Chapter 10: The Hero’s New Job (9)

　　After returning to the mansion and greeting the servants, I went back to my room and sat on the edge of the dusty bed.

　　Including me, there are a total of eight servants working here.

　　It was an incredibly small number for such a large mansion, but somehow it was being managed. The kitchen assistant also handled the laundry, and the cleaning staff tended the garden.

　　Thanks to the small number, it should be easy to identify the spy.

　　But there was a problem. Other than the chef, I had no one to suspect. In fact, the possibility of the chef being a spy was extremely low. If he were really a spy, he would have been more obedient; he wouldn’t have been thinking of lining his own pockets by openly skimming money for ice. This meant there was no one I could put on the list of suspects right now. After pondering for a long time, I came up with a method that was a bit bothersome but certain.

　　First, I’ll have to meet with everyone at least once.

　　And I’ll have to secretly cast a tracking spell. My control over magic should be better now. Right after I was transmigrated into this body, I had no idea how to use magic or how to manage my mana. It was like a blank slate, so to speak. But as time passed, memories related to the original Reina Khan’s magic slowly seeped in. So I was slowly able to use her magic. I still don’t know why she died or how I ended up being transmigrated, though. In any case, thanks to the memories of the great mage Reina Khan, using a tracking spell wasn’t difficult, and with it, I would be able to expose the spy quickly.

　　I’ll cast the tracking spell during the morning meeting tomorrow.

　　Having laid out my plan, I slowly got up from the bed. The food I ordered should have arrived by now, so Sedian would be eating. That meant he wouldn’t call for me for a while. So…

　　“Time to clean.”

　　I might actually die if I keep living here. The room, filled with a gloomy atmosphere, had mold growing in spots due to the humidity. The thick layer of dust and cobwebs gave me a headache just looking at it. How did anyone live in a place like this?

　　“Where and how should I even start cleaning…”

　　I was contemplating whether I should secretly use magic when the door burst open.

　　“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you! I heard you were back, but I didn’t know where you were.” Daisy peeked her head in.

　　“What is it?”

　　It wasn’t time for roll call, so why was Daisy looking for me? I wondered if something had happened to Sedian and asked, but the answer I got was completely unexpected.

　　“You have to move rooms. Just grab your bag and let’s go! Phew, this place is so dirty every time I come here!”

　　“…Excuse me?”

　　I hesitated for a moment, not understanding the context. Daisy giggled and answered.

　　“His lordship ordered it. For you to move rooms.”

　　“…He did? Why?”

　　“Well, who knows?” Daisy gave me a mysterious smile and winked. “Doesn’t it mean he likes you enough to want you by his side?”

　　I stared blankly, blinking my eyes. This prickly young lord… likes me? There’s no way… Wasn’t I the one who got yelled at and kicked out just this morning? But so suddenly?

　　“Your new room is the one next to his. No servant has ever been given the room next to his before!”

　　Oh my goodness! This was great. I was just wondering how to get closer to Sedian and find an opportunity to touch him. And he serves it up on a silver platter like this! If I stay in the room next to his and see him often, I’ll have more chances to touch him. Then I might be able to dispel the curse even faster than planned. Our prickly master. He must really like me. A laugh escaped me on its own.

　　“Well then, shall we pack your things?”

　　“Sounds good.”

　　I gave Daisy a thumbs-up and quickly packed my bag. Dispelling the curse, catching the spy. There was still a lot to do, but I was filled with the expectation that everything would go smoothly.

* * *

　　Knock, knock.

　　“Come in.”

　　Before Sedian finished speaking, I threw the door open and went inside. Sedian, who had just finished dinner, was putting down his cutlery. A quick glance at his plate showed no leftover food.

　　“The food must have been to your liking. I’m glad.”

　　“…I ate it because it was there. It was just okay.”

　　For someone who thought it was “just okay,” the plate was suspiciously clean, as if he had scraped the bottom of it.

　　“They say it’s even more delicious if you eat at the restaurant. We should go together sometime. They have a lot more on the menu. I’ll be your guide.”

