If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 12

For the first time, the meeting was moved from the studio to the drawing room. The servant, his cheek swollen and face pale, served hot tea while glancing anxiously at Georgiana, who looked equally distressed.

In front of him, as during meals, sat a cup of dark brown coffee—without even a drop of milk. Though she had heard that coffee was more popular in the New World, it was a surprising preference for such a noble-looking man.

The servant, after hesitating and glancing back and forth between the two several times, finally exited the room.

‘Why did he do that?’

Now alone with him, Georgiana’s mind was in turmoil, trying to figure out how to bring up the incident that had just occurred. If she asked him why, she feared he might pretend not to remember, making it difficult for her to speak.

It wasn’t as if he had forced her. He had asked in advance, albeit indirectly, so there was little room for her to argue. Still, it wasn’t something she could simply overlook.

Unlike her, who was trapped in intense confusion, he appeared completely unbothered. As Lockwood calmly sipped his coffee without a trace of unease, she was again struck by that strange, altruistic, and unfamiliar feeling that had occasionally surged within her.

As he took a few more sips, he leaned towards her. Thinking he was finally about to speak, she moistened her dry lips and straightened her back.

He must be about to apologize, or perhaps suggest they forget it ever happened?

But her expectations were completely off the mark.

Without a word, he pulled out a paper from his coat and showed it to her. Despite being carried in his coat, the paper was impeccably smooth, without a single crease—it was something she recognized all too well.

The boarding pass and the contract!

He hadn’t lied when he said he had something important of hers. The worry that it might not be the right document evaporated in an instant. Relieved, she reached out for the boarding pass, but before she could touch it, Lockwood tucked both the pass and the contract back into his coat.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

He remained unperturbed by her reaction, leaning in closer as he spoke, “Before I return these, I have one question. Are you planning to leave for the New World?”

Though there was no reason to deny it now that he had found the boarding pass, she hesitated to give a direct answer.

She still couldn’t tell if he was trustworthy. After what had just happened, and his current nonchalant demeanor, he was impossible to read.

While her conflicts with her family were now completely exposed, everything about him remained shrouded in mystery. She might never see him again after tomorrow, anyway.

After a moment of contemplation, she finally lied, “I’m… not certain yet.”

“Not certain? But your departure is tomorrow.”

His deep blue eyes fixed on her with an unwavering gaze, as if seeing through her. His clasped hands moved to the table, adding weight to his inquiry.

“Well, yes, but it’s hard to leave so suddenly for a place so unfamiliar.”

As she tried to avoid his gaze, his eyes followed hers persistently.

“Does your family know about this?”

“No, I mean yes. Of course, they do.”

“Do they, or don’t they?”

His smirk, as he watched her stumble over her words, was playful yet dangerous.

“That’s not important. Stop joking around and give me back my things.”

She had already paid the price, as he had mentioned earlier. More than enough, in fact.

Georgiana looked up at him, her expression a mix of confusion and frustration. She couldn’t understand why he was toying with her like this.

“Of course, I’ll return them. But I have a proposal that might make these unnecessary. Would you care to hear it?”

There was no trace of jest in his expression, making it hard to take his words lightly.

His tone conveyed that this was more than a simple question—it was a serious proposition. Remembering the blade he had brandished at her in the theater, she realized he was capable of turning into a predator at any moment.

What on earth could he be about to say…?

Swallowing nervously, Georgiana watched him closely. “What… kind of proposal?”

“How about joining me on that ship to the New World? As my wife.”

His words, delivered in an even tone, were so startling that she nearly jumped out of her seat.

W-what did I just hear?

Her sudden movement caused the teacup on the table to clatter.

“W-what do you mean, your wife?”

She asked again, half-convinced she had misheard. Was she dreaming, even though it was still daylight? But the sunlight streaming through the open window was too real for that.

Georgiana pinched her earlobe, then looked back at him, waiting for him to confirm she had misunderstood.

“Did I hear you correctly? You said wife…?”

“Yes. I’m asking you to marry me.”

“W-what? Marry?”

As she watched him nod, a mixture of shock and confusion filled her eyes.

Had the definition of marriage changed without her knowing? Or had it acquired a new meaning recently? Otherwise, there was no way the term could apply to two people who had barely met.

Could that have been a proposal? Was he actually asking her to become his wife…?

Seeing her stunned expression, he added, as if anticipating her reaction, “Not a real marriage—just an act.”

“Why on earth would we need to pretend to be married…?”

“I can’t go into details, but it’s for business purposes. I’ve already told some of my business partners that I’m married, and they’ll be joining us on the ship, so I urgently need someone to play the role of my wife.”

Though the idea of pretending to be married for business seemed absurd to her, Lockwood’s low, serious voice made it clear he wasn’t joking.

Georgiana moistened her throat with some tea before asking in a trembling voice, “You want… to deceive everyone?”

“It’s not about deceiving them; it’s about letting them believe what they want.”

“Do you really think that’s possible…?”

“I’ll pay you well. If we reach the New World safely, you’ll receive twice the amount promised by the Mayfield.”

“Twice…?”

The Mayfield had promised her a thousand gold. Double that would be two thousand gold.

Georgiana’s mind raced. She didn’t know the cost of living in the New World, but that amount might be enough to buy a small house—or at least secure a long-term lease.

The idea of not having to marry a stranger was appealing. But the words wouldn’t come easily.

From their second meeting onward, Lockwood had always seemed dangerous. After what had just happened, even the thought of pretending to be married seemed absurd.

Moreover, unlike a reputable company like Mayfield, if he broke his promise and didn’t pay her, she would have no way to collect.

Would it really be wise to take such a risky path when she could simply take back her ticket and leave safely?

After weighing her options, Georgiana decided to refuse his offer.

“I don’t think I can do it. I’m not cut out for acting.”

“All you have to do is nod when people speak to you. I’ll take care of everything else.”

“But we’d have to share a cabin…”

“I won’t do anything you don’t want. We can sleep in separate beds.”

“Even so…”

Seeing her reluctance, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.

As she hesitated, Lockwood’s voice turned cold as he delivered his final argument. “If you stay here, you’ll be sold off by your family again. Even if you board the ship, you’ll end up marrying someone you’ve never met. Either way, you’re going to be sold off, aren’t you?”

He was right. It was an undeniable fact she had always complied with. But hearing it from him made her heart ache for some reason. Georgiana’s expression hardened.

“So what?”

His lips curled into a crooked smile at her sharp retort. Leaning towards her, he whispered, “If you’re going to sell yourself, sell it to me. At least demand a high price.”

Smack.

His head turned to the side from the force of her slap. Her face flushed with anger at his insulting words, and she glared at him, clutching her throbbing wrist.

“No matter how poor I am or how uncertain my future is, selling myself is something I would never do out of my own will. Never.”

Seeing her clench her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “No matter the reason?”

“Yes! No matter the reason, I would never do that.”

“I spoke out of turn.”

Though he apologized politely, retreating a step in the face of her resolve, she didn’t feel any better. Trying to remain calm, Georgiana focused her gaze on the pocket where her ticket was held.

“Your apology comes too late. Mr. Limberton, please return my boarding pass and contract now.”

Lockwood looked at her pale, slender arm extended towards him, then slowly took out the boarding pass and contract from his coat.

“I hope we don’t have to meet again.”

With the sound of her chair scraping against the floor, Georgiana quickly rose, not even bothering to grab her coat, and hurried out of the house.