Chapter 52: Secret(2)
Chapter 52: Secret(2)
I stared blankly at Mari, completely unable to grasp the situation. Her expression was a turbulent mix of anxiety, irritation, and anger.
She was also clutching a book tightly to her chest—it was the newly released Volume 9 of Xenon Biography. I looked back and forth between Mari’s face and the book, feeling a profound sense of confusion.
The timing of her arrival was one thing, but more importantly, I wondered how she had even found this place. Had she spotted us while she happened to be at the cafe, or had she followed us?
While I was spiraling in confusion, Mari’s piercing gaze shifted past me. It landed exactly where Cecile was sitting.
After staring at Cecile for a long moment, she turned her eyes back to me. Her blue eyes were clouded with deep suspicion.
"...Isaac."
Mari called my name in a chilling voice. I let out a startled "Uh?" and met her gaze.
She stared intently at my face once more, then curled the corners of her mouth upward. Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes were not.
"Your face is red."
"... ..."
I couldn't easily answer her. No, the situation made it impossible to answer.
Because just moments ago, I had almost crossed a line with Cecile. If Mari hadn't burst in, things likely would have proceeded to the point of no return. Only a crazy person could admit that with a straight face.
But that wasn't the priority. First, I had to figure out how to respond to her question.
"That's..."
"Cecile was playing tricks on you again, wasn't she?"
As I hesitated, stammering for an answer, Mari cut right in. As I thought before, her eyes remained cold despite the smile, which felt strangely eerie.
It felt like being caught red-handed by a lover while cheating. Between her interrogating tone and the heavy atmosphere, that was exactly how it felt.
"Right?"
"... ..."
Now, Mari was looking past me at Cecile, seeking confirmation. At the same time, her voice trembled slightly, and her blue eyes began to shake as if an earthquake were occurring within them.
I felt that if I avoided answering any longer, a disaster would strike, so I nodded slowly. It wasn't a lie; Mari looked like she was on the verge of tears.
When I nodded, Mari seemed slightly relieved, and her smile flattened into a straight line. Then, shifting her gaze from Cecile back to me, she spoke coldly.
"...Can I talk to Cecile alone for a moment?"
"... ..."
I looked back at Cecile. I didn't mind, but I wondered if she would allow it.
The moment our eyes met, Cecile relaxed her stiff expression, gave a beaming smile, and nodded. It was a gesture of consent.
What on earth was she thinking, agreeing to this? While I was wondering that, Cecile spoke in a calm voice.
"It's a shame, but I guess our meeting ends here for today. I'll head out after talking with Mari, so you go on ahead."
"...Understood."
There was nothing I could do here. Getting caught between the two of them would only result in me being the shrimp whose back breaks in a whale fight, and it wouldn't end well for anyone.
Furthermore, the 'misunderstanding' Mari currently held was difficult to even call a misunderstanding. That was the biggest problem; Mari wouldn't easily believe anything I said right now.
With that, I looked at Cecile, who wore a regretful expression, and then turned to Mari. The moment our eyes met, she beamed at me. I could have sworn she had a terrifying expression just a second ago.
"You won't say anything weird, right?"
"Who knows?"
When I asked out of anxiety, Mari tilted her head and threw the question back at me. Seeing her speak as if she weren't sure herself, I could vaguely tell she was deeply upset.
Of course, since she currently held feelings for me that were more than a friend but less than a lover, I could understand. Not that it made the situation any better.
After a brief hesitation, I walked past Mari and out the door. Even as I passed, Mari didn't look at me, her focus entirely on Cecile.
"Oh? Customer? Your order is..."
"Ah, I'll pay for it. There are others inside, so you can give it to them."
I ran into the waiter just as I was leaving and settled the bill. The waiter gave me a strange look for a moment, but I did my best to ignore it.
Finally, I escaped the suffocating atmosphere and looked back. Mari was nowhere to be seen, likely having already entered the room.
She won't say anything truly strange, will she?
I hadn't experienced a situation like this even in my past life, so I wasn't sure what to do, but I was certain this was the best course of action. Intervening would have led nowhere, and it might have even ruined the relationships I had worked so hard to build.
However, I had a strong feeling that the day I would have to make a choice was fast approaching. I realized that from the moment Cecile caught onto my secret, the way she looked at me had changed 180 degrees.
