Someone who suits you better
“Sion…”
Mia could only gaze in astonishment as Sion, having just concluded a heart-stopping duel, approached her. She found herself at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond. Should she offer comfort? Express her anger at his audacity? Or perhaps…
Overwhelmed and bewildered, her thoughts raced in futile circles. Eventually, Sion came to a stop before her and quietly lowered his head. In a barely audible voice, he said, “I apologize, Mia, for exploiting your involvement in my schemes.”
“Exploiting me… for your schemes?”
“Yes. Echard mistakenly believed that I had some form of affection for you. Therefore, it was crucial for my parting gesture to him to end in my defeat, and a significant one at that. I had to make it seem like I was putting something irreplaceably dear to me on the line in order to teach him a valuable lesson.” He discreetly flashed her a grin. “Not a bad performance, I must say. I might have a future as an actor.”
“An actor? You were… acting”
Mia arched a questioning eyebrow, to which Sion shrugged.
“Indeed, and it seems I did a convincing job, given that I even managed to deceive you. Reluctant as your involvement may have been, it was essential to make this work, and for that, I am grateful. Thank you for playing along.”
With that, he turned and began to walk away, his pace indicating the strain behind his casual demeanor. A realization struck Mia, and she finally knew what she needed to do.
What I need to do is give Sion a much-needed lecture!
Mia assessed the situation. It was highly likely that Sion’s affection for her was genuine. What did that imply? In that case, he must have been sending subtle signals all along, possibly a way of saying, “I’m available for dates, just in case you were wondering…” She deduced that he had likely been playing a waiting game, hoping for her to make the first move. Unfortunately, this approach was doomed to fail. She knew from experience because in a previous timeline, she had played the same waiting game with him as the target, only to have all her signals go unnoticed.
Subtlety and waiting won’t work. Anne has made that clear; she’s my romance strategist. I need to be more direct with my signals. Modesty is important, but it shouldn’t hinder clear communication of my feelings!
Sion, on the other hand, was attempting to quash his feelings for her. While that was acceptable, the issue lay in how he framed it. He believed he was giving up on love for the sake of his brother, which was not the right perspective. His unrequited love was not due to his brother but his failure to make a genuine attempt to approach her.
Granted, I already have Abel, so even if he approached me correctly, it wouldn’t work out. But if he continues with his romantic pursuits like this, he’ll never succeed with anyone.
She knew the words he needed to hear, for they were the same ones she had heard when confronting her past failures. Anne had pointed out her own mistakes, helping her recognize that Sion’s initial aloofness was a result of her actions. Now, it was her turn. She needed to tell him that his approach was flawed, and that silent waiting wouldn’t earn him her attention. She must hear his confession clearly and honestly before turning him down; otherwise, he would likely repeat the same mistake in the future. Repeatedly facing the indifference of those he secretly admired would eventually break his heart, making him susceptible to manipulation by the Serpents.
Preventing this outcome was paramount.
As someone who had traversed the complex terrain of romance, it was her duty to educate him.
Mia, as a grown woman (technically), felt a responsibility to guide this young boy through the labyrinth of love and show him the way.
Well, that’s what she believed, anyway.
“Sion Sol Sunkland,” she said, her tone halting him in his tracks. “If you want to express gratitude, don’t try to humor me with excuses.”
Sion turned back towards her, taken aback.
“If you have something to say,” she continued, “say it. Speak from your heart, so I can respond from mine!”
“I…” Sion’s eyes registered silent astonishment for a moment before he regained his composure. “Hah… Alright, then. So be it.” He knelt before her and looked up, his voice carrying a gracefulness. “Princess Mia, may I have your hand?” he asked.
She extended her hand to him, and he took it gently, cradling it as if holding a precious treasure. Then…
“Forgive my heart, Your Highness,” he whispered as he pressed a tender kiss to the back of her hand. “It’s hopelessly drawn to you. You are the object of my sincere affection. Would you be willing to reciprocate my love?”
“Sion…”
Confronted with Sion’s heartfelt confession, adorned with ornate language that barely concealed his innocence, Mia struggled to maintain her adult composure. She reached deep within, searching for her inner calm, only to realize it had completely abandoned her.
“I-I h— Hem, ahem…”
She stumbled over her words, unable to quell the adorable clumsiness of his confession.
Calm down! I need to calm down! She thought, desperately trying to regain her composure. What I have to do now is… Turn him down! Yes, that’s it. I need to decline him quickly.
Her mind refocused, and she prepared to speak. Slowly. Carefully. But…
“Sion… Your duel with Abel was breathtaking. It truly was…”
The words flowed naturally, bypassing any deliberate selection. She found herself genuinely praising his duel.
“Losing wasn’t part of the plan, though,” he admitted with a wry smile.
Mia shook her head. “It was still an incredible duel, Sion. Just like you… You’re an incredible person.”
These were her unfiltered thoughts. For the first time in her life, she recognized, with absolute honesty, Sion’s remarkable qualities. She thought of the way he had dueled, adjusting his usual style to match Abel’s straightforward technique. She remembered how he had risked his life to save her from drowning, how he had faced the wolfmaster to protect her, and how he had acknowledged his mistakes and continued to strive forward despite the pain and guilt…
In the previous timeline, she had only seen his external elegance. Now, she saw the genuine charm it concealed. And she couldn’t help but wonder… What if?
What if things had been a little different? Could she have fallen for him? If she had mustered the courage in her previous life to take that crucial first step and approach him as her true, unguarded self, could they have shared a future?
No use pondering that now… I need to respond to him properly.
She took one final breath, allowed her nerves to settle, and looked at him with fresh eyes.
“You’re an amazing person, Sion. That’s why… I’m certain you’ll find a more suitable partner,” she recalled the words she had once uttered at a dance party. “Someone who suits you better than I do.” This time, she meant it. She believed that there was someone out there perfectly suited for Sion, and she genuinely wished him the best. It was a parting gift from her to him.
“…I see,” Sion said with a smile. “Very well. They are your words, after all. I’ll do my best to believe them.”
With that, he walked away.
“Prince Sion…”
A pair of concerned eyes watched him depart, brows furrowed with worry. They belonged to…
