Chapter 9. After the Explanation

“I know! I know, but I’m telling you, it’s not like that!”aebf99aa8f35b374

“Not like that?”4ce4300379f711bc

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Ain narrowed his eyes, a383a5b466 setting the nearly melted 12a2797b71 ice pack down with 8bff7e2b2f a thud, crossing his be824ac635 arms, and grumbling.539e81a785a6a120

“Even I, a commoner, know that proposals among nobles are 100% pre-arranged performances.”d2022d60e977ba16

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“I’m saying this wasn’t like that…”ad58a68984590761

Exhausted from 6a105938dd explaining herself, 687da65741 Serenia let 7997b2dcea out a cf5b7fbf6a deep sigh 73883d2eeb before continuing.9f1a9d96025a0dac

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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!”69073d3bd2f6a55c

The moment she 4aa1405dc1 mentioned rejecting the 0dc70955a6 proposal, Ain’s sulking 054518a60b expression lightened slightly.ed490db7255b0cf3

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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.”2d865ff530b8d854

“Humiliation?”ea2d68715b5d6554

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Ain raised 6befd0092d an eyebrow 4a11308b2d in confusion.072ffa04ad3caa05

Seeing her chance, Serenia 81e7492bf5 dove into the full af811fd261 story, sparing no details.08d7fa180b200fca

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She told him about d177c75481 how Raskal had commanded 157b9f3a1b her to marry him, 080edd25d6 her refusal, and his 6af1a654c4 audacious demand for repayment 4d56b6a9ca with her body. She even confessed to f24c9476a1 slapping Raskal, though she 276903f3fc nervously downplayed it.33de3b8fa4fbee16

“You slapped His Grace, the Duke?”6cc58c506e8c08bb

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Noticing Ain’s stiffened 11fcffb1b4 expression, Serenia quickly 0b783b1206 corrected herself.a38619c324317ae0

“Well… ‘slapped’ might be an exaggeration. It was more like… a light tap. Softer than a clap, really.”7edb19d1237e837d

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She glanced at 8d0dd8b3cf him anxiously before 9ebffa87f1 adding.d8ff9cdf1db3a39f

“So I don’t think His Grace will sue the Barishart family or seek major revenge. Probably…”40595cd90172f022

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“Hmm.”55a354786589c943

Rubbing his chin 59bb9bfe0a thoughtfully, Ain finally 6b10feafb6 spoke.4d0aa6d969479b7a

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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?”ed85bf5930339fb0

“Yes! Exactly!” Serenia nodded vigorously.5b00ed54c031836b

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Ain, however, tilted 42d7bd6621 his head skeptically.e01de88bbc46c521

“If that’s the case, something doesn’t add up.”589e649c538421fa

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“What… doesn’t?”950d253e2d473ee0

He handed 216c391db4 her the 461161a6ce ‘extra edition’ 63552bca04 newspaper.224f5020543efc01

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“The paper that printed this ‘extra edition’ today is called ‘Gossip in Shedron.’”bd801450a05a724b

“Um… okay. And?”f74ced1123bcf088

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“It’s a small, yellow press publication that covers everything from social scandals to entertainment gossip.”ea45d31d825ef1a3

Serenia’s face hardened 73bfc24ab6 slightly at his 5651bc4ed2 explanation.0d9df171b751ed2f

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A small, a59589cd27 struggling tabloid.2b8008b351682685

Could such 26b8eb88a8 a publication 4a93aed322 really have e89a2a0236 produced and a4872cc80a distributed an d1c264a6a8 ‘extra edition’ 281da52b76 overnight, enough 1849c17656 to blanket 675f0aa5b7 the entire 7a6d115472 capital?b90ba9e39420f31d

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Impossible.f2ad15f4f93c0439

Which meant…dcbd1888e6d2858d

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“They knew in advance?”69074de81ae90742

Impressed by her quick 0debb10b3c deduction, Ain nodded.16aa5f922fa3e9e4

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“In other words, His Grace didn’t propose to you on a whim. This wasn’t just some capricious act.”c2564b393a5f3714

“But how could he have known I’d be at the banquet?” Serenia trailed off mid-sentence, realization dawning on her face.23242d9fdcf0dfe4

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“The bank’s final notice…”b7384bebda890ca2

It wouldn’t have 56b23a39ff been difficult for b64b9a1be0 Raskal to manipulate dc126ca28e the timing of cb69b2caa3 the bank’s ultimatum.aee6ab7f39136133

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Which meant a33d5160fd that everything 8fa0c56b52 had been da71679add part of 0a531b3905 his plan.95d12ce26422ada5

