Episode 5
I’d hide the fact that I knew the ducal family’s secret, no matter what. Then, three years from now, I’d safely leave Winspear.
“Aren’t you coming?”
With this clear solution in mind, I clenched my fist tightly.
“…I’m coming.”
I sprang up from my seat and walked through the door Bael opened.
The horrific interior I’d seen earlier caught my eye again. And then…
“Oh, nap time is over.”
As Bael finished speaking, demons began to appear one by one, stumbling groggily from their naps.
They flew around casually with wings on their backs, not bothering to hide the horns sprouting from their heads.
“Everyone, return to your posts quietly.”
Bael’s voice echoed through the corridor, and the demons’ gazes instantly turned toward us.
Staring into the void, I thought.
‘If I collapse here, will it count as a workplace injury?’
* * *
I thought I’d meet the Duke right away, but he wasn’t present, so I couldn’t.
“Hm, it seems the Duke is away.”
Bael said, sounding rehearsed.
He checked his watch and then asked for my opinion.
“You don’t have any other luggage with you, do you?”
“Oh, no.”
“There probably aren’t any suitable clothes at the nearby tailor… It’ll take a few days to have some made. How about fetching your things now?”
“Now?”
“You’ll be busy learning the job starting tomorrow, and if you don’t go now, you’ll have to sleep in those clothes, won’t you?”
“Oh.”
Only then did I notice my state. I was a mess from wandering outside in the pouring rain.
“I should go.”
“Then I’ll arrange for the mage, just like when you arrived. Ro…an will guide you.”
Did he hesitate mid-sentence, or was it my imagination?
“Yes, that’d be more convenient.”
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
After Bael left, I checked the room.
Having seen the shocking corridor and reception room, I was worried, but surprisingly, they gave me a decent room.
Bael had clicked his tongue, muttering about redecorating, but I ignored him.
As a baron’s daughter, I’d never had my own room.
I was leisurely inspecting my first-ever personal space when…
“Miss Walker, it’s me.”
A refined voice called out.
Roan must be a demon too, but perhaps because he was the kind one who brought me here, I didn’t feel as repulsed as I did with the others.
“Yes, Mr. Roan. I’m coming out.”
My steps toward the door slowed.
I repeated the name I’d just said.
“Ro…an?”
My face gradually stiffened.
Because it was the same name as the Duke and this world’s final villain, Roan Winspear.
“No way.”
But it was too uncommon a name to dismiss.
Thud.
My legs gave out.
“Miss Walker? Is something wrong?”
“…”
“With all due respect, I’m coming in.”
The door opened, and he entered.
How did I not realize, with that vivid black hair and ruby-red eyes that looked ready to devour me?
‘Damn it. It was a scam from start to finish!’
Tears welled up in my eyes.
Swallowing the words trying to burst from my throat, I shakily stood up.
“Are you alright?”
As if I could be!
I had no idea why this insane demon dragged me into this pit.
“Are your legs okay?”
“Y-Yes. It’s just… a lot has happened.”
Like realizing this is a novel, that you’re all demons, that you’re the final villain, and so on.
I wanted to glare at Roan, but I forced strength into my eyes to hold back.
His blatant stare was palpable, but I tried my hardest not to turn away.
“My, Miss Walker, you seem quite frail.”
Roan tilted his head, scanning me.
‘Scary…!’
My hands sweated, and my throat burned. But I couldn’t act suspiciously here.
I tried not to meet his eyes. How had I casually talked to that face earlier?
Perhaps because I now knew Roan’s true identity, my skin prickled.
“Haha, am I?”
“You look thin now that I see you.”
Thin? Why? Was he planning to eat me or something…
Thankfully, he seemed to mean nothing by it, merely shrugging once.
“We should get moving. My pace is fast, so I’ll match yours, Miss Walker.”
“Oh, yes. That’s good.”
“Take my hand.”
“Y-Yes. Yes! Wait, what?”
I stared at the hand Roan extended.
He tilted his head as if asking why I wasn’t taking it.
If I’d paid more attention to the conversation, I could’ve politely declined. That thought consumed me, but I couldn’t take back my response.
Reluctantly, I took Roan’s hand.
When we stepped into the corridor, no one was there.
In the silence, Roan and I walked. The quiet was unnerving, so I forced myself to speak.
“Uh, I mean… I don’t see anyone else.”
“No, there’s no one.”
His brisk reply sent a warning in my head to stop asking.
I gave a hollow laugh and nodded.
“Oh, right.”
Was my behavior strange?
Roan slowed his steps and tilted his head.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
I don’t want to know. I desperately don’t want to know. But isn’t this what social life is? Doing things you don’t want to.
Suppressing a hiccup, I asked.
“Why… aren’t they here?”
My voice trembled, but I pinched my thigh to keep it steady.
“Because they’ve gone to do their tasks.”
“…I see.”
“Exactly.”
Roan had a knack for making simple things sound terrifying.
Having opened the conversation, his questions continued.
“Any questions about the job?”
“No, not really.”
I didn’t want to hear from the one who pushed me into this pit.
“If I have questions, I’ll ask Mr. Bael.”
At my reply, Roan made a strange expression and curled one corner of his mouth.
“By the way, Miss Walker, while working as the Duke’s aide, you won’t have to meet him.”
What nonsense was that?
“You’ll be working with me.”
My eyes crumpled.
‘The Duke is you.’
Was he planning to hide that he’s the Duke? Why?
Fear aside, I didn’t like how he kept talking in circles.
“Oh, I’m an aide, but I won’t meet the Duke?”
Forgetting to manage my expression, I glared at Roan.
But he was shameless beyond imagination.
“Not meeting the Duke won’t be an issue.”
“You said you needed an aide to stay by your side, but it’s fine if I’m not there?”
“You seem very interested in the Duke, Miss Walker.”
His question nearly made my face crumple.
I don’t want to be. I never want to be involved.
I couldn’t say that, so I chose my words carefully.
“Well, he’s my employer, and I signed the contract to serve him for three years.”
“Hm, that’s true. But I’ll handle most matters, so you’ll only see my face.”
“Oh, so you’re an aide too, Lord Roan? Was it you, not Mr. Bael, who requested more staff? Haha!”
“Well, sure.”
I wanted to argue how that made sense, but I forced my temper down.
This situation, full of deceivers, was infuriating and absurd. But the man before me was a demon. A careless word could get me erased or bound here forever.
Shiver.
‘Oh, Liliana, that was a bad thought.’
My body trembled.
The tremor passed to Roan. Walking beside me, he tilted his head at my reaction.
“Are you cold?”
“No! Just not used to the weather.”
“That can happen. But you’ll adjust soon. This is your home now, isn’t it, Miss Walker?”
