Chapter 16

“So, did he get baptized?”

“Thing is, the Young Master refused, so the priest decided to go back… Still though, he left some holy water behind to wish him a happy birthday. The Madam took it and splashed some on the Young Master, and that’s where this whole mess started. The Madam said that the Young Master’s skin burned where the holy water touched, and she kept saying that it was clear that the devil was within him. But if that’s the case, there should have been someone else who also saw it.”

“H-Huuuh… A devil?”

“I know right? Devils don’t exist in this world. If the Young Master really was one, why are all the people in this mansion still fine? Something should have already happened. I was scared at first because the Madam shouted so loudly that the Young Master was the devil, but now everything just thinks she’s gone off her rocker. Back then only a few people stayed to work.”

“What about the rest? Did they quit?”

“They quit and suddenly disappeared. Well, you know. There’s a lot of workers out there who run away when things get tough. There’s no reason for us to look for such people either.”

“……”

“Since then, the Madam has mostly stayed in her room because of her anxiety. She keeps muttering to herself, but you know, when I listen to some of it, chills go up my spine. That’s why if there comes a time that you need to attend to the Madam, just pretend you can’t hear her and come out after you’re done with work. If you happen to mention the Young Master even a little, she’ll get agitated again.”

“Then today, in the Young Master’s room…”

“While no one was around her, the Madam went to the Young Master’s room. I’m sure she made a fuss there and shouted at him that he was the devil. When this happens, everyone’s shushed. There’s nothing good about leaking out the fact that the Madam isn’t in her right mind.”

“Wait, so only a few people know about it now? You, Miss Leticia, me, Emily… Who else?”

“Um, the Count, the Madam herself, the butler Alvan, Delores… only those people I think?”

For a moment, I tried to place myself in Adrian’s shoes. Adrian—a literal devil—would have been put on the spot during that baptism, and it was common sense that his constitution wouldn’t agree with holy water. What would Adrian do if these things would be used as evidence to reveal his true identity?

Wouldn’t the first people he’d kill… the ones who knew the truth?

“Wait, Older Sis. Did you come out of the room alone?”

“What do you mean?”

“Who’s left in that room right now?”

When I asked her urgently, Catarina’s eyes grew bigger.

“Oh, it must be just the Young Master and Miss Leticia. No one else is going to visit the Young Master’s room.”

“Oh my god!”

“Why are you so shocked? Are you afraid that the Madam’s there? Even if you worry about that…”

I didn’t have time to explain. I shook off Catarina’s hand and ran straight out of the kitchen. I was relieved that Catarina left with me when I left the room earlier, but as I was busy trying to figure out the story she told me, I forgot who was left with Adrian.

‘You can’t be dead. Oh my god. Oh Jesus Christ.’

As I climbed the stairs two or three steps at a time, I could barely catch my breath. I ran all the way up to the fourth floor without taking a breather. The emergency siren icon, which had stayed silent as I went down to the kitchen, now began to glow with a red light once more.

Bang! As soon as I arrived at the door, I grabbed the knob without hesitating and threw the door open. Leticia was sitting with her back facing me now as she was folding the ripped curtains. And…

Adrian was looming right behind her.

“Miss Leticia!”

The moment I yelled, Adrian paused for a moment. When Leticia turned around, Adrian already hid his hand behind his back. Trying not to look at him, who slowly straightened his posture, I tried to slow down my breathing.

“E-Excuse, me. Miss Leticia, please, with me, come… Please come with me to the kitchen.”

“Why? Did something happen in the kitchen? I need to clean up a little more here.”

Leticia turned back to the thick curtains in front of her and started folding them again. Feeling restless, I bit my lips.

“Urgent! It’s really urgent. We have to go. Now.”

“Right now?”

“Right now! Hurry!”

When I stomped my feet and shouted again, Leticia sighed heavily. At this rate, trouble would befall this mansion if I let this slip even once… Leticia continued to mutter like that, but as she was about to get up, she found a shadow over her.

“Oh my, Young Master. When did you get up from the bed?”

“A little while ago. I was going to help you because it looks hard folding the curtains.”

Adrian took a step back. While I was staring at him, my nerves shooting through the sky, Leticia seemed to be so moved to tears at what he said.

“How is it possible for the Young Master to have such a lovely heart? Please don’t worry. The Madam will soon be herself again as she’s being treated by a marvelous doctor. Do you remember? The Madam cared very much about you, Young Master. It would be wonderful if there’s a chance for you to take a walk in the garden again…”

“Yes, yeees. That’s right. Ahaha, I remember that, too, Miss Leticia.”

As I tried to hurry along Leticia’s words, Adrian’s gaze turned to me right then. Slowly, every time he looked at me slowly like this, it felt like a fire was gradually rising. In front of a predator, I shrank back as if I was his prey being backed into a corner. All that’s on my mind at this moment was I want to get out of this room right this second.

“Haha, ha. Those were the good old days, but… Miss Leticia, hurry!”

“Alright, alright. Really, what’s going on that it’s gotten you so worked up?”

“Come on, I’ll carry the curtains!”

“Goodness, fine. You’re strong anyway. Young Master, I apologize. As you heard, there’s a commotion in the kitchen, so… I’ll take a look for a moment and I’ll come back up to continue cleaning.”

“…Okay, go ahead.”

“Quickly, quickly!”

I picked up a bunch of curtains and pushed Leticia on her back. At this, she clicked her tongue, but she soon began to walk. Quite literally pushing her out the room, I glanced behind me.

Two eyes gleamed in the darkness. Those dangerous orbs seemed to be taking everything in.

As soon as our eyes met, I averted my gaze towards my front quickly, as though I’d been burned.

My heart was pounding wildly. Even though there was a rule that he couldn’t kill anyone in the presence of multiple people, it felt like this tenacious, sharp killing intent could urge him to pounce at any given moment.

I tried to calm myself down as I recalled what I saw when I entered the room a while ago.

Leticia, sitting down. Adrian, approaching stealthily.

Those two pale hands reaching out were so white that it seemed like he had no blood, and they had been slowly heading towards the woman.

I gulped. My throat was exceedingly dry.

He was definitely about to reach towards her neck… You were going to strangle her, weren’t you?

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