Chapter 31. After the Tail Ended

A small provincial d3ec10a0a8 town called Tirube, bd9129d7fc about a three-hour 50e4cae27c ride from Shedron.9fd3b5e4ba5cbfb5

Angela wrote down the address 3c93eadda6 of a small theater located 210aec1df0 there and handed it to a08aa212f3 Serenia.26877ba4cd1ebb57

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Serenia accepted the 5bbdcb522b slip of paper, f23aaceae1 expressing her gratitude b51418f51f repeatedly.ed41ad7a8b50b46c

Then, she paid the c0bd988151 lodging fee she hadn’t d1438c399e been able to settle 545989af76 before—adding interest on top 9d9166a87a of it.926f58df753d3dc2

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Avoiding Angela, who 7a57740d37 was flustered and 8c58353121 adamantly refused to 1ce1309396 take it, Serenia 94ee71f26a bolted and made 671cbf3308 a quick escape, de7708c04c heading straight for b2258f602d the horse market.548262eb0885c682

There, she picked a 4231cdcdc7 sturdy-looking horse and set bc058f991c off for Tirube without ef36d2a371 delay.21b0503e5cf6cb97

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By the time she 23b2bb66eb arrived in front of e90ee8694c her destination, Theater Fabiel, 950c4da5bf it was nearly 4 d325165285 PM.ef611ef598983afa

The atmosphere there was 55314f6e22 quite different from the 571dbe68c9 grand theaters of the 1f89065617 capital.bf6947b2e8a47bc0

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A small, shabby, and 4ebbe7fa93 quiet playhouse with a b7fc2374bd maximum capacity of just ae7b2edc4b about a hundred people.eec359031a2141ed

An afternoon performance 2713194c65 of a play 6c394289e5 she’d never heard 43e9428778 of in her 5f040b71d4 life was underway.711a7b726b8dd82a

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Serenia slipped inside the theater 149c17324e quietly, making herself as inconspicuous cfad622bcc as possible.f44147971c62a08d

As her gaze slowly swept 5ac582c39d through the darkened audience seats, 85598b1886 it stopped dead in one d0f5a10aff spot.7148d0cd98a244f4

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A corner seat in 7e77ddc63c the audience.aba73e76943862bb

Not too close 5824c8acff to the stage, a1fcaaf4d6 but not too d0553d1582 far either—somewhere in 64f06d5029 between.5dfd789bd18ae629

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“⋯⋯!”e5a981e88f5bc129

Serenia recognized him instantly.64b91472fc9a48c9

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His posture was upright 2345163df1 and proper, yet without 602c912485 stiffness. His shoulders, extending 478faa99e7 out in a 8cccfada4c straight line before 2be021518d dropping at a d1f28a0d07 right angle, were 657bec9c04 neat and graceful.0eeca1f47f4b3220

That elegant silhouette 7bddb13aa3 struck her eyes fc13730cc3 and seared itself a734c54f63 into her mind.584ab3ba15a552a9

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Before she realized 36503a72a6 it, her fists dc2ed7755c clenched tightly.1f1cd2711fe3822f

A wave of fe91cfddb7 relief at having 94db0b4baa found him and 28e7b2cb5b the thrill of 2657198dc7 accomplishment buzzed through 3844c5958a her head.525e634e713ccbf9

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Calming her racing 41e66e8aec heartbeat with effort, c627b6b5e3 she silently took 6f012f822e a seat nearby.29a334bdb9580505

In the thick darkness 842d4e2078 where even the chair a82bfa4d01 right in front of 8ba2ade00c her was barely visible, e0d73e3adc she didn’t even question 6b52e895a5 the strange phenomenon of 60dc1c9d36 recognizing him at a c72939e1e4 glance.4253c35bc17a6967

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* * *8e6d6aab580da8da

A short while e75eba4d74 later, the play c45f959825 ended, the curtain c571a5e4b7 fell, and the a331ab1b20 theater lights came 1e6a7ac920 back on.8c67e9d118157945

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While the other ae0337793e audience members bustled 7b1be6c886 out of their 7b3488b005 seats, he didn’t d68a062a6b move an inch.7339606151157d04

‘…Did he fall asleep sitting there?’7df8b2f5cd5f4b58

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Just as Serenia began 292c9d7cf4 to wonder, he slowly ed3e6eb782 stood up.3dc1a879f6c91cec

