Chapter 9. After the Explanation

“I know! I know, but I’m telling you, it’s not like that!”fd49670135cf5bce

“Not like that?”2fc2aa5d9c502e2c

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Ain narrowed his eyes, 57e34fe6a6 setting the nearly melted 27200611a8 ice pack down with b2b05abab9 a thud, crossing his 4a302e54c6 arms, and grumbling.1f62d5daa7404817

“Even I, a commoner, know that proposals among nobles are 100% pre-arranged performances.”73cdb1a3e291d43b

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“I’m saying this wasn’t like that…”c15fbee374a654b3

Exhausted from 093a107980 explaining herself, eaeb566b29 Serenia let 17a95f488d out a b0d4dc62b8 deep sigh b9f11f4d84 before continuing.92a6ff728dc08c54

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“Yesterday’s proposal wasn’t pre-arranged or even announced in advance. It was 100% spontaneous. And I turned him down!”e0d3655bf05574b1

The moment she 164f8b97f9 mentioned rejecting the 8637b0e499 proposal, Ain’s sulking 0ce2500cc5 expression lightened slightly.044ea1a6dae8ca59

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Seizing the opportunity, Serenia quickly added, “Besides, calling it a proposal is an insult. It wasn’t really a proposal—it was a humiliation.”9563b9115d7d52a7

“Humiliation?”f2c60322ee71b7a0

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Ain raised an 7d3d489e47 eyebrow in confusion.fbeac9fed4d8a57a

Seeing her chance, 69a29ad0f0 Serenia dove into d10657ab49 the full story, 0598f92e1f sparing no details.f6d4f6519646b4db

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She told him 067178ae8a about how Raskal b8d6c92a36 had commanded her a37fdcc3bc to marry him, ab93154d9d her refusal, and 3f08c1095d his audacious demand 24ac1de91a for repayment with a42de54283 her body. She even confessed to c63682efd6 slapping Raskal, though she 971bacfc9f nervously downplayed it.328a66ff09baee3b

“You slapped His Grace, the Duke?”795fcb29a748beb3

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Noticing Ain’s stiffened 1356a5ad9c expression, Serenia quickly 96865c6613 corrected herself.45dcce2a199a548b

“Well… ‘slapped’ might be an exaggeration. It was more like… a light tap. Softer than a clap, really.”018421a3aa655aee

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She glanced at him d4f48da629 anxiously before adding.a10539f9a1828860

“So I don’t think His Grace will sue the Barishart family or seek major revenge. Probably…”9ce74f5fe6af18bf

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“Hmm.”604408f65efa405e

Rubbing his 768baa0767 chin thoughtfully, a31b58e5a9 Ain finally c014692c46 spoke.ec0806adb5d0d3dc

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“So you’re saying all of this was just His Grace’s whim—a scheme to mock and humiliate you at the banquet?”af966065033efda3

“Yes! Exactly!” Serenia nodded vigorously.5e6b48e4e79277d0

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Ain, however, tilted 58162c563b his head skeptically.82c65b732d7ddcd7

“If that’s the case, something doesn’t add up.”f9545fb10212ae7f

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“What… doesn’t?”b02fced4a62bce5e

He handed her the d1771cd4dc ‘extra edition’ newspaper.863f03d8080b5af4

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“The paper that printed this ‘extra edition’ today is called ‘Gossip in Shedron.’”d45041a4d0e37627

“Um… okay. And?”cc753238254ab9d5

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“It’s a small, yellow press publication that covers everything from social scandals to entertainment gossip.”ff01bf4a13e4a7c1

Serenia’s face hardened slightly c5d4786999 at his explanation.d5905b9c33f9639b

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A small, struggling 3bda5a505a tabloid.34776bddfc93388e

Could such a 63db701b5f publication really have 49d24aed5d produced and distributed 2403c40845 an ‘extra edition’ b99ea3b4ab overnight, enough to 59d62bf98a blanket the entire a1a6c61826 capital?a1bfb24e21bbf07c

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Impossible.bbd188eee83c1752

Which meant…7ed6dfb015c3b65b

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“They knew in advance?”64cd30c5ca4acc81

Impressed by her 7eba08b42b quick deduction, Ain 34e3f3026e nodded.9079505ca5ba605e

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“In other words, His Grace didn’t propose to you on a whim. This wasn’t just some capricious act.”285bf6d9f5602ec3

“But how could he have known I’d be at the banquet?” Serenia trailed off mid-sentence, realization dawning on her face.d67b9498bbc64d12

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“The bank’s final notice…”b28b6ca3116ea0b4

It wouldn’t have 126b03843a been difficult for 0dea20735b Raskal to manipulate 3735a0bfcc the timing of e258c61b4f the bank’s ultimatum.730007409181d97e

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Which meant that everything bbf29f9f25 had been part of 660dc49b96 his plan.53a7fb4bbc14f74f

