IWIAHC Chapter 18

3. Visitors

Originally, Lily had also known that Aiden and the Emperor had been close friends since childhood.

Not just her—every imperial citizen would think so. The thick friendship of the highest authorities had spread throughout the Empire as an inspiring tale.

However, according to Aiden, that was merely a 'superficial' relationship.

She recalled the day Wolfram had reported the results of his meeting with the information broker.

At that time, the information broker had clearly advised caution regarding the Emperor while withdrawing. Lily pieced together that advice with the few other pieces of information she possessed.

1. A heretic must be involved in what happened to Aiden.
2. The heretic cult leader, nearly the only person capable of casting such a curse, had been imprisoned in the imperial palace dungeons and executed immediately after the celebration banquet.
3. The ducal house must be wary of the Emperor.

Lily naturally arrived at one conclusion.

'Did the Emperor have the cult leader in the underground prison curse the duke? And killed him once his usefulness ended?'

But why on earth would the Emperor do such a thing?

Even if they hadn't truly been friends, Aiden Casimir was too valuable to kill.

He'd been the Emperor's excellent retainer. For imperial authority, and if the Emperor requested it, he would refuse nothing.

'Never mind. The motive isn't urgent. More important is what the Emperor's visit purpose is.'

If not a pure friendship, the visit to the sick wouldn't have pure intentions either.

Perhaps he was coming to discover why Aiden hadn't died yet? Or... to finish things directly?

Lily's mind filled with ominous speculation.

Once the main building work ended, she gathered cleaning tools and headed to the storage room. Then she locked the door from inside.

Though they were finally alone, Aiden didn't speak to her.

He'd been quiet for quite some time. Specifically, he'd been in a dazed state continuously since leaving the kitchen. Yet impressively, he'd followed without losing sight of her.

Even after Lily finished organizing the tools, he maintained his silence. She dusted off her hands while calling to Aiden.

"Your Grace."

[...]

Lily stepped closer to him and spoke more loudly.

"Duke Aiden Casimir, Your Grace!"

[Hm? Ah! Lily.]

Only then did Aiden collect himself, taking several steps backward.

[You called?]

Lily went straight to the point.

"You heard tomorrow His Majesty is coming, didn't you? I have a bad feeling about this. There's no proof, but I think he's the culprit."

[Mm.]

At his lukewarm response—neither agreement nor disagreement—Lily grew anxious.

"This visit is suspicious too. It's already been weeks since Your Grace collapsed, and only now he's visiting the sick? That's strange, isn't it? Even now, we should tell the aide to hide Your Grace's body. As for an excuse, anything—ah! What if we say the symptoms worsen severely when meeting outsiders?"

Aiden produced a refined smile.

[First, thank you for your concern.]

It was somehow an unsettling opening.

[However, I'd prefer you stop such suspicions.]

Aiden's tone was extremely careful. His desire not to hurt her feelings felt almost tangible.

Nevertheless, Lily was quite flustered. She hadn't expected to be rebuffed this way by Aiden rather than Wolfram.

[The suspicion that the Emperor colluded with heretics is dangerous even to harbor in your mind. Suspicions tend to manifest as actions. If tomorrow you inadvertently reveal such suspicions before the Emperor, truly terrible things will happen.]

Lily roughly knew what things might happen.

Her family might be beheaded with their heads hung on the castle walls, or she might rot in suffering worse than death, or there might be other hells she couldn't even imagine.

Everything depended on the Emperor's mood.

[Wolfram also knows the relationship between the Emperor and me. The worry you thought of, he naturally thought of too. We can't simply send back the Emperor who's come all this way, but he'll have established sufficient countermeasures, so don't worry too much.]

His words all made perfect sense. Objection was meaningless. Yet somehow she felt hurt...

[Besides, you're already performing the most important task that no one else can. So don't invite danger. You said you wouldn't leave me alone.]

Lily didn't answer, pressing her lips firmly together. Aiden gently urged.

