I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 42

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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 042

 

‘What?’

 

We stared at each other blankly before slowly getting up.

 

While Grace wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes, I headed to the window.

 

‘I’ve never heard carriage sounds this loud before.’

 

My manor might be old, but it had pretty good soundproofing.

 

When the windows were completely closed and the curtains tightly drawn, outside sounds were barely audible.

 

‘Could it really be this noisy?’

 

My bewilderment was brief – as soon as I looked outside the window, my eyes widened.

 

Carriages loaded with enormous amounts of luggage – one, two, three…

 

A total of five carriages were entering the estate one after another!

 

The most magnificent carriage at the front.

 

The person who stepped down confidently with a guard knight’s escort was.

 

‘Rudian?!’

 

I hurriedly ran down the stairs.

 

When I was halfway down the stairs, Bella threw open the main gate.

 

And through the half-open doorway, I met eyes with a brightly smiling Rudian.

 

“Siena!”

 

She was literally smiling. Very brightly.

 

Instantly, goosebumps rose all over my body and I froze in place.

 

‘Why is she smiling?’

 

Why is she calling my name so affectionately?

 

You weren’t this kind of person.

 

Meanwhile, Rudian’s gaze turned toward behind me, and her face twisted sharply.

 

“What’s that woman?”

 

She even growled while jerking her chin toward behind me.

 

“Count Helkene, what brings you here?”

 

I couldn’t hide my bewildered expression.

 

You’re the one who came without a single letter, so why are you growling?

 

But Rudian’s attention was entirely focused elsewhere.

 

She looked behind me up and down with a displeased expression.

 

‘It’s obvious without looking.’

 

Grace, who had followed me, was surely standing on the stairs, unable to go up or down.

 

Finally, Rudian fixed her gaze on one spot and chuckled.

 

“Ah, I see. I heard that some commoner sold you a diamond necklace recently.”

 

How do you even know about that?

 

“From her appearance, she seems to be that commoner.”

 

Rudian’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Why did she come back and why is she holding that necklace?”

 

I slightly turned my head. As expected, Grace was behind me, frozen awkwardly in place.

 

Grace stealthily hid the jewelry box she had been holding behind her back.

 

“H-Hello, Count Helkene. My name is Grace.”

 

Actually, there was no need to hide the jewelry.

 

The moment Grace went to find Marquis Fainen with that necklace anyway.

 

Rumors that the daughter the Marquis had been searching for so desperately had returned would spread throughout the Empire in an instant.

 

Moreover, Rudian’s information network was among the fastest in the capital.

 

Just like how she already knew that Grace had sold me the diamond necklace.

 

‘Then Grace must have already heard about Rudian’s notorious reputation and was worried.’

 

Considering how she came trembling to retrieve the necklace, she probably wanted to prevent any potential accidents.

 

‘Well, nothing should happen… no, let’s just leave it be.’

 

I put aside my complicated thoughts and opened the door wide.

 

“Would you like to come in first?”

 

“I shall.”

 

Rudian stepped inside briskly as if she had been waiting for this.

 

Moreover, dozens of knights began filing in one after another. Each carrying boxes similar in size to the one Rudian held.

 

A note attached to a box passing in front of me caught my eye.

 

[Our dear Siena. You ate the potatoes so well, so eat lots more~♡]

 

‘The Former Countess sent this!’

 

Could she have sent what they were growing behind the estate as a gift?

 

‘It was delicious…’

 

While I was briefly reminiscing about that meal, boxes kept coming in without pause.

 

‘How long are they going to keep coming in?’

 

I didn’t think I would need this many boxes.

 

I thought they had just stopped by to give gifts while passing through, and not all of them were for me…

 

Before I knew it, boxes were neatly stacked in one corner of the previously empty estate.

 

But no matter how I looked at it, all the boxes were indeed for me.

 

When I looked at her with a face demanding an explanation, Rudian casually waved her hand at me.

 

“Oh, don’t worry about that right now. It’s nothing special.”

 

What? How can I not worry about it?

 

“All the boxes have notes like that attached to them.”

 

[Dear Siena. The corn ripened very well this time~ Hohoho!]

 

[Our Didi♡ is such a picky eater, it’s troublesome. Please tell Siena to eat her vegetables too~]

 

When I pointed at the boxes with a bewildered tone, Rudian had already passed by me and was sitting on the sofa.

 

She leaned back loosely against the armrest. She even crossed her legs and looked at me arrogantly while swinging her ankle.

 

Anyone would think this was your house.

 

“Young Lady Siena, sit down.”

