How Can a Homebody Defeat The Demon King? – Chapter 14

Author: arnlian

As I got a better look at the groaning figure trying to sit up, I realized he was slender but clearly an adult man.

“Urgh…”

Under the disheveled hood was a mess of curly silver hair. His large golden eyes, magnified by thick glasses, were filled with tears.

Even though I’d gotten used to seeing men tear up lately, I still wasn’t prepared for this one.

Honestly, when Arcas got emotional, my only thought was “Seriously? You’re huge!”—so I never really felt bad.

But this guy, with tears welling in his eyes, made me feel like I’d done something truly terrible.

“I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”

As I approached, he flinched and scooted backward.

“I-I’m fine…”

His voice trembled violently—it was obvious he was in pain.

“Is there a hospital around here? We need to get you checked out!”

At my words, he quickly shook his head and tried to stand, wincing like he was in real pain.

I reached out to help, but he flinched at my touch. Still, I gently took his arm and helped him to his feet.

Just as he turned to leave, I instinctively grabbed the hem of his cloak.

“I’m sorry for grabbing you, but you really should get checked at the hospital.”

“I’m fine. I’m not hurt at all…”

If I let him go like this, there’s no doubt he’d report me later.

And I’d be 100% at fault.

“Then, at least give me your contact information. Sometimes the pain doesn’t show up right away, and complications can come later.”

“A-ah, no, it’s fine…”

“Please, just give me your contact information. Or at least your address. Okay?!”

As the back-and-forth dragged on, people passing by began glancing over with curious, suspicious eyes.

“Selie, what’s going on? Is something wrong?”

Arkas came rushing out of the shop and quickly walked over. Startled, the man let out a tiny squeak and hurriedly pulled a small card—like a business card—out of his pocket and handed it to me.

“I’m Selene Whedon, by the way. I’ve already given the bakery our home address, so if anything starts to hurt later, please make sure to contact me, okay?”

The man nodded slightly, then pulled his hood down even lower and quickly disappeared into the alleyway.

Phew. I let out a breath of relief, grateful this wouldn’t turn into some kind of hit-and-run accident.

Just then, I noticed a gemstone lying on the ground.

Oh no, did he drop this?

I quickly picked it up.

Arkas walked up beside me, a confused look on his face.

“What was that? Did he do something to you?”

I shook my head firmly and looked at him.

“Sure, the world outside is dangerous…”

Back at the estate, I was fully prepared.

Prepared for what~ My perfect hibernation, of course.

I had brought back a stack of interesting-looking books from the library and sorted out only the desserts that could be stored at room temperature.

I had already informed Arkas that I’d be taking the week off, and thankfully, he pushed back the packed schedule.

“If Selie wants to rest, then she should. You can work hard next week instead.”

He never actually said he’d cancel anything, huh.

Anyway, with even the house owner’s permission secured, I dove into bed feeling perfectly satisfied.

‘No one can come between me and this bed.’

“She says she won’t be having dinner, nor will she be attending the tea party at Baron Ariold’s estate. So please take note.”

The butler, having just left Selene’s room, addressed the gathered workers at the bottom of the stairs. Silence fell over them.

After a long moment of uneasy glances, one of the servants cautiously spoke up.

“Why… did she refuse the party?”

The clustered group of servants all wore anxious expressions.

“Don’t most young ladies love parties?”

“Even the last one who stayed here asked about the next party the moment she arrived.”

No one could understand why a young lady, at the prime age for enjoying social gatherings, had no intention of leaving her room.

One of the maids hesitantly raised her hand and spoke in a small voice.

“Could something have happened when she was out?”

At her words, the workers’ faces turned pale.

A moment of silence passed before murmurs began to fill the space at the bottom of the stairs.

Since no one knew what had happened to the young lady outside, they could only speculate.

“She said she met Lady Elloe and Lady Viviana, didn’t she?”

“Do you think they gave her a hard time?”

