TMKCBL 07

Chapter 07

“We’re not in any kind of relationship!”

What kind of terrifying thing was that to say?!

I immediately waved my hands and denied it. We were just employer and employee!

I insisted strongly, but the butler didn’t seem convinced. His suspicious gaze toward me didn’t fade at all.

Taking out his pocket watch, Nomilton checked the time and muttered,

“Anyway, we should hurry if we’re to carry out the master’s orders. The dress shops in the city close early.”

“The city?”

“Yes. So go change your clothes.”

“Yeees…”

Damn this ridiculous class system!

The carriage dropped Nomilton and me off in the city and left.

I briefly considered running away right then and there, but Nomilton had been holding onto my arm the entire time, so I couldn’t.

Following his master’s orders faithfully, Nomilton headed straight to the most luxurious dress shop that only made dresses for noble ladies.

How did I know it was the best? I’d heard about it from the other maids while working at the mansion.

Anyway, we confidently pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Jingle!

At the sound of the bell, a stern-looking woman appeared. Nomilton spoke immediately.

“We would like to have dresses made for this young lady. Five of them. Deadline is next week.”

The moment the woman looked at me, her face twisted in displeasure. It was obvious she didn’t like what she saw.

“This is not a place just anyone can enter. She clearly looks like a commoner…”

“This is an order from Marquis Croiden.”

“……”

The woman’s expression changed subtly. She examined me closely, clearly dying of curiosity about why Marquis Croiden himself would order dresses for a commoner.

I simply pretended not to notice and looked around the shop.

Not like I’d be wearing any dresses—I’d be running away soon anyway.

Reluctantly, the woman spoke.

“If it’s an order from Marquis Croiden, I’ll comply… but if it becomes known that we made dresses for a commoner, our usual clients will be displeased.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“Pay double the base price. And I will come to Underwood Estate myself.”

Underwood Estate was the name of the mansion where Eden Croiden lived.

I quietly watched the conversation unfold without interfering.

“Very well. Then when will you come to the estate?”

“I’ll come by tomorrow.”

They were in the middle of arranging details when I quietly raised my hand.

“…Excuse me.”

Both the shop owner and Nomilton turned to look at me.

Under their gaze, I asked calmly,

“Where’s the restroom?”

Their expressions turned strange.

“…Go out the back door and take the door on the right.”

“Thank you!”

Honestly, I felt like screaming my lungs out.

While Luana Polly was away, Nomilton inspected the fabrics with the sharp eye of a seasoned butler.

But his mind was occupied with something else.

‘What exactly is the relationship between Luana Polly and the master?’

He couldn’t understand it.

To begin with, he didn’t understand why his master would even consider ordering dresses for a mere maid.

Frowning, he pressed his brow.

Could it be… the reason the master wanted to take Luana Polly to the charity party…

Though he wasn’t fully aware of it himself, he had quite an active imagination.

His thoughts began to branch out—into increasingly unfavorable directions.

Scenes of Eden Croiden flashed through his mind one by one.

The sight of the master and the maid standing unusually close when he had entered the study… the decision to order not just one, but five dresses… and the shocking declaration that he would take a maid to a charity party.

All of these details swelled and merged into a single conclusion.

Nomilton’s face hardened.

‘No way.’

In his imagination, Luana Polly transformed into a young maid carrying the master’s child.

‘That explains it.’

Recent images of Luana Polly crossed his mind—her looking drained of energy, barely eating, and jumping in surprise whenever the master called for her.

His imagination escalated further, showing scenes of the master and Luana laughing warmly together. Luana’s belly was swollen…

The child born would resemble Marquis Eden Croiden—a handsome boy.

But the eyes would be Luana Polly’s… violet…

“That’s impossible!”

“Ahh! You startled me…!”

Mrs. Penelope clutched her chest in shock as she looked at him. Seeing her wide eyes, Nomilton made a firm decision.

“I must go find the maid. It’s been quite some time, and she hasn’t returned. She must be lost—she’s not good with directions.”

“…Ah, y-yes. Of course.”

She replied, but he didn’t hear her.

He had already rushed out of the dress shop.

At that moment, there was only one thought in Nomilton’s mind:

Find Luana Polly!

For the master’s sake!

He steeled himself, thinking only of his master—who must surely be waiting for Luana Polly back at the estate.

“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

Eden Croiden, you crazy bastard!!!!

I screamed internally, unable to say it out loud.

“I’m seriously going to run away just to get away from this filth.”

I was venting my stress in a back alley near the dress shop.

‘No, this isn’t right.’

This was my chance.

A chance to escape!

I went back over my original plan—take a carriage and flee to the neighboring city.

Just as I turned out of the alley to find a driver—

Nomilton’s face suddenly popped out from the corner.

“Luana Polly!”

“Gah—!”

With a fierce expression, Nomilton quickly approached and grabbed me.

How did he find me here?!

“We don’t have time. Let’s return at once.”

‘No, wait!’

But no matter how much I resisted, I was just a frail maid.

“Yeees…”

I was helplessly dragged away by him.

Over the past few days, I had tried my absolute best to escape.

I really tried everything—but every single time, Nomilton found me.

‘How does he keep finding me so easily?’

I muttered while scrubbing the floor harshly with a mop.

‘More importantly… what is this, really?’

I replayed Eden Croiden’s words in my mind.

The quest window had clearly said: “The first person killed by an outsider from beyond this world.”

Then… if I had killed someone other than Eden Croiden, would they have gained the resurrection ability instead?

Now there was no way to find out.

What a shame.

Clicking my tongue, I dumped out the dirty mop water with a deep sigh. The murky water looked just like my future.

From now on, my life would probably be full of nothing but dirty, sticky, miserable hardships like this.

Before that happens…

‘Please… just let me escape.’

I offered a desperate prayer to God.