I Thought It Was a Common Transmigration - Chapter 53

“Oh my, Killian, were you waiting for me?”

“Where are you coming from?”

“I came back from visiting Lizé.”

Hearing that I had met Lizé, Killian gave a small nod.

Was that a scoring point?

Killian rattled off a series of unimportant things.

The weather, the Duke and Duchess, that sort of thing.

Then he subtly turned the conversation to me.

“By the way…… how about increasing your exercise a bit for your health? I hear you’re taking morning walks, but really, it would be nice to take a lap around the garden once a day after meals.”

“Oh, really?”

Truth be told, I’ve been eating a bit too much since I went from starving to eating, and even the “fantasy” in a Rofan novel can’t prevent me from gaining weight.

If anything, I’ve gained a little weight on my sides……

“It improves your mood and keeps you from gaining weight.”

“Do I look fat?”

“Mmm, yeah. You look a little fatter than you used to.”

Killian’s words shocked me.

If Killian, who didn’t care about me, thought I’d gained weight, how much weight had I gained?

I jumped to my feet.

“In that case, I should probably take a walk.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

“Yeah……?”

“I’ll walk with you, as an escort?”

The hairs on my back stood on end.

“Ah…… but now that I think about it, I find your remark a little insulting, like you’re telling me to exercise because of how much weight I’ve gained……”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant!”

“I’m not going for a walk today. I’ll do it next time.”

I could see Killian clenching his molars.

Wow, I almost failed this test.

If I’d said yes earlier, he’d have given me the cold shoulder.

“I think you may have misunderstood my wording. I meant that you’ve gained more weight than before, not that you’ve gained so much weight that you need to lose it.”

“Oh, I see, and I’m sorry I misunderstood, but I don’t feel like going out much. Of course, I appreciate your concern for my health, Killian.”

I just need to say a lot of thanks.

Isn’t this the standard response?

“……alright, see you later.”

“Bye. Have a great day!”

I waved him off with a smile on my face in a service-minded manner.

‘Whoa, I passed today’s test!’

I did a little dance of joy on my own when Anna wasn’t looking, but then I remembered Killian’s eyes on me and stopped.

It looked like something was going to snap at any moment.

‘The high ground[1] must be just around the corner!’

[1] High ground = one’s goal.

This would definitely be the end of his doubts.

He must have been testing me, thinking, “This can’t be true, she’ll surely jump at the chance I give her,” but it didn’t go the way he thought, so he doubted his own thoughts.

‘If I get over this hurdle, can I have tea with Killian then? I’d love to eat with him, go for a walk with him……’

When he realizes I’m not the slutty, lecherous woman he’s heard about, will he treat me like a human?

I’m so desperate. Hic.

***

I was always on edge during Killian’s “test,” and if there was ever a time to calm my nerves, it was when I was working in Renon’s office.

Even in the summer, his office was one of my favorite places in the mansion, cool and filled with the smell of paper.

I especially loved its warm silence.

Contrary to my initial impression that he was stingy with compliments, he complimented me more often than I expected.

In fact, the task of organizing the documents by date and reorganizing the scattered content onto a single sheet was not difficult, but he commented in passing that I had done it neatly and meticulously.

I felt at peace with his words, words that didn’t overwhelm me, but acknowledged my hard work.

But today, even that would be difficult.

“Killian, why are you here?”

I arrived at work to find Killian sitting in the middle of Renon’s office.

“Is there something I shouldn’t be here for?”

“Nothing like that…… it’s just, I’m surprised. I haven’t seen you since I’ve been working here.”

“I come in sometimes, though not when you’re around.”

“Oh, I see…… so, is there something you need to discuss with Renon?”

“Yeah, well……”

Despite being the second son of a duke, Killian was also helping the Duke with his affairs, so it was no surprise when he showed up at Renon’s office, as he might have something to discuss about taxes.

“You two can talk then. I’ll be doing my own work.”

I smiled and sat down at my desk, but I couldn’t help but think that Killian had come to spy on me.

