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I slowly began to think things through.
In truth, it wasn’t strange that I, a survivor of Queen Island who had appeared after four years, was being monitored by the state.
Hadn’t there actually been people tailing me after I refused to go to a refugee shelter?
But they made no contact for a month, merely observing from a distance before disappearing without a trace.
To be precise, they vanished after I arrived in Midwintery and completed an interview at the employment office.
They must have found nothing suspicious about someone like me, who had become a beggar, living off alms of bread and coins, quietly making her way to Midwintery just to secure a maid’s job.
Up to that point, there was no real problem.
‘But for a man hired at the same estate to move into the house next door?’
The timing was far too perfect to call it coincidence.
The more I thought about it, the more likely the second possibility became.
If 루 had followed me, then this might be an even bigger problem than targeting Viscount Weatherwoods.
‘No. It might actually be easier to resolve through direct communication.’
Right now, what mattered most to me was keeping my job at the Weatherwoods estate.
As long as he didn’t make reckless demands like “die again” or “let me experiment on your resurrected origin,” I was more than willing to talk—even with someone suspicious.
‘Let’s throw the bait first.’
In case the conversation dragged on, I decided to write my intentions on a note.
Since he might use the head maid as an excuse to escape like yesterday, it was better to act preemptively.
As soon as the day’s work ended, I secretly called 루 to the backyard, avoiding the head maid.
“I’m sorry, maid.”
But the first thing he said—after arriving five minutes later than me—was:
“I must reject your confession. I’m neither someone who believes in fated love after two days nor a reckless fool.”
I didn’t need to hear any more.
Before his overly imaginative thoughts could spiral further, I tossed him the note I had been holding.
It read:
“I find your actions suspicious. If you have been tasked with monitoring me, or if your goal is to investigate the Weatherwoods family, state it honestly. Depending on the situation, I am willing to cooperate.
Reasons for suspecting you:
• You were hired at Weatherwoods around the same time as me.
• You have money, yet you took a job as a gardener and cook.
• You even accepted half wages. The employer is the poor Weatherwoods family.
• Furthermore, you moved into the house next door immediately after being hired.
Conclusion: Your identity is highly suspicious.”
As he read through it carefully, 루’s expression became strange.
“You called me out just to give me this?”
“Yes.”
He smiled as if he had just heard a trivial joke.
“Monitoring you… That’s quite an impressive level of self-esteem.”
I don’t know who he thinks he’s talking about. Has he already forgotten he was the one babbling about confessions just now?
“You asked about me yesterday. And today, you’re asking why I took this job. That’s the point of this note, correct?”
“Exactly.”
“I believe I already said it once, but for our forgetful maid, I’ll answer again. It’s a hobby.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I see. That’s unfortunate. But it’s not a hobby I chose for you to believe in.”
He looked ready to turn away without hesitation, so I hurriedly spoke.
“Instead of dodging, why not just come clean? I don’t like having someone as suspicious as you staying in this estate. If I can help get rid of you, I will. So be honest. Is your target me? Or Viscount Weatherwoods?”
I almost bit my tongue from talking so much.
I had even written a note in preparation, but it became useless. For some reason, whenever I faced him, my words kept spilling out. It was deeply uncomfortable.
루, who had been silently listening, lowered his gaze and lightly waved the note in his hand.
“Hm… I see. So I make you that uncomfortable. Well, that’s not really my concern. But are you really that curious about why I came here?”
With complete sincerity, I nodded, my eyes shining.
“I’m curious.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.”
“…I—”
At that moment—
Dong, dong. The grandfather clock rang, announcing 7 PM. Whether it rang or not, I kept my gaze fixed on 루, my neck stiff.
Looking at my face, he smiled brightly and simply walked past me as if nothing had happened.
“Where are you going?”
“Off work.”
What?
“Leaving on time is a basic virtue of an employee. Another fulfilling day. Have a good evening, maid.”
He waved lazily and disappeared from the backyard, leaving me alone under the fading sunset.
At first, I laughed in disbelief.
But thanks to that, my previously sluggish judgment began to sharpen.
‘That assassin… is he still in 루’s house?’
If he keeps avoiding answers like this, I’ll have to act myself.
For now, I should sneak into the house next door and search it thoroughly.
That night, well past midnight.
Just like two days ago, I climbed over the wall and entered the neighboring estate.
