TNMN 10

Chapter 10

‘That’s a fair point. But still, you could have at least heard me out before deciding, right?’

Emil’s eyes, fixed on Alosha whose expression kept changing right in front of him, were sharp. He had made an excuse about thinking she was a con artist, but Emil had never dreamed that Alosha would actually head to the O’Claire Merchant Group.

‘Better not provoke her further.’

Alosha let out a short sigh and lifted her teacup.

“So that means you confirmed the ring I have is real and came running here in a hurry, right?”

“I won’t deny it.”

He had known from the start that the ring was real, but Emil left that part out of his answer.

“Then shall we talk business?”

“Can the Laosh Merchant Group offer much better terms than the O’Claire Merchant Group?”

“New dresses and jewelry every season? I thought you were a much more calculating person, my lady.”

The way he even wore an expression that seemed to say, ‘Surely you wouldn’t fall for something like that,’ Alosha took it as a compliment.

“I happen to love dresses and jewelry very much. Who would refuse someone offering them?”

“…If you like them that much, I’ll send you far better jewelry and dresses. Separate from the deal.”

There was no need to refuse something offered.

With a leisurely expression, Alosha examined Emil and brought up the main point.

“Wow, you’re sending new items every season, separate from the deal? You certainly are a much more calculating person, Merchant Group Head.”

Emil, who thought he was already well-versed in catering to the whims of seasoned merchants and nobles, found the young lady before him somewhat different, and it put him in a rather pleasant mood. Stroking his chin in thought, Emil smiled leisurely, as if a good idea had struck him.

“How about me?”

“…Pardon?”

“Didn’t you say I was handsome? So I’m asking how about trading the Phoenix Ring for me.”

“What is this, a pumpkin rolling in with its vine still attached… I mean! What are you talking about! I may be swayed by a handsome face, but to tease me like this!”

As Alosha raised her voice in anger, Emil kissed the back of her hand and spoke.

“Tease you? I’m being sincere.”

“Excuse me! Head of the Laosh Merchant Group!”

“Calling me ‘Head of the Laosh Merchant Group’ sounds so stiff. Please, call me Emil familiarly.”

Having said that, Emil gave Alosha a subtle smile and a wink.

‘Good grief, I’m floored! Where did this mischievousness come from, and what’s with the fuss?’

Of course, Emil’s face was very much to Alosha’s taste, and watching a handsome man act playful did lift her spirits. Besides, she was the type to be easily swayed, fickle as can be, and endlessly prone to fawning over good-looking people. But even so, to try and toy with her like this when she needed to be serious!

“This may be boasting, but I’m quite good to my lady.”

“……”

She had been about to get up, her anger flaring just moments ago, but Emil’s single remark made her sit back down.

Good at what?

“What did you just say?”

Alosha doubted whether her own desires had leaked out, causing her to hear things, and asked Emil back.

“I said I’m quite good.”

Emil gave a suggestive smile and traced his lips with his index finger.

From his actions and words, Alosha realized this was reality and found herself wanting to hear in more specific detail, in a place where they were alone, just what exactly Emil was good at.

‘Why am I getting so excited over that remark? Pull yourself together! Haven’t you been fooled once or twice before?’

Like the scene where the male and female leads act like they’re about to kiss while getting in a car, only for the seatbelt to appear, such ambiguous expressions get people all excited, only to be edited out due to content regulations. She must not be fooled.

Unless it’s the complete, uncensored version, phrases that leave you unable to expect what comes next are methods Alosha herself had used many times when writing, and they were just one of those lines that readers knowingly fell for, thinking fondly, ‘Oh, really?’ and imagining it before moving on.

“My lady?”

“…Sorry, what did you say?”

“I’m confident I can cater to whatever style you prefer, so choose me. You won’t regret it.”

‘This novel is not R-19. And it’s a fantasy novel with absolutely no romantic elements.’

Closing her eyes and muttering that to herself, Alosha took a deep breath and spoke.

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think it’s what I’m looking for. Of course, Emil, you are handsome, but I’m not sure if you hold that much value for me.”

“Is that so? For someone saying that, you haven’t let go of my hand for a while now.”

“Wh-when did this happen again! Bad hand! Bad hand!”

Her head and actions were supposed to be separate, but she kept losing her composure like this. It was fortunate she hadn’t drooled, but feeling extremely embarrassed, Alosha began to slap her own hand, making loud smacking sounds.

