IWIAHC Chapter 10

Observing Lily Dienta brought him joy. Even her endless stream of trivial chatter failed to grow tiresome.

It was an emotion he—having turned to ash—had believed he would never taste twice.

Naturally, then, curiosity arose. If he felt such amusement now, what would he experience upon meeting Lily Dienta when nothing troubled him at all?

Duke and maid breathed entirely different air according to their stations, but might Lily Dienta not merit a small exception?

He could elevate her from her position as a lowly maid and assign her responsibility for his chambers, meals, wardrobe, and—as now—his office. Then even after all this concluded, he could keep the maid at his side.

Yet something grated faintly.

'No, no...'

Aiden reconsidered.

If he returned to his body, Lily Dienta's contribution would prove immense.

Using this as justification, he would have her work at the third desk. He would have her devise unexpected solutions, accompany him on walks taken to catch one's breath.

He recalled how Lily Dienta had been freshly amazed each day while biting into dessert. He could feed her things far more delicious.

Additionally, instead of that drab maid's uniform, he would provide clothing that enhanced her cheerfulness.

Upon reflection, several of these plans required no postponement whatsoever.

For instance, tomorrow he could immediately divest her of that maid's uniform and improve her treatment considerably. He would allow her to taste a portion of the future compensation in advance.

This plan pleased Aiden exceedingly.

He had worried somewhat that she might have been frightened by Wolfram's prattling about silencing methods, but look—she had stated she trusted him and brought this gift, had she not?

Thus, as dawn approached, Aiden Casimir resolved that upon meeting the maid, he would immediately inform her of his overnight deliberations.

Then the maid—no, Lily Dienta, who would no longer be a maid—would smile with a bright countenance.

Aiden waited for her with anticipation. He continued waiting as day passed and night returned.

Even when a new morning arrived. Even after the smile that had begun to emerge dried completely.

He continued.

Continued.

...

Escape!

Lily had succeeded in securing passage on the supply wagon that delivered morning provisions to the ducal castle.

She had readily accepted her colleagues' requests to purchase items from town on the return journey. This served both to avoid arousing suspicion and to use their advance payments as flight funds.

She felt terribly sorry for the friends who had trusted her. Consequently, she planned to send them money first thing once she established herself in another city.

Her large bag contained small amounts of coin and various everyday items too troublesome to purchase twice.

'Going on a long journey or something?'

Her colleagues had teased her with affection, but Lily had inwardly flinched.

They had nearly guessed correctly. The only difference: flight rather than journey.

Nearly a year had passed since she last descended from the ducal castle to the city proper. Even in early morning, people hurried about while the air vibrated with the aroma of baking bread.

Lily also walked briskly like everyone around her. After turning through progressively narrower alleys several times, she would reach her former residence in the lower-middle class district.

Her grandmother lived on the second floor of an elongated building sandwiched between structures on either side.

Lily climbed the stairs vigorously and pounded on the door.

"Grandmother!"

Shortly thereafter, her grandmother—Julia Dienta—appeared.

She wore small spectacles perched on the bridge of her nose, her salt-and-pepper hair twisted up immaculately without a single strand escaping. Her buttons fastened to the neck suggested a strict disposition.

She appeared somewhat bewildered by her granddaughter's sudden appearance.

"Lily?"

"Good morning, Grandmother!"

"What brings you so suddenly? Without notice."

"No time to discuss standing up. We must pack immediately."

She pushed inside with determination.

A small sitting room and a single room containing an iron bunk bed constituted the entirety of this dwelling. Even that space appeared more cramped than it was, filled as it was with stacked books.

She surveyed the room. More books had accumulated since her last visit. Presumably secondhand volumes purchased one or two at a time when offered at reduced prices.

'I told you repeatedly to buy bread with that money!'

As someone well acquainted with her grandmother's bibliophilic obsession, Lily knew such hopes were impossible.

Lily proceeded rapidly toward the small room.

"Lily! Bursting in from early morning in such a state—what are you doing? Did I raise you to behave thus?"

"No, Grandmother. I'll explain now. His Grace the duke has become a ghost. I helped him most sincerely and wholeheartedly, you understand?"

She opened the mouth of her travel bag wide.

"But their methods of operation defy reason entirely. When he eventually returns to his body, they'll certainly attempt to silence me permanently as well. Therefore I must flee quickly while he remains incapacitated."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

Why doesn't she understand?

