Chapter 97
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Ghost of the Former Crown Prince
“Have you heard the rumors?”
Louis, Carion’s close friend and confidant, handed over some documents while tossing out an abrupt question.
Carion, who had been buried nose-deep in approvals at his desk, lifted his head.
“I’m not sure if the rumors I know are the same as the ones you know.”
“So you have heard.”
Louis let out a short sigh at Carion’s lukewarm reaction.
“Will Your Highness just let this slide?”
At Louis’s probing words, Carion shrugged.
Lately, a single rumor had been circulating within the castle.
The deceased former crown prince had become a ghost and was wandering the grounds.
There were eyewitness accounts from some guards and maids, which had ballooned into claims that the dead crown prince was appearing to stop his brother—the one who killed him—from ascending to the throne.
“This rumor points straight at Your Highness. It seems the delinquent prince has unusually resorted to schemes, so shouldn’t we rein it in before it gets out of hand?”
Flames ignited in Carion’s eyes at Louis’s words.
The deeper the investigation went—uncovering the nobles’ corruption and misdeeds—the clearer it became that Damian had poisoned his brother.
Damian, unfit for the role, had wanted the throne so badly that he killed Herion, and now he was trying to pin the crime on Carion.
“In a way, since I’ve benefited greatly from my brother’s death, some might believe it.”
Carion had never wanted to become king.
His joy had been pulling a book from the library shelves and lounging in a sunny spot, reading leisurely.
He’d occasionally fantasized about it—hiding his royal identity to submit manuscripts, or being the wise younger brother offering advice to his kingly brother amid headaches from the nobles.
But those dreams were gone now. He had to take his dead brother’s place, become king, and wisely lead the country.
“It’s heavy. Honestly, I should’ve been a bit more slippery. I thought my brother would handle everything, but who knew it’d turn out like this.”
“So how are you planning to handle the rumors?”
“I need to meet the people who claim they saw my brother’s ghost. If it really is his ghost appearing, I’d love to see him myself.”
Carion had many questions for his deceased brother.
He could chalk up Damian’s delinquency to his nature, but there were too many incomprehensible aspects in how affairs had been handled while Herion was alive.
When Carion had started getting involved in administration, everything was a mess. He hadn’t even realized how bad it was until he dug in himself.
It could only mean someone had deliberately covered it up.
“To think that was my brother.”
Herion had been the top official in charge of state affairs, standing in for their father, who had stepped back due to chronic illness.
No matter how much underlings acted on their own, none of it could have happened without Herion turning a blind eye.
“By the way, when’s our little one coming back? It’d be fun to handle this with my little brother and the kid.”
“Your Highness seems to lack any awareness that he’s a candidate for the throne. Don’t think about moving yourself—send your subordinates.”
Louis sighed at Carion’s declaration that he’d personally resolve the ghost commotion.
The look he gave Carion was like one toward an immature little brother.
“Wah, a friend who doesn’t understand a little brother’s longing to see his big brother.”
“Keep some dignity.”
“You’re no fun.”
“It’s weirder to fall for that fake crying. For now, I’ll meet the witnesses myself. If needed, I’ll request the Silver Knights.”
Up to this point, neither Carion nor Louis took the ghost rumors seriously. They assumed it was Damian’s doing and that catching the ringleader would suffice.
But five days later, the situation changed with the words uttered by Louis Shepard upon waking from unconsciousness in the castle’s underground.
“That ghost was the former crown prince!”
The moment the awakened Louis Shepard saw Carion at his bedside, those were his first words.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. It stared right into my face, then said, ‘You’re not Carion,’ turned its back, and vanished! It definitely has a message for you.”
***
“I’m back!”
Enoch and the others chuckled at Rachel, who spread her arms wide and shouted toward the castle.
“We left in November and returned in January.”
Dona said calmly, a sense of relief evident that they’d safely escaped the perilous winter forest. The squad members were also delighted to have returned to the capital unscathed.
“Now we can finally rest.”
“I want to soak in hot water.”
Solla and Mikeli added.
This journey had been relatively easy without battling any monsters, but it left their hearts deeply uneasy.
Especially confusing was what it meant that the dead crown prince had orchestrated the fall of the Hannie Barony.
The aura emanating from the castle had clearly been impure demonic energy. While Rachel was unconscious, they had found a Curse Medium in the castle.
Though the crown prince was dead, he seemed somehow connected to the Black Sorcerer. Disturbed, as they would need to report this to the Church and testify, they took solace for now in their safe return.
Knowing the group’s state of mind, Enoch shared some welcome news.
“Rest well today, and join training the day after tomorrow.”
“You’re entering the castle just like that, Captain?”
Enoch nodded. The group shot him sympathetic looks for never taking a break.
“The captain’s been awfully busy. What about Rachel?”
At Solla’s question, Rachel’s face crumpled. Even with Enoch back, she couldn’t predict how that wicked boss would act if she didn’t show up.
Even if Enoch had pulled strings, she’d been absent for two months—she had to at least show her face on arrival day.
“I need to wash up and head in too.”
“Even if our captain has to, Rachel’s so young... Poor thing.”
“I doubt Prince Carion sees it that way.”
“Then we’ll head back to the barracks.”
“See you later! I’ll send gifts soon!”
After parting with the Silver Knights, only Rachel and Enoch remained.
“My house is closer—want to wash up there and head in together?”
“Together... as in bathe together?”
