Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 100

Lily clutched Aiden as if holding onto him who had collapsed into her arms. Her palms grew damp and wet.

She didn’t want to check what it was. But the fishy, metallic smell at her nose awakened her to reality.

The trembling that started in her hands spread through her whole body.

“A–Aiden, Aiden?”

No answer came.

Lily desperately tried to make her pale head work.

What should be done for a patient pierced through the chest with a sword? Stop the bleeding, first stop the bleeding, and then…

The passersby also noticed the accident. People surrounded them, murmuring noisily. Then voices shouted, press the wound, take off his clothes to check the injury, call for a doctor.

But first, she had to lay Aiden down. Lily breathed in short gasps. Then, holding him, she somehow slid down from the bench onto the ground.

She tried to lay him flat on the ground. First, she had to remove his cloak and check the wound.

But Aiden pressed his torso onto her shoulder, refusing to separate.

“Like this…”

At the low voice, Lily suddenly burst into tears. When she froze and stayed still, Aiden also relaxed his strength, resting his head on her shoulder.

“Aiden, n–no, don’t.”

Shaking violently, Lily shouted toward the people around her.

“Please help! This is His Grace, Duke Kashimir! Please bring a doctor!”

“Your Grace! Are you all right? Everyone, make way!”

A commotion rose from behind as the guards arrived a step too late.

 

 

****

 

 

 

She couldn’t remember how she had returned to the mansion. Somewhere along the way, guards had appeared and hurriedly carried Aiden away. One guard stayed behind to look after her.

When they came, they were two, but on the way back she rode the carriage alone.In it, Lily sat with wide eyes, letting her tears fall.

She felt as if she were nowhere at all. As if she existed only as a shocked mind, without awareness of reality or her own body.

Her mind, beyond her own control, slowly replayed over and over the scene of Aiden collapsing.

In the end, she was in even greater terror than she had been in the square.

The moment the carriage stopped and the door opened, Lily dashed out. At the entrance, Marie caught hold of her.

“My lady!”

Lily looked over Marie’s shoulder.

The mansion’s exterior should have been no different from when she had left. Yet in Lily’s eyes, it looked grim. The silence was chilling. Only the ominous cry of birds echoed in the air.

“Marie. His Grace? Has His Grace arrived? What did the doctor say? No—no, I must see him. Take me to him.”

“My lady, please calm yourself. Let’s go inside first and talk.”

Calm herself? How could anyone say such a thing?

Lily stared at Marie in disbelief. If Marie had not been a friend she trusted, she would have lashed out harshly.

Marie carefully took Lily’s hand and guided her into the mansion.

Lily thought she was being led to Aiden’s side. But the place they headed toward was Lily’s own room.

Realizing where they were going, she stopped.

“I said, take me to His Grace.”

“My lady, please, let me explain inside.”

“No. No.”

Lily stepped back.

“I want to see him.”

If her friend would not take her, then she would find him herself. If she opened every door in the mansion, one of them was bound to hold Aiden.

The desperate need to see Aiden with her own eyes consumed her. She could think of nothing else. Time was far too precious.

“Aiden… Aiden is—”

“Lily!”

Marie seized her hand firmly, stopping her from pulling away.

“You cannot see His Grace!”

Lily’s eyes shook.

I can’t see him? Me, of all people? Why?

At last, just barely, Lily found a reasonable explanation.

“Ah, r–right. Of course. He must be receiving treatment now.”

Marie said nothing more, only continued to lead her by the hand. This time, Lily followed without resistance.

Even when Marie brought a basin, washed her hands, and helped her change clothes, Lily moved like a soul drained of life, doing only what she was told.

At last, cleaned up and seated on the sofa, Marie spoke gently.

“My lady…”

Lily lifted her head. Marie was looking down at her with a face full of pity.

“I’m sorry for speaking so harshly before.”

“No. Thank you for stopping me. I nearly rushed in recklessly. I’ll go see him after the treatment is finished.”

