Chapter 180
Sillian looked slightly surprised, as if he hadn’t expected Lynette to say something like that.
“You’ll protect me, right? Won’t you?”
When she said it while looking straight at him, he let out a long sigh.
“You’re very good at using me.”
“You told me to.”
Sillian smiled bitterly. She didn’t really want to say something so shameless, but if she didn’t say it this firmly, he probably wouldn’t take her along.
Perhaps because he read her determination not to back down, the man lightly climbed back over the iron bars again. Then he turned his back toward Lynette.
“The iron bars are quite high, so I can’t carry you over them in a graceful way.”
“I’m not expecting that.”
She gave a small laugh and obediently climbed onto his back.
Was this the first time she had been carried on Sillian’s back?
His back was much broader than she had expected. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed close.
The man lifted his body without difficulty and once again moved lightly over the tall iron bars. His movements were as if he had forgotten there was another person on his back.
After that, instead of exchanging words, the two quietly walked toward the residence. It would have been nice if the ornamental trees in the garden were taller, but all of them had been trimmed to about chest height. Lynette could at least hide herself by bending her waist a little, but the tall Sillian had to bend down so much that he was practically crawling on his knees.
“Isn’t this difficult?”
There was no one nearby, so there was no real need to whisper, but from the moment they climbed over the wall she had felt tense, and her voice naturally lowered. At her worried question, Sillian smiled faintly.
He didn’t answer, but it was easy to tell that it wasn’t exactly comfortable.
They had to move carefully while bent over, which made her somewhat uneasy, but fortunately the two of them reached the back door of the residence without any major trouble. Lynette finally straightened her back and leaned against the wall beside the door.
“It seems like there are fewer people than expected.”
She spoke in a whisper again, and Sillian nodded. Even considering the smaller scale, there were far too few people. Servants or visitors might not use the garden, but at the very least someone should have been visible in the distance. Yet it was truly quiet. So quiet that it hardly seemed like anyone lived there.
When Lynette absentmindedly tried to open the door, the man stopped her. He took hold of the handle first and slowly turned it. His movement was extremely cautious, as if there might be a trap inside. After opening the door slightly and looking inside, he turned to her.
“Lynette, you must stay right behind me.”
“Alright.”
“And if anything seems even a little strange, pull on my clothes.”
“Alright.”
“And…”
“Don’t do anything dangerous?”
When she cut him off, Sillian gave a small laugh. Perhaps because he believed Lynette wouldn’t do anything unnecessary, the man said nothing more and stepped inside.
Just as he had told her, Lynette followed right behind him so closely that their legs nearly tangled. She also didn’t forget to lightly grasp the hem of his clothes so she could pull him immediately if something happened. Perhaps planning to hide in a room if necessary, Sillian moved close along the wall where the rooms were located.
‘What is this?’
Lynette tilted her head.
She hadn’t expected the Count’s residence to be extravagant. Hadn’t it been said that Edwin’s mother had lived extravagantly? She had assumed it would feel somewhat empty after everything valuable had been sold off, but the current state was dirtier than she had imagined.
Filthy.
She frowned slightly at a word that did not suit a “Count’s residence”. But there was no other way to describe the current state.
Where decorative objects should have been placed, there was only a pale layer of dust instead. Cobwebs hung in the corners of the ceiling. It was as if no one had managed the place at all. She wanted to ask if Sillian had noticed it too, but she kept her mouth shut.
Looking carefully, she could see dust rolling along the corridor as well. The two of them reached the stairs leading upward without encountering anyone, and they paused for a moment before turning the corner.
Sillian glanced toward the stairs. He listened quietly, but not a single sound could be heard.
Even if the servants moved carefully, it shouldn’t be this quiet.
Unable to hold back, Lynette whispered very softly.
“Sillian, doesn’t it feel like there’s no one here?”
“There are traces that people have been moving around, but no one is visible.”
At those words, she pressed her lips shut. Still, it seemed that someone was indeed here.
Sillian slowly began climbing the stairs. Lynette followed right behind him. When they reached the second floor and looked around, the scene there was much cleaner than the first floor. At least there was no dust rolling across the floor.
‘Maybe they only clean the areas where people stay?’
Just as that thought crossed her mind and she stepped forward absentmindedly, she bumped lightly into the man’s back. Startled, she was about to make a sound without realizing it, but Sillian covered Lynette’s mouth and instantly opened the nearest door, pulling her inside.
Dragged in almost involuntarily, she blinked in confusion as the man silently closed the door.
Then he lightly pressed his index finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet. The moment she nodded, the sound of someone’s footsteps could be heard.
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