The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 14
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 14
At a loss for words, Ransel added one more thing.
“Who else is there besides me?”
“I don’t need anyone to act for me.”
“You said you needed it last time.”
“Don’t say such crazy things.”
Ransel is my ex-boyfriend.
It’s already awkward now, so how am I supposed to look at that face even more?
“You know that I’m actually the best match for you when you say that.”
“….”
“This is the best method for now.”
“…That’s true, but.”
If Ransel became Pipi’s father, we could avoid people’s suspicions.
‘Anyway, once we catch the murderer, it’ll all be over….’
Without realizing it, I nodded as if agreeing, then quickly shook my head.
That’s ridiculous.
“I said I don’t need it. What would you gain from helping me?”
“You said the child is in danger. Do I need more reason than that?”
“Pipi is my one and only niece. I’ll protect her myself.”
“Right, you should do your best to protect your niece. Why hesitate when there’s the best method available?”
“How can I act like that with an ex-lover I broke up with badly? And I’m saying this now, but you made the worst first impression.”
“Well, I won’t deny it. I did act pretty obnoxiously back then.”
Even when I mentioned our first meeting, Ransel didn’t add excuses like he wasn’t that bad, but simply agreed.
“It means I don’t want to get involved with that worst man even now.”
“We already spent several years together, so would spending just a few more months be such a big problem?”
The meaningless conversation continued. I took a deep breath.
“It also means I don’t want you to lay even a finger on my niece. So let’s not talk about this anymore.”
“Mary.”
“If you’re going to come again next time, come with the intention of paying for the sofa you broke in our house.”
I unilaterally ended the conversation and hurriedly turned away.
***
The man who was obnoxious from our first meeting reached his worst point when I had spent about half a year in Ranghilden.
Originally, Ransel was the type to send letters quite often even when he went out to sea.
Since the Obern Empire was a maritime power, the related systems were well established.
But after we had a big fight and broke up, there was no contact from Ransel for several months.
‘I wanted to send a letter first instead.’
But that was impossible.
Because it would be a violation of military law for a civilian like me to make first contact with a warship.
“Miss, here’s a letter!”
And finally, a letter arrived after about half a year had passed.
[ To Mary.
Have you been well all this time?
The thing is, my return is delayed so I don’t think I’ll be able to show my face for your birthday.
I won’t be there, but I hope you spend it well with your precious people.
When I return to the capital, I’ll come see you first, my love.
Your Ransel. ]
…Which means I received this letter four months after my birthday had passed.
The time to send a letter from sea to land, the time to send a letter from the count’s estate to here.
‘Even generously considering all that time, it would take about a month….’
The fact that came to mind, though I didn’t want to admit it, was one thing.
Ransel had completely gotten my birthday wrong.
Honestly, it was really childish.
But it was enough to throw a spark into my heart that was on the verge of exploding.
“Marsha, go find out if there were any accidents along the way.”
Then I barely held onto my reason and tried to understand the situation.
Unlike my previous life, the only means of communication here was letters, and communication errors could easily occur.
Minor misunderstandings that could originally be resolved with one confirmation are most likely to turn into fights.
And what Marsha said after looking into the situation was this.
“Um, Miss. There were no accidents at all.”
“…I see. Tomorrow, find out which assassination guild has the best performance in the Empire these days.”
“What?”
By the way, when Marsha told me that fact, it was dawn. A time when it’s easy to not be in one’s right mind.
‘No, let’s just break up.’
As a reply to the letter that would have been better not to come, I sent a notice that we should break up.
And the reply was very simple. Yes, let’s break up.
‘It was something that was already decided.’
Just like the letter that arrived after a long silence threw a small spark.
Ransel must have been waiting for those words about breaking up, that small spark.
‘Because….’
I thought that far and squeezed my eyes shut.
There would be nothing that would change by examining detailed memories now.
“Owner, Ownerrrrr. Are you listening to me?”
Meanwhile, it was Chris’s voice that interrupted my long train of thought.
The day after I chased Ransel away like that, I was sitting blankly in the boutique.
“Please just trust me once. I mean, when have sales ever dropped because of me?”
Chris was giving a very long presentation about ‘why paintings should be hung in the boutique.’
Since we reopened after a year, he seemed anxious about the possibility of sales dropping sharply.
‘Well, Chris, being the working staff, has no choice but to worry about current profits.’
So I decided to take Chris’s side.
“Then hang one or two pieces.”
“Oh, you gave permission? Then let’s go to the auction house together tomorrow.”
“No, I don’t want that. I’m absolutely sick of paintings now.”
Three years ago, the trigger for our family’s ruin from being scammed was precisely a painting.
The problem was that Father bought a painting shown by a scammer for a fortune, thinking to put it up for auction.
Of course, I could understand Father’s choice.
A baron’s son from a small province was actually living luxuriously in the capital with that work, a painting corresponding to early summer from a four seasons series.
So he bought all the remaining series. Even the mine that the scammer recommended along with it.
And it had all collapsed completely, and it was a clichéd story of barely reviving the family with this boutique where I was now sitting.
“…Then since it’ll be lonely, I’ll take Diana along at least.”
Perhaps guessing the reason without me saying it, Chris immediately dragged Diana into it.
***
That evening, an unexpected guest appeared.
“How dare you ignore a journalist’s duty!!”
Allen, who had come without warning, was causing a ruckus at the entrance.
I hadn’t seen him for a while, so I thought he had given up.
I watched the servants battling with Allen at the end of the railing, then asked the guard who was standing there awkwardly.
“He said he had an appointment with me? And you believed that? You’re as gentle as a lamb.”
“…I’m sorry.”
The guilty party bowed his head deeply as if ten mouths wouldn’t be enough to apologize.
Actually, it was a situation where I could have had the servants chase him away, at least for now.
“You’re being rude. Please leave now!”
“The rude one is you for ignoring a journalist!”
But hiding would only increase Allen’s suspicions.
I raised my voice toward the poor servants who were listening to the barking.
“Butler, just let him in. Next time, chase him away from outside the door.”
Even at my words that there wouldn’t be a next time, Allen smiled brightly and followed me to the reception room.
“Good evening.”
Allen sat down and greeted me nonchalantly.
“I believe you know the reason for my visit.”
I pretended not to know and asked.
“What reason?”
“I hope Young-ae will clear my suspicions. Of course, if you reveal the child’s father, that would be the most certain way to clear the suspicions.”
Following the article about having an illegitimate child, he wanted to create another scoop.
Mary Blin, celebrity of the Obern Empire. Any article related to my private life would draw tremendous attention.
I asked nonchalantly.
“Doesn’t that child resemble me a lot?”
“The eyes might be so, but brown hair isn’t that common, is it?”
Even at my confident counterattack that Pipi resembled me greatly, Allen responded casually.
‘Really, one thing after another.’
I let out a weary sigh inwardly.
“Then I have nothing more to say? I wish you’d stop being interested.”
“… Well, if you insist. I understand.”
It was a voice that backed down more easily than expected, but I couldn’t help but pause at the words that followed.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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