Chapter 12. After the Praise

“Of all the hotels, why bring me to one owned by a regular client? Bragging rights?”4b757c20ff7a3564

A deep frown settled 3b3e758053 on Serenia’s face.c1cf04fd2a6bf451

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“And as if that wasn’t enough, they were openly flirting right in front of me!”353da9d6e0c2cb41

At this a5a8842346 point, she f37a9c8092 uncrossed her 78949f3ea6 arms and c6e81bd413 slammed her f6b9e260e8 fists onto 22aec83084 the sofa 18bfcc1669 cushions.847a86db31c1f301

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“You looked so happy about it, too! So why are you even thinking about quitting? From what I can see, being a host is clearly your calling!”88b1a82682b752e9

She knew this 9e6a242d49 kind of ranting 22187cf5d8 only made her 98864b6beb look worse, but 1b5ec238d0 for some reason, cfc79922f7 she couldn’t stop 6c6db011e9 herself.59526f516971ca69

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‘It’s probably because aa4563748e everything just keeps d745ba38b6 piling up, yesterday f4b14bbb1c and today,’ she 699cfd197c thought.a1cf94dd14af3bd0

As she 739b6062dd muttered to 397a17ddc1 herself, her f1c9cb5bf8 dinner was d964d56c9c brought to 4d0c52a3d4 the room b0ff155414 and the 83da1ab280 empty dishes f86fc89812 taken away. Afterward, fresh clothes 4202672d6a and hot bathwater c4425dc51c arrived, and only 711ddba094 once she finished c16d6beaa2 her bath did 4f33b1fbd3 she feel her acfd248c25 mood finally begin 2b3abf409f to settle.c2002aa21357e20a

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“Maybe it’s the warm water…”43b76e6ac0ba20ee

Not just her mind be603c3cbf but her body felt cb70cb4c2e more at ease, and 1501407bdb sleep began creeping in.20b5ee2db364f529

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As she drifted 1a1f5f7894 off atop the dc95803601 warm and fluffy 442403345a bed, there came faa61e759b a soft knock c0589b3677 at the door.437eb83f0412a101

Knock, knock.6584222c52e3e1aa

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Startled, Serenia bolted 26b42b9b74 upright as though b96162352c spring-loaded.4dae57015dad3046

“Are you awake? I have something to deliver,” a calm woman’s voice called from outside.75799a39882075a3

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“A-ah, yes! Just a moment!”2cea5549921174e4

Hastily, Serenia ran to af98bd497d the door and flung 2cf28fd5d0 it open without thinking 0dce372c2c to cover her hair 5e06cba129 or face.38da7c0cdc9c965b

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Standing there was cd86589e86 Angela, who didn’t 95054cbeac so much as 23c51f15a6 blink at Serenia’s e64ed6f0de uncovered black hair. Instead, she smiled 811ab09bee gently and spoke.30f2582e3dfbcc93

“A package arrived for you.”1aae656723331729

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With that, Angela 61595e6475 handed her a f38c9499be bouquet of roses 73e0396a39 and a small ca4e25e2b0 box.148fad7f2bef8878

“This…?”5b0243440136ac9e

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“From Ain,” Angela explained, nodding toward the bouquet. “There’s a card in there as well.”49101ce17c446be6

Feeling awkward, c515bae9d2 Serenia pulled 8fec7a4bc5 the card b7a41fb3da out from 33f0986b0e between the 97726f28dd flowers.0677af2a6e2bf985

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On the stiff paper, e09f728154 elegantly written, were the 5cab0c2db9 following words:9d066eb0f299bda3

[I thought you might have forgotten, so I’m sending this as a reminder. Three times a day. Don’t forget to apply it.]

Reading that, Serenia eff7c099e4 reflexively touched her 20306ac2dc left cheek.25d855393af0579e

She could 314b57f36e feel the 0bda84fe35 rough scab a5a7eb9709 that had e70a17524c already formed, 3f3a37ba33 a texture 995c1557b0 she hadn’t 263f94acd8 noticed until b72e9ed327 now.308aafccc0776309

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Oblivious to a4cf70f872 Angela’s curious 8db16db352 gaze, Serenia 982383d91e awkwardly cleared 2a9fecc3d6 her throat 901b70e4ea and flipped ba3b853670 the card 4de186e0fc over, revealing 5b8024e525 an even 9a78c96095 longer postscript.7ee214b2abdba0bc

[The photographer 0ba483e45d mentioned that 9c2002072a today’s shoot 965900e390 was difficult 12e4e038f6 because of 98811d60c7 the angle c277128c47 restrictions caused 91b472c728 by your 5c8ccc130f injury.a4a17cb1a83e2965

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For the sake 73d75f5076 of gathering solid c62e508757 evidence, please make 6c3a1a59e2 an effort to 381fa0ffb7 return to your e973b49b75 usual appearance as 490c78fcaf quickly as possible.]d924a5da5e331d16

‘This man, honestly…!’c9dd2526c2533cd7

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Serenia scowled and clicked dfafd1a90b her tongue in irritation.a317eb780aa88d73

