14 Chapter 10: Dinner Date (3)

—'A candlelight dinner!'

Arias can't explain what she's feeling. She might cry at any moment right now.

"R-Regis..." she said as her lips trembles because of the overflowing emotions.

So far, everything she could ask for was happening today. Reunion with Regis and this date. Everything is going just too fine for Arias. So much that it feels like a dream...

'A-am I just dreaming? Is this some sort of illusion?' a feeling of anxiety suddenly arose in her heart. Arias quickly turned her body and faced the man who gave her the reason to feel that way.

Regis stood in front of her and took in her expression with his deep gaze. His heart stirred a little as her anxious look meet his eyes.

For the first time, he was having a date with a girl. While he was full of anticipation to see her reaction, he was also worried that he might have done something wrong.

"You're not dreaming, Arias. At least... Not right now." Regis tried his best to remain calm.

Regis walked closer to the table and pulled out a chair for Arias to take her sit. After that, he pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.

As soon as they sat down, the door on the other side of the room opened and a middle-aged man nearing fifty placed a plate of steak in front of them.

Head full brown hair with few strands of whites, muscular built and battle-hardened but amiable face. Regis quickly stands up and smiled at the man and introduced Arias to him.

"Long time no see, Romario. I see your shop is still booming. By the way, let me introduce to you my date for tonight, Arias Ella Edinburgh, my childhood friend. Arias, this Romario Escanoir, an old friend."

"It's a pleasure to have you here in my humble pub, princess Arias."

"It is also my pleasure to be here, Mr. Romario. You don't need to be so courteous. I have long heard a lot of your feats from the nobles."

"Oh. ..Haha. Don't mind those stories. It's all in the past."

Arias and Romario bowed in courtesy to each other at the introduction made. The two are quite famous in the empire so nothing much was needed to say.

"Romario, please let us have a taste of 'that' from your collection." Regis revealed a playful smile as he said that. Romario's face darkened when he heard it.

"Damn brat... Ugh... Fine, I'll tell my wife to get one. Treat it as my welcome back gift to you." he said weakly earning a giggle from Arias.

'I wonder what happened to them. I never know they had a close friendship.' Arias began to think.

Regis and Arias sat down as they continued a short conversation with Romario before he went outside to get the other dishes.

"What do you think?" Regis asked, indicating this venue for their dinner.

Even Regis was quite surprised when he entered. He didn't know the Escanoir couple was able to set this up from just the short notice. The theme they chose was very good also. 'This is very romantic' is what Regis think.

This candlelight dinner was Maria's idea. Romario asked Maria for the setup of the room when they received the notice from Regis.

"I really love it! Thank you Regis~!" Arias sweetly smiled.

"I'm glad you like it. I only sent a short notice but they were able to prepare everything." said Regis.

"I've been away for so many years. Of course, I didn't forget about you although I was always quite busy every day (to stay alive)."

"And you don't have to worry. I already finished most of the things I was trying to accomplish for the past years. Only a few things left to be done but I will be staying here for good in most of the time." he added and a feeling of heartfelt happiness appeared in Arias' face.

'If that is the case, then I can really...' the thought appeared on her mind.

As if he can read what Arias is thinking, Regis threw her a fastball—

"You like me, right?" he suddenly asked.

"Yes..—Eh? W-what?! Regis?!" Arias was caught off guard by the question and unconsciously answered. She was startled after she was done answering. Her face flushed red in an instant as she began shrieking!

"Hahaha! You're very funny. I know like me, but you don't need to be so flustered by it." laughed Regis as she looks at her teasingly. Heck, he already began to unleash his suave moves from earlier, why not use it until the end?

"Y-You..!"

The feeling of extreme embarrassment and anger mixed up. Arias glared at Regis and was even planning to smack him good. But before she can do so, the door opened.

A beautiful lady wearing simple clothing with an apron atop of it entered the room. She was holding an old bottle of wine. She looks a lot younger than Romario but Arias instinctively know that the lady was the bar owner's wife.

"Good evening princess Arias, to you as well Regis. I'm glad to see you're back from your journey." said Maria as she opened the bottle of wine swiftly and poured a glass of red wine for the two.

"Thank you. Good evening as well, I take you are Mr. Romario's wife." said Arias as she took the glass of wine and sip a taste.

Arias revealed a dreamy expression and quickly looked at the glass of wine she was holding.

"This is a sort of flavor that can sink into your taste buds and your teeth. What a fine taste. No wonder Mr. Romario looked so wronged when Regis asked him for this." she giggled.

"Don't mind my husband, he's just sulking a little bit but deep inside, he's really glad to give up this bottle of wine in this occasion. After all, it was Regis who requested for it." said Maria as she winked jokingly at Regis.

Maria snapped her finger and a tray of piping hot food instantly appeared on the side of the table. She swiftly put and arranged the food on the table.

After that, she turned to look at Arias and said, "Although it's been a while since Regis visited here, I won't allow myself to be an obstruction for your date. Please excuse me."

Maria courtly bowed shortly and quickly left for the pair of youngsters to continue their dinner date.

The mixed anger and embarrassment Arias was feeling earlier, was instantly forgotten when Maria entered the room just now—that was Regis was thinking. Regis confidently looked at Arias as he raised his head up lightly. He took a sip of his wine and smiled at her.

The instance the door closed, the friendly face Arias' was using earlier warped into a fierce lioness.

"Regis... Don't think I forgot about earlier." a voice with a tinge of fury came out from Arias's mouth.

When he realized that his thoughts were wrong, he picked up the wine glass and gulped down a big mouthful of wine.

He was too hasty and choked a little.

Before he could regain his composure, Arias had already stood up from her seat. She quickly moved to Regis, side of the table. Using her own handkerchief, she wiped the wine stains on the sides of his mouth.

"Don't be so flustered. I won't punish you yet~..." said Arias as a teasing smile flashed on her face when she saw his reaction.

That was it.

Why did Arias mind so sharp? Well, it's good that it is but why at times like this?

'How can my brilliant plan backfired just like that?' Regis knitted his brow.

"… I like you too." Regis declared all of a sudden. Using his left hand, he reached out and grasped her hand. It was Arias' turn to be surprised. Two pairs of eyes met and stilled.

The dark crimson of the wine in the tall glass reflected a glow from the lights coming from the glowing petals floating around.

'Those words... That look...'

Arias heart almost leaped out from her chest. She staggered slightly when she took a step back as she loses control of her emotion.

Losing her balance, Arias almost fell down. Unknowingly, Regis is already standing in front of her. Just when Arias thought that she was about to fall to the ground, a pair of strong arms had already grabbed hold of her tightly.

"R-Regis. I..I really like you... For a very long time now..." said Arias as she hugged him tightly. She buried her face to his chest.

Unspeakable warmth spread to her body and tears had blurred her vision. Arias didn't endure it any longer and finally cried unrestrainedly as she also tightly clutches at him.

"...I-I waited for eight years. I always believe you'll come back. Many guys are trying to court me but I always ignore them. I—I trained really hard... so that I..."

With a hoarse voice, Arias tries to say something but she can't finish it as she was sobbing hard in his arms.

Regis' heart melted at once. Its been a very long time now since someone told him they like him wholeheartedly.

"I know. I sorry I let you suffer like that. Please don't cry anymore." Regis' voice deepened. He began to caress her golden hair and calmed Arias down.

"Didn't I tell you that there's something I want to tell you?" he whispered. With her face still buried to his chest, Arias nodded in reply.

"Will you listen to my story? The reason for my eight years of journey..."