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~Chapter 13~
“Get out. Get out right now!”
“It’s not a baby seed in here, but if you insist on asking, what’s in my belly right now belongs to the Winters family.”
“…Huh?”
Winters?
That Killian Winters?
“Ha, damn it…”
Aisha muttered curses under her breath, then suddenly pulled something from her chest.
She handed it straight to Rohan.
It was Killian’s letter of proposal.
“Wh-What is this…?”
“That’s how it turned out. So just accept it as that.”
Anyway, it was only going to stay as an engagement. The proposal was just a formality to make it official. Rohan, of course, had no idea.
Well… let’s think positively. At least now I won’t have to hear him nagging about Killian anymore.
“Then I’ll go now. Killian Winters will take care of the engagement preparations himself.”
She was exhausted. She needed to rest first before calculating what to do next. With a weary face, Aisha stood up, and Leoric quickly followed her.
“Kill… Killian Winters…”
Left behind, Rohan kept muttering Killian’s name like he had lost his mind. But Aisha had no energy to care.
On the way back to her room, something suddenly struck Aisha, and she stopped.
“Ah, that’s right!”
“Huh? What now?”
“Leoric, did you tell the bartender at the alley pub my message?”
“Anyway, I’ll tell you about Rune later. For now, go to the pub at the end of the opposite alley and tell the bartender that I’ve left.”
“Yeah. I did. But on the way back, I was caught.”
Oh no.
Aisha squeezed her eyes shut, her face full of regret.
And a few hours later—
Sunday Exposé, Killian Winters Special Issue No. 5 was published.
Much to Killian’s misfortune.
The next evening, in a pub on Lindell Street.
Til sat at the bar, his face dark with unease.
Something’s wrong.
Leoric had carried out Aisha’s request perfectly. Til got the message and immediately ensured that the next issue of Sunday Exposé was released smoothly.
In case Killian showed up, the printing and distribution were done faster than ever.
Distribution was handled by Rune guild members.
Afterward, Til personally checked Killian Winters’s movements. He even sneaked into the Winters mansion himself.
It was rare for Til to move directly. As Rune’s hidden leader, he never wanted his presence exposed.
But strangely, Killian Winters showed no reaction.
He definitely captured her.
It was already known across the whole Draxion Empire that Aisha, Leoric, and the Harlem street kids were dragged away from the docks like dogs.
But for things to stay this quiet?
Impossible. This was Killian Winters. By now, there should have been rumors about Aisha’s ruin. Of course, Til didn’t wish that, but still…
“You’re quiet today.”
The bartender polishing glasses spoke. It was Paul—the Rune guild member who had drugged Aisha.
“Something bothering you?”
“Not bothering me. I just don’t understand something.”
Til brushed back his long hair.
“You know what kind of man Killian Winters is. Yet even after sneaking into his mansion, I couldn’t find a trace of Aisha. She was definitely dragged away at the docks… but then her trail vanished.”
“…What?”
Paul looked stunned.
“Wait—does that mean you acted alone, without telling us?”
“So what? My choice. Is there a problem?”
“…Lord Til.”
Paul lowered his voice.
“Aisha Ashton has returned to the Ashton family estate.”
“What?”
“I thought you already knew. Honestly, even stray dogs on the street know it now.”
It wasn’t Til’s fault. He had gone to the Winters mansion the very next day—just after Aisha left the Ashton estate. He spent the whole day observing Killian, then came to the pub empty-handed.
“So you’re saying I’m worse informed than a stray dog?”
Paul went quiet.
“She returned home? That Aisha?”
Everyone knew Killian was the one who forced her to cut ties with her father.
Then why?
Was she trying to use her father’s power, now that Killian had discovered everything?
“To prepare for her engagement, of course.”
Paul’s answer was absurd.
“She may have broken ties with her father, but engagement is between families. Even she couldn’t escape that.”
“…Engagement?”
“Rohan Ashton has been bragging non-stop since yesterday. That he finally has Killian Winters as a son-in-law.”
Til’s face twisted in shock.
“Killian Winters… instead of killing Aisha, took her as his fiancée?”
“Yes. No one knows the full details, but that’s the current situation. The social scene is in chaos.”
Til’s head spun. Why would Killian make Aisha his fiancée—knowing full well she published Sunday Exposé?
He’s planning to use her.
Soon, Til reached that conclusion and laughed bitterly.
“Killian is desperate to avoid the Imperial family’s suspicion. There’s only one way to distract the public—announce an engagement.”
“That makes sense.”
“And maybe… he’s realized our connection to her.”
Paul’s expression turned serious at Til’s words.
Rune had absolute rules.
The most important one—
“Shall we get rid of her?”
If anyone threatened Rune or its leader, Til, they were eliminated. No exceptions.
“Lord Til?”
But Til didn’t answer. He stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“There are still things I need to confirm.”
At last, he spoke.
“We’ll wait until then.”
“Understood.”
Til filled his empty glass again, drinking silently. After a few rounds, he stood up and left the pub without hesitation.
Two days later.
Aisha hadn’t left the mansion once.
Half by choice, half by force.
She was too afraid to move carelessly, worried Killian might punish her. And Rohan, afraid she might run away again, placed guards to watch her.
Of course, one person still had freedom—
Leoric.
He brought the news: Sunday Exposé, Special Issue No. 5 was selling like crazy. It caused a huge stir in high society.
So… it’s good. But… can I really celebrate this?
Whatever Aisha thought, Rohan was busy bragging like a madman about his daughter’s engagement.
From that alone, one thing was certain.
Thanks to Killian, I’ll probably get stoned to death by noble ladies.
How ironic. The one who raised Killian’s popularity so high was now trapped by it.
“Damn it.”
Sitting on her bed, Aisha looked pale.
No matter how much she thought, she couldn’t find a way out.
“I’ve been a political reporter for years. And I can’t even handle this?”
So was this really it? Would she end up as Killian’s fiancée… and then die, just like in the original story?
“Aaaahhh!”
Aisha screamed, clutching her hair.
“Aisha! Aisha!”
Leoric’s urgent voice came from beyond the closed door.
“Leoric?”
She leapt up just as the door burst open.
Leoric’s face was pale as a sheet.
At once, Aisha sensed something bad had happened.
“K-Killian…”
“What?”
“Killian Winters is here.”
“…What?”
“He’s in the reception room right now! That man is here!”
