Chapter 57: Confession(4)
Chapter 57: Confession(4)
"It’s just because I like you."
As she said those words, Mari slowly pulled her upper body back and quietly returned to her seat. She even gave me a beaming smile afterward, as if nothing had happened. It was a smile so beautiful that the word 'pretty' felt woefully inadequate.
Meanwhile, unable to process the situation, I blinked for about five seconds before reflexively touching my lips. If Mari’s bold action just now had been a delusion, then the sensation lingering on my lips would have to be a lie.
But this sensation was definitely no delusion. The soft, pillowy touch I felt for that fleeting moment was vividly seared into my brain.
'So... Mari just...'
Did she just kiss me? Not a deep, passionate kiss, but a light peck—what people often call a 'bird kiss.'
The reality was so hard to believe that I couldn't even find my voice. Amidst my silence, Mari looked at my face and spoke with a hint of bashfulness.
"Well?"
"... ..."
"No matter what you say, that’s my answer."
Ah, hearing her say that, it definitely wasn't a delusion.
She really did give me a light kiss.
Mari truly likes me.
...Oh my god.
Whoosh!
After those three rational realizations, a silent scream erupted within me. Simultaneously, my face began to burn in less than a second.
Unable to meet Mari’s eyes, I hung my head low. I hoped it would help... but fat chance. My thoughts were so tangled and scrambled that I couldn't think straight.
'Seriously? Really? Is this for real?'
Only those thoughts drifted through my mind. I couldn't think of anything else.
No matter how much I replayed it, the fact that Mari had given me a peck was undeniable. A kiss is an act reserved for lovers, going beyond mere friendship.
We hadn't even officially started dating yet, so her aggressive approach made me feel uncontrollably embarrassed. I’d had a girlfriend in my past life, but I was always the one leading; the woman had never been the one to take the initiative.
'I’m getting dizzy...'
Was it because of the heat rising to the top of my head? Even though I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol, I felt slightly lightheaded.
I’d seen people mention feeling dizzy due to high blood pressure before, and I imagined it felt exactly like this. The difference was that for them it was a chronic illness, while for me, it was temporary.
"Whew. Whew. Whew."
I took deep breaths, trying my best to cool down the fire raging in my face. With every exhale, I felt a bit of the heat leave my skin.
For some reason, this was much more intense than when I had touched Cecile’s chest. Was it because I also had romantic feelings for Mari? Furthermore, the emotion I felt now wasn't a murky 'lust,' but something closer to a pure 'heart.'
"Whew..."
With one final long exhale, I managed to barely calm my racing heart. The heat hadn't completely subsided, but my brain was at least functioning again.
I slowly lifted my head to look at Mari, who was sitting across from me. She was busy beaming, as if she didn't have a care in the world regarding what she had just done.
"...Mari."
"Yes? Yes?"
When I called her name, she answered in a voice dripping with aegyo. She struck a 'flower cup' pose—resting her chin in her hands—and looked me straight in the eye.
My heart almost gave out again, but I managed to hold it together. After catching my breath, I asked her in a slightly trembling voice.
"Do you... do you know what your actions just now meant?"
"I did it because I know, though?"
"... ..."
"Want me to do it again?"
Mari said this and started to shift as if she were about to stand up. She looked ready to go for round two at a moment's notice.
I quickly reached out my hand to stop her. I was embarrassed, yes, but I also had a strong hunch that if we did it again, it wouldn't end 'lightly.'
This wasn't because I didn't trust Mari, but because I absolutely didn't trust myself.
Last time, I could endure touching Cecile’s chest, but the moment she sucked on my finger, my instincts took over.
To emphasize: I am by no means eunuch-like; I am just an ordinary man who likes beautiful women like Mari.
"Sigh..."
"Hehehe."
Whether I ruffled my hair in frustration or not, Mari just kept smiling. I felt like reaching over and pinching those mischievous cheeks of hers.
The 'confession' I had planned for today was never intended to be this kind of confession. I simply wanted to tell Mari that I was the author of the Xenon Biography and then slowly figure out our relationship afterward.
But now, the order was completely reversed. It was a total snowball effect; the comment I’d made to Mari at the restaurant entrance had returned as a massive boulder.
But did I feel bad about it? Absolutely not.
In fact, thanks to Mari’s courageous action, all the hesitation in my heart had vanished.
