I Don’t Run a Romance-Fantasy Horror Consultation Office
CHAPTER 52……………………………………….
“Sir Jaen, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
“Is it something I can do?”
“Please lend me your name.”
Laseil nodded readily, without saying anything further.
It was such an easy acceptance that it left Direna, who had steeled herself before speaking, completely taken aback.
“Is it really okay to lend it so easily?”
“Is there any particular problem?”
“I mean… you don’t know what I might do.”
Direna muttered.
Given her track record, she had expected to have to persuade him for quite some time.
“What if I end up doing something completely insane?”
“I don’t think you’re that kind of person.”
“…Sir Jaen, how can you—”
Direna murmured blankly.
“How can you have that kind of faith?”
It was one of the things she hadn’t understood from the very first time they met.
Of course, confidence could come from ability.
But this kind of firm, unwavering trust was something Direna had never encountered before.
“There’s no reason not to trust you.”
Laseil’s answer was simple.
It only made Direna’s thoughts more tangled.
Borrowing the names of two more nobles went more smoothly than expected.
“My name? Of course. The price would be two merchant guilds—what, you’ll really give them to me? My, you’re not actually possessed by a ghost, are you?”
Yujire readily offered his name and even helped with the subsequent steps.
“And me? Do whatever you like… though, did I have a title?”
“I gave you a barony when I hired you. You forgot?”
Elian, who happened to be nearby, also lent his name.
It all went so smoothly that it was almost bewildering.
‘I didn’t expect things to go this well.’
She had imagined a long, complicated process.
But since everything was working out, there was no reason to dwell on it.
“Thank you.”
After hesitating for a long time, Direna finally managed to express her gratitude.
It was something she had never said out loud before.
Embarrassed afterward, she fled out the door as if running away.
“Miss Direna? You’re supposed to go with me.”
She had completely forgotten that she was meant to accompany Laseil.
By convention, once a noble’s consent was obtained, one traveled together with that noble.
“Oh—sorry.”
If rank alone were considered, Yujire should have come along, but—
He was far too busy dealing with territorial affairs.
That left Laseil, who could entrust security to Rujea, with no choice but to move.
“But is it really okay?”
“What is?”
“No matter what, compared to Sir Jaen…”
Seeing the state of the territory, it seemed like an escort was absolutely necessary.
Unable to suppress the question that had suddenly arisen, Direna asked.
“An escort doesn’t necessarily have to be a Swordmaster.”
In fact, except during duels, Laseil often roamed around the capital.
There were many situations where his position as Commander of the Knights of the Ducal House of Lesean was required.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Rujea handled escort duties more often than he did.
“As for escorting young ladies, well…”
Laseil paused, recalling everything that had happened so far.
Come to think of it, guarding Yujire was a bit ambiguous to even call “escort duty.”
It was closer to stopping Yujire from killing someone.
But there was no need to say such things to someone who knew nothing.
“Escort duty?”
“It’s nothing.”
Rather than pressing further, Direna turned her head toward the outside of the carriage.
They were nearing the marquisate.
“We should get down now, Miss Direna.”
Laseil stepped out of the carriage first and looked up.
Direna stared silently at the hand he extended toward her.
She looked as though she were facing some strange object.
“Miss Direna? Are you all right?”
“Ah—sorry.”
She replied hastily and stepped down from the carriage.
She couldn’t very well say that it had been so long since she’d been escorted that it caught her off guard.
“I was just thinking about something for a moment…”
The marquis’s residence came into view.
Though it was spacious and tall, it often made her feel suffocated.
Looking at the mansion that somehow felt stifling, Direna let out a sigh.
“Let’s go in. If you say you’re my guest, they’ll let us through.”
The guards standing at the entrance greeted Direna.
Their words were polite, but there was a hint of wariness.
‘Well, it’s not like I could clean up everything I’ve done in just a few days.’
Direna thought, recalling her past deeds once again, feeling slightly pained.
She quickly brushed the thoughts aside, though.
“And the person next to you is…?”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Laseil Jaen.”
Laseil offered a swift greeting.
At the sound of his name, the knight’s eyes widened slightly.
“Sir Jaen?”
“Yes.”
“Um, when you’re leaving, could I get an autograph just once—”
“……”
It was a reaction Laseil often received when knights encountered him.
It wasn’t anything new to him, but it seemed different for Direna.
“I’ve never seen someone react like that before.”
She kept talking about it all the way to the reception room.
“You always act like you have no emotions! Oh, we’re here.”
Listening to Direna’s half-complaining chatter, they reached the study in no time.
Since they hadn’t sent word ahead, they would have to wait a bit to see the marquis.
Though not as long as in an ordinary case.
‘That’s why I was given this position.’
Wherever he went, the prestige of the Ducal House of Lesean followed Laseil.
To treat him rudely was effectively a challenge to Lesean itself.
Everyone knew this and avoided creating unnecessary trouble.
‘The Duke was very considerate.’
He suddenly recalled his first visit to the ducal house.
He knew so little back then and was cautious about everything.
Sometimes, the consideration of those around him felt more uncomfortable than reassuring.
The environment had improved so much that it only made things feel more awkward.
‘And I didn’t even understand why the Duke acted that way.’
There were times when that affection even felt frightening.
Looking back now, it was ridiculous.
‘It was the one situation I didn’t need to be afraid of.’
In any case, Laseil had been fortunate.
Fortunate enough to learn that a person could give friendship to another without expecting anything in return.
“Let’s go in. The marquis is waiting.”
“Oh, Sir Jaen!”
As soon as they opened the door, the marquis’s voice rang out.
“Did you resolve it? Has everything properly returned to how it was?”
Laseil quietly exchanged glances with Direna.
From this point on, everything had to go right for the plan to succeed.
“There is still a final step remaining. It needs to be carried out within the marquis’s household.”
Though he had never performed an exorcism in his life, Laseil said so anyway.
Instead of doubting him, the marquis reacted immediately.
“In the marquis’s household? Will it take long?”
“If you could gather the retainers and collateral members of the family, it should be over quickly.”
Laseil continued his lies smoothly.
“The more people there are, the safer it will be.”
“And if there are fewer?”
“……”
Laseil fell silent.
It was advice he’d received—that stimulating the imagination like this was more threatening.
The source of that advice was Yujire.
And once again, it seemed Yujire was right.
The marquis’s complexion worsened.
His mind was likely racing with visions of the worst possible outcome.
“Ah, anyway, very well. If you wait a bit, I can gather them quickly.”
The marquis, looking far more uneasy than before, turned back just before leaving the room.
“So, she really was possessed, then?”
It seemed that, deep down, the marquis had considered the possibility that Direna might be perfectly fine.
That was why he wanted confirmation.
“Yes. If we handle the final procedure properly, it should be resolved.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Gathering the family members didn’t take long.
Laseil quietly observed the people assembled nearby.
‘They don’t seem particularly hostile.’
Naturally, no one openly displayed animosity toward Direna.
But it was still unexpected that not even subtle displeasure showed on their faces.
‘Maybe there are just more people who don’t care one way or another.’
Laseil recalled what he knew about the marquis’s family.
He had never heard of the retainers having direct conflicts with Direna.
