The Maid’s Torment

[Krieg Ring], welcoming and bidding farewell to servants…

Just over ten days prior, Seraphina had departed the Krieg Estate with an air of triumph, never imagining that her next visit would see her status dramatically altered. She was no longer a guest, but a mere maid.

As she followed Claire, treading the red carpet lined with servants, Seraphina felt an overwhelming urge to burrow into the ground and vanish.

Silent gazes would have been bearable, but as a vampire, she possessed acute hearing. Every idle whisper from the servants flanking her pierced through the air.

“Huh? Didn’t the Master say we weren’t short-staffed anymore? Why is the Third Miss bringing someone back…”

“Shh… The Third Miss’s affairs are none of your concern, nor are they yours to manage. But what race is that one? Their skin is as pale as the cold moonlight…”

“Pointy ears, I’d guess an elf, wouldn’t you?”

“No, no, no! Look! Their eyes are red! That’s clearly a bloodsucker!”

“What the hell? A bloodsucker? Then how haven’t they been burned by the sun…”

Upon hearing this, Seraphina shivered uncontrollably.

It seemed that vampires were indeed unwelcome among humans, especially in Emes Town.

Yet, she had been here just over ten days ago, but they seemed to have no recollection of her. Was their memory truly so poor?

With a trace of bewilderment, Seraphina traversed the garden, ascended the steps, and passed through the heavy wooden doors—doors that rivaled the scale of the Blood Manor itself—before finally arriving at the living room within the estate’s castle.

No sooner had Seraphina and Claire stepped into the parlor than the servants immediately followed, lining up in three neat rows before Claire, their chests puffed out and spirits remarkably high.

Yet, this exuberance seemed excessive. Their perfectly synchronized movements, impeccable drills, and uniform golden hair made Seraphina feel as though she had been transported back to Prussia in the 1930s.

‘Of course, these details alone weren’t enough to create such a vivid illusion. It was primarily the gazes of utter contempt the servants cast her way that solidified the impression.’

‘Prussia in the 1930s, but with a people exiled for a thousand years? How intriguing,’ she mused.

‘Still, when I first arrived at the Blood Manor, I was also ostracized by the vampire maids. But soon enough, Levian’s profound apology turned hostility into harmony.’

‘Surely, I can integrate smoothly this time too?’

Hey!

!

Just as Seraphina was lost in thought, a loud clearing of a throat suddenly echoed beside her.

Unlike the Blood Manor, where Iqiyah herself would personally handle introductions, such minor affairs at the Krieg Estate were delegated to others on Claire’s behalf.

“Everyone, allow me to introduce,” an impassioned male voice boomed. It was Gus, the butler. “This is Miss Seraphina Scarlett. Effective immediately, she will serve as a maid and become a member of the estate’s service team.”

No applause followed, and the atmosphere remained distinctly subdued.

“Fourierina, the Third Miss has commanded that you familiarize Miss Seraphina with her duties.”

“Huh? Me?”

From the front row of the formation, a blue-eyed maid with golden hair tied into a bun pointed at herself, dumbfounded.

“Why me?” she questioned, her voice thick with resentment.

The maid, Fourierina, first cast an almost pleading gaze at Gus, then quickly glanced at Seraphina in the interim.

But that single glance was enough to send a bone-chilling cold through Seraphina.

‘Murderous intent… This is murderous intent!’

“I don’t want anything to do with a bloodsucker…”

“This is the Miss’s command!” Gus sharply cut off his subordinate’s lament, his authority undeniable. “You have no right to defy it!”

“Yes…”

“Miss Scarlett,” Gus continued, his tone softening slightly as he turned towards Seraphina, “please stand to Fourierina’s left. Your work officially begins now.”

“Yes.”

Feeling the piercing gazes of those around her, Seraphina lowered her head and walked towards Fourierina.

“Please, may I pass?” Seraphina asked Fourierina.

Fourierina remained unmoved, uttering not a word, not even sparing Seraphina a glance.

