My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 63

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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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“It’s not confirmed yet. There’s also Baroness Toten…”

“The Crown Prince’s birthday is in two days. Will we hear from Toten Madam by then?”

Rafaela must have never experienced someone going radio silent before. Let me give you some life advice, Rafaela. Whether it’s lovers or team projects, people who disappear usually never show up again. That’s why it’s called going silent.

“Or there’s my mother too. If the opponent is a duke, even Bishop Marik wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

“Didn’t you say you cut ties with her?”

“No! That’s just what I said, but she’s actually very worried about me. I’ll grab onto her trouser legs and beg her to be Evangeline’s chaperone!”

Rafaela cried out desperately. Is she worried I might be in danger? At least she has some loyalty. I’m actually a bit moved.

“And it seems like surveillance has been attached.”

What? That wasn’t in the letter. Don’t tell me they’re tailing me because of the rumors? But I don’t even leave the house, so how are they planning to surveil me?

At those words, Jelly, who had been eating grapes behind us, responded indifferently.

“Oh, that guy who kept lurking around the house? I already took care of him.”

Took care of? Wait, Jelly. Were you secretly patrolling and playing dark hero without me knowing? I’ve been nagging you thinking you just laze around all day!

“How could you take care of that! Now that the eyes placed on the manor have disappeared, they’re even more suspicious!”

But that seems to have been wrong. I guess the nagging was deserved. Rafaela got angry without knowing who was speaking, then belatedly looked at Jelly with an uncomfortable expression.

“Evangeline… Come to think of it, who is that person?”

Is this their first time meeting?

“Me? Jelinde?”

“I was asking Evangeline though?”

A subtle war of nerves continued. Gasp, did they realize they’re love rivals over Daisy? Since Daisy likes Rafaela right now, I should take Rafaela’s side.

“Jelly is… my dog?”

Oops. While trying to explain my relationship with minimal connection to Daisy, I unconsciously just called him a ‘dog’. Now I’ll get glared at for beastman discrimination again.

“Ah, I mean, a subordinate I work like a dog.”

I quickly added. But isn’t this something only an evil employer would say? Rafaela hit her ears as if she’d heard nonsense. I’m, I’m sorry.

Meanwhile, Jelly showed no displeasure at being called a dog and gently wagged his tail. What’s this, am I mistaken? He’s in human form right now, so I must be seeing things.

No. It wasn’t a mistake. A tail had popped out from Jelly. There are even ears. When the ears on top of Jelly’s head twitched, my hand unconsciously flinched. I wasn’t seeing things earlier either! But why are they popping out when he usually hides them well?

Fortunately, Rafaela was busy hitting her own ears and hadn’t noticed yet. Put those away! Quickly! I sent signals desperately with my eyes, and Jelly tucked away his ears and tail.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah. This? Don’t you like this kind of thing, Master?”

“I like that kind of thing?”

What nonsense is he spouting? Why would I like that?

“Yes. That’s why you only dote on Pu… Pudding all the time, isn’t it?”

Aha. It wasn’t about preferences, just that I favor animals more. I thought. Jelly must be calling me master because he’s competing with Pudding. No, you should compare comparable things. Pudding is still young. Of course I have to take better care of him.

I was about to tell him to act more mature when Rafaela looked at Jelly with an expression of not knowing what to say. Don’t tell me she saw Jelly’s ears and tail? Unlike before, Rafaela spoke to Jelly in a much softer voice.

“Um, excuse me…”

“Are you calling me?”

“If there’s any unfair pressure, please report it.”

“What?”

What is she saying! Unfair pressure? Is she thinking of me as some perverted beastman slave collector? Another line is about to be added to the countless rumors. How do I explain this? I don’t like beastmen? No! That looks even more suspicious! It would seem like I’m trying to hide my preferences, making me look even more perverted!

Jelly also seemed dumbfounded and burst into laughter.

“Hey, you’re really funny. Are you telling me to report my master right now?”

Don’t call me master! You’ve never called me that before, so don’t suddenly raise suspicions!

“If I report it, is there anyone who could actually catch her?”

Jelly giggled while continuing to eat grapes. Wanting to show off occasionally, he even threw some to Pudding to catch. Of course, our proud Pudding caught the grape and threw it back at Jelly’s face with full force.

Jelly got hit by fruit from a cat and laughed even more. Where does he look like someone suffering from unfair labor? To my eyes, he just looks like a freeloader who found a good guardian. When I glared at him feeling wronged, Rafaela avoided my eyes.

“Hahaha. Of course I’m joking. You know that, right?”

No, I don’t know? Right now I said I’d support your romance with Daisy, but you’re seeing me as an evil employer? When I glared, Rafaela hurriedly packed her things.