If her words about being willing to give her everything for me were truly sincere... and if we had actually crossed that line... what would have happened?
"Whew..."
I let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed the back of my neck. For now, it seemed best to return to my room and study for the exams.
I didn't think I'd be able to write anything today, as the words Cecile said to me would likely keep haunting my mind.
Please, let nothing happen...
For now, that was all I could pray for.
*
"Here are the cappuccino and Americano you ordered."
"... ..."
"... ..."
A heavy silence hung over the small room after Isaac left.
Even after the coffee was placed on the table, the two women stared at each other without uttering a single word. The waiter, sensing the suffocating atmosphere, hurried out of the room.
Even after the waiter left and a desolate silence took over, no words were exchanged between the two. The only difference was that Mari’s face was completely stiff, while Cecile appeared composed.
Cecile gazed steadily at Mari, who was glaring at her with a fierce expression, before lowering her eyes. A steaming Americano entered her field of vision.
If it had been Isaac instead of Mari, this coffee would have tasted much better. The thought soured her mood slightly, but she didn't let it show.
Clink—
Cecile picked up the cup of Americano and brought it to her lips. Every single movement exuded an elegance that drew the eye.
However, Mari found Cecile’s behavior distasteful. It wasn't just because of Isaac’s flushed face earlier.
His pants were definitely...
She didn't know what Cecile had done to Isaac, but the center of his pants had been noticeably bulging, and his posture had been awkward. Having received a thorough sex education from her family, Mari knew exactly what that meant.
Men were creatures of instinct, and their reactions tended to be immediate. And if a woman as beautiful and sultry as Cecile were to seduce them?
The body is always honest; no matter how much of a wall a man builds, he cannot overcome instinct. This was the root of why people called men 'pitiful creatures.'
Therefore, the fact that Isaac’s masculine instincts had flared up... could only mean one thing.
Grind—
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Mari ground her teeth loud enough to be heard. During their gatherings, Isaac was the type who would only blush even if Cecile linked arms with him, never showing any further reaction.
In that regard, Isaac was quite good at suppressing his instincts and was remarkably composed for someone his age. One might even call him naive.
But this time was completely different. The fact that his instincts had surfaced meant that Cecile had crossed the line.
Furthermore, the space they were in was perfectly soundproofed. It meant that no matter what they did here, no one outside would have any idea what was happening inside.
But Mari could roughly deduce what had occurred. And that only made her angrier.
"... ..."
Meanwhile, Cecile observed Mari’s expression while savoring her Americano. Mari’s face had gone beyond fierce to outright grim.
Of course, it wasn't threatening to Cecile at all. It just felt like a cute kitten with its fur standing on end, hissing at her. Honestly, it was a bit adorable.
Clink—
With that, she set down her coffee cup and wore a gentle smile. She had suspected it during their gatherings, but today, she was certain.
The girl before her, Mari, harbored romantic feelings for Isaac. It was a heart and an affection perfectly suited to her youthful age.
"Why don't you say something? Didn't you send Isaac away because you had something to say?"
Cecile’s charming voice broke the silence that had filled the room. She rested her chin on her hands and questioned Mari.
Her red eyes were full of composure, and her lips curved into an arc, asserting her dominance in the situation.
Mari, having attended social circles since she was young, also knew what Cecile’s actions implied. Her brow twitched, and she spoke coldly.
"...Cecile."
"Yes?"
"Be honest. What were you doing with Isaac in here?"
If she asked Isaac that question, he would surely dodge it, so she had no choice but to ask Cecile. Being alone together now was the perfect opportunity.
Cecile’s smile deepened at Mari’s question. It was her signature mischievous smirk.
"Who knows? What do you think happens when a man and a woman are in a small, soundproofed room together?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm not in the mood for jokes."
Surprisingly, Mari responded calmly. Her tone suggested she had already come prepared for that much.
Cecile raised an eyebrow in slight surprise before chuckling. Some people became more rational when their anger reached its peak, and it seemed Mari was one of them.
She then straightened her posture and placed her hands neatly on the table. Her mischievous smile vanished, replaced by a dignified aura befitting a princess of a nation.
"Mari."
"Speak."
"How much do you actually know about Isaac?"
