Chapter 42
So, he was unjustly starved to death because of the director and Merai, and 20 years later, when Merai was about to commit more evil, he possessed the vacant body without its owner to stop her misdeeds.
The tip of my nose tingled. What? He's a good ghost! So he got stabbed instead while protecting the kids? The fear subsided a bit.
And at the same time, I felt a pang of regret.
I thought I'd met someone with the same possession motive. I unnecessarily revealed I'm a possessor. Now Daisy, Kanna, Pudding, Gabriel, and even Melek know—no more secret. At this rate, the whole mansion will know by next week.
“Sorry. Because of this body of mine….”
As I sulked, Melek deflated too. No, it's not really his fault.
“It's fine. I said I'm in a similar situation.”
Strictly speaking, I'm in the same boat as Melek. Fine. I've managed fine without knowing the original story. And I have big data on my side!
“Is that all?”
Melek nodded.
Then time to treat him. I picked up the Holy Water bottle but paused. He's a ghost, right? Can I splash this on him? Won't he get exorcised?
Ah. That's why he spoke up before treatment.
I set the Holy Water down. Guess I'll have to call a doctor. Not as clean as Holy Water, but since it's beastkin, might heal fast.
But is that blindfold because his eyes are injured too?
‘W-Wait….’
Wait, did his eyes roll back because he's possessed?
Credible guess. Ignoring the blindfold, I opened the door.
“Can we come in now?”
Jelly and Pudding, coiled outside the door, jumped to their spots on the sofa and bed. Pudding kneaded on the bed. So cute, my baby.
“Did you name him? What'd you go with?”
“Meringue.”
“Pfft, puhahaha, Meringue? Meringue? That Melek guy's body named Meringue?”
Meanwhile, the wolf sprawled on the sofa was howling with laughter. Pudding's cute, Meringue's cute, but he's not cute at all.
Not just acquaintances—they must have had a hell of a grudge in life. Jelly hated its name, so it seemed thrilled Melek got an even worse one. Watching made me annoyed.
“I'll just call him Melek.”
“Pardon?”
Melek looked like a kid whose toy was snatched. Eyes covered, yet his expression's so clear?
“I'm Evangeline Rohanson like you are Melek.”
“I see….”
Fortunately, kid Melek accepted quickly. Now Jelly bristled. Tail thumping the floor in displeasure. Won't change my mind.
“Then decided what to feed him?”
Seeing I wouldn't budge, Jelly backed off and changed topics.
Oh right. He said he was hungry. As a ghost without a real body owner, maybe he didn't know what fills him up. Can't feed a lion carrots and expect it full. Since original Melek's beastkin….
“Can't he eat the same as you?”
Jelly and Pudding ate mansion food separately sometimes. Occasionally bloodied, scolded by Kanna—beastkin hunt raw meat.
Jelly shook its head.
“His diet's different.”
Different diet? Herbivore then?
“What kind? You're wolf, Pudding cat.”
“Ah. Melek's a cow.”
Cow? Herbivore confirmed. Makes group meals awkward. Won't hunt anyway. Might get hunted instead.
Then cow eyes under the blindfold? Nearly asked to see, but rolled-back eyes would haunt dreams—couldn't.
Cow, huh? Hay? Or vegetarian since beastkin. Mansion lacks grass—won't suffice.
Buy lots of hay tomorrow. Or till garden plot—not bad.
Problem: what till then….
Spotting cherry tree while eyeing garden grass. Petals dangling—cow fodder? Cows eat much; petals most abundant.
“Can you eat that?”
“That tree?”
Melek's eyes widened under blindfold. Sudden flower offer startling. But edible flowers exist; I've had cherry tea—fine.
“Wanna try?”
Dunno. Experiment. Never heard cows allergic to flowers—probably ok.
Grabbed decorative vase. Kanna gathered fallen petals as gift when I said catching grants wishes. Our heroine's so kind—tears.
Shook petals into hand for taste. Melek pondered, then buried face in my hand. Not given to hold—using my hand as bowl!
Melek chewed sloppily. Looks iffy… no good?
“…Tasty?”
Nice! Matches his taste.
“That's tasty?”
Shocked Jelly snatched petal too.
“Tasty? Why?”
Even carnivore Jelly approved. Real delicacy? Tried—odd grass taste.
Kanna washed, processed—better than mine. Astringent. Beastkin taste? I respect all tastes, so didn't say tasteless.
“Eat that for now.”
Dunno. If he likes, fine. Can't give Kanna's gift; gather fallen ones.
“I'll assign a room—follow.”
“Pardon? Won't I stay here?”
Nearly scowled. Stranger man sharing unmarried noble lady's room? Jelly/Pudding strangers too… Pudding kitten, Jelly mostly wolf—no issue.
But Melek turns cow? Cow-sharing… animal bias?
“No bed space. Unless floor—giving proper room.”
Sofa Jelly's, bed mine/Pudding's—carpet left. Melek nodded meekly, followed.
Ah, before room—Butler first. Call doctor, report guests, Daisy's rehire, Gabriel tomorrow. Ah… dread Gabriel. Wish tomorrow never comes.
***
Exhausted from long day, or relief from basement ordeal, kids slept carefree. Countess bed fit two adults—three kids fine.
Daisy stroked brazen Mary's head for following to Rohanson Mansion.
“Thanks for watching kids.”
Daisy thanked, but no reply. Hena stared blankly. Lifeless—heart squeezed.
Like old lady. No love in world, just breathing. No shock at Evangeline's suicide.
“Um, Hena.”
Door burst as Daisy spoke. Few forgiven such rudeness here.
“Sis! Oh, Miss Daisy too.”
Monster-tended flower smiled shyly.
“You're late.”
Daisy found kids immediately; Kanna served Evangeline first, delaying Hena.
“Kanna, don't vanish without word. Know how worried I was?”
Even with unpaired Sir Gabriel.
“Sorry for worrying. I'll tell ahead—don't avoid me. Got it?”
“Yeah.”
Kanna hugged instead of excusing 'said outing.' Knew Hena's overreaction from kidnapping trauma.
“Be right back.”
“Now? Where?”
“Lady needs cherry petals. Have mine to give.”
Three vases: one Evangeline, two sisters. Kanna grabbed hers—wish granted, no need.
Honest Kanna left.
Room hushed sans one. Hena eyed door, murmured.
“My sister lay bedridden lifelong. Near death, Holy Water miraculously healed—recently walking, running, laughing.”
Hena's whisper self-talk; Daisy realized late.
“I'll love Kanna no matter who she is.”
