Chapter 146. After Quitting Being Your Rival (12)
(Annabelle’s pov)
That night, Ian and I met freely for the first time and went on something called a date.
This was because after the friendly match, a large night market was opened for the thrilled tourists.
Without being aware of other people’s eyes, we were looking around, buying and eating what we wanted.
“Now, it will be uncomfortable to eat, so give it to me.”
I was eating a long meat skewer, but when I ate the top part and left the skewer, Ian carefully cut it with a sword like a ghost.
“Thank you, Ian.”
The people around us kept glancing because it was strange to see Ian, who kindly wasted his talent with a sword for me to eat.
No, if he showed everyone that he loved and cared for me in such a creative way…
Having spent an unloved childhood, I loved that so much that I fell in love with Ian even more.
“It’s really nice to be relaxed. It’s the life I’ve been dreaming of.”
Except for the fact that other people’s gazes were pouring in, it was the daily life I really wanted.
I was always crazy about swordsmanship, so I couldn’t do everything others were doing.
Now, all the villains who tormented me and my family had reached prison endings, so there was no longer any aptitude or brain cells for me to use.
I would continue to practice swordsmanship, but I was going to live my daily life like today, enjoying life with the people I love without thinking about anything.
‘Tomorrow, I’ll have to send a letter to Yuina too. Let’s have tea time.’
I was not used to it, but I was thinking of making friends.
Really, just as I longed for.
“What else do ordinary lovers do?”
Ian asked seriously. Then he looked around and began to observe others.
Like a lively night market, couples were enjoying various events here and there.
“Would you like me to win a doll out of the inflatable balloon with the dart over there?”
“Ian.”
I sighed and said.
“The moment you go on the pitch, that merchant will…”
“If not… Shall we go to the arm wrestling competition and win prizes?”
“Conscientiously, let’s not massacre civilians in a place like this.”
At my words, Ian rubbed his forehead as if in pain.
“Ah… You said at the banquet that you like ordinary men…”
Ian’s memory was so great that he could recall the conversation before that kiss.
When I think of that night, I could only remember us kissing.
“I want to let you experience everything that ordinary lovers do, but it must be so difficult…”
I tapped him on the shoulder and reassured him.
“I am no longer an ordinary woman. I gave up on it in this lifetime.”
Still, when we passed, people cheered not only Ian but also looked at me and handed over gifts.
No, as of today, there were far more people who looked at me with ecstatic eyes than Ian.
Not surprisingly, when the issue of awarding titles came up after the awards ceremony was over, I came up with an answer that everyone did not expect.
“I love living as Annabelle Rainfield right now. I’m not even thinking about becoming a noble at all, I think it’s okay not to have a title.”
In fact, the awarding of the title itself was quite complicated.
The winner of the swordsmanship contest was Aaron anyway, but he was my substitute, and the friendly match winner in the meantime was me.
Therefore, in this unprecedented situation, while everyone was at a loss as to how and to whom the title should be awarded, I nailed it by saying, ‘I don’t need a title’.
To be honest, having a title didn’t mean anything great happened.
I didn’t need anything more in my life. Even if that was what I’d been hoping for for 8 years.
‘No, actually, Caitlyn and Reid must have wanted it, not me.’
I had a family who cared for me unconditionally and a lover who truly loved me, so I had nothing more to ask for.
This was agreed upon with Aaron in advance because Aaron’s title would’ve been given if he won the competition.
“I can live a good enough life as a commoner and one of the strongest as a swordsman. So, there is no need to receive a title in an ambiguous situation.”
At those words, Maiena said that she was moved and wept.
After it was all over, she came to me and apologized over and over again for being nosy about Robert in the past.
“It was true that you showed me the trajectory of life, Miss Annabelle. I was so moved. It made me think again about the path I had to walk. And I’m really sorry for arbitrarily arranging marriage between you and the Imperial Family in the past…”
“That was really regrettable. Really.”
Ian answered though.
Of course, my parents did not express their refusal to my title, but they seemed to be relieved.
It was because my parents were still worried that I would be inwardly disappointed that I was a commoner’s daughter and not a nobleman’s daughter.
