Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 50

Part 7. If I Get Up Now

It was, in fact, the complete opposite of everything Aiden had insisted on until now.

Aiden answered calmly.

[I just realized… there might be another way besides blindly stopping you or forcing you. Because I don’t want to be an obstacle to you.]

Lily had sensed that feeling from him since this morning. He had done his best not to bother her.

[So just know one thing for sure.]

Aiden erased the smile from his face and looked straight at Lily.

[That I truly care about you. As long as I’m Aiden Kashimir, I have no desire whatsoever to see you hurt, and I never will.]

After a brief silence, he added:

[I won’t let a falling petal slip from my hand.]

It was a sudden vow that didn’t quite match the context. But the deep conviction and longing in each syllable proved this wasn’t a hastily made promise.

That statement sank deep into Lily’s heart.

 

 

****

 

 

That night, Lily lay in bed, lost in thought. She had told Aiden she would think more about the trip to the capital. She needed time to organize her thoughts.

Just as Aiden had done, she wanted to find a compromise between them.

And after a long deliberation, she had come up with a way to bring about a clean and beautiful ending— one that didn’t ignore her true feelings.

But still, because it involved offering her genuine heart, she needed to be sure—was this worth it? Would she not regret it, even at the very end?

She had always been known as a coward. Though some people would never admit it.

“Sigh.”

Tossing in bed, she finally let out a sigh and sat up. She quickly tied back her loosened hair, threw on a robe over her nightgown, and slipped out of her room.

There was one last thing to confirm. She couldn’t wait until morning. She wanted to know Aiden’s true feelings—right now.

Stepping carefully to avoid making noise or bumping into anything in the dark, she didn’t want to draw attention at this late hour.

Turning a corner, she reached the stairs. And there, at the base of the staircase, she saw a bluish figure glowing faintly in the dark.

Lily blinked. She hadn’t expected to find him so soon. She had been prepared to wander the east wing twice over.

She called out softly.

“Your Excellency.”

[Lily?]

Aiden looked up, saw her, and climbed the stairs with a puzzled expression.

It was such an unreal sight, but Lily no longer felt afraid of him. She knew what kind of person he was, and the time they had spent together had made her familiar with him.

But was it just that she wasn’t afraid? Taking it a step further, Lily no longer even saw him as a ghost. He was simply Aiden Kashimir.

Aiden stopped a few steps below her. Lily didn’t avoid his gaze. Instead, she looked straight at him and asked:

“What are you doing here?”

[This is an unguarded corridor, so I thought… I’d keep watch.]

So he was standing like a statue, keeping vigil?
Since when?

She couldn’t decide whether to find this endearing or troubling. It was also odd that he chose the base of the stairs instead of the hall or her door.

Perhaps realizing how strange it sounded, he mumbled and shifted the topic to her.

[And what about you? What are you doing out at this hour? Is something wrong with your room?]

Lily didn’t blink once while he spoke. Thanks to that, she could clearly sense the deep concern he had for her— even beneath his composed and courteous manner.

Suddenly, she burst out laughing.

“Ha ha!”

Realizing her voice was too loud, she clamped her mouth shut. But joy wrapped around her so tightly, she couldn’t stop a quiet giggle from slipping out.

This man really likes her! Ah! How can someone like another person this much? What about her did he see as special? She had only ever worked hard!

Whatever the reason, if she missed this chance, she would probably never encounter this kind of love again in her life.

An encounter as extraordinary as Aiden Kashimir would not come twice. And honestly, she wouldn’t want it to.

Lily admitted it without reservation. She wanted this man. Even if just for a fleeting moment, she wanted to share affection and give her heart.

[Lily?]

“No, it’s nothing. I had something I was struggling with, but I just figured it out.”

Lily’s eyes and lips curved gently. She hoped he would notice this satisfied resignation.

But he still seemed a little confused. He just mirrored her happy expression with a smile of his own.

[That’s a relief.]

“Isn’t it?”

Lily laughed with ease. At last, she could clearly tell what was a problem—and what wasn’t.

Sharing her heart with him, becoming his lover— those weren’t problems. Neither were the magic spells or his recovery.

The problem would come after that— the moment her love became a laughingstock to others.

Once she realized that, the solution was obvious. Simple. Just don’t become a laughingstock. End it before anyone has the chance to point fingers!

Why had she been so afraid of an unwanted ending? There was no need.

She was a person with agency— she had the freedom to end things before that moment arrived. To put a period on her happiness at its peak.

She would savor the joy of love— and before anyone caught on, return things to how they were. That way, nothing she feared would come to pass.

With newfound courage, she reached out to Aiden.

“Would you walk me to my room?”

Aiden’s response was immediate. He placed her fingers on his palm and said:

[Gladly.]

There wasn’t even a trace of hesitation about being treated like a servant.

They walked a short distance, mimicking a proper escort. If anyone saw them walking arm-in-arm through the hall, rumors of Lily Dienta losing her mind would be confirmed.

But it didn’t really matter.

‘What does it matter—when I’m on the verge of confessing to a ghost?’

Even though their arms weren’t actually touching, all her focus was there, and she had no energy left to make small talk.

They soon reached her door and gently came to a stop. A simple “See you tomorrow” would end this breathless moment, but neither of them said it right away.

[Well then…]

“Yes, um…”

Why was she so antsy? The moment she resolved to act, it felt like every hair on her body stood on end.

In the silence, even the sound of her swallowing felt deafening. It wasn’t fair. Ghosts don’t make a sound when they swallow—but she stood out so much.

Still, by now, Aiden must have noticed. That something had changed in her heart. Or had he not? Should she send a clearer signal? How would she know—she had never confessed before… Lily wanted to bury her head in her hands.

In the end, Aiden took the lead, finishing things on her behalf. He tucked away his disappointment and said politely:

[Rest well, Lily.]

Lily quietly exhaled to calm her racing heart. She chose the phrase “Yes, see you tomorrow, Your Excellency,” but she made a slight change, matching his tone.

“Yes, see you tomorrow, Aiden.”

Judging by how wide his eyes grew, he clearly understood.

Lily closed the door, her heart pounding with excitement.