Treat the Second Male Lead Like a Stone

The casual café exploration ended in confusion.

Finally freed from desert captivity, Leon, looking utterly exhausted, offered an apology.

“Bianca, I'm sorry.”

“Huh? It's alright.”

“I should’ve checked things out better.”

Meanwhile, Ricardo, the source of all this trouble, wore a relaxed expression.

As if that wasn't enough….

“I don’t need any thanks.”

He even went as far as saying that!

“Of course, if you're insisting, I have no reason to refuse.”

“……Hah.”

Leon completely gave up on speaking with Ricardo, realizing too late that rational conversation was impossible.

Even Leon, who had never lost to Cedric, gave in.

“You said you had somewhere to go?”

That had actually been an excuse.

Though I felt a bit guilty, I did intend to visit the Magic Tower if I had time, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

“Isn't excluding others from a conversation considered rude?”

“Haah…….”

Leon shut his eyes as if thoroughly exasperated.

“N-now, let's just head back.”

“Alright. I’ll write to you.”

When Leon continued, I hurriedly interjected.

“I’ll write first.”

Because there were things I hadn't managed to say today.

Leon’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I'll look forward to it.”

After seeing Leon off, I immediately began walking.

But soon after, I let out a deep sigh and turned around.

Ricardo, whose eyes met mine, lightly shrugged.

“……Didn't you say you wouldn't stoop to something as vulgar as stalking this time?”

“I have absolutely no intention of doing such a thing.”

“Then how should I interpret the current situation?”

“Consider it a gentleman’s courtesy in escorting a lady on her dangerous walk home.”

This man, seriously….

“A gentleman wouldn’t rudely intrude upon a lady's prior engagements.”

“I’ve never learned manners, so I wasn't aware it was rude.”

His tone made it clear he didn't care how ridiculous his excuse sounded.

I glanced at the envelope he held in his hand.

‘He must have picked that up when he briefly left the café earlier….’

While I silently observed him, Ricardo approached me.

After fiddling with the envelope for a moment, he asked cautiously.

“……What exactly is your relationship with that man?”

“I already told you, he's like family.”

“Family, huh.”

Ricardo quietly repeated my words.

“I hope you won't do this again in the future. Today, I had something important I really needed to discuss with my brother….”

“I refuse.”

He interrupted me abruptly with a firm answer.

“Why are you answering like that?”

“Because I don't like it.”

There wasn't even the slightest hesitation this time either.

Maintaining his indifferent expression, he continued calmly.

“If you're thinking about abandoning me, just forget it.”

“…….”

“It would be quicker for you to end my life instead.”

What on earth was he talking about?

Was it because I mentioned having somewhere to return to?

“As if I'd ever do something like that.”

I sighed deeply and shook my head side to side.

Would there ever come a day when I could speak honestly with Ricardo?

“I wouldn’t mind if it were you.”

“That's enough.”

Did he really have to take a joke this seriously?

Yet, his face held no hint of teasing as he looked at me.

Seeing my hesitation, Ricardo shifted the conversation.

“Where did you say you were headed?”

“Ah, actually I was thinking of stopping by the Magic Tower briefly.”

“Oh, you've developed quite an interest in magic, it seems.”

“Absolutely not!”

I responded irritably, then stared directly into Ricardo’s face.

Now that I thought about it, he was also fairly close with Idette.

“By chance, about Lady Idette……”

Without thinking, I started speaking and then froze.

Oh, damn it.

This was also a sensitive topic.

It was already too late to retract my words.

Ricardo’s expression had hardened instantly.

“……I know nothing about that woman. We weren't close in the past, nor will we be in the future.”

Only an awkward silence lingered.

My mind kept insisting it wasn't a big deal, yet somehow I couldn't bring myself to speak.

I’d never heard Ricardo’s circumstances from him directly, but I understood regardless.

‘……Wouldn't that be enough?’

Why did I feel this way now that I'd finally come to understand Ricardo as I'd hoped?

Yet, part of me kept questioning it.

Was this really right?

“I-It’s nothing important. I was just curious about Idette.”

“I didn’t mean to blame you. It's just... that mentioning that woman isn't pleasant for me.”

…Was he being considerate toward me?

But did Ricardo realize?

That those eyes, filled with remorse over past events, made me feel even more suffocated.

It wasn’t pleasant being constantly interrupted, unable even to comfortably hold a conversation.

I knew Ricardo had wronged me. And that when he’d come seeking forgiveness, I had turned him away.

We were both still stuck in that terrible day when everything had fallen apart.

But I couldn’t figure out where we were supposed to start fixing things. I clenched and unclenched my fists repeatedly before carefully opening my mouth.

“Idette and I have become good friends. It’s not an uncomfortable subject.”

Ricardo stared at me as though unable to comprehend what I'd just said.

“That doesn’t erase my wrongdoing.”

“…Are you saying you’ll always act cautious around me?”

“If that’s what you wish, yes.”

Did he genuinely think that's what I wanted?

“Isn't that just your way of making things easier for yourself?”

“Easier for myself?”

Ricardo echoed my words and ran a hand over his face.

“I simply thought actions were better than empty apologies.”

He changed the subject, clearly unwilling to talk further about Idette.

“More than that, I—”

For some reason, Ricardo’s voice seemed distant.

Maybe this was for the best.

We wouldn't waste emotions fighting anymore.

It was certainly better than back then, wasn’t it?

…No, was it really better?

‘No. I wanted to hear Ricardo’s story.’

Not the character that existed only in print, but the real, breathing person beside me—I wanted his story.

At last, I'd found my answer.

We couldn't keep glossing things over this way.

When I remained silent, fear washed over his face.

“……”

His pale, trembling hand extended an envelope toward me.

“It's chocolate. Your favorite.”

When I didn't move to accept it, Ricardo forcibly placed the gift into my hands.

“And also, for your sake…”

Ricardo’s words trailed off. His face looked as though he might cry at any moment.

“Bianca, I don’t know what to do when you make that face.”

His now-chilled hand clumsily grasped mine.

“…You know it too, don’t you? That we can’t continue like this.”

Ricardo hesitated at my words.

“Then let me be honest first. I have somewhere I must return.”

I clenched my fists tightly.

“That's why, already overwhelmed by my own troubles, I didn't want to listen to you.”

I knew these weren’t words he wanted to hear—words that perhaps didn't need to be spoken.

But if I wasn't honest first, Ricardo wouldn't come closer either.

“It was already difficult enough, but it's true I was tormented by seeing you close with Idette. That’s why I wanted to break our engagement.”

Ricardo stared at me as if he’d forgotten how to breathe. Yet I didn't stop speaking.

“It must have been the same for you. Being forcibly engaged to the girl who tormented you in childhood—how horrible must that have been?”

“I've never thought like that…”

“You said you'd never lie. Even if you had your reasons—”

At that moment, Ricardo’s expression twisted as though hearing something terrible.

“Whatever reasons I had, those were just my circumstances. You looked as though you might crumble at any moment, so how could I shamelessly make excuses?”

“Listen to me until the end! It's true I resented you, but I'm fine now!”

“…!”

“I don’t want excuses. I just want to move past what happened!”

My lips trembled.

“If you’re going to act like nothing happened, then just treat me casually from now on…!”

I clenched my teeth, stepping toward him.

“Is constantly worrying about my feelings, unable even to speak honestly—is that really what you wanted?”