But unlike before, the windows on both the first and second floors were tightly locked, leaving no easy way in.
‘Should I climb in through the chimney?’
Just then, I sensed movement inside the estate. The presence was moving toward the back door leading to the kitchen.
As if it had been waiting for a guest.
Had I been noticed despite moving carefully?
I hid by the back door, trying to suppress my presence, when a familiar voice came from inside.
“As expected, it’s you.”
It was the assassin who had threatened me.
The door opened, and the assassin stepped out, fully revealing his face. The moment I saw him, I couldn’t say a word.
“Don’t be surprised, maid.”
Why are you wearing a butler’s uniform?
“The master said you would sneak in around this time. So I’ve been waiting.”
This shameless assassin didn’t seem to realize I was shocked by his outfit.
“The master told me to deliver a message if I saw you.”
How long has it been since you met 루, and you’re already calling him ‘master’?
“What message?”
“At this rate, instead of wasting your time coming here, why not practice peeling potatoes?”
“……”
“That’s what he said.”
I ground my teeth a little, but endured it. Ever since meeting 루, thinking about him always made me grind my teeth. I was getting used to enduring it.
“Are you two working together?”
Were they originally on the same side?
At my question, the assassin let out an incredulous laugh.
“Working together? Have you already forgotten that you were the one who locked me up here? Are you as forgetful as the master said?”
Don’t share those pointless jokes with the assassin.
“I’m staying here of my own will.”
I pointed at his neat butler outfit.
“I find that hard to believe.”
“That’s fair. But I’ve simply submitted. It’s only natural for the weak to submit to the strong. You may not realize it, but the master is truly extraordinary and terrifying…”
As if recalling an unpleasant memory, the assassin trailed off, his shoulders trembling slightly.
“…This estate is under high-level magic. From outside, no one can observe its interior. As long as I stay here, I am free from the guild’s surveillance. For now, I intend to remain under the master and find a way to survive.”
There was magic like that on this estate?
‘Not only high-level magic, but someone skilled enough to instill fear in a seasoned assassin.’
It was a good thing I hadn’t rushed into a physical confrontation.
Since returning to a woman’s body, I hadn’t held a sword again.
Even my original body felt unfamiliar, and facing someone of 루’s caliber in this body would be extremely dangerous.
“Your master.”
“Speak.”
“Could he be the one who sent you after me?”
The assassin sighed softly.
“I thought so at first. But… it’s unclear. The master is certainly interested in the Weatherwoods family. But he doesn’t seem like the type to commission the assassin guild to monitor Viscount Weatherwoods.”
“……”
“If it’s you, I think you understand what I mean. The master is… a bit unusual.”
“Not unusual.”
“Then?”
“Strange.”
For the first time, something like a smile appeared on the assassin’s lips.
“Right. As you say, the master is beyond suspicious—he’s downright strange. He didn’t even ask me anything except my name. ‘Disinterested’ would be more accurate. I’m still in the process of figuring him out myself. It’s too unclear to say anything for certain.”
Figuring him out.
From what I could tell, the assassin wasn’t trying to deceive me. His strong desire to survive had been obvious ever since I removed his suicide pill, <Merciful Bite>.
He had even clung to me, begging to be spared.
So it made sense why he stayed here and why he was trying to understand 루.
“Then make a deal with me.”
“A deal?”
“We share what we learn.”
The assassin studied my face carefully, surprised, then responded a moment later.
“As I said, the master already predicted you would sneak in tonight. This kind of conversation likely won’t be any different.”
“So, will you do it or not?”
“…What’s the method?”
“Once a week. Same time, same place.”
“…Agreed.”
This was quite a useful gain.
‘Now I can find out what suspicious things 루 does after work.’
It didn’t matter if he already knew about today.
If he knew I was watching him, he wouldn’t act recklessly either.
With that somewhat satisfying outcome, I turned to head back to the Weatherwoods estate—
“Wait.”
The assassin suddenly called out to me.
“I have one question.”
When I turned, he asked with the most serious expression I had seen from him yet:
“Do you have any tips for washing blankets?”
“……”
“It’s too hard doing it alone. Is there a better way than pressing it down by hand?”
For someone supposedly a butler, you’re doing all the maid work too.
Feeling a bit sympathetic, I gave him a simple tip—press the blanket with your feet instead of your hands—and returned to my room.
That night, I slept well.