　　Sedian didn’t answer. Instead, he stared at me intently. His eyes were still unreadable. The small dots shining within his cold, blue pupils twinkled subtly like starlight, but that was all. No emotion was revealed. His eyes, which showed no joy, no sadness, no anger, were like a calm lake untouched by wind. For some reason, I felt a sense of tension, and I stared straight back into his eyes, blinking slowly.

　　“I want to look inside your head,” Sedian said abruptly after a long moment of staring.

　　“Pardon?”

　　“That way, I’d be able to understand the absurd thoughts you have. No, wait. You seem like someone who lives without thinking at all.”

　　“Hey, why are you suddenly picking on m—”

　　“Enough. Why?” Sedian crossed his arms. “Why are you here?”

　　“Ah.”

　　I scratched the back of my head and answered.

　　“I came to thank you for moving my room for me.”

　　“…Right.”

　　“I didn’t even ask, but how did you know my heart so well and do such an adorable thing? I will lay down my life for you, my lord.”

　　“Don’t overdo it.”

　　I couldn’t stop. I was feeling quite overwhelmed right now. I had been at a complete loss as to how I would spend the rest of my time in that filthy room, and thanks to Sedian, I had escaped!

　　“To be honest, that room was really, so, incredibly dirty that I was wondering what to do about it. I thought it might be better to just set it on fire to disinfect it and then lay down new floorboards one by one, but then you moved me!” I grinned and gave Sedian a wink. “You’re more comfortable with me by your side too, right? That’s why you put me in the room next door, isn’t it?”

　　“What nonsense are you…!”

　　“No, if that wasn’t it, you could have just given me a room on the first floor or in the annex like the other servants. But you put me right next to you. So it gets me thinking.” I snapped my fingers. “Does my master like me?”

　　“Hey!”

　　Sedian, who had been leaning against the headboard, shot up straight and shouted. His face, as he pointed a finger at me, was flushed bright red. “You, you…! To say such a thing…!”

　　His face had become a ripe tomato, ready to burst if touched. Seeing him unable to hide his embarrassment made me want to tease him even more.

　　“Hey, what’s the big deal? People can like people. They can rely on each other. Isn’t that how it is?”

　　“Get out.”

　　“I know how you feel, my lord. I like you too.”

　　“I said, get out, you crazy bastard!”

　　Sedian, his face still bright red, threw a cushion at me, but I dodged it lightly. There was no way I’d get hit by such a blind attack.

　　“I will serve you well by your side from now on. Just trust me.” I puffed out my chest and laughed boldly. “I love you, my lord.”

　　“Get out!”

　　I dodged another cushion flying my way and left the room. Seeing his fuming face, I was certain of what Daisy had told me. He really must like me. As if the tension I had felt a moment ago was all an illusion, I replayed the image of his lively tantrum in my mind and walked away with a sense of satisfaction.

* * *

　　The new room I was assigned was a space full of classic elegance and grace. The cream-colored wallpaper with its subtle gold pattern added a warm, bright feeling to the room, and a cool, salty breeze wafted in through the large window. In the center of the room stood a large four-poster bed. The bed, surrounded by a high canopy and ornate lace curtains, held fluffy, soft-looking pillows and a comforter. Not only that, but the marble fireplace, luxurious decorations, and soft leather sofa clearly showed that this room had been used for guests.

　　“I don’t know if I should be staying in a place like this.”

　　Before being transmigrated, I had lived in a tiny dorm room, and after, I had squeezed myself into my friends’ secret hideout to sleep. A ‘room’ had always been a place to just crash, not a place to rest comfortably. But to have such a splendid space as my own room…

　　“Money really is the best.”

　　I sank into the sofa, tilted my head back, and looked up at the ceiling. Come to think of it, I hadn’t thought about what to do after I dispelled Sedian’s curse. I would have to run away, for starters. Once I dispelled the curse, Sedian would find out who I was. So, after I run away…

　　What do I do?