My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 68

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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 said you were looking for me, so I brought you here. Isn’t that right?”

I don’t know. I should just brazenly go along with it. Toten Madam seems mentally unsettled and confused from rushing through the heavy rain, so I’ll pretend not to know that Jelly teleported her here and let it slide.

Toten Madam held her head, looking confused.

“That’s… right. I came looking for you, young lady.”

Fortunately, she really did have business with me. Could it be that she came to serve as my chaperone?

“Please get in the carriage. You’re completely soaked.”

“Well… I was worried the young lady might have already left for the Imperial Palace, so I had to rush here on horseback.”

So she’s saying she rushed here through the rain because she was afraid I’d scold her if she was late? Just how wickedly does she see me?

Considering the soaked madam, Daisy added more firewood to the fireplace. Meanwhile, Hena returned from outside with towels and handed one to Toten Madam. It seemed like she gave it to her to dry her drenched body, but Toten Madam only wiped her tears. No, you’ll catch a cold like that.

But Toten Madam looked in no condition to attend a ball. She was so soaked from the rain that water dripped from her hair to her face, making her look exactly like someone who had been crying hard. Her eyes were red too. Don’t tell me she didn’t come to chaperone me, but to cancel because she can’t do it?

She might have gone radio silent all this time and finally came to see me late because her conscience was bothering her.

“Either way, you’re rather late to be making a decision.”

Whether to cancel or give permission, it would have been so nice if she had contacted me a little earlier. Oh. I didn’t mean to complain, but I ended up speaking sarcastically without realizing it.

“You’re right. I’m too late…”

Toten Madam’s eyes welled up with tears at my question, and her face contorted. She seemed to regret it tremendously and feel sorry. Oops, I misspoke. People can be a little late sometimes.

“I was waiting for you.”

I took the towel from Toten Madam’s hands and dried her off myself. Toten Madam’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden physical contact. I didn’t intend to think this while facing someone who looked like a drowned mouse, but perhaps because I had barely escaped the situation of having Bishop Marik as my chaperone, Toten Madam felt like a knight on a white horse. Of course, the horse Toten Madam rode was just a brown horse.

“You’ll be my chaperone, won’t you?”

Now that it’s come to this, even if Toten Madam says she won’t be my chaperone, I’ll have to prostrate myself and beg her. If only Toten Madam agrees, I won’t have to tremble in fear in front of the exorcist anymore.

“I need someone who will sincerely care for me even after seeing me as I truly am.”

“Alright, I’ll do anything. Anything.”

It seems my saying that Toten Madam was the only suitable person to take responsibility for me worked. Toten Madam agreed without hesitation. Hooray! I’m glad I waited at home instead of immediately following the Count. Now that Toten Madam has come, I have justification to refuse Bishop Marik.

I feel so good about avoiding the dangerous companionship with the exorcist and the exorcism ending that I could fly. Rohan almost became a spiritual artifact. I acted tough to Rafaela saying I’d just do whatever, but I was actually a bit scared. But considering medieval torture methods, isn’t it natural to be frightened? Wouldn’t it be strange to be calm about it?

“Young lady… did you know I would come?”

“No. I’m not a believer, and there’s no way I could know the future.”

“I suppose so…”

Honestly, I didn’t even expect it. Rafaela should have been here! It’s a shame that Rafaela couldn’t experience the thrill of winning on a reverse bet.

“I thought the young lady would know that I would eventually come looking for you.”

Toten Madam became dejected. Geez. She must be disappointed that I didn’t believe in her. But isn’t it a bit much to expect trust after going radio silent?

“Rider has been sick all this time.”

Of course, if her son was sick and she had no time to contact me, then she’s innocent. She wasn’t a thief but a righteous bandit.

“His fever was so high that I only thought of you today. I’ve come too late, but… Rohanson young lady, do you remember what you said to me before?”

“What did I say?”

What did I say? I only remember complimenting the Viscount’s household’s butler grandfather? Toten Madam hesitated, then raised her head to meet my eyes.

“You told me to lean on you.”

“I did?”

I said that?

“You definitely said it. You said it was fine to lean on you.”

Toten Madam spoke with conviction. Her eyes were blazing with such certainty that it couldn’t possibly be a lie.

I guess I did say that. Maybe I said it while comforting her? I must have said all sorts of things to make a good impression on the madam then. This is why people should speak honeyed words in moderation.

“If those words are still valid, please. I beg you, help me.”

Toten Madam leaned toward me, bringing her face suddenly close. Feeling burdened, I slightly pulled back and raised my face, which ended up making me look arrogantly defiant with my chin up. Couldn’t you back away just a little?

Well… since the madam said she’d be my chaperone, I could listen to her request, but shouldn’t I hear what kind of favor it is first? I also have limits to the funds I can use.

“Is it about Rider?”

“Yes. You’re the only one who can bring that child back.”

