Chapter 4

After stamping the final seal, the old man left with a spring in his step.  

Now alone, Sabrina stood amidst the overgrown weeds and placed her hands on her hips.  

“So, this is my house now?”  

Compared to the luxurious Viscount’s residence, with its perfectly manicured gardens, this place was little more than a storage shed.  

Yet, Sabrina found herself liking the simple red-brick house.  

‘I lived in a tiny semi-basement studio in my past life. Compared to that, this is a palace.’  

Taking a deep breath, Sabrina strode confidently into her new home.  

Clunk.  

As the door closed behind her, a faint darkness settled over the house. The old furniture, covered in white sheets, gave the place an eerie, ghostly atmosphere.  

Creak, groan, squeak.  

With every step, the old wooden floorboards let out unsettling noises. But Sabrina paid no mind as she strode across the room, pulling the sheets off the furniture one by one.  

Once all the sheets were removed, the house’s original appearance was revealed under the pale light. The antique furniture, apart from a thin layer of dust, was in remarkably good condition.  

After inspecting the house, Sabrina was struck by a peculiar feeling.  

“Was this place really empty for twenty years? The furniture is so clean, I could almost use it as is.”  

It was believable that someone had moved out just two weeks ago.  

While it was nice that she wouldn’t have to spend much money fixing things up, the situation felt strange and suspicious. It was as if she had stepped into a house someone had just vacated.  

…Maybe the rumors weren’t baseless after all?  

Sabrina felt goosebumps rise on her arms. She sat down on the sofa and rubbed her arms.  

“I should’ve checked for hidden corpses behind the walls before signing the contract… Ah-choo! Achoo!”  

The fabric sofa released a puff of dust, making her sneeze. Sabrina waved her hand to chase away the dust and flung the windows wide open. First, she needed to air the place out and start cleaning.  

“Mop the floors, arrange the furniture, pull the weeds, organize my things, go shopping… What else do I need to do?”  

Sabrina’s mind, surprisingly simple, quickly filled with immediate tasks and future plans.  

And just like that, all her earlier thoughts were pushed to the back of her mind.  

* * *  

“Is that the last item on today’s afternoon schedule?”  

“Yes, Your Highness.”  

“I’m alive.”  

Phew.  

Chase let out a long breath and sank into the plush chair. Loosening the neatly tied cravat around his neck, he made a lighthearted joke.  

“His Majesty seems to be on a mission. He keeps piling work on me without giving me a moment to rest.”  

Or perhaps, he wasn’t joking.  

Sabrina noticed that Chase’s usually handsome and immaculate face looked slightly haggard. She quickly asked,  

“Would you like me to bring you a light snack if you’re hungry?”  

“That sounds great.”  

“I’ll prepare it right away.”  

“Thanks.”  

Sabrina softly closed the door to Chase’s office and began humming a little tune.  

‘I’d better bring it to him quickly. Can’t let that beautiful face suffer.’  

She carefully arranged Chase’s favorite sweet cookies on a pristine white plate, lining them up neatly and with care.  

With plenty of effort and affection.  

It had already been three months since she started working with him.  

Sabrina was utterly enamored with her superior, Chase.  

The fact that he had rescued her from the prison-like Viscountcy was enough to make him her benefactor, but on top of that, his personality was wonderful.  

Whenever Sabrina stumbled over tasks she was doing for the first time, he waited patiently. He never forgot to thank her, and his voice when addressing her was always gentle.  

He seemed to strike a perfect balance between professional kindness and friendly warmth. She couldn’t have asked for a better demeanor.  

And his face—what could she even say?  

His flawlessly proportioned features grew more breathtaking the longer she looked at them, and his refreshing smile, reminiscent of an energy drink commercial, felt like a blessing.  

Whenever he smiled, his eyes crinkling softly, Sabrina felt her heart melt. It was as if her faith in humanity, long dead, was beginning to stir once again.  

‘While I wasn’t blessed with family in this life, it seems I hit the jackpot with my superior.’  

Sabrina was 200% satisfied with her decision to work as Chase’s aide.  

Sure, there was a lot of work, but this was practically a dream job.  

Just then, as Sabrina was smiling contentedly, an annoying voice interrupted her from behind.  

It was Joel Dowd, one of her colleagues.  

“Cookies? Bring those to him quickly and fetch me something to eat, too. A cup of tea would be nice as well.”  

Of course, even in this dream job, the law of preserving nuisances remained steadfast.  

There were four aides working closely with Chase, including Sabrina.  

