The End of a Fake Marriage

“…Alexander?”

“You don’t mean to tell me you don’t remember what happened back then, do you, Renee?”

“… What happened back then?”

To her embarrassment, Renee really couldn’t remember what had happened.

Was there a reason for that? Alexander, who was staring at Renee’s eyes shaking slightly, smiled faintly and said in a reprimanding tone.

“Oh, dear. Did you truly forget? I remember even the smallest details when it comes to you. This is a bit disappointing.”

‘Oh my God, how pretentious!’

Renee looked at him with a face that seemed astonished, and then realized that Levrus was blankly staring at them with a bewildered face.

“We can discuss that later. More importantly, this gentleman here is Mr. Levrus Litri. And this is my husband, Alexander Chambler. Mr. Litri was just telling me how his younger sister resembles me.”
A twisted smile crossed Alexander’s face as he listened to Renee’s introduction.

“…I see. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Levrus Litri. I’m Alexander Chambler.”

“A pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Chambler. I run the Into the New World travel agency. We actually met once three years ago, during the Crystal Palace reopening ceremony. I’m not sure if you’d recall.”

“Three years ago, you say? Well, I’m afraid I can barely recall what happened just last year… I’ll make sure to remember you from now on, Mr. Litri.”

Despite his polite smile and gentle words, there was a subtly hostile undercurrent. Levrus Litri’s face also subtly tightened, suggesting he sensed it too.

Alexander was on the friendly side. He wasn’t really sincere, but he was friendly enough to give the impression that he had some manners.

In particular, he was known to treat men without regard for class and was not badly evaluated.

‘But why did he feel so prickly now?’
‘…Was it because the rain was about to start?’

“Renee, they’re looking for you at the table. Something entertaining has started. They’re waiting, so let’s head back.”

Breaking the awkward silence, he pulled her in a little closer. Renee hastened to greet Revolutionary Litri in an almost hugging position.

“It was a delightful conversation. I hope we get the chance to speak again. Have a good evening, Mr. Ritri.”

“The pleasure was mine, Mrs. Chambler! Have a good eve…”

Before Litri could even finish greeting, Renee was already being dragged by Alexander towards the table.

Levrus, who had remained on the balcony, continued the story he had left unsaid while awkwardly running his hands through his hair.

Though Alexander maintained a gentlemanly smile and a soft tone, there was an oddly hostile undercurrent.

Renee wasn’t the only one who seemed to sense it. Levrus Ritri’s expression also stiffened ever so slightly.

Alexander was generally known for his kindness in social settings. It wasn’t necessarily genuine, but his demeanor was polite enough to be considered courteous.

In particular, he treated men without regard for social status, which earned him a decent reputation.

But why did he feel so prickly now?
…Was it because the rain was about to start?

“Renee, they’re looking for you at the table. Something entertaining has started. They’re waiting, so let’s head back.”

Breaking the awkward atmosphere without a hint of concern, Alexander pulled Renee even closer. Practically enveloped in his arms, she hurriedly said her farewells to Levrus Ritri.

“It was a delightful conversation. I hope we get the chance to speak again. Have a good evening, Mr. Ritri.”

“The pleasure was mine, Mrs. Chambler! Have a good eve…”

Before Levrus could finish his parting words, Renee was already being led back to the table by Alexander. Left alone on the balcony, Levrus scratched his head sheepishly and finished his sentence to himself.

“…evening.”

Watching the departing couple, Levrus let out a faint chuckle and pulled a cigarette from his jacket pocket. Leaning against the balcony railing, he placed the cigarette between his lips and turned to watch the couple take their seats.

After lighting a cigarette and looking forward again, Renee Chambler was completely hidden by Alexander Chambler and was no longer visible.

“Goodness, Mr. Chambler, you’re far more jealous than I would’ve expected.”

‘…As if I’d actually try to steal your wife.’

The now-empty balcony echoed faintly with Levrus Ritri’s wry laughter.

***

Renee gripped her cards, her face tense. Looking at the pile of chips in front of her, her hand trembled. How much was all that? Even at a glance, it was over 10 million Renins.

‘No, this is unbelievable…’

The women took the cards on behalf of the men. It was a kind of extra game.

Before Renee arrived, the table was already full except for her seat. Renee, who had no talent for card games, was simply scared of the cards he was holding.

“It’s just a bonus game. Don’t be so tense.”

