“Hold out your hand.”

“My hand?”

Reaper Habel showed up out of nowhere. Without even contacting me.

Did some ghost decide to stop listening again? Just as that thought crossed my mind, he held his hand out first.

“Why my hand all of a sudden?”

“Your hand.”

The air was so vicious it felt like something terrible would happen if I didn’t comply, so Camilla obeyed without thinking.

And then Habel took off his earring and swiftly dragged it across his own finger.

“Hey!”

So that pile of earrings was for that? Is that why one of them is crescent-shaped?

Camilla’s eyes went wide in shock, and the next moment, she had no choice but to recoil even harder.

Slick.

“What are you doing?!”

Because Habel smeared the blood that ran down directly onto Camilla’s hand.

She freaked out and tried to wipe the blood off her hand. What kind of grotesque act is this? Why are you getting your own blood on me?

“Huh?”

But strangely, the blood was already gone, without even a trace left behind.

“What was that? What’s going on?”

Did I see it wrong? No. I definitely saw it. It was on my hand just now.

“But wait.”

If he gets hurt, does a reaper bleed too? Weren’t they basically not much different from a ghost?

“No, no!”

That’s not what matters right now!

“What the hell are you doing?!”

“Dorman ordered it.”

“Dorman? Ordered what? To get your blood on me?”

“That’s right.”

Did these guys all lose their minds together? Why would you smear a reaper’s blood on a perfectly normal person?

“If you get reaper blood on you...”

“If you get it on you, what? Do I get dragged off by a reaper on the spot?”

You bastards. Did you plot this to send me to the afterlife? Is that it?

“Holy shit!”

Fine, drag me. Drag me, then. I’ve got a whole lot to take up with the ones up there, too.

While we’re at it, let me see your boss’s face. I’ll go show them exactly what “raising hell” looks like. So hurry up and drag me already.

“It’s the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“If you’re a soul scheduled by a reaper, no one else can lay hands on you recklessly.”

“What are you talking about?”

Camilla had been chewing Dorman out in her head out of pure habit, but at Habel’s next words, her eyes narrowed. No one else can touch me?

“So that means...”

“It means no one can pull out your soul whenever they feel like it. Even if they’re a reaper, unless it’s me, it’s impossible.”

So it means I won’t get forcibly stripped of my body by that strange group, like fake Rania, or Water Ghost Beth’s son?

“Oh.”

The moment she let out that sound, Camilla’s eyes sharpened.

“So reapers can do this too?”

“.......”

“If you had an ability like this, you should’ve told me ages ago.”

“If I told you?”

“Then I wouldn’t have bullied you as much.”

“...What?”

GRAB!

“...What are you doing.”

Camilla grabbed his hand tight. Really tight. Habel immediately shot her a murderous look that clearly said to let go right now, but she didn’t budge.

“Let’s draw a little more blood.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“It’s not nonsense. Let me rub it on other people too.”

“Other people?”

“Yeah.”

If this blood is enough, then Crown Prince Edsen and everyone else won’t have to keep trembling, terrified that their souls will be stolen by that strange group ever again.

“Let’s donate blood with a good heart.”

At the sight of Camilla staring so intently, like she was asking if there was any more blood left to drip, a short sigh slipped out of Habel.

“No more.”

“Ah, whyyy? Just a little more, please?”

As if he might run away like this, Camilla tightened her grip on Habel’s arm even more.

“Wait a second......”

Then, all of a sudden, Camilla’s eyes shifted to Dorman, standing quietly off to the side.

“You were a reaper too.”

“W, well, yes?”

“Then don’t you have the same ability?”

“No!”

“You don’t?”

“My blood doesn’t have that ability at all! As you know, I’m a guy who got fired from the job!”

“Tch.”

Too bad. Useless after all.

Watching Camilla smack her lips briefly, then go back to clinging to Habel, Dorman kept letting out relieved sighs.

It was the first time in his life that getting expelled from management felt like a blessing.

“Every time you draw blood, I’ll grant you one thing you want. Whatever it is.”

“Something I want?”

“Yeah! Like back when it was your grandma director, if there’s some stubborn ghost throwing a tantrum saying they won’t leave the living world, I’ll go persuade them no questions asked!”

Habel’s expression flickered with temptation, like Camilla’s condition genuinely appealed to him, but he shook his head firmly.

