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In Keith Claes’s room, just before dinner, an exasperated voice accompanied by a long sigh could be heard.
—Sister! I’ve told you a thousand times, there are no ghosts in our house —said Keith, massaging his temples.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, teary eyed, Katarina sobbed:
—There is one, I’m telling you there is! I saw it last night, around three in the morning!
—Three in the morning...? —Keith frowned—. What were you doing in the library at that hour!?
—I went to get one of my romance novels —Katarina answered, as if it were the most logical thing in the world—. I saw it next to the shelf where I keep them! It was moving like it was looking for something... or someone!
Keith crossed his arms and gave her a stern look.
—Sister, that’s no time for a young noblewoman to be wandering around the house. Don’t come at me with ghost stories when you’re breaking etiquette rules!
—This is not the time for you to go into “mom mode” on me! —shouted Katarina, completely indignant—. I need help to face the ghost! One of my novels disappeared this morning! I’m sure the ghost took it!
Keith let out another sigh, even longer than the last.
—Wouldn’t it be easier to just bring all your novels to your room? That way you wouldn’t have to go to the library in the middle of the night...
Katarina fell silent for a moment. Then she raised an eyebrow.
—And what if the ghost starts haunting my room? Besides, I have too many! What if they don’t all fit? —She made a tragic face—. I can’t take that risk!
Keith ran a hand down his face slowly, as if he were melting from exhaustion.
—Fine, fine... —he said in a resigned voice—. I’ll help you tonight. But let’s be clear: it’s only so you’ll stop whining. Come to my room at ten to three in the morning.
Katarina’s eyes sparkled with happiness. She threw herself at him into a tight hug.
—Thank you, Keith! You’re the best brother in the whole world!
Keith froze, his ears red as tomatoes.
—Y-You’re welcome...!
Katarina let go of him and dashed to the door.
—I’m going to eat a lot at dinner to have energy to face the spirit! See you later!
—Don’t eat too much! —Keith shouted from the door—. If you get a stomach ache, there’ll be no ghost hunting!
He closed the door with a sigh even longer than the previous ones. He held his head in both hands, and muttered:
—How can someone with dark magic, a familiar that turns into a giant wolf, and who’s fought dragons be such a coward about a supposed “spirit”...?
He shook his head in resignation and headed to the dining room, bracing himself for what would surely be a hectic dinner... and an even worse early morning.
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Keith was sitting on the edge of his bed, yawning while trying to stay awake. He looked at the clock with resignation. It was almost three.
—I’m going to have massive dark circles tomorrow... —he thought—. I’m definitely spoiling her too much… Oh well, it’s too late for regrets now.
Outside, a storm had broken out in full force. Rain pounded against the windows insistently, and thunder rumbled across the sky. He sighed.
—After this nonsense and with this weather, it’ll be hard to fall asleep again...
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He got up and went to open it.
—Sister?
There she was, a lantern in one hand... and an axe in the other.
—What the hell are you doing with that?! —Keith exclaimed, alarmed.
—It’s to defend us from the specter! —Katarina replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Keith immediately snatched the axe from her.
—You’re insane! What if you trip and cut yourself?! This is officially confiscated! —He leaned it against a corner of the room.
Katarina puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
—Hmph! I just wanted to protect us!
—We’re going together, so you don’t need to be afraid. I’ll take care of you.
Not like he really believed he’d have to protect her from anything during this “adventure”.
—All right… Thank you, Keith. For always taking care of me. —she said, smiling.
Keith blushed slightly and patted her head, trying not to look directly into her eyes.
—Let’s go already. The sooner we finish this, the better.
He took the lantern and they started walking toward the library. As they moved down the dark hallways, Keith asked:
—So what’s this ghost supposed to look like?
—It was the shadow of a woman… with long hair covering her face. She was crouched beside the shelf where I keep my favorite novels.
He raised an eyebrow. Could it be some maid trying to read those books in secret...? he thought, but chose not to say it aloud.
They reached the library door. Katarina suddenly clung to Keith’s arm, pressing it against her chest.
—W-What are you doing?! —he asked, blushing to the tips of his ears.
—Now that we’re here… I’m really getting scared.
Keith swallowed hard, feeling the warmth and softness of her chest against his arm. He thought about pulling away, but... in the end, he didn’t.
—I-It’s okay… you can stay like that. Just stick close.
They carefully opened the door and stepped inside. They walked slowly, trying not to make a sound, the dim light of the lantern guiding their way. Outside, the thunder and rain did nothing to calm their nerves.
