Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 79

It was a whisper, barely louder than the sound of wind leaking in. The commander affirmed in silence.

“It’s okay. Everyone will keep the secret. Of course. A healer’s principle is never to reveal a patient’s secret.”

Having completely exposed the patient’s secret, she murmured as if comforting a crying child. The commander asked Lily,

“Then what exactly is occupying His Majesty’s body now?”

“A wraith.”

Before she could open her mouth, Aiden answered for her and added,

“I’ll explain in more detail when we meet separately. Staying too long will draw attention.”

“Understood.”

Wolfram coordinated the schedule with the commander, while Aiden stood quietly beside Lily.

With that, their purpose at the imperial castle was complete. The time to part was drawing near. From the commander… and from Lily Dienta…

Lily, who had been watching the situation, asked softly,

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

She let out a thin breath. It was a sigh of relief from a job well done.

Aiden didn’t miss that fragile sound and felt conflicted.

It was still too early to reach out to Lily Dienta. She needed to feel his absence a little longer. She needed to recognize the loneliness and emptiness left behind by his vanished love.

So that when he reached out again, she wouldn’t be able to refuse…

But the longer he stayed with Lily, the harder it became to keep last night’s decision.

He kept wanting to act on his feelings. He wanted to be within the kind of closeness allowed only between those who are special to each other.

He glanced at Lily’s arm. In darkness like this, it was right to offer a hand.  Purely as a gesture of gentlemanly courtesy. If that was too much, then maybe her wrist, or even her elbow.

It wasn’t like he was suggesting they link arms like close lovers. Just a small area of skin brushing together. Nothing special at all.

Lily probably wouldn’t refuse. She needed a guide, after all…

Besides, Lily was once again shouting her affection with her whole body today. Aiden had seen it with his own eyes.

He remembered the desperate eyes she had when she burst into the break room to check on his health, and the relief that immediately filled them. He remembered how downcast she became the moment he stopped acting playful.

How could he not notice? Lily Dienta had no talent for hiding genuine feelings.

Aiden gently clenched and released his hand.

Just then, Lily Dienta began walking slowly, groping ahead. Aiden reached out to her. Thankfully, the darkness hid his trembling fingertips well.

But perhaps he had hesitated too long— Before his hand could reach her, the commander offered,

“Let me help you.”

“Whew, thank you.”

Lily Dienta sighed with relief and accepted the knight’s support.

Aiden clenched his fist.

 

 

****

 

 

As they stepped out of the garden, a guard was standing steadfastly at the entrance. He saluted—probably not to her, but Lily gave a polite nod anyway.

Wolfram spoke to the commander, loudly enough for anyone nearby to hear.

“Apologies for the trouble. We’ll head home now, as advised by the counselor. Please give His Majesty our sincere apologies for not saying goodbye in person.”

“Understood. Julien, escort the Duke of Kashimir.”

The knight turned and left.

“This way, please.”

Finally, freedom from the imperial palace!

Lily wanted to scream with joy.

Even though she could lie down on the garden floor and sleep, even though the silence closing in was suffocating, even though Julius’s decaying soul was chasing after them— still, everything had gone according to plan!

‘Come to think of it, I never even heard his name.’

The moment Lily turned her head to look down the path where the commander had vanished—

“I’ll hold you.”

Aiden wrapped his hand around her fingers as if to trap them, and without waiting for her response, started walking.

Her fingers twitched inside his large hand, as if they wanted to hold his back.

Even though Lily had no such intention, her body seemed to act on instinct, reading her heart.

However he interpreted it, Aiden tightened his grip, not letting her fingers move an inch.

His hand was hot. The warmth transferred through her skin, making her cheeks flush.

A hidden desire, buried under fatigue, quietly began to rise.

‘It’d be nice to just walk all the way home like this. If only the road would go on forever…’

Brilliant light spilled from the palace’s glass windows. Lamps lit the outside as well, making it easier to see than inside the garden.

In other words, there was no need for an escort anymore.

Lily didn’t say that out loud. She simply hoped he wouldn’t walk too fast.

She kept her eyes fixed on Aiden’s back. On this beautiful path where the darkness felt like a prop, his face alone was hidden.

Even as he held her hand, he didn’t walk beside her—he was always a step ahead. He stubbornly showed only the back of his head, never once turning to look around.

A man who hid his face yet clung to her hand—
what kind of expression was he making?

Did he, too, want to stay in this fleeting moment like she did?
Was he also feeling the fullness of the present?

At the very least, it wouldn’t be the indifferent face he showed in the lounge earlier. No one holds the hand of someone they no longer love that tightly.

Lily felt her hurt feelings start to ease, as if they’d never existed. It was silly. That just holding hands could erase all her worries.

Before they knew it, they were standing in front of two carriages.

She didn’t even know how they’d gotten there. She was so lost in thought that she might’ve believed a god had scooped her up and dropped her here.

But there was no need to feel disappointed about arriving. Aiden still hadn’t let go of her hand, and climbed into the carriage.
Naturally, Lily had to follow him. Wolfram, reading the situation, went to the other carriage.

In a silence so deep you could hear a pin drop, they sat there. Neither of them spoke.

She could feel her own heartbeat in her ears, like her eardrums were thudding.

Their clasped hands were damp and warm. She wanted to wipe hers on her skirt, but Aiden acted as if he didn’t notice at all.

The intense emotion kept her from feeling sleepy. Her eyes were wide open, fixed on the window.

It was the opposite of how they’d walked through the garden. Now she was the one turning away, and she could feel Aiden’s gaze constantly on her. Her temple throbbed with every pulse.

Vows from just days ago kept surfacing. Promises that he’d take care of every hardship for her…

The carriage arrived at Mark Idris’s townhouse.

Even as she unlocked the front door and fumbled in the dark for the drawer holding the matches, Aiden stayed by her side.

Up until then, it could still be considered an escort. But now, she really had to let go. She couldn’t strike a match with one hand.

“My hand…”

Her voice cracked into a squeak. Lily quickly shut her mouth. She felt like she’d just revealed how much she was thinking about him.

Well, if he had any sense, he would’ve known from the moment she didn’t pull away.

Aiden let go of her hand and took the matchbox from her. In the dark, he lit a match in one try.

As the flame quickly spread to the candle’s wick, Lily stared at Aiden’s face like she was nailed to the floor.

The expression on his face didn’t match anything she’d imagined. There was a deep emotion there. He moved his eyes and looked down at her.

“Lily.”

How had he hidden this feeling so cleanly all this time? Lily couldn’t look away.

Without a single smile, he stared straight at her. Then finally, after a long silence, he spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

“You know now, don’t you? That this—being like this—is better than being apart.”

He slowly ran a finger over the back of her hand, then gently held both of hers. Though she could barely breathe, Aiden moved with ease.

“I know for sure. More than any of the worries you’ve imagined, what’s worse is a future where you and I are nothing.”

“I, I…”

“You think it’s different for you? Really? If I disappear, do you truly believe your life will go the way you hoped? That you won’t regret never seeing me again? You really believe that?”

Aiden asked softly.

“Think carefully about the time we were apart. Even just those few hours at the palace. The moment we became complete strangers…”

Lily’s hand, still caught in his, trembled violently.