My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 54

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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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The child in Toten Madam’s arms appeared to be only about six years old. You could tell at a glance that he was sickly, and it was immediately obvious that this was the ill son she had mentioned. He looked much worse than I had expected. I could understand why Butler Grandfather had said there was no hope.

“Butler! What have you been doing instead of sending Rider back?”

When Toten Madam scolded loudly, Butler Grandfather bowed his head as if ashamed.

“Please don’t blame him. I told him not to stop me.”

“Rider….”

As if handling something fragile, Toten Madam very carefully stroked the child’s head.

“Did you come looking for me because Mother wasn’t there?”

“Yes. And since we have a guest, I couldn’t just lie in bed by myself.”

The eyes of Toten Madam, Butler Grandfather, and the child all focused on me. Right, it’s all because of me. Is that it?

I felt so embarrassed I wanted to hide behind Hena. But then there would probably be another rumor about Evangeline shamelessly hiding behind a maid, so I stubbornly endured it.

“Cough. My name is Rider Toten, Young Lady.”

The child’s voice was very weak, as if he didn’t even have the strength to cough. Seeing Rider greet me while coughing made my guilt even worse. I should have just told Toten Madam to come to the Rohanson Estate!

When Toten Madam looked at me as if asking why I wasn’t greeting him back, I also grabbed my dress and curtsied.

“My name is Evangeline Rohanson. Young Master Toten, thank you for receiving me despite your poor health.”

I greeted him humbly as Dolline had taught me, but the Toten mother and son looked at me strangely. What was wrong? I tried my best to follow what I learned!

Toten Madam avoided my eyes. How shocking. It must have been too painful to watch. Instead of mocking me for how terrible my greeting was, she was being considerate by pretending not to notice.

“Are you satisfied now? Your cough is severe, so let’s go inside quickly.”

“Cough, cough. Yes, Mother. Lady Rohanson, I’m not feeling well so I’ll go back inside now.”

After I greeted him, Toten Madam urged Rider to go back to his room and rest since he had now received the guest.

“Yes. Please rest well.”

Though the child was staggering, instead of being carried, he walked on his own feet with support. Toten Madam watched her son’s retreating figure and asked quietly. So softly that Rider wouldn’t hear.

“How old do you think he looks?”

Age? At most, about six years old?

“About six years old.”

“Rider is eight years old. But because he’s sick, he looks much younger, doesn’t he?”

The child really looks young for his age. No wonder he spoke so maturely and fluently. As Toten Madam said, his illness seemed to make him appear more frail.

Toten Madam only returned to her seat after Rider was no longer visible. Gone was the perfect etiquette she had displayed moments before, and slumped against her chair, she looked utterly exhausted.

“…You’re right. Since you were honest with me, I’ll tell you my true feelings too. Actually, when I heard that Lady Rohanson had recovered, I wanted to see for myself with my own eyes.”

Toten Madam finally admitted her true intentions.

“I was curious how someone who couldn’t be cured even with holy water could recover.”

Toten Madam glanced to the side. Following her gaze, I saw the Sun God’s symbol decorating the wall. Rather than being made with simple symbols, it was an intricately and elaborately carved emblem that I had also seen on Gabriel’s uniform. Why was that symbol so ornate? Gabriel, who drew Donau’s corpse like a moth, could never replicate it.

“It was such an obvious ploy that you naturally noticed. But I was flustered because I didn’t expect you to bring it up first.”

“The Viscount’s Household’s butler gave me a hint first.”

“The butler…?”

“Yes. He serves the Viscount’s Household so faithfully. Working hard behind the scenes without your knowledge.”

Butler Grandfather, I didn’t forget to praise you! You’ll know that if you get a bonus later, it’s thanks to my help, right?

Toten Madam seemed unaware that Butler Grandfather had been working so hard behind the scenes, repeatedly muttering ‘Butler, the butler?’ She must be considering whether to give him a bonus. Or maybe she’s thinking about how much to give him?

Having apparently decided on the amount, Toten Madam finished her muttering and returned to the original topic.

“Since you brought it up first, I dare to ask. Is there a way to treat Rider? How did you recover? Please tell me. If there’s any hope for our Rider, I can give you anything….”

Finally, the moment of truth had arrived. Toten Madam must be thinking that a lifeline had been thrown down to her as she looked at me.

And I had to shatter her expectations. This must be exactly how a doctor feels when delivering a death sentence. Let me prepare to be grabbed by the collar.

“I’m sorry I can’t meet your expectations, but there is no method.”

“What?”

Toten Madam asked back as if she had misheard. I thought about smiling, thinking she couldn’t spit on a smiling face, but then realized that would make me look like a psychopath in this situation, so I quickly put on a serious expression. But that probably made me look crazy too. I really have no talent for acting….

