I dropped the heavy travel bag onto the floor with a thud, and slowly lifted my head to look up at the mansion.
At first glance, it didn't seem too strange. As a mansion of a high-ranking noble, it was antique, but the decorations here and there followed the sleek, modern trends. I had heard that the count was sensitive to such things. I had also heard that he tried to gather famous beauties from among the commoners, chasing after the latest trends.
I had actually met him before, and at that time, the count's clothes were dazzling, so it seemed that the rumors were true.
If the count were still alive and saw me now, though, he wouldn't have recognized me at all.
No, have I become someone who must conform to the count's refined tastes? As a kind of "collection"?
It wasn't something to worry about now.
"Right, it's nothing to worry about…" No, no, it's not.
I tried changing my tone, and with a slight smile, I laughed.
The plan had failed. Of course, the original plan I had made wasn't this far-fetched. Who would ever think of changing their gender just to sneak into a destination? Well, if such a method existed, many might think about it, but in fact, cross-dressing was often used as a disguise by the lower nobility.
At least, a baron's son, even if a bastard, would not choose such a method.
The item I had obtained wasn't meant to be used this way.
But just because one option was gone didn't mean there were no other choices. In this case, I had no choice but to use that method.
I looked around again, carefully surveying the count's mansion.
As I looked at the mansion, I began to notice parts that hadn't been visible before.
The trees in the garden were a bit overgrown, with branches sticking out in places, and the tiles of the walkway were overgrown with weeds. The lawn was equally neglected, with some parts completely dried and yellowed.
It had been about two months since the count disappeared.
I had heard that the count's servants fled about two weeks after the count's disappearance. I had heard that there were many beautiful maids. Well, perhaps this might help with persuasion in some way.
I lifted the large travel bag again. If it were my previous body, I could have lifted it as easily as picking up a feather, but now, it felt slightly heavier.
I would need to train again.
Thinking this, I walked toward the mansion's front gate.
Quietly, I set the bag down and knocked on the door.
There was no answer.
Knock, knock.
Still, there was no answer.
Without permission, I pushed the door open.
The huge door of the mansion, with only two women living here, was completely unlocked. Perhaps my skills had not dulled "yet"?
Well, perhaps no one would think to break in here. Maybe I was just lucky. Who would expect a noble's mansion to be left unlocked?
Or perhaps, they didn't want to get involved with whoever might inherit this mansion.
I hadn't been able to gather much information, rushing over right after the incident occurred.
But I had information from before.
The count's wife was a young lady, quite a bit younger than the count.
Or, in a way, she could be called his "fiancée." It was announced that they were "married," and the lady, who had originally been a baroness, had entered the mansion about six months ago.
But she had never met the count directly. The count was more focused on the power games in the capital than his own estate.
In fact, as long as the count's "collection" safely made it into the house, that would have been enough for him. He was that kind of person.
Click, click.
The sound of heels clicking on the floor echoed. It was fortunate that I had worn heels like this before.
High heels, regardless of gender, are popular. They make you look taller and, for women, make the hips look more attractive.
The original purpose of not stepping on the dirty things scattered on the ground had long lost its meaning due to technological advancements made fifty years ago, but among the high-ranking nobles, wearing heels was still considered a basic part of dressing up.
Recently, men's heels have been trending lower, but I, who had to pretend to be a noble, still needed to be able to pull off slightly older-fashioned styles.
"Hmm."
As I climbed the stairs, I ran my fingers along the railing. The thick dust on the railing stuck to my fingers. Looking at the black smudge on my white gloves, I let out a small sigh.
This place really needed cleaning.
I would need to hire more servants. The problem, however, was how much money the count had left.
Nobles, as long as they are alive, are guaranteed to be someone of value. Especially nobles who are capable and have many sources of income; they often owe more money than they actually own. Of course, they don't usually have to pay back all the debt in one go. They don't tend to borrow that way in the first place.
The debt is tangled up between nobles, so no one presses them to repay immediately. It just becomes a form of credit, circulating in the form of bonds, and often, the details of such debts remain secret.
So, how much debt had the "count" left behind without saying a word?
The count was dead. Hadn't his heart suddenly stopped? Though it's possible he was poisoned, I didn't think that was the case.
Even if that were true, who would reveal it? A bad-tempered old man with bad hobbies was dead. The count's relatives were surely moving to seize his assets.
One month.
The time when results should start showing was approaching.
Click.
I stopped walking.
Then, once again, standing in front of the grand and ornate door, I checked myself over.
Was my servant outfit wrinkled? Was there any dust on it?
The outfit was fine. Not even a speck of dust on my apron.
My appearance, too, passed the test.
Anyone who saw me would only see the count's "collection."
If you look closely, you might catch a glimpse of my original appearance, but even if that's the case, it wouldn't be easy to deduce the "real me" from my appearance.
