Chapter 109: Proposal (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: Proposal (2)
“Excuse me, but... what is all this?”
“Neville.”
There had been very little contact between Watson and Neville lately. To avoid any suspicion regarding their infrequent meetings, Isaac Adler had complied with her request to meet today, entering her office under the guise of Neville.
“You tell me… What does this look like to you?”
“Hmm, well…”
He couldn’t help but tilt his head, his gaze blank as he stared at the flowers and candles scattered across the office floor.
“This is…”
From the entrance to where Watson sat, a long path of candles stretched across the room, connecting the two points. At the very end of that flickering trail, a giant heart made of flowers rested on the floor.
Anyone with even a passing interest in romance would have understood the scene instantly.
“Are you preparing for a colleague’s birthday party, perhaps?”
“……..”
“No?”
Sadly, Adler—who had never received a normal proposal or confession in his entire life—could only offer such a nonsensical guess, a bright and innocent smile plastered on his face.
““……….””
A heavy silence settled between them.
“You’ve always been like this. From the moment we met until now, you haven’t changed a bit.”
Watson watched her fiancé, who was still tilting his head with feigned innocence. She shook her head with a sigh and rose from her desk.
“Oblivious, lacking common sense... no matter how many obvious signals I send your way, you just hold my hand with that characteristic cheery smile…”
“……..?”
“I thought you’d improved lately, but you’re still the same old Neville.”
Sighing again, she stepped over the decorations she had painstakingly arranged, sweating through the amateurish setup, and walked toward the man she loved.
“…That’s why I love you.”
“Uh, uh-huh…”
As she pulled a small box from her pocket, Adler finally realized the gravity of the situation. A cold sweat began to break out across his skin.
Wait, did she intend to give me a wedding ring, too?
“That’s… I mean…”
“Ay, that would be too shameless of me. I might not look it, but I am an elite doctor, you know.”
Before he could even react, Rachel Watson was already in front of him. She slowly dropped to one knee, looking up at him with eyes full of unwavering love and determination.
“…I can at least provide for you on my own.”
Adler’s mind went as blank as a fresh sheet of paper when he saw the sparkling, clearly expensive diamond ring inside the box.
“There’s no need for you to do dangerous work anymore, Neville.”
“………”
“It’s fine if you just play the role of a househusband. You don’t even have to do anything. I’ll take care of everything…”
Whether she sensed the turmoil in his heart or not, Watson took the ring from the box and began sliding it onto his finger.
“I’ve already scouted some houses for us. We can’t live in a boarding house after we’re married, can we? A mansion in the suburbs of London will likely be our new home. Of course, I’ll be the one buying it, so you just need to show up.”
“Uh…”
“We’re already engaged, so the legal process will be simple. We just need to show this mark on the back of your hand and—”
As she murmured, stroking the back of his hand, Watson’s voice trailed off. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“……….”
In an instant, her gaze turned frighteningly cold.
“Neville…”
“Why? What’s wrong, Rachel?”
“…What is this?”
Taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanor, Adler looked puzzled, not yet grasping the cause. Then, realization struck like a lightning bolt. He looked down at his own hand.
“What happened to this, Neville?”
“………..”
Where Watson’s fingers brushed his skin, the engagement mark that had been carved there months ago slowly surfaced. It was ruined—tainted with a dismal, grey hue, its form shattered.
“Ah…”
Adler let out a soft sigh. He had forgotten that the mark had been ruthlessly destroyed by Professor Moriarty the day after their engagement.
“………..”
Watson stared at the destroyed mark with a grave expression for a long time. Without a word, she stood up and walked back to her desk.
Click—
She pulled out her favorite pistol and began loading it with practiced, silent efficiency.
“Now, wait a minute…”
“Just wait here, Neville. It’ll all be over soon.”
“Wait!!”
As she turned to leave the room with madness glinting in her eyes, a flustered Adler grabbed her shoulder to stop her.
“…Why?”
“I have something to confess.”
Hesitating for only a second, Adler looked Watson straight in the eyes.
“I’ve been keeping a secret from you.”
“…A secret?”
“I intended to take it to my grave, but I feel it’s finally time to tell you the truth.”
Watson turned back to him, her gaze steady and unreadable.
『Lady of London』
– Description: Complete one sham marriage with Watson. (Chapter 1 completed)
– Progress: ???
At that moment, a system message flickered before Adler’s eyes.
[If you do not complete the mission, it will lead to a Bad Ending.]
[Are you okay with that?]
“…Ha.”
Swiping the message away, Adler muttered inwardly, his expression hardening.
‘So what happens after the mission is achieved?’
[That is...]
‘After I die, what happens to Watson? What happens to this woman who married me and devoted herself to me, huh?’
The translucent window remained silent, offering no further explanation.
‘…Since I’m already doomed to a bad ending, does it really matter if I fail this mission?’
Adler coldly dismissed the window again, ignoring the system as it flipped upside down in the air in a panic. He turned his full attention back to Watson.
‘It’s time to end the deception.’
[Are you really going to reveal your true identity?]
[You could be killed on the spot.]
The system message flipped back to normal, rushing toward him in a blood-red font.
‘…I have a plan, so don’t worry.’
Silencing the messages completely, Adler began to speak in a wistful whisper.
“Honestly… haven’t you already noticed?”
“…What?”
“That I’ve been hiding something.”
“………”
Watson went silent for a moment before opening her mouth.
“Every time it matters most, I can’t reach you. You rarely contact me first, and your complexion keeps getting paler…”
“………”
“You’ve always been a mystery, Neville.”