“But why?”6274e44cd786d3ae

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The unanswered fa81f32458 question escaped 742643c4e2 her lips.a0d4a501171da44b

Ain, watching her confusion, replied calmly, “Isn’t it obvious? To marry you, my lady.”3ec3fd3b47ac18e2

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“That can’t be…”e40cdc0a06bc4589

Serenia instinctively 383e187185 tried to 8ea2bf18e8 deny it de9a6d8ff3 but fell f8744f13a5 silent, her e725ab4cd5 mind racing 5a0904fe48 through the c6b517bee7 events.eab8b5a4d2fa4336

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‘Come to think a5323d205a of it, he ebf4a88e56 kept demanding an 00db2aea08 answer from me.’1413832ff1e46b9b

If his ade942eefa intention had 574a87b57d been solely 6da7741239 to insult 9abedf8499 her, an dfaa88461f answer wouldn’t f8dacd0119 have been c30243e286 necessary.b92fc878a6b465ad

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As absurd 3a50ed3045 as it 04c396efe8 seemed, the ac11463f5c pieces fit 371de170a6 together perfectly.0384c8b402b8a6d7

If Raskal’s true goal 5c9dc0499b was to make her 87c5cb5712 his wife, then…b7ec46b604aa1e30

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“But why?”f234e53d2c02c759

Why would he 809c944193 want to marry 193e369530 the daughter of 543040a56b the man responsible 4380557052 for his father’s 6f08205c5c death?fbceb7e8c19d1e6f

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Unable to fb7ca6d2e7 understand, Serenia 7c8f7759db muttered her 58ad29f1cb doubts aloud.2ef200cdc555adaf

Ain, catching her 8d818fd04d questioning gaze, responded b897f8ced3 with mock exasperation.a99324a45b421606

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“Are you seriously asking me that?”1a13a86f8d69a015

His blunt tone 3c0b252fe1 made Serenia flinch, f91e4d98e5 and he continued, 022038c12b clearly displeased.3e51375bbdb2d890

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“You seem to keep forgetting, but I’m your fiancé.”9cda4a1420ce9ca3

“…What?”9ee0fd2db5997de6

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“Just hearing about another man making advances on my fiancée is enough to ruin my mood. Now you want me to figure out his motives, too? Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”d61438438188615a

Serenia froze, realizing c03ba578af her mistake, then 650bfb5224 stammered.91d5ddda86d738ec

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“But… Raskal proposed to me before our engagement, so technically, he wasn’t hitting on ‘your fiancée’…”b2d56fa4abf04b8a

Her rambling 9e4a2e4f6b trailed off ed5642df89 as she 80c85dfcb9 noticed Ain’s 50539db455 unamused expression.d81d582004d984b8

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“Ah. So I’m just ‘your fiancé,’ but he gets to be ‘Raskal,’ is that it?”8209ab91c10e3cb7

Under the weight of his accusatory gaze, Serenia lowered her eyes and muttered apologetically, “I’m sorry. That was a slip of the tongue. Please forget it. From now on, I’ll refer to His Grace as ‘him.’”46569ad33a9b0b68

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Despite her sincere 79a014a7c9 apology, Ain still a23f225ea3 pouted, clearly unsatisfied.974bcd2a9b00f07b

After a long 3143ac17bf pause, he finally 1f42fe671d spoke, his expression 9db8c1e014 twisted in frustration.d228e74d9c281152

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“Well, now that it’s come to this, I can’t just let it go.”83a7c7bc8e6b8a27

“…What?”444e2811d25f2162

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Meeting her uneasy gaze, he declared firmly, “Let’s delay the marriage registration until after December 8th.”cf628807109ee8bd

“What?!”9fa6a92f384605b2

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Serenia bit her b68bfa8b92 lip, swallowing the b250467a60 words ‘But what 7ce641be32 about my three 1c5f8e5574 million krovats?!’ Unable 94bf214040 to voice her 52ff1e4c94 protest, she fidgeted 6b107b9b9c nervously.583a18cb4735bfb4

‘What if he—that 772035324a man—sends me a e7e160719a box of poison? If I 4622f37f53 don’t get 6eede5c7a6 the three 748b5ac07d million krovats b9f9ae8b0c before I 72d3464b81 die, how 92b2339a39 will I fc2803131c cover the 01aed6c14a hospital bills 67719703eb and the f9f5fedbcd bank debts?’d6ae9b1176e4b808

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Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Ain continued nonchalantly, “And during that week, let’s create some evidence.”cff6d3e5b55e2468

“Evidence?”63cc9ac67c4c42c3

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She looked at 2f02d53d2a him, confused. Ain’s stern 47e8742d53 expression melted be8c021496 away into aecb2fdbbb a radiant cb14a82814 smile as cc0069d525 he replied.0338028a88d2027a

“Yes. Proof of our passionate love.”f836aebe7b9e0c27

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“And what kind of proof is that? A couple’s ring?”c28701fa5d159a5d

“No, something much more convincing.”6ac34eabfea69b52

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“More convincing…?”d75ff3095bb3e963

