022. Distortion (3)
“I like it.”
In response to Owen’s affirmation, Lucia immediately posed a question.
“May I ask why you like it?”
After all, she had come to the mansion to ask him various things and find out more about him.
This was just the beginning, a simple question.
“As I mentioned before, because it’s beautiful.”
“Red roses, right?”
“Yeah.”
Lucia narrowed her eyes at the same answer as before.
She felt that this reason was somehow lacking.
She needed a more definite answer.
Not just a feeling, but clear evidence.
Evidence that he thought of her differently from others.
“Is there no other reason? Like a trigger that made you think it’s pretty.”
“Well… I just felt drawn to it.”
Owen finally realized her intention with the repeated questions.
So, he decided not only to answer but to add something more.
Since it seemed like she would know what he wanted to say.
“I thought it resembled someone I care about.”
“…”
Someone he cares about.
It was an overly explicit statement.
Even if he said that the person he was talking about wasn’t Lucia, it was enough to cause misunderstandings.
Lucia knew.
That Owen was not foolish enough to be unaware that the words he brought up could lead to misunderstandings.
“So, I mean, someone who matters to me.”
Upon realizing that fact, the sound of her heartbeat became incomparably louder than before.
Not only that, but the speed increased, creating an illusion that the surroundings were pulsating. In the midst of this, Lucia managed to voice her question to Owen once again.
She wanted to know more. Although she could already guess his intentions, she wanted a more clear and detailed story. She didn’t want vague assumptions but absolute certainty.
“Yeah.”
Owen responded, his lips curling as he looked into Lucia’s eyes.
Lucia’s red eyes now contained a tremor that hadn’t been visible before. In those slightly trembling eyes, there were various emotions that were not easy to decipher.
It was challenging to grasp everything contained within them, but one thing was certain—there was not a hint of negativity.
“So, my gaze was drawn, and I grew to like it, to the extent that it occupies many parts of what I have.”
He wanted to overflow with emotions uncontrollably. It might have been a malicious act, but without doing so, Lucia wouldn’t feel reassured. It didn’t seem like she would gain any certainty without it.
So, without certainty and assurance about the fact that she was a meaningful presence for him, regardless of her actions…
“What I have,” he added.
It was a series of confusing words that pushed the boundaries of confusion. The continuous flow of words seemed as if he wanted to be fully immersed in the rich fragrance. Lucia, holding onto her escaping reason, pressed her lips together.
“Yeah. The cufflinks you gave me are the same.”
Owen decided to add more fuel to Lucia’s repeated questioning. He lifted the teacup intentionally to show the area around his wrist. He wanted the single cufflink on his sleeve to be clearly visible.
“This teacup is the same.”
Then, he lightly shook the teacup to emphasize. Only now did Lucia’s gaze turn to the teacup.
“Ah…”
Only after Owen mentioned it did Lucia examine the shape of the teacup more closely. While she knew the teacup was of a reddish hue, she hadn’t considered the detailed aspects beyond that.
She hadn’t thought about scrutinizing the other trivial details because Owen occupied her mind.
The surface of the teacup and saucer featured an elegant, sophisticated pattern of red roses, which was not a design commonly produced within the empire. It was a high-quality teacup adorned with patterns typical of those used in continents across the sea, making it appear not easily obtainable.
“I went to see the merchandise from a business associate, and it caught my eye. That’s when I bought it.”
Whether Owen read Lucia’s curious gaze about how he obtained it or not, he immediately added an explanation as soon as she finished speaking.
“I see…”
Upon Owen’s explanation, Lucia extended the end of her words and gripped the teacup. She then carefully lifted it and gently explored the surface with her fingers.
The teacup, adorned with vivid red roses, undoubtedly seemed associated with the Edelt family. The Edelt family’s symbolic color was red, and thus, red flowers were often used during their parties. Among them, roses were considered the most frequently used.
“Why did you think roses resembled that person?”
While Lucia fiddled with the teacup, she opened her mouth again. Even though Owen’s words so far had left her unsettled, she still felt something crucial was missing.
She didn’t want to rush into a decision, only to be disappointed later. Such a pitiful situation wouldn’t be acceptable.
“Well… defining it precisely is difficult.”
