TAPGB - Chapter 47

TAPGB - Chapter 47

The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

"Shit... I never thought it would really come."

"At times like this, Your Majesty is angry."

Everyone followed behind Leopold, walking shakily like cattle being led to a slaughterhouse.

They all changed into their maid's and servant's uniforms, secretly left the palace, and were walking through the forest.

It was an aberration that ordinary nobles could never imagine. But who is Leopold? He is a person whose curiosity no one can match.

He had already sneaked out of the imperial palace and gone down to the capital more than once. Of course, there have been a few times when he was caught in the middle of it.

"Ah! It's a road! It must be this way!"

They were lucky that they didn't get lost, but Lilith thought that that road was the road to hell, so she just wanted to turn back.

However, since no one could complain to the Crown Prince, they followed him without saying a word.

'How can it be that nothing has changed...'

Lilith fell behind and was out of breath.

It's been so long since Lilith last saw Leopold that she thought he had become somewhat cooler and more mature, but she was wrong.

Memories of being bullied by Leopold's pranks when she was young came to her. In times like this, it was just insulting to be of lower status than him.

Damn!

As Lilith was chewing and swallowing all kinds of curses in her head, something hit her forehead.

"What! Why stop...!"

"Shh. Everyone, we're here."

Seeing Amanda's terrified expression, Lilith pursed her lips. Lilith managed to get through the children and found a mansion in the distance. A mansion located on the side of a mountain.

She didn't know if it was because it originally used dark materials or if it changed over time, but the entire mansion was dark. It's like a mansion from hell.

"... Do we really have to go in there?"

After a moment of silence, Amanda spoke. Everyone turned to Leopold.

"If a man pulls out a knife, he should at least cut the radish."

Despair immediately fell on everyone's faces. They slowly, holding their breath, approached the fence surrounding the mansion.

When Lilith got to the corner, she couldn't muster up the courage to go inside. Finally, Leopold looked back at Schlan and Harry.

"You guys go first."

“Ehh!”

"I don't like it."

Schlan was shocked, and Harry immediately refused.

"Your Highness asked us to come! Of course, Your Highness must go first!"

"How can you be called a Lord if you drive your subjects to their deaths?"

As Amanda and Lilith's gaze grew stinging along with their strong attitude, Leopold grabbed them and whispered.

"Go inside first and I will grant you a wish."

Schlan flinched, and Harry's eyes narrowed.

"Speaking of wishes......."

"Anything good that I can listen to!"

"It's done. It's completely useless."

Harry knew from the beginning that it wouldn't work. In any case, the person Leopold was targeting was not him, but Shulan.

"....I'm hosting a small gathering at my house in a few days. Can you come?"

"Huh? Gathering?"

"Yes! It's nothing special, it's a place where young people of our age can gather and become friends. I also plan to do small things like horseback riding and hunting."

Harry's eyes narrowed at the obvious trick. That idea may have been the work of his father, Count Neophine, rather than Schlan.

Instead of acting according to his own will, Schlan still follows Count Neophin's words.

Leopold thought for a moment to what extent he thought the same as Harry, then nodded. 

"Okay, send the invitation later."

"Really?!"

"Then. Am I going to say this with just one mouth? I'll definitely go after you go into the mansion first and see what it's like." 

"... It's a little scary, but if it's Your Highness's request!"

Schlan and Leopold held each other's hands tightly as they signed the contract. Harry was the only one who shook his head.

"... I'm going!"

"Fighting, Schlan!"

"Schlan is the best!"

Schlan's shoulders shrugged a little at the support of his friends. Everyone held their breath and watched Schlan. Schlan arrived at the mansion and wandered around for a while before grabbing the front door handle.

Krieeeet. 

The door opened with a chilling sound. Because it was far away, it seemed darker beyond the door.

"Should we have gone together?"

"What if something happens to Schlan?"

"He will be fine. I told Schlan not to close the door...." 

Before Leopold had finished speaking, Schlan entered the mansion. 

Slam!

At the same time, the front door closed.

For a moment, there was a heavy silence among the children. 

"What now?"

"Is the door closed because of the wind?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Otherwise, how can the door..."

Waaaah!

A loud scream was heard from the mansion. Everyone froze and stared at the mansion with their hearts pounding.

Jump!

Less than a minute later, Schlan came out of the mansion with a thoughtful look on his face.

“Shu, Schlan!”

Amanda caught him running like crazy. The pale, trembling body without a trace of blood was unusual.

"Ghost, ghost! There are real ghosts!"

Everyone swallowed their saliva and looked at the mansion again. The door that opened as Schlan jumped out closed again with a squeak.

Compared to the slam shut just moments ago, it was a very gentle movement, as if someone was pulling it.

"I'm not going! Never go! I won't go again! I've done enough!"

Schlan was absolutely terrified. It was impossible to send him to the mansion any longer.

"... That's about it. It turns out it's a haunted mansion."