“Then I’ll go find my mother to prepare for any possible situation.”

Rafaela executed an escape. Where are you trying to run?

“Never mind.”

“Pardon?”

Realistically, would last-minute begging work?

Even I would be annoyed if a son who cut ties with the secular world and entered a monastery came back after years asking me to be a guardian for some girl he’s interested in at his monastery, and I’d kick his butt and throw him out. Let’s give up on the duke, unfortunately.

“Would Bishop Marik normally readily step forward as chaperone for an unknown young lady?”

“No. He’s kind but has clear boundaries. Even if asked, he wouldn’t agree.”

Such a person stepping forward would be because he finds me extremely suspicious. Given the rumors about Evangeline, there are so many vicious ones that no civilian would believe them, so it’s understandable he’d think I’m possessed by an evil spirit.

“If Toten Madam doesn’t come, let’s accept Bishop Marik’s recommendation.”

“But Bishop Marik is dangerous…”

“Desperately refusing will only make us look more suspicious.”

Regardless of genre, when there’s someone running away, it’s the habit of characters chasing suspicious things to catch them first. The more you hide and avoid, the more suspicious they become and the more they stick to you.

They’ll dig around everywhere, investigate thoroughly enough to be called a nuisance and cancer, and interfere with everything. I bet Bishop Marik would do the same. So rather than running away, wouldn’t a frontal breakthrough be better?

Most importantly, I’m not the same person I used to be! The days when I was terrible at acting and got caught being possessed everywhere are over. I didn’t just learn etiquette and dancing all this time. Let me introduce the renewed ‘Evangeline’ completed through Dolline’s delicate instruction and the memories of Evangeline that Daisy instilled!

Now I’m confident I can even fool Rohanson Viscount. I wonder what’s gotten into the Viscount, suddenly asking to have lunch on the day of the banquet, but I should test it then. By the way, isn’t fasting basic on banquet days? He has no consideration. Well, that’s why he’s still neglecting whether his daughter becomes a villainess or gets possessed by someone.

“Please let Toten Madam come…”

This kid. It seems Rafaela finds me quite disagreeable. Or Bishop Marik is a very scary person. He’s not really going to beat me with World Tree branches for exorcism, is he? That would be a bit scary.

I tried to handle it with dignity, but seeing Rafaela’s state made me think it would be good if Toten Madam came too. But it’s shameless to pester someone to come when they have a sick child. Then I should have just told Rafaela to use this opportunity to reconcile with her estranged mother. Rafaela looked at me with eyes that had become moist.

“Seeing there’s no contact yet, she probably won’t come, right?”

Seeing Rafaela so frightened suddenly made mischief well up in me.

“Shall we make a bet?”

“Pardon?”

As expected, Rafaela furrowed her brow as if asking what nonsense I was spouting.

“I’ll bet that Toten Madam will come.”

Rafaela looked puzzled. It’s probably because I, who was certain she wouldn’t come, bet on the opposite side.

“Won’t she not come? The child is sick.”

“Well. The situation might change.”

Tsk. This is why amateurs are like this. Don’t you know reverse betting when gambling? Gambling is done for that thrill.

Of course, my true feelings were different. I don’t want to get hit with something like a stick made from breaking World Tree branches! Please come!

***

Already the fifth day of terrible monsoon rains, the day of the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet had arrived. The sun disappeared at midday, and only the dark clouds covering the sky spewed rain. When night came, the world became even more gloomy, hidden in the shadows of the dark clouds. The fierce raindrops, as if intending to submerge the earth, pounded the windows fiercely as if trying to enter the room.

Kinder Toten checked once more that the windows were firmly locked and drew the curtains. The Toten Viscount’s Estate, usually full of the fragrance of sunlight, was filled with damp, moldy odors today.

Kinder’s eyes were dark with circles from staying up all night for several days already. Her eyes were red from crying so much. Sitting in the chair beside the bed all day made her back feel like it would break. However, Kinder soon forgot her pain at the faint voice that could be heard.

“Mother, ni…”

“Rider! Yes, Mother is here.”

Kinder rushed to the bed in one step and stroked her son’s sweat-soaked head while continuing to talk to him. The body temperature touching her hand was unusually hot.

Five days ago, when the monsoon began, Rider’s condition had suddenly worsened. Yesterday he couldn’t even open his eyes all day, suffering from high fever, and only now barely regained consciousness after a night had passed.

Rider had always been frequently ill since birth, but this time was the most severe. The servants working in the Viscount’s household had secretly prepared black clothes in advance without the lady knowing. There was only one person in the manor who couldn’t accept the child’s death.

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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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