Chapter 2

“My Lady, are you awake?”

My personal maid, Charlotte, asked with a worried expression.

Instead of answering, I hurriedly felt around my neck beneath my scarf and looked around.

I was currently lying on a long sofa by the window in the Border Count’s bedroom.

And nowhere could I see Ash Winterton’s ghost.

It really must have been a hallucination.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I murmured quietly,

“…Thank goodness.”

“Hm? What do you mean by that?”

Charlotte tilted her head in confusion.

I shook my head and changed the subject.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, I must have scared you when I collapsed. I’m sorry.”

“Yes. …I was so frightened. I really thought something terrible had happened to you, my lady.”

“Sorry. …By the way, what happened to the wedding after I fainted? Was it canceled?”

Charlotte shook her head.

“…No. The grand duke ordered the archbishop to continue the ceremony. He said there wasn’t time to wait for you to wake up. Then, as soon as the ceremony ended, he ordered us to change your clothes and left.”

“…I see.”

“He was far too cruel. You’re his daughter too… How could he treat your wedding like he was simply getting rid of an unwanted burden?”

Tears gathered in Charlotte’s eyes as she complained bitterly.

I gave a faint smile and gently patted the back of her hand.

“I’m fine. It’s not like this is the first or second time. I don’t get hurt by things like this anymore.”

“My Lady…”

“Anyway, does this mean I have no choice but to sleep here tonight?”

“Yes. Even if it’s only for appearances, you still have to spend your first night here. But starting tomorrow, you’ll be able to use the Marchioness’s bedroom.”

I nodded in understanding.

With Charlotte supporting me, I walked over to the bed where Ash Winterton was lying.

After sitting beside his pillow, I turned to Charlotte.

“You can go now.”

“Yes, My Lady. I’ll be nearby, so call me if you need anything.”

After speaking reassuringly, Charlotte left the room.

Now alone, I sat on the bed, hugged my knees, and let out a short sigh.

“Phew…”

Just then, a pale figure suddenly appeared before me.

[You certainly slept soundly after fainting, Lady Agnes.]

“AAAAH!”

It was Ash Winterton’s ghost.

The very same ghost I had seen just before collapsing.

I screamed and fell backward.

In the process, I ended up face-to-face with the unconscious Ash Winterton lying beside me.

Another scream escaped my lips.

Ash Winterton’s ghost was in front of me, and Ash Winterton’s body was behind me.

It felt like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.

The ghost frowned at me and suddenly covered my mouth.

[Enough. Are you trying to wake everyone in the castle?

“Mmph! Mmph!”

The color drained from my face.

The ghost’s hand was covering my mouth.

Just like a living person’s hand.

Trembling with fear, I stared at it.

Once my screaming stopped, Ash Winterton removed his hand.

I immediately jumped to my feet and asked,

“W-What is going on? W-What exactly are you? Are you really Border Count Ash Winterton’s ghost?”

[Hmm. Not exactly. I’m not completely dead yet, after all. So rather than a ghost, it’s more accurate to call me a living spirit.]

“…Isn’t that basically the same thing?”

[Let’s just say it is.]

The ghost shrugged.

Then his expression suddenly turned cold.

[More importantly, what kind of nerve do you have to enter this room?]

“Huh?”

[Did you think I wouldn’t know that the men serving your father, Grand Duke Middelharnis, and Prince Harold, the Second Prince and your sister’s fiancé, disguised themselves as enemy soldiers and attacked me?]

“…!”

[Even after doing something like that, you still shamelessly went through with this marriage. It seems both you and your father were very eager to get your hands on my fortune. Or perhaps you thought that once I was gone, you could remove His Highness the Crown Prince and seize the throne.

His chilling gaze fixed on me.

Then he twisted his lips into a cruel smile.

[Do you know something, Lady Agnes?]

“W-What…?”

[Ghosts can harm people who can see them. We can let them hear our voices. We can touch them. And we can place curses on them.]

“…!”

[If you were me, what would you do? After everything you’ve done to me, would you really want to spare the daughter of your enemy who is trying to steal your inheritance?]

Ash Winterton had been an 8-Circle Mage.

If he truly wanted to, cursing someone to death would be a simple matter.

And now that very man, in the form of a ghost, was threatening to kill me.

My mind went completely blank.

At this rate, I would die at the hands of this ghost before I could even attempt my escape plan.

Filled with fear and frustration, I immediately dropped to my knees.

“I-I’m sorry! Even though it wasn’t my fault!”

[Not your fault?]

“Yes! I truly didn’t know! It’s the truth! And if you think about it, I’m a victim too! My father intends to kill me once you’re dead!”

The ghost looked at me suspiciously.

I quickly untied the scarf around my neck.

Pointing at the red mark on my throat, which resembled a blazing sun, I continued,

“You’ve probably heard the rumors about me before. You know what the people of the Empire say about this mark on my neck. My parents have always been ashamed of me because of it. They married me to you because they intended to kill me. … Afterward, they were probably planning to give my inheritance to my older sister.”

My voice trembled.

It was the first time I had ever told anyone about my miserable circumstances.

The sadness overwhelmed me, and tears naturally welled up in my eyes.

But Ash Winterton’s ghost still sounded doubtful.

[If that’s true, then why did you accept this marriage when you knew your parents would eventually kill you?]

“…I was planning to secretly run away after you died. T-To be honest, I was also going to take a little money from the Winterton estate to fund my escape…”

[…Ha. You’re confessing quite boldly that you intended to steal my money.

“I-I only planned to take enough for escape expenses! I wasn’t going to touch anything else! Really!”

I hurriedly added.

The ghost stared at me silently for a moment.

Then he let out a quiet sigh.

[Very well. I’ll believe you for now. You may stand up.]

“Really? Then you won’t curse me?”

[No.]

He extended his hand toward me.

Without thinking, I grabbed it.

The moment I did, he gripped my hand tightly and said,

[However, I have one condition.]

“Huh?”

[Grant me one request. If you do, I’ll spare your life. More than that, I’ll protect you and help you escape safely from the Grand Duke and his wife.

“…!”

[On my honor as a mage.]

The look in his eyes was extremely serious.

His face, handsome enough to resemble a work of art, stared directly at me.

For some reason, my heart trembled.

Whether it was from fear or something else, I couldn’t tell.

As if enchanted, I asked,

“What is this request?”

Without hesitation, he answered.

[Find my nephew, Ian Winterton, who disappeared during the Rakelmia War three years ago and whose fate remains unknown. … You have until six months from now, before I die completely.

“…!”

[And if you find him, you must help him safely inherit this family as my successor.]

Confused, I asked,

“How am I supposed to do that? How could I possibly find him?”

[Of course, I’m not telling you to do everything yourself. You only need to help me.]

“…Ah.”

[If I weren’t in this condition, I would never need to ask this of you… but I have no choice.]

Ash Winterton gave a bitter smile as he looked down at his ghostly form.

Then he met my eyes again.

[At present, you are the only person who can see me and hear my voice. Therefore, you’re also the only person who can carry out my plans on my behalf.]

“…”

[So help me. No, you must help me. For my sake… and for yours.]

His words were too desperate to be called a request, yet too forceful to be called a plea.

I remained silent for a moment, deep in thought.

Then, after some time, I looked at him and asked for confirmation.