I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince

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The moment I opened my eyes to that revolting face, my mood instantly soured. I had seen that greasy face so many times by now that I knew it by heart, even though I didn’t want to. Instinctively, I spat out a curse.

“You damn bastard.”

Just how much longer is he going to torment me until he’s satisfied?

Of course, it’s not like Machart is literally tormenting me by invading my dreams. The truth is, I’m the one who can’t let my guard down around him, and that’s why I keep having these nightmares. 

Knowing that he’s tied to demons and understanding the full extent of Machart’s powers has embedded a subconscious fear in me. 

I keep thinking he could storm into my room and abduct me at any moment. That deep, unspeakable fear has been gnawing away at my sleep for days.

“Damn it… I’m tied up again.”

The moment I saw his face, my instincts screamed to move my right hand and stab him in the throat, but just like in all the other dreams, my wrists were firmly bound in the darkness, unable to move.

“It’s no use. You’re already captured.”

There he was, Machart, looking smug as ever, smiling that rotten smile at me, gloating as if I could do nothing. 

His sickening voice began to churn my stomach again, just as it had countless times before.

“I can’t tell you how much effort it took to capture you. How could a noble lady like you be so unruly and resistant?”

“…”

“Were you raised to be rough because you’re actually just a lowborn commoner? That’s the only explanation I can think of.”

Calm down. Don’t let him get to you.

If I can just be sure this is a dream, I’ll be able to wake up. Things like Machart knowing I was originally a commoner or the fact that, chronologically, it wouldn’t even make sense for him to leave me tied up like this—none of it adds up. 

I have to recognize how unrealistic this dream world is and wake up from this nightmare.

‘But if… if this isn’t a dream… no, no, of course it’s a dream.’

Only about five people in total knew that I wasn’t a noble by birth. None of them were close to Machart or loose-tongued.

There were plenty of clues to remind me that this was a dream. To wake up, I had to keep that thought drilled into my mind.

The oddly realistic sensations, the strange feeling that this body was mine—it was all an illusion created by my mind. It was because I had momentarily fallen into Machart’s space and escaped that I ended up dreaming such a vivid nightmare.

‘It would be easier if I couldn’t think at all, like in a proper dream.’

Having just enough awareness to vent my hatred towards him made this twice as unbearable. Ever since I returned to the Blackwood Mansion and started sleeping alone, I’ve had this dream every single night. 

Of course, my mental stamina was wearing thin.

Machart’s attack had happened well before that, so it was possible I’d had this dream before, but back then, I must have quickly forgotten about it and gone back to sleep. 

At the academy, I could always feel Ethan’s warmth lying next to me, and that reassured me. 

I could sleep, knowing that if something went wrong, Ethan would always be there to protect me.

Even in the hospital in the church, though I wasn’t with Ethan, I shared the space with Agnes, which was somewhat reassuring. 

But for the past three nights at the Blackwood Mansion, I had been left to sleep alone. I had to face these nightmares on my own.

“So, are you ready to submit to me now?”

‘Ignore him. It’s just a dream. Don’t fall for the provocation.’

“There’s no way for you to escape. Once I trap you in this space, there’s nothing you can do.”

‘Ignore him. Don’t listen. It’s all nonsense.’

“I’m glad that clingy brat disappeared. It would’ve been a shame to damage that pretty body of yours, wouldn’t it?”

‘Please, wake up. Hurry. It’s just a dream. Wake up, wake up, wake up…’

I focused all my energy on waking up, trying my hardest to ignore Machart’s voice. 

My wrists and ankles were bound by his dark, shadowy grip, so slashing my way out was impossible this time. 

And magic was, of course, useless in his space. 

Sure, someone could argue that since it’s my dream, I should be able to use whatever I imagined, but I’d tried that dozens of times in previous dreams—all to no avail

The longer this confrontation with him dragged on, the more certain the outcome would be. So I braced myself and focused all my energy on waking up.

Even if this was a dream, there was no way I’d let that bastard Machart do anything strange to me. Dream or not, no means no.

