The Villainess in the Romance Fantasy Is Strange - Chapter 74



74. A Journey for Two (3)

Exactly an hour and a half later, the meal was over.

“… … Phew, I ate well.”

Leah let out a cute sigh after eating all the regular dishes. Her expression was full of satisfaction and happiness. That must be how much she enjoyed her lunch time. The smile on her lips was so bright that I, watching her, felt proud for no reason.

“How was your meal?”

I knew it all, but I asked again on purpose. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, Leah raised her right thumb, looked me in the eye, and said.

“Yeah, really. It was the best lunch of my life.”

She is originally a very reactive person, but she is secretly a picky eater, so it is quite rare for her to give such praise. Judging from the fact that she gave such high praise, it seems that she really liked the formal dinner course at [St. Sherbet] restaurant.

This, next time I come to this area I’ll definitely have to make a reservation. As Leah said, it’s a popular restaurant and the food is mouth-watering, so it’s hard to say. But it’ll be possible with my brother’s help.

“Then, would you like to come with me again next time?”

“Huh… … Really? Are you going to bring me here next time too?”

“Yes, if Leah wishes.”

“Ugh, I want it! I really want it! I definitely want to come back here!”

Of course, transactions between nobles are in the form of give and take. That is no exception even between blood brothers, so in exchange for making a reservation at this restaurant, I should do one favor for my brother. If I can see Leah’s sincere smile to that extent, it will be cheap.

I really thought so, but apart from that, I suddenly felt playful. Looking at Leah’s blissful smile, I felt like asking her a mischievous question.

“Yes, but if you want to come back to this restaurant, you’ll have to take another trip with me. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, that’s okay. I’m always welcome to this kind of trip. Even if I have a schedule, I’ll definitely take it out.”

“… … Oh, is that so?”

I was even more flustered because of the unexpected immediate answer. I thought she would be shy or hesitate for a while before answering. As Venus said, satisfying women’s appetites is the number one priority.

I hid my embarrassment, paid the waiter the amount including the tip, and left the restaurant. Leah said she would pay since I had made the reservation for such a nice restaurant, but I stubbornly refused.

“This trip was actually for me, so I can really pay for it… … .”

“No, it’s okay.”

I’m not paying for another woman, I’m paying for Leah, so this little bit of money is nothing.

I have nothing to say even if you call it patriarchal thinking, but I am the type of person who thinks that men should be the ones to do this.

And in fact, if he had been calculating the cost, he wouldn’t have bought a necklace worth tens of millions of won when proposing. Incidentally, that necklace is still hanging around Leah’s neck.

“Ah, I’m full. Cain, where are we going now?”

Leah came up next to me and naturally linked arms with me. I tried to ignore the feeling on my right forearm and slowly walked away.

“You’re full, so would you like to go for a walk?”

“A walk? A walk would be nice, where are you going?”

“There is a beautiful beach nearby.”

“Oh, really? Then let’s go quickly. I’m curious.”

I walked along the road with Leah, thinking about the route I had planned in advance. Our destination, the beach, was about 15 minutes away from here, and I heard that the sandy beach was so beautiful. It was said to be the perfect date course for couples.

“… … .”

Because we are lovers.

Two and a half years ago, I confessed my feelings to Leah, however awkwardly. Leah half-accepted it. Is it okay to say that we are lovers now?

Due to family circumstances, I skipped the confession and proposed first, so I think it would be more correct to say that we are engaged rather than lovers. In fact, it’s hard to say for sure. That’s because I haven’t formally confessed to Leah since the proposal I made two years ago fell through.

“The weather is a little cloudy, is it going to rain?”

“Yes, that could be possible.”

So, in order to reestablish our relationship, even now, I feel like I should give you this gift and tell you my true feelings. The problem is, I don’t know how to give it to you in a lukewarm atmosphere.

It’s been almost 10 years since I spent time with Leah, but I’m still awkward when it comes to dealing with women. I don’t know why. Is it because of my past life, or is it because I was born this way?

“Then, wouldn’t it be better to go in and eat dinner? It might rain, so it’d be better to go out and do nothing.”

“… … They say the night view from the top floor of the villa we’re staying at is so beautiful.”

“Uh, huh?”

“Wouldn’t it be lovely to enjoy a glass of champagne while looking out at the rainy scenery?”

Well, it would be nice if there was a clear answer to this, like a math problem. There can’t be a right answer to how people treat each other.

That’s why the saying that dating is difficult has been consistently heard throughout the East and the West, past and present. That’s why books written on conversation skills between the opposite s*x sell like hotcakes.

