I Inherited It, and It Turned Out to Be a Ghost Story - Chapter 5

As she recalled the rulebook resting inside her bag, her sentence trailed off.

The thought of the rulebook brought to the surface a question she had long suppressed and postponed.

Ordelphia looked at Sebastian for a moment and asked, “Those rules… did my grandmother write them?”

“Yes, that’s correct. At first, there were about five, but over time, the number increased.”

As she organized the documents and placed them back into her bag, Ordelphia took out the rulebook.

The manager smiled as he saw the small, worn leather-bound book, aged but intact.

“That’s the very first rulebook Madam Adel created.”

Unlike the manager, who seemed overcome with nostalgia, Ordelphia got straight to the point.

“About the content in this rulebook. There are a lot of parts I don’t understand.”

The manager blinked, momentarily puzzled, then nodded as if he understood.

“Yes, it does differ from a typical hotel manual.”

“It’s more than just a little. Earlier, you mentioned that the hotel had been run based on this rulebook, right? But there’s nothing in here about how to actually run the place.”

She tapped the book and stared directly at the manager.

“Yes, Madam, your confusion is entirely understandable. However—”

The manager paused, as if carefully choosing his words.

“However?”

“Have you read the rulebook in full?”

“Yes.”

“Do you recall the very last rule?”

“The last rule…”

“Rule 19. You may not speak with anyone about this rule.”

“That means…”

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can clear up your questions. But please don’t worry. If you stay here at the hotel, you’ll come to understand it all naturally.”

“Wait, are you saying…”

Ordelphia touched her parched lips and continued, “That this ‘natural’ understanding, does it involve going through experiences like that fire alarm incident?”

“Ah, so you’ve already had one. It seems you followed Rule 3 well.”

The words ‘What happens if you don’t follow it?’ almost slipped out, but she stopped herself.

From the awkward smile on the manager’s face, she could already sense he would never give her a straight answer no matter what she asked.

Ordelphia’s head throbbed.

She had left behind a suffocating home where she would have slowly wasted away to claim a place of her own—and, more than anything, to search for her father.

And yet, the hotel she inherited wasn’t facing ordinary issues like poor management or low profits. It was riddled with strange, inexplicable problems that defied description.

Should she turn back now?

“Please don’t worry too much.”

As if reading her mind, the manager continued with a gentle, composed smile.

“You won’t encounter situations like that one too often.”

Ordelphia looked at the manager for a moment and asked, “Even if you can’t talk about the rules, you can mention the ‘phenomena’?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then I have a few questions. Would you answer them?”

“If it’s something I’m allowed to answer, anything at all.”

Ordelphia raised one finger.

“The fire alarm went off, right? But… that phenomenon? That strange thing? Whatever it was—it clearly passed through, yet others seemed unaware.”

Exactly. If Arthur Junior, that ordinary boy, had experienced the same thing she had, there’s no way he would’ve just pouted or whined.

Even someone like her, with broken emotional circuitry, had been gripped by fear the moment she saw ‘that thing’—unable to keep her sanity.

“I’m glad I can give you an answer. As you said, the ‘strange occurrences’ that happen at this hotel are not something everyone experiences.”

That explained why there were still guests, despite such insane events unfolding.

Relieved by the manager’s reply, Ordelphia voiced the next question that followed naturally.

“Don’t tell me those bizarre things happen to guests too?”

“Haha. That’s quite rare.”

“‘Quite’ rare?”

“Nothing in the world is ever one hundred percent. But at least during all my years here, not a single guest has ever been involved.”

Perhaps due to his calm expression and composed demeanor, the manager’s voice had a convincing quality.

Hearing that guests were unaffected, Ordelphia felt somewhat relieved and nodded before asking her next question.

“The rules—or rather, when something like that happens, what if you fail to respond properly?”

The purpose of such a manual is usually to enforce control or prevent danger in advance.

But instead of answering, the manager let out a short sigh and remained silent.

He had skillfully redirected the topic from the rules to the phenomena, but ultimately, it was just wordplay—he clearly couldn’t give her an answer.

“I see. I guess I’ll have to experience it myself.”

“There’s really no need to go that far. As long as you follow the rules carefully, you’ll be fine.”

“Alright. Then I suppose I need to memorize everything in here first.”

Ordelphia refocused her thoughts.

She had many questions. Why were these ghost-story-like things happening in the hotel? How could anyone work here for so long under these conditions? Had the other staff experienced such things and still continued working?

But there was something even more important she needed to know first.

“This might be a bit awkward to ask.”

“If it’s something I can answer, I’ll gladly do so.”

“How are the actual revenues?”

“Hmm.”

A murmur escaped the manager’s lips as a shadow passed over his composed face.

“We’re just barely hanging on.”

“I see.”

“There were times it got so bad we had to take out loans to get through it.”

“Loans. I see. Alright.”

At least she had now addressed the urgent question about customers and revenue. It wasn’t looking very optimistic, but…

Well, nothing ever works out on the first try. The rest, she could learn through firsthand experience or by investigating herself.

“Just one last thing.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“Since my grandmother passed, can I see the overall financial records and staff histories for the hotel?”

“I’d love to bring them to you directly, but there’s quite a lot, so they’re stored in the basement. Would you be alright with me showing you the way there?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll prepare everything shortly.”

“Actually, I’d like to rest for the day. It’s still afternoon, but I’ve been up since dawn. Could you prepare a room for me?”

“Lady Adel’s room remains untouched…”

“I’d prefer to leave my grandmother’s room as it is.”

The manager said nothing more and quietly stood.

He stepped closer and refilled her teacup before speaking, “Please enjoy your tea. I’ll have everything arranged. Is your bag all the luggage you brought?”

“Yes. I’ll carry this myself, so don’t worry. And also, no need to assign a maid.”

Though she was technically the daughter of the distinguished Count Grewga family, after her father’s disappearance and her mother’s coldness, she had never really been properly waited on at the estate.

Having come to dislike physical contact, she actually preferred it that way. Though a noble’s daughter, she had long since grown used to doing most things alone.

“Then I’ll take my leave first.”

“Alright. Oh, and could you find a painter who can draw a composite sketch?”

“Yes, of course.”

Even with such an abrupt request, the manager nodded without asking further, and Ordelphia added a brief explanation.

“There seems to be a suspicious person loitering around the hotel. I’m not entirely sure, but it’s best to be prepared.”

As Ordelphia turned her eyes from the steaming teacup to the rippling tea inside—

“Madam.”

The manager, who had his hand on the doorknob, suddenly called to her.

“Yes?”

“Forgive me, but may I ask you one question as well?”

“Of course.”

Though she gave a cheerful yes, the manager fell silent for a moment. Just when Ordelphia began to wonder, he finally spoke.

“Do you perhaps dislike having inherited the hotel? Or is it this old man that you find unsatisfactory?”

“What?”