The Credentials of a Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11
“…You want to work?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to move around a bit.”
“Well, I respect your opinion, but do you really need to?”
At Bake’s question, I laced my fingers together.
Then, after briefly avoiding his gaze, I carefully parted my lips.
“It’s just… a bit…”
“Is it hard to say?”
“…I didn’t want to say this, but my mind just won’t settle.”
“…”
Bake, who had been approaching, stopped in his tracks.
I already knew how to make sure he couldn’t refuse my suggestion.
“I’m not trying to go back on my word. I just think I need a little more time.”
“…”
“Is that not possible?”
“Of course it is. I’ll always support you. How could I possibly oppose you when it’s what you want? It’s just… I’m also a little worried. You’ve always been so frail, after all.”
“I won’t push myself that hard. Honestly, there’s not much I can do anyway. I’ve got no business acumen, and I wasn’t formally trained—so at best, I could manage some charity work.”
At this point, Bake seemed reluctant to refuse and silently swallowed his breath.
Just as I’d expected, he wasn’t happy about me working.
But he also had no good reason to reject it.
I quietly looked up at Bake, who was searching for an excuse to decline my proposal.
There was no need to rush him.
The justification Bake would come up with was already set.
“There’s also the issue with Meriel.”
Finally, the words I wanted to hear came from Bake.
I quickly took a deep breath and voiced the plan I’d already prepared.
“I was actually hoping to discuss that with you.”
“What kind of discussion?”
“I’m thinking of sending Meriel to the academy.”
“Are you serious?”
Bake raised both eyebrows, clearly unable to believe it.
And understandably so—I’d been firmly against Meriel enrolling at the academy until now.
“She’s already behind the other children anyway. It won’t hurt to start preparing now.”
“…”
“Why?”
“It’s just… that doesn’t sound like you.”
“What exactly sounds like me?”
I asked, yet I myself couldn’t give a proper answer.
All I felt was the unfamiliarity of the smiling reflection in the mirror, merely going through the motions out of habit.
“It’s just… you’ve always been so fond of Meriel…”
“She’s our child. Of course I adore her.”
“…”
“And she was the one who gave us the most difficulty when she was born.”
“Right. That’s true.”
Bake quietly gazed at me.
Without a word, I gestured toward him.
“To be honest, I’m still not sure. I still think Meriel is too young for the academy.”
“Then don’t send her. I’ll always follow your wishes.”
Bake whispered into my ear as he embraced me from behind.
I leaned into him, forcing myself to endure the tickle of his breath against my ear.
“But after everything that’s happened between us, we can’t just act like nothing happened.”
“…”
“I thought I’d be fine, but I guess I wasn’t. I never realized how hard it would be to keep my emotions hidden—especially since I have to keep spending time with Meriel.”
I mumbled weakly, and simultaneously felt Bake’s arms tighten around me.
Once again, I didn’t press him.
The answer a busy man could give to win my favor was, after all, limited.
All I needed to do was wait.
“Can’t I not go?”
“You kept singing about wanting to go to the academy every single day.”
“I didn’t know the academy wouldn’t have Mommy.”
Meriel tightly gripped my hand.
Seeing my daughter pout made my heart soften, but I had no choice.
I needed time to sort everything out and return to how things used to be.
And I didn’t want Meriel involved in any of this.
“If you sleep ten nights, you’ll see me again.”
“Ten nights?”
“Yes. Ten nights.”
It was a lie.
Meriel still couldn’t count up to ten.
She’d count one or two nights, give up, and start over again—and after repeating this several times, by the time she could actually count to ten, everything would be settled.
“It’s okay. You’ll see me again soon.”
“…”
“You really don’t trust Mommy?”
“No, I do. It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“I like Mommy more than the academy.”
Meriel’s small shoulders drooped weakly.
Unable to bear the sight any longer, I pulled her into my arms.
Considering that noble children usually enrolled in the academy at age five, Meriel’s admission was already late.
But that didn’t make it any easier to send her away.
I knew I’d eventually have to send Meriel to the academy, but I’d always thought that could wait.
Everyone insisted children should grow up quickly, but I felt differently.
Children should be allowed to grow up as children. The academy’s structured education was good, but I believed there were many things she could only learn in her mother’s embrace.
“I’ll visit you often.”
“…”
“I’ll bring lots of cakes from Non Bakery.”
“…Really?”
“Your birthday’s coming up soon. Of course Mommy will come.”
The puffed-up cheeks Meriel had been sticking out slowly deflated.
Honest with her emotions, she always changed expressions quickly.
“…Then, will you teach me the magic for cutting cakes prettily?”
“Magic?”
“You said you would. When Meriel turns eight.”
Of course, magic didn’t exist in this world—but like other children her age, Meriel loved fairy-tale-like stories.
I nodded, watching my daughter’s eyes sparkle as she remembered a passing comment I’d once made.
“Of course I’ll teach you.”
“Then pinky promise!”
Meriel suddenly held out her small hand.
