Chapter 99: A Shocking Morning After A Steamy Night
"Remember the time when you asked me to let’s get married?"
While staring at the setting sun from atop a hill, Arthur grew somewhat nostalgic as he remembered the past, even though it had only just happened been three weeks.
He sat in silence with a woman’s head resting on his shoulder. It was Ivana, the one who had received that message. Beside him, she quietly watched the sunset alongside Arthur.
She replied with a chuckle.
"Ah, yes. I remember. How could I forget? When you stuttered and said, "W-wait, I just came back to my senses! No, we’re not going to get married. YET! I mean, I’d like to, but I want to get to know you first! Properly! I’ll invite you to dates!" and you held my hand after that, which caught me off guard. Your puppy-like eyes begged me, and lastly, you said, "I will make you happy". I somehow felt relieved."
Obviously, Arthur was a proper man, and he wanted to do things properly. If things didn’t work out, then they simply didn’t work out.
There was no need to force love from someone who didn’t love you back.
But oh, they sure as hell were wrong about each other. As they went on their dates, they discovered that their similarities and compatibility were so great that it almost scared them.
They both loved spending quality time together, talking nonstop, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Somehow, every moment they shared became one of the happiest memories of their lives.
They made that discovery after just one date, and it was enough for them to see each other the same way. The ongoing dates they had gone on over the past three weeks only strengthened their feelings and opinions with each other.
They enjoyed each other’s company. There was no denying it.
Arthur snickered and retorted humorously.
"Well, I don’t want to force you to love me. That’s why I will show you that I’m a genuine person. Something I did my best to show, and it delivers."
"A genuine person who wants to sleep with me?"
Ivana joked, trying to return his message humorously.
But somehow, it made Arthur quiet.
Arthur frowned, his heart slightly aching.
"No, Ivana. Really, it’s not like that. I’m just weak against beautiful women like you. I promised this to you. I have never thought of this relationship that way."
Seeing the slight change on Arthur’s face after she said those words, even though she meant it in a joking way, Ivana made a face of regret before apologizing.
"I’m sorry... I’m not mindful of my words..."
Arthur watched Ivana, and a small smile appeared on his face. She was the type of person who spoke whatever was on her mind, but when she was in the wrong, she apologized without hesitation. He felt that he had chosen the right person to be with.
It was a rare thing for women to do it.
Arthur then faced Ivana and gave her a tight hug before whispering in her ear.
"I don’t care if you’re in the wrong. I will always apologize to you."
Arthur released his hug before looking at Ivana’s face. Both their eyes stared at each other.
"However, please don’t think I’m that kind of person, even if it’s a joke. I don’t want you overthinking things unnecessarily."
Ivana’s heart softened, feeling as though it would burst from the reassurance he had given her. Unable to hold herself back any longer, she leaned forward and kissed Arthur on the lips. Their lips met in a tender kiss, silently conveying the feelings they could no longer put into words as the sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.
...
Their romantic evening didn’t end on the hill. Ivana invited Arthur to spend the night at her house. It was the first time she had ever invited him over, as she had been busy with work. She had only managed to secure today and tomorrow off after requesting leave.
Arthur quietly closed the door behind them. Without breaking their kiss, Ivana took his hand and led him upstairs to her room.
There were no breaks. The two felt the heat of the moment, never letting each other out of their grasp.
Arthur gently removed her clothes, revealing her stunning figure. The graceful curves of her body and her ample chest made Ivana avert her gaze, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
She was so beautiful.
"Touch me."
Ivana declared, in a rather embarrassed tone that made Arthur chuckle, and kissed her again. The two interloped and embraced each other’s warmth, feeling the intensity of their love.
"I love you, Ivana."
It was felt throughout the hours they were going at it.
The next thing Arthur knew, it was already morning.
"..."
Staring at the ceiling with an exhausted face as if his soul had been sucked dry, which indeed it had by a certain someone, Arthur then looked at Ivana, who was the perpetrator of his exhaustion.
Ivana looked like she had the best time of her life. She was smiling from ear to ear even while she was sleeping.
