The Ghost Lady Of The Duke's Family (20 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 2

Aeli turned her head and looked around.

The first thing she did upon confirming the vase’s absence was neither to search for the shattered remains of the vase nor to blame the maid who had supposedly been caught hiding it.

‘The flowers, where are the flowers?’

Could it be that they were broken too?

No matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find even a single petal—let alone the flowers themselves.

Aeli covered her face with both hands, her expression utterly dazed.

—What kind of thing was that…!

The vase, of course, she had cherished it. She had.

But to be precise, it wasn’t the vase itself—it was the flowers inside that were far more precious.

[Are you really sure about that?]

She recalled his youthful face pouting with dissatisfaction, lips jutting out as if displeased.

He must have been around fifteen or sixteen.

[Yeah. I really like this!]

That period, caught between boyhood and young adulthood, was when Lutis had begun revealing his talent to the world.

His swordsmanship tournament victory was merely one facet of the fame he was amassing.

Amid the raucous crowd cheering and chattering excitedly, Lutis pushed through and stood before Aeli—not looking particularly elated himself.

[Aren’t you excited? You’re the youngest champion in the tournament’s history.] [It’s only a year’s difference, isn’t it?] [Still! He wasn’t even an aura user, remember? At your level, you should feel proud!]

Lutis, you’ll surely grow up to become an incredibly strong and noble knight.

Maybe you’ll even rise to Captain of the Imperial Knights! Though it wasn’t her own victory, Aeli swelled with pride.

Only when she puffed out her chest and straightened her back did Lutis finally give a deflated little smile.

And then what happened?

[Let’s go to the dressmaker’s.] [Why there all of a sudden?] [You kept humming about wanting that dress from this season’s catalog, didn’t you?] [How did you even hear that? I whispered it so quietly!] [Yes, quietly—right into my ear while I was reading.]

…Did I really do that? Aeli feigned innocence, tapping the toes of her low-heeled shoes against the floor.

That year, the dress released by the famous atelier had suited her taste perfectly.

But having already spent her allotted allowance on clothes and accessories, she’d lamented the lack of funds and whined a little.

The dress cost a staggering 200 gold—enough to support an average family of four commoners for an entire year.

She’d nearly fainted when he offered to buy it for her outright.

And to make matters more incredible, the money came from his tournament winnings.

[Are you crazy? Why spend your prize money on something like this?!] [You said you wanted it.] [I never asked you to buy it for me! And that’s money you earned through hard work—it shouldn’t be spent on me!] […That’s exactly why I’m spending it.]

It was the first time I’d earned money by myself, not through my family. I wanted my first gift after winning to be for you.

He’d murmured this while covering his mouth with the back of his hand, a faint blush rising to his cheeks.

The handsome boy, clearly flustered with embarrassment, drew attention effortlessly from everyone nearby.

Thus, to escape the gathering stares, Aeli led Lutis out of the tournament grounds—and that’s when she spotted it.

[…Then how about this instead of the dress?]

A street vendor near the entrance selling all kinds of flowers.

Since the tournament was held only once every three years, many came to buy flowers for the competitors they supported.

As the winner had already been decided, the stalls were relatively quiet, and Aeli pulled Lutis toward one.

[If you want flowers… we could buy them somewhere else, you know. Not necessarily here.]

Lutis quickly scanned the display before speaking cautiously.

Apparently worried the vendor might take offense, he leaned in and whispered gently into her ear—a gesture Aeli found rather endearing.

[It’s not that I dislike them, it’s just… they’re only wildflowers, aren’t they?][So what?] [I mean, instead of roadside blooms, I could find something prettier and more refined for you. It’s a gift—giving wildflowers feels too cheap.] [Wildflowers are pretty too, though.] [That’s not what I meant…!]

After a long, playful argument, they finally chose a bouquet only after hearing that their carriage was ready and waiting.

And it was Lutis—not Aeli—who picked it.

[…Then let’s go with this one. It’s in the best condition.] [Alright. Then I’ll find a nice vase to display it beautifully!]

That’s how it had been.

On their way home that day, after successfully buying the flowers, Aeli purchased a small vase that matched the modest little bunch of pansies.

It was more like a tiny jar than a proper vase.

Still, overjoyed, she immediately summoned a mage as soon as she returned to the mansion.

[You mean… this?] [Yeah. Can you cast a preservation spell on it?]

She spent 300 gold—far more than the dress she’d once so desperately wanted—to preserve a pansy bouquet she’d bought for less than ten copper coins.

Because what mattered wasn’t the item’s price, but the memory it held.

To Aeli, that small bouquet gifted by Lutis carried that much meaning.

Wasn’t this far better than a dress worn for just one season before fading away?

[Goodness, Miss! Please don’t touch that rag—your hands will get hurt!]

Thus, despite being a count’s daughter, she cleaned the vase herself every single day.

[Madam, since you’re with child, wouldn’t it be better to leave it to us until after the birth?]

Even after becoming Duchess Rattleleaf, she brought the vase from her old room at her parents’ house and cared for it personally.

