ATPE 12

After the Praise Was Over

“Out of all the hotels out there, why did he specifically bring me to one run by his regular customer? Was he trying to show off?”

A deep wrinkle formed on Serenia’s nose bridge.

“And as if that wasn’t enough, they openly flirted right in front of me!”

In the end, she uncrossed her arms and slammed both fists onto the sofa.

“He looked sooo happy. Then why does he even want to retire? From what I can see, being a host is absolutely his true calling!”

Even she knew that getting angry like this only made her look stranger.

But for some reason, she just could not stop talking.

‘It’s probably because too many things piled up yesterday and today.’

That was what Serenia thought.

While she kept grumbling to herself, dinner was brought up to the room and later the empty dishes were taken away.

Only after finishing her bath in the warm water that had been prepared along with fresh clothes did she finally calm down a little and throw herself onto the bed.

“Maybe it’s because of the warm bath water⋯⋯.”

Not only her mind but even her body had relaxed, and drowsiness naturally began to wash over her.

It had been a long time since she last rested on such soft and warm blankets, and she was slowly nodding off before she realized it.

Knock knock.

At the light knocking sound, Serenia jumped in surprise and practically bounced off the bed.

A calm female voice came from outside the room.

“Are you awake by any chance? There’s something I need to deliver.”

“Ah, ah, yes!”

Serenia hurried toward the door without even thinking about covering her hair or face and immediately swung it open.

Angela, who was standing outside, saw Serenia’s black hair but did not look particularly surprised.

Instead, she smiled softly and spoke.

“A gift arrived for you, dear guest.”

As she said that, she handed Serenia a bouquet of roses along with a small box.

“Th-This is⋯⋯?”

“Ain sent it.”

Then she pointed toward the bouquet with her eyes and continued.

“I think there’s a card inside too.”

At those words, Serenia awkwardly smiled and searched between the flower stems before pulling out the card.

Elegant handwriting was written across the stiff paper.

『You seemed to have forgotten this, so I’m sending it to you.
Three times a day. Please don’t forget to apply it.』

Only after reading that did Serenia suddenly realize something and reflexively touch her left cheek.

The rough feeling of the scab that had formed could be felt at her fingertips.

Without even noticing Angela watching her with an odd expression, Serenia awkwardly cleared her throat and turned the card over.

There was a postscript written there that was even longer than the main message.

『The photographer said today’s shoot was difficult because of that wound, since it limited the possible angles.
Please make an effort to return to your original appearance as soon as possible for smoother evidence collection.』

‘This man seriously has a way of talking⋯⋯!’

Serenia frowned deeply and clicked her tongue with all her strength.

Startled by the sound, Angela widened her eyes and asked:

“Oh my. Is something wrong?”

“Huh? Ah! N-No, it’s not that⋯⋯!”

Only then did Serenia realize Angela was still standing there.

Startled, she hurriedly waved her hands.

Then, with an embarrassed face, she looked around awkwardly while trying to think of an excuse.

“I just got a little annoyed at myself for forgetting something important⋯⋯.”

After giving that rough excuse, she laughed awkwardly.

Then, wanting to quickly end this uncomfortable meeting with the hotel owner who was somehow connected through one man(?), she hurriedly added:

“Th-Thank you for bringing this up. No! Thank you very much.”

Angela smiled gently at her reply.

“You may speak comfortably with me, dear guest.”

“⋯⋯Pardon?”

“Well. I was told not to ask questions, so I have no intention of asking or pretending that I noticed anything⋯⋯ but I also don’t plan to act like I don’t recognize something obvious.”

“Ah⋯⋯?”

“Black hair like pieces cut from the night sky. Pale blue eyes like mermaid tears.
You look exactly like the description in the newspaper extra from this morning.”

Only after seeing Angela wink did Serenia realize that she had completely exposed her bare face and hair.

Terrified, she hurriedly stumbled backward, and Angela quietly spoke as if trying to reassure her.

