Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 87

Part 12. Warning

When they parted yesterday, Aiden told her that he had work the next day and it would be difficult to meet. Thanks to that, Lily had been absorbed in embroidery practice.

All throughout her practice, she muttered complaints that were basically curses.

At herself for putting on such ridiculous bravado, at Aiden for provoking her for no reason, and at her fingers, which were skilled with a rag but clumsy the moment they touched a needle.

The knock at the door came just as she was rotating her stiff, sore shoulders. When she went out, Aiden was there—with the commander of the First Knights.

“Hello, Lily. Have you been well?”

It hadn’t even been a full day since they last saw each other, but Aiden greeted her like it had been ages.
His gentle smile, with the corners of his eyes softly lowered, shone like a star.

“Welcome, Your Grace—and, uh… Commander.”

“It’s been a while. I’m sorry to drop by without notice, but may we come in for a moment?”

Lily looked at Aiden as if to ask for permission. It was an unconscious action.

Aiden nodded with an easy expression. Only then did Lily step aside and say, “Please come in.”

As she led them to the parlor, Lily kept wondering why the commander had come.

Why would he visit? Wasn’t her role already over? And without any notice—why would he come with Aiden?

‘Could it be that they need me again?’

At the sudden possibility, Lily’s eyes widened. Aiden had tried so hard to keep her out of things, but in the end, he couldn’t manage it alone!

Her fingertips trembled with excitement as she curled them into her palm. She was just about to rise and go prepare tea after confirming they were seated, when—

“It won’t take long. Come sit with us.”

Aiden made her sit down and then spoke to the commander in a businesslike tone.

“Let’s keep it brief.”

The commander, without a word, pulled a letter from his inner coat.

“It’s a letter from someone concerned about the counselor.”

That was quite the mysterious sender. Someone who could send the commander of the First Knights as a messenger—someone who worried about the Duke of Kashimir’s personal asistant?

Lily tilted her head and took the letter.

Just by touching the envelope, she could tell—it was without question sent by a noble. Paper this white and smooth wasn’t something just anyone could afford.

“They insisted it had to be delivered to you directly, so I came along. I’m curious what it says.”

Why was he so confidently curious about someone else’s letter?

Lily’s eyes went wide. He was the one always hiding behind ridiculous mystery, and yet he was being completely shameless?

“Is it okay if I read this with everyone here?”

Even if the answer was no, she was going to share it anyway, but Lily asked just to be sure.

“There was no mention either way.”

Normally, it would make sense to read a letter like this in private, but even the commander wasn’t leaving the room.

‘Is it because we’re allies…? Even if they said no, I would’ve shared it with Aiden anyway.’

Lily opened the envelope and took out the contents. The message was brief.

[Stay away from the Duke of Kashimir.]

Lily flipped the paper over. But that one line was truly all there was.

“They’re telling me to stay away from His Grace.”

She spoke to the men as she set the letter on the table for all to see.

Because her mind had been so preoccupied with the mysterious woman lately, Lily unconsciously suspected that the letter had come from her.

Maybe the woman really was a mistress, and she had sent the letter to drive out the asistant clinging to Aiden……

But that theory didn’t seem realistic. There was no way a woman in the mansion could meet with the commander of the knights. Besides, the handwriting didn’t belong to a woman.

Lily couldn’t hold back her curiosity.

“So, who sent this?”

“It’s from someone who’s concerned for you, asistant.”

“So who is it, then? We’re on the same side—you can tell me.”

The commander shook his head.

“I was told the counselor has fulfilled her duty. In that case, it’s better not to know too much. But the message itself is worth heeding…”

“You don’t need to worry about it.”

Aiden took the card. He moved so naturally, without any rush, that Lily briefly forgot the letter had even been addressed to her.

“Probably a warning from some noble supremacist who doesn’t like seeing nobles and commoners together. You’ve always worried about this kind of discrimination too, haven’t you?”

Aiden also picked up the envelope.

She studied Aiden’s face closely. His calm, composed expression showed no sign of concern.

But Lily immediately realized he didn’t truly believe his “noble supremacist” theory. She was confident in her ability to read his face. He just wanted to end the topic quickly.

‘He must have an idea who sent it.’

He had likely figured out the sender, but had no intention of sharing that with Lily.

Once again, he planned to shut her out. Even though this was something that directly concerned Lily Dienta herself!

‘Maybe this time I should push a little harder. I have a right to know.’

She was tired of being treated like an outsider. Sick of being told to stay quiet and safe.

Aiden, under the excuse of protection, was treating her worse than a stranger. Lily’s disappointment had reached the point of frustration.

Wasn’t it enough that he’d excluded her from joint missions and secretly harbored another woman? What gave him the right to take her warning letter without asking?

She could easily guess he’d return to the mansion and discuss the letter with Wolfram. Just the two of them—without her!

‘So who’s the real partner here? Me? Or your precious aide?’

As things stood, Wolfram was closer to Aiden than she was.

And Lily was just playing the role of a pet he found cute.

It wasn’t like she wanted to be involved in absolutely everything, every little detail. That would be like asking Aiden to roll up his sleeves and mop floors with her.

She just wished they could share things casually, like parts of each other’s daily life. She didn’t want to be left out under the excuse of “protecting” her.

‘Yes. This time, I’ll ask him. Ask if he has any idea who sent it. And tell him—I want to know too…’

She had just made up her mind and was about to speak when the commander said:

“We’ll need a receipt to confirm the letter was delivered.”

Lily blinked.

“A receipt?”

“Yes. A reply note or even a small item will do.”

“Just a moment.”

Lily went to her room and returned with a card. Its message was just as brief as the warning letter:

[Message received. —Lily Dienta]

She sealed it in an envelope and came back to the parlor.

Seeing her, Aiden stood up. He took the envelope and personally handed it to the commander. Then, without missing a beat, he gave a dismissal.

“Sir Payne, if that’s all, you may leave now.”

The commander obeyed.

Lily thought Aiden would leave too. But after seeing off the commander, he followed her back inside.

“Weren’t you busy today?”

Aiden naturally slid his fingers between hers.

“Mm. But I still have to say goodbye properly.”

He answered in a soft drawl. Normally, she’d have been completely charmed—but this time, Lily lowered her gaze.

His vague answer about the warning letter made her suspect he was only staying behind to keep her from overthinking.

She raised her eyes and met his gaze.

“So who sent it?”

She had a feeling she already knew the answer—but still, she asked with a bit of hope. Aiden tilted his head slightly, as if weighing the meaning of her question.

“The letter I received. You have someone in mind, don’t you?”

“Lily, I appreciate that you think so highly of me—but I don’t have the ability to memorize the handwriting of every noble in the Empire.”

“But you don’t have to consider every noble. Whoever it is must be someone very high-ranking—high enough to send the First Knight Commander as a messenger.”

And with a range that narrow, Aiden had surely narrowed down the suspects in his mind.

“I saw the letter with you, that’s all I know. Sir Payne didn’t say a word about who sent him. He said that unless it’s absolutely crucial, they’re expected to stay loyal and never reveal such things—so no one questions their motives.”

Aiden gently stroked Lily’s fingers with his thumb, smiling softly.

Was he planning to keep it from her all the way? Or did he genuinely not know? Lily lost confidence and muttered quietly.

“But your eyes definitely looked like you recognized it…”

Aiden looked at the small hand he held and the neatly braided hair. Then, still smiling, he lifted her hand.

“If you found out who sent it, then what?”