101st Confession - Side Story Episode 4 - Girl's First Love (4)

Side Story Episode 4: Girl’s First Love (4)

“More precisely, take responsibility for me.”

“Re-re-responsibility?”

Arista twisted her lips as she watched Lucas, who seemed startled and fumbled for words.

“Are you saying that you’ll devour me and then shut your mouth?”

“N-no, no, there’s no way that would happen!”

Blushing and flustered, Lucas, looking quite adorable, made Arista want to tease him even more.

“Brother, I’ve never met a man before in my life.”

Lucas paused at Arista’s words.

“Let alone kissing, I haven’t even held hands or hugged anyone before.”

“……….”

Whether Lucas understood what Arista was saying or not, a sinister glint appeared on his flushed face.

“So, everything I did with you that night, Brother, was a first for me. Holding hands, hugging, kissing, and…”

She didn’t need to finish her sentence for him to understand.

Lucas swallowed hard and nodded with a reddened face.

“And unlike Brother, I remember everything that happened that day.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Brother thinks he attacked me first, but… well…”

Half true and half false? Anyway, he succumbed to her provocation.

However, looking at the confused Lucas, now trapped in turmoil, Arista felt that there was no need to mention this story.

“Anyway, Brother, let’s not dwell on the past, okay?”

Lucas, licking his lips, hesitated before speaking.

“……………Are you really okay with that?”

“With what?”

“I’m the shameless guy who pretended not to know about our night. Can you accept that I take responsibility?”

She thought he would find an excuse to escape, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. The resolution in his eyes was dazzling, unlike hers.

“……………If I hated it, I would have attacked you the moment I opened my eyes that day.”

It would have been better to ask him if he could tolerate her stubbornness, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

If she heard that he didn’t see her as a romantic interest as she expected, it would be miserable.

‘Even if it’s like this, I want to be close to Brother…’

It seems like Lucas may never know about her wretched feelings. 

Arista forced a somewhat bitter smile. 

In Lucas’ eyes, her expression appeared as if being led to a slaughterhouse. 

Honestly, Lucas couldn’t exactly understand why she made such a statement. He had briefly considered whether they might share the same feelings, but that thought was cut off before concluding.

It was ‘her.’ Arista. The sole lady of the House Lydia, currently the most famous lady in the Empire. 

People seeking her attention or favor were as numerous as trampled underfoot. Among them were undoubtedly excellent young nobles who possessed both literary and military skills, but why would someone like her choose to be involved with him?

This might be an opportunity.

Arista was the one who proposed it first. What he had long desired was right in front of him, and he wasn’t foolish enough to let it slip away. Even if she later married someone else, for now, he could stand by Arista’s side.

After a long silence, Lucas finally lifted his head. 

“Alright. I’ll take responsibility.”

Arista squeezed her hand so hard that her fingernail marks were left behind. The fact that she could connect with him in this way brought her immense joy.

“But there’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s agree that you can stop anytime if you change your mind.”

The moment her heart sank. However, Arista realized that the conditions were a bit strange and smirked.

“It’s about me changing my mind, right?”

“Yeah. In case another man catches your eye later, or if I happen to become unlikeable…”

Lucas stopped talking and tightly sealed his lips.

The words he uttered turned into arrows and pierced his chest.

“By then, there won’t be a need for me to be tied to you anymore.”

Why would he say something like that?

Arista couldn’t understand Lucas’ intentions. She had liked him for a whopping seven years. She never wavered or disliked him during that time.

It’s the continuation of her first love, and she can’t foolishly let this opportunity slip away.

Although Arista didn’t know Lucas’ intentions behind his words, her mood soured at his statement, and she wrinkled her face.

“There’s no chance of that happening, so don’t entertain such futile thoughts.”

“…Alright. I’m sorry.”

“Is it not because you were pressured into accepting my proposal?”

This time, Lucas, with a bitter expression, fixed his face and spoke seriously.

“At least from my side, I won’t be the one to suggest breaking it off first.”

It’s unfair to say such things after giving her all the decision-making power.

‘I might start having misconceptions at this rate.’

Suppressing her pounding heart, Arista lifted her head slightly. Lucas was looking at her with sincere eyes.

