My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 52

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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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“You look absolutely wonderful!”

Despite her cheerful voice, the dark circles under her eyes made her look like someone who had stayed up for ten straight nights. Artemisia, who had been smiling foolishly while looking at the clothes I was wearing, wiped away tears with her handkerchief.

“I’m so proud right now.”

It wasn’t a debutante dress, but rather an outfit to wear when visiting Toten Madam, who had agreed to be my chaperone. Since there wasn’t time to make something new, she had altered a dress from the boutique to suit me. Artemisia had explained something enthusiastically, but I had listened with one ear and let it flow out the other, so I didn’t remember it well.

“Noble ladies do like lively young ladies, but they’re equally fond of gentle, refined ones. Besides, since Toten Madam sees her sickly child overlapping with Evangeline, I removed all the lace, reduced the decorations, and emphasized a melancholic beauty!”

Actually, it didn’t seem much different from what I usually wore. But if I said that, she’d probably cry, right?

“I really love it. You did well, Artemisia.”

“Pl-please call me Misha…”

As expected, praise was the right answer. It seemed the distance between our hearts had shortened a bit now. Instead of five syllables, I could now use just two syllables and call her Misha.

“Thanks to Misha, I’ll be able to make a good impression on Toten Madam.”

“Sob. I have no regrets now. Have a safe trip…”

Misha staggered away and headed back to the dressing room. It seemed she was going to make the debutante dress again. She looked like she was about to die – shouldn’t she get some sleep? It wasn’t like I was making her work, but I felt like an exploitative employer.

“Evangeline, I think you should leave now.”

Hena checked the time and got up, gathering her things. Right… There was nothing I could do by staying, and I should focus on what I needed to do.

Today’s outing was planned with Hena, me, and Melek going together. Melek, who had appeared out of nowhere, was today’s coachman.

After our previous trip to the temple, the coachman had quit his job, leaving the position vacant, which Melek had seized. According to what I heard from Mary, he was showing tremendous talent as a coachman from the stables onward. Mary had been frustrated, saying she felt left behind since all she could do was feed carrots.

“Gamigin, I’m counting on you.”

Melek stroked the horse. He couldn’t even name himself, but he named the horse? Melek helped me into the carriage, promising to show me an amazingly smooth ride.

But driving with his eyes covered? Didn’t it matter since he was a ghost? I could ride comfortably knowing that, but wouldn’t it be scary for others? I was worried, but Hena casually followed me into the carriage. I guess not. It would only look scary to observers. We were fine, so it didn’t matter.

Indeed, his talent as a coachman was worthy of recognition. The carriages I’d ridden before had jolted around, making my bottom hurt, but with Melek driving, it was so comfortable I couldn’t even tell the carriage was moving. Was this the quality of a ghost-driven carriage?

While I was just marveling, we had already arrived at Toten Viscount’s Estate. Whether they had received Gabriel’s message well, the gate opened immediately and the carriage passed through, stopping right in front of the manor.

‘Wow. It’s incredibly huge.’

It was embarrassing to compare it to Rohanson Viscount’s Estate.

“Are you Evangeline? Thank you for visiting Toten Viscount’s Estate.”

“Thank you for welcoming me.”

A person who appeared to be a butler with graying hair had come out to greet us.

“The Viscount’s wife is waiting for you.”

Hena and I followed the butler into the manor. ‘You didn’t drive the horses wearing that, did you…?’ I heard a servant behind us, who was directing where to park the carriage, exclaim in surprise at seeing Melek wearing an eyepatch.

I don’t know anything about that. Let’s hurry inside.

The interior of Toten Viscount’s Estate was quite unique.

Perhaps for ventilation, all the windows were open, and the furniture was so cleanly maintained that not a speck of dust could be seen. Religious decorations were abundant everywhere. Somehow, the obsessively managed space felt more like a movie set than a human living space.

The sunlight came in well, making the colors vivid too. Was I watching a movie now? It felt like sitting in front of a screen, somehow losing the sense of reality, but I snapped back to attention when the butler grandfather spoke to me. Oh right. I should focus on the story.

“It’s been quite a while since Madam has invited a guest like this.”

The butler grandfather smiled warmly and started the conversation.

“Doesn’t Toten Madam have excellent connections?”

Huh, why? Gabriel had said that Toten Madam was well-connected and had good social skills all around. That’s why she’d be good as a chaperone for introductions.

Gabriel wouldn’t have lied, so maybe it was just superficial relationships? That did seem rather aristocratic.

“Haha. After all, a noisy environment isn’t good for stabilizing one’s mind and body.”

