Chapter 1 – Gambling Failure? Success? (Part 5)

The man in front of her didn’t seem cold at all, walking around in just a thin shirt.

The inside of the castle was still a mess, though not as bad as outside. Dust was piled up everywhere, and broken items were scattered around.

As she wondered how to clean up this place, the assistant walked back and forth in front of her, muttering.

“Right? Left? Which way to go? Where’s the better side?”

“Excuse me……”

“Yes, let’s go to the right! Yes, Madam.”

The man, having resolved his dilemma, turned around.

“What should I call you?”

“Did I not say my name yet? Haha! It’s been so long since I talked to someone, I forgot! My name is Mollek. Please take care of me. Oh, and here, it’s just me, the chef, and the master, so if anything happens, call me.”

A cold sensation ran through her body.

Mollek was smiling with a bow.

Seeing the sharp look in his smiling eyes, Ellerdin felt an inexplicable unease.

“What are you still doing there?”

Fernan asked from the stairs.

His low voice echoed through the castle.

He was now dressed comfortably in a black shirt and black pants.

“The Madam is choosing a room to stay in.”

“There’s nothing below. Come up, I’ve cleared it.”

Fernan came down and stood in front of Ellerdin.

“Your room is two doors away from mine. I’ll be out for a while, so please rest comfortably.”

After he left, Mollek led her to her room.

“If you need anything, pull this rope!”

He pointed to a rope next to the bed and smiled.

After Mollek left, Ellerdin stood and looked around the room.

Her room was very large, about the size of combining the three biggest rooms in Earl Pure’s mansion.

All the furniture was very clean and without a single scratch.

Opening the door attached to the room, she found a spacious and neat bathroom.

Her legs gave out from the long tension, and she sat on the nearby bed, sinking into the soft mattress.

The soft texture of the blanket fascinated her, and she pressed the bed a few more times.

“Oh my……”

Ellerdin quietly exclaimed in admiration.

It was the first time she had a proper room of her own.

It wasn’t borrowed or a workspace, but a place where she could rest entirely.

Ellerdin’s cheeks flushed with joy.

But then, she heard something tapping on the window.

Turning around, she saw a large crow tapping on the window with its beak. She had never seen such a big bird before.

Startled, Ellerdin screamed and fell to the floor.

“Ahhh!”

The crow was so large that it covered the entire window, and its beak was as big as a person’s face.

Hearing the noise, Mollek ran and knocked on the door.

“Madam, are you alright? May I come in?!”

“Yes, yes. You can come in.”

Even when Mollek came in, the huge crow didn’t turn its gaze and kept staring at Ellerdin through the window.

Clicking his tongue, Mollek opened the window wide and shouted.

“Go away! You rude thing!”

“Caw-!”

The crow screeched loudly.

The ear-piercing cry echoed.

As Ellerdin covered her ears and frowned, the crow looked at her for a moment before flying away.

Mollek sighed, closed the window, and extended his hand to her.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes……. What was that? It’s not just an ordinary bird, right?”

“Uh……. It’s just a bird.”

After a brief silence, Mollek awkwardly replied.

“Just… a big bird.”

“……”

A silence fell.

Ellerdin looked at Mollek in disbelief.

Avoiding her disbelieving gaze, he coughed.

“This is the north. Most animals are that big. Really.”

His firm stance left her speechless.

It was hard to believe, but it wasn’t her place to judge as an outsider, so Ellerdin reluctantly nodded.

“Alright… thank you.”

Her last words were sincere.

It was the first time someone had rushed to her aid when she screamed.

“Well… it’s only natural.”

Feeling awkward, Mollek grabbed the doorknob.

It was the first time in his life someone had thanked him.

While assisting the stoic Duke, he was lucky not to be scolded, let alone receive thanks.

Mollek blinked, feeling a quiet sense of emotion.

As he was about to leave, she asked him.

“Ah, do you know when the Duke will return?”

“If you mean the master… um… probably late at night. Don’t worry.”

After he left, Ellerdin lay carefully on the bed and thought.

Being alone, she began to realize what she had done.

‘I really escaped from them.’

