Chapter 416
Seeing Mar, her face flushed and her eyes darting around, brought me a sense of relief.
It turned out that being direct was indeed the way to go rather than giving a long-winded excuse. Even a quick casual tone had more impact than any kind of persuasion or apology.
‘Honestly, isn’t apologizing a bit odd anyway?’
Right, it’s not really something I need to apologize for. Just like I’m used to being formal, Mar is probably used to it too. She hasn’t voiced any complaints about our formalities until now.
Beatrix bringing it up wasn’t due to Mar’s dissatisfaction; rather, it stemmed from the question “Why am I being easygoing while treating Mar formally?” It was a peaceful situation where no one was harmed or felt wronged.
‘It should have happened sooner.’
But despite whether anyone was hurt or not, I should reflect on this. I didn’t use formal language with all my lovers; I reserved it for just one person. Good thing Mar is my first wife-to-be; if it were the last, she’d likely be crying for putting up a wall just for her.
I tried to convince myself it wasn’t something to apologize for, but guilt was slowly creeping in. With such little change in tone, she was uneasy and happy, and yet I couldn’t even manage that small act.
“I’m sorry. I should have dropped the formality before using a nickname; the order was off.”
So, in the end, I ended up apologizing. No one was a victim, but the perpetrator existed. A contradictory situation, but what a feat that was.
To top it off, the one I had apologized to started trembling silently. The vibrations were reminiscent of Penelia in her prime, as if she completely lost her mind from the sudden casual language.
“Mar.”
“Ah, yes!”
Calling her name seemed to bring back her senses, and she nodded vigorously.
Thank goodness. I was worried that after finally getting Beatrix and Penelia comfortable with physical contact, Mar might suddenly regress into being shy.
“I’ll work hard to forget anything that made you feel sad.”
“Ah, no, I wasn’t particularly sad.”
“I’m just apologizing. We’ve been way too formal with each other.”
Mar’s eyes started darting around again, as if she were recalling every moment of contact we had shared so far.
Sure, we had shared cute moments like kissing on the forehead or cheek and cuddling—it was enough to resemble a couple in love. So the “too formal” comment felt a bit off.
But relationships are built on actions and words. No matter how perfect the behavior, a messed-up conversation can’t form a normal connection.
So, I had to change that. I needed to express things verbally instead of merely thinking them.
“I’ll do better from now on. Maybe even reach the point where you’ll tell me to back off because it’s gross.”
Of course, I couldn’t imagine Mar actually pushing me away.
“Then I guess I’ll have to work hard until I die, huh?”
Mar probably had the same thought, as she giggled at my comment. I neither intended to be saying such things until the end of time; I was instead returning the request for affection, asking her to stay close by my side forever.
“Of course, you should do that for someone you love.”
At those words, Mar’s smile froze.
The immediate and intense response almost made me smirk. I had been hoarding that short and simple phrase for too long.
“I love you, Mar.”
So, I was determined to whisper those words daily, as I had missed my chances before.
Since the departure of Hecate, I hadn’t said those words to anyone else. They would now be for those who filled her void and stayed by my side.
“I’m sorry for saying it just now.”
And then, I kissed her lips.
Not playing around with her forehead or cheeks this time, I went straight for where I should be going.
—
It seemed I had delivered too much shock in such a short time.
“I-I-I waited so long for you to say that!”
Seeing Mar break down and cry in my arms made my heart race. A girl sobbing at hearing “I love you,” what a peculiar sight for couples about to get married.
“Mi—”
Just as I was about to pat Mar’s back to apologize again, she unexpectedly covered my lips with hers.
The suddenness caught me off guard, but of course, I didn’t push her away. Instead, I embraced her tighter and followed her lead.
“I-I’ve been waiting for you to do this!”
After a long while wrapped together, Mar pulled away slightly, looking at me with a mix of meaning that didn’t quite feel like reproach.
This also was unexplainable. As a partner, she had been nursing feelings of being played with, able to endure not demanding more given her status as a lady and knowledge of my past.
‘What a jerk I am.’
In a chilling moment of self-reflection, I had succeeded in being critical of myself. Normally, people are lenient towards themselves, but not today.
Because if someone could be lenient in this situation, they’d have to be a heartless psychopath.
“I’m sorry for making you wait so long.”
“Of course you are!”
Mar shrieked, her fierce energy making me flinch.
