She blinked, staring at him with wary eyes.
"You better listen carefully," he said, his voice low and commanding.
"Y-yes," she stammered, fidgeting with her fingers due to nervousness. She was scared.
What kind of rules is she going to follow?
Deep down, she hope it wasn't that bad. It should just be some casual formal rules.
The sitting room was warm and inviting, the kind of deceptive comfort that only heightened her tension. Gray armchairs were arranged neatly around the room, and each corner of the parlor was adorned with beautiful paintings—serene landscapes that clashed painfully with the tension in the air. A soft crackle came from the fireplace nestled in one corner, casting a flickering light over the elegant silver center table that sat between them, polished to a perfect gleam.
The cigar in his hand irritated her senses, its sharp, smoky scent clinging to the air. Still, she said nothing. The place was quiet, too quiet, and the silence pressed down on her like a weight.
A man approached silently and handed Maximus a slip of paper. He bowed slightly, then disappeared as soundlessly as he had come.
Maximus held the paper between his fingers, staring at it intently for what felt like a full minute.
"Is that... the rules?" she asked, her voice trembling by the end.
He finally looked at her, cold and unreadable. "Yes."
She swallowed hard.
"I had this prepared so you can read it every morning. That way, you won't even think about breaking any of them. Because if you do... there will be consequences."
She gripped the fabric of her dress tightly, her palms already sweaty. Her heart pounded in her chest like a warning drum.
"Y... yes," she whispered.
"Good," he smirked. "So let's start with the first rule. Ready to hear it?"
She nodded slowly, reluctantly.
"First rule: You must not leave the mansion without my permission."
She bowed her head, not daring to meet his eyes. Her fingers dug into her lap.
Okay. That wasn't so bad. She could manage that one, maybe.
"And when I say 'without my permission,' I mean until I say so. Look at me."
She flinched at the sharpness in his tone and lifted her head slightly, nodding again.
"Second rule... You must not be seen with any man."
Her eyes shot open, staring at him in disbelief.
She blinked several times. "W-what?" she asked, nearly choking on the word.
She must have misheard him. That couldn't be what he said.
"Are you deaf, or do you want me to repeat the second rule?" His eyes narrowed, and the fury behind them sent a chill through her spine.
How dare she question him?
"Third rule..." His lips curled into a grin. "You must make me feel comfortable—at all costs."
She blinked again, her mouth opening slightly in confusion. "H-how?" she managed to ask.
"Good question. But don't worry... you'll find out soon." He stood and crossed the space between them. Leaning in close, he whispered into her ear, "At night. In my room."
One corner of his lips lifted in amusement.
She froze, her whole body trembling. Her eyes widened in horror.
"H-huh?" she gasped, stunned. What the hell was happening?
Before she could even process what he had said—
"Next rule!" he barked, snapping her out of her daze. He returned to his seat, calm as ever.
"You must not be seen with or gossiping with any of the maids."
Her eyes widened again. No gossiping? No talking? No friendships?
"Maidi, do you know what that means?" he asked with a mocking smile. "It means you're not allowed to make friends. Hmm?"
Oh no. This must be the worst one yet. How was she supposed to survive this place with no one to talk to? And no gossiping? her main hubby? She was sure she going to die.
This man!
"Understand?"
"Yes, sir," she replied quietly.
"Good girl," he murmured.
She clenched her fists. Sooner or later, she was going to leave this place. She had to.
"And the last, but most important rule," he said, his voice lowering ominously, "You must not break any of these rules. Or else... you'll be punished. By me."
She nodded again, more obediently than before, but her mind raced with fear.
"W-with death?" she asked in a whisper, desperate to know just how far he would go. This man... he was ruthless.
"Maybe," he said simply, shrugging as if her fate was a casual matter.
"Now... walk toward me," he commanded.
She hesitated before stepping slowly toward him. When she reached his side, he held out the slip of paper.
"Here."
She took it with trembling hands and stared down at the list:
You must not leave the mansion without my permission.
You must not be seen with any man.
You must make me feel comfortable at all costs.
You must not be seen or gossiping with the other maids.
You must not break any rule, or you will be punished—by me.
She held the paper, her eyes fixed on it in disbelief. The words blurred slightly from the heat of her emotions. Silence filled the space again, heavy and suffocating.
"You are free to go for now," he said casually.
She looked up and nodded quickly. As she turned to leave, her foot barely lifted when his voice rang out again.
"And don't forget to be in my room at six o'clock. PM."
Her breath caught in her throat. She nodded stiffly and walked away, her heart racing and her entire body flushed with fear and confusion.
Once in her small room, she sank onto the bed like a crumpled doll.
What kind of life is this?
She sighed deeply, curling onto the bed, and eventually drifted into an uneasy sleep.
When she woke, a single terrifying thought hit her like a bolt of lightning.
Oh no... the time!
She scrambled to find her phone. Her eyes widened in horror.
6:30 PM.
Oh no!