Ricardo seemed quite familiar with the way, as if he had been to Dians before.
I followed him with the blanket he had handed me draped over my shoulders. He must have noticed that my outfit was too light.
“You must come to Dians often?”
Ricardo gave a slight nod. I wanted to ask what brought him here, but he seemed unwilling.
As proof, the topic changed not long after.
“There’s something I want to show you.”
“What is it?”
When I asked back, Ricardo hesitated.
“……The path there is dark. You might be a little scared.”
“What’s there to be scared of when I’m with you?”
One of the most talented swordsmen in the Empire.
Ricardo’s eyes slowly widened. Then he averted his gaze, which had been meeting mine just a moment ago.
“Th-this way…….”
Didn’t he already know?
He’s supposed to be the Empire’s strongest swordsman!
As I silently followed Ricardo, a familiar feeling came over me, so I asked him.
“Uh, are we going to Whale Beach by any chance?”
No wonder the path felt familiar—it was the dark road I had hesitated over earlier.
“How did you…….”
“Someone told me through someone else.”
It was the place Rayler’s nanny had told me about.
At my words, Ricardo looked slightly deflated.
Oh, was this supposed to be a surprise?
“Don’t worry. I only heard that something interesting happens there, I don’t know any details.”
“If that’s the case, then that’s a relief…….”
Ricardo trailed off and let out a sigh of relief. Then he held out his hand to me.
“The path is very dark, so even the villagers don’t know about it well.”
“I’m not scared. I don’t need to hold hands.”
Then Ricardo smirked and pulled me toward him, gripping my hand.
“I’m the one who’s scared.”
……Is that true, or a lie?
If not, is he just teasing me?
So strange.
Still, if Ricardo knows about Whale Beach, does that mean he also has someone he’s familiar with in the village?
He seemed like someone who wouldn’t have any ties to such a small village.
On the dark path, the only thing I could rely on was Ricardo’s hand in mine. Now I understood why even the villagers didn’t know about this path.
By the time the sound of insects reached my ears, Ricardo asked.
“……By the way, why don’t you ask me anything?”
“Ask what?”
“You must have heard what my subordinate and I were talking about in the alley.”
“…….”
“You probably know who I followed and what I did. It wouldn’t be strange for you to be curious.”
That you followed Idette and Erkishian?
And that you killed the assassins who tried to attack them?
Or that you turned a blind eye to the article slandering the woman you like?
I am curious. It’s obvious you like Idette, so why did you let Elliot off the hook?
But all of this had nothing to do with me.
My curiosity only extended to matters that concerned me.
“It’d be a lie to say I’m not curious at all. But this is your business, isn’t it?”
“……So you’re not interested in my affairs at all?”
“Sorry?”
“If not, then does that mean you…….”
At the moment his next words made me pause, my eyes were caught by the glow of a firefly that had flown toward us.
I tugged at Ricardo, who had come to a stop. Startled, he began to walk again.
“Why are you acting so awkward? We’re not the type to ask those things, right?”
“…….”
His answer came a beat late.
“……What if I want to be that kind of person with you?”
“It’s already too late.”
Now I was certain.
This man was just curious about me.
His attention had shifted simply because Bianca had changed so suddenly. He got curious because the woman who used to follow him around had suddenly started acting differently.
I knew Ricardo from the original story. The way he loved, the way he treated his lover.
So, let’s not misunderstand.
I mustn’t misunderstand.
I brainwashed myself and changed the subject.
“By the way, didn’t we meet when we were about fourteen?”
“……No, we didn’t.”
His voice was firm.
So Ricardo didn’t remember the promise he made with Eileens at all.
It was strange that both Ricardo and I, who had been there, had lost our memories. Unless there had been a major accident.
The only relief was that Grandfather had told Rayler to keep quiet about it.
Grandfather probably knew what had happened back then.
The glow of the fireflies that had been guiding us began to fade, and the sound of waves came from a distance. The breeze, tinged with salt, was chillier than expected.
“……Wait a moment.”
Once we reached our destination, Ricardo crouched down under a rock.
“I’ll catch you, so feel free to jump.”
It was higher than I expected, and I hesitated without realizing it.
Oh, whatever.
With my eyes shut tight, I jumped off the rock. In that moment, a firm hand caught me, and a cool peppermint scent filled the air.
“…….”
We were close enough to feel each other’s breath. Ricardo’s blue eyes, bathed in moonlight, shone beautifully.
Far more than the clear autumn sky I had once seen.
The skin that touched him felt burning hot. After gently lowering me, Ricardo took off his shoes. I instinctively followed, taking off mine and walking toward the sea.
Maybe because it was far from the capital, the countless stars embedded in the night sky reflected on the sea like a mirror. Ricardo approached the water and pulled out a glass bottle from his coat filled with white powder.
“……What is that?”
“It’s called mermaid powder.”
What the heck is that?
Ricardo sprinkled the powder on both my feet and his, then headed straight toward the sea.
“Why are you going into the sea all of a sudden……!”
Startled, I rushed after him to stop him. But Ricardo walked calmly on the surface of the sea.
“…….”
With every step he took, the sea lit up beneath him. Ricardo let out a small laugh and looked back at me.
“Sometimes mysterious things happen in Dians.”
At that moment, a gust of wind blew. Ricardo’s hair fluttering in the wind looked incredibly beautiful. Without realizing it, I took a step closer to him.
“……!”
The sea was very cold. It felt like I could fall at any moment, but though it wobbled dangerously, the sea firmly supported me.
With each step I took toward Ricardo, the sea began to glow. When I glanced back, the lights of the footsteps I had left behind were slowly fading.
As I barely reached Ricardo, he smiled as if proud of me.
The sea reflected the night sky perfectly, making it feel like I was walking through space.
It felt like just the two of us, Ricardo and I, were alone in this vast place. When I seemed a little scared, he ran playfully on the sea.
“H-hey, you’ll……!”
Ricardo only shrugged lightly. He looked quite happy. He gently tucked my hair, which had been blown by the wind, behind my ear and smiled.
“Dians is my mother’s hometown.”
It was the first time I heard that.
“I could only come here on special days, so it’s a precious place to me.”
I hadn’t thought it would mean that much to him.
I felt a little sorry.
“……Is it really okay for me to be here, then?”
“That’s why. Seems like you’ll have no choice but to stay by my side from now on.”
“I already told you—it’s too late.”
At my words, Ricardo pretended not to hear and glanced up at the night sky.
“More importantly, you’ll fall into the sea soon.”
“……What?”
“The powder doesn’t last that long.”
Why is he telling me that now?
Fear hit me, and I hurriedly started walking. Behind me, Ricardo spoke in an easygoing voice.
“Don’t worry. If you fall, I’ll save you.”
“We’ll both fall, how can you save me!”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right.”
He chuckled, and I shot him a glare.
“Was that just now another one of your lines to make me hate you?”
“Doesn’t matter either way.”
Ricardo smiled.
“Because I’ve already prepared myself for that.”