Arthur caressed her face. Just seeing her made all the exhaustion go, replaced with a deep affection for his beloved.
Tap—!
Suddenly, a knock came from outside, causing Arthur to turn toward the door before he realized who it might be.
’Must be her father.’
Arthur mused inwardly as he got out of bed and got dressed. Even though their relationship was no secret, he still hadn’t had the chance to meet her father, as both he and Ivana had been busy with work.
The same reason.
’I don’t know how to explain this, but I can’t just let his father continue knocking and have no response.’
Arthur looked back and saw Ivana sleeping soundly without a care in the world, making him realize that he would have to be the one to inform them.
’Good morning, I’m Arthur Potter. I own a small company called Old Timer Newspaper. Good morning, I’m—’
Just as Arthur was reciting his words, a face was revealed from outside that made him stop practicing at all.
His face looked stunned.
The person Arthur was looking at was just as shocked. His gaze then flicked towards the bed, where Ivana slept peacefully, before a devilish grin crept onto the old man’s face.
It was the Smiling Knight.
"H-huhhhhhh?!"
"Hey—"
Arthur immediately closed the door, at the same time, squeezed his eyes shut, and offered a silent prayer to the heavens that the visitor wasn’t the old man who had made it a habit to drop by every day on his Old Timer Newspaper since he and Ivana met each other.
Arthur then opened his eyes, then closed them again tightly when he realized that he wasn’t waking up beside Ivana.
He was still at the door that he had just closed.
’This annoying geezer!’
It was the only annoying part of an otherwise wonderful day.
’Aha! This geezer sneaked into Ivana’s house! That’s right, I will report you now! There’s definitely a valid reason! I’ll make the officials arrest you!’
Baaaang—!
The door was forced open, revealing the Smiling Knight letting out a haughty laugh as he looked at Arthur.
"Hahahaha! This is a great day, great day!"
Arthur immediately pointed his hand towards the Smiling Knight.
"You! Why are you here?! Have you had enough pestering people?!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Ughh!"
Arthur couldn’t help but feel the frustration building inside him until someone suddenly smacked him on the top of the head.
"Ow, what the—"
Arthur then saw it.
Hearing the commotion, Ivana hurried over without hesitation. Using the same hand that had smacked Arthur earlier, she immediately bonked the Smiling Knight on the head. Her body was already wrapped in the blanket they had used when they spent the night together.
’Huh...? She’s fast...?’
Arthur then saw Smiling Knight kneeling on the ground, his face droopy. He couldn’t help but look at his girlfriend with a slightly fearful face.
Ivana glared at both of them and cracked her neck. She immediately glared at the two.
"Hey, what the hell are you two doing, shouting like that in the morning, huh? I was having a good sleep! I was dreaming of a child with Arthur and you two... You two ruined it!"
Arthur couldn’t help but be taken aback, as that wasn’t the most important thing to mind at all. An intruder came to her house! Her attention should be directed to it.
"Uh, hey Ivana. Don’t you think you need to warn this guy about infiltrating your house? This is clearly burglary."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Ivana pointed at the Smiling Knight as though he were beneath her before a slight frown appeared on her face.
"Wait a minute. I thought my father said he already knew you. That’s why he arranged for us to meet and had me observe you for a week beforehand, since you were a potential partner for me. After all, I like proper men."
As if he had heard the biggest shock of his life, Arthur’s eyes widened to the point that if that wasn’t the limit of his face, it would’ve already extended through the roof.
Arthur slowly pointed at the Smiling Knight with shaking hands.
"You’re Ivana’s father?"
Smiling Knight scratched his head while letting out an awkward smile, feeling the intensity of his daughter’s glare just beside him.
"Hello. The name’s Ronald Decren. I’m indeed Ivana’s father. Who knows... You might become my future son-in-law."
Arthur’s mouth opened, then closed. He tried to speak again, but not a single word escaped his lips. Instead, he landed on his butt on the floor, unable to contain his shock.
"WHAAAAAAAAAT?!"