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Chapter 5
Life Pawned Away
Between Memories and the Present
Irina glared at him for a long moment.
Howard calmly took the seat across from her and slid a stack of documents across the table.
“What is this?”
Irina gestured toward the papers with her chin.
Say it yourself.
“You only need to sign them, Lady Irina.”
Unlike before, he wasn’t the compliant young man she remembered. He simply nodded toward the papers, telling her to open them.
His attitude irritated Irina immensely, but she had no desire to argue. She quietly picked up the documents.
The first pages contained a detailed list of every debt Count Cosart owed.
Embarrassment flushed her pale cheeks crimson.
She didn’t care if anyone else knew, but having him see it filled her with humiliation.
The remaining documents were loan agreements, debt transfer contracts…
…and finally, a marriage registration form.
Irina’s gaze shot up from the papers.
“A marriage registration?”
“I heard the condition for forgiving your debts was marriage.”
“…Why do you have all of these? No, forget that—why are you even here?”
Interlocking his fingers, Howard rested them on his knee and leaned back against the sofa.
“You’ve become rather reckless while we were apart.”
The obvious criticism in his voice made Irina glare at him.
“That’s none of your business.”
“It became my business the moment I found out.”
“According to whose decision?”
For a long moment, the two locked eyes as if competing against one another.
In reality, Howard was simply looking at her.
Only in Irina’s eyes did it seem like a challenge.
“I don’t want to waste time arguing with you. I’m leaving.”
Irina stood first, gathering her dress before walking past him.
Howard’s gaze landed on the frayed hem of her worn dress.
He reached out and lightly caught her hand.
Her small hand disappeared almost entirely within his large one.
Irina froze.
“Now that you’ve crossed the border, you can’t leave without permission.”
“…Crossed the border?”
Her body stiffened as she turned toward him.
“Where am I?”
“Voltier.”
Voltier?
The Voltier in Borman?
This is the Grand Duchy of Ringester… the fortress of the western frontier?
Irina’s mouth fell open.
Just yesterday, she’d been in Count Cosart’s territory in Arendor.
She had traveled by carriage…
But when?
How?
She narrowed her eyes.
No wonder they’d been using teleportation gates so often.
How incredibly meticulous…
Absurd…
Ridiculous…
And, somehow, even polite this kidnapping had been.
If Howard hadn’t appeared, she never would have realized she’d been kidnapped.
She hadn’t known until just moments ago.
“Are you joking? This has to be a lie.”
Irina slapped his hand away.
Howard tilted his head slightly as he looked at her.
“What part?”
His face remained as expressionless and indifferent as ever.
“Why did you bring me here? What exactly have you done?”
“Then… were you truly planning to marry that nobleman?”
Bare anger colored his voice.
Irina could only stare at him in disbelief.
“Yes. I was supposed to marry into the Marquis Ayre family. The man I’m marrying isn’t you. I don’t know how you got those documents, but… whatever the reason, it’s none of your concern.”
Unable to stay another moment, she stormed out of the room.
But the instant she stepped outside, she stopped.
“…Ugh.”
She had marched out so confidently that she’d completely forgotten which way she’d come.
The hallways to the left and right looked identical.
Even the number of lamps on the walls matched.
Left…
Right…
“The right.”
Hearing his voice, Irina spun around.
Howard had followed her outside and now stood in the hallway with his arms crossed, pointing to the right.
“I know! I was just about to go that way.”
Who asked you to act so considerate?
Snorting, she grabbed her skirts and headed to the right.
Howard leisurely followed behind.
“The necklace.”
His voice reached the back of her head.
Irina’s steps paused.
“It’s still in perfect condition.”
She bit her lip.
When did he notice?
The thought that he’d realized she’d treasured the necklace because she’d missed him irritated her all over again.
“I only wear it because my neck feels empty without it.”
“Hmph.”
Without looking back, she continued walking.
Fortunately, as soon as she rounded the corner, she recognized the way and found her room.
The moment she shut the door, she leaned heavily against it.
“…”
Why…
Why did he have to appear now?
He could have shown up when she was stronger.
When her life wasn’t such a mess.
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
Startled, Irina hiccupped softly.
“…”
“Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow.”
It was Howard’s voice.
Irina deliberately kicked the door as hard as she could, making it slam loudly.
A moment later, his voice came again.
“I hope you have pleasant dreams.”
“…Ha.”
Pleasant dreams?
She scoffed inwardly.
After that, she heard nothing more.
Either he’d left…
Or he’d simply run out of things to say.
“What in the world is going on?”
Irina was utterly confused.
What was this mansion?
Why did Howard have all those documents?
