Chapter : 7 – I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living as an Exorcist!
“Lady Sienna. Thanks to you, the mansion will likely become a bit quieter.”
“Haha, then that’s a relief.”
It’s over. It’s finally over, right?
I had been wondering when it would end, and right on time, Harman politely told me to leave.
I needed rest. I wanted to throw myself onto a soft bed right now.
My heart was already racing at the thought of going home, but I forced myself to calm down.
‘Stay calm.’
It’s right in front of me.
Six million francs!
I lightly pressed my chest, pretending to be composed.
Just as I turned toward the front gate with a bright smile—
Harman leaned slightly toward me and asked,
“When would be a good time for your next visit?”
I doubted my ears.
“…Pardon?”
“The Monteville residence has five floors. You’ve only checked the first floor so far, haven’t you?”
He pointed upward. His hand, covered in a black glove, looked refined and detailed.
Come back here again?
‘…When he came to my mansion, he sounded like he was begging.’
But now that I was here, it felt like it was natural for me to check all five floors.
Yes, I knew he said he’d pay six million francs per visit.
And honestly, I really wanted that money!
But I didn’t want to come back here anymore.
It was just my guess that Harman would go mad because he loved his mansion too much.
But there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t go mad, touch forbidden books, and destroy the empire like in the story.
He already rarely left his mansion. What if I got involved and something went wrong?
Later, when he lost his mind, I might get dragged out just for having been connected to him.
It would be safer to take today’s six million francs and cut ties completely.
‘Refuse as politely as possible.’
I gently folded my hands and cleared my throat.
“Your Grace—”
The moment I spoke—
Crash!
A loud noise came from beside me.
…It sounded strangely familiar.
“Oh—Oh my! I’m so sorry, Your Grace!”
I turned my head slightly in unease.
A maid was bowing repeatedly in shock. Something had fallen at her feet.
The problem was—
It was the painting I had just broken earlier.
The maid hurriedly picked up a piece, still bowing.
It was shattered so completely that it barely looked like a frame anymore.
The torn painting fluttered down and slowly landed on the floor.
I tried to look away, but my eyes kept going back to it.
The painting I had ruined.
Maybe I would’ve felt less guilty if he had demanded compensation.
But because he let it go so easily, it made me feel worse.
If I just left like this, I’d probably feel guilty for days.
And that wasn’t all.
When he eventually goes mad, he might come back saying, “You didn’t value my painting,” and take revenge.
A crazy person isn’t called crazy for no reason.
‘……’
I didn’t want to come back.
I really didn’t.
But…
I swallowed a sigh.
“I’m available anytime, Your Grace. How about next week?”
“Yes. I’ll be waiting, Lady Sienna.”
The corners of Harman’s lips lifted fully.
The cold feeling around him disappeared, and suddenly it felt like I had fallen into a field of flowers.
‘Well… I had to do this anyway.’
After coming this far—
How could I, a mere commoner, refuse a Duke?
Let’s just finish it quickly and never come back again.
Even after convincing myself, my eyes grew a little wet.
The moment I got into the carriage, I made a plan.
‘If I want to finish quickly, I need to understand the layout first.’
I counted on my fingers, recalling the structure of the Alderton estate and my current house.
Harman’s office and bedroom, of course. The reception room, guest rooms…
Come to think of it, all the rooms on the first floor were closed, and I hadn’t checked any of them.
I hadn’t even fully checked the first floor.
After breaking the painting, my head had been full of other thoughts.
Then I should start with the first floor rooms—
I folded another finger, then hesitated.
‘He’s not going to ask me to check the servants’ quarters too, right?’
There must have been servants who couldn’t stand the strange things happening there at night—
Even if it was just because the building was old.
‘No way.’
I waved it off, but the corner of my lips twitched slightly.
“….”
‘Stop thinking.’
At this rate, my head might explode.
I leaned back into the seat.
Closing my eyes helped calm my thoughts a little.
Maybe I should ask for a floor plan next time—
Bang!
“Miss, you’re back!”
Ah! That scared me!
Bella suddenly opened the carriage door and looked at me with sparkling eyes.
When did we even arrive? We were already in front of the house.
“I knocked… I didn’t think you’d be startled. I’m sorry.”
Seeing my surprised face, Bella covered her mouth.
But the curiosity in her eyes didn’t disappear.
I carefully got down from the carriage, holding my skirt.
Bella immediately grabbed my arm, trying to escort me, and leaned closer.
“Is the Duke inviting you again? He wants you to come back, right?”
Why was her face slightly red?
She kept asking questions nonstop. I opened my mouth, then gave up.
“Let’s go inside first.”
“Yes!”
Even while following me, Bella kept sweeping the path with a broom.
But she couldn’t hold back her curiosity and grabbed my arm again.
“Miss, just tell me this. Nothing happened at the Duke’s mansion, right? Like a ghost appearing and you beating it up again, and the Duke being impressed…”
Why are you saying it like that?
And why are you trying to connect me with Harman?
“Nothing happened. I’m going again next week.”
“Something definitely happened.”
“……”
You really can’t fool her.
I hid my expression well, and my voice didn’t shake.
But she still noticed something was off.
As soon as we entered the room, I finally confessed while drinking the tea she gave me.
“I broke a painting while checking the mansion.”
“…I’m sure the Duke would overlook something like that. It’s not like you tore the painting, right?”
“I tore that too. Right down the middle.”
“……”
“He said it’s fine, so it’s okay… probably.”
Bella, who said she wouldn’t be surprised by anything, covered her wide-open mouth.
An awkward silence filled the room.
The tea was sweet, but my stomach felt bitter.
While I stared at my cup, Bella rolled her eyes, trying to break the silence.
Finally, she clapped lightly.
“Oh, right! Miss, you had a visitor today.”
“A visitor?”
I set my cup down.
All the way up here?
Who could it be?
I didn’t know anyone in the capital.
If it were someone from the Alderton family, Bella wouldn’t be this calm.
Of course, Harman came unexpectedly too, but…
Was there really someone who would come looking for me?
“At first, I thought it was a neighbor, but the carriage coming from afar looked unusual.”
I crossed my arms and thought carefully.
Someone coming to see me… ah!
I snapped my fingers and straightened up.
‘So it’s finally happening.’
Actually, this mansion was one of the first to be put up for auction when “haunted mansions” started appearing everywhere.
It was one of the houses the female lead was supposed to buy early on.
‘She might be curious about me.’
Why I bought a mansion no one else wanted.
Whether I’m someone like her who doesn’t believe in ghosts.
Things like that.
“Was the visitor a woman?”
“Yes! How did you know?”
There are ways to tell.
Bella widened her eyes, then took out a card from her pocket and handed it to me.
‘The female lead’s name was Grace.’
Without much thought, I flipped the card.
‘Huh?’
[Rudyan Helkene]
That wasn’t the female lead’s name.
But somehow, it felt familiar.
Rudyan Helkene…
I repeated it several times in my mind.
Rudyan Helkene.
Rudyan…
“Count Helkene?!”
I jumped to my feet.
The card slipped from my hand and slowly fell to the floor.