Startled, she instinctively ducked ff99817af8 down between the seats.4279abe036f647a7

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She made quite a bit 80a3dbad1f of noise, but it seemed ab33a961c6 he didn’t hear a thing.0a242334df98ada9

Without sparing a glance in 275ec0890b her direction, he quietly exited c9e53215df the theater.1f18b754407aa810

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Kicking herself for missing d5f6fbea26 the chance to naturally a789c13546 cross paths, Serenia quickly cebef85fe7 ran after him.7c6c0654783fbbf6

The sky was now 2e56450903 painted with the hues 6270882f99 of sunset.f5b7e7cc2bd657ea

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Serenia kept a fair distance ce971b5f93 as she followed Ain.0399de33636c0643

After leaving the theater, he 0b209c0b32 seemed drawn to the faint c2e603cdee music drifting on the wind, f8d5ca58dc heading toward a nearby plaza.596840778d88a997

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There, he stopped 1dc8c7353f to watch a 096d64c567 child playing a 2b4d0253ed flute in front cf64f9e3d3 of a clocktower. After a moment, he 831ba35acb tossed an entire small ad77874da1 pouch into the collection ce84d2bf98 box and resumed walking.91c4b166bc9b094e

‘Huh? Isn’t it rude to f04dff57d2 leave before the piece 434114d1e7 ends? I heard that’s c8b6d1f69d disrespectful to the 38098bf4af performer…’ed4aaed0f6220c91

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While Serenia hesitated, the song c41b2f685a ended completely.8b1e56ae90bd8534

From afar, she 11d0c16ae8 clapped a few 2abe0146cb times quietly.93611b82b375f4e1

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The child opened the pouch 19f1eb6065 Ain had left and gaped 893e05fc88 in disbelief.c51ffb6dfc3c2f6a

Catching that scene briefly with 9a29af1d8b her eyes, Serenia hurried after 8075ad94c4 him again.5a790966164bb5b7

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She’d lost him for 8de39d5125 a moment, but having a14409f091 already found him once, 1ed32bcac2 finding him again was a5e6a957a9 easy.b92dd73f9e99ab92

His graceful, unhurried stride—like walking e5b15cc98f on clouds—was easy to spot 6182e24a51 from afar.de59882543d7aa2f

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Of course, the c233950b6f fact that he 5a72c9bb84 was at least e1090c9bdf a head taller 039c987175 than most people 297bd1020f didn’t hurt.35bbce61baad2106

Thanks to that, Serenia c23b1e4eb8 could follow him without 8b1f3de924 having to close the 3f416fc7f9 distance much.90b11c4b44d8e498

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Honestly, she didn’t want to 07f1284edc run into him in such d9b5015f30 a crowded place anyway, so f3dfd7081f she figured this was for f62073012d the best.c94053e3740c964d

Before long, he 036b6178b5 entered a lively 62b254b0fc shopping street.19a6255b50d97dfa

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By now, the a77c79b07f sun had set a44643cac4 completely, and the fea977ae86 street vendors lining 2f04066a34 the entrance began ba63ff0ff4 lighting their lanterns 860a19adc9 one by one.52ede9237c496402

He strolled leisurely 17fdd14f21 down the glowing, e4bdd2c70d orange-lit street, occasionally df19e18a33 showing interest in e754708536 the goods at 040ef721aa various stalls.ac601d90ff4417cd

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The items he examined went d7fdb9ef46 something like this:7ffd4e1beadcad8e

Uniquely shaped glass cups tinted e6161b3fe1 with dyes. Jewelry made from 551dac5713 tiny beads no e6d9e56b34 bigger than grains b5cb52c00d of rice. Polished wooden utensils. Handkerchiefs with exotic patterns…c014a55e2f8f01f9

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Watching from a distance, 99ee74d525 Serenia began to get 770b350b31 a sense of his df3a788324 tastes.d5407e64172a7d59

Meticulously crafted, sparkly, and f915b32a28 special things.a0a696b16bd01a03

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‘…He only picks things that remind me of himself.’523e1de503b4140f

Though everything Ain 0676b0bc66 glanced at seemed 4f9033de7a to suit him 0400718f12 perfectly, he didn’t 91eeccc51b buy a single d301f464b1 item.b85b96921c990f21

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Instead, whatever he picked f02e4b2cb3 up and put back 6856963225 was quickly snatched up 69a6138a21 by passersby.364f08e46c78405e

