NOVEL WEB Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Weapon
The sky dimmed as the bright, blazing sun gave way to a crescent moon and scattered stars, painting a serene and picturesque celestial canvas.
The waves roared softly, accompanied by the gentle rustle of the wind.
Sssss—
Kiana sipped on a warm drink, watching Sigurd carefully place a plump, bright red strawberry atop a tower of stacked fruits.
"All done. A colorful fruit cake... Take your time eating, and don't choke," Sigurd said calmly as he pushed the delicately arranged fruit tower cake toward her.
A fork and knife appeared in Kiana's hands.
"(๑´ڡ`๑) Amazing! Where should I even start?!"
The beautiful presentation and vibrant color combinations left Kiana momentarily hesitant. Coupled with the fact that Sigurd had spent considerable time creating the masterpiece, she was reluctant to destroy it.
Sigh
Sigurd shook his head and took hold of Kiana's hand wielding the knife. With a few swift movements, he sliced the fruit cake into eight neat portions.
"Ah! You cut it! Sig, you're so cruel!"
"Cruel? You've got quite the imagination. It was just for fun—it's meant to be eaten anyway."
He lightly tapped her head as he replied in his usual deadpan tone.
Kiana cheekily stuck out her tongue.
"Hehe! Time to divvy it up! One for Sig… one for Kiana… Sigurd's done… and the rest is all for Kiana!"
After a dramatic mock distribution, a lonely piece of cake sat on Sigurd's plate, while Kiana hugged the remaining portions with both arms, claiming ownership over the lot.
Sigurd glanced down at his solitary slice, his face expressionless, then reached out and pinched Kiana's cheeks.
"Fairness seems to be your strong suit," he said in a flat tone, tugging gently at her face.
"Yaaa~ Ouch ouch~"
"...Childish."
Sigurd released his grip.
Kiana looked relieved, then broke into a bright smile.
"Thank you, Sig."
"Don't let it happen again. And don't eat too many sweets at night."
"Yes, sir~"
She chirped back happily, licking her lips before digging in with gusto.
After a day filled with swimming, gazing at the sea, fishing, and playing chess, Kiana's mood was visibly soaring. But the primary reason, as always, was simply being by Sigurd's side.
Her sparkling eyes reflected her happiness, and Sigurd couldn't help but smile as he took a bite of his own cake.
The cake was rich and creamy, with a perfectly balanced blend of fruit flavors—sweet but not cloying. A culinary masterpiece, thanks to Sigurd's meticulous approach to ingredient selection, proportions, and timing.
As he watched Kiana devour the cake, whipped cream dotted the corners of her mouth and even her soft, round cheeks. Unable to ignore the mess, Sigurd set down his fork.
"Slow down. Nobody's taking it from you," he said with mild exasperation as he reached out to wipe away a spot of cream from her face with his finger.
Kiana looked up, blinking in confusion, her cheeks puffed as she continued chewing happily.
Her single-minded focus on enjoying the dessert made her look irresistibly adorable.
Sigurd paused, then, almost on impulse, placed the cream he had wiped off her face into his mouth.
"Sweet," he commented casually, though it wasn't clear whether he meant the cream or Kiana herself.
In an instant, Kiana's face turned bright red.
"N-No… D-Don't ambush me like that!!"
Kiana crossed her arms in front of her chest, still holding the knife and fork, turning her flushed face to the side in a feeble defensive stance.
In truth, she couldn't defend herself at all. The sweetness spreading through her heart far outweighed the cake in her mouth.
"Go ahead, eat. Take it slow so you don't choke," Sigurd said with a faint smile, pushing his nearly untouched slice of cake toward her.
That gentle smile, paired with his soft gaze, was a rare sight even for Kiana.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her head, pretending to focus on eating the cake at a slower pace to hide her emotions and disarray.
<+>
Half an hour later, the two lay side by side on a soft blanket spread across the yacht's deck, gazing up at the moon and stars.
