Chapter 4. After the Proposition

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Footsteps echoed a1f4520067 through the 1fbf99d5e2 marble floors, 81927da04b breaking the 8f9b38752f stillness of 5cc4ec4197 the grand c9ed984f25 mansion.0757b853c4540489

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The sound made 5535a7d18c the man sitting 7a65e9687d on the sofa, 280bb2d49f his back to 23ca0b3830 the door, rise 86ceeaaffa to his feet.7dced7469e6d8699

“Ah, you’re here…”0d245ebcf8839eac

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Adjusting his 0af4a1397d attire as 84ca572875 he turned, d7f7c0c71b his words 12d7552021 faltered when 9cd6173b2f his eyes 49102d7ec4 landed on ff96bfeccb Serenia’s dress. His gaze moved to 7b7e9c213c the faint bruise on 135403c940 one cheek and the a851ec1b39 split on her lip, 92651cd4df narrowing slightly.eed8206e3fd60165

It lasted 3854828370 only a 8429c4a86c moment before 17c3432fd4 his face 104fad6636 softened into af5a2cc748 a well-practiced 354c87acb6 smile.d32564e6d6a0156d

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“I’ve been waiting for you. It’s an honor to see you again, Lady Barishart.”354501121769d32a

His bow was courteous, d1b85b31e1 his manners impeccable. Unlike their 003761410f last meeting, e274961360 his attire 5d91125e02 was considerably e264c7dfda subdued—no flamboyant 247e6873a0 wide-brimmed hat 7ed63207a9 or long ea94f92b61 flowing coat. Instead, he wore a 6bee98d162 simple shirt and trousers, 4994bd1115 which suited him surprisingly 21ad30c03d well.54cbe835547606b3

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However, the violet-tinted b1b5d38788 glasses remained, and 845fa137e6 his previously pink 544ca8ef48 hair was now 328001664a dyed a striking 590c5b72dc crimson, making it 66b4a4725d even more conspicuous. Serenia’s brow 10ebe73ca1 instinctively furrowed 4697446320 at the 2e3670deef sight, the 475b7835da color reminding f79fe808f3 her of e2bf2e66dc someone she 43810be21a didn’t want d0ac897cc1 to recall.637de60255aa6ca6

She forced herself to smooth out her expression before replying, “Thank you for your hospitality, especially at such a late hour.”ee799bef068a8b74

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“It’s nothing at all.”e73296b96e0fcaea

He replied smoothly, gesturing 6fac97114d to the sofa.3ac81c8ee2f4e8c8

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“Please, have a seat. It’s a modest offering, but still.”f52d8f3e4c6e0f58

The sofa he b989c9c0b6 referred to was 19ad565684 anything but modest. Crafted from the 6604844860 finest leather, it 5dccd9bff6 was clearly a dbb75c7301 luxurious piece worth 17b8d06361 at least a 5629cf40a7 thousand krovats.e8060da7b2ef9921

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‘If this 0d3b7b4e90 is modest, 38b3bd2a9f then my 514fff9a4e house must 225ceacd1c be a 53b2009c5a ruin,’ Serenia 3848954457 thought, suppressing cbc1b7c5cf the sting 97d273dfef of pride 41da41bcb3 as she 84e7c9908f sat down.ea703f5f346fd22f

“Since it’s late, I’ll get straight to the point and skip the pleasantries,” she began.91540c0112b2930b

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“Of course. By all means.”e8596eb58d96bd85

He replied with a0b50809f5 an easy smile, 026f206a3c leaning back slightly 32a50c1321 as he gestured cb820b25db for her to 2e7eef7644 continue.9349926afa3c77ed

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“I’m here to sell something priceless. Something no amount of money could usually buy. How much will you give me for it?”266b0c110dfe1029

Her words adcb76fceb gave him 80188fde2b pause, but 5d88aa1717 only for b14a0e0b14 a moment. Then he replied with 9c55c3329d a polite smile.c5b03d6fda9aac0d

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“My lady, I must apologize. This isn’t a pawn shop.”83efc0279d8d60a4

“I know that. But isn’t there little difference between a pawn shop and a loan office? You lend money against collateral either way,” Serenia countered.b0152cd410aee767

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“…A loan office, you say?”818bb6d57c56615f

His expression b95b9fdabc flickered, just 990c322d39 slightly.9807a715c3a0ca12

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Unperturbed, Serenia continued.bcc52b7aee8a8624

“I’d have gone to a pawn shop if I could, but they wouldn’t take what I have to offer.”97f65c035a1b4c2a

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Realizing where this 6e1afad1a5 conversation was headed, f15b98ccfe the man nodded acafad6c7a slowly, his curiosity 8a43022ad3 piqued.4ae082eec73b9996