As if they’d 56df6c98ee just discovered hidden bbf9fc00a2 treasure, people flocked 45300a7fa3 to those items c53a826ee5 in droves, and 29a1e396a9 Serenia could only 351b7969a9 shake her head 4a2dfaf57c in amazement.0b71d763fbaad70d

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‘He’s like a walking salesman.’c8cd9c3929d310cf

In that way, he 7dd561a3f8 made his small contribution adb5cdb1d1 to Tirube’s local economy 16d2c84844 before exiting the busy c4d50b2049 marketplace.e72526ec9886b4f5

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Maybe because it was a 0412a957ea small provincial town, but the 5e0a75edbd moment he stepped out of 99696559de the bustling center, everything around 7d44ff6a53 him turned quiet.eccb5ab0d4ea4e42

‘Where’s he going…?’b19958940ea3b10a

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While Serenia puzzled 173d3a4dab over this, he 0b5b7e83d9 passed through a d7ecd7eb6f deserted alley and d3fb936332 entered a snow-covered 4f61d4ad74 path.bd9ad2dd82a2ba77

Thanks to the moonlight reflecting 2454d4fa49 off the snow, the road f1f819a347 was fairly bright.ca83eba807b96593

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She was trying to figure 33b8aae8a6 out when exactly she should c2dec8587c approach him when—17ab45c3d57a9fcd

Crunch— The sound of snow ac4f658663 underfoot suddenly stopped, and a 8bc7975de2 cold voice sliced through the a326cea05b silence.acc719954b91e28c

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“Not satisfied with a suicide attempt, now you’ve developed a hobby for stalking too?”d9a8ffe9a15c374c

Realizing she’d been completely 9b07f2a6ac caught, Serenia sheepishly stepped 56c1331aef out from behind a 9bd00abe70 tree.47c2b472848e18d1

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“Th-That’s not it!”4d9182f1b2f66d2b

She tried to deny it 9fe08c836b awkwardly, but even she had db73d6f67f to admit it did feel 281c74dfd0 a lot like stalking. Her voice trailed off weakly.c5656d32829a6735

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Ain stood still 40fa0d6612 on the deserted 7f087b3095 path, frowning.affe3e8927aa89b3

“How did you even know to come here? Did you plant someone to dda7950f4c follow me?”5ffe7c6b8e0c35cd

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“Whaaat? I’d never do that!”a55b9f6041be0f49

Terrified of being 5f3a4643c3 labeled a real 1c566c746b stalker, she reacted ebb1edd529 instinctively and too 8edc03c191 intensely.a226c117915c7061

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But that reaction only made e29a2b01e7 her seem more suspicious, and 6ebed49da4 realizing it, she deflated and 7969cc2cf2 added meekly,1520002a666bb221

“Angela told me, that’s all…”208a23819811d215

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At that, one of 02b22241d0 Ain’s eyebrows twitched.b247995c249e9b32

Clicking his tongue, he d4559d0c37 muttered something about betrayal 24e91e1417 under his breath, then a247bde5cb let out a heavy 093ab2d7e8 sigh. When he looked 0a497947ae back at her, 1a2fe3212f his face had 3b382c9f80 returned to that 4c02235b66 same cold, expressionless ae572eccc8 mask as yesterday.a6952f1a0e91469f

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“So? What did you come 6e8e0393e3 all the way here 52482f8c53 for?”b186d500e2988a4c

Serenia, trying not to freeze 3651bbbafa up at his chilly demeanor, dc4da16877 forced herself to sound bold.79b26eb48de945d4

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“I—I came because I have something to say, even if it’s too late!”84c32b25b5e352b6

Ain raised an eyebrow, clearly c66e1a86de unimpressed.62a5282dd6cb8405

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But even so, e743ac74f2 Serenia didn’t back 0bd2e34b8b down and closed 6e34dd600f the distance between be5b252bb2 them.6187353b2588f96c

Planting her hands 9f6ec0b712 firmly on her 8bc4cc3b08 hips, she said,7d8f54e375f10e80

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“You cut me off yesterday, so I didn’t get to say what I wanted.”6cc9b8d914b11946

Ain looked down 64ff29786a at her without a051f5e627 emotion, now standing 6a6096d591 within arm’s reach.59b4c01d288bdada

