I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 46
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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 046
Squawk-!
A loud cry echoed toward the office of the Monteville Ducal Estate.
Harman, who had been intently examining a book, turned his body slightly and skillfully opened the window.
A pure white bird fluttered and gently perched on Harman’s arm.
Its demure posture and blue eyes that tilted its head and blinked.
There was no trace of the temperamental behavior it had shown toward Siena.
Harman slowly reached out his hand to his messenger bird.
Following his touch, black aura began to seep out from within the pure white bird’s blue eyes.
Harman stared blankly at the vision that appeared in the aura, then frowned.
“Why… are Count Helkene’s guard knights attached to her?”
Could it be that they’re going to follow Siena around from now on?
Even today?
“…”
Harman continued to watch the aura.
However, that was all the scene he could confirm.
“Whose doing is this? Siena? Or Count Helkene?”
Harman cracked his neck with a popping sound and muttered grimly.
Well, it wasn’t really a big deal. He closed the magic book he had been reading.
* * *
“My guard knights are waiting somewhere out of sight.”
“Ah… I see.”
“In a restaurant like this, having them close by would make our identities more easily exposed, wouldn’t it?”
“Huh? Yes, of course.”
I unnecessarily swept my hair back.
It’s not like I was looking at Harman or anything.
‘I was being a bit too obvious looking around, wasn’t I?’
I was just curious because it seemed like only Harman and I were in this high-class restaurant.
Harman immediately responded as if he had seen right through my thoughts.
Actually no, what I was curious about definitely wasn’t the location of the guard knights, so he seemed to have picked up on something different.
I glanced at the innocent table.
Since we had already finished ordering, wine glasses were placed in front of both Harman and me.
“This is the first time seeing you like this, so it feels fresh, Lady Siena.”
“It is, haha.”
Actually, I did see you outside a few days ago because of the Baron Alderton incident.
Well, that day could be considered as if it never happened.
It wasn’t really an appointment and it wasn’t a date either.
I still couldn’t look directly at Harman’s face.
I stared at the red wine that didn’t even fill half the glass and moved my lips several times.
Then I finally opened my mouth.
“Duke, I wrote it in the letter too, but I really wanted to see your face and tell you directly.”
“What do you want to say?”
Was it because of that gentle voice?
My head, which wouldn’t lift no matter how hard I tried, naturally rose and met those blue eyes directly.
“….”
He’s wearing a hat today too.
At least it was fortunate that his face wasn’t completely bare when I saw him.
That wasn’t all. As if he intended to completely cover his entire body, he wore a black uniform with buttons fastened tightly and black gloves covering his hands.
His head tilted slightly downward at an angle didn’t seem like it would lift any further.
‘I guess it’s because this is a place where many nobles pass by.’
I unnecessarily brushed my arm and averted my gaze.
‘He’s staring at me so intently.’
Does he perhaps not want to make eye contact with other people?
“I’m really sorry about the necklace. Once I knew it was a pink diamond necklace, I couldn’t help but return it to its owner.”
“I’m fine with it.”
It was a calm voice without any hesitation.
His tone seemed completely unrelated to himself, enough to hurt my feelings for a moment.
I hesitated briefly in confusion, then continued as calmly as possible.
“Still, you gave it to me as a gift because you were thinking of me. I’m disappointed too.”
Now that I said it, I thought I was being too bland for someone who had just apologized.
Harman seemed to be thinking about something before answering with a pause.
“…That’s enough.”
It seemed like an answer he gave after much deliberation.
Right, there’s no way he didn’t care at all.
He went all the way to my manor and spent 1 billion francs on that necklace as a gift.
I smiled silently.
“….”
“….”
A brief, subtle silence flowed.
Rather than awkward, the atmosphere was cold.
While I was wondering what topic to bring up, Harman spoke first.
“You said you went out because you needed some items?”
“Ah, yes. I needed them urgently, and fortunately they had everything.”
“What did you purchase?”
Is he deliberately continuing the conversation because he’s worried I might feel bad about the necklace?
