Chapter 31

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 31

Chapter Title: The Exposed Confession

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“How did you manage to get all the way here? I'm pretty sure we put up a 'No Entry' sign midway.”

Now that I looked, there was a pink flower pinned to her chest, just like Bianca's. She must have been one of the party organizers.

I couldn't exactly say, 'I tailed your friend and Bianca,' so Arista brushed it off.

“I was looking for the bathroom and got lost along the way. Turns out I'm surprisingly directionally challenged.”

“Hmm, even for someone directionally challenged, to wander all the way here searching for the bathroom...”

Facing those suspicious eyes, Arista swallowed hard.

“You must be really lost.”

Huu—

Having safely talked her way out of it, Arista let out a quiet sigh of relief inside.

“Anyway, you're not supposed to come in here. Please be more careful next time.”

“Yeah, I will.”

Arista meekly followed along as the woman offered to guide her to the bathroom. On the way, she glanced back over her shoulder.

The shadowy figures that had definitely been lurking in the dark bushes far off were gone.

Arista narrowed her eyes at the scene—it almost looked like they'd bolted the moment they feared their secret might be exposed.

“Your friends were doing something over there—what was that about?”

The woman walking ahead came to a halt.

“We're planning to launch some fireworks later to celebrate the birthday too. They were probably setting those up.”

“Ah...”

“Curiosity satisfied?”

Unable to respond, Arista watched as the woman started walking again.

...Am I overthinking this?

Something still prickled uncomfortably at the nape of her neck, but Arista had no choice except to trail after her.

After sharing that dreamlike first dance with Herwin, Lucia danced once each with Lucas, Ethan, and Brian.

Four dances in, and she was starting to feel the fatigue set in.

Politely turning down those inviting her to dance, Lucia slipped away to a corner of the party.

Her friends were off dancing with new partners or chatting animatedly with others.

And Herwin was dancing with Christine way over there.

Recalling his firm promise never to dance more than three times, Lucia smiled softly to herself.

Lucia...

Her name whispered in her ear, accompanied by a faint click of the tongue.

“Lucia, over here, over here.”

Bianca was beckoning from the hall entrance. Lucia hurried over to her.

“What? Something wrong?”

“You confessing to him today?”

The question hit without warning, leaving Lucia momentarily speechless.

“Tell me quick. I need to know so I can plan accordingly.”

Bianca tapped her foot impatiently while checking her watch. Ever since they'd scoped out the mansion a week ago, Lucia hadn't given her a straight answer.

Truth be told, she hadn't planned on confessing at all before arriving here. She'd sworn as much to herself...

'Somehow, today just feels right.'

She'd been his first dance partner, heard how pretty she looked, and even caught that gentle smile of his.

Today felt like the world was spinning just for her. What if Herwin actually said yes?

“Lucia, you doing it or not? Hurry up and decide.”

Pressed once more, Lucia finally parted her lips.

“I'll do it. Confess.”

Bianca's face broke into a beaming grin. She bounced on her toes for a second before glancing around to make sure no one overheard.

“Smart choice. Knew you'd say that, so I set up a spot.”

Following Bianca's lead, Lucia arrived at that same garden from before.

“Well? What do you think?”

Bianca pointed to a white gazebo. It had looked plain last time, but now it was decked out with flowers and lights—absolutely stunning.

“...It's too beautiful.”

“Right? I poured my heart into this, so it has to work out. Promise?”

“Why go this far for me...?”

Bianca froze at Lucia's question. Turning back, she saw Lucia's nose pink with emotion, her face full of touched wonder.

“I haven't done much for you... This feels way too good for someone like me.”

Bianca paused, then let out a soft chuckle.

“No big reason. I just want you and Herwin to make it work.”

“Bianca...”

Bianca pulled the sniffling Lucia into a tight hug and patted her slender back.

“I'll pray with all my heart that it's your perfect day.”

Bianca's lips curved up in a radiant smile.

“Haa...”

Herwin heaved a heavy sigh. He'd sworn off dancing after Christine, but no one would leave him be.

So he'd run. But the cloying mix of perfumes and cosmetics still clung to him like a haze.

His head began to throb; Herwin scowled and retreated to a deserted spot.

“When the hell does this end?”

Bianca had said it'd run at least three hours, sure...

Glancing at the time, it was 9 p.m. Still about an hour left—Herwin recoiled in horror.

“...Should I just ditch?”

The rest of the night would probably go fine without him anyway. Did he really need to stick around?

As he seriously mulled escaping, the dark surroundings suddenly blazed bright.

Thinking he'd been spotted, Herwin whipped around to see a familiar face.

“What... it's you?”

“Wondered where you'd vanished to—turns out you're here.”

It was Bianca. Herwin relaxed, scanning the area.

“No business? Then beat it before someone sees.”

“Hiding from the crowd?”