She murmured with a hint of resentment and grief, but then she suddenly flashed a bright smile.
“But the love we share is real, isn’t it?”
“………”
“That’s why I can accept anything.”
As Adler’s gaze wavered, Watson added in a playful, yet sharp tone.
“Unless, of course, it turns out you’re Isaac Adler in disguise.”
“……..”
“I think I’d find that unacceptable. I’d probably shoot you on the spot if that were the case.”
Sensing the genuine threat beneath her playfulness, a chill ran down Adler’s spine. He cast his eyes downward.
“It’s not that… but there is a reason I cannot accept your proposal.”
“Tell me. I’ll listen and be the judge.”
“You’ll regret it. Do you still want to know?”
“It’s fine. Just say it.”
Watson pressed him, leaning in eagerly. Adler let out a deep, heavy sigh.
“I only hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
A tense silence filled the room. Adler’s quiet voice echoed softly.
“…The truth is, I was seducing you under orders from Professor Moriarty.”
He glanced at Watson, who was looking down at him in stunned silence.
“You know what kind of person Professor Jane Moriarty is. You’ve heard enough from your partner, Charlotte Holmes.”
“……..”
“As for my true identity—I am the Professor’s long-standing confidant.”
The height difference between them felt more pronounced than ever as Rachel Watson stared at him with darkening eyes.
“You see the picture now, don’t you? Professor Moriarty’s greatest enemy is Charlotte Holmes, and her partner is Rachel Watson. The reason the Professor’s confidant would approach you… it should be clear.”
“……….”
“…My mission was to seduce you. To drive a wedge between you and Charlotte.”
In the suffocating atmosphere, Adler’s voice grew hesitant as he avoided her gaze.
“And to gradually corrupt you, until you were firmly under the Professor’s control.”
He took a breath, finally meeting her eyes with a look of resignation.
“Do you understand now? The love we shared was a lie. From the very beginning, it was nothing but a one-sided deception.”
Tremble…
“Now that you know, let’s end this.”
Seeing the "sincerity" in his eyes, Watson’s hands began to shake violently. Adler gently turned away, his voice turning cold and detached.
“The Neville you loved never existed.”
He walked toward the exit, his voice low and subdued.
“…Just think of it as a midsummer night’s dream.”
“I don’t understand.”
Just as his hand touched the doorknob, her trembling voice stopped him.
“If that was your goal… weren’t you on the very brink of success?”
“……..”
“Why reveal the truth now, when you were so close to finishing the mission?”
Adler gripped the doorknob, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
“I can no longer deceive you.”
“Why?”
“…It’s a very simple, childish reason.”
A sorrowful whisper escaped his lips.
“A cliché… the childish tale where a relationship built on lies ends up becoming sincere.”
“Ah…”
Watson looked as if she’d been struck. The realization of his words hit her with physical force.
“Come to think of it, your attitude changed suddenly a few months ago…”
“…Rachel Watson.”
Turning back, Adler gave her a dark, bittersweet smile.
“I can no longer lie to you.”
“Neville…”
“That’s why I can’t stay with you.”
Her trembling hands suddenly went still. Her complexion darkened to an abyssal shade.
“I belong to the Professor. Since my deceit has turned into genuine feeling, I can’t remain by your side.”
“……..”
“Don’t bother looking for me. In a few days, I may as well not exist in this world.”
In contrast to her darkness, Adler stood bathed in the sunlight from the window, shimmering with a faint, dazzling hue.
“Rachel Watson.”
He observed her for a moment longer before offering a final, heartfelt goodbye.
“Try to gamble a bit less, okay?”
His face was a mask of complex emotions. Even though the act was over, he couldn't help but let his true feelings bleed through.
“…I enjoyed our time together.”
He shook his head, suppressing the urge to say more. Gripping the handle, Adler turned it to open the door.
.
.
.
.
.
Click, click—
“Huh?”
For some reason, no matter how hard he turned, the door wouldn't budge.
“Why won’t this open…?”
Bewildered, Adler rattled the knob to no avail. He noticed a shadow looming over him and slowly looked up.
“Huh?”
“……..”
Rachel Watson had approached him silently. She had her hand pressed firmly against the door, blocking it, as she looked down at him.
“…Rachel?”
Just as Adler’s body reacted to that familiar, predatory gaze, a system message flickered into view.
[I still can't tell if you're smart or stupid.]
The next moment, before he could react, Adler’s world flipped 180 degrees.
“What!?”
Dazed, he realized he was pinned to the floor. With Rachel Watson looming over him, he opened his mouth to speak.
Swoosh—
“Huh?”
Before he could utter a word, Watson—her eyes fixed on his pinned form—abruptly stripped off her top, revealing her pale, smooth skin. Adler’s expression morphed into a chaotic blend of confusion and shock.
[Why do you never consider the possibility of being devoured when you pull these stunts?]
“…..Ah?”
As the system tactfully obscured Watson’s upper body, sending a message of mock pity…
Click—
Adler’s belt was undone by Rachel’s rough hands and hit the floor.
.
.
.
.
.
“That’s odd.”
Meanwhile, outside the office…
“Dad said he was just going to the bathroom.”
Celestia Moran stood in front of Watson’s office, murmuring to herself with a cold, suspicious expression.
“Then why is he in there creating a new stepmother right now?”
“…Indeed.”
A voice, so calm and icy it could freeze the blood in one's veins, answered from beside her.
“Who are you?”
“…Your one and only genuine stepmother.”
Charlotte Holmes, having returned from court earlier than expected, answered the girl’s question and walked past her toward the door of Watson’s room.