Chapter 76
Chapter 76
“I suppose Izzy told you.” Arietta’s hand, gripping the sheet, trembled slightly. So, he did know I was here. He knew this man brought me here. But instead of reprimanding him, he told him my name. Isaac loathed anyone laying a hand on Arietta. Even while hating her, she had to remain his possession. Those who mistreated her were always punished. Yet, the young man before her was unharmed. Was it because he was a member of the Sky City survey team? No, Isaac wasn’t someone who cared about such things. In Downstream, he was the law, the rule. Even the people of Sky City had to follow his orders when they descended to the ground. Arietta remained silent.
“From the moment I first heard about you, I thought life trapped there must be terrible,” Benjamin whispered. Arietta couldn’t even manage a laugh. Foolish boy. You and I think differently. Life there wasn’t terrible at all, not until time started relentlessly rewinding.
“Congratulations on escaping.” It was a curious choice of words. Congratulations on escaping.
“I…I’ve been thinking,” Benjamin hesitated.
“About what?” Arietta, her delicate eyes slightly narrowed, looked at him. Benjamin’s reaction was strange. He blushed slightly and remained silent for a moment.
“First…I want you to know that I’m not someone who says these things lightly.”
“Hmm?” She wondered what he was getting at. Benjamin lowered his eyes, shadows falling across his delicate features. Objectively, it was quite a beautiful sight. Many women must have clamored to possess him.
“This may seem overly hasty and presumptuous…but I feel I’ll regret it if I don’t say this.”
What is this? By now, Arietta’s curiosity was piqued. She wanted to see what this young man would say. She stopped prompting him and stared intently at his handsome face. After a moment, Benjamin lifted his gaze, meeting Arietta’s directly.
“When this is all over, come with me to Sky City.” It was indeed a hasty and presumptuous statement.
“What makes you think you can make such an offer?” Arietta scoffed. They had met only yesterday. The unwanted “rescue” was one thing, but this sudden proposal to go to Sky City was another.
“I can’t explain it. This feeling is new to me…” The young man, seemingly bewildered himself, continued to gaze at her. “But I have a feeling that if I leave you here when this is over, I’ll regret it forever…”
Arietta gazed back. In his emerald eyes, a strange yearning burned. The yearning of one who feels a powerful attraction at first sight. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her. Arietta had never been the object of such a gaze. Except…Isaac had looked at her this way when they first met.
“I want you.” The feelings Arietta had experienced when she first met Isaac were now being confessed by Benjamin, who had met her just yesterday. The situation was eerily similar. Offering unwanted charity, hoping to gain favor. It was strange and intriguing. Arietta finally let out a short laugh. If Isaac and Arietta were opposites, Benjamin and Arietta were mirror images.
“Go to Sky City?” she echoed his proposal, her tone softening slightly. She looked up. Instead of the cityscape hidden beyond the clouds, she saw only a white ceiling. Still, Arietta could easily imagine it. Go to Sky City. That’s Mother’s homeland. If it were Isaac, he would have refused vehemently.
Arietta recalled the boy who had run away, abandoning his bag, his eyes stained with shame. Arietta, however, was not Isaac. If it meant escaping Isaac’s grasp, a slight detour seemed insignificant. Perhaps I should see it once. It might be good to see what Sky City is like, the place Seia missed so much. It would be quite dramatic to throw myself from there, down to the earth where Isaac is.
Arietta closed her eyes. Even if she completely escaped Isaac’s clutches, she had no intention of living. Because without him, she didn’t want to.
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