Return to the Mansion (2)

Not long after I returned to Blackwood Mansion, a small commotion arose within its walls.

And I mean that literally-it was genuinely a small commotion.

Unlike the lukewarm reactions of the other servants, only Isabelle and Katarina were making a fuss about it.

“Lilith! Are you okay now? You’re not still hurt, are you?!”

“L-Lilith-nim! H-How are your injuries…?”

“…Please stop using honorifics, I told you.”

After whispering a warning to Katarina, who had addressed me like a noble in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear,

I deliberately maintained a composed demeanor to reassure the two of them that nothing was wrong.

“I wasn’t seriously hurt, so there’s no need to worry. Why make such a big deal out of this?”

“W-What do you mean not seriously hurt?! The priest said your life was in danger!”

“But I’m perfectly fine now, aren’t I? Thanks to modern medicine… I mean, modern theology.”

“L-Lilith… Even so, saying that is a bit… You’re starting to scare me…”

…Maybe I should have at least pretended to be a little scared like an 18-year-old high school girl.

From Isabelle and Katarina’s perspective, my actions must have seemed reckless.

Sure, I had taken a life-threatening risk, but in the end, I had recovered just fine.

And considering the rewards I gained from leveling up, the gamble had been worth it.

“Don’t overreact, Isabelle. And you too, Senior Katarina. It was just a minor injury that kept me bedridden for a day-no need to make such a big deal-“

“…What are you talking about, Lilith?”

“Huh?”

“‘Just a day’…? Do you even realize you were unconscious for three days before coming back?”

…Huh? Three days?

Not just one?

For a moment, I wondered if Isabelle was exaggerating to scare me, but when I glanced at Katarina, she nodded in agreement.

“I-It really was three days… The last time we spent our break together in the commercial district was three days ago…”

“That security captain carried you all the way to the church. Even the coachman was shocked…”

“……”

Wait, so it really was three days?

That was how long it took me to recover from my injuries?

Sure, I had taken a bold risk, betting on reviving from a “KO” state, but I never expected to be unconscious for three whole days.

‘I thought I’d just be bedridden for a day at most…’

I knew this world operated differently from the basic systems of Luminor Academy, but I hadn’t anticipated such a drastic difference in recovery time.

Which meant the battle I fought-no, the battle I fought three days ago-was far from safe.

It wasn’t just a simple gamble of dying and reviving at the church-I could have easily died for real alongside that Level 10 monster.

As soon as I realized that, a chilling tension spread through my body.

The reality I had been taking lightly suddenly felt dangerously close.

‘I can’t just assume this world works like the game’s mechanics…’

Maybe, deep down, I had been holding onto some naive optimism.

The vague hope that even if something went wrong, I’d somehow be fine.

But Isabelle’s words about me taking three days to recover served as a sobering reminder of my own mortality.

I resolved then and there to never again engage in a life-or-death battle.

…More than anything, it was also a moment that made me realize-there were people in this world who would genuinely grieve my death.

“Lilith… Promise you won’t do anything that dangerous again… Hic…?”

“M-Me too… I don’t want Lilith to just disappear one day… You’re my savior…”

Tears welled up in their eyes as Isabelle and Katarina pleaded with me.

At the very least, these two would be deeply hurt if I were to vanish one day.

It wasn’t like I was making some grand vow to live for their sake, but at least I didn’t need to keep risking my life.

“Alright. I won’t do anything dangerous anymore.”

Patting their shoulders gently to comfort them-despite being the one who had nearly died-I reassured them.

Just then, I suddenly heard someone calling my name from right beside me.

“…Lilith-yang.”

“Gah?!”

The low voice, spoken so close it felt like it was right in my ear, made me jump in surprise.

Turning my head, I saw a young butler standing there, staring at me impassively despite my reaction.

“……”

His face looked familiar, but who was he again…?

“Dietmeyer Colin Evercroft.”

“M-My apologies.”

Ah, right. Now I remember. His name was so damn long I forgot.

Dietmeyer Colin… whatever. The young butler who would become the head butler of the Blackwood family in Luminor Academy.

Since he wouldn’t take the head butler position for another four years, he was probably still a deputy head butler now.

…But why would someone of his rank come looking for me all of a sudden?

“D-Dietmeyer-nim…? What brings you to me…?”

“The master has summoned you. He instructed that you be brought to his office as soon as you returned.”

“The master…? Huh?”

Wait, if Dietmeyer’s master is my master, then that means Harold himself called for me.

…Could it be? Is the time finally here?

I had expected it to happen around this time. Not long after Ethan awoke from his curse, Lilith was assigned as his personal maid.