Lost in thought for a moment, Enoch blushed and said something odd.
Rachel burst out laughing and corrected him that she’d misspoken.
“No, bathe separately and enter together. Honestly, I don’t think I can handle Prince Carion’s nagging.”
Realizing he’d misheard, Enoch bowed his head. His ears were red anyway, so it was pointless.
“Yes, let’s go together.”
Rachel headed home with Enoch. The moment they entered, a maid went to fetch Evelyn. Evelyn came rushing down the stairs in an instant and pulled Rachel into a hug.
“My beautiful daughter, you’re finally back!”
“Yes, I’m back safe and sound.”
“I heard about the temple. They say you’re the Star of the 13th month? Well done!”
Evelyn rubbed her cheek against Rachel’s in delight.
‘Mother’s gotten better at expressing emotions too.’
Annoying as Henri was, she couldn’t deny he’d positively influenced Evelyn.
“Where’s Father?”
“He’s out working. Oh, there’s good news! Count Beston visited a month ago.”
“About Deyner’s academy admission?”
“Yes. After seeing Deyner swing a sword a few times, he begged to be the one to sponsor him.”
“He didn’t ask Mother for a spar instead?”
“Oh my, were you hiding somewhere in the capital?”
Once again, Count Beston had somehow recognized Evelyn’s swordsmanship and persistently begged for a duel.
“Did you do it?”
“Not yet. This mother has no time to spare for men other than your father.”
Rachel shook her head.
“Please do it sometime later. In exchange for looking after Deyner.”
“Oh, what a great idea!”
The moment sparring came up, Enoch made a pitiful face like a desperate puppy. Rachel laughed at how he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
“If you have time, please spar with Enoch too. He protected me a lot on the way.”
Rachel asked Evelyn to spar with Enoch, arguing that his growth would make her safer too.
“Really? But I’m afraid he might get hurt, since he’s royalty.”
“It’s fine. Please don’t think of me as royalty—just as a little brother from the temple.”
“If Enoch says so.”
Enoch let out a small sigh. Though his status had changed, his relationship with Rachel’s family remained much the same.
He was still Rachel’s friend and a holy knight who respected Evelyn.
“This isn’t a suitable place, so invite me on a day you want to spar.”
“Yes, yes! Even today.”
Enoch seemed ready to invite her to the castle’s training grounds right away, but Evelyn stopped him.
“You must be fatigued from travel, so when you’re in top form. Invite Count Beston then too.”
“Yes.”
Enoch nodded obediently. Just then, a maid approached and greeted them.
“The hot water you requested is ready.”
“Then wash up and come out.”
After bathing and changing, Rachel and Enoch headed to the castle. Sitting on the soft carriage seat instead of a sore-making saddle, Rachel was moved.
But the moment was fleeting. Thinking of the incoming workload, she trembled.
“I’ll be insanely busy starting tomorrow, right?”
Enoch couldn’t deny it.
“At least lie for comfort’s sake.”
“But Rachel hates lies too.”
“You’re too much.”
“Besides, you’ll dig into the former crown prince’s records even without being told.”
Rachel nodded, fiddling with her amber necklace.
What happened at the Hannie Barony was full of mysteries. The incident she’d thought involved the Black Sorcerer turned out to be Herion’s doing.
He’d pretended to aid the Hannie Barony while cutting off external communication, then buried the tragedy that occurred there.
It was so complicated she hadn’t mentioned it until reaching the capital. Yet Enoch saw right through her plan to investigate those records tomorrow.
“Since his teacher, Viscount Noema, was tied to the Black Sorcerer, there’s a chance Herion was bewitched too. He’s dead, but we should consider all possibilities.”
The firmly shut castle gates had opened after smashing and purifying the armor, statues, and dolls.
The ghost explained it had been bound by a powerful curse on the castle, possessing both living and dead alike indiscriminately.
Thanks to Enoch and the squad’s efforts in breaking the curse, it had gifted Rachel this necklace as thanks. A yellow amber necklace containing a bee.
‘It reacts if another ghost like itself is nearby.’
The baroness’s ghost had infused its power into the necklace, making it hum if another ghost was near, then departed the castle.
“Have you ever seen the former crown prince, Enoch?”
“Yes. But not up close. Only Carion ever stuck to him.”
Dong- dong- dong-
The clock tower bells rang out. Listening to them, Rachel truly felt she was back in the capital.
“After work today, come to my house. Let’s have a little party to celebrate returning to the capital. We should invite Lkaye if she’s in the city.”
Rachel decided to savor this brief moment of peace.
In other loops, around this time, rebellion would erupt, and the atmosphere would turn grim. Streets littered with frozen corpses, soldiers with swords looting freely.
But this loop was remarkably peaceful. The snow-blanketed village looked cozy.
White smoke rose gently from chimneys, contrasting the clear blue sky.
“I thought I’d be sick of snow after seeing it the whole way, but the snow in the streets feels welcoming.”
“I still can’t forget how Rachel put it—trash falling from the sky.”
Their travel had slowed due to snow, and Rachel had cursed at the falling flakes.
Rachel still remembered Enoch’s golden eyes widening at her words.
The carriage arrived at the castle.
Enoch stepped down first and reached up to help her, when someone came running from the castle side.
“Little bro! You’re finally here!”
It was Carion. He’d apparently heard from the capital guard that Enoch was back and rushed out.
“Little bro, is the paperwork slave you stole from me still alive?”