Chapter 182: Fake Lady!

He frantically searched beneath the stairs.

"Lord Valerius is going to have my hide if I show up to inspection without my helm!"

Seraphina bit her tongue.

The knight crawled toward a vase. "Did the hound bury it again?"

Seraphina’s eyes sparkled.

She tugged Sebastian’s finger.

"Mr. Sebastian?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever lost your helmet?"

Sebastian looked at the empty staircase. "I have misplaced equipment during battle."

"Where?"

"Usually somewhere inconvenient."

Seraphina nodded wisely. "I think you should check the banister."

Sebastian stared at her.

"Why?"

"Because the helmet might be there."

"...An excellent theory."

The headless ghost knight immediately checked the banister.

It was not there.

He became even more distressed.

Seraphina had to bite her hand.

The moment the spirits realized the little girl could actually see them, everything changed.

The ghost maid stopped dusting.

The headless knight stopped searching.

A translucent hunting hound poked its head through the wall.

Then another ghost appeared.

Then another.

They had not seen a living child in this mansion for years.

Not one who laughed. Not one who ran through the halls. Not one who looked at them without fear. Not one who could see them.

The estate had been quiet for fifteen years.

Cold.

Lonely.

A tomb disguised as a mansion.

And now—

There was a little girl.

The elderly maid floated toward Seraphina and performed an elegant curtsy.

"Welcome home, little miss."

Seraphina’s face lit up.

She glanced toward Sebastian.

He wasn’t looking.

She gave the ghost a tiny wave.

The ghost practically sparkled with happiness. Then the spectral hunting hound trotted out of a wall. It bounded toward Seraphina, tail wagging furiously.

Seraphina crouched.

"You look like a good dog."

The hound barked silently.

She giggled.

"I can’t pet you, though."

The hound looked disappointed.

Seraphina thought about it.

"I’ll wave instead."

She waved.

The hound wagged so hard its entire spectral rear end wiggled.

Seraphina beamed.

This house is the best.

She had ghosts, secret invisible friends, a giant old-lion butler, a terrifying Papa.

She even had a fire puppy.

This was easily the greatest house in the world!

Unfortunately, her happiness was about to be interrupted by someone much less pleasant.

Someone alive, wearing lavender perfume.

***

The doors of the Drawing Room opened as Genevieve entered carrying a silver tray.

Seraphina’s nose immediately wrinkled.

Lavender.

Too much lavender.

She had apparently bathed in a flower shop.

Genevieve smiled.

"Ah! Mr. Sebastian!" Her voice was sweet enough to give Seraphina a headache. "And the precious little Lady."

She gracefully placed the tray on the mahogany table. "I thought you might be thirsty after your grand tour."

Sebastian’s entire demeanor changed.

A moment ago, he had been a patient, grandfatherly old warrior. Now he was a soldier.

His shoulders straightened, expression hardened, and his single blue eye became cold and predatory.

Genevieve noticed but she pretended not to.

"I have prepared a special Imperial chamomile tea." She smiled at them. "Imported directly from the Palace gardens."

Sebastian stepped forward.

He physically placed himself between Seraphina and the tea. "The Sovereign’s dietary intake is strictly monitored by the Vanguard."

His voice was low.

"We do not accept unsolicited provisions."

His eye narrowed. "Especially provisions originating from the Palace."

Genevieve laughed lightly.

"Oh, Mr. Sebastian. You are always so dreadfully serious."

She waved a manicured hand. "It is merely tea."

She smiled. "Surely the Archduke does not intend to let his daughter dehydrate simply because of political paranoia?"

Sebastian’s expression did not change.

Seraphina peeked around him.

Genevieve poured a cup. Then she approached Seraphina.

"Come, little darling." She knelt. "Have a sip."

Seraphina stared at the tea.

Her nose twitched.

She could sense nothing immediately wrong with it.

But that didn’t matter.

Genevieve was offering it.

Therefore—

No.

Genevieve smiled. "It will make you feel wonderfully relaxed."

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed.

Suspicious.

"And while we drink, perhaps we can have a little girl-talk." Genevieve leaned closer. "Just between us."

Seraphina stared at her.

Behind Genevieve, the spectral maid crossed her arms. The ghost hound bared its translucent teeth.

Seraphina almost smiled.

Wow! How bad is this Lady? Even the ghosts hate her.’

She pushed the teacup away.

"No thank you."

Genevieve blinked.

"F-Fake lady."

The smile disappeared from Genevieve’s face for half a second.

"My name is Genevieve, sweetheart."

"You don’t act like a maid." Seraphina tilted her head. "Maids clean things."

Genevieve stared.

"You just stand around." There was a pause as Seraphina pouted again. "And blink at Papa."

Sebastian suddenly coughed.

Seraphina continued. "You blink like you have dust in your eyes."

She leaned closer. "Do you need a doctor?"

Sebastian turned his head. His shoulders were shaking.

Genevieve’s face turned red. "I assure you, My Lady, my eyes are perfectly fine." She forced her smile back into place.

"Children say the most amusing things." Then she tried another tactic. "Tell me, sweetie..."

Her voice became softer.

"Does the Archduke ever talk about Her Majesty, the Empress?"

Seraphina frowned. "Sometimes."

Genevieve’s eyes immediately sharpened. "Oh?"

She leaned closer. "What does he say?"

Seraphina tapped her chin.

She thought of something for a moment, then she smiled.

"He says the Empress wears too much white powder."

Genevieve’s face twitched.

"He says she looks like a giant angry powdered donut!"

Silence.

Sebastian’s lips twitched.

Seraphina continued cheerfully.

"And he says her perfume smells like a rotting swamp! Ewww!"

Genevieve’s face had gone completely rigid.

Seraphina sniffed. "Just like yours."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The spectral maid behind Genevieve collapsed backward, laughing silently. The ghost hound began bouncing in circles.

Sebastian turned away. His shoulders shook once.

Then twice.

Finally, a deep, rumbling laugh escaped his chest.

Genevieve stared at Seraphina.

The six-year-old smiled sweetly.

"What is it, Fake Lady?"

Sebastian stepped forward.

"I believe the little Sovereign has made her preferences clear." His voice was suspiciously amused. "Take your tea and leave."

Genevieve’s hands tightened around the tray.

"Of course."

She stood.

Her smile was gone. She snatched the tray from the table and stormed toward the doors.