In response to Lucia’s question, Owen tapped his chin with his index finger slowly. Why did he think roses resembled Lucia? It was a question he had never pondered before. He simply thought she resembled roses the moment he saw them for the first time.
It wasn’t just his subjective impression.
Everyone gathered and spoke.
Lucia was said to be like a fiercely red thorned rose.
Many people used this expression negatively. They described her as a villain who, although causing harm to others with untrimmed thorns, ultimately was just a flower that would wither easily if broken.
Originally, as a character in a novel, she occupied such a position, so that description seemed fitting in a way.
However, Owen did not think of Lucia as resembling a rose for those reasons.
“Perhaps it’s the splendor. Or maybe the atmosphere.”
Owen pondered while recalling the commonalities between roses and Lucia. Roses were vibrant like Lucia, with a strong fragrance and distinct color. Simultaneously, they shared similar atmospheres.
“Regardless of what it is, it may not be essential.”
Lost in thought for a while, Owen lowered the teacup and looked directly at Lucia.
Then, his dark eyes entwined with Lucia’s gaze.
“Because, Lucia.”
Locking eyes deeply, Owen softly pronounced her name.
Lucia silently met his gaze, her red eyes clear and profound.
“To like something, you don’t need such significant reasons.”
Owen squarely met her gaze, desiring to fully confront her emotionally charged red eyes.
“Just good things come into view afterward, and we name them as reasons.”
These words were enough to cause a significant misunderstanding.
Owen was well aware of that fact, yet he simply smiled beautifully, his eyes gently curved.
Then, he spoke again.
“I want to be certain. There’s still much I don’t know.”
This time, all the words he spoke were true.
Indeed, he still had much to learn, especially about his own feelings.
About how he regarded Lucia, the difference between fan sentiment and the emotion of love.
He was still confused and bewildered.
Adding Lucia’s concerns to the mix, his worries overflowed to the point of becoming overwhelming.
“Whether it’s just being concerned or if it’s something else.”
Owen wanted to be honest with Lucia, both to give her confidence and to learn more about himself.
“So, if you’re okay with it, I want to know more about you.”
* * *
Upon receiving the search team’s report through the communication device, Owen immediately left the tent as soon as he finished speaking.
He apologized to Lucia and sought her understanding, but Lucia was not in a state to hear his words.
‘Right now…’
Only after several minutes passed since Owen left the tent did Lucia finally come to her senses.
She clutched the teacup tightly, unable to calm her excited emotions.
‘He said it’s about me being concerned.’
Perhaps because it was hard to believe, Lucia’s fingertips still showed a slight tremor.
“Ha.”
Lucia clenched her trembling hand into a fist to calm herself, then covered her face with both hands.
‘Finally.’
Rubbing her face with her hands, Lucia felt a strong thrill.
Although her heart was still pounding uncontrollably, the type of emotions she was experiencing was clear.
‘I thought it might be something I can’t have.’
Honestly, Owen might feel that he can’t have it.
It wasn’t that he had given up, but his actions seemed to indicate that he didn’t care about her.
Not only was he indifferent to her, but he also seemed to have no thoughts about any of her actions.
However, one day he attended her tea party.
He began to respond to her requests and show reactions to her actions.
He, who was gradually changing, gave her some hope.
Yes, that was how it seemed.
But she didn’t know that it would come to this so suddenly.
Lucia, who had long tried to obtain Owen, felt that it happened in an instant, even to her.
‘I don’t dislike it.’
No, she didn’t dislike it. On the contrary, she liked it.
‘I’ve been waiting for so long.’
She had invested so much time and effort to have him.
She had never invested such a long time in acquiring something.
A few months at most.
However, the time she spent chasing Owen amounted to a full three years.
It would have been after quite some time after obtaining him that her interest would completely wane.
She might even have forgotten the fact that she tried to have him.
‘Still, it’s not complete yet. I need to take more time.’
While Owen had clearly stated that he was concerned about her, he had also mentioned that he needed assurance because he wasn’t sure.
It meant that he intended to continue meeting her for some time, but it also implied that he might change his mind at some point.
‘I need to make him sure. To make him think of me as a special person.’
The uncertain future was worrisome, but Lucia was quite confident.
She was confident that she could deeply engrave her existence in him.
It wasn’t the first time she tried to have someone.
If she couldn’t delve into the gaps of a person who opened up like this, it meant that person was foolish.
