My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 252
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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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From what I heard, Toten Youngshik had already passed away tragically last year. It was before I even opened my eyes. Was this also a butterfly effect I had caused? Still, I hadn’t been involved with Toten Madam at least, so I couldn’t understand why Rider had died early.
Toten Madam had already lost all hope and given up even protecting the marquis house. Now she had abandoned her family and left for a convent, her whereabouts unknown.
I headed to the imperial capital with the Viscount. The chaperone was handled by someone the Viscount had roughly hired with money.
“Do you understand? You must stay close by Hosaquin Duke’s side.”
The Viscount kept drilling into my ears to get close to the Duke. Everyone around me had changed, but why this garbage Viscount remained the same, I had no idea.
The gift the Viscount prepared this time wasn’t a dagger. It was cufflinks he had worked hard to obtain by running around. I heard he couldn’t even meet Viscount Hükel this time anyway. This was what I heard after threatening the butler to keep a good watch, so it was definitely true.
I looked around since the Pararos Knight’s Hall was providing security, but Gabriel wasn’t there. After a simple inspection, I entered the banquet hall.
The Viscount kept giving me looks to go flatter the Duke, but I ignored him with a snort. You go ahead and do it yourself. If I deliberately provoke the Duke, would Gabriel appear again to save me? I thought carelessly and then shook my head. Back then, Gabriel was my partner.
Ignoring the Viscount, I looked around the banquet hall. I remembered how Saraka had approached me disguised as a maid that day. I carefully examined the faces of the maids, but Saraka wasn’t there. Was it because I had stayed quiet?
While I was looking around, the banquet officially began.
The Crown Prince appeared—someone I had seen dead more often than alive. The Crown Prince entered holding the hand of one of the princesses, followed by the other twin. However, there was something different from before.
There was a man escorting the princess wearing the black necklace. And he was all too familiar…
“…Count Gabriel?”
“Prince Gabriel and Tenebrae are entering!”
The attendant raised his voice. I couldn’t properly understand what I had just heard. Prince? Who?
I thought I had seen wrong, but even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, it was definitely Gabriel. The ebony-black hair and clear blue eyes without shadows felt somewhat unfamiliar, but it was unmistakably Gabriel. The reason he felt particularly unfamiliar was probably because Gabriel was wearing a splendid uniform instead of the knight’s formal attire.
A noblewoman next to me clasped her hands together like a shy girl, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Gabriel with admiration.
“How noble Prince Gabriel looks!”
“Look at that dignified appearance! He’s truly royalty itself!”
Someone from somewhere chimed in agreement. In case I had misheard, they even kindly confirmed it for me—how thoughtful.
Well, how about that. I never expected to hear cheers instead of screams over corpses at the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration. And it was praise directed at ‘Prince Gabriel’ no less. They’re calling Gabriel royalty itself. Our Count Gabriel would be disgusted if he heard this.
Prince… Prince, they said.
Well, if you really think about it, by birth he is the Emperor’s youngest son, so prince would be correct… That’s true, but… even so, there are limits. This is too different from before my regression. Starting with Pudding, how far is this world planning to go astray?
My head was throbbing. Was this really a change possible just from the butterfly effect I had caused?
I asked Lea to save Gabriel, not to suddenly elevate his status! Well, since my memory isn’t intact, I can’t be certain? Maybe I went crazy and asked to make Gabriel a prince because I wanted to hit the ultimate romance fantasy trope.
“I’ll give you my … .”
But no matter how much I racked my brain, my memories of dealing with Lea were hazy. If only my memory was intact, I could have figured out what on earth had happened…
As soon as I tried to recall my conversation with Lea, a headache struck again. I clutched my forehead from the throbbing pain. Just trying to remember that time made my head ache terribly.
It would be better to just ask around. I definitely needed to investigate what had happened.
I caught a nearby noblewoman. She was one of the ladies who had been praising Gabriel earlier. Given how much she had been chattering, she must know something.
