I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 121

It would have been difficult for anyone to follow him anyway, given how sparsely populated the area was. Even more so after he met with Field Mouse and entered the building.

‘Still, they’ll probably guess I met an informant,’ he thought.

Deep in thought, Esterion knocked on Nox’s office door. As soon as permission to enter was granted, he skillfully opened the door just enough to slip through, then quickly closed it. Nox’s office was still devoid of the attendant who should have been waiting. Esterion removed his robe. Nox, who had been observing him indifferently, asked, “What happened?”

“I’m to meet him again next week. He said he’d take payment then.”

“As expected.”

“But, Your Grace.”

“Yes?”

“The informant said he had planted a maid in this mansion.”

“Hmm.” Nox showed no surprise. When Esterion looked at him as if asking if he already knew, Nox shook his head.

“I only had suspicions, no proof.”

“How did you know?”

“Fabricated documents are usually obvious,” Nox said calmly, turning his gaze back to his papers. “Besides that informant, anyone with a bit of power would likely have planted at least one mole. So,” Nox looked up, meeting Esterion’s eyes again, “if the informant brought it up first, he must want something.”

Esterion Launder blinked, then nodded. Nox always seemed to be ten steps ahead. It was something he would have to get used to.

“He asked if you’d consider using the maid he placed as a close confidante, saying she’s quite useful in various ways.”

At that, Nox pushed his papers aside. “And that maid would then stick to me and extract my information.”

“…I suppose so.”

“Well, this mansion is already full of people trying to steal my information, so I suppose I can use her lightly and then discard her.”

Esterion understood just how aristocratic Nox was from that simple answer. The very act of casually speaking about using and discarding people showed it. Esterion wondered for a moment if he, too, was merely someone to be used and discarded. But he quickly shook his head. What if he was? His sister’s fate depended on him.

“…The maid’s name is…”

“Never mind.”

“Pardon?”

“Summon Angela Keaton.”

Esterion Launder froze. Angela Keaton. That was the name of the “bird” Field Mouse had mentioned. As Launder stared at him, dumbfounded, Nox tilted his head and looked back down at his papers.

“I just chose her by intuition.”

“…Intuition?”

“Of course, it wasn’t without some information based on documents.”

“What was peculiar about it?”

“People have habits when they forge documents.”

“Habits?”

“Yes. They tend to choose familiar and easy paths. I had a brief, one-time contact with the place you visited today, a while back.”

It was a place his father had approached to gather information on what the former Crown Prince was doing, just before joining the Crown Prince’s faction. At that time, he had requested a servant from the informant, and that servant was a man from a village called ‘Maireun’.

And among the current maids, there was one from Maireun. Only one. Nox gave a faint smile. It’s likely they intentionally placed her for me to find. To make me seek them out again.

“I think we can look forward to the information she brings.”

“Is that so? I’ll go summon Angela Keaton then.”

“Handle it appropriately.”

“Understood.”

Esterion had already gathered some information about Angela Keaton from Field Mouse. He knew that if he were to immediately go to the head maid and demand Angela Keaton, it would look suspicious. Therefore, he had to take a roundabout approach, creating a situation where she would be specifically chosen.

Esterion Launder went to the room of the head maid, Ellina. He knocked, and she opened the door, slowly raising her head. Her face showed considerable surprise.

“…Oh, Sir Launder. What can I do for you?”

“I need a maid.”

“A maid? Not a valet?”

“Typically, one uses a maid.”

“That’s true, but…” The head maid’s voice trailed off as she blinked. Esterion Launder looked down at her with a hint of disdain, then cleared his throat and delivered the rest of his message.

“His Grace asked that you send up two or three quiet girls who don’t talk much.”

“…Yes, Sir.”

The head maid’s expression was knowing. Currently, the mansion staff misunderstood the relationship between Nox and Esterion, believing them to be master and consort. Thus, she likely assumed Esterion needed a dedicated maid to arrange bedding. From Launder’s perspective, her misconception was not a bad thing, so he remained silent, waiting for her answer.

