CH 76

It was when I left the annex and passed around the banquet hall to return to the main building. I found Lucas who was working nearby.

He made a sign with his eyes on me. I nodded quietly. 

That was Lucas’ signal to me.

That day, Lucas and I agreed to cooperate.

<So, who are the two remaining suspicious people?>

<It’s Anri and Hayden.>

I was surprised to hear that. Because people I wouldn’t have thought of as demon worshipers are on the list.

And I quickly responded calmly.

<Are you sure?>

<It has to be one of those two. Their aura was very suspicious— there were a lot of strange things.> 

<Come to think of it, I’m suspicious of those two. Assuming there’s been a demon worshiper here for a long time, they wouldn’t have given Marie a berry to put at Richard’s meal.> 

Lucas listened to me quietly.

<They must have done such a dangerous thing by themselves. But isn’t the reason they didn’t do that is probably because you wasn’t here, right?>

<….>

<So, as you said, the two newcomers are most likely demon worshipers.>

They must have seen me after they entered the mansion.

A maid in charge of the monster, who didn’t exist when Marie was assigned to work.

The most convenient position to approach Richard.

That’s why they approached me.

<Lucas, as you say, if a demon worshiper is one of those two, it must be Hayden.>

<…Hayden?>

It was a question of why.

<…Anri showed up before when I was with a demon worshiper. Anri chased after me because he saw me outside.>

<….>

<But just in case, you keep an eye on Hayden that day. I’ll keep an eye on Anri.>

<….>

Lucas nodded as if he understood.

‘—Originally that was the plan.’

When I thought of a demon worshiper somewhere in this mansion, I decided I’ll run away without looking back today. 

So, is there any reason to stick with this plan?

“Excuse me, do you know what time is it?”

I asked a passing maid.

“Is it 6 o’clock now—”

The maid, who answered my questions, passed by as if she had work to do.

—So, one hour left from the hour the demon worshiper told me to give Richard medicine.

‘I’m running away tonight anyway, so do I have to cooperate?’

It would be wise not to get tangled up here anymore.

When I was thinking deeply, there was a long shadow in front of me.

“What are you doing there, Nunim?”

I turned my head. 

Perhaps because he is attending the banquet today, Yurtha is also dressed up.

One side of his hair was pulled to the side to reveal his straight forehead, and the jewels on his tight cravat were the same color as Yurtha’s red eyes.

“…Nothing.”

This is the last time I bump into this guy here.

“Are you going to the banquet now?”

“I’m only going to stop by for a banquet at night.”

I thought the banquet was that, but it is said that there is a separate banquet held a little after the morning and a banquet held late at night.

“—It would be great if Nunim could go with me.” 

Saying so, Yurtha scanned my maid’s uniform. I feel strangely bad. 

“Nunim danced really well.”

—I thought as I heard it. I should never dance in front of Yurtha. 

Unlike Rose, I’m not good at dancing, so I’ll get caught right away. 

“When can I dance with Nunim again?”

“Don’t say weird things and go on your way.”

“I have to go— but strangely, if I miss Nunim now, I feel like I’ll never see you again.” 

He’s so quick at reading things.

“I keep hesitating.”

“Well, then I’ll go first.”

I ignored Yurtha and walked. At that moment, Yurtha called me from behind. 

“Nunim.”

“….”

“The reason I’m here quietly is because Nunim is here.”

Until now, he has been making a lot of fuss, what do you mean staying quiet? That’s funny. 

“But if Nunim leaves this place, I won’t be able to bear it any longer.”

I didn’t feel the need to answer what he said. So I decided to just ignore it as usual. 

It was when I left Yurtha and came near the main building.

“We’re in trouble!”

From somewhere, the knight rushed. 

I happened to see him running out to Argen.

“What’s the matter?”

“That’s— a great fire broke out in the festival grounds.”

“What?”

Argen and the knight who were talking with serious expressions caught my eye.

There seems to be a pretty big fire at the festival.

If their eyes are focused on that, they won’t notice right away even if I disappear.

Even in this situation, the mind calculated the profit thoroughly.

Argen, who was in trouble and frowned, sent the Knights. 

The situation was made easy to escape, but it didn’t feel very pleasant.

Because a fire can cause injuries or casualties. If it’s a big fire too. 

‘Emily said she was going to the festival today—’

I was worried. But—wouldn’t Emily be okay?

‘Let’s pack up.’

Now I had to run away.

It was time to go to the main building at such a fast pace.

“Rosie Nuna!”

Before escaping, there were a lot of people I met. 

“Anri.”

—If everything goes according to plan, I’ll have to watch Anri now.

But now it’s a plan that has nothing to do with me.

“Rosie Nuna, where are you going?”

“It’s time to deliver the monster’s meal, so I’m going to go to the chef.”

“Is that so?”

Anri smiled brightly at me.

Whenever I see him, he is always kind and sweet.

As with the circumstances, this Anri can never be a demon worshipper.

“Rosie Nuna, do you know? There’s a big fire going on right now in the festival hall.”

“Yes, I heard.”

“It’s a big deal about what’s going on on such a good festival day.”

“Right.”

Does Anri know Emily went to the festival?

They don’t seem to get along very well, but they’re still family and he’d be worried if he found out that she went to the festival.

‘I don’t think it’s better not to say anything.’

It was when I was worried about Emily and Anri. Suddenly, Anri opened his mouth.

“But Rosie Nuna, you know what?”

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, someone set the fire at the festival on purpose.”

“What?”

I didn’t hear that.

“The people who set the fire must be really mean people. But they’re going to do something bigger soon!”

“…Bigger? Who are they?”

“Demon worshippers. They’re coming in here.”

“….”

“To pick up the monster.”

My steps stopped suddenly.

I couldn’t breathe and looked at Anri.

Anri continued, still smiling brightly.

“I heard they might kill all the people here.”

“….”

“Rosie Nuna, do you think it’s okay to stay here?”

—What the hell happened?

There was a shadow over Anri’s smiling face. The man standing with his back against the setting sun was dark.

What I had felt was kind and gentle until now seemed like a lie.

I backed away from the creepy sensation.

“…What the hell are you?”

******

Richards, with a slight gap, looked at the iron bars in the square space where he was in.

He recalled the look on Rosie’s face when she saw him.

She looked at him and smiled kindly, but her pink eyes seemed to be deceiving something.

He saw the restraint that held him.

—Should he break the restraint? 

In fact, there was no way at all. It’s just that there’s a risk that his life could be at stake.

However, when he thinks of Rosie’s expression when he sees her, he wants to take that risk.

He feels like he’s turned into something she doesn’t  need.

After thinking about it, Richard held the restraint ball as if he were about to break it off.

This thirst and unknown fear had to be quenched.

He was afraid that the maid would abandon the plan, rather than the fact that he might lose his life. 

It was the moment when he was about to throw the restraint away.

“I’m here.”

Rosie approached the carriage where Richard was trapped.

With food.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“…Maid.”

“Hurry up and eat.”

With a kind smile that reassures him, Rosie pushed the food affectionately.

Richard looked at Rosie with relief at the smile.

However, when Rosie meets Richard’s eyes, she immediately turns her head and avoids it.

And something fell from her grasp.

It was a small blade. Something sharp enough to stab a person.

Richard picked up the object. Just as she was about to hand it over to her, Rosie dropped her body from Richard. 

“…Rosie.”

Sensing the ominousness, Richards called her name when she suddenly shouted.

“The monster has a weapon!”