“A reaper’s blood is an authority that can’t be used carelessly.”

“Authority?”

All I said was draw a little blood, and suddenly the wording is so grand.

“The more I use it, the more the burden comes back to me.”

“A burden?”

Nod.

“Ah.”

Hearing that, Camilla’s eyes widened slightly. Then she carefully let go of the arm she’d been gripping so tightly.

“Sorry.”

This time, surprise surfaced on Habel’s face at her apology. He clearly hadn’t expected to hear the words “sorry” from her.

“I didn’t know.”

If I’d known, I wouldn’t have pestered him like an idiot. I hated sacrifices made for other people more than anything.

And I obviously had no desire to force something I hated onto someone else.

“Don’t tell me......”

Could he have strained himself just from smearing his blood on me earlier?

Camilla hurriedly checked Habel’s complexion.

“What are you doing.”

“Stay still. Are you hurting anywhere?”

“...No.”

“Yeah? Then that’s a relief... What? What is with that look?”

I can worry about people too, you know.

“Anyway, if it’s a burden, why did you use it on me?”

Camilla looked down again at the hand where Habel’s blood had touched.

It feels weird, okay? I don’t want help if it burdens someone else.

“Dorman ordered it.”

“I’m asking why you did it.”

“Didn’t I just tell you Dorman ordered it?”

“Th......”

What is this conclusionless, endless-loop conversation?

“That’s it?”

“What else do you need?”

“.......”

Sorry. That was a pointless question.

There’s definitely something going on.

He’s definitely got some kind of weakness Dorman’s holding over him. Otherwise there’s no reason he’d go this far.

That guy isn’t even your boss anymore.

Habel looked at her like she was pathetic, as if asking why there needed to be any other reason if Dorman told him to do it, and Camilla was so dumbfounded she couldn’t say anything for a while.

She didn’t understand this blind relationship at all.

“Just in case, I asked him. Because those bastards might target you, my lady.”

Only then did Dorman join in with a genial smile.

“Well, anyway, thank you.”

There was no reason to dislike having a powerful safety device.

It was a little burdensome, but Camilla decided to accept their goodwill without making a fuss.

“Want some tea?”

They’d given her something this precious. It felt wrong to just send them off.

And after donating blood, you’re supposed to eat something, right? At least a cup of tea before they left.

“No.”

But Habel immediately shook his head. Then he stared at her with a look that said, why would I drink that with you, like she was ridiculous.

Ugh, this bastard who ate a bowl of bad manners for breakfast.

“I’m not as idle as you—”

“Busy? I’ve got cookies too. Want to eat a little before you go?”

“I’m ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) not busy. Give them to me.”

“...Hey.”

What is this instant change of stance?!

At Dorman’s words, Habel immediately tucked his tail, even bowing his head like he was moved, and Camilla was speechless.

I’m really curious. What the hell is that guy’s weakness?

Should I threaten Dorman and find out?

Why is it only you he can’t resist?

After spending time drinking tea with Habel, Camilla hurried to get ready to go out.

“You’re going to the Ghost Trading House, right?”

“Yeah. Chris said he really needs me to come today.”

“Is something going on?”

“A client’s coming.”

They were apparently important enough that Chris wanted Camilla, the owner of the Ghost Trading House, to show up if possible.

CLICK.

“I should hurry—?”

“Looks like you’re going out.”

Camilla, about to step out after finishing her preparations, froze when she spotted who was standing right in front of her.

Duke Kais Escra.

And behind him, she could see Count Alton, smiling brightly as always.

“Yes. I have something to handle at the Ghost Trading House.”

“Seems you’re busy.”

“What is it?”

Both of them together, too?

Instead of answering, Duke Kais Escra stared at her in silence for a moment.

Camilla felt flustered under that gaze. Does he have something urgent to say? The atmosphere feels different from usual.

“I’m leaving.”

“...Leaving? Where?”

“Home.”

“...Pardon?”

“Didn’t you tell me to go? Home.”

“...You mean you’re going back?”

“Yeah.”

“When?”

“Now.”

“...What?”

This suddenly? Camilla couldn’t say anything for a moment. When she told him to go, he didn’t even pretend to listen, and now all of a sudden?

“Did something happen?”

Something urgent came up in the Gracia Empire? There’s no other reason he’d leave this abruptly.

“Not really.”

“Then why......”

