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Chapter 9
‘It was absolutely ridiculous watching her cling to hope while Count Tekins used her however he pleased.’
Milton grinned as he recalled Hermia from the courtroom.
She was a woman who hadn’t even committed the crime, yet couldn’t utter a single word as she was dragged off to prison.
No.
Even as she was being taken away, she looked only at Count Tekins.
Wouldn’t he save her?
Wouldn’t he at least say a kind word?
Even at the very end, her eyes had never given up hope.
“Your Honor.”
Such foolish hope.
“It pains me deeply that something like this has happened in our family. Please punish my daughter severely and discipline her accordingly.”
…was crushed almost immediately.
Good. Good.
Despite suffering humiliation her entire life, she was the greatest fool imaginable, unable to let go of the family that wanted her dead simply because she still wanted to be loved.
‘What could a fool like that possibly do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing!’
The only thing she could do was get thrown out of this mansion a few hours later.
‘I’ll just disappear for a little while and come back. I only have to get through this brief moment.’
Finally relieved, Milton picked up the bag containing his important belongings and stood.
“Mr. Accountant?”
The moment he stepped outside, a servant called out to him.
It was the gardener.
Holding his worn hat politely in both hands, the gardener smiled warmly.
“I was just hoping to see you. It seems we’ll need to plant some new trees.”
“I see.”
This stupid old fool.
Grinding his teeth inwardly, Milton maintained a pleasant smile.
“I’m afraid this old man still doesn’t understand the trading method you explained to me last time. Would you mind explaining it once more?”
“Of course! But unfortunately… I have something important I must take care of in town.”
Milton checked his pocket watch with an apologetic expression and shook his head.
“Would it be alright if I explained it after I return from town?”
“Certainly. I’ll call a carriage for you.”
“No, that’s quite alright. It’s something that needs to be handled quickly, so I plan to ride there on horseback.”
No matter how many times he tried to brush him off, the clueless gardener only smiled brightly.
“I see. Then I’ll ask the stable keeper to prepare a horse for you. I was heading to the garden anyway.”
Move!
For a split second, Milton barely restrained the urge to shove the gardener aside.
Damn it. I have to escape.
I have to get out of here.
Panic began to creep into him.
“It’s alright. Hmm… if you truly wish to help me, could I ask you for one small favor?”
Milton could feel the smile slipping from his face.
Quickly.
Faster.
I have to leave this place.
That single thought pounded obsessively through his mind.
“Our guests mentioned they wanted roast duck, but I completely forgot to inform the kitchen.”
“You mean you, Mr. Accountant?”
“They must have mistaken me for a servant. Hahaha!”
At Milton’s words, the gardener finally nodded.
“Very well. Then I’ll go tell them instead—”
BOOOOM!
Another tremendous crash shook the entire mansion.
Milton, who had been trying to flee, and the gardener, who had been heading toward the kitchen, both froze and stared toward the staircase leading upstairs.
What was that?
What?
Had a monster invaded?
Instead of heavy stomping…
Click.
The sound coming from the stairs was simply that of dress shoes.
Click.
An ordinary, cheerful sound that could be heard anywhere.
Click.
So why…
…did it sound so terrifying?
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click!
“Eeeek!”
“Aaaah!”
As the frantic clicking echoed through the mansion, Milton completely forgot about escaping and clung to the gardener beside him.
What is this?! That’s terrifying!
Moments later, the source of the footsteps revealed itself.
“Hello?”
It was Hermia Tekins, clutching the hem of her dress as she charged down the stairs at an insane speed.
“So you’re Milton!”
At that instant, goosebumps covered Milton’s entire body.
Got… huff… you!
I breathed heavily.
The moment the maid opened her mouth, I’d run here immediately, and this bastard had already finished preparing to escape?
If I’d been even a little later, I would’ve missed him.
“Hooo…”
After taking a deep breath, I let go of the dress I’d been clutching for momentum and stood on the last step.
Then I looked down at Milton, who was trembling while hugging the gardener.
What in the world is he doing?
“Why aren’t you answering? I asked if you’re Milton.”
“O-Oh… y-you were asking me. Y-Yes. Y-Yes, that’s correct. I am Milton, the accountant of this estate.”
Only then did Milton release the gardener and nod.
Maybe it was because he was nodding.
Or maybe because he was shaking so badly.
Either way, his words came out in broken fragments.
“Hmm.”
I glanced at the bag with the accountant’s initials embroidered on it.
Well, well.
That thickness.
That weight.
That size.
No matter how you look at it, that’s the bag of someone running away.
I should know.
I was carrying one myself until just yesterday.
“I came because I had something to ask you.”
“W-What is it…?”
“In just one day, all kinds of ridiculous rumors about me have spread throughout this mansion.”
“R-Rumors?”
Milton swallowed nervously.
His neatly combed bangs were already soaked with sweat and plastered to his forehead.
“That’s right. What was it again? That I gave birth to a child with golden eyes and insisted it belonged to His Grace the Grand Duke?”
Flinch.
Milton’s entire body shook.
“Or was it that I threatened His Grace by saying I’d kill myself here if he didn’t marry me?”
Flinch!
His body trembled again.
“No, that’s not it! It was that I shamelessly barged into this mansion and planted my heavy backside here.”
Now Milton’s head was practically buried in the floor.
Meanwhile, the innocent gardener, who knew nothing, simply stood there with his mouth hanging open.
Tsk, tsk.
If you were going to react this honestly, why spread such obvious lies?
Click.
As I stepped down the last stair, the gardener smoothly slipped out of the way.
Grandpa, you’re surprisingly nimble.
“Accountant Milton.”
When I called his name while looking down at him, completely collapsed on the floor, he weakly raised his head.
“Was it you? You’re the one who spread those rumors about me, aren’t you?”
“No.”
Yeah.
I expected that answer.
“It truly wasn’t me, Miss. Why would I spread malicious rumors about you?”
Just as expected.
The excuses poured out effortlessly.
But something felt strange.
“It truly wasn’t me. I’m being wrongfully accused. Of course, if you ask me to take responsibility for the false rumors spreading through this mansion, then I will…”
Letting his nonsense go in one ear and out the other, I stared intently at Milton’s face.
I was sure I’d seen him somewhere before.
Ah.
Suddenly, a black-and-white film reel flashed through my mind.
The attic.
Me trapped inside.
An open window.
The commotion outside.
That bastard of an older half-brother.
The scam.
The people he brought.
An accomplice.
“Let’s all make a fortune together!”
And this bastard laughing alongside him.
Now the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place.
So he’d deliberately provoked the maid to draw my attention and then planned to run away?
He was afraid of me.
He was afraid that I, a member of the Tekins family, might recognize him as the accomplice who had danced alongside my half-brother in that elaborate scam.
If that’s the case…
Then what’s inside this bag…
“I, Milton, have faithfully served as an accountant. M-Miss? Why are you suddenly—?!”
Ignoring him, I grabbed the bag beside him.
Then I turned it upside down.
Clink!
I expected a shower of gold coins.
Instead, only a few gold coins and several silver coins fell out.
That’s less money than I expected.
Among several expensive-looking items that obviously weren’t his own were some documents…
…and one old notebook.
The moment I picked it up, the accountant’s face twisted in panic.
“Give it back! Return it!”
Now acting without any restraint, the accountant lunged at me.
After shoving him away, I unfolded the papers.
Ha.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hey.”
Looking down at the accountant, I smiled.
“You’re really a piece of trash, aren’t you?”
Do you want to explode just like the Count Tekins family?
