Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 44

The night after the mischievous order was given to move all the Solomon books from the library to the translator.

At the appointed time, Aiden stepped into Julia Dienta’s workshop.

Julia was repeatedly checking the desk clock and scanning the room.

Naturally, she didn’t recognize Aiden entering the room. Even though her eyes passed right over where he stood. He wondered why she had called him despite being unable to see or hear him.

After the minute hand moved a few ticks, Julia took a deep breath and spoke into the air.

“Thank you for accepting the sudden request so willingly.”

It truly was a sudden and strange way to request an audience.

It happened when Lily, who had gone to meet Julius as usual, returned and came to the office with him.

—While His Excellency was away, a confidential message arrived from an informant.

At Wolfram’s words, Aiden stood by his side. Wolfram pointed to a small note on the desk.

[9 PM. Please come to my room alone. I have something important to tell only His Excellency. You must keep this a secret from Lily. -Julia Dienta]

Julia had asked Wolfram to pretend it came from an informant, and judging by how she waited for Lily to go to the annex, it seemed she sincerely wanted to keep this meeting hidden.

Aiden, as requested, showed no signs to Lily. But what kind of matter was this, that she would even hide it from her cherished granddaughter?

Aiden waited for the point without a hint of a smile.

“The reason I invited Your Excellency here today is because I believe I’ve found a clue to solving your curse. Please, have a seat first.”

Julia gestured toward the table and sat across from him.

Even at the news of a clue, Aiden didn’t grow excited. That was because Julia’s behavior grew increasingly suspicious.

It made no sense that such important information was being delivered to him in secret. Normally, this kind of thing should be announced in the office with everyone present.

Yet the fact that she left out not only Wolfram but even Lily Dienta made her intentions feel questionable.

A few books were stacked on the table. Julia placed the one on top in front of Aiden so he could see it better.

The worn cover had a title written in Solomon.

“This is one of the Solomon books Your Excellency sent me today. It’s a collection of folk tales, each a short story. Among them, do you know the story ‘The Father Who Returned’?”

It was the first Aiden had heard of it. He hadn’t seen the book Julia was holding, either.

It was a book he had owned since before becoming a duke, and he had never had parents who read him fairy tales.

“You may not know it, so I’ll summarize and read it to you.”

Julia took the book back and opened to a bookmarked page. Then she began reading in a slightly quickened tone.

He still felt a bit suspicious but focused on the story. Before long, he realized how similar the folktale was to his own situation.

“…And at last, the father returned home.”

Having read the final sentence, Julia cleared her throat and said,

“I believe that, just like in this story, the deep love between people is the key to breaking the spell upon Your Excellency. It might sound like something out of a fairy tale, but I truly mean it.”

Aiden frowned. As the story progressed, he had sensed that direction. But love?

What he had expected was something like a divine battle, a counter-spell from a high priest, or maybe an unusual alignment of stars.

He had never once imagined that such a personal emotion—something fit for a fairy tale, as Julia said—could be the answer to his salvation.

“I was able to confirm the hypothesis after quickly reading a few more folktales and poetry collections. According to the collective mindset of Solomon, what brings a soul back to the body is a longing for sensations that can only be experienced physically. Among those, the strongest force is the desire for physical love.”

She handed over a piece of paper she had organized. It summarized about half a dozen similar legends and myths.

Aiden read them all carefully. And from the perspective of the Solmon faith, he realized there was a high chance this ridiculous hypothesis could be valid.

At that moment, a certain bright face flashed through Aiden’s mind.

‘Does she know too?’

Just as the question crossed his mind, Julia opened her mouth.

“Pardon me for saying this, but the reason I’m telling Your Excellency this is purely for Lily’s sake.”

Julia shamelessly declared that her motivation was not the lord, Aiden Kashimir, but her own blood.

“Only when Your Excellency is freed from the curse can that child also lay down her heavy burden.”

Julia looked across the table with darkened eyes, as if she had made up her mind. It wasn’t just fearlessness—it was the resolve to endure the duke’s wrath for what she believed in.

What she said next was even more forward.

“No one can interfere with whatever choice Your Excellency makes. However, I hope that at least you will show respect to Lily Dienta, who has served you with all her heart. If I may be so bold, that child deserves to be treated well.”

Aiden tilted his head slightly and reflected on his past actions.

Had he seemed that clueless? Had the special treatment he gave Lily Dienta led others to develop presumptuous thoughts?

If not, then why did she, as if she were a tutor, step into the duke’s matters? Could love for family truly make one forget etiquette and rank? How he treated Lily Dienta was entirely his decision…

“I know that you’re fond of Lily.”

In an instant, all of Aiden’s anger vanished. Even the subtle tremor at his feet came to a halt.

“I also know that, if you accept this method, you would choose Lily as the one to carry it out.”

Lily Dienta’s habit of charging straight ahead seemed to be something she’d inherited from her grandmother. Without giving him a moment to breathe, Julia continued.

“And I believe that method has a good chance of working.”

Aiden blinked unconsciously. Julia’s words carried the implication that Lily also had feelings for him.

No—considering Lily’s background as a fallen noble, it was more likely a roundabout way of stating a fact than just a suggestion.

Aiden’s emotions rose higher than he expected.

‘Lily Dienta likes me too.’

He clenched his fist, turning the thought into a certainty in his mind.

Lily Dienta had feelings for him. That Lily Dienta, who seemed to think only of bizarre ideas that worried everyone around her.

‘Then isn’t every problem already solved?’

When he looked up, Julia’s lips were pulled further down than they had been before she spoke. She repeated her earlier words with a very serious expression.

“But still, I hope Your Excellency will truly respect Lily.”

Julia’s repeated plea slightly subdued Aiden Kashimir’s thrill.

They had discovered a likely solution, and Lily had feelings for him. There seemed to be no problem at all—yet Julia looked pessimistic.

“Lily asked me to hold off on telling Your Excellency this. She probably hoped you’d never find out.”

Just as he had since stepping into Julia’s room, Aiden felt suspicion once more.

Lily Dienta, despite having found a possibility, didn’t want to tell him. Even knowing that she could save him through love, she chose not to reveal it.

In other words, she had no intention of saving him through love.

‘Why not?’

There’s no way Lily didn’t know everything Julia had said. She knew their feelings were mutual, and that if this method were to be used, she would be chosen as the one to carry it out.

And yet, she had no intention of saving him with love?

Objectively, the Duke of Kashimir was more than suitable as a romantic partner.

He had wealth, honor, power, and looks—all in perfect balance. If he wished, he could win over even a woman who originally had no such intentions.

The only downside was his current soul-bound state—but even that didn’t seem to be a big problem for Lily Dienta.

So there had to be some unavoidable reason. If he didn’t think that, he would feel rejected before even trying.

It was as if Julia had heard Aiden’s silent doubts when she answered:

“Only those who are unharmed by the spring breeze can enjoy it. If you’re a petal trampled underfoot, you’ll find yourself wishing the spring wind had never come at all. Because both the best and the worst endings, in the end, fall from above.”

Julia bowed deeply until her forehead nearly touched the table.

“For Your Excellency’s, and for Lily’s swift liberation, please form a genuine emotional bond. But if you truly care for Lily, I earnestly ask that you ensure her heart is not hurt in the end.”