61. In half a year (1)

It was certainly a strange thing. Mrs. Pearson continued to say that this was the only way to save the family, even after seeing So-hee’s bitter expression. She also said that it wouldn’t be that difficult to meet once. In fact, Ariad, the main culprit who ruined the family, wasn’t in a position to complain. She wasn’t reluctant, but when she expressed her affirmation, it was after all the settings were completed before she knew it. As if Ariad’s doctor hadn’t been cared for in the first place. So-hee arrived at the meeting place feeling a little dirty. The Endro Family’s greenhouse garden was comparable to that in the imperial palace and it felt like the title of great wealth had now come to her. After a long time, So-hee hung up all kinds of accessories at the hands of others. When her hair kept getting stuck in her long earrings, she was starting to feel annoyed deep inside.

“Lady Ariad. My flower. You finally came to see me.”

That cheesy voice applying butter to her heart made the wrinkles in her forehead crease. When she raised her gaze, a brown-haired, green-eyed man stood there, holding a bouquet as rich as the volume of her hair.

“It’s a little sad that you can only get these flowers in your hands after the Pearson family is ruined.” When the man handed her a bouquet and tried to stroke her cheek, So-hee hurriedly turned her head and avoided his caress. Charles smiled at that. He was crazy. He was definitely crazy. So-hee chuckled as he did while swearing inside. Her head immediately categorized him as a red flag. No wonder Ariad’s life got so twisted due to her awful connections. With his tongue fluttering and his mouth-watering with want, Charles sat down and continued. “It’s a little cute to see you act like this when you’ve already seen me through.” Did he mean that Ariad already had sex with him? Why did she break her own rules? Sohee thought Ariad would only involve herself with handsome men!

‘Ariad, you’re doomed! Why do you have to make me suffer like this?’ As she forced herself to raise the corners of her mouth to hide her inner feelings, Sohee quickly changed the subject to change this cheesy atmosphere.

“You must have hurt your hand.”

The man’s right hand was wrapped in a white bandage. She had said it without much meaning but Charles’s eyes suddenly flashed with anger as he gritted his teeth. At the words that followed, So-hee’s smiling face froze.

“The ruined crown prince——-No! Thanks to that great Joshua McKinley, my hands got crippled like this.”

“The cr—crown prince? What did he do?”

It was a time when Joshua wouldn’t talk about what he was doing in a place where he couldn’t be seen, and he couldn’t say anything more about his crazy acts that were bigger than expected.

“I just gave you a present as a token of my love, Ariad. That bastard! Because of him, I can’t paint anymore.” He growled.

So-hee blinked in confusion.  A present? Paint? Did he actually mean that perverted picture that was on the bed before———-

“Have you received the painting by any chance?” When her eyes met Charles, So-hee raised the corners of her mouth again, which was about to droop down. As expected, her predictions were definitely true. He was even crazier than she thought. Thinking that he could do anything to her here if she made a mistake, So-hee hid her inner thoughts and stopped herself from cursing the man out loud.  When he raised his thumb instead of his index finger, he drew a satisfied smile again.

“You must have known how crazy he could get, My Lady.”

“What do you mean?”

“You must have fled the McKinley royal family because of that.”

So-hee nodded her head to set the mood right. The man who took a sip of tea in his cup made eye contact with So-hee again.

“I’ll protect you. Neither Ariad’s family nor loved one could do that now.” Green eyes followed her face closely. “Do you see this splendid space? It’s all yours now———”

At this point, So-hee stopped smiling because her mouth, which had been forced to smile for a while now, kept trembling.

“——if you marry me.”

“Oh wow!”

She unknowingly exhaled a very loud sigh that she had to pretend to clear her throat to hide the sound. She also swallowed the hot tea in front of her to soothe her boiling stomach. Even if marrying him could save her family’s reputation, she felt that she could never choose this offensive man. The man who had already confirmed their marriage by himself added,

“In that case, I think we should officially announce our relationship now.”

“Well, I think———”

So-hee’s opinion, which she had failed to express strongly, was neatly ignored as her words got cut off.

“Let’s go to the royal ball in two days. I’ll escort you there.”

She was embarrassed by such a crazy guy who only went straight to her like a bulldozer. As soon as he said that, the light seemed to flash in her head. A royal ball? Being with this pervert was a surefire way to enter the palace. So-hee, who was only wearing a pretentious mask, had a real smile on her face.

“That’s great!”

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