All About Timing
Timing...???
"Young master, from now on I'll be asking you some questions. Think carefully before you answer."
"Okay."
It was several hours before Rian and Cynthia's date. Anna had cornered him and launched into a full romance lecture.
"What do you think is the most essential thing for deepening the bond between a man and a woman?"
"Hmm..." Love sounds way too cliché.
"Sincerity?"
"Oh? Not a bad answer at all."
"Is that the correct one?"
"Nope. Wrong."
"...Then why are you looking down on me like that?"
Anna stood with her arms folded, letting out an impressed little "Hoo~" as though she were some grand master. Rian stared at his maid's brazen attitude with pure disbelief, but her self-satisfaction clearly wasn't finished. She continued in a solemnly profound voice.
"The answer is timing."
"...Timing?"
"Human romance can deepen with nothing more than a single element—the place you meet, the hour, the event, the person, the atmosphere, or even the smallest trigger."
"You're sure that's the real answer?"
The unconvincing reply left Rian's expression strangely clouded. Considering his relationship with Cynthia, the reaction was perfectly natural. Anna, sensing his confusion, began to explain in earnest.
"Sincerity matters in romance, but timing is still the most important factor. Love? Humans are perfectly capable of dating without it."
"That doesn't sound right..."
"Just look at your own situation, young master. You didn't like Lady Cynthia from the start, did you? The engagement was simply a decision forced on you by your family."
Humans could pursue romance without love. Of course such a relationship would be far from pure, but it was wrong to claim that only those who followed every proper step were experiencing real romance.
"You might not know this, young master, but plenty of people start with a kiss on the very first meeting—or even jump straight into bed."
"W-what? That can't be real."
"It is. Those people exist. Of course, their only goal from the beginning is that one act, so it's hardly surprising."
"That's ridiculous..."
"Surprisingly, it happens more often among nobles than commoners. You see it in the papers all the time, don't you? Those adultery scandals."
"Ah..."
He did recall seeing such stories more frequently than expected. A baron's family head laying hands on a married commoner woman. A betrothed lady carrying on with a titled noble.
"Still, that isn't romance, is it?"
"I understand what you're trying to say. But in the broadest sense, even affairs count as romance."
"But Cynthia and I..."
"Of course, Lady Cynthia is a noble soul who can't even be compared to those cheap women. In terms of romance difficulty, I'd rate her S-rank."
"What are you even talking about?"
"It means she's extremely hard to conquer."
...It sounds like complete nonsense, yet somehow it also sounds right?
Rian suddenly wondered exactly what kind of romantic history Anna had accumulated. The question flickered through his mind, but his own romance was the urgent matter at hand. He decided not to waste any more time and cut straight to the point.
"Then... what exactly should I do from now on?"
"First I need to confirm something. Young master Rian, do you want to do it with Lady Cynthia right now?"
"What?!"
"You know what I mean. Do you want to, or not?"
"Ugh...!"
The sudden shameless question left Rian speechless. Consultation or not, it was not something he could easily answer when the person asking was a woman. Yet Anna was staring at him with deadly seriousness, so in the end he had no choice.
"I... don't want to..."
"I see. In that case, start taking an active approach to romance. Keep hesitating like this and you won't even manage a single kiss after several months."
"O-okay..."
"Good. Now that your mind is ready, it's time to move on to the plan. Listen carefully to everything I say next."
"Yes..."
And so Rian carefully noted down every piece of Anna's advice in his romance notebook.
Smooch— Smooch— Mmm...
Ah, Anna... Isn't this a little too erotic?
In the darkened theater, a man and woman stood on stage beneath a spotlight, locked in a heated kiss. When the man pulled the woman's body closer to deepen it, she pretended to be overwhelmed and melted into his arms.
Haa—! Slurp...
"......"
"......"
Coming to the theater Anna had recommended was fine. The problem was that he hadn't checked exactly how bold the performance would be. Trusting her claim that it was a romantic show, they had arrived only to find the actors passionately devouring each other's lips onstage.
No... No matter how you look at it, this is too much.
Gulp!
Rian swallowed hard and stole a glance at Cynthia beside him. She watched the kissing actors with a completely indifferent expression, as if the scene stirred nothing in her. The sight filled him with relief, and he let out a small sigh.
He had worried she might sense his impure thoughts, but she showed no sign of disturbance.
Right. The content is just a bit bold, but it's still an ordinary play. If we simply sit through it...
(From now on, take an active approach to romance. Keep hesitating like this and you won't even manage a single kiss after several months.)
......
Anna's voice suddenly echoed inside his head. Rian wore a dazed look for a moment, as though struck, then his expression hardened with determination and he gave a firm nod.
This is exactly why I keep failing.
Not a single word Anna had said was wrong. He was indecisive. Even after telling her he wanted to develop his relationship with Cynthia, he immediately searched for an escape and tried to avoid the moment.