Mari frowned at the question. She didn't quite understand the intention behind it.
After trying to decipher Cecile’s motive for a moment, Mari decided to answer first. If there was one thing she was confident in, it was her knowledge of Isaac.
"I certainly know more than you do. I can guarantee that."
"Then do you know Isaac’s secret as well?"
"...What?"
Mari’s voice trembled slightly. She, too, had vaguely guessed that Isaac was hiding something. She had been hoping that one day, when they became closer, he might tell her that secret.
But hearing Cecile bring it up was more than just a surprise; it was confusing. Her heart sank, and the blood in her body seemed to turn cold.
Did she really know Isaac’s secret? If so, was Isaac closer to Cecile than he was to her? She desperately hoped that wasn't the case.
Seeing Mari’s face turn pale in an instant, Cecile smiled, sensing she had gained the upper hand.
"Isaac and I share a secret. It’s not even that I caught him in a weakness; Isaac told me himself. On the other hand, you? You don't know, do you?"
"... ..."
"I know you have feelings for Isaac. You make it so obvious that anyone who didn't know would be the strange one."
Mari couldn't offer a single rebuttal to Cecile’s quiet words. Everything she said was true.
But more than that, the fact that Isaac was closer to Cecile than to her came as a shock. There is nothing more despairing than the fact that the man you like is closer to another woman.
When Mari didn't respond, Cecile wondered if she had gone too far and examined her expression. Mari’s eyes were shaking aimlessly, and her body was stiff.
She looked so pitiful and miserable that Cecile felt a twinge of sympathy. Just as she was about to speak to lighten the mood...
"...Is that all?"
"Huh?"
"I asked if that was all."
Having regained her composure before she knew it, Mari asked Cecile in a trembling voice. It was a question that naturally made Cecile wonder.
However, Cecile’s composure cracked at Mari’s subsequent explanation.
"Sharing a secret... fine. That's nice. Sharing a secret of one's own accord means you trust the other person that much."
"... ..."
"But I don't care if Isaac doesn't tell me some secret. If trust can only be formed by sharing a secret, then throw it to the dogs. That's a transaction, not sincerity."
This time, it was Cecile’s expression that stiffened. Just as she said, Mari had no idea that Isaac was the author of Xenon Biography. She hadn't even guessed it.
And yet, Mari harbored affection and love for 'Isaac' himself, not the author of Xenon Biography. Could there be any greater 'sincerity' than that? One could conclude there wasn't.
Even Cecile herself was currently conflicted. She was wavering between the person named Isaac and the author of Xenon Biography.
Seeing Cecile’s stiff expression, Mari became certain. There was something special about Isaac’s secret.
If it was enough to make Cecile, who usually only played mischievous pranks, forcibly draw out Isaac’s instincts...
...Could it be?
The illustration of the 'Steam Locomotive,' Isaac’s hobby of writing, and the fact that Cecile, a 'Demon,' was seducing him.
The puzzle pieces seemed to click into place in her mind. But these things alone weren't decisive evidence. More importantly...
So what?
What did it matter? Even if Isaac’s secret was truly something like that, it didn't matter. She hadn't cared about such things from the beginning.
She simply liked his attitude of treating her honestly without pretense, and she felt affection for his deep-seated kindness. To Mari, setting everything else aside, she only needed the person named Isaac.
"If you like someone for something like that, I'm absolutely against it. That's just liking the person's secret, not the person themselves."
"... ..."
"If you have nothing else to say, I'll be going. I have a mountain of things I want to say right now, but I'm a busy person. Well then—"
Leaving only those words, Mari stood up, took her copy of Xenon Biography Volume 9, and walked out the door. She didn't forget to take a sip of her cappuccino before leaving.
Left alone in the room, Cecile sat with a dazed expression for a long time before looking down. Her own face was reflected like a mirror in the Americano inside the cup.
Every single word Mari had left behind felt like a dagger piercing her chest. It felt as if she had been struck hard on the head with a hammer.
To anyone else, those words would have been a great shock...
"...Thank you."
Instead, Cecile’s smile deepened.
"Thanks to you, I've realized something."
It was a smile so terrifying that it felt truly dangerous.
Maintaining that smile, she stared at her reflection in the coffee and muttered.
"That almost turned into a disaster."