Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 84

They were, after all, in a secret relationship. She wasn’t a live-in counselor, so she couldn’t stay long.

Lily genuinely intended to return to the townhouse as she rose from her seat. That’s when she suddenly recalled something Wolfram had let slip during their ride to the imperial palace:

He had mentioned there were two more books prepared for her. Even if the notes were gone, they were likely more suited to her level than the ones currently at the townhouse.

“Your Grace, do you still have the books you were planning to give me?”

“Books? Hmm, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

Aiden glanced away evasively and glared sharply at Wolfram— clearly realizing who had leaked the information.

Lily took his reaction as confirmation.

“The ones you already gave me were a bit too difficult for me, to be honest. If there are simpler ones, I’d like to study those first.”

“There’s no need to push yourself. It’s not like you’ll be counseling anyone else.”

True enough… But Lily genuinely wanted those books.

Until the Emperor’s situation was resolved, she had to keep playing the role of counselor. And if she was going to act, she wanted to feel confident about it.

Lily looked up at him quietly as he stood beside her.

“Did you already get rid of them?”

“No, nothing like that… Fine, you win.”

Aiden muttered, “I can’t beat you,” as he made his way to the bookshelf.

He took out two books, then instead of handing them over, he placed them on his own shoulder and smiled.

“You’ll join me for lunch, won’t you, Doctor? Surely there’s nothing strange about a trusted counselor sharing a meal with her patient.”

Shamefully, Lily nodded without hesitation.

If some random person had tried this line on her, she would’ve scowled. But coming from Aiden Kashimir, it somehow became the perfect seduction.

The sly smile, the voice wagging like a puppy’s tail, the deliberately tilted head— Lily couldn’t even manage a proper poker face, let alone say no.

Satisfied by her reaction, Aiden handed her only one of the two books.

“In that case, I’ll lend one volume from my personal collection to help you pass the time.”

The other, clearly, was being held hostage.

Lily reflexively flipped through the pages— and quickly noticed several places marked with folded notes. She looked up in surprise.

“I thought you said you threw them all out?”

“…He told you that too?”

Aiden shot another glare at Wolfram, but the latter had long since fixed his gaze on the far wall and was thoroughly unbothered.

Aiden sighed.

“I was about to… But it felt like I’d be destroying even the faintest hope with my own hands, so I put them back.”

Then he added softly,

“I’m glad I didn’t throw them away. I got to give them to you instead.”

The notes were deeply wrinkled, as if they had once been crumpled up.

Lily couldn’t quite relate to the idea of smoothing out discarded notes. If it had been her, once she’d decided to throw them away, she would’ve torn them to pieces and tossed them into the fireplace.

But perhaps it was exactly this kind of persistence—this refusal to let go—that had allowed their relationship to change.

‘I’m really glad he’s the kind of man who holds on.’

Lily swallowed down the impolite remark and left the room.

At Wolfram’s suggestion, he was the one to escort her to her guest room.

After all, a counselor was in an awkward position— not quite close enough to be guided by the duke himself, but not low enough to entrust to just a servant either.

So Wolfram, as the aide, took the task.

Now alone with him, Lily felt her breath catch with the tension and embarrassment.

If she could, she would’ve proudly declared she didn’t need an escort— but truthfully, the only places she recognized in this house were the office and the parlor.

And even those she’d only been to once— once while blindfolded, and once while too distracted to notice the route.

She had no choice but to follow Wolfram quietly.

“…Good for you.”

Wolfram’s tone held no mockery, no sarcasm. Even so, just hearing him bring it up made Lily flustered.

She clenched her fists.

‘Be confident, Lily Dienta. What’s wrong with a person dating another person? Is that a crime?’

Trying to encourage herself with that thought, Lily barely managed to speak without trembling.

“Thanks to you.”

Wolfram nodded slightly.

“Then… is it safe to assume the two of you won’t be parting ways any time soon?”

“W-What?!”

She jumped in shock.