"Oh, that's right. I don't want to be here anymore."

In addition, when Lilith and Amanda refused to go, Leopold groaned in discomfort.

"Your Highness, let's just go. If you're really curious, why don't you bring a knight later?"

"..."

Seeing Schlan in panic and his friends losing their will, it seems right to make plans for the next time...

'Why can't my feet fall off like this?'

Leopold felt like he would regret something greatly if he went back to the imperial palace like this.

Leopold doesn't know why. It was just his intuition that told him so.

".... I'll go and come back."

"Yes? Your Highness!" 

"No! Do not go!" 

Even though his friends called out behind him, Leopold walked towards the mansion with great strides. He reached the front door, swallowed his saliva, and grabbed the doorknob with a solemn heart. 

"... It will be fine."

Brainwashing himself into thinking that he would be okay, Leopold gathered courage and opened the door.

Sigh-

What unfolded before his eyes was an unexpectedly antique interior. Although it felt old and worn, it was overall clean and had a nice atmosphere. It's like a noble mansion.

Whick!

Before his thoughts could continue, his vision suddenly turned.

He was grabbed by the collar by an unknown force and dragged into the mansion, rolling around on the floor. Before long, the door slammed closed.

"Some rats are sneaking around my house...!"

"...Uh?"

Leopold, who had reflexively closed his eyes, opened them when he heard a strangely familiar voice.

"Me?"

Someone who looked exactly like him was sitting on top of him, eyes wide open.

***

"Lucian too. If you want to reconcile, just speak frankly."

Ever since Lucian got angry last time, he had been circling around, looking at me.

[I see everyone feeling sorry.] 

Sometimes, when I see Lucian irritated, I feel mean and angry, but after a while, when I notice him carefully, the accumulated emotions melt away.

Of course, only a handful of them have ever properly apologized to me.

[Should I, who has a big heart, reach out first this time?]

I hummed and thought I would have to push myself a little harder this evening.

As I was wandering around the kitchen, I sensed something. I opened my eyes and approached the window.

[...Human?] 

Through the fence, I saw five humans wandering around. They huddled together and headed towards this place.

[Yes, I thought it would be quiet for a while.] 

This didn't happen after Lucian came, but it often happened before he came.

[If you want to see a ghost, you should let him see it.]

The reason they came here is obvious even without hearing it. Those guys who came for courage training or who pretended that there were no ghosts must have come to check if there really were ghosts in the mansion.

As I was feeling angry for the first time in a while and wondering how to greet an uninvited guest, something suddenly occurred to me.

[... Now that I think about it, I guess humans will never come here?]

What could be the reason why no one came for several years after Lucian came? The imperial family must have made all kinds of excuses to prevent access to this place.

[Because Lucian cannot be discovered by anyone else....]

Although there are people who come to scout very occasionally, this is the first time I've seen such a rush.

[It is said that he came here secretly, avoiding people's eyes, or that he is in a position to not pay attention to orders...]

I need to check what purpose they came here for. It was hard to see their face because they were hiding behind the fence. In addition, several people were wearing hats tightly pressed down. Looking at the color of the uniform, it looks like he is a soldier...

[You never know. He may be in disguise.]

In the first place, there is no way there would be a servant who would disobey the Emperor's command.

[Ah, he's moving.]

Just then, a man started moving. It was quite comical to see him walk nervously and creaking. I pulled back my face from beyond the door and waited for him to come.

[Hmm, how should I kick him out so that it will be known that I kicked him out well?]

Just then a candle caught my eye. I smiled evilly and waited for the door to open.

Sigh-

The body of the man who came in became stiffer due to the particularly loud sound of the hinge. I stood right next to the door and watched him pass by.

[... Is he younger than I thought?]

I thought he was an adult, but his cheeks remained fat and a strangely youthful face proved that he was still a child.

[I guess he's Lucian's age?]

"Uh, it's not as scary as I thought."

A boy with auburn hair said. Did you know that your legs are shaking differently than you say?

I sneered and deliberately closed the door next to me hard.

Bang-!

"Hiiiii!"

While the boy was scared and shivering, I increased the size of the flames of the candles placed here and there.

Grumble!

The boy's teeth chattered as flames erupted ominously everywhere.

[Is this not going to happen?]

I manipulated some of the fire and made it float around him. Then I moved the toy that Caesar had left behind earlier.

Squeak! Squeak!

A strange laughing sound was heard from the toy. Of course, to a boy who doesn't know that the laughter is coming from a toy, it probably feels like the work of a ghost.

[3, 2, 1.......]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

The boy kicked down the door and ran outside, screaming at the manor to leave. The group hiding behind the fence was seen panicking.

[They won't come now.]

I effortlessly shook my hands and watched what they were doing through the window. They'll be leaving here soon...

"Leah, what do you mean?"

Lucian came down from the second floor. I guess he came here after hearing the commotion a little while ago.

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