At that moment, something snapped in my head.
Why the hell is he here?
No, how did he even find me in the first place?
And on top of that, Edmond—of all people—was looking at me with… concern?
I was sure he used those fake, polite eyes to trick the innkeeper into telling him where I was.
‘Why is he really here?’
I had a bad feeling about this.
Back at the academy, every time I got involved with Edmond, things got exhausting.
At first, we had a short period where we were almost like friends. I even helped him once.
But after he started treating me like an enemy, all I heard from him were insults.
He picked fights with me more times than I could count.
So now, with no house to protect me anymore, letting him near me didn’t seem like a smart idea.
“…I don’t know that person.”
That was the strategy I chose to escape the situation.
I quickly grabbed the doorknob and tried to shut the door.
If I could get the door completely closed, I planned to lock it and never open it again until Edmond left.
But right then, a strong hand grabbed the door.
As I pulled with all my strength, trying to close it, I met a pair of icy blue eyes staring back at me—like sapphires.
Something about the way he looked at me felt different this time.
It was serious, intense… like he wouldn’t let me look away.
“Venomaine, I need to talk to you.”
His deep voice used my old name, which only made the whole thing feel even more off.
He had never called me like that before.
‘Didn’t he always scream my name in anger back at the academy?’
I thought either I had lost my mind—or he had.
I yanked the doorknob and shouted:
“I’m not whoever that is…!”
But Edmond’s eyes widened in surprise as he shouted back:
“No, it is you! You are Venomaine…!”
“I said I’m not!”
“What are you talking about?! Just wait—let’s talk for a minute—”
‘Talk? What talk?’
This was the same Edmond who used to glare at me like I disgusted him.
No way he wanted to talk now. He must be up to something.
‘How is he this strong—’
And then—
CRACK.
The wooden door shattered.
“…Huh?”
I froze, just staring at the broken door.
When I finally came to my senses, I looked up—and locked eyes with Edmond, who looked just as stunned as I was.
Just then, thud, someone dropped to the floor behind him.
“That was the newest door we had…”
I looked up and saw the innkeeper sitting on the ground with a dead-eyed look, staring at the door like his life had ended.
‘…I’m doomed.’
I sighed and rubbed my pounding forehead.
Because the door was now completely broken, I had to move to the room next door.
Not that it was any better. Still damp. Still smelled like mold.
I didn’t have much stuff anyway, so moving took only a few minutes.
Meanwhile, Edmond—who broke the door—pulled out some gold coins and gave them to the innkeeper, apologizing.
‘…Three hundred thousand dalant?’
Seeing him hand over that amount so casually made my stomach twist.
Even if I gathered every silver coin I had, I wouldn’t come anywhere near that amount.
And worst of all, I couldn’t even spend what little money I had freely.
“T-this is… so much…”
The innkeeper’s eyes popped open in shock.
Guests holding gold coins didn’t exactly stay in places like this.
This inn was for people like me—people who were barely scraping by, counting every coin.
‘Why is Edmond really here…?’
He didn’t belong in a place like this.
Why would someone like him come to this rundown inn just to talk to me?
After giving the repair money to the innkeeper, he left—and now, only the two of us were left standing in the hallway.
Silence filled the air until Edmond finally spoke.
“…I can tell you don’t really want to talk to me right now.”
His voice was low and calm, echoing in the narrow hall as he brushed back his jet-black hair.
I glanced up from the floor.
That’s when I noticed the ends of his hair were dripping with water.
‘Wait… was he standing in the rain?’
Edmond was always dressed perfectly. The fact that he showed up soaked was strange.
Well, honestly, the fact that he came here to talk at all was already strange.
“Still… if you change your mind and want to talk, come to the front entrance. I’ll wait there for now.”
After saying that, he turned to go downstairs.
“…Wait. For now?”
He stopped and looked back at me slightly.
“Yeah. For now. I’ll keep waiting.”
When I saw his glowing blue eyes again, I realized something.
He really was planning to wait until I came down.
Even though it would get dark soon. Even though the entrance was leaky and cold and would be soaked with rain.
“…Fine.”
In the end, I gave in.
“Come in.”
How did things end up like this?
The rain slammed endlessly against the window of this small, damp room.
Why the hell was I stuck here… alone… with him?
‘Why am I alone in a room with Edmond Wolfgang?’
I sighed deeply.
He said he’d wait until I was ready to talk. He really meant it.
