I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 122
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living Through Exorcism! Episode 122
Actually, I wouldn’t have minded changing clothes together in the carriage.
The carriage interior was so spacious that if we just promised (?) not to look at each other, it would have been perfectly fine to change clothes.
However, Harman was adamantly opposed.
After a lengthy back-and-forth, we found a compromise.
And so…
“Lady, I’m ready.”
The carriage door opened.
Harman stepped out of the carriage wearing an autumn-like brown shirt with his hat pulled down low.
I was momentarily dazed and let out a hollow laugh.
“This suits you well too.”
“The same goes for you, Lady.”
Harman smiled as he looked at me wearing a brown dress that perfectly matched his shirt.
I had already changed clothes in the carriage and come out before Harman.
‘It can’t be helped. There wasn’t really any other option.’
He seemed awkward in clothes that weren’t his uniform, fidgeting with the buttons on his sleeves.
Then, out of habit, he extended his hand to me.
“Ah.”
But he withdrew it again.
I stared disapprovingly at his hand that had dropped so abruptly.
‘Are you going to withdraw it so coldly just because there’s no need to escort me?’
Without hesitation, I grabbed Harman’s hand firmly.
“…!”
His eyes widened as he looked at me. I could vividly feel the tension entering his entire body.
I pretended not to notice and squeezed the hand I was holding even tighter.
“What we’re trying to do right now is ‘enjoy the festival like ordinary people,’ isn’t it?”
“…”
His body gradually relaxed.
Instead, strength entered our clasped hands.
‘I’m holding his hand for the first time!’
Thanks to that, the corners of my mouth couldn’t help but twitch upward.
Moreover, neither of us was wearing gloves.
We were holding real hands, bare hands!
‘Come to think of it, isn’t it strange to keep calling each other Duke and Lady?’
Since the concept is to enjoy the festival like ordinary people.
Then what should we call each other?
At times like this, it would be perfect to pretend not to know and create pet names to use later…
“Lady.”
“Yes?!”
Having been spreading my wings of imagination far away just from holding hands once, I was abruptly called back to reality.
Not so much because he called me ‘Lady.’
But because Harman’s voice was low and serious enough to cut through my reverie.
Whether he was nervous, his eyes looking at me trembled slightly.
“One week, would you meet with me for just one week?”
All the sounds around us stopped abruptly.
…Meet?
I had received an outright date invitation and even flowers, so I thought he might confess today.
But I didn’t expect it to be right now.
But thinking back, something seems strange.
If we’re going to meet, we’ll meet, but why one week?
I frowned slightly.
“One week? Why one week?”
“I thought that after meeting for about a week, you might get tired of me, Lady.”
“That’s complete nonsense.”
Why does he always become a self-deprecating male lead at times like this?
Even though I responded immediately, he cast his eyes down forlornly. That annoyed me.
“We’ll continue meeting after one week too, won’t we?”
“If you would do that… I think I would feel incredibly happy.”
What’s with that speculative answer? If you’re happy, then you’re happy.
I covered his hand that I was holding with both of my hands and gripped it tightly.
“Duke, not just one week – let’s keep meeting from now on. I want to keep meeting with you, Duke.”
I wanted to say I liked him, but for some reason those words wouldn’t come out, as if they were stuck in my throat.
Harman continued to look down at our clasped hands for a long while.
“I hope you’ll definitely come to meet me after one week too.”
It was a small, faint voice, as if making a wish that wouldn’t come true.
“Get your pamphlets here!”
We entered the market entrance where the festival was beginning.
I glanced back and made eye contact with Count Reymon, who was thoroughly disguised in commoner’s clothes.
‘Count Reymon, I’m counting on you.’
After exchanging a look with me, he gracefully disappeared into the crowd.
In the blink of an eye, I could no longer find Count Reymon.
‘As expected of a skilled knight.’
He’s a big, burly person, but with just a bit of disguise, he could be completely hidden like this.
Harman’s guard knights are probably following from a distance without being noticed too.
“We’re lucky.”
I turned my head again at the excited voice from beside me.
In that brief moment, Harman had naturally received a pamphlet and was reading it.
“Because the weather has gotten suddenly cold, this is apparently the only festival held in the capital at this time of year.”
He leaned toward me to show me the pamphlet. Let me take a look.
“Wow, it really is a festival. There are so many participating street restaurants, and in the evening there are fireworks…”
I was pointing out the projects and shop names that filled the pamphlet one by one with a surprised face, then paused.
“The festival name is ‘Snow Flower Festival’?”
“Yes. They say it snows heavily here as soon as the weather gets a little cold. Today is just cool, so it doesn’t seem like it will snow though.”
“I see.”
I nodded.
As Harman said, the weather had gotten quite cold recently, but today there was just a slightly chilly breeze.
Even that barely blew.
Moreover, there hadn’t been any news of snow falling anywhere in the Empire this year.
‘That’s a bit disappointing.’
It would have been nice to experience this year’s first snow together with Harman.
Experiencing the first snow with someone you like. Just imagining it is romantic.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Unless the weather suddenly changed drastically, there was no way it would snow, so I looked forward to next time.
I was looking at the endless list of festival participating restaurants when I looked up, and Harman was still reading intently.
As if he was going to memorize it by reading every single character, even muttering to himself.
“…”
At this rate, the whole day will pass.
I quickly pulled Harman’s hand.
Since all his attention was focused on the pamphlet, he was dragged along helplessly with a bewildered look.
“Where should we go first? Looking at the pamphlet, it seems like there are street restaurants lined up over there?”
“Lady, there are so many shops participating in the snow festival. We should look at the pamphlets a bit more before going—”
“Lady? We made a promise before coming in, didn’t we?”
Harman’s hesitant mouth closed shut.
I pointed to a large clock nearby.
“It’s already 11:30. We can’t spend the whole day just looking at pamphlets, can we, Harty?”
I spoke the nickname I had fought to obtain.
After all, we had even changed clothes to enjoy an ordinary date.
It was the result of earnestly persuading Harman that using the same formal titles would make everything pointless.
While I was at it, I created nicknames similar to our names with some personal sentiment.
Harman became ‘Harty’, and I became ‘Ani’.
Perhaps that was embarrassing for him.
Harman’s gaze dropped down completely. He moved his lips several times before finally speaking.
“You’re right, Ani.”
“Pfft!”
Ah, I shouldn’t laugh so openly.
But how could I not?
His face was bright red as he spoke with a resolute voice as if he had made some great resolution—how could I hold back?
I quickly covered my mouth, but Harman’s ears had already turned as red as his face.
I pretended nothing had happened and started walking.
“Alright then, let’s start with the street restaurant.”
The wind was a bit cool, making the back of my hand feel cold.
But our clasped hands were truly so warm.
‘To think Harman had this side to him.’
Really unexpected.
No, perhaps it was only natural.
Harman was staring intently at what he held in his hand.
He didn’t blink even once, as if he was about to engage in a staring contest.
With slight exaggeration, he looked more serious than I’d ever seen him before.
“I have absolutely no idea.”
“Huh? About what?”
I actually knew what he was asking about, but I feigned ignorance and asked back.
Eventually, Harman squeezed his eyes shut and opened them. It was an indirect declaration of defeat in the staring contest.
“I have absolutely no idea how to eat these pieces of meat coated with sweet sauce.”
So.
He’s currently troubled because he doesn’t know how to eat chicken skewers.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————