Chapter 482: First date Interlude

Time passed—like melting snow under gentle sunlight, it slipped through their fingers unnoticed.

From shop to shop, stall to stall, building to building, they moved as one.

“So you like your Pasta cooked this way Riley….?”

“Yes….”

“It’s rather peculiar… but it’s not bad….”

“Let’s visit this place again soon next time!”

“Hehe darling loves it here so we really should~!”

“But how’s you know of this place Snow?”

“It just caught my eye ever since we visited the city a while ago, I had a feeling you might love it~ it seems my hunch wrong hehe~”

“Is that so….”

“This flavor might be my favorite as well~”

Riley smiled looking at Snow happily eating the same styled pasta as him, it seemed he might have more in common with Snow than he realized.

The laughter they shared echoed through the halls of the mall and the streets beyond, weaving a warm memory in the cold midwinter air.

They said time flies when you’re having fun, and that couldn’t be more true.

“So Riley used to ignore you back then, Liyana?”

Rose asked, her tone surprisingly neutral as they paused by a colorful stall selling candied fruits.

“Yes! He was really cold back then, Sister Rose!”

Liyana huffed dramatically, hugging Rose by the side looking at Riley.

“I see…” Rose replied, casting a slow, suspicious glance in Riley’s direction.

Riley flinched slightly at the stare, feeling the weight of judgment pressing against his back.

“I wasn’t really-” he tried to make up an excuse but soon stopped as he realized it was the truth back then.

They say some memories needs to be buried.

But it was too late. Memories, once shared, had a tendency to spread.

And Liyana wasn’t going to miss her chance to voice out her complaints this time….

….

“Look, look, Riley!” Alice called out suddenly, tugging at his sleeve and breaking the tension. “Aren’t those Blizzard Penguins?! They’re so cute!” Her pink hair swayed as she leaned forward, eyes sparkling.

Sure enough, across the fountain plaza, a group of fluffy white-blue penguins waddled through the snow, completely unbothered by the people around them.

“I wonder if we can take one home as a pet…” she added, clasping her hands together hopefully.

“I wouldn’t recommend that,” Riley chuckled. “They’re not really pets—they’re seasonal visitors. Pretty common around here during the migration period before winter ends.”

“Aww…” Alice pouted. “But still… look at their tiny feet!”

The others came closer too, intrigued by the sight.

The scene looked like something out of a festival painting—bright snow, cheerful voices, and cozy closeness.

And just like that, a gentle kind of familiarity began to bloom.

The walls they once unconsciously put up began to lower.

The invisible distance between them, built on silent rivalry and subtle competition, seemed a little less firm.

They weren’t just Riley’s lovers anymore.

They were becoming each other’s companions too.

Slowly but surely, the atmosphere softened.

Smiles came easier.

Laughs rang more freely.

And somewhere, beneath the quiet hum of falling snow, a bond was quietly forming.

A bond that stemmed from Riley—quietly, gently—was beginning to grow between the girls as well.

Yes, small skirmishes still happened here and there—little remarks, glances, or playful teasing—but none of it had any venom behind it.

There was no underlying malice, no true intent to hurt. It was just… natural.

A colored rivalry.

Everyone wanted attention. Everyone shared it.

A moment of peace. Of shared laughter. Of something warmer than before.

A soft thump echoed in Riley’s chest as he quietly observed them. His girls.

Their smiles—wide, honest, unguarded—as they talked openly and animatedly with one another, was a sight to behold.

It wasn’t just pleasant—it was moving.

He watched them laugh, tease, share, and bond. Not because they had to.

But because they chose to.

He tucked the memory away—deeply and carefully—into the vault of his mind.

A moment he’d want to remember.

A piece of his future, perhaps.

A glimpse of a perfect, happy ending.

“Darling?”

A familiar voice brought him back to the present.

Turning slightly, he saw Liyana approach, her crimson eyes narrowed in curiosity.

“Yes?” he responded.

“What are you doing just standing around staring like that?” she asked, a playful pout on her lips as she leaned closer. “Come on the play’s about to start.”

“Right. Coming,” he replied, smiling.

It was the happiest moment he could think of.

…Well, except maybe a few moments with some biases—like his first with Alice. But those were different.

Private.

Precious in their own way.

They didn’t count against this.

This was something else. Something shared. Something whole.

As the sky began to dim and the soft indigo hue of twilight bled into the horizon, their date slowly neared its end.

The group found themselves in the central district of the city—one of the last stops Riley had in mind.

Every place they visited was chosen with the thought, “Would they enjoy this?”

