Chapter 16. The Ghost’s True Intentions
“Please exchange this.”
Bella carefully placed the box on the counter.
The shop owner opened it with a bored expression, but his eyes widened as he looked between Bella and the box.
“Wait, where did you get this Imperial porcelain from Ise? This is a real treasure!”
“You’re not trying to cheat me?”
Bella sounded more surprised than suspicious.
She had expected him to downplay its value to haggle the price down.
“Anyone can tell what it is. I can also tell whether you know what it’s worth or not.”
The shop owner replied as if it were obvious, gently repackaged the porcelain, and headed to the safe. Moments later, he slammed a hefty pouch of coins on the counter.
Exactly 400 gold coins. Slightly below market value, but for a store in a neighborhood like this, it was a generous deal.
Bella silently slung the money pouch over her shoulder, preparing to leave—but stopped in front of the magazine rack outside the store.
Perhaps because it was a general goods store, it also carried magazines and gossip tabloids.
“Mister.”
“Hmm? Got something else to sell?”
“Not really. But… is there a way to get news from far away?”
“Far? How far are we talking?”
The shopkeeper hobbled out slightly, favoring one leg.
“Well… like a place where all the trivial and silly news from across the entire kingdom is gathered.”
“There’s one like that. Here, take a look.”
He handed her a tabloid. Just as he said, it covered not just the capital’s events but odd, miscellaneous happenings from all over the kingdom.
Would anyone really read this? Bella tilted her head. Nobles usually didn’t care about commoners, and commoners were obsessed with nobles’ affairs.
Perhaps due to that, the issue she picked up was layered in dust.
“The Molden Gossip. I’ll subscribe.”
“Want it delivered to the haunted mansion?”
“Yes. You can just toss it in front of the black door.”
Bella set down the money pouch, pulled out a gold coin, and handed it over. It meant she was buying the previous year’s issues and subscribing for the next year in advance.
Just as she hoisted the pouch again and was about to leave—
“You seem okay, miss?”
Bella turned slightly at the shop owner’s comment.
“Yes. As you can see.”
“They say a body was found at the mansion. I thought it was you.”
“Haha. That part’s true. The ghost killed an intruder who broke in.”
“An intruder…?”
The shopkeeper’s expression darkened.
“That ghost said something like… he’d get revenge?”
Bella trailed off mysteriously, smirking meaningfully before leaving the store.
The bell chimed sweetly, but the shop owner looked as if he had just seen a real ghost.
“Revenge? No way…”
He muttered in horror.
“Chey! Chey, where are you? Chey!”
It was deep into the night when Bella returned home.
She had ordered a new fence for the mansion and bought tools and paint to fix the peeling spots.
She dropped the heavy load at the front door and looked around.
There was no sign of Chey. Granted, he was a ghost and didn’t usually give off any presence—but the mansion felt eerily still tonight.
“It’s weird when he’s not around.”
Bella muttered as she lifted the money pouch and went upstairs. She felt she had to store it in her bedroom safe to rest easy.
She had plans—money brought work.
First, she needed to find a soap artisan. Probably wouldn’t be easy to attract one to a haunted mansion without offering a solid salary.
“I need to fix the mansion’s image.”
Since there were already rumors of a ghost killing a thug, she thought about spinning it into a story about a righteous ghost punishing wrongdoers.
She had planned to talk to Chey about it today, but he was nowhere to be seen.
He always hovered near her, whining about how scary it was being a ghost.
Grumbling lightly, Bella undressed for a bath. One benefit of living alone was the freedom.
…
Oh.
Bella blinked. There was someone—there shouldn’t have been, but there was. The worst possible someone.
Chey, phasing through the wall, froze mid-air, blinking rapidly in surprise.
“K-Knock next time!”
Bella quickly pulled her chemise around her. Thankfully, she hadn’t taken it off yet.
Snapping out of his daze, Chey turned away hastily.
“Not that it helps, but… I can’t knock.”
“You could’ve made a sound at least!”
“How would a dead person make a sound?”
