I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 90

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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 090

“Huh?”

I instinctively pulled my body back. At the same time, Harman’s hand smoothly released.

He seemed to sense that something had gone wrong too.

“Ah, I wasn’t speaking to you, Lady. I apologize.”

Then who were you talking to…?

What, do you have an imaginary friend or something?

I wrapped my arms around both shoulders. The warm air had somehow become chilly enough to make my skin shiver.

A few steps of distance had formed between us.

It wasn’t particularly far, but considering we had been close enough for our faces to touch just moments ago.

It felt like we had suddenly become very distant.

Harman stared at the empty air as if glaring at it. Then he ran his hand over his face.

“It’s not that… I was talking to myself. I apologize, Lady. Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”

His voice, still directed at the empty air, carried a sigh.

A cold expression.

It was similar to the emotionless expression I had felt when I first met him.

The change was so sudden that even if the previous situation had been a fantasy or my imagination, I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“Ah, I understand. Duke, but-“

“I’m sorry, but it would be best if you left for today.”

“What?”

So suddenly?

Actually, my thighs hurt too much to dance anymore, but still…

We could stay together a bit longer, couldn’t we.

No further answer came from Harman.

Let alone an answer, he didn’t say a single word until we reached the carriage.

For some reason, it seemed like he was trying to send me away urgently.

‘Duke, am I really leaving?’

Eventually, the carriage door carrying me closed.

Only then did Harman look at me.

It was around then that his blue eyes, which had seemed muddied, softened and curved gently.

“I’m sorry for sending you away like this when we had also planned to inspect the manor today.”

…Oh, right! We were supposed to inspect the manor after dance practice!

I propped my hands against the window.

‘Then shouldn’t I not be leaving right now?’

Shouldn’t I get back out and do the inspection?

This is so disappointing. Can I really be sent away like this-

“I’m truly sorry, but could you possibly visit again next time? Since we agreed to meet outside as well, if it’s burdensome-“

“It seems like the Duke has some sudden circumstances, so it can’t be helped! I’m also tired since this was my first practice, so I’ll head back now!”

“Yes, please rest comfortably. Lady Siena.”

Actually, this is better.

I peeled away the regret clinging to my fingertips and gave Harman a shy wave goodbye.

Though the trip to the carriage was sudden, it had already been well over two hours since we started dance practice.

Today’s practice was essentially finished.

I continued waving until the very end.

After confirming that Harman had completely disappeared beyond the window, I slumped back against the backrest.

‘Ah, I’m dying.’

I hurriedly massaged my thighs.

How difficult it had been to pretend they didn’t hurt in front of him.

‘I need to do stretches diligently every day before the next dance practice, really.’

As my body melted into a limp state, my mind finally started working.

…Earlier.

‘We almost kissed, right?’

That was the atmosphere, wasn’t it?

Harman had approached me with his head tilted. It was definitely right before our lips touched.

Even someone completely oblivious would have realized what kind of situation that was.

But everything that happened after that was strange.

The person who had been about to do something so bold.

“…Noisy. That can’t be right.”

He said it was talking to himself, but saying something like that right in front of my face wasn’t enough.

He suddenly put me in the carriage and sent me away as if something urgent had happened?

“…”

My eyes, which had been about to close, snapped open.

I had reached the perfect conclusion.

‘He barely suppressed his instincts.’

Being a Duke, he realized he shouldn’t do that.

Since we’re not officially dating yet.

No, even if we were dating, that kind of thing should be done with permission!

‘I knew he was polite and considerate.’

Honestly, he didn’t need to do that, no. That’s not it.

‘Maybe Harman really… likes me too.’

My mood became so fluffy that something indescribable welled up inside me.

Laughter kept leaking out between my teeth with little snickers. Even though no one was watching, I felt embarrassed for some reason and lowered my head.

‘He’s probably wondering whether I like him or not.’

Just like I was recently.

