I’m Stuck as a Ghost So I Decided to Follow the Isekai Protagonist!

A few months after that, Lucia invited Caruncle to see her at her home, since Sebastian was around when she mentioned the visit, he asked her over and over if he could go too, and now, they were all sitting inside the greenhouse that existed in Lucia's state.

“Perhaps… you were a man before?” Right after Sebastian had said that, Caruncle threw a book right into his face and made him fall off his wooden chair. “Aghh!”

“Careful! I’m coming up!” Lucia came back from the manor with a tray carrying cookies and three cups of coffee. “Hold up, let me put these on the table.”

Caruncle looked around thinking that Mortimer was somewhere to help, but it was only Lucia.

“Your butler left all the work to me, he said ‘oh what a lovely lady you are! Forgive me for making you carry the tray all the way to the garden!’ and he left me alone in the room, that jerk.” She set the tray on the table and started eating, she saw Sebastian slowly standing up and moving his chair. “And now, what did you just do?” She asked him.

“Well, I was just guessing who she might have been before that transplant she got.”

“Oh god, no that again.”

“I think I guessed correctly because when I asked her if she had been a man, she got all mad and threw me a book.”

Lucia looked at Caruncle, who was now focused on reading a book about the meaning of flowers. I knew she wasn’t actually reading and just pretending to read, she was frowning and her eyes were focusing, but they weren’t moving from the place they stared at the page, Lucia had probably noticed this too. 

“I don’t think you should care about that kind of stuff, Sebastian.”

“No, that is the thing! I don't really care about that! I was trying to convince her that no matter who she was, I will follow her! She has my true and complete devotion!”

“And why do you want to follow her so badly, if I might ask?”

“Because I love her!”

You know, sometimes Carunce’s emotions were hard to figure out.  I can feel them, her emotions I mean, I can tell what she feels, but to translate that into words, it doesn’t always work out. That time, I was paying attention to her, she was feeling all mopey that day, but aside from that, there was also this weird soup of sensations that was hard to make something out of. There was some anger, but where that anger came from, I didn’t know, frustration too, but not just frustration, but also a relief, calmness, but that calmness made her feel empty. I thought back to the time she lived in the basement, in the dark. Thinking back to that time made her incredibly angry, so she just tried to ignore all that, to block it. I thought that perhaps it had been my escape attempt that night, but she didn’t seem to know it had been me, she just thought it had been an idea she came up with because she had been sleep deprived. I knew she was frustrated with something and I couldn’t make out what it was either

“Excuse me, Sebastian, but you must know that kind of confessions aren’t very proper, you know? The only thing you are doing is forcing the lady you are confessing to into giving you an answer, that isn’t really polite.”

“Oh, I apologize, I didn’t–”

“And knowing very well that Ms. Esparza cannot talk, it just comes as more insulting that you just force her to hear all your blabbering over and over, if you like her, why can’t you just follow her by staying silent?”

“I–I apologize, I sincerely didn’t notice.”

I looked back at Caruncle, she had thousands of butterflies in her stomach, but her face showed a frown. If I tried to translate the feelings going through her head, I think it meant she was feeling somehow happy, but perhaps Sebastian was annoying her too much and her patience was running out. 

“Anyway, enough about that, how are you liking the flower garden?” She extended her hand to point out at the tons of flowers outside the greenhouse. 

“I think it is incredibly beautiful.” She wrote.

“Oh, I’m glad that you think so! It has been quite a distraction of mine for some time.” She looked away and eyed the flowers inside the greenhouse with a sad face. “Flowers are not the kind of beings that can disappoint you.” She looked back at Caruncle, who looked back at her as if she was about to cry as well.

“And the circle says that flowers can be used for spells too!” Sebastian exclaimed, the both ladies turned back to him.

“That hasn’t been proven.”

“Well, some day, I will! You shall see!”

“Is that what you are going to do with your life?”

“Well, yes, I do want to better understand the wonders and mysteries of the world.”

“You couldn’t understand the multiplication table even if you tried. I wonder how you are even still on the circle.”

“Well, math is just not my forte after all, but I do have a good handle in the arts of literature, language and charisma.”

Isn’t this fun, Caruncle? Seeing a conversation pass by and not being able to interact with it in real time. Of course it isn’t, but well… it is what it is.

Lucia looked back at Caruncle who was frowning at Sebastian since she was frustrated she wasn’t able to participate in their talk, she looked at Lucia when felt her eyes at her and then Lucia, after looking at Caruncle frowning just as she was, looked back at Sebastian and started laughing.

“See! Not even Elena here is falling for your act!” 

“I also want to unveil the mystery of women.” Sebastian pouted and continued with his coffee.

“By the way,” after all of them had finished, Lucia spoke up “there are lots of other blossoms I would like to show you. I know it might be overzealous of me to have a greenhouse when I’m already growing flowers outside, but… well, would you like to come with me? I would like to show you the view that goes down the hill.” She stood up again and took her hand, and they both walked out of the greenhouse. They wandered through the flower fields, which filled the place with vibrant colors, a striking contrast against the gray sky. Though the field wasn’t particularly large, the fragrance was overwhelming, a heady mix of sweet and earthy scents that lingered in the cool, misty air. Even while the sky remained cloaked in fog, the sight of the blossoms calmed her down.