“Something a pawn shop wouldn’t take… You’ve certainly captured my interest.”bdfdd2bbbd84e8c9

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He leaned back further, b158ec1f82 crossing one leg elegantly 2a6e6d70e9 over the other as bcf8d2c67b he laced his fingers b02f603536 atop his knee. His demeanor shifted ca0979f4fd slightly, his tone 34e02905d6 taking on the 91b862bc83 sharpness of a d8f717e590 seasoned moneylender.b2318a2d63f0299f

“Still, I’d need to know exactly what this collateral is before I can provide a valuation.”368b901a4daed9b7

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Serenia met his gaze steadily, her face blank as she delivered her answer. “Me.”b7ae4d26886a7b15

The single word froze ad283b5499 the man’s practiced smile 36fd9bd1b4 for a fleeting moment.7ef08746f4c53cf2

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He quickly masked his 99d2b1c590 reaction, his lips curling 5587084f7a back into a faint 92f9198afc grin as he replied.a2a944efeca9d870

“Hmm. You do realize that the sale of titles is illegal, and anyone caught will face execution, don’t you?”59e39d3ad64053b7

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Despite the veiled threat 6dd5dc552b in his tone, Serenia 6c642171c8 didn’t so much as 1985ac6564 bat an eye. Instead, she countered boldly.cacc201afc672a30

“Sale of titles? I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I made it clear—I’m here to sell myself.”525b22593926064b

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“But human trafficking is just as illegal…”cae63c69a5df4432

“Ah!”9f8e32d5f41af0d7

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Serenia cut him b19ee9cc94 off with a 75d9c88d67 dismissive wave of e0c035819c her hand.704872e515c5a3cf

“Then let’s say I’ve fallen head over heels for you. I’m giving up everything—my title, my family—because I’m madly in love. There’s no law against that, is there?”7e890e12b81b8384

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His eyes gleamed cc3dafc252 with mischief at 3c94ff5bf9 her words.29ae379d0346c5a1

“Oh? So you’re offering everything for free, out of love?”b368fe4c1b6a14f5

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“Do I look insane to you? I said it’s just a pretense,” she snapped, narrowing her eyes.5cb7b8920c4f7fdf

“…Ah. That’s a shame.”7753bf7b1dc2787f

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He replied 6cec06bf65 with exaggerated 85774630ba disappointment, his d2bfcf6522 smile turning 246a5e0fcf playful.94a33a72ef53940c

“For a moment, I thought I’d struck gold.”627b08615beb70ec

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He clicked 54c0f57a1c his tongue 85808e307f softly, muttering ce392a63e4 to himself.c6127210b6c678f8

Despite his words, there 2a763ec7a7 wasn’t the slightest hint 683f93cd56 of regret on his 8c2703c578 face.770544bb3ea8398b

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Serenia narrowed her 7de473840b eyes, watching him 7358558225 carefully before letting 3e368b73c2 out a soft af3b389079 sigh and breaking 6193f621bf the silence.1c5746e98d083401

“So? How much d12e78d984 are you b9d98ec852 willing to ce703b691a pay?”82765eb0681e8b2b

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At her repeated b9aa5195c7 question, he smiled 65869c75c2 faintly instead of 45a9ac28bc answering. Rising from the sofa, 9a4d7e8ee0 he walked to a addf79bc57 desk and retrieved a a8cabccbaa checkbook from one of c4f2a7b8ab its drawers. Returning to his seat, f353f19a78 he scribbled something quickly 9d4359a353 with an expensive-looking fountain 5957f30c8a pen, then tore out bd0f4d8c64 the check and handed 677cec62c5 it to her.1915ebd2f675fd65

Serenia blinked at the 8605a79780 long string of numbers 19969afe29 scrawled on the crisp c4fb6e5db4 white paper.6c96a37172c66ec6

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3,000,000 krovats.f19eea36342ae6c2

‘Huh? Did I 8632503c25 read that 9737c511fa wrong?’a506b18dfb9dec3d

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She rubbed her eyes, 3a5c34f1c4 double-checking the check. No matter 093e2397e2 how many ea8788fa74 times she 9f0db12abd reread it, ac4e99a8dc the figure 9c4ed8fe09 didn’t change.845bfbff8f4d4a4a

‘Let’s see… one, e8fd3519b7 two, three… six d032774b55 zeros.’9d4d28e2c0af14e6

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Ten, hundred, 93812e564d thousand, ten 2257fdbe32 thousand, hundred 29380fe62e thousand, million.219eeb46d95dc524

