Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 59: The Engagement Conspiracy

Chapter 59: The Engagement Conspiracy

Before Katherine could digest all that, a polite cough interrupted them.

"Here’s a refill for your tea," Roiselin said, stepping into the room with perfect timing.

Adolfo blinked, a slight frown tugging at his lips. "Roi."

"Master, pardon the intrusion, but we’ve run out of film for the portraits."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I see."

"I’ve already sent the customers home and told them to return next week," Roiselin added, his tone almost too innocent.

"Good. Thank you," Adolfo muttered, then turned back to Katherine with an exaggerated smile. "Perhaps we can restock tomorrow."

Katherine narrowed her eyes, suspicious of that grin. "Hmm?"

"You’re coming with me to the marketplace, right?"

"Oh!" The festival. How could she almost forget? "Yes, of course."

She still had a ton of questions about her brother, but Roiselin’s entrance had completely derailed her momentum. Well, this was nice, too. Sort of. It wasn’t exactly what she had in mind, but sure. Why not?

Then Adolfo added, casually, "I’ll go with you to the North."

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes. After the symposium, we can go. I can’t let a lady go alone there."

Katherine scoffed, crossing her arms. "But you let my brother go alone?"

Adolfo hesitated, looking slightly caught off-guard. "I..."

Roiselin smoothly jumped in before he could fumble. "If I may intrude—my master isn’t exactly comfortable going to the family villa in the North."

Katherine turned to her. "Really?"

"Yes," Roiselin said with a knowing smile "It’s where the previous lord and the Marquis disappeared. It’s not exactly a place he enjoys visiting." She glanced at Adolfo mischievously. "But it seems he’s making a special exception for you, Lady Katherine."

Katherine raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to Adolfo, who looked... visibly displeased. "Oh? Is that so?"

"Roi. Out." Adolfo’s tone had dropped to a low growl.

Roiselin beamed, unfazed. "Master, I was here the whole time. I already know everything you’re talking about."

"Stop eavesdropping and attend to the workshop."

"I’m multitasking, master. Just for you." Roiselin gave an overly dramatic bow.

Katherine couldn’t hold it in any longer. She bit her lip, watching the two bicker like siblings. Adolfo, who had always been so refined, so calculated, looked completely out of his element. His smug persona had completely melted away, leaving behind a flustered mess of a man who couldn’t even deal with his own assistant.

It was... strangely endearing.

And then, it happened. The laughter. Katherine tried to suppress it, but it bubbled up too fast. She burst out laughing, not even caring how ridiculous she probably looked. The whole situation was too absurd, and Adolfo? Well, Adolfo had officially lost the battle of ’calm, collected aristocrat.’

He gave her a look that was half-amused, half-frustrated. "You’re enjoying this way too much."

Katherine wiped away a tear, still grinning. "I’m just glad to see you’re human, for once."

Katherine cleared her throat. "But my lord, there’s no need for you to go with me. You could simply give me a referral, and I’ll go with Ruel."

Adolfo’s smile didn’t waver. "Why?"

She blinked. "He knows the North too."

There was a beat of silence. Then, Roiselin suddenly let out a soft chuckle, covering her mouth as if she couldn’t quite believe what she’d just heard.

Katherine frowned. "What?"

Roiselin shook her head, barely holding back another laugh. "Oh, nothing. I just find it amusing how oblivious you can be sometimes."

"Oblivious?"

Adolfo leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand. "My dear lady, Ruel is a man."

Katherine stared at him. "...Yes?"

Adolfo simply smiled, as if that answered everything.

"I am a local there," he added, nonchalantly.

"Yes, but I believe you are busy, so—"

Adolfo’s smile grew.

Katherine sighed, rubbing her temples. "Okay, my lord. Please come."

He tilted his head. "Why do you prefer a stranger over me?"

"I—"

"I think I would be a better guide," he continued smoothly. "Haven’t I already proven myself? I guided you through the marketplace, did I not?"

Katherine opened her mouth, then closed it. That was... annoyingly true.

"Ruel is not a—" She turned to Adolfo, only to find him still smiling, waiting. There was something too pleased in his expression. "What makes you think he’s a stranger?" she challenged. "He’s a relative."

Adolfo chuckled, his crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "My dear lady, there are far more red-haired, green-eyed people in this world than you imagine."

Then, she paused.

Wait.

She had introduced Ruel as her relative—so why did Adolfo sound so sure that wasn’t the case?

Her gaze snapped to him, searching for any sign that he had simply misspoken. But no—there he was, sipping his tea with an insufferably satisfied expression, like he knew something she didn’t.

How much did he actually know?

She opened her mouth, about to question him, but he casually set down his teacup and met her gaze with a knowing smile.

Katherine blinked. "You know we’re not related..."

Adolfo tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his crimson eyes. "I already admitted that I know you two. Why so surprised?"

