I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 31

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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 031

 

A date with Harman outside.

 

So wonderful…

 

‘Get a grip!’

 

I suppressed the urge to slap both my cheeks hard.

 

A date is a date. I don’t understand why Harman is making this proposal.

 

Didn’t he come here personally because he wanted the necklace so badly?

 

He even called out 1 billion francs and raised Grace’s expectations so high.

 

And now he wants me to buy it?

 

“Duke, you don’t need to yield to me. Going out to buy items is something I can easily do if we just coordinate the timing.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

“I’m fine too.”

 

“No.”

 

“I appreciate your consideration, but I’m really fine.”

 

“I must decline this time.”

 

“No, I am!”

 

I jumped up in frustration.

 

“I don’t have 1 billion francs!”

 

I don’t have the money to buy it in the first place! Why don’t you understand my feelings?

 

Harman saying he’d yield was frustrating.

 

I have no intention of buying this, and you can’t buy it either!

 

I wanted to tell him everything about how this necklace is needed to reveal Grace’s birth secret!

 

But I couldn’t even do that, which made it even more frustrating.

 

Harman’s eyes, always calm, widened slightly.

 

It was only for an instant. He quickly smiled faintly and tilted his head slightly as he looked up at me.

 

As I always thought, he was someone who managed his expressions extremely well.

 

“I have a good idea.”

 

“…What kind of idea?”

 

As I sat down slowly with suspicious eyes, Harman lowered his gaze to meet my eye level.

 

“I will give the necklace to you as a gift, Lady.”

 

“What?!”

 

…I had no choice but to jump up from my chair again.

 

After calling out 1 billion francs?

 

To me? Why?

 

“I absolutely need Lady’s help in bringing necessary items to the manor. So I hope you’ll accept the necklace.”

 

That’s something I’d help with even without the necklace—

 

“Because the manor is more precious to me than money.”

 

“…”

 

His suddenly low voice seemed so sad.

 

I slyly rolled my eyes to observe Harman’s expression.

 

My goodness.

 

His half-lowered eyelids and melancholy blue eyes somehow looked wistful.

 

It was hard to believe this was the same person who had just casually thrown around 1 billion francs like it was nothing, making me feel so distant.

 

‘That’s right. Harman was someone who treasured his estate very much.’

 

Seeing that I wanted the necklace, he might have actually thought it worked out well.

 

By Harman’s standards, bringing furniture into the estate that ghosts could never even approach would be more important than a 1 billion franc necklace.

 

Of course, there’s no such thing in reality, and I just need to buy the most modern and durable items possible.

 

But since he already believes in me completely, I can’t explain that no such thing exists.

 

After thinking for a while, I made my decision.

 

‘Right, let’s accept the necklace for now.’

 

Having come this far, there was only one choice I could make.

 

The only other option was for him to buy the necklace and ruin all my plans.

 

Since it’s a 1 billion franc transaction, it would take at least a week from contract preparation to payment.

 

‘Then I just need to break the magic on the necklace within a week and return it to Grace, right?’

 

The necklace returns to its owner, and the contract becomes void.

 

The plan would actually become cleaner than I originally thought.

 

Yes, that’s definitely it… but why does something keep bothering me?

 

I went back to the beginning and carefully examined everything, but there was nothing to worry about.

 

Then what on earth is it…?

 

Ah, I get it.

 

“Even so, receiving a necklace as payment for a date— I mean, going shopping seems way too expensive.”

 

That’s only from my perspective, knowing everything that will happen afterward.

 

An ordinary person wouldn’t be able to accept it so readily.

 

“How about adding my future exorcism services for the Monteville Ducal Estate as payment for the necklace?”

 

“…You mean you’ll take it instead of compensation?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Not receiving compensation would be a bit burdensome, but I could handle that much.

 

Once Grace regains her status, I’ll be able to exorcise ghost-haunted estates with peace of mind!

 

‘I can just get money from other nobles.’

 

I just need to endure a brief period of financial strain.

 

“Would that really be alright?”

 

“Of course. I’m actually worried that you might be at a disadvantage, Duke.”

 

“Not at all.”

 

Suddenly, Harman lifted the necklace case.

 

Wondering what he was doing, I saw his hand stop somewhere between my neck and face.

 

His blue eyes, which had been examining the necklace, slowly shifted their gaze to my neck. A satisfied, gentle voice fell.

 

“As I thought, this necklace suits you well, Lady.”

 

“…”

 

I opened and closed my mouth before shutting it.

 

When I finally managed to speak, my voice came out completely hoarse.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

I bowed my head deeply.

 

‘What should I do.’

 

Somehow I couldn’t look at Harman properly.

