Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 63

“Me?”

Well, that wasn’t completely untrue. I really did know things other people didn’t.

I just didn’t expect it to look that way to Naya.

“I do value firm convictions. But not arrogant stubbornness.”

Did that mean I looked like I had arrogant stubbornness? From my perspective, it was hard to accept.

“People can misunderstand anything. Not everything you believe is the truth.”

Naya adjusted the shawl draped over her shoulders and spoke in a dry, advising tone.

“Before the wedding takes place, it would be good to train your eyes to properly see what’s right in front of you. Not just believe what you think you know.”

“……”

“No answer?”

“……Yes.”

I quickly nodded.

Honestly, I didn’t fully understand what Naya was saying. No—rather than understanding, I couldn’t truly accept it.

‘But it’s scary!’

So nodding was my only option.

“I’ve seen your brother. And as an investigator, I simply made a logical judgment that he is innocent.”

“Then why did Enric fight with young master Helbike…?”

“Don’t ask me why they fought. That’s not something you should expect me to know.”

Naya replied lightly and walked toward me. She stared at my still-confused face for a moment, then turned away.

“Rather than dwelling on pointless things, it would be better to focus on something more meaningful.”

“Something meaningful?”

Naya glanced at me as if asking whether I really didn’t understand.

But the conversation we’d been having was already vague, and the pressure she gave off was overwhelming… My head felt foggy, and I couldn’t really grasp this either.

Naya let out a short sigh through her nose and spoke as if tossing the words aside.

“For example, how to become someone precious to the real power of this household.”

She was talking about Ehit.

‘Someone precious to Ehit.’

Why would that matter to Naya?

Did she really want to see Ehit suffer because of me?

If not, then…

“Is that important to you as well, Madam Naya? I mean, me being sincere toward your son.”

At my words, Naya turned to look at me.

“Well. Who knows?”

“……”

“Let’s talk more at length tonight, Dapflen Aileta.”

She let out a strange, unreadable smile.

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

 

“Take this and deliver it.”

During the engagement period, the servants assigned to attend Dapflen moved busily.

A guest who would become a new member of the family had arrived after a long time!

Creating a good first impression of the Cloyden estate was an important duty for the servants here.

“Lisa! A message from the young master!”

From across the room, Randy ran toward the servants who were in the middle of preparations.

“What is it?”

“He said to pay special attention to maintaining the temperature in the young lady’s room.”

“The young master took an interest in another room’s matters?”

“Yes.”

The servants exchanged subtle smiles.

Those who had served here for a long time knew. Young Master Ehit always kept a step back from everything in the estate.

Unless it involved his own room, whether it was the garden, the corridors, or even the library, he never interfered.

So for him to send such a message? And about something so obvious?

They couldn’t help but smile.

“What’s with that reaction?”

“It’s nothing, Randy. Spring is coming.”

“But winter is just around the corner?”

Randy tilted his head in confusion, then turned back toward where Young Master Ehit was. From afar, Head Butler Archers was gesturing at him.

“Hurry up, Randy!”

“Yes!”

As Randy hurried down the corridor, his gaze briefly shifted toward the window. Between the walkways one floor below, he spotted a servant wearing a maid’s uniform.

She was a woman with red, curly hair.

‘Was there a servant like that?’

Randy tilted his head.

“What are you doing, Randy!”

“……I’m coming!”

Since it had been a while since they’d stayed at the capital estate, there were probably servants he didn’t recognize.

Thinking that, Randy hurried off.

 

 

****

 

 

 

“Ugh.”

Completely exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed. After pushing myself all day and washing up, my whole body felt heavy.

Even after the portrait sitting, the schedule was packed. An estate tour, exploring the maze garden, viewing the Kloyden family’s art collection, and more.

There were so many events, I couldn’t understand why they all had to be done today.

‘Doing side jobs would honestly be less tiring.’

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Miss, the madam is looking for you.”

A voice came from beyond the door. They were talking about Naya.

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

Come to think of it, we had talked earlier in the day. She had said we’d have a longer talk in the evening.

But we hadn’t really had any free time until now.

I hurriedly threw on a shawl and stepped out.