Kiana patted her stomach lightly with a contented sigh, a smile spreading across her face.
"Ahhh! A seafood feast and fruit cake—I'm stuffed. I don't think I can eat another bite today."
"Don't pat your stomach after eating; it's not a good habit," Sigurd chided her instinctively, taking her hand and lowering it back down. Then, without letting go, he intertwined their fingers.
Kiana chuckled, turning to look at Sigurd's deep, ocean-blue eyes.
"Sig, are you happy?"
"Yes," he replied simply.
"That's great. I'm really happy too! It's wonderful being able to go out with you."
"There's plenty of time ahead; there'll be more chances."
"Yeah! I'm really looking forward to them!"
Her voice was full of energy as she turned her gaze back to the night sky, letting out another contented sigh before closing her eyes. She relished the cool sea breeze brushing her face—and the warmth of Sigurd's hand in hers.
The night deepened, and the moon climbed to its zenith.
Then, as if waking from a dream, Kiana—who had been lying still and silent—opened her eyes.
"Sig, something's on your mind, isn't it? There's something you want to tell me, right?"
Turning her head, she smiled sweetly, her voice soft and melodic, carrying a rare gentleness.
Sigurd tightened his grip on her hand and mirrored her posture.
"You noticed?"
"Of course. We grew up together—nobody knows you better than I do."
She giggled lightly, her gaze shining with affection.
Sigurd let out a long sigh.
"Are you sure you want to hear it now?"
"Mond Town is a special place for us. I want it to be just the two of us when we go there, and I want the things we do and say there to be about just us. So, tell me now. What's been bothering you these past few days?"
Her tone was tender and reassuring, laced with an understanding maturity that contrasted with her usual playful demeanor.
After a brief silence, Sigurd interlocked his fingers with hers more firmly and began.
"Well… while you were away these past couple of weeks…"
"Mm?"
"I… confirmed my relationship with Bronya."
"'Confirmed your relationship'? What does that even mean…?"
Kiana asked dumbly, her eyes widening as she stared up at the stars. Silence enveloped them as she processed his words, their clasped hands the only connection between them.
After a long pause, Kiana spoke in an eerily calm tone.
"I see. I never would've guessed Bronya had feelings like that. She hides it so well."
Her overly composed reaction caught Sigurd off guard.
And then, he saw it: a single tear slipping down from the corner of her eye, soaking into the blanket below.
…
"Kiana."
"Hm? What is it, Bronya?"
"…I'm sorry."
"(°ー°〃)???"
"There's something I must apologize for. But the only thing I can offer you is this apology. Beyond that, I don't regret my actions, nor will I back down."
"(⊙▽⊙)???"
"In any case, enjoy your vacation. We'll talk more later."
"┐(´-｀)┌…"
…
Last night, before their departure, Bronya had said those cryptic words, leaving Kiana utterly baffled at the time.
Now, she finally understood what they meant.
"This is too much…"
"Way too much…"
"You knew I couldn't leave Sig. You knew I couldn't hate you, didn't you?"
"You're bullying me…"
"Both of you are bullying me!!!"
Overwhelmed by an unbearable sense of injustice, Kiana finally broke down. She released Sigurd's hand, covered her face with both hands, and began sobbing uncontrollably.
Sigurd sat up and gently reached out to wipe away the tears that had seeped through her fingers and streaked her face.
He had vowed to protect her, yet here he was, causing her pain.
"Kiana, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize!"
She swatted his hand away and shouted through her tears, her voice trembling with emotion.
Sigurd had done so much for her—far more than she could ever count. So, no, he had no reason to apologize. Not ever.
Turning to her side, Kiana curled into a ball, her body shaking as her sobs continued unabated.
Sigurd opened his mouth to speak, but for the first time, his usually sharp mind went completely blank. No words of comfort came to him.
Once again, he realized that the most devastating weapon in the world—one he was utterly powerless against—was Kiana's tears. Especially those tears he had caused.
<+>
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