Excluding Henry Travis, who had previously worked under the Emperor, the rest were all newly hired through the recent recruitment process.  

「-Sabrina Wintlet  

-Avery Brandt  

-Henry Travis  

-Joel Dowd」  

When the list was announced, people tilted their heads in confusion. The names were all so unfamiliar.  

Some had advised that it would be better to form the team with experienced and seasoned individuals, but Chase insisted on sticking with the newly recruited rookies.  

He said he needed a fresh breeze in his otherwise dull life.  

It wasn’t a particularly convincing reason, but since Chase often made eccentric decisions, most people just shrugged it off.  

Avery Brandt was like the human embodiment of mediocrity.  

His appearance was neither handsome nor unattractive. His abilities weren’t exceptional, but they weren’t lacking either. His personality wasn’t particularly abrasive.  

Though he was quite taciturn, he was a decent enough colleague to work with.  

‘A competent worker who pulls his weight.’  

Henry Travis, on the other hand, was a second-year aide whose performance was abysmal for his tenure.  

One couldn’t help but wonder what he had been doing during those two years.  

Of course, this was because his position as an aide had nothing to do with his abilities in the first place.  

He was the beneficiary of his family’s reputation and the influence of his well-connected father.  

In short, he was a privileged parachute hire.  

Though Sabrina found it frustrating that he dumped all sorts of tasks on her simply because he was her senior and much older, it was tolerable.  

As long as she complied with his small requests, there were no further conflicts.  

‘A manageable nuisance.’  

The real problem was the next guy.  

Joel Dowd.  

The second son of the Dowd Marquisate, Joel was the epitome of an elite.  

With his supposedly masculine and dashing appearance—at least, according to himself—his natural intelligence, and his powerful family background, Joel loved to flaunt his perfection to others. 

His ostentatious golden pocket watch, always displayed for others to see, and his jewel-encrusted cufflinks, which he liked to fiddle with for no reason, were clichés of his vanity.  

To Joel, Sabrina was a thorn in his side.  

The top spot, the public’s attention, and Chase’s expectations—all of which he believed should have been his by default—had been snatched away by someone he had never seen before.  

On top of that, rumors abounded that her family was neither distinguished nor harmonious. And to make matters worse, Sabrina was a woman.  

From the very first day, Joel started picking on her.  

“Well, well, so you’re the famous one? It’s an honor to meet you.”  

“You’re awfully informal for someone I’ve just met. We’re colleagues, after all.”  

“Why not? We’re colleagues, right? Colleagues should be comfortable with each other.”  

“….”  

“But you’re more delicate and composed than I expected. I thought you’d be some brazen woman.”  

“What?”  

“Why so touchy? I’m complimenting you, saying you’re delicate. Can’t even give a compliment without being scared of the reaction.”  

Just as Sabrina was about to retort, Chase entered, and she missed her chance to say anything.  

‘An impossible nuisance to deal with.’  

From that day on, Joel continued to provoke Sabrina whenever he got the chance. Mocking her was a given, and he often treated her like a servant.  

Just like now.  

“Why should I get your snack for you? If you’re hungry, get it yourself.”  

When Sabrina’s expression hardened, Joel snorted and sneered.  

“Wow, stingy much. What’s the big deal about bringing a cup of tea?”  

Stay calm, stay calm. You’re at work right now….  

“That’s precisely why you should do it yourself, since it’s no big deal.”  

Sabrina replied calmly, ignoring Joel’s grumbling as she placed the plate of cookies and a teacup on the tray.  

Her chosen strategy was to completely ignore him. Since this was a workplace she intended to stay at for a long time, she opted for a moderate approach.  

“Fine, fine. Forget it. I was just trying to be nice and chat with a fellow colleague….”  

Sabrina carried the small tray into Chase’s office.  

Phew.  

After taking a deep breath, she lifted the corners of her lips into a wide smile. Her lips curved into a gentle 150-degree angle.  

“Your Highness, I’ve brought your refreshments.”  

“Thank you, Sabrina.”  

Chase, who had been reclining in his chair with his eyes closed, smiled, dimples forming on his cheeks. His long, dark lashes lifted, revealing his radiant golden eyes.  

“I’ll take my leave now. Please call me if you need anything.”  

As Sabrina turned to leave after offering a polite farewell, Chase called out to her.  

“Wait.”  

He narrowed his eyes slightly and said,  

“Your expression is different from earlier.”  

“Pardon?”  

“I can’t quite explain it, but something feels off. Did something happen just now? Or are you feeling unwell?”  

Sabrina’s eyes widened in surprise.  

‘How did he know?’