If he had been certain, he would have confessed to me even if he didn’t kiss me.

He must have sent me away hastily because he couldn’t think of a way to handle the situation.

But…

Gradually, the corners of my mouth turned downward.

‘Who would have thought I’d be glad not to receive a confession yet.’

Naturally, I can’t confess either in this situation.

First, money won’t be a problem anymore. There are so many exorcism requests that I’ve even stopped advertising.

Becoming famous as an exorcist is also just a matter of time.

The only problem was the perception of me as an exorcist.

‘Right, I’ve been thinking about this wrong all along.’

I realized this when I saw the servants who fled as soon as they learned I was an exorcist.

That nobles might also think of me as just an ‘exorcist.’

I stared blankly out the window and rested my chin on the window frame.

The tea party from before, which was practically my first debut into high society.

At the time, I thought it was successful.

The conversation centered around me, so as Rudian said, it felt like I had become the protagonist of the tea party.

But thinking about it now.

‘The young ladies there already knew that I had been on a date with Harman.’

Most of the conversation was about whether I was going to the Imperial Court Ball as Harman’s partner, or about ghosts and exorcism.

If the young ladies hadn’t known that I had dated Harman…

‘The conversation topics that day might have been entirely about ghosts and exorcism.’

Though I had gone to the tea party with that goal, ultimately I had hoped to develop intimate relationships with the young ladies.

But it could have ended as just an ‘exorcist and client’ relationship without achieving that.

‘This is quite shocking.’

The fact that they didn’t treat me as just an ‘exorcist’ might have been because they witnessed me dating Harman.

I’m not certain though.

Perhaps some of the young ladies there might have genuinely felt fond of me.

But I could say this with certainty.

When I enter the imperial banquet with Harman, it won’t be the harmonious atmosphere I felt at the tea party.

‘There will definitely be chaos.’

In a bad way.

On the surface, they’ll pretend to approach Harman and me friendly, but it will deal a huge blow to Harman’s image.

Strange rumors will also spread.

‘They’ll already hate that I, a commoner, came to the imperial banquet, but they’ll hate it even more because I’m an exorcist.’

Nobles are extremely conservative, so they originally look down on people who suddenly intrude into their circle.

Marquis Fainen spent decades searching for his daughter and has an exceptional status himself, so Grace is an exception.

‘Especially since I’m going as Harman’s partner, the number of nobles who’ll be jealous will be enormous.’

But since I’d already decided to go, it was something I had to endure.

Harman wasn’t someone who would have asked me to be his partner without knowing this fact.

‘So, I just need to do what I have to do.’

I slowly folded my fingers one by one.

I had to enter the banquet hall without being intimidated as much as possible and make a perfect debut.

And I had to show that exorcists are no different from ordinary people, closing the distance between us.

‘The reason they avoid exorcists as human beings is ultimately because they’re afraid of what’s different from others.’

They make requests like that but are reluctant to keep us nearby – it’s really contradictory.

It’s too late now to say there are no such things as ghosts, since too many have come…

‘The Emperor personally summoned me too.’

Why on earth did the Emperor call for me?

I was having such thoughts.

Tap. Tap tap.

I looked up in surprise.

It seemed I had unknowingly rested my head against the window.

The sound hitting the window outside was fierce.

“Rain?”

Thud. Thud-thud-thud.

As I was embarrassedly fidgeting with my hair, the raindrops that had been tapping the window became fierce enough to be visible to the naked eye.

‘It’s suddenly raining heavily.’

Looking at the street, we should arrive at the manor soon.

‘I have an exorcism request tomorrow, will it be okay?’

It was a request from the pink young lady, no. Rose Baroness, so I had to go.

What was it again.

She said it seemed like a ghost had possessed the manor’s vault.

‘Well, it’s not far from my estate and it’s an easy place for the carriage to reach, so it should be fine even if it rains.’

…However, the problem lay in a completely different place.

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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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