CH 9

“Louis…! Come here quickly!”

Juliana, who was sitting in front of the pile of weapons, looked for Louis in a rush. Even if the sledgehammer from last night failed to get the door open, she thought of trying the rest of them out.

‘What the hell is going on…!’

Juliana’s expression darkened. In a hurry, Louis appeared quietly to Juliana.

“What happened, Juliana?”

Louis, who had been walking leisurely, swung his long legs in a rush when he saw Juliana’s unusual expression. Juliana jumped up to her feet.

He stopped walking on seeing her holding the candle in one of her hands.

“Juliana, put that down and… Calm down for now.”

With his eyes widened slightly, Louis stepped back, spreading his hands.

There was a hint of bewilderment on his face, but Juliana had no time to bother. She took a deep breath and moved her lips slightly.

“Louis… Now I know who’s the one who brought us to this place.”

“…Who brought us? You know them?”

He opened his mouth some time later after stiffening like a statue. She felt a chill in her body. Louis slowly raised one corner of his mouth and his eyes curved.

“Who is that person?”

Juliana shut her mouth tightly at his polite voice. Louis gazed at her with his eyes burning.

“Tell me as well, Juliana.”

Louis urged her to come up with an answer in a soft tone. Juliana opened and then shut her mouth. At her prolonged silence, Louis slowly raked at her as if he was looking through her with his triangular eyes.

Juliana held up the candle in her hand and looked straight at his blue eyes. The thin ice-like atmosphere enveloped her and their gazes collided.

“A butterfly perching on a flower…….“

Juliana had been wondering who and for what purpose did they bring Louis and herself here. But her question had finally been answered.

A small pattern was engraved under the candle on her hand. To be exact, a black butterfly pattern was sitting on a black thorn flower. Gold glitters were sprinkled uniquely on top of it.

She wanted to deny the person’s identity, but all of the clues led to him.

“The person who brought us into this place was…..“

When Juliana was about to open her mouth-,

Knock knock, someone knocked on the door.

“Ack!”

Juliana was so frightened that she let out a short scream from her mouth.

Juliana, whose face went pale, turned her rigid body around with a creaking sound and casted her eyes to the source of the sound, the door. Louis, at the same time also shifted his attention.

‘Who is it? Ah, no way!’

Juliana startled as she hurriedly brought a blanket to hide the weapons. Weapons were protruding out under the blanket.

Her heart pounded. Louis stared at her with piercing eyes. Juliana gulped down her saliva at the knocking sound and said.

“Come on in.”

She wanted to curse belatedly after already spitting out the words. Juliana quickly shut her mouth at the sound of the door opening with her eyes widened.

She was accustomed to the life of the noble, so the answer to let them come in was a slip of her tongue.

And, as a prisoner, she said that to the owner of this mansion.

Juliana’s face turned pale.

“It’s going to be okay. Don’t be nervous.”

Louis gently patted Juliana’s trembling hand with a gentle smile on his mouth. Juliana dropped her eyes at his figure that behaved calmly even in such a situation.

She couldn’t bring herself to tell him. The one who brought them here was…

‘The empire’s lunatic!’

Thump thump.

Juliana’s face gradually stiffened by the sound of the person’s footsteps. Her hands were sweating and her head lowered because it became hard for her to breathe.

‘Snap out of it, Juliana…’

Even if she had entered the lunatic’s house, she must be able to run away from this mansion if she stayed vigilant.

The sound of the footsteps came to a halt right across them. Juliana bit her lower lip, hard.

Cold sweat dropped down to her spine due to the tension. Juliana, clenched her fist and tried so hard to ignore the fear burning through her body. She raised her head confidently, strongly determined to shoot back at the lunatic.

“…Huh?!”

Who was this person?

The person who appeared was actually a gray-haired old man with a calm impression and a neat suit.

Juliana blinked. The Lunatic of the Empire wasn’t an old man…

‘He’s a young man.’

Then, who is that person?

The appearance of the old man gave a sense of relief to her mind, but she couldn’t let her guard down. She had a hunch that the old man, who seemed meticulous, wouldn’t be an easy opponent.

It took a few seconds for her to investigate. No one spoke first. But it wasn’t long before the silence was broken.

“Sir Lunatic, did you sleep comfortably in this room?”

“Cough!“

“I’m Tom, the butler of this mansion.”

Juliana responded ‘Are you crazy?’ with her eyes.

Wh-what did he just say…?

Juliana was so surprised that time seemed to have stopped. Her eyeballs almost popped out and her body froze.

Why did he greet Louis while calling him lunatic?!!?!

‘Stay calm, Juliana.’

She tried to think stoically. Juliana had already understood that the owner of the mansion was the empire’s lunatic.

