Episode 9
Céline was acting strange.
Leonhardt watched her with a worried expression. The closer they got to Bernui Castle, the more she trembled like a leaf and muttered things he couldn’t understand.
Normally, she would have asked why he was staring so hard, but now she didn’t even seem to notice his gaze.
Leonhardt almost asked what was wrong—but decided against it.
She’s probably scared, he thought.
He supposed it made sense. Many first-time visitors were overwhelmed by the castle’s imposing presence. He had grown up there, so he could never quite understand their fear, but from Céline’s perspective, this new home might well seem terrifying.
She had every reason to be afraid.
Leonhardt placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“It’s all right. Everyone is startled the first time. I can’t say the place is entirely safe by your standards, but you’ll have a lady-in-waiting assigned for protection, so don’t worry.”
As he spoke, the carriage passed through the castle gates.
Céline took a deep breath. Before her, the towers—connected by narrow passageways—rose high and majestic.
Her nose stung. Memories of what now felt like an eternity ago—barely a month and a half—flashed through her mind.
The hidden stage.
It had been filled with such devious traps that even her sharp memory hadn’t saved her from dying multiple times.
It made the first stage, The Cursed Mansion, seem like a walk in the park.
She wished the carriage ride would never end. But of course, it did.
When they arrived, Leonhardt stepped down first, then helped Céline—wrapped thickly in his coat—descend.
It’s freezing!
The warmth of the carriage vanished instantly, leaving her skin numb. But as soon as the iron gate to the tower creaked open, even the cold vanished from her mind—replaced by terror.
CLANG!
It was the exact sound that played when the hidden stage began in the game. Céline felt like a lamb being led to slaughter.
She’s really terrified, Leonhardt thought, watching her. She was even more tense than when she’d ventured into the forest to defeat the boss monster.
Is she that anxious about living here?
It didn’t make sense. Céline had always been so confident, no matter where they went.
Ah.
A plausible explanation came to him. He smiled softly and said,
“It’s all right. I’ll handle the introductions. You’ll be treated as a guest of our house.”
…Completely wrong, but okay.
Céline couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth. Leonhardt believed she had prophetic dreams.
But if she said she’d dreamed that this castle was haunted?
Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. She tried to calm herself, but the further they went, the more familiar things she saw: the mounted deer head, the rows of armor, the half-melted ice sculptures…
She hugged herself. She wanted to grab Leonhardt’s hand—but she knew what that would mean, here in Bernui Castle.
Stay calm. That was a haunted castle. This one’s full of living people. No ghosts here.
In the game, the “Haunted Castle” wasn’t just empty—it was literally haunted. The ghosts would appear and kill the protagonist.
“There aren’t any ghosts here, right?”
“Ghosts?”
Leonhardt frowned.
“Are you that scared? I’ve never heard such a rumor.”
Céline relaxed slightly. At least the castle wasn’t infamous for being ghost-infested.
“Leonhardt!”
A cheerful voice called out, and a figure appeared before them.
“You’re finally here!”
A red-haired girl in her late teens ran up and hugged him tightly. Leonhardt smiled.
“It’s good to see you, Natasha.”
“I’ve been well! And this must be…”
“Yes.”
Leonhardt nodded toward his curious little sister.
“This is Miss Céline Hunt. Céline, this is my sister, Natasha.”
Natasha beamed.
“So nice to meet you! You have no idea how long Leon’s been looking for you.”
Céline couldn’t speak. The world spun around her.
The fiery red hair, sapphire eyes like Leonhardt’s, the beauty mark beneath one eye, the ornate butterfly clip, the light fluttering dress that didn’t suit the cold halls…
There was no blood covering her, no gaping hole in her chest—but Céline recognized her instantly.
Natasha Bernui was the first ghost the player encountered in the hidden stage.
“Céline?”
Leonhardt’s voice snapped her back.
“Ah—s-sorry.”
“Oh, don’t be so scared.”
Natasha looked more amused than offended.
“Leon, what did you say to her? You’ve frightened her half to death.”
Natasha’s hand was warm and soft as it took Céline’s. Definitely not ghostly. Céline just stood there, gaping.
“Don’t worry. This man loves scaring people. Whatever he said, we’re not here to harm you.”
Céline slowly exhaled, trying to relax.
“…I know.”
“Wait, are you feeling all right?”
Leonhardt quickly pulled Céline’s hand away from Natasha.
“Look at me.”
Céline met his serious gaze, her eyes trembling.
“I’m fine.”
