Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 133 - Side Story Chapter 9

“What is this supposed to be?”

“Now that I’ve heard everything, I understand. It really was you spreading all those rumors. I can’t believe it. No matter how much you hated me, this is too much. How could you take revenge like this?”

Her voice trembled as if she were about to cry, her words filled with hurt and injustice.

This was her strategy—to fight fabrication with fabrication.

“W-what the hell… this crazy woman—!”

Nobert cursed as he tried to shake off her grip, but Lily clung to him stubbornly.

“You’re doing this because I said your name back then, aren’t you? But Nobert, how is that my fault? If I hadn’t confessed to the head maid, all the cleaning maids would’ve had to pay for the things you stole! You took silverware, candlesticks, even Aiden’s brooch!”

The onlookers began murmuring in shock at this new revelation.

Nobert Rader’s face turned bright red, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly. The false accusation had left his mind blank.

Seizing the momentum, Lily pressed on, her voice rising.

“Why should we take responsibility for your lousy thievery? I even warned you the first time you stole a teaspoon! I told you to stop right then. I said the head maid would mark it as a loss if it ended there, but if it got bigger, you’d pay the price sooner or later!”

“Everyone, she’s lying! Don’t listen to a word she says!”

Nobert shouted in panic, but Lily didn’t stop.

“When I first heard about everything that was stolen, I honestly worried about how you’d ever pay it back. What a waste of concern. You managed to run away somehow. I even hoped you were living a better life, but I guess people never change—you’re still out for revenge.”

“You filthy whore—!”

Nobert’s reason snapped. Words failed him, and instead, he swung his fist straight at Lily’s face.

But before it could land, Aiden, who had quietly approached amid the commotion, caught Nobert’s wrist mid-swing.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“D-Duke Kashimir! I—I didn’t see you there…”

Nobert trembled violently.

Lily hadn’t noticed Aiden coming either; she had been too caught up in the argument to see him approach.

She had already braced herself to take the hit—so being spared was a huge relief.

Beside Aiden stood Countess Dorian.

“Your Grace, this is the man! The one spreading vile rumors about Miss Dienta.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes at Nobert.

“You look familiar.”

He studied Nobert’s face for a moment, then blinked in recognition.

“Ah, I remember now. The petty thief.”

His lips curled into a faint, cold smile.

“I heard you escaped on your way to the mines. How kind of you to turn yourself in. The compensation you owe has already quintupled. You won’t make it out of there alive. And for insulting my fiancée, I should add more—but since you came on your own, I’ll show mercy.”

Lily cheered inwardly. It was a flawless performance.

“What nonsense is this?! I’ve never stolen anything from the duke’s estate! You can’t accuse me without proof!”

Aiden chuckled.

“You’re hardly in a position to demand evidence. But if you insist, there’s mine and Lily’s memory—plus the estate’s management records clearly list your crimes.”

He spoke boldly, even though the claims couldn’t be verified immediately. The standoff dragged on until the chief attendant arrived.

“What is the meaning of this commotion before Her Majesty?”

“My apologies,” Aiden said smoothly. “It’s a family matter. If it’s acceptable, may we keep this man detained in the palace prison during the banquet?”

The attendant glanced at Nobert, then signaled to a nearby knight. The armored guard, who had been watching all along, strode forward with a clatter. Nobert turned pale and dropped to his knees.

“Wait! Please! I’m not Nobert Rader!”

“Ah, you dislike the mines so much that you’re pretending to be someone else now? How many here do you think don’t know your name?”

“I’m sorry! I’m truly sorry, Your Grace! But you must believe me—my name isn’t Nobert Rader, it’s Nober Ladder! I’ve never seen this lady before in my life! I was born and raised right here in the capital! I’m not the thief who ran away!”

He desperately tried to convince them he wasn’t the criminal from the duke’s estate.

But Aiden’s reply was dry and cold.

