A loud sound as roaring as thunder filled the empty hallway.

The view outside the window was blurred and hard to see. I quickly changed into new clothes and roughly washed my wet hair. Cleaning my face and body took no more than ten minutes.

In fact, there was something more important than washing. I looked at the quiet hallway beyond the door.

‘Now’s the time.’

Having confirmed that the maids were absent, I ran straight to the front of the study, standing in front of a golden armor much taller than myself, with a sharp longsword in hand.

“Since they said it’s a real blade…….”

Due to my father’s fear of blades, this was the only usable sword in the mansion. Still feeling uneasy, I gathered sandbags, needles, dart pins, etc. Weapons that could threaten the other party.

‘Is this enough?’

With these weapons, I won’t at least be killed without putting up a fight.

I’m not a fool. I won’t repeat the same mistake twice.

‘I’ll protect myself.’

I trusted my senses. The gaze I felt at the mansion’s main gate was no coincidence. Someone was watching me, and that person was likely connected to the suspicious woman mentioned by the employee.

“Miss? What are you doing?”

Biti came in through the open door crack. A faint soap scent came from Biti, who was carrying a basket of finished laundry.

“I’m the owner of this mansion now. I have to protect it.”

“My, you’re brave.”

“Really. Biti, tell the others too. That suspicious woman is still lingering near the mansion. She’s definitely waiting for a chance to sneak in.”

“Then who could it be? That suspicious woman?”

“You didn’t hear?”

When I asked, Biti nodded her head. She took clothes from the basket she brought and hung them on hangers.

“It could be someone holding a grudge against my father.”

“That could be possible.”

My father was involved in land business. Though I didn’t know the details, I know he pulled some strings in a few deals. One must always be on guard against the people from the underworld, never knowing when they might bring poison.

Or perhaps someone who trusted my father’s words and invested in land only to lose a huge amount of money…… They would have enough reason to harbor animosity and come to this mansion.

“But Miss, don’t overdo it. If anything dangerous happens, everyone in the mansion will desperately protect you.”

“Thank you.”

“……Oh, by the way, have you seen the young master’s letter?”

The young master referred to Rodney, the eldest son, currently staying in a boarding school. It’s been over a year since I last saw him, as he had passed the admission notice and left for school in the spring.

“A letter from my brother?”

“Yes. It’s winter vacation. He was supposed to stay in the dormitory, but since his roommate is going back to his hometown, he seems to be coming to the mansion for a while.”

“……It will only be about a week though.”

“Don’t think so negatively. It means that Young Master Rodney is adapting well to the boarding school.”

I never worried in the first place. Rodney Marsen, with his unique slick personality and good sense of situation.

Throw him in a pack of beasts somewhere, and he would make them all his friends, happily hanging out with them.

Rodney is coming. I had one more wish for time to pass quickly.

Although he sometimes seemed to see right through me, making me feel spiteful, the mansion became harmonious when Rodney was there.

“……!”

“Miss?”

I felt a gaze again as my heart swelled.
I opened the window and stuck my face out to follow the gaze coming from outside. A human figure was visible. Although the face was not clear due to the heavy rain, the red hair color was distinct.

“Biti, close all the doors and holes in the mansion that can be entered right now! Hurry, quickly!”

“Yes!”

Biti hurriedly ran outside the door. I squinted my eyes to see the figure. It seemed like a slender woman. She was wearing ragged clothes, and she was barefoot.

‘That must be the woman who came to the mansion earlier!’

If she comes a little closer, I will be able to see her face…!

Unlike the wind, the woman twisted her body and disappeared far away in an instant. The distorted figure was invisible at some point. Only the shaking trees moved in my view.

It felt strange.

‘What’s going on?’

Who was the woman who had been watching this mansion with her long hair stretched out? As soon as the woman disappeared, the strength drained from my body. I, who had fallen to the ground with my legs relaxed, recalled the woman’s figure.

I guess she was watching me. And for quite some time, too.

“Miss, are you okay?!”

Biti found me and came running, surprised.

“……Biti? The doors?”

“All the doors and windows are locked. The men are guarding the front door. The rest of us will be patrolling the hallways together.”

“I see…….”

“Your face is pale. This won’t do. I think you should rest.”

Biti grabbed my arm.

“No, I’m fine. I will patrol the hallways too.”

“No, do as I say. You are the owner of this mansion now.”

“What?”