Extra Chapter 4: A Suspicious Man by Jane

Jane often shows little regard for others, concentrating exclusively on her own duties.

When she arrived at the Haunted Palace with Rene, she seemed indifferent to the people around her. Although she acknowledges the presence of His Imperial Highness Konstantinos, Lord Newcastle, and Head Butler Tree, her interest in them is minimal. To avoid being seen as a spy, she intentionally keeps her distance from those in authority and avoids interacting with individuals she finds questionable.

One such individual is the newcomer, Cielo, who is said to be partially blind and prefers to keep his head covered because of his skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.

At first, she thought he was just one of the few individuals the Imperial Prince had brought back to act as a guardian. Although Cielo was older than the usual wards of the Imperial Prince, the Prince himself was old enough to take on the role of Cielo’s protector.

However, it quickly became clear that Cielo was a dubious character. He not only escapes repercussions for the various issues he causes, like falsely accusing level 3 servants of harassment and getting them dismissed but is rarely punished for always idling or always being late to work. Furthermore, he also suffers no consequences for neglecting his responsibilities to roam the maze and ultimately getting lost.

The man’s questionable actions and the mysteriousness that surrounds him have prompted Jane to keep a close watch on him.

Despite her earlier commitment to steer clear of people who raise her suspicions, her determination has faltered since Cielo began displaying an unwelcome friendliness towards Rene. Worried for her friend’s safety, Jane feels it is crucial to determine if the man poses any threat.

***

A few days after making her decision, Jane was walking down the second-floor hallway of the East Wing. It didn’t take long for her to notice Cielo gazing intently at the maze.

Is he considering going back in? It hasn’t been long since he was last lost in there, yet he seems eager to explore it again.

‘He certainly loves causing a ruckus, doesn’t he?’

Ever since he arrived, peace has been hard to come by.

To her surprise, he didn’t actually go inside. Instead, he seems to be meticulously examining the area around the East Wing and the maze, nodding to himself in approval. After finding whatever he was looking for, the man slipped away quietly.

“… .”

What did that mean? Is he plotting something? It’s hard to tell.

“Jane!”

She shifted her gaze toward the voice and saw Rene smiling at her.

Rene was pushing a cart filled with luxurious green curtains, suggesting she was likely headed to the laundry area.

Typically, level 2 maids are not assigned to heavy cleaning duties. However, since these curtains come from important rooms, it is crucial that only those experienced with the fabric handle them. After all, their worth surpasses that of an average house and lot in the capital, estimated at around 2 million Fidellan coins for each pair.

“What are you up to?”

Rene asked, glancing toward the window to see what had caught Jane’s attention before she called her out.

“It was Cielo. He was wandering near the maze, and I was worried he might go inside and get lost again, which is why I stayed here. Thankfully, he didn’t go in and has since left.”

After hearing her explanation, Rene let out a soft laugh. She shifted to the side and admired the beautiful maze outside as she continued her thoughts.

“I see he’s at it again. He’s quite unusual, but I find talking to him enjoyable.”

“What do you mean by enjoyable?”

Jane felt a wave of disbelief towards her close friend. She couldn’t understand why Rene found it enjoyable to chat with Cielo, given that the man only asked questions non-stop. Jane could hardly remember a time when she and Rene had a casual conversation with him.

Even though he was born in Fides, he seemed to lack basic knowledge and was filled with overwhelming curiosity.

His living situation in the slums shouldn’t have been an issue, given that Guhya City is the Empire’s most vibrant and densely populated region, suggesting a steady stream of information. It’s unlikely that he was completely oblivious to major events while he was there. However, it’s important to consider that his limited education might have hindered his ability to communicate effectively, potentially affecting his awareness of what was happening around him.

“Absolutely. His curious nature is always a pleasure to engage with. It’s like the satisfaction you get from playing with a dog.”

“Oh? Did you truly just compare him to a dog?”

Rene’s face turned red, and she waved her hand dismissively, feeling embarrassed.

“You know that wasn’t my intention! Please stop teasing me!”

Jane gave a slight smile and stayed quiet. Rene often enjoys playfully teasing her, so it’s fitting to respond with some light teasing in return from time to time.

A few days later, the same incident happened again. As Jane walked toward the East Wing, she noticed Cielo in the main hall that connects all four wings of the palace.

She paused a bit far to observe the man.

Cielo kept looking around the East and North Wing. Either he is looking for someone, waiting for someone, or is planning to enter the East or North Wing, which are both places he isn’t allowed to enter, by the way.

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She quickly followed him, and in the process, she observed something strange.

‘…Is this person completely unaware of his surroundings?’

Why is he so oblivious to her presence? If he had turned around just a couple of times, he would have easily noticed her trailing behind him. The sound of her heels clicking on the marble floor is unmistakable.

When they finally stopped, he kept making gestures with his hands.

What could he be planning?

At that moment…

Meow. Meow.

“… .”

It seems that the creature in question is simply an orange fat cat. One might ponder its origins...

The Imperial Prince does not have any pets, which implies that the feline likely belongs to one of the palace staff. Servants are allowed to bring small animals to the palace, as long as they have received permission from the head butler and His Imperial Highness Konstantinos. Furthermore, there is a designated pet room in the back villa, staffed with caretakers, where servants can leave their pets until their shifts are over.