“So you’re saying you disguised your identity and came here just to slander a complete stranger from a land you’ve never even visited? A pathetic excuse.”

“That’s not what I meant! It was Kail—!”

Before he could finish, the knight struck the back of his neck, knocking him out cold.

“We’ll imprison him as you requested, Your Grace.”

“No,” another voice interjected. “That won’t be necessary. He’ll be taken directly to the estate.”

It was Wolfram, who had been waiting unseen nearby after meeting Nobert earlier. When the ballroom grew restless, he stepped forward at just the right moment.

“Would you assist in moving the family’s criminal to the carriage?”

The knight glanced toward the dais, then lifted Nobert over his shoulder.

The atmosphere in the ballroom was in shambles.

Whether or not Nobert really was the petty thief from the Kashimir estate, he had just declared before everyone that he didn’t know Lily Dienta—after claiming otherwise earlier.

And though he hadn’t managed to finish the name, everyone had clearly heard the beginning of “Kail…,” which was enough to connect the dots.

Several nobles exchanged looks; they knew exactly what that implied. Caleb Seichwartz had meddled again—perhaps even turned some knights to his side.

“Your Grace, may we have the honor of greeting the young lady?”

A middle-aged noble couple stepped forward from the crowd. Their smiles were tense but far more genuine than those of the other nobles who looked uneasy and hesitant.

A few more nobles seemed ready to approach as well. From that alone, Aiden could roughly gauge how the factions were divided.

“We’ll put that off for later. Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see us now.”

Aiden escorted Lily and led her up to the platform.

The crowd parted for them, one hesitant step at a time. The laughter that had been aimed at Lily moments ago vanished, replaced by awkward silence.

At the top of the stairs, the Empress waited, her expression one of mild boredom.

“Caleb fled the moment that man appeared,” she remarked, pointing to the now-empty seat.

She extended her hand. Aiden made a polite gesture of kissing it, while Lily bent her knees in a respectful curtsy.

The Empress gave Lily a slow once-over.

“You look far better dressed like that.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Lily smiled softly—but the Empress suddenly frowned.

“Does the Duke not intend to manage his expression?”

At that, Lily glanced up at Aiden and flinched slightly. He was looking at her with a face full of pride.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Your Majesty,” he said smoothly.

Of course he knew. Aiden simply pretended not to understand—and made it clear he had no plans to change his expression.

Lily could read his thoughts as easily as if they were written on his palm. He was silently congratulating himself on his taste.

The dress she wore had been chosen and altered personally by Aiden, despite his tight schedule.

She had thought it excessive—even for lovers—that he’d involve himself that much. She told him he didn’t need to go to such trouble, but his reply had been…

“I’ve wanted to see you in all kinds of dresses for a long time.”

When he said it, he looked as though a wish had finally been fulfilled, and Lily hadn’t had the heart to refuse him.

Now, with the Empress praising her appearance, he was surely feeling very proud of his choice.

Lily had a feeling his tastes would continue to influence her wardrobe in the future—but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for someone unfamiliar with noble fashion.

The Empress gave her a quick, somewhat disgusted glance, then asked,

“Are you certain you don’t want a reward?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Your words alone are already reward enough.”

“It would help your reputation.”

“Your concern has already helped me plenty.”

In the investigation of the Emperor’s collapse, it had been officially concluded that Lily had been present to assist in subduing the remaining heretics.

She had captured several cult followers and helped rescue the abducted victims—Aiden himself had said she was more than worthy of a commendation.

But Lily didn’t want to draw any more attention. Becoming the Duke’s fiancée had already placed her under too bright a spotlight.

If she were formally honored for her role in the heretic purge, the wrong kind of curiosity would surely follow—people who would pry into who Lily Dienta truly was.

And if anyone discovered her ability to see souls, she’d be branded a heretic herself and dragged to the temple.

That was why she and Aiden had erased every trace of her presence from the mountain lodge incident. The matter had ended cleanly once Ramond Kelper’s mouth was shut.