The mansion burned quickly thanks to adding oil to start the fire.
When those who lived nearby woke up to the acrid smoke, the mansion was already half ash.
“Someone must have murdered Marsha’s family and then set the fire. The problem is. Who on earth is that?”
The police force in charge of the investigation was also troubled.
The mansion was completely burned down, leaving no traces that could serve as physical evidence.
Even considering it was nighttime, there were no witnesses.
“It was definitely not a crime aimed at receiving money.”
Judging by the fact that expensive gold items were found among the burnt ashes, the criminal did not take anything.
It was thought to be a murder motivated by resentment, but a priest who came to cooperate with the investigation expressed a different opinion.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a land with such pure energy.”
“It can’t be. Several people died here...”
“The land of abundance called the Holy Land could not have been more pure and clear than this. I would like to recommend that a temple be built here.”
The priest found no traces and just admired the place before returning.
“I’m not a noble anyway. Isn’t this the best we can do to maintain the neighborhood? What's the big problem if the murderer isn't caught? Also, I don’t think the reviews were that good.”
“That’s right, but...”
“Do you still feel bad about that guy who was with the girls?”
“...”
The security chief frowned.
He heard that the dead Madam Marsha was taking care of a young girl and visited the girl's mansion.
In an old, shabby house, two short girls and a well-built man were living together in an awkward manner.
The maid explained the man's existence.
“He’s my relative, and he came all the way from his hometown looking for a bride.”
“He could look for it in his own village, but why bother going all the way to this corner?”
“I don’t have much property. Besides, we were planning to stay together and get some help.”
“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think he’s the kind of person who would be brought in here...”
“Captain.”
His aide frowned.
“How serious is the courtship problem these days?”
“Is that so?”
“Don’t judge that just because you have a smart and pretty woman as your wife, others can do the same.”
The growling aide was also single.
“If you date comfortably and just enjoy it without worrying about the future.”
His eyes grew dim.
“Youth disappears in the blink of an eye, you have no savings and no partner. To meet your destiny, you need the sincerity to climb mountains and cross water.”
“...”
Was it that hard for him?
The security chief was at a loss for words, so he kept his mouth shut and stamped the investigation closure on the document.
Even the priest could not find any traces of murder on the man...
The case ultimately remained open without the culprit being found.
***
Dorothea put her long-awaited legs to good use.
Requests with no clear meaning continued dozens of times a day.
The request to retrieve roe deer droppings was a surprise.
There was a time when he was ordered to scoop up dirt from the river, but he was turned away several times and made to go back.
“It should be a little more red and thicker than this.”
“All dirt is dirt.”
“Bring it back.”
The bony body that looked as if it might break at any moment was far from threatening. Nevertheless, Wood's body stiffened every time he met Dorothea's eyes.
It was ridiculous to see the spirit of a general in a small girl. But when he came to his senses, he found himself following her instructions like a gentle sheep.
“I’ll come back again.”
“Get it right this time.”
Although he was in tears, he trudged out of the mansion.
Jane, who was looking at him, approached Dorothea and asked.
“Why are you tormenting the legs you worked so hard to get?”
“I didn’t bother him.”
Dorothea spoke calmly and shrugged her shoulders.
She just asked because she needed it. If it doesn't meet the appropriate standards, she just sends it back.
Jane looked at her and pursed her lips.
He was so displeased that he didn't know what to do, but after seeing him in trouble a few times, he seemed to have changed his mind. The discomfort caused by the death of Madam Marsha's family was largely alleviated in the few days of watching Wood struggle.
It was heartbreaking to see Wood's back drooping from Dorothea's rubbing.
“This house has been abandoned for a long time, so we must start again by saying hello to the God King who will protect this place. For that, you need sincerity.”
“Well, I did my best to sweep and clean it.”
Jane blushed at the word ‘abandoned’.
Dorothea smiled brightly as she looked at the small and beautiful maid.
Even if she caught her, who knew nothing, and mentioned the 'ancestors' living with her in the land, there was no way she would understand.
“I’m trying to put my ‘heart’ into this place so that more enjoyable and happy things can happen.”
Jane nodded seriously and pretended to understand.
“It’s windy, Miss. I’ll close the window now.”
To her, the pale complexion of the Lady eas more important than the empty words about bringing good energy to this land.
“The weather has gotten colder, so I guess I should wear thicker clothes.”
Because the mansion was small and the space was limited, there were miscellaneous things lying around in the warehouse. When she opened the old chest in the far corner, she found several neat-looking dresses.
Although it had a rough design compared to the latest trends and wasn't made of the highest quality fabric, it was clear that a lot of care had been put into it.
The tightly sewn cuffs and the cotton added to the inside of the garment according to the season felt thick under her fingertips.
The traces of effort made for the wearer were evident.
“My late mother was good at sewing.”
"I see."
Dorothea fingered the light pink dress Jane had brought out.
