🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 7
After Returning Home
Completely unaware of the dark thoughts running through Serenia’s mind, Ain brightened and nodded.
“Understood. Then I will come here to pick you up by 8:40 tomorrow morning.”
“Well. Do whatever you want.”
She answered half-heartedly and unlocked the padlock hanging on the gate of the count’s estate.
“Then I’ll be going now. See you tomorrow, Mr. Ain Whatever.”
With that short farewell, Serenia pushed open the gate of the estate.
At that moment, Ain’s voice stopped her.
“Ah. One moment, my lady.”
She paused halfway through the gate and looked back with a puzzled expression. Ain continued with an awkward smile.
“There’s something I’d like to give you.”
As he spoke, he slowly slipped a hand inside his coat and pulled out a small jar about the size of an egg.
A familiar scent drifted from it, making Serenia’s eyes widen slightly.
It was the cool smell of wound ointment that had always clung to her father when she was little.
Of course, this scent was much richer and stronger than the one she remembered.
Which probably meant it was far more expensive too.
“…But why is he suddenly giving me this?”
When she looked at him with questioning eyes, Ain smiled awkwardly and lightly tapped his own right cheek.
Following that movement without thinking, Serenia raised her left hand and touched her cheek.
A sharp sting immediately spread across her skin, making her frown instinctively.
Only then did she realize it.
All this time, she had been standing in front of him with the scratches from the lace glove, the red handprint on her cheek, and even her split lip completely exposed.
Fluuuush—
Her face instantly turned bright red all the way to her ears.
Ain gently handed her the medicine jar.
Then, deliberately looking somewhere else, he spoke.
“This is a special ointment. Apply it three times a day, morning, afternoon, and evening, and it’ll heal completely in just three days without leaving a scar. I guarantee the effect. I use it often myself.”
His explanation went on so casually that Serenia’s ears reddened even more.
Because she realized this was his small act of kindness toward her.
Maybe it was because it had been so long since anyone treated her kindly.
For some reason, her chest felt strangely ticklish.
Clearing her throat awkwardly, she finally spoke.
“Th-Thank you for worrying about me.”
At her awkward but sincere words of thanks, Ain shrugged lightly and answered in an easy tone.
“It’s nothing. I’m only doing it because of the money.”
“…What?”
“Hm?”
“Because of… money?”
Seeing her stare at him blankly, Ain tilted his head.
Then, as if realizing something late, he let out a small gasp.
“Ah! Don’t tell me… you thought I was doing this because I was worried about you?”
“W-What? N-No, I mean…”
“Hm. This is a little embarrassing. To think my efforts to avoid going bankrupt from breaking the contract would be mistaken for affection or sincerity toward you.”
“That’s not what I—!”
“Well, they do say people are free to misunderstand things…”
“What?”
“Oh, that was just me talking to myself.”
“What did you say?!”
In front of Serenia glaring fiercely at him, Ain shamelessly continued joking around.
“Well, considering I possess this appearance, wealth, and manners, it’s understandable if you happen to fall for me.”
“Hah?!”
Serenia’s face twisted instantly.
But Ain continued without hesitation, even adding a small wink.
“Unfortunately, I need to remain everyone’s lover for the time being.”
“Everyone’s… lover?”
Ah.
Ain hurriedly covered his own mouth with an expression of regret.
Serenia frowned deeply while repeating those words in her head for a moment.
Then suddenly her eyes widened in horror.
“Don’t tell me… you’re not a loan shark, you’re a host?!”
“…”
For the first time, Ain lost his playful expression and fell silent.
Serenia took that silence as confirmation and gasped even louder.
“Seriously?! You’re really a host?!”
Everything that had felt strange and unnatural about him suddenly made perfect sense under that assumption.
“No wonder! He was way too handsome for a normal loan shark!”
Serenia covered her slowly opening mouth in shock.
“So that’s why he said it wasn’t a job you could do for long! And if he’s a host, then the whole gang-like organization thing also makes sense!”
Watching her nod seriously after reaching countless conclusions on her own, Ain finally spoke.
“That’s not true.”
“Ah. Okay.”
“It’s really not true!”
Seeing him insist so desperately, Serenia shrugged.
“You don’t have to make excuses.”
“It’s not an excuse—!”
“It’s fine. I really don’t care whether your job is loan shark, host, or whatever else.”
