I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living Through Exorcism! Episode 105

A small thrill arose from the fact that my little scheme had worked to some extent. At the same time, I felt a bit sorry.

It was true that I wanted to see more of Harman’s face, but…

The real reason I held him back was something else.

‘Even if it sounds somewhat rude, it would be better to speak honestly.’

I’m curious about what kind of relationship the Duke has with His Majesty the Emperor.

…Something like that.

It was a rather direct and strange question that seemed to have some ulterior motive.

But well. Wouldn’t that be okay?

‘I’m quite close with Harman, aren’t I?’

Who else would there be who meets with him this often, and I was even his first partner at the banquet, so I could ask a little.

‘Besides, who else has shared family matters with him?’

I had brought up the topic of my parents myself, and we even had the common ground of both disliking our fathers.

If, as I expected, Harman was in a situation where he tremendously trusted and followed the Emperor, he wouldn’t particularly avoid this topic either.

Just as I was about to speak up.

“I understand.”

While I was thinking for a moment, Harman sat back down in his seat.

‘Huh?’

Is that really okay?

Even though it was the situation I had wanted, I was rather flustered when he readily agreed.

But such doubts were quickly forgotten.

The moment he sat down, everything I had felt just before scattered away in an instant as if it had all been a delusion, and the atmosphere settled calmly.

He had returned.

To the original Harman.

The chill I had felt from the surroundings and the inexplicable killing intent had all disappeared.

‘…’

I, who had been dazed for a moment, shook my head.

Right, I must have been mistaken.

There’s no way Harman would be wary of me.

“Really, I’ll go back after just finishing this tea.”

“Thank you!”

I smiled brightly with sparkling eyes like before.

Just like Harman does whenever he’s in a very good mood, with his eyes crinkling.

“…”

Harman looked at me for a moment, then grasped his teacup.

Clatter.

A sound that he, who perfectly executed proper etiquette, would never normally make.

Taking advantage of that moment, I hurriedly glanced at the teacup he had set down.

‘I need to bring up the topic now.’

Surely if it clattered that much, there wouldn’t be much tea left… huh?

‘Why is the tea still almost completely there?’

The tea in the cup he had just put to his lips was still almost entirely there?

While puzzled, I thought it worked out well and opened my mouth.

“Duke. There’s something I’d like to ask you about.”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

This time too, a willing answer came back as if he would gladly listen.

Perhaps because of that. Having brought up the topic, I found myself hesitating.

I fidgeted with my fingers under the table and continued speaking.

“First, please don’t misunderstand. I’m asking out of pure curiosity, but if it’s rude, you don’t have to answer.”

“…”

Harman’s inner thoughts of ‘what on earth are you trying to ask’ could be read directly from his face.

“I understand.”

That too was brief, and he agreed again without much ado.

Having gotten an answer this far, there was no place to retreat.

“By any chance, are you close with His Majesty the Emperor?”

I really asked so directly!

I reflexively regretted it, but it was already spilled water.

I listened carefully, thinking I should react properly whatever answer came back.

“That’s correct.”

“Ah… yes?”

The answer that came immediately had not even a hint of hesitation. He didn’t show any sign of displeasure either.

Not only that, but he resolved the doubts I had been harboring one by one as if he had pulled them directly from my mind.

“After my parents passed away, His Majesty carefully looked after me when I was left alone.”

No, they weren’t resolved.

“When I wouldn’t leave the estate and refused all food and drink, he led me outside. So it’s only natural that I would follow His Majesty.”

Because I couldn’t feel any emotion in his voice.

This was a painful story from the past. And it was Harman’s own.

But the emotion that reached me was much less than when I had heard it from the previous Count and Countess Helkene.

‘When he talked about things related to his mother before, he spoke like someone truly in pain.’

But now, why is he speaking so mechanically like this?

The affectionate and wistful emotions he had shown toward his mother couldn’t have been erased in the meantime.

It’s not something you can do just because you want to erase it.

‘He said that after the incident, he wouldn’t leave the estate and refused all food and drink.’

That means he was shocked to that extent, yet could he really speak of his parents’ death so matter-of-factly?

As if it wasn’t his own story, but someone else’s. No, it was like reciting some old folk tale.

His actions and words were somehow mismatched and twisted.

That was the point that made it impossible for me to empathize with his situation and emotions at all.

It seemed like he had memorized what to say and was just letting it out of his mouth as is.

‘Unless a person suddenly changed, how could they show such different reactions?’

As a result, I immediately understood the reason for following the Emperor, but something…

Wait a moment. Could it be.

‘Could it be that Harman knows that the Emperor didn’t actually help him?’

The Emperor killed Harman’s parents, disguising it as an accident.

Harman, who went mad after realizing he had been betrayed by the Emperor, rampaged to destroy the Empire.

These two things were actually just my speculation.

‘But Harman might already know something.’

Let’s assume he realized that his mother’s death was related to the Emperor.

Then it would make some sense that he would suppress his emotions when talking about the Emperor.

Of course, this is also my speculation, but…

Thud.

I couldn’t think any further.

Harman’s teacup had somehow been completely emptied.

“Lady, do you have any other questions?”

The emptied teacup and the question of whether I had more curiosities.

It seemed to mean that he would be leaving now, so don’t ask more and don’t hold him back.

“…No. I don’t know how to offer words of comfort, I’m sorry. I guess I asked something unnecessary.”

It was a fact I already knew, but I felt as if I had forcibly heard something I shouldn’t know.

I became dejected and slightly lowered my head. I could feel a gaze looking down at me intently from above.

“I didn’t bring it up to receive comfort. What’s already happened can’t be turned back to how it was before.”

“…”

“More importantly, the puppy is still nowhere to be seen.”

Ah, now that I think about it.

I quickly raised my head.

It was because I remembered the forgotten Bokdeungi, but my gaze naturally landed on the opposite side.

Harman was looking around as if he had no interest or thoughts about the conversation we’d just had.

“He must have snuck outside. What a shame.”

He spoke dryly and stood up.

He didn’t say another word after that.

His steps seemed somehow hurried until we reached the carriage.

“I’ll see you at our next appointment, Lady Siena.”

“Yes, Duke. Thank you so much for coming all this way to help me practice dancing.”

About apologizing for asking unnecessary questions…

I already apologized, so let’s not bring it up again. It would just make the atmosphere weird again.

Strictly speaking, I wasn’t the one who made the atmosphere awkward, but it still felt uncomfortable to mention it again.

Harman climbed into the carriage. Through the window, I could finally see him smile with the corners of his mouth turning up.

For some reason, he looked relieved.

He leaned close to the window frame and spoke to me.

“Lady, the day when we’ll enter the Imperial Banquet Hall together isn’t far off.”

“It’s already come to that. I didn’t know time would pass this quickly.”

“I’m looking forward to that day.”

“…”

“Both your dancing and your dress.”

Instead of answering “Me too,” I smiled faintly and waved my hand.

Since I still wasn’t completely used to Harman’s bold words, it was natural to feel embarrassed.

But more than that, today for some reason, it was strangely difficult to respond to his words as usual.

Harman waved back at me. As if that was a signal, the carriage began to move with a rumbling sound.

The carriage with the Monteville Ducal House’s family crest prominently displayed disappeared into the distance.

And so Bokdeungi never appeared until the very end.

“Woof!”

…just appeared right now.

What the?!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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