~Chapter 36~
“Wow… what is all this?”
That was Leoric’s first reaction when he stepped into Aisha’s bedroom.
“This treatment is amazing. Maybe I should’ve been Killian’s fiancée instead. This room is even better than Father’s chamber back at the estate.”
“Then why don’t you take my place? Want me to hand him over to you?”
“N-no thanks. On second thought, I don’t think I’m ready for marriage.”
Leoric waved his hands quickly as he sat down on the bed. Aisha, with dark circles under her eyes, glared at him.
“So… Killian really said you can keep publishing the magazine?”
“Yeah.”
Aisha sighed heavily.
“But he made me promise to let him check everything before it’s published. He even barged in at six this morning, acting like he’d been waiting all night. Honestly, he’s so annoying.”
At dawn, right on time, Killian had come into her room. With a sour face, Aisha had handed him the newest issue of Sunday’s Exposé, disguised as another Killian Winters feature—but in truth, it was an Aisha Ashton feature.
“Impressive.”
“What do you mean?”
“If self-promotion is a skill, then you’re quite talented. I imagine even if you were drowning, only your mouth would keep floating, still rambling away. Or maybe in your case, your hands would float instead?”
“Enough with the jokes. So, is it approved or not?”
“Approved.”
“This time, Lady Aisha Ashton deserves to be the star of high society.”
That had been their last exchange. Killian had walked out without hesitation, almost as if relieved, leaving Aisha fuming as she waited for Leoric.
“So, where’s the manuscript?”
“I hid it in here, in case Sien barged in. Hold on.”
Leoric tilted his head. “No one else knows you’re the publisher of Sunday’s Exposé, right?”
“Of course not, idiot. Everyone here is Killian Winters’ follower. If they find out it’s me, I’ll probably get beaten to death.”
“…Beaten to death?”
“It just means they’ll thrash me, Leoric.”
“Ohhh.”
Leoric nodded blankly.
Aisha opened the drawer and pulled out two envelopes. One was the issue Killian had already approved. The other was the article on Roselia—still hidden from him.
‘Wait… did I put that one on top or at the bottom?’
Dizzy from lack of sleep, Aisha picked up both envelopes to check them—when suddenly:
“Lady Aisha, it’s Sien.”
From behind the closed door, Sien’s voice rang out.
Aisha froze.
So did Leoric.
“I’ll be coming in.”
Normally, a maid would at least wait for permission.
And in that moment, Leoric realized Aisha had been right. Everyone in this mansion followed Killian. Which meant, naturally, they looked down on her. Even the maid treated her this way.
The door opened, and Sien entered with a tray of steaming tea.
“I’ve prepared tea. It’s good for restoring energy in the morning…”
But then she stopped mid-sentence.
Her gaze had fallen on the envelope in Aisha’s hands.
Aisha instantly felt it—Sien’s eyes filled with suspicion.
‘No, I can’t let her find out!’
In her panic, Aisha quickly shoved one envelope into Leoric’s hands.
“You don’t need to set the tea down! Leoric was just about to leave. Right, Leoric? He’s leaving right now!”
“….”
“Right, Leoric?”
“Y-yeah, of course!”
Leoric jumped up as if chased away.
“Such a shame I can’t greet Duke Killian before I go! But he must be so busy, I couldn’t possibly disturb him. Isn’t that right, sister?”
“Exactly. I’m just happy you came to visit at all!”
What was this awkward play-acting?
Sien’s sharp eyes glinted, but she said nothing. There was no solid reason to accuse them.
“Next time I’ll visit again! Rest well until then, sister!”
With the envelope in hand, Leoric dashed out like lightning, not once looking back.
“…What a pity. I prepared such delicious tea.”
“Sorry, Sien. I should’ve told you earlier he was leaving soon.”
“….”
“Sien…?”
Why wasn’t she saying anything?
Aisha’s chest tightened with unease.
“This was my first time meeting Young Master Leoric.”
“…?”
“I’ve heard of him. He’s rather well-known in society, isn’t he?”
“…??”
“They say during his debut, he was constantly being called over by young ladies.”
Ah.
Aisha remembered.
That was from one of her earliest issues—when she shamelessly sold out her own family.
Leoric Ashton, son of the Ashton family—rumors from his debut ball!
He was said to have been extremely popular, called away to terraces and gardens all night long by eager young ladies.
“He was so popular, after all.”
But the truth? That had been one of Aisha’s most ridiculous lies.
Yes, Leoric had been dragged away that night. But not for romantic reasons—he had made some tactless comment, angering the ladies, and ended up beaten black and blue.
Still, with his looks, it wasn’t surprising that Sien believed the rumor.
But then Aisha realized—
‘Wait. That issue was from way before the Killian specials started. Could Sien… be a subscriber?’
The thought made Aisha’s lips twitch.
If Sien ever found out she was the publisher, she’d probably faint on the spot.
“I’ll take the tea back then.”
“Huh?”
“Leoric just left, didn’t he? I also brought snacks for two. It’s too much for you alone.”
“…I could just leave some.”
“Leaving food behind brings punishment after death, Lady Aisha.”
…So that rule exists in this world too?
“If you’d like tea, I’ll prepare it fresh and deliver it to the Duke’s office. Excuse me.”
And with that, Sien walked out, leaving Aisha pouting in frustration.
“Haa…”
She was exhausted, but now she’d have to face Killian again.
With a deep sigh, Aisha rose to her feet—
…completely unaware of which article she had just handed Leoric.
Of course 😂 the good old switcheroo 🤌✨