“Where should I go?”

“Please follow me.”

The servant guided me down the corridor. The hallway lights were dim, but she also carried a lantern.

‘When did I see this servant before?’

Cherry-colored curly hair… I’d seen her somewhere.

There were so many servants in the estate, after all.

“This way.”

The servant led me downstairs. I followed, searching my memory.

When was it? For some reason, I felt like I’d be bothered for a long time if I couldn’t remember.

Hmm…

“Ah!”

That’s right. Earlier today, when I was looking for Ehit!

I had asked where he was!

“Phew.”

It felt like the tightness in my chest eased, as if I’d taken medicine for indigestion, and I let out a relieved breath.

The servant flinched and looked back at me.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Embarrassed, I quickened my pace as I followed her.

The servant stepped outside the main building.

‘Are we heading to the annex?’

We passed through the dark garden and followed a stone path toward the right side of the estate.

The Cloyden capital estate consisted of five buildings connected around a garden. The place Naya had asked to meet was the building farthest in the back.

We hadn’t come this way during the earlier tour. It looked like a building that wasn’t currently in use.

With a heavy sound, the door opened.

‘It’s my first time coming in here.’

A dark lobby came into view.

The lights were barely bright enough to make out silhouettes. Since it wasn’t used often and it was night, there was no reason to keep it well lit.

“Madam Naya said she’d see me here?”

“Yes.”

Why would Naya call me to a place like this? Was she trying to talk somewhere no one could overhear?

The gloomy atmosphere was oppressive. It felt like someone might jump out of the darkness at any moment.

‘Still, this is inside the ducal estate.’

And not just any estate—Ehit, the Count of Cloyden, and even the duke himself were all here.

‘……There’s no way. She wouldn’t harm me in a place like this.’

The servant headed toward the basement of the annex.

It felt like a maze. You’d enter one room, only to find a passage leading into another.

We walked down a long corridor. At the end was a wall that looked like an iron-decorated cabinet.

‘What’s that hole?’

Between the walls was something like a small keyhole. The cherry-haired servant took out a key and inserted it—it fit perfectly.

When she pushed the wall, it rotated like a revolving door, revealing a passage inside.

‘What is this, a door straight out of a spy novel?’

The servant gestured inward.

“You may wait here.”

She lit another candle with her own and set it beside me. It was a wide room with no windows.

‘No, rather than a room…’

It felt more like a storage space.

At that moment—creeeak—the door closed behind me.

Naya said she’d see me here?

‘This is suspicious no matter how you look at it…’

I raised the candle and examined the room more closely.

‘Isn’t this really a storeroom?’

Boxes and luggage were piled up, and in one corner stood something covered with a black cloth.

It was slightly taller than me. Sitting alone in such a desolate room, it was unsettling, whatever it was.

If she really meant to meet me here, even Naya wouldn’t have much to say if I refused. Ask anyone to meet in a place like this, and even a ghost would run away.

A bad feeling crept over me.

‘Let’s leave.’

Yeah. There was no need to talk in a place like this, at night, in a room this strange.

We could talk in a bright, open garden during the day!

‘Let’s get out, now!’

I quickly spun around and hurried to the door, pushing it.

Thunk.

There was a sound like something catching. The door didn’t move.

“……Huh?”

I tried again. Same result.

Why won’t it open?

I stood there for three seconds, thinking, then started pushing again. I pushed, then banged—thud, bang—on the door.

Then I stopped.

When I wasn’t making noise, all I could hear was silence.

“……”

Thump, thump.

My heart started pounding loudly, and it felt like my blood was running cold.

Only then did I understand what situation I was in.

‘Am I… trapped here?’

I pushed and pulled the door again, but it didn’t budge. There was no sign it would open.

Did Naya lock the door? Was this what she meant by a “long talk”?

“Hello! There’s someone in here!”

Alone in the dark storeroom, I pounded on the door. The sound echoed loudly inside.

But from outside, there was no response at all.

No matter how much I knocked, there was no one to hear me beyond the door.

‘Is there really no one?’

After shouting and pounding for a long time, I ran out of strength.

Leaning my back against the door, I slid down and collapsed onto the floor.