10. The Ghost, Chei
“What’s your name, Mr. Ghost?”
The ghost opened his mouth, but Bella couldn’t hear him. With a slightly disappointed look, she shrugged.
“That’s okay. I’ll just keep calling you Mr. Ghost. Still, it’s nice being able to see you clearly now.”
How do I look in your eyes?
The ghost wanted to ask, but his voice couldn’t reach the living.
Bella carefully touched the hazy, glowing mass. It was fascinating that a soul could be seen like this.
“Do you think my soul will remain like this when I die?”
“……”
“I hope it does—so I can stay in this mansion forever.”
After withdrawing her hand from the ghost, Bella stretched with a long yawn. She was mentally and physically exhausted after clashing with the merchant guild leader today.
“Mr. Ghost, I’m going to eat dinner now. Do you want to come with me?”
When she focused, it looked like the ghost shook his head. It was hard to tell since he was more like a lump of light than a person.
“Alright. Then could you wait in the room for a bit? I’ll change and just grab a quick sandwich.”
Bella grabbed a chemise and headed for the bathroom. Ever since discovering the ghost, she’d done all her changing and washing in the bathroom.
“Even if he’s a ghost… he’s still a man…”
Bella muttered and nodded to herself. Maybe it was because she’d heard his voice twice while half-asleep—it kept nagging at her.
After changing, Bella held a lamp and carefully walked down the hallway.
It had gotten completely dark outside in that short time. She hadn’t even made it to the kitchen yet. She quickened her steps.
Along the way, she didn’t forget to check the traps she’d set up. Thankfully, all were untouched. This mansion was now as good as her fortress.
“Ugh, maybe I should’ve just put up with the hunger.”
As she checked the last trap and headed to the kitchen, a hint of anxiety flickered across Bella’s face.
“I’ll just grab some bread.”
She didn’t even want to waste time making a sandwich. She just wanted to hurry back to the room, sit the ghost down, and chatter away.
Since he was a ghost, not a person, he wouldn’t be able to interfere with the living world no matter how much she talked. For someone like Bella, who harbored deep distrust toward people, the ghost’s inability to interfere made it easier to grow attached to him.
“Hehe, he’ll be shocked when he hears what I did today.”
Bella murmured proudly to herself, thinking back on her day.
Luckily, the merchant guild leader had accepted her bet. He even gave her a much better deal than she’d expected.
He had agreed to become an investor in the business she was planning.
“It’s kind of scary when things suddenly go well.”
Bella always considered herself unlucky. She believed that she had to struggle and grind just to achieve an average life.
But the merchant’s offer was almost too good to be true.
Grabbing a few pieces of bread from the kitchen, Bella rushed up the stairs. For a moment, she felt a chill like someone was watching her through the window, but there was something more important waiting in her room.
“Mr. Ghost!”
Bella opened the door cheerfully. But the faint glowing figure was nowhere to be seen.
Disappointed, she shoved a piece of bread in her mouth and chewed.
Leaving without saying goodbye—what was that about? Pouting, Bella finished the bread in one bite and collapsed onto her bed.
Maybe she was feeling especially sensitive because she was hungry. Now that she was full and wrapped in soft blankets, her mood began to ease.
“Mr. Ghost, are you still in the room?”
At her question, the white chiffon curtain swayed slightly.
So he was still here. It was so dark she couldn’t see him anymore.
It was unfortunate. Without seeing his form, she couldn’t tell if he was nearby, sitting in a chair, or still standing by the window.
Still, the one who must be most frustrated was probably the ghost himself. Bella let her tired body sink deeper into the bed and spoke sleepily.
“Good night. If you’re scared, you can stay in this room.”
After saying goodnight, Bella buried herself completely in the cozy bed. The softness of the blankets melted away her fatigue.
As she dozed off, her voice faintly called out to the ghost.
“Oh, right… Mr. Ghost.”
“……”
“Are you really not going to tell me your name?”