And what was happening to the marquis she was supposed to marry?
She spent the entire night thinking until her head throbbed.
But no answer came.
She stayed awake until dawn.
✦ ✦ ✦
After thinking all night, Irina decided they needed to talk.
Once she’d finished getting ready that morning, she headed to the dining room.
Sitting across from Howard filled her with both irritation and an indescribably strange feeling.
Meanwhile, Howard drank his water as naturally as if they’d shared countless meals together.
Without even looking at him, Irina picked up her own glass and drained it in one gulp.
“I have a few questions.”
“Ask anything.”
His answer was calm and unhurried.
“Who owns this mansion?”
“The Duke of Ringester.”
“The Duke of Ringester…”
That meant this residence belonged to someone of the Grand Ducal bloodline.
Howard certainly didn’t carry himself like an ordinary servant of the Ringester family.
But he wasn’t a Ringester.
He hadn’t even had a family name before.
Had he been living here all the years he’d disappeared?
“And how did you get those documents?”
“I took over the debt.”
“When did you know?”
“From the beginning.”
“…From the beginning?”
Irina’s voice rose.
At the same moment, Howard casually raised one hand.
The servants waiting nearby immediately left the dining room.
They’d already looked uncomfortable from the start.
“So… from the very beginning?”
“Yes.”
Silence settled over the room.
No one touched their utensils.
The food on the table remained untouched.
“Where have you been all this—”
She stopped herself with a sigh.
“…Fine. What are you planning to do with me?”
“You saw it yesterday.”
He meant the marriage registration.
“You expect me to marry you? Do you seriously think that makes sense?”
“Weren’t you going to marry just anyone anyway?”
Their eyes met.
“That’s right. Anyone.
“But not you.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Irina nearly screamed.
He had never been this stubborn.
He used to be gentle…
Obedient…
Soft-hearted.
“I’ll ask again.
Whose house is this?”
“Ringester’s—”
“You already said that.”
“Howard Valencia Ringester.”
“…What?”
She had heard him perfectly.
She wasn’t looking down on him.
She simply couldn’t understand.
The Howard she knew had never had a surname.
As a child, she’d even wanted to give him one herself.
So why…
Why was he carrying the famous name Ringester—a name known even beyond national borders?
But the man who had answered every question until now remained silent.
Just then, another man entered the dining room.
He was the same man who had escorted Irina earlier.
Since Casey had already introduced him, and she wasn’t planning to stay long anyway, there was no point exchanging names.
She merely nodded when he bowed politely.
“Your Grace, I’m sorry, but it’s time to depart.”
The two exchanged a few quiet words.
Then the man bowed once more and left.
There was no point asking anything else.
Howard claimed he’d known everything from the start.
Questioning him further would only deepen her embarrassment.
Besides…
It didn’t seem like they were ever going to understand each other.
Irina placed a hand on the table and stood.
“So, you have somewhere to be.
Fine.
I won’t ask why you’re a Ringester anymore.
It has nothing to do with me.”
She took a slow breath before continuing.
“Anyway, the only reason I’m here is because of the debt.
I’ll repay it as quickly as I can.
But I can’t do it immediately.
You chose to take over that debt on your own, so part of the responsibility is yours.
Give me some time.”
Howard stood.
She assumed he was leaving.
Instead, he strode around the table toward her.
In an instant, the distance between them vanished.
Bracing one hand against the table, he leaned toward her.
Forced backward, Irina found herself lightly pressed against the edge of the table.
“I can’t agree to that.”
Trying to hide her surprise, she lifted her chin and met his gaze.
A crooked smile spread across her lips.
His deep amber eyes were so mesmerizing that someone less determined might have been seduced by them.
Instead, she glared fiercely.
“What?
Afraid I won’t pay you back?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Of course not.”
“Don’t worry.
Unlike someone I know…
I won’t disappear without a word.
If you don’t trust me, assign guards to watch me.
Do whatever you want.
But I’m leaving today.”
They were now close enough for their breaths to mingle.
The back of Irina’s neck gradually grew warm.
Still, she refused to back down.
Howard leaned even closer.
“No.”
“You won’t let me leave?
What are you going to do—lock me up by force?”
“If that’s what it takes…
I can.”
“What? Kidnapping wasn’t enough? Now imprisonment too?”
“You keep acting on your own…”
“No matter what method I have to use…”
He whispered the final words close enough for his breath to brush against her ear before finally pulling away.
“You’ll repay every last coin…
By my side.”
Then, looking into her eyes, he gently gathered the soft strands of hair that had slipped over her shoulder…
…and placed a brief kiss upon them.
