Apprentice to the Villain Chapter 37: Becky’s Hidden Skills
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This analysis contains major spoilers for Chapter 37 of Apprentice to the Villain. If you haven’t read this chapter yet, proceed with caution.
Summary
Becky arrives at the manor to find two interns locked in a bloody fistfight, with others cheering and throwing food. Annoyed by the mess and the work it will create, she commands them to stop, but the brawling pair ignore her. Abandoning her usual proper demeanour, she tears her skirt for mobility and dives into the fray. Using swift, precise moves—an elbow strike, a sweep, and a nerve hold—she incapacitates both combatants in seconds. She orders the hall cleaned and threatens to report the interns for a switch to non-energizing cauldron brew.
Blade appears, gaping at her unexpected prowess and pressing her on where she learned to fight. Before she can deflect, an intern named Caden grabs her shoulder and shouts insults about her “stealing” his chance for a promotion. Blade instantly restrains him, forces a louder apology, and coldly threatens to feed him to his dragon if he ever disrespects her again. Becky flees, only to be stopped by Gideon Sage, who has witnessed everything. He tells her, “So I was right … It is you,” accusing her of hiding behind a false identity. Becky warns him to stay silent, recognising that her secret—whatever it is—has now been exposed. She notices Blade watching them from afar, misinterpreted jealousy clouding the moment, but she must let it stand to protect the life she has built.
Key Events
- Two interns brawl in the manor hall, ignoring Becky’s initial verbal command to stop.
- Becky physically breaks up the fight, skillfully disabling both interns with her fists and a nerve hold.
- She threatens punishment (non-energizing cauldron brew) and demands the hall be cleaned immediately.
- Blade demands to know where Becky learned to fight; before she can answer, intern Caden accosts her.
- Blade seizes Caden, compels a full apology, and issues a violent threat involving his dragon.
- Becky flees, but Gideon intercepts her at the stairs, confirming that he has uncovered her secret identity.
- Becky admits the secret is real and threatens Gideon into silence; she notes Blade’s jealous reaction and realises she must let him misunderstand.
Character Development
- Becky (Rebecka Erring): The chapter peels back her prim exterior to reveal a highly capable fighter. The torn skirt symbolises her willingness to shed propriety for effectiveness. Her panicked response to Gideon’s recognition shows she has been hiding a dangerous past, and her deliberate choice to let Blade misinterpret her closeness to Gideon highlights the lengths she will go to protect her secret.
- Blade: Beneath his flirtatious, easy-going surface lurks a terrifying protector. When Caden threatens Becky, Blade’s demeanour shifts instantly to cold, lethal authority—a side “just for her.” This deepens his character beyond comic relief, suggesting a complex loyalty and a capacity for violence he hides behind charm.
- Gideon Sage: He is revealed as someone from Becky’s past who holds enough knowledge to threaten her false identity. His quiet promise to keep silent implies a shared understanding of secrets within the manor, but his knowing look makes him a potential future liability.
- Caden (intern): Represents the chaotic, ambitious lower ranks of the villain’s operation. His violent outburst showcases the manor’s tense environment and the desperate hunger for promotion.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Hidden Identities: The chapter’s central driver. Becky’s fighting skills and Gideon’s recognition confirm she is not who she claims to be. The tension between the persona she has built and her true self is now a ticking clock.
- Duty vs. Power: Becky initially acts from duty (damage reports are her job) but is forced into a display of physical power. The shift from administrator to enforcer underlines the thin line between roles in the villain’s household.
- Perception and Jealousy: Blade’s misinterpretation of Becky and Gideon’s whispered conversation shows how secrets breed misunderstanding. Becky’s choice not to correct him sacrifices emotional clarity for safety, a recurring trade-off in this world.
- The Torn Skirt: A tactile symbol of Becky’s duality. The tear makes her more mobile for combat but also exposes her thigh—a physical vulnerability that mirrors how her secret is now exposed.
- The Pixie (Nalia): A minor motif of loyalty and quiet support; the pixie retrieves Becky’s dropped hairpin, reinforcing the disciplined, orderly world Becky maintains even amid chaos.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 37 is a pivotal turning point for Becky’s arc. Until now, she has been the hyper-competent administrative backbone, but here she steps into a physical confrontation that shocks both Blade and the reader. The revelation that she has a secret past—hinted at by Gideon’s recognition—introduces a major plot thread. It raises the stakes for her relationship with Blade, who is drawn to the woman he sees but is now glimpsing something else entirely. The chapter also demonstrates that the manor is not just a place of wacky villainy; it harbours genuinely violent undercurrents, as shown by Caden’s assault and Blade’s brutal response. This sets the stage for future conflicts where Becky’s true identity could unravel everything.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Becky’s approach to stopping the fight reflect the duality of her character?
Becky first attempts a “proper and proud” command, echoing her grandmother’s teaching, which fails. She then pivots to a physical, almost pragmatic violence—ripping her skirt and using precise combat techniques. This mirrors her life: she presents a composed, official front, but underneath lies a fighter who does whatever is necessary, a dichotomy rooted in her secret past.
2. In what ways does Blade’s intervention with Caden complicate our understanding of his personality?
Before this chapter, Blade has been portrayed as flirtatious and carefree. His swift restraint of Caden and the graphic threat about his dragon reveal a willing, dangerous protector. He does not perform this for an audience; it is a private, intense moment. Thus, Blade is not merely comedic—he is lethal when those he cares about are threatened, adding depth and unpredictability to his character.
3. Why does Becky choose not to explain her interaction with Gideon to Blade?
Becky realises Blade is watching and misinterpreting the closeness. Explaining would require either a lie (damaging trust) or the truth (exposing her secret). By allowing the jealousy to stand, she preserves the only life she has built, even if it strains a relationship. This choice underlines the chapter’s theme that survival often demands silence over honesty.