Chapter 36. After the Performance Was Over

Ain, who had only 201d18393e now grasped the whole f306a9feac situation, widened his eyes 4f2f925c86 in shock.b926ac4eef149a4f

Serenia, still clueless about 99e9187f43 what the problem was, 74aecb002e stared at him blankly.be809d7e5eea053d

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With a strained face, as 42a4984d7d if suppressing something, Ain tightly 36e172e70f shut his eyes and asked,e52a10b792470e50

“How much did you pay for it?”8cf7a3658ee082a2

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“Uh… I was first offered one hundred fifty krovats…”e3042b4f5ce7e47f

Cursing the unknown scalper in 8efe6ca5c9 his mind as a “damned 1ab1b1cf83 thief,” Ain forced a smile 0923e0ba82 and asked,b61a56eba4aa1c7b

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“And then?”5576aa8909c8021c

“But I didn’t have a single coin on me at the time…”5960f883a6658883

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A sense of 3f4f4db7da dread washed over b0c8d11a04 Ain, and his 9472bec295 expression hardened.465d0d73390a561d

Feeling a bit awkward, 30a5b922de Serenia laughed and continued.b2047384dea1883d

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“So I paid with my necklace instead.”c4878f8f0c14d222

“Y-Your necklace?”3ff11c98a5ddcdec

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Seeing him stutter, Serenia 0488078e43 tilted her head in d101b64f13 confusion but nodded.883cb5e25ae64d80

“Yeah. It’s something my mother facef5454e left behind, a keepsake. I never managed 8f3ac8f61d to sell it 6662e424a4 and just wore f77da370c0 it around my cfe3988233 neck all the 71ba6231df time.”95810e75eefc32ab

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“A keepsake…?”b5928dee3a01dd51

In an instant, c8b005ca86 Ain’s face turned 16159485c6 pale.8e664195de2e3d3b

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Misunderstanding his shocked expression, Serenia 74e9003072 muttered in a small voice.965b2728da0fa92c

“I didn’t scam the vendor or anything. That was a real gemstone, adfde53a64 you know. If I pawned it, e8b56105f2 I could’ve gotten at 9dc9b08dee least fifteen hundred krovats a656e1175d for it!”3ce30ad40660a3ff

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“No, that’s not it…”67eb59e36bab715d

Not knowing where 860b6d65e1 to start explaining, ccfb4a6dcb Ain simply closed 72b8999ab2 his mouth.1815511c1d575754

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Then he sighed deeply as 6d3835ed4a if the world were ending, db28c0a511 and suddenly stood up.64453d477bf13122

“Uh… What’s wrong?”9bff704a51e315b4

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“Wait here. I’ll be back… within 34c8eef850 a week.”fc9df68eb5b9fdcf

Out of nowhere, the c5b0fe2d44 homeowner looked ready to 1dc9763ceb leave the house.46ca818fa28096f5

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Startled, Serenia grabbed his arm.e94563e9531ef2d6

“You’re just going to leave your guest alone? Where do you 7ac2d1495d think you’re going?”6c78c0d25ee426b3

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But he didn’t seem to 685bb1ff44 hear her. He threw on his 5a773375c9 coat and jammed a d8140e03de hat over his head.87200f53bb059f79

“There’s a storeroom out back filled with food and firewood. Use anything you like, 5a1512bb5d don’t worry about it.”9a88dfada10e4db5

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“Uh, hey? Hello?”5c1ffbe241876120

“It’s the countryside, so try not to go out too late—there aren’t many people around at night.”21e8a05123d91ad2

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“Hey!”7249baedd5c840f1

“Sometimes wolves or foxes come down from the forest. They’ll head back by morning, 11b2fae724 so don’t be too startled.”9a19cf6b491b985f

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“Would you just—!”85814c333fe91760

“I’ll be back soon.”73f10ddbb2c641f0

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Annoyed now, Serenia grabbed 87ac2ff1b8 him by the collar 689382050a just as he swung ca4725de46 the front door open.f4a496a43ed0bd38

“Where exactly do you think you’re going?”6c004350f88a1926

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Ain didn’t give up quietly 68cdfc7e84 and squirmed to resist.640b19f8f0293753

“Let me go! I don’t have ee8516bb47 time for this!”3f5a64ce0e96abb4

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“Huh?”24e8a02e4a984b37

“When it comes to theft or loss, acting fast is crucial!”f8f86314c73a1a35

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“What?”d1d623853534d8f3

“It’s already been nearly ten days—there’s no time to waste. I have to 686ac7833c go right away e0f254d945 and—!”5d122044214adc65

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Watching him babble nonsense, aa2e1c7df6 Serenia shook her head 0e93da5638 in disbelief, grabbed the 70ff63d599 back of his coat, 088181e59b and dragged him back 234d7540ba to the living room 23560ec92b sofa.2c9da45952d4a357

