Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 102

Do they really have the manpower to spare for this? Not even on patrol—just planted here to watch me?

This was the attempted assassination of a duke, after all. Instead of assigning a soldier to a mere counselor, every man should have been devoted to protecting the duke.

Unless… they’re keeping me under guard so I don’t cause trouble…

As Lily tried to guess Wolfram’s true intent, the soldier asked her politely:

“Do you need anything, ma’am? If you stay inside, I can summon a maid for you.”

Lily bit her lip.

At this rate, the carriage the cult leader had sent would leave, and she would lose her chance with nothing to show for it.

No—it wasn’t just about missing the opportunity. The cult leader would target someone else after Aiden.

Her grandmother, for one. And since he had already sent a letter under Gloria’s name, it seemed he had even traced ties to the dress shop.

She could not back down. Straightening herself, she asked with a somber look:

“How is His Excellency?”

It wasn’t a question born of ignorance. If Aiden had truly been summoned to the Lord, the mansion would not be so deathly quiet.

And if he had woken, they would never have locked her away alone in a room.

“There’s nothing to report.”

Just as she expected.

“My heart feels too heavy. I want to walk outside.”

“Right now, ma’am?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t hesitate for even a moment.

“I’m sorry, but going out is impossible. Please remain in your room until morning.”

“If I stay in here a second longer, I’ll go mad. Don’t forget what happened yesterday. …Haa. I’ll be right back, so please step aside.”

The soldier studied her, but Lily calmly held his gaze.

Thank goodness she had put her shoes on. She’d debated going barefoot so her footsteps wouldn’t be heard, but if she had come out barefoot now, she would’ve looked utterly ridiculous.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”

“Am I being imprisoned, then? This is no different from being treated like a criminal. I’m not a member of this house—I was only hired temporarily. Neither you nor the secretary has the authority to dictate my every move.”

It was nonsense, of course. As long as she stayed here, she was obliged to follow the mansion’s rules.

But this was merely the stage where you demand the unacceptable, just to carve out room for a compromise.

She crossed her arms and glared at the soldier, acting every bit the spoiled noblewoman.

No doubt her reputation was plummeting in real time. With the lord’s life hanging by a thread, his favored woman was throwing a tantrum just to take a walk.

So what? At this point, what good is reputation? Let them gossip, let them point fingers—I don’t care.

With that resolve, she put on a sharp, venomous look and crafted just enough of a standoff before sighing dramatically.

“Fine. Then you come with me.”

“…Pardon?”

“If I stay like this, I’ll lose my mind. But if I can’t go alone, then you’ll just have to follow. Just make sure you stay far enough back so you don’t disturb my walk.”

The soldier looked troubled, but in the end he accepted the compromise.

“Understood, ma’am. But only for a short while.”

Without answering, Lily brushed past him and stepped into the corridor. She wanted nothing more than to sprint straight to the back gate, but she forced herself to walk slowly so as not to draw suspicion.

She glanced back from time to time. When the soldier drew too close, she snapped at him until he kept a proper distance.

For a while he followed her in silence. But when she gradually edged toward the mansion’s outer rim, he finally spoke:

“Ma’am, this area isn’t really suitable for a walk…”

Lily stopped abruptly and glared at him.

“Would you mind not interfering?”

“…Understood.”

She clicked her tongue and turned her head away. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught his face tightening into stone.

Even to herself, she admitted she was being insufferable. But for the sake of revenge, there was no other choice.

The mansion, inside and out, was eerie in its silence. Aside from the two of them, there wasn’t the faintest trace of life.

At this hour, there should have been staff clearing the courtyard or hauling supplies. Instead, it felt as though the mansion had been emptied out.

The emptiness only added to its oppressive gloom, but for Lily, it was a relief—no eyes to follow her.

The only person she crossed paths with was a single soldier on patrol. He looked at her in puzzlement, but once he saw the guard following behind, he simply went on his way.

Then a more practical worry struck her.

Wait. No one’s stopped me so far, but there’s bound to be a soldier stationed at the back gate. How am I supposed to get through? Has the whole mansion been sealed?

If she’d known, she would’ve hidden a knife on her. If she threatened to harm herself, they might have let her pass.

