The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 29

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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 29

 

“I received a proposal asking if I could kill someone.”

 

My eyes widened in shock.

 

What?

 

“The payment was enormous too, but he said he refused because it felt fishy. Because it wasn’t just about killing someone, the conditions were a bit…”

 

Chris frowned and trailed off, then shook his head.

 

“You’d better hear this directly. Anyway, I thought you might be looking into murder cases, so I mentioned it. …I know about your sister’s situation too.”

 

The quietly added words made my heart feel a bit heavy.

 

“Would you like to meet this friend?”

 

“Can’t we take this friend to the Security Bureau?”

 

I don’t know what Lionel is doing right now, but.

 

Chris smiled awkwardly at that.

 

“Well, it’s uncertain whether the proposal he received is related to the Eagle case…”

 

The way he rambled on clearly showed he was hiding something.

 

Chris soon cleared his throat and confessed honestly.

 

“Actually, that friend is on the Security Bureau’s blacklist. I told him to report it after hearing the story too. But he absolutely refused to go and threw a complete fit…”

 

…Just what kind of person is this?

 

Would it be safe to meet such a person? When I made a suspicious expression, Chris hastily crossed himself on his chest.

 

“I swear to God, if you go with me, he won’t harm you. He’s also good to his own people!”

 

At his voice proving innocence by invoking God, I fell into thought for a moment.

 

As Chris said, whether he was related to the Eagle case was uncertain.

 

But…

 

“Then try asking him to meet once.”

 

The Security Bureau would have already investigated through legal channels, and meeting Chris’s friend who received a suspicious proposal was something only I could do. It was worth trying.

 

And well, even if Chris isn’t reliable, he’s not untrustworthy.

 

“Yes, he said he’d come back this way soon, so I’ll let you know then. It’ll definitely be helpful somehow.”

 

Chris, already feeling proud despite not having met yet, went off humming to work.

 

I continued reading the newspaper I was holding.

 

[ Another corpse discovered in Rüpel River… What is happening in the capital now? ]

 

It was an article about the third corpse being discovered in Rüpel River.

 

They were all unidentified people, and the article speculated they had jumped in.

 

As the article title suggested, the capital was in chaos right now.

 

The Crown Prince’s suicide.

 

The so-called ‘Eagle case’ where noble children were murdered in succession.

 

Even the corpses being discovered in Rüpel River.

 

‘There’s been no news about the Eagle case lately.’

 

Usually these kinds of incidents spread like wildfire at first but are quickly forgotten and become quiet.

 

Especially due to the corpses found in Rüpel River, my sister’s death seemed to be forgotten unusually quickly.

 

‘I need to hurry and persuade Frill to move with a fake identity.’

 

No matter how I thought about it, there was no way to persuade Frill.

 

‘She said her former lover’s name was Justin.’

 

Should I try bringing that man before Frill? If they face each other directly, her thoughts might change.

 

“…Sigh.”

 

Of all things, it had to be a love problem.

 

For someone like me who had only dated once in both lives combined, and even that was a failed romance with some strange guy, this was an unprecedented challenge.

 

“Ahem, speaking of this painting, it’s a posthumous work the artist left for his childhood first love.”

 

Just as I was sighing deeply, I heard the con artist’s voice.

 

Chris was pointing at the painting he brought from the auction house, giving his own fabricated explanation.

 

“The two loved each other passionately, but sadly, that first love had an arranged marriage partner, and the artist had no choice but to let his lover go. He even hid the fact that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness…”

 

“…”

 

“Wishing for his lover to forget him and live happily, he left this gift. Do you see the writing covered with paint here?”

 

“…”

 

Why does this story sound so familiar?

 

Except for the terminal illness part, it was exactly the same as the story Frill had told me.

 

A gift to congratulate a former lover’s marriage.

 

The letter J, presumed to be the first letter of the artist’s name.

 

Justin.

 

‘…Could it be?’

 

While Chris and the young ladies moved to another spot, I quickly examined the painting.

 

[ Congratulations on your marriage -J- ]

 

The reason for painting over the inscription and selling the painting.

 

It was probably because the person who first sold this painting, that is, the viscount’s servant, had sold a painting that wasn’t his to own.

 

My heart pounded.

