Chapter 73

Chapter 73

The maids’ quarters were idle during the day. It was because they were busy working in their assigned places.

〈 Maid Greta’s room is third from the right. She uses the biggest room. 〉

Using Rona’s words as a guide, I finally found Greta’s room.

‘Found it.’

Now, how do I get in…?

I glanced at the keychain in my hand, then looked at the keyhole again, and then again at the keychain. It seemed that the probability that the owner of the room would return during the time it took to try everything in and turn it seemed to be greater.

Thinking that, I glanced around once, staring at the keyhole under the handle before reaching out and pulling out the pin that was in my head.

‘I hope this classic method works.’

However, it wasn’t too bad to try the simplest method first, rather than inserting all these keys.

Clink, clink.

I shoved the hairpin into the keyhole and started spinning it around.

‘…Please open.’

It sounds a bit ignorant, but there were times when this method worked surprisingly well.

Click.

Just like right now.

“Is it really open?”

Muttering to myself, I carefully glanced around awkwardly. Of course, no one was watching.

Creak.

The sound of the hinges made my heart feel like it was shrinking without realizing it. When I opened the door, the inside was ordinary—bed, chair and table, and a wardrobe. It was a very ordinary landscape.

…Except for that box that looks suspicious to anyone.

On the north side of the room, where the sun did not shine, there was a box covered with a black cloth.

I tried to tap it with my foot, and then sat down and touched it with my hand, but nothing happened. The safety of the box itself was certain. Finally, I mustered up the courage and began to pull the black cloth.

Slide.

The cloth was removed in an instant, and the box inside was revealed.

“….”

I stared at the box for a while.

“Is it just a box…?”

It was really just a box. No lock, just a plain wooden box. It looked good for a piece of junk.

Holding the long rod, I grabbed the lid and opened it upwards. This was to prevent an unexpected snake from appearing.

“Ah.”

There were only a few clothes and books inside.

“This…’

It was unexpectedly a collection of ordinary objects. So, there was no such thing as a snake. She wouldn’t know if I secretly stole it, right? If that snake was the only animal she raised, I had to catch it and give it to Walter, so it wouldn’t be here.

“Hmm.”

…Did I get it wrong?

I closed the lid again and turned around.

And, just as I had come in, I looked around and left the door.

* * *

In case anyone caught me, I quickly moved on.

Bump.

While walking in a hurry, I bumped into someone and had to stop.

“Oh, sorry…”

When I lifted my head, a wide chest caught my eye. To look like this from my point of view, they had to be quite tall and of a good physique. Thinking of who among the employees was a man with this physique, I slowly raised my head.

“….”

As soon as I looked up, I saw blue eyes emitting a cool light.

I couldn’t move my head straight up.

“Uh, uh—”

I had no idea that I would meet him authentically at such a close distance. How did he get around all this time, so close…!

“Selene.”

Calling my name, he took a step towards me, and I took a step back.

“…”

Amoide saw me step back and stopped moving forward.

Again, I ran back without missing the chance. In the meantime, if I ran away like this, he wouldn’t follow me anymore, and he would just stand and stare at me from a distance.

But, today…

‘Why are you following me…!’

I thought I’d run enough, so I looked back at the place I had been, and I was astonished.

He was walking towards me at a pace that was neither slow nor that fast.

Even if it wasn’t fast, it wasn’t comparable to my trot. Because when he took one step, I had to take at least two and a half steps to get them to match.

“Oh, come on!”

With a desperate groan, I grabbed my dress and started running to death. The sound of footsteps coming from behind was getting farther away.

“Gasp, gasp…”

Even as I ran, I couldn’t figure out why I was running. As long as I was in this mansion, meeting him was unavoidable.

‘Still, I can’t see him right now. I can’t!’

I know with my head, although when my body sees him, it automatically prepares to run away. That’s why I’m still running away like this. I didn’t stop until I was about to vomit. Nonetheless, it had been a while since I heard footsteps.

Still uneasy, I turned around and saw no one as expected.

I hurriedly looked around as well, but there was no one in the visible street.

When I found a bench in the corner of the garden, I immediately stumbled to it. But, before I could even sit down, my legs lost strength and I collapsed. Slowly, I wiped the sweat with the back of my hand and took a sharp breath.

Before the untimely chase, I felt completely exhausted.

Holding my breath for a while, I suddenly heard a voice.

“Madam…? Why are you here?”

I almost hit my butt on the floor at the sound of a voice I heard out of nowhere.

“Huh? Uhh…?”

When I looked up, I could see Rona.

“Did I scare you?”

Looking at me crouching down next to her chair, Rona gave me an unknown look.

“No, my legs are just… a little numb.”

I made up a bunch of excuses.

“Can I give you a massage?”

“No, it’s all right, all right.”

I shook my head.

“Madam, you’re in a cold sweat. Are you okay?”

Asking that, Rona raised her sleeve with a worried face and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

“It’s okay, more than that…” Muttering so, I peered closely behind Rona’s back before finishing my words.

“Amoide, is he gone?”

“Master?”

“Did you not see Amoide?”

“Oh, I saw him on the way. He went a while ago… Huh?”

Rona didn’t speak, but then stepped back and stared behind me. Her face looked like she had seen a ghost.

“…Why? What’s there?”

The moment I turned around, a gloomy voice landed in my ear.

“What are you doing here?”

“…”

It sounded like the grim reaper whispering.

Can a person feel the cold even with just a voice? As the strange senses were activated, icicles were created in the voice, creating the illusion of dripping. I could even see the icicles flying towards me like a spear.

“Uh…”

I sat there with my mouth open like a stunned fish.

“Rona, I have something to talk to the wife.”

A dignified and low voice was heard.

It was a voice that made the listener feel intimidated and as if they had to listen to whatever he said.

‘…Don’t go—’

With earnest pleading, I spoke with only my mouth open. Rona seemed to understand, too. In an instant, an expression such as ‘why is this ordeal to me’ appeared on Rona’s face. It seemed very difficult.

“….”

Rona glanced at me, then looked behind me again, then rolled her eyes a few times. Then, likewise, she frowned and spoke.

‘I’m sorry, Madam.’

As she said that, she got up without me even being able to hold her back.

“Yes, Master, have a good time.”

And, in case I would catch her, she went farther and farther away. Her feet were so fast that it didn’t take long for her to appear like a tiny dot.

“Huh…”

Stiffened, I held out my hand. It felt as though the cold air was rushing around me like dry ice. I thought of several options I could have.

Shall I run away like this? Do I pretend to be deaf? Or, or—

“Don’t even dream of running away.”

“….”

…How did he know?

He’s so quick-witted. It was as if he had even looked inside me. Still, what was he going to do if I ran away? Even when I usually walk, I have to move my legs busily to catch up with those long legs. I probably won’t even be able to take a few steps and I’ll be caught by him.

“How long are you going to be like this?”

“….”

Even though I have a mouth, I have nothing to say. I just sat there as if to practice the words. In fact, it was questionable whether I would even be able to get up because my legs were already shaking.

I ran away so much. I’ve been ignoring him. Still, he was something I had to bump into. I’d rather end it early.

All right.

Thinking so, I turned around with a firm determination.

“….”

The man standing with his back to the sunlight boasted a more daunting presence than usual.

Unless it’s a sickly complexion.

At that moment, I realized that I was in the shadow he had created. It meant that I’ll probably be caught before I even got out of this shadow.

…Let’s not needlessly sweat and lose strength.

“Good morning.”

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