Chapter - 38 : Confession

(Continuation…)

(Third Person View)

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"...It's true, I did think about it."(Rosalind)

Rosalind's admission carried a note of uncertainty, her voice revealing the internal conflict she was grappling with.

"Then…?"(Rai)

Rai's response hung in the air, his curiosity piqued by her admission.

Her gaze, usually steady and unwavering, now seemed to flit away from his intense stare.

A strand of hair escaped its confines, falling across her face.

With nervous grace, she brushed it behind her ear, her fingertips brushing against her flushed skin.

This simple gesture revealed a vulnerability that Rai hadn't seen before, and it touched something deep within him.

The sudden change in demeanor softened Rai's gaze instantly.

[...i-is she feeling shy?

[Why, though?](Rai)

Rai's mind raced with a cascade of thoughts.

Right then, Rosalind lifted her head a little, only a bit–

"...but if you do that, you wouldn't be able to join my House, right?"(Rosalind)

Her voice, barely above a whisper, hung like a fragile thread between them.

The vulnerability in her gaze was accompanied by a faint hue of pink that dusted her cheeks, like the first blush of dawn painting the sky.

[She IS b-blushing!?

[...a-and w-what heck is she mumbling about suddenly?](Rai)

Rai's mind went blurry as I looked Rosalind in the eyes, capturing her expression deep within him.

Caught in her gaze, his heart pounded like the wings of a trapped bird.

His own cheeks warmed as he processed her words, her implication crashing over him like a tidal wave.

[Could it be that she…?](Rai)

Rai found himself momentarily lost for words, his thoughts a jumble of emotions and confusion.

–*gulp.

He cleared his throat, a rush of emotions making it hard to think straight.

"Yeah…I guess so."(Rai)

He managed to respond, his voice trying to carry a semblance of calm despite the turmoil within.

But even as he spoke, his eyes remained locked on hers, unable to break free from the magnetic pull of her gaze.

"Rai–

Just when the air was thick with unspoken feelings, Rosalind's voice cut through the tension with newfound determination.

"–I need you to be by my side."(Rosalind)

With determination shining in her eyes, Rosalind confessed, her blush creeping down her neck.

Her voice carried a weight of honesty that couldn't be denied.

"-_-"(Rai)

In that moment, Rai's heart skipped a beat, and his mind went blank, as if his senses were momentarily numbed.

Although Rai was aware that Rosalind's true intention behind those words wasn't to reveal her romantic feelings.

He understood that he might–

–No, he is reading too much into it, believing that her words could mean something entirely different.

But in his mind, things were all mixed up, and he couldn't make sense of it.

He couldn't help but overanalyze the situation.

Beyond all this, what really got to Rai was the way she said it.

It hit him hard, stirring up emotions he didn't expect.

And the way she phrased it didn't make things any easier for him.

"Hey Vivi–

He also called out, his voice a touch unsteady and his brain struggling to catch up with the situation.

"–You want to kill me?"(Rai)

The words fell from lips in a mix of disbelief and realization.

As if trying to ground himself, Rai rose from his seat, his movements deliberate and measured.

His slow steps took him on a deliberate path around the table, while his eyes never left Rosalind's figure.

"Rai, where ar-?..."(Rosalind)

Rosalind's voice carried confusion as she questioned his sudden abandonment of his position, as she thought he might be leaving.

Her trailing words only came to a halt when she noticed his path.

Ignoring her call, Rai continued his purposeful movement, drawing nearer to her without uttering a word.

With measured steps, he circled around until he was positioned directly behind her chair.

Throughout this sequence, Rosalind's watchful eyes tracked Rai's every move.

Her attention was momentarily broken as he moved past her, only to be replaced by the sensation of his shadow enveloping her from behind.

"Rai…"(Rosalind)

Rosalind's voice once again carried curiosity, her neck tilting back at a forty-five-degree angle in Rai's direction as she remained seated.