Alexander, standing behind her, whispered in her ear. Though his tone was gentle, Renee didn’t hear a word

“Remember the rules, everyone? No additional tips or instructions to your partners! We’re all relying on their judgment alone! Now, let’s begin!”

The acting dealer, Viscount Hite, announced the start. Renee, who was tense and had her expression hardened, grabbed Alexander’s arm as he tried to step back.

“How much can I afford to lose?”

“You’re thinking of losing before you’ve even started?”

“You know I’m terrible at card games. Just tell me, how much can I lose? I’m terrified.”

Alexander smiled politely at Renee’s uncharacteristically weak words.

The pile of cards stacked up in front of Rene. Before she could spread them out, Alexander leaned in close and whispered in her ear.

“Everything.”

Her amber eyes widened, then she looked at him suspiciously.

“…You’re joking, right?”

His long, thick fingers touched her cheek, brushing away a strand of hair. He shook his head, smiling as if he couldn’t hide his love for his wife.

“I swear, I’m serious.”

‘… Man, if he can act like that, he should be an actor.’

It was a face that, every time she looked at it, made her walls of resolve crumble without her realizing it. But that wasn’t the important thing right now.

“If you say that, I might actually lose everything. I mean it,” she said nervously.

Alexander glanced at the chips piled on the table and chuckled softly. Two years hadn’t been enough to fully show this woman the extent of the Chambler fortune.

Gently brushing his hand across her dumbfounded face, he added kindly, “It doesn’t matter, Renee. Even while we’re indulging in this extravagant pastime, my money is steadily multiplying many times over. So…”

Though his words might sound arrogantly indulgent, they were nothing but the truth.

He smiled gently and kissed the pale, lovable cheek, wishing the novice gambler good luck.

“Go ahead and spend it all as generously as you can, Mrs. Chambler.”

***

The lone serious woman glared at the card table amidst through the loose and indulgent flow of the music.

Alexander had told her that it didn’t matter if she lost every chip on the table. He had said it with a light-hearted laugh, as if it were nothing more than a trifling entertainment.

But to Renee, his words held no meaning.

After all, she wasn’t truly a Chambler.

Even though marriage had granted her access to the Chambler wealth and status, it was all temporary—an illusion that would vanish once time ran its course.

This isn’t mine.
This luxury won’t last forever.
I mustn’t forget that I have a life to return to.

That’s why Renee still hesitated over losing the 100,000 Renins, and her hands trembled at the thought of a million. But watching hundreds of thousands, millions, disappear with a few poorly played cards, she couldn’t stay calm. Every time she reached out to draw a card, her cold, tense fingertips betrayed her anxiety.

The third round ended with yet another victory for Miss Hite. The mountain of chips poured over to her side of the table, and the people cheered wildly.

“Amazing! Miss Hite sweeps the board again this round! Winning three games in a row—this is no ordinary skill! Pale, why don’t you let Miss Haight take your place at these gatherings from now on?”

The notorious bringer of bad luck to any card game, Pale Hite glared at the person who said that with a sullen expression, but soon turned his attention to organizing the card chips.

Lauren Hite, elegantly moistening her lips with champagne, waved off the attention with a laugh.

“Who here would go bankrupt over losing a few table chips? It’s not like this is a casino—it’s just a party game.”

“Bankruptcy? Oh, I like the sound of that! Lauren, keep it up! There’s an endless vault waiting to be emptied in here! Hahaha!”

Pale Hite laughed heartily as he defended her younger sister Lauren Hite.

It’s no wonder Lauren had won back more than half the chips Pale had lost in the past hour. Pale was particularly delighted that the largest portion of those winnings came from Alexander’s chips.

“Alexander, I’m so sorry? Your gracious wife keeps returning my money to me! The very money you so mercilessly took away from me! Hahaha!”

The people burst into laughter at Pale Hite’s smug boasting. Renee, who was awkwardly joining in the laughter, glanced at her husband.

Leaning casually against the wall, Alexander met her eyes. Seeing her somewhat anxious expression, he studied her quietly for a moment before breaking into a smile, then grinned and shouted to his friends, “My vault isn’t so easily emptied. But the Height family seems different, Pale? The way you’re frantically trying to win it all back…”

“Hah! Sounds to me like you’re upset over the money you’ve just lost!”

“Not at all. If anything, I’m disappointed is that my wife hasn’t lost more. Renee, it’s alright, show them your generosity.”

Alexander’s affectionate smile toward Rene prompted a chorus of jeers from the gentlemen watching the scene.