ATPE 06

Chapter 6

After the Contract

“…What?”

“I mean, let’s say that, publicly, you were the one who fell for me first.”

“W-What did you just say?”

“To explain it more clearly—you fell deeply in love with me and chased after me passionately. And I, moved by your sincerity, accepted you.”

“……”

Serenia froze completely like a statue.

Seeing her reaction, he frowned slightly.

“Well, if you don’t like it, then forget it.”

He raised his hand as if he was about to tear the contract.

Startled, Serenia quickly waved her hands.

“Ah! No, no!”

After struggling internally for a while, she finally nodded with great reluctance.

“…Alright. Let’s do that. I’ll be the one who chased after you.”

“Good. Then it’s a promise.”

He immediately picked up the pen and signed under <Party B>.

Serenia looked at the signature.

“…What is this?”

“It’s my signature.”

He pointed proudly at what he had written.

But to Serenia, it looked like a strange creature—something between a starfish and a worm.

She stared at it, frowning deeply.

She couldn’t read a single letter properly.

“Is it… A… no, E… or O…?”

“…Ian?”

“……”

Just by looking at his cold expression, she knew she was wrong.

“That brings back memories.”

His voice was soft, but somehow every word felt heavy.

“In the past, many people mistook my name for that.”

“I… see…”

“Well, it’s understandable. The spelling can be confusing. And honestly, Ian is a more common name.”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

“I think I’ve given you enough hints.”

Under his expectant gaze, Serenia forced a smile.

“…Ain?”

He smiled brightly.

“Correct.”

Then he added cheerfully,

“I’ll make sure you never forget it again.”

“…What?”

Before she could stop him, he raised his hand.

Then—

“Aing♡.”

He poked his cheek with his finger and made a cute, playful sound.

Serenia barely managed to hold back the urge to punch him.

He continued smiling innocently.

“How is it? You won’t forget now, right?”

Through clenched teeth, she replied,

“…Yes.”

While she was grinding her teeth, he neatly organized the contract and placed the copies into two envelopes.

Seeing this, Serenia’s eyes widened.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m organizing the contract.”

“I know that! That’s not what I meant!”

“Then what is it?”

“You didn’t tell me your full name yet!”

“I just did.”

“No! Not that starfish-looking thing! The worm-looking part too!”

“…Worm?”

“Your surname! Your surname!”

Ain looked at her as if she were strange.

“That will disappear once we’re married. Why do you need to know it?”

“…What?”

Still confused, she accepted the envelope he handed her.

“Well then, since we’re done—and it’s late—you should get going.”

“Ah… okay…”

Before she realized it, she had taken his hand and stood up.

And before she knew it—

She was already outside.

Instead of her old carriage, a luxurious four-horse carriage stood in front of the mansion.

Her mouth fell open.

After helping her inside, he didn’t step back—

He got in with her.

The door closed, and the carriage began moving.

Inside the brightly lit carriage, Serenia looked at him sitting across from her.

“What are you doing now?”

He smiled.

“As your fiancé, I can’t send you home alone this late at night.”

She scoffed.

“Oh? But it’s fine for a fiancé to only tell half his name?”

He replied calmly,

“You’re mistaken. I didn’t not tell you—you simply forgot.”

Serenia clenched her fists under her sleeves.

She really wanted to hit that smug face.

“In any case, I don’t want to pay six million crobat, so I’ll fulfill my duties as your fiancé.”

He casually put on a wide-brim hat and blocked the window with his body.

Serenia found it strange but didn’t think much of it.

She didn’t notice the theater poster outside the window—

The one with his full name written clearly on it.

* * *

The large carriage moved smoothly over the snowy road.

Money really is powerful.

They arrived at the Bahishat estate in no time.

Ain stepped out first and politely held out his hand.

“The ground is slippery because of the snow. Please hold my hand, my lady.”

It was a perfect gesture—

But it annoyed her even more.

“Wow, thank you so much, Mr. Ain-whatever.”

He smiled.

“You hold grudges longer than I expected.”

“I don’t want to hear that from someone who took payment and still only told me half his name, Mr. Ain-whatever.”

“How harsh. I properly introduced myself, yet you forgot everything.”

She glared at him.

Of course, he only smiled back.

After a moment, she changed the topic.

“So, where should we meet tomorrow morning? Mr. Ain-whatever.”

His expression suddenly stiffened.

“Tomorrow morning…?”

“Yes. We should go early so the government office isn’t crowded.”

“The office? Why…?”

She answered as if it were obvious.

“To register the marriage, of course.”

His eyes widened behind the purple glasses.

“Right away? Without an engagement ceremony or wedding?”

She shrugged.

“Is that a problem?”

“No… not really, but still…”

“If it’s not a problem, then let’s do it.”

Then she added bluntly,

“I need the money.”

In truth, she wasn’t in that much of a hurry—

But she didn’t know when Rascalo might come for her life.

She needed the money as soon as possible.

Before she died.

That way, she could pay for her father’s hospital bills for decades—

And clear her debt.

Not knowing her true thoughts, Ain looked at the empty, lifeless estate and nodded in understanding.

Serenia almost got annoyed at his pitying gaze, but held it back.

Instead, she offered something in return.

“After I get the three million crobat, I’ll do whatever you want. Engagement ceremony, wedding—anything.”

If I’m still alive by then.

She kept those final words to herself.