<span>In the midst of an evening party, the moon was moistening the spring air.


    <span>Rishe was walking down the hall alone when she overheard thedies gossiping about a rumor.


    <span>“–You also heard it, right? The spring moon is very beautiful when watching it from the south corridor of the imperial castle.”


    <span>“I wouldn’t want to go near there at night, even if I knew that.”


    <span>Apparently, they knew some secrets surrounding the imperial castle.


    <span>She really should spare time to leave Arnold during soirees so as not to miss situations like this.


    <span>Rishe joined their circle to gather information.


    <span>“Hello,dies, what are you talking about?”


    <span>“Dear Rishe-sama! You’vee to the right ce. No, we were discussing a great ce in the imperial castle with a wonderful view. Then the words ‘South Corridor’ came up…”


    <span>“I’ve been to the South Corridor several times. It’s a scenic corridor, but is there any circumstance that makes it uninviting?”


    <span>She feigned interest in the gossip and dug deeper.


    <span>What kind of topics would fly out of these well-informed women?


    <i><span>I hope I could hear something about the imperial castle, members of the royal family, and His Royal Highness Arnold’s father…</i>


    <span>But what jumped into Rishe’s ears in anticipation was something she didn’t want to hear.


    <span>“There’s a rumor that the South Corridor is haunted.”


    <span>“Huh…”


    <span>Immediately after that, her blood ran cold.


    <span>“It is said that the spirit of a man who slipped and died while building this castle appears night after night…”


    <span>“Huh? I’m pretty sure I heard that a maidservant who died of bullying from the head chambein in the olden days became a ghost…”


    <span>“Wasn’t it a horse ghost? You see, it went on a rampage and got out of control, so a knight shed him down…”


    <span>“No, it isn’t! I heard this from my grandmother!”


    <span>“…………”


    <span>While they were talking like crazy, Rishe was silent and frozen.


    <span>Eventually the evening party concluded and Arnold’s messenger came to call her.


    <span>Rishe awkwardly said goodbye to thedies and joined Arnold in leaving the hall of the soiree.


    <span>****


    <span>The day was warm in the daytime and a pleasant night breeze blew outside.


    <span>However Rishe’s steps wereden as she walked behind Arnold.


    <span>“……Hey.”


    <span>“…”


    <span>“Rishe, what are you doing?”


    <span>“!”


    <span>She looked up with a gasp when Arnold called her.


    <span>She didn’t notice that shegged far behind from Arnold.


    <span>She wanted to catch up with him in a hurry, but she couldn’t move from there.


    <i><span>Is this perhaps the…</i>


    <span>This was the southern side of the Imperial Castle.


    <span>It was the shortest route from the location of the hall used for this soiree to the detached pce where Rishe lived.


    <span>Arnold walked back to Rishe’s side and looked at her suspiciously.


    <span>“Don’t tell me those guys just now did something to you?”


    <span>“No-no-no! That’s not true.”


    <span>“Then what happened? From the way you’re walking, it’s not like you have a leg injury.”


    <span>“……!”


    <span>She thanked him for his concern, but she couldn’t muster the strength to give more details at the moment.


    <span>Because while she was trudging along in a daze, she felt in serious trouble.


    <span>“…Uhm, Your Highness.”


    <span>“Yeah?”<span>


    <span>“Is this perhaps the southern corridor of the imperial castle?”


    <span>“Don’t you know?”


    <span>“….!”


    <span>When Rishe asked the obvious, Arnold became more and more steely.


    <span>“Rishe, what happened at the soiree? I’ll move in person depending on the circumstances, just say the word.”


    <span>“Hmm…Really?”


    <span>“Yeah, I promise.”


    <span>“T-Then, I’ll take you at your word……”


    <span>Encouraged by his reassurance, Rishe mustered her courage and finally spoke.


    <span>“—I hear there are ghosts here!”


    <span>“…………”


    <span>At that moment, Arnold immediately looked like it was nothing important.


    <span>“If you’re wondering that….”


    <span>“Oh, you just made a ‘nonsense’ face! It’s because thedies told me that some people actually saw them!”


    <span>“Aren’t they just making up stories that exist in every castle to relieve boredom? It’s a kind of entertainment where the topic is more important than the truth. To begin with, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”


    <span>“Maybe there are…!!”


    <hr>


    T/N: Yup, I’m catching up on raws…