Chapter 06
“I’m going to run away this week.”
For that, I still needed money. My plan to rob Eiden Croydon’s safe had already failed.
I counted the emergency money I had hidden under the floorboards of my room. It was money I had diligently saved over the past year.
“Let’s see… one, two, three, four…”
Hmm.
“I guess I can afford at least a carriage ride.”
I could take a carriage to the neighboring city, earn some money there over a few days, and then move on to the next city. Eventually, if I reached the far end of the empire, Eiden Croydon wouldn’t be able to find me. Not only that, I would also avoid all interactions with the other characters from the original story.
The resurrection ability of the villain I had awakened and the quest window were still on my mind, but oh well.
That’s something the so-called “master” can worry about himself, I guess.
If I lived a quiet, leisurely life in the countryside without getting involved in the original story’s characters, I could live independently of all that.
Filled with hope, I took a step forward. But as soon as I left the room, I was caught by Housekeeper Mrs. Kelton.
She approached me.
“Luana, the master is calling for you.”
‘Damn it.’
Of all times!
Her gaze seemed to silently ask, “Why on earth is he calling you?” I rolled my eyes, pretending not to notice.
“Well, ma’am… this is because I’ve already killed the master once… no, twice.”
I couldn’t say that out loud.
The stairs up to the fourth floor, where the master’s bedroom was, felt longer than ever. I trudged along like a weary soldier.
Finally, passing down the endless hallway, I saw Eiden Croydon’s bedroom. I cautiously approached the door.
Knock, knock.
“Master, are you there?”
This is your loyal maid, Luana Poly.
After a moment, permission was granted.
“Come in.”
I opened the door and peeked inside.
“Did you call for me?”
“Yes.”
Closing the door behind me, I stepped into the room.
Eiden Croydon was sitting at a table, looking over some documents. He looked up at me.
His face was handsome as always.
But when he smiled gently, squinting his eyes at me, a shiver ran down my arm.
“…What is it?”
I asked warily, and he smiled brightly.
“The items you requested from the temple have arrived, and I wanted to check them.”
“…?”
He gestured for me to come closer. I hesitated, but had no choice but to take a few steps toward him.
“Closer.”
I barely swallowed a sigh. I had no choice in the matter.
‘This damned class-based society.’
As I took slow, reluctant steps forward, he pressed a thorn-like object against my arm. I didn’t even have time to dodge and got pricked.
“Ouch!”
‘That bastard actually pricked me!’
Blood welled up at the puncture site. Despite my shocked glare, Eiden Croydon seemed fascinated by my blood.
He rubbed the tip of the thorn with the blood.
I carefully observed his side profile as he examined it. Thankfully, he was only focused on the thorn. Had he looked at me, I might have lost control and hit him.
Kindly, Eiden Croydon began explaining.
“This is a relic that can detect demons.”
“A relic?”
“If demon blood is applied, it is said to glow red.”
The thorn didn’t glow at all. He looked at it with a confident smile.
“Since it doesn’t glow, you’re not a demon.”
“And if I’m not a demon…?”
“You’re an angel.”
“…What?”
I couldn’t believe my ears.
“I’ve never heard anyone call me an angel in my life.”
“That’s fortunate. It means I’m the only one who recognizes your value.”
Unfortunately, my master only heard what he wanted to hear. Or perhaps he had some kind of internal filter in his brain.
“I’m neither an angel nor a demon.”
“Then?”
“…A maid.”
I muttered uncertainly, and he gestured toward me.
“Then how do you explain being an ‘outsider from another world’? Clearly, what appeared before me back then wasn’t ordinary human power.”
“I don’t know either.”
“Are you really unaware, or just pretending not to know? We’ll see.”
I tried to protest timidly, but he ignored me completely. I mean, if God really sent an angel, it would go to Arthur Camellon, not to someone like Eiden Croydon—a man who constantly exhaled human hatred.
Upon hearing my words, Eiden Croydon said:
“Even God is on my side, not Arthur Camellon’s.”
“No, I just applied for the only job posting available, that’s all.”
I probably wanted to work at Arthur Camellon’s house too.
Once again, he completely ignored me. It was maddening.
After that, Eiden Croydon continued examining the relic until he was satisfied. He pricked me two more times (!!) and was very pleased that I was not a demon.
‘I think that relic is fake.’
I muttered to myself, unable to say it out loud.
Although the people here believed magic was a divine blessing—and magic did exist—
‘Still, it seems fake.’
What could I do? Having lived in the modern world, I naturally had deep distrust toward magic and relics.
While Eiden Croydon, satisfied with his curiosity, summoned the butler to fetch a carriage, I was more concerned about whether the relic was genuine. I secretly mocked him, thinking he was a fool for being deceived by a fake relic and calling me an angel.
So when Butler Nomilton entered the room and greeted the master, I didn’t react quickly enough.
It was a painful mistake.
Because Eiden Croydon immediately said to him:
“Take Luana Poly to the dressmaker and have her fitted for the most expensive dress.”
“Wha—?”
That was my reaction upon hearing it.
“A… dress, sir?”
This was the butler’s reaction. Nomilton looked back and forth between me and my master as if confirming he had heard correctly. Eiden Croydon remained completely calm.
“Also get matching accessories and shoes.”
I was the only one panicking.
‘We are NOT in that kind of relationship! NOT in that kind of relationship!’
I tried to telepathically send that thought, but it probably didn’t get through. Because the butler suddenly lowered his head with a deadly serious expression.
Eiden Croydon’s voice echoed in the room:
“Understood. I will take the maid there at once to have the dresses fitted.”
“I am not a maid, I am Luana Poly.”
“My apologies. I will take Miss Luana Poly to have the dresses fitted. Shall one dress suffice?”
“No. Just have five made for now. They should be ready and sent to the mansion before the charity party next week.”
“Understood.”
Nomilton looked at me and gestured for me to follow.
“….”
At that moment, my expression must have looked like a prisoner being led to the gallows.
Though extremely reluctant, I had no choice but to approach the butler. Nomilton politely guided me, and as soon as the signal came that I could step away, we left Eiden Croydon’s room.
The hallway was empty. With just the two of us left, Nomilton turned to me. In a blink, faster than a swish could be heard:
“Luana Poly, what is your relationship with the master?”
