Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Part 5: The Black Cat

“Laurraa~!”

The moment I set foot in Cuvershaiden, Sonia came running at me, arms spread wide.

Alright. Come here.

I opened my arms and waited for her.

“How long’s it been?! The stuff you said you bought in Krentis arrived, but you never showed! I’ve been waiting forever!”

She threw her arms around me and started babbling.

“Sorry. A lot happened. But it all worked out.”

“Really? We never heard you were going on leave, then suddenly you were on leave? And a long one at that. The Duke didn’t say a word about it… I thought maybe you’d just quit.”

Come on. Me? Quit?

“No, no. I was busy selling the house and moving.”

“Ah. I figured the place was too big to keep up. Guess you finally moved. Anyway, welcome back.”

Sonia’s arms tightened around me. Her enthusiasm left me a dazed.

“Huh? Laura! Laura’s here?!”

“Laura!”

The other ladies-in-waiting spotted me and came rushing out.

“Welcome back!”

They swarmed around me, clinging in layers. It was… oddly moving.

Wow. I’m way more popular than I thought.

“Laura, we thought you quit.”

Wait—you too? What?

“Why would I quit a good job like this?”

“Well, you did want to leave before. So we wondered…”

“Ah… I did, once. But not anymore. I like working here.”

“Good! We’re glad too!”

The ladies-in-waiting grabbed each other’s hands and started spinning in a ring-around-the-rosy circle. I stood at the center, feeling like a wishing tower in a children’s game.

“Um… thank you. Wow…!”

Somehow I couldn’t bear to let their high spirits down. So I played along, spinning a few rounds among them.

“Laura’s staying at Cuvershaiden!”

“Well… yeah. I guess so…”

“Whoa!”

The maids shrieked with joy. I watched them whirl past my eyes in a blur. Then, through the gaps between them, I spotted the butler watching us. He was standing a good distance away, his gaze distant and wistful.

‘Oh. Haven’t seen him in a while. Looks like he’s filled out more than before he left for Krentis!’

I greeted him with a nod. He gave a small, relieved expression, then turned and walked away on his own business.

I’d expected him to chide us, to tell us to get back to work. His calm reaction struck me as odd.

And what was that relief for, anyway? Did he think I wouldn’t come back? Wait… did he?

I couldn’t be sure, but at least it seemed I was very welcome here. The butler’s and the maids’ reactions told me that much.

‘Well. That’s all that matters, I guess.’

Thinking that, I turned my gaze back to my maid friends. They were still clustered around me.

“Laura, Laura! How was Krentis? And the banquet? Was it fancy? Was the food good there?”

Sonia’s eyes sparkled as she asked, all flustered enthusiasm.

“It was amazing. But it’s a long story. Let me drop my stuff off first, then I’ll tell you all about it.”

I held up the bag in my right arm as I answered. The maids had greeted me at the front door, so I hadn’t even set foot inside the mansion yet.

“Then whose room should we meet in tonight? It’s been a while. What do you think?”

Sonia was still clinging to me as she spoke.

“Sure. Okay. You can come to my room. See you later.”

At my agreement, my friends finally cleared a path. I left them behind and headed for my room. I tossed my luggage inside, then followed a familiar path to the Duke’s office, my steps light and eager.

*Ahem!*

I cleared my throat once in front of the door. Then, steadying myself, I opened it slowly. The Duke sat at his desk, framed in the widening crack like a painting. My heart swelled absurdly. I forced my face into a semblance of composure and walked up to him.

“Your Excellency!”

I called out, my voice full of joy. He lifted his head and looked at me. That handsome face was fixed on me.

“You’re here?”

“Ah—yes! I’ve returned, Your Excellency.”

“Welcome back.”

He gave a small smile. I scurried over to his side, and my gaze landed on the mountain of documents piled across his desk—clearly the backlog of work that had piled up while we were in Krentis.

“Are you very busy?”

“Busy, but nothing I can’t handle. The proxy I left at the Imperial Castle did an excellent job in my absence.”

Contrary to my expectation that dark circles would nearly reach his jawline, he looked remarkably well. Maybe he wasn’t as tired as I’d imagined.

“Speaking of which—did your second brother decide to go to the Academy?”