[Promise to act like an ordinary maid who knows nothing. That you won't try to uncover something, monitor him, or pointlessly obstruct him in attempting to help me. For your safety, not because of rank or status.]

She gazed up at Aiden silently.

Why was she a maid?

If she were a divine messenger who'd received revelation, or so strong she could beat down all charging knights and grab the Emperor by the collar to shake him, wouldn't she be more helpful?

She wanted to help more, but there was nothing she could do.

Perhaps noticing she'd acquiesced to his words, Aiden's smile grew considerably lighter. He offered it almost like a joke.

[Am I that worrying?]

Of course she worried—wouldn't anyone? Even a stray cat develops attachment after two weeks of being fed.

Let alone a human who swished about like a cat's tail while conversing.

Lily answered somewhat sullenly.

"Of course. Worrying about the welfare of one's master is a maid's duty."

Then, feeling he'd done nothing wrong, Lily added with a model maid's expression.

"However, since Your Grace entreats me so, and as I do value my own life, I'll act like an ordinary maid who knows nothing. I promise."

[Thank you.]

His tone carried relief.

Lily looked up at him with fresh perspective. With even slight consideration, he could have used Lily. Since she sympathized with him and stepped forward herself, there was nothing to hesitate about.

If he'd entreated with a pitiful face to investigate the Emperor's background, saying she was a maid so could approach closely if she set her mind to it, she would have immediately followed his words.

He'd kicked away that opportunity with his own feet. Because he genuinely worried about her safety.

While feeling somewhat hurt at being forbidden, even thoughts, her heart also felt touched.

Having left the storage room, Aiden, who'd been quiet for some time, opened his mouth as they neared the side door.

[By the way, Lily.]

"Yes, Your Grace."

[I don't really need an answer, but...]

If he didn't really need an answer, shouldn't he simply not ask? However, Lily, whose heart had softened somewhat at the duke's sincerity, waited generously.

[It's nothing, I'm just suddenly curious. So...]

Aiden hesitated more than ever before. She glanced around and said.

"Please speak."

[Was it just because you're a maid?]

He'd used strange grammar. The context was incomprehensible. When Lily didn't understand, he cleared his voice and spoke more specifically.

[Was the reason you worried about me merely to fulfill a maid's duty?]

Before she could answer, Aiden spoke hastily.

[I know it sounds strange. I think it's strange too. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. It just bothered me.]

It truly was a strange-sounding question. Nevertheless, Lily answered sincerely.

"Well, of course I worried since you're the person I serve. I'm not such a shameless person who ignores whether my master is ill or in danger while only pursuing wages."

[What I mean is... No, never mind.]

Aiden shook his head.

[You worked hard today too, rest well. I hope to see you tomorrow.]

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

The slow-witted and even cold-hearted maid closed the side door firmly and disappeared without looking back.

His entire body stiffened with belated shame.

He genuinely regretted that final question—he shouldn't have asked it. The maid's unenthusiastic gaze remained vivid.

However, in that moment, he'd been unable to bear not knowing the answer.

In fact, the warning signs had existed since several hours ago.

[It's not difficult because everyone ignores me, but because the one ignoring me is...]

Being able to stop the following words was thanks to the Sovereign God's assistance.

What if he'd finished what was inside, namely that it was difficult because the one ignoring him was Lily Dienta?

Aiden would have fled somewhere the instant he realized his disgrace. Making a mockery of how he'd repeatedly asked with his own mouth for her to remain by his side.

'This isn't normal.'

He thought seriously.

'My mind's become strange because Lily Dienta is the only person I can converse with. I fabricated plausible words of appearing weak and sad, and became too immersed.'

Otherwise, why would being ignored by her be difficult? Rather than difficult, he should have been furious at the rudeness.

Also otherwise, there was no reason to feel hurt at her words about worrying merely as a maid's duty.

Aiden couldn't accept that he'd felt such dependent emotions even briefly. Those should have remained mere performance.