Even though she had been beaten by Baron Brian just yesterday, it felt strangely distant.

She rubbed her aching head and sat up.

‘Don’t disappoint him. He helped me.’

Just three years.

Ellerdin resolved to spend that time solely for him.

However, she was unsure where to start to be helpful.

‘……Shall I start by cleaning?’

When she left the room, she saw Mollek peeking through a window in the hallway.

Hesitating, she approached him and asked.

“Um… could I borrow a broom?”

Mollek tilted his head.

“A broom?”

“Yes, I think I should clean.”

“Clean?”

Mollek, who was about to ask why, suddenly had a thought and closed his mouth.

‘This must be that famous peculiar hobby of housewives! What is there to clean in such a clean castle! But pointing that out wouldn’t be first-class. This is my chance to show my competence.’

Mollek brought a broom from somewhere, knelt on one knee, and reverently offered it with a gentle smile. 

It was as if he were a knight presenting a sword to the king. 

Ellerdin, flustered, carefully accepted the broom. 

She intended to start cleaning the first floor, but it was filled with broken items and debris. 

It was too much for her to move everything, so she simply started sweeping the floor. 

Each sweep of the broom raised a cloud of dust. 

“Cough, cough.” 

The dust was so thick that even opening the windows didn’t help much. 

She swept and wiped continuously, but the castle was so large that it took her the entire day just to clean the right side of the main building’s first floor. 

She wanted to finish cleaning before the Duke returned. 

Swallowing her disappointment, Ellerdin wrung out the cloth. 

She had been wandering through the dust for a long time and glanced at the clock in the room she was cleaning. 

It seemed the Duke would return soon. 

‘Should I finish up here and wash?’ 

As she straightened her back and looked around, she noticed a slightly dirty bookshelf at the end of the room. 

Thinking she would just dust it off, Ellerdin approached but stopped when she heard a sound like the wind. 

‘Wind sound…?’ 

It wasn’t coming from the open window she had left open for cleaning. 

It sounded similar to someone sobbing. 

Maybe there was a hole in the wall. 

Ellerdin peered around the bookshelf. 

Then she discovered a small space behind the bookshelf and cautiously touched it. 

It seemed too heavy to move, but with a little push, the bookshelf slid easily to the side. 

“Wow.” 

Behind the bookshelf was a rusted iron door. 

She let out a pure exclamation, surprised by the fitting appearance of the door in the castle. 

‘What could this be?’

Pressing her ear to the door, she confirmed that the wind sound was indeed coming from there. 

As she stared at the door, curiosity welled up inside her. 

‘Should I open it a little?’ 

Normally, she wouldn’t have paid any attention to such things, but strangely, she felt drawn to it. 

Just as she grabbed the iron door handle to open it, someone softly pressed the door from behind. 

“I’d prefer if you didn’t touch this.” 

A low, deep voice sounded above her head. 

Startled by the sudden hand, Ellerdin pulled back and bumped her head against Fernan’s chest. 

His chest was so hard that she rubbed her aching head and looked back. 

He must have just returned, as his body carried the scent of cold wind. 

“I’m sorry.” 

Thinking her reckless action had angered the Duke, Ellerdin couldn’t meet his eyes and lowered her head. 

‘Did I speak too harshly?’ 

Seeing her frozen and trembling, Fernan, flustered, grabbed her shoulders. 

“Ellerdin. Look at me.” 

Ellerdin’s pupils trembled slightly. 

Hesitantly, she lifted her head to look at Fernan. 

Fernan smiled gently as he met her eyes. 

“I’m not angry. If I scared you, I apologize.” 

At his kind voice, Ellerdin shook her head, sensing his intention. 

This wasn’t something he needed to apologize for. 

“……How was your day?” 

Seeing she was still very tense, Fernan changed the subject. 

“It was… fine.” 

With that, the conversation ended. 

The awkward silence made Fernan scratch his cheek. 

“You must be tired, but I kept you. Go in and get some rest.” 

The Duke said softly. 

“Yes… good night.” 

Ellerdin bit her lip. 

His action of not scolding her and saying it was okay when she had clearly done wrong made her heart ache.