The Sequel to the Romance Fantasy Was a Zombie Apocalypse – Chapter 12

Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

Thud. Thud.

In the hallway of the mansion where everyone is asleep, the footsteps of the Head Maid resonate softly.

“…”

“…”

It’s been 2 minutes since I left my room. We haven’t exchanged a word during that time. And if I calculate the distance between my room and Esmela’s office, at this pace, it will take us about 5 minutes to get there.

“…Excuse me.”

In the end, I couldn’t endure the silence first and broke it.

“What is it?”

Without turning back, she replies in her usual dry tone.

“Um… Where is Arit right now?”

“Esmela is letting her stay in an empty room in the main building, so she is there.”

“…”

With that, the conversation ends, and silence flows between us again.

Black hair, which is quite rare in the world of [Roinah].

I absentmindedly watch her short black hair gently sway up and down in time with the Head Maid’s footsteps.

Head Maid Elina.

She appears to be in her early twenties, a cold beauty with sharp eyes.

All the servants know about her is her name and position.

Even when I ask the other servants around about her, they only speculate, and no one knows her actual age, place of origin, or status.

It’s even unclear when she started working in the mansion.

Even if I ask the Head Butler Zikhaim, who has been there the longest, I only get vague answers that she has been in the mansion “for some time.”

Maybe the Head Butler or the Herta family know about the Head Maid, but…

Her identity isn’t that important either, and it feels a bit intrusive to pry into someone else’s affairs, so I’ve given up asking them.

“…Um.”

I call her again.

“What is it?”

She responds just like before.

“…”

This time, I hesitate to ask my question.

“About what happened after Esmela and I returned to the mansion earlier. I can’t quite remember what happened afterward. If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me?”

My memories after stabbing Gilrot are fuzzy.

Since I woke up in my room, it means I either walked back from the main building or someone carried me.

“Right after that, you retracted your sword and stood still next to him. You only returned to the annex after Esmela ordered you to go back to your quarters. After that, I do not know what happened to you.”

I see. So I came back to my room and lay down on the bed without even changing my clothes.

“Then, could you tell me what happened in the mansion after I left?”

“Afterward, Esmela briefly explained to the gathered servants about what she had experienced while returning from the plaza where the wedding was held.

And about those things called ‘Zombies.’ Among the servants who witnessed your actions, there were a few who initially thought you had killed Gilrot, but Esmela clarified that if one is bitten by a zombie, one transforms into one of them, alleviating some of their misunderstandings.”

Fortunately, it seems Esmela did her best to manage the situation as much as she could.

“Did Esmela reveal the source of her information about the zombies?”

“Someone among the servants asked Esmela where she obtained such knowledge, but Esmela only replied that it was information found in ancient texts about Dark Magic.”

On top of that, she also kept it hidden that I knew about the zombies.

When I meet Esmela, I will have to thank her for considering me.

“…”

And this is the last question.

“Did Arit mention anything about the zombies?”

“Yes. Arit stated that she had previously encountered such beings while performing a quest with the Hunter Guild.”

“Is that true?!”

I inadvertently raise my voice.

“Lower your voice.”

The Head Maid stops walking and turns her head, still expressionless, warning me.

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

She walks forward again after hearing my response.

“Did Arit say anything else besides that?”

I continue to ask as I follow her.

“She only mentioned not to worry, as both the Radiant Church and the Hunter Guild are already aware of them and working on measures. There weren’t really any other notable remarks.”

“I see…”

With that, our conversation came to an end. As I pass through the connecting corridor and enter the main building, I fall into thought.

The fact that Arit had already encountered zombies is quite significant information.

She must have known that the zombies’ weak point is the head because she had faced them once before.

If that’s the case, I must have a conversation with Arit tomorrow.

…There’s definitely a question I need to ask her.

“We’ve arrived.”

Snapping back to reality at the Head Maid’s voice, I find myself standing in front of Esmela’s office.

“Then I will return.”

She turns her body and begins to walk back.

“Um…? Wait a moment.”

I hurriedly call out to her as she tries to leave.

“What is it?”

“Is the Young Lady alone in the office right now?”

“Yes.”

“Then shouldn’t you accompany me into the office?”

In the middle of the night, having an unmarried noble Young Lady call a man into her room can easily lead to misunderstandings, and being in the same space alone without anyone else is a dangerously questionable action for a woman’s virtue.

“…”

However, the Head Maid stares fixedly at my face without a reply.

“Um…”

“Haah.”

“What?!”

She lets out a sigh.

Her still expressionless face somehow looks frustrated, as if she feels a bit pity for me.

She is showing an emotion on her face for the first time.

“You.”

“Y-yes?”

“It seems you need to be educated again.”

The Head Maid unexpectedly drops that bombshell.

“Especially about women’s psychology.”

Leaving me with those ominous words, she walks off into the darkness of the hallway.

Knock knock.

“Young Lady, it’s Lanit.”

“Come in.”

Hearing Esmela’s reply, I open the door to the office.

After the Head Maid left, I pondered briefly over her statement but found no solid answer.

If I have a chance later, I will have to ask the Head Maid what she meant by that.

Now it’s time to talk to Esmela.

I close the door and bow toward the room, then lift my head again.

The office, bathed in shadows of the night, is illuminated by the candlelight on the desk.

From the splendid red carpet to the various books lined on one side of the wall and the large desk with the Herta family’s salamander emblem embossed in gold on the front.

Except for the room being a bit small, Esmela’s office was very similar to that of the lord’s.

The only difference is that there is a small table and a matching pair of chairs facing each other by the window that weren’t there before, and there are a wine bottle and two wine glasses resting on the table.

Esmela sat in one of the chairs from that set.

“What is it that you called for, Young Lady?”

I ask her while standing by the door.

“Come here.”

Her voice calling me is a little lower than her usual high tone, gentler too.

Following her words, I walk toward the window.

Esmela is wearing a simple dress with little embellishment instead of her usual extravagant one.

Of course, it was still red.

“Sit there.”

She gestures to the chair across from her.

I obediently sit down on that chair.

Now, it seems I’m sitting face to face with Esmela across a small table.

The candlelight faintly illuminates the right side of Esmela’s face, which is free of makeup.

Her golden hair, usually done in two braids, now falls down straight, cascading over her bare left shoulder.

She looks beautiful even without the red lipstick or heavy eye makeup she usually wears.

In fact, her bare face, which I rarely get to see, is even more captivating than when she has her full makeup on.

Thump thump.

Strangely, my heart starts racing.

“Lanit.”

“Yes?”

Out of anxiety, my voice has instinctively gone a little higher.

“How’s your health?”

Her alluring voice tickles my ears.

Thump thump thump.

This is different. Esmela, from her appearance to her demeanor, is nothing like her usual self.

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“That’s a relief.”

She slowly reaches for the wine bottle.

Since the cork is already pulled out, she skillfully pours wine into two glasses.

“Here.”

She hands one glass to me with her left hand.

Thump thump thump thump.

Why is my heart racing so much?

“Are you not going to take it?”

She smiles slightly.

My heart feels like it might burst. Her unfamiliar appearance is driving me crazy.

Yet, I know I must say this to her—

“Young Lady.”

“Yes?”

“I’m underage, so I can’t drink alcohol.”

“…”

The heat that had suffocated me in the office suddenly cools down in an instant.