Chapter 4. A Contract to Kill the Heart
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Late in the afternoon, Marienne left her room and walked aimlessly through the castle.

The fresh air helped ease her headache somewhat.

The annoying Rahta had teased her thoroughly and then disappeared somewhere, not seen for a while now.

Though grateful for the companionship, she couldn’t help but find her suspicious.

A monster and the Duke of Bernac – it was a difficult relationship to understand.

What was Rahta doing in this castle?

If discovered, it would be hard for her to survive.

“Take the extra tables outside. Anna! If you use that much lye, the fabric will rot quickly!”

The interior and exterior of the castle, which had been in disarray from several days of banquets, was quickly being put in order under the head maid’s directions.

Seeing the busy people, Marienne was once again made aware of her own situation.

Barely able to read, write, and do simple calculations, she had no chance of becoming a live-in tutor.

Though being a maid might seem easy, the reality was that no noble would take in a stranger with no introduction or experience.

The only skill she had was the sewing she had barely learned.

She felt utterly pathetic for having lived so thoughtlessly until now.

As she watched the cleaning, anxious about her future, Marienne gathered her courage and approached the head maid.

“Hello?”

The skinny, middle-aged head maid turned around. The keys tied at her waist jingled.

“What is it?”

“I’d like to help. I can do simple cleaning.”

A maid scrubbing the floor with a brush glanced up at Marienne.

The head maid narrowed her eyes.

“Miss Rose, you are not an employee of Louer. Also, I don’t have the authority to give you orders.”

“Then who should I ask? Should I speak to the Baron?”

“Unfortunately, the Baron is not sure when he’ll return to the castle due to a horseback riding accident.”

“Oh my, is he badly hurt?”

“It’s a common occurrence, so don’t worry about it. He’s used to falling off horses.”

“Ah… I see. Then perhaps the butler…”

The head maid cut off Marienne’s words.

“We don’t want to work with you, Miss Rose. Even though it may seem like menial work, it requires professional skills. It’s not a pastime to alleviate a guest’s boredom.”

“That wasn’t my intention in asking. If I was rude, please forgive me. Excuse me.”

When Marienne turned to leave, embarrassed, the head maid cautioned her.

“It’s fine to walk around inside the castle, but don’t go up to the third floor where the Duke stays. The same goes for Bernac Forest. Be aware that you can’t enter without permission. This rule applies to all guests of Louer as well as all staff, so please don’t misunderstand.”

“Yes. I’ll be careful.”

Marienne went deeper into the castle, avoiding the staff.

The familiar noises of furniture being dragged across the floor, rough brushes scrubbing, and carpets being beaten gradually faded away.

She walked along an arched corridor flooded with sunlight.

It was so quiet that the click-clack of her footsteps echoed loudly. Unwelcome thoughts crept in like thieves, cluttering her mind.

Her mother’s harsh gaze and words, her brother’s back, and her heartfelt letters that must have been discarded somewhere.

Marienne shook her head as she quickened her pace. She was sick of tears.

It’s not like this is the first time I’ve been abandoned. This is no time to be sniffling idly.

I can’t remain penniless forever. I need to earn money. By any means necessary.

Lost in thought, she found herself in front of the gallery.

Entering through the door, Marienne took a deep breath to compose herself.

To calm the raging storm in her heart, she carefully examined the artworks.

Then she stopped in front of a particular sculpture.

It was the figure of an infant cradled by a woman.

Though made of cold stone, the mother’s gaze upon her child and the child’s smiling expression seemed warm.

They appeared full of nothing but love, without any calculation or fear.

What would it feel like to share such a deep affection?

What would it be like to feel such fullness that overflows yet doesn’t seem precarious?

Marienne caressed the mother and child statue as if entranced.

Woof! Woof, woof!

“Oh my!”

Startled by the sudden appearance of the Duke’s hunting dog, Marienne jumped in surprise.

With a pitter-patter, it quickly circled around Marienne.

“I see you here again. Luna, was it?”

Glad to see her, Marienne stroked its neck, but the dog lowered its tail restlessly. It seemed somewhat anxious.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Marienne examined the dog’s body.

Its teats were swollen, as it was said to have puppies.

For a nursing mother, its coat was glossy, and it didn’t look thin or sick.

The only unusual thing was the small stone embedded in the collar around its neck. It looked too rough to be a jewel.

“You don’t seem to be in pain, but your teats are very swollen. You should go back to your puppies.”

Grateful for the dog’s visit, Marienne hugged it tightly.

Luna’s warm body temperature provided more comfort than she had expected.

When she reluctantly let go, the dog took a few steps away but then came back, whining. It then tugged at her skirt with its teeth.

“You want me to go with you? Where?”

Marienne followed Luna to a corner of the gallery.

In the dim area stood a silver armor like a ghost knight.

The armor standing upright like a person was eerie yet fascinating.

Woof!

As Marienne turned around from examining the armor, her eyes widened.

Light burst from Luna’s collar, and then the dog magically entered a painting.

Marienne put her hand to her chest, mouth agape.

“Oh my!”

Could the stone embedded in the collar have been a magic stone?

To think she’d actually see magic that she’d only heard about in stories.

Inside the frame, which was much taller than a person, was a spiral staircase painted in dark tones.

Woof!

Marienne heard Luna’s voice calling her from inside the painting.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Marienne reached out her hand.

Her fingers seemed to slip right through, and she passed through the painting entirely.

Looking back, she saw the armor standing beyond the rippling view.

Marienne felt the cold, solid wall of reality.

Had she entered a magical world inside the painting? Or was she still in Louer Castle?

Luna, where are you taking me?

Her heart pounded with excitement at this unexpected adventure.

Marienne lifted her skirts as she saw Luna waiting for her a few steps up.

After climbing for a while, a rippling barrier appeared again.

Marienne followed Luna out without hesitation.

Contrary to her expectations of a fantastical magical world unfolding, outside was a wide and long corridor.

On the wall she had emerged from hung a framed painting of a similar staircase.

The corridor had curtains drawn despite it being daytime, and everywhere she looked was lavishly decorated.

As she walked, taking in the sights, Marienne stopped in front of a tapestry with a lion that seemed about to leap out roaring.

A place as quiet as a tomb where servants couldn’t enter without permission.

Yet decorated more luxuriously than any other part of Louer.

And the place where Luna’s owner stays!

“Luna, if you need help, find your master. I’m sorry, but I have to go back.”

Marienne quickly turned back and touched the painting on the wall.

But unlike before, there was no response.

“Can you guide me back to the gallery?”

Marienne asked Luna.

But the dog just stared at her blankly before turning and starting to run. To its room, or perhaps its master’s room.

“Luna!”

Lowering her voice considerably as she called out to the dog, Marienne took off her shoes and held them in her hand. Then, rising on her tiptoes, she chased after Luna.

The place was so vast that Marienne had to walk and run for quite a while.

The dog entered through an open door carved with a lion.

It was unmistakably the Duke’s bedroom.

This was troublesome.

She couldn’t brazenly go down the stairs where the employees were busy cleaning, nor could she go through the painting without Luna.

“Your master isn’t here, right? You… you must be sure about that.”

Biting her lower lip, Marienne cautiously extended one foot into the room.