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~Chapter 15~
After Dice lingered around Astia’s room, the Rovellito Duke’s servants held a meeting.
In the end, Emily and Annie made a group that would make Astia clutch the back of her neck if she found out, and that’s how they ended up having a conference like this.
“There are a lot of new people this time. On one hand, it’s good to have more hands, but I’m a bit worried too.”
Annie, who led the meeting, placed a lantern in the center in the pitch-black darkness.
Then she looked around at the newcomers with cold eyes.
When her gaze landed on them, they shuddered slightly.
It was because they read the warning in her eyes: if they leaked even a little bit of the secret, she wouldn’t let it go.
“Annie. Don’t worry, everyone here can keep their mouths shut.”
“Really?”
“Just trust me.”
At Haron’s words, Annie’s slightly upturned eyes softened.
“So, is this about the new servant, Dice?”
Ryan, Haron’s close friend, asked carefully.
Everyone nodded with serious faces. Emily spoke, her voice tinged with anger.
“…How dare he trouble the young lady, who should only see good things, hear good things, and be happy…”
“Emily, calm down.”
Annie comforted Emily, and everyone nodded in agreement with grave expressions.
A knight with ash-gray hair, who had been quietly listening, ground his teeth.
“I think it’s right to handle this in the name of a knight’s honor.”
“We need definite evidence if we’re going to end it for sure.”
Everyone nodded at Annie’s rational words.
“So, what should we do?”
“Let’s just do our work like nothing’s wrong. And then…”
As Annie suggested doing what they could to help Astia, the servants’ and knights’ faces brightened.
Especially the maid from the kitchen spoke up with a brightened face.
“I’ll have to take away one potato. He needs to pay for making the young lady uneasy. He should go a little hungry.”
The knight, who had been quietly listening, added:
“Then I’ll keep an eye on his movements. If I see anything suspicious, I’ll handle it before the master finds out.”
“…We should give him the hardest chores.”
Each of them thought of their own way to uncover Dice’s identity.
“Ruby’s so brave. We should give him more clover.”
“Let’s do that!”
Everyone exchanged looks and nodded.
And so, the meeting for Astia’s sake ended successfully.
Dice was sweating coldly.
It was because the servants had strangely changed in just one day.
‘That was my mistake.’
One day, someone approached Dice, who usually spent his days gambling.
[Find out information about the Rovellito Duke’s house, especially anything related to Young Lord Diego.]
[Why Young Lord Diego…?]
[You talk too much.]
[Yes, sir! I’ll do it!]
It was such an easy mission that Dice accepted without much thought.
Just bring back information about the Duke’s house and he’d be set for life, so there was no reason to refuse.
When he first entered the Rovellito Duke’s household,
Dice secretly sneered at the kind butler and the servants.
‘This is going to be easier than I thought.’
He thought it was the perfect environment for a spy.
But Astia, who was clearly sick, seemed to suspect him.
She’d sometimes look at him with a cold gaze when their eyes met.
Dice did his best to act normal, thinking he’d lowered her guard—but then the incident happened last night.
Dice, pretending to be cleaning, approached Astia’s room as he passed the hallway.
Luckily, the guard knight was away.
“Why did Young Lord Diego lose a cute creature like Ruby…?”
At that moment, Dice heard Astia’s whisper.
His heart dropped.
‘Young Lord Diego.’
The one who sent him as a spy wanted information about Young Lord Diego.
Dice had overheard Astia talking to her rabbit.
‘Is the rabbit related to Young Lord Diego?’
That was huge information.
So, as he lingered to hear more, he met Annie’s fierce gaze.
It was a close call, but he managed to get through it.
But—
“Why is there so little food today?”
“Oh? You’re right. I don’t know either. I definitely distributed the right amount, though.”
“……”
The food was noticeably less.
All he got was a hard piece of bread and a bowl of cold soup.
Dice thought it was possible sometimes, but this was just the tip of the iceberg.
“Dice. We’re short-handed, so you’ll have to clean this area.”
“But I have to work in the garden too…”
“That’s your problem, isn’t it.”
Dice was given a mountain of chores.
When he asked why, they just told him to do as he was told, with no explanation.
He sighed quietly and worked hard all day.
“Whew, I finally finished.”
As he tried to sneak out to pass on the information he gathered—
“Hey. Where do you think you’re going?”
