Chapter 14
“Thank you. Truly…”
Chelsea could barely speak through her overflowing tears, repeating only words of gratitude over and over.
She had realized that I was the person she met at Laford Port. When I asked how she recognized me, she simply answered:
“Because of the kindness I felt in your voice.”
K-kindness? Me?
That was the first time in my life I’d ever heard something like that.
Well, they say people see what they are—so maybe to kind Chelsea, I seemed that way.
‘The Larmine Viscount family will pay far more than the price of their sins.’
Like a proper obsessive male lead, the Marquis vowed revenge even in that situation.
It was a natural development, and since I also wanted to see the villains fall, I supported him.
He still had a somewhat prickly attitude, but he clearly trusted me much more than before.
He even paid me several times more than the original fee.
‘Money is nice, but… I’m just glad Chelsea returned to where she belongs.’
When I saw Chelsea’s happy face, I felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
It felt right that she had regained her place as someone loved by everyone.
‘Maybe this job really suits me?’
Returning people who have lost their way back to where they belong.
Helping them avoid the same kind of sorrow I went through.
Hmm… now that I think about it, it’s actually pretty nice.
Sure, it’s dangerous—but I’ve got the system as a cheat ability.
I can earn cash and money, and even read web novels in real-time…
‘The more I think about it, the better it sounds.’
Looks like I really did transmigrate into a good situation!
Even though I was exhausted, my mood was surprisingly bright.
But that feeling didn’t last long.
The moment I got off the carriage and stood in front of my office door, I remembered the hidden threat I had forgotten.
‘Damon…!’
The guy I somehow ended up taking in—the (probably) male lead.
The number one danger who needs to be sent back to his original place as soon as possible!
I had put enough pressure on him… so maybe he ran away on his own?
Click.
I carefully opened the door.
Even though it was my own place, I felt nervous.
The first thing I checked was the money pouch I had deliberately left by the door with a “please take this and run away” vibe.
“Huh? It’s gone…!”
The money pouch was gone!
Did he actually leave on his own?
Did that trashy book really work?!
I believed in it, damn it! (Okay, I didn’t.)
“The one that was there? I put it away so it wouldn’t get lost.”
My emotional moment was shattered by the calm voice I had hoped never to hear again.
That’s right. It was Damon.
Why are you still here?
Why didn’t you run away?
“I thought leaving it by the door might make it easy to lose. Should I put it back?”
Damon asked casually while carrying a stack of books.
It seemed he had cleaned the entire place, including the attic.
I stared blankly around the now spotless office.
“Uh… it’s fine. Just keep it somewhere you know. That’s enough.”
Better if only you know where it is.
Even better if you take it outside the office altogether.
While I stood there looking like I had lost everything, Damon paid me no mind and continued working.
“If I made a mistake, please let me know. I followed what this book said and started with cleaning…”
He said, picking up a book from the desk.
“You told me to read when I had time. It was very helpful.”
With his usual expressionless face, Damon said something incredibly frustrating.
Did I say that?
Come to think of it, I might’ve told him to read something if he got bored before I left.
But what kind of book was that helpful?
I read the title printed neatly on the cover in Damon’s hand.
<How to Become a Good Detective Agency Assistant / Author: R>
…Who the hell put that insane book in my bookshelf?
If I had found it earlier, I would’ve thrown it straight into Chelsea’s greenhouse furnace and burned it.
This was the moment I regretted not being more observant.
<End of Episode 1: The Marchioness in the Greenhouse>
“Is Sir Kal not here?”
“I’m sorry, miss. He hasn’t returned yet.”
I thought as much.
Elisa hid her disappointment and sat down on the sofa in the reception room.
“I’ll wait until he comes back.”
“That’s fine, but…”
The maid trailed off with a sympathetic look.
Elisa didn’t pay it any mind—she was used to such pitying gazes.
Elisa was the fiancée of Kal Relint, the admiral of the Western Sea Fleet.
Because Kal was constantly fighting sea monsters, there were only a handful of days he spent on land. Naturally, his fiancée was always his lowest priority.
‘Oh dear, what a pitiful abandoned woman.’
‘Well, she was basically sold off to become the bride of the Western Sea Admiral…’
She was used to being treated as a pitiful and pathetic young lady in high society.
Serving in the Western Sea, which was infested with monsters, was no different from risking one’s life.
Not only did she barely get to see him because he was so busy, but she also had to bear the risk of becoming a widow at any time.
Who would want such a marriage?
But Elisa thought differently.
Kal was a true warrior—someone who had survived for years fighting in those dangerous seas with unwavering conviction.
He was not someone who would die meaninglessly like a discarded pawn. He couldn’t be.
Elisa believed that one day, all the sea monsters would disappear, and Kal would finally be free.
That belief was what allowed her to endure this endless waiting.
How much time had passed?
“…I apologize for being late.”
The man she had been waiting for finally entered the reception room.
“It’s alright. I haven’t been waiting that long.”
Her back and shoulders ached from sitting so long, but Elisa smiled brightly without showing it.
“This is good timing. There’s something I must tell you.”
Seeing his unusually resolute expression, Elisa felt a strange sense of unease.
She hurriedly spoke, trying to change the subject.
“I came to give you something as well. It’s a charm used by seafarers—”
“Elisa.”
Before she could finish, Kal cut her off coldly.
“Let’s break off the engagement.”
His tone was brutally cold.
Elisa blinked, speechless.
“……”
“I should have done this sooner. It’s already too late. Let’s end the engagement.”
Elisa clenched the charm she hadn’t been able to give him.
In the silence that filled the reception room, only the distant sound of waves echoed softly.
* * *
Morning light filtered faintly through the window.
Because of the rain that had fallen all night, round droplets clung to the windowpanes.
I stretched, breathing in the cool, damp air.
After rubbing my eyes, I sat down at the table, and soon a bowl of warm soup was placed in front of me.
Of course, I hadn’t made it.
I was the type of person who skipped breakfast because I wasn’t diligent enough.
The one who prepared this meal early in the morning—Damon—quietly sat across from me.
It was a scene I had grown quite used to.
After all, we had been living together for over two months now.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected him to stay this long… Life really is full of unexpected turns.
“Good morning.”
I greeted my assistant warmly—the same assistant who was so quiet he sometimes felt like a stone.
Damon glanced at me and shook his head.
“It’s already close to lunchtime.”
“……”
That was embarrassing.
It still looked dim outside, so I thought it was morning, but it must’ve been because of the rain.
I’ve never heard of an obsessive male lead who sleeps in, so I’d better be more careful next time.
“Right… did you sleep well?”
“No.”
“Hm?”
That wasn’t the answer I expected.
Damon’s expression remained as calm as ever.
“We need to fix the roof.”
“The roof?”
“It’s leaking from the ceiling.”
He pointed toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
Since becoming my assistant, Damon had been staying in the attic room upstairs.
It was especially shabby compared to the rest of the house, so it had caused problems here and there—but now it was even leaking.
“Hm… now it’s the roof’s turn.”
I set down my spoon and fell into thought.