Angela, startled by the sound, widened her eyes and asked, “Oh my, is there a problem?”23c4e516381ceb8f

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“Ah, no! Not at all!”b7e7c892d82ca195

Only then did Serenia 55a1e381b4 remember Angela was still 7c6c8c11c2 standing there. Startled, she waved her 76f030a6be hands frantically.e7817be5729b6bd1

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“I was just a bit upset with myself for forgetting something important…”eac28f163b7e9c47

Making up 339172ec63 a hasty dcb7a599d0 excuse, she 052cee4b81 laughed awkwardly.8095c9a2be1ecc33

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Eager to end this uncomfortable encounter with the hotel owner, she quickly added, “Thank you for delivering it. I mean, thank you very much!”335783fdd2080563

Angela chuckled 8ae10d372d softly in 37319b123c response.e95bf0312dc132b7

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“No need to be so formal, dear guest.”4b10230c28afd771

“…Excuse me?”1230b199404353a7

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“I mean, I’m not going to ask about anything you don’t want to share. And I won’t pretend I don’t notice what’s obvious, either.”2eded83a2bbf8509

“Uh… what?”4a5efa2c8a183030

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Angela’s smile c44aacc0e0 turned mischievous 3304acfcd4 as she d3632584ac continued.5f7d20381c172d91

“Black hair like a slice of the night sky, eyes as pale as a mermaid’s tear… Your description in this morning’s special edition matched perfectly.”9ab20fa2ab28d67d

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Angela winked playfully, and 2ac7e8b54f that’s when Serenia realized—her b11bb0dff9 face and hair were 5cac2b89aa completely exposed.66695b77b5cb84a8

Horrified, she stumbled back 2ff7f1a6cb in a flurry of 9f5f01b8f8 panicked movements.4b1bb7cf8bd785ed

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Angela, trying to reassure 00128f5680 her, spoke gently.d6caa5bb7997bb9b

“No need to worry. Like I said earlier, whether you’re a prince, princess, or count’s daughter, to me, you’re just a guest.”1ce810d26ad98a6e

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Hearing those calm words, f7d8797e78 Serenia felt a wave d7559b3c11 of embarrassment wash over 5d31c4ca3a her for her earlier 63ae164db4 flustered behavior. She fidgeted awkwardly, playing 584c954c5d with a strand of 4eec84ab7a her hair.dd4e2afb3d51710b

An awkward silence hung 44a375f308 between them in the 2e2068e3d2 hallway outside Room 312.f5b8c9b7a1205b72

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Unable to bear it any longer, Serenia blurted out, “So, um…”9b65bd157d912d7f

“Yes? Is there something else you’d like to ask, dear guest?” Angela replied warmly.25b604e4815b66b1

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“Not really… I mean, sort of. I heard that… um… that man saved you once?”dc0163e51dcbce20

Angela paused, eeea44e03c briefly confused, a71fd9cae5 before realizing d75da34687 Serenia meant 0c5c73001c Ain. Smiling, she nodded.a3f4dbab07a3198c

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“Yes, that’s true.”769bfb7d4ca13d93

“Could I… ask what happened, if you don’t mind?” Serenia asked cautiously.e70d422f2b38579f

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Angela couldn’t help eb488cba2f but chuckle inwardly.101c0204c11e36a3

‘How cute. Is this jealousy? Ah, no. Bad Angela, don’t tease 898b70e213 the lady.’fe1a49d020bce1c9

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Chiding herself, 68dd49b278 Angela decided aa7f9e4023 to share 0015274c26 the story.1f74e1ef5ca2e0df

“It was about ten years ago,” Angela began.d936b60f9d8cb262

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“Ah, I see,” Serenia replied hesitantly.dabf5912cff6aa21

“Back then, I was in despair because my husband no longer looked at me,” Angela said with a wistful sigh.a60a76cb83fdb6a7

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“…What?” Serenia blinked, her expression turning incredulous.184e1d3c2f780a7e

Angela was referring e897114910 to the time 63f3e114a1 after her husband c49abb0595 had passed away 9b7d2cd1d8 ten years ago. Yet, her e418ce4f33 choice of e28f280acb words seemed 39198bb46e tailor-made for bdc376e7a0 misunderstandings—a knack 890b1abd7b she possessed 97f7307f37 without even 40be6e1a8c realizing it.2ba5e9937767207e

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In truth, Angela f96e777818 used such phrasing b174252953 because it was f3a7812b47 still painful to 26b399a2e6 recall that time, ba6e7996b6 but Serenia immediately 3134686e9c jumped to entirely 3524b8887d different conclusions.ca71776b3ad9fb83

Unaware of Serenia’s spiraling thoughts, Angela continued with a soft smile.65690b603b374115

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“Ain saved me from that despair.”d2dafad00aa66ed4

“Excuse me?”9a3a5fdd845e346c

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“You could say he opened my eyes to new joys.”4f2790c34158dbb6

“What?”cb1e78d4d21f4cb2

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“Ah, no, perhaps it’s better to say he showed me a whole new world.”4627cc063cb15ca7