As they walked, Caruncle’s eyes were drawn to clusters of Lavender with their delicate purple spikes swaying gently in the breeze. The fog seemed to cradle the blossoms, enhancing their soothing aroma that drifted through the air. Nearby, patches of Foxglove stood tall, their bell-shaped flowers in shades of pale pink and creamy white adding a subtle elegance to the landscape. Despite the lack of direct sunlight, the cool, moist environment seemed to allow these flowers to grow up, at least their blossoms looked to be glowing faintly in the diffused light.

She pointed out a bed of Bluebells, their bell-like blooms creating a carpet of soft blue beneath the trees at the edge of the field. In the distance, she noticed a patch of Lily of the Valley, their delicate white bell-shaped flowers hanging gracefully from slender green stalks. The fog wrapped around them like a shroud, intensifying their sweet, almost intoxicating scent that lingered in the air long after they had passed by. Finally, at the top of the hill, they came upon a group of Primroses, their pale yellow and soft pink flowers blooming low to the ground. Caruncle sat down in the middle of the field, looking at the horizon.

“Tired?” Lucia asked her while sitting at her side.

Caruncle shook her head, she was going to write something, but she noticed that the tears had gotten ahead and had revealed her feelings. She heard Sebastian arrive, but he didn’t say anything, nobody had said anything at all, they all looked at the gray sky and the colorful terrain from the top of the hill, without saying a single word.

***

A negative influence in the world, in a way, a cursed existence. Before she had come into this world, Caruncle Periwinkle had been a man who had moved nations and people, not a perfect man, sure, but a man who had fought everything that stood in his way and got so close to his ideals that he made a true and meaningful change in his land, his country. After she came and took her place, Caruncle ended up as the corpse of a servant in some rich man's home cemetery. Her existence had brought down the whole world around her.

She woke up in a strange room, this room wasn’t all white, but it was all green, the air was a lot more dense and hot and she felt like she was sweating. What happened? The previous night she was having dinner with Mortimer and Custodio in the main hall of the manor, when she fell asleep straight into the pasta.

She looked outside the room, it seemed as if it had been built in the middle of the jungle, the place smelled awful, and in the distance, there were some animal sounds she didn’t recognize. She saw a small envelope at the side of the bed, she took it and opened slowly, it read.

“After 6 months under my care, it is time for you to make the big step. We took the liberty to help you sleep last night, and after a long trip we managed to arrive here, at Holiday’s island. This place is very dear to me for it is a very peaceful piece of land where nobody comes to bother me, it is far away from society and here I have been bringing each Elena that we have brought to live with Mortimer. Right now, Mortimer and I went to hunt and we might end up arriving close to 10 AM. After we arrive, Mortimer will start cooking his lunch and I will spend my time with you. It is time for you to become my wife.”

Right after she finished the letter Caruncle stood up and looked around, her heart started to beat incredibly fast. She still had the dress of last night on as well as the corset. She was starting to get used to corsets, but with the hot weather, it felt even more suffocating than usual. She saw some leather boots and quickly put them on, she opened the door of the room and walked away.

She started walking through the jungle outside of the man made path, she didn’t want to find the both of them and every second did count if she wanted to leave before they came back. She could see the sun between the high trees that covered the place. Finally, after so long, she had been able to see it shining through.

I don’t know how long we went through that place, an hour? The air grew thicker with each labored breath, the oppressive humidity clinging to her skin like a damp shroud. Every step felt heavier than the last, as if the jungle itself sought to consume her. The once-elegant gown of silk and lace, was now a mere shadow of its former glory. Dark stains of earth and sweat marred the fabric, its pale hue almost indistinguishable under layers of grime.

The leather boots were now in a wretched state, worn thin from the relentless trudging, bore scuffs and scratches from the terrain. The small, decorative buttons on the sides had been torn away, lost somewhere in the thick undergrowth. She swiped at the sweat that dripped into her eyes, her vision blurred by exhaustion. 

A sharp crack split the air, followed by a rustle in the underbrush. Her heart froze for a moment, eyes darting toward the source. A shadow moved through the trees, low and stalking, like a predator sizing up its prey. She held her breath, willing herself to remain still, praying the creature would lose interest. The seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity before the shadow melted back into the dense foliage. Her body trembled, both from fear and the overwhelming fatigue that weighed upon her limbs. Still, she could not afford weakness. Not now. The jungle’s tangled mass seemed never-ending, each thicket more impenetrable than the last. A misstep landed her foot in a bog, the thick muck pulling at her boot with a sickening squelch. She yanked it free, her hands trembling from the effort, but the action cost her precious energy she could ill afford to lose.

But then—a sound. Faint, almost imperceptible at first, but unmistakable. The soft, rhythmic roar of waves crashing against the shore. She surged forward, her legs protesting with every step, her arms slashing through the underbrush with newfound desperation.

The sea.

