The casual café exploration ended in confusion.
Finally freed from desert captivity, Leon, looking utterly exhausted, offered an apology.
“Bianca, I'm sorry.”
“Huh? It's alright.”
“I should’ve checked things out better.”
anwhile, Ricardo, the source of all this trouble, wore a relaxed expression.
As if that wasn't enough….
“I don’t need any thanks.”
He even went as far as saying that!
“Of course, if you're insisting, I have no reason to refuse.”
“……Hah.”
Leon completely gave up on speaking with Ricardo, realizing too late that rational conversation was impossible.
Even Leon, who had never lost to Cedric, gave in.
“You said you had sowhere to go?”
That had actually been an excuse.
Though I felt a bit guilty, I did intend to visit the Magic Tower if I had ti, so it wasn’t a complete lie.
“Isn't excluding others from a conversation considered rude?”
“Haah…….”
Leon shut his eyes as if thoroughly exasperated.
“N-now, let's just head back.”
“Alright. I’ll write to you.”
When Leon continued, I hurriedly interjected.
“I’ll write first.”
Because there were things I hadn't managed to say today.
Leon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I'll look forward to it.”
After seeing Leon off, I imdiately began walking.
But soon after, I let out a deep sigh and turned around.
Ricardo, whose eyes t mine, lightly shrugged.
“……Didn't you say you wouldn't stoop to sothing as vulgar as stalking this ti?”
“I have absolutely no intention of doing such a thing.”
“Then how should I interpret the current situation?”
“Consider it a gentleman’s courtesy in escorting a lady on her dangerous walk ho.”
This man, seriously….
“A gentleman wouldn’t rudely intrude upon a lady's prior engagents.”
“I’ve never learned manners, so I wasn't aware it was rude.”
His tone made it clear he didn't care how ridiculous his excuse sounded.
I glanced at the envelope he held in his hand.
‘He must have picked that up when he briefly left the café earlier….’
While I silently observed him, Ricardo approached .
After fiddling with the envelope for a mont, he asked cautiously.
“……What exactly is your relationship with that man?”
“I already told you, he's like family.”
“Family, huh.”
Ricardo quietly repeated my words.
“I hope you won't do this again in the future. Today, I had sothing important I really needed to discuss with my brother….”
“I refuse.”
He interrupted abruptly with a firm answer.
“Why are you answering like that?”
“Because I don't like it.”
There wasn't even the slightest hesitation this ti either.
Maintaining his indifferent expression, he continued calmly.
“If you're thinking about abandoning , just forget it.”
“…….”
“It would be quicker for you to end my life instead.”
What on earth was he talking about?
Was it because I ntioned having sowhere to return to?
“As if I'd ever do sothing like that.”
I sighed deeply and shook my head side to side.
Would there ever co a day when I could speak honestly with Ricardo?
“I wouldn’t mind if it were you.”
“That's enough.”
Did he really have to take a joke this seriously?
Yet, his face held no hint of teasing as he looked at .
Seeing my hesitation, Ricardo shifted the conversation.
“Where did you say you were headed?”
“Ah, actually I was thinking of stopping by the Magic Tower briefly.”
“Oh, you've developed quite an interest in magic, it seems.”
“Absolutely not!”
I responded irritably, then stared directly into Ricardo’s face.
Now that I thought about it, he was also fairly close with Idette.
“By chance, about Lady Idette……”
Without thinking, I started speaking and then froze.
Oh, damn it.
This was also a sensitive topic.
It was already too late to retract my words.
Ricardo’s expression had hardened instantly.
“……I know nothing about that woman. We weren't close in the past, nor will we be in the future.”
Only an awkward silence lingered.
My mind kept insisting it wasn't a big deal, yet sohow I couldn't bring myself to speak.
I’d never heard Ricardo’s circumstances from him directly, but I understood regardless.
‘……Wouldn't that be enough?’
Why did I feel this way now that I'd finally co to understand Ricardo as I'd hoped?
Yet, part of kept questioning it.
Was this really right?
“I-It’s nothing important. I was just curious about Idette.”
“I didn’t an to bla you. It's just... that ntioning that woman isn't pleasant for .”
…Was he being considerate toward ?
But did Ricardo realize?
That those eyes, filled with remorse over past events, made feel even more suffocated.
It wasn’t pleasant being constantly interrupted, unable even to comfortably hold a conversation.
I knew Ricardo had wronged . And that when he’d co seeking forgiveness, I had turned him away.
We were both still stuck in that terrible day when everything had fallen apart.
But I couldn’t figure out where we were supposed to start fixing things. I clenched and unclenched my fists repeatedly before carefully opening my mouth.
“Idette and I have beco good friends. It’s not an uncomfortable subject.”
Ricardo stared at as though unable to comprehend what I'd just said.
“That doesn’t erase my wrongdoing.”
“…Are you saying you’ll always act cautious around ?”
“If that’s what you wish, yes.”
Did he genuinely think that's what I wanted?
“Isn't that just your way of making things easier for yourself?”
“Easier for myself?”
Ricardo echoed my words and ran a hand over his face.
“I simply thought actions were better than empty apologies.”
He changed the subject, clearly unwilling to talk further about Idette.
“More than that, I—”
For so reason, Ricardo’s voice seed distant.
Maybe this was for the best.
We wouldn't waste emotions fighting anymore.
It was certainly better than back then, wasn’t it?
…No, was it really better?
‘No. I wanted to hear Ricardo’s story.’
Not the character that existed only in print, but the real, breathing person beside —I wanted his story.
At last, I'd found my answer.
We couldn't keep glossing things over this way.
When I remained silent, fear washed over his face.
“……”
His pale, trembling hand extended an envelope toward .
“It's chocolate. Your favorite.”
When I didn't move to accept it, Ricardo forcibly placed the gift into my hands.
“And also, for your sake…”
Ricardo’s words trailed off. His face looked as though he might cry at any mont.
“Bianca, I don’t know what to do when you make that face.”
His now-chilled hand clumsily grasped mine.
“…You know it too, don’t you? That we can’t continue like this.”
Ricardo hesitated at my words.
“Then let be honest first. I have sowhere I must return.”
I clenched my fists tightly.
“That's why, already overwheld by my own troubles, I didn't want to listen to you.”
I knew these weren’t words he wanted to hear—words that perhaps didn't need to be spoken.
But if I wasn't honest first, Ricardo wouldn't co closer either.
“It was already difficult enough, but it's true I was tornted by seeing you close with Idette. That’s why I wanted to break our engagent.”
Ricardo stared at as if he’d forgotten how to breathe. Yet I didn't stop speaking.
“It must have been the sa for you. Being forcibly engaged to the girl who tornted you in childhood—how horrible must that have been?”
“I've never thought like that…”
“You said you'd never lie. Even if you had your reasons—”
At that mont, Ricardo’s expression twisted as though hearing sothing terrible.
“Whatever reasons I had, those were just my circumstances. You looked as though you might crumble at any mont, so how could I shalessly make excuses?”
“Listen to until the end! It's true I resented you, but I'm fine now!”
“…!”
“I don’t want excuses. I just want to move past what happened!”
My lips trembled.
“If you’re going to act like nothing happened, then just treat casually from now on…!”
I clenched my teeth, stepping toward him.
“Is constantly worrying about my feelings, unable even to speak honestly—is that really what you wanted?”
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