Translator: Nox

Chapter 5

5

"Isn't it strange? It's impossible for it to still be alive unless the tree moves on its own to find nutrients."

"The tree moves on its own?"

Simone nodded and stood up. Archduke Illestone seemed to be taking Simone's words quite seriously, and that was enough for now.

More than that, it had been quite a while since she had faced off against Archduke Illestone, so she wanted to go back to her room and rest.

It was too long and arduous a journey to endure the fatigue.

"Anyway, please just grant my request, Archduke. I'll tell you the details after I've resolved everything."

He'd find out anyway once it was resolved. But the Archduke still wore a displeased expression.

"...However, I cannot allow an outsider with weapons to enter this place—"

Archduke Illestone shut his mouth at Simone's gaze, which seemed to say, 'Is this guy for real?'

She, who had been smiling sweetly just a moment ago, was now telling him to stop with blood-red eyes.

Simone said in a weary voice.

"Archduke, I have traveled a very long way to get here today. Would you mind postponing the conversation until after everything is over?"

"...Very well."

Right. What was he worried about? If something went wrong with this, Simone would die anyway.

She wouldn't dare do anything reckless.

"Understood. However, I will give you one warning. I will allow you to wander around the mansion while you stay here."

"Thank you."

"But never go up to the third floor."

Simone paused and looked up at the ceiling.

Ah, the place where Archduke Illestone's secret was.

It didn't matter since she didn't plan to touch it right now anyway.

Simone nodded as if to keep it in mind.

"I understand. I'll be careful, so please get some sleep early today."

That way, I can sleep early too.

Simone swallowed the rest of her words and stood up with a friendly smile.

"Don't worry, Archduke. I'll make sure not to disappoint you. Good night."

Her appearance was truly suspicious for someone who didn't seem like a seventeen-year-old.

After Simone left his study, Archduke Illestone ordered everyone living in the mansion to go to bed early, just as she had said.

"Kelle, put in a request with the Adventurer's Guild to urgently find a reliable swordsman. We need them within a week, no matter what."

"Yes, Master."

"And."

Archduke Illestone gazed at the spot where Simone had disappeared and said to his butler, Kelle.

"Find out about that child."

"Yes, I understand, Master."

Archduke Illestone's gaze deepened again.

A child who had appeared out of nowhere and boldly declared that she would break the curse.

He couldn't guarantee yet whether that child would be the salvation of the Illestone family or another curse.

'If she becomes even the slightest threat to the family.'

He would truly eliminate her.

---

"This is the room where Simone will be staying."

"...Room?"

Simone's breath caught in her throat.

This is a room? Not a house?

It was exactly about three times the size of the studio apartment Seo Hyun-jeong used to live in.

Although it wasn't very sunny, the pure white marble and the elaborately embroidered gold patterns sparkled as much as the sunlight.

High ceilings, three large glass windows, and a spacious terrace and rose garden that could be accessed through the arched double doors in the center.

Simone couldn't hide her rising cheekbones.

'I did tell them to treat me properly, but!'

And what about the furniture? It was all beds and tables, probably because it was a room that wasn't usually used, but the quality was extraordinary.

It was like a Rococo-style bed, table, and chairs in a presidential suite that would occasionally be introduced on social media as a 'super-luxury hotel where the wealthy stay'.

In particular, Simone's gaze lingered for a long time on the bed, which she hadn't even laid down on yet but seemed like it would guarantee a one-second instant sleep if she did, due to her fatigue from the journey.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Lost in the luxury for a moment, Simone turned her head to look at the servant at the cold voice.

"Are you not satisfied with this room?"

What's with this one?

It was a completely sarcastic tone.

'A commoner, no, a beggar, daring to.'

The fact that a seventeen-year-old commoner girl had dared to propose a deal to the Archduke had already spread like wildfire among the servants.

The story that she had not only asked to be taken in but also boldly demanded the largest guest room and the same meals as the owner of the mansion.

The servant Kaylee's gaze swept up and down Simone's body with displeasure.

Ominous hair and eye color, dirty and smelly clothes that looked like they had been stolen from somewhere, and even her arrogant behavior towards the Archduke with such a background.

'A disgusting Necromancer is being so presumptuous.'

She was letting it go now because she was the one who would break the Mansion's Curse, but as soon as the request was over, she would hand this child over to the Imperial Palace.

Whether Simone had come to break the curse or not, Kaylee was truly annoyed by this Necromancer girl who was trying to use the mansion as she pleased.

Simone smiled slyly at Kaylee.

"Not satisfied? It's too good."

Was there any need to get angry here? She just wanted to ignore it and sleep. She didn't have the strength to be upset by the servant's actions one by one.

Simone passed Kaylee and headed for the bed. Then she flopped down.

"Ah, I'm alive!"