“My lady, why are you suddenly hitting your own hand? Earlier with your cheek too… Ah, could it be that you have a taste for…?”

“Absolutely not! Do you know how unwavering my tastes are! I really have no interest in that!”

Just looking at the works she paid for on the platform, they were all #PossessiveMale #Possessive/Obsessive #PureHeartMale #GentleOnlyToFemaleLead #HappyEnding #RomCom #CompetentMale, and certainly not that… one thing.

“…And what exactly is ‘that’ taste?”

“……”

Reading about smooth-talking men and the naive women toyed with by them made her laugh, but being on the receiving end made her want to die from annoyance.

‘To think that I, of all people, would be so flustered and thrown off by a single line from a character in a novel!’

What on earth was her friend thinking, creating such a smooth-talking character in a novel that wasn’t even a romance fantasy? Tasting a bitter defeat in the verbal sparring, Alosha glared at Emil, who was stifling his laughter.

“Stop laughing.”

No, laugh more. Laugh your fill until you choke and high-five your ancestors before disappearing right in front of me. As if sensing her dangerous thoughts, Emil cleared his throat and suppressed his laughter.

“Ahem! Understood. It seems the young lady, contrary to rumors, has quite an endearing side.”

“…You don’t have to bother dressing up the fact that I look foolish.”

She had firmly believed that once she possessed the book, she would become an awesome character who effortlessly resolved events and delivered satisfying payback. Who knew she’d turn out to be such a bumbling fool!

Seeing her face flush red and pale alternately, Emil gazed at Alosha with a deep, meaningful look.

“So, what do you think of my offer?”

“Unfortunately, I’ve had someone I admire for a long time, so that’s difficult.”

“You have someone you admire? I was informed you don’t have a fiancé yet, so it can’t be that… Who is it? That lucky person.”

For Emil, who didn’t seem genuinely curious but asked anyway, Alosha deliberately paused for effect.

“The person I admire is none other than Duke Whistler!”

Upon hearing the name Whistler from Alosha’s lips, Emil first thought he must have misheard, and then his expression shifted from surprise to utter shock.

“Surely you don’t mean Duke Demesis Alten Whistler? The bloodthirsty monster who leaves a trail of blood wherever he goes and is rumored to have beheaded everyone he’s ever met? You admire him?”

She was flustered that the character seemed to have an excessively over-the-top setting, but for a final boss, such a long string of epithets was like a badge of honor.

“I-it’s just rumors!”

She tried to say it was just rumors, not wanting to lose face, but her trembling voice gave her away.

“Sigh, my lady? What I’m telling you isn’t just some simple rumor. Unless you have a death wish, it would be wise to stay as far away from Duke Whistler as possible. He’s truly a monster.”

Alosha knew that very well.

Setting aside the original story and the looming death, she wanted to just go to some quiet resort, spend her money freely, date, get married, and live a happy life. But if she took the easy way out, didn’t change the original plot, and just let things flow as they were, starting with her and her brother’s deaths, half the Empire would be swept into war and perish. How could she turn a blind eye to that?

“You can’t shake my feelings for Duke Whistler with words like that!”

Confirming Alosha’s fervent will to somehow seduce that man and survive, Emil let out a long sigh, looking utterly baffled.

“When you came here with the Phoenix Ring that I spent a long time and much effort trying to find, I thought you might want to marry me or something.”

So that’s why he had been so rude.

Alosha shook her head.

“I don’t want anything else. Just help me and Duke Whistler get along well!”

“…How?”

“Pardon?”

“I have no particular connection with Duke Whistler, nor do I know how to make a monster feel human emotions. How exactly am I supposed to help you and Duke Whistler get along?”

“I have a plan for all that, so Emil, you just need to support my plan.”

Emil gave Alosha a suspicious look, scanning her from head to toe, and shook his head.

“I don’t think that’s going to work. While I can certainly appreciate your charm, no beauty has ever managed to capture Duke Whistler’s heart.”

“So you’re saying my looks are far from enough to seduce Duke Whistler?”

“I didn’t say that much.”

He didn’t say it, but it seemed like that’s what he was thinking.

“If he’s that ascetic, at least I won’t have to worry about him straying with other women.”

“Don’t be stubborn for no reason. Why not just say you’re going to wage war to start a rebellion in the Empire and ask me to help you with that?”

Alosha was deeply shocked by Emil’s words.

War would be easier than seducing Duke Whistler? How could he say something so hurtful?

And war! She was going through all this trouble to prevent that very thing!