Chapter 22
22
The number of personnel is not proportional to the results.
He would be quite stressed seeing the places I cleaned haphazardly, and would end up in a tiring situation where he had to do the work twice.
That's right. Giving mental fatigue, not physical!
As expected, I could see Dante's face gradually hardening.
"No, Master. Please don't."
"Come on, don't refuse. I'm doing it because I want to."
I knew very well that he was refusing sincerely, not just out of courtesy.
His tightly closed Adam's apple slowly moved up and down, and soon a sigh-like voice was heard.
"Master."
"Yes."
"Never mind."
He turned his head and kept sighing.
He already looks tired, so it's working.
* * *
The sun had completely set, and a quiet darkness descended. We arrived at the mansion and entered the garden.
But I had a strong feeling that this wasn't my house. In other words, I didn't feel the gloomy and eerie atmosphere that had been neglected for a long time.
"Huh?"
I couldn't help but be shocked at the sight before my eyes.
"He did all this in a few hours...?"
The huge garden had been transformed into a wonderful theme park that looked like you had to pay an entrance fee to enter.
Killian, who was stroking Toto among the cute and adorable animal-shaped topiaries like rabbits, cats, dogs, and dragons, turned to look at me.
"Mia, I have something to show you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the garden, which had been dyed with darkness, was suddenly surrounded by bright light.
My shock was soon replaced with admiration by the light illuminating the garden.
Small light bulbs hung on the animal-shaped topiaries twinkled like constellations. It seems he fixed all the broken streetlights and garden lights. The garden, which looked like an abandoned cemetery at night, was filled with a mysterious light.
I feel like I'm being comforted.
"It's a light that plants like. It also helps them grow."
Looking around the dreamy atmosphere and the garden that looked like it was full of stars, I touched my forehead and smiled helplessly.
I have to admit it. That man is a genius gardener.
"I like it. It's like a touching true story of a genius gardener who transformed a place that people avoided into a beautiful, world-renowned tourist attraction. So many tourists from all over the world visit that it contributes to the local economy, and they even erected a statue to commemorate the gardener's great achievements."
I don't have the gift of gab, so this is the only way I can praise him.
Killian's silver eyes widened in his helmet as he listened silently.
"I didn't expect Mia to give me such excessive praise. I'm happy."
Killian's voice was full of accomplishment and joy, not fatigue.
While smiling warmly and looking around, I suddenly saw Mathias sitting on a nearby bench in an expensive suit. He was looking at the scenery of the garden with a strange expression.
Why is he making that face?
It doesn't seem like he doesn't like it, but somehow his eyes looking at the garden feel wistful and melancholic.
I approached Mathias and tilted my head.
"Don't you like it? You like cute things, don't you?"
"I told you I don't."
He glared at me with his unique arrogant and sulky expression, and tapped the toe of his shoe on his crossed leg.
Tsk, he's denying his liking for it, isn't he? He's like a rose with thorns all over.
Then, I suddenly remembered the old letter that was in the mailbox and asked him.
"Mathias, I found a 150-year-old letter in the mailbox. Is it for you?"
He smoothed his neatly combed black hair and replied.
"No."
"I feel bad about throwing away someone else's letter. It might contain something important."
"Does it matter? They're probably not in this world anyway. You're not thinking of making me read the letter aloud, are you?"
How did he know? That's why I hate men who are quick-witted.
I guess I should ask Dante for help to check the contents.
It might be a bill for overdue utility bills. It might have been overdue for 100 years before I came.
I sighed and naturally sat down next to Mathias.
"Then, instead of reading the letter aloud, I have something else to ask you."
"Am I an encyclopedia that answers everything? You're not even thinking of looking it up yourself, you're so lazy."
He leaned his elbow on the back of the bench, rested his chin on his hand, and made a listless face.
"They say there's a Philosopher's Stone in this mansion."
"So?"
"I mean, can you tell me what it is?"
He put his elbow on the back of the bench, rested his chin on his hand, and made a listless face.
"It's something that's inherited. Even if you get rid of the owner and take it away, someone who isn't chosen can't use it."
I don't understand what he's saying at all.
But I thought I'd get scolded for being a question mark murderer if I asked another question, so I just decided to accept it.
"Oh, so you have it, Mathias? You're the owner of the mansion."
It hadn't even been 5 seconds since I made up my mind, but I ended up asking another question. Mathias tilted his head with an annoyed expression.
"No, I don't have it. Don't worry about useless things and go eat."
Did he lose it? Ugh, would it hurt him to be a little nicer? I got up from my seat, showing my disappointment.
