Even if this was the basement, it didnât feel all that scary.
The hallways were bright and spacious, and really, the other part of the basement was used as a cellar and pantry,
When the thick, oak door was opened, they walked into a well-adorned exhibit room.
Items like burial items, ancient jewelry, and very old magic stones were placed neatly in glass cases.
It looked too much like a museum for it to be terrifying.
There, in the innermost part of the room, was a coffin with the mummy contained in it.
âWhoa.â
âHmmâŠâ
They were both at a loss for words.
But soon, Radis spoke frankly.
âThat looks so grossâŠâ
Radis examined the mummy closely.
Inside the coffin, the mummy was wrapped in silk clothes and had a mask over its face.
And on the mummyâs chest, there was a yellowed piece of parchment.
ââŠâŠ?â
Radis was about to lean over the mummy so she could read the words written there, butâ
âRadisâŠâ
Olivier carefully grabbed her by the arm.
âIt might be better not to get too close.â
Looking back at him, Radis noticed that he seemed to be a bit alarmed. So, Radis obediently took a step back.
âYouâre thinking that we shouldnât have seen it, right?â she asked.
âEven though itâs wearing a mask and some clothes, it still looks positively spine chilling.â
âIf it wasnât wearing a mask, Iâd have really regretted looking at it.â
Thus, they left the mummy room while feeling spooked.
With the heavy door now closed behind them, Radis felt Olivierâs quiet breathing.
Somehow, it seemed like he was trembling minutely.
Radis placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered in a low voice.
ââŠLord Olivier?â
ââŠâŠ!â
Olivier flinched, and he turned sharply to look at her.
He was so startled that his eyes looked as round as a bunnyâs.
Seeing this, Radis had to grit her teeth tightly. She just might burst into laughter at this rate.
Fortunately, she seemed to have succeeded in diverting Olivierâs earlier thoughts.
âAre you afraid of theâŠ?â
âIâm not afraid.â
Olivier replied to her in a determined tone.
âI was merely surprised. A thought passed through my mind, that this could happen after a person dies.â
As they were walking away from the room, Radis nodded, but she suddenly looked behind them.
Noticing this, Olivier narrowed his eyes and also looked where Radis was staring, but there was no one. He asked,
âWhatâs wrong?â
âAh⊠As expected. There seems to be a ghost haunting this place.â
âWhat?â
Olivierâs face turned pale.
âThereâs⊠a ghost?â
âI often see ghosts. I feel a distinct shift in the atmosphere whenever they appear, and I felt it just nowâhere.â
It wasnât a lie.
The borderlands around Monsterwood were usually deserted, and thatâs because those villages had been ravaged by monsters before. Perhaps because of the lingering miasma, but ghosts often appeared in those places.
Low-level ghosts were less threatening compared to ghouls. Theyâre a very weak type of monster, and theyâll disappear after just shining a torch on them.
Rather, it was a bit of a stretch to call them monsters in the first place.
However, the moment he heard that there was a ghost here, Olivierâs face instantly became devoid of any color.
âIâm⊠not very good at handling something like that, soâŠâ
His limbs moving stiffly now, Olivier quickly climbed back up the stairs.
Then he hurried back to the drawing room and went straight in front of the fireplace.
Olivier asked cautiously.
âIt didnât follow us here, did it? The⊠The ghost.â
With Olivier acting so adorably, Radis nearly burst into a fit of laughter.
âOf course not. If it did, then Iâll chase it out for you.â
As they were standing in front of the fire, an attendant of the imperial palace approached them carefully.
âYour Highness, youâre due back to the palace now. The sun has already set, and itâs almost time for the palace gates to close.â
But Olivier did not move.
He stood tall in front of the fireplaceâlike a marble statue, motionless.
ââŠâŠ?â
Radis had a hunch that somethingâs wrong, so she observed Olivier.
He looked the same as he usually did, but strangely enough, his eyes still looked like a bunnyâs eyes.
Right now, heâs staring out the window, where darkness had begun to fall. His eyes were round.
And Radis herself widened her eyes.
âNo way⊠Youâre actually scared? Youâre scared because I mentioned that there was a ghost?â
A moment of silence passed briefly. Then, Olivier opened his lips to speak.
âRadis.â
âYes?â
âI believe itâs a little too late already for me to travel back to the palace. May I stay the night?â
ââŠâŠ!â
In no time, Radis regretted showing Olivier the mummy. No, she regretted bringing up the ghost offhandedly like that.
âWhat do I say?â
Radis looked at the palace attendant.
He, too, had a frightened expression as he shook his head furtively.
Thatâs quite clearly a ânoâ.
âYour Highness, umâŠâ
But when Radis looked back at Olivier and met his gaze, she couldnât help but trail off.
His eyes were really round. Really, like a bunnyâs.
Those round, violet eyesâthe hue of which looking as sweet as freshly made grape jamâglistened pitifully.