TMKCBL 06

Chapter 06

“I’m going to run away this week.”

To do that, I’d obviously need money. But my plan to raid Eden Croiden’s vault had already failed.

I counted the emergency funds I had hidden beneath the floorboards of my room. It was money I had painstakingly saved over the past year.

“Let’s see. One, two, three, four…”

Hmm.

‘I should at least be able to afford a carriage ride.’

I’d hitch a ride to the neighboring city, work there for a few days to earn money, then move on to the next city.

If I eventually reached the far end of the empire, even Eden Croiden wouldn’t be able to find me. Not just him—I’d also avoid getting tangled up with any of the original story’s characters.

The villain’s resurrection ability that I had triggered, and that strange quest window, did bother me a bit, but…

Wouldn’t my oh-so-great master figure that out on his own?

If I stayed far away from all the main characters and lived peacefully in the countryside, I’d have nothing to do with any of that.

Filled with hope, I stepped forward—

But the moment I left my room, I was caught by Head Maid Mrs. Kelton.

She approached me.

“Luana, the master is calling for you.”

‘Damn it.’

Why now of all times?!

Her gaze clearly questioned, “Why is the master calling you?” I pretended not to notice and rolled my eyes.

‘Well, you see, it’s because I killed him—not once, but twice.’

Obviously, I couldn’t say that.

The stairs up to the fourth floor, where the master’s bedroom was, felt unusually long today. I trudged along like a defeated soldier.

After passing through the endless corridor, Eden Croiden’s bedroom came into view. I carefully approached the door.

Knock knock.

“Master, are you there?”

Your loyal maid, Luana Polly, reporting.

After a short while, permission came.

“Come in.”

I opened the door slightly and peeked inside.

“You called for me?”

“Yes.”

I closed the door and stepped into the room.

Eden Croiden was sitting at the table, looking over some documents. He lifted his head and looked at me.

As always, his face was handsome.

But when he smiled gently at me, my arms broke out in goosebumps.

“…What is it?”

I asked uneasily, and Eden Croiden smiled brightly.

“A delivery I requested from the temple arrived, so I wanted to check it.”

“…?”

Seeing my suspicion, he gestured for me to come closer. I didn’t want to, but I had no choice.

“Closer.”

I swallowed a sigh.

‘I hate this damn class system.’

Dragging my unwilling feet forward, I approached him—and suddenly, he pressed something sharp like a thorn against my arm.

Before I could dodge, it pierced my skin.

“Ow!”

‘That bastard just stabbed me!’

A drop of red blood formed where I’d been pricked. Whether I glared at him or not, Eden Croiden simply watched my blood with great interest.

He smeared the blood onto the other end of the thorn.

I stared at his side profile as he examined it carefully.

It was fortunate he was focused on the thorn—if he had looked at me, he might’ve seen the fist I was itching to throw at him.

Kindly, he began explaining.

“This is a holy relic that can distinguish demons.”

“A holy relic?”

“They say it glows red when it touches a demon’s blood.”

The thorn didn’t glow—it stayed exactly the same.

Seeing that, he smiled with certainty.

“Since it didn’t glow, you’re not a demon.”

“If I’m not a demon… then what am I?”

“An angel.”

“……”

‘A what?’

I couldn’t believe my ears.

“I’ve never been called an angel in my life.”

“That’s fortunate. It means I’m the only one who’s recognized your worth.”

Unfortunately, my master had a habit of hearing only what he wanted to hear. Or maybe his brain had its own built-in filter.

“I’m neither an angel nor a demon.”

“Then what?”

“…A maid?”

I muttered without confidence, and he gestured toward me with his chin.

“Then how do you explain being an ‘outsider from beyond this world’? What I saw back then was clearly not the power of an ordinary human.”

“I don’t know either.”

“Whether you truly don’t know or are pretending not to know—I’ll find out eventually.”

“I really don’t know…”

I protested weakly, but he ignored me. His shamelessness was astonishing.

If God were really sending an angel, wouldn’t it be to Arthur Camelon? Why send one to Eden Croiden—someone who practically breathes hatred for humanity?

Hearing my thoughts, Eden Croiden said,

“Then that must mean God is on my side. Not Arthur Camelon’s.”

“No, it’s just that this was the only job posting available.”

Luana Polly probably would’ve preferred working at Arthur Camelon’s place too.

He ignored me again.

Unbelievable.

After that, Eden Croiden kept examining the relic to his heart’s content. He stabbed me two more times (!!), and seemed extremely satisfied with the result that I wasn’t a demon.

‘That thing is probably fake.’

I grumbled internally.

People in this world considered mana to be a blessing from God—and sure, magic did exist…

‘Still feels fake.’

What could I do? As someone who came from modern society, I had a deep-rooted distrust of things like magic and holy relics.

While Eden Croiden satisfied his curiosity and pulled the bell cord to summon the butler, I was more interested in whether the relic was genuine. I mentally cursed him, thinking the relic was fake and that he was a fool for believing it and calling me an angel.

Because of that, when Butler Mr. Nomilton entered the room and greeted him, I failed to react quickly.

That was my fatal mistake.

Because Eden Croiden suddenly said this:

“Take Luana Polly to a dressmaker and have the most expensive dress made for her.”

“Huh?!”

That was my reaction.

“A… dress, sir?”

That was the butler’s reaction.

Nomilton looked between me and my master, as if questioning whether he’d heard correctly. Eden Croiden remained perfectly calm.

“Also buy matching accessories and shoes.”

I was the only one panicking.

‘We’re not in that kind of relationship! We’re not!!’

I tried sending telepathic messages, but they didn’t seem to get through. Because the butler suddenly lowered his head with a grim expression.

His voice echoed through the room.

“Understood. I will take the maid immediately and have a dress made.”

“Not ‘the maid.’ Luana Polly.”

“My apologies. I will take Miss Luana Polly and have the dress made. Will one dress suffice?”

“No. Have five made for now. She’ll need them for the charity party next week, so tell them to finish before then and deliver them to the mansion.”

“Yes, sir.”

Raising his head, Nomilton gestured to me.

“Miss Luana. This way.”

“……”

Does no one see that I look like a prisoner being led to execution?

I didn’t want to go at all, but I had no choice. I walked toward the butler. After making sure I was with him, Nomilton bowed once more. As soon as Eden Croiden gave a dismissive gesture, we left the room.

The hallway was empty.

The moment we were alone, Nomilton turned his head toward me so quickly I could hear the motion.

“Luana Polly… what exactly is your relationship with the master?”