Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 115 - 111 Skeleton Beauty

With Alianna’s gesture, the group of ghosts returned to her side.

She clapped her hands, "Everyone, our walk is over for today, time to head back."

The ghosts let out a cry, eerie and incomprehensible.

Alianna nodded and turned to Lyle.

"Plague Doctor, do you have any matters to attend to right now? If not," Alianna grabbed Lyle’s arm, "please come in and have a look."

Lyle didn’t respond, and Alianna didn’t need his answer. Taking his arm, she led him into Naslan’s floral world, with a group of ghosts following behind them.

As they walked, the grass automatically flattened under their footsteps, revealing their footprints; flowers twisted their stalks, always showing their beauty to the two, while brightly colored flash butterflies danced around Alianna, the breeze from their flapping wings making her long skirt even more graceful.

Between this natural garden and Naslan’s castle, there was a huge lake, where the gentle breeze caused ripples on the mirror-like surface, and by the lake shore, fallen leaves became small boats, drifting towards the sparkling light.

Alianna seemed to be skipping, at least Lyle could feel the lightness in her steps. Occasionally, a ghost would cut in line, its pallid face passing through Lyle’s body, looking at his face. Amidst such a cheerful atmosphere, Lyle returned a smile, but he wasn’t sure if it was noticed. Perhaps in the ghost’s eyes, it was just a bird-person with a pointed beak staring with those glassy eyes.

Lifeless, returning to its place.

A butterfly with tangerine-orange wings landed on Lyle’s finger, the one Alianna was tightly holding. It fluttered its wings, tapping the leather gloves with its antennas, seemingly also curious about this novel object.

The two did not head towards the castle but behind a gloomy grove.

Before Lyle could form any thoughts, the scene before him dispelled all speculation.

Clusters of tombstones.

Alianna waved to the group of ghosts, "Everyone, it’s time to rest."

Upon command, the ghosts dove into their own graves.

Alianna didn’t leave, but instead brought Lyle into the middle of the tombstones. At a conspicuous spot, there was a shady area made of curved grapevines, and beneath it, a Stone Coffin was placed. The headstone in front had only a line of a name etched on it so far.

Alianna Naslan.

"Alianna, what is this?"

"It’s the coffin and headstone I designed for myself."

"After the accident in the past, Helena, Beatrice, and I survived. To keep Helena company, Beatrice and I chose our own paths. I joined Andrey. But the servants from before couldn’t rest in peace, and one of my daily duties has been to soothe their spirits, hoping they can let go of their resentment one day and find release."

"... Have you succeeded?"

"One day I will, no matter how deep their obsessions are, I will always be with them, till eternity."

"But, I am also very curious about the feeling of death. If I had chosen another path back then, said goodbye to the sisters, and slept in the coffin, buried under the green grass. I am very curious, what that feels like."

"So I plan to give it a try."

Lyle looked at the Stone Coffin in front of him, "Then, have you found that feeling?"

Alianna shook her head, "No, every time I lie down, I think of other things and soon wake up. Just lying there is really boring."

"But not anymore," Alianna’s voice carried excitement, "because you are here now, and with you and Shuishui, I am sure I won’t feel bored."

"So, Plague Doctor," Alianna said eagerly, "let’s sleep together."

"In the coffin?"

"Yep!"

Setting aside the ominous thoughts in his mind, you are a Spirit Summoner after all, what’s there to fear?

"It would be my honor to be buried with Alianna."

"Hehe, lie down quickly."

The Stone Coffin was neither too big nor too small; it was more than enough to fit one person but seemed crowded for two.

Because of the Plague Doctor’s beaked mask, Lyle couldn’t turn his head and could only lie flat, and even after lying down, the beak left a small sharp angle outside the Stone Coffin. Alianna lay on her side, facing Lyle’s side, her body pressed against his, and Lyle could feel his heart beating fiercely.

Touching Alianna’s body was like touching a cloud, probably a shielding effect of some magic.

The thought of physical touch was dispelled.

Shuishui curled into a small ball on Lyle’s abdomen, while Alianna reached out a hand to stroke over Shuishui.

Her voice carried a smile, "I think I can feel it, this peace..."

Alianna’s voice gradually softened and the movement of her arm slowed until she seemed to have fallen asleep.

Lyle couldn’t turn his head to see her face.

But Lyle saw what was happening in front of him.

Pair after pair of transparent hands gripped the edge of the Stone Coffin, followed by ghostly heads poking out. These former servants did not follow Alianna’s orders to rest; they perched on Alianna’s Stone Coffin like parents gazing at their sleeping child.

"Ah..." Lyle truly intended to wake her up, but then he saw the ghosts raise a finger to their lips in a human-like gesture, signaling silence in a uniformly oppressive manner.

Realizing that the little master’s tool would not cause any trouble, the expressions on the ghosts relaxed quite a bit.

Lyle had Shuishui lying on top of him, with Alianna’s hand resting on Shuishui’s head.

Above Alianna’s hand, overlaid ghostly hands cast a quiet glow.

Lyle thought that their obsession was probably with their mistress, Alianna.

How could such an obsession be eradicated?

The silence lasted for several hours until Lyle’s body started to ache, until Alianna woke up, until the sun had set.

Lyle and Alianna said their farewells, and the subsequent visit to the castle was forced to be canceled—it was already too late, and he had to go back and meet with Ralph.

After Lyle left, Alianna stared at the tombstone in front of her for a long while in silence.

A teasing voice emerged behind her.

Beatrice, holding a wine glass and carrying a bottle of wine, had a flushed face from drinking, "I think I just saw your little lover run out, sister."

With no response, Beatrice let out an unsatisfied belch, took another drink, and slumped onto Alianna’s shoulder like a lump of jelly.

"What are you looking at, sister? Ah, still playing your little house game?"

"The name," Alianna pointed to the blank part of the tombstone, "I don’t know the Plague Doctor’s name."

A flicker of dissatisfaction showed in Beatrice’s eyes, quickly concealed as she rolled her eyes and smiled.

"I know, if you ask me nicely, I’ll tell you the Plague Doctor’s name."

"Why would you know?"

"Ah, because last time Mr. Plague Doctor visited my bar, I accidentally got him drunk. Threatened by a huge bill, Mr. Plague Doctor decided to compensate with his body, and we spent a rather sweet night together. So, I know a little bit more than you, sister."

Alianna turned her head slowly and began to remove the veil in front of her.

"You’re lying again, Beatrice."

Without the cover of magic, what was revealed was not the beautiful face Lyle had imagined, but a pristine white skull and the blue soul fire in its eye sockets.

"The Plague Doctor is one of us; like me, he is a Lich. How could a Lich get drunk, little liar?"