DSFL | Chapter 104

~Chapter 104~ 

“I’ve been thinking a lot about how to explain what happened last time.”

Ricardo, who had been lost in thoughts about Bianca, finally pulled his mind together.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re blaming me for visiting my own shop.”

“You didn’t come just for that, did you?”

Leon grinned coldly, showing his teeth. But Ricardo didn’t understand his reaction.

He had gone to the shop to pick up some desserts as a gift for Bianca. But as if by magic, she was sitting there. He had approached her just to check if he was dreaming.

Turned out it wasn’t an illusion. So, he sat down to spend some enjoyable time with her.

How could he have known that Leonhard would sit right across from them?

Leon was the unwanted guest, not him.

Anyone would agree with that—even a passing dog would wag its tail and agree. But Leon acted like he didn’t know the basics of decency.

Really, Ricardo was the one who had the right to be angry. 

Who wasted Bianca’s precious time?

“Let’s stop making excuses. The one who made things difficult with weird rules is you, and now you’re being shameless.”

Ricardo had only done that to protect Bianca’s time. What could a man like Leon do with her at an art museum? Someone who didn’t understand manners and only knew how to shove meat into his mouth?

Ricardo, who had studied every exhibit in the museum, would be a much better companion. Clearly.

Having reached a solid conclusion, Ricardo now felt certain he was in the right.

“As I said, Bianca and I were having a special time together that day. You’re the one who ruined it.”

“Special time?”

“Yes. I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

“Are you two engaged?”

Leon already knew through others that there was nothing official between them, but he still wanted to be sure.

Ricardo’s words had finally unsettled Leon.

“Not yet…”

Ricardo perked up after hearing that. He smiled.

“Not yet? I wonder if Bianca agrees. Women don’t usually like men who rush ahead.”

He had no proof, but assumed it to be true.

“Are you in any position to say such things?”

After a moment of hesitation, Leon smirked and replied.

“It’s better to be someone starting over than someone clinging to a finished relationship. Women find that creepy.”

His smirk spread wider.

“Who said it was over?”

“I wasn’t going to bring this up, but have you really not noticed why Bianca’s been smiling more lately?”

Ricardo didn’t know. She had smiled beautifully when she was with him too—so lovely it was like she was trying to hypnotize him.

“So, you’re saying that’s thanks to you?”

“Oh, I didn’t say that. But it sounds like that’s what you think.”

Leon smiled, and Ricardo, realizing his mistake, quickly looked away.

“She told me you were like family.”

“Well, now that we’re lovers, I’m hoping we’ll become a different kind of family.”

Was this guy a dreamer or something?

He didn’t know what Bianca looked like on her engagement day. He had no idea. Ricardo had thought about it at least a hundred times and never got tired of how beautiful she looked.

“What a creepy imagination you have.”

“I like her.”

“…There’s no way Bianca would choose someone like you.”

Even though Leon usually had a rough personality, at least today he was dressed neatly. That was a miracle.

Bianca, you don’t know this man at all. 

She knew Ricardo’s worst sides, but Leon had only shown her his best face. So, Ricardo felt he was closer to her.

And besides… my standards are high.

She liked me, so someone like Leon wouldn’t be good enough.

But… why didn’t it feel satisfying?

The woman in his imagination, always beside him, was now fading away.

“Maybe I should just be honest first. I have a place to go back to.”

Ricardo already knew. He had sensed for a while that Bianca had grown tired of this place.

…Then why hadn’t she said that to Leon?

Was it because she didn’t need to?

Or… did he hear it before Ricardo did?

Leonhard didn’t look like a man expecting to be left behind. He looked the opposite. His eyes were filled with confidence, like someone imagining a bright future.

So she’s going to leave with him?

To a place Ricardo would never see again…

In his mind, Bianca had always been beside him. But now, that image was disappearing. And as her shadow faded, only Leon remained.

The expression Ricardo had been barely keeping together started to crack.

So that’s why she said it was okay.

Because she didn’t plan on seeing him again.

Everything was falling apart, but he kept telling himself he could start again.

He had never once imagined it would end.

But Bianca had already felt the end coming.

That realization started to choke Ricardo once more.

***

Why do I feel so cold all of a sudden?

I rubbed my arms as goosebumps ran down them.

“It’s chilly, isn’t it?”

Noticing my reaction, Onyx offered me his robe.

The cold wasn’t the real reason, but it was hard to explain. After thinking for a moment, I accepted the robe, and Onyx gave me a kind smile.

“If you catch a cold, you won’t be able to face the Marquis properly.”

“Haha, thank you.”

While putting on the robe, I listened in on Onyx and Yulian’s conversation.

“Do you think there’s really going to be a war?”

“Yulian.”

“I mean it! Things are getting really tense around here…”

Yulian closed her eyes tightly.

“Sometimes I wonder if I should just go back to my hometown. And this strange research we’re doing—”

She looked at me and quickly smiled awkwardly.

“Forget I said anything.”

“Now I’m even more curious.”

I stepped closer to her with shining eyes, and Onyx quietly watched me.

“Hmm, Miss Roigin. I don’t usually say things like this, but… have you ever thought about joining Cardiff?”

“…So I have to be a member to get answers, huh?”

“You’re sharp. That’s why I think you’d fit in perfectly with us.”

I’ll think about it.

While we continued talking, we eventually reached the World Tree. It looked even thicker and more magnificent than the last time I saw it.

“…I can see why His Grace was worried.”

Yulian sighed and sat across from the tree, then started sketching it on her canvas.

“Onyx, I need you to check something.”

Soon, he walked away. He seemed to gesture for me to follow, but I pretended not to notice and slipped away.

I headed straight to where Ailins was sleeping.

“….”

She looked exactly the same as the first day we met.

“Hello.”

As I greeted her, Ailins slowly opened her eyes.