Now, seated side by side on the edge of the large frozen fountain in the plaza’s heart, the five of them stared quietly at the pastel sky above.

The frost on the stone beneath them nipped faintly at their legs, but none of them moved.

It was the kind of stillness that followed joy.

A warm silence.

“Haha, that was so fun~” Alice said, her soft pink hair glowing faintly under the twilight, her legs idly swaying as if her body still couldn’t sit still after the excitement.

“I’m so full…” Rose murmured, rubbing her stomach with a tired but satisfied sigh.

“Hehe~ You really didn’t have to force yourself to eat all of that, Sister Rose,” Liyana giggled. “A bite or two would’ve been enough. Now you’ll get fat, you know?”

Rose gave a lazy shrug. “It’d be a waste not to finish everything. Besides… I have good metabolism.”

She trailed off, then gave a small, sly smile.

Her golden eyes flicked down briefly, then back to Riley as she slowly cupped her own chest.

“If anything, the weight would probably just go here…” she said softly, her voice playful.

Then, tilting her head slightly, she glanced at Riley, her smile deepening. “…Maybe I should eat even more. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Riley blinked. Froze.

And said absolutely nothing.

His silence told the girls everything they needed to know.

Watching Riley’s bashful reaction made the girls chuckle, their laughter light and teasing.

It was a sight they had grown to treasure—seeing their usually composed and aloof lover caught off guard like that. It made him more… real. More theirs.

Of course, none of them missed the way his eyes had flickered down, if only briefly.

They knew he liked what he saw.

It was one of the few unspoken truths they all shared—and were confident about.

After all, they were more than a little well-endowed in the chest department.

Each of them was blessed in their own way, and none of them were strangers to the jealous gazes of other women… or the stunned stares of men.

To Riley, honestly, it didn’t matter much. Whether they grew bigger or stayed the same, he didn’t mind.

They were already practically walking goddesses in both beauty and presence. Gaining a bit of weight here or there was far from a concern.

If anything, it made them more human—and even more endearing.

But that didn’t stop them from caring.

Silent glances were exchanged.

Downward glances. Assessments. Calculations.

Though they all wore winter coats and layered clothing that hid most of their figures, there was still a subtle but unmistakable tension in the air.

Who’s the biggest?

And right now… it was clearly Rose.

Even beneath the thick, baggy coat she wore, the undeniable curvature beneath it gave away the answer.

It was a silent win—one that Rose accepted with a small, knowing smile.

Triumphant.

She didn’t say a word, but the way her golden eyes met theirs—half-lidded, proud—said it all.

Alice twitched, eyes narrowing.

Liyana pouted.

Even Snow arched a brow in quiet challenge, though she said nothing, a tiny sigh escaping her lips.

Riley, watching the entire dynamic unfold, couldn’t help but smile.

It was these little moments between them that showed just how far they’d come.

Once fiery and tense, their rivalry had mellowed.

Now, even when competing for his attention, they no longer tried to sabotage one another.

They knew—deep down—that no matter who had his hand or his gaze at any given moment, his heart had already made room for all of them.

He asked gently, “Did you girls have fun?”

“Yes!”

Their unanimous answer rang through the chilly air like a bell.

“It was definitely worth it following Riley back then— I mean planning to come here hehe…..” Alice said with a sheepish laugh, quickly correcting herself. “I never thought I’d experience something like this. Hehehe~”

Riley smiled, watching her swaying feet and flushed cheeks. Her joy was so genuine, it warmed the air around her.

“To be honest,” Rose chimed in,” I still find our whole relationship kind of… weird.”

The other girls turned to look at her, but she only smiled—gently.

“But I like it. I really do. One thing’s for sure… my days have gotten a lot brighter waking up and seeing all of you.”

That earned a shared silence, touched and warm.

“I guess we’ve all got Darling to thank for that!” Liyana added, throwing her arms around Riley’s arm and hugging him close, her silver hair tickling his shoulder as she leaned into him. “Seriously, you should take more credit, you know~”

Riley laughed under his breath, returning the squeeze as she clung to him.

“For our first date together… this was much better than expected,” Snow said softly, her voice almost lost in the wind.

But the small smile on her lips spoke volumes.

Riley nodded and smiled. He didn’t really know how to respond—there were too many emotions running through him, and words felt far too small.

“…Thanks,” he said softly, almost under his breath.

But even with so little, it was more than enough.

The girls didn’t need elaborate speeches or grand declarations—not right now.

His sincerity, the warmth in his eyes, the weight of his presence beside them… that was all they needed.

As the twilight deepened into a rich indigo sky, their eyes gradually drifted upward, as if drawn by something invisible.

