"Do trees move directly?"
Simone nodded and stood up. The Grand Duke seemed to be taking Simone's words quite seriously, and that was enough for now.
More than that, it had been a while since she confronted Grand Duke Illeston, so she wanted to go back to her room and rest.
It was a journey too long and rough for her to endure the fatigue.
"Anyway, Grand Duke, please just listen to my request. I will resolve all the details and then tell you."
If it's resolved anyway, he'll know even if she doesn't say anything. However, the Grand Duke still had a disapproving expression..
"... But we can't allow outsiders with weapons to come in here-"
The Grand Duke of Ilestone fell silent as Simone looked at him as if asking, "What are these pathetic people?"
The woman who had been laughing softly just a moment ago was telling him to stop now with her blood-red eyes.
Simone spoke in a tired voice.
"Grand Duke, I have walked a very long way to be here today. I'd like to postpone the conversation until after everything is over. What do you think?"
"Sure."
Yes. What are you worried about? If anything goes wrong with this, Simone will die anyway.
She won't be able to do anything foolish.
"I get It. Just one warning. I will allow you to wander around the mansion while you stay here."
"Thank you."
"But never go up to the third floor."
Simone stopped and looked up at the ceiling.
Ah, this is where Grand Duke Illeston's secret lies.
It doesn't matter because she didn't plan on touching that place right now anyway.
Simone nodded as if she was keeping this in mind.
"All right. I will be careful, so please go to bed early today."
That way she can go to bed early..
Simone swallowed her words and stood up with a kind smile.
"Grand Duke, don't worry. I will never let you down. Have a good night."
Her appearance was truly suspicious and did not make her look like she was seventeen.
After Simone left his study, Grand Duke Illeston ordered everyone in the house to go to bed early, as she had said.
"Kelle, I put in a request to the Adventurer's Guild to urgently seek a trustworthy swordsman. I definitely need it within a week."
"Yes, Master."
"And..."
Grand Duke Illeston looked at the spot where Simone disappeared and spoke to the head of the house, Kelle.
"Find out about that kid."
"Yes. I understand, Master."
Grand Duke Illeston's eyes darkened again.
A child who appears so suddenly and excitedly says she will lift the curse.
It is not yet certain whether that child will be the salvation of the Illeston family or another curse.
'If there is even the slightest threat to the family.'
He will really destroy it.
***
"This is the room where Simone will stay."
"My room?"
Simone's breath caught in her throat.
Is this a room? Not home?
It was exactly three times the size of the studio where Seo Hyeon-Jeong lived.
Although there was not much sunlight, the pure white marble and richly embroidered gold leaf patterns sparkled as much as the sunlight.
A high ceiling, three large glass windows, and a spacious terrace and rose garden that can be entered through an arched double door in the middle.
Simone could not hide her rising clown.
"I told you to treat me right!"
What about the furniture? Perhaps because it was a room that had never been used before, it only had a bed and a table, but the quality was unusual.
Could it be said to be the Rococo-style bed, table, and chairs of the Presidential Room, which is sometimes introduced on social media as an 'ultra-luxury' hotel where wealthy people stay?
In particular, the gaze of Simone, who was tired from the journey so far, lingered on the bed for a long time, even though she had not laid down on it yet, but it looked like she would get a good night's sleep for a second.
"Why are you doing that? Do you have any problem?"
After being intoxicated by the luxury for a moment, Simone turned her head to look at the attendant at the cold voice.
"Are you not satisfied with this room?"
Why is he like this again?
It was a completely sarcastic tone.
'How dare you talk to a commoner, or rather, a beggar.'
The fact that a seventeen-year-old commoner girl dared to propose a deal to the Grand Duke had already spread widely among the workers.
There is also a story that she boldly asked for the largest guest room and meals equal to those of the owner of the mansion as if asking for her own stay was not enough.
From start to finish, Kelle's eyes scanned Simone's body up and down with disapproval.
Ominous hair color and eyes, dirty and smelly clothes that look like they were stolen from somewhere, and even her arrogant behavior towards the Grand Duke.
"That disgusting necromancer is so arrogant."
For now, it is the child who will lift the curse on the mansion, so he will pass over the child, but as soon as the request is completed, he will hand the child over to the imperial palace.
Whether or not Simone came to lift the curse. Kelle was truly annoyed by this necromancer girl who wanted to use the mansion as she pleased.
Seeing Kelle like that, Simone smiled brightly.
"I'm satisfied. It's so good."
Is there any need to come this far and blush for no reason? She just wanted to turn off her mind and go to sleep. She didn't have enough strength left to be offended by each of the servant's actions.
Simone walked past Kaylee and headed to the bed. Then she suddenly lay down.
"Ah. I'll live!"
