The Ghost Mistress Of The Duchy

Thinking up to that point, Rutus furrowed his brow deeply and sat up from the couch where he had been lying.

 

He was convinced that there was no point in lying down since he wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.

 

“Sigh…”

 

It had originally been a war he never imagined would last this long. In fact, he hadn’t even been sure it would turn into a war.

 

Expecting it to end within a few months at most, he had packed only about a month’s worth of extra preserved food before heading out.

 

Even now, he still shuddered at the memory of the hardships they endured due to the food shortage.

 

“No matter how elite the troops were, the numbers just didn’t make sense…”

 

He had led just over 200 men into battle, but the enemy forces, seemingly determined from the start, numbered in the thousands, with many skilled in aura manipulation.

 

If that had been the only issue, the struggle wouldn’t have been as severe.

 

However, the state, which had developed through magical engineering, made it difficult to break through the frontline because of the weapons that flew in from all directions.

 

Even with Rutus, a Swordmaster, and the senior Expert-level knight commander holding the line, it was a fierce war that resulted in a prolonged stalemate.

 

“……”

 

In that war, 63 men died after desperately trying to survive by eating the bodies of demonic beasts and unknown herbs, only to succumb to poison.

 

Twenty-seven died from injuries during battle, including shock and complications.

 

Although they held out until reinforcements arrived, four men, unable to endure the prolonged war, took their own lives.

 

The total number of survivors was ninety-three. Less than half of the original number.

 

“In that situation…”

 

He had a reason to hold out desperately. If he had died in battle, there would have been no one left to lead the family but one.

 

If that one person had died, there were countless people ready to pounce on the benefits they would reap. So, Rutus clenched his teeth and endured for four long years.

 

*Crack.*

 

[……!]

 

Until the pocket watch, which was proof that the magic cast on the mansion was being maintained, shattered into pieces.

 

The shock he felt when he returned to the barracks and saw the shattered pocket watch was so immense that he could barely recall anything before he beheaded the enemy leader.

 

By the time he could vaguely remember, he was covered in blood—whether it was his own or someone else’s, he didn’t know.

 

“…There didn’t seem to be anything wrong.”

 

He thought something must have happened. Otherwise, there was no reason why the magic that had been maintained for four years would suddenly break.

 

Recalling that moment, Rutus frowned and got up, heading toward the window.

 

‘I should tell the butler to investigate why the magic was broken.’

 

With that thought in mind, he clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the moonlight.

 

“You wouldn’t even remember who I am.”

 

Rutus was dumbfounded when he heard the absurd news that, out of longing, he had been tending to a potted plant.

 

It was such a foolish action, resembling someone so much.

 

He hadn’t even bothered to check on the child after confirming he was safe upon his hasty return from the war.

 

“……”

 

It weighed on his mind that he hadn’t even given the child a name until he turned five, but he just couldn’t muster the courage to face him now.

 

[Sort out the staff who have been at the mansion for a long time and send them to the annex. Unless there’s a special reason, restrict access.]

 

[But, Your Grace, many of the staff feel a great sense of pride in the work they’ve done over the years. A sudden personnel change—]

 

[Isn’t it more important to consider where that pride comes from?]

 

[…….]

 

[Two days. Select the personnel within that time.]

 

Looking back, the fact that the child had gone through such an ordeal was due to his own misjudgment.

 

He was too preoccupied at the time to think it through.

 

He should have at least considered that the staff would view it as a demotion.

 

If the private funds had decreased since the aide had gone down to the main duchy to handle the backlog of paperwork, it must have been done with someone’s consent.

 

Considering that the person in question was no longer of this world, it was unclear if he could ever find out the reason.

 

‘An absent master and mistress, an aide who was supposed to be supervising but suddenly disappeared, decreasing private funds, and a butler who overlooked it all…’

 

What must this have looked like to others?

 

They would have thought the duchy was a sinking ship.

 

Even if the pride of working at Ratcliffe came from serving their master,it would be even more so if their master was considered to be the cause of their demotion.

 

With the private funds reduced, maintaining the mansion became difficult, and negligence led to this situation.

 

“It’s their fault, so I have no regret in driving them out, but with so few servants left, losing a large number of the existing staff is troublesome.”

 

The annex will become desolate too. Rutus, who had been gazing at the moon in the sky, lowered his eyes, his face noticeably haggard over the past few years.

 

“What should I do from now on…?”

 

Despite the deepening night, there were many things he had to think about.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, Ellie found herself face-to-face with the child, who had been sick in bed all day and only became fully awake in the dead of night when no one else was around…

 

“……”

 

-……

 

Ellie broke out in a cold sweat. Although ghosts might not have sweat glands, that’s how it felt.

 

Marie had just left the room, deciding to prepare some thin soup since the child likely hadn’t eaten anything all day.

 

‘What in the world is going on…?’

 

Ellie, who was now alone with the child whose eyes sparkled brightly even while buried under the blanket, averted her gaze awkwardly.

 

When the child was sick, Ellie had pretended to be composed, but now that the time had come, she had no idea how to respond.

 

The child peeked out from under the blanket, blinking happily at Ellie’s flustered expression. Even the tiny toes wiggling beneath the blanket were visible.

