My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 103

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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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Jeremiah rationalized it. Actually, thinking about it carefully, it seemed better than meringue. Jeremiah relatively liked tart as it seemed like a decent nickname.

 

In fact, Evangeline had not given Jeremiah the name tart, so it was merely Pudding and Jelly teasing Jeremiah who had Azazel’s face.

 

‘But with contents like that, there’s no fun in teasing.’

 

Jelly, seeing Jeremiah’s innocent demeanor, realized this was why he got backstabbed by the twins.

 

“It’s boring, so I’ll just call you Azazel.”

 

“I hate that name!”

 

Seeing Azazel puff his cheeks and stomp his feet, Pudding once again turned away in disgust. This was because Evangeline had warned before returning to prison to never take out the grudge against Azazel on Jeremiah.

 

“Fine, Jeremiah.”

 

Jelly responded halfheartedly as if annoyed.

 

Jeremiah was satisfied that there was someone calling him by his stolen name and calmed down. Having been a princess, Jeremiah didn’t find it strange that Jelly spoke down to him.

 

He had no intention of being treated as a princess in Azazel’s body anyway. In fact, it was more because he had gained senses different from humans when he entered this new body. His head bowed even to Jelly and Pudding, but Evangeline Rohanson was beyond imagination.

 

It would have been better when he considered Evangeline a demon; the Evangeline he saw after entering Azazel’s body was strangely incomparable.

 

“Um… Is Miss Rohanson really human?”

 

The answers to Jeremiah’s question were divided. Jelly shrugged, saying he couldn’t guess either, but Pudding answered firmly.

 

“Miss Evangeline is faith itself.”

 

If she was faith, then she was something conceptual beyond human. Pudding said that’s why he endlessly wanted to submit and obey Evangeline. Jelly drew a line with Pudding, saying he wasn’t quite to that extent, but since he also rolled over showing his belly, it looked no different to Jeremiah’s eyes.

 

Jeremiah also asked the maid who was wiping bloodstains and erasing traces of outsiders entering the room. Since Evangeline seemed to cherish the maid before him, he thought she might know something.

 

“The young miss? That’s a topic Lady Artemisia would love to hear about.”

 

After Evangeline was captured, Viscount Rohanson had locked the manor doors and expelled outsiders, so Artemisia, who had been making Evangeline’s dresses, had also returned. How disappointed she was to leave without seeing Evangeline…

 

Kanna blushed as she answered the question from the girl wearing a demon’s shell.

 

“The young miss is… a beloved savior.”

 

And Kanna asked Jeremiah in return.

 

“What does Your Highness think of the young miss?”

 

Caught off guard by the unexpected counterattack, Jeremiah was momentarily flustered but soon found his answer. His impression had been the same since he saw the Milky Way when he closed his eyes in the forest.

 

“A star… a star.”

 

In the end, even Jeremiah himself wasn’t considering Evangeline as human.

 

Feeling how devoted and obedient they all were to Evangeline, Jeremiah finally asked Gabriel. But Gabriel’s answer didn’t come out immediately.

 

“I am…”

 

“The sun is rising.”

 

While Gabriel was pondering, Jelly looked at the sunlight beginning to come through the window frame and assessed the situation.

 

“Thank you for letting us know, Jelly. It would be best to depart before it gets bright.”

 

Gabriel seemed pleased that Jelly had changed the subject. He lifted Jeremiah’s body. Since Jeremiah’s body was on the light side, even though he was limp, it wasn’t much trouble for Gabriel to carry.

 

“I’ll take him back and return.”

 

Jelly waved his hand and disappeared with Gabriel.

 

Though he had avoided answering publicly, Gabriel clearly seemed to have reached a conclusion after deliberation. Jeremiah was curious about Gabriel’s unheard answer.

 

Jelly moved to the forest where Jeremiah had collapsed. On the ground, knights were still lying unconscious, and they hadn’t been discovered because Jelly had cast a perception-lowering spell to prevent anyone from approaching the area.

 

“Is it this one?”

 

Jelly, who had been hitting the back of their heads one by one, found a familiar sensation. It was the person Jelly had knocked unconscious again by striking the back of his head.

 

“I forgot to kill this one.”

 

The others only knew ‘Gabriel attacked,’ so they could be left alone, but someone who had awakened midway and witnessed Evangeline couldn’t be left alive. Jelly stepped on his neck with his foot, breaking the neck bone. Crack—perhaps because of the quiet forest, the sound echoed particularly loudly.

 

“…Jelly.”

 

“What? This guy saw our master, so he would have tattled.”

 

Having eliminated the witness, Jelly instead scolded Gabriel for his poor cleanup.

 

“Don’t live so naively forever. If you’ve decided what’s most important to you, you should follow that.”

 

His eyes curved into crescents as he looked at Gabriel. Before Gabriel could say anything, Jelly disappeared. He must have returned to the Rohanson Estate.

 

Looking at the fallen knights and the corpse, Gabriel understood the intent behind Jelly’s words. If he had made a mistake, Evangeline’s story could have flowed to Bishop Marik, creating future troubles.

