Chapter 98
After that, Vincent kept making Kirine run errands at every opportunity.
Though he called it running errands, in reality, they did nothing but walk around together. If he had at least given her actual work to do, it would have been better, but he kept calling for her over trivial matters, frustrating her so much that she finally spoke up.
But Vincent ignored her complaints and took her wherever he pleased.
As a result, Kirine had to endure Ares’s glares.
“Do you really have to go this far?”
Even for the New Year’s Festival, the High Priest typically didn’t involve himself in anything beyond offering prayers.
Knowing this, she had thought Vincent would call on her sparingly even with the Imperial order.
It didn’t take long to realize that was a mistake.
“Didn’t we already agree to this?”
But Vincent showed displeasure instead.
Unfairly enough, Vincent wasn’t wrong. They had already explicitly agreed to this arrangement.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being deceived.
“Even if we agreed, you’re going too far.”
Though it seemed quite strange for a magician to be involved in a New Year’s Festival led by the High Priest, since Vincent and Kirine’s close relationship was so well-known, no one questioned it.
At first, this had been convenient, but now she almost wished people would look at it suspiciously.
“I didn’t expect you to change your mind so quickly.”
“If I had known you would act like this, I wouldn’t have agreed in the first place.”
She even regretted not refusing until the end.
Reading her thoughts, Vincent smiled bitterly.
“Is it really that hard to stay with me until the New Year’s Festival ends?”
It sounded as if he was asking if she couldn’t even endure that much. But his expression seemed so plaintive that she couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh.
“It’s not hard.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
“Because you keep clinging to me in front of Ares.”
“Is that much not allowed between friends?”
“Are you really in a position to say that when you don’t see me as just a friend?”
His brazen words didn’t even merit a cynical laugh from Kirine.
Fortunately, seeming to have been hit where it hurt, Vincent fell silent and just stared at her. Meeting his gaze, Kirine delivered what amounted to a warning.
“Let’s maintain boundaries, Vincent Holly.”
“…”
“I don’t want to upset Ares any further.”
She was being this patient only out of consideration for their past relationship. Seeming to sense what she would say next, Vincent nodded lightly.
“You’re right, I went too far. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Getting a strong feeling that she would truly turn away from him if he ignored her this time, Vincent took a step back.
Only then did Kirine’s expression soften.
But even that didn’t last long.
***
“Here, eat this. It’s your favorite, right?”
“…”
As if he had forgotten her warning from the morning, Vincent placed a salad in front of Kirine with a kindly smile. The salad topped with plenty of figs was one of Kirine’s favorite foods.
But she couldn’t even smile, let alone thank him.
Because right in front of her, Ares was glaring fiercely.
“Thanks, but I’ll get my own food.”
Kirine pushed away the fig salad Vincent had given her while watching Ares’s reaction.
Though Ares’s expression softened slightly, it remained hostile.
‘How did it end up like this?’
When it was nearly lunchtime, Vincent had suggested eating outside the palace for the first time in a while.
Since she had been feeling cooped up staying in the palace all day, Kirine had nodded in agreement. But before they could even leave the palace, they ran into Ares.
It would have been better if he had just passed by, but unexpectedly, Ares inserted himself, saying he would join them if they were going to eat. At that moment, Kirine unconsciously looked up at Vincent. Though she expected Vincent to refuse, he surprisingly agreed readily, and they all ended up going to eat together.
‘Is this really an atmosphere for eating?’
Though there was appetizing grilled salmon placed in front of her, Kirine picked at her food while glancing between Ares and Vincent.
Unlike Ares, who was so on edge that one wrong word might lead to disaster, Vincent was smiling mindlessly as if enjoying himself.
“Remember how we used to come here often? It’s still delicious.”
“Yeah, it is…”
Vincent spoke up amid the heavy silence. Though it seemed intended to lighten the mood, Kirine responded halfheartedly while stabbing her salmon with her fork.
But instead of putting it in her mouth, she kept watching Ares’s reactions.
Though they had come to eat together, Ares just kept cutting his steak into smaller pieces with no apparent intention of eating.
‘How are we supposed to eat in this atmosphere?’
The air felt so heavy and stifling that even a single bite might make her sick.
“You’re not eating much. Have you lost your appetite?”
As if noting the same thing she had, Vincent spoke to Ares with apparent concern.
At that moment, Ares’s elegant knife work paused.
“The same could be said about you.”
“I naturally eat small portions.”
“For someone who said this place was delicious, you’re not eating much.”
“I’m not unable to eat; I’m just already somewhat full.”
Though their tones were certainly polite and courteous, it was hard to shake the feeling they were arguing.
Quietly watching the two of them, Kirine finally sighed and stood up.
“I’m leaving first.”
“Kirine.”
“Ares, you come too.”
Thinking further conversation would only make things worse in this atmosphere, she tried to leave with Ares.
But before she could turn away, Vincent grabbed her wrist.
“Kirine.”
“Let go while I’m asking nicely.”
“But…!”
“Don’t make me more disappointed in you.”
“…”
Those words seemed to hit their mark precisely, as the strength gradually left Vincent’s hand.
Though his deeply bowed head looked pitiful, that feeling lasted only briefly.
“I’ll see you at the palace.”
With those final words, Kirine left the restaurant with Ares. Surprisingly, Ares followed her quietly without saying anything.
As soon as she spotted an empty alley, Kirine didn’t hesitate to enter it with Ares.
“I’m sorry.”
Unable to face Ares properly, she kept her head bowed while firmly holding his wrist.
“I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable, even though I know you hate it, using the excuse that I couldn’t help it.”
Though she knew anything she said would sound like an excuse, Kirine honestly shared her feelings.
“He’ll leave after the New Year’s Festival, so please wait until then.”
She wasn’t sure what expression he would show her. Though afraid to face him, she needed to say everything she had to say.
“I don’t want to become awkward or distant from you over something like this.”
They had only just confirmed their feelings for each other, and she didn’t want to end it over something trivial.
Hoping he would understand her sincerity, she slowly raised her head to find Ares looking down at her with an unreadable expression.
Soon he let out a laugh as if feeling defeated.
“Well, you’re giving me your explanation before I can even get angry, so I have nothing to say.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing. It doesn’t suit you.”
“…”
Having nothing else to say except apologies, Kirine remained silent while glancing at Ares.
Seeing her so obviously trying to gauge his reaction, Ares let out a short laugh.
“So you’re asking me to be patient and wait?”
“…”
Hearing it from Ares’s mouth made her realize just how brazen her request was.
But he just let out a small “ha” and roughly ran his fingers through his hair.
“This is annoying.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Your apologizing is annoying too.”
“Then I won’t.”
When she nodded obediently, Ares began letting out his pent-up feelings one by one.
“I hate him being beside you.”
“…”
“I hate how he deliberately clings to you to provoke me.”
These were all understandable feelings.
If another woman clung to Ares to provoke her, she would probably want to kill her too.
At that moment, Ares said something unexpected.
“But I hate seeing you troubled even more.”
“…”
“That’s why I’m enduring it. Understand?”
His firm voice, insisting that even if others didn’t understand, she should, made Kirine fall silent.
Though he was clearly speaking while suppressing his anger, strangely, she wanted to hear it again.
nvmix1
Aw Aree 🥀💔