The End of a Fake Marriage

The strands of Isaac’s golden hair seemed to release a fresh, citrusy scent, like the burst of fragrance from peeling an orange.

“Who the hell are you, and why are you trying to kill Gabe?”

Alexander rolled across the white sand, almost hugging his small frame.

Even so, a small but strong hand was grabbing his collar. His pure white face turned bright red as if he was struggling, but the way he glared at him was quite threatening.

“Who are you!”

Isaac, or rather, Little Orange, shouted. I don’t know if I’m surprised or panicked. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt a moment seem so long.

‘Is this what they call a surprise attack?’

“… …!”

With his characteristically arrogant smile, Alexander gripped the wrist of the small child who was lying under his body and said, “Hey. When you want to know someone’s name, you should introduce yourself first.”

The bright orange pupils dilated as if they hadn’t expected a counterattack. He quite liked that feeling. Victory filled his chest as he felt his confidence surge.

“Oh… guess they don’t teach manners in the countryside?”

“You’re dead, you.”

“Interesting. Planning on becoming a criminal at such a young age? You know there’s a heavy penalty for attempted murder of a noble, right?”

“Trying to kill someone’s pig because you’re a noble—is that it?”

‘I said nobleman, but he’s not afraid. It’s funny. Are all country kids this feisty?’

Alexanderchuckled and replied, “That pig attacked me first. Didn’t the pig explain that to you?”

Alexander chuckled at the child’s harsh words. “Well, if you can understand what a pig says, you’re probably not human yourself.”

His rough reply made Alexander laugh unintentionally.

“True. My grandfather is known as the son of the sea, after all.”

The days here would surely be dull otherwise, and Alexander was ready to stir up some amusement. This cheeky kid, bold enough to knock him down and talk back, would make the perfect companion.

With an imperious look, he glanced down at the stubborn country girl in his grasp and offered her his name, full of regal pride.

“Alexander Chambler.”

“……”

“And yours?”

And thus, the summer began.

It was the season when city cats and country dogs began to bicker.

***

A knock on the door woke Alexander up.

After exactly three knocks, Gabriel came in carrying a tray containing a kettle, a cup of water, and a slightly frozen towel.

“You must have been quite tired, sir. You didn’t stir once while sleeping,” Gabriel remarked.

Sitting up, Alexander pressed the rounded part of his palm against his eyes and asked, “What time is it?”

“Half past four, sir.”

Alexander thought as he sipped lightly from the glass of cold-water Gabriel handed him.

So he’d slept around four hours. Alexander took a cold glass of water offered by Gabriel and drank it in one go. Meetings and gatherings had piled up as soon as he returned to Kaliba, leaving him more sleep-deprived than he’d been on his recent business trip. He’d only gotten home after sunrise and had barely managed to collapse into bed.

Gabriel handed her a glass of water, which she filled with cold water, drained well, and handed her a cold washcloth that she had kept in the refrigerator for a while.

Summer had begun in Kaliba, and the notoriously scorching heat was no different in the mansion.

Every summer, his butler would hand Alexander a cold towel. It was a luxury that only Alexander, who had several refrigerators worth thousands of Renin, could afford.

The remaining drowsiness vanished the moment the cold towel touched his skin.

He rose from bed immediately. His robe hung loosely, revealing a broad, bare torso, yet no one around seemed to notice or care. Tying his belt with a casual tug, he headed toward the bathroom, asking as he went, “Where’s Renee?”

“Madam left around one o’clock,” Gabriel replied, handing him a note folded neatly twice after Alexander finished a light wash.

I have some errands at Liv Hill. Dinners at seven, so I’ll wait for you there by six-thirty. Let’s meet and go together.

P.S. Let me know next week’s schedule. There’s something we should probably start wrapping up.

Alexander stood tall and looked at the short note written on the note for a long time.

As if he was grasping the meaning engraved in each letter.

A little time passed like that. Without taking his eyes off the note, he gave a short order to Gabriel, who was waiting beside him.

“…Bring something light for me to eat. I’ll get ready and head out. Tell Louis to meet me here within the hour.”

“Understood, sir.”

The old butler moved without hesitation.

After he left, Alexander
, who had been staring at the neat writing on the white paper for a long time, raised his head for a moment and looked at their wedding photo hanging on the wall.

A photo of a fake husband and fake wife.

As he walked toward the dressing room, his expression had hardened, leaving no trace of the smile he wore as he woke.

***

Louis Dumpel, Alexander Chamberlain’s immediate secretary, brushed the dust off his new fedora and adjusted it on his head.

He then straightened his ascot tie, which had been puffed out, and calmly got out of the car.

A three-piece suit that fit him perfectly, a stylish tie, and a pair of single-cut shoes that were made with perfect craftsmanship.

Perfect.

Louis Dumpel’s mind was at peace as he realized how well he looked. He pulled his pocket watch from his inside pocket and checked the time. Five thirty-eight minutes and fifty seconds.

Like a good secretary, he had carried out the order without a single error. He stood straight, his face beaming with pride, and waited for his boss.

Alexander Chambler, the owner of the venerable Chambler family and a great capitalist who was sweeping up all the industries of Kaliba in an instant. When he was a student at Brighton College, Alexander had an overwhelming performance in a mock investment competition for students.

Louis immediately noticed then.

‘That’s him. If I follow him, gold will follow!’

The god of gold embraced him, and capitalism raised him.

The son of a shoemaker, Louis Dumpel, who had been forced to attend Brighton College with the sole intention of rising up the ranks and amassing wealth, bet on a man who would do just that, and he was proven right.

Although the damn war broke out in the middle and he almost died, even though he was rich.

“Well, it’s all in the past now…”

Louis also suffered a major burn on his thigh due to the war. It was a wound caused by a machine gun fired by an aircraft exploding an armory.

Just recalling it made his head spin. At least he hadn’t lost a whole leg. He often felt grateful, truthfully, for having come out of the war with all limbs intact, something worthy of thanks to the heavens.

As he absentmindedly brushed a hand over the scar, he noticed his boss emerging from the lobby, a towering figure approaching him.

Here he comes, my god. My capital.

Oh, my representative.

Unlike Louis, who was fully clothed in three-piece suits and a fedora in this heat, Alexander was simply dressed in a lightweight two-button jacket and a classic tie.

“…It’s hot.” Alexander grimaced at Louis, who was dressed to the nines.

“You… I’m honestly amazed every time I see you.”

“I’m just grateful to be less bothered by the heat,” Louis replied smoothly. “By the way, what about Madam?”

“Renee’s at Liv Hill. We’ll need to pick her up on the way.”

“Understood. Then let’s head out.”

“Liv Hill is about a half-hour drive from here and if we leave now, we will have plenty of time to arrive comfortably. “

Just as the two men were about to get into the car—
“Wait, wait a second!”