Cerys froze for a moment after hearing his words, as if her body needed time to catch up with what had just been said.
Then she blinked her eyes in disbelief.
Her thoughts snapped back into place, making her unsure.
He was serious?
He was really letting her take it first?
She turned her head toward him slowly, her eyes searching his face, trying to find even the smallest hint of doubt or hesitation.
His pale white skin, a well-defined nose, dark red glowing long wavy hair, and sharp eyes releasing a holy light.
There was none.
He stood there as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Her lips parted slightly.
"Young master… are you sure?" she asked, her voice softer than before, almost careful, as if afraid the moment would break if she spoke too loudly.
"What if I accidentally take it?"
Clay did not even pause or think in his head.
"Then you are destined for it," he said, as if the answer had always been that simple.
Before she could react, he stepped closer.
His hand reached out.
His fingers gently lifted her chin.
The sudden closeness made her breath stop.
"As long as you promise you will be my maid forever," he continued, his voice calm, almost careless, "then I do not care about things like this."
Cerys, on the other hand, surprisingly did not pull away.
She could have.
Her instincts as an assassin told her to.
But she did not.
Instead, her face grew warm, and for a moment, she forgot to think.
She misunderstood his meaning completely.
"I understand, young master," she said quickly, her voice carrying a strange mix of resolve and nervousness, "I promise… I will be your maid forever."
The words left her mouth before she could stop them, then… her eyes widened.
Did I just say that?
Her heart began to beat faster.
But when she looked at him, something inside her settled.
She did not feel regret.
Not even a little.
If this man could see what had yet to happen…
If he could really know the future…
Then staying by his side was not a bad choice.
And beyond that, he was strong.
Stronger than anything she had ever seen.
It made sense.
A weaker person followed someone stronger.
That was how the world worked.
Clay, on the other hand, went silent.
His mind stalled for a moment.
Does this woman really want to be my maid forever?
He stared at her.
Should I tell her I don't want to force her?
Then his thoughts moved to his discovery.
But if the inheritance is real, then the things I saw in my dreams are real too. And if she stays with me, maybe I can keep her from dying. The dangers and those monsters' world that will soon come to our world. I'll protect her.
His expression softened just a little.
"Alright," he said, accepting her words without making it sound heavy.
Once the danger passes.
I'll give her an option to be free.
On the other hand, hearing his thoughts, Cerys felt it.
That quiet acceptance.
And then she heard his thoughts.
I will protect her.
That was all it took.
Her vision blurred.
Tears gathered in her eyes without warning.
Why…?
Why is he like this?
Are there people who really like this?
She could not stop it.
Tears slid down her cheeks, one after another.
Even she did not understand why it hurt so much.
Even Howard…
Her thoughts trembled.
He was not like this.
Memories flooded her mind.
Cold rooms.
Long corridors.
Heavy doors that closed behind her again and again.
She remembered the days when she sat alone in a corner, her small hands wrapped around her knees as she listened to laughter that never belonged to her.
She remembered her parents' eyes.
Not angry.
Not even hateful.
Just empty whenever they look at her.
But the rest of the time?
They ignored her.
As if she was not worth looking at.
She remembered standing in front of them, trying to speak, trying to say something, anything that would make them notice her, but every time, the servants would step in first, their faces stiff as they guided her away with polite words that felt colder than chains.
"Miss, please return to your room."
"Miss, you should not be here."
"Miss, this is not your place."
She remembered the meals.
Or rather, the lack of them.
Trays left outside her door.
Food that was never warm.
Food that no one cared if she ate or not.
She remembered the nights.
The long, silent nights where she stared at the ceiling, wondering what she had done wrong.
Wondering why she was not loved.
Wondering why she existed.
Then came the day her adopted sister arrived.
Everything changed.
The house became lively.
Voices filled the halls.
Laughter echoed through every corner.
Her parents smiled.
They smiled so brightly that it hurt to look.
They held her sister's hands.
They praised her.
They cared.
Servants rushed to meet every need.