“So, our agreement is sealed, right?”

“Huh? Uh, um…”

Upon seeing Lucas, who seemed to have become absent-minded or relaxed at her words, Arista burst into laughter. Instead of just laughing, she got up from her seat and sat next to Lucas.

Lucas, with a slightly tense expression, made room for her. Arista plopped down beside him, clenched her fist, and rested her head on his broad shoulders.

His stiffened body felt distinctly palpable.

“Oh, Arista…?”

“Why? If we’re dating, we can do more than this.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

From his ears to his neck, a noticeable blush spread. Arista let out a sigh of relief and swept her hand over Lucas’ body, especially when she gripped the clenched fist, Lucas trembled.

“It seems quite ticklish.”

“It’s not that, but…”

Everywhere her hand touched felt provocative, and it was hard to deny.

“Arista, is it okay for people to see us?”

“Just let them watch.”

As Lucas said, she could feel the gaze of people in the cafe focusing on them. Watching the murmurs of the people around them, Arista thought to herself.

‘Spread the word so that no one dares approach you, brother.’

Since things had turned out this way, Arista decided to publicly announce that Lucas was hers throughout the empire.

* * *

Bam!

“Arista! Is this true?!”

Ares, dressed in his pajamas, barged into Arista’s room early in the morning. Arista, taken aback by the sudden attack, glanced at Ares.

“…Don’t you know it’s common courtesy to knock before entering a lady’s room?”

“Knock or not! You, you! What on earth is going on!”

Trembling, Ares handed Arista a newspaper. Arista wiped her eyes and looked at the newspaper. Soon, a smile appeared on her lips.

“It’s fast. I didn’t expect gossip to beat official announcements.”

“Then, you didn’t possibly…!”

“Well, it happened.”

Ares’ eyes widened like saucers at Arista’s confirmation. Soon, his scream echoed throughout the mansion.

[Indomitable Fortress, Lady Arista Lydia! Spotted on a date with Young Count Agnes!]

….

Lady Lydia is known for being as unyielding as a rock, especially towards men. While rumors once circulated about romantic involvement with Lord Phoenaeus or Lord Chersis, it was later revealed to be mere friendship. Apart from close friends, Lady Lydia is renowned for not dancing or showing any romantic interest in other men.

However, yesterday, the usually reserved Lady Lydia was caught on a date with Young Count Agnes at the trendy ‘Songbird’s Courtyard.’

According to the informant, Lady Lydia was seen holding hands with Count Agnes, displaying affectionate gestures typical of a couple.

….

Today’s freshly delivered hot gossip is quite something. The ink on the newspaper hasn’t even dried, indicating how hastily it was printed. 

Originally, Arista had planned to inform the social circle through word of mouth that Lucas had become hers, but she found the current situation not too bad after all. She became curious about Lucas’ reaction upon seeing the newspaper.

“When did you two become like that?!”

Ares, annoyingly demanding an explanation, was getting on Arista’s nerves. Well, it’s not surprising that someone would be shocked to find out his sibling and best friend are dating.

“Stop yelling and sit down. I’ll explain everything.”

Ares promptly closed his mouth and reluctantly took a seat in front of her. Arista, contemplating where to start, decided that since things had come to this, she might as well spill everything to her brother.

From the first meeting with Lucas to falling in love for the first time, becoming friends with Lucia, and even the long period of unrequited love, Arista laid it all out. Of course, she didn’t mention the one-night incident that happened about a month ago. 

Even siblings have things they can and can’t say.

“What? So you’ve been crushing on him since my first year at the academy and for 1 year, 2 years, 3 years… Ugh! You’ve been in love for 7 years?”

“Well, it just happened.” 

Ares, who had been muttering exclamations all along, made a dumbfounded expression. Arista chuckled at his reaction.

“Why didn’t you tell me?! If I knew, I wouldn’t have set Lucas up with a girl!”

“You always wondered why I wanted to know about your relationship with him.”

“Well, that’s true, but if I knew the circumstances, it would’ve been different.”

“Enough. There’s no point in regretting the past. Besides, I didn’t have the courage. I couldn’t bring myself to approach him because just watching him was enough for me.”

Ares, learning about his sister’s true feelings for the first time, stared at her in silence.