And being assigned as his personal maid meant… the future where Lilith gets “trained” by that scumbag Ethan was drawing near.

A sense of dread crept up my spine at the butler’s ominous message.

“Lilith-yang.”

“Y-Yes…?”

“The master has summoned you. As soon as you returned, you were to be brought to his-“

“I-I get it. I heard you…”

“Given your lack of response, I assumed you hadn’t heard.”

This bastard really knows how to twist the knife.

Following the butler’s instructions-whose emotional core seemed partially broken-I had no choice but to head to Harold’s office on the third floor.

To do whatever it took to prevent the future where I became Ethan’s personal maid.

…Honestly, I wasn’t very confident.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Third floor. Outside Harold’s office.

“…Haaah.”

*Knock, knock, knock.*

After letting out a sigh to calm my nerves, I knocked three times on Harold’s office door.

Then I waited quietly outside until I heard permission to enter.

‘From the sounds inside, he’s definitely in there.’

Knowing Harold, he might have been too absorbed in his work to hear the knock.

So I stood there like a statue, killing time patiently.

After all, Harold was the type who didn’t care about anything unless it involved his territory or his son.

Part of me even hoped he’d forget about summoning me, and the whole “personal maid” thing would fizzle out.

Maybe someone else would end up as Ethan’s maid instead…

“…Come in.”

‘Damn it.’

Well, of course. With Lilith’s Luck stat at 1, things were never going to go my way.

With the resignation of a lamb led to slaughter, I quietly opened the door and stepped inside.

There, as expected, was Harold, seated at his desk with stacks of paperwork.

“Junior maid, Lilith Rosewood, reporting. I was informed to visit you upon my return to the mansion.”

“Lilith…? Ah, the maid who defeated the monster in the commercial district three days ago.”

“That is correct.”

“…The monster incident was three days ago. Why are you only reporting now?”

“Pardon?”

“I distinctly recall instructing the other servants to send you to my office the moment you returned.”

…What the hell is this guy talking about?

I barely had time to reunite with Isabelle and Katarina before coming straight here, and now he’s saying I’m late?

I checked his expression to see if he was joking, but his gaze showed no hint of amusement.

Harold wasn’t the type to crack jokes in the first place.

‘If not that, then… Ah.’

Fortunately, having wasted 500 hours on Lilith’s route in my past life, I knew Harold’s character inside out.

Carefully choosing my words to avoid upsetting him, I responded.

“My apologies. My frail constitution forced me to stay at the church for three full days.”

“…Three days? Is that true?”

“Yes. Even when I left the church today, I spoke with the priest before returning.”

As I said this, the conversation I had with the young priestess earlier flashed through my mind.

‘S-Sister?! Are you really leaving just like that?! Why not stay until evening and see how you feel? There’s a carriage to Blackwood Mansion in the evening, so you could-‘

‘It’s fine. I’m not in pain, and I wasn’t even that badly hurt.’

‘Not badly hurt?! W-Wait, Sister…!’

I had fled in a hurry, afraid I’d get roped into the excruciating two-hour afternoon service if I stayed any longer.

The Aurelia Church’s basic worship sessions were notoriously long.

But I hadn’t expected the priestess to be genuinely concerned.

Another name added to my mental “apology list.”

“If necessary, you could confirm with the priestess at the Aurelia Church-“

“No need. That would be troublesome, and I’ll take your word for it.”

“…Thank you.”

As expected, Harold had only just learned that I had been unconscious for three days.

He must have assumed I’d recover in a day and return to duty.

I almost got branded as a servant who disobeyed orders for two days because of his misunderstanding.

‘I can’t let my guard down for even a second. Like father, like son…’

Without my past-life knowledge, I might have stammered awkwardly and dug myself deeper into trouble.

Remembering Harold’s complete lack of interest in others was a lifesaver.

“Master. May I ask why you summoned me?”

“…Ah, yes. I nearly forgot what I wanted to discuss because of this misunderstanding.”

Just as Harold was about to resume his paperwork, I spoke up, prompting him to recall the reason he had called me.

His tired eyes met mine as he explained.

“Three days ago, regarding the Hookfang you defeated after it escaped from a monster-sealing scroll…”

“…Yes.”

“I reviewed Sir Ser Blacksong’s report, but something felt off.”

……Oh no.

Don’t tell me-

“You. You nearly died fighting the Hookfang, correct?”

“…Yes.”

“And you ignored Sir Ser’s advice to retreat, pushing yourself to the very end.”

“…That is correct.”

“I’m curious about why you made that decision. Would you care to explain?”

……I’m screwed.

How the hell do I talk my way out of this one?