For Romantic Superpowers - Chapter 32 - Do You Have Something On Your Mind?

#32. Do You Have Something On Your Mind?

 

Unaware of the complexity of the situation, the weather was exceptionally good that day. As she gazed up at the clear sky, she couldn’t help but think, ‘What meaning do all these complicated thoughts hold?’ 

 

Welcoming early summer, the surroundings were filled with vibrant greenery. Despite having set out the meal, Lia seemed to be lost in thought, staring off into the distance. Persuasively, Perth waited quietly without urging her to speak. Having been taught not to make a sound while eating, there was no noise except for the rustling of leaves in the wind.

 

“Mr. Perth.”

 

He almost choked on the food. Suddenly, Lia spoke up as the silence became more familiar.

 

“Have you received any confessions?”

 

Perth’s eyes widened at the abrupt question. Confessions? Not that he hadn’t. Despite being criticized for his cold demeanor, there were a few women who confessed. However, Perth couldn’t understand the sincerity of a woman blushing and speaking in front of him. 

 

Why would someone like him? What exactly do they know about him and why do they like him? Naturally, his response always had to be rejection. He didn’t know what was hidden in their hearts. And he didn’t want to take off the gloves and see what was inside. He didn’t even want to touch strangers.

 

“Why would you ask such a thing?”

 

“I’m sure you have. Well, you must have. With that appearance. Were they persistent?”

 

“I have received some, but not many.”

 

He replied as if making excuses. In reality, compared to Prince Alfonse, he was like a new bud. Despite having a fiancée, countless suitors flew to the prince. Of course, it was because he deliberately overflowed with charm. The problem was that Perth handled all the aftermath. He often coldly turned away the crying admirers who clung to him. If he tried to console them, they would quickly turn back to Perth.

 

“How many have you received?”

 

Suddenly curious, Lia’s eyes sparkled. But it was difficult to answer that question. Of course, with his good memory, he didn’t forget most things. But he quickly erased from his mind what he deemed unnecessary. Naturally, he couldn’t remember who confessed to him, how many, or even if they did.

 

“Just… a few.”

 

He awkwardly narrowed the gap between his thumb and index finger. Through the tiny gap, Lia’s eyes, full of curiosity, shone.

 

“What did you say in response?”

 

Of course, he couldn’t remember that either. But most likely, the content was always the same. ‘I’m sorry.’

 

“I rejected them.”

 

“All of them?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Why?”

 

When asked why, he had no words to answer. Because he didn’t like them? In a situation where he couldn’t even remember the face of the other person, he couldn’t even judge whether she was likable or not. Rather, it was true that he didn’t care much. He didn’t even know what dating meant.

 

“I can’t understand romantic feelings well.”

 

Perth answered unusually honestly. He bowed his head and looked at the soup placed on his lap. The cold soup seemed to represent his emotions. What else could be as volatile as emotions? He knew too well how fickle humans were. Especially, his parents had taught him well since he was very young. 

 

Was there any love between them? The only thing transmitted through their touching hands was hatred for each other. They enjoyed infidelity as if competing with each other. It was a luxury to expect parental affection from them.

 

– Could you please leave?!

 

– Who gave birth to such a disgusting thing?

 

– Did I give birth alone? You’re also half responsible!

 

– Who asked you to give birth to such a thing?

 

The unpleasant conversation continued every day. Even if he ran away to the mansion, the loud voices followed Perth everywhere. Even if he put his hand on the wall or lay in bed, they filled his mind with unwanted things.

 

“Mr. Perth?”

 

It was Lia’s voice. Startled, Perth raised his head to look at her. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, as if recalling a very old memory.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Your expression seems…”

 

She didn’t know if she asked something wrong. Perth’s expression was unusual. He quickly returned to his usual expressionless face. However, Lia kept watching him with concern.

 

“I’m fine. I just remembered something from a long time ago.”

 

“Something from the past?”

 

She wondered if she could ask. But it was rare for him to talk about himself. If there was an opportunity for her to know about him, she didn’t want to miss it. She wanted to know even the smallest detail.

 

“It’s not a pleasant memory.”

 

It was the first time he had said such a thing to someone. He didn’t need to and no one was curious. But the woman sitting next to him was ready to listen seriously.

 

“My parents… they disliked me. Whether they disliked the child or me, I don’t know. So when I was seven years old, they accepted money and sent me to the palace.”

 

Lia momentarily forgot to breathe at the unexpected words. She only knew that he had been sent to the palace because he was good at something, but she never imagined there was such a backstory. Selling one’s own child. It was a story she couldn’t even imagine.

 

“My parents… were both cheating. Individually. I don’t know if there was any affection between them. I only remember them constantly fighting while I was in the mansion.”

 

Perth looked up and deliberately met Lia’s eyes. Would she sympathize with him like this? Or would she disdain him?