Ugh. If only he weren’t so damn pretty, she’d have given him an earful.
Bella sighed and composed herself. Chey was right—ghosts couldn’t knock or give off any presence. It was more rational for her to make adjustments.
She waved her hand dismissively to show she was fine.
“Why do you say such heartbreaking things? It’s okay. I’ll just be more careful next time and make sure to lock the door.”
“…I swear I didn’t see anything.”
Chey mumbled, looking pitiful as he lowered his eyes. Bella flushed even more at his words and clutched her clothes to her chest, heart pounding.
“Ahh! Don’t say stuff like that! I’ll go bathe now!”
“Okay.”
Bella dashed into the bathroom. Alone, Chey touched his earlobe. It was burning. That couldn’t be right.
Meanwhile, in the tub, Bella tried to calm her racing heart, sinking into hot water, letting bubbles form across the surface.
“Why’d he have to come in right then?”
Damn ghost. And yet… those fluttering lashes of his were pretty. Was she losing it?
She dunked her head underwater.
Objectively, Bella didn’t think of herself as pretty. She’d rarely received confessions or advances, and her cold looks made her seem aloof unless she smiled.
But when she was with Chey… she kept forgetting that.
A ghost like him wanted to share a room with her, treated her kindly, spoke softly in that noble accent…
…Noble accent?
Bella’s head burst out of the water. As the waves settled, realization dawned on her face.
“Why didn’t I think of that?”
Elegant white shirt. Tailored pants. That refined, aristocratic tone.
If Chey had been a noble in life…
If she tried to think from a noble’s perspective, she could start guessing his motives.
A dead noble, haunting a mansion?
“If he’s not just Chey, but a noble…”
Then he’d pursue what he wanted, no matter the means. If he was treating her kindly, there had to be a reason.
It wouldn’t be affection. For nobles, advantage came before sentiment. They were always calculating.
What benefit could Chey gain through her?
Bella only had one thing of value.
“…This house?”
That was odd. Her only possession was the mansion. And she would never give that up. Not to anyone—not even to Chey.
“Does he know my weakness? No, that’s not it.”
Was his kindness just a trick to take her house?
Her purple eyes darkened. Why else would such a handsome ghost act so sweetly toward her?
If he was after the house, then it all made sense—his behavior.
“Even ghosts need somewhere to stay.”
If Bella died, the mansion might get demolished for being haunted. But as long as she lived there quietly, the house would remain.
Maybe that’s why Chey opposed her factory plan—why he didn’t want people flocking to the village.
“It’s the only explanation.”
Bella narrowed her eyes, deep in thought.
She had met many nobles—and they all shared similar mindsets. Hence the phrase: “like attracts like.”
Only one noble had ever treated her like a person, not a servant. Just one.
“Then what kind of noble was Chey?”
He looked like one of the capital’s great noble houses.
But no matter how hard she searched her memory, she couldn’t place his face. Had his family line died out? That was a sad thought.
…
Bella blew bubbles into the bath again.
This house was hers. Forever. To the death. It was her home.
Still… there was room to negotiate.
For the ghost, having a clean, responsible homeowner was ideal. For Bella, it meant a loyal, secret-keeping companion.
Better than fellow humans, who would betray and envy her any day.
Having decided, Bella dried off and changed into a comfy nightgown. Then, with a determined look, she flung open the bathroom door.
“Chey, I have something to sa—!”
But she didn’t get to finish.
A white shirt fluttered right in front of her nose.
“You seem quite curious about me, Bella.”
A gentle voice. Elegant tone. A cold that seeped into her bones.
Bella lifted her eyes slowly. Did he hear?
The moment she saw Chey’s face, she knew.
He had heard.
“Uhhh…”
She had just taken a hot bath, but her body shivered.
“Why are you curious about my identity? I’m already dead, Bella.”
“That’s…!”
“If my identity affects how you see me, that makes me sad. Bella, I…”
Chey lowered his gaze, full of sorrow.
He looked like a beautiful boy, just rejected after a confession.
