Chapter 75: Lesson of the Heart
“Back at the duo exams, why didn’t you choose me? Mr. Riley? Or should I say ‘Mr. Lucas’ perhaps?”
As her question lingered in the air, I pondered what to say. Although I knew Rose wasn’t one to hold a grudge, it was still a fact that I had lied to her.
And it was during our first encounter at that.
I didn’t know what she did with the information I gave her when I said my name was Lucas, but it would be best to guess that she met Lucas upon trying to find me.
Any form of anger from her would be acceptable… as someone who has completed all the game routes, I should’ve seen this coming.
“Ricas?” Rose asked teasingly, blending both my name and Lucas’s. She was clearly having fun right now, so she probably didn’t take what I did to heart, but even still, I could see just how stupid I was back then.
“Sorry…” I began, deciding that honesty was the best course of action. “I’m sorry for lying back then.”
Rose’s golden eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. “Oh? And why did you lie to me?”
“I wasn’t sure of your intentions,” I admitted.
“Back then, we just met at a random place, right? I didn’t know if I could trust you…. Giving a false name was a way to protect myself”
“Hmm~ is that so?” she said, seemingly satisfied with my answer before she giggled and leaned back in her chair, nodding while eying me again. “Although your reasoning is logical, it was still pretty rude using someone else’s name, you know?”
“Sorry…”
“So then, why did you not choose to partner up with me in the duo exams?” she asked in a more curious and toned-down voice.
Hmm, even if she asks me that, I can’t really just tell her that Snow was the best option back then.
Sure, Rose herself was a much more powerful mage than Snow, but that wasn’t the reason I took her in the first place.
Overall, it all basically narrowed down to the one thing I needed the most at that time: ‘Luck’.
Among the many heroines, Snow had the highest luck stat of all, and that was why I chose her. But I can’t exactly say that to Rose.
“Well…,” I began, searching for the right words. “At the time, I needed someone whose skills complemented mine in a specific way. Snow has a unique set of abilities that I thought would be particularly advantageous for the challenges we were facing in the duo exams.”
Rose tilted her head, considering my explanation. “I see. So, it was a strategic decision?”
“Yes” I nodded.
Well, there was more to it than that, but essentially it all came down to strategic decisions.
Snow was the most practical choice at that time, so she was the best option I could’ve gotten.
Besides, I knew Rose would probably go at the exam solo just like she did in the game when she wasn’t chosen.
So, all in all, it didn’t really affect her on an academic standpoint.
“Hm…” She seemed a bit skeptical but judging from her expression, she had fully accepted my explanation now.
Relaxing a little as the tension dissipated, silence descended upon the two of us as we stared at each other for a few seconds.
“Dear customers, here are your two matcha lattes and two strawberry shortcakes. Enjoy!” The waitress happily delivered our orders, placing a slice of pinkish-red cake and two greenish-brown drinks in front of us.
Just from the looks of it, I could tell both were delicious and probably sugary.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You’re welcome,” the waitress replied, returning to her duties.
Rose immediately grabbed her fork and took a bite of the shortcake. “Mm~” she savored the flavors, making a cute noise while relishing the sweet taste. “This is so good~”
I watched her for a moment, unable to suppress a small smile at her enthusiasm.
Her delight was infectious, and I decided to give the shortcake a try as well. The moment I took a bite, the rich, creamy sweetness exploded in my mouth.
Wow…!
She was right.
I almost exclaimed my surprise as I felt the soft, sweet flavor of the cake melting in my mouth. How does cake become this good?
I knew I wasn’t a big fan of sweets and other pastries, but this was on a whole other level.
I doubted I could have something like this back in my previous world. Did they use some kind of magic, perhaps?
“Looks like you’re enjoying it as well,” Rose commented, staring at me. I hadn’t even realized she was watching as I gobbled up the rest of the cake.
I nodded at her words, trying to maintain my poker face. The taste was so good that I momentarily forgot what I came here for.
Giving a subtle glance to my side, I searched for the twins who were located at the very edge of the viewing platform.
But then they were gone.
‘Huh?’
My eyes widened in disbelief.
Since when did those two disappear?
I scanned the area frantically, but there was no sign of them.
How did they manage to slip away without me noticing?
My mind raced, trying to piece together what could have happened.
“Riley?” Rose’s voice snapped me back to reality. She looked at me with concern. “Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, just… something caught my eye,” I said, forcing a smile. “Sorry about that.”
Rose didn’t seem convinced but didn’t press the issue. “Well, let’s finish up here. I actually want to know more about you~”
“S-sure….”
‘Did those two use Mist Walk?’
But aren’t they out in public right now?
I knew those twins were a bit too relaxed with their surroundings, but using an illegal technique like that out in the open could potentially put their lives in danger, right?
Even in the game, those two barely used it, even during missions.
Although there were no master knights here to notice them, can’t they be at least a tad bit more cautious of their surroundings?
‘Did they even pay the bill?’
Tsk… now my whole reasoning for coming here has come to nothing.
If I recall correctly, the moment they left this place, the best place to find them next was at the public play at the city square tonight, just two hours before midnight.
So, I still have one more chance to recruit them for my plans tonight.
But even then, my chances of fully getting them on my side are quite iffy now, as those two would surely suspect me of tailing them, and they don’t take too kindly to people who follow them around.
“Riley.”
Her voice pulled me back to reality once more. I turned to Rose, noticing the serious expression on her face, which instantly made me nervous.
“Are you single?”
“Huh???”
