Villain, Let Me Touch You! - Chapter 55
05. Common Ground and Stepping Up
“Did they build this all from scratch? Solely for this event?”
My jaw dropped at the sight of the World’s Fairgrounds, which resembled a luxury resort complex.
Rows of opulent structures adorned the expansive grounds, spacious enough to accommodate at least 20 football fields. It was a brand-new complex and structure created solely for the World Fair.
“Will they use it for something else later?”
Helios shrugged. He seemed uninterested in the World Fair. “I heard they plan to dismantle it after the event.”
“It’s such a waste. Why go through all this trouble for something so fleeting?”
“To show off their wealth.”
That sounded like a ridiculous way to show off. Raising and demolishing buildings just to showcase the country’s prosperity, a practice that served no practical purpose, was beyond my understanding.
“Should we just turn back?” he asked.
I must have made a face unintentionally. I smoothed my expression, running my palm across my cheek.
“No, we’re here already. Honestly, it’s quite beautiful.”
The artificial sea in the center was especially impressive. It perfectly complemented the blue sky. To the left, a wide sandy beach stretched out, with appropriately simulated waves.
Despite being touted as a showcase of state-of-the-art technology, my tongue couldn’t help but marvel at the perfect recreation of the sea.
With such sights, no wonder people are flocking here.
It took half a day for the crowd to enter. Of course, the Crown Prince’s authority allowed us to fast-track our entry.
The taste of money and power was truly sweet, but seeing a tired child sitting on the ground, worn out from waiting, I couldn’t help but feel a hint of bitterness.
Couldn’t they manage entries with reservations for different time slots?
Recreating the sea but not implementing a reservation system—is this a showcase of progress or not?
It’s not that they can’t—they just choose not to.
For those in high positions, functions like reservations might seem useless.
My thoughts became increasingly contemplative as we entered the exhibition hall.
“Rienna, shall we go check that out?”
Helios gently took hold of my wrist and led me towards the direction he pointed. I snapped out of my thoughts and turned toward where he pointed.
A man dressed as a clown was creating various shapes with soap bubbles. The soap bubbles, floating in the air, rode the wind and gently landed on the children’s noses, foreheads, and cheeks, bursting upon contact.
“Wow, it’s amazing! Do it again!”
The children jumped up and down in excitement, waving their hands. Seeing the joy on their faces lifted my spirits.
Let’s just join in the fun.
As I changed my mindset, more excited people came into view. They cheered for new technology, marveled at fascinating gadgets, and joyfully participated in various events.
“Is there anywhere specific you’d like to go? If not, I can show you around.”
“Oh, um…”
I grabbed onto Helios’s coat as he took the lead. The World Fair featured the participation of many countries, companies, and individuals, with separate areas dedicated to various themes. Prominent themes included animals, plants, fashion, books, and food—all of which were typical and expected.
A more unique theme at the fair was Magic and Imprinting. In “Tattoo: Chains of Destiny,” magic played a smaller role compared to other romance fantasy novels, primarily due to the magic’s limited destructive power.
Spells like dropping meteors, teleportation, or shooting lightning were impossible in this world. Magic here focused on improving the quality of life, such as making steam-powered trains faster, brightening lights in the evening, or amplifying and recording sound.
However, because magic users were rare, they were highly sought after, and magical items came at a high price.
I’d love to visit the Magic Section as well. I should check it out when I have the time.
I already knew where I wanted to go.
“I’d like to go to the Imprinting section.”
“Great minds think alike. Let’s go.”
Helios gently nudged my shoulder as he guided me through the crowd. He skillfully maneuvered through the densely packed people, using his arms and shoulders to create a path. The crowd was so dense that we had to walk close together.
Even through the fabric of our clothes, I could distinctly feel the solidness of his body. Surrendering to the situation, I allowed myself to be close to him, and a sense of relief washed over me, making my heart race.
“It’s too close, Your Highness.”
As I shifted my shoulder, his grip tightened a bit more.
“Think of it as imprinting therapy for efficient time management.”
“Anything is therapy, I suppose.”
It was his way of easing my embarrassment.
This is therapy.
After silently repeating that in my mind about ten times, he finally put his arm around my waist. As we moved further apart, Helios had to navigate through the crowd by pushing more people away.
I hated seeing him struggle more than I hated being embarrassed. He hesitated, causing both of us to stagger a bit, my hand on his shoulder moving along with the motion.
“I thought it might be more comfortable for Your Highness if we stayed a bit closer. Do you mind if you let go?”
“Good idea. Why don’t you just hang on to my waist?”
I tilted my head slightly, not feeling the need for such an extreme measure. Helios seemed disappointed.
Why does he look disappointed?
Lately, it was challenging to understand Helios’s emotional shifts. At that moment, as we approached the exhibition building of the Imprinting Section, I briefly regretted our decision to come to the World Fair.
