episode_0022

Upon returning from my outing with Asia, I was summoned by the Messiah Viscount.

I already knew why I was being called.

The outing with Asia.

That was the only answer.

“Ah, how should I apologize?”

The thought of apologizing filled my mind.

Asia might not know, but the Messiah Viscount I saw was like this.

A doting father.

He disliked leaving a stain on his daughter’s reputation.

He wouldn’t allow a false engagement to end in a breakup just to avoid that.

“…Maybe the Messiah Viscount lied to hide his pain, as Asia said, but from what I saw, it was clearly sincere.”

I understood to some extent why the Messiah Viscount reacted this way.

It was an unavoidable situation.

I was an engagement candidate.

I was in no position to be allowed to go out like this with Asia.

Why?

Because I was just a candidate.

“Just like engagement and marriage are different, being a candidate and being official are different.”

So going out alone with Asia like lovers was forbidden.

After thinking for a while, I found myself in front of the drawing-room.

I opened the door nervously.

“I heard you called for me….”

The tense atmosphere filled the drawing-room.

And at the center.

There sat the Messiah Viscount.

“…I heard a very strange report.”

“What report…?”

I pretended not to know, trying to gauge his intentions.

Just in case it wasn’t what I thought.

Snap.

The pen the Messiah Viscount held cracked in two.

An obvious display of anger.

It seemed my attempt to gauge his intentions was unnecessary.

The reason for my summons was indeed what I thought.

“It’s because of the outing with Asia….”

From the atmosphere in the room to his words, it was clear.

I immediately bowed.

“I’m sorry!!!”

The art of apologizing.

First, a brief apology.

Then, a clear and detailed explanation of what I was apologizing for.

“I apologize for not reporting anything about going out with the Viscount’s daughter this time!!!”

A clean apology, even in my opinion.

I subtly observed the Messiah Viscount’s expression.

A face close to being expressionless.

No, his eyebrows were slightly raised.

He was still angry.

But there was nothing more I could do.

So I quietly waited for the Messiah Viscount’s response.

“…You’re just an engagement candidate.”

“Yes.”

“You’re not an official fiancé.”

“That’s correct, Viscount!”

Not an official fiancé, just an engagement candidate.

The Messiah Viscount stood up from his seat.

And slowly approached me.

“But… you’re acting like a fiancé.”

“I have nothing to say.”

I didn’t make excuses about Asia’s teasing.

It would only make him angrier.

Honestly, if I knew I would be caught so easily, I would have refused.

Or hidden my identity better.

I had thought the Viscount wouldn’t know about the outing with Asia.

“It seems I need to teach you some behavior guidelines.”

“Behavior guidelines… you mean?”

“Yes, the guidelines for behavior that you, as an engagement candidate, should not engage in.”

The Messiah Viscount began to talk to me about behavior guidelines.

First, don’t be alone with Asia in confined spaces.

Second, physical contact is prohibited.

Third, avoid the eyes of others as much as possible.

But I expressed doubt in the third guideline.

“But wasn’t it decided to publicly announce the fact that I’m an engagement candidate?”

There was no reason to avoid the eyes of others.

Showing the two of us together would naturally have a promotional effect…

“I don’t like it. I don’t want others to see you with Asia.”

“Ah… understood.”

If the Viscount didn’t like it, there was nothing I could do.

“Basically, these are the three rules. I may add more in the future, but I hope there won’t be a need for that.”

I nodded in agreement.

The eyes of the speaking messiah viscount were unsettling.

Therefore, I also nodded my head and made a vow.

“I will do my best to prevent that from happening!”

“Do your best?”

“No, I will make sure it never happens!!!”

Looking at the current situation, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

‘The man that Asia is going to marry is going to be pitiful.’

To have such a master.

If that day ever comes…,

I quietly prayed for the future man.

‘The future fiancé… you might have a hard time ahead.’

***

And the next day.

As usual, Asia came to my room.

At the same time…

‘Ah, the code of conduct.’

The first code of conduct came to mind.

My room wasn’t small.

But it wasn’t spacious either.

‘Did I already break the code of conduct…?’

This won’t do.

I said to Asia, “I think it’s best for you to stop helping me with my studies from now on.”

“Why?”

With a suspicious look, Asia stared at me.