“Why? Now that I’m actually leaving, are you sad?”

“Yes.”

“.......”

He paused, caught off guard by her answer, which he’d asked in a teasing tone.

“Do you really have to go right now?”

Duke Kais Escra’s eyes widened slightly, like her response was genuinely unexpected.

What? Why? Even if a puppy you lived with suddenly left the house, you’d feel sad.

Hmm. Comparing him to a puppy might be a bit much.

Still, now that he was actually leaving, she felt oddly unsettled.

“Are you sure nothing’s going on?”

“Like you said, I can’t leave my seat empty for too long.”

“Are you sure that’s all?”

“Yeah.”

When she pressed him earlier about whether he was really that busy, he’d practically been singing about how idle he was. And now, only now? So what is it?

Even with Camilla staring at him full of suspicion, he didn’t add anything. He just kept looking at her like he could drill a hole through her.

“I’ve confirmed it.”

Only after a long moment did he let out a short laugh and say something she couldn’t make sense of.

“Confirmed what?”

What did you confirm?

“Be well.”

“Are you really leaving right now?”

Swoosh.

“Ah...!”

Instead of answering, his large hand lightly ruffled Camilla’s hair.

The touch was so unexpectedly gentle that confusion flashed in her eyes.

It felt strange. Like something inside her was itching.

“See you again.”

With only that short goodbye, he turned around.

As Camilla stared after him a little blankly, Count Alton slid closer and greeted her.

“It’s truly a shame to leave so suddenly.”

“Nothing’s really happening over there, right?”

“Yes, nothing. Though the moment we return, you can assume sleep is out of the question. The work has piled up like a mountain.”

I knew it.

“Then why did he even come?”

Camilla knew from firsthand experience that Duke Kais Escra lived buried under work.

Back in the Gracia Empire, he spent most of his days in his office.

So why would someone that busy come all the way here? It felt questionable all over again.

He said it was to take me with him, but...

Judging by his behavior and the way he spoke, it only ever felt like a joke.

Even this abrupt departure proved it. Doesn’t it show that taking her wasn’t the real purpose to begin with?

“He wanted to confirm it himself.”

“...What?”

“And now that confirmation is complete.”

Just like Duke Kais Escra had said earlier, but Camilla still had no idea what they meant by “confirm.”

Even with her puzzled expression, Count Alton didn’t seem interested in explaining. He only smiled gently.

“We’ll meet again, won’t we? In the Gracia Empire.”

“We’ll see.”

“Miss Camilla’s room is always being kept spotless. So that whenever you return, you can use it comfortably. I truly hope that room finds its owner again as soon as possible.”

After bowing once, he hurried after Duke Kais Escra, who was already walking ahead.

“.......”

Camilla stared blankly at the two of them leaving so quickly.

And as she watched Duke Kais Escra, not looking back even once, a faint smile finally rose at the corners of her mouth.

“Just like when he arrived.”

He showed up out of nowhere, and leaving is just as random. That cool, unannounced way of disappearing felt so perfectly like him.

*****

“Are you sad?”

“Not really.”

“Is it truly fine to return like this?”

Duke Kais Escra’s steps, walking ahead, stopped dead.

“In the first place, taking her with us wasn’t the goal.”

“That’s true.”

A short sigh kept slipping out of Count Alton. Even now, remembering that day made his palms sweat.

I was an idiot for submitting that report exactly as it was.

After a light first round of investigation long ago, the second, thorough file, documenting every last detail about Camilla, was only completed recently.

Count Alton, who had submitted it without omitting a single thing, still couldn’t forget Duke Kais Escra’s gaze that day.

I’d never seen him that angry before.

He always looked prickly and irritated, but it was extremely rare for him to truly lose his temper. It was like he was indifferent to everything in the world.

But the Duke Kais Escra from the day he read Camilla’s report was nothing like his usual self.

He let go of everything and sank into deep thought all day, to the point no one could easily bring themselves to speak to him.

I’d never seen him blame himself either.

Duke Kais Escra was a man who didn’t even seem to know the word self-reproach. And yet, for the first time, he blamed himself and burned with anger.

And then, days later, Count Alton had to break into a sweat trying to stop him when he started packing, insisting he would go see Camilla immediately.

And after all that, they came here, and it seemed like he’d been circling around Camilla, living with an almost leisurely air......

That’s probably the cause, isn’t it?