The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Forsaken Prince’s Ghost Bride — Episode 15

“You’ve grown that much?”
“I have! I wonder how much taller I’ll be next month?”
James, struck by a sudden idea, led Lusian to a pillar standing before the Main Gate.
“What are you doing?”
“Measuring your height. Stay still for a moment.”
James took out a small knife he habitually carried and made a small scratch on the pillar. Lusian checked the mark of his own height.
“Now, if I write today’s date here beside it…….”
Imperial Calendar 315, Month Six, Day Twenty-Seven.
Lusian traced the mark James had carved.
“How about we measure your height here every time we meet from now on?”
“I like that!”
“Good. Then let’s see how much you grow. Well, I should be on my way now.”
James, who had been gathering his things, suddenly turned back with a snap of his fingers.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Need? Hmm…….”
Nothing came to mind.
“If you need anything later, just tell me next time. I’ll get it for you. Or if it’s really urgent on the way, you could go to the Village…… wait, can you not do that?”
“The Village?”
James suddenly realized what he’d said and looked back at Lusian. The boy’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he’d caught every word.
“There’s a village here?”
James blinked in surprise at the unexpected question, at a loss for what excuse to make.
“……You didn’t live nearby?”
“Nearby?”
“Well, you’re an orphan…… oh, wait.”
Fortunately, Lusian didn’t seem to have caught that last part, tilting his head in confusion. James caught his gaze and rephrased his words.
“Where is your hometown?”
“Hometown?”
“Yes, where you used to live.”
“Well…… I don’t know.”
‘Does he not remember where he lived because he was so young?’
James nodded thoughtfully, thinking it entirely plausible for an orphan.
“Then do you know any villages near here? Or the capital?”
James explained several village names and the capital in detail, but Lusian’s expression showed he didn’t recognize any of them. Relieved that the boy seemed to be from far away, James let out a satisfied sigh.
‘I was told not to let the child escape, but no one said anything about him going to the village.’
James, who harbored sympathy for Lusian, smiled smugly as he dismissed the Head Servant’s advice from his mind.
“You get twenty Gold a month. Twenty Gold is enough for a family to live on for a month with plenty to spare.”
In other words, it was more than enough for a child to spend alone.
“It looks like you haven’t spent any money so far, so you should have about sixty Gold saved up by now.”
“Wow, James, you’re really quick at math!”
“Ahem! I’m good with numbers, which is how I got into the Imperial Palace. Oh wait, I mean…… that’s not what I meant!”
James quickly corrected the conversation before it veered off track.
“The point is, all that money is yours, so spend it however you like. There’s nothing to use it on here anyway, so why not go down to the village and spend it there?”
“I can go to the village?”
“What’s to stop you? Though, when you go down to the village, wear a Hat at least. Your appearance stands out quite a bit right now.”
For instance, that white hair that calls to mind royalty, or those golden eyes.
‘But no matter how much you try to look like royalty, could you actually keep looking like that all the time?’
James suddenly found himself suspicious of Lusian’s appearance.
“Yes, thank you for telling me, James.”
“No problem. Just making sure, but you understand the units of currency, right?”
When Lusian tilted his head uncertainly, James pressed his forehead and explained the approximate value of money and the path to the village.
Once Lusian confirmed that James had gone, he turned around.
“Lia, did you hear?”
[Yeah, quite thoughtful for someone who was trying to steal on the first day.]
“What do you mean?”
[……Never mind. It’s nothing.]
Lia had hidden the fact that James had tried to steal money on his first day. After all, he was the only human with whom Lusian had built any kind of connection, and there was no need to needlessly reveal that.
“There’s something I couldn’t say earlier because James was here — do you need anything?”
[Need something? Let me think…….]
As she recalled various things, there was quite a bit they needed.
Spices that weren’t among the supplies, for instance, or Parchment and Ink for studying.
The furnishings in the Mansion were so old that all manner of small consumables needed to be replaced with new ones.
Lia went ahead and wrote a list of necessary items on paper.
[Do you need anything?]
“Not really.”
[Hmm…… ah! Your Shoes!]
At Lia’s cry, Lusian looked down at his own feet. Among the supplies that had been brought in, there were a couple of outfits he could wear, but there were no Shoes.
Even if there had been, they likely wouldn’t fit. The supply clothes were still too large for Lusian as it was.
[Didn’t you say your feet were uncomfortable before? Isn’t it because your Shoes are too small?]
“Now that you mention it, it does seem like that…….”
Lusian wiggled his toes. Now that he was conscious of it, his toes seemed oddly curled in.
[You’re growing so fast these days — we should probably get Shoes at least one size larger. The sleeves on the clothes you wore when you first arrived are short too, aren’t they?]
“Yes, that’s right.”
[It’s proof that you’re growing well. I suppose you couldn’t grow properly before because you hadn’t been eating well.]
As she stroked his head, Lusian’s face brightened into a smile. Like a puppy, his eyes curved upward in delight as he reached out and caught the floating notepad in midair.
“So I just have to buy these things now?”
[You’re going to buy them?]
“You can’t go outside. So I have to go.”
[I understand, but…….]
The only places he’d ever visited in his entire life were a small palace somewhere within the Imperial Palace and here, and he hadn’t set foot outside the Mansion for nearly three months — could Lusian really go all the way to the village and back safely on his own?
What if he was swindled in the village? What if a pickpocket stole his money? No, before that even — with his pretty face, he could become a target for human traffickers.
As all manner of dark imaginings flooded her mind, Lia’s face grew stern.
[You can’t go yet. It’s too dangerous to send you alone.]
“But why? You just said I need new Shoes.”
Though there were complaints in his voice, Lia’s priority was his safety.
[No way. Let’s start Swordsmanship training starting today.]
Lusian, who had been pouting at being kept from the village, suddenly widened his eyes and grinned widely.
“Yes! Finally!”
[Once you can at least defend yourself, then we’ll go to the village. Even though the path to the village isn’t that far, you could run into wild dogs on the way, and strange people in the village might pick fights with you.]
“Yes! I understand!”
[……Aren’t you disappointed? That I won’t let you go.]
“I almost was, but you said you’d teach me Swordsmanship. I want to learn Swordsmanship first.”
After all, Lusian had been eager to learn something — whether Swordsmanship or Archery.
They organized the supplies that had arrived today and then headed to the Training Ground.
After having Lusian do some stretching and light jogging, Lia went down to the Weapon Storage.
[This should work, right?]
From among the countless weapons, she selected a sword that Lusian could actually use.
“That’s the one I’m going to use?”
He was already brimming with anticipation.
[Yes, this is what you’ll be using from today on. It seems a bit large for you, but…… I’m sure it’ll be fine.]
“Great! I can’t wait to swing it!”
As Lusian eagerly asked for it, Lia calmly handed him the sword.
[First, let’s start with basic stance, then the Vertical Slash……?]
Lia trailed off mid-sentence, staring at Lusian intently. His face had turned bright red as he stammered.
“Ugh! Hngh! It’s…… heavier than I thought…… ahhh!”
Barely managing to hold it with both hands, he carefully gripped the hilt and tried to lift the sword. But overcome by its weight, he stumbled forward.
After that, he made every effort imaginable to lift the sword, but far from swinging it, even lifting it proved a struggle.
“Hyaaah!”
[……It seems to be too heavy for you, since it’s made for an adult.]
“N-no, it’s fine! I can do this!”
[Goodness, put it down before you hurt yourself.]
Lia barely managed to pull the sword from Lusian’s hands. Watching the blade in her grip, Lusian finally burst into tears.