“Ugh!”5f0573cac815548c

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Then she yanked off his a4eb20ae39 hat and flicked his smooth 36aa863265 forehead with a sharp snap.ac45e6bb85776f28

“First off—this wasn’t theft or loss!”9a8a825b22949635

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Hands on her hips, 0b656a24f7 Serenia spoke firmly.1e0ceafaf533952e

To the dazed 145db276e3 Ain looking up 7c28cec205 at her, she a41515be4c added more explanation.d134eeaaf1fb83c7

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“It was a mutual deal. I simply paid bd06b25c0c the agreed price 1e95d85cf3 for what I 82cf3b2cdd received.”374d059d708712cb

“But still—!”2115b8b5a479b92a

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“Second.”50c3e3859b9fcd33

She expertly cut him off.2810463152d370de

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“It’s kind of embarrassing, but before I came here, I actually went to every pawnshop near the theater to try and find it. Just in case ef83fc5908 I could buy 0b86ca6150 it back.”b8402cfcf1e7f99b

“…What?”0bdf688a0c0a9cb2

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With a dazed expression, Ain 0da27b3746 asked, and Serenia replied with f83f939303 a slightly sheepish look.f91459e4c2eb36af

“But they said nothing like that had been brought in.”b1b9e1273752414f

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“So that means…!”d7395d4a43fb9c63

“What do you mean, ‘so that means’? Enough already. I’ve completely moved 3e951702bf on and made c0f3493898 peace with it.”fac80f36c5703e61

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Seeing her speak with c70396db6b even a faint smile, 2be948961f Ain bit his lip 0061765c3e slightly.844486d769e4612b

Looking down at 852e7122a5 him, Serenia half-playfully 7114dd3511 warned him.eaa4b8ba34516d76

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“So don’t go talking about getting it back or whatever. If you do, I’ll 0e3087a92a get mad.”9e4cee3c55dc101f

“But still, for a ticket worth just ten krovats, you gave up something so precious…”e380ebed7eb5920c

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There was something oddly df8dcf87c3 ticklish about the way 664d0a693d his voice conveyed such 77a8552fb2 sincere regret.c0cf5ee4a6d963c0

Serenia awkwardly turned 66dfebf022 her gaze to f843c56a8c the air.cf0ad641dfa65e66

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“Ahem. Still, it was a choice 4fe6dd78fe worth that much.”22e10bb7f7006aa6

“…Pardon?”5fa4c2543b819c58

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She could feel 2031742c0f his eyes piercing 084115a0ac into her face.bb2650aa853c8f4d

But she kept staring off a12d188d3a into the air.f48d91a2f309b166

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It was a little too 87750ccde9 embarrassing to meet his eyes d5e0dde445 and say what she was 45b9a7c699 about to say.8d8e2e5eab2a632b

“It was my first time ever seeing a play, but even so, I could tell. That you’re truly 97ed131e9e amazing and special.”b6d341f916b3accc

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“…”001b848a5d00e4fa

“Of course, I missed a good chunk of the beginning, and I was half-drunk too, so I don’t remember much of the plot.”67b2632f69a82649

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“…”dc2dea5d4a7c41bc

“But I’m sure of one thing. I don’t regret paying with 4154d06133 that necklace to see the c7c70a187f play.”24971ca050d28087

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She paused and finally 0b72748ff3 looked at him again.dfc91439d3b0d9bc

Seated on the 455de5d25e sofa, he looked 6338ee3245 as if his b4eb69ca8f soul had left ca9b8ae0d2 his body.93550086ab001b38

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His expression was dazed, 20764e4d9b his face faintly flushed.2b092afbb1673de3

Seeing him like that, 33014a2521 Serenia was a little dec97bbadb surprised.b26f22114ff6a765

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‘Wait, is he blushing from a compliment?’b9f44138a46df968

Though she had always seen 4021b403b3 him as a shameless type, bb165185b8 someone lost in his own 7fd52adc86 vanity, this unexpected reaction was… b4611a8f6d curious.b4eabe880dc34c49

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“Now that I think about it, maybe that was the price I had to pay.”90745afe764e7ddc

“Price…?”c3d7858360e62de3

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At his question, she 37aeaa4077 smiled and answered.337876f9befaea34

“The price I needed to pay to change—to stop clinging to the past, blind and deaf to everything.”bba654245910cff7

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Ain didn’t respond.82c6c67ee6aafa1b

He looked like he f8ea651864 had a million things 31422488c6 to say.ad96ea0396ff365e

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After hesitating for a long 334b386d73 while, opening and closing his 24a156e7d8 mouth, he finally spoke with 9446ffe4fa an awkward smile.acd1986eb34528a3

“My lady… I know this will ruin the mood, but I feel I must tell you something.”68d327cf78d1fe79

