Chapter 748 Youthful Exuberance
Tears.
In abundance, they fell from Rey's eyes as he heard those words from Alicia.
His eyes were wide open, encapsulating both shock and relief, leaving a gateway open for the bitter tears to flow.
Rey's knees felt weak, and before he knew it, he fell to his knees.
"I'm sorry for not telling you all this time! All of my reasons sound like excuses to me at the moment, and I know… I know I was supposed to say something, especially after you went and told me so much about you."
Not only did he passively deceive her, but he actively even lied to her.
And the result?
"Everything that happened to you… the tragedy that day… it happened because of me! If I wasn't so obsessed with trying to lead a double life, then everything would have played out completely differently!"
Rey's emotions were reaching the point of System interference, so he had to stop.
He took a breather, settled his heart, and continued—this time with a much lower voice.
"If I had been there that day… I could have… yet I… Alicia, I'm so sorry!" It was strange for Rey, who had so much power and authority—especially where he was coming from—to grovel at the feet of someone far weaker.
Any Elf who saw this would probably faint in disbelief.
But… this was exactly how he saw Alicia. She was much better than him in every department except for strength.
'I just got lucky, but… she's been an amazing person from the start!' He admired her and loved her at the same time—feelings that he intended to convey at this moment.
"Alicia… I actually… for the longest time, I've—"
"Rey, you shouldn't blame yourself for what happened to me—to everyone." Alicia cut him off right as he was about to confess.
He didn't want his words overlapping hers, so he instantly stopped.
Her warm hands reached out to him, touching his cheeks softly from both ends as she smiled with such kindness.
"Please stand up, Rey. Come sit beside me."
Rey obeyed that very moment, his legs still trembling as he did so. His eyes remained fixated on her as he gave her a look of disbelief.
"Why are you still so kind to me? Even after everything I… everything you…." He couldn't conclude his words due to the influx of emotions, so he let his expression convey the rest.
Alicia got the message instantly and only smiled sweeter.
"Because… it's not your fault, Rey." Once she said this, though, her expression became a lot darker, and the smile she had turned into a mild scowl. It wasn't directed at him, though.
"It's this world that is the problem." She muttered, her eyes trailing off as something burned deep within them.
'This world…?'
"I know you love this world, Rey. You have a lot you want to do here, and I completely understood. I want you to be happy, but… I'm sick of it."
All the glamor and sweetness from Alicia was completely gone, and she expressed sheer exhaustion—if not disgust—towards H'Trae.
'Alicia…' Rey felt bad, but he decided to keep listening.
"All the pain, fright, and all the other negative emotions I have come to associate with this world have overwhelmed the both of us… don't you see that, Rey? I know this isn't the right place or time to say all of this, but… honestly, I'm just tired."
When Rey first entered the room, the sight of Alicia staring out the windows told him she was simply admiring the world outside, but he now knew that his initial thought was wrong.
Alicia wasn't looking out at H'Trae. She was daydreaming about the world she had lost by coming here.
"I've had more than enough time to think about it, and honestly, Rey… I want to go back."
Rey understood perfectly. She had mentioned this in passing many times, but this was the very first time Alicia was saying it with such a strong expression on her face. The resolve was nearly overpowering, even for someone like Rey.
"I… understand." Were the only words his lips mustered as soon as she told him this.
There was no way he could tell her his true feelings now.
'There's no point if she wants to leave. If I try to make her stay, it will just be like with Esme all over again.' Rey was done trying to make others conform to what he desired, all in order to make him happy.
That was incredibly selfish, no matter how he looked at it.
'I want you to be happy, Alicia. And that means I have no right to get in the way of your departure, if that's what you really want.' This time, the tears completely dried up, and he reached out for her cheeks, holding them in his palm the same way she held his.
"I'm actually working on something that could potentially get everyone home—well, for those who are interested in going back."
There were many problems with H'Trae, and that could be enough to drive some people back home, but Rey wasn't going to ditch this world.
He reckoned there had to be a few others like him who felt the same way.
"Really?" Alicia's eyes instantly brightened the moment she heard the news. "What is it? The stuff you're working on."
"Haha…" Despite laughing about it, Rey didn't feel good about the topic in the slightest. After all, it had to do with Alicia leaving, and also Adrien's plan—both of which weren't the most savory things to think about.
Still, he remained positive through it all.
"Well, that's a surprise, Alicia." "Boo! Are you keeping secrets from me, mister? You just apologized for one, and here you are committing the same crime again."
"Pffft! This one is different, madame. It's supposed to be a pleasant experience for you… like a birthday present, you know?"
"A-ah! That's right! My birthday!"
"Hahaha! We tend to lose track of all that stuff in this world, don't we?"
"Exactly! Another reason why I should go back to Earth!" Alicia said with such mock determination that the next course of action was inevitable.
"Hahahahahahahahaha!!!"
Both teenagers laughed as they hugged each other, each feeling the bittersweet emotions associated with their reunion.
There was a lot that could be said right then, but the two chose to laugh and be happy about everything. It had been too long, and they missed each other.
'I've really missed you, Alicia.' As Rey closed his eyes, thinking such sweet thoughts, he couldn't have expected the next question that would echo in the air.
"By the way… who is Esme?"
"E-eh…?"
Slowly detaching from their embrace, Rey found Alicia smiling rather dangerously at him.
"Yes, Rey… I heard everything." "W-well, I—!"
"Come on, Rey… just tell me. I want to know who this new friend of yours is."
Unable to help himself, he blushed rather hard and tried to get away from Alicia, but she dragged him back, still laughing as she pressed hard on the question.
While all of this was happening, a certain individual was watching from behind the entrance to Alicia's room—through the slit between the double-door, for that matter.
"Haa… I can't interrupt now, can I?" His voice echoed softly as he took in the sight of youthful exuberance.
His crimson eyes glowed and his red hair swayed as he gave a wide grin.
Without wasting any more time, he left the door and began walking down the hallway, adjusting his tie while wearing his usual evil smile.
"Besides… I have a rather important business to attend to."