"I am asking–

"Do you want to kill ME…?"(Rai)

Rai's head appeared right above her as he said those, while his body leaned slightly forward.

With both hands supported by the arms of the wooden chair, his front was pressed against the chair's backrest.

In this particular stance, both of them had an unobstructed view of each other, and their eyes locked in a deep gaze.

Rosalind found herself once again entranced by Rai's pitch-black eyes, their depth drawing her in like a swirling vortex of emotions.

In that very moment, while looking into his eyes, for the first time in her life, she felt something strange inside herself, a sensation she couldn't quite explain.

It was odd but not unpleasant, making her heart beat a bit faster.

However, even as this was happening, Rosalind couldn't figure out why she was feeling this way.

"What do you mean by kil..!!?–"(Rosalind)

Rosalind started, her head still tilted back, attempting to bring Rai's figure into her line of sight.

"Shhuuu~!!

–However, Rai interrupted her words with his index finger pressed gently against her lips, startling her and causing her to almost jump out of her seat at the sudden intimate gesture.

"Don't.Strain–Your head."(Rai)

But before she could react fully, Rai's hands moved to cup her cheeks, urging her head back into its normal position.

This action caused her to lose sight of Rai, and a sense of relief washed over her as she realized he couldn't see her face now.

She could only imagine the potentially embarrassing expression she might be wearing.

Unbeknownst to her, Rai was equally, or even more, relieved knowing that his face was hidden from her view.

Honestly, the daring act he ventured into just now was not totally out of his concern for Rosalind.

It was partially fueled by himself, as he himself found it hard to maintain direct eye contact when her face was so close, her golden eyes, eyebrows, and forehead clearly visible, when Rosalind turned her head upside down.

For what he was about to say, he HAD to lose direct eye contact with her.

And no way in hell did that position make it easy.

"..."(Rai)

However, Rai didn't immediately continue.

With the rush of adrenaline still coursing through his body, he hesitated momentarily.

Slowly and gently, he reached out and tucked the remaining strands of Rosalind's red hair that had strayed back behind her ear.

[Her red hair is incredibly smooth and silky.](Rai)

Rai's thoughts briefly distracted him from the intensity of the situation.

Rosalind, caught off guard by his sudden actions again, was surprised but not displeased.

Her composure had long since left her.

With that task completed, Rai's hands moved, encircling her neck.

It would have been a full hug had it not been for the chair positioned between them.

"Ehk! R-Rai?!–"(Rosalind)

Rosalind started to speak, with a mixture of astonishment and protest in her voice.

"Shhuuu~! Just trust me."(Rai)

Rai's calm and soothing voice silenced Rosalind's words before they could fully form.

[Man, her skin is so delicate, it feels too precious even to be touched.](Rai)

Despite his reassurance, Rai's thoughts were anything but trustworthy.

"Vivi, just now you were so pretty–

"I thought I might die, *chuckle~"(Rai)

Finally, following the flow, Rai's tone shifted as he complimented her with a touch of humor and complaint mingling with his words.

…

Anticipating a response, Rai waited for a reply, allowing a few seconds to slip by in silence.

"..."(Rosalind)

However, Rosalind remained quiet.

He started again, uncertainty in his voice–

"Hey Vivi–

"Are you listening?"(Rai)

Rai asked, as he could not see her face from this unusual angle.

The urge to lean in a bit more and steal a glance was tempting, but he resisted, knowing that seeing her face so closely might cloud his thoughts even further.

…especially now.

[This damned heart of mine is pounding so hard, she might notice.]

His inner frustration was palpable as he mentally cursed himself.

"Um..*nod."(Rosalind)

Rosalind finally broke the silence with a small nod, as if she could sense the turmoil within Rai.

"HHmm…

"Then just brace yourself and listen to what I am saying."(Rai)

Mustering every ounce of his courage, Rai warned, his voice carrying a hint of determination.

He decided to take the big step and express his feelings…

.

(To be continued…)

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Chapter words : 1445

Total words : 55.83K