The school was going underway towards the annual festival held by the school. The residents of the island that were grateful for our reforms towards the sewage issues and safety agreed to open up some stalls as well.
I asked Garett to accompany me to a cafe with a half off cake deals for couples.
"My mother and father are coming this year," I told Garett.
"That is great news. I am happy for you, Arielle," Garett said.
"I was thinking of informing them that we have gone steady in our relationship," I said quietly.
Garett began coughing softly into his fist.
"Come again?" Garett asked.
His face was completely red.
"...Was I mistaken?" I asked.
"A-Arielle, I do think of you fondly, and it would be great for us to advance in our relationship...It is just that meeting of the parents would that not lead to talks of marriage?" Garett asked.
Marriage...I suppose that since we are Nobles of marriageable age, there is only one route for two young people that are seeing each other.
"My parents surely will not pressure us into anything we are not ready for. We have not done anything that we should be ashamed about either. If my feelings for you are too heavy, please tell me now. I will apologize and step back into my boundaries," I said.
"...Come to think of it, neither of us have properly confessed our feelings for each other. This may be the reason for the vagueness in our relationship," Garett said.
"I suppose that I should be the first to confess my feelings, Garett," I said seriously.
"That is a job left to men usually..."
"In this situation, I am clearly the one who is out to court you first...Should I go to your parents' home and ask for permission to become steady with you?" I asked.
"Courting? I do not recall being courted by you, Arielle," Garett pondered.
"I have no other words to describe my time with you. I have made you go on a date with me, I entered your room, I made you sleep in the same bed as me, and I embraced you with your permission...If that is not courting, I do not know what is," I said.
"Some of that was not even because of you...So, you were aware of your actions then?"
"Charlotte told me that I was subconsciously courting you by my actions. I have reflected and now I would like to apologize for being oblivious then," I said.
"Arielle, it only counts if it was intentional..."
"I see."
That makes sense.
"I would greatly appreciate it if you just learn from your mistakes," he said as his eyebrows scrunched up slightly.
"Mistakes lie with experiencing those things with someone I am not intimate with. It is no problem if we are on an intimate level," I said half jokingly.
"Oh? How about we perform intimate acts right after our meal? We will surely work off the calories we ingested earlier much easier together than when we are apart," Garett suggested.
I was not expecting that kind of response...
I thought for sure that Garett would give me an innocent blush. I did not think that I would receive such a strong response from him. Now, I am the one blushing.
"...Please forgive me for being careless with my words," I said to clear the hot air.
"As long as you are self-reflecting," Garett said with a slightly teasing voice.
It is not like I was unknown to physical contact from my memories with my husband. It is just that I was probably Garett's first lover. I should treat him with more tact and adjust my pace to his.
"I am," I said as I sipped my tea.
I stared at his beautiful long fingers as he graced his cake with his beautiful fork skills.
I do not think I would particularly mind if he wanted to do intimate things with me...
"Arielle...I have something I have to ask," Garett said.
"Yes?" I said as I snapped my eyes back to his.
"You are still in love with that guy, right?" Garett asked.
I twitched slightly.
Could I ever forget him?
Garett looked as if he shriveled slightly.
"...I knew the answer already, but your reaction hurt me a little," Garett said.
That was a bit too blunt...
"My apologies..."
"If you like Prince Erik more, why choose me?" Garett asked.
"...When I think of the future, I want to be by your side. It may appear that I may be acting on my feelings right now, but I simply want to share my time with you for as long as you will allow me to," I said with a smile.
"Maybe not now...I hope that your feelings will change to the point where you consider me the most important person in your life," Garett said.
I want that too...