âBring this to the butler and get his signature.â Dajal ordered dismissively.
âMay I know what I need his signature for?â Amethyst asked upon receiving Dajalâs ledgers.
âItâs this monthâs ledger.â
âAh, I see.â
Ah, I hoped it would be something I can use as evidence, but itâs only the ledger.Since it needs to be approved by Pon Iâm sure itâs a fake ledger.
But if I run into Pon in this state then my secret undercover will be blown away.
âMay I ask why we need to show this to the butler? Shouldnât this be shown to the lady of the houseâ¦â
âHa, you sure have a lot of questions.â
âI am sorry. Itâs just my first time working in such a big mansion so Iâm not familiar with thingsâ¦â
âWhat would a daughter of a well-known noble know about running a mansion? Iâm sure all she knows is to sip tea all day or play dress up.â
âIs⦠that so.â
âThatâs right! This must be why she left even the running of the main estate to the butler in charge and spends her time shopping. Well, that makes things easier for me.â
At Dajalâs words, Amethyst clenched her fist. If she hadnât tasked Pon to run everything then things might have been different. It felt like all of this was her fault.
Just as her mind came to such a thought, Dajal shouted.
âWhat are you standing there for, go!â
âYes.â
Once Amethyst reached the main estate, she looked for Lunia instead of Pon.
âMadam?â
âLunia, I need your help!â
âWhat⦠I was wondering where you were these days. Was this what you were up to?â
âItâs a long story. So please pretend you donât know anything.â
âItâs not something that can be overlooked as long as I pretend not to know! The moment His Highness finds out, my head will no longer be attached to my neck!â Lunia said in fluster.
âI will make sure no harm goes your way.â
âYou are already causing me plenty.â
âLuniaâ¦â Lunia took a step back as Amethyst looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
âFine. How can I help you?â
âIâm here on an errand. This is the ledger from Dajal that needs to be approved by Pon. It needs his signature but as you can see I am in no position to get it myself.â
âThat is true⦠Since Sir Pon has an eye for detail you just need me to get it signed on your behalf?â
âYes. I will be grateful if you will.â
Lunia accepted the ledger and flipped through. âDid you investigate it?â
âYes. But Iâve not made much progress. What do you think?â
âWell⦠thereâs nothing special on the ledger. Nothing seems illegitimate.â
âPrecisely. Everything is too perfect.â
âYes. I also think the real ledger must be elsewhere⦠which is what I need to find.â
âIs that why you are going around in a maidâs uniform?â
Amethyst shrugged in reply.
âI will investigate on my own as well.â Lunia offered.
âThank you.â
âAnd also⦠Madam, since you asked me to pretend not to know, should you ever encounter a dangerous situation, just shout and ask someone to save you as loudly as you can. Do you understand?â
âShout?â Amethyst quirked an eyebrow.
âYes, shout asking for someone to save you.â
âOkay, I understand.â
Actually, Amethyst didnât quite understand what Lunia meant but promised that she would nonetheless.
âYou should rest for the day,â Lunia said.
âBut I need to bring the ledger back to Dajal. If I donât he will get suspiciousâ¦.â
âLeave that to me. I will tell Sir Pon that I received it from a maid from the side estate, and that I asked that maid to run my errand so have another maid pass it back to Dajal.â
âCarol.â
âSorry?â Lunia was taken aback.
âMy name. Itâs Carol. That is⦠among the employees I told them to call me Carol.â
âHaâ¦!â
Lunia placed her hand on her forehead and let out a loud sigh.
âJust⦠how long have you been going around like that?â
âFor some time.â
âReally⦠Iâm more surprised that no one found out.â
Amethyst let out a forced laugh, and just as Lunia advised retired to her bedroom. She quickly changed into a dress before the maids could see and sat down on the sofa.
Phew! ⦠For some reason, she couldnât help but let out a loud sigh.
From the window she heard the sound of horse hooves and a carriage, so she leaned against the window and looked down.
Alec?
Heâs back earlier than I thought!
Iâm glad I followed Luniaâs advice and returned earlier. If not there might have been a big ruckus saying the princeâs wife is missing. Or I would have been caught in my maid uniform.
If her undercover mission was busted before she could find the evidence, then the already suspicious and extremely careful Dajal would raise up his barriers.
She saw the figure that normally returned after dusk descend the carriage. Amethyst left her bedroom and made her way towards the entrance.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om