My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 43
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Of course, I didn’t completely trust Daisy’s words. How could I believe such a thing – that Kanna suddenly wasn’t really my sister?
But that thought had been circling in my head for days.
When Kanna sometimes acted strangely in ways that weren’t normal, when I saw her rejoicing at Donau’s death – I suddenly wondered if she acted that way because she really wasn’t Kanna.
If I truly cared for my sister, I should have felt disgusted by the story that she had been replaced. Just like Daisy, who cherished Evangeline, had reacted.
My sister had been sick her whole life, but after being completely cured, someone else took over her body? It was something I should have been furious about.
“Even if Kanna has changed, even if she’s someone else entirely, when I see her smiling like that, I want to give her everything.”
But Hena was still weak when it came to Kanna.
After mulling over Daisy’s words dozens of times and waiting for Kanna who didn’t return until late at night, she finally admitted it.
In any form, whoever it might be, she was content just having ‘Kanna’ by her side. Hena shed tears at how ugly and selfish she was.
“Daisy. I must be crazy, right?”
Hena smiled with tears still clinging to her eyes.
“Hena…”
Daisy deeply regretted seeing firsthand how her well-intentioned words had destroyed someone. Just because she had discovered a line across the neck, she shouldn’t have said that wasn’t your sister.
With misguided kindness, with petty sympathy, trying to ease her own guilt – those words had shattered Hena’s mind.
When they worked together at the manor, she had heard that Hena was earning money to pay for her only remaining family member’s treatment. Kanna was probably Hena’s entire world. So how shocking must it have been to be told that world was fake?
“I think I understand what you mean.”
“You understand?”
“I thought Evangeline was definitely a monster who had stolen our young lady’s body. That’s why I ran away from the manor and even reported her to the Temple. But when I was cornered, she was the only person I could turn to for help.”
“What about you? Are you going to pretend not to know that the young lady helped you?”
“The Evangeline Rohanson you knew is already dead.”
This was the sharp rebuke she had heard from Kanna. Kanna’s words were passed on to Hena through Daisy. Hena quietly absorbed those words.
“And Evangeline helped me. Now gratitude outweighs the feelings of eeriness and disgust. Hena, will you curse me for being crazy?”
Hena shook her head. Thanks to Evangeline’s change, Kanna’s body had recovered, and now both of them could live without financial hardship. Hena was also afraid of Evangeline, but grateful too.
“And… I want to apologize. What I said back then seems to have been my mistake.”
Actually, Daisy had been planning to bring this up before entering.
“A mistake?”
“You know that demon by the young lady’s side, Jelly. All the corpses that Jelly revived have red marks on their necks.”
She didn’t mention that it was because their necks had been cut and reattached.
Revived corpses usually only mimicked their actions from when they were alive. But Kanna was much more human-like compared to the people Jelly had revived. Of course, with Evangeline’s precedent, she couldn’t be certain.
She had wanted to apologize, saying she had misjudged back then and that your sister was probably the same person… But it seemed too late now.
“That’s why I was mistaken.”
“Really?”
“Why, your sister used holy water, didn’t she? Sir Gabriel said that those who died and were revived have their flesh burn when touched by holy water.”
When Hena seemed indifferent, Daisy hurriedly added evidence. She said Gabriel had told her this while interrogating Priest Berga, who had been revived by Jelly.
“Holy water…”
Contrary to Daisy’s hopes, Hena became even more anxious upon hearing this. Kanna had only used holy water when treating her illness. After that, she refused treatment for the wound on her neck. That’s why the neck wound still remained.
Why did Kanna refuse treatment…?
Hena wanted to slap herself for the thought that suddenly occurred to her. Evangeline had plenty of holy water. If Kanna got hurt more severely than before, to the extent that holy water would be needed, wouldn’t she be able to learn the truth then? That thought flashed through her mind.
“Sister, did you wait long?”
Since her only business was delivering flower petals to the young lady, Kanna returned quickly and clung to Hena. Hena stroked Kanna’s head.
But Hena could never bring herself to hurt her sister. That meant Hena would have to live with anxiety for the rest of her life.
***
Gabriel personally delivered the children to the orphanage and arrived at the Knight’s Hall quite late. Explaining the situation and going through procedures took longer than expected.
Rafaela, who was writing a report for an upcoming meeting, welcomed Gabriel’s return.
“Thank you for your hard work, Captain. I could have gone instead.”
“No. I told the young lady I would handle it myself.”
Actually, it would have been fine for Rafaela or other knights to handle it.
Gabriel’s decision to go personally wasn’t born from a commitment to take responsibility for the children to the end. Gabriel wasn’t as devout and righteous as he was known to be in the world.