So I figured it’d be faster to just hear him out and get him out of here for good.
That’s why I let him in.
‘Then why is he not saying anything now?’
He just sat there, cold blue eyes watching me quietly, and I couldn’t figure out what he wanted.
Did he come here just to mess with me again, like back in the academy?
Did he hear I got kicked out and lost my name, and now he wanted to rub it in?
‘He’s probably Silver-Named by now, isn’t he?’
Venomaine never gave noble titles to the powerless. If you had no ability, you didn’t even get Bronze-Named.
But Wolfgang gave every child a Bronze Name.
And as the heir, Edmond automatically received a Silver Name.
‘And I got kicked out with nothing… because I didn’t have some stupid ability.’
At the academy, I was always ranked first. Edmond was second.
Swordsmanship, medicine, marksmanship—you name it, I was never behind him.
Maybe I was even a little better.
But now, he was already acting like a full heir, and I… I was back to nothing.
“…Wolfgang, it’s late. It’s pouring out there. Shouldn’t you call your house?”
I couldn’t take the silence anymore and finally said something.
He replied with a quiet voice, a little hoarse:
“I already told them I’d be late. I don’t need to call again.”
Then, he stepped away from the wall and slowly walked toward me.
I looked away, not wanting to see the proud, mocking look that was surely on his face.
“More importantly… there’s something that actually matters.”
Here it comes.
Of course he knew what happened to me.
Of course he came here to enjoy my downfall.
I mean, just staying in this shabby inn made it obvious—I wasn’t part of the Venomaine family anymore.
“Something important? There’s nothing like that.”
I stood up from the bed.
Then looked him straight in the eyes, my voice dry and firm.
“Why don’t you tell me why you’re really here? We weren’t exactly close at the academy.”
“…”
Edmond didn’t answer. He bit his lip instead.
He knew the truth.
That he was the reason we never got close in the first place.
“…I heard. About what happened.”
“…”
Even though he didn’t say it directly, I knew what he meant.
But the fact that he wouldn’t say it out loud just made me feel worse.
“Is it true?”
“…”
I didn’t answer.
Then Edmond stepped closer.
“That you were kicked out of Venomaine and broke off the engagement with Tession Lihallar.”
His words stabbed into my heart.
If I looked up now, I was sure I’d see him laughing at me.
All my effort, all the pain I endured to stay strong… now reduced to nothing more than gossip.
I was hurting so much.
“Yeah. It’s true.”
Still, I answered like it didn’t matter.
If I showed weakness now, I’d just be torn apart.
So I pretended. Like it didn’t hurt.
“Venomaine, then—”
“I’m not Venomaine anymore.”
The name of a family that stole ten years of my life… and threw me away like trash when I had nothing left.
Once, I wanted that name more than anything.
Now, I hated even hearing it.
“Ah… right. Sorry.”
‘Did he just… apologize?’
Edmond Wolfgang, of all people, said sorry.
What was going on?
“So, what are you going to do now?”
When he asked that, I clenched my fists.
I didn’t want pity. I didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.
I wanted to say I’d make it on my own.
“I’ll find a new family to accept me. I’ll get a new Name.”
I expected Edmond to laugh.
But he just listened—seriously.
“Do you know which family?”
“Right now, Lancaster looks most likely. Maybe Tirien or Puyre.”
Wait. Why was I even telling him this?
It felt like we were normal friends talking about our future.
‘Did he grow up in the past few days or something?’
“Lancaster? That place doesn’t suit you.”
Then he ruined the moment.
“The other two aren’t great either. They don’t have the strength to support you.”
Honestly, none of those houses had even confirmed they’d take me.
And hearing this now, my mood hit rock bottom.
I thought maybe I could get through this without saying it…
But now, I had to.
“…Wolfgang. If you’re not here to help, could you just go home—”
“Irene.”
I didn’t even finish.
‘Did he… just call me by my name?’
I froze.
Then Edmond walked toward me—and dropped to his knees.
And suddenly, he grabbed both of my hands.
‘What…?’
Why was he holding my hands?
Why was he looking at me like that?
My brain completely stopped working.
“Come join my family, Irene.”
Wait—did he just say my name again?
And… did he really just say that?
This guy, who used to hate me for being Venomaine?
“T-that’s not even possible.”
“It is. There’s a way. Just do what I say.”
“What…?”
And while my thoughts flew all over the place, Edmond gave the final blow.
He kissed the back of my hand and said:
“Marry me.”