The air was colder now, but not unkind. It simply made the warmth between them feel all the more precious.

Riley exhaled quietly.

He was… happy.

Truly, deeply happy.

He knew it would’ve been even better if not for the heavy stares still lingering around them.

Passersby continued to steal glances, some with envy, others with confusion, and a few with outright hostility.

But oh well.

He had long since accepted that this was his reality now—surrounded by beauty, devotion, and affection that many couldn’t begin to comprehend.

Of course the world would react.

Still, he wasn’t going to apologize for being loved.

Not now.

Not ever.

If anything, he would simply make sure he was worthy of that love. Every single day, as long as he lived.

He was about to say something when—

-Flicker!

-Flicker!

-BOOM!

The sudden thunderous burst startled all of them, their eyes shooting toward the sky as brilliant light exploded into vibrant petals across the heavens.

Fireworks.

Dozens of them.

Crimson blossoms, silver spirals, golden streams, cascading blue trails—they lit up the night sky with a mesmerizing dance of color and light.

Alice gasped, her eyes wide. “Fireworks…?”

“Was there… an event today?” Rose asked, glancing around, brow furrowed.

“No. I don’t think so,” Liyana murmured, her expression thoughtful.

Then it hit her.

“…Ah. It’s probably Papa,” she said, sighing as she brought a hand to her forehead. “Tch. I told him he didn’t need to bother…”

Snow let out a soft chuckle, folding her arms as her eyes stayed on the sky. “Fufu. I suppose the Grand Duke can only hold back so much when it comes to doting on his daughter. Still… I’ll admit it’s beautiful.”

“…Yeah,” Alice whispered. “It really is.”

Together, they fell silent, standing shoulder to shoulder by the frozen fountain.

In that moment—surrounded by colorful light, laughter echoing faintly from nearby streets, and the chill of winter softened by the heat in their hearts—they all carved this memory into the deepest parts of themselves.

A moment of fleeting beauty.

A perfect, shared silence.

The kind that didn’t need words to be understood.

Just the five of them—laughing, feeling, growing.

Together.

Slowly, Riley turned his head, taking his time to look at each of the girls beside him. He wasn’t just seeing them—he was memorizing them.

The soft glimmer in Alice’s eyes as she gazed up at the fireworks…

Rose’s small, content smile as she hugged her knees…

Liyana’s subtle pout that failed to hide the warmth in her expression… and Snow—

His gaze froze.

Snow was already looking at him.

And in the next instant—

“—Mmph?!”

A soft force pulled him in.

Warmth pressed against his lips—gentle at first, hesitant almost.

But in just a moment, it deepened.

The cold air vanished from his awareness as Snow’s hands gently cupped his face and her lips moved with practiced grace and quiet hunger.

Her tongue slipped inside his mouth, deliberate and bold.

Time slowed.

The world stilled around them.

For Riley, it was as if only the fireworks above and the heat of her kiss existed.

The taste of winter and mint… the subtle tremble in her breath… the way her lashes fluttered—

And then it ended.

After what felt like both a second and an eternity—about ten real seconds—Snow slowly pulled away, a pleased smile playing on her lips, eyes half-lidded with quiet satisfaction.

Riley blinked, stunned.

“…Snow?”

“Mm.” She licked her lips slightly and leaned back, the faintest glint of mischief in her eyes. “Just thought I’d take my chance before the night ended, I thought I might never get one you see~”

But before she could bask in her little victory—

“—Ahh! Not fair!” Alice’s voice rang out, breaking the brief silence.

All heads turned to her.

Her pink hair bounced in disbelief as she stood, clearly flustered. “You can’t just steal a kiss like that out of nowhere, Snow!”

Snow just smiled and tilted her head innocently. “Oh? Was there a rule against it?”

That was the trigger.

“Me next!!” Alice blurted out, practically jumping toward Riley.

“Kiss me too, Darling!” Liyana exclaimed, tugging on his sleeve with sparkling eyes.

“You started something you can’t stop now…” Rose muttered.

Riley didn’t even have time to process what was happening.

One moment he was watching fireworks, the next—

Chaos.

Warmth from every side. Lips on his cheeks, hands around his neck, soft laughter, insistent pouts, and eyes filled with affection and teasing intent.

“W-Wait—! H-Hold on—!”

No use.

Snow watched the scene unfold, her arms folded, her breath fogging lightly in the cold air. Her proud smirk remained.

She had claimed her moment.

Ten seconds.

That’s all she needed.

She tilted her head to the sky once more, watching the last few fireworks blossomed into starlight.

Her kiss lasted exactly until twilight faded.

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