CH 30

Juliana came out of her room that was on the fifth floor. Before she went down to the first floor, she glanced at the room next to hers. It was Louis’ room.

“……”

In noble families’ residences, the room next to the Lord’s was usually occupied by the lady of the house.

Louis was the Grand Duke. She didn’t know why he gave her the hostess’ room, but… In the beginning, she didn’t know it was that type of room, so she didn’t mind and just used it.

‘I can’t understand why he would give me this room no matter how much I think about it……’

Juliana freely walked through the halls of the Grand Duke’s house and inspected the mansion meticulously. She was still at a loss and couldn’t fathom how the mansion was in good condition despite having burnt and crumbled from a large explosion a few days ago.

The use of magic was possible however, there were no traces of magic anywhere. Also, it was unusual to renovate a mansion comparable to the imperial palace at such speed.

Her unanswered questions increased.

‘Waa! When was the first time we met!’

The week quickly went by and it was now the second week. In the meantime, she had gotten quite accustomed to the life within the Grand Duke’s mansion.

“Madame!”

Just then, Juliana stopped walking as she saw a familiar figure in the hallway. The one who approached was the scarlet-haired maid, Anna.

“Oh Anna, could you give me some time?”

“Y-Yes!”

Anna quickly answered Juliana’s question. Anna was assigned as her personal maid and she became her acquaintance since then. She liked Anna because she was quick-witted, talkative, and also had a lively personality. It was just like how she had envisioned her.

“So, a week ago, I found Bene and Hartz playing with fireworks in the stables.”

Juliana paused as she listened to Anna’s chatter. A week ago. That would coincide with the time the explosion occurred in the Grand Duke’s residence.

“I didn’t say anything because the Head Butler would have scolded him if he found out… Why were they playing around like that…”

“Anna, do you happen to… What happened then…”

Juliana hesitated for a moment, then added cautiously.

“Is it possible that that resulted in a fire in the Grand Duke’s mansion?”

“Fire?! What kind of fire?”

Anna was taken aback by Juliana’s indirect question. She quickly said that it wasn’t that big of a fireworks display. Anna must’ve been worried for her co-workers. As a result of their roundabout conversation, Juliana sensed something strange about her.

Neither Anna nor any of the servants remembered the explosion.

Why?

Her thoughts continued and before she knew it, they had arrived at a certain place.

“This is it.”

Anna pointed at a small door.

“This is the exit out of the Grand Duke’s mansion.”

“…Really?”

Juliana was surprised at the small size of the exit.

The iron gates of the Grand Duke’s residence were always closed. She couldn’t see carriages coming in and out so she asked if the tightly closed iron gates ever opened. Anna explained that they had to use a different exit to get out.

‘That door about the size of an adult is the only way out.’

Juliana’s expression darkened.

“Yes, but you won’t be able to leave.”

Anna hesitated for a moment, then said something incomprehensible.

“It might be easy to get in, but it’s not so easy to get out.”

Juliana just blinked so Anna wondered if there was anything strange with what she said. She continued to explain. She came to the Grand Duke’s residence when she was 6 years old and she had been raised here ever since. She said that only the Grand Duke knew the way out. Anna was apparently the granddaughter of the butler.

“No way!”

Juliana couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Then, Louis, isn’t the Grand Duke preventing people from leaving?”

‘Oh my god! I thought it was just me, but it seems to be everyone! If so, is he going to keep the servants from leaving here too?!’

“Anna, don’t you ever want to go out?”

“No, I am fine. The Grand Duke is a generous person, so there is no problem in serving him. The others here are also like family.”

With her affectionate tone of voice, Juliana noticed that Anna was very satisfied with her life here. It seemed that she took pride in her work.

“The Grand Duke. He treats the servants well.”

Anna said cautiously, looking into Juliana’s eyes. At that, Juliana became silent. In fact, she was confused.

From the point of view of employees, there was nothing more difficult than serving a strict noble. But Louis was being praised as a generous master and that he was a respectable person.

These were the words of a maid who had served him for 10 years so it was not something she could just ignore.

“…..”

Juliana nodded briefly. Louis was a crazy b*stard who was sometimes an unpredictable character, but apparently, he was a pretty decent guy. As she thought so, she closed her eyes. It was a bit comforting.

