ATDTYSM 10

Chapter 10

“Everyone must be having a party or something.”

Duke Laperion.

The sole owner of the mansion had appeared.

“My lord!”

The housekeeper almost shouted and frantically rushed down the stairs.

The air froze in an instant. The servants, who had been unwound, arranged themselves and bowed their heads.

With a resounding thud, heavy footsteps echoed through the lobby, gradually making their way towards the center. As if parting the sea, the duke’s presence commanded the attention of all, causing the servants to instinctively step aside and clear a pathway for him.

He was dressed in comfortable indoor clothing, holding a sword in one hand, which gave off an eerie atmosphere.

“My lord, why did you come all the way here?!”

“The house was empty.”

Cold dark red eyes swept through the room. His hair, which he’d let down for once, lay scattered over his forehead.

“This seems fun. I’ll join you.”

The duke walked past the housekeeper with a smirk. The housekeeper followed him a beat later with a brooding look.

“My lord, I’ll solve it all neatly and prepare you a report-”

“You talk too much.”

The housekeeper’s mouth was silenced by the cold tone. Shortly after, the duke arrived at the grand staircase and took a seat on the chair that had been prepared for the housekeeper.

Even though it was an ordinary chair, it looked too small when he sat in it.

“Bring a bigger, softer chair!” cried the housekeeper.

“No need.”

“My lord…”

“Anyways, what have you all been up to?”

The duke put his arm on the armrest and asked, resting his chin on it.

“We were interrogating the servants about the missing southern diamond.”

“Did you find anything?”

It was a low voice. The butler hesitated momentarily. Sensing his hesitation, the duke furrowed his brows and looked at him.

“Yes, that’s…”

The housekeeper spoke cautiously, trying not to offend his master.

“A child named Ashlyn has been named as the culprit…”

“…….”

The duke made no reply, but his eyes moved.

His dark crimson eyes easily found the light purple hair standing out in the crowd.

“So I’ve ordered some maids to check her belongings.”

“…I see.”

The duke tapped his finger on his thigh. For some reason, his figure reminded Ashlyn of what had happened that day in his bedroom.

‘You mustn’t try to get away from me on the grounds of memory.’

His voice was as sweet as the spring breeze.

But the man sitting there now…

Their eyes suddenly met. He looked so cold that the northern wind couldn’t compare.

The familiar eyes lingered on Ashlyn’s face for a moment and turned away without hesitation.

‘Please just treat me like a maid.’

The duke was fulfilling Ashlyn’s request very well.

“The maids are back, my lord.”

She could hear the footsteps of new people above the stairs. She looked up and glanced at the returned maids.

“Oh, my lord.”

The head maid, who’d gone with them, looked at the duke’s face in surprise. Her hand held Ashlyn’s single piece of luggage.

“Have you brought it, head maid? How was the room?”

“Yes, chief butler. I thoroughly checked the room, but there was nothing there. I’ve brought Ashlyn’s suitcase with me.”

The housekeeper was handed the suitcase.

“Ashlyn Rosebell, come up here. You too, Jason Barron.”

Ashlyn moved forward without hesitation.

“Aslyn…”

Sophia took one of Ashlyn’s hands in her own. Her hands were freezing cold. Ashlyn gave her a smile, telling her not to worry. As she ascended the stairs, she caught a glimpse of the duke, seated motionless like a stone statue. However, he wasn’t looking at Ashlyn.

“You should be humiliated, too.”

A murky voice sounded faintly from beside her. When she turned around, she saw Jason smiling ominously. His face was flushed with excitement, with bloodshot eyes filled with intensity.

Ashlyn didn’t give him a reply.

“I brought a table.”

A servant placed a table, specifically arranged to showcase all of Ashlyn’s belongings.

Thanks to this, the items of the bag would be very visible even to those under the stairs.

“Take it out.”

At the duke’s words the housekeeper put his hand in Ashlyn’s bag. Familiar objects lined up one after another on the wooden table.

“…….”

Then the last item was placed on the table.

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on her belongings. Ashlyn also focused her eyes on the table.

“Hahahaha!”

It was Jason, who’d been twitching his lips since earlier that burst into laughter.

The housekeeper wrinkled his brows.

“How dare you act rashly in front of the Lord!”

“I’m sorry, but… you all see it, don’t you?”

Jason said with a triumphant look. In the distance, she could see Lena and Ann tilting their heads. Sophia bit her lips.

“As I said, the culprit is Ashlyn Rosebell! Aren’t I right?”

Jason’s loud voice filled the room. He swerved and pointed his finger at Ashlyn.

“As expected, you stole the southern diamond!”

The inside of the annex fell into a deep silence.

Ashlyn again casted her gaze at the table.

A few maid uniforms, a few casual clothes, a hair tie, a hairbrush, a newspaper, a piece of raw paper, a pen, ink, a few hidden snacks, and wrapped tea leaves…

“…Jason.”

Ashlyn called Jason’s name quietly.

“Why don’t you just admit it now?”

Jason grinned as he sarcastically replied.

She furrowed her brows, tilted her head, and fixed her gaze on Jason. Most onlookers mirrored her reaction to the unfolding situation.

“…Where the hell is the diamond?”

Jason’s smile dropped at that.

* * *

“Ashlyn, I heard you were looking for me.”

“Yes, Sophia. You’re here.”

Ashlyn raised her resting body. Sophia was just entering the treatment room.