When Lutis confessed to her.

After their engagement and marriage.

Even when her health severely declined postpartum.

There had never been an exception.

…Yet now, it had vanished without a trace.

‘After all my care, how could this happen!’

She felt so wronged she nearly burst into tears.

Covering her face in despair over years of vanished effort, Aeli suddenly lifted her head.

—Wait, then where’s the child?

Lutis might be at work as Captain of the Imperial Knights, but where was their child?

Remembering the eerily silent corridor, she recalled the maids’ earlier conversation ringing in her mind.

‘They said no one’s allowed in unless they’re cleaning.’

But both the newlyweds’ chamber and the child’s room were on this floor.

If not here, then where could everyone possibly be?

Aeli hurriedly rose and headed toward the door on the far side of the honeymoon suite.

Right next door was the room she and Lutis had prepared together long ago.

[Isn’t it too early? He can’t even roll over yet.] [Then we’ll just redecorate later. Look, isn’t it adorable?] […It is cute. You did a great job.]

…How could she ever forget this room?

Charming decor, plush flooring, and stuffed toys filling one side of the bed.

Though unused for quite some time and slightly faded in places, everything remained exactly as she remembered.

Finding no child inside, Aeli rushed back into the hallway and searched every corner of the mansion.

Surely they wouldn’t have taken a child barely a year old far away—he had to be somewhere inside.

—First, I’ll find my child. After that…

…Then what?

As she dashed about, her steps gradually slowed upon reaching the mansion’s entrance.

At least here she recognized a few familiar faces among the servants.

Aeli turned and called out to a passing maid.

—Hey, can’t you see me?

The maid simply walked by.

It wasn’t just the maid.

—What about you over there?

—…Head Butler?

—Head Maid?

—…Can no one hear my voice?

No one responded to her calls.

Though no magic or curse had been cast, she was invisible, inaudible, intangible—a translucent form.

An impossible state for any ordinary person.

‘…I suppose it’s only natural, since I’m already dead.’

Aeli quietly slipped out of the mansion. Light snowflakes drifted down.

—…In my memory, wasn’t it late summer, not spring?

She tried to recall what had happened before she woke up today.

She’d risen late in the afternoon, feeling well enough to take a walk with the two of them, then had an early dinner.

She’d tried to avoid taking her medicine, but Lutis caught her—and as punishment, she was forced to drink that dreaded carp soup.

Finally, the three of them rolled around in bed for a while before each kissing the child on both cheeks and falling asleep.

‘…But dead?’

It felt utterly unreal.

[The weather’s warmed up so much—shall we all go boating together tomorrow?]

She’d closed her eyes with that thought before drifting off.

Now, it seemed they’d never get the chance again.

—If I’d known, I should’ve suggested going out to play instead of just walking…

They really should’ve gone boating—to see the flowers and the fish.

Or perhaps they should’ve painted a family portrait together, just to preserve the memory.

She should’ve written a letter. Told them she loved them. Should’ve woken up early instead of sleeping in, done something—anything.

Crouching against the building’s outer wall, snowflakes landed on her feet.

Or rather, passed through them onto the ground.

Barefoot, wearing only a thin dress with no overcoat—yet she felt no cold at all, as if proving she was no longer among the living.

‘Even if I find my child in this state, what could I possibly do?’

If I’m unseen and unheard, does it even matter?

Just as she thought this—

“Ugh, I’m freezing to death. Why’s the snow falling all day?”

A black hem swept past Aeli, who was crouched on the ground.

She couldn’t recall the maid’s name, but her face was familiar from frequent sightings around the main house.

Noticing the maid suddenly hurry off as if remembering something, Aeli murmured while watching her go.

—That path leads to the annex…

Why would she go there?

As far as Aeli knew, House Rattleleaf rarely transferred staff between the main house and the annex.

Unless under special circumstances, a maid from the main house wouldn’t normally go all the way to the annex.

Aeli rose and followed the maid.

After all, she’d already searched every part of the main house except the cellar—it made sense to check the annex too.

After following the maid to the annex,

Aeli watched as the maid roughly carried a tray laden with soup, bread, meat, and salad from the kitchen—heading, surprisingly, to an unexpected place.

‘…The attic on the top floor?’

A cramped room that remained cold even with a fireplace lit, and so inconvenient to access that even among servants, few willingly went there.

Truly a sweltering oven in summer and an icebox in winter.

The maid knocked on the old wooden door.

Knock knock—

“Young Master, I’ll leave your dinner here—make sure you eat all of it today, alright?”

“…….”

“Young Master? Did you hear me?”

…Sigh. After repeating herself several times with no response, the maid sighed and turned away.

Aeli watched the maid descend the stairs, then swallowed hard.

—Young Master?

There were no collateral branches living in this house.

‘Could things have changed already?’

That couldn’t be. As Aeli frowned slightly,

Creak—

The door cracked open with a careful hand, and Aeli turned her head—then gasped in shock.

—…Oh my?

There stood a child, his violet eyes glimmering through a tangle of dark, overgrown hair.