heartbeat quicken.
"So… what exactly am I supposed to do?" she asked hesitantly.
"Good question. You're supposed to help me with my bath. Now, let's go."
Ella's face turned pale.
"…."