I was the kind of person who had to express my feelings in words to be satisfied.
"I'm disappointed when you talk like that to a stranger. I thought we'd become quite close."
"What do you want me to do?"
He slowly raised one hand. I was a little intimidated, thinking I might have my mouth sealed again.
"I'm just saying. I'm going to eat now, since I mistakenly thought I was close to you, Mathias."
* * *
After entering the mansion and eating the dinner Ezekiel prepared (there was another rolled omelet).
According to my plan, I helped clear the dishes and do the dishes, and I also collected and tied up the trash. I did my best.
"Mia, it's hard, so please don't do it next time."
I heard Dante's worried voice next to me. I shook my head and smiled.
"It's nothing. It's not hard at all."
But he looked at the dishes I had put away in the cupboard and the trash I had gathered in the corner with a very unbearable expression.
"It's hard for me. Please don't torment me."
It's hard for him, so my goal is achieved.
I said to Dante, who was re-sorting the trash from the beginning.
"More than that, I'll go to your room later. I have a favor to ask."
"I understand."
I was going to ask Dante to read the old letter.
At that time, Elluaerd, who was checking the remaining ingredients, looked back and forth between Dante and me.
"You guys are visiting each other's rooms? After promising to marry me. Well, I don't care about the past before marriage, so enjoy yourself freely."
At Elluaerd's words, Dante stared at me with a blank face.
Why is he looking at me with eyes full of betrayal?
I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck and asked the damned demon butler.
"Elluaerd? When did we book our wedding?"
Elluaerd smiled sweetly.
"You said you would take me as your husband as a means to solve the property tax."
"No? There seems to have been a huge misunderstanding."
"But promise me you won't meet other men after we get married. Even demons get hurt."
What is he even saying!
In the meantime, Dante, who quickly finished sorting the trash and washed his hands, strode over and looked down at me. For some reason, his face seems closer.
"You'll regret it. That guy can't do housework."
"No, I don't have any intention of getting married in the first place. I don't have the ability to be the head of the household yet."
"Then will you marry that demon when you have the conditions? That's troublesome."
His voice was quite serious. He's obviously worried about losing his share of the housework.
"I'll leave the housework to you for the rest of my life, so put down your sense of crisis."
After my last remark, I quickly ran away to my room.
As soon as I sat on the bed, fatigue and exhaustion washed over me. In the end, I just passed out.
Why do I feel like I'm the only one accumulating fatigue?
"Let's ask him to read the letter tomorrow morning..."
* * *
The next morning, I looked out at the garden scenery through my room window.
The garden, which had been neglected and overgrown with weeds for a long time, was now embracing warm colors and welcoming spring. It was as if the glory of the past, when royalty and foreign dignitaries visited, was being reproduced.
Then I found Dante, who was looking at a cat with a blank face, and Killian, who was still in armor, in the middle of the garden.
At first glance, they look like scary kidnappers trying to kidnap a cat, but they're just taking care of the food and watching. Killian also sits on the grass and becomes a cat tower for the kittens.
"They looked like they were doing something they really liked. They're not bad people after all."
I muttered to myself.
It didn't seem like they were here to find a secluded place to plot a rebellion. They seemed to be enjoying their work too much.
They don't seem like people who would use and sacrifice me.
Could it be that I'm misremembering the contents of the book?
In the first place, it's a dark historical genre.
I, Mia Fortuna, who doesn't appear even once in the original work, am hiring a black-hearted male lead as a housekeeper and using the strongest people in each field as cooks, butlers, and gardeners. Isn't this a daily sitcom?
It's just a fictional story that someone newly created, but could it be that I'm too conscious of the original work? The story changes completely depending on who writes it.
"Well, I haven't met the female lead either. I've never even heard her name in my life. If the male lead appeared, the female lead would definitely appear too."
"If it's fate, you'll meet everyone."
"Yes, monk's words are righ... Ack!"
I was so surprised by the sudden voice that I screamed.
Elluaerd, in a dark teal suit, standing behind me, smiled at me.
"I've prepared a proposal to make Mia rich."
"Already? More than that, why are you coming in without knocking?"
"I did, but you must not have heard it because you were muttering to yourself."
That demon, he heard all my muttering? I quickly improvised.
"I was thinking about a book I read before."
"What's the title?"
"'The Last Princess'."
The demon, who would be as handsome as Dante or Mathias if he were human, gave a perfect smile.
"Ah, I know that book too."
What? That book exists in this world too?
I Hired the Villain as a Housekeeper
