Chapter 94 Conversing



"Do you want a drink?"

Looking at the Elven Princess sitting right next to me, I pulled out an extra can of soda from my Spatial Inventory, casually offering it to her.

'This feels cringe...'

I growled, observing as Rose carefully picked up the drink from my extended hand and placed it on her lap.

"..."

This, however, did not seem to break the silence as we both sat there in awkward quietness. 

I hoped that we would be able to move past this tension, but it seemed that Rose was lost in thoughts.

Tshhh...

Slowly, she opened the can of soda and put it to her lips, taking a small sip before setting it back down on her lap.

"..."

For a second, I noticed that her long, pointed ears twitched slightly, but she quickly composed herself and continued to remain silent.

"Is this by any chance, your first time trying soda?"

Although I wished that I wouldn't have to talk, I thought that the faster this is over, the better. I was already on edge while sitting near her, and the proximity was not making things any better.

Her scent was a mixture of flowers and rain, which was soothing and distracting at the same time.

"How do you know?"

I was pulled out of my thoughts as Rose finally spoke, her azure eyes meeting mine. She also had an expression revealing a hint of surprise. Well, honestly it was a guess on my end. 

I just knew that Rose has this weird habit of her ears twitching whenever she experiences something new or exciting, so it wasn't that hard to guess.

"Lucky guess..."

However, I didn't intend to share this information with her, simply replying with a nonchalant shrug. 

I think that I was finally able to break the ice between us, even if only a little bit, because Rose opened her mouth again, intending to continue the conversation.

"Do you know why I wanted to talk to you?"

The seriousness of her tone made me more alert as I slightly wriggled in my seat, feeling that this conversation was reaching its climax.

"Yes, I do..."

I could feel the tension rising in the air as I prepared myself for whatever was about to come next.

"So you agree that you are my compatible person and the one who transferred me Mana in the Ice Dungeon..."

Rose took another sip of the soda while using her other hand to play with her long and slender hair.

I, on the other hand, silently observed her trying to gauge her mood and reaction. Although she was looking straight ahead, I could sense that she was waiting for my answer with bated breath.

"Yes, it was indeed me"

I replied in a calm and collected manner. I could feel that this conversation was going to be a turning point for me as well as for Rose.

There was no need to try to hide with all the proof and evidence pointing toward me, and I was ready to accept whatever consequence would come with my actions.

I was ready to emerge into the light and get used to being seen and heard. Despite this, my goal to be the Shadow didn't die down.

Shadows can also be versatile and even adaptable if needed. It was time for me to adapt and grow while being exposed to light.

"..."

I waited for Rose to respond, however, it seemed as if she had lost her voice. Looking at her frame, sitting next to me, I noticed that her ears were slightly turning red, indicating a sign of embarrassment or shyness.

"How did you know that I was your compatible person?"

Finally, Rose let out a whisper, but I could sense deep seriousness in her voice. If I had not known about us being compatible people, then Rose would've died on the spot, because of my Mana.

It'd be an attempted murder.

"Your Mana... It felt familiar"

I've finally spoken another harmless lie, watching as Rose quietly nodded her head. 

Honestly, the conversation didn't seem as bad as I expected it to be. If not for the fact that I was very nervous, I'd even call it pleasurable.

Well, who wouldn't enjoy sitting with probably one of the prettiest women in the entire Leclentia?

Huff...

Okay, it was now time to take on the bull head-on.

"So... What will happen now?"

The moment of truth was about to come, will I be locked in the tower or Elven Palace or will I be permitted to continue living freely?

Glancing at Rose, I noticed that she was looking at me with a slight smile. It seemed that she was somehow enjoying my discomfort. 

"...The Public won't be informed about your identity as my Compatible Person and you won't be forced to leave the academy."

After a momentary pause, Rose finally spoke, managing to push away all my worries with a single sentence. 

"But..."

However, she wasn't finished yet and I felt a sense of unease creep up on me once again.

"You will have to stay close to me at all times..."

I could feel the smile I had on my face slowly withering away as Rose finished her sentence.

Of course, I had expected that there would be some kind of condition to this agreement, but I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.

"Why do I have to follow this condition?"

Rose blinked her eyes and looked at me with slight surprise. Was she surprised that I was trying to avoid sticking close to her?

"My father told me that you'd be locked up if you didn't agree to this condition..."

My golden eyes scanned her face, looking for any hint of deception or dishonesty, but Rose seemed genuine and even slightly regretful that her father was basically forcing me to stay close to her.

"Am I ugly?"

Suddenly, Rose spoke, making me almost choke on my soda. Ugly? her? I found it hard to believe that such a stunning woman would even consider the possibility of being ugly.

"No?"

I answered, slightly confused by the sudden change of topic, but nonetheless slightly amused by her sudden question.

"Then why do you want to distance yourself from me?"

I think the conversation took a weird turn. From a passerby's point of view, it might even seem like we were having a lovers' quarrel.

"Personal issues..."

***

Rose could feel tons of emotions swirling within her, distracting her from being composed.

As soon as she heard Aiden asking if the condition of sticking close to her was a must, she felt her beauty being questioned.

She was aware that her appearance was one of her biggest assets, and the fact that Aiden hesitated to be close to her made her very surprised.

What kind of man was Aiden that he wasn't affected by her charm?

"Am I ugly?"

She even accidentally blurted out her thoughts, instantly turning red with embarrassment. Luckily she could somewhat cover her expression with her hair, but her pointed ears were beet red.

"No?" 

Aiden's voice sounded uncertain, and Rose looked up to see confusion etched on his face. His golden eyes met hers, searching for an answer to my sudden inquiry.

His reaction surprised Rose. She had expected him to dismiss her question with a quick compliment, perhaps trying to smooth things over. But his response held a hint of genuine confusion as if he couldn't comprehend why she would even ask such a thing.

Rose's embarrassment slowly transformed into curiosity. Was it possible that Aiden saw something beyond superficial beauty? Could he truly be unaffected by her looks? The idea was both unsettling and intriguing.

"Then why do you want to distance yourself from me?" 

Rose asked, her barely audible voice betraying a slight mix of vulnerability and confusion.

Aiden seemed taken aback by her question, his expression shifting from surprise to a more contemplative state. Rose could tell that he was carefully choosing his words as if weighing his response.

"Personal issues..." 

He finally replied, his face devoid of any emotions that would betray what he was thinking.

However, his answer only served to deepen Rose's curiosity. What personal issues could he be referring to? Rose had assumed that his reluctance to be close to her stemmed from his own desires or preferences. But now, it seemed there was more to the story.

Rose leaned back in my seat, the silence between us becoming heavy once again. Her mind raced, searching for a way to bridge the gap that seemed to separate them. She didn't want this conversation to end on a note of discomfort and misunderstanding, they are probably going to spend the next few years together.

"Why don't you tell me about these personal issues?" 

Rose, finally, suggested, her voice softer now, infused with genuine concern.

Aiden's gaze shifted away from hers, his brow furrowing as he seemed lost in thought. For a moment, Rose worried that she had overstepped a boundary, delving into matters he wasn't ready to share.

However, he eventually met her gaze once again, his expression slightly troubled.

"I feel shy around women..."