‘Exorcism…..’

Come to think of it, she had heard that heretics put forth such superstitions. Moreover, now knowing that such things weren’t entirely fiction, Aiden’s words gained more credibility.

As her trembling black eyes stared at Johan, Aiden spoke as if driving in the final nail.

“You’re not someone who should be playing servant here. Did you enter this house with a purpose too? Some deranged noble spent money to withdraw the warrant for you…. But that doesn’t make your crimes disappear.”

“My purpose for entering this house? If I must say, cleaning and serving my master. As you can see, I’m a diligent servant.”

“I shouldn’t have asked a cunning heretic. Even if that were true, you’re not someone who should be let into a household. May.”

The overbearing gaze shifted to May. And then.

“More than that though. I’ve been thinking since earlier …… your soul is really pure.”

Johan poured oil on the fire. He uttered the typical greeting known to be a favorite line of certain heretics. Seeing the shock on May’s face, he spoke while gently scanning over Aiden’s shoulders with a gentle expression.

“Since you seem to know me well, I wanted to act like I know you too. Hmm, eight?”

“What?”

“No, is it nine? I mean the number of ghosts on your shoulders. Don’t your shoulders often get stiff?”

“You’re completely insane.”

“But don’t worry too much. I’m quite good at that kind of sorcery. I’ll only charge one castle’s worth. Ah, of course, that’s per ghost.”

As he said this with just the corners of his lips raised in a smile, Aiden’s face grew even more fierce. Even to the tactless May, it was obvious that Johan was openly provoking Aiden. His form making a large sign of the cross right in front of the fierce face while saying the family must have deep troubles was utterly frivolous.

“Ah, I made the cross backwards. Sorry. I’m not used to making the sign of the cross since I’m a cult member.”

“……If it’s a hand that can’t even make the sign of the cross properly, I suppose it would be fine to cut it off.”

Finally unable to stand him anymore, Aiden growled roughly. He immediately placed his hand on the scabbard at his waist. He looked ready to draw and cut down Johan at any moment.

“W-wait just a moment!”

May dove between them before things could really go wrong. More precisely, she stood in front of Johan and spread her arms as if becoming his shield. Unlike her timid hand-extending earlier, her expression was also desperate.

Seeing her like this, Aiden’s face turned even colder for an instant. May ran her tongue over her parched mouth. A soft laugh was heard from behind her. Though she couldn’t see Johan’s face, she could tell his mood was opposite to Aiden’s.

After a moment of silence, Aiden quietly commanded.

“Move aside.”

But even though those blazing blue eyes made her terrified, she couldn’t obey those words. If she moved aside now, that anger would surely pour out on Johan.

May knew Aiden’s cruel methods well. The ominous rumors about him that she had heard not long after entering the ducal household. She had even directly witnessed that they were based somewhat on truth.

‘He really did cut off that servant’s tongue…..’

Though it was already several years ago, her stomach unfailingly turned queasy at recalling the bloodstains she saw then. Someone like him wouldn’t hesitate to cut off Johan’s hands either. Though May was now trembling uncontrollably, she looked at Aiden with strength in her eyes. Not knowing that the man’s lips had hardened at her rare show of courage.

“D-don’t do this……”

“……”

“To face someone who hasn’t drawn a weapon, that’s… c-cowardly.”

“Ha, cowardly? Ridiculous. I’m trying to give deserved punishment.”

“N-no! If that’s the case, then all the more reason not to. Johan is my servant. You said it yourself, didn’t you? Only the master has the right to punish their employees. I, I have no intention of giving you that authority……”

Though her voice trembled, it was clearer than ever in conveying her intentions. Perhaps this was the first time May had conveyed her opinion to Aiden in such a way. Her heart felt like it would jump out of her mouth. But even while clasping her trembling hands together, May didn’t avoid his eyes.

And seeing those black eyes filled with will, the man’s face became expressionless. That appearance of contained anger seemed even more enraged. Soon he raised the corner of his mouth crookedly and sneered.

“I wondered why you suddenly quit, was it because of that bastard? I thought it was strange when your employee was just one servant.”

“Wh-what?”

“I don’t know how that bastard seduced you, but that’s enough. I told you repeatedly. Don’t wander around stupidly falling for worthless tricks.”

“Ah, that’s……”

“That’s right.”

The one who completed May’s words that had blurred with confusion was Johan, who had been quiet until then.

“I did use tricks, didn’t I, Master?”

Saying that, the man grabbed May’s shoulders and pulled her body backwards. As she was held more deeply than before, Johan looked down at her as she tilted her head up. Their eyes met, and his seemingly pleased golden eyes curved gently.

“And Master fell for those tricks. Right?”

In that moment, the night she spent with him flashed by like a panorama. It was too intense and rich a night to deny. She had barely managed to forget it…. May’s face instantly turned bright red and faint resentment gathered in her pupils.

‘Why suddenly bring up such things…..’

It wasn’t quite appropriate to mention now. Especially in front of the angry Aiden. Finally breaking free of the mischievous man’s embrace on her own, May tried to smooth over the situation with a stiff face.

“I n-never fell for anything……”

The help ended with that day. They had agreed on that. It was just unavoidably accepting help that happened to come by chance. She had clearly conveyed her intentions through avoidance when Johan playfully mentioned extending the help afterwards.

Of course, now that Johan’s identity was revealed as a priest, it did make her think more….

‘This isn’t a conversation I want to have in front of Aiden.’

“Is that so?”

Johan belatedly shrugged his shoulders at the black eyes drawing a line. May silently turned her head away from his light attitude to look at Aiden. He observed the two while squinting one eye, then stared intently at May looking at him.

His face said to try making excuses if she had any. However, there wasn’t particularly anything to excuse. In fact, above all, she thought there was no need to tell Aiden such private matters. Sharing a bed with someone due to unavoidable circumstances. That wasn’t something that needed to be reported to a former master, was it? Moreover, to explain those circumstances would mean having to tell everything about the strange occurrences surrounding the mansion.

‘Even if I told him, he’d say it was nonsense…..’

That’s why she wanted to avoid this topic even more.

Reflexively swallowing while avoiding his gaze, May opened her mouth.

“Um, first since the sun has set… I’ll show you to your room……”

It was a voice clearly meaning to end things here for today. After a moment of silence, Aiden nodded quietly. His blue eyes clearly showed he was letting it slide. May made a sad face while guiding him to the second floor.

‘Why did Aiden come all the way here anyway……?’

Actually it was obvious. It must be because his anger at her lying hadn’t subsided yet. Naturally she was intimidated. To personally come all this way just to torment her….

May resolved to soothe his mood as soon as possible. That was the only way to drive out the unexpected uninvited guest.

* * *

After that, a strange cohabitation began.

May volunteered as the maid for Aiden who had started staying at the mansion. Johan served such a master. It was a strange picture, but in conclusion it was a situation that continuously drained May’s energy.

As they say about a shrimp’s back breaking in a whale fight. The two men treated each other like bugs or air, but nevertheless continued their war of nerves endlessly.

And that war of nerves was mostly defused by May stopping Johan. As such situations piled up, the displeasure in Johan’s golden eyes deepened. Conversely, Aiden’s lips curved up at his face that looked like he had eaten dirt.