 

“So, I don’t know what affection is. Because I’ve never experienced it.”

 

For a while, they just looked into each other’s eyes without saying anything. Lia didn’t easily reveal her emotions. There were no signs of past wounds on Perth’s face either.

 

“To be honest, I don’t know either. Things like romantic feelings.”

 

As Perth answered sincerely, Lia decided to be honest as well. She lowered her gaze, absentmindedly flicking her skirt to remove any dust.

 

“My parents also divorced.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“You know, right? They’re quite famous.”

 

It was only natural for such stories to arise regarding the renowned Countess Penelope in their small social circle. Rumors like these spread like wildfire in the air.

 

“My mother held me back and said it was just because she no longer loved my father. But as a child, I couldn’t understand.”

 

The day the Countess left Penelope Manor, the three siblings bid her farewell at the door. Charlie and Rufus watched without crying, seeing her off. But Lia cried, holding onto her skirt, unwilling to let go. It was only when Charlie forcibly pulled her away that she could leave the mansion.

 

After that, they didn’t completely cut off contact with her. Count Penelope provided her with a substantial inheritance and a secluded mansion so she could live on her own after leaving the manor. Sometimes when she visited, a barrage of nagging awaited her.

 

Her mother loved her. Count Penelope felt the same. But the fact that the two people who loved her didn’t love each other had a significant impact on Lia’s heart.

 

“I have memories of them both smiling at each other. So why did they, who loved each other so much, stop loving each other? That’s why I don’t understand what romantic feelings are. And marriage… I’m not sure if it’s something I have to do.”

 

The circumstances were a bit different, but the conclusion was the same. Both of them didn’t understand romantic feelings. All they knew about it was from books. 

 

After sharing stories they had never told anyone before, they both felt a strange feeling. Although they hadn’t even touched each other’s fingers, there was a connection somewhere. They didn’t know how to express this feeling. 

 

Perth silently looked at Lia’s hand. Strangely, he wanted to hold her hand. Not because he wanted to read her mind, but simply because he wanted to touch her, to be connected.

 

“Your hand.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Can I hold it?”

 

Eventually, he couldn’t hold back and spoke. Naturally, Lia was taken aback. He couldn’t answer when she asked for a reason. He couldn’t even understand why he was doing this himself. Even if he were rejected, he couldn’t help it. 

 

However, Perth felt the touch of Lia’s hand on top of his white glove. She silently reached out and gently clasped Perth’s hand. She couldn’t understand why he wanted to hold her hand, or why she was offering her hand. But she just wanted to.

 

Perth firmly held Lia’s hand. Because of the gloves, he couldn’t read her inner thoughts on why she accepted his request. But it was okay like this. Even over the gloves, he could feel her warmth.

 

“It’s strangely reassuring, isn’t it?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“The warmth of another person can be more comforting than you’d think.”

 

So maybe this is the meaning of comfort. Perth briefly considered the meaning behind holding hands before giving up. He couldn’t understand why he had talked about the past or why he had asked to hold hands. He just didn’t want to let go of this hand.

 

“What was the dilemma, in the end?”

 

Without letting go of each other’s hands, the two watched the sunset. The slow change in the color of the clouds was beautiful. It was the same sky they saw every day, but strangely, it seemed even more beautiful today.

 

“Oh, that.”

 

Finally, Lia remembered the dilemma she had forgotten. Her face, tinged with orange light, furrowed for a moment.

 

“Why did you introduce me to Mr. Kevin?”

 

“Didn’t I tell you? He meets the criteria. You think somewhat favorably of him, and he’s also in your social circle.”

 

“But liking someone as a person and liking them as a man are different, aren’t they?”

 

“How so?”

 

When Perth asked, Lia lost her words. She had just admitted she didn’t understand romantic feelings. Of course, she couldn’t know.

 

“I don’t know, but… aren’t they different?”

 

“…But I didn’t introduce him to you because I liked him.”

 

It was quite the opposite. Kevin and Perth didn’t get along from the start. Why did he have to meddle so much?

 

“Why aren’t you on good terms with him?”

 

“I just don’t like him. And I think it’s mutual.”

 

So, regardless of the reason, he interfered with him. It was strange to introduce him directly and then act like this. But strangely, the thought of just the two of them, Kevin and Lia, alone together felt noisy.

 

“Do you think he might bother you again?”

 

She didn’t like to think so, but she didn’t think he was that kind of person. He seemed to test Lia at the beginning, but after that, he seemed to treat her well. That’s why Lia had opened up to him.

 

“No.”

 

“Then…?”

 

Thinking of Kevin made Lia sigh involuntarily. When she received the confession for the first time, she was surprised and excited because it was her first confession. But when she thought she couldn’t accept it, she just felt embarrassed.

 

“I received a confession.”