Chapter 23
23
“Simone, don’t tell me.”
Kaylee looked at Simone with suspicious eyes.
“You’re not thinking of bringing that healer in as another ‘employee,’ are you?”
Simone stared back at Kaylee.
“What are you talking about?”
“You were looking at him with such interest.”
Simone shook her head. Of course, she had thought about keeping someone with such skill by her side, considering she would inevitably get hurt again. However, it was best to let people who lived with a grand purpose do as they pleased.
The reason Simone had looked at him with interest was because, as the healer had said, she was surprised that such a healer existed in this remote village.
“Kaylee, ask the butler for that healer’s name. We might have to see him again soon.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Kaylee answered Simone while clearing the table.
Kaylee flinched and stopped, noticing the blood soaking the white cloth on the table.
Simone was now perfectly fine, sipping tea as if nothing had happened, but just moments ago, her fingers had been completely crushed, and she couldn't bear the pain, eventually shedding tears.
‘It must have hurt a lot.’
She had said it hurt, and that indifferent, annoying face had looked so forlorn.
‘To save Anna.’
She had faced the curse head-on, which she should have ignored for a mere low-ranking servant, and ended up like that.
Kaylee stood straight and looked at Simone.
“Um, Simone.”
Simone, completely exhausted and sprawled on the plush chair, only turned her head to look at Kaylee.
Kaylee’s hand, holding the rag, clenched tightly.
“Thank you for saving Anna. If it weren’t for you, Anna would have died.”
She had hated that unique indifference, that audacity, with a passion. She had thought she was lying and had entered this mansion under false pretenses.
But not anymore. She wasn’t audacious; she was confident.
Kaylee recalled the sight of her running out to chase the monster, her hands stained with blood.
Someone who was risking her life for this mansion deserved to be treated this well.
“And I’m sorry. For the harsh things I said back then.”
“Harsh things? Oh, you mean the ‘commoner this, commoner that’ stuff?”
Kaylee’s hand clenched even tighter. She wanted to curse her past self.
Simone grinned and said,
“No need to thank me. I saved her because it was Anna, and I wanted to save her.”
It wasn’t because Kaylee had asked her to.
“If it wasn’t Anna, I would have ignored it as the manual said.”
Anna was the only one who had treated Simone kindly since she came to this mansion, so she had gone to save her, even if it meant pushing herself.
Kaylee trembled at the implication that she wouldn’t have cared if anyone else had died.
What if it had been Kaylee herself, not Anna, who had been captured by that monster?
Kaylee would have died.
And Simone wouldn’t have batted an eye.
Realizing this, goosebumps rose all over her body.
A person who could kill or save the people of this mansion. That was Simone.
The girl in front of her looked different.
She began to fear her.
“S-still, I’m thankful.”
Kaylee quickly finished her words and continued clearing the table.
People’s hearts were so fickle.
‘I hated her so much.’
But Kaylee ignored her feelings and left the room.
For now, she needed to find out the healer’s name as Simone had ordered.
Several days later, Anna was able to return safely.
Anna, whom she hadn't seen in a while, looked more haggard than before, as if her energy had been drained.
But thankfully, the injured hand was fine.
“It’s all thanks to the healer! When I came to my senses, my hand was completely healed!”
“Your hand seems to be healed, but shouldn’t you rest a little more?”
“B-but I can’t keep leaving all the work to the other maids forever!”
“Hmm.”
Simone frowned at Anna, who looked strangely gaunt, and stood up.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes! Of course! I’m totally fine!”
“Then let’s go.”
“Huh?”
No sooner had Simone spoken than Kaylee grabbed a bag and stood behind her.
Anna stared blankly at Kaylee, who was moving quickly, and Simone, who was heading for the door, before timidly asking,
“U-um, where are we going…?”
“We promised, didn’t we? To look around the village together.”
“…Ah!”
Anna smiled brightly and approached Simone, then began fidgeting with her clothes.
“Then… then please wait a moment! I’ll change my clothes and pack my things!”
“Go ahead.”
As Anna hurried out of the room, Kaylee came closer and asked,
“Simone, I’ll leave the luggage here. I’ll bring the guards.”
“Guards? Why guards?”
Kaylee scanned Simone up and down.
“The village is more dangerous than you think. Especially for women, and especially for those who look wealthy. And you fit both categories, Simone.”
It was a village that had suffered from poverty for a long time. There were many people who would loot or steal money without any guilt, and you could get into trouble just for wearing clean clothes.
Those who had nothing to lose and nothing to gain feared nothing in order to survive for today.
So, they would threaten anyone who looked like a noble and take what they had.
“If it were just Anna, she would know how to hide and get around, but since she’s with someone she’s serving, she won’t be able to go the usual routes.”
For the safety of Anna and Simone, armed guards were necessary, even if only as a show of force.
“Then I’ll leave it to you. Oh, can’t I just go with the guards outside the door?”
Of course, it was uncomfortable to go out with people she had never spoken to, but what could she do if it was dangerous?
Kaylee nodded and put down the luggage. Then she left the room.
“I’ll report Simone’s outing to Kelle. Please wait a moment.”
Kaylee, who had gone to get permission from the head butler Kelle for Simone’s outing, returned a short while later with a large sum of money.
She looked very nervous.
“What’s that?”
Kaylee handed Simone the money pouch with trembling hands.
“It’s… spending money.”
“Spending money?”
“Well, when I reported it to Kelle, he gave it to me. You had already reported the outing with Anna once before, right?”
Before the Shapeshifting Rat incident, Simone had received permission for an outing once, but it had naturally been dropped when Anna disappeared.
“He said it was money that the master had entrusted to the head butler back then. For Simone’s share.”
Simone opened the pouch. It was full of gold coins.
‘Is this… a lot?’
She didn’t know the currency units of this world yet, so she didn’t know if it was a lot or a little, but visually, it looked like a considerable amount.
“He said you must be going because you need something, and to buy whatever you need. Clothes, things….”
Kaylee couldn’t take her eyes off the pouch.
Gulp. Simone could almost hear her swallowing. Simone quickly put the money pouch into her bag.
“Thank you.”
“Simone!”
Anna returned, looking excited. She said she was going to change her clothes, but she had only taken off her apron and was carrying a shopping bag and a separate small bag slung across her shoulders.
“Shall we go then?”
Instead of answering, Simone approached Anna. Kaylee handed Simone’s bag to the guard in charge of escorting them and said to Anna,
“Anna, you must never go down dangerous paths. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Don’t stray off the path, even if there are guards. Just take care of your business and come back.”
Kaylee glanced at Simone.
“…I doubt that will happen.”
She was someone who never knew where she would bounce off to. Moreover, Anna was easily swayed by Simone’s words and actions, so Kaylee’s advice would probably be ignored.
So Kaylee said once more,
“Anna, you must come back as soon as it gets dark. You must prioritize Simone’s safety above all else, understand?”
“Yes. I know, Kaylee.”
“Don’t forget that she is the hope of this mansion.”
Anna’s expression became even more determined at Kaylee’s words.
“I will protect her!”
Kaylee gave a few more instructions to the servants accompanying Simone before letting them go.
The curse of the Illestone family was well-known in the Ruan Empire, and especially in the village, there were strange rumors that not only the family members but also the servants were cursed, so they were able to walk around the village more safely than the people of other noble families.
People didn’t approach them for fear of catching the curse.
But now that the tree at the entrance, which was considered a symbol of the Illestone family being cursed, had disappeared, things might be different than usual.