Fair point; it’d be strange if it weren’t true. I shouldn’t have asked.
“…But.”
I couldn’t bring myself to speak because of the guilt weighing heavily on me. So, Mar, finally seeming calmer, continued.
“Even so, thank you for saying it now, at last…”
With her words overflowing with kindness and affection, I leaned in and kissed her lips once more.
If I remained silent after hearing that, I’d be likened to a machine that knew nothing of love.
—
I was so happy. This feeling was far beyond what I could express with just the word ‘happy,’ but it was the closest thing I had.
I accepted Carl wholeheartedly, tears streaming down my cheeks like I couldn’t wipe them away. His affection, his gentle touches—everything enveloped me.
“I love you, Mar.”
Suddenly, Carl’s words came to mind, leaving me feeling hazy.
Yet I pushed myself to hold on, trying not to let my body slump. If I fell now, it would ruin the moment. And what if I bit my tongue by accident?
‘No way.’
I couldn’t let this perfect moment fade. I was not about to let go of this time—one I had long waited for, one I had only dreamed of.
Reassuring myself, I pulled Carl closer. It was a struggle to stay upright but also a silent protest asking him to remain with me today after all the anxious waiting.
As a lady, it was a tad embarrassing, but what could I do? This moment felt so incredibly good.
‘Ah.’
Thank heavens my plea seemed to reach Carl. He sat down on the sofa while still holding me tightly.
My heart raced. Was this a signal that he was ready to take things further? Sitting gave me more space for expressions of affection, didn’t it?
But was there anything that could follow kissing? I mean, I could think of a few things, but doing that here would—
“Uh, hey.”
Suddenly, a voice broke through my thoughts.
“Sorry to interrupt, I’m just so jealous watching you two.”
Turning my head quickly to the source of the voice, I saw Erzebet sporting a pouty face.
I hadn’t realized it—a newcomer had stepped into the President’s office while I remained oblivious.
“Um, sis?”
“Yeah.”
“When did you… arrive?”
With a question full of longing, she grinned and began to rub her hands together vigorously.
It was a bizarre action, but instinctively, I figured it out. She must have seen everything from the start… I just hadn’t noticed her.
“Mar, while it’s cute that you’re getting cozy, it’s cruel of you to keep going after you saw me come in.”
At her words, every hair on my body stood on end.
So, Carl knew she was here but didn’t stop? He just kept on going?
“What’s wrong with showing affection between family?”
With his remark, which felt like a finishing blow, I shut my eyes tightly.
Regardless of how close we were as family, being overt with affection was a different matter.
—
The once heated atmosphere cooled down, and Mar buried her face in my chest, unmoving. It was a silent protest, unwilling to look anyone in the eye.
‘The timing, really…’
I chuckled bitterly as I patted Mar’s back. I had told Erzebet I would be back today, but had I known this was how it would unfold, I might have delayed letting her know. After all, I’d created quite a memorable moment for Mar.
Without a doubt, while I could question the timing, it’s not like I blamed her for this. Griping about someone who called you over would make me sound like a troublesome boss.
‘Was it too stimulating?’
Clearly, Erzebet’s demeanor was just as bad; her face was slightly flushed as she nervously toyed with her lips, making her thoughts quite evident.
‘It makes sense.’
Sadly, Erzebet’s experience of life was on par with those who had never known love. Not to mention her actions were deranged, but when it came to dating, she was as pure and innocent as her hair color suggested.
It sounds unbelievable, but it was true. Originally, she was someone satisfied with simply coaxing her to sit on her lap and pet her head.
‘Looking at it this way, she indeed seems shy.’
If only her mental world regarding dating had some semblance of purity—
“Uh, Mr. Manager?”
“Yeah?”
After fidgeting with her lips for a while, Erzebet carefully opened her mouth.
“When’s my turn?”
At that question, my hand that had been patting Mar froze. I felt Mar shift slightly in my arms.
Though it was an out-of-context inquiry, the meaning behind it was clear. Erzebet wanted to know when it would be her turn for affection, given how intimate we were getting.
‘Do I have to follow a schedule for this?’
With the newfound closeness, she was questioning when she would get a chance herself.
“Could you at least do it before the end of the day?”
Seeing Erzebet’s laugh, a different kind of guilt washed over me.
Though Mar and Erzebet were both here, the fifth, Erzebet, was willing to wait for the three of us to have our turn.
‘Damn it.’
All my fault…
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