 

* * *

 

The butler from Duke Monteville’s house, who had come at Harman’s summons, recited the documents with razor-sharp precision.

 

“Then the purchase will proceed under Duke Monteville’s name and the item will be delivered to Lady Siena. Payment is scheduled to be made in one week.”

 

Grace couldn’t hide how happy she was that it had really sold for 1 billion francs.

 

She seemed slightly surprised when she heard I would be receiving the necklace, but she quickly lost interest as if she didn’t care as long as she got the money.

 

She left without any regrets, clutching the contract preciously.

 

‘It’s too early to be happy about that, Female Lead.’

 

I smiled slyly as I watched Grace’s retreating figure.

 

1 billion francs.

 

It was an amount I could never even dream of, but to Grace’s father, Marquis Fainen, it was no different from pocket change.

 

‘Your diamond mine produces pink diamonds too, doesn’t it?’

 

Because they hadn’t released any to the market for over ten years, the value of pink diamonds was beyond imagination.

 

When Grace inherited the mine and began distributing pink diamonds in earnest…

 

I’m envious, so envious.

 

Soon after, Harman stood up along with the butler who had finished organizing the documents.

 

When I stood up to see them off, Harman turned as if remembering something.

 

“Lady, you should check the morning newspaper carefully for a while.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“There might be some pleasant news coming.”

 

Harman smiled lightly and left the estate with the butler.

 

I saw him off feeling bewildered.

 

Pleasant… news?

 

Sorry, but couldn’t you have told me what that was before leaving?

 

As I watched the departing carriage with mixed feelings, I sensed someone quietly approaching.

 

“Miss, why are you standing there so dazed?”

 

“…Hm? It’s nothing. Oh, Bella. Could you get the morning newspaper for a while?”

 

“Yes? Understood.”

 

Though I couldn’t understand the reason, Harman wasn’t someone who would speak carelessly.

 

If he specifically told me to check the morning newspaper, there must be some reason for it.

 

I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the carriage, still full of lingering thoughts.

 

And the moment I turned around, I met a pair of sparkling eyes.

 

“More importantly, Miss, you received a necklace as a gift?”

 

“Mm? Yes.”

 

“Oh my, of all things, a necklace…!”

 

Bella was overcome with emotion.

 

Well, a necklace isn’t exactly something you give between ordinary acquaintances.

 

I could understand why she was trying to pair me with Harman again.

 

If I left her alone, she’d probably let her imagination run wild, so I hurriedly brushed past Bella.

 

Honestly, I desperately wanted to be involved with Harman too.

 

But whatever else might happen, I couldn’t get involved through that necklace!

 

That had to be returned to Grace.

 

“Duke Monteville definitely likes you, Miss! Oh, how about visiting the Duke’s estate wearing that necklace next time?”

 

Bella, unaware of the situation, chattered excitedly.

 

“Should we pick out a dress to match the necklace for your next outing?”

 

No, absolutely not.

 

“I have a great idea! How about sealing ghosts in the necklace the Duke gave you every time you do an exorcism…”

 

“Right, Bella. Sleep well.”

 

“Huh? We haven’t even had dinner yet-”

 

Bang!

 

Only after closing my room door was my conversation with Bella finally cut off.

 

I could hear grumbling sounds from outside, but I paid no attention.

 

I moved to sit at my desk and picked up a quill pen.

 

“This necklace suits you well, Lady.”

 

‘…’

 

The quill pen’s movement stopped for a moment.

 

Harman’s face, expecting to see me wearing the necklace, came vividly to mind.

 

‘He’d definitely be looking forward to it.’

 

It’s proper etiquette to wear accessories you receive as gifts when you go out.

 

But I couldn’t wear this necklace or treasure it.

 

“…”

 

‘Get it together.’

 

It can’t be helped.

 

This necklace belongs to the original Female Lead, and coveting what belongs to the original Female Lead leads to ruin – that’s the law of romance fantasy.

 

Steeling my resolve, I began writing with the quill pen again.

 

‘He said he’d come the day after tomorrow because the necklace needs investigation work.’

 

I can break the magic then, so there’s no need to rush.

 

‘While I’m at it, let me buy some magic stones.’

 

To report Baron Alderton for trespassing, I need magic stones to record his footprints and traces left in my estate.

 

This can’t take long, so I need to buy them in advance and get the work done.

 

‘But I feel like I’m forgetting something.’

 

Something important I absolutely must do this week, something that would be terrible if I forgot…

 

“Oh, right!”

 

I hurriedly checked the calendar and froze in place.

 

Thud, roll roll roll.

 

The quill pen that fell from my hand rolled across the desk.

 

Today was the last day of the week I had promised Rudian.

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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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