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~Chapter 12~
A few hours later, Aisha, Leoric, and the children were finally released.
The children were overjoyed—especially Helen, who had been the most frightened.
Aisha couldn’t say anything as she watched them laughing with relief.
“What the hell is going on? Are they really letting us go just like this?”
Of course, Leoric didn’t let it pass quietly.
“Yesterday, he looked sane enough. But if he was sane, there’s no way that Killian Winters would ever let us go!”
“……”
“Aisha! Say something! You’re driving me crazy—”
While walking unsteadily, Aisha suddenly stopped.
The moment Leoric met her vacant eyes, he understood for sure.
Killian Winters hadn’t let them go for free.
“What did Killian demand? Compensation? Or did he say he’ll see us in court? Damn it!”
“No.”
“What?”
“Not compensation, not a court battle. Neither.”
“Then what is it?!”
“An engagement.”
“…Huh?”
Leoric froze, his face like he’d been hit with a club.
“What kind of insane nonsense is that…?”
“Let’s go back.”
“Wh-Where?”
“Home.”
Home?
…The Ashton Count family?
The same house she’d cut ties with and left?
Leoric still stood there dumbfounded, but Aisha had already taken the children’s hands and was leading them on.
‘Damn Killian Winters. Someday, I’ll definitely take revenge.’
But of course, her dark expression didn’t lighten at all.
Rohan Ashton.
Head of the Ashton family. Aisha and Leoric’s father.
What kind of man was he?
The answer was easy. In one word—
A trash human.
In The Emperor Cannot Live Without a Prisoner, Count Ashton was a minor character, but still had a strong presence.
Rohan was blinded by greed for power. He wanted Killian’s political position, so he arranged for Aisha to be engaged to him.
The way it happened was absurd. He flattered and manipulated the male lead, Belmore.
“Your Highness knows the Imperial family is keeping a close eye on Killian Winters. At times like this, shouldn’t someone watch him closely from inside?”
After struggling, Belmore agreed to Rohan’s request. That was how Aisha and Killian were engaged—by the Imperial family’s order.
This all happened while Killian was away at war.
So of course, when he returned, he was furious.
And the rest was predictable. Aisha fell in love with Killian at first sight. But Killian fell in love with the heroine, Hilda.
Then, with the excuse that the Ashton family was plotting treason, Killian killed them all.
‘Damn it all.’
By the time Aisha arrived at the Ashton family estate, her face was filled with gloom.
Who would have thought she’d end up coming back to this cursed house on her own feet? Truly unbelievable. But then again, getting caught by Killian meant anything was possible.
“Are you really okay, Aisha?”
Leoric looked at her with a worried expression.
“It’s the first time you’ve been back since running away. And after that letter you left… Father was furious…”
“Father, I am leaving to find my own path. Do not look for me again.
P.S. If you like Killian that much, why don’t you marry him yourself? Maybe you’re his type. I’m not a conservative daughter, so if it happens, I’ll even cheer for you.”
That letter flashed through Aisha’s mind.
If she had known things would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have written those words. Regret came too late.
“He’s going to scold you a lot…”
“Whatever.”
She didn’t care. At worst, he would yell a few times. That was far better than getting her head chopped off by Killian. Considering everything she’d done, she’d take scolding any day.
“Let’s go.”
“…But why do you keep touching your stomach?”
“I think I’ve got indigestion.”
Of course she did. After everything, it would’ve been strange not to. Grumbling to herself, Aisha walked on.
“Aisha…?”
As soon as the maids recognized her, their eyes widened.
Then the chatter began—“What happened?” “I knew it would end like this.” “Maybe she came back for something else?”
Aisha ignored them and kept walking.
At the end of a long hallway, the siblings finally entered the reception room.
Rohan sat on the sofa with his legs crossed.
“……”
“……”
When their eyes met, the room filled with an icy silence.
That damned old man.
That crazy brat.
That was what each thought of the other.
“So.”
Rohan spoke first.
“Life outside wasn’t so easy, was it, Aisha?”
No—it was actually amazing. She made lots of money, enjoyed writing articles, and had the best time.
Those words almost slipped out, but Aisha held them back with great effort.
Rohan still didn’t know. He had no idea that the one publishing the famous Sunday Exposé was his own daughter, Aisha.
“Ha! I knew it.”
What do you know? Aisha glared but sat across from him anyway. She had something to say.
Leoric sat too.
“You look pathetic. Living alone must have been miserable, after being spoiled all your life.”
“……”
“You used to argue back at every word, but now you’re sitting there silent. I see you finally realize your mistakes.”
“No, I don’t.”
Aisha answered flatly.
“I don’t think I did anything wrong. And life outside wasn’t miserable. It was fun—really fun.”
“What? You shameless brat, still running your mouth—”
“Forget it. I’m engaged.”
“…What?”
Rohan’s face froze.
In an instant, a hundred cliché romance plots flashed through his head—
The runaway count’s daughter.
The poor commoner man who seduced her.
The naïve noble lady falling for him completely…
“What nonsense is this? You came back just to tell me this insanity? You crazy girl—!”
Then his eyes fell on something.
Her stomach.
“You… you…”
She had been touching her belly all this time. Could it be—?
“P-Pregnant?!”
“What are you talking about, you crazy old man.”
“No! I’ll never allow it! Get out! Run away again if you have to! I’ll never let our family be stained with disgrace!”
“Father, that’s not it—”
Leoric tried to calm things down, but it was useless.
“I don’t care whose seed it is—I’ll never accept it!”
“…Huh?”
Aisha looked down at her stomach with a dumbfounded expression.