“Please, may I pass…”

“Tsk.”

As if Seraphina’s voice was utterly repulsive, Fourierina frowned and turned away, taking a wide step to the side, before Seraphina could even finish speaking.

‘I’m done for.’

The bone-chilling cold, the sheer power of this silent, icy malice, was more terrifying to Seraphina than even Levian’s initial murderous intent.

‘I’d better start thinking about how I’m going to survive this week…’

****

“Third Miss… I have a question.”

“Please, speak.”

Standing at the doorway, watching Seraphina struggle with her luggage, exerting herself to keep up with the column of servants, Gus, the butler, couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity.

“I know you have a soft spot for Miss Seraphina.”

“Then… if you’re fond of her, why assign Miss Seraphina to the maid corps? You could easily make her your personal maid.”

“You haven’t forgotten how many of these people are orphans whose parents died in the Blood Manor, have you?”

“Of course not.”

“To be honest, this arrangement pains Claire somewhat. But to truly obtain Seraphina…”

“I understand that these individuals harbor a deep hatred for vampires. Faced with an enemy in their grasp, they will undoubtedly devise every possible means of torment.”

“And my objective is to let Seraphina endure the full brunt of their cruelty.”

“…Third Miss, forgive my ignorance, but what new form of… strategy is this?”

“…It’s not ‘what new form’ of anything, it’s a tactic, a tactic!”

With her arms crossed over her chest, Claire couldn’t help but revel in smug satisfaction as she considered her “perfect” plan.

“Gus, you’ve handled the family’s credit business; you should know that what people desire most is a sense of security.”

“If an individual is severely tormented within their community, they will inevitably feel insecure. They will, without fail, yearn for something that can offer peace of mind and hope for survival.”

“And once they find that sense of security somewhere, they will instinctively cling to it, developing an obsessive dependence.”

“My current objective is to make Seraphina insecure through torment, to make her yearn for liberation.”

“And I… I will play the role of the one who provides that security, causing her to inevitably depend on me for a lifetime, utterly unable to leave.”

With her arms still crossed, Claire gazed at the distant Seraphina with utter confidence, her eyes fixed on her as if she were prey already caught in her net.

“…As expected of the Third Miss. I have been enlightened.”

Following a single, cold remark, Fourierina led Seraphina through the labyrinthine passages of the servants’ quarters, which was, in reality, an estate unto itself.

They arrived at a secluded, cramped, and gloomy room, seemingly converted from a redundant attic space. A thick layer of dust on the floor unequivocally indicated that no one had been there for a very long time.

“Get in.”

Abruptly, Fourierina shoved Seraphina in the back. Already half-dead from exhaustion after climbing the stairs, Seraphina stumbled and fell to the floor, kicking up a large cloud of dust.

“Cough, cough… Why did you push me…”

Propping herself up with her hands, Seraphina lacked the strength to rise, remaining sprawled on the ground as she looked up at the golden-haired maid before her.

“Is this… is this my room?”

“No.”

Fourierina’s eyes gleamed with malice as she stared at Seraphina.

“This… is an execution ground. An execution ground specifically prepared for vampires.”

Thump—thump—thump—

A cacophony of hurried footsteps, seemingly emanating from all directions, echoed around Seraphina. She looked up to see countless servants emerging from the darkness, advancing towards her.

Though their appearances and ages varied, and the room was dim, devoid of natural light, Seraphina could clearly discern their expressions—the palpable abhorrence etched upon their faces.

“What… what are you doing?”

Panicked, Seraphina instinctively tried to retreat, only to collide with a leg behind her.

“I’m sorry… Argh!”

After a sudden, forceful kick sent her into a dizzying spin, Seraphina landed chin-first, crashing heavily onto the floor.

“Bloodsucker… do you still not understand your predicament?”

Thud.

A black leather shoe stomped heavily in front of Seraphina.

Holding a club that seemed to have appeared from nowhere, Fourierina loomed over Seraphina, her eyes gleaming with unbridled malice.

“You will pay for your sins!”