I Became the Ghost Duke's Daughter - Chapter 9

“…”

 

My fingers…

 

I secretly glanced at the Duke with my ten fingers clasped under the table.

 

He must have sensed my gaze and raised his eyes to look at me.

 

“I-I’m eating! I’m eating.”

 

I spoke quickly and grabbed my fork before he picked up the paper and pen he had left nearby.

 

Only then did the Duke also start moving the spoon that had stopped.

 

‘What is it really, here…?’

 

To think that indeed, on the first day of registration, I hurriedly wash my face even though I didn’t even wash up to the news that the Duke is coming but now we’re eating in my room.

 

In fact, aren’t all these people doing this because they know I’m causing trouble on purpose?

 

‘Ey, no way.’

 

I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head to shake off the ominous thoughts.

 

Yeah, it’s still morning, right? After eating, I gain energy and look forward to the afternoon. Because there is a lot of time.

 

After composing myself, I picked up a piece of fish that was cut into bite-size pieces with a fork, put it in my mouth, and mumbled. The light yet savory taste filled my mouth.

 

‘It’s been a long time since I ate fish.’

 

I stared at the food on the table with a new feeling.

 

In the first place, it had been a very long time since I sat at the table because I always ate leftover food from the viscount’s family and employees, as well as Lawrence’s snacks, at the Oblene Mansion.

 

The food served on the table was relatively small for a noble family. No, rather, it was too simple to be called simple.

 

However, because of that, I could see the care and time that went into each and every dish. Despite the difficult circumstances, the food prepared skillfully stimulated my appetite.

 

‘It’s pepper!’

 

Pepper was the most pleasing thing among them. With a smile on my face, I picked up the pepper shaker and dumped it into the bowl of soup in front of me.

 

“…?”

 

The Duke looked at me with curious eyes as I waved my hand so hard that the surface of the cream soup was completely black with pepper.

 

‘Hmm?’

 

…Does he want to eat it?

 

After thinking for a moment, I half-raised myself from the chair and sprinkled some pepper into his soup bowl.

 

Since I was going to be kicked out soon anyway, I wanted to do a good deed for the first and last time.

 

I shook off the last pepper and sat down again.

 

The Duke looked at me with something to say, and then scooped up pepper soup, or rather soup, with a spoon.

 

There are no bad people who like pepper. He’s a good person.

 

As I watched him happily eating the soup, I suddenly opened my mouth.

 

“By the way, Duke.”

 

The Duke put down his empty spoon and tilted his head curiously.

 

I looked at his face and asked him what I had been curious about ever since I first saw him.

 

“Are your eyesight bad enough to wear glasses?”

 

The Duke’s eyes, seen behind the glasses, seemed no different in size than when viewed from the side. They say that when you wear glasses, your eyes usually look smaller than they actually are.

 

“Ah.”

 

In response to my question, the Duke let out a soft sigh-like sound and raised his gloved hand. Then he grabbed the glasses with his thumb and forefinger and took them off.

 

“Whoa.”

 

The next moment, I really, truly let out an exclamation without realizing it. As soon as I did that, I was so startled that I had to cover my mouth.

 

‘Can people look like that?’

 

But how can you look at that face and not be amazed!

 

The Duke, who was a great beauty even before taking off the glasses, boasted the beauty of a flower after taking them off.

 

His eyes themselves were indifferent and cool, but his overall impression was neat, as if he would shed tears at any moment.

 

In that it allows the two impossible things to coexist, it’s already a beauty that seems inhuman.

 

Amaaazing. I was secretly amazed and quietly put both thumbs up under the table.

 

Meanwhile, the Duke took off the glasses and set them down on the table, instead picking up paper and pen.

 

[As Terry probably knows, my appearance is completely invisible to ordinary people. So, when talking to me, many people are confused and say they don’t know what I’m looking at or where my eyes are. That’s why I’m wearing it, it’s not because my eyesight is bad. It’s a similar reason why I wear gloves.]