“You’re lying, you’re lying, right? You’re just hiding it from me, aren’t you? Why, was the price I offered not enough? I can even give you the viscount’s estate. Lady Rohanson, please. Please tell me.”

Toten Madam seemed to think I was hiding the truth. She even added the viscount’s estate to her list of offerings. The more she spoke, the more her body leaned toward me.

“There really is nothing you can do, Madam.”

Feeling so sorry for her, I grabbed her shoulders.

“Why won’t you tell me? Is it because I approached you using Count Gabriel? I did have ulterior motives, but wouldn’t it benefit you too, Young Lady? Please take pity on Rider, who is in a similar situation to yours.”

Toten Madam looked like she was about to cry. Her contorted face clearly showed the overwhelming sorrow welling up inside her.

No… there really isn’t anything. How can I help? Evangeline just died and I possessed her body at the right timing. She really doesn’t believe me. This must be why Butler Grandfather told me to prepare myself mentally beforehand. But Butler Grandfather, the special mission you gave me is failing spectacularly.

This won’t work. I need to take a different approach. I have to tell her that I have nothing to share. Ah, right. Let me use the rumors circulating in society!

“Have you perhaps not heard the rumor that I’m not really ‘Evangeline’?”

“You’re saying that rumor is true? Don’t mock me. Your demeanor isn’t something that can be learned in a day or two.”

It failed. This is all Dolline’s fault for teaching me too well. It wasn’t a day or two, but I only learned for two weeks, you know? My talent is this frightening.

I needed to find an excuse that would make Toten Madam immediately understand and back down. But I couldn’t think of anything in particular. When I looked at Hena desperately for help, Hena gave me a hint.

Our Hena must be a genius!

Right. Since Toten Madam is a devout Sun God believer, this method should work well. I leaned forward as if sharing a great secret and whispered in Toten Madam’s ear.

“I summoned a demon.”

“What?”

“I begged the demon to save Evangeline Rohanson.”

The word Hena whispered to me with her lips was ‘demon.’ After saying it, she startled and covered her mouth. Was she amazed by her own brilliant idea?

I smiled the same smile that had once frightened young Donau. I may be bad at acting, but I’m good at imitating a villainess. Or maybe it’s just that since Evangeline is a villainess, whatever I do gets filtered as evil.

“Could you abandon your beloved Rahel and rely on a demon, Madam?”

This obviously wouldn’t work. Since Toten Madam is such a devout Sun Religion believer. In fictional worlds, religious influence is always significant. There’s a reason saintesses are so popular. As expected, Toten Madam was left speechless.

Still, worried she might be tempted, I added more.

“Even if the price demanded wasn’t the viscount’s estate but a human life? Even if it were an innocent stranger?”

By the way, this came from one of the discussions about what Evangeline might do after buying young children. It’s the same horrible rumor that made Misha suddenly shout that I couldn’t touch human skin.

When I heard from Misha later, the most popular theory was that Evangeline needed human lives to maintain her healthy body. I used that theory to crush Toten Madam’s false hopes, but… still, to correct the spread rumors, I definitely need to debut in high society.

***

Rider, who was returning to his room at the Viscount’s wife’s urging, was in a very dejected state.

“Did I get in the way?”

“Not at all. You were very dignified.”

Rack shook his head at the child’s question.

The sight of him greeting the guest with his sick body, trying to fulfill his duty as master, was remarkably admirable for his age. He was even walking back to his room on his own without any support, despite looking like he might collapse at any moment.

“How did it look to you, Butler? Was I befitting of the Toten Viscount?”

“Yes. Very much so. If the late Viscount had seen you, he would have been extremely pleased.”

Only after Rack praised him by mentioning the deceased viscount did Rider seem satisfied and relax his body. As he swayed for a moment, Rack hurriedly reached out, but the child steadied himself by leaning against the wall.

“Sorry, let me rest for just a moment….”

Rack was amazed by the child’s mental strength. His body was weakened as if he might die soon, but he never showed it.

If only he didn’t have that cursed body, he would have been a child perfectly suited to be the head of the Toten family. If the child had been born healthy, surely Rack wouldn’t have had to scheme behind the scenes like this.

“Please don’t push yourself further and lean on me. There’s no one watching, is there?”

Rider was the type who cared about the eyes of not only fellow nobles but even the employees working in the estate. He wanted to appear like a young viscount rather than a sickly young master in front of them.

As the butler said, the people in the estate were currently preoccupied with serving the guest they were receiving after a long time. Thanks to that, there was no one upstairs.

Persuaded, Rider was embraced by the butler. Rack was surprised by how light the child in his arms was, but tried not to show it as he headed toward the room.

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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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