My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 55

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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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Without needing to accommodate a young child’s slow pace, their speed increased significantly.

Rider, who had been leaning against the Butler’s embrace and coughing while covering his mouth, broke the silence to start a conversation. He had learned that it was a superior’s role to provide subordinates with appropriate conversation topics.

“About Lady Evangeline Rohanson… Are all noble ladies like that?”

And the most prominent topic on his mind was the person he had just met. Lady Evangeline Rohanson was truly strange. From every strand of her hair to each eyelash, she was crafted with such excessive precision that it sent chills down the observer’s spine.

That delicacy was comparable to the transparent glass craft ornament depicting an angel in Rider’s room. The person who had seemed like hardened glass had gracefully greeted Rider.

“Should I become like that too?”

Her perfect composure seemed to move with conscious calculation down to the angle of her fingertips. Rider was deeply impressed by her flawless execution of the etiquette described in protocol books.

“…I’m not sure.”

Rack trailed off.

Though Rack had devoted his life to the Viscount’s household and met many nobles, he had never encountered someone like Evangeline. Having met various nobles, Rack could tell at a glance that Evangeline was not normal, but Rider was different. He had never had the opportunity to meet and form relationships with young noble children.

Usually, children from noble families interact with their peers from childhood, but Rider had been unable to do so.

Though he might not remember, when Rider was even younger than now, the Viscountess had once invited the children of a Countess she frequently socialized with. It was a natural attempt to help him make friends his age.

However, problems arose. The Count’s children had made remarks to Rider about “the curse being contagious.”

It was clear who the ignorant children had heard such words from. The Viscountess scolded the children harshly and severed ties with the Countess.

What the Countess said then was quite a spectacle. In her excitement, she spewed various insults too crude to repeat, but the gist was this: she had graciously sent her own children to play with a child abandoned and cursed by God, yet how dare they ignore that kindness and get angry instead.

After that incident, visitors to the Viscount’s mansion became extremely rare. When Rider’s health deteriorated further, they stopped receiving visitors altogether, making Evangeline Rohanson their first guest in three whole years.

“There’s no need for you to become like that.”

You won’t live long enough to reach Evangeline’s age anyway. Rack swallowed the rest of his words.

Even so, he felt a bit frightened. There had been rumors that Evangeline Rohanson had also been cursed with a condition that holy water couldn’t cure due to her originally weak constitution. Yet now she was walking around perfectly fine.

What if Rider overcame his innate weakness one day and became like Evangeline? It was a most unpleasant thought.

The cursed child, unaware of Rack’s thoughts, continued chattering.

“I thought Lady Evangeline Rohanson was an angel who had come to take me away after death.”

Rack clicked his tongue inwardly. Evangeline Rohanson was not worthy of comparison to such sacred beings, and it was the Viscountess’s fault for planting such delusions in Rider’s mind.

An angel? How could someone cursed find rest in God’s embrace? Though it was pitiful because he was just a child, Rider would find no peace even in death.

“Did you feel the same way, Butler?”

“I was frightened.”

“Frightened?”

“Yes. I never want to face her again.”

Perhaps due to a glimmer of hope that Rider might grow up like that, Rack felt fear beyond mere displeasure.

“You must really respect Toten Madam, don’t you? You’re so concerned about affecting her that you told me, a complete stranger you met today, all about the Viscount’s household affairs.”

When she had mocked Rack for making a fool of Toten Madam, his heart had sunk. Having seen through and dissected his filthy thoughts, fear naturally washed over him.

Had she sensed something suspicious from Rack’s few words? Or had she already conducted a background investigation? Had the Viscountess noticed Rack’s scheming and asked her to test his intentions?

Countless imaginings swirled through his mind.

Wondering if the Viscountess had truly caught on, he had deliberately told the resting Rider that a guest had arrived, bringing the three together. The Viscountess still seemed unaware of the truth, but she would soon hear the facts from Evangeline Rohanson.

However, as long as the child existed, the Viscountess wouldn’t be able to take any drastic action. Rack looked down at the weakness in his arms breathing shallowly.

“Anyone watching would think you’re the master of the Viscount’s mansion.”

He had never dared to think such thoughts. Rack was simply displeased that evidence of God’s abandonment had appeared in the Viscount’s household he had loved.

The intelligent Viscountess who had loved her estate’s people had been squandering the family fortune by bringing money to the temple for her cursed son, and had been holed up in the capital for four years now, abandoning the estate.

Rack believed that Lord Raupos, the Viscount’s younger brother, should inherit the family rather than a child who would die soon. That would be far more beneficial for the Viscount’s household.