 

“Yes.”

 

But I didn’t feel any rebellious spirit at all. I sat down demurely across from Rudian.

 

“You, commoner. Don’t think about running away and come sit here.”

 

“…Yes? Ah, yes. Count.”

 

Grace, who had been trying to leave the manor in the confusion, hesitantly sat down next to me.

 

An awkward three-way confrontation began in an instant.

 

Absurdly, Rudian, who had made this space awkward in the first place, didn’t look awkward at all.

 

‘How did it come to this?’

 

When I handed Grace the necklace, we were so full of camaraderie that we held hands.

 

Now, even though we were sitting on the same sofa, we felt so awkward that we were staring in completely opposite directions.

 

But suddenly.

 

I had this thought.

 

‘Why am I reading Rudian’s mood? What did I do wrong?’

 

When you think about it, Rudian was the one who did wrong by suddenly showing up without making an appointment.

 

But why should I shrink back like someone who got caught cheating?

 

Just because she’s a Count, does that mean she can just show up and threaten(?) not only the manor’s owner but even someone she’s meeting for the first time?

 

What did Grace do wrong…

 

“That necklace. It’s a pink diamond necklace.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Yes?!”

 

Grace and I reflexively raised our heads. And we both flinched at the same time.

 

The red eyes across from us glinted sharply. Rudian’s finger was still pointing at the jewelry box that Grace had hidden behind her back.

 

“The necklace that Marquis Fainen is desperately searching for.”

 

Flustered Grace pressed her back firmly against the sofa.

 

‘How did she know?’

 

She had been hiding it behind her back the whole time! When I looked at her with surprised eyes, Rudian snorted.

 

“Earlier on the stairs. When you hid the necklace, a pink glow shone behind you. The jewel must have reflected the lighting.”

 

…Ah!

 

When I opened my mouth in a daze, one corner of Rudian’s mouth curved upward.

 

“Why would a regular diamond emit pink light? It was already strange that a commoner had such a necklace in the first place. So there was something to it.”

 

Rudian leaned her upper body forward and rested her chin crookedly. Her piercing gaze was quite intimidating even from the side.

 

As expected, her words had an irresistible power to them.

 

Grace’s hesitating hand placed the jewelry box on the table.

 

Pink light leaked through the jewelry box that hadn’t been completely closed in her rush to leave.

 

The moment the jewelry box opened completely.

 

The pink diamond shone brilliantly.

 

Even though she had already been certain, Rudian’s eyes widened for a moment before returning to normal.

 

“…Miss Siena called me saying she had coincidentally broken the magic cast on the necklace.”

 

“So, commoner. You’re the Marquis’s daughter.”

 

“Yes, if it weren’t for Miss Siena, I would have never known.”

 

Grace lowered her head deeply and smiled shyly.

 

She looked embarrassed, as if she had completely forgotten her resolve just moments ago to hide the necklace from Rudian.

 

Bella, who had brewed tea in the meantime, quietly poured tea into the teacups.

 

After a brief silence, Grace raised her head and looked at me.

 

For some reason, her eyes were filled with emotion and intimacy.

 

“Thanks to Miss Siena, I was able to-”

 

Bang!

 

Oh, what a shock! Rudian suddenly slammed the table. The teacups filled with tea shook violently.

 

“Commoner.”

 

“Y-yes?”

 

Rudian’s voice dropped low.

 

“You’re not thinking of taking Miss Siena as a witness to Marquis Fainen’s estate, are you? You couldn’t be that shameless.”

 

“…”

 

Grace gripped the hem of her clothes.

 

She trembled like a small animal before a predator, looking utterly pitiful.

 

“Count, let me explain that. First, Grace should send a letter to Marquis Fainen, and if there’s no reply, then I’ll-”

 

“I asked this commoner. Answer me, commoner.”

 

Ah… Yes!

 

I hastily tried to intervene but shut my mouth.

 

This is the first time I’ve even spoken up…

 

Since Marquis Fainen’s estate is also one of the ghost-haunted mansions, it would be faster for me to contact them…

 

I wanted to grumble, but Rudian’s eyes were too sharp.

 

Sharp enough that I might get stabbed if I talked back.

 

Sorry, Grace.

 

Stay strong.

 

“O-of course. I’m truly grateful that Miss Siena has done this much for me.”

 

“Naturally! Now go on and leave.”

 

Rudian pointed to the door.

 

As if there was nothing more to hear.

 

Even her dismissal was as natural as if she were in her own house.

 

Her expression looked utterly satisfied.

 

…Why are you acting like this?

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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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