 

I called Diana while clenching my trembling hands.

 

“Diana.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“By any chance, isn’t Mrs. Barnaby interested in paintings? An acquaintance of mine who met her before said he’d like to give her a painting as a gift.”

 

“Oh… really? That’s great! She’s extremely interested in paintings. She even goes to auction houses sometimes. I’m not sure about recently though.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

Perhaps that was an effort to find Justin’s paintings.

 

I thought of Frill’s face. I had to go to Semaphelaz immediately.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, at the naval base.

 

The sound of waves could be heard gently through the open window.

 

Ransel was lost in thought, tapping his desk.

 

“I understand why you’re being cautious.”

 

Earlier, the reason the Emperor had personally come to the naval base was to meet Ransel.

 

“It’s also true that I cherish you, having watched you since childhood.”

 

“You’re suddenly saying unsettling things.”

 

“But you’re not more important than Cael or the Empire’s future. I’m both someone’s father and an emperor. So choose.”

 

In the Emperor’s wrinkled eyes, red pupils glinted sharply.

 

“Whether you’ll help our Count Chadde satisfy his curiosity, or fulfill your duty as a guardian.”

 

Whether to confirm if Cael really committed suicide, or find out why a temporary gate appeared in the sea.

 

A temporary gate.

 

There were two gates in the Obern Empire’s territorial waters.

 

A gate leading to the Demon Realm and a gate leading to the Spirit Realm.

 

According to ancient historical records, the kings of each world gathered to create the gates.

 

The gate that hadn’t disappeared for thousands of years contained tremendous power.

 

At the time of the nation’s founding, Arviente’s first head of house received the goddess’s blessing and drove the demons from the continent, but even then couldn’t eliminate the gate.

 

Patrol ships circling around that gate to watch for demons has been ongoing from the founding until now.

 

So it was impossible for the Westport Line to take a whole year to return after driving out demons from that place.

 

The reason it took so long despite this was.

 

Ransel remembered the demons that constantly appeared throughout their return journey.

 

Unless the patrol ship crews had deliberately let them through to mess with the Westport Line…

 

There must have been another crack formed.

 

Specifically, an unauthorized temporary gate.

 

“Unfortunately, you cannot leave the name of Guardian behind. You’ve enjoyed too much until now for that, haven’t you.”

 

When Ransel had his audience with the Emperor, speaking indirectly about temporary gates while mentioning the Admiral meant he wouldn’t get involved in this matter.

 

So the Emperor came directly to the Naval Base to give orders.

 

“Ransel.”

 

Meanwhile, Melvin, who had been chewed out by the Admiral, looked haggard.

 

The Emperor had appeared at the Naval Base without any notice.

 

The Admiral was so shocked to hear this news that his wailing “Your Majestyyy, what brings you all the way hereee” filled the entire Naval Base.

 

The Admiral who ran barefoot and bowed deeply then took out his frustration on the easy target, Melvin.

 

“I heard His Majesty came because of you, so send the Admiral a consolation gift later. Do you know how many years the Admiral aged today?”

 

Melvin grumbled as he reached for the tart box.

 

These were tarts brought by the demon colonel who had the small hobby of ‘sharing snacks with subordinates.’

 

Ransel leaned back against his chair and sighed.

 

“I don’t know. I should start preparing for exile soon. This country has no future.”

 

It was quite an inappropriate statement for someone who had just met with the Emperor.

 

“Come on, honestly the Admiral overreacted a bit. From what I saw, he seemed quite benevolent? That, well, His Majesty the Emperor, whom someone like me is cautious even to mention.”

 

Derek, the petty officer third class who snatched the cheese tart Melvin was about to eat, said.

 

“By the way, when exactly are you marrying your fiancée?”

 

“I’ll do it when the time comes. When that happens, I’ll dump all my work on you guys, so be prepared.”

 

Ransel responded indifferently.

 

Then Melvin started urging him to marry.

 

“Is there really a need to postpone it? I heard you’re living with the child and Young-ae right now. It’s practically the same as being married already…”

 

“Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with my marriage? Neither of you have even dated once, let alone married, so do you have the right to say such things to me?”

 

“…”

 

Melvin’s expression turned sour as he instantly lost his words.

 

But Derek, the indomitable man, didn’t give up.

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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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