Wasn’t that way too rude a question to ask a couple who had just gotten together? No—why was anyone asking in the first place?! Was he looking down on her because she used to be a maid?

Wolfram seemed to realize only then just what he’d said.

“My apologies. I’ve been under too much stress lately. My words slipped.”

He really did look exhausted.

Lily hadn’t noticed it before, having not looked too closely, but his face was pale and his eyes dull—he seemed to be running on several days’ worth of fatigue.

“You can probably understand, Miss Dienta. You know how it is.”

Yes, she did. A superior’s mood was like the weather to those below them.

If the head maid was in bad shape, cleaning had to be extra thorough. If the head chef had fought with the head maid, no one was allowed to waste food. A million things had to be accounted for.

“When His Grace isn’t doing well, it affects everything in the household. I’ve been so preoccupied with that worry I let my mouth run.”

Wolfram was being genuinely sincere with her. It felt like she’d been granted permission to cross a few of the many fences that surrounded him.

So Lily turned the question around.

“What do you think, Sir Wolfram?
Do you think… we might end up apart someday?”

“You’re asking me?”

“I was just wondering how it looks from an outside perspective.”

Wolfram furrowed his brow.

“I’m not exactly ‘outside’ anymore, am I? Doesn’t the fact that you’re asking me that prove it?”

He was clearly too tired to hold back his tone, which had grown a bit sharp.

But Lily wasn’t offended. In fact, the idea that someone had been dragged into her love life like this made her feel bad for him.

Wolfram shook his head.

“That was a pointless question. Parting ways? What an awful thing to say. All you need to do is enjoy the Duke’s wealth and prestige and get used to a life of ease. Have you spent any of that bank deposit yet?”

“No, I haven’t. The allowance Your Grace provided is enough for my daily needs.”

“You should start practicing. You’ll have a hard time adjusting otherwise. He can be rather overbearing—you won’t be able to do anything about that.”

That last comment sparked Lily’s curiosity.

“So… what do you really think? Do you think we’ll get along well?”

“What difference does someone else’s opinion make?”

“You can’t completely ignore it, though.”

He glanced at her, then looked forward again.

“If you think it can’t be ignored, then that’s what makes it impossible to ignore. Instead of worrying about what others think, just look into His Grace’s eyes one more time. That’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

It seemed like he was done talking. But then he added, out of the blue:

“He’s failed twice already. So please, don’t even think about walking away this time.”

The sincerity in his voice was undeniable.

Lily nodded. If things went just as Wolfram said, she couldn’t ask for anything more.

Wolfram showed her to the guest room and left her with a simple message:

“Make yourself comfortable.”

Lily looked around the room. Even to a trained eye, it was impeccably clean. She gave the plumped-up cushions a poke and sat down on the sofa.

With the book resting on her knees, she began to wonder about the maid who had come with the Duke. Could it be someone she knew?

The capital townhouse was only used temporarily—during the social season or on special occasions—so it had a very small permanent staff. That meant when the Duke visited, he’d bring some of his estate staff with him.

‘The head maid probably stayed behind at the castle… I wonder if any of my friends came with him?’

Part of her wanted to see them again. Another part… wasn’t so sure.

She missed them and wanted to catch up. But she also worried about what kind of rumors had spread since her sudden resignation.

At the time, she hadn’t been in a good state. She’d been desperate to leave the castle and didn’t even get to say proper goodbyes. They probably thought it was strange.

The longer she stayed here, the more likely it became that she’d run into someone.

Even if she didn’t see her friends, they would almost certainly notice her.

Maids, after all, operated in the shadows. They knew everything that happened in their workspace.

And “the Duke’s personal counselor”? That was already an eyebrow-raising title. If that counselor turned out to be Lily Dienta?

And then there was that wild flower-filled reception room…
No one would let it slide.

If her friends decided to investigate and confirm whether that was their Lily Dienta, the game would be over.

It’d be easier than sweeping a floor to spy on someone coming in and out of the mansion.

Lily pressed her palm to her forehead.