If she was to assume the identity of the gray-haired old man, he would be the butler.

Presuming that this man was the servant of the Empire’s Lunatic, it was clear that the butler was in the closest position to be a formidable opponent to her.

“……”

Juliana broke in a cold sweat at the appearance of a powerful opponent.

But why was the butler bowing politely to Louis…? She didn’t understand.

Something came to Juliana’s mind.

‘Ah, right! This must be some sort of test!’

A way of shocking the other person and finding out their reaction!

The lunatic’s butler had made a meaningful remark to confuse them from the beginning.

‘Don’t be fooled.’

Juliana inhaled after she was almost caught in the butler’s trick. She almost even fell for it.

‘He’s not easy to deal with.’

(E/N: I’m losing it xDD HELPPP)

Even though there was no reason to be frightened by a mere butler who wasn’t even a lunatic of the Empire.

Juliana straightened her back as it was covered in a cold sweat.

“Why did you bring us here?”

Juliana aimed the question in a clear tone. The butler bowed his head while looking perplexed.

“The person I serve doesn’t want to let you know the reason.”

Juliana raised one of her eyebrows to the butler who answered with his head down.

Look at that sophisticated expression, acting skills and unwavering tone! Juliana couldn’t relax at how the butler’s behavior fit those three points.

“I already know that the owner of the mansion is the Empire’s Lunatic.”

Juliana said and crossed her arms exaggeratedly. Louis and the butler’s eyes widened at the same time at her words. Juliana tried to take greater control of the conversation that had been snatched away from the butler.

“So let me meet him. Where is he?”

“What is your intention by bringing us here?”

The butler was silent.

“Buhaha.”

Someone’s laughter was heard as it broke the serious atmosphere. Juliana tensed up at this sudden laugh.

Badump.

Was this the anticipated appearance of the Lunatic, at last? Juliana swallowed her saliva as she slowly turned her head.

….H-huh?

She looked back and for some reason, Louis was laughing out loud. Juliana stared blankly at him even without batting an eyelash.

She spent a few days with him, but it’s the first time she had seen Louis laugh out loud like that. No, more than that! Why was he laughing when he was the only one on her side in this tense atmosphere?

Louis was clutching his stomach. Only the sound of his clear laugh was loudly heard, ringing in the room. Soon, he lifted up one of his arms and rubbed it over his eyes, still with a smile on his mouth.

“Who is the Empire’s ;unatic?”

Louis tilted his head while expressing his pure curiosity. Juliana’s mouth was wide open at his words that were spoken so easily while wiping away the tears on her eyes. Was this even a question?

Oh, so there was a person who didn’t know about the Empire’s Lunatic……. This was way crazier than what the butler had said earlier!!!!

‘How low of a nobleman is he?’

She had a feeling that perhaps he wasn’t a human. Plus, that exotic and handsome look wasn’t one that belonged to this world.

“…Huh?!”

Juliana’s eyes grew bigger as she stared blankly at him.

Upon closer inspection, Louis was smiling at first glance, but his eyes weren’t smiling at all.

What this meant was clear.

Even Louis noticed that the lunatic’s butler was testing us…!!

And he responded with a crazier remark than the butler’s…

Juliana sighed in wonder once she realized Louis’ hidden intentions. 

Louis, who had a cool look in his eyes. He was currently provoking that butler beyond silent pressure…!

The Empire’s lunatic, there were different nicknames that represented him. 

Crazy, bloodthirsty ruler, warmonger.

Grand Duke Teflano was sent out to the war when he was a child because he had no choice. There was no way that a child would grow up properly among enemy soldiers who were trying to kill him from all sides.

He was known to have a cruel disposition after having a twisted personality due to his poor past. And he was also once at the center of the bloodbath incident that caused the Emmivelden Empire to tumble.

Among many of the groundless rumors, some said that he disappeared after he went into monster territory and found a place to hide. Some said… He was dominating the underworld on the other side, indulging in murder.

“……?”

Having been lost in thought for a long time, Juliana opened her eyes to the sensation of someone grabbing her hand.

Louis was holding her hand tightly. Wh-what, why did he suddenly hold my hand? Juliana looked at her surroundings with a blank look. She saw Louis with a serious look on his face and the lunatic’s butler with a straight face.

Juliana gulped. Her personality that was easily engulfed in a single thought without having time to look around would be good if it was for study, but it was a bad habit in her everyday life.

‘Until where did the talk advance to……?’

She didn’t have a clue at all.

Having hesitated for a moment, she tried to listen how far the story had progressed.

“We’re a couple.”

At that moment, Louis said to the butler with a serious look on his face.

“…?”

While holding her hands tightly.

Several question marks were hanging over Juliana’s face.