If I was truly going to stay by Mari’s side, I decided I would become a man worthy of her.
And I could be that man. No, I had already met the qualifications a long time ago.
"...Mari."
"Yeees~?"
Mari replied in that same sweet, playful tone, still holding her chin in her hands.
I stared blankly at her—she was practically radiating happiness—and then lowered my head.
"Pfft... hahah..."
Had I been infected by her happiness? A sudden, hollow laugh escaped me.
But it wasn't just any laugh. It was a laugh filled with genuine joy and sincerity.
If I had to count the times I’d laughed this comfortably since being reincarnated, it was only when I was with my family. But now, that same kind of laughter was flowing out. That was how much my mood was soaring right now.
"This is driving me crazy. Hahaha..."
"Why is it driving you crazy?"
"Don't ask. Pfft..."
I was in trouble. I had to speak, but every time I looked at Mari’s face, I reflexively started laughing like an idiot.
I hadn't even been like this when I got my first girlfriend in my previous life. I didn't know why I was acting this way either.
"Whew..."
Fortunately, the laughter subsided after a short while. At the same time, my racing heart and burning face mostly calmed down.
I lifted my head and looked Mari directly in the eye. She was still looking at me, her beaming expression unchanged.
It was time to finally say it. Curiously, I felt much less nervous than before.
"Mari. I told you before that there was something I wanted to tell you, right?"
"Yeah."
"Before I say it... could you look at this first?"
I handed the envelope containing the first edition to Mari. As if she had already guessed, just as she’d said, she kept her smile as she took the envelope and pulled out the contents.
I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous watching her. No matter how much the tension had eased, nothing is as nerve-wracking as revealing a secret with your own mouth. Especially since the secret I was about to reveal would have a massive impact on Mari as well.
"... ..."
As she read through the manuscript, the corners of Mari’s mouth slowly began to drop. She glanced at me sideways; she had expected it, but she still seemed to find it hard to believe.
I licked my dry lips while Mari skimmed through the first edition. This was the first time every second felt so agonizingly long.
"Sigh..."
How much time had passed? Mari, who had been quickly scanning the first edition, lowered the manuscript and let out a sigh.
It was a strange sigh, one that sounded somewhat relieved.
Afterward, she kept her eyes fixed on the manuscript for a while before looking up to face me directly. A hint of doubt lingered in her blue eyes.
"No wonder Cecile was so interested in you... so this was it?"
"...Cecile-noona was?"
"Yeah. She told me after you left last time. That the two of you shared a secret. I’d been suspicious ever since, but..."
Her voice trailed off as she looked at the manuscript again, speaking with an air of disbelief.
"...I didn't think it would actually be true."
"...Do you really believe it?"
"Honestly, it's hard to believe. As you know, the world assumes the author of the Xenon Biography is a Sage. Not someone who isn't even twenty yet. Since your father is the famous Red Lion, everyone probably thinks it's him, right?"
Mari was right. Even when Leort had people track the author, they had suspected my father, not me.
Yet, Mari seemed certain that I was the author of the Xenon Biography. I felt a bit curious.
Why was she so sure?
"Do you really believe I'm the author?"
"It would have been hard to believe if you hadn't shown me this. Your handwriting is exactly the same, and seeing how the paper is just on the verge of discoloring, I can tell it was written quite a while ago."
"Don't you think I might have just copied it onto old paper?"
"If you were trying to impersonate him, you might have, but look at the ink. It’s also just about to change color, just like the paper. If the ink and paper are both aged, it's one thing, but if only the ink is fresh, someone with a sharp eye would realize it's a fake immediately."
"Oh..."
So that was possible. I was genuinely impressed by a fact I hadn't even known myself.
Mari seemed embarrassed by my admiration; her face flushed slightly, and she cleared her throat. Then, she glanced at the manuscript and scolded me in a rebuking tone.
"By the way, why don't you take better care of this? Do you have any idea how valuable this is?"
"Um... not really."
"Right. You don't know, so you treat it like this. Just one of these pages would be designated as more than a masterpiece—it would be a national treasure. The moment this hits an auction, it won't just be a bloodbath; it'll be a war between nations."
"That much?"
I figured some filthy rich nobles might throw money at it, but I never imagined it would escalate to a national level. I knew my own value was high, but I hadn't realized the value of the first edition.
Mari looked at me with an expression that said, 'What am I going to do with this guy?' She was clearly dumbfounded.
