Chapter 56: Confession(3)
Chapter 56: Confession(3)
Naturally, the meal took place in a room with strict soundproofing and security. Until I had dined with the imperial siblings, I never imagined such spaces existed, but now I found them quite useful.
The trade-off was the price, which was nearly equivalent to half a month’s living expenses. Given the room's construction, the pricing made sense, but I couldn't help but feel it was a bit steep.
Perhaps to prevent dine-and-dashers or simply because of the high cost, payment was required upfront. I was prepared to pay, albeit with a heavy heart.
"I'll pay for it."
Mari, who hadn't let go of my hand since we entered the restaurant, stepped forward readily.
My eyes widened as I looked at her.
"Mari?"
"It’s fine. Have you forgotten which family I belong to? This isn't even enough to cover my snack money."
There was something incredibly cool about the way pride practically dripped from her words. When I looked at her with a moved expression, Mari puffed out her chest even more and tightened her grip on my hand.
Once Mari settled the bill, a staff member asked us to follow. We followed behind, our hands still firmly clasped.
'This is embarrassing...'
One might think I was a total novice who had never even held a girl's hand, but I actually had a girlfriend in my past life. We naturally drifted apart after my parents passed away during our relationship, though.
However, this was only the second time since I’d been reincarnated. The first was, of course, with Cecile, but since she had practically forced me to hold her hand, the feeling was entirely different.
Moreover, unlike Cecile’s hands, which were hardened from grueling training, Mari’s hands were soft and smooth. The supple sensation traveling through my palm was so pleasant it almost made me want to tease her.
"You may enter here. If you wish to order, please ring the bell located here."
"Thank you."
"Then, please enjoy your time."
The staff member bowed politely and closed the door with decorum. As soon as the door shut, I scanned the interior.
The last time I was here, it was a four-person room and quite spacious, but this two-person room was relatively smaller.
Of course, "relatively" was the keyword; it was still large enough that it hardly felt like a room for two. There was a reason for the high price tag.
'First...'
I glanced at Mari while looking around.
The confident girl who had just paid the bill was gone, replaced by someone looking down with a flushed face. Yet, she refused to let go of my hand, which was nothing short of adorable.
But to eat, we had to let go. As much as I wanted to sit side-by-side and enjoy a cozy meal, the setting didn't really allow for it.
I gazed at Mari for a moment before quietly calling her name.
"Mari."
"...Yes."
"Let's let go now and take our seats."
At those words, Mari lifted her head and looked me straight in the eye. Her shimmering blue eyes were filled with deep regret and a hint of desperation.
She held my gaze, her lips quivering slightly, before she managed a strained reply.
"...Can't we just stay like this for a bit?"
"... ..."
This was dangerous. My heart began to tickle at the sight of a Mari who was so different from her usual self.
To see the normally energetic and easygoing Mari speaking so plaintively, with moist eyes and a slightly trembling voice... how should I put it?
A gap moe? Anyway, that’s how it felt.
I stared at Mari as she looked up at me with a face that was practically an aegyo attack, then answered quietly.
"...Then let's wait just until the order arrives."
"Okay!"
Mari beamed and answered vigorously at my response. I let out a helpless chuckle, wondering if she really liked it that much.
Before sitting down, we each made our selections and rang the bell by the door as the staff member had instructed. Before long, there was a knock, and the waiter entered.
"How may I help you?"
"We'd like to order. I'll have..."
After we finished ordering, we remained standing instead of sitting until the food arrived. All while holding hands.
"... ..."
"... ..."
A million thoughts raced through my mind. Mari seemed to be feeling the same way, as she kept her head down, her face turning redder by the second.
My earlier comment had been a slip of the tongue, but if I brought it up now without any tact, I feared the wonderful atmosphere would vanish. To be honest, I didn't mind this at all.
Most importantly, it wasn't as if I had no feelings for Mari. Before, she was just a female friend, but after realizing she had romantic feelings for me, she started to feel different.
'...Do I like Mari too?'
Honestly, I wasn't sure. However, it was certain that my heart had been pounding ever since I took her hand.
I agonized over what to say to break the subtle silence hanging in the room and looked at Mari again. Coincidentally, she happened to be looking at me at that exact moment.
Our eyes met. I gazed into her sapphire-like eyes for a moment and then gave a foolish grin.
Mari also smiled broadly, indirectly expressing her feelings.
"Isaac."
"Yeah."
"Isaac. Isaac."
"Yeah. I'm here."
"Hehehe."
Mari kept calling my name. Every time she did, I answered in a soft, steady voice.
Perhaps she just liked the sound of her name being acknowledged, as she flashed a bright smile that revealed her pearly white teeth. It seemed she really did like me.
What man wouldn't be happy when such a beautiful girl made it so obvious she liked him? I looked at the radiantly smiling Mari and spoke.
"Mari."
"Yes."
"Mari."
"Whaaat?"
When I called her name this time, Mari answered playfully. She even swayed her body slightly from side to side to show her mood.
I tightened my grip on her hand at her fluttering movements. I saw Mari’s face flush an even deeper shade of crimson.
'This is really...'
It was quite a predicament. I hadn't intended for our meeting to go this way, but somehow things had shifted.
The bigger problem, however, was my own heart. Ever since we held hands, she looked prettier and cuter by the second.
But then again, if I thought back to how she acted during our gatherings, she wasn't just cute. Mari was definitely a woman of many charms.
'If the Xenon Biography really is that valuable...'
