Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 54

Lily’s smile faded slightly as she adjusted her thoughts.
The weather was bright and clear—just like their future.

Wishing someone would stop her, Lily didn’t let her arms or legs slow down.

[Are we really going like this, right away?]

“I told you we are. How do you feel?”

[Like I’m dreaming.]

Aiden raised one hand toward the sky. The light shimmered faintly through the back of his hand.

[To think the day would come when this impossible problem could actually be solved… It’s all thanks to you.]

“Uh… still, don’t celebrate too early. Nothing’s certain yet.”

[Alright.]

Aiden answered, his voice full of joy.

 

 

****

 

 

In the lord’s bedroom, the attending physician, caretakers, and a guard were present. Lily claimed she had come on Wolfram’s orders.

No one stopped her from entering, but they refused to leave the room.

“I’m sorry, Miss Dienta, but not even His Majesty the Emperor would be allowed to meet His Grace alone in his current state.”

“Even with the aide’s assurance?”

“It would still be the same.”

No matter what, she couldn’t say that in front of these people. As Lily hesitated awkwardly, Aiden stepped in to help.

[Shall I try using some force?]

“Even if the wrath of a ghost comes upon you?”

Lily asked with a grim expression. She meant to threaten them, but for some reason, they all looked at her with pity instead.

She realized she’d just made the rumors about her worse. The physician spoke politely.

“That won’t be necessary. Please, come this way.”

[Just say the word, Lily.]

Aiden looked like he was bracing himself, trying to stir up anger. Lily responded with a shake of her head.

If she wasn’t careful, she’d go from “a distressed woman talking nonsense” to a full-blown witch. Then all the strange incidents in the castle would be blamed on her.

“By the way, Miss Dienta, it seems your work in the office is quite stressful. If needed, I could introduce you to a friend who specializes in psychological treatment.”

Ignoring the physician’s well-meaning suggestion, Lily walked toward Aiden’s bed. The smell she’d noticed upon entering the room grew stronger as she approached.

It was a nauseating blend of the stale odor of someone long bedridden and the perfume used to cover it up.

Even though the caretakers were clearly doing their best, there was only so much they could do.

Still, Aiden’s body didn’t look much different from when she’d last seen it while placing the orb.

That was a surprise. She had imagined a withered husk—nothing but skin over bone. She had even told herself not to show any shock.

He was certainly thin and frail-looking, and he’d lost a lot of muscle, but he didn’t appear half-dead.

If anything, it was like seeing a very well-made wax figure lying down. His complexion was pale, and his chest didn’t rise or fall—it looked like he wasn’t even breathing.

[Please don’t stare so hard.]

Aiden said awkwardly.

[It’s embarrassing. I look awful.]

“You’ll recover quickly with some rehab.”

To Lily’s encouragement, the physician responded:

“Pardon? Ah, yes, that’s right. It won’t be quick, but he’s naturally healthy and in excellent shape, so once he wakes up, recovery should be smooth. By the way, what did the aide instruct you to do? We report His Grace’s condition daily—was something lacking?”

“Um… well…”

Lily pulled a chair next to the bed, trying to think fast.

“I read a book recently… and it had a really nice prayer in it… I thought maybe it would help, so I came to try it.”

“Didn’t you say earlier that the aide instructed you?”

“Yes, exactly. I told him about it, and he told me to go ahead and try it right away.”

She recalled the illustration from The Returned Father—the wife holding the man’s hand, and the man’s spirit resting its hand on her shoulder.

Lily took Aiden’s hand. It was warm, tangible.

“Put your hand on my shoulder.”

“Like this?”

“Not you, Doctor.”

“Oh—were you speaking to me?”

“Sigh…”

The physician and the caretaker looked at each other in confusion, and the guard pointed to himself, silently asking if she meant him.

Lily furrowed her brows. Wolfram had understood her perfectly, but trying to communicate with people who didn’t know the situation was a headache.

‘This is already complicated enough… Fine. I’ll just use them as stand-ins for family. If I tell them to pray quietly, that might help.’

She motioned for them to come closer.

“Please gather around the bed. Then, silently pray with all your heart that His Grace will return to us.”

“Pray?”

“Yes. That will make my prayer more effective. Start now, please!”

She commanded like a head maid directing junior staff. Overwhelmed by her intensity, the three clasped their hands and closed their eyes.

Giving Aiden a signal with her eyes and hand, she guided his hand to her shoulder and recreated the exact scene from the illustration. She recalled the couple’s dialogue from the story.

It wasn’t hard to remember. She’d always liked the tale—and recently, it had been looping in her head nonstop.

“Ahem. My love, if you wake up now, I’ll let you buy that dagger you wanted.”

“Excuse me? What did you just say…?”

Startled by her words, the stand-ins opened their eyes. They looked shocked, unsure if they’d heard right. Lily forced down her embarrassment and spoke boldly.

“I know it sounds strange, but it really is a prayer.”

“In my whole life, I’ve never heard of such a prayer.”

[Khh!]

Aiden turned his head and shook with suppressed laughter. She appreciated that he was at least trying to hold it in. The joy was Aiden’s; the excuses were Lily’s job.

“Right, of course you haven’t. I get it. Because this is a super ancient prayer from a forgotten legend. Hardly anyone in the Empire knows about it. We’re basically the first to rediscover it…”

It wasn’t a total lie.

“Anyway, it can’t hurt to try, so would you cooperate?”

The three still looked doubtful. Honestly, Lily would’ve been the same. A prayer that starts with “my love”? Yeah, right.

But Lily gave them firm instructions.

“From now on, no interrupting. If you do, I’ll have to start all over again. Keep your eyes closed until I say to open them. Got it? Please.”

Once she saw them close their eyes, Lily took a deep breath, full of resolve.

‘This is a medical act. There’s no reason to be embarrassed. They may think I’m weird now, but in a little while, they’ll all be grateful. I’m doing something huge here. So Lily—be shameless. Be bold.’

It was incredibly hard, but Lily focused on pushing away her shame and stirring up her feelings for Aiden.

She wasn’t just making a metaphorical gesture. She was literally bringing the man she loved back from the dead. That kind of feat was not something just anyone could do.

‘I’m giving him the greatest gift of all.’

Her heart began to race—but not from embarrassment.

This once-in-a-lifetime moment in Aiden Kashimir’s story would forever belong to Juliana Lily Dienta.

Even if they part ways someday, she’d leave him with an unforgettable memory. One only she could give.

She calmly recited the legendary lines again.

“My love, if you wake up now, I’ll let you buy that dagger you wanted.”

[That sounds great.]

Aiden responded in perfect timing.

‘Ha! So he did hear it from Grandma. Liar.’

Holding back a snort, Lily immersed herself in her role.

“My love, if you wake up now, everyone will sing songs of celebration for you.”

[That sounds great.]

“My love, if you wake up now…”

Lily closed her eyes. She felt it—that the end was near. Like Tara in the story, she was desperate. And though her reasons were different, her sorrow matched.

Lily whispered softly:

“I’ll allow you to kiss me.”

Silence fell. Had it failed? Or had it worked? Caught in uncertainty, she kept her eyes closed. She didn’t want to know—yet if she could kiss him, she knew she’d be happy…

Then, she felt warmth slowly return to Aiden’s hand. The stiff joints and bark-like skin began to soften.

Just as his fingers gave a faint twitch, a sharp inhale—“Gasp. Huff.”—broke the silence.

Lily’s eyes flew open in shock.