She bit down on her lip. No matter how dire the situation, she had no thought of turning back. If necessary, she would wrest the weapon from a soldier and force her way through.

And then—

“Miss Dienta! Where do you think you’re going?!”

Wolfram’s shout rang out from afar. The soldier she had just passed must have reported her already.

Not a glimpse of him until now, and suddenly he shows up?

Lily ignored the voice and broke into a run.

“Miss Dienta, stop this foolishness!”

Wolfram’s voice pierced the air, but it had no effect on her. She looked only forward.

Realizing what was happening, the soldier gave chase.

The back gate was still a ways off. Lily gritted her teeth and ran. Her coat was heavy, and in the freezing air her burning ears felt like they were tearing apart.

But no matter how hard she pushed herself, she could not overcome a trained soldier. Just short of the back gate, Lily was caught.

She did not give up. Somehow she managed to free one hand and stretch it toward the door.

“Ma’am, you’ll hurt yourself if you keep this up. Please calm down.”

“If you’re that worried, then why don’t you just let go?”

Lily twisted and clawed at the soldier’s forearm that pinned her.

“Do not release her under any circumstances.”

Panting, Wolfram appeared at last. His eyes were hollow, and he hadn’t even changed from the clothes he’d worn the day before.

Lily’s gaze sharpened.

She knew how deeply he had served Aiden. Even when Aiden’s soul had slipped away, Wolfram never gave up, fighting to preserve the family to the very end.

If she was shattered by the loss, then surely he was just as unhinged. Perhaps she could dig into that weakness.

Lily went slack in the soldier’s grip and turned her voice toward Wolfram.

“All right. I’ll be still. Let me go.”

In an instant, she was a different woman—docile, subdued. But the soldier, wary, did not release her, waiting instead for Wolfram’s command. This house thrived on absolute obedience.

After a moment of watching her, Wolfram gave a nod.

Freed, Lily rolled her neck lightly and steadied her breathing. A person acting with purpose had to keep her chest cold at all times.

“Where were you going?”

“I was just taking a walk.”

“You don’t actually expect me to believe that, do you?”

“What other reason could I have to be roaming the mansion at this hour?”

Lily locked eyes with him.

How much did he truly guess of her intent? How far would he go in following Aiden’s will? Did he harbor thoughts of vengeance?

Her next move depended entirely on the truth within him.

“Enough. Go back inside.”

“Forgive me, but I’m no prisoner here. In just a few hours I’ll be gone from this place. Am I not allowed at least the freedom of a walk through the mansion grounds?”

She stifled the anger rising in her chest and forced herself to speak with brazen composure.

“Haa…”

Wolfram exhaled slowly, heavily.

“Let’s not waste time on things we both already know.”

Lily turned her head away, as if dismissing his words.

“Miss Dienta, I know what you’re thinking. But this isn’t—”

“You know what I’m thinking? Impossible. Ah, of course—you haven’t seen the letter. Luckily, I’ve memorized it.”

And she recited the Emperor’s words, line by line, not missing a syllable. When she finished, she pressed her point with force:

“He said this was the last kindness. If I don’t go this time, something far worse will happen. Isn’t it better that I move first, dig out that bastard’s weakness, rather than wait for disaster to strike? Please, let me go. With His Excellency in such dire straits, it’s on us to protect the family.”

Talk of danger, of family—it was all just a cover. What she wanted was only Aiden’s revenge.

“Compose yourself.”

That cursed, steady tone made Lily explode.

“Compose myself? You want me to be calm? Aren’t you the strange one here? How can you stay so calm—when you know what’s become of Aiden!”

She was railing at a baron, a man far above her station, yet even this did not do justice to the fury burning in her. She wanted to hurl a stone at him, anything to make him feel her rage.

She had seen it: the blade protruding from the chest of the man she loved. And yet all she’d been told was to prepare herself, barred from his side, left alone.

If only Wolfram had promised her—if only he had said she could see Aiden soon, or simply allowed her to remain in the mansion until he woke—

Then none of this would have happened. Vengeance would have faded to the background, because nothing mattered more than being at Aiden’s side.