Chapter 30
With just a few short words, she immediately recognized who it was.
And Avery realized—
She had been waiting for him to come.
She turned around and lifted her head.
As expected, Karl was looking down at her.
“Your Grace.”
“You always seem to carry trouble with you.”
“There are certainly a lot of strange things in this estate.”
Karl did not answer.
But he did not ignore her either. Only after she stood up did he begin walking toward the estate.
Avery glanced back at the fountain.
There was no trace left of the ghost that had approached her drenched in water. Not even wet grass remained. Only the beautiful stream of water continued to wrap around the fountain.
The peaceful scenery strangely gave her chills. She hurried after Karl, overtook him, then turned to walk facing him.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“I didn’t save you.”
“Then?”
“There was simply an obstacle in my path.”
Ah. Yes. Of course.
“Still, thank you for passing by at just the right time.”
Avery insisted on expressing her gratitude. Karl ended up looking at her again.
“So, was it worth following the Lander family around?”
“Ah!”
She had almost forgotten to tell him. All her efforts to meet him had been for the sake of talking about Briana.
“Honestly, I don’t think there’s anyone more likely to be targeted than Lady Lander.”
“The reason?”
“She’s the only daughter of the Lander family, currently the most influential house in the capital. Beauty, social standing—she’s perfect in every way.”
Of course, that was only the surface image of the Lander family. Considering that Briana was the second victim in the original story, there were many things that bothered her.
“When we went to the imperial palace, I overheard Lady Lander speaking with the First Princess. It sounded like some sort of deal took place between them. I don’t know the details, though.”
“……”
“I think it’s worth looking into.”
“You seem certain the culprit will strike again.”
“……”
“As if you know something.”
She had spoken too definitively. Unnerved by his piercing gaze, she slowed her steps and walked beside him.
“It’s just a hunch.”
“……”
“Ah, of course, I know you don’t believe the killer will commit another murder, Your Grace.”
“……”
“But that’s fine. You’re still helping me anyway.”
If he simply continued granting her requests like this, the second murder could be prevented.
That was why Avery could speak honestly.
Does this sound like I’m flattering him too much?
“I also found something Lady Lander and I have in common.”
“……”
“Beauty. Perhaps being beautiful is one of the killer’s conditions for choosing a target?”
“……”
“I’m joking.”
I was just trying to lighten the mood a little. Why react so coldly?
“…Was the joke really that bad?”
“I don’t even want to acknowledge it as a joke.”
The strongest person in the estate was standing beside her. That fact alone was enough to ease her tension and anxiety.
“Grrr… Woof!”
Ah, right. That one’s still here. It hasn’t gone back yet?
The gatekeeper’s pursuit was not over.
From straight ahead, the black bundle of fur approached them, growling fiercely.
Instinctively, Avery hid behind Karl. The Grim Reaper grew even more agitated at the sight, ready to pounce at any moment.
“Woof!”
It’s going to jump.
The savage beast raised its front paws. Avery ducked further behind Karl in a split-second of tension—
And Karl’s low voice spread across the garden.
“Roberos.”
He had only called its name, yet the small beast flinched and immediately stopped.
Then came the command.
“Don’t touch.”
He did not need to specify who the command referred to.
Roberos was not the only one shocked.
Behind him, Avery’s eyes widened. She stared up at the back of his head in disbelief.
“Whine……”
The gatekeeper whimpered at the unbelievable order.
Its master was shielding a ghost from it.
To the beast, it looked as if he was siding against it—protecting another female instead.
Roberos lowered its tail in dejection. Then it turned and trudged back toward the estate.
Meanwhile, behind a tree some distance from the fountain, there were others watching the entire scene.
“…Did you see that?”
“Yeah, I saw.”
“Me too!”
They were the mansion’s maid ghosts—curious and fond of spreading stories.
They had been keeping an eye on the newcomer ghost who had recently arrived. She had barely been there long and was already causing incidents in the old estate.
Exactly their favorite type.
And today, the newcomer—who had been in danger from the wicked gatekeeper—had been saved by Graham.
The mansion’s gatekeeper had been defeated by the newcomer ghost.
A rolling stone had pushed out the old stone.
Was this not something straight out of a romance novel?
From start to finish, the maids had not taken their eyes off them. Now sly smiles spread across their faces.
“I really like this.”
They spoke at the same time.
Without even discussing it, they understood each other’s thoughts.
It was time to create a scandal that would stir up a new storm in the estate.
After that day, the atmosphere in the estate subtly changed.
It was hard to point out exactly how, but something felt unsettled. Suspended.
And on top of that—
Whoosh.
Without warning, Avery quickly turned her head to check behind her.
No one.
“……”
It really feels like someone keeps staring at me.
Whenever she tilted her head and looked forward again, the sensation would follow shortly after.
As she left the estate one day, still feeling uneasy, she ran into Roberos returning from a walk. They met face-to-face at the entrance before she could avoid him.
Flinch.
“……”
“……”
They were clearly aware of each other, but neither showed it.
Given everything she had suffered, she carefully watched to see if the beast would attack.
But Roberos did not even assume an attack stance.
It was strange enough that the fierce beast did not react to her at all, despite her being a ghost.
But something else was even stranger.
Roberos let out a long sigh and passed her by. Its once-perked ears drooped. Its tail hung low toward the ground.
It looked rather pitiful.
Without realizing it, Avery followed its retreating figure with her eyes.
Karl’s words must have worked.
The gatekeeper truly did not touch her.
Perhaps it did not want to earn its master’s displeasure again.
Well, that works for me.
Avery forced herself to erase the image of the dejected beast from her mind and left the estate with light steps.
While Avery was experiencing this strange day, there were eyes watching her—just as her instincts had told her.
“It’s true.”
“The gatekeeper doesn’t touch the newcomer.”
Several ghosts, hiding behind a pillar near the entrance, watched with envy and jealousy.
“I’m jealous……”
“We can do it too.”
The one who spoke hopefully had been standing quietly among them. The ghost was wrapped entirely in bandages, with loose ends dangling near its leg.
“How?”
Another ghost asked mockingly.
The bandaged ghost gave a chilling smile.
“The gatekeeper’s time is over. It’s time to open the era of ghosts.”
“Please take care of me again today… hm?”
Arriving at the main gate, Avery greeted no one in particular as usual. But she paused when she saw the carriage waiting in front of the estate.
It was not the carriage she normally rode.
Today’s carriage was especially luxurious. Its exterior was decorated with gold trim, and a black horse was painted proudly upon it—the emblem of the Graham family, the same crest carved throughout the estate.
She hesitated briefly.
But the coachman standing in front, Mabel, was the same man who always drove her.
Avery checked the time. It was nearly time for departure.
She did not deliberate long.
Passing lightly through the carriage door, she had no choice but to face the figure inside without warning.
“Ah!”
She screamed and fell backward.
A low voice sounded.
“You never fail to surprise me.”
Seated inside the carriage, maintaining his dignified posture even there, Karl looked at her.
