The painting on the stairs and the ghost on Grand Duke Illeston's shoulder.
These two curses are light curses that Simone already know because they are described in the original work.
The portrait of a woman found on the wall of the stairs was a curse that the main character, Abel, who was running away from a strange phenomenon, smashed it as soon as he encountered it and easily defeated it.
It could be easily disposed of with an amulet, and even if it didn't work, all she had to do was have someone destroy it.
'But I don't know under what conditions the curse is activated.'
"Hmm."
It would be a good idea to meet the person who has seen the painting and ask under what circumstances they saw it.
“Who was the person who saw the portrait on the stairs earlier?”
As Simone asked loudly, the employee who had mentioned the story earlier approached and stood as if he had been waiting.
"Me! The kid I was sharing a room with recently said he ran away after seeing the portrait on the stairs!”
“Who is that child?”
“It’s a girl named Claire! She must be in charge of taking care of Master Jace now...”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
Seri, the employee who approached Simone's words, smiled broadly and nodded vigorously.
It seemed like she was very happy to be of help to Simone.
Quite a few days have passed since Simone began to break the curse.
Meanwhile, at least the people in this room became completely on Simone's side and wanted to help.
Simone left the room. Anna naturally followed behind her.
“Simone, are you going to see Claire first?”
“Yes, do you know which room Master Jace is receiving treatment in?”
“Uhm...”
Anna showed an embarrassed smile. Simone nodded her head indifferently and headed towards Grand Duke Ilestone's study.
There's no way Anna knows something that even Simone doesn't know. Even though Jace's curse had been lifted, the Grand Duke and his wife were still very cautious about dealing with him, so only a few people knew the location of Jace's room.
Simone arrived at the study and knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
“...Come in."
When Simone opened the door and entered, the Grand Duke and his wife were sitting on the sofa facing each other, drinking tea.
“...Good afternoon."
Florier put down the teacup with a calm smile at Simone's greeting.
“Yes, good afternoon.”
She didn't know Florier was there.
Come to think of it, she heard that before Jace was cursed, the two of them had a very good relationship.
It was also the first time that Simone saw Grand Duke Illeston sitting on the sofa and enjoying some leisure time instead of attending to his duties.
“Sit down, Simone.”
Florier pointed to a single-person sofa and asked the occupant for another teacup.
Florier certainly treated Simone more kindly than Grand Duke Illeston. Simone sat down on the sofa, and soon the teacup in front of her was filled.
Grand Duke Illeston, who had been quietly watching this, spoke.
“I just happened to have something to give you, so it’s a good thing.”
“Are you going to give it to me?”
Grand Duke Illeston nodded but made a gesture to speak first.
“What brings you here?”
“Are you going to start breaking the curse again?”
"Yes. I’ve had enough rest, and today I’m going to deal with relatively light and easy curses.”
There is no way that a relatively easy and light curse could exist in this mansion. Grand Duke Illeston chuckled and nodded to continue speaking.
“It is said that there is a person who saw the portrait of the woman said to be found on the stairs.”
"Right. Well then, I guess I should talk to her first... Have you already shared it?”
"No. I heard that that child is in charge of taking care of Master Jace.”
The Grand Duke and his wife, who had been calm the whole time, stopped and looked surprised.
“In Jace’s room?”
“Yes, the person in charge of my room told me that, but can you tell me where Master Jace’s room is? It’ll just take a moment.”
“Of course you can.”
Florier said. Grand Duke Illeston also nodded and called Kelle.
“Please guide Simone to Jace’s room.”
"All right."
Surprisingly, permission was granted easily. Jace's appearance was so gaunt that it was hard to see, and he was probably receiving treatment. She thought he would say he would send the employee to the room later because he was worried that it would be a disturbance.
Simone smiled slightly and slightly bowed her head.
"Thank you."
It seems that the Grand Duke and his wife have now completely trusted Simone.
In a situation where she must overcome all strange phenomena within the mansion, the active cooperation of the mansion owner will be of great help to her.
“Are you going to find and break the portrait curse today?”
“Portrait...”
Simone saw the Grand Duke Illeston, or more precisely, the ghost on his shoulder.
A ghost that has been attached from the beginning and is shedding blood as if it were natural.
She is holding onto his arm tightly with both hands as if she has no intention of falling.
'How old is that ghost?'
The rule regarding ghosts was the seventy-seventh rule in the guidebook, and since the current Grand Duke Illeston became the head of the family, only the hundredth rule, the guideline regarding Florier and Jace, was added, so it must still be a fairly old curse.