Ah. He must be talking about the sick son. Come to think of it, it would be awkward to invite guests and laugh merrily while having a sick son. Oh no, then I shouldn’t have come either?

So that’s why Gabriel said to invite Toten Madam to Rohanson Estate. I didn’t know that and said I would come. Honestly, this is Gabriel’s fault for not stopping me to the end.

“It’s also the first time Madam has agreed to be a chaperone. It’s probably due to the influence of the story she heard from the Knight Captain.”

“The story about me being sick?”

“Yes. That’s probably why Madam exceptionally allowed this visit.”

The butler grandfather was giving me a hint. That Toten Madam had invited me and agreed to be my chaperone because I was in a similar situation to her sick son. But I had come barging into her house without knowing this kindness.

Was it thanks to his experience? His skill at indirect criticism was excellent. But since it was my fault, I couldn’t say anything. I’m sorry for being so inconsiderate.

“And this old man presumptuously speaks from excessive concern… please don’t give Madam false hope.”

False hope? What did he mean?

“Madam has only recently come to terms with things, but hearing about Evangeline’s story, she seems to have started hoping that Master Rider might also recover.”

Wouldn’t that be good? I had become like a symbol of hope.

“But Master Rider is truly hopeless, to the point where even holy water is useless…”

The butler grandfather trailed off sadly. I had been short-sighted. Sometimes hope can be poison too.

The butler grandfather bowed his head. Oh no, he wasn’t crying, was he? The illness seemed more serious than I thought. If there was no improvement even with holy water, it must be serious – like a terminal condition?

To summarize, the butler grandfather seemed to be telling me not to offer comfort like saying the son would recover like I did, since Toten Madam’s son wouldn’t recover like me. If she got her hopes up only to be disappointed, she might be hurt beyond recovery.

“…Madam might ask you about the method by which you recovered.”

“Don’t worry. Even if Madam called me seeking hope, there’s nothing I can really do for her.”

Then there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Evangeline was already dead, and the appearance of recovery was only because I had possessed her body. I wasn’t exactly a precedent of miraculous recovery within this world’s order, so I couldn’t give advice or anything.

Hearing my words, the butler grandfather was greatly relieved. He really cared a lot about Toten Madam. He was like the epitome of a butler. Our house’s butler always gets scared and runs away whenever he sees me. But I can’t say anything because Evangeline’s sins were too great.

“Unlike what I heard, you’re quite reasonable. I’m relieved.”

The butler grandfather smiled as if relieved. But hasn’t this grandfather been subtly criticizing me indirectly this whole time?

Right now he was basically saying ‘Your reputation was terrible, but it’s good that you’re more obedient than expected.’ Thanks to the speech lessons I received from Dolline, I could now interpret everything.

After always seeing people tremble at Evangeline’s infamy, it was refreshing to see someone approach me so boldly. I heard that butlers from high-ranking noble families have high pride – this must be exactly that case.

Did he think Evangeline would know her place and bow her head to the Viscount’s wife who would be her chaperone?

“You must really respect Toten Madam?”

“Pardon?”

The butler looked at me, puzzled by the sudden question.

“You care so much about affecting Toten Madam that you told me, whom you met for the first time today, all about the Viscount family’s circumstances.”

As expected, a competent butler had good intuition too. He understood perfectly. He completely prostrated himself. I originally had no pride anyway. If I had pride, would I be playing romance games with novel characters?

I decided to use Dolline’s ‘indirect speaking technique’ to praise the butler grandfather’s high loyalty and his information network that grasped all of the Viscount estate’s circumstances.

“Anyone would think you were the master of the Viscount estate.”

Your sense of ownership is excellent too. The ideal talent that employers covet most! Woohoo!

“…”

Perhaps my flattery was excessive, as the butler was left speechless.

Oops. I shouldn’t grovel to subordinates in romance novels – it’s an unwritten rule, but I unknowingly made an overly flattering remark.

Actually, when he was subtly criticizing me earlier, I thought about saying something, but I barely held back because it might create another bad rumor.

And what if I got upset and said something, then the butler grandfather badmouthed me to the Viscount’s wife? Between me, whom he met today, and a butler who had worked for a long time, who would be more trustworthy? If gossip started, it would be an immediate farewell to the chaperone. So since I endured it, let me endure to the end. Let me think of the chaperone.

“You have excellent speaking skills. I suppose you’ve given the same reception to all guests who have visited the Viscount estate?”

Your service is outstanding, and your guest reception is perfect!

If I could have left a guestbook, I would have written ‘The butler was kind and the Viscount estate was delicious’ and given it five stars.

Perhaps the barrage of compliments was too burdensome, as the butler grandfather began sweating profusely.

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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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