My Lord Chapter 18

“That doesn’t mean we can just keep hiding down here, right?”  

 

When I asked, Ellen nodded in agreement.  

 

“True. Some of the kids go out to buy what we need, but this neighborhood isn’t that big. Shopkeepers have gotten familiar with our faces. So, even taking turns to go out has its limits.”  

 

The hardest part of living as a fugitive isn’t the escape itself—it’s buying the necessary daily goods while in hiding.  

 

A young man suddenly shows up in town, perfectly healthy, but stays holed up in his room all day, only coming out to shop? That would look suspicious to anyone.  

 

That’s why fugitives usually end up getting caught due to reports from residents. Ellen was worried about that too.  

 

“How about getting a job? That way, your identity would be more secure.”  

 

“I’ve thought about that too. But the people here seem pretty close-knit. They don’t hire outsiders.”  

 

I figured as much. I grinned and snapped my fingers.  

 

“Then come work at my place.”  

 

Ellen’s eyes widened.  

 

“Your place? You’re working? Where?”  

 

“I’m serving a young master. Believe it or not, I’m a butler.”  

 

“…That young master? The cursed one? The one you cursed?”  

 

When I nodded, Ellen’s face turned pale. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before frowning.  

 

“Why? If you get caught, you’ll die.”  

 

“I have my reasons. Let’s leave it at that.”  

 

“……”  

 

Though Ellen didn’t look convinced, he stepped back when I insisted.  

 

“Anyway, there are currently two vacant positions at the estate. One is for a chef, and the other is for a maid. The maid’s duties are fixed, and it doesn’t matter if a man takes the job, so you could do that. As for the chef, you can assign one of your subordinates who’s competent enough.”  

 

Ellen fell silent, lost in thought.  

 

“So, the choice is: keep living like this and risk getting caught and dragged to the Imperial Palace, or hide your identity while working under the cursed young master…”  

 

“By the way, the curse isn’t contagious. I tested it myself.”  

 

“I’m sure you did, being the one who cast it.”  

 

“Shut up.”  

 

Ellen knows my true identity—that I am Reina Khan—but that’s not a big problem. I also know that they’re part of Gillishard, the revolutionary army.  

 

We both know that if either of us opens our mouths, we’d both end up dead, so there’s no need to worry too much.  

 

Eventually, Ellen seemed to reach a conclusion. He raised an eyebrow and grinned.  

 

“Not a bad idea.”  

 

“My suggestions are always good.”  

 

“Haha, not really.”  

 

Leaning against the desk, Ellen stood up and slowly approached me.  

 

“Rey.”  

 

He perched on the backrest of the sofa where I was sitting and leaned his head down. His long hair cascaded, brushing against me. How does he take care of his hair? It’s so soft… That was the sort of trivial thought I had at the moment.  

 

“It’s strange that you suddenly showed up after disappearing for a year, and even stranger that you’re making a proposal perfectly tailored to us. Don’t you think so?”  

 

I deliberately frowned.  

 

“Doubting my pure goodwill? That hurts.”  

 

“The former captain always said…”  

 

There’s no such thing as an action without expectations.  

 

Recalling the former captain, I nodded.  

 

“So, tell me. What’s the price you want in return?”  

 

To be honest, just having these people employed at the estate is more than enough for me. But if they’re willing to pay a price, who am I to stop them?  

 

Feigning reluctance, I replied.  

 

“Well, it’s nothing much. Just look into the Gray Company for me.”  

 

“The Gray Company?”  

 

“Yeah, and find out why they’re targeting the young master.”  

 

Ellen blinked slowly.  

 

“Don’t tell me… You feel guilty toward the young master, and that’s why you’re sticking around him? To protect him?”  

 

I shrugged.  

 

“Think whatever you want.”  

 

“Wow. You, feeling guilt, a human emotion?”  

 

“Want to get hit again?”  

 

“Haha, no thanks.”  

 

Ellen chuckled as he swept his hair back. He stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.  

 

But I already knew the answer he’d reach. So I crossed my arms and waited leisurely.  

 

“It’s a bit of an uneven deal…”  

 

“Friend discount.”  

