Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 95

“Well… you don’t have to say it like that. Oh—are you just frustrated because time keeps slipping away? That can’t be helped. We’re dealing with the Emperor here. You can’t just storm in and beat him up—you have to be fully prepared.”

Lily did her best to console him. While fiddling absently with her hand, Aiden suddenly spoke.

“I want to be like you.”

“…What?”

The words came out of nowhere, and Lily lifted her head. He added, with the utmost sincerity,

“You accomplish so many things that are impossible for me.”

“Oh…”

Lily was struck speechless for a moment.

“Thank you… really, thank you, but—um—you can’t go around saying things like that. No matter how close we are, if you treat me with such ridiculous favoritism, people will start resenting me. Just imagining what your aide would say—ugh, it sends chills down my spine.”

She rambled on, flustered and embarrassed. In the middle of it, Aiden suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Hahaha.”

The deep laughter rumbled in his chest and carried straight into her.

“Ah, Lily. How did I ever live without you?”

To avoid spoiling the mood, Lily only rolled her eyes. But the answer was obvious—Aiden had lived perfectly well without knowing her.

Well, maybe life was just a little duller, that’s all.

Even she had to admit, though—no one else in the Empire could make him laugh like this.

“I’ll do as you say,” Aiden whispered.

“While you wait for me with that broad, patient heart, I’ll end this as quickly as possible.”

Lily wanted to see what expression he was wearing, but his hand pressed gently on her head, burying her face against his chest so she couldn’t move.

“Somehow… as quickly as I can. I’ll make it so that nothing can ever threaten you again.”

It was almost suffocating. Lily managed to turn her head to the side and gasp out,

“Then, when you give me roses, make sure you take off the thorns first.”

To be fair, it was nothing more than a silly attempt to lighten the mood.

But when he kissed her forehead and replied, “Of course,” Lily suddenly remembered—this was the very man who had once tried to round off every sharp corner in a dungeon, just for her.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

 

The morning after leaving the Imperial Palace, Lily checked the time, quickly straightened her appearance, and stepped out. She was on her way to have breakfast with Aiden.

So in the end… I stayed overnight at a man’s house without being married to him, or even officially engaged… Forgive me, Grandmother.

Lily sincerely hoped that Julia would never, ever learn of this scandalous lapse.

For Julia Dienta, guardian of noble honor, it was unthinkable for an unmarried man and woman to sleep under the same roof—no matter the circumstances.

Wait, no. That’s too much. It’s not like we slept under the same blanket. Sharing a roof, what’s the big deal? So if I had to travel, would that mean I’d have to book a separate inn altogether?

She muttered inwardly.

Besides, when we were at the palace, we lived under the same roof too. When I stayed in the East Wing, remember? Hm. Best not to bring that up. If I argue that way, I’ll just get scolded worse.

If news of this ever reached Julia’s ears, Lily decided she’d better just lie flat, pretend to repent, and hope it passed quickly.

All these excuses and worries were simply proof that Lily herself felt embarrassed about staying at the mansion. She imagined the stares she’d get from the household staff and felt her toes curl in shame.

She could already read their thoughts.

Surely they had gossiped half the night about why the counselor hadn’t left. By the time breakfast was served, whichever servant carried the food would be besieged with questions. And the moment Lily stepped outside her room, curious eyes would follow her.

It was nothing like the daily visits she had made under the pretense of counseling. This was humiliation on an entirely different scale.

When Lily finally reached the dining room, she let out a breath of relief. Only Aiden was there, waiting for her.

“Lily. Your face is red today. Are you all right? Do you have a fever?” Aiden pulled out her chair as he asked.

“It’s nothing. Did you sleep well?”

“Mmm.”

He feigned thoughtfulness, then smiled as he answered:

“I didn’t sleep a wink.”

And that was all. The tone suggested she could interpret the reason however she liked.

Lily’s imagination ran away with her—perhaps it was the joy of living together again, or perhaps it was worry over the Emperor…

But then Aiden pressed his palm to her forehead. Lily’s entire thought process screeched to a halt.

Oh no no no no! Someone’s going to walk in! They’re going to walk in!

Oblivious—or perhaps not—Aiden pressed his other hand to his own forehead, comparing.

“Your temperature’s higher…”

“W-what if someone sees us!”

“Your health matters more than that.”

It was hopeless. She turned her head to escape, but his palm stubbornly followed.

“I’m not sick! And, ugh—when Your Grace does this, it only makes my face hotter!”

Even her protests didn’t stop him. She had to twist and squirm so much she nearly looked like she was dancing, before he finally pulled his hand away with a chuckle.

He rang the bell, and breakfast began to arrive. Lily stared rigidly at the center of the table until the servants withdrew.

Only then did she let her shoulders relax. They were surely still waiting nearby, but at least she didn’t have to meet their eyes.

She had just speared a bit of cooked vegetable when Aiden spoke.

“I’ll assign you a lady’s maid.”

“…A maid?”

The thought had never once crossed her mind. A personal maid? Like she were some true noblewoman, with someone to wait on her hand and foot?

Just imagining it made her itch as though hives were breaking out.

“I don’t think that’s necessary. I already get help with the things I really need. I’m not uncomfortable without a maid.”

Even saying the word “maid” out loud felt burdensome.

“This isn’t about comfort.”

But it was, Lily thought, lowering her gaze.

A lady’s maid was what highborn young women and wives kept so they wouldn’t have to lift a finger. Not only did they command maids and footmen, but they even had someone else wash them, dress them, and arrange their hair.

It was called an honor, being the confidante of a great noble’s daughter—but if it was just about having company, you could simply spend time with a friend. No need to employ a maid.

Lily could do everything herself, thank you very much.

If noble ladies never lifted anything heavier than a teacup, Lily could carry two buckets of water around the palace courtyard—twice.

Still, she understood what Aiden was thinking. He treated her as the most extraordinary woman on earth. Naturally, he wanted to give her everything he believed such a woman should have.

But Lily was not the sort of noble lady he was used to. And there was an even bigger problem.

Who on earth would want to be my maid?

Would anyone truly wish for that role? If someone were forced into it, they’d surely gossip the moment Lily’s back was turned—mocking that they’d been reduced to serving a mere counselor as though she were a great lady.

Lily had already resigned herself to public scorn, but still—she wanted to delay it as long as possible.

“This is also meant as a sign that you’re no longer a guest,” Aiden said gently. “Everyone must know you’re part of the household.”

“In that case… it doesn’t have to be right now, does it? Once everything is resolved, once we officially announce our relationship—that would be the proper time.”

Lily hunched her shoulders and picked at her food. When it came to matters of status, she simply couldn’t bring herself to be brazen.

“So you’d rather I treat you like a mistress?”

The words were so out of nowhere that Lily’s head snapped up.

Aiden widened his eyes and fluttered his lashes as if wounded. Looking into those sorrowful eyes, she almost felt guilty, as though she really had wronged him.

But the statement was far too absurd, and Lily quickly recovered her senses.

“A—A mistress? That’s not what I meant! I just— we agreed to keep our relationship hidden, didn’t we?”

She realized her voice had gotten too loud and hurriedly lowered it.

“…As counselor and patient.”

“Yes, that’s how it started. But Lily—ever since you began staying here, things have changed. Do you really think anyone in this mansion still believes that story?”

Lily fell silent.

“Everyone inside knows you’ll soon be the duchess. If any of them lack that much sense, they’ll be dismissed.”

And he was right. Marie had already proven as much herself…