Side Story – The Owner of the Box (1)

 Not long after attending Seraphine and the Hero’s wedding…

 The Blackwood Mansion, which I thought would be relatively relaxed after resolving various matters, was bustling with activity.

 “Young Master, should I place this desk in the office?”

 “Yes. For now, return it to the original office furnishings. Also remove the low table and store it in the warehouse.”

 “U-um, while cleaning the family head’s bedroom, we found this item…”

 “…My mother’s keepsake. I’ll take care of it. Thank you for letting me know.”

 “We received word that the attire for the inauguration ceremony will be completed in three days…”

 Ah yes, the inauguration ceremony.

 The Blackwood Mansion was currently in a busy state preparing for the inauguration ceremony that would take place in just a few days.

 After presumably staying in the imperial capital, Harold finally sent Ethan a letter regarding the inauguration ceremony not long after the princess’s wedding.

 ‘Should I consider this fast or slow?’

 Honestly, age-wise, it was quite early. Though Ethan was still in his 20s, he was nearing the end of that decade. Typically, passing down the family to the eldest son is something that happens around the 40s unless there are special circumstances.

 But considering Ethan’s career, it could also be seen as late. Having served as the acting head of the Blackwood family for nearly five years, including his time at the academy.

 Compared to other nobles who usually spend 2-3 years gradually transferring power and educating their successors before handing it over, this was quite late in that regard.

 ‘Well, I can’t read Harold’s mind.’

 Whether there was an urgent reason to pass down the family headship or he simply believed Ethan was now fully qualified for the position.

 As someone who had been fulfilling the role of duchess as Ethan’s wife all this time, I had no reason to object. Frankly, I was getting tired of being treated as a provisional duchess despite doing practically the same work as an actual duchess.

 So now, the Blackwood Mansion’s priority was preparing for the inauguration ceremony.

 Which is why I was about to put on my maid uniform again and dive into a thorough cleaning…

 “Don’t, Lilith.”

 “…But the cleaning…”

 “I said don’t.”

 “……Yes.”

 After hearing Ethan say that having the provisional duchess roam the mansion in a maid uniform would only make the servants uncomfortable, I reluctantly put it away.

 He loves it in the bedroom, but goes out of his way to prevent me from using it for its proper purpose. Typical.

 Still, Ethan couldn’t stop me from participating in the cleaning itself. Mostly because he was too busy to micromanage everything.

 Currently, invitations had been sent to nearby nobles, acquaintances, and those who would serve as witnesses.

 With so many people to accommodate at once, all the normally vacant guest rooms needed to be inspected, so manpower was inevitably stretched thin.

 This was a prestigious ducal household after all – they couldn’t just have guests staying while furniture and paintings were being moved around.

 “Lilith, even if you’re the duchess now, shouldn’t you leave warehouse organizing to the other maids…?”

 “…Earlier, when I tried to help move a bed, the girls panicked and rushed to stop me.”

 “That’s only natural. If you really want to clean, just take a dust cloth or something. Why volunteer for labor-intensive tasks like warehouse organizing…”

 “Says the one who’s also organizing the warehouse after delegating all her work.”

 Isabel had been nagging more than usual today, as if baffled by my every action.

 Meanwhile, maids bringing furniture and miscellaneous items from the guest rooms to the warehouse would startle upon seeing my face, then try to take over my tasks, causing minor conflicts. Thanks to Isabel mediating appropriately, I could now focus on organizing the warehouse.

 “Clean, bright, and confident~.”

 Warehouse organization went much smoother than expected. Dusty corners and cluttered items could be cleaned with a single Clean spell, and my strength from half-majoring in swordsmanship at the academy was sufficient.

 I think I did this back in my rookie maid days too, but back then my level was low and I couldn’t use Clean magic, so I only remember struggling.

 “Organizing the warehouse together like this reminds me of when we first came to this mansion, Isabel.”

 “What am I supposed to say when the duchess brings up her rookie maid days… though…”

 “……?”

 “…Actually, I was thinking about it too.”

 Memories from over ten years ago now.

 Since this was before I regained my past life memories, my subjective memory of that time feels even longer.

 But seeing how these memories remain in a corner of my mind, Isabel really did help me a lot when I first came to Blackwood Mansion.

 …Well, not just then – she’s helped me throughout my life. Without Isabel, giving birth to Eris would have been difficult, graduating from the academy impossible, and becoming Ethan’s wife would have taken much longer.

 Just having Isabel remain as my personal maid going forward makes me fortunate.

 “Senior Isabel, this should be the last of the fourth-floor guest room items…”

 “Ah, thank you. You can leave it there.”

 “Eeek?! L-Lilith miss?! Why, why are you organizing the warehouse…?”

 “Lilith~! I told you not to come out because you scare the girls~!”

 The rookie maids looked at me as if seeing something terrifying, exchanged a few words with Isabel, then hurried upstairs.

 While feeling oddly self-conscious about the maids’ wary glances, I roughly checked the miscellaneous items that needed organizing.

 “Four chairs, one table, one lamp… huh?”

 …What’s this box?

 A suspicious-looking square wooden box giving off strange vibes.

 The padlock suggested it contained something important, but the security seemed rather lax for that.

 ‘The lock itself is so old it looks ready to fall off anyway.’

 I don’t know what’s inside, but judging by when it was last opened, it must have been sitting untouched for at least twenty years. It’s surprising something like this was only discovered now.

 ‘I don’t think I saw it during the wedding cleaning.’

 Either the girls didn’t check thoroughly enough, or it was hidden in a truly secret spot.

 I wanted to ask, but the maids who brought the box had all gone upstairs, leaving no one to question.

 “What’s that, Lilith?”

 “…Some kind of old chest that’s been neglected for a long time, I’m not sure.”

 “Can’t we just put it on that bookshelf over there? You can ask the Young Master about it later.”

 “Not sure if Ethan would know… It looks like it’s been untouched for at least twenty years…”

 “…What about asking the family head when he returns for the inauguration ceremony?”

 …I’m not sure. Honestly, Harold and I aren’t that close.

 I can tell he treats me well as his daughter-in-law, but my relationship with Harold is still somewhat awkward.

 If it’s nothing important, asking about this shouldn’t cause problems, but hmm…

 -Clink, clink, clink.

 The sound of something hard rattling inside. Likely wood or ivory pieces knocking together rather than metal.

 At least it’s not a chest of treasures or jewelry. Given how old and neglected it is, it might be something completely insignificant.

 ‘…Should I open it?’

 I’m curious, okay? About what’s inside.

 And this is something I wouldn’t have dared do before. Back in my maid days, even if curious, I would’ve suppressed it and moved on, but not anymore.

 As the provisional duchess – soon to be the actual duchess in a few days – opening one old box shouldn’t cause any major issues.

 “Lilith, you’re having strange thoughts again.”

 “…Huh?! About what?!”

 “Just put it on the bookshelf. It might contain the family head’s precious belongings.”

 “……”

 “…I still remember ten years ago when Senior Aeria and Senior Alicia got smacked and sent flying by the family head.”

 …That is indeed an unforgettable memory.

 Right, better to remain ignorant than risk Harold’s ire out of curiosity. Even if I might get away with it, that doesn’t mean Isabel would.

 If the box was already open, maybe. But breaking the lock just to satisfy curiosity isn’t worth it.

 -Thud.

 Suppressing my rising curiosity, I placed the old box on a bookshelf.

 -Click, clatter.

 “……”

 …The old lock of the old chest fell limply to the floor.