The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 5

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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 5

It would be awkward to forcefully deny it since it would only drive the nail deeper into the rumors. There’s a reason why they say strong denial is strong affirmation.

“Please raise the child well, Young-ae.”

After the young ladies who had gotten explanations about the child and reservation information left.

I entered the boutique and let out a deep sigh.

‘At least they don’t seem to suspect that it’s not my child…’

For now, today’s goal was achieved.

Just then, I felt a persistent gaze from somewhere.

There was still someone who hadn’t left my side, and that was Chris.

“Still, you should have told me in advance, shouldn’t you? I’m your closest aide, after all.”

Chris spoke bluntly. It seemed he had finally gained the confidence to chatter away.

“This time, it really seems like the right moment to appear as a source in the Empire Weekly corner 【I Want to Know That: The Reality of Upper-Class Villainous Owners】. I’ve already received five interview requests…”

The reason I couldn’t inform him in advance was because I only found out two days ago that I had a child.

Since I couldn’t answer that honestly, I didn’t respond.

“Hmm, now I understand everything. When you felt nauseous at the restaurant during last year’s festival, it was because you were pregnant.”

‘No, it was just because I can’t eat fish.’

Last year’s festival was the worst for me since I have a weak stomach and can’t eat seafood.

At the time, I was in a bad mood because things weren’t going well with Mr. Ransel Idiz Arviente, but I didn’t want to be alone on the festival day either.

So the partner I chose was Chris. (On this day, Chris complained about how they could make him eat alone with his boss and threatened to sue for workplace harassment.)

But all the restaurants enjoying the festival rush were fully booked, and the place we barely managed to find happened to only serve seafood.

I was dry heaving because of the fish dish I was forced to order there…

Well, if he wanted to connect the dots himself, there was no need to correct him.

“Sigh… And here I was, happy about receiving a generous vacation bonus without knowing any of this.”

Chris let out a breath full of self-reproach.

Then he tapped his eyelids with his sleeve ends, putting on his most earnest crying act.

At his terrible acting, I spoke up for the first time.

“Stop acting. You’re not even crying.”

“Yes, the worry is real but the tears won’t come. I’m quite the manly man among men, you see.”

Chris quickly lowered his sleeve.

I gestured for my closest aide, who seemed even more annoying after not seeing him for a while, to go do some work. I was just tired.

***

At that moment, at the port.

“Ahh, finally home!”

Melvin Edward, the first officer of the Westport, stretched his arms out fully.

The Westport, which carried the symbol of being the Empire’s guardian, was the ship every navy member dreamed of.

A place where only those who ranked overwhelmingly first during their cadet years could apply, excluding people from Arviente.

Why did the Westport become the symbol of the navy?

There were gates connected to the demon realm in the sea, so at the time of the nation’s founding, the seas were occupied by demons.

After driving out those demons, it was the first head of Arviente who led the Westport that made the Emperor the ruler of the seas.

‘Still, how can you work people this hard?’

That raccoon-like old man.

Melvin gritted his teeth thinking of the admiral who had brazenly lied that work that would easily take a year was only a six-month job.

As Melvin continued stretching, he noticed sailors coming onto land.

Even among those burly men, there was someone who caught the eye.

Perfect silver hair without a speck of dust, and blue eyes that sparkled brilliantly like the Merhen Ocean.

It was Ransel, standing blankly and surveying the Capital’s scenery.

‘Why is he in that state?’

Melvin abruptly stopped stretching.

To Melvin, Ransel was both a superior and an old friend.

They had met in the ‘Healthy Rowing Community’, a group consistently popular among upper-class boys in the Empire.

‘Back then, we were both crazy about beer and rowing.’

He thought he wouldn’t have any business with that (un)healthy rowing teammate after becoming adults, but they ended up entering the Military Academy together and continued their connection.

Having finished this sudden reminiscence, Melvin approached Ransel.

“Why are you in such an uncharacteristically gloomy mode, our Colonel?”

It was his old friend mode after a long time.

Ransel, who had been looking troubled, relaxed his expression upon spotting him.

“Melvin.”

Artificial composure seeped over his tangled emotions.

“Huh? We’ve returned after a year, shouldn’t you be dancing naked or something? Fame and retirement security all at once! Achieve that dream with the Obern Navy! There’s a risk of death from overwork, but it’s okay!”

Melvin shouted while exaggeratedly swaying his body.

However, what came back was.

“Well, I’m just tired. My shoulder is hurting again too.”

It was such a bland reaction that his over-the-top behavior became embarrassing.

When Ransel moved his injured shoulder, the smell of strong disinfectant wafted over.

Melvin’s face hardened grimly.

It seemed like…

“This guy still hasn’t come to his senses.”

Actually, Ransel had been in a bad state for several months.

Burying his face in his pillow and saying ‘I’m going to drink 97-proof rum and die’ wasn’t exactly normal.

The sailors’ reaction after observing several days of this madness was unanimous.

So people really do go crazy when they get dumped by their lover… What should we do about our Colonel?

The sailors couldn’t help but feel sorry seeing the deranged state of someone famous as a demon officer that made demons tremble just hearing his name.

‘And now…’

The denial stage.

A situation where he’s turning away from the truth because the reality he faces is too harsh.

The man who was clearly in such a bad state chuckled.

“Openly discussing my mental state like that. Your loyalty to your superior seems quite lacking.”

It was obvious he was trying to change the subject and pretend he was fine, but Melvin decided to let it slide out of pity for his friend.

“Don’t worry, I have such tremendous loyalty that I can’t even dare to show it.”

“Right, I can feel tremendous loyalty from that mouth of yours.”

“Your mouth is a bit low-class for an officer.”

The childish bickering continued only briefly.

Ransel just smiled without responding further.

…It seemed like nothing but time would be the answer. Melvin turned around.

‘That guy aside.’

Melvin also had many things to do after returning home after a year.

‘It would be terrible if I can’t readjust to the Capital like this.’

He had to somehow smooth over the year-long gap. While looking around to grasp current trends, Melvin spotted a newspaper.

[ 【Celebrity Mary Blin’s Return! But…?】 ]

Whether the sailors had been giggling while reading it and then tossed it aside, it was abandoned on the street but clean.

Melvin began reading slowly from the headline.

“…”

And not long after, his complexion hardened.

‘What is this? What the hell? When did today secretly become April 1st…?’

Melvin stammered as he thrust the newspaper toward Ransel.

“Hey, hey. Read this.”

Ransel was someone who usually didn’t even glance at newspapers.

While he generously overlooked stories about himself and Mary in gossip magazines as the fate of a celebrity’s lover, he was a typical high-ranking noble who disliked being mentioned elsewhere, even in authorized publications.

That’s why, as his blue eyes moved halfheartedly, the words ‘just how far will the Colonel’s reputation fall…’ caught his attention.

What now. Ransel reacted indifferently.

“My reputation isn’t something that would be swayed by trivial matters, so you don’t need to show me petty things.”

“No, you bastard. Right now it’s not about your reputation being important…!”

This is maddening. Melvin clutched his head.

At that, Ransel took the newspaper with a magnanimous gesture, as if he’d humor him just this once.

“…”

And his reaction that followed was similar to Melvin’s.

No, it might have been even more serious.

‘…Time being medicine my ass. I might as well go drink 97-proof rum under the Rüpel Bridge.’

Melvin watched Ransel with an anxious heart.

Ransel, who had silently read the entire article, let out an incredulous laugh.

“…Am I seeing this correctly right now?”

His ex-lover was raising a child alone after giving birth.

The someone who just moments ago seemed like he would never be swayed by trivial matters was now in a state where he could neither see nor hear anything.

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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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