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Chapter 11
After the Meeting Was Over
Serenia could not tell whether this was a situation where she should laugh or not, so her expression became awkwardly twisted.
Seeing her like that, Ain smiled brightly and added:
“Ah. That doesn’t mean I gain weight easily, so please don’t misunderstand.”
Only then did Serenia realize once again that the correct answer with him was neither laughing nor crying, but simply ignoring him.
“I didn’t misunderstand anything, you know?”
Serenia answered firmly and decided to stop paying attention to him and focus completely on the food on the table instead.
After all, wasn’t there an old saying that food was what remained in the end?
When she returned home, there would only be thin stew made from cabbage and potatoes waiting for her, so she needed to eat as much as possible here.
With that determination, she moved the fork in her hand and stabbed a boiled carrot in front of her before bringing it to her mouth.
Completely forgetting whose mouth that fork had just been in.
Ain, who had not forgotten that fact, suddenly panicked and hurriedly reached out his hand.
“W-Wait, um—!”
“Yes? What is it?”
“The fork…”
“Yes?”
But by then, the fork and carrot had already gone into her mouth.
Ain quietly stared at the fork with a complicated expression before muttering softly:
“⋯⋯Never mind.”
Even after seeing his cheeks turn slightly red, Serenia had no idea why and only looked at him strangely.
Under her indifferent gaze, Ain awkwardly cleared his throat and repeatedly drank cold water for no reason.
Watching him somewhat pitifully, Serenia cautiously asked:
“Instead of filling yourself with water like that, why don’t you just eat something?”
“⋯⋯It’s not like that.”
“Yes, it is.”
“I said it’s not.”
After the meal and photoshoot ended, Ain walked down the hotel stairs together with Serenia and spoke.
“Since we’ve already come this far, how about staying at this hotel for the time being?”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to make me stay in the same room as you and take suspicious photos?”
At her wary question, Ain sounded genuinely wronged.
“No, seriously, what kind of shameless person do you think I am?”
“Well. If not, then forget it.”
He glanced at her slightly before continuing.
“I’m only saying this because getting back into the Count’s estate surrounded by reporters won’t be easy.”
“⋯⋯Ah.”
“At this point, the reporters are probably not just waiting around anymore. I’m sure they’re already searching the area. And if someone discovers the secret escape passage…”
“Then it’ll become a huge problem.”
After answering that way, Serenia ground her teeth and added:
“And the house price, which is already low enough, will fall even more.”
“That’s not what I meant⋯⋯.”
Ain stopped talking midway and closed his mouth with a troubled expression.
Serenia looked strangely at him as he shook his head like he had given up on something, then awkwardly cleared her throat before speaking.
“Anyway. Thanks for worrying about my trip home. It definitely won’t be easy getting through the reporters and back into the house⋯⋯ but staying at a hotel is impossible.”
Then she added quietly with an embarrassed face:
“⋯⋯I don’t have enough money to pay for the room.”
But as if he had been waiting for those words, he smiled brightly and answered immediately.
“Ah. Then you don’t need to worry about that.”
He pulled out a golden card from inside his coat and waved it lightly.
“I happen to have a lifetime free accommodation pass for this hotel.”
Serenia looked back and forth between him and the card in his hand with surprised eyes.
A lifetime free pass.
Wasn’t something like that usually only given to someone who had done an incredible favor?
‘For example, someone who saved the hotel owner’s life⋯⋯.’
While she was secretly looking at him differently because of that thought, the two had already arrived at the hotel lobby.
Perhaps because it was still a little early, the lobby was quiet.
“Oh my. Welcome.”
A middle-aged woman guarding the counter saw the guests and warmly came forward to greet them.
Ain pointed toward her with his eyes and whispered to Serenia.
“For reference, that lady is Angela Neriad, the owner of this hotel.”
‘Hm? The owner is a woman⋯⋯?’
Without realizing it, Serenia slightly narrowed her eyes.
For some reason, she suddenly felt annoyed.
Completely unaware of that, Angela approached them and immediately recognized Ain, happily shouting:
“Oh my! Ain! What a surprise! No matter how much I told you to come visit, you never came!”