Swallowing my regret, I linked my pinky with hers, which peeked out shyly.
My little girl firmly believed that if you linked only your pinkies, the promise would always be kept.
“Papa too!”
“Papa too?”
“Yes! Promise! You’ll come see Meriel with Mommy! And bring a strawberry whipped cream cake!”
Meriel held out her pinky to Bake as well.
Bake’s eyes widened for a moment before he smiled and offered his hand to her.
At least it was reassuring that, to Meriel, Bake was still a good father.
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll take good care of her.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll leave her in your hands.”
“You don’t need to apologize. Honestly, I’ve received far more from you, sister. This is nothing compared to repaying your kindness.”
Rose cheerfully laughed as she took Meriel into her arms.
Though acting as a nanny wasn’t exactly a mercenary’s duty, Rose had agreed at my request.
Even if the imperial academy was considered safe due to royal support, this was the first time I’d be sending Meriel away alone, so I couldn’t help but worry.
I looked at Meriel, pouting in Rose’s arms.
For now, at least, I regretted not being able to watch my growing daughter up close, day by day.
And I knew I wouldn’t easily get used to the empty space left by the child who once followed me everywhere.
But I still had to send her away.
Even an innocent child could sense things, and above all, I couldn’t just stand by and let Meriel be toyed with again by adults’ filthy lies as before.
“Meriel.”
“Hm? What?”
“I love you.”
In the end, that was all I could say to my departing daughter.
“I love you too! I love you too! I love Mommy!”
I kissed Meriel’s forehead, who now grinned brightly as if she’d never been upset.
I would bear it all myself—may you forever remain blissfully unaware.
May you see only good things, hear only good things, and live a radiant life.
I quietly poured into that kiss the words I could never bring myself to say.
“How is it?”
“It’s not the original ledger. It appears well-crafted at first glance, but it differs somewhat from what I’ve verified.”
“As expected—they wouldn’t just hand it over willingly.”
Though I’d scrutinized the documents for days, I’d found nothing. Still, since I hadn’t expected much to begin with, I wasn’t disappointed.
As I haphazardly stacked the papers Bake had given me under the pretense of charity work, I paused at the sight of a red tail peeking out between the books.
Pulling the string tail revealed a bookmark made of dried flowers.
Meriel and I had crafted it together, heads close.
“You must miss her a lot.”
“…”
“Please take a short rest. You’ve been overexerting yourself.”
“No, I’m fine. I get plenty of rest at home already.”
I knew Cheshire had seen through my lie, but I pretended not to notice.
To bring Meriel back as soon as possible, I had to end this fight quickly.
I nudged the bookmark back into the book with my fingertips and stood up.
Of all Crayton’s numerous enterprises, I’d specifically chosen charity work—not because it was easy.
While charity among the wealthy sometimes stemmed from genuine intent, more often it did not.
Charity was a way to move large sums of money without raising suspicion—and Bake knew that well.
If Bake was funding the Emperor’s half-brother, he would have routed the funds through a charitable organization.
Thus, my first step in cutting off Bake’s resources was to find evidence and deliver it to the Emperor.
Regardless of the true circumstances, the Emperor’s half-brother was officially recorded as deceased—and if alive, branded a traitor.
If I could prove Bake’s connection to him, I could cripple him.
The only problem was….
As if scolding my deepening thoughts, commotion erupted outside.
Startled, I instinctively looked at Cheshire.
The building housing my newly managed charity organization was guarded not by a formal escort, but by Cheshire’s mercenaries.
“I’ll go check. Please stay here, sister.”
“But…”
“It’s fine. It’s probably nothing serious.”
It was at that very moment—when Cheshire smiled to reassure me—
KA-BOOM!
A loud crash echoed, and reflexively stepping back, I knocked over items on my desk.
My eyes narrowed as I saw the bookmark slip out from the fallen book.
Ink had spilled right onto it, staining the once-beautiful bookmark black.
I clicked my tongue and bent down to pick it up—but froze as the door burst open violently.
The unwelcome visitor who shoved past the guards and stormed into the room was a man I knew well.
“Sorry, Captain!”
“We tried our best to stop him, ugh!”
Duke Pierne roughly peeled off the mercenary clinging to his arm.
Even with three or four burly men holding him, the man didn’t even break a sweat.
He simply stared straight at me, his face twisted in anguish.
My mouth went dry at the sight.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“…”
“No matter how much of a duke you are, barging in like this is—sister?”
Hypnotized, I slowly stepped past Cheshire, who had moved to block my way.
I knew I should scold Duke Pierne for storming in without warning, but no words came out.
Something similar had happened before.
A servant had once appeared with an uncharacteristically distorted expression—and afterward…
I covered my face with both hands.
I desperately hoped it wasn’t what I feared—but my worst premonitions always came true precisely at times like this.
It had been the same when I’d received news of my father’s death, and again when I’d heard my older brother had died soon after.
But there was no time now to recall past tragedies.
“There’s been a fire at the academy.”
The moment I heard those words, I was already running.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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