 

-…Is your body feeling better now? Does anything still hurt?

 

Eventually, Ellie, unable to resist the child’s gaze, slowly opened her mouth and asked.

 

The child, eagerly waiting for the question, nodded vigorously and replied.

 

“Because Mommy was here, it didn’t hurt at all.”

 

-……

 

The child’s cheeks flushed a peachy pink as if to prove those words true, and their wiggling toes finally stopped.

 

One might have expected Ellie to smile at the adorable sight, but instead, she felt a lump in her throat that kept her from responding. Without understanding why, she just let her arms fall limply to her sides.

 

“Can I call you Mommy now…?”

 

-……

 

“Uh, no… now that I think about it, my head hurts just a little….”

 

The child seemed to be worried about the time they cried and begged her not to leave, saying they wouldn’t call her Mommy anymore.

 

When Ellie didn’t answer, the child, trying to get her attention, started pretending to be sick… which was, well…

 

It was a feeling she couldn’t quite put into words.

 

-Of course. After all, I am Adi’s Mommy. What’s wrong with calling me Mommy?

 

“……!”

 

-Did it make you sad that I said I wasn’t your Mommy until now?

 

Waking up to find that she had disappeared, as if to escape. The child had bravely climbed onto the roof, despite his fear, to look for her, only to be scolded instead of comforted.

 

She had never said “I love you,” never hugged or kissed him, and hadn’t even held his hand once. Ellie wondered if he might resent her for it.

 

There were so many things she wanted to say, so many questions to ask.

 

But instead, Ellie suppressed it all and chose to ask the first thing that came to mind. The child was startled and shook his head frantically.

 

“No!”

 

-……

 

“I-I mean….”

 

-…Yes, Adi?

 

“Because you were here with me, I was just happy….”

 

You taught me how to study, played with me every day, said goodnight, asked if I slept well, and, and…

 

The child, who had been mumbling and counting on his fingers for a while, eventually ran out of fingers to count on and simply beamed.

 

Turning over to face where Ellie stood, he wiggled his fingers once again.

 

Then, when their eyes met, he seemed satisfied with that and buried his face into the pillow.

 

“Heh… Now I have a Mommy too….”

 

TL/N:

 

The child likely thought he was muttering to himself softly, but Ellie, hearing the child’s words in his sweet, childlike voice, could only open her mouth slightly. Just as she was about to speak—

 

Knock, knock.

 

“Young Master, you’re still awake, aren’t you?”

 

Upon hearing Mariee’s knock, the child lifted his face from the pillow and glanced over at Ellie.

 

Ellie nodded slightly.

 

“…Yes, I’m still awake!”

 

“Oh my, why are you smiling so sweetly all of a sudden?”

 

“Because I’m feeling a little good right now….”

 

“You were sick, and now you’re feeling good?”

 

Marie tilted her head, clearly puzzled, but didn’t voice the thought.

 

Soon, Marie pulled a tray over to the child’s bedside and set down the bowl of soup.

 

“It’s unfortunate that I have to tell you this when you’re feeling good…”

 

“What does ‘unfortunate’ mean?”

 

“Uh… It means feeling sad.”

 

“…Why?”

 

Sensing something ominous, the child leaned back slightly as he asked. Even then, his gaze was still on the unopened bowl of soup.

 

As it turned out, the child’s intuition was spot on.

 

Very much so.

 

“…Is it because the soup is bean soup?”

 

“Oh…oh? What…? It’s not corn and pumpkin…? …Why?”

 

“Young Master, you were sick.”

 

“But I’m not sick anymore!”

 

“That’s because you were treated, but if you don’t change, you might not grow up to be a strong and healthy adult. To avoid getting sick again, you need to build up your immunity.”

 

And there’s nothing better for building immunity than eating a balanced diet. Beans are really good for your body, Marie explained.

 

Ellie, noticing the slight smirk on Marie’s lips, blinked rapidly.

 

‘She… looks like she’s enjoying this.’

 

It was clear that Marie was determined to use this opportunity to correct the child’s picky eating habits.

 

It was the same look Ellie had seen from her nanny long ago… hmm…

 

“I’m not eating it! I don’t need that!”

 

The child’s pronunciation suddenly became much clearer as he shouted and pulled away from Marie in anger.

 

As the child turned and fled toward her, Ellie remained standing in the same spot.

 

“No, I don’t want it! I said I don’t—eek!”

 

While looking back as he clumsily tried to escape from the bed, the child suddenly began to topple backward.

 

Thud!

 

“…….”

 

-……

 

Ellie, startled, reflexively reached out and caught the child’s body just in time.

 

…Huh?

 

* * *

 

TL/N: SO SORRY TO ONLY UPDATE W ONE CHAP AFTER SUCH A LONG TIME, IK THAT SOME OF Y’ALL ARE KINDA DISAPPOINTED RN, BUT THESE DAYS I’M REALLY REALLY SHORT IN TIME, I’LL TRY MANAGING MY TIME MORE PERFECTLY, SO Y’ALL AND ME WOULD BE SATISFIED W MY WORK >.< THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND THANK YOU FOR READING MY TRANSLATION!!

 

* * * *

 

If you want to support the Translator, Translator’s Ko-Fi: