Chapter 60
With a gasp, Rona’s pupils shook violently at the unexpected words.
“Your father… wasn’t missing?”
“Yes. We lost contact, but there were many complicated circumstances. Since I’m supposed to meet him at the ball, that’s why I need to go to the capital.”
“Oh.”
Rona’s mouth hung open in surprise. Now that she thought about it, he had acted as if he knew about the scam all along. She had many questions, but she couldn’t ask too much about his father. She was afraid he might bring up the fake marriage again.
Instead, she decided to ask something she was genuinely curious about. The previous answer hadn’t satisfied her curiosity.
“But why did you really dress up as a woman? I can’t stand not knowing…”
“…It was temporary. I told you before, to avoid con artists… There’s no need to do it anymore.”
Cinderella furrowed his brow, seeming troubled, and then moved on quickly. Like the ball, explaining the cross-dressing to Rona was too complex. He planned to gradually reveal the family’s secrets to Rona after they married and she bore a child.
Without a proper explanation, Rona’s misunderstanding deepened. Temporary cross-dressing, he said. Rona recalled Cinderella appearing in a dress the day after the attic incident, looking thoroughly immersed in his own beauty.
“For something temporary, you sure enjoyed it…”
“I said it was temporary. I don’t have a hobby of cross-dressing. Unless it involves meeting a cute girl with red hair.”
Cinderella firmly shook his head and then, in a slightly lowered voice, added a hesitant comment. He had been wondering when to express his feelings, and it slipped out impulsively. Blushing, Cinderella suddenly lowered his head to the table.
‘What’s wrong with him? Could he have meant that about me?’
Rona’s face turned bright red as a tingling sensation filled her chest. She cautiously glanced at Cinderella. His hands fidgeted anxiously on the table, his head bobbed up and down, and he sighed heavily, clearly flustered. The usual brazen attitude was gone, replaced by a shy man before her.
Rona called his name with a trembling voice, wanting to confirm if she had heard correctly.
“Cinderella, what did you just say?”
“If you didn’t hear, then forget it.”
“A cute girl. A red-haired, cute girl…?”
Rona repeated Cinderella’s words, pretending not to understand. Unable to stand it any longer, Cinderella looked up abruptly, avoiding her gaze, and mumbled in a low voice.
“Yes. A girl who is cute, has beautiful brxxsts, and lovely red hair. I could spend my life with a girl like that.”
“Ah… Could it be?”
Rona, fidgeting with her fingers, pointed at herself with her index finger. She couldn’t help but smile as she saw Cinderella’s uncharacteristically shy demeanor.
Knowing his previous expression was insufficient, Cinderella decided to express himself more actively. Running a hand roughly through his hair, he stood up. He grasped Rona’s chin, tilted her head, and softly kissed her lips with a gentle peck.
His action was cautious, a stark contrast to their aggressive, passionate nights. Rona was left with her mouth agape, unsure of how to respond. Cinderella, tracing her small chin with his fingers, blinked and grumbled.
“It’s frustrating. Were you planning to pretend nothing happened after we rolled around entwined for three days?”
“It’s just… hard to believe…”
It was indeed unbelievable. According to the novel, she was originally destined to die at Cinderella’s hands. Even though fate might change drastically, it could still involve dying.
But now, instead of being killed by the prince, she was Cinderella’s partner. The future had changed so much that it felt like a dream.
As he watched her wavering eyes, Cinderella gently tucked her red hair behind her ear and asked softly. His low, sweet voice that brushed against her ear was intensely seductive.
“Do you dislike it? Being with me, or spending your life with me?”
Rona shook her head. There was no way she could dislike it. Who could refuse such a beautiful man? It wasn’t just about her life being saved—her heart was pounding furiously, the proof of her feelings.
Seeing Rona’s shaking head, Cinderella’s face lit up with a bright smile. As Rona stared blankly at that smile, a faint smile appeared on her lips too.
Suddenly, a dazzling light enveloped them, and a ring appeared in Cinderella’s hand. The large gemstone in the ring sparkled brilliantly under the light. Before she could understand what was happening, Cinderella took Rona’s hand and slipped the ring onto her fourth finger.
Rona’s eyes widened in shock as she alternated her gaze between the ring and Cinderella.
“What is this?”
“You know what it means. How could you repay the debt with just your body? Don’t you need to catch a good man to pay off your debt, hm?”
“Ah…”
Rona couldn’t speak, tears welling up. A torrent of emotions overwhelmed her. She wanted to express her feelings immediately but was afraid he might misunderstand if she spoke hastily.
Lifting her chin, Cinderella tilted his head slightly and whispered in a husky voice that brushed past her lips.
“Like me, a rich and beautiful man. Right?”
“Mm…”
Their lips pressed together again, and Rona responded with a sigh, wrapping her arms around Cinderella’s neck.
A moment later, the clattering sound of falling tableware echoed loudly through the dining room.
The story of <Cinderella With Neither Blood Nor Tears> was completely transformed by the efforts of one person.
It happened because Cinderella, who was once heartless, found love.
Oh, and also, because of… this and that…
—And they lived happily ever after.
T/N: Such a shame there’s no side story! But if author-nim ever publishes extra chapters later on, I’ll be sure to translate those too~
In the meantime, shameless plug to the other novels I’m translating~ The fairytale retelling trope is my current obsession, and before I knew it, it seems I’ve collected a few here and there XD You can find them under the site’s novel tag! Here’s a link~
CA – Fairytale Retelling Novels
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