Secret maid

Lux took a slow breath, trying to steady himself. Maybe this was all just a very detailed dream. Maybe he'd wake up back at his desk, drooling on his keyboard.

But if this was real, then he had work to do. The system showed ways to break these curses, and breaking them would make him stronger. He had to try.

He focused on the curse information again:

[Cursed Physique (S-Rank)]

Your body is weak and struggles to heal. Physical training gives almost no results, and healing magic barely works. You take double damage and recover at half speed.

Note: Breaking this curse will permanently boost strength and endurance.

This was the most important curse to break first. Without fixing his weak body, he'd never survive in this world. Magic was an option, but he knew better than to rely on it completely.

A new window appeared:

[Hidden Quest: The Sixth Gift]

Curse Type: Physique

Grade: S-Rank

Description: The gift was love. The gift was poison.

Trigger Condition: Spend three days without healing your body. During this time, train your body to its absolute limit at least once per day. Quest will unlock on the final day.

Lux stared at the quest details and sighed. An S-rank curse wouldn't be easy to break, but this seemed almost impossible. Train his already broken body without any healing? That sounded like suicide.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," he called out.

The door opened to reveal a girl about his age with bright blonde hair tied in a ponytail. A few loose strands framed her pretty face. She wore a perfectly fitted maid uniform and looked nervous.

"Good morning, young master Lux," she said with a polite bow.

But when Lux looked at her, another system window appeared:

[Name: Mira Willburn | Age: 14]

[Job: Maid]

[Traits: Poker Face, Traitor, Zombie, Actor, Assassin, Strong-Willed, Sharp Tongue]

[Relationship: Maid to Lux d'Branmere | Secret Servant to Lucas d'Branmere]

[Relationship Meter: -80 (Immense Hatred)]

Lux's blood ran cold. The sweet, nervous girl in front of him was actually an assassin who hated him. And she was working for Lucas - probably his half-brother, one of the legitimate heirs.

The way she acted was completely different from what the system told him. Her nervous smile, her polite bow - it was all fake.

"Uh, Lux— I mean, Master Lux, are you okay?" Mira asked, tilting her head and studying his face.

"I'm fine," Lux replied coldly, staying in character. "What brings you to my room this morning?"

Mira looked relieved at his normal tone, but then seemed confused by his question. "You told me to come here today wearing this!" She gestured to her maid outfit. "Don't you remember?"

What was the original Lux planning to do with her? Lux wondered. He looked her up and down, trying to figure out what the previous owner of this body had wanted.

"Keep your eyes to yourself!" Mira snapped, raising her hand and slapping him across the face.

Pain exploded through Lux's skull. What should have been a light slap felt like getting hit with a brick. His head snapped to the side, and he felt something warm running down his cheek. Blood.

"Master Lux!" Mira gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Her eyes went wide with horror.

Lux touched his face and felt a deep cut where her hand had connected. Blood poured down his cheek and dripped onto the floor. The pain made his vision blur.

Is this body really that weak? he thought, struggling to stay upright.

"Don't just stand there," he said through gritted teeth. "Get me a bandage."

Mira ran out of the room and returned quickly with bandages, a bowl of water, and some clean rags. Lux cleaned the wound as best he could, wincing at every touch. When he squeezed the bloody rag into the bowl, the water turned dark red.

"Look how much blood I lost," he muttered, staring at the bowl.

Mira trembled as she watched him. He could order me to do anything and I'd have no choice, she thought, clenching her fists. I have to be more careful.

"You slapped me," Lux said quietly, turning his purple eyes toward her.

Mira had never seen that look in his eyes before. Cold. Calculating. Dangerous.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean—" she started.

"Shut up," Lux interrupted, his voice low and threatening. "I'll let this slide once. But if you ever touch me again, I'll kill you."

Mira looked down at the floor, not daring to meet his gaze. Kill me? You? she thought angrily. You're so weak you could trip and die. If it weren't for the patriarch's orders, I wouldn't waste my time serving someone as pathetic as you.

"Now go get me some wooden swords and bring them to the courtyard," Lux ordered, looking away from her.

Mira's eyes widened in shock. "But your injury! You didn't heal it! Let me help—"

Lux gave her another cold stare. "Are you worried that people will see this cut and know you hit me?"

Mira bit her lip, caught.

"Keep your mouth shut and do what I ordered," Lux said, walking past her toward the door.

Mira stood there, staring at his back as he left. Something was different about him today. The way he looked at her, the way he spoke - it wasn't like the usual Lux at all.

"What happened to him?" she whispered to herself.