Chapter 138
They had done everything one could call the essentials of a proper date.
They sat in a beautiful decorative carriage made for sightseeing and went around the plaza, showing themselves to countless people. After that, they stopped by a luxurious restaurant that even high-ranking nobles frequently visited and enjoyed a wonderful meal. Now, they were sitting at the café where they had shared ice cream before, looking at each other.
“Today was fun.”
“I especially like it when you suddenly come at me so honestly. It’s thrilling.”
“…Do you really have to say it like that?”
“I find it funny when you cringe.”
At the slight crinkle of his eyes, she instinctively tensed her hand again. Then she let out a hollow laugh and relaxed her shoulders. Being toyed with back and forth like she was sitting right in the palm of his hand was frustrating at times, but…
It wasn’t unpleasant.
“Iora, it’s true that I started this because it looked fun. But now, I really do like you.”
It was a strangely gentle and kind remark; it was unlike him.
The voice contained none of his usual teasing or mischief, which only made her feel even more embarrassed. Clearing her throat for no reason, Iora picked up the juice placed in front of her and took a sip.
But Vigros’s words, carrying a quiet smile, continued.
Somewhere nearby, a song could be heard. The sky, beginning to turn with the colors of sunset, was breathtakingly beautiful.
“This fake relationship is so much fun that I can’t help but laugh. So, make sure to appreciate this handsome smile of mine properly. I don’t show it to just anyone, you know. Consider yourself honored.”
“Ha, seriously.”
“I am handsome, aren’t I?”
“Tell me the truth. Why are you really in such a good mood today?”
She looked at him suspiciously, but the smile that only grew deeper was so beautiful that she almost felt afraid to keep looking.
“Who knows?”
He rested one arm on the café table, placed his face against it, and looked up at her.
That clear, innocent face gazing up at her looked just like fresh morning dew.
“Guess. Why do you think I’m in such a good mood?”
“W-well, if I knew that… I’d be reading people’s fortunes, right?”
“A Saint telling fortunes?”
“Ugh.”
The outstretched arm touched the back of Iora’s hand. His fingers moved gracefully, tapping the back of her hand as if he were playing an instrument. When she raised her brows as if telling him not to tease her, he chuckled and laughed.
“Does it tickle?”
His white teeth were perfectly aligned. As she slowly came to know him, one by one, he too tapped at Iora’s skin like a curious animal nudging her with its nose.
As if he wanted to knock on the door and enter what was inside. His raised fingertip scratched at the back of her hand as though tickling it, drawing little shapes. It was such a familiar gesture, yet strangely, every time he touched her, she felt a shiver run through her.
“Stop acting cute, terrifying Duke Elrah.”
When she said that through gritted teeth, he actually burst into laughter. But he was still annoying. As she looked around for something she could hit him with, he raised both hands in surrender and backed away. His hair, messily tousled in a way that didn’t quite match his perfectly tailored suit, gave him a different kind of charm.
“Isn’t it a shame to go back like this?”
The answer. His slightly whining voice made her heart tighten and then loosen again. The way he tilted his head slightly and looked at her as if urging her on seemed almost desperate. No, he looked like a devil tempting her to do something truly wicked.
“He’s dangerous. Don’t come any closer.”
“Who’s dangerous?”
His voice, subtly amused despite knowing everything already, was truly awful. Was this man always this good at teasing people?
It was right then. It was the memory of that damn book that brought that moment back, almost like it was answering her question.
「“Why are you looking at me like that, Arcanda?”
“Do you really not know? Do you really have to ask that?”
Vigros could not understand. Why was that woman looking at him with such an expression?
It was a feeling he had never experienced before. This desire and greed were so hot that they gnawed at him, to the point where he could no longer control himself. And yet, he found himself unable to look at anyone but that woman. He felt like a blind crow flying straight toward the sun.
He wanted to give her everything. Truly, everything he had.
But there was only one thing he could not tolerate.
The fact that she looked at someone other than him.
No, sometimes he even grew jealous of all the kindness she showed him.
“In front of you, I always feel like I’m going insane. Like I’ve lost all restraint, like a beast running wild as if I’ve gone mad.”
“Vi…gros. Don’t do this. Take me back to where I originally was. I… I have to go back.”
“I want to kill you for looking at that bastard. Why isn’t it me? Why couldn’t it be me? If I erase everything precious to you, every single thing, then will you look only at me?”
“Vigros! Why, why are you saying things like that? I, I…”
“I love you. Even if you fear me, even if you run away from me, even if all I can hold is your shell…”」
Her mood turned foul in an instant. Iora could not hide the displeased expression on her face as she swallowed down whatever was rising inside her. It felt awful. Very, very awful.
Even if it was a scene that had never actually happened in the way she remembered and one she thought she would never see in the future either, it still made her feel absolutely terrible.
“Why are you like that? Why are you making that face like you stepped in dog poop while looking at my handsome face?”
Vigros picked up his fork and held the strawberry from the whipped cream cake in front of her mouth. Iora, who had grown used to going through these artificial situations several times today for the sake of the rumors, chewed on it while eating it. It was refreshing.
Refreshing enough to snap her back to her senses.
And she remembered that even between lovers who were sweet and affectionate with each other, feeding each other food outside was not exactly a common display of intimacy. As expected, Vigros’s claim was nonsense. She could see everyone staring at them as if they had been shocked, only to quickly look away. Damn it!
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