Chapter 29
It had been a while since I last visited the Butler. The servants, who had been peeking as if reporting something to him, bowed their heads deeply and slunk away without even stepping on my shadow. It's bittersweet that this reaction counts as an improvement.
“Lady? What brings you here…?”
“I need something.”
“What might that be?”
“I heard there used to be a maid named Daisy here?”
The Butler fell silent.
“The one who entered the convent.”
Ah, why act like this when you know everything? I already know it all. Feels like I'm a detective interrogating a criminal.
“I want to know where Daisy lives. Surely you have that info?”
Like they discard records of recently quit employees immediately? Though thinking about it, keeping personal info on former servants is a bit iffy too. Plus, upper management investigates backgrounds and digs up home addresses on their own.
“I heard she sold her house when entering the convent. The convent is probably her home now.”
No, that's the problem—she's not at the convent. The director there committed so many misdeeds that Daisy fled and righteously reported it. And spilled my misdeeds too while at it.
Saying it like this makes me seem on par with that rotten director? Daisy looks way more righteous.
“No other place she might be staying?”
The Butler looks like he knows more. Those round glasses make him seem like the head of an info guild moonlighting as an assassin or something.
After I kept pressing relentlessly, another piece of info popped out. Knew it. He was hiding it all along.
“Ainoa Orphanage?”
“She was an orphanage graduate. If she left the convent and needed a temporary stay, it'd be there.”
Orphanage? So Daisy was at the orphanage, became the villainess's maid and got bullied, fled to the convent only to get traumatized by the crazy director. Exact timeline unknown, but she was captured by slave traders along with Jelly—who was also caught—and they escaped together unharmed.
Somehow… doesn't Daisy have a deeper backstory than Kanna? Was she actually the heroine, not Kanna? Thought she was a contrived character planted by the original story's inertia to block the villainess's rampage, but was I wrong?
Whatever. I'll find out when I go. Before heading to the Butler, I'd already changed into modest outing clothes and packed plenty of gold coins.
A carriage waited outside. Not the Rohanson Count family carriage—seems like a separately hired one. When did they call it?
“Mr. Jelly called it for you.”
Feel bad for badmouthing him earlier. Yeah, Jelly's a bit cheeky, but it listens well and is considerate.
“Good job?”
Jelly grinned smugly. Bragging with claw marks still on its face, really.
“Where's Pudding?”
“Here.”
Jelly handed over Pudding. Wait, bringing the kid? We have to ride the carriage—those things shake so much.
“Pudding, wanna come along?”
Pudding nodded. Can't take it back now. Since Pudding wants to come, no choice but to bring it.
“Where to?”
Maybe because Jelly hired it, the coachman was overly polite. Though he seems to have a slightly bad habit. Guess the coachman uncle scratches his neck a lot—his slightly visible neck is red.
“To Ainoa Orphanage.”
Whatever. Doesn't affect driving skill.
***
Today, Daisy had visited the orphanage where she'd been indebted until a few years ago. After fleeing the temple like a fugitive, she'd rented a cheap inn room. No work, just eating and sleeping—money vanished rapidly.
Calculating her remaining funds, she noticed more left than usual and realized she hadn't stopped by the orphanage lately.
‘Time to visit.’
To repay the director's grace, Daisy always donated part of her earnings to the orphanage. Sometimes she'd bring bread and fruit for the kids.
She'd visited once before entering the convent. Today, she especially missed her younger siblings. With those thoughts, Daisy bought armfuls of gifts and headed to the orphanage.
Being away so long, the orphanage felt terribly unfamiliar. Unusually quiet too. Puzzled but undeterred, Daisy entered.
No one inside the orphanage. Nothing to do but call for the kids and director while opening doors one by one.
Did they all go on a trip? Then, opening the director's office door, she saw a very familiar pattern that shouldn't be there.
Drawn by that thing wearing the young lady's skin, the same image she'd summoned—painted in blood.
‘Why is that here?’
Daisy couldn't face reality for a moment. Why was that drawing in the orphanage, and why was it empty? Ominous imaginings wrapped her body. Hairs stood on end; her throat tightened.
Legs gave out; she crawled closer on her knees. The floor drawing was truly a Summoning Circle to call a demon. And that viscous color was etched vividly in her mind. A fishy smell lingered.
‘What is this….’
At this point, it felt like the drawing was pursuing her.
What happened to the director? The orphanage kids? Their innocent faces rushing to her calls were still vivid. No way… sacrifices for this sorcery circle….
Daisy frantically searched the orphanage again just in case, but no signs of life—not even corpses. Only the blood-drawn image remained.
Daisy sat there dazed for a while before staggering out on trembling legs. Couldn't stay longer—fled. She desperately wanted to see a living person right now.
Half out of her mind, a carriage whooshed past Daisy's nose as she walked. A wheel her size rolled right in front; startled, she collapsed.
“Crazy bastard! Suicidal maniac?”
The coachman yelled without stopping. No idea who's inside, but most carriages don't halt once moving to avoid upsetting nobles.
Daisy sat dazed amid the sharp curses. A passerby helped her up.
“Sheesh. Who's the crazy one? Miss, you okay?”
Not content, he even dusted off her clothes. Daisy bowed repeatedly, murmuring ‘Thank you, thank you.’
“Feeling unwell? Then hurry home and rest….”
The passerby patted her shoulder comfortingly before resuming his walk.
Daisy mulled his words, then buried her face in her hands. Tears threatened again. Go home? Where? If there's no home to return to, where should she go?
‘Director. Kids….’
“Must find the guards….”
No. Can't. No bodies—just people vanished. What would guards do? Plus, with that sorcery circle, normal methods won't work.
She needed someone else now. Someone who could resolve this immediately, as she wished….
Daisy hailed a carriage.
“To Rohanson, Rohanson Mansion.”
“Call if you need help. I'll charge next time.”
“If you have a wish, come find me. I'll grant it.”
She recalled the demon and Evangeline's words. Come if you need help. For real? Would she help?
Common sense said go to the temple, not Evangeline. But could Daisy just enter the Grand Temple? Last time, it took three days even for access. Too late.
Plus, they'd still be investigating Berga Priest—delaying the orphanage search further.
Evangeline, though… she'd surely know all about that sorcery circle.
“Five coppers.”
Daisy reached for her pouch. But searching her bosom yielded no money pouch. Where did she drop it? Then recalled the passerby who helped when nearly hit—stolen then.
“No money? Get off.”
“I'm in a hurry. Please, I'll pay later.”
“Listen, kid. Think I've fallen for that trick once or twice? Your type says you'll fetch money then bolts. Happened to me before—can't risk it. Sorry, hail another.”
Daisy had no choice but to disembark.
Resigned, she started walking. Step by step, slowly at first—then faster, now sprinting.
There'll be a way at Rohanson Mansion.
Daisy ran. When lungs burned, she walked briefly. Calves aching, feet heavy—she finally reached Rohanson Mansion after running far.
“What business?”
The gatekeeper blocked her. New hire after Daisy quit? Unfamiliar face. Easier if someone she knew.
Daisy pondered, then uttered the name.
“Evangeline… to see Lady Evangeline.”
That day, Daisy first acknowledged that the thing possessing the dead young lady's body was called ‘Lady Evangeline’ in society. And she called it that too.
It felt like killing the dead girl again.
“The Lady is out.”
Of all times? Said come if you have a wish! Daisy bowed her head.
