Working at a Haunted Mansion – Chapter 15

Author: Asternkm

When Lily returned by carriage, the atmosphere inside was rather cold.

Julia and Wolfram were talking with businesslike expressions, but when they saw Lily approaching, they opened the door first.

She cheerfully announced,

“It worked out well!”

“That’s a relief.”

“We just finished talking too. Let’s head straight to the office.”

They climbed the stairs. While chatting with Aiden and peeking inside, Lily asked worriedly,

“Is it okay to go in?”

“The inside is a mess, but the important items are still there. Thankfully, the fourth floor didn’t get much damage, so let’s grab them from the office and bring them up.”

In front of the last step, Wolfram paused as if nervous. But Aiden didn’t care about him.

[This person?]

“Yes, she’s my grandmother.”

[She looks like you.]

“Thank you for saying that.”

Wolfram was relieved by Lily’s usual reaction and resumed walking.

After introducing Julia and Aiden to each other, Lily entered the building. But the more she walked, the more she was at a loss for words.

The inside was worse than it had seemed at first glance. Starting from the shattered chandelier, there was no place intact.

Everything was toppled or broken, scattered far from where it belonged.

‘When are we even going to clean all this?’

Lily was horrified. The repairs would be done by craftsmen, but the indoor cleanup would fall on the castle staff.

The second and third floors were the same. Inside the open doors, the rooms were a wreck. It wasn’t just the hallways that were a mess.

Lily was speechless at the daunting workload.

[Don’t be scared.]

Aiden tried to comfort her.

[I won’t act weird anymore. I’ll behave like a normal person.]

He seemed to have misunderstood something.

What scared Lily wasn’t the supernatural, but the mountain of work ahead.

But the moment he said with his own mouth that he would act “like” a normal person, Lily was once again reminded that he was a ghost.

A being that roams the earth out of step with natural order, filled with resentment and rage. One that lures humans and ultimately brings them misfortune…

From the side he stood on, she felt a chill spreading across her shoulder.

[Hmm? Lily.]

“I’m okay.”

Lily muttered, avoiding Aiden.

[Ah, you’re really bad at lying. Trust me. Something like this won’t happen again.]

Aiden once again looked pitiful.

Lily held back a sigh. She already knew he could break things without even lifting a finger.

She also believed his repeated promise not to throw a tantrum like today.

Still, it was hard not to feel distant. She couldn’t completely relax around someone who would destroy a building just because he was angry.

She had always been scared of ghosts to begin with. It had taken her days to even get used to his translucent appearance.
She needed time to calm down.

But the ghost next to her kept saying, [Trust me, Lily,] over and over, not caring about her feelings.

Even when she said she trusted him, he often asked again, saying it didn’t sound sincere.

He finally even brought up their ranks.

[I bet I’m the only duke who’s been ignored this much by a maid.]

“Ah, please, Your Grace. I believe you. I do believe you…”

Her irritated reply stopped the moment the office door opened. Her gaze was drawn to the ball sitting in the middle of the floor.

The fabric-covered ball with bells inside was completely undamaged.

The area around the ball was surprisingly clean. Not even a single sheet of paper had fallen nearby. As if something had protected it from all harm.

Like it was the one thing that couldn’t be broken.

While Wolfram went to his desk and rummaged through a drawer, Lily picked up the ball.

[Why?]

“Uh… no reason.”

Unable to say she was more touched than surprised, Lily trailed off.

Aiden asked with tense eyes.

[You’re not going to take it, right?]

“No. I gave it to Your Grace, remember? It’s just… it feels weird to leave it here.”

[Then take it to my room.]

“Your Grace room?”

[Yeah. I think that’d be better.]

Lily tilted her head.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to leave it here, considering what it was made for? Actually, never mind, maybe the aide should just carry it around.”

[No need. I don’t want to work with Wolfram even when you’re not here. Or are you trying to leave me alone again? Trying to create another moment when I need the ball?]

His eyes looked like a puppy gazing longingly at its owner.

In the end, Lily couldn’t help but laugh. She thought it would take at least two full days for her to feel comfortable around him again, but she had clearly underestimated herself.

“Haha, stop worrying already! I’m not going anywhere. Really.”

[Hmm?]

“I said I won’t leave Your Grace alone.”

Aiden blinked with a dazed look, then replied, [Oh, okay.]

Lily gave a small laugh and shook the ball, finding his expression amusing.

In the meantime, Wolfram had packed their things. As Lily moved to follow him out, she felt Julia’s gaze.

Julia wore a very peculiar expression.

“What is it?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, dear.”

On the fourth floor, just like Wolfram had said, there were intact rooms. There, Lily was able to hear the “conversation” Wolfram and Julia had in the carriage.

In summary, it was about a sudden promotion, additional pay, and unconditional security.

If Lily had been the one at the negotiating table, she wouldn’t have been able to voice such outrageous demands. Now she understood why the atmosphere in the carriage had been so cold.

Julia said,

“Also, once a week, I will notify an acquaintance of mine that I’m alive. If I miss the deadline, that person will request an investigation from the temple. I won’t give them specific details, only ask them to report it—so there’s no need to worry about premature leaks.”

Lily was startled. Wolfram usually couldn’t stand this kind of arrogant tone.

Until now, he had been humble because of his past wrongdoings, but this might be the moment his pride gets wounded and he lashes out.

But contrary to her worries, he accepted Julia’s statement calmly.

“Thank you for letting me know in advance. It saves me from unnecessary suspicion.”

His sincere efforts to restore trust came through loud and clear.

Next came the detailed discussion of Julia’s working conditions, her lodging, and accommodations.

All that was left was the duke’s final approval.

“What do you think?”

Wolfram asked toward the air. Lily also turned her gaze toward Aiden.

The moment she turned her head, she locked eyes with Aiden. And realized he was looking at her with the same expression Wolfram had just used.

[What do you think? Do you feel at ease now?]

He looked like he’d be ready to tear down the entire duchy if she said “not yet.”

Lily answered honestly.

“Yes, incredibly so. If I turned this down, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.”

Aiden smiled brightly.

A fresh contract was written, and with everyone’s signatures, the agreement was finally complete.

Wolfram, now looking relieved, organized the documents. He seemed to feel at peace, having cleaned up the mess he’d made.

He willingly accompanied Lily to place the ball in Aiden’s bedroom. Thanks to him, they avoided suspicion from the guards and the physician.

The room had the faint scent of a sick person. Aiden guided her toward the bed and said,

[Don’t stare too much.]

To follow her employer’s instructions, Lily kept her eyes down and focused on the floor as she walked.

But as she placed the ball on the nightstand by the bed, her curiosity got the better of her, and she sneaked a glance at him.

Years of illness had caused his muscles to waste away, and his face was rough and dry. But other than that, he looked as though he were simply in a deep sleep.

[Lily, it’s embarrassing when you stare like that.]

Startled, she quickly left the room. Even though she had done nothing wrong, hearing Aiden’s shy voice made her feel like a terrible person.

Julia, waiting in the hallway, once again stared intently at Lily’s face.

Leaving behind Aiden, who had to remain in the main building, the three of them headed to the guest room Julia would use.

To conduct her research more efficiently, she would also be staying at the estate.

Wolfram himself even carried her luggage and led the way.

“I’ll let the librarian know so you can use the archive freely. We have most major texts.”

“Thank you.”

After offering a few more words of convenience, Wolfram left. When Lily tried to follow, Julia stopped her.

“Lily, let’s talk for a moment.”

“I’ll come by later this evening. His Grace asked me to return right away.”

Aiden had firmly reminded Lily that it was still work hours and that she needed to come back right after showing Julia to her room.