“But why?”453655f7082b116b

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The unanswered question escaped 97b06a9c6d her lips.27aa2a5d2309b1e6

Ain, watching her confusion, replied calmly, “Isn’t it obvious? To marry you, my lady.”90c05c71bab496eb

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“That can’t be…”cd4c920ea338274a

Serenia instinctively 080123d35c tried to 60f3b03233 deny it 6a6047189f but fell 7788404083 silent, her 2cec7f7c99 mind racing 6e28b8bfb6 through the 46801132dd events.90858db723f04167

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‘Come to think 188c271f08 of it, he a47b6e0f5c kept demanding an 96d5577e84 answer from me.’2ee8fa7c7bf6379d

If his 63d51e875b intention had 146795ac7d been solely 09b8acf89c to insult 032c85da57 her, an 166e4c2f7a answer wouldn’t 9ca89cae2f have been 540f0254f6 necessary.9d0c25d0779ca6d5

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As absurd as it e458617009 seemed, the pieces fit 98c2ba2812 together perfectly.6278a1732a7544c0

If Raskal’s true goal 6d712c5610 was to make her 3ca763d0bd his wife, then…0c81121e8a3dd9b4

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“But why?”9d5b30b23834928f

Why would 92deb419a9 he want 2f4c119dc9 to marry 7171b5de59 the daughter efe89825ea of the 5d65bfd0b4 man responsible 1e20eaeae6 for his 1487e145b7 father’s death?666f6a112c2468e7

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Unable to 855a26a447 understand, Serenia 90a18bc38c muttered her 1faa8b7164 doubts aloud.fe79ee71d3a884ee

Ain, catching c09821f388 her questioning c9ee69bdd5 gaze, responded 199c243914 with mock e40d9c54ab exasperation.ceb34f1d3edd1977

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“Are you seriously asking me that?”29ff76f846d2283a

His blunt 4c0aea32ab tone made cfb5ed1d8f Serenia flinch, f07cbd4d41 and he bf8ed9349f continued, clearly f78313e7b0 displeased.5de6962c1fb4adaa

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“You seem to keep forgetting, but I’m your fiancé.”20bc832ddc4edc2f

“…What?”17f289c1eaa3e76f

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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?”4b241d32ce0c0b0b

Serenia froze, realizing her 23356f9ac4 mistake, then stammered.f08f17e20a7bd71b

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“But… Raskal proposed to me before our engagement, so technically, he wasn’t hitting on ‘your fiancée’…”8aa412724bc6c64d

Her rambling d4dcbd5043 trailed off 58954abf51 as she 210d911016 noticed Ain’s 16ecb18c9f unamused expression.3a93b11131f190c4

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“Ah. So I’m just ‘your fiancé,’ but he gets to be ‘Raskal,’ is that it?”2d42b731622f051f

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.’”d6506abc7e96bd9f

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Despite her sincere apology, 60230469c6 Ain still pouted, clearly def2500cc3 unsatisfied.d880ea990ab2e697

After a long pause, debc59b7b5 he finally spoke, his 8fe2ade1aa expression twisted in frustration.860f131187898e54

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“Well, now that it’s come to this, I can’t just let it go.”a3b32f1cecf40af5

“…What?”4f20c3439aec661c

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Meeting her uneasy gaze, he declared firmly, “Let’s delay the marriage registration until after December 8th.”f1fe251c7135f067

“What?!”838b5ce3699d7972

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Serenia bit e0bd438790 her lip, e492842a90 swallowing the 5c1e020fca words ‘But 7f811e026d what about d3cfe98b47 my three 667c324bfa million krovats?!’ 56a46ed4a4 Unable to 45ff5bec77 voice her 337ee42aa3 protest, she a12957a78a fidgeted nervously.d6d08d018be62da0

‘What if he—that fcace2f077 man—sends me a 9dfbcde368 box of poison? If I don’t get bd972fe3c6 the three million krovats e3090490e6 before I die, how dcc82d38dd will I cover the 9d92301f4d hospital bills and the 96beb9f5d0 bank debts?’7e427374e79027be

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Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Ain continued nonchalantly, “And during that week, let’s create some evidence.”ef31ae334ab3ac2a

“Evidence?”a67b4ba9d49fa8de

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She looked f171e261de at him, dd80a5a39b confused. Ain’s stern 39b1800a12 expression melted 9f51ce4dc0 away into 2490de8156 a radiant 04d800a7b6 smile as ee4c5307d4 he replied.e3f775436c6b6b4d

“Yes. Proof of our passionate love.”094f09f8cfb642af

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“And what kind of proof is that? A couple’s ring?”32ec648be7c78267