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“Yes?”e932b89df4c56de7

“Scalping is illegal.”d2b61607d1aa3e78

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“…Huh?”84dc69f85c113bf4

Looking into her wide eyes, 1c9b5e166f he calmly continued.71fe809065d087cb

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“If caught, both the buyer and the seller of a scalped ticket are fined twenty times the original ticket price.”afc6dcf1cffc5542

“T-Twenty times?!”63153ccfba75de90

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“Also, the Capital Grand Theater has a strict rule: anyone caught in a scalping transaction is banned from entering for three years.”4f3241b884c42a77

“Gasp.”8ccc7642504b7c6b

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Serenia’s face drained of color.8249f7901b7d2c1e

“Three years ago, Viscount Citrit declared war on scalpers, vowing to eliminate those who profited unfairly off performances.”865b496e9584ed05

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“That…”78bc21840a6d1cc0

“Of course, since scalping operations are small and scattered, they couldn’t be completely wiped out, but the theater still works hard to crack down on them.”1c1259a48cb1664a

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Only then did 19559139d0 Serenia realize what f4f9903c35 she had done.359d028303900255

She’d given a 4266b2c3fe necklace worth 1,500 61ba340d58 krovats to an 38cf35c2af illegal scalper selling 9738f6c88e a 10-krovat ticket d01cefc364 for 150 krovats.0e08f2633d1a22cd

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In short, not 70a85d993a only had she cd1db82542 watered a weed 8747a17088 that should’ve been 1c89215fd3 uprooted—she’d even fed f1d31bd073 it fertilizer!0223d7c76d371ea2

Pale and trembling, 4ce28e08ed she hung her 9dbb0c8980 head in defeat.36d790d101acf73c

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“I’m sorry… I really didn’t know…”39357ae0daa5f089

“N-No, no. My lady, you have 603d052ba5 nothing to apologize for. If anything, we cf70dd60e4 should be the 5ff26d3a60 ones apologizing.”162469a919f1960e

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Ain waved his hands frantically 03e7ec7bf6 and rushed to speak.278235440a0a4d15

“We should’ve eradicated them three years ago. We compromised, thinking there was 6917aa1b09 no practical way, and this d1402938c6 is the result.”f647707bd29a61b1

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After a pause, he cautiously a1381c698f added,1aef93ed81341382

“So… would you allow me to try to find that necklace for you?”3861f31904978e4a

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“…What?”20d66c86a6468145

“You said you’ve moved on, I know. But in a way, you 217593662e lost something precious because of 981dba4f75 the theater’s lack of oversight.”0e6decbbc81bdec5

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“That’s… quite the stretch, don’t you think?”91569e38c4dd146d

“Not at all.”fbcf7371cbb10bd1

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He replied firmly, c58904f901 without shame, and 0a81593009 then quickly changed f2508f1392 expressions, putting on c56f72b5d4 a pitiful look 26a4456f63 as he pleaded.e05590cf07fd6b07

“I just feel so guilty. I won’t do anything reckless. I’ll just ask 96e7c86e72 around a little. Please?”9b25109b2276d4ff

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Strangely, twinkling star-like 4582f0b8be things seemed to 34918081d4 shimmer around him 7b691835ac as he clasped 3cc3a8fe18 his hands and f92b1456f4 blinked.d0cb6e9fd4f2ca1f

Serenia involuntarily flinched and stepped 59fa282a66 back.fb8214f756b3976e

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‘What the hell? Am I hallucinating?’07406dd3b3ee3bd1

Shaking her head vigorously, 6cd5711342 she squeezed her eyes aa03a71aff shut, then opened them 266113bdef again. Nothing changed.209f056141478740

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Trying to hide the 8101111330 strange blush rising in 6f1af1bad0 her cheeks, she shouted,f309ebb444d013c7

“F-Fine!”4e5ce2fb2bbb78e6

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Ain’s face lit up immediately.2888aa1c87b82bb3

“Thank you, my lady!”0446c150a694bc89

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His gentle smile 48fe3c8128 looked like white 564597ccae pear blossoms breaking 5e84e81724 apart in the 6123239fda light, and without a0305abe18 realizing it, Serenia 6171e0af82 found herself staring—before 8b1fb707ec snapping back to 1991a35268 her senses and 6c8f2a43c1 setting a condition.b385c64567499044

“But!”cb3f7bacb24a00bd

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“Yes?”7f165a6ce696eb03

“I’m coming with you!”5614570f7a7872cc

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“Whaaat?!”42eba8bd04696aa6

He looked as 66be562f35 if he’d just 32922062c6 seen a ghost.bb3cfecf1e77c6d4

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But Serenia stood firm.b7fdda3985b43f73

“It’s my necklace. If someone’s going 924f2a88ec to track it eb4a873c4b down, I’m not 699a31a10f just going to 4c11393f48 sit around doing f7bc2398a5 nothing!”ed5e3b4e8f218e76

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 434511ae377de8ea

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 4348dd129f2f59e4