TLAM CH 02

Episode 2: The Day the Devil Went for a Walk (Part 2)

There was a rumor among the coachmen.

If someone strange got into your carriage on a night when “the devil is out walking,” they might not be human.

And the place they wanted to go? Always somewhere creepy.

But if a coachman refused to give them a ride… the rumor said he would die soon after.

“Oh, Great Cynthia, please…”

Hans glanced at the woman in his carriage through the small rearview mirror.

“Gah!”

He met her glowing red eyes—staring straight at him like a predator picking a toy.

Thump, thump, thump.
His heart pounded louder than it ever had—not even when he was caught hiding a wet bed as a child did he panic this much.

“Dear Goddess Cynthia, please protect me! If you save me, I promise to be good. I’ll pray every week—no, every day!”

But even praying didn’t calm his nerves.

Just thinking about their destination made his heart feel like it would explode.

“I should’ve stayed far away tonight!”

The place they were headed to was the Caplet Mansion, once home to a powerful noble family.

Long ago, villagers had been proud that the duke stayed there sometimes.

Until the truth came out.

“Over 100 people were sacrificed to a demon…”

The duke—once seen as a war hero—was actually a mad killer.

He enjoyed watching prisoners suffer, even using metal skewers to torture them.

Right before his death, rumors say he even killed his wife and family as offerings.

Even though it happened centuries ago, people said the mansion still had demonic signs carved into its walls.
Everyone who lived there had died horribly.

“And on nights like this, they say the duchess comes back to get revenge…”

Hans’s hands trembled on the reins.

“Damn it, Taub! Why’d you point her toward me?!”

Hans would normally never take on someone so strange. But Taub was too honest and kind—he never turned away a customer.

That’s how Hans got stuck driving what he now believed might be… a demon.

“It’s okay! If I stay calm and clear-headed, I’ll be fine! I’m more alert than ever!”

The drink he had earlier seemed to be helping keep him focused.

He raced up the hill quickly, hoping to drop the woman off and escape.
In fact, he was going faster than usual.

Clatter, bump!

Just as Hans sighed in relief—so close to the mansion—the carriage hit a rock and jolted.

It didn’t crash, but the loud noise startled him. He even imagined glass shattering.

“Did I make her angry?!”

Worried, he looked in the mirror…

“Aaaaaah!”

She was gone.

Just a second ago, she was sitting there. But now—nothing. Just an empty seat.

His brain froze, and his heart pounded like a drum.

He pulled the reins hard to turn the carriage around.

“Goddess Cynthia, please save me! Please protect me from evil!”

He shut his eyes tightly, praying.

Then slowly opened them…

“Hans…”

“Aaaaaaah!”

The woman was standing right next to him, smiling with red lips curled creepily.

“You… went the wrong way.”

Her voice was cold and creepy.

At that moment, everything made sense:
She knew his name without asking.
She didn’t show up in the mirror.

She was a demon!

Hans dropped the woman off at the mansion and ran away—he didn’t even take her money.

“Thank you,”

The woman whispered, watching the carriage disappear.

Her name was Sasha Gardnis.
She was a new maid hired to work at the mansion.

While the villagers believed no one lived there, the truth was different.
The mansion’s owner had sent Sasha an invitation with the address.

“Oh no… I think I made a mess…”

Sasha looked at her bundle.

Inside had been a glass jar of whole tomatoes, her favorite food. But during the bumpy ride, it had broken.

Now tomato juice had spilled all over, and the inside of the bundle was a mess.

Worse, some tomato drops had stained the floor of the carriage.

“If I don’t clean that up, it’ll leave red stains…”

She had first noticed the mess when the carriage hit the rock.

She had heard the sound of glass breaking and saw tomato juice leaking out.

Hoping it wasn’t too bad, she looked at the floor and quickly used her handkerchief to wipe up the drops.

While cleaning, she realized the coachman was suddenly turning the carriage in the wrong direction.

“Maybe it’s too dark, and he got confused?”

She felt bad for not giving clearer directions.

Then she saw a business card placed inside the carriage:

“Fast and friendly service! Let Hans take care of your journey!”

She had read his name out loud—Hans.

That must’ve shocked him and made him rush.

Thanks to that, she arrived early, but Hans had looked pale—like he’d seen a ghost.

“Maybe he thought I was telling him to go faster…”

She felt guilty, thinking she made him nervous.

“Next time, I’ll make sure to apologize.”

Sasha carried her large bundle and walked toward the mansion.

Creak.

The old gate made a spooky noise as she opened it.

Inside, the garden was a mess—overgrown with weeds and fallen trees, and even some big rocks.

“So this is where I’ll be working…”

She imagined cleaning it all up and making it beautiful. Her heart fluttered with excitement.

She took a deep breath. The smell of rain and earth filled her nose.

It reminded her of the peaceful days with her parents when she was little.

She hoped her life here would be just as happy.

“Hmm…”

As she walked past the fountain in the center, she looked at the mansion.

It was quiet and dark inside.
She checked the invitation again—this was the right place.

“Did they change their mind and not want to hire me anymore?”

That thought scared her. She had nowhere else to go.

And she had always dreamed of working in a mansion like this.

“I’m sure someone’s still inside. It’s a big house—someone must be here, even if it’s late.”

She calmly walked to the front door and knocked.

……

No answer.

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

She knocked again.

Creeeeak.
The big door slowly opened—almost as if inviting her in.

As Sasha stepped inside, the first thing she saw was…

A holy symbol of Cynthia—upside down on the wall.

“Why is that…?”

Cynthia’s symbol was sacred.
It was used to keep demons away.

Seeing it upside down shocked Sasha, and she quickly reached out to fix it.

That’s when she noticed a note on the table.

Welcome to the mansion.
I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you in person today.
The first room on the second floor is prepared for you.
Please rest well, and I’ll see you tomorrow.