My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 58

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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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Gabriel looked at me with a strange expression. What reflected in his eyes was an oddly pristine, flawless blue. I always thought it looked like a cloudless sky, but seeing myself reflected like this, it seemed more like an untainted water surface.

“My beliefs, my philosophy, my ideals—everything I’ve built from the ground up feels meaningless.”

This whole time it had been Gabriel’s own story, not Misha’s. What’s with him suddenly setting this mood and making a fuss? My heart felt ticklish—I must have an allergy to romance novels.

Gabriel couldn’t even see my reluctant expression as he continued speaking.

“You, who destroyed my world and forced your way in, seem to be rebuilding the world from scratch however you please.”

As my body spun around, the hem of my dress spread low and wrapped around my body. Gabriel said he was just as helpless before me as someone facing a natural disaster.

An existence that would shake the world—if you heard it briefly, it sounded like a heartfelt love confession.

“That sounds like a confession.”

I meant it as a joke, but Gabriel didn’t deny it. A confession? That?

I knew well that Gabriel liked me, and I knew that ending up with Gabriel, the male lead, was the most ideal way to escape execution or an unhappy ending.

But having it thrust in my face without warning made my head spin for a moment. I felt nauseous.

The emotion I suddenly faced made me uncomfortable. My excited mood about enjoying events from the novel deflated completely and my feet grew heavy.

“You like me?”

From what I could tell, Gabriel’s words weren’t a love confession but self-reproach. His appearance with gently lowered eyes looked forlorn, as if crushed by guilt rather than ecstatic from being in love.

If Gabriel had made a sweet face and whispered romance instead, my mood wouldn’t be this miserable. That would be a flat, paper-pressed kind of love. It would be nothing more than the male lead performing his role.

So this is like the creepiness you feel when a ghost that existed beyond the monitor reaches its hand outside. It’s the vivid disgust of thinking the black things on the open pages of a book were just letters, only to see them writhe and sprout arms and legs, becoming ants that march in lines toward me.

Not loving Evangeline as a preset value, but actually liking me?

“Without even knowing who I am?”

I met Gabriel’s eyes deeply. What reflected in the transparent glass was Evangeline’s face. All Gabriel knew was that I was a possessor. He probably agonized and confessed like that because of it. But is that really Gabriel’s true feelings? Not a preset value? Not being captivated by Evangeline’s appearance?

Gabriel’s body stiffened and his dance movements became terribly slow. This time I led Gabriel instead.

Gabriel couldn’t even answer. He clamped his mouth shut and avoided my gaze. Wanting to run away immediately but continuing to dance because of his promise was quite typical of the rigid Gabriel.

Even though no answer came back, I felt relieved instead.

Right? Even you think something’s strange about this, don’t you? My heart became peaceful again.

“Count Gabriel just needs to get along with me appropriately.”

I don’t want anything like heavy sincerity. I’d rather avoid it.

I get along with Gabriel to receive his protection and to avoid whatever fate might await in the future.

Gabriel just needs to get along with me to that extent. Just like Evangeline and ask for help when Evangeline needs it, like requesting a partner.

Gabriel’s complexion was particularly pale—maybe I pushed too hard. Anyone would think Gabriel was the one who died, not Evangeline.

“Shall we stop here?”

If we kept dancing, Gabriel looked like he might collapse. We’d only matched two songs, but seeing how well I could follow the dance, I felt I could dance other dances sufficiently.

Since I wasn’t going to keep dancing continuously anyway, this should be enough.

Ah. Come to think of it, I was planning to tighten my hold on my prospects today! Did I put up too much of a wall while forgetting my purpose? I think I got too immersed.

From Gabriel’s perspective, he was laying groundwork for a confession when his romantic interest suddenly pushed him away saying they weren’t there yet, right? He must be wondering why I’m suddenly acting like this. Is that why he’s at a loss for words?

“I quite like you, Count.”

The waltz that seemed like it would last forever ended, and I whispered while holding my dress hem and curtsying. This won’t fix things, but saying something would be better. If I push too hard it won’t be managing prospects, so I should at least give some lip service.

Since Gabriel definitely likes Evangeline’s face, I forced myself to smile. Since I don’t usually use my smiling muscles, it felt awkward… My mouth corners felt like they might cramp.

I glanced at the mirror to see if I was smiling properly, but instead of looking pretty, I saw a smile that looked like it could kill someone, so I quietly lowered my mouth corners. I really have no talent for acting.

