Ch.56Confession (3)

The meal naturally takes place in a room with thorough soundproofing and security. Until dining with the royal siblings, I couldn’t have imagined such spaces existed, but now I can make good use of them.

In exchange, the price was quite expensive, nearly costing two weeks’ worth of living expenses. It seems the price was set due to the room’s structure, but I can’t help thinking it’s a bit excessive.

Whether to prevent dine-and-dash or because of the price, payment was required upfront. I was prepared to pay the price with tears in my eyes.

“I’ll pay for it instead.”

Marie, who hadn’t let go of my hand even after entering the restaurant, stepped forward readily.

I looked at her with wide eyes.

“Marie?”

“It’s fine. Have you forgotten which family I’m from? This much isn’t even enough for a snack.”

Her words dripping with pride couldn’t be more impressive. When I looked at her with an expression of being moved, Marie puffed up even more and squeezed my hand more firmly.

After Marie paid, the employee told us to follow and moved ahead first. We followed behind the employee, still holding hands.

‘This is embarrassing…’

You might think I’m an inexperienced man who’s never held a woman’s hand, but I did have a girlfriend in my previous life. We naturally broke up after my parents passed away.

But since being reborn, this is only the second time. The first was naturally with Cecilly, but she had grabbed my hand somewhat forcefully, so the feeling was quite different.

Moreover, unlike Cecilly’s hardened hands from rigorous training, Marie’s hands were soft. The plush sensation transmitted through her hand made me want to play around.

“Please enter here. If you wish to order, please ring this bell.”

“Thank you.”

“Then enjoy your time.”

The employee bowed politely and closed the door courteously. As soon as the door closed, I looked around the interior of the room.

Last time, it was a four-person room so it was very spacious, but the room we entered was for two people, so it was relatively smaller.

Of course, it’s only relatively smaller—it’s still too spacious to be called a two-person room. There was a reason for the expensive price.

‘First…’

I glanced at Marie while looking around the room.

Where had her confident demeanor gone when she paid? She was now looking down with a flushed face. Yet she absolutely refused to let go of my hand, which was adorable.

But to eat, we needed to let go of these hands. I would have liked to sit side by side and eat intimately, but the conditions weren’t right.

So I stared at Marie for a while and quietly called her name.

“Marie.”

“…Yes.”

“Let’s let go of hands now and sit down.”

With those words, Marie’s lowered head rose and she looked directly at me. Her blue, rippling eyes contained deep regret and a bit of desperation.

Then, after meeting my gaze directly, she fidgeted with her lips and answered with difficulty.

“…Can’t we just stay like this?”

“… …”

This is too dangerous. Unlike her usual self, Marie’s current appearance made my heart tickle.

When Marie, who normally has a lively and straightforward personality, looked at me with moist eyes and spoke with a slightly trembling voice, what should I say?

Reverse charm? Anyway, that’s how it felt.

I stared at Marie, who was looking up at me with an expression close to aegyo, and quietly answered.

“…Then let’s wait until our order arrives.”

“Yes!”

Marie smiled brightly and answered energetically to my response. I laughed, thinking she was really that happy about it.

Before sitting down, we each chose our orders and rang the bell hanging by the door as the employee had mentioned. Shortly after, an employee knocked on the door and entered.

“How may I help you?”

“We’d like to order. I’ll have…”

After we finished ordering, we waited for the meal to arrive, standing without sitting down. Still holding hands.

“… …”

“… …”

I feel like I’m having all sorts of thoughts. Marie might be feeling similar, as she keeps her head down and her face flushed.

The earlier comment was a mistake, but if I bring it up tactlessly, the good atmosphere might disappear. Honestly, I didn’t mind it either.

Above all, I’m not completely without feelings for Marie. Until now, Marie was just a female friend, but after realizing she had romantic feelings for me, she felt different.

‘…Do I like Marie too?’

Honestly, I’m not sure. But it’s certain that my heart started racing after holding her hand.

I was wondering what to say in the subtle silence that had settled in the room, and looked at Marie again. Coincidentally, she was looking at me at that moment.

It means our eyes met. I stared into her eyes, shining like sapphires, and smiled foolishly.

Then Marie also laughed lightly and indirectly expressed her feelings.

“Issac.”

“Yes.”

“Issac. Issac.”

“Yes. I’m right here.”

“Hehehe.”

Marie kept calling my name. I answered in a gentle voice each time she called.

Marie seemed to enjoy just calling my name, smiling so brightly her white teeth showed. She really does seem to like me.

What man would dislike a beautiful girl showing that she likes him? I looked at Marie smiling brightly and opened my mouth.

“Marie.”

“Yes.”

“Marie.”

“What is it?”

This time when I called her name, Marie answered with aegyo. She even swayed her body slightly from side to side to express her feelings.

I squeezed her hand more firmly at her fluttering movements. Then I noticed Marie’s face turning a deeper shade of red.

‘This is…’

Extremely troublesome. Originally, I didn’t intend for the meeting to be like this, but somehow the situation changed.

But the bigger problem is my heart. Since holding Marie’s hand, she’s started to look prettier and cuter.

However, when I recall Marie’s appearance during the gathering, that’s not quite it either. Marie is definitely a woman with charm in many ways.

‘If the Biography of Xenon really has such great value…’

Would there be any problem if I dated Marie? Of course, from an outside perspective, it would look like the daughter of a duke dating the son of a baron.

There would certainly be disparaging remarks about us not being a good match, and rumors that would be bad for both of us. But the story changes from the moment I reveal that I’m the author of the Biography of Xenon.

