The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 30

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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 30

 

Derek stuffed the remaining piece of tart into his mouth and moved closer to Ransel.

 

“Or how about inviting me to the Duke’s mansion once? I bet the baby would be incredibly cute.”

 

“She’s still too young, so no.”

 

Ransel ruffled Derek’s hair and pushed him away.

 

“You usually tell me to stay the night since there are plenty of empty rooms.”

 

“That was then, this is now. And Father’s been staying at the estate frequently lately – can you handle him?”

 

“No, the Duke is a bit… Then bring her here instead. We could give your fiancée a tour of the naval base while we’re at it.”

 

“Say something that makes sense.”

 

“Is this really all we mean to each other? After all the battles we’ve fought together, relying on each other…”

 

In the end, Ransel threw a desk clock at him to shut him up.

 

Derek, true to his reputation as the top graduate of the naval academy, caught the clock with excellent reflexes and giggled.

 

Melvin, who had been watching this scene, stretched and made groaning sounds.

 

“Well, I’m heading out now.”

 

To Semaphelaz.

 

As Melvin moved, the sailors who had been waiting for the right timing also got up. Derek included, of course.

 

To think there are so many guys who volunteered for the port city business just to slack off…

 

Ransel looked at the sailors with exasperated eyes, then suddenly remembered his conversation with Mary.

 

Come to think of it…

 

“Is Louis Chartinez there by any chance?”

 

At his question, Melvin tilted his head and answered.

 

“Louis? Uh… he’s there. Well, you know he’s not much help anyway. He’s just filling a spot, collecting rent from buildings and doing the same stuff he did in the capital.”

 

“Really? I didn’t send him there to laze around. Go work him to the bone.”

 

Louis was showing interest in Mary, who was disguised as a commoner.

 

In that case, he’d eliminate the time for him to pester her like a playboy.

 

At Ransel’s words, Melvin grinned and started boasting.

 

“Oh my. I was already planning to ride a white horse there and show off elite dignity. To think I’d get permission from a prestigious family heir to legally torment a marquis family’s heir…”

 

Seeing the other sailors snickering as well, Ransel thought this would be sufficient.

 

‘Still, I am worried though.’

 

He couldn’t stop Mary.

 

This wasn’t about anything else – it was something that started because of her sister’s death, so he had no right to try to stop her.

 

Of course, he also had faith that Mary wouldn’t act recklessly.

 

Take the matter with Louis, for example. Mary was someone who resolved things in advance if they bothered her even slightly.

 

Anyway, our princess wins everything.

 

***

 

Just before going to Semaphelaz, I visited the auction house.

 

Meeting with the auction company’s representative, I was able to confirm the route the painting had taken.

 

The original seller was Paul Mekaus. The art museum in Barnaby Estate had purchased this painting at that time.

 

Paul Mekaus seemed to be a servant who had received orders from the viscount to dispose of the painting.

 

‘I’m certain.’

 

As soon as I confirmed the name ‘Barnaby’, I grabbed my disguise stone necklace and headed to Semaphelaz.

 

And.

 

“…That’s right.”

 

Frill immediately recognized the painting I had brought.

 

“No, this… how did you, Miss Berry…”

 

Frill’s eyes began to moisten.

 

I spoke calmly.

 

“I saw this painting at the auction house…”

 

After hearing my explanation, Frill silently reached out her hand.

 

Her trembling fingertips touched the faint letter ‘J’.

 

Watching this scene, I muttered to myself. Thank you, Chris.

 

Just then.

 

Knock knock. The sound of knocking was heard.

 

“Frill.”

 

At the voice that followed, Frill’s body trembled.

 

Her shaking eyes turned toward the door.

 

“…Are you still feeling unwell?”

 

Frill urgently grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.

 

As I was being led away, I saw Frill’s eyes filled with fear.

 

‘That person must be Justin.’

 

I could tell instinctively.

 

‘What fantastic timing.’

 

It seemed Frill had been avoiding Justin all this time, using illness as an excuse.