But it wasn't a very strong curse.
“How about holding a memorial service?”
“...Ancestral rites?"
The Grand Duke and his wife looked at each other and tilted their heads as if they had no idea what they were saying.
“What is that?”
“It is a ritual that soothes the soul. Then that shoulder will move again.”
Grand Duke Illeston opened his eyes wide and wrapped his other hand around his motionless shoulder.
Simone is simply repeating what Abel said to Illeston.
“At least soothe their soul.”
"What?"
“They say their mansion is full of ghosts. Don’t they all stay because you have something to say? Then we can comfort them.”
Louis and Orkan shook their heads at Abel's indifferent words.
"You idiot! It’s not that easy, is it?”
“Isn’t it easy? If you just give them a drink or something and comfort them, that will soothe them.”
So to speak, it is a sacrifice.
Grand Duke Illeston, who got a hint from Abel's thoughtless words, prepared all kinds of food and alcohol and offered a prayer for the ghost whose identity he did not know. The end of the story of Grand Duke Illeston in the original was to convey the news that although the curse was not completely lifted, only the arm could move.
In the original work, it was said that the arm could move through ancestral rites, so perhaps doing the same now will solve the problem.
Not only the ghost on his shoulder but also several other ghosts who have been comforted can worship together.
Looking at the state of the mansion, it doesn't seem like there will be many ghosts or curses to ride on the holy fire route.
“...This arm can only move that much?”
“It means that the ghost’s resentment wasn’t ‘just’. Please comfort her. I don’t know what happened to that woman.”
A woman covered in blood, her bony hands clenched tightly as if she would never let go.
There must be a reason why she looks as miserable as the woman standing upside down.
Grand Duke Illeston may not be able to hear that woman's voice, but she will pour out her entire story to him and leave feeling relieved.
Just like in the original.
Grand Duke Illeston looked distrustful but nodded.
"I get it."
“Then I’m going to go look at the portrait on the stairs now. I’ll report back when I’m done.”
“Simone.”
“Simone, please wait a moment.”
The Grand Duke and his wife simultaneously grabbed Simone as she tried to get up.
Simone was startled by the rather urgent call and sat down on the sofa again.
"Yes?"
“I told you I had something to give you.”
Grand Duke Illeston placed a small notebook on the table.
"What is this?"
“It was found in the underground room where Viscount Lawton was kept locked up.”
“...A basement room?”
Grand Duke Illeston nodded.
“They said it was under a broken wooden floor.”
Broken wooden floor.
"Ah...”
Thump thump thump.
Simone recalled the woman who banged her head on the floor so hard that it hurt anyone who looked at her.
It looks like she hit her head and broke it on the floor.
Simone picked up the notebook.
“I’ll go to my room and read this slowly. It looks like something the black sorcerer left behind.”
Grand Duke Illeston said.
“Viscount Lawton woke up and told himself what happened with that woman.”
The morning after he was imprisoned, as Simone said, the locked door was opened and the servants entered the room. They said he was already out of his mind as if he was possessed by something.
He must have been rude, but his pants were soaked and smelled bad, his eyes were glassy, and his mouth was open and drooling.
When the workers approached him, he reportedly repeated what he had done in a hoarse voice.
'I am... I did that... That woman I... I hung her upside down... She hung upside down... I starved her to death... I did it all... The baby in her stomach is also mine... She did it wrong... I killed her... I did it all... Why would you dare to carry your master’s child without permission?... She said she was doing this as punishment... I did that... Sorry... Sorry... Help me... She was hung upside down and starved to death... I did it all... Please kill me... Help me...Sorry...'
It looks like she hit her head and broke it on the floor.
Simone picked up the notebook.
“I’ll go to my room and read this slowly. It looks like something the black sorcerer left behind.”
Grand Duke Illeston said.
“Viscount Lawton woke up and told himself what happened with that woman.”
The morning after he was imprisoned, as Simone said, the locked door was opened and the servants entered the room. They said he was already out of his mind as if he was possessed by something.
He must have been rude, but his pants were soaked and smelled bad, his eyes were glassy, and his mouth was open and drooling.
When the workers approached him, he reportedly repeated what he had done in a hoarse voice.
'I am... I did that... That woman I... I hung her upside down... She hung upside down... I starved her to death... I did it all... The baby in her stomach is also mine... She did it wrong... I killed her... I did it all... Why would you dare to carry your master’s child without permission?... She said she was doing this as punishment... I did that... Sorry... Sorry... Help me... She was hung upside down and starved to death... I did it all... Please kill me... Help me...Sorry...'
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