“No way… Didn’t they all promise to treat her well?”

“What happened then?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the coachman standing at the back of the group.

“…Well, those two did grab her by the arms and lead her away.”

“What? Why didn’t you stop them?”

“Me? How could I have?”

The maids reacted as if Selene had come home after being attacked, clearly furious on her behalf.

“How could they treat her like that? Our lady is such a kind person!”

“That’s right! She even brought back desserts for people like us…”

“Even though I haven’t seen her much, she’s always been gentle…”

A few of them were starting to tear up.

“Don’t tell me… she got her hair pulled or something?”

At that comment, Lurie clutched her forehead and staggered, and Yurieth quickly supported her while whispering softly.

“Well, considering that, she didn’t seem to be in a bad mood, so let’s just keep an eye on things for now. It’s better than her going out and disappearing.”

Everyone recalled how the entire estate had been thrown into chaos when only the carriage and clothing boxes returned home without her.

Those who had seen Arcas running around in all directions to find Selene understood exactly what Yurieth meant.

“Let’s have those who go outside try to find out what happened. And let’s do our best to support the young lady. She must feel so lonely.”

At the words of Madam Marvin, the most senior worker in the kitchen, everyone nodded firmly.

And so began the Operation: Be the Young Lady’s Strength.

Today, as well, the kitchen worker poured all their effort into preparing a perfectly nutritious and delicious one-bowl meal.

Yurieth carried the generously filled plate—on a dish she had subtly swapped for a larger one—up to Selene’s room.

“Miss, your meal is ready.”

But something was off about Selene’s behavior inside the room.

“Wait! Just a moment!”

The voice didn’t come from beneath the blankets like usual.

There were sounds of things being moved and shuffled from behind the door.

Yurieth carefully opened the door just a crack.

Why would she open the door without permission?

What if the young lady had fallen?

What if she were tangled up in her blankets and couldn’t get out?

Keeping a close eye on her lady’s wellbeing—down to the smallest detail—was the maid’s duty, after all.

One of the basic skills of a maid—opening a door without making a sound—was flawlessly executed by Yurieth as she narrowed her eyes.

Through the slight crack in the door, what she saw inside the room gave off an eerie atmosphere.

Even though the sunlight outside was bright and clear, all the curtains had been drawn, letting in not a single ray of light.

Only a small lamp on the nightstand next to the bed lit up the room, and Selene was hurriedly clearing scraps of paper from the table.

Yurieth quietly closed the door again and waited for Selene to call her.

After delivering the meal, the servants gathered in their strategy headquarters—the kitchen.

Everyone perked up, eager to hear Yurieth’s report.

“The young lady… sigh…”

Yurieth hesitated, dragging out her words, and the staff burst into anxious cries.

“What is it? What’s going on?!”

“She… she seems to be doing something like… a ritual.”

A heavy silence fell over the kitchen before it erupted again in a wave of shrieks.

“Should we inform the Count?”

“But we’re not even sure what it is yet.”

“What if it really is a ritual? What if it’s a ritual to send her back to where she came from?”

After a long, chaotic debate, everyone finally agreed: Yurieth, the one who had seen inside the young lady’s room, would take responsibility for uncovering the truth.

Selene didn’t seem to go to sleep until late at night.

So early the next morning, Yurieth and Lurie snuck quietly into Selene’s room.

If they were caught, they planned to say they had come to tidy up.

The two of them tiptoed toward the table and peeked at the papers lying on top.

And then, eyes wide with shock, the two maids looked at each other. They could sense it instinctively.

‘This… was a drawing of a curse.’

Beneath the drawing, there was writing. They squinted to read the thin, scrawled letters…

“Sirinü…?”

Lurie accidentally whispered the name aloud, then quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

Thankfully, Selene was still sound asleep and didn’t stir.

The two of them hurried out of the room and whispered frantically to each other in the hallway.

“Sirinü—as in Grand Duke Lephrix?”