“Surely, it’s not because you don’t want to study anymore? I thought you were quite pleased with it…”

“No! Absolutely not! It’s just that, I received a scolding from the viscount yesterday…”

“A scolding? And because of yesterday?”

Huh?

Was Asia not called separately?

If that’s the case, does that mean the code of conduct was only requested of me?

“…He told me not to be alone with Asia in that small space.”

“Small space….”

Asia pondered for a moment.

Suddenly, her face turned red and she shouted.

“W-what does that mean!!!”

“It doesn’t mean anything, just as it is… And I didn’t say it…”

“In a small space… Wait! Could it be…?”

Asia covered her body with her hands.

Ignoring everything before and getting lost in her own strange thoughts, Asia.

I wanted to sincerely say one thing to her.

“You have no charm, so that won’t happen.”

In reality, Asia was beautiful.

But she was only sixteen.

She didn’t match my interests.

More like a little sister.

That’s how I felt.

‘Maybe it’s closer to the feeling of watching an idol…?’

Well, I can’t actually say that.

“It’s a misunderstanding. The messiah viscount told me the rules that Asia Youngae and I should follow when together. One of those rules is…”

As I was explaining in detail.

Footsteps could be heard outside the door.

Tap-tap. Tap-tap.

I immediately thought of Asia’s personal maid, Melia.

She was the only one who knew about this time.

But her footsteps sounded much heavier.

Like a man’s.

For example… similar to the messiah viscount.

‘No way?’

I quickly pushed Asia under the desk.

“What are you doing…!”

And urgently covered Asia’s mouth, gesturing for her to be quiet.

Of course, Asia tried to resist.

But she stopped resisting when she heard the voice coming from outside the door.

“I’m coming in.”

It was the voice of the messiah viscount.

Indeed, the source of those footsteps was the messiah viscount.

His footsteps.

Thud-thud.

The door was knocked once.

Of course, the door was locked.

But-

Crack.

A sound of something breaking was heard.

Creak-.

And the door opened.

‘…Did he break the door?’

Without giving me a chance to unlock the door, the messiah viscount broke it down.

Through the slightly open door, the face of the messiah viscount could be seen.

He had a stern expression.

The messiah viscount peered around my surroundings through the open door.

He then opened the door wide and began to inspect my entire room.

“Hmm… seems like there was a false report.”

“Excuse me?”

“No.”

I tried to hold back the cold sweat that was about to come out.

Just in case I could get caught.

I forced a casual expression and asked, “Why have you come?”

“Um… I don’t know. But more importantly, did you forget the code of conduct?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s settled then.”

With those words, Count Messiah got up and left.

A moment later.

“…I understand why you suddenly did that.”

Asia made a chubby face and emerged from under the desk.

My impulsive actions.

Asia, who knew the reason behind them.

“I apologize for my behavior.”

“Sigh… I forgive you.”

“Thank you.”

Fortunately, she forgave my rudeness.

I had touched the body of a noble lady without permission.

Asia seemed to be more merciful than I had thought.

“Anyway, you should study alone from now on.”

“Yes.”

If the current situation continued, there would be no atmosphere for studying.

The past week had been different.

‘Count Messiah has been keeping an eye on me since he went out!’

Of course, I could continue studying while avoiding Count Messiah’s gaze.

But it was not my place to keep putting Asia under the desk.

So, it was better for both of us to end our study sessions.

“…But I will visit you occasionally.”

“If you do, I will be grateful.”

Studying with Asia had been very helpful to me.

I was fortunate if she could help me occasionally.

“Well, I will go now.”

Following Count Messiah, Asia also left the room.

Alone in the room, I got lost in my thoughts.

‘Someday, this play will come to an end.’

The end of the play.

In other words, the return of Gyeomseong.

Then, I wouldn’t have to pretend to be engaged anymore.

In other words, freedom.

So, what should I do after that?

The fantasy world I had dreamed of.

Well, calling it a dream might be an exaggeration.

Just a world I wanted to experience once.

I had actually ended up in that world.

‘What kind of life is a good life to live?’

Until ten years ago, I was too busy to think about such things.

But now, I had the power to live as I wanted, and I would have more time in the future.

So, what kind of life should I live after this play ends?

“My life is not a story with a predetermined ending like a novel.”

I pondered for a long time on what kind of life I should live.