Warm meals.
Soft blankets.
Kind words.
Everything that had never been given to her.
She watched it all from the shadows where they gave her all to her adopted sister.
She saw every moment.
She felt every difference.
She remembered one time, when she stood at the edge of the hall, watching her sister being wrapped in a warm cloak by their mother, while her father laughed gently and adjusted it to make sure she was comfortable.
At that moment, Cerys had looked down at her own thin clothes.
No one had ever done that for her.
Not once.
She remembered reaching out once.
Just once.
She called out softly.
But no one turned.
Not even a glance.
And now…
Now someone stood in front of her and said he would protect her.
Just like that.
Without asking for anything complicated.
Without looking at her like she was nothing.
The difference hit her all at once.
"You're so kind…" she whispered, her voice breaking as the tears kept falling, "no one… no one has ever treated me like this…"
Inside her heart, despite everything, she accepted her choice.
I'll serve you with no regret.
Not even a little.
Clay blinked, clearly caught off guard.
Why is she crying? Did she hate me?
His thoughts were honest.
Did I say something bad? Or she was already loyal to her Master, the Final Villainess Cerys and she was breaking down because she didn't have a choice?
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Don't worry," he said, his tone turning lighter, trying to ease the moment, "I'll give an option to leave in the future."
Cerys froze.
And immediately made him not misunderstand.
"Ah, young master. I am willing to serve you as long as you need me, even if it takes forever."
Clay was shocked. He was thoroughly shocked. Then he looked at her, at her skin, her short dark hair, her dark cute eyes, and cheeks that seemed to redden when he looked at her.
He was utterly mesmerized.
On the other hand, Cerys felt strange.
Her face turned red instantly.
Young master… Desire me?
She could feel something strange in his gaze.
It was not dangerous.
But it made her heart beat faster in a different way.
She lowered her eyes, unable to meet his gaze directly.
Then she noticed how close they were.
Too close.
She could feel his warm and steady breath.
This caused her own breathing to become uneven.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The air grew thick.
Then—
THUD!
A heavy sound echoed through the room.
Both of them snapped out of it instantly.
Their heads turned toward the entrance.
There, standing at the doorway, was the Minotaur.
It looked as if it had walked into the wrong place.
Its massive body filled the entrance, its muscles tense, its breath heavy as it let out a low snort.
Then it saw Clay.
Everything stopped.
The Minotaur froze.
Its eyes widened.
For a brief moment, its eyes seemed to pop out before snapping back into place.
Then, slowly, very slowly, it took a step back.
Then another.
Like a cartoon character realizing it had made a terrible mistake.
It turned around.
And ran.
Clay stood there, staring, and speechless.
"…I thought it could adapt to anything," he muttered, his expression blank, "why can't it adapt to its fear?"
Beside him, Cerys let out a small, awkward sound, something between a whimper and a startled gasp.
The moment from earlier came rushing back.
Clay coughed lightly, clearing his throat.
"Maid," he said, forcing his tone back to normal, "take the inheritance."
Cerys nodded quickly, her cheeks still red.
She turned toward the chest.
Then she paused and glanced back at him.
He looked away slightly.
"Go on," he said, trying to sound calm, "I will be here. No need to worry."
She nodded again, this time more firmly.
Then she heard his thoughts.
I hope you make it.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
I'll try my best, young master.
She stepped forward.
One step, then another, until she stood right in front of the chest.
She lifted her hand slowly and carefully.
Her fingers touched the surface.
The moment she made contact, the world changed.
Darkness, coldness and heaviness spread.
A presence rose from the chest.
Before her, a figure appeared.
A skeletal demon.
Its hollow eyes glowed with a deep, menacing light, while shadow mana poured out of its body like thick smoke, filling the space with a suffocating pressure.
It looked down at her.
"You," it said, its voice deep and echoing, "do you want this treasure?"
Cerys swallowed.
Then she nodded.
"Yes."
The skeletal figure stared at her for a moment.
Then its jaw opened.
"You are not worthy!"