 

Because she couldn’t even properly face him.

 

I whispered to Frill.

 

“Go see him. It’s okay.”

 

Frill looked hesitant.

 

Even so, her gaze wouldn’t leave the painting I had brought.

 

“…Foolish man.”

 

Then, as if making up her mind, she slowly approached the door.

 

Finally, the door opened.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

I watched beyond the door from a distance.

 

A man stood there.

 

A foolish man who had left her to marry someone else and start a family, and despite her unilaterally avoiding him saying she had no face to show him after all this time, still waited for her.

 

“Hello… Justin.”

 

An awkward greeting that didn’t fit the moment flowed out.

 

But Justin seemed satisfied with just that.

 

“Why are you here…”

 

If others saw me, I…

 

Justin, watching Frill ramble incoherently, asked quietly.

 

“So, have you been well all this time?”

 

“…I haven’t been well.”

 

Because I spent my days searching for the gift you left behind, regretting the past, unable to live properly day by day.

 

At those words, Justin’s eyes wavered.

 

Looking at his first love who had now aged, cracks appeared in the face that had been trying to maintain composure.

 

“I regretted leaving you that painting for my entire life.”

 

25 years ago, the boy and girl who had confessed their love to each other reunited like this.

 

“It was my selfishness. Even knowing it was a pathetic trace that would hold you back…”

 

I deliberately didn’t listen to the words that followed.

 

Because it belatedly occurred to me that this was a conversation I shouldn’t be hearing.

 

I distracted myself by fiddling with the neatly arranged teacups and tableware.

 

Justin was a gentleman.

 

Frill quickly regained her composure and introduced me to Justin.

 

Miss Berry is a friend of a child I used to take care of, and there’s this situation, and she found the painting you gave me through this process…

 

Justin, who had been listening to the explanation silently, extended his hand in a gesture of gratitude.

 

“Thanks to you, miss, I’ve achieved my life’s goal.”

 

He had become the owner of a successful tailor shop. He had kept his promise to become a wonderful person someday.

 

Frill said she had something to discuss with Miss Berry and told him to go upstairs, and Justin complied.

 

…Somehow I felt like I had interfered with a reunion 25 years in the making, but it was true that I still had business to attend to.

 

“Thanks to this, my first love story won’t be entirely gloomy.”

 

Frill sipped her tea while looking at the stairs leading to the second floor.

 

“Anyway, Miss Berry.”

 

At those words beginning the main topic, I straightened my back attentively.

 

“When you found my painting, your biggest hope was probably for me to start working again. That’s natural, so it’s fine. But…”

 

Frill smiled brightly.

 

“Even if I start working, doing that work with Miss Berry is a different matter. I don’t need to rush into starting work, and there are many people who want my abilities.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

I nodded slowly.

 

It was an expected reaction, so I wasn’t particularly surprised.

 

I took out the contract I had brought from the Viscount’s Mansion.

 

A partnership proposal for the premium perfume brand ‘Dun Like.’

 

“So please read the contract first and think it over.”

 

I placed the contract on the table and explained slowly.

 

“First, we’ll respect your opinions as much as possible during the fragrance creation process, but if it conflicts with the brand image, we may request modifications. I’ll decide everything about the main customer base, pricing, sales methods, and so on. To put it simply, rather than a partnership, it’s closer to me having exclusive rights to your perfume notes for the contract period. And…”

 

I placed my finger on the most important part.

 

“The profit distribution is 60% of net profits. And if monthly net profits fall short of 1,000 gold, regardless of the amount, I’ll give you 500 gold each month.”

 

“…”

 

Frill seemed speechless at the extraordinary conditions.

 

Frill looked at me with genuinely concerned eyes and spoke.

 

“Um… Miss Berry seems to not know much about how the world works yet, but these are conditions I cannot accept even considering my duty as an adult. Frankly, I question whether you have any intention of making money.”

 

In truth, even I thought the conditions were absurd.

 

The possibility of only losing money rather than gaining any profit was much higher.

 

‘But still…’

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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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