“Uh…?”
A knight with a menacing face called him.
“It’s time for servants to return to their quarters. What are you doing here? This leads to the storage.”
“…Haha, I just wanted some fresh air.”
“Are you disobeying me right now?”
Srrrk—
At the sight of the knight suddenly drawing his sword, Dice hurried back to his quarters.
‘This place is insane.’
The Duke’s house, which had become hell in just one day, terrified him.
Wherever he went, he felt like eyes were following him.
In his quarters, Dice hyperventilated, his body trembling.
“I want to go home… This is hell.”
Then, suddenly, a voice cold as ice came from nearby.
“Where’s your home, Mr. Spy?”
“U-ugh!”
A smiling Annie was holding the note Dice had written.
“You know what happens to spies, right?”
At her chilling words, Dice let out a scream.
“Aaaaah!”
“Oh dear. This is trouble already.”
Before he knew it, Dice was surrounded by people.
Seeing his future so clearly, he could only squeeze his eyes shut.
Astia woke with a stiff body and leaned against the headboard.
The illness she’d suffered for days was completely gone, and her body felt as light as a feather.
“Young lady, are you awake?”
“Yeah. Good morning, Annie.”
“It really is a wonderful day, young lady.”
Annie spoke meaningfully, smiling brightly.
It had been a long time since Annie looked so cheerful, so Astia felt good.
“Annie, you look like you’re in a good mood.”
“Yes! You’ll find out soon, young lady. Hehehe…”
Well, as long as Annie was happy, it was fine.
As Astia got ready with Annie’s help, Annie handed her the newspaper.
“Young lady, you haven’t seen the paper lately, right? There’s so much good news today~”
Astia looked at today’s newspaper.
“Hmm…?”
There was an article that said Duke Diego of the Cellion family was sick, so Lord Luet was handling the Duke’s work.
Diego’s whereabouts were growing ever more mysterious.
Since there was no clear reason for delaying the succession, the newspapers were full of speculation.
‘Strange.’
She wondered where Diego was and what had happened.
‘It’s not really my business.’
She figured she’d find out naturally over time.
Skimming over noble scandals with indifferent eyes, she caught sight of an article about the festival in the Rovellito duchy.
Come to think of it, the festival for the revival of the territory was held every year.
Astia had never taken part, of course.
But now, things were different.
“I want to go too. What do you think, Annie?”
“I’d love that! Just thinking about strolling around town with you makes me so happy…”
Annie looked so moved that her eyes were brimming with tears.
“It’s my dream to see you healthy, young lady.”
“Then I’ll look around the festival this time. I’m sure my brother will let me, right?”
“Of course. The master wants to see the festival with you too.”
Encouraged by Annie’s words, Astia nodded.
“I’ll ask him at mealtime today.”
Just thinking about finally having a meal with Damian again made her happy.
“Pyu!”
Ruby, who had been quietly listening, rubbed up against Astia’s leg with affection.
“Right, you want to go too, Ruby?”
“Pyu-pyu!”
Ruby let out a cute sound, as if to say of course he wanted to join.
“I’ve always wanted to show you the world outside.”
Astia wanted to see the festival with Ruby.
She thought it would be good to let him see people, as long as he didn’t get stressed.
He’d get bored just staying in the garden.
“Ruby, I’m going to eat now. Wait for me a little, okay?”
“Pyu-pyu!”
“You should eat too. Annie, just a moment.”
Astia gave Ruby a bundle of clover.
Ruby sniffed it, then nibbled away at the greens.
‘Just watching him eat makes me feel full.’
Astia gazed at Ruby with satisfaction.
“Young lady, it’s time to go. Here, let me wipe your hands…”
Then, Annie wiped Astia’s hands with a handkerchief.
Astia reluctantly left her room.
“Our young lady is just too cute!”
Today, Annie had put special effort into Astia’s appearance.
Her hair was done in two braids for a cute look, and she wore a sky-blue dress with lace.
The servants couldn’t help but marvel at Astia’s adorable appearance.
“Ahh!”
Walking alongside Annie, a scream echoed down the hallway.
Astia, startled, turned her head toward the sound.
“Huh?”
She could hardly believe her eyes.
Dice, who’d been on her mind, was sobbing in the hallway, tears and snot running down his face.
