Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Master. I’ll escort Miss Hyien back to her room.”

Yes! Chosen!

The butler stepped out of the study with me. I quickly fell into step, keeping a narrow distance behind him. As we walked down the corridor, I scanned the surroundings noisily, restless with worry. Luckily, we didn’t run into the ghost again on the way back to my room.

“Thank you for seeing me back.”

Arriving at my door, I bowed to the butler as I slipped inside.

“Don’t mention it.”

He gave a faint smile, then turned away, likely heading back to the Duke’s study.

‘A butler’s job barely ever clocks out, does it…….’

I watched his retreating figure, then shut the door.

That night. As I lay in bed trying to court sleep, the sound of a child running came from outside the door. It was definitely her. I yanked the blanket up over my head. But the pattering—that *pat-pat-pat-pat*—was impossible to block out.

If I couldn’t sleep again tonight, how exhausted would I be tomorrow? Come to think of it, the other ladies-in-waiting said that ghost wasn’t a bad child……. Just telling her to be quiet would silence her, or so they claimed?

I sat up, cautiously grabbed the doorknob, and pushed. The hinges screeched with a rusty creak, and as the door swung open in an arc, I saw small feet stepping into the gap.

“So you were here, unnie!”

“Yeah…….”

“You didn’t pretend not to see me!”

“Yeah. But I need to sleep. Can you be quiet for a bit?”

“But you and oppa are the only ones who can see me! Everyone else can’t! Why can’t you just play with me?!”

Uh……. That’s not the direction this should go…….

“I have to work tomorrow, so I need sleep.”

“Then play with me when you wake up tomorrow.”

“Well…….”

“Play with me~ Play with me~”

The child started whining and throwing a tantrum. Great. It seemed my case was different from the ladies-in-waiting who couldn’t see ghosts. This girl had no intention of letting me, the one who could see her, off easily.

“Play with me! Play with me!”

“Ah. Fine. Tomorrow. I’ll play with you tomorrow. But not for long. I have to work.”

“Okay! Got it!”

“So that means quiet now, right?”

“Okay! Good night!”

The child stomped her feet with excitement, then flailed her arms wildly. I found myself waving back in a daze. After that, she quieted her footsteps and vanished down the end of the corridor, and I crawled back into bed. The noise that had been disturbing my sleep died down completely, just as promised.

‘Do I really have to play with a ghost…? Well, at least it’s quiet now, so I can sleep well.’

A flicker of worry crossed my mind, but I closed my eyelids and drifted off to sleep anyway.

* * *

When I woke up and went to work that day, the Duke looked utterly worn down with exhaustion. His dark circles seemed even longer than yesterday’s. It was a stark contrast to me, who had slept soundly through the night.

“Your Excellency. Don’t you think you should really get some sleep?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“You look so tired. Even a little rest might actually boost your productivity…”

“…….”

“Ah. I’ve overstepped. I apologize.”

“No. You’re right.”

The Duke answered with a short laugh.

“You know that girl with the golden hair and golden eyes, don’t you? The one who lives in this mansion.”

Then he continued in a questioning tone. I couldn’t tell his intent, but I nodded and replied.

“Yes.”

“She’s always making a racket. So I figured if I’m going to be kept awake anyway, I might as well get up and work.”

That little golden-haired brat! People need to sleep! She keeps waking people up just because she’s bored!

A person needs proper sleep. Without good sleep, the brain can’t rest. Then memory declines and immunity drops. During growth spurts, growth hormones come out while you sleep. That’s why eight hours of deep sleep is so important. Without it, your temper gets worse, and in bad cases, you could even kick the bucket. In that sense, I actually felt sorry for the Duke not getting proper rest.

“I’m glad she doesn’t seem to wake you up.”

The Duke lifted his head and looked straight at me as he spoke. I nodded. That must be it. Since I’d had a restful sleep without the ghost’s interference, I was in fantastic shape. My skin was clear, and even the dark circles that had briefly appeared yesterday were gone.

Right. Only I was in too good a condition.

…And so, even though I felt this was meddling, I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“Your Excellency. Please get some sleep. I’ll keep that little golden-haired kid with me. So she won’t disturb your rest.”

“Keep her with you?”

“Yes. The ladies-in-waiting say she’s not a bad child.”

“What does that—”

“Your Excellency. Then would you like to go to your bedchamber and sleep?”

“…….”

“Hurry and decide so you can get at least a little more sleep. I don’t think I can be with that child all day.”

“……I’ll just stay here. On the sofa, then…”

The Duke’s reply was reluctant and distrustful, but he didn’t refuse. I quickly went to the sofa and patted the cushion with my palm.

“Here. Come over here, Duke.”

“…….”

In that instant, I realized I’d been treating him like a younger brother. A sliver of worry crept in—had I offended him? I stole a glance at his face. Fortunately, he didn’t say anything. He just walked toward me and sat down on the sofa.