The most important thing is my mannerism.
From now on, I must show my appearance to the person in front of me and convince them.
At the very least, I must show that I am useful.
How much has changed since those days?
From that appearance back then.
Sometimes, when I secretly enter a banquet and observe, I could see a little of that old appearance.
It doesn't matter how much I've changed.
Wasn't it for that very reason that I acquired this jewel?
In the end, the jewel that was supposed to change my fate broke without ever being used.
I checked my attire once more, then raised my hand and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
The sound of the knock echoed hollowly through the empty hallway.
No answer.
Knock, knock.
I knocked once more, then lowered my hand, politely clasping it in front of me and waiting for a response.
"I understand."
A faint voice came from beyond the door.
I reached out and turned the doorknob.
Creeeak, the heavy door slowly opened inward.
A strong scent of perfume wafted from the inside.
"I thought all the servants had left."
"It seems so."
I replied, then closed the door again.
I turned around and stood, looking at the "master" I would now serve.
"Did I tell you to come in?"
"Apologies."
I bowed toward the woman and spoke.
"As the new servant working here from today, I judged that I could not neglect to greet the person I will serve."
The woman tilted her head, as if confused.
Then she narrowed her eyes.
"You must have seen it on your way here. Do you really think there's any money to be properly handed over in a place like this?"
"However, I have promised to work here."
"You're going to work just because you promised? In a place where there's no sign of money, and even the servants fled as soon as they thought there was no chance of earning anything?"
"Yes, that's correct, madam."
When I said this, the woman's shoulders flinched slightly.
It seemed she disliked the word "madam."
Fine. Then I'll think of another title soon.
"Why?"
"Because there is a great debt."
"So, you're someone from the count's household."
I pretended not to hear her muttering quietly.
What would happen if you locked someone up in a place like this for a month with no one to talk to? No, in this case, it wasn't just "a while."
The baron's second daughter.
According to the "rumors," her mother was a woman from a brothel.
Despite being officially adopted by the baron, she was treated unfairly in many places.
The "rumors" were wrong. I know.
Her mother hadn't stayed in the brothel until her death.
In fact, the only man she had ever been with was the baron.
She had simply been one of the countless women the baron neglected.
The only reason this woman was able to become the "legitimate daughter" from the "unknown second daughter" was because the baron needed a pawn.
"Then, go back. I'm sorry to tell you this after the long journey, but the count is dead."
Without much of an apologetic expression, the woman sneered and spoke.
"Since there's no debt left, you don't need to be tied down to this."
"I cannot do that, madam."
"…You cannot?"
I lifted the waist that had been slightly bent until then.
I threw my gaze forward and looked at the woman staring at me.
The image I remembered was almost unrecognizable.
The young, intelligent girl who had once been curious about everything in the world now seemed to have eyes that were clouded, gazing into the distance.
Her hair, as if it hadn't been properly tended in a long time, was scattered haphazardly, and around the sofa where she sat, clothes, dishes, and trash were scattered carelessly.
There were no longer any signs of training on her arms that peeked out from the thin dress.
She was still beautiful, but it seemed there had been no training since she became the baron's daughter.
She had once said she would become the "best swordswoman."
Well, I suppose such skill wasn't needed for a pawn of the baron.
What was needed were looks, soft skin and hair, and chastity.
Ironically, that beautiful appearance, soft skin, and chastity never even touched the hands of the one who was supposed to receive them.
I lowered my gaze slightly and looked beneath the sofa where the woman was sitting.
And there, I saw something gleaming.
Among the haphazardly thrown clothes, a small gleam of metal was visible—smooth and sharp metal.
A knife.
There was no way the mansion wouldn't have at least one knife.
The woman must have picked one up and hidden it in her room.
If anyone were to threaten her life, she could immediately slit their throat.
Whether it was because of a haunting dream she couldn't forget or simply because she feared for her life, I couldn't tell.
But at least, the "old her" had not completely disappeared.
Ayla.
"For me, that debt is something I must pay back, no matter what."
Ayla quietly stared at me.
I slowly lowered my hands, slightly holding the sides of my skirt.
Then, with a slight bend of my knees, I gracefully bowed my head, just as I had practiced.
"From today, I will be serving you, madam. With all my heart, I will do my very best to assist you."
"…So, you're saying you're going to help, even if it's unnecessary?"
Ayla spoke like this but relaxed her guard toward me.
Perhaps, my skills had diminished a bit in this regard.
After all, although she might have grown weary of life, there was little reason to openly show suspicion.
"Then, I will start by cleaning this room."
"Ah, wait…!"
As I said this and moved, Ayla hurriedly stood up. Was she worried I might find the knife?
In her surprised expression, I could faintly see the old Ayla.
I felt a small sense of satisfaction from that expression.