Chapter 91

Chapter 91

She couldn’t have been the only one feeling it, I realized. Luka’s gaze kept following her—consciously or not, he was always searching for her.

“Luka!”

Her voice came from beyond the rectangular door. He turned to see her in a thin nightgown, long hair loose, a dizzying thrill sweeping through his head—almost intoxicating.

“Why are you just standing there? Come in.”

She smiled softly and beckoned him with a hand. Her eyes curved pleasantly, at least in Luka’s eyes they did.

“You’re like a painting, young lady.”

He said it, and then noticed: framed in the doorway, she really did look trapped inside a picture frame—like a painting indeed.

“Is that a compliment? Thank you.”

“No need to thank me for speaking the truth. I’m just saying what I see.”

“You’re something else… Fine, I get it. Now come here—you’re not just going to stand there, are you?”

At that, Luka took a few steps toward her until he reached the threshold.

“No. Closer.”

His cautious steps made her chuckle. She reached out, grabbed his arm, and tugged him toward her. He followed her touch and stepped fully inside the room.

“Why do you think I called you?”

“…I wouldn’t know.”

He looked down at her, his gaze dropping from her eyes to her nose, then to her lips—heavy with affection.

“…Young lady.”

Luka spoke without taking his eyes off her. The air between them vibrated with a tender, almost romantic tension. I felt my own heart flutter as I leaned in, waiting to hear what he’d say next.

A flicker.

The screen blinked off then on again. In that instant, the scene had changed.

“What the hell?!”

Startled, I jerked upright and found myself sitting alone in an empty corridor. I’d snapped out of the possession.

Suddenly? Why? Why cut off here?!

Bewildered, I turned and looked toward the hanging picture. It was still crooked on the wall. But Luka was nowhere to be seen—he’d already vanished, it seemed.

‘What in the world is going on…’

I’d never had a possession break on its own before, so it caught me off guard. All I could do was blink blankly. Then I noticed a faint golden light seeping from my chest.

“Huh? What’s that?”

I immediately fumbled inside my clothes and pulled out the locket hanging from my necklace. That bright yellow light was spilling from the cracks in the locket.

‘Could this be divine power…?’

Inside the locket was the ‘Eye of the Sun,’ and within that ‘Eye of the Sun’ was supposed to be the divine power the priest had imbued. I began to wonder if this divine power was the reason the possession had been lifted from me. I’d been uncertain, but it had actually worked.

‘Priest. I’m sorry I dismissed you as a fraud!’

With a penitent heart, I carefully lifted the locket with both hands. The vivid yellow glow was fading, as if being sucked back into the locket. I watched it closely, then suddenly lifted my head and fixed my gaze on the picture frame.

“Luka, are you there?”

Unsurprisingly, Luka didn’t answer. For a moment, I debated whether I should call him out again. Of course, confirming the ‘Eye of the Sun’s’ effectiveness by the possession being dispelled was good. But because of that, it felt like I’d only seen too fragmented a memory. At this rate, I couldn’t deduce any information that would help with his ascension.

On top of that, a question about Lady Bandark also arose. Didn’t she say her love for Luka was one-sided? But from what I saw when I stole his memory, Luka clearly had affection for her too. To me, it was so vivid and obvious it was unmistakable.

I got up from my spot and dusted off my skirt. Then I walked straight toward the picture frame.

‘I’m scared though…’

But still, I wanted to unravel this mystery. So I cautiously extended my right index finger and tried to push at the side of the frame. But just then, the memory of his tongue dropping long and wet made me squeeze my eyes shut.

Scrape.

Soon I heard the sound of the frame tilting, scratching against the wall. Hugging myself, I cracked my eyes open just a slit. It took immense courage for me, but all my effort was for nothing—Luka wasn’t there.

Huh?

I carefully straightened the frame again, but Luka still didn’t appear.

“Um… Luka…?”

Just as I was calling him cautiously, puzzled, the frame suddenly began to tremble violently. A chilling sensation crawled through my whole body. It seemed like he was expressing his anger this way. Maybe it was because I’d kept calling him out these past couple of days.

“Sorry! I’m sorry!”

Startled, I shouted an apology into the air and fled toward my room.

‘He looks terrifying and keeps acting scary! And why does he keep trying to frighten me like this…?!’

