Piercing screams were heard onto the other side of the hall. Ah... looks like time to celebrate. I smirked as I went up to the doorway and opened the door. While putting on a surprised expression I forcefully said:
"Count and Countess Schein! What is going on?" I say with an exaggerated voice. Tired, terror-stricken, and shocked expressions were written onto the couple's faces. "Is there something troubling you? It's the middle of the night-"
"G-G-ghost!" Countess Schein yelled at my face. Her eyes widened, and her face revealed that of a frantic child who had just seen a criminal in the night. I tried to hide my sneer. Great... if you're that scared... why not pack up your luggage and leave my doorstep!
"Ghost? What childish things are you saying Auntie~ what ghost?" I say forcing a worried and confused voice.
"D-Dear~ are you sure that the security of this estate is strong? We both saw shadows moving-" Count Schein said.
"Ah- it must have been the maids- nothing that bad..." I say with a smile. "The servants of the Castano Household also have a night shift around here. You'll just have to get used to their- voices..."
...
"What is going on Mademoiselle!" Mr. Butler walked in with a frown on his face from the hallway. Great timing!
"Nothing... now now, they're just servants moving around here. I suggest Count Schein and Countess Schein be moved back to their rooms," I say to him. Butler Aaron frowned at me again and then took both of them away.
Countess Schein exchanged glances with me and her husband with fear. I bit my lip to stop laughing. Having fun? Just wait till you see~ this is nothing. I'll make sure I'll scare the hell out of you.
You're never going to step into this mansion again.
"Ready?" I called out in the darkness. "Time to turn into phase three,"
"Yes, mam!" words followed my orders.
***
After half an hour- another scream was heard from the same hallway. I snorted. What a weak-hearted pair of couples. Are they both scared of the dark or something? Tch... just leave already... I started ranting. Take your ass and kiss my foot goodbye.
Late Mother... what kind of family did you live with before?
...
...
...
A DAY LATER>>>
***
"Mademoiselle, they have left-" a maidservant told me. I smiled small and took the sip of the tea and said:
"Very well, you played the Ghost part all well~ I am very pleased-"
"This servant will take her leave now," she told me as she left. Hahaha... what did I just tell them? Play with fire and burn down my house.
No assassination. No threatening. No evil deeds.
Just a sense of justice!
*BAM*
"Mademoiselle! What did you just do??" Butler Aaron said as he barged through the door. I sighed at my seat. Tch... another rampage on my ears alright. I cleaned my earlobes and said:
"Chased the bad dogs out the gate,"
"Did you have any idea what happened?? The rumors!" the Butler said. "People are now making rumors about a ghost at the Castano mansion! This will pull down our reputation! Do you have any idea how much this would stain the family name?"
Rumors?? I... did not think about that.
I paused. Oh well... who cares? I am not interested in that or anything. Screw Castano.
"..." I just continued sipping my tea.
"Mademoiselle! If the Castano household loses its reputation- you'll become a laughingstock~"
"Well so be it- I'll be a laughingstock," I say. I don't plan to become the heir or anything of that sort- here I was planning for a vacation. A willful image of going to a summer villa and relaxing out in the countryside seems fun.
But the problem is how to get Mr. Butler to agree to it.
I could visit the Emperor and ask him for a few days and leave. But~ I don't want to go to Amsterdam's Imperial Palace. Tch... that very place brings back horrible memories. Should I write a letter?
Drinking wine and watching the sunset on the horizon by the grasslands of fields on a ranch. Horses galloping by and the sound of the evening wind that wooshes past you to finish the day... seems like a dream...
"Mademoiselle... are you listening?" Mr. Butler said as he drums on the study table.
"Yeah~"
"Do you understand- this is not good! Rumors are spreading around- people would-"
"That's good, isn't it? Fewer people would tackle the Castano household now," I say. I pause on my words. Now that I think about it-
"What-?" Mr. Butler stared at me.
"Don't you know that our enemy are now targeting the Castano Household? If we seem weak we won't be exposed to dangers as much~"
The Butler pauses for a moment to rethink what I said. Hmmm... as expected of my genius self. Isn't that great then?
If we remain more low-key and lose our reputation- then I could easily sneak out to take a vacation without anyone noticing! Haha... then that way- I can annual my engagement a lot quicker and easier~ and take a vacation and disappear from this continent!
Genius! All I need to do is destroy my reputation and then get the hell out of this Kingdom! I should just move by the countryside of our neighboring kingdom and remain low-key and unnoticed.
I slammed my hands on the table loudly,
"Haha! I am brilliant!"
I pause when I realize I said that aloud. The butler oddly looks at me as if I just lost my mind. I bitterly smiled and said: "Oh... I was praising myself for doing that-"
The butler pushed back his glasses and said:
"Now that the vixen family is gone~ we shall continue on matters regarding your etiquette Mademoiselle. It seems that Mademoiselle has forgotten them,"
"Huh?"
"Yes, Mademoiselle, this is important~"
"Tch Mr. Butler... can you tell me when you plan to quit working in the Castano Household~," I say. I mean the faster he's out of the way- the faster I get my vacation.
"Mademoiselle if this is about having that- vaca-"
"No- no- I mean- aren't you old already??" I say cutting him off before he finishes his sentence. Damn this guy is too smart. Or am I too dumb? If I hadn't told him about my plan yesterday! Tch... Tch... just my luck.
"Mademoiselle, I will not quit without knowing if you can make through your debutante, currently observing your behavior- I have realized that I cannot quit working in this mansion right now-"
Tch... Money cannot bribe this man.
"Mr. Butler do you have a family?"
"Mademoiselle I have left my family years ago, my only task is to serve you,"
"Then go make one!" I say.
"...Absolutely not-"
"...psst... "
Oh well, since that's not happening- I'll just have to talk to the Emperor myself.
"Mr. Butler- schedule an appointment with his highness,"