My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 184

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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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“Young Lady?”

“It seemed like you would have difficulty eating alone, my lord…”

I swallowed the words that I had intended to feed him directly. Even without saying it, he probably understood roughly what I meant. I couldn’t bear to look Gabriel in the face, so I averted my gaze.

The meal took twice as long as usual. Gabriel was clumsy in his movements, and I felt ashamed every time Gabriel clumsily spooned soup into his mouth, realizing what I had been about to do.

Still, eating slowly would probably help with digestion. We had tea to cleanse our palates. The calming effect was outstanding, settling my churning emotions a bit.

Gabriel looked remarkably peaceful, unlike me. He seemed completely uninterested in the fact that I had offered to feed him. Why was I the only one embarrassed? Just as I was about to feel a little disappointed, I noticed his reddened ears.

“Young Lady, you keep looking at me.”

Gabriel made an excuse. He seemed embarrassed that I was staring at him so intently. Had I really been staring at Gabriel that much? In any case, at least I wasn’t the only one feeling embarrassed, which was a relief.

“You’re going to see Rohanson Viscount?”

“Yes. It seems my invitation went to the Viscount. On the way back, I also plan to stop by Misha’s Atelier.”

“The atelier?”

“Yes. You said it would be good to visit Misha then, remember?”

I promised that I would stop by Rohanson Viscount and then visit the atelier, returning safely without getting involved in dangerous affairs or getting hurt.

Gabriel seemed to want to come along, but I couldn’t take someone who was supposed to be in prison. Moreover, Bishop Marik was surely watching Rohanson Viscount.

Though I didn’t know the purpose, he was definitely planning to use the Viscount as bait. The reason he sent the invitation to the Viscount instead of Hosaquin Duke, even knowing I was at the Duke’s mansion, was probably for that reason.

“Please, take care and return safely. If Young Lady gets hurt, I won’t be able to bear it.”

Gabriel, who had been looking at me for a long time as if choosing his words, pleaded like a prayer with his blue eyes shining.

***

I decided that only Pudding and I would go to Rohanson Viscount. Kanna puffed out her cheeks and clung to me, asking why she had to stay behind when she wasn’t even hurt.

I was leaving Kanna behind because it might be dangerous, but I couldn’t answer honestly.

If I told her the truth, Kanna would surely scream and cling to me, asking why she should be excluded from dangerous work and insisting on helping me. I made the excuse that I was worried about leaving Gabriel alone and asked Kanna to watch over him well.

Kanna nodded solemnly as if she had been entrusted with a momentous mission.

“I’ll watch over Count Gabriel so that not a single hair on his head gets hurt. So you absolutely must not get hurt either, Miss.”

How could I get hurt when Pudding was coming with me? Besides, my body is, well… sturdier than other people’s, so there’s no need to worry.

Kanna hugged me tightly. Pudding, who had been nestled in my arms, got squeezed in between and struggled wildly like a compressed balloon, seeming suffocated. Kanna, who got hit by Pudding, finally let go with a face still overflowing with reluctance.

“If you come back hurt, Miss, I’ll inflict the same wounds on myself.”

…What’s that supposed to be? Friendship wounds? It’s not even a friendship tattoo… Isn’t that a bit excessive? Well, our Kanna does have slightly, just slightly fanatical tendencies.

Kanna had never gone back on words she’d spoken aloud. Now I had to think of my body as Kanna’s body too. I resolved once again that I absolutely must not get hurt.

When I stepped outside, avoiding the eyes of the Duke’s servants, a carriage was prepared in one corner.

The Duke immediately prepared a carriage when I said I was going to visit the Viscount. The Duke also provided information about Rohanson Viscount’s whereabouts.

I heard he had been keeping tabs on Rohanson Viscount from before. He must have really disliked his son-in-law.

He knew every detail of the Viscount’s movements, and while I was grateful, I couldn’t help but ask why he went to such lengths.

“Since when have you been watching Rohanson Viscount?”

“Since before that stupid funeral of yours was even held.”

I must have already been troublesome to him, and after hearing the story about dying and coming back to life, I could understand a little why the Duke threw a wine glass at me upon our first meeting. Of course, violence isn’t acceptable, and it’s certainly not that I deserved to be hit with a wine glass – I just understood the Duke’s feelings.

The coachman was an attendant working at the Duke’s mansion. Since his face was familiar enough to me, he was probably one of the Duke’s close associates.

I quietly boarded the carriage. The carriage immediately began rolling. The destination was Viscount Hükel’s mansion.

The Viscount was staying with Viscount Hükel. That same Viscount Hükel who was Bishop Marik’s lackey, who approached the Viscount to give him a dagger and made me a suspect in the Crown Prince’s assassination.

The Duke told me that Rohanson Viscount was staying at Viscount Hükel’s mansion while cursing with all sorts of profanity. Hearing those harsh vulgarities, I realized that the Duke still regarded me slightly more favorably than the Viscount.

If Rohanson Viscount appeared before the Duke, the Viscount would be hit not with a wine glass but with a rotten, melting cheese bomb.

Pudding lay on my lap and began nodding off drowsily. It seemed that getting sleepy in transportation was the same regardless of the world. He must have been sufficiently tired from staying up all night to help Gabriel move his body.

“Evangeline, we’ll arrive soon.”

Pudding’s eyes snapped open. I whispered for him to sleep a little more while gently stroking him. It was a brief healing time.

As the coachman said, the carriage stopped in less than ten minutes. Viscount Hükel’s mansion was in the heart of the capital. It would have been difficult to acquire such prime real estate with just a viscount’s status, so he must have received considerable compensation from Bishop Marik.

