ATPE 01

Chapter 1

Serenia was called to the bank and given her final notice.

“If you do not repay the full principal and overdue interest within exactly one month from today, seizure procedures will begin immediately.”

Giving even one more month to such an unreliable debtor…

Thinking the bank had become strangely generous these days, Serenia Bahishat, the daughter of a count, slowly walked out of the building.

[The winter return of the play, <The Young Duke Rascal> — starring Ain Reberon!]

Without even glancing at the flashy posters lined up along the bank wall, she leaned her back against it.

“Ha…”

A sigh slipped out naturally.

“Should I just marry into a rich family or something…”

She muttered to herself, then let out a bitter laugh.

Calling it marriage sounded nice, but in reality, it meant selling herself—along with her right to inherit the title of Count Bahishat—for thirty thousand crobat.

What difference was there between her and women who sold their bodies?

The thought filled her with self-loathing.

But what choice did she have?

As someone born a noble lady in the Kingdom of Jigranto, her ending had already been decided.

The only things allowed to noble women were attending social events and managing the household.

In the end, a noble lady was nothing more than a living doll—raised beautifully only to be sold at a high price.

Or a statue.

Or perhaps a trophy.

The fate she had always avoided was now standing right in front of her.

It made her feel strangely sad.

But with bankruptcy right around the corner, what did it matter if she sold a body that would rot after death anyway?

Serenia thought of her father, who had not woken up for eight years, and hardened her resolve.

“No matter what anyone says… I have to survive.”

“And I still have to pay the hospital bills next month.”

Having made her decision, she forced herself to think positively.

It was November, after all—not bad timing.

Every year, on the last day of November, a grand banquet was held at the royal palace to celebrate the founding anniversary.

Most nobles attended that event.

If it was there… she could probably find a husband candidate easily.

Just as Serenia was organizing her thoughts—

Her vision suddenly darkened.

She looked up.

A strangely dressed man stood in front of her, blocking the warm sunlight, smiling faintly.

A long coat that reached his ankles.

Dark purple tinted glasses.

A wide black velvet hat, something a noble lady might wear.

And beneath it, strands of pink hair—clearly a wig—peeked out.

What is this…? Is he advertising for some costume shop?

But his outfit was too bizarre for that.

And yet… each expensive item somehow suited him perfectly.

They said fashion was completed by the face—and that seemed true.

Serenia frowned slightly at his beauty, which couldn’t be hidden even by the hat and glasses.

He had an appearance that was both warm and cold, soft yet sharp.

Like a daffodil, elegant.

Like a rose, brilliant.

Like a trumpet flower, graceful.

Like a pear blossom, delicate.

He seemed innocent like a boy, yet beneath that was a worn-out boredom and danger.

Serenia unconsciously swallowed.

He was someone impossible to define in just one word.

Contradictory.

Dual.

And all the more captivating because of it.

A sudden thought crossed her mind.

He has definitely made hundreds of women cry with that face.

While she somehow reached that conclusion—

The man smiled more deeply and spoke.

“Hello, my lady.”

Startled by his dangerously charming smile, Serenia stepped back.

But she couldn’t even take half a step before her back hit the wall.

As she froze in embarrassment, he watched her with smiling eyes behind his glasses and spoke softly:

“My name is Ain Reberon.”

Serenia tilted her head slightly.

Is he asking to exchange names…?

The name sounded familiar.

But she was too far removed from things like theater to recognize it.

So, without realizing she was leaning against a poster of him, she gave a polite nod.

“Ah, I see. I’m Serenia Bahishat.”

He smiled strangely at her response.

Before she could question his expression, he spoke again—like a broker suggesting a secret deal.

“Lady Bahishat… if you ever remember me—”

He slipped a stiff, card-sized piece of paper into her hand.

“You can come find me here anytime.”

…What is this? If he’s not a costume seller, is he just some flirt? Or… a host?

While she was still confused—

He disappeared like the wind, leaving only a rose-like smile behind.

And just like that, Serenia was left alone again in front of the bank wall.

“…What was that?”

She pouted slightly and looked at the paper he had given her.

There was only one thing written neatly on it:

< Pledes District 3, No. 1013 >

She couldn’t tell the exact location just from the address.

But one thing was certain.

South of the river that crossed the capital—the Pledes area.

A place filled with third-rate financial businesses.

In simple terms…

A dark district full of loan sharks, debt collectors, and thugs.

Serenia looked down at the address with cold eyes and nodded.

“So it was a loan brokerage.”

It seemed that man was trying to expand his business toward nobles.

And I’m probably his first step.

She sighed softly and shook her head.

“Still… no matter what, I’ll never take a loan like that.”

She was about to crumple the paper and throw it away—

But stopped.

“…Still, I shouldn’t litter.”

Muttering like an excuse, she shoved the paper into her coat pocket.

Time passed.

The last day of November arrived—the founding anniversary of the Kingdom of Jigranto.

Serenia had finished all her preparations to attend the grand banquet at the royal palace.

It wasn’t a new dress, but she had repaired an old one neatly.

It wasn’t the count family’s carriage, but she rented a shared carriage for the whole day.

She had spent all her remaining money on just those two things…

But because of that—

She stepped into the carriage with the determination of someone with no way back.

If she failed today, she would starve starting tomorrow.

With that desperate resolve, Serenia headed toward the royal palace.

The guard at the gate checked her invitation three times before letting her pass.

As her shabby carriage arrived at the grand entrance of the banquet hall—

Everyone’s attention turned toward it.

“Who on earth comes to the palace in a carriage like that…?”

“…Did it break down on the way here?”

“Still, even so…”

People whispered as they stared—

But when the door opened and they saw who stepped out, their eyes widened.

“Wait…”

“No way…”

“Isn’t that…?”

“My, how shameless.”

Serenia Bahishat had appeared at the party.

Wearing a ten-year-old dress.

No proper jewelry.

And no escort.

Alone.

A perfect source of entertainment in an otherwise boring party.

People smiled, ready to gossip.

In an unexpected way, Serenia’s bold appearance worked.

It drew the attention of many men at the party.

But the attention was not the kind she wanted.

Like a pack of hyenas spotting weak prey, the men surrounded her with smirks.

“Well, well. What an honored guest we have today.”

“Isn’t this the lady who’s harder to see than His Majesty the King?”

“Now that I see you up close… I can understand why you acted so expensive. You are pretty.”

“So why are you here today? Didn’t you always reject my escort, saying you weren’t interested in parties like this?”

Serenia forced her shrinking shoulders straight and spoke with difficulty.

“I was wondering if anyone here might be interested in discussing… the inheritance rights of the Bahishat title…”

Before she could even finish—

The men burst into loud laughter.

“HAHAHAHA!”

“Wow, I was wondering what she’d say.”

Her expression hardened as the laughter filled the hall.

The men whispered among themselves, smirking.

“So she came looking like that—I thought she finally came to her senses.”

“This is the first time I’ve felt sorry for Count Bahishat.”

One of them clicked his tongue and spoke with a mocking expression:

“My lady… do you really think there’s an idiot in this world who would want something like the Bahishat title?”