Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 20

After the head maid’s lecture ended, Lily bowed repeatedly and backed out of the room. As soon as she closed the door, she sprinted toward the East Wing where Wolfram was.

She had sworn to Aiden that she would behave like an ordinary maid, but that was before she knew the Emperor’s body had been taken over by the cult leader.

Now, time was of the essence. At this rate, who knew what might happen to the Duke’s soul?

All entrances to the East Wing were being guarded by imperial knights. Even the castle’s own people couldn’t enter freely.

The area had been temporarily designated as imperial territory, and workers brought from the Imperial Palace were taking over the duties.

Since it was her first time hosting a member of the royal family, Lily had simply accepted it. However, head maid Angela took it as a great humiliation.

—To think they treat us like this, these ungracious guests… If only His Grace were awake…

They had no choice but to lend a hand for the banquet preparations, but the imperial people insisted on handling even basic tasks like restocking supplies, washing dishes, and tidying bedrooms themselves—such peculiar behavior.

Now that Lily knew the truth about the Emperor, she felt there had to be a special reason behind their strange fuss. Though she still didn’t know exactly what it was.

Lily calmed her breathing and approached the knights.

“I’m Lily Dienta, maid assigned to the office. I have something to report to Aide Wolfram Burnett.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Even with her apron on, they still used honorifics toward her!

One of the two knights standing guard went inside. Shortly after, Wolfram came out.

“What’s the matter?”

“Um… I have something that needs your instruction…”

She led him away from the knights’ hearing range. She could feel their eyes following her but focused on maintaining a polite posture fitting for a maid.

Then, in a small voice, she quickly reported what she had seen.

“The Emperor’s body… something strange has taken it over. The Emperor’s soul is following behind it. I think… maybe the cult leader has possessed His Majesty’s body.”

Speaking such outrageous words in broad daylight felt utterly surreal. But Wolfram didn’t treat her words as a joke—he accepted them seriously.

“Are you saying His Majesty is in the same condition as His Grace?”

“It’s even worse. Someone else is inside, moving the body. The soul seemed really unstable, too. It just kept repeating the same words.”

“If, as you suspect, the cult leader has possessed His Majesty’s body, then the purpose of this visit is extremely concerning.”

Wolfram, who wasn’t the type to scoff, was an easy person to talk to. Lily nodded again and again.

“Yes, exactly! That’s what I’m trying to say! We have to protect His Grace’s body at all costs!”

“We’ve made preparations for that. However, there’s one problem. The Emperor is scheduled to visit the main building tomorrow.”

“But we haven’t been informed of anything!”

“A messenger will be coming soon.”

If the head maid heard this, she would probably faint from shock.

The main building was nowhere near ready for guests. They had only cleared out broken items and given it a rough cleaning.

“What does he plan to do there? There’s nothing to see! Maybe he doesn’t know how bad it is?”

“He said he wanted to personally see the place where his old friend stayed. We explained the situation, but he insisted.”

Damn the caste system! Lily fumed inwardly. If someone of higher status decided to ransack an empty house, there wasn’t much that could be done.

“We don’t know yet if he has abilities like yours, but regardless, it would be best for you to avoid encountering His Majesty. Before the guards start restricting entry to the main building, you should get there and inform His Grace.”

If the main building became guarded like the East Wing, Lily, dressed as a maid, wouldn’t be able to reach Aiden. She had to hurry.

She parted ways with Wolfram and picked up her pace.

‘He said he wants to personally see where his friend stayed? What kind of half-hearted excuse is that?’

Then again, if the Emperor wanted to go, no excuse could really stop him. Maybe making up any reason at all was already more than they owed.

Once she was far enough from the East Wing that no one would think she was suspicious, she grabbed her skirts and ran.

Fortunately, no imperial guards had been stationed at the main building yet.

Lily burst through the side door. And standing right there, as if waiting for her, was Aiden Kashimir.

Without even catching her breath, she spoke.

“Your Grace! Hide!”

Aiden looked bewildered. It seemed he didn’t fully understand what she was saying.

Frustrated, she tried to grab his wrist and drag him—but of course, it was useless.

