The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 9

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

The Ghost Bride of the Abandoned Prince — Episode 9

The hour had grown late to begin Swordsmanship training, so instead I led him toward the Art Studio to show him something else.
I kept this place locked, so Lucian had never set foot inside.
“What is all this?”
[There used to be an eccentric painter living here. This was his studio.]
It was about fifty years ago, I think. A painter had once lived in this Mansion.
Even though he lived alone, he would fly into rages whenever the smallest thing went wrong. Looking back now, I wonder if he too was soothing his loneliness that way.
[His temperament was dreadful, but his paintings—they were exquisite.]
“Can you paint like this, Bride?”
[Well, I’ve never actually painted anything myself, so I’m not sure. Still, I should be able to teach you.]

‘There’s no right answer to painting! Just paint whatever’s in your heart, keep painting and painting, and that’s all there is to it!’
‘Hmph! Anyone foolish enough to start from scratch over a single mistake is an idiot! Who knows if something better might come from that very spot?’
‘Here you must loosen your wrist just enough—that way your hand won’t tire even after long hours. Build the habit early, and you’ll never waste effort on needless flourishes.’

I never thought the eccentric painter’s muttered musings would prove so useful.
“But whoever painted this must be incredibly famous! The paintings look so alive!”
[I’m not sure if they were famous or not…….]
What was his name? Henri Reipel, I think.
“Oh? This one is a portrait?”
Just then, Lucian discovered a painting draped with cloth in the corner. Unlike the other pristine works, this one was worn and grimy, stained with the fingerprints of time.
“It’s such a beautiful person.”
A portrait of a woman smiling with delicate grace, like a single flower in bloom. This was the painting the artist kept nearest his deathbed. Surely it was a portrait of someone precious.
Lucian, who had been gazing fixedly at the woman’s portrait, slowly turned his gaze toward me.
[What?]
“You said you didn’t know what you looked like, didn’t you?”
[Yes, I did.]
“Then let me paint you!”
[What?]
My bewilderment was short-lived—Lucian had already made up his mind and was radiating enthusiasm.
“You’re so, so beautiful!”
[W-well, where did that sudden compliment come from?]
“Because you don’t believe it yourself!”
Lucian would often stare intently at my face and call me beautiful. Each time, I’d feel embarrassed and tell him not to tease me, but…….
“Once I can paint this skillfully, I’ll draw your portrait!”
The motivation seemed a bit odd, but I suppose it’s fortunate he’s showing interest in painting.
I decided to let well enough alone and ruffled his hair affectionately.
[Then let’s save the painting for later. Come on, let’s head down. I’ll show you the other rooms.]
“Okay.”
This Mansion has seen people come and go repeatedly.
The total span of human residence wouldn’t reach a century, but since only eccentrics and specialists in their respective fields had lived here, they’d accumulated quite an impressive collection of curios and antiques.
So whenever they passed, I would arrange the rooms they favored most with their belongings as a sort of memorial.
The Art Studio I’d first shown Lucian was one such example, and there were many others besides.
There was a music room containing a Grand Piano, Harp, and Violin; a laboratory favored by an alchemist; a workshop used by an archaeologist.
Though it was a two-story Mansion, its scale was quite large, and many rooms existed within it. Some I hadn’t decorated as proper memorial rooms were stored together in the Training Armory Storage.
Weapons were the primary example.
I led Lucian out of the Mansion and toward the small Training Armory Storage in the rear garden.
The storage had a deep underground passage beneath it. And in that passage lay the weapons of a Weapon Master who had once lived here.
“W-what is all this?”
Lucian’s mouth fell open at the sight of the formidable weapons arrayed before him.
[These are the weapons of the Weapon Master. I kept them because they were too precious to part with.]
“Wow…….”
[Starting tomorrow, I’m going to teach you Swordsmanship. Physical training like this is best begun in childhood. You’re starting rather late.]
“Am I going to use all of these?”
[Someday, perhaps you will.]
He has a good mind, so he should grasp the theory well enough. Whether his body will cooperate is another matter entirely. But with diligent training, he should reach competence eventually.
“What is it that you can’t do, exactly?”
Lucian asked abruptly as he surveyed the weapons.
“You cook well, you read well, you can paint, you can play Piano, you can handle all of this—there’s nothing you can’t do.”
It seems he’s mistaken me for someone who can do all these things, since I’ve offered to teach him each one.
Being able to teach something because I’ve seen or heard it done is entirely different from being able to do it myself.
As I was trying to figure out how to explain this, something unexpected came out of his mouth.
“Are you perhaps a god?”
I let out a stunned laugh, my expression dumbfounded. Seeing the brightness in his eyes, he seemed to mean it sincerely.
[Say something that makes sense. If I were a god, why would I be here doing this?]
“But there’s nothing you can’t do.”
[How many years have I lived here, did I tell you?]
“Um… three hundred years?”
[Right. More than five times the average human lifespan of sixty years. In sixty years alone, one can become a master of a single field—imagine what five times that affords.]
Lucian’s expression went blank, his head tilting in confusion. It seems the concept was beyond him.
[I’m simply someone who’s lived longer than most and picked up many skills along the way.]
“Oh!”
[And besides, teaching something is different from doing it. You might end up surpassing me someday.]
“No way, that’s impossible.”
[Why won’t you believe me?]
“Because you’re like a god who can do everything. I could never be like you.”
[Well, that’s…….]
It’s not an unreasonable statement, is it? I spent three hundred years acquiring these skills, after all.
“Still, I want to become as impressive as you! I’ll work hard from now on!”
Lucian flashed a bright smile, his teeth showing, then looked about the storage.
I felt the strange illusion of a heart beating inside my empty chest. It reminded me anew of the reason I was caring for this boy.
I needed to raise this child properly so he could navigate the harsh world of humanity and live well.
He should become someone capable of wearing fine clothes, eating good food, and living in a fine home.
Was this what it meant to be a teacher looking after a student?
My soul resonated in a way that didn’t feel entirely unpleasant.
“Whoa! H-heavy!”
Lucian grunted as he struggled to lift a sword.
His helpless expression, casting desperate SOS signals my way, was pitiable indeed. I laughed aloud and approached him.
[This is what you get for touching things without permission.]
“It looked light!”
[You haven’t a shred of muscle, and still you try. This won’t do. We’ll have to build up your body first.]
“What? But I want to swing a sword…….”
[You can’t even lift the smallest one. No arguments. Do as I say.]
“Yes…….”
I ruffled Lucian’s white hair as it grew disheveled, and we left the storage together.
Outside, darkness had already fallen.