Herwin gave a small nod, and Bianca burst out laughing.

“Pfft—haha! Sorry, sorry. Just so unlike your usual self.”

She wiped a tear from her eye, a smile playing on her lips.

“If you really want to dodge people, want me to show you somewhere else?”

“...Somewhere else?”

“Yeah, a spot no one can get to. Only one place we blocked off.”

Herwin rolled it over briefly, then nodded fast as footsteps drew nearer.

“Where is it?”

Lucia just couldn't settle down.

With every ticking minute and second, tension swelled alongside her heartbeat.

Her lips quivered needlessly, her palms slick with sweat. Why was she so worked up when this wasn't her first confession?

“...It's fine. It'll be okay.”

Rustle—

The sound from behind made Lucia snap her eyes open.

Whirling around in a panic, she saw him—the one she'd been waiting for.

“Huh? Lucia.”

“Herwin...”

“What, you hiding out here too?”

Herwin glanced around before heading straight to her.

Seeing the exhaustion etched on his face, Lucia hesitated for a beat, but she couldn't let a night this perfect slip away.

As Herwin undid the top button of his crisp shirt and ruffled his hair, Lucia edged closer cautiously.

“Herwin.”

“Yeah?”

His once-neat hair now tousled, a small gift box suddenly appeared right under his nose.

Herwin blinked in surprise at it, then looked at Lucia holding it out.

Her beautifully dolled-up face had flushed a deep crimson.

“This is...”

“Saw it while out in town last time—thought it'd suit you perfectly, so I b-bought it. Haven't given you a gift yet, right?”

She lifted her bowed head abruptly.

“I like you.”

Herwin, caught off guard, schooled his features into a stern mask.

“Even now, you...”

“Not a heat-of-the-moment thing!”

Spotting his usual brush-off, Lucia rushed to add more.

“I've confessed before when my feelings got the best of me, but not today.”

She trembled fiercely, yet her expression held a solemn, resolute intensity.

“From age eight until now, not a single moment have my feelings been anything but real. I like you, Herwin.”

She bowed her head again, thrusting the gift forward.

“Please... go out with me.”

Herwin found himself utterly lost for words.

His childhood friend had confessed to him again today.

But this was worlds apart from before. No playful vibe he could laugh off, no impulsive outburst.

This was her first truly earnest confession.

His heart started to pound.

The night sky draped everything in shadow, but the scattered lights illuminated Lucia's face perfectly.

Her tightly shut lashes quivered, her lips pressed thin, the hand offering the gift shaking uncontrollably.

Herwin's lips parted as he carefully reached for the gift she'd offered him.

“I...”

The moment Herwin's mouth opened, blinding light flooded in.

Herwin winced on reflex. Lucia, eyes squeezed shut, did the same.

Turning toward the source, Herwin felt his heart plummet.

“Ha, what the—? So you two are a thing?”

“No way. All that innocent act, and they're pulling this behind the scenes?”

“And it's not like it's new. She's liked him since she was eight.”

The brilliant light poured down on Herwin and Lucia.

It came straight from the hall, packed with people.

The hall connected directly to here through massive glass doors. But every window in there had been curtained off—no one should've been able to see out.

Yet now, every curtain had been yanked back as if on cue, laying the garden bare. The gazebo where Herwin and Lucia stood was in plain view.

And somehow, every single person in the hall was staring right at this garden.

“Pfft—puahaha! Childhood friend or not, know your place. Confessing to the Peneus Young Lord? Talk about mismatched.”

One person's laughter ignited the rest, spreading like wildfire. Everyone jeered at Lucia's confession to Herwin as if it were prime comedy.

Herwin knew instinctively: someone had orchestrated this.

“W-what the...”

Lucia's eyes brimmed with shock and terror as she stared at the crowd in the hall.

“Knew it ever since you wouldn't introduce the Peneus Young Lord!”

“Thought she was so prim and pure—turns out she's sly.”

“Poor Peneus Young Lord. Childhood friend and all, must be hard to shut her down outright no matter how much he hates it.”

“Who knows? Maybe she's been gunning for the Peneus family all along...”

Even from this distance, their venomous gossip and sneers rang out crystal clear.

“I... I...”

Lucia trembled violently, stumbling back. Her blue eyes dulled, plunging into despair right before his eyes.

Without thinking, Herwin reached out to her.

“Lucia, you...”

His call echoed back like a mocking refrain.

Lucia, dazed and shuddering, whipped her head around.

Her eyes met Herwin's, and her face twisted. Amid the swelling mockery and laughter that drowned everything else, she whispered so faintly it was barely audible.

Sorry...

Tears spilled from her blue eyes in fat drops, and the gift slipped from her grasp to the ground.

“Lucia!”

Someone bellowed her name at the top of their lungs. But Lucia had already fled the scene.