Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 47

Lily focused intensely so she wouldn’t miss a single syllable of what he said. And from the very beginning, Julius hit her with a shocking revelation.

[That man has lost his power.]

“What?”

[So there’s no need for you to worry about the cult leader pulling your soul out with magic.]

If this were true, it would be the best news possible. Of the fake emperor’s two weapons—sorcery and authority—one had been neutralized, meaning the threat level had significantly decreased.

But the emperor’s acting skills were no joke. Just recall when he falsely accused Aiden. That shameless face as he projected his own inferiority complex onto Aiden.

No matter how confidently he spoke, she couldn’t take his word at face value.

“I’m not so sure.”

Lily responded halfheartedly. It was a deliberate move to make herself appear hard to convince and frustrate him.

“To be honest, I still don’t feel entirely safe. Is there a chance Your Majesty might have been mistaken, or perhaps… said this just to sway me…?”

The moment she met the emperor’s gaze, Lily stopped speaking.
Her mind went blank, forgetting what she had just been saying.

Julius wasn’t glaring fiercely or cruelly. He wasn’t using some unknown ghostly power either. He was merely staring at her with a cold, emotionless gaze.

Still, the instincts of a low-ranking maid, well-trained in groveling, kicked in. She realized she had just wounded the emperor’s pride with her words.

Even if he’d been ripped from his body, he was still the emperor. And here she was, a suspicious “soul healer” woman, all but calling the ruler of the empire a liar.

Now clearly displeased, the emperor was using a formidable technique: crushing her with nothing but his eyes, saying not a single word.

‘Ugh… I must’ve gotten too relaxed hanging around nobles who spoil me…’

She used to be great at reading faces and keeping her head down, but when had she gotten so careless? Lily bit down the urge to throw herself flat on the floor in apology and forced herself to finish.

“…N-not that I’m doubting Your Majesty! Absolutely not. It’s just that I want to serve Your Majesty to the very end. And to do that, I need to be sure my life is safe…”

Her voice trembled badly. Even the corners of her lips, which were trying to smile, twitched with nerves.

‘Ugh! Sweeping floors is the easiest job in the world!’

It wasn’t until she was nearly in tears that Julius finally spoke.

[Yes. It’s natural for you to doubt.]

Thankfully, it seemed she hadn’t pushed him past the limit of his patience. If she’d acted even a bit more brazen, the emperor might’ve exploded and started smashing furniture.

[But isn’t the proof right before your eyes?]

“Before my eyes? But all I see is Your Majesty…”

[Exactly.]

Julius nodded lightly.

[If that man still had the power of sorcery, he wouldn’t have left my soul alone like this. The moment he realized my soul was inside the ring, he would’ve tried everything to destroy it. I even saw him perform the ritual. As you can see, it had no effect.]

 

 

 

 

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So then… he didn’t leave him alone just to toy with him? Now the cult leader had become an ordinary human and could no longer use supernatural powers?

[He can’t even see properly. I suspect that switching bodies may have caused some sort of limitation.]

Julius didn’t miss the way Lily’s face brightened at that.

[So? Are you ready to come with me now?]

“It’s true that I feel a lot less burdened. But still…”

Lily spoke carefully, trying not to offend him.

“Even without the danger of sorcery, going up against him is still like hitting a rock with an egg. He wears the crown of an emperor, and I’m just a commoner woman.”

She wet her lips and continued.

“As Your Majesty already knows, I can purify souls, but I haven’t succeeded in returning a soul to its body. Do you, perhaps, know how? Do you plan to act through me because you’re confident in a specific method?”

Lily hunched her shoulders and pretended to whine.

Her heart was pounding. This was a crucial moment. If he knew how to restore a soul—and not just the legendary method, but something else…

But the emperor, as if mocking her desperation, drew a clear line.

[I told you there’s no need to worry about supernatural powers, because you were concerned. That’s the extent of my kindness. As for the rest, you don’t need to know. You just need to come to the capital and follow my orders.]

In other words, he wouldn’t reveal his trump card. He looked at Lily with that familiar arrogant face.

[So, what will you do? Stay holed up here and watch as the Empire crumbles into the hands of heretics? Or become the savior of the emperor? The better choice should be obvious.]

He drove the point home.

[Surely you don’t think the duchy will be safe while the Empire falls. I don’t need such a foolish retainer.]

At a loss, Lily finally gave the standard excuse that she needed time to think, then left the annex.

Everything the emperor said was true. At this rate, the Empire really would fall soon. Maybe she should save the country first, learn the method, and then quickly return to the duke?

But what if the method turned out to be the same one from the legends they’d read about? Then wouldn’t it make more sense to deal with the duke first before heading to the capital?

Still, she couldn’t accept that method…

With especially heavy steps, Lily entered the East Wing and grew even gloomier when she saw the empty room.

She used to think he was just annoying, but now that he wasn’t around, she felt disappointed.

Lily didn’t understand herself anymore. This dragging feeling, her tangled thoughts, the wavering in her heart—it was the hardest day she’d had since getting involved with Aiden.

When she opened the office door, Aiden, who had been standing behind Wolfram with a cold expression, immediately softened into a gentle smile. Then, upon seeing Lily’s face, he stood up.

[Lily? Did something happen?]

He walked quickly over and bent down to meet her eyes.
She didn’t even have time to step back before his concerned gaze pulled her in.

Warmth spread from deep within her chest. She wanted to hug him right then and there, spill all her worries and sadness, and hear him gently whisper, “You don’t need to worry about anything.”

It was a completely foolish wish.

‘Get it together, Lily Dienta.’

Lily swallowed a sigh and stepped back.

“I’ve brought back some important information.”

“From the emperor?”

Wolfram looked up from the desk.

“Yes. He says the cult leader can’t use his powers anymore.”

She moved naturally to her seat as she continued.

“We can’t verify it from here, but it seems true. If he could still use sorcery, I doubt he would’ve left the emperor’s soul alone or abandoned it at the duke’s estate.”

“That’s a relief. That removes a major concern.”

Wolfram let out a deep sigh of relief.

“Exactly. It’s still tough, but facing a regular emperor is better than a sorcerer-emperor.”

[That’s good news, so why did you look so shaken? What did Julius do?]

Aiden pressed her with a persistent question, but she played dumb.

“Hmm? Did I? I wonder why…”

Lily returned to her seat, but her mind remained tangled with the same question—Emperor or Duke?

‘But really, I already know the answer.’

As she worked alongside Aiden, Lily tried to think logically.

‘Going to the capital with the emperor is basically running away. Here, we actually have a method to try right now. There’s no reason to hesitate.’

First, she needed to focus on Aiden. Heal him fully, then hand the emperor over to him.

To finish everything before the Empire collapsed, she had to act fast. Even today, she needed to find a woman worthy of standing beside Aiden.

A woman worthy of him…

[Lily!]

The sharp call snapped Lily out of her thoughts.

“Yes! Sir! I’m listening.”

Judging by Aiden’s face, she guessed he must’ve called her several times. He stared at her for a moment, then suddenly ran a hand up his forehead.

[I’m too tired. I need to rest.]

He slowly rolled his shoulders and turned his head from side to side.

Lily checked the time. It hadn’t even been an hour since she returned to work.

They hadn’t worked that long. Besides, after visiting Julius, there were only a few hours left until lunch, so they usually worked through and then ate together.

As she watched him with confusion, Aiden stood up from his seat.

[My shoulders feel stiff too. I want to get some fresh air. Will you help me?]