My nose bridge stung and I wrinkled my nose.
“A bed, nightstand, and wardrobe…. What else did I buy. Anyway, I was lacking some furniture so I bought various things.”
“Is that where it came from?”
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing.”
He definitely said something though.
I was about to ask again, but just then the food arrived and the timing was cut off.
After the waiter finished explaining and disappeared, Harman silently began cutting his steak.
‘It’s never been awkward when it was just the two of us before, but why does it feel so awkward today.’
I awkwardly picked up my fork and knife, when Harman, who had quickly finished cutting his steak, suddenly took my steak plate.
And in front of me was placed a plate with neatly cut steak.
When I looked at him in bewilderment, Harman tilted his head as if asking what the problem was.
“Ah… Thank you, Duke.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Harman picked up his knife again and glanced around slightly.
“The ones here still can’t be controlled.”
He’s talking to himself again.
Does he have some serious concern or something.
I cautiously raised my head. For some reason, his gaze wasn’t directed at me.
Strangely, it was directed over my right shoulder.
“…”
‘I don’t know anymore.’
I’ll just eat my food.
At this rate, the food will get cold.
I stabbed a piece of the prettily cut steak with my fork. As soon as I put it in my mouth, my eyes widened.
Why is this so delicious…!
“Lady Siena, may I ask you something?”
“Yes? Of course, Duke!”
So suddenly?
I hurriedly covered my mouth and answered.
Harman, who had definitely been looking elsewhere while lost in thought, was now looking at me.
“Since when have you been able to see ghosts?”
“Ah…”
What kind of question is this.
I rolled my eyes around with them wide open.
I don’t know what this is about, but first.
Let me eat the steak.
I swallowed what I was eating and wiped my mouth.
‘Could it be that he’s been pondering all this time just to ask that?’
Was he that curious about it?
It was a question no one had ever asked me before. Naturally, I’d never thought about it either.
‘What should I answer.’
If I answered such a specific question carelessly, the lies might snowball out of control.
But, wouldn’t it be okay to tell him honestly?
‘Actually, there’s no such thing as ghosts.’
…Something like that.
Harman was someone who loved the estate more than anyone else.
Just the fact that I had purchased a ghost-haunted estate and was living well in it made him come find me faster than anyone.
And even now, hadn’t he come out to meet me while thoroughly hiding his identity?
All just because I said I would help him choose items that weren’t possessed by ghosts.
‘But the way I actually perform exorcisms is just by renovating and cleaning the estate.’
He’s not someone I can’t trust either. How about telling just Harman about it?
‘But what if Harman feels betrayed, regardless of whether he believes my words or not?’
Asking why I pretended there were ghosts all this time and deceived him by claiming I performed exorcisms.
Since he had always shown me only his kind side, I was even more worried.
If he trusted me, wouldn’t the approaching sense of betrayal be even greater?
“Lady Siena.”
“Yes? Yes, Duke.”
Ah, had I been lost in thought for too long?
When I looked up in surprise, Harman was once again staring not at me, but over my right shoulder.
“I fully understand what you’re worried about, Lady. I would have hesitated too if I were in your position.”
…Huh?
“It’s okay to speak honestly to me. I asked because I was prepared for it.”
“…”
Could it be that he vaguely knew already?
If so, it might be better to confess now.
‘If I hide it here and things get out of hand, then it’ll really be too late.’
But even though I had made up my mind, I needed courage. I slowly rubbed my face with dry hands.
I squeezed my eyes shut tight and then opened them.
“Duke, first of all, I’m truly sorry. I should have told you from when we first met, but I couldn’t.”
I stretched my neck out and looked around.
I knew there was no one else besides us, but just in case, I checked once more.
Then I whispered quietly, not forgetting the thoroughness of covering my mouth with my hand.
“This is something I’m only telling you, Duke.”
Now, so the mood doesn’t get too heavy.
In a cheerful voice.
“Actually, there’s no such thing as ghosts. That kind of stuff only exists in novels, right?”
In the end, I had said it.
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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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