CHAPTERE 156…………………………………………………
The Most Perfect Year
After the sound of lips brushing against a cheek, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of waves.
The noise had spread louder than she expected…
‘W-what do I do…?’
She was the one who did it, yet her face burned with embarrassment.
When she hurriedly stepped back, Ares simply stared down at her in silence, his lips pressed tightly together.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low and subdued.
“Just now… that was…”
“We used to do at least this much when we were kids, didn’t we?”
“……”
“I’m just… not good at expressing things with words…”
“……”
Sion awkwardly rambled on, trying desperately to explain herself.
But even as time passed, he didn’t say a single thing.
In the end, unable to endure his intense gaze any longer, she forcefully shook off his hand.
Then she shrieked so loudly it rang like metal.
“I-I’m going to the annex palace first!”
“What?!”
“You! Stay here and come later!”
“Sion, wait—”
“No! It’s an order. Stay here for ten more minutes before you come out!”
Even while yelling, she couldn’t bring herself to look at him properly.
She fled from the wave-filled room as fast as she could.
Thankfully, Ares actually stayed behind as she commanded.
Covering her face with both hands, she started running.
‘What do I do?! What do I seriously do?!’
What on earth had even happened in that brief moment?
‘What did I just do…?’
She had pressed her lips to her younger brother—someone mentally far younger than her.
‘Aaaah!’
She couldn’t scream out loud.
She could only cover her mouth and let out a silent shriek.
…and she swore she heard Ares cheering behind her, but she desperately wanted to believe it was just her imagination.
* * *
After Sion left, Ares faithfully followed her “order.”
Honestly, he wanted to chase after her, but even if he left ten minutes late, it wasn’t like he wouldn’t catch up.
“Wow… hah…”
Ares covered his mouth with both hands, stifling his excitement as he tried to calm down.
He had finally said what he’d wanted to say his whole life.
And far more wonderfully than that clumsy confession he’d made at thirteen.
More than anything…
He never expected Sion to react like that.
“…This is insane…”
Ares dragged a hand down his face, grinning blissfully.
Sion, who always acted like an older sister, had finally met him at eye level—and was blushing.
Did I just use up all the happiness of my next life too?
Demons didn’t believe in an afterlife like Halcyon did, but still…
How else could things go this perfectly?
Throughout the Iliod delegation’s visit, Ares had honestly been feeling low.
Sion had seemed stiff, keeping her distance.
It had been frustrating enough that he wanted to demand an explanation immediately.
But I’m glad I held back.
Even when his curiosity surged, he endured and waited quietly until the end.
Because he believed that was part of what it meant to deserve standing beside her.
And this time was no different.
Now that their hearts had finally connected, surely Sion would begin to tell him too.
One or two of the secrets she carried.
Ares smiled casually and started walking.
“Ahem. Shall I head out now?”
If he followed after her now, he’d catch her quickly.
With long, relaxed strides, he left the palace.
But the first thing he saw outside the “Water Palace” wasn’t Sion.
“…Huh.”
“Buzzing insect.”
The twilight outside illuminated someone who shared no blood with him.
Kalion, his golden hair tinted red by the sunset, wore an unusually calm smile.
“I saw Lady Sion running that way.”
“……”
“What happened inside?”
Ares bit his lower lip.
Do I tell him? Do I not?
But what was the point of hiding it?
As long as the three of them stayed together, it wasn’t something he could keep secret forever.
Ares crossed his arms proudly.
“I confessed.”
“Ah…”
“And Sion accepted.”
“……”
Kalion fell silent.
Ares expected a fist to come flying at any moment.
Fine. I’ll take the hit.
He’d known from the day Kalion arrived in Tartarus.
That the two of them would become rivals over Sion.
They’d grown up like brothers, so he was prepared to take a few punches.
But the punch never came.
Instead, Kalion only smiled gently.
“That’s good.”
“…What? What did you just say?”
“I said that’s good. And I already knew this would happen.”
Kalion turned and began walking slowly toward the annex palace.
Ares followed behind, unable to see his expression.
“You knew this would happen?”
“I heard it from Lady Sion already.”
“…I see.”
He’d been so tense, ready for violence, that now he just felt awkward.
It was a bit of a creepy thought, but…
I was worried he’d feel hurt or something…
Would it really be okay if the two of them became a couple and left Kalion behind?
Even if Kalion had received a title, he was still the only human here.
Ares thought it might affect him, but…
Kalion accepted it so cleanly that Ares felt silly for worrying.
Fine. If he says it’s okay, then it’s okay.
Ares forced himself to shake off the strange feeling.
Then he shrugged.
“Well, if you already knew, then fine.”
Wasn’t it better this way?
Now he didn’t have to awkwardly explain everything.
Or threaten to kill him.
Then I can focus on Sion without worry.
His heart began to flutter again.
He didn’t even need to ask anyone where the princess was.
After spending so long together, finding her wasn’t difficult.
And sure enough, he quickly spotted her in the annex garden—
Hiding, digging at the ground with her toes.
Ares smiled at the sight of her reddened ears from behind.
Long ago, when they were much younger, something similar had happened.
Ares had stormed out in anger after seeing Sion bandaging someone.
That was the first time he realized what kind of presence he wanted to be by her side.
Now, he lingered beside Sion, who stubbornly refused to look at him.
“Why is Her Highness the Princess in such a foul mood?”
“……”
“Leaving me behind and running away…”
“…You…”
Sion mumbled, cheeks flushed bright red.
It seemed she remembered a similar conversation from childhood.
“Are you making fun of me right now?”
“Oh, never.”
Ares smiled smoothly, but stepped closer, lowering his voice.
As an added bonus, he gently played with her pale, slender fingers.
“When we go to the capital, you’ll only go around with me, right, Your Highness?”
“……”
“No guards. No teachers.”
“Just the two of us.”
At his quiet question, Sion said nothing.
But she also didn’t pull her hand away.
She only cleared her throat, then turned her gaze aside like a proud older sister.
“Ahem… Let’s think this through. Being a princess isn’t such a leisurely position, you know?”
“Really? Then I’ll come fetch you through the balcony—”
“N-no! Wait! Let’s coordinate schedules first…!”
“Haha!”
“Why are you laughing?! Are you that desperate to die?!”
Watching Sion fluster in panic, Ares couldn’t stop himself from laughing.
But what she said was true.
Ares Ismenios had been dying to tell his princess he loved her for as long as he could remember.
And Sion likes me too.
He had a feeling—
That this year would become the most perfect year of his life.
