Chapter 12
As Simone stepped out of the study, Anna, who had been anxiously waiting, rushed over and stood beside her.
“Did, did the master say anything...?”
“What about?”
“Ah, um, it’s just that, um, whether you, Simone, will be able to stay in the mansion...”
“Of course! I passed the Archduke's test, didn’t I?”
“Thank goodness!”
Anna beamed with joy. Initially, she had been afraid of Simone, but during their time together, she had come to know Simone's kindness. There was no one else who treated her with such tenderness.
So every time Simone was called by the Archduke, Anna was filled with worry that she might be chased away.
The fact that she had passed the test meant that Simone would no longer be in danger of being expelled, which was truly a relief.
“By the way, we should start on the guidebook—”
Clack—
Clack— clack—
As the two of them walked toward the room, the distinct sound of heels echoed in their ears.
Hearing the slow, steady clacking approaching without any change in stride, Simone stopped in her tracks and turned her head.
“...Ah!”
At that moment, Anna hurriedly pulled Simone aside, moving away from the center of the hallway and bowing her head.
“Simone, it’s, it’s the Archduchess...”
Anna whispered softly.
The clacking grew closer, and finally, the silhouette of the owner came into view.
“Si, Simone... Raise your head—”
Simone, unable to hear Anna's voice, stared intently at the silhouette.
‘What is that smell...?’
Her expression involuntarily twisted in distaste.
Archduchess Florie of Illestone.
The pale-skinned woman, exuding a terrible stench, approached Simone, shot her a cold glance, and then disappeared into the Archduke's study.
She looked as stiff as a corpse.
Rule 100: Never enter the Archduchess Florie's room. Do not knock on the door or even pass by.
Also, prepare two servings for the Archduchess's meals at every meal.
“Hmm.”
Simone fell into thought as she skimmed through the guidebook.
The rules regarding Archduchess Florie written on the last page of the guidebook were the most recent curses among the 300-year-old ones.
And in fact, Simone knew the secret behind this rule.
This was the primary reason the Archduke in the original story had kidnapped Simone.
Therefore, it was only natural that, just as in the original, Simone would not have the ability to break this curse.
Even if she knew the secret of this passage, it would not change anything.
“Why... is that, Simone?”
Anna asked with a worried expression.
“Um... it’s nothing...”
I guess I have to find it, right? I have no choice but to find it.
“Is that so? Ah!”
Simone's expression clearly showed her annoyance.
“Haah.”
The symptoms of this curse would only intensify as the protagonist, Abel, arrived in the Luan Empire.
No matter how long she delayed, by the time Abel arrived in the Luan Empire, Simone would be forced to prioritize breaking this curse at the Archduke's command.
‘But...’
[Rule 100: Never enter the Archduchess Florie's room. Do not knock on the door or even pass by.
Also, prepare two servings for the Archduchess's meals at every meal.]
This rule, which seemed to be a curse placed on Archduchess Florie, was actually a curse placed on their forgotten son, Jace.
Chapter 2: The Forgotten One
Just a year ago, there was a maid named Rie in the Illestone mansion.
“This is the study where the master usually stays. Always keep your mouth shut and minimize your footsteps when passing through here.”
“Yes, head maid.”
The young maid Rie, who had just entered the Illestone mansion, replied with a slightly relaxed expression.
‘The atmosphere is brighter than I expected.’
When she first heard that she had been sold from the orphanage to the Illestone mansion, she thought she would die the moment she entered.
It was no wonder; rumors spread throughout the territory that the Illestone mansion was a place where no one could live, and even the front door was blocked by trees that seemed to devour people.
She couldn’t express how much she resented the orphanage director who had sold her here.
However, once she entered the mansion, the atmosphere was vastly different from what Rie had imagined.
Aside from the trees blocking the mansion and the bizarre guidebook, this place was just like any other grand, albeit old, noble mansion.
‘As long as I lock the door tightly while sleeping and follow the guidebook’s contents, I should be fine?’
The thought that she might die if she made a mistake had long since vanished from Rie’s mind.
People often easily fell for appearances more than they realized.
No matter how dangerous this place was, to Rie’s eyes, it seemed like a very peaceful and warm ordinary mansion.
As she climbed the stairs, listening to the head maid's explanations of each room, it happened.
“Stop walking.”
The head maid, who had been walking confidently without a hitch, suddenly halted and turned to Rie.
Startled, Rie took a step back and looked up at the head maid.
Just moments ago, the head maid had been wearing a gentle expression, but now her face was stiff with fear.
“The room visible from this staircase is the Archduchess’s room.”
“Ah...”
The one mentioned on the last page of the guidebook.
Rie glanced at the Archduchess Florie's room on the third floor, visible beyond the head maid.
As per the guidebook’s warning not to approach, the area near the Archduchess’s room was covered in dust, as if it had never been cleaned.
‘Isn’t that a bit excessive...?’
It was still the room where the Archduchess lived. If she was sensitive to noise, wouldn’t it be right to clean it even if she briefly left for a meal?
Rie’s questioning gaze was halted by the head maid’s actions, which blocked her view with her body.
“Rie, the area you’re standing in is the only place you’re allowed to clean.”
“Excuse me? Ah, yes!”
“Under no circumstances should you take an interest in the Archduchess’s room or go near it. Just do what you have to do.”