Kaylee's expression worsened at the brazen behavior. Simone only turned her head and lazily looked at Kaylee, nodding her head.

"Goodbye."

Kaylee frowned, sighed, and nodded her head.

"I will send up a dedicated servant to attend to Simone soon. Please rest comfortably."

A dirty Necromancer, daring to.

Simone pretended not to hear Kaylee's muttering as she turned around and bowed, deliberately for her to hear, and blinked her tired eyes as she looked around the room.

'Nice room. Let's sleep for now.'

Whatever the future holds, sleep comes first.

---

On the first day, Simone's noble experience began.

Archduke Illestone had faithfully fulfilled the deal, considering how much he had doubted Simone.

When she woke up from her sweet sleep and began to look around the room in earnest, a servant of the same age who would be in charge of Simone came in with light refreshments and greeted her.

"Ah, hello... Simone..."

Whether life in the mansion was quite difficult, the freckled, cute face looked consistently gloomy and depressed. The servant stuttered a greeting and avoided eye contact with a frightened face.

It was obvious that she had been forcibly pushed by the senior servants.

"I'm... well, I'm Anna, who has been assigned to attend to Simone from today... ah, no, to take care of you."

She introduced herself as if she was being chased and handed Simone the tea and snacks she had prepared. It was the same tea that the Archduke drank.

Anna was timid and shy, but she treated Simone relatively politely. After having snacks, she briefly gave her a tour of the mansion.

While passing through the corridor connected to the garden with Anna, Simone was able to see an unexpected sight.

"It's quite a friendly atmosphere."

Servants were chatting happily in the garden. The sound of laughter was so pure that if people who didn't know this was the Illestone mansion saw it, they would say it was a mansion with a better atmosphere than other nobles' mansions.

"Y-yes. That's right."

A faint smile finally appeared on Anna's lips, which had been tense from beginning to end.

"Everyone thinks that the people of the Illestone mansion are living a hard life in a gloomy and depressing atmosphere, but everyone is just... the rules are strict."

Anna's smile turned into bitterness in an instant.

It would be a lie to say that life in the mansion wasn't difficult and scary. But Archduke Illestone treated them with care and cultivated the garden beautifully so that sadness would not be felt.

Everyone was working hard to create the brightest and most enjoyable atmosphere possible.

Although people from the outside only knew the dark and scary rumors of the mansion, it was still a slightly larger, cozy home for those who lived there.

"Simone, I heard that dinner is ready. Wouldn't it be better to go back to your room as it's getting cold?"

Simone's eyes sparkled as she looked around the garden comfortably.

"Dinner?"

"Yes. ...Ah, it's prepared the same as the Master's meal."

Simone smiled brightly. It was the brightest smile she had shown since coming to the mansion.

She had been discriminated against in an orphanage with severe financial difficulties, so how long had it been since she had a decent meal!

'Isn't this the first time since I came to this world?'

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Seeing Simone like that, Anna secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The senior servants had been complaining so much that her personality was bad.

She had been worried about what would happen if she made a fuss, saying she would check if it was the same as the Archduke's meal.

Surprised by the unexpected appearance, Anna glanced at Simone and moved her feet.

---

A little later, a luxurious meal was set on the table in Simone's room.

Steamed vegetables and meat soup, and even steak, to make it easy to eat. Even though he had been cursed and pushed to the back, the Archduke's family was still the Archduke's family.

It was overwhelmingly luxurious and delicious compared to the food she had eaten when she was Seo Hyun-jeong.

Simone said to Anna, who was watching her eat, while eating the meal that had been served.

"You worked hard today, Anna."

"Yes?"

"I want to eat alone slowly, so please go back now."

"...Yes?"

It was only after a little time had passed that Anna realized it was a dismissal.

'I think I should finish cleaning up the meal before I leave...'

Anna, who had been worried, soon remembered the master's order to go to bed early from today and nodded her head.

"Then, Simone, have a comfortable night."

After finishing her greeting, Anna glanced at Simone as she left the room.

Could that small, thin person really have such a terrifying power?

The ominous Power of Death that she had only heard about was in the girl who was smiling brightly and eating happily, and she even saw things that ordinary people couldn't see.

'I can't believe it.'

But Anna quickly turned her gaze away from Simone and quietly left the room.

Anna knew very well that there was no point in finding out more about her.

Tak-

The door closed and the room became quiet. Simone locked the door and started eating again.

The sun had already set and it was night.

By the time Simone had finished her meal, the room had become so dark that even the candles that Anna had lit were useless.

'It's about time to come out.'

Simone stared at the door with the knife she had been using to cut the steak in her hand.

One hour, two hours passed like that.

When Simone turned her head to look out the window for a very short time.

Knock knock.

Someone approached without a sound and knocked on the door.