***

While Lady Rohanson briefly went to try on clothes, Gabriel was able to have a short conversation with Daisy. It seemed as if Evangeline had deliberately stepped away to let them talk.

“I received the message about Mr. Ponor well. It seems the Lady intends to keep Mr. Ponor by her side.”

“Yes. The Lady said Mr. Ponor seems to be reflecting a lot, and she seemed pleased with him.”

If she’s keeping a spy sent by Bishop Jabaniya by her side, she must be quite pleased indeed. Fortunately, Evangeline’s information hadn’t leaked out.

Dorine Ponor’s letters hadn’t arrived, so Bishop Jabaniya seemed quite anxious. How desperate must he have been to subtly ask Gabriel about the tutors Lady Rohanson had hired?

“I gave Bishop Jabaniya an appropriate excuse.”

“Is that so?”

Daisy organized what she needed to tell the butler. Then she looked at Gabriel with a strange expression.

She wondered why this knight, who should rightfully follow the Sun God, was taking the Lady’s side. It wasn’t like he had received help like Daisy had.

According to Kanna, Gabriel had expressed a favorable position toward the Lady from the beginning. Hearing that, she realized she had targeted the wrong person when trying to report Lady Rohanson’s corruption as a nun. Now, thanks to that, she could protect the Lady’s secret.

“Why do you stay by the Lady’s side, Count Gabriel?”

At Daisy’s sudden question, Gabriel seemed ready to avoid answering. Before he could deflect, Daisy asked once more.

“Do you want something from the Lady?”

Or did he really bewitch her as Count Rafaela said? Daisy pressed sharply. Gabriel noticed Daisy’s attitude of wanting to extract an answer no matter what. Something he wanted.

“Yes. I do.”

Ridiculously, that was exactly right. Gabriel wasn’t someone who acted without purpose, and he did want something from Lady Rohanson. Publicly, it was to handle the influence of the sorcery faction. Privately…

That day when flames flickered, the vivid image of white hair dyed red by firelight was still clear. If Gabriel’s heart had stopped at that first moment he met Evangeline, he would have handed over her personal information to the Temple Authority instead of protecting her.

Certainly it started with curiosity. Like a leafless flower blooming from a withered tree, it was fascinating to see a corpse move while ignoring divine authority. Next came fear. He was afraid of what she might do once she removed the mask of Evangeline Rohanson. So he tried to please her to avoid offending her.

Change happens suddenly. The tsunami struck Gabriel in an instant.

When he heard that Lady Rohanson had uncharacteristically saved the orphanage children, faint hope arose. When he felt the slow heartbeat, he realized Evangeline was alive.

So when she said there was no way to save the young marquis, he dared to feel disappointed. Unknowingly, he had been overlapping Gabriel’s past with Young Marquis Toten.

So he imagined Evangeline Rohanson promising salvation to his younger self, which is why he felt arbitrarily disappointed when she said there was no way.

He thought that if she were an omnipotent being beyond reason, she would perform miracles that humans couldn’t. He had arbitrarily thought of her as human, yet in situations like this, he considered her non-human again.

He had arbitrarily expected that Evangeline Rohanson was different from things of the past.

Paradoxically, through that presumptuous disappointment, Gabriel realized he was slowly opening his heart to Evangeline.

“Count Gabriel?”

So he didn’t want to let go of the hand Evangeline had extended first. He held on like a child without even realizing it, and felt ashamed for being such a fool who didn’t even know his own feelings.

Before Gabriel could collect himself, Evangeline returned from her fitting.

“Count Gabriel, how does the Lady look?”

Gabriel looked at Evangeline.

“It suits you very well.”

The dress that Artemisia had labored over for days seemed to clearly recognize who it was made for, matching its owner perfectly.

Gabriel tried not to focus his gaze on the exposed white neck. Since he and Lady Rohanson weren’t in any significant relationship, stealing glances felt sinful.

Unaware of Gabriel’s feelings, Artemisia kept insisting he look at Evangeline. When he couldn’t provide proper commentary, she gave examples and poured out all kinds of praise. It made one wonder if she just wanted to compliment her herself.

Schmittiana fearlessly circled around Evangeline with flushed cheeks. That appearance was exactly like Michel, who had been teary-eyed and whining this morning about wanting to serve Lady Rohanson. Seeing this, Rafaela clicked her tongue, saying blood couldn’t be denied.

Unlike Michel, Artemisia didn’t seem to have any particularly likeable qualities, so what had happened while staying at Rohanson Manor?

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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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