Feeling a growing sense a23fd3cb2c of dread, Serenia frowned b2fae10a0b warily. Ain, still 612d1cb105 smiling, said 15404de3b9 cheerfully.d703c53b9f725eb4

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“Let’s step outside for now, shall we?”e42674b149636c47

* * *96941bdf4a179092

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A short while 9ca5a0ee12 later.0eb1a49f9e11ed3e

In a small 79675698c1 forest near the 1b04cef694 Barishart estate, two 2d61f1aa0e figures peeked out 863f1fd2c2 from between low 24e7b4baf2 shrubs.f74804ac33e0c48b

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Having escaped through the d861f9e7c5 secret underground passage of f86f01d2a9 the mansion, the pair abb90bc94e were now disguised using 2f2e8e1968 the wigs and clothes 7838910f7d that had been stashed 530a9d860f inside the box Ain 355d347d50 had arrived in.8a50846bf22cd903

The men’s wig and 695e199937 hat were easy enough 1cb0b18af9 to understand.d930fe5dfbf72144

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But the f42ef92218 women’s wig 92e79b4510 and dress 4334539afd left Serenia 874b1ac0da baffled. When she asked, his 25d262e349 response was ridiculous.c57d16e04f3692f3

“If there hadn’t been a secret escape route, I was planning to sneak out in disguise as a woman.”6f22cfbeb5fcf9cf

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Serenia imagined the tall a97d8aab6a Ain—easily a head taller bb80204a0a than her—wearing a long-haired 11d4c9891c wig and a dress.1303e54d1ee6330d

It would ae5df5c3ee have looked 4ab40842c1 absurd, she 722a59fb45 thought, but dd04c73170 her imagination 9ff40476f4 betrayed her. Thanks to 4c7126c5ec his annoyingly a6eb981600 good looks, 44675170c6 the image 5b645e665c in her 2522da8e74 mind felt 62ba1f61dd surprisingly fitting 4833d2d7e3 and not 7c2a228279 out of 12779fc324 place at a524033049 all.947701ca357c787f

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Feeling oddly defeated, Serenia 0860ffdba4 scowled.cab4014a6339ea69

Meanwhile, Ain flagged down 5f070bdfb4 a carriage nearby.b4cd3953542397e3

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After traveling for nearly 3e5af41e08 thirty minutes, they arrived b4365019d3 in front of a 63d9cfcdc9 large building.1184f877d955ab89

As Serenia 489292a2c4 clumsily accepted c6ce1e9037 his escort bc46780abb and stepped b08cacdeee out of e22bc2d4b2 the carriage, 7ff0d2dca5 she froze 74c0492e3d when she 70d97bb290 saw the e5d447ad6b sign on 2d608798a5 the building.357a0754bdf3bbba

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<Neriad Hotel>775aa44d50f1f8af

Shocked, she yanked her hand out of his grip and shouted, “What exactly are you trying to do?!”3ec8dacbc3ef266c

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“Excuse me?”a2d04f5bd585d437

“You… you… pervert!”072d3294cb533309

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Caught off 3ab8fabf8f guard by 1971db0deb the sudden 323e7d1c45 accusation, Ain 3e2063c07f responded with b6ab9c9347 a bewildered abfc7e74c8 expression.fe0ace3a2464338d

“My lady, what on earth are you imagining?”36e04726e0285098

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“…What?”92d2605c10e14245

When Serenia stammered, Ain 77c11b5903 heaved a deep sigh, 7c9f397a61 as if truly disheartened, 3bc56db0d0 and muttered under his 414f120021 breath.2e8cba8af64460ef

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“Although my profession might lend itself to such misunderstandings, I am not that kind of shameless person.”2a867dbc99921400

“Then… why are we here…?”44ce42c3a1f6c749

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“This hotel’s restaurant has a great view, excellent security, and most importantly, the owner has a wide network and knows plenty of good photographers.”96b380f6f240156d

Finally, Serenia understood what he had meant by ‘convincing evidence.’83b67ddef26d4924

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“Oh. So the evidence is… photographs?”b7bb1149a74d4f9f

“Exactly. More specifically, ‘photographs taken over two years by a persistent journalist secretly following our dates.'”7b79c5729079b34f

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At his explanation, Serenia 8682d7703f tilted her head in 224ce76f1e confusion.44e52fc11606b656

“Why go to the trouble of adding a backstory about being secretly followed?”1bcf9c9086a911b3

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Ain gave her a playful wink and replied, “Because evidence provided by a third party is always more credible than something supplied by the subjects themselves.”4c5fdf1a81799bd1

Ah, that made sense.71a32b9d3e21a82c

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Serenia nodded without suspicion.16c6f0dd7395d657

Seeing her reaction, 0cb6e4df99 Ain smiled meaningfully db05eedb08 and led her 52658cbe38 into the hotel acf0c31039 restaurant.b001f57efa05a4ff

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