In the meantime, I was more worried because the Marquis of Abedes had been talking in vulgar words about the blood of lowly commoners. But I was proud to finally shake the feeling of needing a title off toward everyone.
“Well, since we confessed to each other in front of so many people, it’s difficult for both of us to compete for superiority when we are not ordinary. So let’s just think about each other’s uniqueness.”
I finally finished eating the meat off of the skewers and said cheerfully.
I was talking here and there that I really don’t like flashy relationships, but when I came to my senses, I was in the most flashy relationship in the Empire.
Well… Life didn’t always go my way, so I had to accept it.
“I could just hold your hand like this and walk through the capital.”
“I don’t mind it.”
Ian shrugged his shoulders and answered.
“Anyway, we have to part with each other on our way home tonight. Give me your hand, and I will clean it.”
In the meantime, he took out a handkerchief and said he would wipe my hands that had sauce on them.
I smiled as I watched him gently wiping my hands.
‘It was nice to mention the wedding as well. If I hadn’t told him that I felt the same way, he would have been a little dazed by saying that he wouldn’t put a burden on me based on his personality.’
Of course… Apart from that nervousness, the marriage would have progressed rather quickly.
I was definitely going to refuse, but I couldn’t forget the moment I was kissing Ian.
And a good swordsman would never repeat the mistakes of the past.
‘This time, I really wanted to lead it. After all, if I can live happily ever after, my wedding date would have been set, but I shouldn’t be swept away by a proposal from the men of the Wade family.’
The idea of receiving a medal at the awards ceremony and giving it to Ian came to mind as soon as I heard that the friendly match had been held.
This was because in the original, there was a scene where the male lead gave it to the female lead.
Even if the original was completely different, Ian Wade would forever be my male lead. (tl/n: I can’t stop crying where are the tissues)
I was now holding his hand in this happy moment that I had gained from quitting on being his rival.
Read only at pm tl.
‘It’s not like we’re going to get married right away anyway, but we have to convince them.’
When I thought of my father who was crying, saying that it would be better to get married slowly, it would not be right to set a date right away.
In fact, there was another couple who were likely to get married right away.
‘Isn’t the proposal supposed to happen today?’
It was Aaron and Cessianne.
As I was going out to the night market, I secretly asked where Aaron was going, in case he and I might overlap.
“Oh, don’t worry, it will never overlap.”
“How do you know if it will overlap or not? Tell me now. It’s unacceptable to have Aaron Rainfield on my first date.”
“We are in the same position with each other. I do not want my sister on my date, especially today.”
Aaron shrugged his shoulders and said.
“Didn’t you give me the role of a hostage in front of Cessianne? Only you showed up very nicely. Of course, it was a role that suited my aptitude.”
I quickly noticed that. Seeing that the word ‘today’ was added, it meant that it was a different date than usual.
Besides, what special event would there be next given the decorations?
My parents were great because they brought her out of the temple quickly, put her to sleep in a good place, and fed her something good.
It was a time when I was excited to welcome a new family member soon.
I then felt a foreign sensation in the place where the handkerchief disappeared.
“Huh… This…?”
Ian was putting a ring on my fourth finger. Just then, fireworks exploded in the night sky and started to flash.
“I told you, I wanted to put a ring on your hand for quite a while. So I’m doing it myself.”
He smiled and looked into my eyes.
“What do you think? Is this a bit like an ordinary lover?”
I looked at the ring that fit my finger perfectly, and in the end I chuckled and laughed.
The ring was finely crafted with swords facing each other.
“I explained the design myself. I went to the most capable person in the capital, and they said it was their first time making something like this.”
Ian added seriously.
“What do you think? It’s beautiful.”
“Yes it is.”
Come to think of it, I also wondered why people don’t engrave swords on their jewelry.
“I will go home and ask my mother. Why isn’t the sword-shaped lace a trend?”
Regardless of our taste, it was a design that ordinary lovers were unlikely to wear anyway. However…
“Anyway, it’s so good. I love it!”
I wanted to capture each other’s narratives symbolically somewhere. Wouldn’t all lovers be the same?
I smiled as I looked at the ring of the same shape on Ian’s hand.
There was nothing more I wanted and nothing more to achieve, so it was a comfortable night.
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