âThing is, the Young Master refused, so the priest decided to go back⊠Still though, he left some holy water behind to wish him a happy birthday. The Madam took it and splashed some on the Young Master, and thatâs where this whole mess started. The Madam said that the Young Masterâs skin burned where the holy water touched, and she kept saying that it was clear that the devil was within him. But if thatâs the case, there should have been someone else who also saw it.â
âH-Huuuh⊠A devil?â
âI know right? Devils donât exist in this world. If the Young Master really was one, why are all the people in this mansion still fine? Something should have already happened. I was scared at first because the Madam shouted so loudly that the Young Master was the devil, but now everything just thinks sheâs gone off her rocker. Back then only a few people stayed to work.â
âWhat about the rest? Did they quit?â
âThey quit and suddenly disappeared. Well, you know. Thereâs a lot of workers out there who run away when things get tough. Thereâs no reason for us to look for such people either.â
ââŠâŠâ
âSince then, the Madam has mostly stayed in her room because of her anxiety. She keeps muttering to herself, but you know, when I listen to some of it, chills go up my spine. Thatâs why if there comes a time that you need to attend to the Madam, just pretend you canât hear her and come out after youâre done with work. If you happen to mention the Young Master even a little, sheâll get agitated again.â
âThen today, in the Young Masterâs roomâŠâ
âWhile no one was around her, the Madam went to the Young Masterâs room. Iâm sure she made a fuss there and shouted at him that he was the devil. When this happens, everyoneâs shushed. Thereâs nothing good about leaking out the fact that the Madam isnât in her right mind.â
âWait, so only a few people know about it now? You, Miss Leticia, me, Emily⊠Who else?â
âUm, the Count, the Madam herself, the butler Alvan, Delores⊠only those people I think?â
For a moment, I tried to place myself in Adrianâs shoes. Adrianâa literal devilâwould have been put on the spot during that baptism, and it was common sense that his constitution wouldnât agree with holy water. What would Adrian do if these things would be used as evidence to reveal his true identity?
Wouldnât the first people heâd kill⊠the ones who knew the truth?
âWait, Older Sis. Did you come out of the room alone?â
âWhat do you mean?â
âWhoâs left in that room right now?â
When I asked her urgently, Catarinaâs eyes grew bigger.
âOh, it must be just the Young Master and Miss Leticia. No one else is going to visit the Young Masterâs room.â
âOh my god!â
âWhy are you so shocked? Are you afraid that the Madamâs there? Even if you worry about thatâŠâ
I didnât have time to explain. I shook off Catarinaâs hand and ran straight out of the kitchen. I was relieved that Catarina left with me when I left the room earlier, but as I was busy trying to figure out the story she told me, I forgot who was left with Adrian.
âYou canât be dead. Oh my god. Oh Jesus Christ.â
As I climbed the stairs two or three steps at a time, I could barely catch my breath. I ran all the way up to the fourth floor without taking a breather. The emergency siren icon, which had stayed silent as I went down to the kitchen, now began to glow with a red light once more.
Bang! As soon as I arrived at the door, I grabbed the knob without hesitating and threw the door open. Leticia was sitting with her back facing me now as she was folding the ripped curtains. AndâŠ
Adrian was looming right behind her.
âMiss Leticia!â
The moment I yelled, Adrian paused for a moment. When Leticia turned around, Adrian already hid his hand behind his back. Trying not to look at him, who slowly straightened his posture, I tried to slow down my breathing.
âE-Excuse, me. Miss Leticia, please, with me, come⊠Please come with me to the kitchen.â
âWhy? Did something happen in the kitchen? I need to clean up a little more here.â
Leticia turned back to the thick curtains in front of her and started folding them again. Feeling restless, I bit my lips.
âUrgent! Itâs really urgent. We have to go. Now.â
âRight now?â
âRight now! Hurry!â
When I stomped my feet and shouted again, Leticia sighed heavily. At this rate, trouble would befall this mansion if I let this slip even once⊠Leticia continued to mutter like that, but as she was about to get up, she found a shadow over her.
âOh my, Young Master. When did you get up from the bed?â
âA little while ago. I was going to help you because it looks hard folding the curtains.â
Adrian took a step back. While I was staring at him, my nerves shooting through the sky, Leticia seemed to be so moved to tears at what he said.
âHow is it possible for the Young Master to have such a lovely heart? Please donât worry. The Madam will soon be herself again as sheâs being treated by a marvelous doctor. Do you remember? The Madam cared very much about you, Young Master. It would be wonderful if thereâs a chance for you to take a walk in the garden againâŠâ
âYes, yeees. Thatâs right. Ahaha, I remember that, too, Miss Leticia.â
As I tried to hurry along Leticiaâs words, Adrianâs gaze turned to me right then. Slowly, every time he looked at me slowly like this, it felt like a fire was gradually rising. In front of a predator, I shrank back as if I was his prey being backed into a corner. All thatâs on my mind at this moment was I want to get out of this room right this second.
âHaha, ha. Those were the good old days, but⊠Miss Leticia, hurry!â
âAlright, alright. Really, whatâs going on that itâs gotten you so worked up?â
âCome on, Iâll carry the curtains!â
âGoodness, fine. Youâre strong anyway. Young Master, I apologize. As you heard, thereâs a commotion in the kitchen, so⊠Iâll take a look for a moment and Iâll come back up to continue cleaning.â
ââŠOkay, go ahead.â
âQuickly, quickly!â
I picked up a bunch of curtains and pushed Leticia on her back. At this, she clicked her tongue, but she soon began to walk. Quite literally pushing her out the room, I glanced behind me.
Two eyes gleamed in the darkness. Those dangerous orbs seemed to be taking everything in.
As soon as our eyes met, I averted my gaze towards my front quickly, as though Iâd been burned.
My heart was pounding wildly. Even though there was a rule that he couldnât kill anyone in the presence of multiple people, it felt like this tenacious, sharp killing intent could urge him to pounce at any given moment.
I tried to calm myself down as I recalled what I saw when I entered the room a while ago.