Unlike her elegant appearance, she bounced around excitedly.
Ain greeted her calmly and politely.
“Have you been well, Lady Angela?”
“Of course I’ve been well. But what about you, Ain?”
After saying that, the woman named Angela suddenly smacked her own mouth and scolded herself.
“Oh dear, listen to me talking nonsense. It sounds like I’m complaining because I haven’t visited you lately⋯⋯. Um, sorry. I’ve just been too busy recently.”
“No, not at all. You still come to see me from time to time.”
“Oh my. And when did you notice that?”
“Rather, I’m the one who should apologize for not greeting you properly each time. Even from afar, I always notice and appreciate it.”
“Oh, please. There’s no need for gratitude.”
The more naturally she talked with Ain while waving her hands warmly, the colder Serenia’s expression gradually became.
They called each other by name and casually asked about each other’s well-being.
Despite the deeply pulled-down hat, wig, and tinted glasses, she recognized him instantly.
And judging from how she spoke about not visiting often and coming to see him from time to time, this woman’s identity must be—
‘A regular customer of the host bar!’
Completely unaware that Serenia was glaring at them suspiciously, the capital’s most popular actor and his longtime fan naturally continued their conversation.
“Anyway, what brings you here today?”
Angela openly glanced toward Serenia as she asked.
Ain answered with a flawless smile.
“It’s not what you’re thinking. The lady will be staying here alone.”
“Oh? Ah. Ooh⋯⋯.”
For some reason, Angela looked slightly disappointed.
Ain lowered his voice and added:
“Please make sure she stays somewhere quiet and safe. I would appreciate your special attention.”
“⋯⋯Ah.”
At those words, Angela stopped grinning foolishly and carefully looked at Serenia.
Avoiding the middle-aged woman’s gaze directed at her, Serenia awkwardly began sweating down her back.
As if comforting her, Angela smiled gently and spoke.
“You may relax, dear guest.”
“Yes?”
“Whether you are a prince or a princess, anyone staying at this hotel is simply a guest to me.”
“A⋯⋯ guest?”
“Yes. And our Neriad Hotel protects our guests’ privacy unconditionally.”
“Unconditionally⋯⋯?”
“Yes. Whether you came here for forbidden love, planning treason, or even eloping.”
“Shouldn’t you report the treason part at least?!”
At Serenia’s horrified question, Angela winked and answered:
“My business is more important to me than this kingdom’s royal family.”
“Wh-What?!”
Serenia practically jumped in shock.
‘Did I just hear something incredibly disrespectful? Is this place really okay?!’
Near the stunned Serenia’s ear, Ain quietly whispered:
“This is the kind of person she is, so you won’t need to worry about security here. I promise it in my name.”
For some reason, those words sounded like he was defending Angela, so Serenia unknowingly replied coldly:
“What’s so special about your name anyway?”
“⋯⋯Pardon?”
“Ah. Is that why you only told me half your name before?”
“Hmm⋯⋯. Then I’ll promise it using our contract instead.”
“Ahh. Well, do whatever you want.”
At her strangely sharp reply, he looked puzzled for a moment.
But soon he shook away his thoughts and spoke to Angela.
“Then I leave her in your care.”
“Don’t worry. You know I’m good at this kind of thing.”
After lightly bowing to the relaxed hotel owner, he smiled and politely kissed the back of Serenia’s hand.
Unlike yesterday, she did not react with disgust and only looked cold.
That felt a little strange to him.
‘But there are still more than six days left.’
Comforting himself with that thought, he left the hotel.
The room Serenia would stay in was Room 312.
From the room at the very end of the third floor, the beautiful view of the Pruhen River could be seen at a glance.
However, the moment Serenia entered the room, she closed the curtains over every window.
Rather than pretending to admire the river view and getting discovered by sharp-eyed reporters, giving up the scenery from the start was much safer.
Inside the now dim room despite it still being daytime, she quickly threw off the annoying wig and aggressively removed her lenses.
Then she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
“Seriously. This is ridiculous. He embarrassed me so much just because I called Rascal— no, that person— by name once. But he himself!”
And so Serenia’s long self-directed complaints began.