I had to erase his existence from my mind and focus solely on waking up. If I allowed even the faintest image of him to creep into my thoughts, it would only make it harder to wake up.

“Even if that dumb boy had been by your side, it wouldn’t have made a difference. A guy who hasn’t even become a Sword Master couldn’t possibly stand up to me.”

‘What did he just say?’

“What did you just say?”

Sneer.

…Ah, damn it.

Of all things, why did he have to bring up Ethan?

I was so close to concentrating enough to wake up, but his sudden mention of Ethan completely shattered my focus. Machart was coming closer, grinning with that disgusting smile, knowing that he had thrown me off guard with just a single word.

“Such a foul mouth.”

“…”

“A lady without even basic manners will need to be re-educated from the ground up.”

With those final words, Machart reached toward my chest.

I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to look. No matter how much I told myself it was just a dream, there was no way I’d let that bastard touch me. 

If any man were to touch my body, it would be Ethan and only Ethan…

Slash!

The sound of a single blade.

More precisely, the sound of something slicing through flesh.

For a brief moment, I wondered if Machart had hurt me, but I felt no pain.

“ARRRGH!!”

The scream wasn’t mine. It was Machart’s. The one who had just been sneering at me.

When I cautiously opened my eyes again, what I saw wasn’t Machart—it was the back of someone I trusted.

“What do you think you’re doing to my Lilith?”

“How… how are you…”

“Even in a dream, I won’t let anyone have her.”

…Had I ever had a dream like this?

Normally, I woke up right before Machart’s hand could touch me, then fell asleep again, only to wake up repeatedly in fear. I’d never escaped the nightmare this way before.

However, I never expected Ethan to show up and rescue me.

‘…It feels strangely reassuring.’

In reality, I had relied on that broad back of his a few times, but I never thought he would come to save me even in a dream. 

Sure, it was absurd, but I didn’t care. Anything was better than being at Machart’s mercy.

Slash!

“ARRRGH!!”

SLASH!

“URGH, ARRRRGH!!”

It wasn’t just me who was surprised by Ethan’s sudden appearance. Machart, too, was being ruthlessly cut down, unable to withstand Ethan’s attacks.

“You bastard!!”

Sizzle!

“ARRRGH, ARRRRRRGH!!”

…It was a bit overwhelming, but whatever. 

Even though this was a nightmare, it was still my dream. It was probably playing out like this because I wanted it to. 

Unrealistic as it was, I preferred watching Ethan win rather than the alternative.

Finally, after Ethan slashed Machart into Ma/cha/rt, cutting him into fragments as numerous as the syllables of his name, the restraints binding my limbs were released.

Thud.

“Lilith, are you okay?”

“…”

“Let’s go inside and rest. You must be exhausted after the past few days.”

His voice sounded oddly realistic, and I felt as though I were genuinely in Ethan’s arms. 

Even though this was a dream, he acted just like a knight on a white horse, saving the damsel in distress. Not only did he come to rescue me, but he even carried me like a princess in the end.

Normally, I would’ve found this overwhelming, even if it was just a dream, but right now, I didn’t mind. It was certainly more comforting than waking up repeatedly, fearing what Machart might do to me.

‘Oh, right, I should reward him…’

Even if it was just a dream, I owed Ethan a reward for saving me. Even though my mind was foggy, I knew what I needed to do.

‘Ethan likes physical affection, so something along those lines should be a good enough reward. But since I’m in this position, touching his chest probably isn’t possible…’

Following the flow of my hazy thoughts, I wrapped my arms around Ethan’s neck and shifted my weight slightly toward him.

Swoosh.

“…Lilith?”

Then, lifting my upper body slightly, I brought my lips to his.

Smooch.

“…?!”

Even though it was a kiss in a dream, it felt real. 

Soft and warm, just like the embrace of Ethan’s arms.

T/N

Hello! Axiomatic here.

If she stays in denial after this, I don’t know anymore…

Thanks for reading,  see you tomorrow!