Three million.855aeced1ee89043

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Counting the 4c5cddcb61 digits with f3823b5659 her fingers 688824af37 again and f7c54dfcc8 again, she 9c1fbc803e finally accepted c568ffef88 the reality 4a5bc050ff of the 9415fd2898 number.17d2c6e88116460e

‘It’s real. Three million krovats?’4b5e6f74f1dd66d6

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Expecting no 2fb4e0c6f5 more than 9f73a48946 a mere c218b55acb hundred thousand 8d22536766 at best, c5374fe2ff Serenia was 2283df803c completely stunned 84e296b69e by the 5db9508251 staggering sum.dc40b79add2b1b6e

To put it in 64ccc04ced perspective, a middle-class family a00d711748 of four typically spent 0d4700d65c about 250 krovats a 1672d4903f month. Three million krovats 6a5cdc4ff2 was enough for 1a87552300 such a family f6f89b6815 to live comfortably 8b3e08728d for a thousand 0301a00f8a years.102fa8ca6a9af89e

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‘No, wait, that’s just dd26c7fd17 the principal,’ she corrected b275a09635 herself.32372f5295f15b83

If deposited into a 609c70cd69 bank, even a modest 4ab8bd8b4a annual interest rate of bd2e457fa0 5% would yield 150,000 f7d53b0c4b krovats a year. The interest alone could f4370335dd sustain fifty households annually.72e122f0859143bd

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This was, 17b69c4da3 without a 1d9e085b46 doubt, a ba319c3f5f fortune to 4d8fef79ee celebrate with 9a24f29c3f open arms. Money was always e3d8ad7e93 welcome, after all.cfcd8f35d8f644b0

But three million df2d17100a krovats for a 21beaa8681 powerless, honorless, and 45e11b2af3 tarnished countship?ada4eaaf1e6f13b9

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‘Something’s not right.’5a4b9d0952214899

Her sharp c640926963 instincts flared, 91b6b1def8 her eyes 2383686931 narrowing as a824677258 she scrutinized 0893ec62f8 him.fa706562d59fd4a4

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There was no 244d3c9b75 such thing as 3c1e597767 a free lunch. Serenia had 218b789268 learned that c5520e9e64 lesson long 482f2507aa ago. Raising her guard to 02175ecfe3 its highest level, she 4e52ade13a asked bluntly.16a9a8cf1d077869

“What’s your real motive?”4892edfac31078e3

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Still smiling that enigmatic cc7cecbb81 smile, he replied.d51f94820c6f18f0

“Motive? My lady, 8f0aed2887 I’m simply 18669f4f1c a man 9747ca6dd4 with precise 56b0dc03f5 calculations.”45268f6d2e239ac2

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“What?”2018c017a974cb0b

Serenia’s expression shifted, incredulous 58bc26a7cf at his bizarre response.89a9e4a93794786f

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He chuckled lightly bb989399ea and added.44519202c354a5e6

“Besides, it just b71d9b356e so happens that 4d1db9bfd5 I’m in need e6a9e67fe2 of a title.”e503901c0311381b

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Though his words 11e5491a9e were accompanied by d8e5b6c92f a smile, there e00fed9bf9 was a subtle d77eed6102 chill to his b00dc6bd3a tone that didn’t 0e4a5c4921 escape Serenia’s notice. Her brow 4b5db83a57 furrowed as af1e3aab95 she pressed 61958b4e99 further.c5d42d7e7ed06972

“You don’t ‘want’ 789e348299 a title—you ‘need’ f7145de423 one?”7c627c1bdacdb88d

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“Exactly.”3440f26d915c0913

He said, nodding without fcfcef3075 hesitation.843b17f38fb544ca

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“That’s the very reason 34bbe598d2 I approached you outside 7386a5c0e8 the bank.”3dc0fcc5579bd6dd

Serenia’s already tense expression b6969907a5 hardened further.f1ece1b848a2e44d

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She had suspected 097db2cb4e his approach was 363bfb073e deliberate but never 2d4e8a53f9 imagined it had 40f0ff6228 anything to do 1339b7233f with her title. Taking a moment to 1f67a7b018 choose her words carefully, 943ffb5263 she finally asked.3ccd3d3ca8f828f6

“Why do you need 081c78c200 a title?”76325a928f01f515

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He studied her quietly 66f5cf9e54 for a moment before 516cb9c73a flashing a bright smile 4a18d77e74 and replying.6ab328a5fc7bf4a5

“To retire.”1ac485baaa6b04ea

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“Excuse me?”985acee1fb65ba8e

His answer was c03f34a283 so far removed 67d5eb44c4 from her expectations dd9f8d1375 that Serenia was 909809c65c left speechless.907dc5fe7eb63e2d