“Why? Does your leg hurt? Should I call that apprentice doctor?”

“No, no. It’s not that…”

Ashlyn said with a slight smile.

“How’s the new job?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I’m just asking. Tell me.”

Sophia smiled weakly.

Did she just need company? Assuming so, Sophia plopped down on a nearby chair.

“I was a little worried, but it wasn’t as big a deal as I thought? The lord doesn’t come to the bedroom in the afternoon, and there’s not much to clean up.”

Ashlyn stared at Sophia.

‘I caught an additional job lately, so I’ll hurry up and go.’

The maid who took charge of cleaning the duke’s bedroom after Ashlyn was none other than Sophia. When the head maid had asked her if there was anyone she had in mind to succeed her position, she’d recommended Sophia without a second thought.

Of course, it was partly because the job was objectively a very comfortable and easy one, but also…

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What?”

Sophia tilted her head slightly.

“Bring me the southern diamond from the lord’s bedroom.”

“…….”

Sophia remained speechless for a while, her large brown eyes blinking repeatedly.

“Whaaat?!”

A shrill scream belatedly broke out from her.

“Eh, Ashlyn, what the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m thinking of finally getting rid of Jason. I can’t believe he hurt me like this…”

Ashlyn glanced at her injured leg.

“I’m afraid I’ll get stabbed the next time.”

Sophia’s gaze wandered vaguely down to Ashlyn’s legs upon hearing the voice. Her eyes quivered slightly as they settled on the wound.

“Ha, but to touch the lord’s things…”

“Helen, Maya, Nora.”

Sophia looked at Ashlyn’s face. She looked somehow different as she recited the familiar names.

She couldn’t turn her gaze away from the deep blue eyes, as if they caught her and wouldn’t let her go.

“These are the names of all the maids who left the mansion because of Jason Barron. And all these maids…”

They died.

Ashlyn’s voice didn’t waver.

“What if I become the next one?”

Even though she said that, she didn’t seem nervous.

“It won’t happen, but even if things go wrong, there won’t be any harm to you. I promise.”

Sophia remained silent for a moment. Ashlyn waited patiently.

It was a long time before she spoke again.

“… It’s not that I’m worried about my own skin.”

Sophia’s voice tightened as she spoke.

“I promised you, Ashlyn. Whatever it may be, I’ll do you the favor.”

Until a few months ago, she’d just thought that Ashlyn was nothing but a weird maid with a pretty voice. There was no way they’d ever become close, but…

“If you hadn’t spent all your money to pay for my sister’s medicine, Lefia would have died. I will never forget the kindness you showed my family.”

Sophia’s face as she said so was grim.

Yes, she’d promised to repay Ashlyn. She always assumed it was out of courtesy for the benefactor who’d held out a hand to her in times of trouble when everyone else had turned away.

“But it is indeed far too dangerous, Ashlyn. Is there no other way?”

“No.”

The answer was firm.

“Jason cannot be kicked out if he just causes a stir among the servants, you know that, don’t you?”

“……”

“Yes. The Chief Butler will stop him from getting fired somehow.”

“…….”

“So we have to drive Jason to the other side – to the side where even the chief won’t be able to save him.”

Only then did Sophia realize.

That Ashlyn was slightly smiling.

She didn’t look tired like she usually did. No, she looked more vibrant, more fun.

“Jason is no difficult obstacle.”

Ashlyn was enjoying this situation.

“He’s just a source of a little entertainment.”

As soon as Sophia realized it, she got goosebumps for some reason.

“Ashlyn, you…”

“Sophia, I need your help.”

Ashlyn’s warm hands enveloped Sophia’s own as she held onto them. Sophia’s gaze remained fixed on Ashlyn. This was definitely her friend, her benefactor, Ashlyn Rosebell. However, there was something else present, something indefinable yet undeniably powerful—an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

“You are my friend, and my benefactor.”

Sophia murmured as if she was bewitched. Then she sighed in her reply, with no more hesitation. “Yes, I’ll do it.”

At the words, Ashlyn’s shoulders trembled slightly.

“But promise me that you will succeed in driving Jason out.”

“Of course.”

Ashlyn’s lips curled up at the edges, forming a somewhat reassuring smile.

“…but are you sure the southern diamond is in the lord’s bedroom?”

Sophia suddenly asked. She had no memory of seeing any diamonds in the duke’s bedroom.

“Yes.”

“But, there’s no jewels in the lord’s bedroom?”

“What are you talking about?”

Ashlyn smirked.

“What?”

With her chin slightly raised, she looked like the fierce pack leader of a wild animal’s pack.

“The Southern Diamond is not a jewel. It is actually…”

* * *

“It’s tea leaves.”

The duke, who had been silent, muttered in a low voice.

Everyone was still.

Ashlyn turned her gaze to the duke.

“When the rare herb, found exclusively in the South, is carefully aged and dried for an extended period, its value is said to surpass that of most diamonds.”

“……”

“That’s why it acquired such a nickname- the Southern Diamond.”

The duke’s voice was terribly monotonous. Jason’s breathing became haggard.

At one point, the duke smiled briefly.

For the first time in a while, his distant gaze shifted to Ashlyn.

“How did our gardener recognize this tea that is exclusively supplied to the royal palace?”

His eyes, crimson like blades, seemed to pierce through everyone. Even though it wasn’t a question directed at herself, Ashlyn felt trapped in a weird sense of obligation to provide an answer.