This is my chance. No one's watching here... and the atmosphere is perfect...
The actors' skill was so superb that a suggestive mood had already spread throughout the theater. Several couples had abandoned watching the stage entirely and turned their attention to each other.
F-first, I need to draw Cynthia's gaze toward me...
Thump! Thump!
He hadn't done anything yet, but his heart was already pounding wildly. Sweat broke out across his body, and the hand he stretched toward her trembled as though struck by lightning. Even so, he had no intention of backing down.
Grip—
"First... her hand."
"?"
Rian's hand settled over Cynthia's. Her gaze, previously fixed on the stage, shifted to him. His face was flushed crimson as he stared at her.
Pfft—
"Why, Rian?"
"!"
Seeing how rigidly tense he was, Cynthia offered a relaxed smile. She leaned lazily against the armrest, watching his every move with amusement. For a moment Rian simply gazed at her, spellbound. Beneath the faint spotlight her gentle smile was so breathtakingly beautiful that words failed him.
Is someone like her really my fiancée?
"You're beautiful......"
"...Hehe."
"!"
What did I just say?!
He snapped back to his senses after hearing her soft laugh, but the words could not be unsaid. Overwhelmed by embarrassment that burned all the way to the tips of his ears, he began to stammer helplessly.
"Do you really find me that beautiful?"
Tickle, tickle~
The left hand he held wriggled playfully in his right. When Rian flinched at the sensation, Cynthia's smile deepened and her teasing grew bolder.
She's adorable.
Scraaape—
"Hup?!"
"Tell me, Rian. Do you really find me that beautiful?"
Her hand slid up his arm like a snake. Unused to such intimate contact from her, Rian froze. Cynthia pressed him for an answer.
"Rian, are you going to leave me waiting?"
"...You really are..."
"Yes?"
"Too... beautiful..."
THUMP!!
It was the same phrase he always heard—a short answer—yet his sincerity overflowed from it. His heartbeat grew louder, stronger. The way he looked at her felt wonderfully pleasant, and an intense resonance she had never experienced before spread warmly through her body.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
This feels good...
Her rising body temperature made it impossible for Cynthia to stay rational. Her hand moved more boldly across his chest.
Slide— Grab!
"C-Cynthia?!"
"...Your heart is pounding so hard."
The moment her palm pressed against his chest, Rian's temperature soared.
W-what do I do? Cynthia is touching me...
(From now on, take an active approach to romance!)
Anna's voice rang out once more. Rian resolved to turn the moment into his opportunity. He placed his own hand over the one she had laid on his chest, gripping it firmly so she could not pull away. Then he leaned his upper body forward, drawing closer.
"!"
"Cynthia..."
His gaze was blatant, his lips slightly parted. Cynthia's eyes widened in surprise as she read the signal. She had not anticipated this at all; ripples of agitation disturbed her previously composed expression.
Is he... going to kiss me?
Gulp!
The sound of her unconsciously swallowing felt deafeningly loud. Rian's face drew nearer by the second, and with her hand captured she could not escape.
What should I do? Should I just stay still?
If she remained motionless, it seemed he would kiss her on his own. Since it would happen eventually anyway, there was no reason it couldn't be now. Just as Cynthia finished that thought and steeled herself—
The play had ended. The dim theater flooded with light as bright as day. The actors stepped forward on stage and bowed to the audience.
Clap clap clap clap clap!!
The spectators applauded enthusiastically. Rian and Cynthia stared blankly for a moment before rising along with the rest of the crowd.
Thump— Thump— Thump— Thump—
...Haa...
Her heart refused to calm. Even after leaving the theater, Cynthia could not relax. The man who had just tried to kiss her had been sitting right beside her the entire time.
I never imagined Rian would make a move like that.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't startled. Rian had never been the type to initiate skinship, and she herself had never kissed anyone. Of course she did not dislike the idea, but a first kiss still required mental preparation.
It's not that I would refuse, but... hmm.
Given their positions, some hesitation was unavoidable. They had not even decided on marriage yet, and she still wasn't certain whether she truly should wed him. That said, the man named Rian was gradually winning her over. His manners were excellent, he always considered her feelings, and lately the gentle smile he directed at her had grown brighter and warmer than the one he showed his family.
Thump— Thump— Thump— Thump—
I'm definitely drawn to him... but let's take a little more time.
The date was over; it was time to return. The sky had already deepened into full night, and the moment to board the Archduke's carriage and part from Rian was fast approaching.
The perfect timing for a kiss had already slipped away, so it would be best to say goodbye for today.
"Then I'll head back first, Rian."
The moment Cynthia spoke upon spotting the waiting carriage—
"Cynthia."
"Yes?"
She turned her head at the sound of his voice, reflexively preparing to say farewell.
And found Rian's face already right in front of her.
Smooch—
"!!!"