novelraw Chapter 130
Chapter 130
Chapter 130
Oh God.
Why would You put such a trial on me.
Damn cyberpunk.
Damn Macaw Makeup.
No, even if it’s cyberpunk, did it really have to include that kind of setting?
It felt obvious the original author didn’t want to write a cyberpunk fantasy so much as something like Animal Kingdom or Quiz Expedition: The Mysterious World.
Now that I thought about it, calling those creatures not “monsters” but “Mystics” fit that theory too. That seemed like a pretty reasonable suspicion.
When I met the other party’s eyes again with that thought, she gave me a bright, coy smile.
The more she did that, the more desperate thoughts flooded my head.
‘Why… why…!’
Not a joke — Serena had been quite beautiful in the photos. Not kidding; she was almost on par with my sister Kallia and Iri in looks.
Clear features, light brown hair with a golden sheen. Skin tanned in a pleasing tone and mesmerizing blue-green eyes.
Perhaps she’d had cosmetic cyberware done, because there were metallic circuit-like lines near her eyes, which I thought was actually an attractive point even by modern standards.
But now?
The dazzling, thick cake of makeup that swallowed her skin tone and beautiful eye color had transformed a beauty into a beast.
“…….”
Was I going to have to look at that face for at least the next hour? No matter how pleasant the conversation, it felt less like an intimate meeting between a man and a woman and more like watching a wildlife documentary.
No, get a grip.
Pull yourself together, Aaron Stingray.
I hadn’t come here just to see whether that woman would make a good marriage partner.
‘What mattered was the Chairman’s purpose.’
I was going to refuse this match anyway.
But I still needed to find out why the Chairman had wanted to pair me with her.
First off, her status was certainly fine.
A sole daughter born between an influential politician and the CEO of a small-to-medium company, with her family’s main residence in Elysium.
‘…She could be useful.’
Even without marriage, maintaining a friendly relationship could bring help in various fields.
Right.
This wasn’t merely a seat for two people meeting for marriage. It was a meeting place for the heirs who would lead this city in the next generation.
‘She’d probably think the same.’
She would smile warmly, ask about tastes and hobbies, ask about family plans or visions — and inwardly coldly analyze how much the other person could help her faction.
‘It’d been a while since something like this.’
This would be a war without gunfire.
‘Crazy, he’s handsome!!’
That was the thought that filled Serena Beresford’s head the moment she saw Aaron’s face.
‘He’s handsome! Really handsome! He doesn’t photograph well at all! Why did every photo I saw make him look so ugly!? Why is he so good-looking!?’
Her counterpart was a Transmigrator.
A soul inside the body of Aaron Stingray, the story’s strongest villain and a notorious murderer.
Serena knew better than anyone how dangerously extreme he was, so she’d considered many possibilities in preparation for this meeting.
How could she avoid provoking his murderous urges and pull him onto her side? How could she make him like her? How could she use him to get the Stingray Conglomerate under her control?
She had gathered everything she had to swallow the monster called Aaron Stingray and had thoroughly prepared the first step of that plan to be taken here.
But the moment she saw Aaron.
The moment she saw that towering height and neat face, all the plans she had been carefully building turned to blank paper.
More precisely, her mind had gone completely blank.
‘What was I about to say?’
Look at that height.
With shoes on it seemed he easily exceeded 190 cm. His base height must have been in the high 180s.
And the shoulders.
Those broad shoulders, paired with that long height, made perfect proportions. His expensive suit revealed, in a discreet way, the firm, well-held muscles hidden beneath the black fabric.
Above all, the face.
Jet-black hair and eyebrows drawn like thin brushstrokes. Flawless skin with not a blemish in sight. A sharp jawline. Predatory, piercing eyes, amber in the center that shone.
And the hands peeking from the sleeves. Neatly trimmed nails and blue veins standing out on the back of his hands.
His posture need not be mentioned.
Perhaps born into the uppermost class, nobility seemed to rest in every cell of his body. Even in the small nod of apology for being late, aristocratic grace flowed.
Crown Prince.
I began to understand why Aaron Stingray was called by that nickname. I could see why one of Serena’s social circle had bragged endlessly that they’d met Aaron at the last G20 Summit.
I regretted not having been more active in social circles back then.
‘That blasted photo!’
A flat two-dimensional medium trapped his three-dimensional presence; it couldn’t convey the forcefulness of his appearance and bearing at all.
As soon as I got back I’d either fire the aide who’d gotten me Aaron’s photos or at least give them hell. How could anyone bring such crappy pictures?
Well, in any case.
This made it clear.
‘I must capture this man!’
At first I’d been attracted only by the Stingray Conglomerate’s power and wealth and had even been willing to break off the match if necessary to avoid risk.