“Lie down, Duke.”

“I’m only closing my eyes for a moment.”

“Even a short rest is better standing up. Here’s a cushion—use it as a pillow.”

I picked up the cushion and placed it at the edge of the sofa. The Duke stared at it blankly, then slowly lowered himself onto it.

*He actually listens well.*

“Rest now. I’ll close the curtains.”

“…….”

For a moment, he just looked at me, dazed. Lying there on the sofa, pushed into it by me, his expression was like someone who’d just witnessed an unexpected catastrophe—utterly bewildered. I looked down at him and gave a small smile. Then I walked straight to the window.

As I pulled the curtain shut, the light flooding the room was cut off and it instantly grew dim. I turned to draw the opposite window’s curtain, and as I did, the sofa came into clear view. There, the Duke lay with his eyes closed, breathing shallowly. His chest rose and fell with each breath.

“Eek! Sister!”

At that moment, a blonde little girl came gliding through the study door.

“You—you! Shh! Quiet! The Duke is sleeping.”

“Brother is asleep?”

“Yes. He’s sleeping, so don’t wake him. Want to go out with me for a bit? I’ll spend some time with you.”

“Okay.”

The child whispered her reply.

“Sister, then let’s play in my friend’s room.”

“Your friend’s room? Do you have a friend’s room here?”

“Yes. Follow me.”

Then the kid passed right through the door and left the room. I let out a small sigh.

*Is this really okay?* What good comes from hanging around a ghost? Even if most people say they’re not *that* bad, a ghost is still a ghost—and that’s a little terrifying…

But the milk was already spilled. I turned the doorknob and opened the door. Then, following the little ghost who was waiting for me just beyond it, I stepped out of the room. The child led me down the corridor. We passed an abstract painting hanging crookedly in its frame, then the spiral central staircase. We kept walking for a good while longer.

“Laura, where are you going?”

As we moved, I ran into a lady-in-waiting I’d gotten friendly with during meal times. She walked up and spoke to me.

“Hi, Sonia. Uh… I need to pick up something I left behind. I’m heading to get it.”

“Oh, I was heading to my room too. Let’s go together.”

She answered cheerfully. But I wasn’t actually going to my room, nor did I have anything I’d left behind.

“Uh… well… the thing is…”

“What’s wrong?”

As I stammered in embarrassment, she tilted her head, her big eyes rounding with curiosity.

“Sister is coming with me to play in my friend’s room!”

The little ghost cut in, shouting at the top of her voice. Of course, Sonia couldn’t hear the ghost’s voice or see her. So I was the one left stuck between them, my worry deepening. What now.

“You promised to play with me! Go away—you can’t even see me!”

The ghost waved her hand back and forth in front of Sonia’s face. Her tiny fist passed right through Sonia’s body, in and out, again and again.

“Come on, let’s go together~ And I was wondering what it’s like to work directly under the Duke. I want to hear about it. Tell me.”

She stepped close and linked her arm through mine. But the little girl ghost was standing right in front of me, so Sonia’s body passed straight through her and sank inside. For a second, I worried Sonia might get possessed. Luckily, the ghost popped out from behind her back and scurried right up to me.

“No. You have to play with me, Unnie~ Don’t go! If you go, I’ll make noise while you sleep!”

The little girl ghost spread her arms wide, blocking our path. She was a ghost anyway—we’d just pass right through her—so I had no idea what she thought she was doing. Maybe showing strong intention?

“Um… Sonia. Actually, I have to go to the bathroom. An urgent bathroom! Please don’t follow me…”

“Huh? Is that it? No wonder you were stammering. Okay.”

Sonia immediately let go of my arm and laughed. Then she waved and walked off on her own way. Somehow I felt a little pathetic, being reduced to someone with a full bladder. You’re supposed to save that kind of talk for friends you’ve just made…

“Unnie, do you gotta poop?!”

The ghost yelled out, then burst into giggles. Yeah. Your age is exactly the one that finds that stuff hilarious… But only you enjoy it. I’m the one who’s embarrassed…

“Unnie, are you going to the bathroom? The bathroom?!”

“No…”

“You’re not going?”

“Yeah… I don’t feel like going anymore.”

“Then let’s go back to my friend’s room.”

The child started walking again, leading the way.

“You know. Can’t you understand that I’m the only one who can see and hear you? I have my pride too.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“…Never mind…”

And so we walked down the corridor again, until we reached a door.

“Unnie. It’s here.”

The child said that, then passed through the door and went inside. I hesitated a little. I was reluctant to enter someone else’s room without permission, not even knowing whose room it was.

“Unnie, the door’s locked. I’ll open it for you!”

She poked just her head out from inside the room and said that. Then a click followed—the lock turning. I hesitated for a moment, then finally pushed the door and stepped inside.