TSPCOB Chapter 46

Chapter 46

“So you’re saying the lady stayed late at the factory that day because she had things to finish?”

“Yes, sir. I offered to escort her, but she said she was fine.”

“Nothing unusual happened?”

“She’s seemed a bit down lately. Spends a lot of time deep in thought at her desk… Oh! I do remember Mr. Petro Gyeff visiting that day.”

Petro Gyeff?

Claude’s brows furrowed deeply, like he was ready to crush that name with his teeth.

At Claude’s signal, Alvin quickly stepped back.
Claude took a step forward, a towering figure with deathly pale skin, icy red eyes beneath long lashes, and a presence that chilled the air around him.

“Find out everything that rat Petro said to Aselin. Leave nothing out.”

It was the first time Luan had seen the infamous Prince Claude in person.

Despite his size, Claude looked… ill.
Just like the rumors: ghostly pale, dark circles under his eyes, bloodshot gaze. His face and body carried clear signs of serious illness.

It wasn’t the kind of sickness that could be cured easily.

Watching Lady Aselin pour herself into saving him, Luan had quietly hoped…
That her feelings for Claude weren’t love — but pity.

He had even been happy when he heard they’d broken off their engagement.

But now… where had she gone?

Lost in thought, Luan’s blue eyes darkened.

“That day… Mr. Gyeff invited the lady to dinner, and she…”

“She went with him, huh. That damn weasel — he crossed the line! He touched something he never should have!”

BANG!
Claude punched the wall, hissing through clenched teeth.

Luan flinched at the killing intent in his voice, then quickly corrected himself.

“…No, sir. The lady rejected Mr. Gyeff’s offer.”

“I’m done being patient. This is war. Alvin, gather the knights. We’re heading to Marquis Spiegel’s estate — now.”

Claude was fully out of control.
Just as he was about to storm out—

“She refused. The lady said no!”

Luan raised his voice to stop him.

Claude froze in place, his expression crumpling.

“What…?”

“That day, the lady rejected Marquis Spiegel’s offer. Mr. Gyeff left alone.”

Claude collapsed into a chair, rubbing his forehead in disbelief.

Alvin stepped forward.

“Is that true? She didn’t go with Gyeff? And she rejected the marquis?”

“Yes. I remember her exact words: ‘Tell Marquis Spiegel if he has something to say, he should come in person.’”

Claude wiped his face like someone waking from a nightmare.

As soon as he heard Aselin had disappeared, his first visit had been to Duke Pierre.

He threatened and begged, but Pierre only repeated himself.

[Your Highness, I want to know where Aselin is more than anyone! She hasn’t come home in days!]

Even when Claude had a sword at his throat, Pierre insisted he knew nothing.
It didn’t seem like a lie.

None of the maids knew where she was. If Marquis Spiegel wasn’t behind it either…

Then where had Aselin gone?

Horrible thoughts raced through Claude’s mind, clawing at him.

Suddenly, it felt like something sharp stabbed through his heart.

If this kept up, he’d have another seizure—and he’d pass out before he found her.

There has to be a way… a solution…

His breathing became heavy, clutching his chest, when—

Luan ran in, holding something.

“This is Lazerran extract! The lady said it’s the main ingredient in your treatment. Please, take it!”

Claude forced his heavy eyelids open.

A blue bottle shimmered in his blurry vision.

The moment he saw that sparkling liquid—

Something flashed through his mind like lightning.

***

Meanwhile…

Sunlight filtered through the curtains as I slowly opened my tired eyes.

I’d been nursing the old woman day and night for two days, and I kept dozing off whenever I sat still.

I groaned and picked up the water bowl.

After soaking a cloth in lukewarm water and wringing it out, I placed it gently on her forehead.

She was still unconscious, breathing weakly —
But thankfully, the worst had passed.

I touched her forehead — the fever had gone down a lot since last night.

Rolling up my sleeves, I stood up—

“You’re not leaving, are you? You’re not going home already, right?”

The small voice stopped me.

“I was going to get food. There’s nothing to eat here, and when she wakes up, she’ll need something.”

I smiled and reached to ruffle her hair — but then froze.
I suddenly remembered how she had clung to me crying two nights ago.

And how her transparent little arms had passed right through mine.

That’s when I realized—
Why a 5-year-old child had been alone in an abandoned house.
Why she didn’t care about sweet potatoes.

“Sweetheart… how did you become a ghost?”

I asked as I stepped outside.

“I told you, I’m not a baby. I’ve been a ghost for five years. Quit calling me that.”

She huffed and crossed her arms.

“Right, right. You’re ten now — so you’re not a baby.”

“Not not anymore — I never was one!”

“Okay, okay,” I laughed.

As I filled my basket with vegetables, the shopkeeper gave me a strange look.
I paid quickly and headed down the road. The child matched my pace.

“You’re kind of weird, you know.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because only you can see me.”

True…
Why could I see her?

As I pondered—

“Are you a magician?”

“…No, I’m just a regular person.”

“You don’t seem regular.”
She narrowed her eyes at me.

“I am. I eat, I sleep, I even get sick sometimes, like Nanny—”

…Wait.
Have I ever actually been sick?

Come to think of it… no.
Not even once.

Wow, maybe I’m just naturally indestructible.

I chuckled, but then the child said quietly:

“…Earlier, you asked how I became a ghost, right?”

“Yeah. But don’t worry about it. If it’s hard to talk about, you don’t have to.”

I was about to change the subject when she began speaking.

“I used to live in an orphanage. Then this lady adopted me. I grew up with Nanny.
But one day, that lady locked me in the abandoned house.
I starved to death there.”

“…What?”

I stopped walking and stared at her in shock.

But she continued like it was no big deal.

“When you die, the place you die becomes your home.
So at night, I always end up back at the abandoned house.”

That explained why she always vanished at night…

And who the hell was that horrible woman who locked her in there?!

I was getting angry when the girl noticed and smiled slightly.

“…I can’t tell you who she was.”

“Why not?”

“Because… I didn’t know who she was when I died.
Even if I know now, whenever I try to say it out loud, no sound comes out.”

“You mean… now you do know who she is?”

She nodded firmly.

She looked frustrated, like it bothered her just as much.

In that moment, I thought—

If I could, I wanted to help her find justice.

And maybe uncover the secret tied to the old nanny.

“Can you remember anything from before you died? Like what she looked like, or what she was wearing?”

She looked deep in thought.

We reached the house before she finally spoke.

“I don’t remember her face.
Maybe I was so scared that I forgot it completely.
But I do remember one thing.”

“…What is it?”

“Whenever she came to the house, the smell of her perfume lingered.
Nanny said… it smelled like roses.”