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Not political ambitions, business 65020800fb expansion, or social prestige—retirement?54f5d3493d6855f9

Her mouth 4aa3426b95 opened and 58c979a377 closed wordlessly, e23a9bd3e0 unable to a261d8186f process his f2859acd5f reasoning.867cdd05974cfc0a

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Shrugging, he continued.8500c2733202f622

“Honestly, this job has fc347db6e9 a very short shelf 74a7a01a3d life, and let’s be c8b950cd02 real, it doesn’t exactly 117f83d065 have the best reputation.”c53deb53f0a3a054

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‘A short shelf life? But there are 264f52801e loan sharks who’ve 59b4fbfe9d been at it 28c2196197 for decades…’e269751d9a5a00aa

Serenia thought, unable 074ed06ba0 to hide her 9a2045d0e2 confusion. She nodded reluctantly, however, e4efb96b7c at his comment about ba4e399664 the job’s poor reputation.971375761e299275

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“…Fair enough. That part makes d4454431f4 sense.”31eff17b5d3800ad

“Still, if 5cc3b31116 I may 276097c324 say so e9c1525e8d myself, I’ve f691eebc6f been quite 4f8cfeae1f successful in 6b7298c581 this field,” 760ec2d048 he said, cdf4c6bdad his tone de8d62c973 taking on ddc5e8c07e a boastful d8ec2a8ebc edge.4b8a8705fd2e543e

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Serenia gave him 50cdb02bde a sour look, 8aead926ee unimpressed.f29f84e4534af444

“Oh, really? How nice 85c8b13f62 for you.”29255d39f40f4209

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Unfazed by her 5fe9f5c36e sarcasm, he continued 3246098876 cheerfully,8bd6cb23041eba30

“Yes, very much 7ad633551f so. In fact, my 990b96461b superior constantly tells 8712412103 me that this e6e787d4a5 is my calling. He says e77474bede I was 1bed33cce1 born for a24d351261 this work d92358de53 and that be999dde37 dedicating my cd98891f1d entire life 5e8bbaa3bb to it 690cb85163 would benefit 33d40aa48a both society 3ae49307ab and the cc59bc2e5f country.”254a6e3cb825d031

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“Uh-huh,” Serenia f2c26a5f92 muttered, her c683c5f284 voice flat.c51ca99b621964fa

“Which is why 4142c6c9ea he insists that 56b6fd1e25 unless I somehow 6530056a30 become a noble, 346b940150 I should keep beec9d1639 working tirelessly until 99c443a979 I drop dead.”2ba293ebd0fb1acc

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Finally, Serenia realized 3be741b7fa why he had 6ecac57a44 spent so much 806e7c01de time bragging about ff5dcab930 himself.aee816d46c840969

“So you need a 09d575ccd1 title… to retire.”2e19905daec02f0c

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“Exactly.”24c5f7bc66435e37

His straightforward confirmation 2e82f9a745 made Serenia scoff a8e987a475 as she smirked.9028e3d458de5f86

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“Wow. Can’t even b0482743eb retire without 9c6c6efa9a a title? Your line of 19af85143b work sounds more b8e27c5c7b like organized crime a58efc941d these days.”c7545150a98ae2f3

To her 54cf217c36 surprise, he fcf55f8f24 laughed loudly 5925e42b52 and nodded.4fa474a728679d18

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“In some 4a7552096a ways, you’re f5020b18ab not wrong. Both involve squeezing money 0cd1730e60 out of people over 37b1454db6 nothing.”a2d7f8a2919a0218

She cast him a 2c6d374ec8 sideways glance, her expression 819c1e8a92 skeptical as she mulled cc18141904 over his reasoning.cf328740639eea27

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‘It sort 4748cdce0c of makes 855e5cb041 sense, in 8fe2a1d97e its own 51ce6c2f36 ridiculous way. Though spending d714e8459a three million 35c6efae20 krovats just b96c20500b to retire eda9077738 is absurd… f17d285b2e If he 7619342ca5 has that bc460ef335 much money, 8d0acfd1ce I guess a1637f2cdf he can 91453203db afford it.’ac2b8213abab16de

As if ff1c67b386 sensing her 279323ce9d thoughts, he 933763d3bf watched her 6d819bac58 with a 790bfe0163 foxlike smile 676bb1f101 before asking.“So, 4fd43ef0ef do we edd426ee7d have a b200862968 deal?”e512fe982cc7cb6a

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Serenia took a deep 2ed6058b77 breath, exhaled slowly, and 712613993e answered.d1e3a869ad87d55e

“…Deal.”5e68384694db5925

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