ATPE 09

Chapter 9

After the Explanation

“I know! I know that—but it’s really not like that!”

“Isn’t it?”

Ain narrowed his eyes and tossed aside the nearly melted ice pack, crossing his arms as he complained.

“Even I, a commoner, know that noble proposals are 100% pre-arranged show events.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that…”

Now too tired to keep denying it, Serenia let out a long sigh.

“Yesterday wasn’t pre-arranged at all. I wasn’t even informed. It was completely sudden! And I clearly rejected him!”

Only after hearing that she rejected it did Ain’s expression soften slightly.

Seizing the moment, she quickly added,

“More importantly, it’s an insult to even call it a proposal. It looked like one, but in truth—it was humiliation.”

“Humiliation…?”

Ain asked with a puzzled face.

Taking the chance, Serenia told him everything that happened yesterday—

Without hiding anything.

It wasn’t a request for marriage, but an order.
She refused.
Then she was told to repay with her body—

And in the end—

She slapped Rascalo.

Ain’s expression hardened.

“You… slapped the Duke?”

Noticing his stiff face, Serenia quickly corrected herself,

“Well… ‘slapped’ might be too much. I just… lightly hit him. Weaker than a clap.”

Then she added awkwardly,

“So the Duke probably won’t sue the Bahishat family or take revenge… probably.”

“…Hmm.”

Ain slowly spoke while rubbing his chin.

“So all of this… is just the Duke mocking and insulting you on a whim?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

Serenia nodded quickly.

But he tilted his head.

“Then something feels strange.”

“…What?”

He handed her the newspaper.

“The company that published this is called ‘Gossip in Shedron.’”

“Uh… yes. So?”

“It’s a small tabloid that covers everything from high society to entertainment.”

Serenia’s expression stiffened.

A small tabloid—

Could they really print and spread such a massive special edition across the entire capital overnight?

That didn’t make sense.

Which meant—

“…They knew in advance?”

Ain looked at her with interest as she immediately understood.

“Exactly. That means the Duke didn’t propose on a whim.”

“B-But how did he know I would attend the banquet…?”

Then she realized.

“…The notice from the bank.”

For Rascalo, adjusting the bank’s deadline would be easy.

Which meant—

All of this was planned.

“Then why?”

The question slipped out without her realizing.

Ain looked at her and answered calmly,

“Obviously—to truly marry you.”

“That can’t be…”

She tried to deny it—

But then she thought back.

‘Now that I think about it… he kept asking for my answer until the end.’

If it was only for humiliation, he wouldn’t need an answer.

It sounded absurd—

But everything fit perfectly.

If Rascalo’s goal was really to make her his wife—

Still—

“…Why?”

Why would he want the daughter of the man he killed?

She couldn’t understand.

Ain looked at her as if it was ridiculous.

“Are you asking me that?”

She froze at his tone.

He continued with a displeased expression,

“You keep forgetting—but I am your fiancé.”

“…What?”

“It’s already enough to hear that another man approached my fiancée. And now you’re asking me why?”

Realizing her mistake, Serenia quickly spoke,

“Well… technically, that happened before I made the contract with you, so it wasn’t your ‘fiancée’ at the time—”

She stopped.

Ain was staring at her coldly.

“So I’m ‘you,’ but he’s ‘Rascalo’?”

Under his sharp gaze, she lowered her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I misspoke. Please forget it. From now on, I’ll call him ‘that man.’”

Even after her polite apology, he still looked dissatisfied.

After a moment, he spoke firmly,

“In that case, I can’t just let this pass.”

“…What?”

“Let’s delay the marriage registration until after December 8.”

“…What?!”

She couldn’t say:

‘Then what about my three million crobat?!’

She had no right to complain.

‘What if that man sends poison any time…? What if I die before getting the money…?’

Ain had no idea what she was thinking.

He continued,

“And during those seven days, let’s create some evidence.”

“Evidence?”

He smiled brightly.

“Yes. Evidence of our relationship.”

“What kind? A couple ring?”

“No. Something more certain.”

“More… certain?”

Feeling uneasy, she frowned.

He smiled again.

“First, let’s go outside.”

A Little Later

In a small forest near the Bahishat estate—

Two figures appeared between the bushes.

They had escaped through a secret underground passage.

They were disguised using wigs and clothes from the box Ain arrived in.

The men’s disguise made sense—

But the women’s wig and dress did not.

When she asked, he replied:

“If there wasn’t a secret passage, I was going to dress as a woman and leave.”

Serenia imagined it—

Ain, taller than her, wearing a dress and long wig.

It should look ridiculous—

But somehow, it suited him perfectly in her imagination.

For some reason, she felt like she lost.

While she frowned—

He stopped a carriage.

After about 30 minutes, they arrived at a large building.

As she stepped down with his escort—

She saw the sign.

< Neriad Hotel >

She froze.

“W-What are you trying to do?!”

“Excuse me?”

“Y-You pervert!!”

Ain looked stunned.

“What exactly are you thinking?”

“…What?”

He sighed.

“My job may cause misunderstandings, but I’m not that kind of person.”

“Th-Then why are we here…?”

“The restaurant here has a great view, strong security, and the owner knows many good photographers.”

Only then did she realize.

“Ah… so the ‘evidence’ is photos?”

“Yes. More precisely—photos secretly taken over two years by a persistent reporter following our dates.”

She tilted her head.

“Why add the ‘secretly taken’ part?”

He winked.

“Because evidence from a third party is more believable than something provided by the people involved.”

Ah… that made sense.

Serenia nodded without doubt.

He smiled meaningfully—

And led her into the hotel restaurant.