“No, something much more convincing.”c0d46cedcaffb6c3

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“More convincing…?”318c4e116c581870

Feeling a growing sense 17a1a928e6 of dread, Serenia frowned 53f75e8de8 warily. Ain, still smiling, 11b6ab2c51 said cheerfully.2f6546ac44ba9adb

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“Let’s step outside for now, shall we?”2d25bf79a3c813a7

* * *2799f6132625a035

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A short while later.96250140e0b7cf23

In a small 518358126a forest near the b8671b2c8a Barishart estate, two 461f7d2793 figures peeked out ad236e90b1 from between low 613ad4da31 shrubs.233b24ddd361e652

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Having escaped through the c31746063e secret underground passage of 823a259d38 the mansion, the pair f4d9c89006 were now disguised using f8feabae4e the wigs and clothes 405e48dc77 that had been stashed 56fdec3ec4 inside the box Ain b04aaef339 had arrived in.b48910ecf8800c29

The men’s wig and b2921c6df8 hat were easy enough c5727f8ae6 to understand.81f96044c4d3f371

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But the 6df20cc19f women’s wig f5957a2697 and dress de3d4805e8 left Serenia 1fe0d97f47 baffled. When she c4af03fcea asked, his ba3c5f5d06 response was f85bb9f11a ridiculous.be94e831cff1e314

“If there hadn’t been a secret escape route, I was planning to sneak out in disguise as a woman.”feee5da5577118ce

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Serenia imagined the tall 6cb5e819e2 Ain—easily a head taller f018790e05 than her—wearing a long-haired 94f42de591 wig and a dress.63f72d8988cd3bd7

It would 956bd952af have looked 6f7b8491ff absurd, she 7e2e133324 thought, but ec2756a063 her imagination 282eb736a1 betrayed her. Thanks to his 87db7ddbf0 annoyingly good looks, 7184875002 the image in 20e11b6fa3 her mind felt 72503b1439 surprisingly fitting and 4d82b8c6d1 not out of be8b19d34e place at all.8e5583c2268cfbe8

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Feeling oddly defeated, Serenia d9a2891004 scowled.9f5998c59afdd9f3

Meanwhile, Ain 789f0c29ea flagged down 5c58d99774 a carriage 5834f14dc6 nearby.ceaff6898983f14a

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After traveling be84fd58d1 for nearly 320738e6ed thirty minutes, b346cd9573 they arrived bb80808028 in front 1e0e8c7f99 of a 10a3e8d132 large building.cb9028c5b0b7df14

As Serenia clumsily 7dfe7913f8 accepted his escort 5dd5155952 and stepped out 14e05eb9f0 of the carriage, 053521587e she froze when c0fe32dcaa she saw the 112aa02f79 sign on the 94cd42669d building.18bbca95771e359d

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<Neriad Hotel>4e0dd6532a52e714

Shocked, she yanked her hand out of his grip and shouted, “What exactly are you trying to do?!”dc7f1983341a43f7

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“Excuse me?”df86ff8b7a1b0be5

“You… you… pervert!”1553507d985b970a

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Caught off 3370173211 guard by 8f54509be8 the sudden a2ce2a121c accusation, Ain 322e89d951 responded with bcb54f5e1a a bewildered ce17e5d174 expression.bbf9c31374a1a998

“My lady, what on earth are you imagining?”b6f26077b3c41530

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“…What?”c0e24fe085ff989d

When Serenia stammered, Ain 2f5745690a heaved a deep sigh, 419b712844 as if truly disheartened, f1af1e56da and muttered under his 36e747af58 breath.5653fc14e326d67c

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“Although my profession might lend itself to such misunderstandings, I am not that kind of shameless person.”a945635911c70bda

“Then… why are we here…?”0cb11f5b7a5ea4f9

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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.”eeb1324ab8692f22

Finally, Serenia understood what he had meant by ‘convincing evidence.’81b810d89a371cf0

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“Oh. So the evidence is… photographs?”21913e7cfa6cb753

“Exactly. More specifically, ‘photographs taken over two years by a persistent journalist secretly following our dates.'”61c74dec30ae2ab4

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At his explanation, bfb3b1199c Serenia tilted her 56137ce42b head in confusion.e3e4761d7bbf0541

“Why go to the trouble of adding a backstory about being secretly followed?”484457406f874129

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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.”08f070d5bbb06528

Ah, that made 36473d99db sense.0f4fdbfad7640329

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Serenia nodded without suspicion.c1fc22028f43b914

Seeing her reaction, Ain 86765ee61c smiled meaningfully and led 48c914fe73 her into the hotel f2c0bc0138 restaurant.6c599c6a74c116d5

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