“……”
“That’s mean. I told you mine and everything.”
Muttering, Bella half-buried her face into the pillow.
Come to think of it, the ghost always seemed to keep a certain distance. Even though he’d waited for her today, it felt like he’d shut the curtains as soon as he saw her.
“Mr. Ghost, do you… hate me?”
Clatter!
Suddenly, the window flew open and a cold wind rushed in. Bella sighed softly at the rattling frame.
“I guess you do. Opening windows when heating costs are up—seriously.”
Half-joking, half-serious, Bella got up and closed the window.
She was used to this by now. This clumsy ghost often knocked things over or broke them.
At first, she thought he was messing with her, but she’d come to realize he was just naturally careless.
“If something happens, wake me up again like last time, okay? Even if you hate me.”
She made sure to have the last word before crawling back into bed and wrapping herself in blankets.
Just as she was drifting off, a sharp chill brushed against her back, making the hairs on her neck stand on end.
“What the…”
Startled, Bella tried to move but couldn’t. It felt like sleep paralysis.
And then, a cold breath brushed her ear. No… could you even call that breath, if it came from the dead?
Frozen stiff, Bella heard a beautiful voice whisper faintly into her ear.
“Chei.”
Chei?
Stunned for a moment, Bella realized the name the ghost whispered was his own.
The chill faded, and her body loosened instantly. Bella, still pale, opened her mouth.
“Chei.”
“……”
“Chei. That’s right, isn’t it?”
Softly, a single petal drifted from the flower vase beside the bed.
Then another. And another.
Eventually, the entire stem quivered slightly, and the vase shook violently.
Bella quickly reached out to catch the vase before it fell. Some water spilled onto her hand.
“You have no sense of caution, seriously.”
“……”
“Why are you even shaking the vase?”
Wiping her hand dry, Bella grumbled and pulled the blanket over her head.
Then she kicked the covers with a frustrated wham!
Why was her heart fluttering for a ghost she hadn’t even seen the face of? When she saw the falling petals, a silly thought crossed her mind—maybe he’d wanted to give them to her.
Maybe she was just lonely. So lonely that she kept getting attached to a ghost.
Even though she already knew—there was no one in the world she could safely give her heart to.
Bella bit her lip.
Just look at what had happened with Baron Oshik, who once adored her. Even parental love, said to be the greatest, crumbled at the gambling table.
Affection, love—they were shallow, hollow things. Dressed up with fanfare like they were something great, but when unwrapped, there was nothing inside.
Bella squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to calm the restless feelings.
And the only thought that lingered as she drifted off was:
So the ghost’s name is Chei.
It’s a beautiful name.
Bella’s heavy eyelids fluttered once and soon only the sound of even breathing filled the room.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, the ghost opened and closed his hand with a faintly bitter expression.
He couldn’t do anything in this form. That wasn’t even his real name—just a childhood nickname. But he wanted to give her a flower. It was just a feeling. But this damned bodiless soul could only drop a petal or two.
“This might be my first mistake toward you.”
The ghost’s quiet voice scattered in the air like a breeze.
Anyone who knows a soul’s name can control it. That’s why ghosts never reveal their names, no matter how much they share their stories.
Their true identity must also remain hidden. If the living discovers that, learning the name becomes easy.
So giving even a childhood name instead of a fake one was impulsive—and potentially fatal.
“……”
The ghost let out a low sigh.
He had something he must do: uncover the truth behind his death and take revenge.
To do that, he would have to deceive Bella, use her, and keep secrets.
What he wanted from Bella was her body—nothing more.
His gaze fell on the mound beneath the blanket. After a moment, a pale, long hand gently touched the covers.
Every time he touched Bella, her body would grow cold. Even so, the ghost wanted to keep touching her.
When the warmth of a living human flowed through his fingertips, he could almost believe he was alive too.
“Did you know? You’re the first person to ever talk to me.”
So, just for now, he would grant her this small mercy—of not hurting her.