"Yes, Mr. Know-It-All," she muttered, crossing her arms.

He chuckled, entirely too pleased with himself.

"That being said," he continued smoothly, "I would suggest going prepared when traveling to the North. We should go shopping later."

"We?" Katherine repeated, narrowing her eyes.

"Yes, we." Adolfo leaned back, his smirk widening. "I’ll have to buy my fiancée some nice wearings before I introduce her to my relatives."

Katherine froze.

...Fiancée?

Her?

Her mind completely blanked for a moment before she let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. "Wait, wait—who exactly are you calling your fiancée?"

Adolfo’s expression remained entirely unbothered as he met her gaze. "You, of course."

Katherine’s jaw nearly dropped. "Excuse me?!"

Roiselin muffled a laugh behind her hand, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Adolfo, as calm as ever, lifted his teacup again. "Well, I can’t just introduce you as some mysterious woman of unknown origins. That would be terribly suspicious. My dear lady, you wouldn’t want to draw unnecessary attention, would you?"

Katherine gaped at him. "So your solution is to just—just fake an engagement?!"

Adolfo smiled. "It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?"

She stared at him, at a complete loss for words.

Katherine groaned, rubbing her temples. This man was impossible.

She should’ve just let Ruel take her.

Katherine groaned, rubbing her temples. This man was impossible.

"You can’t be serious," she muttered.

"Quite serious, actually," Adolfo said, taking a leisurely sip of his tea. "Unless, of course, you have a better cover story?"

"Yes," she said immediately. "I’m... a traveling scholar."

Adolfo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly are you studying?"

Katherine opened her mouth—then promptly shut it. "History?" she tried.

Adolfo smirked. "You sound very convincing."

"Shut up."

"I’m just pointing out the obvious, my dear fiancée," he said smoothly.

She nearly threw a scone at him.

Roiselin, who had been watching the whole exchange with barely concealed amusement, finally interjected. "Lady Katherine, I must say, Master’s plan is actually quite solid."

Katherine turned to her in disbelief. "Et tu, Roiselin?"

The silver-haired woman just smiled. "A fiancée is much easier to explain than a ’traveling scholar.’ It provides instant credibility, and no one will question why you’re traveling with him."

Katherine scowled. "But—!"

Adolfo leaned closer, voice dripping with amusement. "You do realize that if I introduce you as anything else, people will ask questions. Would you rather be my mysterious ’companion’ or my fiancée?"

Katherine inhaled sharply. There was something terribly smug about the way he said "my fiancée" that made her want to strangle him.

"You could just introduce me as an acquaintance," she gritted out.

Adolfo let out a soft laugh. "Oh, my dear, you underestimate how nosy people can be."

Katherine clenched her jaw. She knew he was right, but admitting defeat to Adolfo was just unbearable.

She exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if anyone asks, it’s a temporary engagement."

Adolfo placed a hand over his chest, feigning heartbreak. "Oh, how cruel. Already planning our separation before we’ve even announced it?"

She rolled her eyes. "Don’t push it."

Roiselin giggled. "Master, you’re enjoying this far too much."

"How could I not?" Adolfo mused. "After all, I now have the honor of dressing my lovely fiancée properly before meeting my family."

Katherine shot him a glare. "You’re just using this as an excuse to make me wear something ridiculous, aren’t you?"

Adolfo’s smirk didn’t waver. "You wound me. Would I ever do such a thing?"

Katherine groaned. This trip was going to be a nightmare.

***

Katherine stood, smoothing the front of her dress. Her thoughts were still spinning from everything she had learned, but she needed space to process it all.

Adolfo, who had been watching her in quiet amusement, finally spoke. "I hope this means you’re not angry with me anymore."

She blinked, caught off guard. "You were... worried about that?"

He gave a small shrug, swirling the tea in his cup. "I wouldn’t say worried, but it did cross my mind."

Oh. So he had been minding it after all. She hadn’t expected that.

She let out a small sigh, tilting her head as she considered him. "You do have a habit of making things difficult."

"And yet, here you are, still speaking to me." His lips curled into that insufferable smirk.

Katherine narrowed her eyes at him, but there was no real bite behind it. "I need time to think."

Adolfo set down his cup and leaned back, as if considering something. Then, in a more serious tone, he added, "Fair enough. But don’t overthink too much, my lady. It would be a shame if you lost sleep over me."

She rolled her eyes and turned toward the door, but before she could step out, his voice stopped her once more.

"...Noraleigha."

She glanced back, her heart skip a bit with him saying her name.

He hesitated for a fraction of a second before offering a soft, almost unreadable smile. "Lady Noraleigha, take care."

For a brief moment, something unfamiliar stirred in her chest. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, so she simply nodded before stepping out and shutting the door behind her.

And as she walked away, she found herself wondering if she had, without realizing it, already forgiven him.

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