Chapter 31

Leaving without a word—

Ash could not accept that. He could not allow their relationship to end in such a way.

‘That can’t happen.’

She couldn’t do that to him.

Even as betrayal, anger, and sadness surged inside, Ash kept himself as calm as possible. He couldn’t afford even the smallest mistake. If necessary, he was prepared to close off the entire train station and catch Erin.

‘Wait there, Erin.’

So Aston Clebania—Ash—came immediately.

To reclaim his Erin Leshamur, who had left on her own.

* * *

“…So that’s how it happened.”

Listening quietly in Ash’s arms, Erin felt dazed.

Right, so all of this…

“…You planned it all?”

“To some extent.”

“You approached me from the start…”

“I told you. I approached out of curiosity, but now…”

Ash spoke with aching eyes, holding Erin and fiddling with her hand. Erin glanced down and, seeing the ring on her finger, looked a bit shocked.

“…Is this really the Clebania Dukedom’s signet ring?”

“…Yes.”

Click.

Ash confirmed and pressed the jewel; like a pendant, it opened to reveal the family crest inside. Seeing it, Erin gasped.

“You gave me something like this?”

“There’s no harmful magic. Really, it’s just an enchanted item with tracking.”

“…Then what about those times you lifted the bathtub as if it weighed nothing?!”

Ash’s eyes widened as if that was obvious.

He really was strong. No wonder she always felt that pressure from him.

While Erin blushed at the realization, Ash, moving his lips, pressed his forehead to hers.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”

“Mmm…”

Erin scratched her cheek, feeling she’d missed a lot herself.

‘No wonder.’

Now she understood why Ash could hit people so confidently and never get in trouble.

Those kinds of people would have to bow before the Clebania Dukedom.

‘And that’s not all.’

Ash’s fancy house, his habit of buying her clothes, his claims of having lots of savings—

Even the lab furniture was probably all bought by him.

Compared to the enormous wealth of the Clebania Dukedom, those were trivial expenses.

“Wait. But with all that wealth, why did you get a building with leaky pipes…?”

“…I made the pipes leak.”

“What?”

“So I could be with you.”

That left Erin speechless.

She felt her face heat up with embarrassment.

‘Of all people, Duke Aston Clebania did something so… so ridiculous.’

Just to win her over.

And knowing she wasn’t the only one drawn to him made her feel relieved.

All the excitement she felt with Ash wasn’t just her imagination. She hadn’t been loving him alone.

‘He likes me too…’

She felt truly happy.

While Erin basked in that fullness, Ash kept talking.

“Afterward, I couldn’t find the right time to reveal everything, so I planned to formally propose after the report meeting.”

Erin blinked slowly.

‘Propose?’

She looked up in confusion and saw Ash’s eyes filled with sincerity.

Without thinking, she asked,

“…Do you really want to marry me?”

“What did you think I meant all this time?”

“Oh…”

Right. He’d confessed that he wanted to keep her by his side, that he wanted to always be with her.

‘Not just as a researcher.’

He wanted her as his wife.

Erin’s cheeks flushed again.

“I’ll say it again, Erin, don’t think you can sleep with me and then throw me away.”

Ash growled, hugging her even tighter as if afraid to lose her.

“Don’t do that after coming all this way.”

“……”

“Don’t do that to me.”

It was a heartfelt confession.

“…If you’re angry about the lies, I understand, but when you’ve calmed down, think about it.”

“Think about what?”

“…About becoming my wife.”

Erin found herself patting Ash’s back, thinking,

‘Wow. This is different.’

It felt different from when he was just her obedient assistant.

‘His face is the same as back then.’

Maybe this was his true self as Aston Clebania.

All the pretty, gentle Ash she’d known was a mask for her sake.

Anyone else would have hated this possessiveness. Erin usually disliked being controlled.

But Ash felt different.

‘Hearing him speak so assertively like that… it doesn’t feel bad.’

She glanced up and saw Ash’s eyes shimmering with desperation. In those eyes was pure sincerity.

