Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 663 - 614 Countess

"This is why those scoundrels fled from Hamlet New Town, because they feared becoming expendable in the punishment of naughty babies by Evil Spirits’ servants?" Indeed, anything related to Andrey turns very bizarre.

Kevin revealed a look of utter despair, he had resisted his father’s arrangements back in Cassandra, and now as a Lord, he still had to accept the constraints of his servants.

"Half of the lives in the Hamlet Cemetery died due to my mistakes; it’s not a humble joke to be made by a Lord. Although they were dirty rogues and man-eating demons in their lives, I still feel somewhat guilty about them." Kevin’s eyebrows drooped at a subtle angle, showing a slight sense of guilt, then, like a lark climbing onto a branch, he cheered up.

"Apart from the nameless helper, Lyle, you will be the first guest I officially host at the Hamlet Castle. Come, stay a night in my new home, and let me repay the hospitality I received in Naslan."

"It would be disrespectful to decline, Master Kevin," Lyle pressed a rotting fingertip that poked out from a crevice in the slate back into place, "I just want to confirm, your night in Naslan was indeed comfortable, right? There wouldn’t be any scare parties or death-defying pranks you’ve set up in that gloomy castle..."

Kevin laughed heartily; it seemed Lyle had grown cautious from his experiences at the Fallen Horse Tavern, but he truly intended to entertain his dear friend properly. "I sincerely plan to host you, and although the castle serves as my residence, many guest rooms have been turned into laboratories by the nameless helper and the Advanced Magic Research Society members. I haven’t even been to those places, operating only within a small area. Don’t talk about joining forces with Evil Spirits to scare you; those fellows hardly listen to me besides their daily tasks, but as butlers and servants, they’re quite diligent."

The cobblestone path to the cliff was already half-traversed, and this was Lyle’s first time in months to walk such a long distance with his own feet. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Tired?" Kevin looked back at Lyle, who was gazing at his feet.

"Not really, just a bit curious if it’s somewhat strange for a Count to proceed on foot?"

"Tch," Kevin bit his thumb in annoyance, as if a sore spot had been poked, "Actually, walking more is beneficial for your health!"

"...Come on, tell me what unmentionable means of transportation the Hamlet Family has come up with this time."

"As you’ve noted, our Evil Spirits were all solitary specters, they’d tear a horse to pieces upon getting near it, so if they were to transport using Evil Spirits, they’d prefer carrying."

"Or rather, possession."

Under Kevin’s gesture, a Resentful Spirit with a rotting face entered Kevin’s body.

"Click, crackle, snap... La————" Kevin’s body floated upwards, limbs grotesquely twisting in the air, his eyes vacant and mouth agape, emitting bizarre sounds. "Kevin" shifted rapidly, using his distorted joints as paddles in the air, moving swiftly, in the blink of an eye he was by the castle, and then quickly returned, descending slowly back to normal, the damage and wrinkles from the twisting on his clothes now gone. Kevin came to.

"As you can see, my family’s Evil Spirits prefer efficiency over elegance, and while they’re controlling my body, I feel nothing, but I’m still aware of what they’re doing with it. This method of moving is quite unnerving, so I rarely use it. If you’d like..."

"I think walking’s just fine."

When the two arrived at the castle front, the last of the sunlight had entirely set, and one could faintly smell blood in the once crumbling rose garden. Collapsed grapevines crawled into brick and mortar, adding a touch of poetic desolation to this decayed and collapsed forecourt, the kind from an elegy.

Windows on the balcony were thrown open one after another, cold wind making the curtains dance in the darkness like a sealed soul on the window sill longing to escape. The road leading to the castle gate was lined with oil lamps, each with a blurred shadow holding it. Silence expanded, all the flames centered around the two of them, and beyond those shadows, was pitch-black darkness.

"Punctuality is a virtue, my master," the voice was like a cold breeze blowing from the deepest ice caverns, sending chills up the spine to the brain at the mere sound of it. The shadow glided to Kevin’s front, not holding a lantern, so it was only when he drew nearer that Lyle could see that stern face.

"This is my most esteemed guest, Mr. Butler, please ensure that Mr. Lyle receives the most comprehensive hospitality at Hamlet Castle."

"It would be my honor," though there was no sense of honor in the evil butler’s tone. Kevin went back to his own room to change into formal attire, while Lyle, guided by the butler, made his way to the dining room. Along the way, just like Naslan’s spectral maidservants, the butler remained silent, but even colder. Candles on the walls lit up as Lyle walked by, yet the dim candlelight offered only a murky visibility, making Lyle feel he was led by a ghost toward Mikael.

"Should...light the...lamps..." A vague sensation arose in Lyle’s mind; sinister shadows looked at the feeble malice and revealed a strange smile, with shadows crawling to the wall’s base, lurking behind candelabra.

Lyle slowly approached the candelabra; a small oil can was placed beside it, and just a bit more oil would make the dwindling torches brighten a tad.

"Guest, that is the servant’s job," the butler’s voice emerged behind Lyle, his icy tone restoring Lyle’s clarity. "You only need to command, and the servant will do so." Under the butler’s guidance, changes occurred around the candelabra; a resentful spirit crouching atop the candelabra slowly materialized, its deformed body squeezing into the vacant space above, its twisted pinky holding the oil can. The spirit added oil, completed the task, and continued to gaze at Lyle with a dim stare.

[Resentful spirits harbor deep hatred for the living, and what they enjoy most is to lead those living to their deaths.]

"Guest, if you take the servant’s job, the servant will be upset; please be cautious," the butler quietly observed the resentful spirit on the candelabra and continued to lead the way.

"Kevin said they are safe."

[Kevin has never faced danger.]

Lyle, careful and wary, finally arrived at the dining room. Along the way, the butler blocked the traps set by evil spirits, and the ominous shadows could only retract and grumble about the dullness in Lyle’s mind. The feel of Hamlet differed starkly from Naslan; Naslan’s prying was omnipresent, but within those gazes lay only curiosity and suppressed excitement. Hamlet Castle, on the other hand, was filled with malicious stares, which made the ominous presence rate this castle of evil spirits quite highly.

Kevin, having changed into formal wear, was already seated at the head of the table, which was laden with lavish food, clearly more than what two people could consume.

"These normal dishes are luxury items in Hamlet; I can only get them from abroad through Mr. Anonymous. The chefs brought from Cassandra have taught the cooking techniques to the evil spirits, but regrettably, they have not remembered my portion size. Eat, Lyle; the food is quite good."

Lyle partook in the food warily, finding to his surprise that the food prepared by the evil spirits tasted unexpectedly good, even better than Naslan’s food. Lyle attributed it to Cassandra’s cooking techniques, as Naslan’s dietary preferences, in line with Naranya’s, leaned toward sweets.

Speaking of which, did Uncle Ralph get used to sweet foods, and I wonder if Lady Violet could twist his stomach to her liking.

The two ate quickly in the chilly dining room, and before leaving, Kevin bade Lyle goodnight.

"Rest well, Lyle; I will need your company for a task tomorrow."

"What task?"

"To visit my nominal sister, a countess of the Hamlet Family."