episode_0010

010 – Haunted Mansion

My neck, which had been chafed by the rope, was extremely sore and painful.

You hang yourself.

To be honest, it was an experience I never want to have again!

As I was touching the painful wound, Psyche grabbed me by the collar and pulled me up as I was lying on the floor.

“You!”

She looked at me with tears in her ocean-blue eyes.

“Hanging yourself! Why did you do that… !? Are you possessed by a ghost!? If I hadn’t saved you, you would have… !”

If Psyche hadn’t saved me, I would be dead by now! He must have been plunged into the hottest and most painful depths of hell!

In other words, this move was a big gamble for me.

Still, the win rate was high.

“That’s right, because I was counting on you to save me. Collock, Psyche, aren’t you that kind of person?”

Psyche was a kind and good person.

When a child approaches a fire, he puts out his hand to block it even if he gets burned.

This was a woman who would use her whole body to stop someone from going straight to hell before her eyes.

Even if that person is a heinous person called “The Great Sinner”!

“I met you for the first time today, so what on earth do you know about me? I hate people like you the most! Suicide is something you should never do! Never!”

“But didn’t I cure your illness with that? Sometimes you have to die to live. If I could cure the young lady’s illness through death… Collock.”

It hurts, it hurts.

While she was performing a self-diagnosis with her hands to see if her cervical spine was cracked or broken while hanging on a rope, maids and servants surrounded Psyche.

Then, shedding tears sparkling with various emotions, she opened her mouth one by one.

“The lady is really talking… ! Oh my god, it’s a miracle! A young lady who couldn’t even drink water on her own for two years… !”

“I am cured! Monk Hyde really cured Lady Psyche! Oh my!”

It was just my opinion, but it was clear that the servants at the Agarpe Mansion had no idea that Psyche was faking it. So, was this malingering ruckus the work of Psyche alone?

“Tsk-.”

At that time, I heard a strange sound in my ears.

When I turned my head, I saw Count Dovan, who had red hair grown like a lion, making a subtle expression. Of course, it only lasted a moment, and he opened his arms wide and embraced his daughter.

“Psyche! Your consciousness has returned! This father is so happy that you are healthy again! Do you recognize this father?”

“Father… ! I have come to my senses now!”

It was a very touching father-daughter reunion.

They both have nice characters, so they look like paintings.

Even I, who knew the full story of this situation to some extent, was so moved that tears came to my eyes.

Jirit-.

While I was being moved for a while, I felt a rather sharp gaze from somewhere.

When I turned my head, I saw Loras, a knight wearing shining silver armor, glaring at me and muttering something to the servants.

As I was wondering what he was talking about, a large hand grabbed my shoulder.

It was Count Dovan Agarpe.

“Did you say you were Monk Hyde? Since you cured my daughter’s illness, it would be natural to repay her in return! If you want something, tell me! Our Agarpe is the “family of the covenant.” It is a rule to keep promises you make with your mouth.”

Do you want something?

My head was so full of one discourse that I couldn’t think of anything else.

I finally couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke.

“I want to marry Lady Psyche.”

“Marriage?”

Doban’s rock-like face trembled. Soon the servants and maids also began to sway, as if swallowed by one great will.

“Marriage? Did you say you’re getting married now?”

“Marrying Lady Psyche… No matter how much he is a benefactor, with someone I don’t even know where he came from… .”

Only then did people seem to begin to see the person I was.

The blatantly scanning gaze was full of suspicion, distrust, and a certain kind of malice.

Soon someone was shaking and shouting loudly.

“Marriage, Count! That’s ridiculous!”

“Lord Loras.”

“As everyone knows, Lady Psyche already has a fiancé. The Agarpe family was once granted the title of “Covenant” by the king─.”

“Lord Loras!”

Doban warned in a stern voice. Then the knight Loras, who had been shouting something, kept his mouth shut, as if he had a lot to say but had no choice but to hold back.

Kuuuk-.

Count Dovan, holding my shoulder, smiled.

“Let’s start with eating. I’d like to invite you to dinner. Monk Hyde.”

“It’s an honor.”

# # #

A dinner party held by the count who showed his sincerity.

It was like a huge banquet, like a party.

The servants and maids prepared endless dishes and placed them on the table, and I was busy trying each and every type of dish.

Of course, the taste was okay.

There was no way the food of this world, where seasonings were rare and cooking methods were not yet developed, would be satisfying to my tongue trained to the taste of the 21st century.

Still, it’s better than starving.

We are grateful to have our daily bread!

When I felt reasonably full, the door to the banquet hall burst open. Soon, a woman in a purple dress walked gracefully and lightly on the cold stone floor.

She was Psyche.

“Lady… ! oh my god! You are truly healed! It’s a miracle!”

“You’re so beautiful that I don’t think you’ve suffered from illness… !”

People were very impressed and were busy praising its appearance.

To be honest, I tend to treat people equally when it comes to women’s ‘appearance’. Because all humans were created as masterpieces in the image of the Creator.

It was my opinion that everyone has their own personality and beauty.

but.

Looking at Psyche, I wonder if God would have focused more and put more effort into creating her after honing his skills by creating many people… I even thought about it.

It’s really pretty.

I always saw him wearing armor, shouting and frowning, so this was my first time seeing him like this.

