Chapter 6

I waited confidently for midnight to pass.

And just after midnight, while I was dozing off, Ash Winterton’s ghost, who had been listening carefully to every sound around us, spoke.

[Wake up.]

“Mmm… yes…?”

[There’s someone outside the door.]

“…!”

The moment I heard that, all traces of sleep vanished.

I carefully opened the closed door.

The Marquis’s bedroom immediately came into view.

Moonlight streamed into the room.

Near the bed where Ash Winterton lay, his breathing so faint it seemed as though it could stop at any moment, someone was bent over a table beside him.

I silently asked the ghost,

Do you know who that is?

[Yes. I can see him very clearly.]

Ash Winterton glared at the man before him, Sir Jason, grinding his teeth once before turning to me.

[You were right.]

“…”

[I knew information had been leaking outside, but… I never imagined Jason would betray me.]

His cold expression was terrifying.

At that moment, he looked more like a vengeful spirit than a ghost.

Carefully watching his mood, I quietly closed the door again.

Then, making sure Jason couldn’t hear us through the door, I lowered my voice.

“My father probably heard the story from Seraphina and immediately sent Sir Jason a letter with instructions. And Sir Jason probably kept that letter. Along with every other letter they’ve exchanged.”

[Jason knows how to handle confidential information. He wouldn’t leave behind evidence that could expose him.]

“No. I’m sure he kept them.”

[…!]

“He’d need them to make sure my father couldn’t change his story later.”

The ghost fell silent.

I continued confidently.

“Villains never trust anyone except themselves.”

Actually, I only know this because I overheard them talking about letters in my previous life.

But there was no need to tell him that part.

Instead, I looked at the ghost, who seemed speechless from anger and betrayal.

“So the only thing left is figuring out how to get those letters. Do you have any ideas?”

[…Letters sent to knights are usually handled by their squires and trainee knights. If we order a trustworthy trainee knight to search Jason’s room, we can find them.]

“How?”

[Leave that part to me.]

The handsome ghost’s eyes flashed dangerously.

***

A Little Later

As soon as morning arrived, I slipped away from the maids under the excuse of taking an early walk and secretly entered the Winterton knights’ quarters.

Ash Winterton’s ghost had insisted that we retrieve his seal first.

I successfully sneaked into his office and recovered the seal hidden inside a secret vault concealed within the wall.

“Phew…”

After returning directly to my room, I placed Ash Winterton’s seal on my dressing table and let out a long breath.

Perhaps it was because I’d successfully stolen something for the first time.

A strange sense of accomplishment made my heart race.

Taking out a quill, ink, and stationery that I’d prepared beforehand, I looked at the ghost.

“So now I just use this seal and write the letters we need?”

[Correct. But we’ll write the letter for the trainee knight before the one intended for Sir Lake.]

“Alright. But is it really okay if I write it? Even if it has your seal, won’t people get suspicious if it’s written in my handwriting?”

I trailed off uncertainly.

The ghost smiled meaningfully.

It was an extremely confident smile.

Yet somehow, it looked a little frightening.

Without warning, he stepped in front of me and grabbed my right hand.

“Eek!”

A freezing chill spread through me, as if I’d grabbed a block of ice.

A strange purple light flowed from the ghost’s hand.

The light wrapped around my palm and wrist before shimmering brightly.

A moment later, it faded away.

The ghost looked at me.

[Now, try writing something.]

Still confused, I picked up the quill and wrote a few random words.

The moment I did, unfamiliar handwriting appeared on the paper.

It definitely wasn’t mine.

Startled, I dropped the quill.

“W-What happened?”

[I cast a spell on your hand. From now on, before writing, tap the back of your right hand twice with a quill. Then you’ll be able to write using my handwriting.]

He sounded very proud of himself.

I found it fascinating.

At the same time, it scared me.

Muttering uneasily, I said,

“…So when you said you could curse me, you weren’t joking.”

[I told you already. If a ghost can be seen, it can be heard. If it can be heard, it can touch.]

“…”

[So if you ever encounter an evil spirit, pretend you can’t see it and ignore it completely. I can’t guarantee that every evil spirit you meet will have less magical power than I do.]

“I’ll remember that.”

A chill ran down my spine as I nodded.

At the same time, I firmly decided never to anger this ghost unless absolutely necessary.

***

The Letters

A while later, I finished writing two letters in Ash Winterton’s handwriting.

First, I sealed the letter meant for Sir Lake and placed it in a drawer.

Then I picked up the letter intended for Kai, Jason’s squire and trainee knight, and rang the bell connected to the servants’ quarters.

“You called for us, My Lady?”

“Yes. Bring me a trainee knight named Kai without letting the other knights know. And Mrs. Mackenzie, prepare tea and refreshments.”

I gave my orders to Charlotte and the head maid.

The two women left.

I then headed to the drawing room with the other maids.

A little while later, just as the tea had cooled enough to drink, a soft knock sounded.

The door opened.

A young boy entered.

“My name is Kai Fletcher, a trainee knight, Marchioness Winterton. I was told you wished to see me.”

The boy had short golden-brown hair and wore the knights’ uniform embroidered with a black lion.

He looked no older than twelve.

I was slightly surprised by how young he was but hid it well.

“Are you the trainee knight assisting Sir Jason?”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Kai bowed respectfully.

His manners were impeccable, though his wariness was obvious.

“I called you because I have something important to give you. It’s a letter left behind by Marquis Winterton.”

“Pardon…? For me?”

As I handed him the letter, Kai’s eyes widened.

After reading its contents, he sharply inhaled.

In a trembling voice, he asked,

“Did… did my lord truly leave this letter for me…?”

“Yes.”

“Forgive my rudeness, but… is this really written by my lord? How would he even know someone as insignificant as a trainee knight like me? And why would he entrust me with such an important task? To be honest, I can’t help wondering if Your Ladyship fabricated this letter to deceive me.”

The boy spoke honestly, though boldly.

Pretending to be troubled, I glanced at the ghost.

W-What do I do? He’s suspicious of me!

The ghost casually shrugged.

[Tell him this: “There is no way I wouldn’t know the name of Jason’s squire, the admirable boy who sends every coin of his wages back home to support his poor family.”]

“…!”

[Only Sir Lake and I know that detail. He’ll stop doubting you immediately.]

I repeated the words exactly as instructed.

The suspicion in Kai’s eyes vanished.

Instead, they filled with emotion.

Clutching the letter to his chest, he spoke.

“My lord entrusted someone as lacking as me with such an important mission…! I, Kai Fletcher, swear upon my life that I will complete it!”

“Haha. I’m counting on you.”

Phew…

Quietly relieved, I exchanged a glance with Ash Winterton’s ghost.

After that, the ghost and I carefully explained the entire plan we’d prepared.

Kai listened and nodded firmly.

***

Late That Night

Deep in the night, at the quarters where the Winterton knights and mages stayed.

The darkness was so thick that even shadows seemed swallowed by it.

Kai, the trainee knight, quietly slipped out of his room without making a sound.

Skillfully avoiding the servants on night watch, he soon arrived outside Jason’s bedroom.

Swallowing nervously, Kai carefully opened the closed door.

Inside the bedroom, hidden behind heavy curtains, there was no one.