My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 107
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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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“Didn’t the Countess already pass away?”
The Viscount remained silent, but even without hearing an answer, it was clear that Muzeta’s question was correct.
Looking at the letter’s contents… It was absurd, but it seemed like the Countess’s ghost was appearing and wandering around the 3rd floor. Was she not a witch but simply insane?
When he turned the page, a small notebook that had been tucked between the letters fluttered and fell. As Muzeta tried to pick up the paper, the Viscount was startled and snatched it up at a frightening speed, stuffing it into his pocket.
“That is…?”
“This isn’t Evangeline’s letter, so don’t worry about it.”
The Viscount firmly put up a wall.
“Now. Why don’t you read the next page? What you’re looking for isn’t this note, but Evangeline’s letter, isn’t it?”
At Rohanson Viscount’s words, Muzeta felt uncomfortable but turned his gaze away. The Viscount was saying that the note he hastily hid wasn’t written by Evangeline Rohanson.
But then why was it mixed in together, and why was the word ‘traitor’ written all over the pages of that notebook? Did the dead really write letters?
Muzeta forced himself to look away. This was the last letter.
To Rohanson Viscount.
Father. Count Gabriel has offered to be my debutante partner. You won’t interfere with your daughter’s debut when she was dying bedridden, will you? I’ll behave myself too, so don’t worry.
Your daughter, Evangeline.
It was well known that Evangeline Rohanson had entered the banquet hall escorted by the Pararos Knights Captain. He had only learned the trivial information that Gabriel was the one who had the authority first.
It didn’t matter since what Muzeta wanted to investigate was only the handwriting, not the content.
“Lady Rohanson has excellent penmanship.”
He was referring to the handwriting style, not the writing ability. Evangeline’s writing was consistently written in an elegant and neat handwriting. And the handwriting was the same as what was found in Tenebray’s room.
He would need to have an expert analyze it for more details, but for now, it could only be judged as writing by the same person.
Then something flashed through Muzeta’s mind. Evangeline Rohanson was dead, and the Viscount, coveting Hosaquin Duke’s inheritance, had brought a similar girl and pretended Evangeline was alive.
“Now that you’ve confirmed the handwriting, is that enough?”
The Viscount asked while observing Muzeta’s reaction.
‘These knights are so expressionless that it’s hard to tell what they’re thinking.’
From Muzeta’s expression alone, it was difficult to determine whether the handwriting matched the letter found in Tenebray’s room. Just as the suspicion crossed his mind whether he could avoid being implicated by guilt by association with just this much, Muzeta spoke again.
“…A year ago.”
“A year ago?”
“Even before that would be fine. Has Lady Rohanson’s handwriting remained unchanged from before?”
It was a thought that had momentarily crossed Muzeta’s mind.
The Viscount understood the intention behind Muzeta’s question, recalling the rumors circulating in society, but played it off casually.
“I don’t know why you’re asking such a thing, but since we agreed to cooperate, I’ll answer. Evangeline’s handwriting has never changed, and it remained the same even after she recovered from her serious illness.”
“It remained the same?”
“Why is that strange? Do you also think that I brought some other puppet to replace my dead daughter? That’s not the case. That child is indeed Evangeline Rohanson. Her handwriting, habits, and eating preferences are all the same.”
Whether Muzeta would believe it or not, everything the Viscount said was true. During their first meal together, Evangeline ate just like his daughter. No matter how many times he scolded her, his daughter always had a drink before eating, and Evangeline’s eating order was the same.
In just a few months, she had gotten quite good at acting human, unlike when he first saw her at the funeral.
“Don’t you believe it? There should be letters that child wrote years ago. They’re probably at the Rohanson Estate, so I’ll tell you to look for those letters.”
With those words, the Viscount sent Muzeta away.
A few days later, a letter arrived for Muzeta. The Viscount had kept his promise. The letter had a musty smell as if it had been stored in a shaded place for quite a long time, so it wasn’t hastily fabricated.
Muzeta carefully read the letter.
To Rohanson Viscount.
Father. Mother says she’s not feeling well. I want to see her, even briefly.
Your love.
The letter informing about her birth mother’s illness was very short and calm. And just as the Viscount had said, the handwriting was remarkably identical. When was this letter written? Given that mother was mentioned, it must have been when the Countess was still alive.
‘When did Rohanson Countess pass away?’