‘Yeah, I’ll show him how hard I work.’

I concentrated on my work, really concentrated.

I didn’t glance in Killian’s direction once, just focused on organizing the documents.

I wondered if he was a little impressed that I was working so hard.

After a few minutes of silence, Killian suddenly spoke up.

“Do you think it would be a good idea to add another employee, Renon?”

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought that sounded out of the blue.

“All of a sudden……?”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been paying attention to you. Now that I’m here during business hours, it seems like you’ve got a lot on your plate.”

I can finally understand what Lizé meant when she said Killian is blunt on the outside but caring on the inside.

Although he was concerned about Renon, his voice was extremely stiff.

“I appreciate your concern, but Miss Edith is helping me, so it’s okay.”

“How much does Edith help?”

“She’s more competent than any employee I’ve ever had. She makes my job so much easier.”

Ouch! It’s kind of embarrassing to be praised in front of Killian.

I’m embarrassed, but I can’t hide my satisfaction.

‘But what’s with the look on his face?’

Killian’s brow crumpled when he heard Renon praise me.

At first, I thought he didn’t want to hear him praise me, but then I realized he had to admit it now, so I guess he let go of his doubts about me.

‘Keep your head up until the end, Edith, come on!’

I pretended not to hear their conversation and worked harder on my documents.

***

Diary of Renon Filch

– April 2, 1824

The Duchess has sent me Miss Edith to help me with my work.

I didn’t expect much, but it’s true I’ve been a bit overwhelmed since that fool ran away last time.

I was hoping she’d have the intelligence not to mix up the dates, but to my surprise, she organized the receipts diligently and meticulously.

She even looked very skillful, like she had been working somewhere for a long time.

I thought I could ask for nothing more from her in the future, but in the afternoon Young Master Cliff called me in and asked about Miss Edith.

I answered him as I felt, but I did not think it was what he wanted.

– May 20, 1824

Miss Edith, who was always so diligent, has been strangely anxious and nervous lately.

I asked her if something was wrong, and she took something out of her pocket and asked me if I thought it was okay.

At first, I thought it was a scrap of fabric, but when I looked closely, I realized it was an embroidered handkerchief.

Apparently, it was to be sold at Count Ermenia’s bazaar in the near future.

I was honest and told her that the handkerchief was a little tattered all over and the stitches were unevenly spaced, but that I could definitely recognize the design.

It was a compliment in my mind, but she looked like the sky had fallen.

I don’t know what on earth I could say to a woman’s embroidery that would sound like a compliment.

– June 18, 1824

The other day the Riegelhoffs sent a maid to serve Miss Edith, but she did not look very happy.

She even looked a little weak, but today she suddenly enjoyed her refreshments, which she never did before.

She left a cookie and a madeleine for me, but her eyes were glued to them as she sipped her tea, and I couldn’t help but ask her to finish them.

She looked like a little girl asking if she could have some.

I wondered why she was taking refreshments so suddenly. Is she expecting?

– June 29, 1824

I’ve returned from a business trip and the mansion is in a strange mood.

It seems that Miss Edith has been trying to harm Miss Lizé, first by poisoning herself, and then by attempting to poison Miss Lizé.

I found the story hard to believe.

Greedy people are bound to be obvious somehow, and Miss Edith doesn’t seem greedy to me.

I don’t listen to the servants’ gossip because it’s none of my business.

Miss Edith has been put on probation for the time being, and it is quite inconvenient to have one of my hands empty.

– July 15, 1824

Miss Edith’s probation has been lifted.

It seems that the cases involving her have been largely cleared up, but the servants still believe that Miss Edith is the culprit.

I don’t really care if Miss Edith had done it or not.

As long as she continued to help me with my work, that is.

But then, as if I had done something to provoke her, she showed tears.

I panicked a bit, but luckily I had the presence of mind to hand her a handkerchief.

She quickly wiped her tears and went back to work.

Again, she was very good at her job.

If only she had been the daughter of a commoner in need of money, I would have hired her as a full-time employee right away.