Chapter 3 Part 2 : Equivalent exchange
After completing the complicated reporting process, a wagon that passed through the gate control office inside the wall arrived at the Kabelheider’s mansion. While preparing to send Asaya away, Marshall stopped by Edwin’s office to report on Asaya’s investigation.
“The woman’s name is Asaya Lubedoa. She is 26 years old. It seems to be her family that disappeared due to “that” incident 7 years ago. They had settled outside the wall before her father went missing. Her father was a bishop in charge of one of the dioceses of the church at the time, so he was said to be relatively free from plague and evil.”
Edwin, who was listening silently to Marshall’s report, cocked his head.
“The incident? Are you talking about the rumors?”
“Yes, it seems to be related to the incident, where the family went missing.”
Seven years ago, the scandal was so silent that it ended without much rumors, and it was a rumor that circulated only among a few people. There was a power struggle within the church, and it was said that there was a family that got purged in the process. Many people went missing at the same time, raising doubts from several people.
However, it was not confirmed whether the disappearance was related to the church, and it was immediately forgotten by those few people.
“I thought it might have something to do with the church, but the woman was a victim of that incident? That was a little unexpected.”
“That’s not certain, it’s just a possibility. Keep digging.”
“Yes sir. Oh, and it seemed that the latest paparazzi handed the transcripts over to a transcriptional operator. They were scattered on the streets.”
Edwin nodded calmly. Even if he didn’t see it, it was obvious what the article was about. He was a regular who appeared on the front page of the manuscript anyway, so he was not a person to be shaken by such a scandal. The scandal was that Edwin got a jewel from the trash.
“Get a transcript and put it in my room. You can leave now.”
“Yes sir.”
Marshall bowed his head and left the room. Meanwhile, Edwin, who seemed to be happy, laughed casually even though the manuscripts containing the scandals of the century were scattered across the streets.
*******
As soon as Asaya entered the room, she saw a big bed. But there was no one else in the room. Asaya, who was very nervous, bit her lower lip as she felt her pulse fastened. Although she was determined, it was not easy to keep her composure casually even after seeing the reality that had come before her eyes. Asaya knew if she was wanted in the bedroom on her first day at the mansion meant the owner wanted to have her body. She wasn’t surprised by the transparent intention. But just because she wasn’t surprised, it didn’t mean that she wasn’t nervous or nothing.
Not far away from where she is, the sound of water was heard. It means that the owner of this room is not absent, but is washing up.
“I have to get what I want but can I do it? He is not a gentle man….”
When she tried to calm her tension, the sound of the water stopped. Asaya stared at the bathroom door and froze in place. The door that had been closed was opened with the sound of a click. Asaya’s eyes met a man who walked out while wearing a white bathrobe and wiping his head with a towel.
‘He must be that man.’ She thought to herself.
Edwin looked at Asaya with an indifferent expression. It was amazing when viewed from a distance, but his face when viewed up close was suffocating. His small face and full features were very self-assertive. At first glance, he looked neat and very handsome, also very manly.
“What are you doing, not sitting down?”
“Huh….?”
Unlike Asaya, who was nervous, Edwin just spoke calmly. After roughly combing his dampened hair to loosen it, he drank tea on his desk and read his transcript. The name Edwin Kabelhinder was written in the headlines of the transcript. However today the articles related to him were filled with huge titles such as [Exclusive] and [News].
Nevertheless, he was casually drinking the tea as if it wasn’t a big deal, then inadvertently dropped the transcription down on the floor. Asaya blinked and looked at the transcript that fell to the floor.
The transcript page contained detailed drawings of Edwin looking down from the top of the wall, his servant Marshall entering the door control office with Asaya. It was obvious without looking at the contents. It’s all about the main character that the owner of August brought into his mansion. Sitting cross-legged with his back against the chair, he looked up and down at Asaya very slowly.
“Raise your head up. I am sitting on the chair, not on the floor.”
At his words, Asaya reluctantly raised her head, but couldn’t make eye contact with Edwin, so she rolled her eyes back and forth. Was it because it was funny or was it absurd? Edwin, who was watching Asaya quietly, gave a small laugh.
“Few days ago, you looked at me fiercely. But now, where did that confidence go?”
“…….”
“Fine. I get it. You need food and money for your family?”
“Yes. Outside, we can’t grow crops and can’t find anything to eat, so if we go on like this, everyone will starve…”
“That’s a shame.”
Edwin muttered in a careless tone and Asaya bowed her head again. Then Edwin inquired.
“Equivalent exchange is basic in trading. Let’s say I give you and your family enough support to live and eat comfortably for a lifetime. Then what can you give me?”
“That’s…”
“Do you think you have something worth comparing to the material support I give you?”
“No”.
“Then why did you shamelessly ask for help on such a subject?”
Asaya was confused by the unexpected development. Didn’t you call me because you wanted something from me? The question is, what can you give me by bringing up the marriage proposal? Asaya wanted to ask him many questions but decided to keep quiet. This beautiful, arrogant man in front of her had a lot to proclaim, but Asaya hadn’t. Unlike Edwin, who has everything, Asaya had nothing at all. She lost everything she had ever had.
When asked what she could give Edwin in exchange, she was miserable because there was nothing she could confidently say that she could give.
“I’m sorry, but l don’t deal with a loss. I am not an idiot.”
Edwin’s words that poured out were ruthless and ferocious. Anxiety pressed Asaya. She knew if she missed this opportunity now, everything will be lost. Asaya somehow had to come up with a reasonable answer to satisfy him. But Edwin was not merciful. He seemed unwilling to give Asaya much time. It was when he was about to stand up, Asaya urgently grabbed Edwin’s clothes’ hem.
“What is it?”
There was only one thing she had. Asaya threw only one remaining number in this number fight.
“I will give you….. “
At Asaya’s desperate cries, Edwin scoffed.
“That’s a boring answer. It’s a very obvious answer.”
“It’s the only thing I can give you.” Asaya sobbed.
Edwin’s cold gaze passed Asaya’s face and turned towards the little white hand that grabbed his hem. As he stared at her hand, he curled up his mouth.
“I haven’t been able to confirm that you are worth it. But you can prove it right now.”
Edwin grabbed Asaya’s hand and walked to the bed. When he got there, he released Asaya’s hand and got on the bed. Then he pointed at her with a glance.
“What are you waiting for? Aren’t you gonna lie down?”