* * *

“Tsk, where is this place?”
A man with long red hair trailed behind him as he spoke in exasperation.
Every time he took a step, the animals resting peacefully nearby would startle and flee, or tremble and soil themselves.
His gaze held the quality of seeing something that ought not to exist.
Regardless, the man looked about anxiously.
He was lost. In the middle of a forest, no less.
“Hmm…… No matter how I think about it, something’s off. I’m sure this was the right path.”
There was no reason the forest would have changed. It was simply that the man couldn’t find his way.
“This time I managed to get several books. That spirit should be thrilled.”
The man smiled wickedly as he thought of the gifts in his Subspace.
It was a lethal smile that could captivate anyone — man, woman, young, or old.
“Wait for me, ghost! I’m coming!”
The man thought of the single spirit living in the grand Mansion and bounced forward excitedly. But soon enough, he was turning in circles again, searching for the path.

* * *

“Sniff, Lia is an idiot.”
Lusian hugged his knees, tears welling in his eyes. Today was the second day he and Lia had quarreled.
It wasn’t so much a back-and-forth fight as Lusian sulking alone and avoiding her.
Since he’d had a fright when he went to the Underground Chamber last time, he came to the forest this time — though only to a spot where the Mansion was still visible.
[……Lusian! Stop this and come back!]
Just as expected, he heard Lia calling him from the edge of the forest. With a stubborn look on his face, Lusian shouted back toward the sound of her voice.
“No! I won’t go until you give me a sword!”
[How many times do I have to tell you that you can’t lift it! You’re going to get hurt!]
“I’ll lift it anyway!”
Of course, the sword had been heavy.
He knew well enough that he couldn’t properly lift it, but he was simply disappointed that his long-awaited Swordsmanship lesson had ended so pathetically without him accomplishing anything.
Not understanding his feelings, Lia just kept saying no, and that made him resent her.
[You’re really going to do this!]
Anger crept into Lia’s voice. Lusian flinched and peeked out from behind a tree.
He could see Lia in the distance, her hands on her hips.
But why was her hair floating like that? It only made her look scarier.
[I don’t care! Live there forever if you want!]
Clearly furious, Lia spun around and headed back toward the Mansion. Lusian, suddenly panicked, rose slightly from his spot and watched her retreating figure.
He felt a pang of sadness and his face crumpled.
“Waaaah! Lia is a stupid idiot!”
Lusian began to cry out loud, his whole body trembling with sorrow.
In truth, Lusian didn’t understand why he was this upset.
It seemed like he’d been crying more often since coming here.
Before, he was always watching others’ expressions and had never cried like this, and he’d been desperate never to show his tears.
Young Lusian hadn’t yet realized that he had opened his heart to Lia and had placed great expectations on her.
Through the attention and affection he received for the first time, and through Lia’s willingness to indulge his every whim, Lusian was gradually learning a variety of emotions without even knowing it.
Of course, he was still far from recognizing the changes in himself. For now, he only wanted to ease this sadness.
“Waaaah! Liaaaa!”
At last, to find the Lia who would accept him, Lusian moved forward with his face streaked with tears and mucus.
His tears blurred his vision so that he didn’t notice he was walking deep into the forest, not toward the Mansion.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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