“There’s no need for that. I told you earlier, didn’t I? Whether you’re a prince, a princess, or a count’s daughter, to me you are simply a guest.”

Hearing that calm voice made Serenia feel slightly embarrassed about how flustered she had become.

Awkwardly, she touched the hair near her ear.

Silence briefly filled the space in front of Room 312.

Unable to endure the awkward silence, Serenia nervously started speaking.

“Um, by the way⋯⋯.”

“Yes? Please tell me, dear guest. Is there something making you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s not that. I heard that⋯⋯ that person once saved you or something⋯⋯.”

Angela was briefly confused about who “that person” meant, but soon realized Serenia was talking about Ain and smiled as she nodded.

“Yes. That’s true.”

“Could I perhaps ask what happened⋯⋯?”

At Serenia’s careful question, Angela secretly grinned inwardly.

‘Ah, how cute. She must be jealous. Oh dear, what a rude thought to have about a young lady.’

Scolding herself internally for being improper, she happily began speaking.

“It was around ten years ago.”

“Ah, yes.”

“At the time, I was heartbroken because my husband no longer looked at me.”

“⋯⋯Pardon?”

She said that about the husband who had actually passed away ten years ago.

For some reason, Angela had a strange talent for making things sound easy to misunderstand.

In truth, she only used vague wording because even now the memory still hurt her deeply.

But naturally, Serenia misunderstood it completely.

Unaware of that, Angela smiled gently and continued.

“Then Ain saved me.”

“Yes?”

“Hm. I suppose you could say he opened my eyes to a new kind of joy.”

“Excuse me?”

“No, actually, it’s better to say he showed me a whole new world.”

Wh-What kind of world?

Serenia could not bring herself to ask and instead turned pale.

All of this misunderstanding began because Serenia mistakenly believed Ain’s profession was that of a host.

In reality, Angela had simply been praising Ain’s theater performances, which had given her a reason to keep living after she lost her husband and wanted only to follow him in death.

But Serenia, who firmly believed Ain was a host, misunderstood every single word into something scandalous.

And Angela unknowingly pushed that misunderstanding even further.

“To put it simply, on the very first night I met Ain, he saved my dried-up soul.”

Serenia’s pupils shook as if there had been an earthquake.

So in other words, the golden card Ain proudly showed earlier was a gift Angela gave him after being extremely satisfied with his “service” that night.

Something like:

‘Come play at the hotel with me whenever you’re bored.’

That was how Serenia understood it.

And she became furious at the thoughtless fact that he had used that card for his fiancée’s(?) accommodation.

‘Is he seriously out of his mind?!’

If Ain had been here, he would have felt deeply wronged.

But fortunately or unfortunately, he was not present.

Angela looked at Serenia grinding her teeth in betrayal with confusion.

She had only been praising Ain, so why was the girl reacting like this?

Then suddenly a thought flashed through her mind, and she gasped.

‘Ah. Could it be she misunderstood and thinks I like Ain romantically?’

Afraid she might accidentally interfere in their relationship, Angela hurriedly explained:

“Just in case, please don’t misunderstand. I absolutely do not like Ain in a romantic sense. Really.”

Not romantically?

‘Then what? Does that mean they just meet for physical reasons without emotional attachment?!’

Feeling deeply disturbed from learning something she absolutely did not want to know, Serenia unconsciously frowned.

Images of men and women behaving shamelessly at noble parties flashed through her mind.

Completely unaware that Serenia’s misunderstanding had already crossed a point of no return, Angela desperately continued explaining her fan feelings.

“I simply love Ain’s talent.”

‘⋯⋯Talent? What kind of talent? Is there really even talent for⋯⋯ that kind of thing?’

Seeing Serenia’s increasingly horrified expression, Angela felt something was strange but still passionately continued praising Ain.

“The experience Ain gives people is truly special. That sense of immersion, like he’s pulling you into a fantasy! Once you experience it, you really can’t look at anyone else anymore!”

“⋯⋯Ah. Yes.”

Serenia replied with great difficulty, feeling like she wanted to close her ears forever.