* * *

[Now, repeat after me. A sound mind!]
“A sound mind!”
[Comes from a strong body!]
“Aah—comes from a strong body!”
Lucian trembled as he barely managed to stand from his seated position.
Day one of Swordsmanship training.
About two hours into the session, Lucian’s clothes were soaked through with sweat, and his entire body had begun to shake uncontrollably.
[Well done. That’s enough for today.]
Lucian’s body gave out. He collapsed onto the dirt without hesitation, gasping and clutching his racing heart.
[You’ve got endurance, though.]
He lasted far longer than I expected and followed my lead so well that we ended up training an extra hour beyond my original plan.
Of course, he was now practically half-dead.
[How is it? Think you can manage?]
“Huff, huff, huff…… well…….”
[Never mind—catch your breath first before you answer.]
Seeing he couldn’t manage a response, I decided to lower the intensity tomorrow.
Lucian drained the drink I gave him in one go, even crunching the ice inside before swallowing.
“Ahhh! I feel alive again!”
Seeing he was still drenched in sweat, I conjured a gentle breeze. His expression brightened noticeably.
“That was incredibly hard!”
[It was?]
“Yes! I thought my heart was going to burst and I’d die. My legs are still shaking, and lifting a cup is difficult.”
This was the first complaint I’d ever heard from him since I began teaching him.
“Do I really have to do this? Can’t I just practice swinging a sword?”
[Physical training is naturally difficult. Besides, your stamina is weak.]
“That’s……!”
Lucian pouted, sticking out his lip in protest.
[It’ll probably feel this hard for about two weeks. Your body has no foundation, so even small stimuli feel intense.]
“T-two whole weeks of this?”
[Do you want to quit?]
I lowered my gaze to meet his eyes directly, and Lucian quickly looked away. He studied my expression for a moment, then slowly nodded.
[I’d really like you to see it through.]
“……Why?”
[So you can at least take care of yourself.]
My words seemed difficult for him to grasp; he rolled his eyes around uncertainly, searching my face.
[Are you planning to stay here forever?]
“Um…….”
[It may seem distant now, but growing up happens in the blink of an eye. Besides, the Imperial Palace said they’d only support you until eighteen, remember?]
Lucian flinched. Comfortable in the life I’d provided, he’d apparently forgotten. Only ten years remained until his coming of age.
When that time comes, I won’t be providing supplies or funds—Lucian will have to fend for himself.
I don’t know how circumstances might unfold, but if he at least masters reading and Swordsmanship, he needn’t fear starvation.
[Whether sword, bow, or spear—you must possess the strength to keep others from trampling you. And if you’re ever truly desperate, you can always work as a Mercenary and survive that way, can’t you?]
“……Can’t I just stay here? I don’t want to go outside.”
Still too young to fully grasp what I was saying, Lucian remained hesitant.
“I only need you, Bride…….”
[You foolish boy. What good is staying with a ghost? You need to live among the living. You simply haven’t met someone who truly cares for you yet.]
My words seemed to displease him; Lucian’s expression turned petulant.
“Are you trying to cast me out? Don’t I matter to you anymore? I’m your groom! We already got married!”
[That marriage was never something we both agreed to.]
The words struck home, and Lucian fell silent.
“……But I’m still glad you’re my bride.”
Emotion welling up inside him, Lucian began to weep, tears rolling down his cheeks like beads. I panicked and circled around him anxiously.
[Why are you crying? I was simply saying I want you to meet many people…….]
“You’re the only person who’s ever been kind to me.”
Lucian rubbed his reddened eyes roughly.
[That’s only because everyone you’ve met so far has been strange…….]
“Are you dismissing me for being young?”
His gaze was sharp and cutting.
“I know things too. I understand well enough that people hate me. They’ve told me to drop dead.”
[What kind of nonsense is that……! Ugh.]
Unable to help myself, I snapped—and then quickly covered my mouth. Lucian’s expression softened slightly. He gave a small laugh.
“See? You’re on my side.”
[Hmph…… well, that much is true.]
“I was terrified when I first found out you were a ghost, but among everyone I’ve ever met, you’re the one with the warmest heart. You’re more amazing than anyone else. So please don’t cast me out…….”
As tears formed again at the corners of his eyes, I hurried to speak.
[I’m not casting you out. I couldn’t possibly.]
“Then why do you keep telling me to leave the Mansion?”
Lucian pressed his lips together stubbornly, objecting.
I was frustrated too. My words simply weren’t reaching him, and the conversation seemed to be going in circles.

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