“Excuse me, miss.”
“Yes? Are you speaking to me…?”
There was slight wariness in her eyes as she looked at me. Seeing her frown, I lightly curtsied while holding my dress hem.
“I haven’t properly introduced myself. I’m Evangeline Rohanson.”
“…I’m Lohengrin.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lohengrin.”
At my polite and courteous introduction, I could see Lohengrin’s wariness visibly decrease.
I still wasn’t used to people not being shocked or frightened when I revealed my name. I had somehow become accustomed to reactions of ‘That Evangeline Rohanson!’ that it was almost boring now. The contrast was incredible.
I shook off my thoughts at the sound of Lohengrin snapping open her fan.
“So, is there something you need from me?”
“Well…”
I trailed off as if embarrassed by Lohengrin’s question. Then I glanced at her and hesitantly spoke carefully.
“I’ve wanted to greet you for a while, so I committed the rudeness of stopping you.”
It was such a shy attitude that anyone who knew me before my regression would have bitten their tongue, calling this a nightmare. This was Dolline’s signature ‘I don’t know anything’ strategy. I never thought I’d use the social etiquette Dolline taught me here. When my infamy was widespread, no one would have fallen for it, but it should work here.
By the way, I had successfully rescued Dolline from sleeping on the streets after taking drugs and installed her in the manor. She was so out of it from the drugs that I initially didn’t think she was the Dolline I knew. I never knew my capable teacher was a drug addict. It was a fact I didn’t want to know, leaving me somewhat troubled.
I wondered if it would be effective for addiction too, so I hurriedly gave her holy water, but she didn’t return to her senses. Daisy speculated that she had been too soaked in drugs and her mind was already damaged beyond recovery. Holy water had no effect on dementia either.
“Do you attend social events often, Miss Lohengrin?”
“Yes. I do receive invitations quite frequently. As you know, I’m the Finance Minister’s niece.”
“How wonderful!”
Even as I said it, I thought I was praising everything. But the other party seemed weak to compliments as it worked quite well. When I also gilded her with smooth words about how elegant and graceful she was that I couldn’t take my eyes off her, Lohengrin no longer showed any wariness toward me.
Being the Finance Minister’s niece, was it really okay for her to be this easy to win over? You’ll get completely stripped and chewed up by Bishop Marik at this rate.
“I really envy you, Miss Lohengrin.”
Riding the momentum, I slightly lowered my eyes and tilted my head. Since I was imitating Gabriel, it must have looked utterly pitiful.
Now, from this moment on, I’m a sickly and shy viscount’s daughter. Let me adjust my voice to sound plaintive.
“It’s embarrassing to say this, but since I’ve only recently risen from my sickbed, social events feel very unfamiliar.”
“Oh my…”
Lohengrin sent me a sympathetic look. I shrugged my shoulders, pretending to be composed.
“Well, thanks to that, I had the honor of making the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration my debutante ball.”
I subtly let Lohengrin know that I was a newcomer to society today. And that I had been sick until recently. If you embarrass me here, you’ll be the only bad person.
Whether my intention was well conveyed, Lohengrin warmly clasped my hands.
“I’m so glad you’ve recovered. If there’s anything that feels unfamiliar, I’ll be happy to help you.”
“Really? How wonderful—Miss Lohengrin has both beautiful appearance and a kind heart.”
Then I won’t hesitate to ask away.
“Actually… since I was only lying in my sickbed, I’m ignorant about imperial affairs. I’m worried I might make a mistake when greeting the Crown Prince later… If it’s not too much trouble, could I ask Miss Lohengrin for an explanation?”
“Of course, gladly.”
And perhaps because she wasn’t the Finance Minister’s niece for nothing, Lohengrin readily shared stories about the Crown Prince and the princesses. When I felt it was sufficient, I slightly changed the topic.
“Then is the prince who escorted the twin princess the Crown Prince’s son?”
Lohengrin’s eyes widened as if she had heard nonsense.
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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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