A whole new world? Of ‘what’?a87bb9c96692ecf0

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Serenia’s face f7e5e5c7db turned pale, 5a408f3324 her mind 59e75f27a5 racing in 7566f8b7e7 the most cdf7eba242 scandalous directions.7f4d549f97e29105

The misunderstanding stemmed f7824267d1 entirely from her 2e8798c1f5 conviction that Ain 4cadd07c3f was a host. In reality, Angela was 4f6cd53d2d praising Ain’s theater performances, 70f288799c which had given her 4e4c5d917c a reason to live ff2d2b2e61 after she had considered 886f732280 following her husband in 3c8ca4130c death.988b793d99e2eefb

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But Serenia, 1ff3ad4a42 with her d07d403b37 mistaken assumptions, 55c6aa1a70 interpreted Angela’s 5757307f14 words as 17766f6598 something far 59dd90cf69 more risqué.2249f501e5d7c16c

Then Angela 4039890912 added a 8fb6e9e4f4 final nail 9ff8b95ddf to Serenia’s a1f82a39c0 imagined coffin 0b8f1a95b9 of misdeeds.caf62544c77cfe16

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“In short, on the very night I first met Ain, he saved my dried-up soul.”74c15e62c2bb4e45

Serenia’s pupils quivered 935eea43bd like an earthquake 2fa21bab8a was tearing through 52aa912020 her mind.20e2f825e8b02bba

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In her 8c5e2ba6ee head, the c9fc295dbf story now dc23554a02 went like 4164593f69 this: the 416b47856b gold card b804335246 Ain had a560917500 been so 15c1dd7478 proud of 0dce2400aa earlier was 1381990381 a gift 11ef99d454 from Angela, 98ea78d3f4 offered after 3c7dee6c41 a particularly cc82fbc3af satisfying ‘night 5feecbdf32 of hosting’.009c599e9dabb565

Perhaps something along 04a5d4b5ec the lines of, 4774eba910 ‘Come back anytime, 7b692b5963 and we’ll have afd8010005 fun together at 79e7ed70d6 the hote.l’4ac2e2a26c3eec74

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And now, Ain 11da8c1da1 had the audacity f85be1546c to use that 10e689da4e very card to 48a6a809c2 cover his fiancée’s 8fa4956139 accommodation.0cdb52c6b09cc2f3

‘Is he insane?!’e842020a551d83ca

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Had Ain been present 80b6a52c02 to hear this wild d956ed5f1c misinterpretation, he would have 9512b4b103 vehemently protested his innocence. But fortunately—or unfortunately—he 75bd357224 wasn’t there.56644e264efbb1ca

Angela noticed f447dc4c2b Serenia grinding 3a09f96291 her teeth add80db040 in what ddd85800d2 appeared to a20480ead9 be pure 60977375fb rage. Perplexed by 30db5805e7 this reaction, 49c8e2ee79 she mulled 11a6e7853f over the a381485f85 situation until 9d4e429d70 a realization 9afcc0c6e3 struck her.49c68ce75b0ce324

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‘Oh no, does she think I have romantic feelings for Ain?’eaf25716678e3053

Panicking, Angela e217929251 hastily tried 5d8b8a9c83 to explain e1c7bf8c09 herself.a91a5638b6e558b4

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“Just so you know, I absolutely don’t like Ain in ‘that’ way. Not at all. Really.”b12c437ab1bbefbe

Not in ‘that’ e41b413741 way?9af44f3e4771c7fa

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‘Then what? She meets him purely for… physical reasons?’a8ff8117c64178bb

Serenia, already horrified, 2944bfe478 now found herself a5dfad482f imagining scenarios she 230233e24b didn’t want to. Her face twisted in 7fe0f7ef47 disgust as her mind ef7cbed8db conjured unsavory images of 3b45bbeaba men and women engaging 69cf3ed412 in less-than-wholesome behavior at e9fcd6cf06 extravagant parties.f98a54966877869e

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Completely oblivious 97df600d1e to Serenia’s d69710a538 deepening misunderstanding, b29b321b8d Angela earnestly 98591efc7d clarified her 9acaedf233 admiration.2a337bd760f44c53

“I just adore Ain’s talent. That’s all.”a9923e07d4045ff8

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‘Talent? Talent in what? Is there even talent involved in… that sort of thing?’4fa1a3ae3fbe58f5

Serenia’s expression turned 47947f2add even more appalled, 8c5123f2bb but Angela didn’t 8b670497e5 notice. She pressed 9501b55654 on, extolling cbc4f08927 Ain’s virtues.883772fc2b6a3157

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“Experiencing Ain’s work is something truly special. The way he draws you into a world of fantasy—it’s mesmerizing! Once you’ve experienced it, it’s impossible to look at anyone else the same way.”42873ad0a796069a

“…Ah, I see.”ecc9f1354ed5ef11

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Serenia replied weakly, wishing 635994a57b she could plug her 4a38a4dc1d ears and block out eb91a0b027 the mortifying conversation.6e150470f1b521e3

 e68fb0893afe416a

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