The Uninvited Guest Of The Haunted Mansion (10)

“No wonder I wanted to see you.”

The man’s languid gaze landed on her.

He pulled Serenity, dazed and trembling, away from the knight. Even with one arm torn off, the knight twitched and squeaked, refusing to fall. Blake stepped forward smoothly, as if shielding her, and swung his sword.

Clang!

Steel shrieked. The knight’s left leg joint burst apart, knee down flying across the yard. In an instant he lost balance and staggered, armor groaning.

For a moment, Serenity could have sworn she saw bewilderment flicker on that faceless helmet.

Blake shrugged, gesturing toward the arm and leg lying in the dirt.

“Now he has neither the arm to guard his master nor the leg to walk. Will you keep standing there? We intend to go inside.”

“…“

“What, nothing? Aren’t you going to see?”

Only then did the stunned knight clatter and hobble away, dragging himself toward the missing limb. Judging by his speed, he wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

Serenity stared blankly after him until her legs buckled and she sank to the ground. The release of tension left her weak.

‘…I’m alive.’

She had truly thought she would die this time.

Her pale hand trembled against the dirt.

Blake turned, belatedly, and offered his hand.

“Get up, milady. That coat you dressed up in will get dirty.”

“How on earth…”

“Why do you keep ending up like this? It’s upsetting.”

He cut her off, smiling softly, red eyes narrowing. Serenity’s breath hitched at the gentle curve of his mouth.

“Whether you’re careless or fearless.”

His expression was endlessly kind, but the edge in his voice unsettled her more than cruelty might have. That softness was the problem.

His gaze swept lazily over her figure in her outing clothes.

“Or do you simply not value your life?”

“That is…”

Serenity clamped her mouth shut. How could she admit she had tried to use him, only to be cornered like this?

Blake, as if not expecting an answer, continued with that same smooth smile.

“If I had been a little later, it could have been dangerous.”

He nodded toward the smaller suit of armor lying open on the ground. Serenity’s eyes followed. The spikes inside gleamed sharply, clearer now in the daylight.

Chills crept up her body. She shivered.

Then it hit her.

‘…Wait. Did he just say dangerous?’

Her head jerked up.

Blake, still watching the path where the knight had vanished, pulled her gently to her feet.

“We should move. It seems your family’s knight is more capable than expected. He’ll return quickly.”

He led her across the training grounds, into a quieter garden. Only then did he release her hand.

“Are you hurt?”

“…I’m fine.“

“You seem to be.”

“More importantly… *how did you get here? Without any word?”*

“By carriage.”

That wasn’t what she meant.

At the mismatch, Serenity faltered. Blake only shrugged, as though the matter were trivial. His nonchalance deepened her unease, but he offered nothing more. She bit her tongue and stayed silent.

Finally, she asked, voice trembling:

“Um… there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“Hmm?”

“Did you say… that the armor was dangerous to me?”

That was the source of her unease.

*This world was *a horror story… a creepy novel. Here, the bizarre was not abnormal. The mansion’s beings lived by its rules, never deviating.

When the Headless Lady once came for her neck, the Countess had smiled serenely, as though watching a game. Had Serenity been decapitated at the table, the Countess would have praised her daughter’s “worth” instead of mourning.

In this place, only Serenity… the outsider… could clearly perceive what was wrong.

So why had he treated the spikes as something dangerous? Even if the gardener had been coincidence, twice now he had noticed what no one else should.

“Oh my. Do you see me as a ruffian who ignores a lady’s peril?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“It looked like a heavy, clumsy garment. Unsuitable for someone as delicate as you.”

“…“

“Or perhaps, contrary to appearances, that sort of armor is your taste.”

Again.

Evasive words, dodging her point.

By now Serenity couldn’t tell if it was habit or deliberate.

Blake arched a brow at her silence.

“Don’t look at me like that. If you keep sending such an ardent gaze, even I’ll be stirred.”

“…Your Grace the Duke.“

“More importantly.”

He cut her short.

“This place isn’t safe either.”

He pointed toward the distance. The knight was clattering back, running unevenly across the grounds.

“Will you stay here?”

—

To think she had brought this man into her room twice.

In ten loops through this nightmare, Serenity had never invited anomalous beings into her room more than once… except Nia and the faceless maids. Yet here he was again, sitting with ease, sipping tea like it was his home.

‘I don’t know who the owner is anymore.’

Serenity rubbed her dry palms against her skirt.

“I overlooked it. I should have realized you aren’t the sort of milady to behave like others. Today, I was desperate to see you, so it’s fortunate I came.”

How did he know to find her in the assembly yard?

Questions pressed against her throat, but she had no way to force answers. All she could do was stare at him, frustration burning in her chest.

“You said you were excited to see me… *aren’t you going to take your eyes off me?”*

The Duke chuckled lightly.

Serenity did not answer.

The silence stretched, like a standoff. Time dragged; it felt endless. Finally, after another sip of tea, Blake spoke.

“Milady, do you know? There is an order to everything.”

“…“

“I understand your impatience, being trapped for twenty years, but if you try to cut across the order, you’ll invite disaster. Haven’t you heard that?”

His voice was as gentle as ever, but the meaning was sharp. She heard it clearly: defy the order, and you’ll die.

And she almost had. She couldn’t argue.

“I had wanted to proceed slowly. But it seems your temperament is rather hasty.”

“That is…”

“To put it plainly, you cannot go outside the manor right now.”

Serenity’s head snapped up. Across from her, the Duke leaned with his chin propped, red eyes glinting, lips curved in a faint smile.

“You must take it step by step. There’s much to be done, and if you ignore procedure and rush out, you’ll bring ruin.”

Serenity’s mind raced.

Her every attempt to escape had been for the sake of the rulebook. Her actions within the mansion were suffocatingly limited. Unless she risked death, she discovered nothing. Stepping outside… even once… might reveal clues.

But now… why was she having this conversation with an anomalous being? Was he really worried about an “outing”? Did he perceive things like she did?

‘…I must confirm.’

This was vital.

If this man could perceive the mansion’s dangers as she did, then his value was beyond anything she’d known.

After a long, taut silence, she finally asked:

“Before that, let me ask one thing.”

“What?”

“Earlier, in front of the assembly hall… Your Grace the Duke… *did you see the spikes inside the armor?”*