She could feel the texture of the beautiful dress that deliberately matched the color of her eyes against her fingertips.
“She was a good person, so she must have gone to a good place.”
Dorothea smiled faintly at Jane's comfort.
She can't say she misses her mother because she doesn't remember her, but she still feels disappointed. The ‘motherly affection’ left on her clothes filled her heart with warmth.
How did she prepare her clothes?
Dorothea slowly buried her face in thr clothes. Jane chattered next to her.
“Miss, you like that outfit the most, right? It’s the best fabric I’ve ever found.”
The clothes that had been sleeping in the chest for a long time were full of the scent of dried flowers, not just a musty smell.
It seems that her mother concerned that the clothes might get damaged or smelly, added dried flowers to them.
Although it was a small thing, every single one of them was for her.
"Miss?"
When Jane cautiously called her, Dorothea slowly raised her head.
“She was a good person, my mother."
"Sure."
Jane nodded seriously. By the time she entered the mansion, Dorothea's mother, Madam Everly, had already died of illness.
Traces of Madam Everly were still visible throughout the old mansion.
Dorothea placed her hand on her heart, which was slowly making its presence known.
Myeong Jae-shin had never received her mother's affection.
People in her life were divided into two types.
Those who want to use her, and those who admire and fear her power and try to subdue her.
Myeong Jae-shin, who was hungry for people's affection, was betrayed by the love between brother and sister and threw herself over a cliff.
Although Dorothea's body was uncomfortable, stuffy, and painful, it was full of affection for her everywhere.
The fact that she was holding something in her hands that she thought she would never have in her life gave me motivation for life.
"Miss?"
Under the fate of sending souls, soothing them, and washing away their resentment on the road connecting this world and the afterlife, Jae-shin always had to give up being a 'human'.
Being swept away by emotions or desires creates a crack in the soul, and when darkness forms within the crack, one can no longer function properly as a soul doctor.
So, is she still ‘Myeong Jae-sin’ or is she ‘Dorothea Everly’?
Dorothea, who was quietly looking down at the dress, opened her mouth.
“What should I do?”
"Yes?"
It was a hard-earned life. A life full of love and human touch that you don't want to let go of.
The only problem was that she was not the true owner of this body.
If the spirit of the 'real Dorothea' returns and asks for her body back, should Jae-shin comply?
Should she let go of the life she caught? Just because it is ‘natural’.
Jae-shin's life, which had always followed the law, was never happy.
“It’s so strange. It seems that those who do not properly follow the principles are happier than those who struggle to maintain them.”
“But they get punished.”
Like Madam Marsha. Jane swallowed her words.
“Yes, they will be punished.”
Her eyes stared into space as she spoke with a sigh.
Jane's heart sank.
It was the look in her eyes the day she woke up from a serious illness. Her eyes are just 'staring at something' in the empty space where there is nothing.
"Miss."
“It would be best to grill fish today.”
Jane's eyes widened at the words that came out of nowhere.
Dorothea withdrew her gaze from staring blankly into space and made eye contact with Jane with a smile.
“I want to eat.”
Dorothea's eyes, which had seemed empty, sparkled with life again.
Jane was deeply relieved when the darkness cleared and she saw a smile on her face.
She nodded with a somewhat exaggerated gesture.
“Of course, if you want to eat it, I can catch it myself!”
Dorothea shook her head as she spoke while rolling up her sleeves.
“You don’t have to do that. Because there is someone who can do it.”
“I see. Your legs are very strong and his abilities are good.”
As soon as Jane finished speaking, the door to the mansion opened.
Wood, who had just returned from sweeping up the red dirt from the river, placed the pile of dirt in the garden and stood tall.
Then he looked at the young lady and the young maid who were making great plans to pamper him.
With a distorted face, he twitched his eyebrows.
“I’ll go to the police station right now and hand myself over everything. It would be better that way.”
Dorothea turned around and looked at the man's back, who seemed ready to run at any moment, and said with a rather serious expression.
“I guess I’d rather just have meat stew for dinner. It looks like he doesn’t know how to catch fish, so there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Wood's body flinched as he turned around at her words, which seemed to be a favor.
“He really was a person who didn’t know how to do anything other than cut. It can’t be helped.”
As Jane's words continued, the man could not hold on and declared surrender in a low voice.
“...I will catch it.”
He put the dirt on the floor with a gloomy face, opened the door again, and went out.
Jane glanced at him and spoke kindly to Dorothea.
“I’ll get some vegetables to go with the fish and some oil for cooking.”
"Yes."
She answered obediently as she began to enjoy eating even though she was not a glutton.
Jane looked back at Dorothea, who had already fallen asleep, with a bowl of vegetables placed next to her.
“If you take a nap, you’ll wake up at night.”
The girl spoke with concern but closed the curtains to block out the light.
“I’ll be back, Lady.”
The young maid bowed her head several times to the sleepy, unresponsive girl.
Eventually, she walked down towards the village with brisk steps.
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