Chapter 7
I slowly started thinking it through.
Honestly, it wasn’t strange for me—a survivor of Quin Island who reappeared after four years—to be under surveillance by the state.
After all, weren’t there people who followed me after I refused to go to the refugee shelter?
But those people never made contact for a whole month. They only watched from a distance, then disappeared.
To be exact, they vanished after I arrived in Midwintry and attended the interview at the labor agency.
They must not have found anything suspicious about me—begging for bread and money like a vagrant, quietly making my way to the city, and trying to get a maid job.
That part wasn’t a problem.
But a man who got hired at the same mansion as me… and then moved into the house right across the street?
That timing was too perfect to be a coincidence.
The more I thought about it, the more likely the second possibility became.
If Lu really came after me…
Then this was a bigger problem than someone targeting Baron Weatherwoods.
…No. Maybe this can be resolved through personal negotiation.
Right now, the most important thing for me was keeping my job at the Weatherwoods mansion.
As long as he didn’t demand something outrageous like “die again” or “let me experiment on you to study your resurrection,” I was willing to talk—even with someone suspicious.
Let’s throw the bait first.
In case the conversation got long, I wrote everything down on a note.
He might run off again like yesterday using the head maid as an excuse, so better to prepare in advance.
After finishing the day’s work, I secretly called Lu to the backyard without the head maid knowing.
“Sorry, Miss Maid.”
And yet, he showed up five minutes late and said this:
“I’ll have to reject your confession. I’m not the type to pursue love at first sight with someone I’ve known for two days.”
I didn’t need to hear any more.
Before his ridiculous imagination could run any further, I shoved the note at him.
It read:
“I find your behavior suspicious. If you were sent to monitor me or investigate the Weatherwoods family, state it honestly. Depending on your answer, I am willing to cooperate.
Reasons for suspicion:
• You were hired at Weatherwoods around the same time as me.
• You are wealthy, yet you applied as a gardener-cook.
• You even accepted half wages. The workplace is a poor household.
• Immediately after getting hired, you moved into the house across the street.
Conclusion: Your identity is highly suspicious.”
As he read it, his expression turned strange.
“You called me here just to give me this?”
“Yes.”
He smiled like he’d just heard a ridiculous joke.
“You think I’m monitoring you… That’s quite the confidence.”
Says the man who assumed I was confessing to him.
“Yesterday you asked about me. Today you’re asking why I work here. That’s the point of this note, right?”
“Correct.”
“I believe I already told you, but for our forgetful Miss Maid, I’ll repeat it. It’s a hobby.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Ah, what a shame. But I didn’t make it my hobby for you to believe it.”
He looked like he was about to walk away, so I quickly spoke.
“Instead of dodging, why not just tell me? I don’t like having someone suspicious like you in this mansion. If I can help get rid of you, I will. So be honest. Are you here for me, or for Baron Weatherwoods?”
That was way too long. I nearly bit my tongue.
I even prepared a note, and now it was useless.
Talking to him made me uncomfortable—I kept saying more than I intended.
Lu listened quietly, then lowered his gaze and lightly waved the note in his hand.
“…Hmm. So I bother you that much. Well, that’s not really my concern. Are you really that curious why I came here?”
I nodded sincerely, eyes shining.
“I am.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.”
“Then… I—”
Right then—
Dong, dong.
The clock rang, signaling 7 p.m.
I ignored it and kept staring at him.
Lu smiled brightly at me—
Then simply walked past.
“Where are you going?”
“Off work.”
What?
“Leaving on time is a basic right of an employee. It was a productive day. Have a good night, Miss Maid.”
He waved lazily and disappeared.
And just like that, I was left alone in the fading sunset.
At first, I laughed in disbelief.
But thanks to that, my thinking became clearer.
Is that assassin still in Lu’s house?
If he kept avoiding answers like this, I’d have to act myself.
I should sneak into the house across the street and search it thoroughly.
***
That night, past midnight—
Just like two days ago, I climbed over the wall and entered the neighboring mansion.
But unlike before, all the windows were tightly locked.
There was no easy way in.
Should I go through the chimney?
Just then, I sensed movement inside.
The presence moved toward the back door of the kitchen.
Almost like it was waiting for a guest.
I quietly approached and hid—
Then a familiar voice came from inside.
“As expected, it’s you.”
It was the assassin.
The door opened, and he appeared.
The moment I saw him—
I couldn’t say anything.
“Don’t be surprised, maid.”
Why are you wearing a butler uniform?
“My master said you would come around this time. So I was waiting.”
Apparently, he didn’t even realize I was shocked by his outfit.
“My master told me to pass along a message.”
“From him?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“Instead of wasting time coming here, why not practice peeling potatoes?”
“…”
“Those were his exact words.”
My teeth clenched, but I held back.
Ever since meeting Lu, I’d gotten used to that.
“You two are working together?”
The assassin scoffed.
“Together? Have you already forgotten that you were the one who imprisoned me here? Are you really that forgetful?”
Don’t tell him every little detail like that.
“I’m staying here by my own will.”
I pointed at his neat butler outfit.
“That’s not convincing.”
“It wouldn’t be. But I’ve simply submitted. It’s natural for the weak to submit to the strong. You may not understand, but my master is someone incredibly powerful and terrifying—”
He trailed off, clearly recalling something unpleasant, and trembled slightly.
“…This mansion is protected by high-level magic. No one outside can observe what happens inside. As long as I stay here, I’m free from the guild’s surveillance. So for now, I intend to survive under my master.”
So the mansion was protected by magic.
And Lu is strong enough to instill fear in a trained assassin.
Good thing I didn’t rush into a physical confrontation.
Since returning to my original body, I hadn’t picked up a sword once.
This unfamiliar body… fighting someone like Lu would be dangerous.
“Your master.”
“Speak.”
“Could he be the one who sent you to me?”
The assassin sighed.
“I thought so at first too. But… it’s unclear. He is interested in the Weatherwoods family. But he doesn’t seem like someone who would hire an assassin guild to monitor them.”
“…”
“You should understand what I mean. My master is… a bit unusual.”
“Not unusual.”
“Then?”
“Weird.”
For the first time, the assassin smiled.
“Yes. He’s not just suspicious—he’s strange. He didn’t even ask me anything except my name. ‘Uninterested’ might be the better word. I’m still trying to figure him out myself. It’s too early to say anything for certain.”
Still investigating, huh?
He didn’t seem like he was lying.
From the moment I took his suicide pill, I knew he wanted to live.
He had even begged me for his life.
So it made sense—why he stayed here and why he was observing Lu.
“Then let’s make a deal.”
“A deal?”
“We share what we learn.”
He looked at me in surprise before answering.
“I told you already. My master predicted you would come tonight. Conversations like this won’t escape him either.”
“So? Are you in or not?”
“…How?”
“Once a week. Same time, same place.”
“…Agreed.”
That was useful.
Now I can find out what Lu does after work.
Even if he already knew, it didn’t matter.
If he knew I was watching him, he wouldn’t act carelessly.
Satisfied, I turned to leave—
“Wait.”
The assassin stopped me.
“I have a question.”
I turned back.
He looked more serious than ever.
“…Do you have any tips for washing blankets?”
“…”
“It’s too hard doing it alone. Is there a better way than pressing it down with your hands?”
You’re a butler, but you’re doing maid work too?
Feeling a bit sympathetic, I gave him a tip:
“Don’t press it with your hands. Use your feet.”
Then I returned to my room.
That night, I slept well.