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“Then go ahead.”f2e9418e908535f7

His unyielding attitude made 2192a1cdfe her shoulders tense up 4eff595e5e instinctively.e50b9669c6a254b7

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Gritting her teeth, Serenia forced 191e4d7bec herself to straighten up—and then 02324fd72e bowed deeply.47b08da8641e7610

“I’m sorry!”e1d589120f7a3d6b

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“…?”92857a0fc7c21d24

Caught off guard, Ain even 2ed1053572 forgot to wear his usual 07f5814f79 mask of a smile.5819a56842bb6cd9

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Not seeing his stunned face, d3545f218e Serenia continued,ac89cce4a7cc548d

“I said I’d handle things on my own, then went off and did something reckless. I’m sorry.”88778b0eb33792d8

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“…”ad4e920272111e08

Maybe the apology came too bb2aa0be6c late. He didn’t respond, just a88b2f78dc stayed silent.56b87cdc14058156

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Serenia bit back 5c580ca8fd her awkwardness and 67865391ac pressed on.82bdc190bc44c0ab

“Even if it’s just because of the contract, you’re still my fiancé.”52199ecd36c01389

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“…”144d14b9374d8b8e

“I acted on my own without even discussing it with you. I truly apologize.”fd6cd61f524582d6

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When he still didn’t ced5962cb3 respond, Serenia glanced up 22c976368f at him quickly.7c5c6262825a42bd

By then, Ain had 5ac0acbf6d already recovered, his expression 89f68f753f cold again.6253bea607629c50

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Trying not to wilt under ef57bdf035 that chill, Serenia forced herself 8f9beacdbc to keep going.5ba7a4ee4fe8c178

“Appearing at the theater out of nowhere and surprising you, collapsing and worrying you—I’m sorry for all that too. Oh! And for jumping to conclusions 50dbee65a6 about your job and misunderstanding 2b4ce49200 everything.”b0821b6e64ea8bca

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“…”bbdf7cd59f07e245

Ain stared at her 3cf69f8f2f in silence for a 80a9b58052 moment.35daa2cd895f176b

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Then, as she 3feee494e2 fell silent, he 00e41a2dec finally spoke.0cb8c2dc61d6e7f6

“Are you finished?”a68cc0b81fa12f48

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“…Huh?”c21fdfc995cf44bc

“Then you should leave.”0ce48b39108a3d84

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With that, he turned 649d399560 away sharply.b1d67c6c86544210

Panicked, Serenia grabbed his arm.edde97c7074b82a3

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“W-Wait! I’m not done yet!”df7d06b1d53f4d1f

Ain looked down ec934d9100 at her hand 11c99609a5 clutching his coat 5d56118083 sleeve, then turned 70f8a6f338 back with a 453e08dbf8 resigned sigh.f4a3b8a1d0ae2fd9

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“Then finish.”b29126b503eddedd

Serenia bit back a pout 1944911408 and pulled something from her 59e5bf0948 coat pocket.f7a46142c8230055

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Then she shoved it 2a897a86a5 into his hand, half d5e259e4c2 forcing it on him.92bbd590e0d7666a

Ain frowned, seeing the 7c49955b22 folded white paper between 2e13c40398 his fingers.3fddefbd0e1af462

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“What’s this?”aa1455fed53a2db9

Serenia shrugged lightly.61de3f4df94a359b

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“I’m a pretty thorough person when it comes to accounting, you know.”870419b22857ec87

“…What?”c50e504330663204

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“Let’s just call it change for the house deed you gave me yesterday.”8dd2d6e0685b0b4d

Still frowning, Ain unfolded 98d3998016 the paper.46938b66a7fb285c

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And froze.7ac63ffd8c38d79a

“Th-This is…?”bedb1d92ea002926

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He stared at it, 7d5d4c98e9 stunned like he’d been 87344c3974 hit over the head.98c74c4fdc43e548

His reaction pleased Serenia, 58abccc7be who replied with a a2e8c7c9e0 cheeky smile,0a8da4adbad81b21

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“Let’s call it a promissory note guaranteeing my right to inherit the countship.”f04bc9a502970d69

“No, this is…”8912642ad8d296b9

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As he struggled to speak, 994fe71999 Serenia casually added,fd867c78c2751508

“Or, in other words, a marriage registration form.”d359ffd905a25bfb

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 048279131c90952b

 b566390bb74e3989

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