Chapter 8

So then, does that mean everything I’ve done until now is—

No, that’s not right!

What have I even done…?

Sure, I nearly got stabbed in my sleep, but that incident passed without anyone noticing.
I submitted a report about the Grand Duke, but it was dismissed as too flimsy.
I even tried tailing him, yet in the end, I gained nothing of worth.

“There’s barely anything in my behavior that could’ve given me away.”

If they had actual proof, I would’ve already been dealt with like No. 32.
That means this is probably just some sort of “entrapment investigation.”

I forced my head up and answered boldly.

“Because I’m shy around strangers.”

Dylan raised an eyebrow at me, as if he couldn’t believe such a pitiful excuse.

At times like this, the only way forward is shameless confidence.

“I-It takes me a while to get used to people. Until then, I make a lot of mistakes!”

“Oh-ho…”

“But now I’ve gotten more comfortable, that’s all.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. That really was part of my personality.

Yet Dylan’s green eyes still held doubt.
I had no choice but to bring out my last resort.

“People say surviving a near-death experience changes you! I went through something like that recently… and I guess I gained some perspective from it.”

At that, Dylan finally nodded.

“Yes, I understand.”

Relief swept through me. But then he added something else.

“Sometimes, the smallest of events can change the course of a person’s entire life.”

“…”

“For better… or for worse.”

His green eyes pierced right through me, weighty with hidden meaning.

“Then, I’ll take my leave, Lady Lillian.”

And before I could reply, he bowed and disappeared.

I stood there alone, dazed and speechless.

What did he mean by that?

The words of the Grand Duke’s aide kept circling in my mind.

“Sometimes, the smallest of events can change the course of a person’s entire life.”

“…For better… or for worse.”

Maybe it was just idle talk.
But the uneasy feeling wouldn’t leave me.

“The Grand Duke, and that aide of his… they’re both such unsettling people.”

I puffed out my cheeks and muttered curses at them in my head.
Just then, a shadow fell across me.

“What’s got you so deep in thought?”

“Ah—Anna.”

She sat down beside me, wiping her damp hands on her apron.

“You just finished?”

“Yeah, I had to do a little favor for the others.”

“A favor?”

I tilted my head. She answered nonchalantly.

“Just finishing something up for them.”

But I couldn’t understand.

“They’re not the type to ask for favors… and Anna isn’t the type to accept them.”

When I stayed quiet, she quickly remembered my memory wasn’t whole and explained.

“Today’s the knight order’s group training.”

Ah, that’s right.
I remembered hearing about it a few days ago.

The knights—heroes who had fought at the Grand Duke’s side, men who had faced life and death on the battlefield.

Yet despite living in the same estate, we rarely crossed paths.
They lived in the eastern annex, managed separately by the staff, and most of them commuted in shifts.
The only time we ever saw them was when we ran errands there.

“Which is why the maids competed fiercely just for those small errands.”

Knights were the dream of every servant girl.
Strong in body and spirit, honored for their title, rewarded richly from the war.
Not being admired would’ve been stranger.

But in truth, most of us barely even glimpsed their faces.

“Are you going too, Lillian?”

Technically, watching the knights’ training was forbidden.
Military secrets and discipline were at stake, after all.

Yet once a month, during group training, things were… different.
That was when it became possible to sneak a look.

“Because with all the knights training together, security grew lax.”

It was like an unspoken agreement—maidens got to indulge their fantasies, and knights gained extra motivation.
Even the Knight Captain turned a blind eye.

Now that I thought of it, the room was emptier than usual.
Most of the younger maids must’ve already slipped away.

“What about you, Anna? Not going?”

“Not interested.”

Her face twisted with distaste. Did she dislike someone among the knights?

That was when another voice cut in.

“Hmph, all of them running off…”

It was Ivy, who had finished her chores early. She fussed with her clothes as she grumbled to herself.

“They think spying will make His Grace or the knights notice them? I’ll be fine without that nonsense—as long as I do my job properly…”

His Grace?

My head snapped toward her.

“Wait—the Grand Duke is attending the training too?”

Of course he was.
These knights were his brothers-in-arms, and he often visited the eastern annex’s training hall.

“What are you staring at?!”

Ivy barked when she noticed me.
I quickly shook my head and flashed her my brightest smile.

“Thanks, Ivy!”

And without another word, I bolted.

“Wha—what the—!”

Her baffled voice trailed behind me, but I didn’t stop.

The halls were strangely empty, thanks to the training.
I slipped into a deserted path and quickened my steps.

The eastern annex wasn’t connected to the main building, but it was closer than the western wing.
The path was simple—

“And plenty of places to hide.”

The training grounds were surrounded by trees and brush, perhaps to conceal what went on inside.
Perfect for staying out of sight.

If I just hid well enough…

I crept toward a familiar hiding spot, one I had scouted before while tailing the Grand Duke.
Step by careful step, keeping my presence concealed—

Then I froze.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled.

I spun around instinctively and snatched something out of the air.

Thwack!

In my hand was a shard of wood—a broken piece of a practice sword.

“What… what is this?”

The shock of the moment gave way to a strange sense of déjà vu.

As I stared at my palm, dazed, a voice cried out.

“Wha—?!”

A boyish knight with exotic features gawked at me, pointing as if I were some kind of monster.

“…This doesn’t look good.”

“How did you catch that?”

His tone was suddenly sharp. I panicked and tossed the shard away.

“L-Lucky, I guess…”

“Lucky? You caught a piece of wood flying at your back?”

“I-It was a coincidence!”

“You…”

His expression hardened as he strode toward me.
The sound of his boots made me stumble backward.

But then—

“Hey, rookie! Where’d you go—”
“Damn it, there he is!”
“Don’t you realize His Grace is coming soon—”

Voices rang out nearby.

The young knight turned, distracted by the calls.

Now!

I seized the chance and ran.