Like a child’s—blind, honest sincerity.

‘…A child.’

Erin suddenly thought of young Ash.

Always treated as something dirty, denied even his existence, told he shouldn’t have been born.

‘Were they all insane?’

Anger welled up inside her.

‘How could anyone say that to a child this beautiful?’

Of course, even if he wasn’t beautiful, no child deserved that. That’s *buse. This world with its cruel “pregnancy and escape” tropes was truly twisted.

Looking at Ash’s suddenly forlorn face, Erin felt a surge of pity.

‘Those awful people.’

Ash was kind and good. He didn’t deserve such treatment.

Her nose tingled, and Erin gently brushed Ash’s hair back. As Ash’s pupils trembled, he moved his lips again.

“…If you want, you can do anything.”

“Mmm.”

“I’ll support any experiment, get you any material you want…”

“That’s tempting. Yeah. Honestly, I’d rather have your investment than someone like Viscount Talben who just flirts…”

“…Did that bastard flirt with you?”

Ash instantly grew cold, and Erin, realizing she’d slipped, gently cupped his chin.

“Anyway, that’s not what matters, is it?”

At her words, Ash glanced away as if checking her reaction. Erin stared at him and asked,

“Ash. Why do you want to marry me?”

“Well…”

“Do you like me?”

At her blunt question, Ash’s lips quivered. He looked pale, but Erin caught the flush spreading to his ears.

“Hmm? Do you like me?”

When she pressed, the redness spread to Ash’s cheeks. It was a scene that would make anyone sigh with delight.

Finally, Ash hesitated, then spoke.

“…No.”

“……”

“I…”

He whispered, tilting his head to press his lips to Erin’s.

As their breaths mingled, Ash’s small but clear voice reached Erin’s ear.

“…I love you.”

Erin burst into a bright laugh. She stopped the kiss to giggle, and Ash looked at her with a hint of complaint.

Erin kissed him and whispered,

“Yes, me too.”

“……”

“Alright. Let’s get married.”

Ash’s long eyelashes trembled.

“By the way, even after marriage, I want to keep researching, so you can’t take back your promise to support me. By the way, my lab—mm!”

Her words were swallowed by his hot lips.

His wet tongue swept her mouth, sometimes desperate, sometimes slow and savoring.

But even that made her feel full.

‘Maybe it’s because our hearts connected.’

Erin closed her eyes, focusing on the kiss, and felt moisture on her cheek.

‘Wait, moisture?’

Suddenly—

‘Ash?’

She opened her eyes and saw Ash crying.

Tears fell from his red eyes, soaking her.

Startled, Erin reached out to wipe them, but—

She paused, seeing the sweetly curved, joyful eyes.

Realizing they were tears of pure happiness, she shivered with awe and delight.

“Erin, Erin…”

Ash pulled away, calling her name in a giddy voice, then snuggled into her arms like a child.

‘Cute.’

Erin thought so again, and gladly held Ash close.

‘This time…’

This time, she thought, she wouldn’t need contraceptives.

For a while, their room was filled with heat and wet sounds.

* * *

Some time later, a major event was held in the Empire. It was the wedding celebration of the mysterious Duke of Clebania.

The actual ceremony was said to be small and private, but the celebration was massive.

It was as if he wanted to show off his marriage—and his bride—to everyone. Though the bride’s identity remained shrouded in mystery.

People found it strange, but enjoyed the festivities. They admired the Duke’s generosity and wished the newlyweds happiness.

The only unhappy ones were the reporters who had written negative articles about contraceptives and lost out, and the few men who had chased Erin and ended up ruining their families.

Some time later—

The contraceptive named “Prepared Love” was released.

With all previous side effects resolved, and excellent results at a low price, it saved many women and became the top contraceptive.

And one moonlit night, it was secretly delivered to a woman trapped in the Crown Prince’s palace.

She escaped death, and when the contraceptive was discovered, the furious Crown Prince confessed his love, resolved their misunderstandings…

And so, the two found their own happy ending—a secret known only to them.