Chapter 3

“…You said that if I grant your request, you’ll help me escape. Exactly how are you going to do that?”

The ghost smiled meaningfully before answering.

[There is a teleportation magic circle hidden beneath this castle that can take someone to the Empire’s border. If you help me, I’ll tell you how to activate it.]

“…!”

[And I’ll also tell you the location of a secret vault that only I know about. Wouldn’t ten thousand gold coins be enough money for your escape?]

My eyes widened.

It was an extremely tempting offer.

Without realizing it, I swallowed hard.

“Are you really going to tell me all that?”

[Yes.]

“Really? You’re not going to change your mind later, are you?”

[Absolutely not. If you wish, we can even make a contract with the destruction of my soul as the price.]

He spoke with complete certainty.

I nodded.

“Alright. Let’s make a contract using your soul as collateral. If we do that, I’ll accept your offer.”

[You mean that?]

“Yes. Why? Don’t tell me you’re afraid now that your soul is actually on the line.”

[As if that would happen.]

Ash Winterton’s ghost smiled faintly and extended his pale hand.

Carefully, I placed my hand on top of his.

The ghost gently closed his eyes and began chanting a spell.

A faint purple glow emerged from our touching hands.

The light soon transformed into vine-like tendrils that wrapped around both of our wrists before slowly fading away.

Looking down at my wrist after the light disappeared, I asked,

“Is it finished?”

[Yes.]

He answered shortly.

And just like that, the contract was complete.

***

A Little Later

After successfully making the contract with the ghost, I awkwardly released his hand.

A glance at the wall clock showed that it was already well past midnight.

I let out a long yawn and sat down on the bed.

The ghost looked at me.

[Are you tired?]

“Mmm, yes. I’m sleepy. I should probably get some sleep. Is it alright if I sleep here?”

I gestured toward the bed where Ash Winterton’s body lay.

There was only one bed in the room, and fortunately, it was very large.

It looked spacious enough for me to sleep without touching him.

The ghost gave me a strange look.

[Of course that’s fine, but…]

“Why?”

[It’s nothing. Then, have pleasant dreams.]

“Okay. You too, Marquis. Ah… I guess ghosts don’t need sleep. …Oh! Sorry. Was that insensitive?”

I cautiously watched his reaction and immediately shut my mouth.

Ash Winterton’s ghost chuckled.

[It’s fine. You’re not wrong.]

“Then are you planning to spend the whole night here?”

Watching me sleep beside his own body?

The thought felt unsettling.

The ghost shook his head.

[No. I’ll stay in the room next door.]

“I see. Alright. See you tomorrow.”

Relieved, I lay down on the bed.

The ghost politely greeted me and then drifted through the closed door.

But only a few seconds later, he came back.

Huh?

Just as I was about to relax and fall asleep, I opened my eyes slightly.

The ghost repeatedly passed through the door and came back into the room over and over.

Eventually, I couldn’t contain my curiosity.

“…Um, what are you doing? You’re not planning to do that all night, are you?”

Ash Winterton turned toward me with a hint of irritation.

[No! Damn it, I can’t pass through the door. It’s as though I’m trapped inside a barrier.]

“Could it be because your body is here? Maybe you can’t leave the bedroom because of that?”

[No. Just a few hours ago, I could move freely throughout the mansion.]

“Then why…?”

The ghost shook his head.

Rubbing his chin, he frowned as if trying to figure out the cause of this strange phenomenon.

Watching him, I let out another huge yawn.

Whatever the reason, I just wanted him to leave so I could sleep.

As I was thinking that, the ghost suddenly exclaimed softly and walked straight toward me.

“…!”

I was so startled that I couldn’t even scream.

The ghost looked down at me and slowly stretched out both hands.

Panicking, I jumped up and backed away.

“W-What are you doing?!”

[Just stay still for a moment.]

The ghost replied calmly and placed his translucent hands on both of my cheeks.

Immediately, the same faint purple light from our contract appeared.

The light quickly swept through my entire body before disappearing once again.

Still stunned, I stared at him.

“What did you just do?”

[Sorry if I startled you. I needed to figure out why I suddenly couldn’t leave this room.]

“…And did you find out?”

[Yes. It seems that during our contract, a portion of my soul became entangled with a portion of yours.]

“My souls became entangled? What does that even mean? Explain it in a way I can understand.”

After I pressed him for an answer, he sighed awkwardly.

[Part of my soul has attached itself to you during the contract. To put it simply… you could say I’ve possessed you.]

“…What?”

[In other words, I can no longer move beyond the space where you are. Not until the contract ends. Or until my body dies completely.]

“…Ha. That’s ridiculous.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

I had died and returned to the past.

Then I suddenly started seeing the ghost of my soon-to-die husband.

And now I was being told that part of that ghost had possessed me.

The absurdity of it all left me speechless.

Then the ghost delivered another blow.

[…And one more thing. While examining your body just now, I discovered something else. Your spirit sight has fully awakened.]

“What does that mean now…?”

[It means you’ll be able to see ghosts other than me. Whether you want to or not, once they realize you can see them, they’ll try to influence you. Just as I did.]

“…Haha. Wonderful.”

This must be why people say you should be careful before signing contracts.

One reckless decision, and now I was destined to be troubled by ghosts for the rest of my life.

And until this contract ended, I’d be stuck sharing my existence with this ghost as though we were one person.

Groaning, I grabbed my hair in frustration.

***

Some Time Later

After some time passed, I finally recovered from the shock and calmed myself down.

Well… it’s not like I can cancel the contract now.

At this point, the only option was to fulfill it successfully.

Trying to shake off my unease, I deliberately took a deep breath.

The ghost, who had been carefully watching me the entire time, finally spoke.

[Are you alright?]

“Yes, I guess… It’s not like I have a choice. In the end, this was my decision, so I should take responsibility for it.”

I answered as confidently as possible.

Then I walked back to the bed and collapsed onto it.

Far too many things had happened today, and overwhelming exhaustion washed over me.

Looking up at the ghost floating beside the bed through half-closed eyes, I said,

“Sorry, but I’m going to sleep now. What are you going to do?”

[I’ll sit beside my body and stay awake through the night.]

“Fine. Do whatever you want.”

With those words, I closed my eyes.

[Of all people… why her? Is this fate as well…?]

I heard the ghost’s quiet murmur from across the room.

But before I could think about the meaning behind his words or the strange gaze I felt upon me, exhaustion pulled me into a deep sleep.

And so, with my husband’s body between us, I spent a very strange first night sharing a room with my husband’s ghost.

***

The Next Morning

[Wake up, Lady Agnes.]

I opened my eyes to the ghost’s voice.

Then I absentmindedly turned my head.

The moment my eyes met his, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“AAAH! You scared me!”

[Shouldn’t you be getting used to this by now?]

“You’re joking, right? It’s only been one day!”

I pressed a hand against my racing heart.

The ghost chuckled and shrugged.

Just then, a knock sounded from outside the door, followed by a woman’s voice.

“My Lady, are you awake? May I come in?”

It was Charlotte, my personal maid, who was now officially a servant of the Winterton household.

After receiving my permission, Charlotte entered the bedroom with several maids and respectfully bowed.

“We’ve prepared your bath and a new dress for you to change into. Come now, it’s time to get up.”

“Mmm.”

Urged on by Charlotte, I slowly sat up from the bed.