 

Having chosen to avoid the Sun God’s light, he shouldn’t feel guilt anymore about hiding in the shadows.

 

Engraving Jelly’s warning in his mind, Gabriel left the forest and headed toward the Imperial Palace.

 

***

 

“It is indeed Tenebrae.”

 

The Emperor confirmed Jeremiah’s corpse.

 

Without examining closely, the Emperor checked the color of the necklace, briefly looked at the abdomen, and immediately made his judgment.

 

The appearance and black necklace. Anyone would judge it to be Tenebrae. The Emperor looked at the bloodstained fabric on the abdomen.

 

There were traces of a sword wound on Jeremiah’s abdomen. The Emperor knew where Jeremiah’s mark was located, so he thought he would feel something strange, but showed no signs of questioning.

 

“Did you stab him?”

 

“No.”

 

Hearing that answer, the Emperor felt somewhat relieved.

 

His head was already complicated with Bishop Marik alone, and of all people, it was Gabriel who brought his granddaughter’s corpse. He lamented that the children of the tail-eating dragon always caused chaos. What other ridiculous story could there be than the son he abandoned killing the granddaughter who had killed his son?

 

“Tell me how Tenebrae died.”

 

Gabriel conveyed the situation with slight modifications. ‘Tenebrae’ had been attacked by knights and was dying, and Gabriel had intended to capture and bring him alive, but he had already lost too much blood and died.

 

“Did Tenebrae leave any words? Though he was a sinner who killed his father, I want to hear what he said before dying.”

 

The Emperor asked, wanting to at least hear his dead granddaughter’s last words. Knowing the Emperor’s intent, Gabriel deliberately chose words she would hate to hear.

 

“He said he didn’t want to die.”

 

The Emperor rubbed his face. That was a last wish he could no longer grant.

 

“Any other words?”

 

“He said he wasn’t Tenebrae but Jeremiah.”

 

“What?”

 

Gabriel stared at the bewildered Emperor, recalling the conversation he had with Jeremiah earlier.

 

***

 

“Would Grandmother be able to distinguish me?”

 

Jeremiah asked. Gabriel couldn’t answer, but it wasn’t a question seeking a response anyway. The Emperor wouldn’t be able to distinguish between Jeremiah and Tenebrae.

 

“Count Gabriel. Do you know why Azazel stabbed my abdomen?”

 

Gabriel shook his head.

 

“Azazel was trying to erase the mark on my abdomen.”

 

“A mark?”

 

“Imperial family members have marks remaining. It’s the shape of a dragon coiled in a circle, called ‘the one who devours its tail,’ known as Ouroboros.”

 

Listening to Jeremiah’s explanation, Gabriel recalled the scar carved above his heart. Gabriel’s scar was also as described. The only difference was that his was a scar, not a mark. His speculation approached with substance.

 

“Are you born with it from birth?”

 

“How could that be?”

 

Jeremiah laughed as if he had heard a joke. Jelly, who was waiting nearby after hearing Evangeline’s order to transport the two to the Imperial Palace, grimaced seeing Jeremiah in Azazel’s shell laughing.

 

Jeremiah knew well that Jelly’s disgust was directed at ‘Azazel,’ not himself, so he wasn’t hurt even receiving those hateful glances.

 

“After imperial family members are born, they receive certification from the priest the Emperor trusts most.”

 

They branded newborn babies with heated iron and poured holy water to heal them, so the Ouroboros mark was like a pedigree. The tradition of branding began in the early days of the nation to distinguish between illegitimate children and legitimate heirs.

 

It was similar to baptism ceremonies held in temples. Gabriel had a body that holy water didn’t work on. Gabriel could rise to his current position as Captain of the Knights thanks to Rafaela. At that time, Rafaela had taught Gabriel tricks to pass the baptism ceremony.

 

But such things would be impossible for a newborn child. So if after branding, they discovered holy water didn’t work? Since holy water wouldn’t work, wouldn’t a scar remain instead of a mark, like Gabriel’s?

 

Gabriel knew it was an absurd speculation, but couldn’t stop the continuing thoughts. Gabriel swallowed dry saliva at the ominously racing heartbeat. Unaware that Gabriel was developing suspicious speculation and instinctive certainty about his birth, Jeremiah continued speaking.

 

“Tenebrae and I are twins, but there’s a difference.”

 

Though it was known to the public that only necklaces distinguished the two, there was actually one more way of distinction known only to the imperial family.

 

“Our late mother gave birth to me first. Only after branding my abdomen did labor pains start again.”

 

At the moment Jeremiah was born, no one knew twins would be born. Jeremiah was born with blessings and successfully received the brand on his body.

 

However, several dozen minutes after Jeremiah’s birth, the Crown Princess experienced labor pains again. Soon after, the second child, Tenebrae, was born. Twins are often abandoned even when born in ordinary households. But twins in the imperial family—how great must that impact have been?

 

“His Majesty didn’t kill the late-born sibling, but…”

 

“He didn’t brand him, I suppose.”

 

“Yes. That’s right.”

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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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