Ah. Hearing Toten Madam’s words, I could guess the whole story. Her son was so sick that she was distracted, then realized today was the debutante ball and rushed over. But Rider is still very ill, so Toten Madam came to me grasping at straws.

“…I dare to ask you. Please bring Rider back.”

Toten Madam’s eyes became moist again. I definitely told her before that there was no other way to save Toten Madam’s son, speaking as if the rumors were true. So I thought Toten Madam was just avoiding me.

“At this rate, the butler will get his way and the viscountcy will be taken by Diess.”

“The butler?”

Are you talking about butler grandfather who was completely loyal?

“As the young lady said, the butler has been deceiving me. Taking advantage of my child’s illness, he’s brought my husband’s brother who could inherit…”

Wait. I don’t quite understand the situation? Butler grandfather is trash? And I told her that? I only complimented butler grandfather though?

Toten Madam briefly explained the household situation. To summarize, butler grandfather and the husband’s brother are working together, planning to kill Rider and then swallow up the Viscount’s household.

The situation is much more serious than I thought? It’s not just about curing a sick child, but about supporting the succession competition involving the entire Viscount’s household. Then butler grandfather’s advice not to tell me the treatment method wasn’t out of consideration, but to secure his own interests.

Toten Madam seemed to be pondering something, biting her lips and clasping her hands together. She glanced at me and moved her mouth hesitantly.

“Please help me. You’re the only one I can ask for help, young lady.”

There was nothing Toten Madam could do now, and the only way to break through this situation was for Rider to be completely cured and solidify his position. Toten Madam must have thought I was the only one who could solve both problems. Evangeline has a notorious reputation, funds, and a track record of recovering from illness to health.

But is there anything I can do? Evangeline’s recovery only appears that way because I possessed her body. After pondering a bit because of Toten Madam who was silently crying and looking at me desperately, I came to a conclusion.

“Hena, how much time do we have?”

“Enough time to briefly stop by the Viscount’s mansion.”

Hena checked the time and played along. Did you hear that? She says there’s enough time to stop by briefly.

Although I might not be as omnipotent as Toten Madam wants, I at least wanted to listen to her story and share some of her burden. Even if I can’t completely cure the child, I can at least use the villainess’s reputation to save Rider from butler grandfather or the Viscount’s brother who have taken control of the household.

It bothered me too much to ignore. Yes, this is give and take. Toten Madam is someone who became my chaperone despite Evangeline’s notoriety. She did go radio silent, but she had circumstances with her sick child, and she rushed over even on the same day worried about being late.

“Count Gabriel mentioned that Toten Madam is renowned as a model of noble ladies.”

Toten Madam looked puzzled at my sudden opening.

Perhaps from rushing through the rain, Toten Madam’s hair was pressed down and flattened, her makeup was mostly smeared, and her dress was torn in several places. Compared to her reputation of being regarded as the perfect model of noble ladies in high society, she was in quite a disheveled state.

“I can’t take my chaperone to the ball looking rain-soaked. Unfortunately, Rohanson Estate doesn’t have clothes for you to wear, so we’ll have to go to the Toten Estate.”

Toten Madam’s eyes widened.

“With this much rain, I can’t send you alone. I’ll accompany you.”

Besides, Toten Madam rode a horse to Rohanson Estate. Since she also needs to attend the ball, we have no choice but to stop by the Viscount’s household first and then head to the ball together.

“Thank you. Thank you, young lady.”

Toten Madam’s eyes glistened with emotion. What the Count said during lunch about me becoming a proper person, and now Toten Madam too – everyone gets tremendously moved when I treat them just a little kindly. Just how trashy was Evangeline’s personality really?

“Then let’s hurry to the estate, oh!”

Toten Madam stepped forward joyfully but limped. Looking closer, the heel of her shoe had fallen off. Goodness, there’s nothing intact. Just how roughly did you rush over here?

My shoes probably won’t fit Toten Madam’s size… Ah, there’s one pair that looks like it might be similar in size.

“Daisy. Could you bring Mother’s shoes? The ones Misha repaired.”

“Yes. I’ll get them.”

Daisy went out and brought the shoes.

“How’s the size?”

“They fit well. But… is it alright for me to wear the young lady’s mother’s belongings?”

The shoes the madam is now wearing were excavated from the storage room. While Evangeline’s mother’s belongings are generally well-organized downstairs, exactly one pair was stuck in the storage room next to my room.

Except for the stains, they’re elegant women’s shoes, but I immediately realized they weren’t Evangeline’s because the foot size was different. When I found them, they were stained dark red, so maybe they were forgotten when trying to throw them away?

It felt awkward for me to throw away someone else’s belongings, so I just left them, but Misha thought they were my shoes and cleaned them up nicely. She said it was difficult removing the stains, but since they didn’t fit, I couldn’t wear them and just left them.

“Yes. It’s fine.”

So it should be okay for Toten Madam to wear them, right?

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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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