Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Famous Among Ghost Stories
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70.
Current time.
Two women are staring right at me.
One of them with her red glowing eyes sparkling.
The other with her face covered by a black veil.
Ah, and by the way, both of them are ghost stories.
My fate seems to be one that attracts ghost stories.
‘Should I like this?’
I sit in the chair opposite the two ghost stories staring at me.
We just eye each other warily.
Slightly—
The woman with the red eyes, sitting squarely in the chair straight ahead and staring at me, shoots piercing glances my way.
No, hot might be the better word.
‘She wants me to speak first, right?’
I have no choice but to open my tightly shut mouth first.
“…So.”
Slowly and carefully, I ask for an explanation of the current situation.
“Princess, may I ask what brings you here with the Queen?”
I knew about the Ghost Story Princess's existence, but I never imagined the Queen would be here too.
That's why I wanted to know.
Why she's been silently guarding the Princess's side without a word until now.
【If you're asking the reason… could it be because I love the Queen?】
“…….”
I shouldn't have asked.
I'm the idiot for asking seriously.
Far from resolving my curiosity, it feels like I've fallen into an even deeper maze.
Glance—
My gaze cautiously shifts to the Queen standing blankly beside the Princess, not so much as twitching her lips.
The Queen statue, frozen like a stone figure without the slightest movement.
Was she always this quiet?
The last sound from her was that groan when she bumped her head against the double doors.
Ever since arriving here, the Queen has kept her mouth firmly shut, standing silently by the Princess's side like some kind of knight guarding her.
That demeanor is almost like…
[Our precious Queen has changed!]
The title fits so well—the Queen shows no sign of movement whatsoever.
If it were her usual personality, she would've turned me into her ragged stuffed doll back at those double doors and then some.
But seeing the Queen now, acting like she's the one who's become the Princess's stuffed doll…
Unpredictability doubled.
Fear doubled.
‘Just get angry like usual…’
Her stillness is more terrifying.
In this situation where I can't predict a single thing, all I can do…
Is hold off for now.
The only one here capable of communication is the Princess, so I watch her reaction.
As long as I don't provoke her, the Queen probably won't threaten me either.
For now, I decide to focus all my attention on the Princess.
‘The Princess side is the right play now.’
Smooth—
I adjust the position of my glasses on my face once more and equip the false expression that's become all too familiar.
Drawing a clear crescent moon at the corners of my eyes.
With a refreshing voice devoid of any hostility.
I stare at the Princess before me.
“…I was truly worried I might never see you again, Princess… But meeting you like this puts my mind at ease.”
That's the reaction you wanted, right?
Our Princess.
After abandoning you and leaving, this response—this answer—that I missed you.
You must have been waiting for it.
So I deliver the line she wanted.
I respond to her.
After all…
I'm here for ‘customer service.’ And the reason I can act so boldly now is because I saw the Princess's ‘those eyes.’
The heart-shaped mark glowing pinkish-purple within her red glowing eyes.
The mark signifying the effect of the ‘Purple Bullet’ from the Final Trigger's bullets.
Right now, the Princess is in a state of ‘Charm.’
If the Purple Bullet's effect still lingers on this Ghost Story Princess, things change.
The chances are high she's not here to harm me.
So…
Her upcoming response will probably be…
【…As expected, as expected! You felt ‘sadness’ from our parting too, my Prince!】
【As expected, as expected…】
‘As expected. The effect is rock-solid.’
Strength fills the Princess's voice.
Under the name of love, she begins to reveal her madness bit by bit.
【Queen! Did you hear that just now? As expected, the Prince hasn't forgotten me! He's been remembering me all this time! Because he loves me!!】
〖…….〗
Leap—!
The Princess jumps to her feet, unable to contain her overflowing emotions.
【Ah, my Prince… my choice to search for you was the right one, it seems.】
【It's a blessing that my Prince is someone who truly knows ‘love.’】
Faced with emotions showing no sign of braking, I put on a calm smile.
But honestly…
I'm a bit scared.
The moment the Ghost Story Princess stood up, I flinched and nearly drew my quill pen without thinking.
“…Ahem.”
I straighten my posture and flash a subtle smile at the Princess.
I gaze straight at her alone.
In the tone of a prince who's been counting down the moments to this instant.
Subtly weaving in the questions on my mind.
I ask her casually.
“But really, meeting you like this again must be thanks to you not giving up on me and coming to find me, Princess.”
With a kind, good-natured smile ever on my lips, I wait for her response.
Squeeze—
At my syrupy words, the Princess clutches her hands tightly to her chest.
Her red glowing eyes sparkle even brighter.
Like a rose blooming on her face, a blush settles over her cheeks.
【To think you'd see it that way… I don't know where to put myself. But finding you wasn't as hard as I thought, my Prince.】
【Because you were already a famous figure. As expected of the Prince I love.】
Hehe—
The Princess wears a girlish smile, her pinkish lips glistening toward Park Yeon-jeong.
And I etch her words into my mind.
