Chapter 10
“Ah.”
Bella sighed weakly.
“Mom, what on earth is happening?”
She was still shocked by the thought that Froc might have faked the whole incident himself.
And then, there he was again.
“Please… please… let this be a dream.”
“My fiancée, I missed you so much I came all the way here. Isn’t it like a dream?”
Acares raised both arms high in the air, looking as if he might take flight.
He looked absolutely serious—this was no dream.
“Be–Bella, who’s that man?”
“Oh my, I’ve never seen anyone that handsome before!”
Even people who never talked to Bella started gathering around her.
And not just the adults—children were giggling and tugging at her apron.
“Well, my fiancée seems very popular here. I’m jealous,”
Acares said with a soft and sweet smile, the corners of his eyes puffed like a sweet macaron.
“Ugh, that ‘fiancée’ thing again…!”
Bella’s small fists trembled.
She wanted nothing more than to run over and shut his mouth herself—but it was already too late for that.
“How did you get here?”
At that moment, someone stepped forward—Michael.
He passed by the dazed Aurora and stood firmly in front of Acares.
“This place is for children. Outsiders aren’t allowed in without permission.
I don’t know what your relationship with Ms. Bella is, but if it’s not urgent, please leave.”
Michael, usually kind and gentle, now looked cold and firm.
“Wow, I’ve never seen Mr. Michael like that before.”
Standing beside Acares, Mikael looked a bit plain—but only because Acares was so dazzling.
Then Acares’ eyes flicked toward Bella.
“Huh? Did I just feel a bit of killing intent?”
He turned back to Michael and said politely,
“It’s not a private matter—it’s urgent.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Well, our Bella left home after barely eating anything, so I came to bring her some food. She’s been sick lately.”
He emphasized every “our Bella,” letting the words stir the crowd again.
“Bella! Are you living with that man?”
“Wait, is all that food for her?”
Bella looked toward the “that” everyone was whispering about.
Behind Acares stood several people holding trays piled high with food.
Proudly, Akares announced,
“No, this is for everyone at the Piroche Orphanage! My hands are too big to cook just for my lovely fiancée.”
He raised his hands wide.
Unable to hold back any longer, Bella grabbed one of those hands and ran.
“Follow me. Now!”
***
A quiet alley, not far from the orphanage.
Bella let go of his wrist, panting hard.
Dragging a man that big had not been easy.
“What… what was that?”
She glared at him, clearly upset.
“Even if he’s my summoned spirit, he can’t just act on his own like that!”
Well, to be fair, he had been strange from the very beginning—appearing with no clothes, talking to her as if they were destined to be married.
Acares looked at her slowly and said,
“What else? I was doing my husbandly duty.”
“H-husbandly duty? That’s something married couples do!”
“Hmm? Didn’t you say you needed a husband?”
“Ah.”
Bella froze.
“I mean, yes, I did ask for a husband, but…”
She had wanted a normal, modest love story—meeting someone, falling in love, and promising forever.
Not this. Not with a mysterious man whose background was completely unknown.
Then Acares raised an eyebrow and pulled something from his coat.
“Look, Bella. Even the Empire has officially recognized me.”
“What?”
He waved a document with the seal of Atlanta on it—it was a certificate of identity.
“H-how did you get that?”
“I just showed them my face and gave my name. They handled it right away.”
Bella had no idea what trouble he’d caused to get it so easily.
He tucked the paper back into his pocket with elegant movements.
“So now I’m an official citizen of Pione.”
“An official citizen…”
It was as if he could read all her thoughts.
“Still, you should go back,” Bella said firmly.
It wasn’t a good time—she was still suspected of theft, and Froc was still at the orphanage.
She didn’t want any more problems.
“Fine,” Acares said softly. “I’ll go once I see you finish your meal.”
Then he gently cupped her ears in his warm hands.
Startled, Bella flinched, but the heat in her red ears slowly faded under his touch.
“I’m sorry if I scared you,” he said quietly. “I was just worried.”
His low voice made Bella’s heart race.
“Now that I see him in the sunlight… he’s even more beautiful.”
He looked like an angel born from a flowering tree.
“Bella,” he said, “I’m the man you summoned. So, for a while, you can use me however you like.”
“For a while?”
“What does that mean?” she thought.
Before she could ask—
“Well, well, here you were, my little chick.”
It was Froc.
***
Acares, still holding Bella’s ears, thought to himself:
“Let’s just stay close and watch. Whether as a husband or a servant.”
Eden had finally agreed with his plan—
Bella’s Oracion magic might be incomplete.
If he took her to the Emperor now, she’d die for sure.
The Emperor hated imperfection.
So Acares had to protect and hide her until then.
Bella thought she had summoned him with Oracion, but it was better for her not to know the truth.
Just a few months.
He only needed to play the perfect husband for a few months—like his father once did with all his mistresses.
But it wouldn’t be easy—this place had too many pests.
“Bella, is this the guy? The one you said you’d marry?”
Froc’s voice broke in, and Acares’ face twisted in shock.
“He’s completely bald…”
He’d heard of bald men before but never seen one.
“Yes, that’s me,” Acares said brightly.
Bella jabbed him in the side.
“What are you saying?!”
“You said you’d marry someone. Weren’t you talking about me?”
“…You heard that?”
“Yup. Loud and clear.”
“AAAAHHHHHHH!!”
Bella screamed internally while Acares chuckled.
“Don’t worry, Bella. I just have really good hearing—”
“Hey! That woman’s a thief!” Froc interrupted, belching loudly.
“She acts all innocent, but she stole a donation!”
“A donation?”
“Yeah! A donation from the Crown Prince of Atlanta himself!”
“Oh, you mean that thing you’re holding?” Acares pointed at Frook’s coat pocket.
In that instant, Froc’s pocket puffed up like a balloon—and a pile of checks spilled out.
“Ah—Acares, that’s—!”
They were checks bearing the Crown Prince’s name.