Kaylee's expression got even worse at that shameless behavior. Simone just turned her head and bobbed her head, looking at Kaylee lazily.
"Bye."
Kaylee frowned, sighed, and shook her head.
"I will soon send a dedicated servant to attend to Lady Simone. May you rest in peace."
On the topic of dirty necromancers.
Kaylee nodded, then turned around and muttered something as if she was deliberately telling her to listen, but Simone pretended not to hear her and looked around the room, blinking her tired eyes.
'It's a nice room. Let's sleep first.'
No matter what happens in your future life, sleep comes first.
***
On the evening of the first day, Simone's experience of nobility began.
Despite his suspicions about Simone, the Duke of Illeston faithfully carried out the deal.
When she woke up from a nap and was looking around the room, a servant of the same age who would be in charge of Simone came in with light refreshments and greeted her.
"Oh, hi. Simone..."
His cute freckled face must have been very difficult because of his life in the mansion, but he always looked sullen and depressed. The servant stammered a greeting and averted his gaze with a frightened look on his face.
Just by looking at her, it was clear that he had been forced to come by her most senior servants.
"I am...Well, I decided to serve Simone from today... Oh, no, it's Anna, who I decided to take care of."
She introduced herself as if she was being chased and offered the tea and refreshments she had prepared to Simone. It was the same tea that the Grand Duke drinks.
Although Anna seemed timid, she treated Simone relatively politely. After finishing the refreshments, she gave a brief tour of the mansion.
While passing through the hallway leading to the garden with Anna, Simone was able to see an unexpected sight.
"It's a pretty friendly atmosphere."
The workers were chatting happily in the garden. The laughter was so flawless and clear that people who did not know that this was Illeston Mansion would have thought that it had a better atmosphere than other nobleman's mansions.
"Swing. That's right."
Anna, who had been nervous all along, finally smiled faintly on her lips.
"Everyone thinks that the people of Illeston Mansion are having a hard time in a gloomy atmosphere, but the rules are just a bit strict..."
It was an instant before Anna's smile turned bitter.
It would be a lie if she said that life in the mansion was not difficult and scary. However, Grand Duke Illeston treated them with respect and kept the garden pretty so as not to show their sadness.
Everyone was working hard to make the atmosphere as bright and enjoyable as possible.
Although people on the outside only knew about the mansion's dark and scary rumors, it was still a rather large, cozy home for those who still lived there.
"Simone, they say dinner is ready. It's getting colder, so why don't you go back to your room?"
Simone's eyes sparkled as she looked around the garden comfortably.
"Meal?"
"Yes. Ah, the same meal has been prepared as yours."
Simone smiled broadly. It was the brightest smile since coming to the mansion.
How long has it been since you had a decent meal since you were already discriminated against at an orphanage that was in dire financial
straits?
'Isn't this the first time since I came to this world?'
She was literally in tears.
Seeing Simone like that, Anna secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Her seniors complained so loudly that Simone had a bad personality.
She was worried that Simone would make a fuss about making sure it was the same as the Grand Duke's meal.
Seeing the unexpected appearance, Anna glanced sideways at Simone and walked away.
***
After a while, Simone returned to the room and a table full of luxurious dishes was placed on her table.
Easy-to-eat steamed vegetables, meat soup, and even steak. No matter how cursed it may be and has retreated into the background, the Grand Duke family is still the Grand Duke family.
Even compared to the dishes she ate when she was Seo Hyeon-Jeong, it was overwhelmingly luxurious and delicious.
Simone said to Anna, who was watching her meal, as she ate it.
"You had a hard time today, Anna."
"Yes?"
"I want to eat slowly and alone, so please leave for today."
"... Yes?"
It was only after some time had passed that Anna realized that it was a guest spirit.
'I guess I should finish cleaning up the meal and then go...'
Anna, who was contemplating, soon remembered her master's order to go to bed early starting today and nodded.
"Then, Simone, I hope you have a good night."
After saying goodbye, Anna left the r
oom and glanced at Simone.
Does that small, skinny person really have such terrifying power?
That the ominous power of death, which she had only heard about, was in that girl eating happily with a bright smile, and that she could even see things that ordinary people could not see.
'I just can't believe it.'
However, Anna quickly took her eyes off Simone and quietly left the room.
Anna knew that there was no benefit in finding out more about her.
Bang!
With the door closed and the room becoming quiet, Simone locked the door and started eating again.
The sun has already set and it is night. By the time Simone finished eating, the room had become so dark that even the candles Anna had left on were of no use.
'Now it's time to come out.'
Simone looked at the door, holding the knife she was cutting a steak with her hand.
One hour, two hours like that.
When Simone turned her head out the window just for a moment.
Knock knock.
Someone approached without a sound and knocked on the door.
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