“What’s wrong?”
Natasha looked back and forth between them with curiosity.
“She’s frail,” Leonhardt said curtly.
“She looks it. Should I call Dr. Branche?”
“Céline, would you like the doctor?”
“No, really. I’m fine.”
When she answered firmly, Leonhardt stopped insisting.
“Natasha, are Father and Mother both home?”
“Father’s out hunting.”
“Again—!”
Céline’s eyes widened. Leonhardt flushed red, his fist clenching.
“I told him to stop doing that!”
Natasha shrugged.
“You know he doesn’t listen. Said he’d go mad waiting for you to return. Besides, he loves hunting monsters.”
“…I see. And Mother?”
“She’s working.”
Leonhardt nodded and started walking again. Céline stuck close by his side.
“You two seem close,” Natasha teased.
“It’s not like that.”
“Oh, sure it isn’t!”
As she laughed, Leonhardt sighed.
“I’ll explain soon—before Mother.”
“Oh wow, it’s serious enough to tell Mother?”
They stopped before an ornate door. Leonhardt turned the wolf-head handle and opened it.
Céline froze.
That same feeling from when she met Natasha overwhelmed her again. She barely registered Leonhardt introducing her to the duchess.
It wasn’t the duchess’s cold, assessing eyes, or the cliff visible through the window, or even the room filled with white roses.
It was the boy sitting beside the duchess, staring at them in confusion.
Bright red hair, golden eyes, freckles dusting his face—
He was the second ghost the player encountered in the hidden stage.
“Come here,” the duchess said coolly. Céline moved forward hesitantly—
But Leonhardt stepped in front of her. The duchess’s brow arched.
“What is this?”
“Mother, there’s something I need to explain.”
“…”
The duchess studied her son.
“Céline dies easily,” Leonhardt said flatly.
“What?”
You WHAT?
Céline was too stunned to even react for a moment. She knew Leonhardt sometimes said absurd things—but this, now?
She quickly stepped forward.
“I’ll explain! I can die, but I always come back. No matter how I die, I revive.”
She tried not to look at the boy—who, in the game, had stabbed the player repeatedly with a dagger shaped like a goat’s horn.
“So you’re immortal?” the duchess asked.
“Yes, but only halfway. I die very easily—and it always hurts.”
Understanding dawned on the duchess’s face.
“Then… Leonhardt dreams of her dying.”
“Yes. Over and over, all night long.”
“And since she keeps dying and reviving, his dreams never stop.”
A heavy silence fell over the room.
“So, as long as Miss Hunt doesn’t die, Leonhardt can sleep peacefully,” the duchess concluded.
Leonhardt nodded.
“Yes. It’s been proven.”
The duchess frowned.
“He still looks exhausted, though.”
“…”
Natasha gasped.
“She died again? Even after you met her?”
Céline nodded.
“I told you—I die easily.”
While Natasha looked utterly bewildered, the duchess remained calm.
“Leonhardt, you’ll need a skilled lady-in-waiting to guard her—someone who can stay by her side at all times.”
“That’s… a problem.”
The duchess sighed.
“Marchioness Manhavin requested several guards recently. Aside from the seven with me and three with Natasha, I sent the rest to her.”
Leonhardt’s face tightened. He couldn’t reduce his mother’s or sister’s guards, and recalling those sent to another noble house would damage their family’s reputation.
“I’ll see what I can do,” said the duchess. “But it’ll take time. Until then, she’ll have to manage the risk.”
“That’s unacceptable!” Leonhardt burst out. The duchess blinked in surprise.
“Leonhardt?”
“She’s the kind of woman who could drown in her bath or trip on a rock and die. I can’t leave her alone for a second.”
“…That serious?” Natasha murmured. Then her eyes lit up.
“Why not have her stay with me?”
“No.”
“Why not!”
Leonhardt’s immediate refusal made Natasha pout.
“You think I’ll hurt her?”
“It’s not that… you’re careless. I can’t trust you to keep her safe.”
“Not everyone can be as uptight as you!”
The duchess raised her hand to stop them.
“Enough. I’ve decided. Until the lady-in-waiting arrives, Miss Hunt will stay with Natasha.”
Natasha grinned triumphantly and began humming as she led Céline toward her tower.
Leonhardt tried to follow, but Natasha firmly refused. He had no choice but to stay behind.
Céline swallowed hard, trying not to show how badly she was shaking.
“Am I really that scary to you?” Natasha asked.
…She’d failed miserably at hiding it.