In any case, Jane spent five minutes watching the man, who appeared completely absorbed in petting and playing with the cat.

With a sigh, she finally decided to leave.

Unlike Cielo, who has plenty of time to spend with the cat, Jane is quite busy, especially with the founding festival just a few months away. The upcoming months are sure to be even more chaotic.

Three months before the founding festival’s opening, it was announced that Cielo would be the official aide to His Imperial Highness. This choice was made because no one else was available to accompany the Imperial Prince. Head Butler Tree couldn’t step away from his responsibilities, and Lord Newcastle, who had been designated as His Imperial Highness Konstantinos’s aide by the Grand Duke, was called back to fill the position of the family heir.

Jane doesn’t know the other aides of the Imperial Prince well, as they tend to keep to themselves, but it seems that none are free, leaving Cielo, with his relatively humble background, as the only viable option.

‘I believe it is a reasonable decision.’

Even at this stage, the man is building his reputation, making Cielo the most suitable option among the choices available to the Imperial Prince. Although His Imperial Highness Konstantinos may encounter doubt and criticism from the nobles and royalties, having a talented inventor as an ally would certainly provide a considerable advantage.

‘Honestly, I have doubts.’

There’s a sense of mistrust surrounding the entire situation for her. Cielo has skillfully hidden his seemingly close relationship with the Imperial Prince, yet it seems that His Imperial Highness Konstantinos is intentionally putting him in the spotlight, hinting at hidden agendas.

“I think you might be overthinking this”

Rene commented after she voiced her worries.

“Is that so? Maybe you’re right.”

She remains unconvinced that her insights are excessive, given Jane’s talent for reading people, but she acknowledges that Rene’s innocence might hinder her understanding of the subtleties involved.

“It’s a festival, and it’s best to enjoy it without overthinking the experience.”

Jane reflected on this advice. Since Cielo’s arrival, her mind had been racing with thoughts, and maybe it would be wise to unwind and temporarily put her worries about him on hold.

“Alright then.”

With a sigh, she agreed to Rene’s suggestion.

Her dear friend beamed with delight and asked.

“Are you planning to see Grace?”

Grace is a… She can’t tell their exact relationship. Despite having grown up together, their bond feels somewhat detached, falling somewhere between acquaintances and colleagues. Grace works at the Imperial Palace but opts to stay at the residence of the First Imperial Princess after Rene and Jane leave.

“It has certainly been a while since we last saw each other.”

“That’s great! Even if you say you’re not very close, you were raised together and should have a sibling-like connection. The festival is a perfect chance to deepen your relationship with her.”

“…Yes, I suppose that’s true”

When someone begins working at the Imperial Grounds, it becomes quite challenging to see family or meet friends who work at other palaces. As a result, every servant working for the Imperial Family looks forward to the upcoming founding festival, as it offers a rare chance for more freedom during that month.

“What about you?”

Jane decided to change the subject and ask Rene about her plans instead.

“Um… The usual.”

Her close friend responded with a nonchalant shrug.

Rene is once more celebrating with Benedict, further distancing herself from her family. Although her choice to ignore them is understandable due to their past behavior, she frequently seems troubled when she thinks about her family. Deep down, she longs to reconnect, but she also feels hesitant to take that step.

Jane took her close friend’s hand in a reassuring grip and offered a warm smile.

“You should also enjoy the festival. If you are not ready, it’s best not to push yourself.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Jane responded by giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

After comforting her close friend, she was surprised when Cielo approached her the next day for a chat.

Lately, she had rarely seen him, likely because he was busy with etiquette lessons in preparation for his role as the Imperial Prince’s aide. This was evident in the noticeable refinement of his speech and the newfound grace with which he carried himself, a sharp contrast to his previously laid-back demeanor.

“Are you really asking me to explain what people do at a festival…?”

She replied, bewildered.

How could someone who was supposed to live in the slums of one of the empire’s major cities be unaware of festival activities? Festivals in the Fides Empire often provide a chance for people from underprivileged regions to step out, as these gatherings feature a wealth of free food and drinks, along with wealthy participants who are likely to offer extra coins.

“Please, don’t give me that look. I just didn’t have the money to attend festivals before, as there were so many tempting things I wanted to buy. To avoid the pain of wanting what I couldn’t afford, I chose to stay in the slums.”

The man offered an explanation for his choice not to attend, and Jane found herself relating to him, remembering her own feelings before her adoption when she often felt the urge to buy things that caught her attention, only to be let down by her limited finances.

As she felt a connection growing, she began to answer Cielo’s questions, sharing her insights openly.

“Wow, you’re really helpful. Thank you so much.”

“… .”

Seeing the excitement on his face as he asked about the festival made her rethink her earlier judgments of him. Maybe he wasn’t as unpleasant as she had initially believed.

“It’s nothing major. Was that all?”

“Yes. Thanks again! Goodbye!”

With that, the man quickly walked away.

Left alone, Jane let out a deep sigh as she held her head in her hands.

‘What am I doing?’

She thought to herself.

Connecting with Cielo hadn’t been part of her initial plan, but upon reconsideration, it doesn’t seem entirely bad.