Chapter 15.2

“… Are you mad at me?”

“What?”

I stopped the duster that I was swiping and turned around at Curtis’ absurd words.

“I’m not angry. Why would I be?” I replied.

“Because you’ve fallen into this situation.”

I was taken aback a little by what he said. I knew he had morals and felt responsible with everything he did, but I didn’t expect him to be at this level.

“Why is my situation because of you? It’s simply because I wasted my fortune even as I was an illegitimate child.”

Wasn’t it Edith who kept Curtis to herself and used to threaten him with his weakness in the first place? And yet he seemed to feel a bit guilty towards me.

“But-”

I cut him off and opened my mouth.

“I don’t have much to complain about my current situation. Anyway, I’m a little busy, so please just leave. If I finish cleaning the railings today, Lirina will give me additional allowance.”

I quickly moved the duster, avoiding Curtis at the same time who didn’t budge. I’ve been working diligently since the morning, and except for one or two railings, all of them were already sparkling clean.

I wiped my hands on my dusty apron instead of the railing.

“Why aren’t you going? Do you want me to guide you out?”

Still, Curtis would’ve been familiar with the Marquis’ mansion as he came in and out of it as Edith Abina’s knight for years. Still, Curtis didn’t move at my words.

“…Is the money that urgent?” he slowly said as he stared at me with a confused look. “I asked if you’re in urgent need of money.”

“Well, if it’s urgent, it’s urgent.”

In the first place, I was given about a year. Nearly a month has passed, so I only have more than 300 days to go.

‘I might need to plan how to catch Valérez, Adrian, Lucas, and Clive in that time frame.’

Of course, there could be a chance that out of pure luck, the first person I attack would be Edith’s true love. However, a person always had to prepare for the worst.

“If it’s about money, I can give it to you. It’s my responsibility you became like this.”

My eyes narrowed at Curtis’ words.

Like this?

He was a man with great talent for speaking sarcastically in such a respectful tone.

“…but your pride will never accept it.”

Curtis sighed and stepped back as he read my stiff expression.

“I’m sorry to even suggest such a thing.”

With my two fingers, I barely grabbed the edge of Curtis’ uniform.

“No, I’d be really grateful!”

Why would I refuse when he was willing to give it to me? Curtis stopped walking away and looked down at my overcoat.

“You’re going to take it?”

“Yes. How can I refuse such a wonderful offer from you.”

I put my hands together and held them out open to him, whose eyes widened with embarrassment.

“Money.”

“…”

“Give it to me.”

Before I even noticed, I had looked like a beggar, but I didn’t care. The only sane option I could make back then was either to be a beggar or a maid, but I have nothing to be embarrassed about now.

“What on earth could make you display such an attitude just for money?”

“I have some business going to the Red House. It’s on the outskirts of the imperial capital, and I need the extra money to hire a carriage and a coachman.”

“Red House? Isn’t that a gambling house?”

I shook my head in a hurry in case he misunderstood me.

“It’s not always a gambling place. They sell alcohol, and there’s many games to play. It’s healthier than I initially thought…”

“What business do you have in a place like that?”

“I have a man to meet.”

Curtis’ face, as if taken by storm, turned icy with my answer.

“You haven’t changed at all.”

I blinked as I watched him regain his original stone-cold expression.

‘Huh? Did I say something wrong?’

“I was foolish for even mistaking it for a moment,” he murmured quietly in a voice that felt angrier than it initially was, and then pulled his coat from where I had held it.

“What?”

I looked at Curtis’ wide back as he walked away from me before I could even try to stop him.

“Wow,” I huffed as I put my hands to my waist in dissatisfaction, “You said you’d give it to me, but you didn’t.”

RING RING

The system has sent me a new notification. It was a message related to Curtis.