Lily felt momentarily frustrated but summoned patience to explain once more. Meanwhile her hands stuffed clothing items in with manic energy.

"So, His Grace became a ghost. But only I can see him, so I became his attendant. Now they're seeking a translator who knows Solmon. When I asked how they would ensure secrecy, they said they'd disguise it as an accident and kill them..."

"Lily!"

Julia grasped her wrist.

"Calm yourself."

Only then did Lily realize she had poured out words while forgetting to breathe.

As she attempted to draw breath deep into her chest, Julia confiscated the bag and set it beneath the bed.

"Have you eaten breakfast?"

"Not yet."

"Wait a moment."

Julia departed. During this interval, Lily recovered some measure of composure and seated herself at the sitting room table.

A thin book with a black cover rested on the table. Ordinarily she would have read it with enthusiasm, but presently nothing registered to her eyes.

Shortly thereafter, Julia returned bearing two portions of simple breakfast on a tray.

"I gave Mrs. Brown additional payment. You must reimburse this."

She spoke with mild reproach.

"Now, truly calmly, from the beginning, explain systematically."

Thus Lily, while eating, spent a full forty minutes relating her unbelievable experiences.

After hearing the entire account, Julia's first words were: "You're seeing spirits again?"

"Again?"

"Yes. Again."

Lily grew confused. Again? Did this mean she had seen spirits previously?

In her memory, she had never once encountered any spirit besides the duke. Yet Julia appeared entirely truthful.

'Did I develop amnesia without realizing? No. Truly not.'

Julia exhaled a brief sigh.

"It seems you don't remember."

"Aren't you mistaken about something? I saw spirits? When exactly? You've never mentioned this before. Do Mother and Father know?"

"No, they don't. I kept it secret continuously. At some point you stopped mentioning such things, so I believed you no longer saw them..."

Lily licked her lips with anxious energy.

This was hardly the time to hear childhood anecdotes leisurely. She needed to depart the ducal domain as rapidly as possible.

On the other hand, she genuinely wished to hear more detailed information from Julia. Truth regarding her past, regarding this unusual ability whose existence she hadn't known. Curiosity was only natural.

She calculated time. Today constituted an official holiday, so nothing hindered her, and the hour remained early morning. Conversing briefly longer would pose no significant obstacle.

Moreover, she might have forgotten not merely the ability to see spirits but some additional special capability.

"Grandmother, I truly find this incredible. I saw ghosts? In childhood—when exactly? I genuinely remember nothing whatsoever."

Julia gazed down at her empty cup, recalling the past.

"Understandably so. You were merely five years old then. Remarkably clever. At that age you had already learned to read and spoke fluently..."

Julia Dienta managed to return to her boarding house only just before darkness fell completely. Her feet throbbed inside her shoes from extensive walking.

She was a Solmon language tutor. Demand for Solmon language tutors proved as scarce as beans in drought. However, once a position became available, Julia secured most of them.

Though from a fallen house, she possessed a middle-aged woman's composed and meticulous impression combined with knowledge of noble deportment—qualities that earned favorable scores from interviewers.

Above all, however, her greatest asset was her ability to interpret Solmon without dictionaries.

Lacking a degree, her services came cheaply, yet her ability to parse texts rivaled that of any scholar. Even in a ducal domain second in prosperity only to the capital, such talent proved difficult to encounter.

The household where Julia currently served belonged to a collateral branch of a count's family.

They planned to cultivate their son's refinement while simultaneously placing him in an acquaintance's trading company to handle transactions with Solmon.

Solmon remained a mysterious nation, but viewed broadly, commercial prospects appeared favorable.

The employing household had offered to provide lodging where she could resolve room and board. Residing there would have reduced travel burdens, but a condition stipulated she must stay alone.

Caring for her granddaughter as she did, she had no choice but to secure a room on the city outskirts and walk daily.

Julia proceeded to the first-floor common sitting room. Mrs. Brown, the boarding house proprietress, watched her granddaughter there until Julia's return.

"Good evening, Mrs. Brown. My thanks again today."

"You've worked hard."

"Was there any trouble today?"

"Trouble? Lily plays perfectly well by herself."

Mrs. Brown called out to Lily.

"Lily, your grandmother has arrived."

Only then did the girl, who had been seated on the window sofa with her head buried in a book, spring to her feet abruptly.

"Grandmother! You're back!"