Chapter 133

Chapter 133

The headless ghost was beheaded for killing its master. And the victim was said to be the second son of House Aujentes. At this point, the puzzle was clicking into place. Jeymon Aujentes—that was the man killed by the headless ghost. Now I needed to dig out more detailed information.

“Goodness, such a terrible thing to have happened. Killed by a manservant… how on earth did it…”

I let my words trail off as I asked her, then waited, poised, for the detailed story about the manservant to spill out.

“Oh, it’s such an old tale, even I don’t know much. Honestly, I don’t want to. It was just some mad killer’s doing, wasn’t it? As if there was a plausible reason for murder. It’s only our house that suffered, for bringing that person into the family in the first place.”

She answered with a faint, uneasy look. She clearly didn’t know much herself. Well, it was a case where the head of the house’s son had been murdered. A great tragedy for the family—it wouldn’t be surprising if they’d hushed it up.

“Good heavens, that’s truly dreadful. I feel like I’ve pried into something I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”

I pulled back smoothly as I spoke. It seemed like I should wrap up this inquiry about the headless ghost here. After all, I couldn’t dig any further into another family’s affairs.

“No, it’s fine. It’s just old history I barely know.”

At my words, she shook her head and added a remark. Then her gaze began to trace over House Aujentes’s genealogy. For a moment, she seemed to be picking through the names of the older generations one by one. Then she turned back to me and spoke again.

“Rather than that, I’d like to find your benefactor, young lady. Is there anything else you recall?”

Of course, there was no way I remembered anything. My grandparents’ touching story was nothing but a fabrication. So I just wore a regretful expression and replied, “No, it seems they aren’t here after all.”

Unaware of the truth behind it all, the young lady of House Aujentes let her shoulders slump, as if utterly deflated. She didn’t say it outright, but it was clear she was disappointed not to find a connection to the ducal house. Still, forging a link like this would have been awkward. Who knows—I might have ended up owing a debt for a favor that never existed. So I decided to nail it shut by framing this whole thing as my own mistake.

“That’s a pity… It seems it wasn’t House Aujentes after all. We’re back to square one in finding your benefactor. Still, young lady, thank you so much for showing me the genealogy. Thanks to you, I’m thinking I need to try a different approach.”

“No, it’s fine. It wasn’t that difficult.”

She answered, flapping both hands busily.

‘Heh-heh, just as planned!’

Though I hadn’t uncovered the headless ghost’s circumstances, our conversation ended this neatly—without a single loose thread. And on top of that, I learned today just how gifted a liar I am. My heart did pound a bit, but all things considered, I’d held my own pretty well.

After that, I said my goodbyes to her and climbed into the carriage bound for Cuvershaiden. But the moment I settled onto the seat, doubts began to churn. It was the problem of the headless ghost—a riddle with no thread to pull.

‘Now what?’

Sure, even if I uncovered his story, that wouldn’t let me send him into ascension or drive him out of the mansion. I’d only held onto the hope that some other path might open up. But now, even that hope had burned to ash.

The weight of it pressed in, relentless. I had to find a way somehow. I stroked my chin, letting my thoughts stretch further. Then, one possibility struck me.

‘…’Surely Auventes has an earthbound spirit or two. If there’s an old soul there, I could ask about the place’s affairs. Yes, maybe they’d even know of the headless ghost. I’ll have to visit Auventes again when I receive another invitation. And this time, I’ll stay until nightfall. If I disguise a priest as a knight escort and bring him along, it shouldn’t be dangerous.’’

It wasn’t a sure solution, but for now, it seemed like the best she had. Possession wasn’t an option for reading the headless ghost’s memories. So, she’d better start by getting close to the young lady of Auventes.

‘How long would it take to grow close enough to be invited back…?’

Lost in thought like this, the carriage was already pulling up before Cuvershaiden Manor. The moment it stopped, Laura stepped down and made her way back toward her room. Then, on a whim, she halted in front of the Duke’s study.

‘Is His Grace still inside?’

Some part of her wanted to see him. But she had no intention of barging in and disrupting his work. So she pressed her ear quietly against the door, straining to catch any sound from inside. She must have leaned in a little too hard, though—her head knocked softly against the wooden panel with a dull thud.