I told the coachman to return first, then stepped down. A servant who confirmed that a carriage had stopped in front of the door hurriedly came out and blocked my path.

“Who are you?”

“I came to see my father. Will you let me in?”

“Your father?”

Viscount Hükel was unmarried and had no children. The servant was confused by the sudden mention of a father and asked back. Then, thinking something, he made a fuss and scrutinized my face.

He was probably looking for similarities with Viscount Hükel. Though he wouldn’t find any no matter how hard he looked. The servant soon seemed to realize something and asked in surprise.

“Are… are you Evangeline?”

“That’s right.”

“If you’ve come to see Rohanson Viscount, I’ll guide you right away.”

The servant immediately let me into the mansion.

It was fortunate that it wasn’t troublesome, but from the servant’s attitude, I could guess what the Viscount’s situation was like within the mansion.

Usually, nobles would announce visits in advance and make appointments. Even between family members, etiquette was strictly observed. But the servant said he would guide me right away without even informing the Viscount of my visit.

Far from receiving noble treatment, judging by the servant’s attitude of welcoming me, it seemed like he disliked the Viscount. Well, who would like that bastard… Amaranth was blinded by love and deceived, so let’s skip that.

“Don’t I need to announce my visit to Viscount Hükel?”

“Ah. The Viscount is currently away. But since Rohanson Viscount remains, he told us in advance to respond wholeheartedly if any guests come looking for the Viscount.”

As expected, making me come to find Rohanson Viscount was Bishop Marik’s scheme. But I thought Viscount Hükel would be there too.

“Viscount Hükel is truly considerate. He takes great care to ensure the Viscount doesn’t live uncomfortably.”

What consideration after stabbing Rohanson Viscount in the back? The servant seemed to know little about Viscount Hükel. Well, thinking about it, he was just an employee, so it was natural.

The servant continued praising Viscount Hükel. Viscount Hükel did have a very good public image. A sociable, well-connected, gentlemanly noble. Moreover, he was friendly to the Temple and donated generously.

It was usual to praise the master when guests came, but Viscount Hükel’s servant’s praise was excessive. I couldn’t listen anymore.

“Indeed. Viscount Hükel is truly a kind person.”

“Right?”

“When my father had nowhere to go because I set the fire, it was truly fortunate that the Viscount took him in, wasn’t it?”

The servant’s face turned pale and he finally shut his mouth. He realized who he had been chattering to. It was finally quiet and my ears were comfortable. I should have done this from the start.

“You can’t believe such… false, false rumors.”

“Really? Thank you for believing me.”

The servant shrank back, trying not to displease me. Though he said that, seeing how his attitude completely changed, it seemed that along with the arsonist story, other sinister rumors had also come to mind.

A good idea suddenly occurred to me. If I asked questions now when he was full of fear about me, he would probably answer cooperatively.

“Viscount Hükel is indeed a wonderful person as you say. I want to repay his kindness later, so I’m asking – do you know since when my father has been indebted to Viscount Hükel?”

“It hasn’t been long. Since about two weeks ago…”

“Am I the only one who came to see my father during that time?”

“No, no. There was… one guest who came.”

“A guest? Who was that?”

Who could it be? One of Bishop Marik’s people? Since the servant hesitated instead of answering immediately, I stared at him quietly.

Come to think of it, his loyalty to Viscount Hükel seemed exceptional.

Was he hesitating because answering straightforwardly would make him feel like an ungrateful person who betrayed the Viscount and sold information?

I contorted my face and put on a worried expression.

“There have been many bug-like bastards clinging to my father lately. I want to know who approached my father while I was away.”

“That, that’s…”

“Oh, of course I didn’t mean Viscount Hükel was a bug. But if you don’t answer honestly, I might misunderstand that Viscount Hükel introduced bad friends to my father.”

“A bug! The Viscount is not that kind of person!”

“Then tell me who came to see my father.”

When I spoke in a way that disparaged Viscount Hükel, the servant burst with indignation and confessed who the guest was.

“Marquis Wujeta, who was the Crown Prince’s guard…”

The servant hesitated before revealing the name. He was probably more cautious because it was related to the Crown Prince’s assassination case that I was suspected of.

“Marquis Wujeta came by?”

“Yes, yes. He said he had something to investigate with Rohanson Viscount.”

I suddenly remembered the letter Jeremiah sent. Muzeta, who had been guarding Tenebray, had left his post when Jeremiah took over, right?

I expected there would be work Bishop Marik assigned him, and it seemed he visited the Viscount during that time to win him over. It became clear that Bishop Marik had made moves on the Viscount.

“Please wait here until I bring Rohanson Viscount.”

The servant guided me to the drawing room and told a nearby maid to bring the Viscount. The maid served tea, so I waited while drinking it.

I waited quite leisurely, taking my time, but even after emptying three teacups, there was no sign of the Viscount coming. I tapped the table with my fingers.

“Where is Father?”

“Please, if you could just wait a little longer….”

The maid trembled as she bowed and asked for understanding. It seemed Rohanson Viscount was being stubborn upon hearing that I had arrived.

Was he planning to stand me up like this, or was he just being spiteful? He wasn’t preparing some trap for me, was he? With the Viscount not in sight, all sorts of wild thoughts crossed my mind. My patience had hit rock bottom.

I tickled Pudding, who had been dozing on my lap, to wake him up. Then I whispered quietly so the maid wouldn’t hear.

“Pudding, could you go see what Rohanson Viscount is doing?”

If he’s not coming just to mess with me, I really won’t let it slide.

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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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