Just as they approached the fateful bookshelf, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew open one of the library’s large windows. The lantern flicked off instantly.
—Ah! —Katarina jumped and pressed closer to Keith.
At that moment, a flash of lightning lit up the entire room, casting sinister shadows everywhere.
And there they saw it.
A female figure, dressed in a white nightgown, with straight long hair covering her face, crouched in front of the shelf. The lightning lit her from the side, making her look straight out of a horror story.
—AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! —they both screamed in unison.
In a panic, Keith dropped the lantern, grabbed his sister’s arm, and bolted out of the room at full speed. They didn’t stop until they reached his bedroom, slammed the door shut, and collapsed to their knees, panting from fright and the run.
—What the hell was that!? —Keith groaned, eyes wide.
—See?! I told you it was real!! —Katarina shouted, pointing at him with a trembling finger.
They looked at each other, pale as sheets.
Meanwhile, the storm outside kept raging on.
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—You saw a ghost? —Nicol asked, in his usual calm tone, though clearly intrigued.
Keith sighed, carefully placing his teacup back on the saucer.
—I wouldn’t be telling you this if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes —he said, still somewhat disturbed. The Claes siblings were visiting the Ascart mansion for tea.
—That’s why I came today, Sophia! I can’t go back to fetch my novels, I’m terrified! Please let me stay here today and read yours —Katarina begged dramatically, taking Sophia’s hands.
—Of course, Lady Katarina! —Sophia exclaimed, excited—. You could even spend the night! We could have a pajama party!
—I’d love that sooo much!! —the young lady shouted, eyes sparkling.
They both stood up at once and left arm in arm toward Sophia’s room, murmuring excitedly about which novels to read first and what sweets might go with the evening.
As soon as they disappeared down the hall, Nicol looked back at Keith.
—And what did this ghost look like?
Keith sank a little in his seat and lowered his voice.
—It looked like an older woman… dressed in white… with really long hair covering her entire face. She was crouched right in front of my sister’s bookshelf. She looked… terrifying.
Nicol crossed his arms, thoughtful.
—And you didn’t think of asking for help? From your parents? Or even the Ministry?
Keith clicked his tongue and rested his head on his hand.
—We told our parents… —he paused—. But our mother scolded us, said it was a disgrace to the Claes family, and told us never to speak of it again... And now Katarina is too scared to go into the library alone. And I’m scared she’ll make me go back with her!
The two boys fell silent for a moment, listening in the distance to the girls’ laughter and excited exclamations as they immersed themselves in their fantasy world.
—Knowing Katarina, she’ll probably go back to face the ghost armed with the axe. —murmured the young Ascart.
Keith shivered.
—...I’ll make sure to hide it well.
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In the main parlor of her mansion, Duchess Millidiana sipped tea with impeccable grace, as any noble lady would. The storm from a few days ago had given way to sunny, peaceful weather, but in her mind, another kind of chaos still raged.
She slowly lowered her porcelain teacup and, as she did, her eyes fixed on the object resting next to her saucer: a flashy-covered novel titled “The Devilish Count and His Forbidden Love”.
She frowned.
She brought the cup back to her lips, as if trying to wash away her shame with a sip of tea.
I’ve been very clear to them, she thought stiffly. The last thing the Claes family needs is those two spreading ridiculous rumors about spirits.
She pressed her lips together tightly.
No, I cannot allow the Claes’ reputation to fall any lower. It’s bad enough having to deal with that girl climbing trees and filling the garden with vegetables. And worse yet, still not canceling her engagement to Prince Jeord, as if she had any ability to be a princess!
She glanced at the novel.
Her fingers, almost involuntarily, touched the bookmark carefully placed between chapters 17 and 18. Right when the count reveals his identity to save the maiden he loves...
She cleared her throat, uncomfortable.
—I have to return it... —she whispered to herself—. As soon as possible.
Of course, the proper thing would be to put the book back on the shelf where it belongs, without anyone finding out. No one must suspect that she, the Duchess of Claes, consumed such vulgar and cheap literature. Such a scandal could destroy her!
Not even Luigi knows I read this... she thought, with a slight shiver of guilt.
But...
I’ve come this far... and there’s only three chapters left.
She sighed, leaned back in her armchair, and opened the book once more, her eyes completely absorbed in the description of the count, whose eyes “shone like sinful rubies beneath the crimson moon”.
—...An absolute disgrace —she muttered without conviction, as she turned the page with discreet enthusiasm.