Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 110

“I’ll return the ring first. It’s better if the two of you don’t meet again.”

Lily pulled the ring from her pocket and handed it to Wolfram.

“And… would there be any veal in the estate? If it’s made into soup, His Majesty might eat some. In the meantime, I’ll stay and speak with Her Majesty.”

“Understood. I’ll tell the maid.”

Once Wolfram left the annex, the Emperor had no choice but to follow him out.

Lily bowed low to see him off. As he passed by, she muttered a string of curses under her breath.

Wolfram’s footsteps faded down the stairs. Lily lifted her head and stared at the door.

So far, everything had gone in an unexpected direction. Who could have guessed their relationship was this broken? Just like the Emperor’s friendship with the Duke, the love between the Emperor and Empress only looked convincing on the surface.

But the situation itself now worked to her advantage. After a deep breath, Lily stepped back inside.

The Empress, hunched like a frightened animal, rolled her eyes upward to glance at Lily.

Lily knelt on one knee before her.

“Allow me to properly introduce myself again. I am Lily Dienta. At the request of Duke Aiden Kashimir, I have come to resolve the troubles of the Imperial Family.”

The instant Aiden’s name was mentioned, the Empress swept her uneasy gaze through the empty air.

“His Majesty has left with Baron Burnett. You may rest assured.”

The Empress did not relax so easily.

But such matters were nothing for Lily. Since the Empress already knew the Emperor’s true nature, it was all the easier.

“Ahem.”

She cleared her throat, then suddenly began to heap fervent praise upon Duke Aiden Kashimir—his beauty, intellect, lineage, achievements, kindness, and good fortune in human relations.

“Stop, if you keep saying such things, His Majesty will…!”

Even as the Empress, flustered, reached out a hand, Lily didn’t stop.

After about twenty virtues, she finally closed her mouth and savored the silence for a few seconds.

Yet, even after waiting, none of the surreal phenomena from earlier appeared. Showing her certainty, Lily declared,

“I trust His Majesty’s absence has now been proven.”

But the Empress still could not ease her heart. She began to doubt Lily’s identity.

“Didn’t you say you were His Majesty’s spiritual healer earlier?”

“That was a tale I invented for His Majesty’s peace of mind. What I say from now is the truth.”

Lily’s eyes gleamed with resolve.

“Your Majesty, His Majesty’s soul has not ascended to heaven but is wandering this earth. It is all the doing of Manus, head of the Solmon faith. With wicked sorcery, he cursed a noble soul and seized His Majesty’s body!”

She spoke in tones of lament, saying words that, in essence, were not lies.

“Duke Kashimir could not conceal his rage at this monstrous plot. He was the first to secure and protect His Majesty’s soul. He has also devised a perfect plan to punish Manus and grant His Majesty peace.”

On her knees, Lily inched closer to the Empress.

“Please, lend us your strength, so that we may grant His Majesty freedom and release.”

“Grant His Majesty… freedom and release…?”

They gazed into each other’s eyes, as if being drawn in.

“Yes. If left as he is, His Majesty will forever wander this world and, in the end, fall into the dishonorable fate of a vengeful spirit consumed by resentment and obsession. To prevent this and let him rest in the Lord’s embrace, Your Majesty’s help is essential.”

For an instant, fire flashed in the Empress’s eyes.

But only for a moment—then she bowed her head.

“There is nothing I can do.”

She looked utterly powerless as she spoke.

Her dirty appearance, her half-lowered eyes devoid of confidence—it was hard to believe this woman was called the mother of the Empire.

“I can do nothing…”

With dry lips, she repeated herself.

She had returned to the state Lily had first glimpsed: vacant, listless, hiding her soul from the world.

Even so, Lily’s eyes shone.

‘Perfect! This is promising!’

She hadn’t said she didn’t want to—only that she couldn’t. That meant Lily only needed to show her that she could.

Rising to her feet, Lily extended her hand.

“There is something I want to show you.”

Her firm manner left no room for refusal. The Empress grasped her hand almost by accident.

With her gloved hand, Lily gently pulled her up, then stepped back, waiting for her to rise.

Lily had worried she might not be able to move after so long in stillness, but at least she could walk.

Hand in hand, Lily led the Empress across the room.

“What is here…?”

“Your Majesty!”

Lily clasped her hands tightly around the Empress’s and cried out in joy.

“You can help us!”

Her face shone with elation.

“You can certainly help us. You just proved your ability yourself a moment ago. All that remains is your decision. Will you help His Majesty’s soul find rest?”

The Empress was at a loss, as though thinking, “Is walking alone supposed to prove ability?” But Lily pressed forward on her momentum.

“Even if you doubt that, Duke Kashimir will serve you with all his heart. What I want to hear from you is only your decision. Nothing else matters!”

The Empress turned her face aside. Yet Lily kept her steady gaze upon her. At last, after a long time, the Empress murmured,

“Can His Majesty truly… find rest? He already seems to show the signs of a vengeful spirit you spoke of…”

Julius Sheizwarts was perfectly fine, showing no trace of such qualities. But Lily gladly took the Empress’s side.

“Yes. Did you feel the trembling of the building? As you said, the signs have already begun. That’s why we must save His Majesty at once. If we delay, the chance will be lost.”

“I… can…?”

“Forgive my rudeness, but let me correct you.”

Lily whispered firmly.

“Only Your Majesty can do this. Please, free His Majesty’s soul from the hands of that wicked cult leader. So that you may receive Lord Lumion’s grace…”

The Empress swallowed hard. With weak strength, she squeezed Lily’s hand and asked,

“What must I do?”

 

 

 

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The young woman who had introduced herself as Duke Kashimir’s aide explained the task the Empress was meant to accomplish.

Themis listened silently, then asked,

“Will that alone be enough?”

“Yes. It is truly something only Your Majesty can do.”

To go to the Imperial Palace and instruct the chamberlain to open a certain door. Where exactly, the young woman said, Duke Kashimir would reveal when the time came.

As the woman claimed, aside from the Emperor himself, only Themis could do such a thing. Yet it seemed far too simple. So simple it stirred suspicion in her heart…

Could escaping from him really be that easy?

Themis crossed her arms and hugged her body. Whenever she thought of Julius, she could not help but curl up.

As with most powerful nobles, she and Julius had been joined in a marriage of political convenience.

Even before the first hairs grew upon his chin, they had been meeting under the watchful eyes of their families.

Since Julius Sheizwarts had always appeared gentlemanly and considerate, Themis naturally came to imagine a married life filled with affection.

That illusion began to waver on their wedding night.

—Your father weighed me against Aiden until the very end, but ha, look how it turned out. It’s fortunate for you. I love you far more than that man ever would.

It was a barbaric side of Julius she had never before seen.

Gradually, she realized that everything about Julius—even the appearance of a fiancé devoted to his betrothed—had only been an effort to impress his father, the Emperor at the time.

From then on, Themis lived as though walking a tightrope.

Before others, Julius was the same as always: kind and gentle.

But where no eyes could see, his face twisted with hatred and jealousy toward one man.

At last, the fragile mask shattered on the night of the Victory Commemoration. Drunken, Julius had seized her and snarled.

—Why did you praise him directly? Do you think this war was all that bastard’s achievement? You were comparing me to him in your heart, weren’t you? I know it—you believe you should have married that bastard instead!

That dreadful night repeated itself many times thereafter.