If I had known this would happen, I should have looked up some books on love when I was living in Korea. I vaguely regret it, but I have already become a resident of this continent. I will probably never be able to return to 21st century Korea.

“Yeah, that’s right. The atmosphere is good, yeah, it would be nice if we could be together like that… … .”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“… … Ka, Cain? That beach you were talking about, right? That’s it, right?”

While I was walking along, agreeing with Leah’s words but also thinking seriously in my head, she pointed to the sandy beach in the distance with her index finger.

Because it was winter, the sun set very quickly, and the sand grains that received the sunset light were dyed a beautiful vermilion color. Leah and I walked closer, arm in arm, and stopped right in front of the sandy beach.

“The sand is really fine, isn’t it?”

“If I just step on it, it feels like sand will go all over the inside of my shoes.”

“I didn’t bring a change of shoes… … What should I do?”

“Well, I guess there’s nothing we can do.”

I uncrossed my arms, put one knee on the ground, and turned my back to Leah.

“I’ll carry you.”

“… … Huh? Huh, you’re carrying me? Me?”

“It would be better if only one person steps on the sand.”

“Oh, but still. I think it would be really bad if I carried you, so wouldn’t it be better to just not go for a walk… … ?”

“Wouldn’t it be a shame to come all the way to the south and not see the beach?”

“No, huh? Uh, umm… … .”

“If you don’t get up quickly, my knees will get dirty.”

“… … Ah, okay. Then.”

It must have been effective because I urged her without urging her, because Leah hesitantly but obediently rode on my back.

“If you walk, you may feel some shaking and your hand may touch, but I hope you understand that this is absolutely not intentional.”

“Uh, yeah. Thank you… … .”

He picked up Leah, who had answered in a hesitant manner, and carried her out onto the sandy beach.

Sararak, the feeling of fine sand particles crunching under my shoes. It’s been almost two years since I’ve been to the beach, so it feels strangely unfamiliar yet familiar, and it’s quite new.

“… …Wow, it’s pretty.”

Then, all of a sudden, Leah muttered something to herself mixed with admiration. I followed Leah’s gaze, resting her chin on my shoulder, and looked at the same place.

“It’s really pretty, wow. Wow… … .”

Wow, wow-. Leah swayed in amazement.

Thanks to that, my back and her chest were pressed against each other, and our cheeks were pressed against each other, bringing our bodies much closer together.

“… … .”

They say that when the body grows distant, the heart grows distant too.

So, when our bodies get closer, does that mean our hearts get closer too?

Suddenly, a strange question occurred to me, and I stopped walking for a moment. But Leah must have taken that as a signal, and she let out a ‘Tch!’ and got off my back.

“Is it okay to stand for a little while?”

“Oh, yes. As long as you don’t move from there, it’ll be fine.”

“… Wouldn’t it be okay to move a little?”

The moment I was about to reply, “If you move, all the effort I put into carrying you will be for nothing… … .”

Wow.

… … At the same time that I felt an unfamiliar sensation, her arm came up behind my waist and touched me. Leah suddenly clung to me and hugged me.

I was taken aback by the unexpected behavior, so I first calmly observed Leah’s expression.

He buried his face in my chest, and because of the height difference, I can’t see him very well from this position.

Leah’s cheeks seemed to be slightly flushed.

“… … Hmm.”

While I was observing Leah’s expression, I coughed in vain and lowered my arm. Then I gently put my arm around her waist and hugged her gently without any strength left.

… … Pat pat.

Based on the advice I once heard from Venus, ‘When you hug a woman, gently stroke her back,’ I spread my palm wide and gently stroked Leah’s back. Perhaps because the sensation was unfamiliar, she made a cat-like sound, ‘… … uh-huh.’ and rubbed her cheek against my chest.

But, to my eyes, it looked like a cute cat showing off its charm. It looked like it was leisurely enjoying itself on my chest. Suddenly, my heart started pounding.

“… … .”

It didn’t feel this exciting when I was carrying her on my back. The distance between Leah and me probably didn’t change much.

My posture changed from facing each other from behind to facing each other head-on, but my heart keeps showing off its presence.

… … My heart never raced this hard during any intense training. But it was amazing that my heart raced like this just from carrying a woman on my back and walking a few steps.

That’s why people have been saying since ancient times, “Love is great.”

I think I finally understand what that old saying means.

I felt the happiness rising in my chest with my whole body, and as I gently stroked the back of Leah’s hair… … I suddenly realized.

‘… … Now is the time.’

“Hey, Leah.”

“Yeah, why?”

Leah, who had been resting her cheek on my chest, raised her head slightly. I met her gaze and slowly opened my mouth.

“… … I have something to give you.”