“Psyche, sit down in front of Mr. Hyde.”

“Yes, father.”

Gugit-.

Psyche’s frown as she looked at me was the same as before and now. But compared to the time when all kinds of hate was spewed at me, now… .

“Monk Hyde, I hate you.”

It’s the same.

Still, it will change in the future.

I am confident.

Soon the real banquet and dinner began.

Diririring-.

Loud musical instruments resonate in the stone banquet hall, the warm brazier burns brightly, and people are getting intoxicated.

A beautiful blonde woman looked at me.

“Did you say Monk Hyde?”

She was the Countess of Agarpe, around her late thirties, and an extremely beautiful woman. It was clear that Psyche resembled her.

The Countess asked me.

“Hyde, won’t you tell me your story? We don’t know anything about the benefactor who cured my precious daughter Psyche from her illness. Are you from a noble family?”

“No.”

“Really? I thought that the skin was as white and fair as that of a young lady, indicating that it was the child of a nobleman who had not suffered hardships. Then, your mother or father… ? merchant… ? Or a priest… ?”

It felt like I was being investigated.

If it is natural, is it natural?

I am the one who dared to say to the Count: Give me “daughter!”.

My future father-in-law had the right to know what I was doing.

At that time, Psyche muttered softly.

“I really wonder whose child this is. How can you not hesitate to do something so reckless, dangerous, and unforgivable? How could I have been educated at home to do something like that… !”

Was it that shocking that I committed suicide?

Being criticized and criticized by Psyche… Honestly, this feels good the way it is.

Anyway, I felt like I was hated by Psyche in many ways, but I had to say something.

“I am an orphan.”

“… … !”

Psyche’s blue eyes widened.

The gaze of those eyes seemed to waver uneasily from side to side, then calmly turned downward.

“Hyde, I apologize. I really didn’t know that was the case.”

The daughter of a noble family apologizes for her mistake.

In this world where even when one has made a mistake, one is shown to be a negative person, Psyche was, of course, a person of character that I was keeping an eye on!

I was so moved that my body trembled and said,

“It’s okay. Even though I am an orphan, I was able to meet my great father at an early age thanks to him. The Lord, the Father of all things.”

I grew up in an orphanage, but I never felt lonely or unhappy.

All my brothers and sisters were nice, and the teachers were kind and good people.

Rather, the most unfortunate time in my life was the peak of the last five years when I left the orphanage.

Of course, that’s over now!

Tears welled up in the countess’s eyes as she listened to the story.

“Without parents in this harsh world… . It must have been really hard! So you don’t know anything about your biological parents? What’s the news? Are you planning on looking for it!?”

“It’s not completely unrelated. I inherited the name. The director of the orphanage said that. They said the basket I was in had a small cross and my name written on it.”

The name Haido and the maternal faith.

It was the only thing in this world I received from my parents. No, actually, it wasn’t the only one.

You brought me into this world.

In the 21st century, where abortion is rampant, I felt grateful enough that they gave birth to me and left me in a good facility.

Count Dovan sighed and cleared his throat.

“Honey, please stop asking about other people’s stories. It’s against etiquette.”

“Why? Maybe they will become our family in the future! No parents or siblings. Maybe it’s God’s will? If this happens, in our Agarpe family─.”

“Wilhemina.”

Doban spoke sternly again.

The countess’s name seemed to be Wilhemina.

Mrs. Wilhemina shrugged her shoulders and said, “Hmph, men.” and turned her head away from her husband.

The atmosphere becomes more subtle in many ways.

I asked while rinsing my mouth with water to freshen up the mood.

“Now then, I also want to ask you something. Can I ask you one? I have heard many times that Lady Psyche already has a fiancé. Is it true?”

Ex-virgin Psyche.

She was, as far as I know, a celibate.

It was popular for priests in this world to remain celibate like Catholic priests.

Of course, because priests were not prohibited from marrying, there were some, like Archbishop Archibald, who got married and had children.

Still, I thought Psyche was a fashionable celibate, and of course I thought she wouldn’t have relationships with men from the beginning.

Does Psyche have a fiancé?

As I wondered, Doban sipped his wine and shook his head.

“My daughter does not have a fiancé. I don’t know who I heard that from.”

“Are you saying that Lord Loras lied? It seemed like that too. Because I can recognize the faces of liars.”

I looked at Loras sitting at the end of the long table.

Loras coughed and frowned, probably displeased at hearing his name. Count Dovan glanced at him and shook his head.

“What Sir Loras said is not necessarily a lie. Psyche had a fiancé. It’s a very old story, though.”

I see.

It felt like an empty puzzle appeared from nowhere and fit perfectly.

Should I say that I figured out why Psyche had to pretend to be an illness?

“Did your fiance die a long time ago?”

“… Why do you ask that?”

“Indeed. Now I understand. There are ghosts living in this mansion. Lady Psyche’s illness was not something else, but rather she was possessed by a ghost. Even now, that ghost is tormenting Agarpe.”

“… Ghost!?”

Doban’s expression changed in an instant. He opened his eyes wide in surprise, as if he had seen a ghost, and the people around him opened their lips as if wondering what he was talking about.

I was right.

There really was a ghost living in this mansion.

“It’s a ghost named Old Promise.”