The ghost seemed to sense Lily’s inner conflict and spoke gently.
[I know it’s hard to believe. You might think, what if I change my story later? Or what if I take offense at your honesty? I understand the doubt. But… could you believe me anyway? The truth is, I have no one else but you.]
His voice held a sincerity that set it apart from all the cryptic things he’d said before. His shoulders slumped slightly, his entire posture pleading for her trust.
Considering the hardships he must have endured, his attitude wasn’t hard to understand.
If she were the invisible one, ignored by everyone around her… Lily figured she’d break down crying in three hours, not even three days.
“He is… kind of pitiful, actually.”
She bit her lip, worrying it with small, nervous chews.
“He hasn’t hurt anyone. Seems pretty sane for a ghost, actually. And he does sound serious about the promise. I mean, a chest of gold coins? I’d be a fool to turn that down.”
But more than anything else, what really tugged at Lily’s heart was the possibility of being able to keep cleaning the manor. Unlike the other maids, she wouldn’t be interrupted by some unseen force.
Gathering all the courage she could muster, Lily made her decision.
“I-I can’t offer much help. I don’t know anything about spirits or… spiritual stuff. I’m just a lowly maid, and there’s honestly not much I’m allowed to do in the castle to begin with…”
She pushed herself to her feet, brushing off the creased hem of her skirt, throwing in a reminder about her usual duties.
“And I still have my regular work. If I slack off on cleaning, I’ll lose my spot in the main manor. But, um, Your Grace is staying in the main manor, right? So if I’m kicked out… it’ll be hard to see you.”
She stole a glance at him to see if he was offended by her blunt, working-class speech. When he didn’t flinch, she continued.
“There are other reasons I’m not the right person to serve you. I mean, honestly, I’m really not cut out for this kind of role. But…”
She was about to babble on, insisting that if he really wanted to hire her, she’d try her best, when he cut her off with quiet finality.
[Despite all of that, you’re the best assistant I could ask for.]
He placed a hand over his chest and bowed, deeply and respectfully.
[You have my deepest gratitude for your kindness.]
It was the kind of gallant gesture straight out of an old, faded picture book — the kind she’d read as a child. Except on the other side of that bow, there wasn’t a princess in layers of silk. Just a scruffy maid in a faded apron.
Flustered by the overly formal greeting, Lily clasped her hands tightly together. Then, mimicking his posture, she gave a deep bow of her own, even deeper than his, and spoke clearly.
“P-Please take care of me.”
And just like that, Lily had become the ghost duke’s assistant — though she still had no idea what she was actually supposed to do.
“I just hope he’s not expecting too much…”
Still, seeing the satisfied smile on his face, she decided that was good enough for now. She averted her gaze from him and picked up her cleaning supplies, heading for the second floor.
Her contract with the ghost was, strictly speaking, a side gig. As she’d already told him — she couldn’t afford to slack off on her real job.
Only one set of footsteps echoed in the hallway. The figure of a man walked right ahead of her, yet there wasn’t even the faintest rustle of fabric from him.
If she closed her eyes, it truly felt like she was alone. The disconnect between what she saw and what she heard was… unsettling.
By the time Lily reached the second floor, her skin tingling from the strange silence, she’d already lost ten minutes. She started cleaning in a hurry.
The ghost didn’t leave her side. He didn’t speak, either — just stood quietly, watching her from the corner of the room.
It felt like he was waiting for her to finish so they could move on to the real reason he was here.
He probably thought he was being considerate. But she really wished he’d waited somewhere else. More than once, she forgot he was there and nearly jumped out of her skin when she turned and saw him standing still as a candelabra.
But as time passed, Lily realized something. It wasn’t fear of the ghost that was the real problem.
It was something else entirely.
“Being watched by your boss while you work… I wasn’t mentally prepared for this.”
Working in silence, under the watchful eye of a literal specter of nobility — it was the kind of work nightmare she hadn’t even imagined.
Somehow, she managed to finish cleaning the second floor, though it felt like she’d aged five years doing it. Only the third floor remained.
When she stepped up to the staircase, the duke finally broke his silence.
[I need to see Wolfram.]
“Assistant Burnett?”
Wolfram Burnett, Baron and trusted aide to the Duke, was currently acting as the lord’s proxy.
Lily had never seen him in person. All she knew came from maid training: violet hair, glasses.
[I need to know how far the investigation into my situation has progressed. I plan to speak with him about what to do next.]
“Oh… I’m glad to hear that.”
