Chapter 11
What could she possibly be thinking, asking for nothing in return after saving him?
“……”
Following the woman’s instructions, he took out some bread and spread jam on it before eating.
He quenched his thirst with warm water.
The sweetness lingering on his tongue felt unfamiliar.
“So I’m supposed to sleep there….”
The woman had deliberately given him the bedroom and lay down on the office sofa instead.
Handing over a comfortable sleeping space for no clear reason.
What on earth does she want from me?
It would be better if she just said it outright.
If she treated him harshly like others did.
Then at least his body might suffer, but his mind wouldn’t feel this uneasy.
After staring blankly in the direction where Celia was, he turned and headed to the bedroom.
He checked carefully in case there were traps set inside, but there was nothing wrong with the bed.
Soon, Damon slipped under the soft blanket and closed his eyes.
Warmth wrapped around his entire body, and from the tips of his toes, a fluffy, unfamiliar emotion began to bloom.
It was a feeling he had never experienced before.
…It would be nice if I could stay here for a long time.
Before falling asleep, such a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
He hoped this “master” would last longer than the others.
Even if she changed her mind and began to treat him coldly, he just wished she wouldn’t throw him away.
A faint desire to stay by her side flickered through his subconscious before fading.
And just like that, Damon fell into sleep.
“Wow, I almost overslept. Why is that book so long…?”
He woke up again when he heard muttering from outside the door.
The moment he realized it was Celia’s voice, Damon immediately got out of bed.
He opened the door and stepped out to where she was.
“Oh? You’re awake?”
The woman, who noticed him late, flinched slightly as she spoke.
Even though he had seen her just a few hours ago, her face felt strangely welcome.
Thinking it odd, Damon opened his mouth.
“Master.”
“……”
At that single word, her expression became complicated.
Neither smiling nor frowning—just… complicated.
Does she not like that title?
“My name is Celia Welf.”
“Celia….”
“And for the time being, you’ll be working here as my assistant. So from now on, call me Director.”
Assistant? Damon looked at her with confusion.
“You said you wanted me to take you in. That means you have nowhere else to go, right?”
She shrugged as she continued.
“But I’m not well off either, so I can’t treat you well. I can provide food and lodging, plus a small wage. Is that okay?”
“……A wage?”
Words he had never expected poured out.
She was going to hire him as an assistant? And even pay him?
Before he could respond, stunned, Celia approached him.
As the distance between them suddenly closed, his body stiffened.
“Now that I think about it, it doesn’t sound so bad.”
Her low, resonant voice brushed against his ear.
Then her soft fingers grazed his cheek.
Damon swallowed once and blinked.
What is she saying? Is she planning to use me?
“I like you.”
The moment Celia said that, Damon’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Overwhelmed by an unfamiliar emotion, he instinctively stepped back.
A deep smile spread across her lips.
“I’m looking forward to how you’ll grow.”
“……”
“I plan to keep you by my side and watch. So take good care of me.”
By the time Celia finished speaking in a cheerful tone, Damon couldn’t respond at all.
His heart pounded wildly.
His vision spun, making him feel like he might collapse at any moment.
“I have something to take care of today, so stay home alone. If you’re hungry, eat whatever you want. If you’re bored, read a book. But….”
But?
Is there another condition?
Something he must absolutely fulfill?
At her ominous tone, Damon quickly lifted his head.
Celia’s face was suddenly right in front of his.
“Don’t leave the office without my permission. I don’t like my things catching other people’s attention.”
At her quiet warning, Damon froze stiff, forgetting even how to breathe.
Meanwhile, Celia turned her back without hesitation and left.
Obsession Tip:
Pretend to offer good conditions, keep them close, and isolate them.
Act like you care for them while subtly gaslighting them—that’s the key.
Add a touch of gentle flirting and a slightly greasy expression, and it’s perfect!
…Is this really right?
Even though she followed the instructions exactly, sacrificing sleep to study the book thoroughly, she still doubted it.
If he doesn’t run away after this, I’m tracking down the author’s address. And I’m definitely getting that 100,000 cash refund.
At that point, she’d show what real obsession looks like—in a very bad way.
With that resolution, she boarded a carriage headed to Greydan’s estate.
Still… it seemed to work so far, right?
Damon’s pale face as he stepped back flashed through her mind.
He had clearly been flustered by her sudden change in attitude.
It’d be nice if Damon just returns to his original storyline like this.
She had even deliberately left a pouch of money at home so he could leave anytime.
If he had any sense, he’d grab it and go.
After that, whether he stirred up chaos in the imperial palace or fell into some epic romance—none of her business.
Before long, the marquis’ estate came into view through the carriage window.
Looks like we’re almost there.
As soon as she stepped down at the entrance, the butler greeted her with a puzzled expression.
“Detective, what brings you here?”
“I’d like to see the marquis.”
At her straightforward request, the butler led her to the drawing room.
While she waited with tea, the marquis soon appeared, his face deeply furrowed.
“Still have business here? Shouldn’t you be out searching for Chelsea by now?”
He spoke irritably the moment he saw her.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be able to see the marchioness today.”
“You talk big. Have you found where Chelsea is?”
“Yes. So let’s go together now.”
At her confident suggestion, his eyes narrowed.
“Where?”
Though he sounded skeptical, there was clear anticipation in his gaze.
Celia smirked and set down her teacup.
“The marchioness’ greenhouse.”
“Here, eat this. It’ll make you healthy.”
Count Larmine said, handing over a freshly picked green apple.
Already starving, young Chelsea accepted it happily.
“Thank you, Uncle.”
The count’s cold gaze lingered on her as she devoured the apple.
Only after confirming she ate every last bite did he leave, satisfied.
Watching him, young Chelsea thought:
Uncle still thinks of me as family after all.
After her parents died one after another, she lived at her uncle’s house, constantly walking on eggshells.
Her room was small, with no heating or cooling.
Meals were poor.
On top of that, she was burdened with chores unfit for a noble lady, and her body quickly grew weak.
Then one day, while she lay groaning on a hard bed, her uncle appeared and suddenly handed her a piece of fruit.
The fruit she ate then was sweeter and more fragrant than anything she had ever tasted.
And after she began eating it, she felt her health gradually improving.
“Mom! Can I have some too?”
“Stay still.”
Even during family meals, a large amount of fruit was placed only in front of Chelsea.
No one else touched it.
But she never found that strange.
She simply believed it was because she loved it so much—that even her cold uncle reluctantly showed her kindness.
That he was taking care of his sick niece.
Strangely, whenever she ate the fruit, her weak body regained energy, and she could easily complete her chores.
Sometimes she even had so much energy that she couldn’t sleep until late at night.
But when she didn’t eat the fruit, her body would become unnaturally sluggish.
