Did they have a lover in their hometown, waiting for someone to come for them?
Those who die bearing grudges are prone to becoming vengeful spirits that wander the mortal world. They carry unfulfilled desires, leaving deep regrets toward someone they cannot forget.

(More than words can express…)

Otherwise, they wouldn’t transcend the laws of the world to wander from the Underworld back into the mortal realm.

Although the spirit claimed the letter was for their family, not all customers are truthful with the scribe. This is because it’s harder than people think to lay bare the thoughts in one’s heart. Every day, as Ai Natsuki worked as a scribe for the living, she was reminded of this truth.

While Ai Natsuki muttered and thought about the wording of the letter, Kafuka seemed to be tending to small tasks. She returned inside after taking down the “All Kinds of Letter Writing Services Offered” sign from the storefront. In her hand was a branch of hōzuki (Chinese lantern plant), which had been displayed with the sign.

Though hōzuki is said to summon vengeful spirits, under the morning light, its vivid red color was striking, as if urging Ai to listen to the spirit’s wishes from the previous night.

“…For now, let’s send the letter with the known address. I’d like to send the other letter too, but…”

Sighing, Ai looked at the letter with the unknown address. She folded it, wrote the recipient’s name on a paper wrapper, and sealed it with practiced movements. Watching her, Kafuka’s face turned exasperated.

“You’re sending a letter for a spirit? Spirit ming coins aren’t actually usable, you know. And the recipient might already be deceased.”

“Kafuka, you don’t understand. If the man is deceased as well, they can meet in the Underworld, and there’d be no need to write a letter, would there?”

“Ah… Now that you mention it, that makes sense.”

Rather than resenting being proven wrong, Kafuka seemed oddly convinced.

Ai herself found her words strangely reassuring. Precisely because life and death were divided, the spirit could only express their feelings through a letter.

—I want to deliver these final sentiments contained in this letter.

Even after falling into the Underworld upon death, the spirit’s lingering emotions couldn’t be forgotten. Ai felt pity for them, and a sense of responsibility grew within her.

There are many people who can manage simple reading and writing, but struggle with crafting long letters. That’s why the letter-writing business existed. However, even professional scribes could only convey one-way feelings. There was no way to know how the recipient of a letter from the deceased would interpret its content or feel about it.

Even so, Ai accepted the job, aiming to deliver the sender’s heartfelt wishes.

That was the small pride of Gray Dust Abode, the scribe’s office where Ai Natsuki worked.

(I can only write words… So at the very least, I want to deliver them…)

Staring at the second letter with an unknown recipient, Ai Natsuki recalled the spirit’s words.

“On Xuan paper, address it to… that person in Obsidian Forbidden Castle…”

The mention of “harem” suggested that “that person in Obsidian Forbidden Castle” was someone of high rank. Realizing this, Ai gulped nervously.

Xuan paper was a luxury item, beyond the means of commoners to afford or use. Even at Ai’s shop, Xuan paper was rarely used, and there was no stock on hand.

(Father just scolded me recently, but I’ll have to go to the family shop to get some…)

It seemed her intentions were already transparent.

“With Miss Shuyū Kiyoku entering the harem and the shop struggling financially, if the mistress insists on marrying you off, the master won’t be able to refuse…”

Kafuka pressed her point further.

“That would… be troublesome…”

“In that case, you’ll need to cut back on your book purchases and focus on increasing income! Understood?”

“Y-yes…”

Ai’s ears stung with Kafuka’s words. Though she was technically the master, when it came to money matters, she couldn’t argue with Kafuka, who herself couldn’t defy Lan Sijing, Ai’s father.

Would she ever become truly independent of the family? Ai held her head in her hands.

“By the way, Miss Ai, weren’t you summoned by the Purple Wise Consort today? I’ll put up the ‘Closed for Business’ sign.”

“Yes, please. I’m glad I can deliver this book today, too.”

Gathering the papers she had been working on late last night, Ai deftly sewed them into a booklet with needle and thread.

Her elder sister, who had cared for her, had entered the harem, making casual visits difficult now. Ai eagerly anticipated the days when her sister summoned her.

While the shop was being closed, the scent of freshly prepared breakfast wafted through the air.

“Miss Ai, Kafuka, breakfast is ready. Please come to the back building.”

The voice of the elderly caretaker came from outside the window. The old couple who managed the abode had prepared the meal.

“Coming!”

Ai replied cheerfully, placing the “All Kinds of Letter Writing Services Offered” sign and the hōzuki branch on her desk. As she walked along the corridor to the back, the aroma of freshly cooked porridge grew stronger.

“If you keep dealing with spirits, this shop will go into the red again. Besides, encountering a spirit on the day you visit the harem is an ill omen…”

Ignoring Kafuka’s muttering, Ai feigned deafness.

“Kafuka, we’ll stop by Tai Miao for a purification ritual before heading to the harem.”

With that, Ai decided to leave right after breakfast.