I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 96
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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 096
Then perhaps the reason Harman went mad and tried to destroy the Empire in the future was…
Because he was betrayed by the Emperor?
‘…’
I shook my head.
Everything was just my speculation, and there might be circumstances I didn’t know about.
‘For now, I’m curious about what Harman thinks of the Emperor.’
Since we have plenty of time to meet before the banquet, let me subtly probe him.
We still have several dance practice sessions left, and we’re meeting outside the day after tomorrow.
It was because of his request to look at decorative furniture for the manor corridor.
For the first time in a while, I had an important mission.
While I was pondering this, a worried voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Miss Siena, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
When I looked up, the Former Count couple was staring at me intently.
“…Pardon?”
“You look so serious. You said you liked this tea, but you haven’t even touched it. It’s already gone cold.”
“Ah! I was just thinking about something for a moment. I’m sorry.”
When did it get so cold?
I quickly grabbed the teacup handle.
Clank-!
…and put it back down.
“Ah!”
I had forgotten something important.
I hurriedly turned my head and met eyes with the Former Count couple, who were looking at me fondly.
They were looking at me with warm gazes as if I were their granddaughter… but that’s not the issue right now.
“We have plenty of prepared rooms, but I didn’t prepare any sleepwear for you. What should we do?”
Thanks to Rudian, there were several rooms ready for immediate use, but I hadn’t thought about clothing at all.
It was too late now to go all the way to their estate on the capital outskirts to get their clothes!
“Miss Siena, you don’t need to worry about that. We came prepared.”
“There’s nowhere to buy anything right now… Pardon?”
The Former Countess calmly instructed her husband.
“Dear, please bring out the luggage.”
“Mm, alright.”
The Former Count brought out a suitcase as large as a person’s torso from somewhere and set it down in front of me with a flourish.
Thud! It made a heavy sound.
‘What is all this?’
Looking down at the bulging suitcase, I stared at the two of them with puzzled eyes.
The Countess elegantly sipped her tea and said,
“We have plenty of clothes, so don’t worry.”
‘Ah.’
These two had planned to stay at my estate for the night from the beginning, hadn’t they?
* * *
…That wasn’t the case.
The Former Count couple didn’t stop at just staying one night.
The next day, I had a new exorcism job, so I saw them off as I left.
I definitely did that.
“Miss Siena, you’re back?”
But why are you welcoming me as if it’s natural?
“Weren’t you leaving today? I saw you by the carriage earlier, how strange…”
“Now that I think about it, there are still places that haven’t been decorated. Since we came all this way, shouldn’t we finish everything at once?”
Seeing the Former Countess reply so nonchalantly left me speechless.
It would be fortunate if it stopped there.
The next day, again!
“Miss Siena, you’ll properly invite us next time, won’t you?”
“Um, how about I visit your estate next time instead?”
“No, we haven’t completely finished decorating Miss Siena’s estate yet.”
“Pardon? Isn’t this enough already?”
“Come to think of it, we haven’t finished working on the garden yet!”
“No, I like it as it is now. I’m very satisfied with it.”
“If only today wasn’t the day Miss Siena meets with the Duke… no wait, we can just wait today too, can’t we?”
Seeing the Former Countess’s sparkling eyes gave me a very bad feeling.
A very, very bad feeling.
I hurriedly waved my hands to stop the Countess.
“No, no! You two must be tired, please go home quickly!”
“We’re not tired yet…”
“Please travel safely!”
I forcibly helped the Former Count couple, whose eyes were dripping with regret, into the carriage.
Only after confirming that the carriage had completely departed did I finally let out a sigh.
Immediately after, I heard a similar sigh from behind me.
“Miss, what a relief…”
It came from Bella and Emily. The two gave me thumbs up and immediately headed for their beds.
Actually, it was nice to see the estate visibly brighten each time they worked on it.
The same went for eating food the Countess cooked herself.
So everything was good, but.
‘Aren’t you two a bit too energetic?!’
Both of them had been moving non-stop for two whole days!