Would there be any problem with me dating Mari? Of course, to the outside world, it would look like the daughter of a Duke and the son of a Baron were dating.
There would surely be disparaging remarks about us being a poor match, and unpleasant rumors would follow us both. But the moment I revealed myself as the author of the Xenon Biography, the story would change.
If what Mari said was true, I was someone whose value couldn't be easily measured. An author of such immense status that nations would be desperate to host me.
Who would have thought my heart could change so much in less than an hour? As I faced the beaming Mari, I remembered the first edition tucked under my arm.
Holding hands like this was nice, but I still had to do what I came here for. I looked at Mari and spoke cautiously.
"...Mari?"
"Yes, Isaac."
"Shall we sit down now? There's something I want to tell you."
"Can't you just tell me like this? I think I know what you want to say."
That’s not it. I barely managed to suppress a dry laugh when Mari spoke in such a sly tone.
"It’s not what you think. It might be something even bigger."
"...Something bigger?"
"Yeah. Just so you know, it’s not that kind of thing, so don't misunderstand."
"That kind of thing..."
Mari tilted her head in confusion at my words, then her eyes went wide and she snapped her head away. She was likely trying to hide her embarrassment, but it was a futile gesture given how her ears were glowing red through her hair.
As I slowly loosened my grip on her hand, Mari followed suit. However, seeing her try to grip it again just before we fully let go, she seemed quite reluctant to end the moment.
"Shall we sit?"
"Okay..."
And so, after holding hands for nearly twenty minutes, we finally sat down.
As soon as I was seated, I fixed my gaze on Mari, who was sitting demurely across from me. Mari happened to be looking at me at the same time.
"... ..."
"...Hehe."
When I just stared at her, Mari gave an awkward, shy smile. I let out a small chuckle and asked her a question.
"Mari."
"Yes, Isaac."
"How is Academy life treating you?"
I figured I should do something about the atmosphere, so I started with a simple question. If things kept going like this, I wouldn't get anything done.
Mari blinked her blue eyes at my question before speaking.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
"Hmm... at first, I thought it was going to be hard..."
She trailed off, tapping her cheek with her index finger, and then looked at my face. She gave a wide smile and spoke with words that felt truly sincere.
"But it’s been great since I met you, Isaac."
"... ..."
It seemed she had no intention of hiding her feelings anymore. Then again, after being so obvious, she probably already considered us halfway into a relationship.
I did my best to suppress my heart, which was threatening to race again. If I didn't, my face would surely turn as red as a beet.
"Ahem... I see. That’s a relief. No inconveniences?"
"Inconveniences... not really, for now. As you know, there are fewer Liberal Arts students than Martial Studies students, and we're busy just keeping up with classes every day. Well, things might be different in the third year. What about you, Isaac?"
"I don't have any complaints either. Except for that group assignment last time."
"Ah, the group assignment. That was really tough..."
Fortunately, the conversation didn't stall and flowed smoothly. Even when the food was served, the dialogue between us didn't break.
When I had eaten with the imperial siblings, I felt like my blood was drying up, but now I was perfectly at ease. Is this what it feels like to have so much fun that you lose track of time?
Mari and I were busy laughing and chatting even as we ate. It wasn't exactly proper table manners, but we didn't care.
Ah. Of course.
"... ..."
"... ..."
As soon as the meal was over and the table was cleared, we both fell silent as if we had planned it.
Mari probably sensed it too—that the real topic would begin once the meal was finished.
Since that was my plan as well, I mentally deliberated on how to start. Rather than just blurting it out, it would be better to build up to it gradually.
"...Mari."
"...Yes."
When I called her name, Mari answered quietly without even looking at my face, as if she couldn't find the courage. Meanwhile, I placed the first edition that had been on my lap onto the table.
Mari looked puzzled when the first edition appeared on the table, then looked at me. To her eyes, it probably just looked like a piece of mail, so she was naturally curious about what it was.
She likely had no idea that this was the first edition of the Xenon Biography. Unlike others, Mari wouldn't dream that I was the author.
"Whew..."
But now that I was actually about to say it, I couldn't control my racing heart. Even as I exhaled to calm my nerves, my heart throbbed so hard I felt like I was breaking into a cold sweat.
'It'll be fine.'
Yes. If it’s Mari, it’ll be fine.
With that thought, I squeezed my eyes shut to steady my resolve.
"...Isaac."
While I was gathering my nerves, Mari called me softly. It was right as I opened my eyes.
"...?"
The moment I opened them, an incomprehensible situation unfolded. Originally, the distance between Mari and me wasn't that far, but it wasn't exactly close either.
But now, Mari’s face was right in front of mine. While I was panicking, wondering how this happened, I realized a moment too late that she had stood up and leaned across the table.
"You said earlier that it wasn't that kind of thing, right?"
Mari spoke to me while I was still speechless. Her voice sounded moist and alluring, in a different way than Cecile’s.
"I think I have an idea of what you're trying to say... but it probably won't matter."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mari slowly approached my face and...
Mwah.
She pressed her lips against mine and then pulled away immediately with a soft popping sound.
It wasn't a deep kiss like lovers share, but a simple, light peck.
However, the sensation delivered to my lips was anything but light. Though brief, this kiss was no different from a declaration.
Like planting a flag, it was an act that carved certainty into the heart of the opposite sex.
As a result, my brain completely stalled. I never dreamed Mari would be so bold, and it felt like we had skipped several steps in the middle.
In the meantime, Mari, her face as red as it could possibly be, gave a silly grin and spoke in a warm voice.
"Because I just like you, that's all."