“Yes. Once His Grace regains consciousness, I’ll let you know.”

Lily shook her head and looked down at her palms. She could still feel the vivid dampness that had soaked them.

“It doesn’t matter if he hasn’t regained consciousness. I’ll stay by his side. When His Grace opens his eyes, he’ll be glad to see me there. He always was before.”

“Um, well…”

At the faltering voice, Lily looked up again. Marie seemed deeply troubled as she spoke.

“Until permission is granted, you cannot go, my lady.”

“What?”

“Not only you—everyone, except a few deemed essential, has been forbidden from approaching. Since the culprit hasn’t been caught yet, His Grace’s safety must be the top priority…”

Lily sprang to her feet.

“I’m not the culprit!”

“No one is suggesting you are, my lady.”

Marie hurriedly placed a hand on her shoulder. Lily brushed it off, her voice sharp.

“Then why am I forbidden? You said some people are allowed in. If others can stay with him, then of course I can too. I’m closer to him than anyone!”

She believed this with all her heart.  Even if Aiden were asked, he would answer the same. They were two people who had promised to share a life.

She pleaded.

“Please. I would never harm His Grace. I won’t be a disturbance. I swear it. Just let me watch over him. If not inside, then at least let me sit by his door.”

“I hate to say this, my lady, but… officially, you are staying in the mansion as His Grace’s personal counselor.”

“That’s…!”

Lily was struck silent.

She had been regarded as Aiden’s lover, but only in secret.

An unannounced relationship held no weight. In an official situation, she was nothing more than a counselor hired by the household.

Even Marie Green, who served as her maid, was not truly a lady-in-waiting—merely a future candidate. On the household records, she was only assigned to the counselor’s guest room.

If Lily pushed too hard now, people would see her as shamelessly trying to play the mistress of the house in the Duke’s vulnerable moment.

Realizing her position, Lily tried once more to persuade.

“The aide… the aide would vouch for me.”

She looked at Marie with desperate hope. Marie hesitated, lips trembling, before finally replying.

“It was the aide who gave the order.”

At those words, Lily’s arms dropped limply. She had been begging for something impossible from the start.

She could not tell if the heaviness in her chest was sorrow, emptiness, or betrayal.

Seeing her tormented expression, Marie fidgeted and added,

“And the aide said… tonight you may stay here, since you’ve been through such a shock. But when morning comes, you are to move your quarters.”

Lily lifted her head sharply.

“In this time of confusion, they can’t spare effort for outsiders. Instead, I am to accompany you when you leave.”

Lily leapt to her feet.

“What are you saying?”

She could not believe what she’d just heard. Leave tomorrow morning? Was that truly what they meant?

She had thought her relationship with Wolfram had improved.

Though at first strained by his prejudice, he had apologized sincerely, and his attitude had changed. They had gotten along well enough since.

Besides, unlike Aiden, he had never dismissed her abilities.

If he truly used his head, he would not act like this.

Instead of pushing her out the moment Aiden collapsed, he should have at least come himself to explain the situation! Her anger and injustice boiled over.

Marie quickly said,

“My lady, I’ll go ask again, I promise!”

Lily was about to tell her, no—bring Wolfram Burnett here instead.

But then she looked at Marie, flustered and panicked like a servant before a superior.

Marie was only a maid of the guest quarters. And Lily… was nothing more than the discarded lover of the Duke.

She remembered her place.

“No. It’s fine. I understand now…”

How could a woman with no rights, no official title as counselor or lover, dare question the Duke’s deputy’s orders? It would not be fitting to act stubborn.

Just moments ago, her mind had simply been clouded.

Now she saw everything clearly. Things were unfolding as they should, in their proper order. Each in their rightful place…

“Don’t worry. I’ll wait until I’m called.”

“Yes, my lady. I’ll bring you a warm drink, just wait a moment.”

“Just leave me alone.”

She walked weakly to the bed, curled herself beneath the covers. After a hesitant glance, Marie drew the curtains and quietly left the room.