Lily gritted her teeth softly and locked eyes with him, her gaze intense. Once she felt their eyes had connected properly, she turned and sprinted toward the storage room.

[Lily?]

Aiden made a puzzled sound and followed her.

She opened the storage room door and pointed inside with her hand. Having regained his senses on the way, he obediently moved.
She followed him in and closed the door.

[Lily, what’s going on?]

“His Majesty’s body has been taken over.”

Lily spoke bluntly.

“There’s another soul inside the Emperor’s body. And His Majesty’s own soul is following behind, telling him to give his body back.”

[Julius too…]

Aiden murmured the Emperor’s name.

“The Emperor’s coming to the main building tomorrow. I don’t think it would be good if you ran into him, so please stay hidden here until he leaves. I might not be able to come back for a while, but I’ve informed the aide, so he’ll handle it well.”

Lily spoke like a machine gun.

“It’ll be frustrating, but please bear with it for a little while. Don’t wander around or anything, okay?”

After giving her warning, Lily turned around. Now that the Emperor had shown interest in this place, it wasn’t wise to linger for long.

[Lily, Lily. Wait a minute.]

Lily immediately guessed what Aiden was about to say, and like a child trying to avoid scolding, she quickly spoke first with words she thought he might say.

“I won’t do anything dangerous. I’m not even planning to go anywhere near His Majesty. I’ve told the two of you already, so now I’ll blend into the other maids, just like an ordinary one, keeping out of sight…”

[Lily.]

Only then did Lily stop talking and look at Aiden.

[Thank you.]

She hadn’t expected to hear those words at all. Lily was momentarily stunned.

“N-no need to thank me. It’s only what I should be doing.”

[But it feels like you’ll end up doing something dangerous anyway.]

Sure enough, just as she expected, the nagging followed.

“That’s just your imagination.”

Aiden gave a disbelieving smile.

“It’s true!”

Lily protested heatedly, but he simply shook his head.

[Lily, if you die, there’ll be no wishes granted, no bonuses, nothing.]

“I know.”

[Don’t move impulsively. You know that too, right? Even if you suddenly feel something urgent, you must not act on it immediately. Please, don’t put yourself in danger.]

She had heard similar warnings before.

But Aiden spoke now as if it was the first time, as if he was pleading earnestly.

[I won’t tell you to be satisfied just conveying my words. I have enough decency for that. Even now, I owe you a huge debt. But just this once, just until the Emperor leaves, please hold back. I’ll stay well hidden too, okay?]

Because he was so earnest, Lily felt as if she had somehow become someone even higher than the Duke himself. She even felt a little proud, thinking, “Fine, I’ll grant you that much.”

“Don’t worry.”

Lily said reliably.

[Haah… Honestly, I almost want to tell you to hide here with me.]

He muttered in a voice loud enough for her to hear.

Anyway, she had achieved her goal. Lily left the main building, satisfied with the result.

All that remained now was to pray for the Emperor to leave safely under the Lord’s protection… No, that’s not all!

“Lily, where are you running around to?”

When a fellow maid asked curiously, Lily quickly answered, “Cleaning Granny’s room!” and hurried to Julia’s room.

Julia had originally been staying in the East Wing but had moved temporarily to the servants’ quarters because of the Emperor. Really, the man was a nuisance in every possible way.

“Grandma!”

“Lily, aren’t you busy right now?”

“The palace workers took most of the jobs. Anyway, something big has happened!”

It was already the third time she’d explained it today. And, just as they say practice makes perfect, this time Lily’s explanation was much quicker and clearer than when she first told Wolfram.

Speaking in a low voice to avoid being overheard through the door, Lily rattled off the situation. As she spoke, Julia’s face grew increasingly grim.

“First the Duke, now the Emperor. I fear for the future of the Empire…”

“I thought the same thing.”

They fell into a brief silence.

“Could it be that our god lacks strength? Or… did Lumion lose?”

“Lily. Don’t say such blasphemous things.”

“But seriously, why are souls getting pulled out like carrots…”

Lily pouted and grumbled.