Just as she thought she could go no further, she broke through the final wall of foliage, stumbling into the clearing. There it was—an endless expanse of blue, stretching out to the horizon, the waves crashing rhythmically against the sandy shore. There, anchored just beyond the shore, was a boat, its silhouette bobbing gently with the rhythm of the waves. For a moment, she stood at the edge of the jungle, panting, blood pounding in her ears. With one last burst of energy, she pushed herself toward the shore. The sea stretched out before her. After a moment of hesitation, she finally sailed.

***

The boat rocked gently beneath her, the rhythmic creak of the oars slicing through the quiet expanse of the sea. Caruncle’s arms ached with each pull, her muscles strained from the relentless effort. She glanced toward the horizon, where the island had once stood. Gone. 

The waves, dark and endless, stretched before her like a vast, uncaring void. She squinted against the soft gleam of the afternoon sun, its light too harsh, too unforgiving on her skin.  She thought it was because she hadn’t received any direct sunlight in 6 months, well, 10 years in reality, but 6 months in that body at the very least. She felt the familiar prickling heat crawling in her hands. Great. Exactly what she needed right now: a sunburn to add to the fun. She shifted slightly, the brim of her hat doing a fantastic job of barely shielding her face. 

Each pull of the oars felt like dragging a dead weight through the water. Oh, wait—that’s what it was. Herself. Dragging herself through life. Delightful. Her vision blurred as the sea became a smudge of blue and gray, but she blinked it away, refusing to stop. She glanced back. No shore. No land. Not a scrap of hope in sight.

Her arms were trembling now, her pale hands blistering under the sun’s relentless assault. Every stroke felt like a punishment, like the universe was trying to remind her who was really in charge here. After a final pull, she stopped. The oars slipped from her hands, falling limp across her lap. The boat rocked gently.

Caruncle let out a long, weary sigh and laid down on the boat, the clouds were slowly covering the sky, but the sun still glowed directly into the boat. 

She had stopped rowing half an hour ago; she couldn’t see land anywhere, and she didn’t know in what direction the mainland was. She didn’t even know where the island they were on was anymore. The horizon blurring into the sky in every direction, leaving her adrift in an endless expanse of water. The sun, once a gentle warmth on her skin, had grown harsh and unrelenting, beating down on her exposed face and arms. Her throat burned with thirst, her lips cracked and dry, and every breath she took was filled with the salt of the sea, the skin she had exposed to the sun felt like burning. She tried to ignore it, just happy that she had finally managed to feel some sun.

The boat itself was small and worn, its wooden boards creaking under the weight of her despair. The oars lay abandoned at her sides, slick with seawater and sweat, their purpose long forgotten. The gentle rocking of the boat, which might have been soothing under different circumstances, now only served to amplify her disorientation.

She laid down in the middle of the boat and looked up at the sky. She didn't feel particularly sad or angry, just rather lonely. The beauty of the woods outside, she had seen it all; the rest was just flavoring people made from their lives. But now that she had seen it all, that she had seen the beauty of the world, there was no need to worry about missing out on anything else. 

Her mother used to say that no matter the time or the place, people would end up committing the same mistakes; it was just human nature. Why would it matter if she missed out on something else in the future? The thought echoed in her mind, mingling with the sound of the waves and the distant cries of seabirds. She closed her eyes, letting the sun’s rays seep through her eyelids, painting the darkness with a warm, red glow.

I was listening to her, thinking. “I felt a strange happiness after I looked in the mirror. For once, I didn’t hate what I saw. Now, all I want is peace. I just need peace.”

The boat drifted aimlessly. Each wave that lapped against the hull seemed to whisper to her. She wanted to die because she was happy.

Caruncle, Caruncle...

“Happiness is a double-edged sword. Once you have seen the meaning, nothing will ever taste the same,” she thought to herself. The waves’ lullaby was gentle and comforting.

“Is that what you really feel?” I asked her as if we were having a conversation.

She heard the birds flying away through the sky, she was happy to have heard them at least one more time. If Jazmin saw her again, she would accept her failure and accept being dissolved into nothingness.She was crying, but I was holding her hand. The tears were warm, mingling with the salt on her skin, tracing paths down her cheeks before disappearing into the fabric of her clothes. 

Why do you cry, Caruncle? You who have the answers to everything that happens in this world, why are you feeling so pointless and lonely? Why do you cry?

She didn’t answer me. She didn’t even continue her train of thought; she just continued to gaze at the cloudless sky while she heard the waves of the sea lulling her slowly. The boat continued to drift, the distance between her and the shore growing with each passing moment. The sky above was a vast, empty canvas, the sun a relentless eye watching her.

“Fine, I will take over.”

I took the oars of the boat and looked around. The sky was cloudy, but I could still see the sun on the horizon. I tried to think of a way to guide myself.

“The sun sets in the west, this time of the year at least… I think, so, if I’m not wrong, if I continue rowing in that direction, I should reach the mainland before the night comes, hopefully…” I thought to myself.

I started rowing while I tried to whistle a song with my dry lips. I didn’t remember any specific songs, but I thought that perhaps a melody would come to me to help cheer me up, but my lips were too dry and no melody came out of my mouth.

End of Act 2.