Third Arc: Thirty-Eighth Chapter

"Lady Cosette, watch your step."

Deep in the night, with the lamps out and the whole mansion asleep, we slipped quietly from our room and walked the corridor. Three days had passed since we took over the head chef's room and began living in the mansion, but this was the first time it was so empty of people.

"The sleeping draught we dropped in the well worked well."

"Yes. Thanks to Lord Remias drawing everyone's attention, it went more easily than I expected."

To keep the household busy with a guest, Remias had come to call on short notice, on purpose. Newly made kin by Remie and Elliot's marriage, Lyonetta was in no position to turn him away. That was lucky. That she'd take such a shine to Remias himself, though, was more than we'd bargained for.

Careful to make our steps as quiet as we could, we climbed the stairs and stepped into the master's private wing. From here it was wholly unknown ground to me, since my life had mostly been back and forth between the kitchen and my room. Looking around as she went, Anje pressed on with surprisingly little hesitation. Maybe she'd seen it through a game screen in her past life.

"Do you know where to go?"

"Yes, leave it to me. If it's the same as the game, that is."

Up the stairs to the second floor, we headed into the right wing of the U-shaped mansion. Past a few doors, Anje stopped before the door at the very end. It was heavy, made of beautifully grained wood, with all the air of a master's room.

Creeeak.

In the soundless corridor the small squeal of the hinge rang out, and a chill ran down my spine. Normally it was a sound no one would notice, but.

"We should oil it."

"Shh..."

Too tense, I cracked a joke and got hushed for it. I lowered my brows to apologize with a look, resolved to hold even my breath, and peered inside.

Lyonetta's living room, the first time I'd set foot in it, was faintly lit but held no sign of anyone. There were two doors, left and right. One was likely the bedroom, the other perhaps a waiting room for her lady's maid.

"Looks like the maid isn't here. The drug must have worked."

"So it seems. Good. Let's find the antidote."

"The antidote should be in Lady Lyonetta's bedroom. This way."

We looked at each other and nodded, and just as I reached for the door to the bedroom, the room's lights came on all at once.

"What business does a cook have in Lady Lyonetta's bedroom?"

Cold sweat ran down my spine, as if I'd been doused with cold water. I braced and spun around, and there stood Dunhill, dressed at some point in his neat butler's uniform, arms crossed.

"Did you not hear? That is our master's private space. Answer, if you can, what business a mere cook has there."

Pinned as if transfixed, unable to move, we watched Dunhill level the cane in his hand at us.

"Can't answer? Then let's hear it at leisure later. You there, seize these suspicious intruders."

"Sir!"

At Dunhill's order, guards appeared from a door other than the bedroom's and reached for us.

"Lady Cosette...!"

"Ngh...! To come this far...!"

Just a little more and the antidote was ours. Grinding my teeth in frustration, Anje and I braced ourselves against the closing guards.

Then a familiar voice rang through the taut room.

"Don't touch her. Let go of that filthy hand!"