Chapter 131…
“……”
It had been a very long time since she last returned home. Her eyes fell on the glass ornament hanging and swaying slowly at the entrance, the old yellow table and bookshelf, and the small bed.
…Was it always this small?
Maybe she had gotten used to the enormous Bailey mansion and the Lumanov Grand Duke’s estate while living outside, because this place now felt ridiculously cramped. Well, at least she wouldn’t have to waste energy searching for things!
Cynthia strode to the desk without hesitation and looked over the surface.
“But is there really anything here?”
In her memory, Cynthia hardly ever picked up a pen after coming to this place. She loved reading printed words, but writing them herself—definitely not her hobby.
Still, let’s get started!
—Thud!
“Ugh!”
Just as she was about to open the drawer and search through it, something toppled over behind her with a heavy thump.
Cynthia flinched, startled, and snapped her head around. What? What was that sound?
Was someone here?
“……”
But the house was silent, as if nothing had happened. Cynthia felt a chill crawl up her spine and turned her head away. Did she mishear?
Well, this place had been an empty house for ages—why would anything be here…?
She shook her head, grabbed the drawer handle firmly, and—
“Excuse me.”
The moment she was about to pull open the drawer, someone grabbed her shoulder—firmly—and spoke.
The voice came right at her ear, and Cynthia shrieked, whipping her elbow toward the intruder’s face.
“Kyaaaaaa!!”
“Aagh!”
Her sharp, lethal elbow strike landed squarely on the intruder’s nose.
“Who are you in my house?!”
Feeling the satisfying impact through her elbow, Cynthia shouted as she spun around.
A man lay on the floor clutching his face with both hands.
And that man was…
“…Dale?”
“Uuuugh…”
It was Dale—wearing comfortable clothes instead of his usual impeccably neat suit. His neatly swept-back blond hair was thoroughly disheveled.
Realizing the intruder was Dale, Cynthia hurriedly bent down and reached toward him.
“Is it really you, Dale? You suddenly disappeared somewhere—were you here this whole time?”
“I am quite certain my nose is broken.”
“Bones don’t break that easily. And why did you sneak up on me like that…!”
Feeling embarrassed, Cynthia helped him up. She guided him to the kitchen, the closest thing this house had to a living room.
“Move your hand for a moment. I need to check if it’s really broken.”
When Dale moved the hand covering his nose, red blood streamed down.
Gasp…!!
Cynthia jumped, eyes wide. I did that?!
“W-wait a second, tissues, tissues—”
“……”
A drop of blood fell to the floor, forming a little red circle. Dale stared at it with a troubled expression.
Cynthia quickly handed him a wad of tissues.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think my attack would be that deadly.”
“That kind of strength could not have gone unnoticed…”
He muttered quietly as he stuffed tissues into his nose. Feeling guilty, Cynthia offered him a chair.
As Dale slowly sat down, Cynthia wasted no time unleashing her questions.
“What exactly happened? Why are you in my house? And you said you left the Bailey household, right? Why did you leave Violet so suddenly without even saying goodbye? What happened while I was gone?!”
“…It’s difficult to answer all of that at once. Please ask one question at a time.”
Dale sniffled as he spoke.
One at a time, then… Cynthia nodded.
“So first—why are you here? I thought this place was empty!”
“I’m the one who secured this house for you. Is it so wrong for me to stay here temporarily?”
“What?”
Cynthia was speechless at his shamelessness. What is this unemployed man even talking about?
She forced a hollow laugh as he looked at her like he was the one wronged.
“Even if you arranged it, there’s still a homeowner. You can’t just enter without permission!”
“I didn’t steal anything.”
“That’s not the point!!”
Dale fiddled with the tissue blocking his nose and sighed.
“After leaving the Bailey mansion, I didn’t have anywhere to stay. I couldn’t contact you because you were at the Lumanov estate, and I know how sensitive His Grace is about anything related to the Baileys.”
No place to stay?
Cynthia’s expression grew complicated.
“Dale, when you left the Bailey household, you did receive all your severance pay, right? They didn’t cheat you again, did they?”
“Certainly not. I found the old contract I wrote ages ago, calculated everything precisely, and collected every last coin.”
“Then why couldn’t you get a house? Is housing in the capital that expensive?”
At her innocent question, Dale silently stared at her.
He pushed up his glasses with one finger and spoke again.
“There’s no doubt the Baileys wouldn’t let me go so easily.”
“…What?”
“They are far more petty than you think. They would sabotage any house I tried to buy.”
“Sabotage? Why?”
She couldn’t understand.
Why would they go that far over a butler who simply quit after working hard?
Dale leaned back in his chair, looking surprisingly at ease—almost as if he belonged here more than she did. This isn’t even really my house anymore, is it…?
“I know far too many of their secrets.”
The Baileys’ secrets?
Cynthia perked up.
Come to think of it, when she was pretending to be the fake Bailey daughter, Dale was the one who orchestrated much of it. He might really know a lot.
Maybe even things about Elizabeth?
Cynthia swallowed hard.
But knowing Dale, he would never reveal such secrets easily. She would have to coax him very carefully—
“I will absolutely not tell you.”
He cut her off, as if reading her mind.
This overly perceptive man… Cynthia clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“I know you won’t tell me. Fine—then why did you quit being the Baileys’ butler? What happened? Why so suddenly?”
“I simply no longer wished to stay with them.”
“I thought no one fit the Baileys better than you.”
“I thought so as well, but apparently not.”
Even that jab didn’t faze Dale.
So mental damage doesn’t work… only physical… Cynthia glanced at the bloody tissue in his hand.
“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t.”
Dale stood up.
“Find what you came for. I’m busy and don’t have time to entertain you.”
“You’re unemployed. What could you possibly be busy with?”
“I’m job hunting. I can’t leave this house until I find work.”
“Won’t the Baileys sabotage your job hunt too?”
“That’s why it’s difficult. Unless you plan to help, please drop the topic.”
“Should I ask the Lumanov Grand Duke? Your resume is impressive—”
“His Grace would surely adore hiring someone from the Bailey household.”
…Well, he had a point.
Even after all their bickering, seeing him jobless and living off someone else’s house made her feel a little sorry for him. Dale seemed to dislike the pity in her eyes, frowning.
“I dislike that expression. Just handle your business and go.”
“O-okay…”
Poor Dale… Cynthia reluctantly turned back to the drawer.
She bent down and opened it wide.
Huh?
She blinked.
“Dale! You didn’t touch anything here, right?”
“As I said, I touched nothing.”
“Then why is it completely empty…?”
The drawer was bare.
She clearly remembered stuffing all sorts of miscellaneous items into it before she left this house.
So why was it empty now…?