But if Aaron had this kind of appearance, things were different. Even if he was a notorious murderer, I’d be willing to accept him.
What? Dangerous man?
Bad boys — even better.
‘Because he’s a murderer, he’d be clean in terms of romantic scandals!’
In the original, Aaron had been interested in the act of “murder” itself, so despite his looks he hadn’t led a licentious sexual life.
From what I’d investigated further, he’d never once had the common kind of scandal, so I could tell how “clean(?)” his life had been.
‘This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I had to catch this man. Even if I wasn’t like my old self, I could use my looks and family to…!’
“Miss Beresford.”
“Yes, yes?”
Hic.
When that baritone, wooden voice called her name, Serena hiccupped without realizing it.
What a fatal mistake.
I had to play the part of a graceful, mature woman, but to show such a ridiculous side of myself at our very first meeting…
‘My face feels like it’s going to explode…!’
If not for the makeup, my face would’ve been red like a beetroot by now. I felt so pathetic I didn’t know what to do with myself.
‘No, no. Let’s think positively.’
I’d once heard that men were stirred when women looked shy. So maybe this flushed face would come across as cute if I handled it right? Please, it had to.
Serena decided to change her strategy. Rather than aiming for the image of a “mature woman,” she would appeal as a “fresh and cute woman.” Come to think of it, she and Aaron were about eight years apart in age, so maybe that role suited her better anyway.
Just as she was thinking that…
“Are you feeling unwell by any chance…?”
“N-no! I’m fine! I’m just so glad to meet you today, Aaron.”
I’d gotten so nervous and out of breath that he must’ve misunderstood. Well, with my heart pounding like this, it was impossible not to show it outwardly.
Right, calm down a little. And slowly, I’d make this man my prisoner.
With that thought, Serena opened her mouth as naturally as she could and started a conversation…
“Already, time has flown.”
“Eh? What do you mean…?”
Aaron’s sudden remark.
When Serena hurriedly checked her watch, three whole hours had passed.
‘W-what happened?’
Had someone hacked into her cybernetics? Or cast a spell? She could’ve sworn she hadn’t done anything, yet so much time had passed already.
…No.
Thinking carefully, memories came back belatedly. They had eaten together, drunk fine wine, and shared stories about hobbies, work, and even their ideals in a partner.
It was just that she had been so excited and nervous she thought she’d blacked out for a moment. How fluttered must she have been, to imagine that?
Then a sudden worry hit her.
‘I-I didn’t say anything weird, did I?’
She had chatted so busily she couldn’t even remember half of what she’d said.
All she could recall was trying desperately to impress him, spilling out anything and everything. Hopefully she hadn’t slipped up.
“I-I had such a wonderful time talking with you, Aaron, I’m worried I might have carelessly made some mistake.”
“No, Miss Beresford. It was a truly valuable time for me as well. Talking like this, I can see why my father chose you as my match.”
“R-really?”
Oh?
That was a green light, wasn’t it?
That meant she’d made a good impression, right?
That meant she could hope, right?
Serena fought hard to keep her lips from curving upward, maintaining a demure attitude as she asked, carefully,
“C-could I ask the reason, before we part ways?”
“…Before that, I’d like to ask you something first.”
Huh? Informal tone?
Why the sudden shift in speech?
Ah, maybe it was a sign of closeness. Maybe it meant he wanted to be near me, like lovers or spouses.
Wasn’t this too fast?
No… perhaps this was natural. After all, weren’t we introduced through our parents? This was a meeting for marriage, so it wasn’t strange for things to progress quickly.
Besides, Aaron was older and carried a certain forcefulness that made him even more attractive.
“Yes, please ask freely.”
“What do you think of me?”
“Eh? W-well…”
So direct.
Serena once again felt her cheeks burn as if pressed against fire, but managed to muster her courage and answer.
“T-to speak plainly, Aaron… I like you. Apart from the Stingray Conglomerate, I mean you, yourself. I think you’re perfectly fit as a partner for marriage.”
“……”
Aaron’s expression stiffened subtly.
What? Why was he making that face?
Had she come on too strong? Should she have softened her words more?
While she worried,
“It’s good that you think well of me. In some ways, I’m relieved.”
“Th-that’s good. I was worried my answer might have offended you.”
“No need to worry about that.”
Aaron leaned back into his seat with a faintly weary smile. Crossing one leg over the other, his posture eased into something more comfortable, relaxed.
Then he asked,
“What was your question again?”
“I also want to know why Chairman Stingray chose me as your match.”
“Ah, that.”
Aaron’s golden eyes gleamed brighter.
“Because you’re a Transmigrator like me.”