 

“A friend who vanished for a year and suddenly reappeared? Some friend.”  

 

Ellen tapped my shoulder a couple of times, stretched, and winked at me.  

 

“I’ll look into it.”  

 

“You’ve made an excellent decision.”  

 

“So, when do we start?”  

 

“Tomorrow.”  

 

I stood up as well.  

 

“Conveniently, there’s going to be a vacancy starting today.”  

 

Wait and see, you cheating couple.  

 

You’re done for.  

 

***

 

Returning to the estate, the first thing I did was, naturally, summon the staff.  

 

In front of them, I played a recording. Not the whole thing, of course—just the provocative parts, leaving out the critical details.  

 

-Should we head to the kitchen this evening? It’s been a while.  

-come to the kitchen later tonight. I’ll give you the money then.

-Only the money? You should give me something else too.  

-The other thing is already standing ready, so don’t worry. 

 

The sound quality was so good that anyone could tell it was the voices of the chef and Cordelie. The staff, who heard the conversation, stared in shock, their eyes practically popping out.  

 

“They’re… having an affair?”  

 

“The wife recently gave us all gifts!”  

 

“How could they do this?”  

 

The staff lashed out at the chef and Cordelie in disbelief. Apparently, the chef’s wife had visited not long ago to give everyone gifts, asking them to take good care of her husband.  

 

What could I even say to that? I shook my head.  

 

“For this reason, the two of you will have to leave the estate starting today.”  

 

Both the chef and Cordelie shouted in unison.  

 

“This is absurd!”  

 

“Yeah! Where’s the proof it’s us? Audio can be fabricated!”  

 

Expecting this reaction, I gave the prepared response.  

 

“Then I’ll inform the chef’s wife of this recording. The courts can decide whether it’s fake or not.”  

 

“T-that’s…”  

 

The chef’s face went pale.  

 

The Empire has a well-established divorce system. If one party is at fault—in this case, infidelity—the other party can take 80% of their assets.  

 

Knowing this, the chef began trembling, unable to speak further.  

 

“If you leave quietly now, none of that will happen. What’s your choice?”  

 

Of course, that was a lie. Once they left, I’d anonymously send the recording to his wife.  

 

But the chef didn’t know that. He looked around, saw the hostile glares of the staff, and finally stomped his foot.  

 

“Fine! I don’t want to stay in this wretched place for another second!”  

 

“Honey, how could you!”  

 

Cordelie, who had accidentally called him a pet name, quickly covered her mouth. After glancing around nervously, she too stomped her foot and shouted.  

 

“Fine! I’m leaving this place too!”  

 

I waved at the retreating pair.  

 

Ordinarily, they wouldn’t get off this lightly. They stole precious resources from the Duke’s estate. They should’ve been prosecuted.  

 

But there was a reason I let them go.  

 

If I send them off like this, the Company will think they were merely caught for their affair.  

 

They believed their plan hadn’t been discovered and would start searching for another spy within the mansion.

 

And that “other spy” would likely be my friend Ellen and the member of his organization that he’ll bring along.

 

Since the remaining staff here have been working loyally for over a year, they would think it’s better to tempt someone new.

 

That’s how they’ll get caught.

 

Apart from dealing with Gillishard, I plan to conduct my own investigation as well. The more directions I investigate, the more information I can gather.

 

With that decision in mind, I addressed the staff, who were speculating this and that, saying things like the head chef and Cordelia had seemed suspicious or had peculiar looks in their eyes.

 

“Don’t worry about the vacancies they’ve left. I’ve already hired new staff.”

 

“What? Really?”

 

Daisy clapped her hands and asked.

 

“I was worried about how we’d handle the work once those two left… When did you hold interviews and hire someone? Were there any applicants?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Thinking it wouldn’t be wise to reveal they were my friends, I lightly nodded.

 

“A few people recently moved into the village. By coincidence, they were looking for work, so I made them an offer. They’re reliable people, so you don’t need to worry.”

 

Of course, Ellen’s condition isn’t the best… He’s somewhat unhinged in a way, but… he’ll be fine, right?

 

He has to be fine. Please.