Ethan explained everything to Ashley, not only about the corruption case but also about Arkban. Ashley listened. It was one of the things she feared.

She was afraid Ethan would find out everything, and that was why she had been hesitant about the city alliance plan he suggested. She worried Ethan's view of her would change once he learned the whole truth.

Ashley was afraid Ethan would be disappointed and leave her. She was afraid he would no longer trust her. She was afraid all of that would happen once Ethan learned the worst parts of her leadership.

"I… I'm sorry."

"I should've told you about this earlier. I know you must be disappointed in me because you heard it from the officers," Ashley said.

Ethan stayed quiet. He was still sitting on the long sofa in Ashley's room, holding a glass of wine in his hand.

The woman sat on her knees on the bed, her hands placed on her thighs, her head lowered, too ashamed to look at Ethan's disappointed face.

Tears flowed from the corner of Ashley's beautiful eyes. She cried, sobbing from the guilt eating at her heart. She didn't know what to do to make up for Ethan's disappointment.

"I… I'm really sorry."

"What's done is done," Ethan answered softly.

Ashley quickly raised her head and looked forward, staring at Ethan who had been watching her with a serious expression.

"There's nothing you can fix about the past. You can only use the past to remind yourself not to make the same mistake again," Ethan said.

"What happened before shaped who you are now, someone more mature and more careful when making decisions."

"In the end, you fully understand how dangerous a leader can be. With just words, a leader can kill thousands."

"And with one word, a leader can also bring peace and be remembered forever."

"Y-You're not disappointed in me?" Ashley asked.

Ethan let out a breath. He got up, took a piece of tissue, and handed it to Ashley to wipe her tears.

"I already suspected something strange about LionArk's downfall, but I didn't expect the problem to be this complicated," Ethan said.

"If you're asking whether I'm disappointed, then yes. I am disappointed."

Ashley fell silent with shocked eyes, then smiled weakly, accepting that disappointment had taken root in Ethan's heart. Seeing everything that happened today, Ashley admitted she didn't deserve her position.

"I don't deserve to be the Guild Master of LionArk. I'll give the position—"

"The only way you can make up for my disappointment is by staying as Guild Master and making better decisions," Ethan cut in.

He added that he was here now, in LionArk's base, serving as Vice Master of LionArk. He had been a guild master for three years. Now it was Ashley's turn to prove she was worthy.

"Even if they know I'm EthanAsh666, my image as a killer is still strong. For most people, seeing a guild master who's a killer isn't a good thing," Ethan said.

"You're different. You have the image of a strong and gentle leader. You're the one who fits as the real face of LionArk in public."

"What about you?"

"Me? I'll stay on my path, a path people shouldn't see. But with the same goal as LionArk," Ethan replied.

Ashley smiled. She understood everything Ethan said, whether it was about him or about the advice he was giving her.

There were many things Ethan had done, some of them miracles. People only saw that side, but not many understood what Ethan had to go through to reach those goals.

She couldn't count how many times Ethan had lectured her like that. The point was always the same: he refused the guild master position and insisted Ashley should keep carrying it.

"Thank you, Ethan. You always reassure me whenever I'm like this," Ashley said.

Ethan nodded and smiled. He sat on the edge of the bed near Ashley. His hand reached out and gently brushed her soft, pale face, calming her with his touch.

"I'm here. You can rely on me. We're friends after all," Ethan said.

"Friends?" Ashley asked, tilting her head.

The man paused for a moment. A blush appeared on Ashley's cheeks, more than enough to make Ethan flustered.

He pulled his hand back and turned his head away with an awkward smile. Ashley laughed softly. They were both over twenty, but seeing one of them flustered still made the moment funny.

"Alright, being friends is also—"

"I think… maybe it's not a bad idea to try something else," Ethan cut in.

"What?" Ashley asked.

Ethan grew even more nervous. His head kept turning, his breathing uneven. With one deep breath, Ethan opened his individual system panel.

He opened the friend panel and clicked Ashley's profile. The two of them were already friends, and both were above level 75.

That should mean the option was open, something that could show what their relationship really was.

Without thinking twice, Ethan pressed the [Marriage] button on Ashley's profile.

Instantly, a marriage notification panel appeared in front of Ashley.

[System Marriage]

[EthanArk (Lv. 87) wants to marry you]

[Accept?] [Y/N]

Ashley's heart pounded hard. Her hands and legs trembled, her eyes wide open and her mouth falling slightly open.

She couldn't say anything. Every word in her mind disappeared for no reason the moment she saw the marriage panel.

"E-Ethan?" Ashley asked, still in disbelief.

"It's completely your decision. I'll accept whatever the result is," Ethan said, his face red as he shyly turned away from her.

Ashley gasped. Tears flowed again, not out of sadness but out of happiness and emotion.

The two of them stayed quiet. The situation was awkward, and Ethan could already imagine it would get even worse if Ashley rejected him.

Ashley lifted her slender hand and touched one of the two options on the notification panel. No matter the result, a reply panel would appear in front of Ethan.

[Congratulations!]

[AshleyLeon123 (Lv. 97) has accepted your marriage request]

[Host and AshleyLeon123 are now officially husband and wife]

[Host and AshleyLeon123 can use shared inventory and shared condominium features]

Ethan saw the panel and smiled widely. His worry faded and turned into relief. He turned and saw Ashley smiling sweetly at him, a smile of happiness, her first smile as Ethan's wife in the game Tower of Ascension.

"Ashley?" Ethan called.

"Please take good care of me, darling."

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