[Glad?]
“I mean, I had no idea what we were supposed to do. I may be your assistant now, but as I’ve told you… I’m not really good for much. Honestly, I was starting to feel like I didn’t even matter. So it’s a relief — to know there’s someone who can actually help.”
The duke responded with nothing more than a small, knowing smile, as if to say, “Well, of course.”
—
Even she had to admit it—it was a ridiculous thing to worry about.
What could a low-ranking maid and a ghost possibly accomplish together? Of course, contacting the capable aide was the obvious next step.
Lily looked up the stairs. Right on cue, the Duke spoke.
His office was on the third floor—the very place she was headed. The problem was…
“There’s a bit of an issue. I’m not allowed to meet with the aide. If I knock on his door without permission, the head maid will personally drag me off for retraining.”
A maid at her level wasn’t even supposed to speak to someone with a noble title, let alone approach them.
The highest-ranking person she was allowed to interact with was the head maid. Even then, during work, she had to scurry around like a cockroach—unseen, unheard, unnoticed by the nobility.
The Duke paused for a moment before answering.
[We just need to get in the room. Leave the rest to me.]
It was the kind of blunt, overconfident order that normally would’ve irritated her—but if it was just getting the door open, there was a way.
Lily began to climb the stairs slowly.
As one of the maids assigned to cleaning the main manor, she’d memorized the schedules of all key personnel and where they usually spent their time. It wasn’t out of loyalty or ambition—just pure survival instinct.
At the far end of the hallway, she started mopping the floor, eyes subtly darting toward the room where Wolfram Burnett was most likely working.
There was a guard stationed right outside the door.
She reviewed her route and lines one last time, rehearsing in her head like it was a scene from a play. And then, before the soldier could stop her, she rushed up and knocked.
[A maid slipped past the Duke’s soldier? Looks like someone needs to go back to basic training.]
If the guard had heard the ghost’s icy remark, he probably would’ve felt more than a little offended. But in truth, cleaning maids usually weren’t considered threats. That was bound to change now.
“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
The guard lunged forward and grabbed Lily by the collar, just as a voice from inside the room said, “Let her in.”
“N-nothing, sir! Just a misunderstanding!” Lily stammered.
“I have something urgent to report to Lord Burnett!” she shouted, struggling against the grip.
The guard shook her roughly and growled in a low voice, “You’re just a maid. If you’ve got something to say, go through the head maid!”
Yeah, like that’d ever work.
No way she’d make it to the Baron that way. There was absolutely no “reasonable” explanation for why a maid like her should get a direct audience with the aide.
Her only chance was to get to him directly—no intermediaries, no delays.
He said he’d handle the rest. Here’s hoping he wasn’t full of it.
“I’m begging you, Lord Burnett!” she yelled at the top of her lungs. “Please just hear me out! It’s incredibly important!”
The guard, now fully ticked off, began dragging her away from the door.
“I’m going to report every word of this to the head maid. You’re finished. How does someone like you even dare to show your face at the Duke’s door—!”
And then it happened. A loud crack shattered the hallway—the window down the corridor exploded with a violent burst.
“Kyaaah!” Lily flinched and let out a scream, instinctively ducking her head.
The guard froze, eyes going wide in disbelief.
Once the shock wore off, the first thing Lily did was snap her gaze toward the ghost. He stood silently, his eyes fixed on the guard still holding her by the collar.
The Duke’s spirit stepped up beside her, placing one translucent hand on the soldier’s shoulder.
Before the man could even process what was happening, he was thrown backward—flattened as if punched by an invisible fist.
Lily nearly fell with him, but something had warned her—something told her that the moment the ghost came closer, things were about to escalate. That instinct let her twist free just in time.
[Lily, are you alright?]
His voice carried genuine concern.
[I tried to keep the shards from hitting you. Did any get through? Check for injuries.]
She appreciated the help, really—but her heart was going to beat right out of her chest.
He kept looking her over, clearly not convinced she was fine.
[Your neck—how is it? Did he leave any marks?]
Lily slowly turned her head from side to side, making a point to show him her unscathed neck. Not that she could answer with words—not yet, not while still reeling from what just happened.
But the ghost… seemed to interpret her silence differently.
He turned his attention to the fallen guard, expression turning unreadable, eyes sharp and chilling.
And just like that, Lily started to worry. She didn’t know what he was thinking—but judging from the coldness in his stare, maybe… just maybe… someone needed to step in before things went too far.
