I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 85

—————
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 085

‘So that gift really was meant to ask me to be his banquet partner.’

And that was when we had barely just met.

Though the necklace has returned to Grace, its original owner…

“Is there anything else that makes you uncomfortable? I’ll accommodate you as much as possible.”

My worries quickly became meaningless. As I hesitated, I heard his anxious voice.

Even Harman’s eyes drooped slightly. It was clear he wanted to attend the banquet with me.

Even if this was all an act, it was believable enough to make me want to trust it.

‘Ah, I don’t know.’

I picked up my teacup and gulped down the remaining tea.

The feeling of something being stuck went down with the tea.

Looking at the completely empty teacup, I made my decision.

“Alright. I want to become the Duke’s banquet partner.”

“…Really?”

The person who had been persuading me so earnestly now asked back as if he couldn’t believe it the moment I agreed.

“Yes, thank you so much for the offer.”

“Ah… Thank you, Lady.”

Harman slowly ran his hand over his face. Then he quickly covered his mouth.

For a moment, it looked to me like the corners of his mouth were rising uncontrollably.

‘Right, how could I refuse.’

Refuse? What was I thinking.

It wasn’t even worth worrying about.

I had been going to tea parties and taking on exorcism requests, claiming I’d stand by Harman’s side in the distant future.

How could it make sense to miss the opportunity to go to an Imperial Court Ball as Harman’s partner right now?

No matter what, accepting was the right choice.

Seeing how happy he was made me feel proud too. But for some reason, my face felt hot.

“Duke. This tea really has a wonderful aroma.”

I quickly changed the subject and fanned myself with my hand.

This wasn’t because I was embarrassed, but just because the tea I just drank was too hot. Probably.

Harman was still covering his mouth.

“Then I’m relieved. I was worried since I’ve never served this tea to anyone before.”

“Really? Then am I the first person to drink this tea with you, Duke?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

His eyes crinkled shyly.

“As I mentioned earlier, this is my favorite tea, so I really wanted to serve it to you, Lady. I was finally able to offer it today.”

“…”

I stared at him for no particular reason.

“If you like this tea so much, why haven’t you served it to others before?”

“Actually, the only person I would serve tea to absolutely hates this tea, so I couldn’t serve it.”

At this unexpected answer, I was momentarily speechless.

‘The only person’…

Was he talking about his mother?

“Someone close to you must have disliked it?”

“Someone close. Well, you could say that.”

…But why are you suddenly gritting your teeth like that?

Then he immediately returned to a harmless expression and sipped his tea. It seemed like an unconscious action.

‘Did I guess wrong?’

In my confusion, I scratched the back of my hand under the table.

‘Right, if his mother had disliked this tea, it wouldn’t have become his favorite.’

Then who on earth was this only person he would serve tea to?

But if I asked more here, it seemed like it wouldn’t end with just teeth grinding, so I decided to stop.

Instead, I deliberately asked cheerfully.

“By the way, Duke. Where did you get these tea leaves? I really like them and would love to purchase some.”

“They’re hard to find now. I’ll give you some as a gift when you leave.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

I looked down at my teacup that had been empty for a while.

Clink.

Then I unconsciously looked up at the sound.

Harman’s hand holding the teacup…

‘Ah, right. The injury!’

Seeing the black gloves he hadn’t taken off even in the greenhouse reminded me again.

I needed to ask if his wound was healing well and if he was applying the medicine I gave him regularly.

‘But why is he fidgeting like that?’

The index finger and thumb of his right hand, gently gripping the teacup handle, were noticeably trembling.

His elegantly extended pinky kept catching my attention. I was staring at it as if mesmerized when I suddenly asked.

“Duke, how is your injury?”

Clank!

As soon as I spoke, Harman set down his teacup loudly.

I looked at him in surprise, and his face, which had been full of smiles just moments ago, suddenly became gloomy.

“Thanks to the excellent medicine you obtained for me, Lady, the wound has healed considerably. However, it’s difficult to apply it by myself…”

Of course!

I hadn’t thought that far.

I took a moment to reflect on my past self who had just handed over the medicine and felt satisfied.