“...”
“Unless you want to die.”
The head maid's words were not merely a warning; they were spoken with genuine concern for Rie.
“Answer me. Quickly.”
Thus, Rie found herself unable to respond even more.
For the first time since coming to the mansion, she felt fear from the head maid's pale, rigid face that demanded a response.
“Let’s go back.”
Without further explanation, the head maid hurriedly led her down the stairs.
It felt as if they were fleeing from the silent Archduchess Florie's room.
After that, Rie gradually adapted to the mansion.
She followed the rules well and got along with the other servants in similar situations.
However, she could not shake one particular curiosity.
“...”
Every dawn, while mopping the stairs, she would see the Archduchess Florie's room.
Rie always paused her mopping in the dust-laden area.
‘Is there really someone living here?’
The servants always paid attention to their movements to avoid being seen by their employer, but was it reasonable that Rie had never seen the Archduchess even once?
She had heard that the Archduchess sometimes came out of her room, but Rie had never felt her presence, let alone seen her.
For Rie, who cleaned this area every day, it was impossible not to be concerned.
Every day, not only was it visible, but the dust piled up so much that she felt uneasy every time she mopped.
‘But what can I do?’
If they say not to, then she shouldn’t.
Just as Rie was about to head down the stairs while casting a glance at the Archduchess Florie's room.
“Live.”
She froze.
A woman’s voice came from the Archduchess Florie's room.
Rie stiffly turned her head.
Live and kill.
Don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget.
...Why is there blood again?
The voice, sounding as if it were about to stop at any moment, echoed ceaselessly from within the Archduchess Florie's room.
“...Blood?”
Without realizing it, Rie’s feet crossed the threshold into the Archduchess Florie's room.
She had no choice but to go.
The voice, which seemed to belong to the Archduchess, spoke of blood. Moreover, it sounded as if something was writhing in agony inside the room.
‘Think, think, think, think, think!!!!!!’
Bang! Crash!
Rie flinched at the loud noise.
It was a sound so loud it could be heard from anywhere in the mansion, and in this quiet space, it resonated even more.
The air grew heavy.
Normally, she would have felt fear and run away, but Rie could not suppress the curiosity that had arisen since she first came here.
She felt an inexplicable urge.
Slowly, slowly, she made her way toward the Archduchess Florie's room.
“Um, Your Highness? Is there, is there something uncomfortable?”
As a mere lowly maid, Rie had no right to inquire about the Archduchess’s discomfort, but she wanted to use it as an excuse to open the Archduchess’s door and check.
It was an unusual impulse that was unlike her.
“Are you, are you alright?”
The door, which she had thought was locked, opened as soon as Rie grasped the doorknob.
‘Finally, I can uncover the secret of this room!’
As Rie opened the door wider with a bright smile, she was suddenly hit by the foul stench emanating from within and froze.
“Ah...”
Only after opening the door did Rie realize what she had done.
A stench so unbearable that she could hardly breathe, and darkness that obscured everything even in broad daylight.
Clack clack—
Startled by the sound of heels, Rie looked up.
From the stench emerged the silhouette of a woman. And behind her, another shadow could be seen.
Pooling beneath the emaciated black shadow was dark red blood.
‘...Huh!’
[Prepare two servings for the Archduchess's meals at every meal.]
Only then did Rie recall the last line of the guidebook.
The approaching woman came closer to Rie, her bloodied hands not hidden at all.
“Haha... Jace, another one who recognizes you has entered the room.”
“L, let me... live...”
“Look at this. You haven’t been forgotten by anyone, little one.”
Florie’s eyes were wide with excitement, and her breathing was ragged.
She looked anything but normal. Rie, terrified and shedding tears, took a step back.
“Ah... Ah... Ah... Aaaah!!!!!”
If I stay here, I will die.
The moment that thought filled her mind, Rie fled. Before Florie could get closer, she hurriedly left the room and slammed the door shut.
Bang bang bang bang bang!!!!!!!!
Crash—
“You saw it! Why can’t you remember! It’s your fault!”
With Florie’s sharp voice, the entire mansion shook as the door rattled violently.
However, even though the door was not locked, Rie did not open it again.
“Ugh!!!!”
Just as Rie, pale with fear, was about to step down the stairs in a hurry.
“...Huh?”
Was it the fear and urgency? Her foot slipped, and Rie tumbled down the stairs.
Thud!
After rolling for a while, Rie fell to the ground with a groan.
“Ah... Ah...”
It hurts.
Something was broken, and something was twisted.
“Let me... live...”
She cried out with all her might, but no one came to help her.
After a while, Rie’s movements, writhing in pain and screaming, gradually came to a halt.
She no longer shouted.
“Haah... Haah... Come back! Come back! Aah! Come back and call Jace’s name!!!!!”
The only sound that could be heard was Florie’s screams as she shook the doorknob as if to break it from within.
And soon, the voice of Archduchess Florie also ceased.
The head maid, who had been watching the situation from the bottom of the stairs, spoke emotionlessly.
“...One more maid has lost her life for not following the guidebook. Handle it discreetly and report to the master.”
The maid Rie, who had worked in the Archduke's mansion, vanished from existence.
The Illestone mansion welcomed another morning as if nothing had happened.
It was the day that marked the seventh year since the rules regarding Archduchess Florie had been established.