“No. We decided to send the third first. It’s better for the second to stay and look after the youngest. Even if it’s a bit late, once she graduates, we’ll send him. So… Your Excellency, would you be able to write a letter of recommendation for him then as well?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

“Since I’m thinking about it, I’ll write the letter for your third now. You’ll likely need more leave around the time of Academy enrollment.”

I’d already used up nearly all my leave, but it seemed he intended to grant me even more. Gratitude welled up inside me, mixed with a strange embarrassment. It sounded silly to say, but there really was no end to his kindness.

“Yes… Then I’ll just attend Lucia’s entrance ceremony and come straight back.”

“Do that.”

The Duke promptly pulled out a clean sheet of paper and began writing. Judging by the content, it was a letter recommending the second daughter of House Highen. I watched him for a moment before shifting my gaze to my own desk.

That large, ornate desk still boasted its splendid appearance. It had clearly been well maintained in my absence—the carved decorations on the chair gleamed with polish.

I’d always thought it, but here I was—drawing a massive salary for an excellent position in a fine house while having almost nothing to do. Aside from playing with Shion, all I did was sit there and kill time reading books.

Until now, that had never bothered me, but lately, it felt a little uncomfortable. Especially now that I’d been told not to look into memories to help ghosts ascend. For my own peace of mind, I needed another path.

“Your Excellency, do you remember when you told me in Krentis to speak up if anything bothered me?”

“Yes. Is something the matter?”

“No, not that…”

“Then what?”

“I’d like you to give me work. You said your proxy was a great help to you this time. I want to be that kind of help to you too. Besides, you originally hired me as your assistant—I’d like you to use me as one.”

“You’re already doing more than enough.”

“I want to do more than just see ghosts and be scared. I want to actually assist you. That is… if it’s possible.”

I was the Duke’s secretary, but I had no idea what his work actually entailed. I was curious, and more than that, I wanted to be useful to him.

“Of course, I’m not capable of that right now, but I think if I learn the ropes, I could help with organizing documents and the like. Even if I stumble for a month or two, by the third month I’d be a real help.”

“Laura. There’s really no need.”

The Duke set down his quill as he finished signing the bottom of the letter of recommendation.

“I want to be helpful, though… Can’t I?”

“……”

Despite my earnest plea, he silently scanned the letter. Then he pressed the Cuvershaiden seal firmly onto it.

Maybe he thought I’d only get in the way, I mused. Honestly, I could see his point. If he needed work done, it made more sense to entrust it to someone skilled—someone the Imperial Castle sent down—rather than me.

“Here.”

The Duke picked up the letter and held it out to me. I took it without a word.

“…For the next two months, spend a couple of hours each day learning the work from Handel. Helping me comes after that.”

Huh?

The Duke continued, and his words took an unexpected turn.

“Yes. Yes!”

It was an unexpectedly positive response. I tucked the letter into my bosom and nodded vigorously.

Now I could actually do real secretary work! I’d help the Duke. I’d help him so well.

Nothing had even started yet, but in my heart, I felt I could do it. And I truly wanted to.

“Unnie.”

And then, at that moment, a familiar voice sounded from behind me. I flinched and spun around.

Shion had appeared from nowhere, sitting on the sofa and staring at me with a sulky expression.

“Unnie. Come sit here.”

The child patted the spot beside her with her palm, her voice pouty. I tucked the letter away on my desk, then walked over to her.

“Unnie. What’s the meaning of this?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you only coming back now? How can you not think of someone who’s been waiting?”

“What?”

“Do you know how long I waited? How can you—an adult!—be so inconsiderate?!”

The child hollered, her face twisted in a full-blown sulk.

“I did what you said! I didn’t make noise at night, and I didn’t wander around! I kept my promise! And you come this late without even saying anything?! And that older brother never says a word to me!”

“Shion, you’ve been behaving?”

“Yes! You told me to be good while you were gone!”

So that was why the Duke’s dark circles weren’t as deep as I’d expected. Thanks to this child not terrorizing the nights, he’d been able to sleep well!

“Good girl…”

I lifted a hand to place it on the child’s head. A gesture meant to stroke, but I couldn’t. My hand passed clean through her.

Ah. Right. She’s a ghost. Of course….

I steadied myself, then slowly withdrew my arm.

I nearly jumped like a spring at the shock. But I didn’t. That’s real progress—from a colossal coward to merely a major one.