Her broad-minded response left Ain speechless for a while before he sighed deeply.
He barely resisted the urge to reveal his real profession.
It still was not the right time.
“…Since things turned out like this, maybe I should just go along with it?”
This seemed far more entertaining than pretending badly to be a loan shark.
The moment he thought that, his expression changed completely.
A lazy smile curved his eyes, and a charming smile spread across his lips.
Bending slightly at the waist, he lowered himself and looked up at her.
“If that’s the case, then gladly.”
The sudden shift in atmosphere startled Serenia and froze her in place.
In that brief moment, Ain smoothly reached out and took her hand.
The movement was so natural that Serenia only realized what was happening after her hand had already been half-pulled toward him.
By the time she stammered in panic—
Something lightly touched the back of her hand.
“…?”
Because of her cheap satin gloves, she could not actually feel it.
But it was obvious enough what had happened.
“T-This shameless host!!”
Serenia froze with wide eyes full of shock.
Still kneeling on one knee, Ain spoke in a soft, suggestive voice.
“I hope that tonight, I may appear in your dreams, my lady.”
Serenia looked as if she might vomit at any second.
Seeing that expression, Ain finally burst out laughing.
“Y-You’re laughing?!”
Ignoring her stuttering outrage, he gently released her hand, climbed back into the carriage, and winked.
“Then I shall see you again in your dreams.”
And just like that, after thoroughly turning Serenia’s mind upside down until the very end, Ain disappeared into the night with the sound of galloping horses.
Dooong—
As if perfectly timed, the distant bell announcing midnight began to ring.
Only after the faint vibrations completely faded did Serenia finally come back to her senses.
She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a long sigh deep enough to make the ground collapse beneath her.
Then she dragged herself into the dark, unlit house.
The next morning, the moment Serenia opened her eyes, she realized she had overslept.
Judging from the angle and brightness of the sunlight pouring through the window, it was around 8:30 in the morning.
Startled, she kicked away the blanket and jumped up.
She hurriedly washed up, changed clothes, and fixed her messy hair.
While doing so, her eyes landed on the medicine jar she had received yesterday.
She hesitated briefly, then picked it up and walked to the window.
Using the glass as a mirror since she had none, she carefully applied the ointment to her wounds.
Then she tilted her head slightly.
The atmosphere outside felt strangely noisy.
Something even seemed to be flying around.
“Are people having snowball fights with yesterday’s snow or something?”
She muttered to herself while carefully spreading ointment over her injuries.
At that moment—
Whoooosh—
Something carried by the wind slapped directly against the window.
As if by magic, it landed perfectly at her eye level.
It was half a newspaper page.
An extra edition.
Huge bold letters were printed all across it.
[Exclusive! Duke Admancanon’s Secret Love Story?!]
[A Couple of the Century That Surpassed the Hatred of the Previous Generation!!]
[Count’s Daughter ‘Serenia Barishart’ Receives a Proposal! But Who Exactly Is She?!]
“W-What the hell is thiiiiiis?!!!”
Screaming, Serenia immediately threw the window open.
The newspaper stuck to the glass fluttered back into the air and flew far away.
Her outstretched hand grabbed nothing but empty air.
Whoooooosh—
Cold winter wind poured through the wide-open window.
And at the same time, she finally understood why the outside atmosphere had felt so chaotic.
“There! She’s there!”
“Where?! Where?!”
“The second-floor window!”
“Lens! Get the long-range lens!!”
After the extra editions spread throughout the capital that morning, reporters searching for the next big story had swarmed around the Barishart estate like ants.
Serenia stood frozen like a statue from shock.
Then—
Click! Click! Click!
Like thunder, flashes and shutter sounds exploded from every direction.
Only after hundreds of photos were taken over several seconds did she finally regain her senses.
She hurriedly slammed the window shut and pulled the curtains closed, but the reporters chasing a major scoop refused to give up.
“Lady Barishart! Please give us just one interview!”
“How do you feel right now?!”
“Please show your face one more time!”
“Booo! The people deserve the right to know!”
The noise that could not be fully blocked by the windows echoed loudly throughout the room.
To make matters worse, the sound of horses approached from the distance.
8:40.
The exact time Ain had promised last night.
Serenia realized it instantly.
Standing there blankly, she muttered,
“I’m doomed.”