She then stared back at the exit and vowed, ‘next time’.

There was only one reason why she didn’t go straight towards the exit. Although she was confused by Anna’s words, she was held back by her unresolved questions, along with the reason for her capture that she had not yet found.

‘I’m so curious!’

Juliana recalled her past and pondered.

Louis promised.

Once she remembered her first meeting with him, he agreed to answer all of her questions.

Perhaps it was another of Louis’ traps.

However, Juliana had a stronger desire to get answers before escaping. Even if she was caught in a sticky spider web, Juliana was not one to give up.

“…..”

Juliana headed for her room, leaving the exit behind. She tried to put the pieces together in her head, but she couldn’t remember at all, and she can’t just stay here forever.

‘There’s nothing I can do about it.’

Eventually, Juliana gave up. If she stayed like this, she would fall for Louis’ tricks again.

‘No more.’

Juliana, who had determined eyes, calmed her trembling heart.

Tonight, while everyone was sleeping, she would run away.

***

That night.

Juliana left her room with sneaky, cat-like steps. She intended to follow the exit Anna pointed out to her. Slowly and silently, but without hesitation, she walked in the hallway. She didn’t encounter any difficulties since she had already observed the structure of the mansion in advance.

As she reached the exit, Juliana opened the door with a determined look.

“…Wh-What is this!”

Juliana was bewildered.

The exit of the Grand Duke’s residence was a maze garden.

‘Who built the property like this!’

Juliana was discouraged as she walked through the maze garden.

The winding maze seemed endless.

“…I’m going crazy.”

With an expression full of gloom, she looked up at the green fence that had tall walls and partitions.

Why is getting out so complicated!

It was an endless maze that even though she kept walking and walking, it felt like she kept ending up in the same place.

“P i п я л о.”

Juliana tried to teleport with her magic. However her magic was extinguished as she pushed it out into the air. Even the magic she tried to use in order to find the way bounced off.

How good is this person with magic!

Resentment rose against whoever cast the whole area with anti-magic. This raised a reasonable suspicion that he intended to make enemies of all wizards.

‘How did Al create a huge explosion in the Grand Duke’s residence?’

She paused for a moment, thinking that he truly deserved to be named a candidate for Tower Master. Her feet started to ache as she walked down the majestic garden.

‘Should I rest for a bit and then go?’

She had such worries.

“Grrrrr.”

With a small cry, a golden fox appeared.

Juliana followed the fox past a wide fence. The fox was waving its tail as if luring Juliana, telling her to come this way.

As she continued to walk, she saw a byway inside a split fence. Juliana screamed cheers inwardly as she entered the gap.

“This is…”

She arrived at the shore of a lake surrounded by lush trees. She saw a marble statue of a goddess sitting on one side of the shore.

“Pretty.”

Juliana stared at the round lake with slightly widened eyes. Hours had already passed and she could see the sun rising in the wide open space.

“……”

The calm lake greeted the red dawn. Juliana briefly admired the beautiful scenery as her hair was blown by the cool breeze.

She wanted to draw a beautiful sunrise just like this.

“Julie.”

A low voice rang in her ear.

Thump. Juliana’s heart pounded as if it was responding to the owner of the voice. Thump-thump, the sound of her beating heart was clearly audible. Her muscles instinctively stiffened and a shudder crawled up her back. Juliana couldn’t help but look behind her.

Did he notice that she escaped and chased after her?

“……!”

Juliana held her breath and slowly turned around. However, she suddenly lost her footing. Her body then fell backward and into the lake.

“Haa, haap, huaa..!”

Juliana, who was unprepared and fell, flapped her arms around in the water.

Fortunately, the lake was not very deep. But the water that went up to her chin was burdensome.

“Haa.”

Juliana spit out the cold water that went into her mouth and then moved her stretched arms. As she swam out of the lake, Louis stood still.

“……Cough cough.”

Juliana coughed and spat out more water. After she had calmed down for a bit, she raised her head and saw Louis staring blankly at her. His eyes were slightly bloodshot.

“Beautiful.”

What?

Juliana paused when she heard him mutter. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard, so she doubted her ears. Did she get water inside her ears?

“You’re really beautiful.”

Louis was once again in awe of her.