“Just give me fifteen minutes. I’ll send up about three girls.”

“Understood.”

Esterion walked up the stairs. He headed not to Nox’s study, but to the aides’ office. Becoming the right-hand man of a grand noble was a tiring job, requiring one to handle both basic duties and additional commands. Launder scratched his head and opened the door to the aides’ office. The two aides, engrossed in their work, simultaneously looked up at him.

“Ah, apologies for being late. I was running an errand…”

“Haha, you don’t need to apologize to us. Wasn’t it His Grace’s command anyway?”

“…That’s true.”

“Then, what’s the problem?”

Esterion smartly picked up on the subtle boundary the other aides were trying to set. He settled into his own seat and observed them for a moment. They didn’t seem hostile, but more like they were testing the waters. He tried to gauge the situation, but soon his head ached, so he simply buried himself in his documents. Just looking at paperwork was the easiest and most comfortable thing to do.

Meanwhile, in Nox’s office, three maids entered. Nox paid them no mind, continuing to gaze at his documents. The three maids stood stiffly, shoulders tense. Two of them are pawns of the Duke and the Emperor, and one is the information guild’s bird. Nox thought. This mansion truly isn’t what it should be.

“Did you call for us, Your Grace?” one maid bravely asked.

Only then did Nox lift his head from his documents. He said, very simply, “I’m going to choose my personal maid from among you.”

Gulp, someone swallowed hard.

“Whoever is chosen, what you know now must not leak outside. No matter what.” Nox’s dark green gaze swept over the maids. Two of them nodded, proclaiming gravely, “Of course, Your Grace.”

“Understood.”

The maids tried to calm their pounding hearts. His Grace is someone even the butler doesn’t dare approach casually, so if we serve him closely, there will surely be things to report. And then, better rewards will follow. The two maids were thrilled. They looked at Nox with determined eyes, but there was one who hadn’t responded: Angela Keaton.

“What kind of matters are you referring to?” she asked, blinking. Nox chuckled faintly. She’s thought this through. At her words, the other two maids’ faces fell, as if they had realized their mistake. Nox, seeing that they too had caught on, gave a light laugh and commanded,

“Everyone but this maid, leave.”

The two maids bit their lips, bowed to Nox, and exited the room. Angela Keaton continued to stare at Nox, her eyes wide.

“Oh, I will serve you to the best of my ability from now on.”

“Good,” Nox replied. “You’re Field Mouse’s bird, so you’ll do well on your own.”

At his words, Angela Keaton briefly covered her mouth. Surprisingly, her blinking eyes remained calm. There was no hint of surprise, confusion, or excitement—emotions one might expect when startled. Instead of revealing such feelings, she removed her hand from her mouth and replied, “You won’t be disappointed.”

“You better not be. You’ll start working as my personal maid today. Inform the head maid yourself.”

“Understood. Shall I inform the head maid and bring some tea on my way back?”

“Do as you please.”

Angela Keaton smiled brightly, bowed, and left the office. A maid this clever, even if she’s only for temporary use… Should I be pleased or not? Nox turned his attention back to his documents, and after some time passed, there was a knock. Angela entered with hibiscus tea. Nox clicked his tongue at the sight.

“You have no knack for choosing tea.”

“I picked it because the color was pretty.”

“…Right.”

Nox simply drank the tea she offered him in silence. It didn’t matter what it tasted like; he just needed to quench his thirst. Angela remained by his side, smiling innocently, as if she knew nothing. And so, the news that she had become the Duke’s personal maid spread throughout the mansion.

***

And the butler was not one to leave Angela Keaton alone. Late that evening, he summoned Angela Keaton, who was on a short break, to his room. Angela Keaton faced the butler with her characteristic innocent expression.

“So, you became His Grace’s personal maid today?” the butler probed.

“Yes. His Grace seems like a very low-maintenance master,” she replied brightly.

The butler observed her, as if trying to gauge her sincerity. “How was His Grace today?”

Angela blinked, then tilted her head. “Still as handsome as ever?”