As the estate owner, I felt self-conscious and couldn’t just sit still.
‘They told me to rest comfortably, but honestly, how could I do that?’
Bella and Emily also had a hard time being mindful of them.
Seeing how pale they both became in just two days made me decide.
‘Then there’s no problem with me visiting the Former Count couple’s estate.’
Surely if left alone, the two would say their bodies felt stiff and go plow the farm fields and pick various vegetables.
I should do the same…
‘Anyway, I succeeded in sending them home.’
I scanned the spot where the carriage had departed and turned my gaze to the estate.
The exterior walls were the same, but from the decorative flower pots and door mat at the entrance, the Former Countess’s touch was evident everywhere.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Miss, a carriage has arrived. If we want to arrive on time for your appointment with the Duke, we should leave now.”
“Ah, yes! Sir Zeros.”
I quickly dismissed my thoughts.
Right, today was the day I was supposed to meet Harman at the Duke’s estate to buy things…
As I climbed into the carriage with Sir Zeros’s help, I felt a bit wistful.
“Sir Zeros.”
“Yes?”
“You must have had a hard time too. I noticed the Former Count kept calling you out to the garden yesterday.”
“…”
He said nothing. But his face was as pale as Bella and Emily’s.
I understand you had a hard time, but you.
You’ll need to try harder if you want to make a good impression on Rudian.
* * *
It was around the time we were getting close to our meeting place.
Through the rattling sound of wheels, I could hear the murmur of conversation.
At first I just ignored it, but it was too noisy for having the windows tightly shut.
‘What the hell is that?’
I pressed myself against the window and peered outside.
What’s making all this noise? It better not be anything serious… huh?
‘Damn!’
It’s Harman!
I hastily pulled my face away from the window and straightened myself up.
Now that I knew what it was, a few words from the surrounding commotion stuck clearly in my ears.
Especially the words “Duke Monteville.”
That’s right, Harman had gotten out of his carriage and was waiting for me with his face boldly revealed!
‘Duke, what on earth are you thinking?!’
I hurriedly got out as soon as my carriage stopped. Then Harman approached me as if he’d been waiting.
“Lady Siena, the weather has become quite chilly. It’s been raining frequently, so I suppose it was bound to get cold.”
Beneath his golden hair fluttering in the cool breeze, his blue eyes gazing at me crinkled gently.
I was momentarily dazed in various ways, but came to my senses at the murmuring sounds around us.
‘He said there was no need to hide his appearance anymore.’
Was that really true?
Honestly, I thought before that he was telling a well-intentioned lie out of consideration for me.
Even though he said that, he hurriedly put me in a carriage right after our restaurant date ended, and the next day I couldn’t find any article about us anywhere in the newspapers.
As if someone had quickly taken care of it.
So this time I brought a long, thick gray robe that would completely cover my whole body to show consideration for Harman.
‘But now it’s completely useless.’
I craned my neck forward and sneakily looked behind Harman.
‘There seem to be more people than before?’
Perhaps conscious of my gaze, the murmuring sounds quickly died down, but everyone was still glancing our way.
‘What good does it do if it doesn’t make the papers. The rumors will spread anyway.’
The whole Empire will know!
How are you going to silence all these people, and how will you find out who spread the rumors…
Of all times for this situation to arise when I was already troubled by the title of exorcist.
It had actually been my biggest worry lately.
Maybe I was just overthinking it.
But I couldn’t help worrying.
‘At this rate, rumors will immediately spread about the mysterious Duke being bewitched by an exorcist and whatnot…!’
That’s when it happened.
Suddenly a warm sensation enveloped my shoulders. When I looked up with wide eyes, a worried gaze met mine.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Huh? What?”
Harman, who had been looking me over, sighed with relief as if finally reassured.
“I could feel you trembling slightly from the moment you got out of the carriage. You must take care of your health when the weather changes so suddenly like this.”
“…”
I wondered why I’d been feeling warm and cozy since a little while ago.
What was draped around my shoulders was a uniform coat.
That is… Harman’s uniform coat.
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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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