If what Marie said is true, I’m a person with an invaluable worth. An author with such an enormous status that countries are eager to welcome me.

Who would have thought my heart would change like this in less than an hour? As I faced Marie, who was smiling brightly, I remembered the first edition I had tucked under my arm.

It was nice just holding hands like this, but I still needed to do what I came for. So I looked at Marie and carefully opened my mouth.

“…Marie?”

“Yes, Issac.”

“Shall we sit down now? I have something to tell you.”

“Can’t we talk like this? I think I know what you want to say.”

No, you don’t. I almost let out a laugh when Marie spoke in a sly tone, but I managed to hold it back.

“It’s not what you’re thinking. It might be something even bigger.”

“…Something bigger?”

“Yes. And just to be clear, it’s nothing inappropriate, so don’t misunderstand.”

“Inappropriate…”

Marie tilted her head at my words, expressing confusion, then opened her eyes wide and turned her head completely away. It was probably an attempt to hide her embarrassment, but it was a meaningless action as her ears were visible through her hair.

Then, as I slowly loosened my grip on her hand, Marie also gently released her hold. However, judging by her attempt to grab my hand again just before completely letting go, she seemed quite disappointed.

“Shall we sit down then?”

“Yes…”

And so, after holding hands for quite some time, we both sat down. We must have been holding hands for nearly 20 minutes.

As soon as I sat down, I looked at Marie sitting modestly across from me. Coincidentally, Marie was also looking at me at that moment.

“… …”

“…Hee.”

When I just stared at her, Marie smiled awkwardly as if embarrassed. I chuckled and asked her a question.

“Marie.”

“Yes, Issac.”

“How’s academy life treating you?”

I started with a simple question to change the atmosphere. If we continued like this, it wouldn’t lead anywhere.

Marie blinked her blue eyes at my question and opened her mouth.

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.”

“Hmm… At first I thought it would be difficult…”

Tapping her cheek with her index finger, she trailed off and looked at my face. Then she smiled brightly and spoke with sincere feeling.

“It got better after meeting you.”

“… …”

It seems she’s not even trying to hide her feelings anymore. Well, after showing so much, she probably thinks we’re half in a relationship.

I tried to suppress my heart, which was trying to race again after I had just calmed it down. If I couldn’t suppress it, my face would undoubtedly turn burning red.

“Ahem… Hmm. Really? That’s good. Any inconveniences?”

“Inconveniences… Not particularly right now. As you know, literature students are fewer than the non-academic ones, and we’re busy keeping up with classes day by day. Well, it might be different when we become third-years. What about you?”

“I don’t have any inconveniences either. Except for that time we had a group project.”

“Ah, the group project. That was really tough…”

Fortunately, the conversation continued smoothly without interruption. Even when the meal arrived, the dialogue between us didn’t break.

When I had a meal with the royal siblings, it felt like my blood was drying up, but now it couldn’t be more comfortable. Is this what it feels like to enjoy yourself so much you lose track of time?

Marie and I were busy laughing and chatting excitedly even while eating. It wasn’t appropriate for dining etiquette, but we didn’t care.

Ah. Of course.

“… …”

“… …”

As soon as we finished eating and everything was cleared away, we both fell silent as if of one mind.

Marie probably sensed it too. That the real topic would begin once the meal was over.

I had planned the same, so I pondered what to say first. It would be better to build up gradually rather than cutting straight to the point.

“…Marie.”

“…Yes.”

When I called her name, Marie quietly answered without even looking at my face, perhaps lacking courage. Meanwhile, I placed the first edition that had been on my thigh onto the table.

Marie looked puzzled when the first edition appeared on the table, then looked at me. That’s understandable—to Marie’s eyes, it probably just looks like mail, so she’s bound to be curious about what it is.

She probably doesn’t even dream that this is the first edition of the Biography of Xenon. Unlike others, Marie has no idea that I’m the author of the Biography of Xenon.

“Hoo…”

But when I actually tried to speak, I couldn’t control my pounding heart. Even after sighing to relieve tension, my heart was racing so much I felt like I might break into a cold sweat.

‘It’ll be fine.’

Yes. With Marie, it’ll be more than fine.

Thinking that, I squeezed my eyes shut to gather my courage.

“…Issac.”

While I was trying to compose myself, Marie quietly called my name. That’s when I opened my eyes.

“…?”

An incomprehensible situation unfolded as soon as I opened my eyes. Originally, the distance between Marie and me wasn’t too far, but it wasn’t particularly close either.

But now Marie’s face was right in front of me. While I was wondering how this happened, I belatedly realized that she had risen from her seat and leaned her upper body forward.

“You said earlier it wasn’t anything inappropriate, right?”

Marie spoke to me while I couldn’t say a word. Her voice sounded moist and sensual in a different way from Cecilly’s.

“I kind of know what you’re trying to say… but it probably doesn’t matter.”

With those words, Marie slowly approached my face and…

*smooch*

She pressed her lips against mine and then immediately pulled away with a smacking sound.

Not a deep kiss like lovers share, but simply a light peck.

However, the feeling transmitted to my lips was by no means light. Though light, this kiss was a kind of declaration.

Like planting a flag, an action that engraves certainty in the heart of the opposite sex.

Thanks to that, my thoughts couldn’t help but stop. I never dreamed Marie would take such a bold action, and it felt like all the intermediate steps had been skipped.

Meanwhile, Marie smiled with a face that had turned completely red and opened her mouth in a warm voice.

“I simply like you, that’s all.”