According to Muzeta’s research, the Countess had passed away seven years ago. Then this letter was more than seven years old. But the letter looked much older, as if decades rather than seven years had passed. Muzeta sent a reply to the Viscount to find out the exact year.
Sir. When did you receive this letter from Lady Rohanson?
It would have been about ten years ago.
The answer came back promptly.
‘Ten years ago?’
Then this letter was written by a young girl not even ten years old. Even though nobles receive education from childhood, could someone maintain the exact same handwriting for over ten years after completing it before age ten? The difference was so minimal that one could believe they were letters written just a day or two apart.
However, the letter definitely looked more than ten years old, and there was no miraculous occurrence of ink smearing to reveal it as a forgery. Besides, Evangeline Rohanson was in prison, so she wasn’t in a situation to write.
Even if Rohanson Viscount had secretly requested it, Evangeline Rohanson wouldn’t have written a letter that would corner herself.
Muzeta swallowed his doubts about Evangeline Rohanson. In any case, it wasn’t that the person had changed. However, the unchanging handwriting was so strange that he suppressed his resolve to immediately run to the prison and point his sword at Evangeline. It was due to the fear that arose when facing the unknown.
‘Right. Let me report to His Majesty first.’
Making that excuse, Muzeta took the letter from Tenebray’s room and Evangeline’s letters to see the Emperor.
***
“Your Majesty. Marquis Muzeta, who was the Crown Prince’s guard, requests an audience.”
“I see. He must have found some important evidence.”
The Emperor dismissed the others as if he had been waiting. No matter how many noble family members were dying, nothing was as important as the Crown Prince’s assassination case, so the nobles retreated without complaint, though they grumbled inwardly.
“I greet His Imperial Majesty.”
“Rise.”
Muzeta knelt before the Emperor to show proper respect.
“So, there seems to be some progress in the investigation?”
Muzeta immediately reported about the letters. That he had discovered a secret space in Tenebray’s room containing occult books and letters, that the person who wrote the letters had instigated Tenebray to orchestrate all the incidents, and that the handwriting of those letters matched Evangeline Rohanson’s writing—everything.
After listening to Muzeta’s story, the Emperor read all the letters and then furrowed his brow deeply.
‘As expected, His Majesty also takes this matter seriously.’
However, the Emperor’s subsequent reaction was different from what Muzeta had expected. What the Emperor found disagreeable was not Evangeline but Muzeta. The Emperor declared firmly.
“These are merely love letters, Sir.”
“Pardon? Your Majesty…!”
“Sir. Didn’t I just say? These are merely love letters.”
He had made the Emperor say the same thing twice. The eyes staring at Muzeta were very cold. Muzeta instantly realized he had crossed a line the Emperor had drawn. The Emperor scolded Muzeta.
“Marquis Muzeta. Didn’t I tell you? Put aside your doubts about Lady Rohanson.”
Muzeta couldn’t understand. Rohanson was the mastermind who deceived Tenebray and led her to death. Wasn’t it Gabriel, Rohanson’s knight, who captured Tenebray? Those two had deceived Tenebray and led her to death, yet he was told to remain silent?
“…Your Majesty. Why are you protecting Evangeline Rohanson?”
Even to Muzeta’s question, the Emperor didn’t answer. In fact, demanding an answer from the Emperor was wrong in itself, but Muzeta didn’t realize it. Before Tenebray and the Crown Prince died, or… if at least Tenebray hadn’t died, Muzeta wouldn’t have acted so impudently toward the Emperor.
But Muzeta had done his duty yet sent away two members of the Imperial Family, and he was feeling considerable guilt about it.
There were some things he could guess. Gabriel, who had brought Tenebray’s body, and the Emperor had conversed privately for several hours. Whatever happened between them, the Emperor had conducted the investigation with a lukewarm attitude afterward. Some deal must have been made.
The Emperor, not understanding Muzeta’s feelings, changed the subject.
“Let’s pretend we never saw this. She’s already hearing countless rumors, and we can’t add another scandal about Tenebray secretly exchanging correspondence. Marquis Muzeta, is there anyone else who knows about this?”
Muzeta nodded and answered. There were subordinates who discovered the love letters and those sent to the Rohanson Estate and the Viscount’s manor to collect letters. When he answered thus, the Emperor decided their fate with a single sentence.
“Make them keep their mouths shut. This matter must not spread outside by any means whatsoever.”
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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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