I nearly spat out the matcha tea I was sipping due to her outrageously direct question.
“Excuse me?” I asked, trying to ensure I had heard her correctly.
Rose smiled, seemingly amused by my reaction, and continued.
“Like, do you have somebody of interest right now? You know, someone you like or love, for that matter?”
“I don’t think this is something you should be curious about, no?”
“Why? I’m free to be curious, right?”
“I don’t think asking someone something like that directly will give you answers, milady.”
“Oh my, but you aren’t just anyone, right? And besides, you can just say yes or no, can’t you? There’s no harm to it. Is there any particular reason you can’t tell me perhaps?”
Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she leaned in, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
I sighed inwardly, realizing there was no easy way out of this. Rose wasn’t one to back down when she had set her mind on something.
“I have none…”
How I wish I could say that as openly as I could, but with all the complications in my life right now, that is something I can’t really say as that would be a big lie.
Especially considering the dangers I put myself in and the world could be sent into the fiery pits of hell, if I ever say those words openly without minding the consequences such words could bring.
Keeping my breathing steady, I looked at her with a more serious tone as I said my words as calmly and genuinely as I possibly could.
“Yes… I have someone that I like.”
“…”
The moment I said the words, silence descended. Rose looked at me slightly perplexed but in a calm way.
She sipped a bit of her matcha latte before nodding slightly.
“I see… I had a feeling someone of your stature would surely have at least one person he considers important” she said with a mixture of curiosity and a slight sense of satisfaction.
“May I know who it is?”
“My fiancée.”
“Fiancée?” This time she was truly surprised as her eyes widened. “You were betrothed?”
“Yes…”
The word hung between us; a new layer of complexity added to our conversation. Rose’s curiosity was palpable, and her usually playful demeanor took on a more serious tone.
“Who is she?” Rose asked, leaning forward, clearly intrigued.
“Her name is Liyana” I replied, choosing my words carefully. “She’s… well, she’s important to me. Our families arranged it, but it’s more than just an arrangement.”
Rose nodded slowly, absorbing this new information. “I see. An arranged engagement, but one with genuine feelings. That’s quite rare.”
I shrugged slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable under her intense scrutiny. “It is what it is.”
She smiled again, but there was a hint of something deeper in her eyes. “Well, I hope she knows how lucky she is.”
“I hope so too…”
‘Like seriously I really hope so!’
So that my fated end wouldn’t happen.
The conversation shifted to lighter topics after that, but the weight of our previous exchange lingered.
I couldn’t help but wonder what Rose thought of all this.
Her curiosity was understandable, but her reaction was more complex than I had anticipated.
“So, you have a fiancée, hmm~” she murmured, almost to herself, though it was clear she wasn’t entirely indifferent.
From time to time, she continued to mumble her thoughts, even though she acted like she didn’t care.
As more time passed, Rose continued to talk about random things that piqued her interest, asking me a lot of questions as if she were genuinely curious about what makes me who I am.
Her inquiries ranged from the mundane—like what foods I enjoyed and what clothes I preferred—to more personal details about my daily routine.
It felt like I was being interrogated, and honestly, answering all her questions was becoming quite a bother.
After about 30 more minutes of this back-and-forth, our conversation ultimately boiled down to a series of yes or no questions.
“Do you prefer tea or coffee?”
“Tea.”
“Do you like to read?”
“Yes.”
“Are you a morning person?”
“Sometimes?”
“Do you enjoy sports?”
“Not particularly.”
“How about physical activities?”
“Yes, I tend to train every morning”
“Do you think you’ll be a good husband?”
I paused at this one, unsure of how to respond. “P-probably?”
Rose seemed to be studying my reactions, her golden eyes flickering with amusement and curiosity. I couldn’t tell if she was genuinely interested or just playing a game.
Pondering for a while before her next question, Rose stopped. Noticing that she had finished her matcha latte, she relaxed a little before directly meeting my gaze.
“You know, Riley, there’s been something I’ve been really curious about… You can probably guess that throughout my whole life, I’ve always been hailed as a genius, right?”
“Yes…” I replied, recalling how even in the game, her backstory and subtle interactions with certain NPCs always reinforced that fact.
“The golden child! The genius of the century, the future Archon, and the seeker of the impossible. I’ve been called many names and labeled with such absurd titles—all these notions tied to my reality.”
She paused for a moment, then took a handkerchief from her pocket and gently leaned in closer to me.
I was surprised but didn’t stop her, sensing the gravity of her words.
Wiping off a part of my cheek with the smooth, flowery-scented handkerchief, she continued, “They say I can do everything and that I know everything. When it comes to magic, no one could top me, or so they say… But I don’t think that’s really the case. You know, Riley, there’s still one form of magic I have yet to discover and truly understand.”
Her words hung in the air, filled with a sense of vulnerability I hadn’t seen from her before. “What kind of magic?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Love…” she said simply, her golden eyes searching mine.
“I’ve mastered elemental magic, illusion spells, and even the most complex arcane rituals and even the mystical celestial magic itself. But when it comes to matters of the heart, I’m utterly clueless. It’s something that no book or scroll can teach.”
“Well, love is a fairly complicated matter,” I replied, feeling a bit out of my depth.
“That’s true… But since you have a fiancé and you say that you love her, you must be an expert at it now, right?” she said with a teasing glint in her eye.
“No, I’m fairly a new—” I began to say, but Rose leaned in closer, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered.
“Riley, why don’t you teach me about love~?”
After all this talk….
‘How the heck did you come to that conclusion?’