“Have you applied it today?”

“I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t been able to apply it yet. If it’s alright with you, would you apply it for me, Lady?”

“Of course!”

I stood up abruptly and approached Harman.

Meanwhile, he handed me the medicine he had taken out from somewhere.

I squeezed the liquid onto my index finger as I had done before.

Or rather, I tried to.

“Du-Duke. What, what are you doing?”

I was so flustered that I ended up stuttering terribly.

Harman looked up at me as if asking what was wrong.

With the index finger part of his black glove halfway off, held in his mouth.

As I remained frozen, just blinking, Harman slowly removed the glove with his mouth and placed it on the table.

“Don’t I need to remove the glove to apply the medicine?”

He even tilted his head slightly as if asking what was wrong, looking at me.

“…”

Ah.

He was just taking off his glove, but I overreacted?

“It’s nothing. Co-could you give me your hand?”

I tried to speak as calmly as possible but failed.

Moreover, Harman placed his hand on top of mine without any hesitation.

He placed it so readily, as if he had been waiting for this situation.

Though that couldn’t be the case.

I looked down at his large hand.

Then I touched it subtly.

To be clear, I only touched it to check how much the wound had healed – there really was no other intention whatsoever.

I carefully examined Harman’s hand.

The long wound on his ring finger, the deep cut in the center of his palm…

‘It’s almost completely healed.’

Unless you looked closely up close, it would be difficult to see with the naked eye.

It was worth getting the medicine.

“If you apply it for just a few more days, the wound will heal completely. Now, let me apply the treatment.”

“Yes, Lady.”

Perhaps because we were so close, Harman’s voice tickled my ears.

Setting that aside, I could clearly feel his gaze as he looked up at me. Even though I was deliberately only looking at his hands.

‘Focus, focus.’

I tried my best to properly squeeze the treatment onto the wound.

As I carefully applied the medicine, my hand eventually reached the last wound.

Throughout this time, Harman looked up at me without turning his gaze away even once.

Just how long are you going to keep looking-

“Lady Siena.”

“Y-yes?”

Why am I stuttering so much today?

Though I had focused on the wound, my entire attention seemed to have been drawn to Harman’s gaze.

I unconsciously ended up looking at Harman.

My resolve to not look at him no matter what until the treatment was finished became meaningless.

But as soon as our eyes met, Harman’s eyes curved into crescents.

“I’ve thought this before, but Lady’s eyes are truly beautiful.”

…I didn’t expect to hear such words.

Especially this close, while holding hands.

“They can’t even be compared to emeralds. Naturally, the same goes for the dishes in my estate.”

“…”

It was strange.

No, it was fascinating.

Because it was exactly the same thought I had whenever I looked at his blue eyes.

“I’m truly honored to be able to attend the Imperial Court Ball with Lady.”

Gasp!

I, who had been staring blankly like someone enchanted, trembled in surprise.

Because Harman’s lips briefly touched my hand before pulling away!

‘What is this, no, what in the world…’

Until now, I had tried to brush it off whenever something like this happened.

Telling myself that Harman didn’t have romantic feelings for me, that it was just my imagination.

Actually, I could have brushed this off the same way.

Kissing a partner’s hand was one of the natural etiquettes among nobles.

However, even after seeing my surprised expression, Harman fidgeted with my hand before carefully setting it down. It was a touch full of reluctance.

How can I just think of this as mere etiquette and brush it off?

So…

Can I get a little excited about this?

Is it really okay?

“I’m truly honored as well, Duke.”

Finally, I smiled brightly.

I had the illusion that the blooming flowers around us were clustered right behind Harman.

Then Harman’s voice fell slowly.

“Lady.”

“…Yes, Duke.”

I had no choice but to pause a bit to steady my breathing.

Now Harman was hesitating without even being able to look me in the eyes properly.

Could this be that?

‘I mean… is he trying to confess?’

But it’s not time yet-

“Lady, please don’t believe in ghosts until the very end.”

“What?”

Weren’t we having a really good atmosphere?

Talking about ghosts is so sudden.

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