She dove back under the covers, burying herself in the blankets.

‘Alright, give up on Luka for now.’

No matter how good her intentions were in wanting to reincarnate him, fear was fear. Besides, weren’t there still ghosts left to ascend in the Cuvershaiden manor, aside from Luka? It’d be better to help them first instead.

‘So… should I help Lady Bandark first, after all?’

I squeezed my eyes shut, thinking. Of course, the Duke had said there was no need to ascend every ghost in the manor. But I couldn’t just leave her submerged in that pond until she turned into an evil spirit. That soul—our Madam’s friend—kept weighing on my mind.

* * *

The next day, as the late afternoon sun began to set. I stepped into the room with its square pond to meet Lady Bandark. She floated face-up on the still water, eyes closed. I carefully approached her side—and she blinked, her gaze turning to me.

“Hello?”

She gave me a light smile. It was a remarkably gentle expression.

“What brings you here? Did you find out what you said you’d look into?”

She went on speaking. But all I could do was press my lips tight, unable to answer her question. Because I couldn’t bring myself to say that Luka had been hanged for her murder.

“What? Couldn’t find anything?”

She asked again at my stubborn silence. I hesitated for a moment, then finally gave a small nod without a word. I’d just told a weak, passive lie.

“That’s alright, little one.”

She smiled softly and reached a hand toward my head, as if to pat it. Caught off guard by the gesture, I glanced up at her warily.

“……”

“I had a feeling you wouldn’t find him. Luka must have erased his tracks. Helena said she couldn’t find any news of him either.”

Of course, that was a lie. Madam must have known about Luka’s death but just couldn’t bring herself to say it. Still, I couldn’t offer her any truth—or any lie—in return. So I scratched my cheek awkwardly and changed the subject.

“It’s been a long time since anyone called me ‘little one.’”

“You’re the same age as Helena’s child. That makes you a little one to me.”

“Is that so…?”

“Mmm~ Isn’t it?”

Lady Bandark rose as she answered. Then she suddenly leaned her face close to mine, her eyes sweeping over me as if appraising.

“Now that I think of it, you must feel awkward. It’s been quite a while since I died. By now, Illiaje must be fairly old himself…”

She murmured it like a soliloquy, then let out a thoughtful “Hmm” and stroked her chin.

“Then you two must be about the age for marriage by now.”

“Excuse me? What?!”

“Oh dear, why are you so surprised? Helena was already married at your age. So was I, for that matter.”

“Ah… I see. But it still feels a bit early, though…”

Feeling awkward, I waved my hands. The truth was, I’d never once thought about marriage. Maybe because, if I was being honest, I’d always prioritized earning money first. After all, I was the older sister — and the head — of four younger siblings. Perhaps that was only natural.

“Is it considered a bit early to marry at that age these days? Well, what does it matter? If you find the right person, you could marry right away. Living alone isn’t so bad either, but if you’re going to do it, drifting along and marrying whoever comes along isn’t ideal. I was quite unhappy because I married that way. Of course, Helena had a wonderful relationship with her husband, but honestly, what are the odds of that?”

Soon after, she began telling me about her own unhappiness. Naturally, my mind started piecing together inferences about the story behind her suicide.

Was it that her married life had been so miserable that she’d just sunk into the water and let herself go?

“…In high-ranking noble families, marriage usually happens that way… I suppose.”

Of course, I didn’t know the full details. Naturally, I couldn’t find the right words to console her. So after wrestling with my thoughts for a while, I just muttered that much and let it trail off.

“Well, that’s right. That’s why it’s best to get ahead of the matchmaking before any proposals come in. So, you two don’t have any thoughts of marriage yet?”

Then she suddenly added something else to the conversation. The unexpected question made my face flush instantly. My lips trembled as I hesitated, and I finally spoke.

“Uh… we? The two of us…? Um… how did you know?”

That wasn’t a question about marriage at all — it was about my feelings. How did she know I liked him?

“Why? It’s written all over your face.”

She caught my meaning right away and let out a hearty laugh.

“Ah… That…”

Wasn’t there a saying that a sneeze and love can’t be hidden? I couldn’t help worrying whether my feelings were showing to others as well. Meanwhile, Lady Bandark kept cackling with glee. She seemed to be having a wonderful time teasing me.