 

When I heard that, my mouth opened slightly. It was an action I wasn’t aware of.

 

‘No…’

 

Are you saying he’s the War Demon?

 

Is it possible for someone who is known as the War Demon to be this beautiful, innocent, and considerate?

 

‘Hoooo.’

 

After all, you can’t trust rumors. All the strange rumors about the Duke of Everdeen, all confiscated in my mind.

 

I shook my head inwardly and erased all the ugly rumors that were in my head.

 

It wasn’t even a day later that I started to pick up those rumors.

 

***

 

After finishing the meal, the Duke disappeared, saying it was time for the knights’ training.

 

When the meal with the Duke was over, I asked Mina, who came in pushing the trolley to clean up the empty dishes.

 

“Mina. What should I do now?”

 

Study? Liberal arts?

 

Or learning etiquette?

 

Whatever I do, I’ll do my best to ruin it!

 

I made a firm determination and my eyes lit up. However, due to the words that followed, that determination was immediately shattered.

 

[You don’t have to do anything.]

 

“…Yes?”

 

What are you talking about?

 

I didn’t understand what Mina said and reflexively made a dumb sound. Then she tilted her head and smiled.

 

[Originally, we were planning for you to learn basic information about the Everdeen territory in the morning and receive a brief etiquette lesson in the afternoon, but…]

 

Yes, that! That’s it!

 

“The Duke sent all the teachers away so that the Miss could focus on adjusting to the mansion for the time being.”

 

What do you mean, that!

I felt like a child whose candy had been taken away, and I looked up at Mina with shaking eyes.

 

“I-It’s completely fine with me, though? I slept well, and I’m completely adjusted, you know?”

[Oh my, you’re amazing. However, it’s fine for you to rest for a while. Ah, if you’re bored, how about going to see the knights’ morning training? You can go for a walk too!]

 

No! I’m going to ruin it! Let me ruin something!

 

I don’t know if she knew how I was feeling, but she just smiled and slapped her palms together innocently.

 

In the end, I took Rick and ran away from the mansion. I felt dizzy, perhaps because I had met an unexpectedly powerful enemy.

 

Rick asked as I lost my purpose and started walking wherever I could.

 

<I wanted to ask you something earlier. Can I ask you something?〉

 

“No. Don’t ask.”

 

<Why are you acting like someone who is upset because she couldn’t get kicked out?>

 

This bastard. I told him not to ask.

 

I stopped walking and glared at Rick with my eyes focused. Of course, as always, he didn’t budge.

 

It’s frustrating that I’m already getting used to that reaction.

 

I answered, grunting wildly.

 

“Just being needlessly quick-witted.”

 

<So what is the reason?>

 

“If you find out, you’ll get hurt. Even now, it must have been floating in the sky. Tell me about that evil spirit from yesterday.”

 

<Not an evil spirit, but something close to an evil spirit…>

 

“Ah, I got it! Is he an evil spirit or a ghost? Anyway, talk about him! “You said you’d tell me when I wake up!”

 

I scolded nervously, avoiding the eyes of the ghosts wandering around the garden.

 

Rick finally sighed heavily and was about to open his mouth.

 

“Aaaah!”

 

It surprised me!

 

Unknowingly, the roar that echoed through the air almost hit him on the butt.

 

Surprisingly, Rick was also like that, and at one point he held my hand, but then fell in shock.

 

“What sound is that? Do they raise other animals besides horses in the duchy?”

 

<…That’s not it, you’ll find out if you walk towards 11 o’clock.>

 

What on earth is that? Holding my heaving chest, I walked in the direction Rick pointed.

 

How long has it been since I walked through the lush bushes? Suddenly, I saw numerous ghosts gathered in front of me with their backs turned to me.

 

‘Somehow strangely, there seemed to be fewer ghosts than yesterday. Everyone was here.’

 

But why are they gathered here?