She let out another deep sigh and spoke in a slightly lowered voice.
"...I told you today, didn't I? The author of the Xenon Biography—that is, you—is a figure so significant that the country would treat you with the utmost reverence. No, you're beyond just a 'big shot'; you're a walking culture. Culture is usually a unique characteristic of a nation, but you are that characteristic itself. It means a country can announce to the world, 'We are the nation that possesses the author of the Xenon Biography!'"
"...It's not dangerous, is it?"
"It could become dangerous depending on what you do," Mari warned with a serious face. I could only give a bitter smile, thinking, 'As I thought.'
"Isaac."
"...Yeah."
"You heard my answer earlier, but I don't care if you reveal your secret. However, this is a slightly different issue. I'm worried that you might write with impure intentions. Changing the perception of the Demon race is an achievement no one else has ever accomplished... but remember the story at the beginning of Volume 8? The scene that showed the light and shadow of the nobility."
Mari mentioned a scene that had been quite controversial. Since she was a noble herself—and a member of a Ducal house at that—it was a point of concern for her.
Realizing what she wanted to say, I leaned forward. I could firmly tell her that her worries were unnecessary.
"...Mari."
"Yes. Go on."
"I have absolutely no intention of writing with those kinds of motives. I just want my readers to enjoy my stories; that's enough for me."
This was the root of why I had been avoiding the situation all this time. As I’ve said many times, I was just an ordinary web novel writer in my past life.
My profession was far removed from politics; I wrote simply because people enjoyed it. And because people enjoy it, I plan to keep writing.
Just as Mari said, I have no intention of writing with a specific agenda. The fact that the perception of Demons had completely shifted was something even I hadn't expected, and as my popularity grew day by day, the pressure weighed heavily on my shoulders.
I just want to write. I just like the reaction of people finding my stories interesting.
"If the things I write ever cause harm to the world, I will never write again. If someone tries to force me to write with malice, I’d rather cut off my own hands."
"... ..."
"I don't know if you'll believe me. But please know that I'm sincere. I just want people to be happy when they read my work."
Getting all the worries out of my heart made me feel relieved. I had told my family, but I could only say it because they were family; this was the first time I’d said it to an outsider.
Though I hadn't realized it, it meant I trusted Mari that much. Perhaps that kiss from a moment ago had been the catalyst that turned my feelings into trust.
"...I see."
Mari nodded slowly after hearing my words. Then, with a peculiar expression, she asked me.
"Since you're telling me this, I guess you trust me?"
"...Probably?"
"What do you mean, 'probably'? If it's yes, it's yes. You're really not honest about these things."
"Haha."
I let out an embarrassed laugh at Mari’s grumbling. Mari, who had been looking at me with sharp eyes, also broke into a smirk, her mood seemingly improved by my laughter.
"Still, it feels good. Knowing that I'm the person you trust most after your family. Does anyone else know? Cecile seems to know, but what about Lina?"
"No. Lina thinks my father is the author, not me. Sir Leort thinks the same."
"What? What does that mean? Why do they both think that instead of Lina?"
"Well, you see..."
I explained everything that had happened to Mari. I was a bit worried that Mari, who already had bad blood with Lina, might dislike her even more.
And as my explanation continued, Mari’s expression grew more and more ferocious, just as I’d feared. It reached a point where even I felt a bit scared watching her.
"That bitch really... to someone who was just minding their own business..."
"But things worked out well, so don't be too upset. According to what you said, they won't be able to touch me easily anyway."
"Probably. But you still need to be careful. Got it?"
"I got it."
"Oh. And, I have one favor to ask..."
"A favor?"
"Well..."
When I looked puzzled at the mention of a favor, Mari began to hesitate. As if she were embarrassed to say it, she started twiddling her bluish-white hair and glancing at me.
Seeing her face turn slightly red, it seemed she was too shy to let the words out. My curiosity only grew.
Mari wasn't the type to ask for something strange like other people might, so it was probably something normal—so why was she acting like this? Just as I was thinking that, Mari cleared her throat and spoke quietly.
"Ahem... well... an autograph, please..."
"...What?"
"An autograph... is it possible? Since you are the author of the Xenon Biography... I thought one autograph would be okay..."
"... ..."
When I just blinked without saying a word, Mari gave a silly laugh.
"Hehehe..."
She was cute.