Just comparing the Viscount’s household’s status from ten years ago when the Viscount was in good health to now provided the answer.

While sharing impressions about Evangeline Rohanson, they had already arrived at the room. Rack was about to help the child to bed and leave when his sleeve was grabbed.

“Butler. I want to hear a lullaby.”

He was referring to the lullaby the Viscountess always sang before bedtime.

Normally he would never act spoiled toward the butler, but today he seemed particularly tired.

“I can’t sing as well as Madam, but if that’s alright, I’ll sing for you.”

Rack stroked the child’s head while singing a terrible lullaby. His wrinkled old hands seemed to want to absorb all of the child’s vitality as they stroked Rider’s head.

“…Are you asleep?”

The child had quickly fallen asleep. When Rack brought his hand to the child’s nose and felt the warm breath, he pulled his hand back.

The old hand moved from the child’s soft nose tip toward his slender neck, caressing the sleeping child’s throat. The cowardly old man, instead of using his hands directly, wished for God to quickly take the child’s life.

“Please die soon.”

Rack prayed to the merciful God for his wish. Then he held his breath and left the room so as not to wake the child.

The hinges twisted as the door closed. In the silence, the breathing that had been regularly exhaled in rhythm with the clock’s ticking became wet and irregular.

The child knew very well that only his mother loved him in this world.

***

It had been quite a while since visiting the Toten Viscount’s Estate. Now the debutante ball really didn’t have much time left. When I counted the days, it was three days.

What? Really only three days left? There’s less time remaining than I thought. Is this real? When did time pass like this?

While I was lamenting time flowing too quickly without me, Gabriel visited the Rohanson Estate again. It was because of my request last time for him to stop by once more.

Perhaps because he was busy with piled-up work, he arrived several hours later than the scheduled time. I thought he wasn’t coming and had gotten tired of waiting, falling into a deep sleep, when I heard the belated news of his arrival and went out to greet Gabriel.

How dare you interrupt my sweet dreams? The dream I had today was so wonderful.

It was a dream of a woman in a white dress stroking me. I don’t remember her face, but I recalled that the me in the dream had faintly called her mother. I had dreamed a nostalgic dream with my mother appearing after so long, and I never expected this to be interrupted.

But since I was the one who called him, Gabriel isn’t at fault. The Butler had taken good care of him, as Gabriel was leisurely waiting in the drawing room. When he first came, he was tense and stiff, but after visiting a few times, now he’s completely comfortable like it’s his own home.

Oh my. I see they’ve laid out refreshments quite lavishly too. Our household servants, who had initially wavered at news of the villainess associating with a holy knight, seemed to have grown accustomed to Gabriel’s visits, as none showed any disturbance.

Gabriel, spotting me, rose from his seat and bowed.

“I apologize, Lady Evangeline Rohanson. I’m late.”

You’re late for our appointment and interrupted my sweet dreams, and you think an apology settles everything? Of course it did. As a mere villainess, how could I complain to the heaven-like male protagonist?

“Were you busy with work?”

“If I may make an excuse, yes. Our Pararos Knights are also providing security for His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration.”

Gabriel seemed to be boasting about visiting me despite being so busy. Of course, since he’s a stoic male lead, he wouldn’t be saying it in a sly, roundabout way.

Because of Dolline’s rhetoric lessons, all the words in the world sound like sarcastic remarks with hidden meanings. At this rate, if I receive a compliment, I might misunderstand and get angry. That day, I’d truly become a villainess.

“Did you meet with Toten Madam well?”

“Didn’t you hear word of it?”

“Toten Madam hasn’t visited the temple since then. I tried sending a letter just in case, but there was no reply either.”

Given that there seemed to be some kind of connection between Gabriel and her, I thought he would have already heard, but apparently Toten Madam hadn’t been to the temple since then. I haven’t received any separate contact either.

“Did something happen perhaps?”

Though his words were gentle, that was essentially an interrogation. Wow. Gabriel, are you suspecting me? No way, surely you don’t think I threatened her not to go to the temple?

Since strange rumors are circulating, it seems his infatuation is gradually wearing off, so I need to act cute today to tighten my hold on him again.

“It seems Toten Youngshik doesn’t have many days left.”

“The young viscount?”

For that, I have no choice but to tell the truth first. If I just frantically insist I did nothing wrong, I might get double-checked later.

“Madam asked if there was a way to heal a sick child like I was healed.”

“So what did you answer?”

“That it’s impossible without offering one’s life to a demon.”

In other words, it was absolutely impossible. Gabriel should also know that since I was possessed, the same method couldn’t cure others.

“…Is there really no way?”

However, contrary to my expectations, Gabriel asked suspiciously.

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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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