It was all because of Evangeline – more precisely, because of the uncomfortable expression that crossed Evangeline Rohanson’s face. It was closer to unfamiliarity than discomfort.
Perhaps because they were children connected to Daisy, Evangeline showed strange interest in the children and treated them gently. Since she cared about these children, Gabriel had no choice but to care as well.
“Thank you.”
Gabriel had witnessed the moment when Evangeline dropped her mask as a noble young lady. He noticed that her bored mask cracked the moment Evangeline received a child’s grateful greeting.
“…Yes.”
Evangeline’s inner self, which Gabriel could only glimpse by deliberately crossing lines and acting presumptuously beyond propriety, was revealed by just receiving a simple thank you from a child.
How could such a poor greeting move her so?
‘Does she like children?’
No. It wouldn’t be such a favorable emotion, maybe just becoming a little gentler? From Daisy’s explanation of the situation, it was true that Evangeline had ultimately saved the children.
The carriage that flashed before his eyes, the red wheel tracks momentarily came to mind.
If Gabriel himself had met Evangeline during his past orphan days, could he have received help? Would those white, cold hands have been extended to him?
Since it was already past and irreversible, Gabriel soon shook off his thoughts.
“Well, it would certainly be much more effective for you to make the request than me, Captain.”
Rafaela grumbled. The priest in charge of the orphanage was very upright, but so upright that he looked down on nobles obsessed with money. Since Rafaela was well-known to be of noble birth, it was obvious he wouldn’t have welcomed her visit.
On the other hand, he would obviously have welcomed the self-made knight captain who came from the orphanage.
‘I never lived extravagantly though.’
Anyway, from the moment she entered the Temple, she became someone unrelated to her family, but this was really too much. Rafaela, who had already been treated as a cast-off child, nursed her grievances.
The severe noble-hatred would probably get worse after hearing that wealthy people had been trafficking children. One of the priests on that transaction list just had to be of noble birth too.
“Where’s Merai?”
“We’ve confined her in the basement for now.”
Rafaela reported on the progress. Merai was immediately locked in a detention cell, and they reported to superiors right away. Considering the importance of the matter with a priest involved in human trafficking, a meeting was scheduled immediately.
Merai’s treatment would probably be decided at that meeting.
“Captain, and it seems Evangeline Rohanson will be discussed at the meeting.”
In Priest Berga’s case, there was no direct connection so Evangeline wasn’t mentioned, but this time was different. Since Bishop Jabaniya had also witnessed Evangeline and taken interest, the topic would surely come up.
“About the young lady’s identity… will you tell them everything?”
A being who might be the culprit of the Donau incident, the owner of the crest, a revived corpse, an existence beyond reason pretending to be a noble young lady.
If everything was revealed, Evangeline Rohanson wouldn’t escape death. Or the opposite.
“Well…”
Gabriel closed his eyes. From somewhere, he could hear the sound of a heart beating very slowly.
***
“Did you sleep well, young lady?”
No. I didn’t sleep a wink.
I had tossed and turned all night thinking about having to see Gabriel soon.
While I was this anxious, Kanna’s face was so bright it seemed like flowers were dancing around her. She probably reconciled well with Hena last night.
“Where’s Hena?”
“She said she was going to visit the Butler with Daisy.”
Originally, Hena’s dejection wasn’t Kanna’s fault but because of me. It would be somewhat uncomfortable if the young lady you served was possessed. Kanna had said she would try to explain things well…
“Did the talk go well?”
“Yes! Thanks to you.”
After finishing the meal with Kanna, Hena and Daisy came to visit.
What? I thought they had reconciled? Hena still looked somewhat gloomy.
“Why is she like that again?”
It wasn’t just me who thought so—Jelly also tilted his head while looking at Hena. Hena did look like she was in poor condition… Her eyes were red, probably from crying yesterday. I guess they had some kind of touching friendship bonding session while crying together.
On the other hand, Daisy looked like she had slept like a baby. Meanwhile, I’m here enduring agony, tearing my hair out because of someone!
No, wait. If I’m being honest, it’s my fault. When you possess a villainess, you should act somewhat villainous, but I was too kind and created a discrepancy that exposed my possession. But this is a body that dies if I don’t reform! If I had continued committing evil acts, even if I didn’t die, I would have faced ruin.
But seeing how I end up on the death route no matter how hard I try to reform from being a villainess, the original story’s corrective force is truly terrifying. It keeps pushing me toward being a villainess no matter what! Really. Now they’ll probably say I’m possessed by a demon or ghost instead of being a witch.
I don’t know anymore. The only thing I can believe in is that Gabriel has fallen for me. So the moment Gabriel’s infatuation with me wears off, I’m dead.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————