128 – Spin-off 2. Reconstruction of Relationships (2)
The chill of the drink in her hand combined with the cool sea breeze made her body shiver even in the middle of summer.
Perhaps it wasn’t feeling cold, but rather a sense of relief at having survived.
Yes. She probably hadn’t realized that.
“Sigh…”
As she took a sip of the drink to relieve her frustration, the strong scent of strawberries lingered in her mouth.
“Ian always liked strawberries.”
Recalling previous memories through the memorial link, her face gradually flushed.
Among many fruits, Ian particularly favored strawberries.
Even without considering the fact that in Volcanov, where it was difficult to grow crops due to the harsh climate, the only fruit that grew was winter strawberries, it was natural for him to come across them frequently.
“Even so, he doesn’t really prefer eating them raw. He’s not a fan of sour tastes.”
Steeping fresh fruit with sugar to make sweet strawberry syrup, then using it to create ice cream or beverages.
That was Ian’s favorite dessert. Celia, too, often made desserts using strawberries for him.
“It was fun making desserts secretly in the Cheongwol Restaurant when darkness fell.”
Or the moments they sneaked out to the corridor due to hunger, bumped into each other, and chuckled.
Or sneaking into the restaurant to gather ingredients, avoiding the guard’s gaze.
Or when they fed each other the finished snacks and laughed together…
“Truly… it was fun.”
Those memories were incredibly precious to Celia, unforgettable until her dying breath.
Hence, the current situation was exceedingly regrettable for her.
“Now, I can’t feel it anymore…”
The intention was solely to help him, but it ended up making Ian miserable instead.
As a result, their relationship was in ruins to the point where the word “irreparable” suited it.
They say broken relationships can be mended. Even if it’s shattered into tiny pieces, it may take time, but it’s not impossible to piece them back together. Yet, isn’t determination necessary to mend them?
“Ian has many people to take responsibility for now. Even Erzébert, whom I know, and a woman like Lía Hustra.”
Some libertine nobles collect wives like trophies.
At least the Ian she knew was far from such people.
Naturally, Ian would dedicate himself to the women around him and spare no effort to cherish them.
“Chosen ones, indeed.”
They won’t even have time for themselves. Can they spare time for their own sake?
The time needed to revive their connection would surely be substantial. Can Ian and the women around him handle it?
“No, they can’t. It’s impossible.”
No matter how much she thought about it, such happiness seemed out of reach for her.
The best outcome Celia Vigneron could hope for was simply watching Ian’s happiness from afar.
“I thought they were trying to kill me. If saving me means… the reason for coming here.”
Could stepping onto the Celon Beach be considered a farewell journey?
The memories they shared would linger in Ian’s mind. Perhaps, even he couldn’t bear to turn away from them, hence trying to end things in this manner.
Ending things in a scenic place would bring some comfort, too.
“Most likely.”
Sensing the end approaching, Celia drew her legs close and buried her face between them.
Though it’s said meetings are easy but farewells are hard, it seemed she would truly understand the meaning of those words only when faced with the situation.
It was the moment she struggled to hold back tears and regulate her emotions.
“You seem a bit down… Is something wrong?”
“Uh, what? Oh, no. It’s just a bit chilly.”
“Your voice… Are you crying, by any chance?”
“No… Why would I cry…”
Celia brushed it off, shaking her head repeatedly, saying she was fine. However, Ian had long sensed that something was bothering her.
Even if he was clueless at times, how could he miss tears mixed in someone’s voice?
“Coming all this way to have fun… suddenly bursting into tears… Did you not like the sea?”
There weren’t many places to go for fun. Knowing she would be tired of bustling cities, he chose the secluded Celon Beach, but was it a wrong move, he pondered, as thoughts of it being a mistake kept circling his mind.
Rejecting a trip to the mountains, he wondered if choosing the warmer side was the right call if she disliked the cold.
‘But going back to the already crowded yard is not a good idea.’
Ian scratched his head awkwardly as he watched her sniffling, burying her head to hide her tears.
He wanted to take her where she wanted to go. However, it took them quite some time to get here. The area had turned into a ghost town due to the zombie outbreak in Brookus Territory long ago, leaving no suitable place to go.
In such a helpless situation, as he couldn’t move from his spot, all Ian could do was put effort into solving Celia’s problems.
Swish!
“Huh? What’s this….”
“You said you were cold, so at least cover yourself with this for now.”
Ian covered Celia with the combat coat he kept in his infinity ring for unforeseen circumstances.