‘…Fa, famous figure?’
My question, meant to probe what I was curious about, ends up sparking new curiosity instead.
Famous figure.
‘…It bothers me.’
Those words keep nagging at me.
No matter how I think about it, the adjective ‘famous figure’ from the Princess's mouth doesn't sound good.
Famous figure = ghost story?
…Gulp.
I carefully swallow dry saliva.
I barely part my parched lips and ask her again.
Striving to maintain composure.
“Famous figure, you say?”
At my question, the Princess kindly continues her explanation.
【You didn't know? Among ‘us,’ you're already one of the most ‘wanted to meet (that guy)’ figures.】
【And now, not only does such a great person remember me, but appearing before my eyes like this means I've already achieved my dream… Of course, if it's what you wish, Prince, I could do even more right here…】
…Hah.
Even as the Princess explains, her ragged breathing spills out unhidden.
But to one man, none of that registers.
Because.
No matter how you look at it…
From any angle…
Park Yeon-jeong seems to have become something like a major ‘influencer’ among the ghost stories.
Mr. Noise…
As you said, I've become an employee whose name is on the lips of various ghost story folks.
Of course… in the worst way possible.
Moisture already gathers at the corners of my eyes.
If those two ghost stories weren't in this room right now, I might've broken down in sobs on the spot.
Might've pounded the ground and vented my rage.
But I have to hold it in now.
I have to endure…
Drip—
The moisture pooled at my eye forms a teardrop and trails down my cheek.
Seeing the droplet running down my cheek, the Princess says.
【Prince? Could it be… you're crying?】
‘Yes, tears are blurring my vision.’
“For a moment, at the thought of your late efforts in coming to find me, Princess… tears…”
Sob—
This man's hot tears don't stop easily for a while.
As I dry my damp eyes for a time.
The Princess continues with more explanation, as if she still has more to say.
【Ah, and the reason I came to see you today was to behold your face, Prince. (Though that was most of it.)】
The Princess clears her throat and speaks again in a tone more subdued than before.
【I came to deliver a message of caution to you, Prince.】
“…A message of caution?”
And the story that follows.
【It seems some folks see you as a thorn in their eye. But don't worry—I'm always on your side♡.】
【As long as you don't betray your love for me, I'll always be by your side… as long as that ‘love’ doesn't change.】
“…….”
For some reason, a cold chill sinks into the Princess's final words, as if wrapping the entire space.
It became clear from the Princess's words just now.
I'm…
Screwed.
I just feel screwed.
After hearing the Ghost Story Princess, I'm convinced.
That Park Yeon-jeong—myself—has been marked by all ghost stories, and many of them want me dead.
My face still wears a bright smile toward the Princess.
But inside right now.
It's burning pitch black.
If things stay like this, my future beyond worrying becomes tomorrow itself a worry.
Suddenly—!
!
The Princess suddenly thrusts her face toward me.
Within her flawless white skin, the pinkish heart sparkles.
Grin—
Her ecstatic eye smile, like starlight, draws all attention.
【If I had my way, I'd invite you to our castle right now—the desire burns strong—but…】
【The interior renovations aren't finished yet, so today I'll be content just seeing your face.】
The Princess gently places her jade-like hands on the back of my hand, her lips blooming with a sunflower-bright smile.
【Next time, I'll formally invite you to our castle. Then, we'll spend some intimate time together. Under the blue moonlight… without anyone's interference.】
With those words, the Princess strokes the back of my hand lightly and returns to her seat.
‘…Can I go now?’
The atmosphere says so.
From her last line just now.
It clearly looks like a farewell, so I slowly rise from my seat.
I glance at the Princess's expression for a brief moment.
【Let's meet often from now on.】
“…Yes, Princess.”
I really hope I never see you again.
Of course, it won't go my way.
Finally able to escape this place, I hurriedly move to step out.
〖…….〗
But at that moment.
I belatedly notice the Queen standing like a folding screen beside the Princess.
‘Still, I should at least say goodbye, right?’
Better than leaving without a word.
So I clear my throat again.
With an expression of the most natural smile possible, I look at the Queen.
Hoping this is the last farewell.
Smooth—
Along with the movement of white text the man didn't notice.
“It's truly a pleasure to see you again like this, Queen.”
〖!!〗
At my greeting, the black veil flutters slightly.
Perhaps because I spoke to her when she least expected it?
“Next time we have the chance, I'd love to talk face-to-face with you, Queen. Not with the black cloth… but looking each other in the face.”
〖…….〗
This should be enough, right?
I think so.
I bow my head to the two ghost story women and prepare to leave the room gracefully.
I thought everything was over.
Until I turn my head and see the white text that appeared on my back.
『Unlucky Day』
……?
White Skull?
Grab!
!
With the sudden pressure on my right wrist, the rigidly frozen man's head drops toward his right wrist.
There.
The pale hand of the black-veiled woman grips Park Yeon-jeong's wrist tightly.
And Park Yeon-jeong murmurs inwardly.
‘White Skull g…’