“Come in.”

The Duke’s voice answered at once. She hadn’t actually knocked, but she pretended she had and stepped inside. The instant the door swung open, her eyes landed on the Madam—a tiny figure barely the size of a palm, clinging to the Duke’s shoulder. Her heart lurched. It was another brutal reminder: the Madam’s time was running short.

Come to think of it, she might never have the chance to grow close to the young lady Auzentes. Before the young lady could invite her again, the Madam might simply vanish. The situation demanded every second be counted… and she had let herself forget it.

I bit my lip hard, swallowing the surge of emotion, and stepped forward to the Duke. He looked up at me, then gestured for me to come closer. I bent at the waist, bringing my face near his. He reached out both hands and began to unpin the heavy ornament tangled in my hair.

“Did you come straight here from Aujentes?”

He lifted off the large floral piece and asked me.

“Yes. I couldn’t learn much about the headless ghost. But I did find out who he killed: Jeymon Aujentes.”

“Is that so?”

“…Your Excellency, shouldn’t we try talking to the headless ghost again? There may not be much time.”

With things as they were, I had to try something. And the first step was intimidation. The headless ghost was oddly susceptible to threats. Hadn’t he fled in terror last time when the Duke threatened exorcism? This time, I meant to force a resolution.

‘Alright. I’ll tell him that if he doesn’t leave the manor, he’ll be exorcised. The headless ghost wants to stay in the land of the living at any cost.’

Souls who lingered in the land of the living always clung to sticky emotions like regret or grudges. Though he was an earthbound spirit, his strong desire to avoid exorcism might drive him to leave this place on his own. That was my assumption. The odds weren’t great, but it was worth trying.

‘Yes, there’s no time—let’s start with that plan!’

With that thought, I turned to the Duke. Then I fixed my gaze on the Madam, flickering faintly on his shoulder. My heart kept racing. I just wanted to drive the headless ghost out quickly and let the Madam ascend.

* * *

After sunset, the Duke and I searched everywhere for the headless ghost. But we couldn’t find him anywhere. Instead, only Shion’s giggling voice echoed in my ears.

“Shion!”

When I called her, the golden-haired child ran straight to us. She looked up at me with round eyes.

“Why?”

“Shion, can you bring the headless oppa here?”

“That oppa? He won’t want to come.”

“Then try taking his head.”

“Huh?”

The child tilted her head in confusion. Well, that was understandable. I’d taught her before not to play tricks with other people’s heads. But this time, the situation was urgent. I had to meet him somehow and talk, no matter what.

“I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

“Okay! Got it!”

The child mulled over my words for a moment, then nodded and dashed off toward the end of the corridor. Before long, she came back cradling a round head in her arms. Behind her, a man’s torso lumbered along, its arms flailing. He ran right up to the duke and me, then collapsed onto the floor with a wail. I paid it no mind, bending down to look at him.

“Hey, Edan. Let’s talk again.”

Instead of answering, his headless neck twitched—maybe he was nodding. With Shion in the lead, we brought the headless ghost into the study. I wasted no time spreading the *Book of Souls* on the table, ready to interrogate him. Sensing something off in the air, the headless ghost hunched his shoulders nervously. It was a little pitiful to see him cower, but I couldn’t back down from what needed to be said. I stared at the spot where his head should have been and opened my mouth.

“Edan, I went to the Aujentes estate today. The house of the man you killed.”

The headless ghost froze, as if rattled. I didn’t let the moment slip, pressing on.

“That man’s name was Jeymon Aujentes, wasn’t it? I happened to find out how and why you killed him.”

That was a lie, of course. I had no idea why or how he’d murdered his master—I was just bluffing to push him. And with growing confidence behind the deception, the words came out more naturally than I’d expected.

“……”

“I can’t let a murderer like that stay in Cuvershaiden. If you don’t want an exorcism, then get out of—”

But before I could land a proper threat, my words died in my throat. His shoulders were trembling. I found myself glancing at Shion. And there, in the head she held, I saw tears streaming down its face in anguish. A sudden, cold thought hit me: maybe I’d made a terrible mistake.