It was heavy, but it was excellent at retaining heat and blocking the wind, so it would keep her warm.
At the same time, Ian sat tightly next to her and shifted his gaze forward.
“I thought you liked the sea, but I didn’t know you’d feel cold… I’m sorry about that.”
“Ah, no. I’m fine.”
“Still, this trip is for you. I was shortsighted.”
“A trip for me?”
Though spoken casually, those words lingered deep in Celia’s mind.
She had chosen the sea purely for her own trip. How should she interpret that?
Was it to break up and relieve her heart in this secluded place?
As she pondered, her thoughts spiraled, forming a chain of questions that turned into one big uncertainty.
‘Is it right to call a farewell trip meant to end our relationship a trip for me? Typically, in such cases, it should be a trip for both of us. Am I thinking differently? No, that would be too positive, right?’
She kept turning these thoughts in her mind tirelessly, but no answer seemed to emerge.
In the end, feeling frustrated, Celia looked at Ian.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Um, there’s something I’m curious about.”
Having decided to air out the question that had been tormenting her, she was prepared to endure the pain if her thoughts were correct.
If an unexpected answer came from him, she might even be glad.
“Why did you come here? I’m not asking about coming to the sea. I’m curious about… why you decided to come on this trip… that’s what I want to ask.”
“The reason for this trip…?”
“A final journey. Something like that?”
“One thing I can say for sure is that it’s not the last.”
This trip wasn’t the end. Ian gave an answer that Celia had longed for but thought she couldn’t have.
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Simultaneously, feelings of joy surged, mingled with concerns of it being too much, beginning to dominate her mind.
As she hesitated, Ian candidly revealed the purpose of this trip.
“I don’t know if you remember, but we talked about our futures when we were young. You, being naturally frail, wanted to travel. I was worried about you.”
“That’s right… I was naive back then, wanting to see places I hadn’t seen before.”
Driven by that curiosity, there were moments when he got a serious injury while wandering in the forest.
It was an embarrassing memory for Celia, but for Ian, it was an interesting incident where romance and memories intertwined.
“It’s still vivid. You, worrying about your health, asked me to be your knight and help you.”
“…Embarrassing.”
“You might feel that way… But I didn’t dislike it.”
“Oh. Oh?”
“I had expectations. I wanted to wander around with you, a dear person, in places I had never been to before.”
Ian Volkanov and Celia Wignoran, both were children of prominent families in the empire. Yet, they were also outsiders. They were not people who could live freely.
Ian’s fate was twisted due to the whims of the world, and he suffered the consequences directly, leading his life to ruin.
Celia, inheriting a curse from her father, Count Wignoran, had to live in constant pain, never knowing when it would strike.
The reason they chose the sea was right here.
The area where they spent their childhood was a place where seeing the surging waves was difficult, something one could only speculate through books and documents.
Although it had been a long time since they had seen the sea, at that time, they had promised to see it together. They wanted to enjoy the precious moments they had obtained with difficulty, alone without anyone’s interference.
“So, that’s why we chose the secluded Celon Beach. It’s the holiday season, so other places are crowded and the weather is chilly. There are places that are not like that, but they don’t really count as the sea.”
Celon Beach had an incredibly beautiful scenery, and, above all, due to its southern location, it had a very mild climate.
Although it had already been settled, the aftermath of the Brookes Manor incident was actually a good thing for Ian, as it cut off the flow of people.
“So, we decided to come to Celon Beach for the trip. I didn’t say it, but I’ve been waiting for this for quite a while.”
“You’ve been waiting…”
“From being childhood friends to becoming lovers and going on a trip we promised in our youth.”
A trip with a loved one. In that short sentence, the worries accumulated in their hearts melted away like snow, resonating deep within.
He thought it was too much to be loved again. Instead of receiving attention, he believed that secretly watching from afar was the only remaining happiness for her.
‘I still have a chance.’
Tears burst out from his emotional heart, flowing uncontrollably.
Ian said nothing, just leaned her head on his shoulder.
“I might get busier in the future, so I decided to go on a honeymoon trip first… Is that okay with you?”
“Yes… I’m fine. Very.”
Ian chuckled softly as he spoke, and Celia responded with a subtle smile.
The two sat close on the sand, gazing blankly at the surging sea.
It was then that Celia realized the goal of this trip.
‘I thought it was the end of our relationship, but it wasn’t.’
Rebuilding their relationship. That was the goal of this trip.