Marius' Sweet Chapter 02-07
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
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S-Chip x100
Guide
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Script
Bring Kenji and his granny to the von Hagen estate.
Back at the von Hagen Estate, Payton isn't too surprised about the crowd.
After serving some tea and snacks, he comes to Granny Cienna.
Payton Way: Madam, the flowers in our garden are blooming right now. Would you like to have a look at them?
Granny Cienna: That sounds wonderful.
Granny Cienna nods and happily walks away with Payton.
You: (It looks like Kenji was really close to the von Hagen family...)
You: (But now...)
The house hasn't changed much, but the people have changed a lot.
Have a frank talk with Kenji.
After Granny Cienna leaves with Payton, the atmosphere in the living room becomes stagnant.
Everyone remains silent. Kenji lowers his head and quietly sips at his tea.
You: (What... is he thinking of?)
Marius: Granny Cienna brought out some old photos of us back at her house.
Marius: We were playing hide-and-seek back then and... you were comforting me... I didn't know someone took a picture of it.
Briefly, Kenji's hand freezes in midair. The expression on his face changes slightly, but he's back to acting like a stranger again almost immediately.
Kenji: Only Granny would keep those old photos. I've long forgotten about them.
Marius: Have you really?
Marius: Giann took that picture.
Marius is stirring his tea with a teaspoon, and his face appears indifferent.
Right now, Marius is no longer the young man who tried to act cute in front of Granny Cienna, but a company president who is as sharp as a blade.
Kenji: Mr. von Hagen, may I ask what you are trying to say?
Marius: Edison told me everything you did behind the scenes.
Marius: You convinced him to send those anonymous emails and to disclose the press conference date to Crimson.
Marius: Edison kept all the evidence and submitted it to the board...
Marius: This is currently being investigated by the board now. And if it's true... You wouldn't need me to tell you about the consequence, do you?
Kenji: I see.
Kenji puts down the cup. There is a crisp clinking sound when the porcelain comes in contact with the coffee table.
Kenji: So, Mr. von Hagen, are you here to make me confess, or do you want me to beg for forgiveness?
Marius: I don't want you to beg. I know you are not that kind of man, and I have no reason to want that.
Marius: But... don't you think you at least owe me an explanation!?
Kenji: What do you want me to explain, Mr. von Hagen?
Marius: Don Edison believes that it was you who manipulated him into committing those deeds.
Marius: He seems to think that I sent you to set him up by approaching him and persuading him to leak corporate information.
Marius: But I know full well that I did no such thing.
Marius: Why did you do it, Secretary Kenji? What is your motive?
Kenji: Hah... do you really care about my motives?
Marius: As Pax's CEO, I don't care, but...
Marius: As Giann's brother, as Marius von Hagen, I want to know why you did those things.
Kenji: Because... I think you've crossed a line.
Kenji normally appears quite stern, but his expression turns even more terrifying when he's serious.
If it wasn't for Granny Cienna telling you that the boy in the photo was Kenji, you would find it hard to believe that this man before you is the same person.
Kenji: You are gradually gaining control of Pax, and trying to make everyone forget about Giann's existence.
Kenji: I will never allow that to happen.
Marius: Oh? In other words, are you trying to reduce my influence?
Marius pauses for a moment and fills up his cup of tea.
Marius: If that's the case, why did you use Don Edison as your fall guy?
Marius: I'm sure you know that Edison's actions could cause irreversible damage to Pax.
Marius: Surely, you don't want my brother to come back and find Pax on the verge of collapse.
Unlike Marius before who seemed lost in the park, every word he utters is now akin to a sharp blade.
Behind his playful smirk, Marius is carefully analyzing Kenji's motives.
His aggression is probably the result of having replayed this scene in his mind countless times.
Kenji: Hmph, it's because your brother...
Kenji tightens his grip on the cup. A few drops of tea drips down from his hand.
You: (Kenji seems to react strangely whenever Giann's name is mentioned...)
You: Secretary Kenji, before you give an answer, I want to show you a photo.
You don't want to wait for an opportune time anymore, so you take out the photo from earlier.
You: (All of Marius' questions seem to be based on his trust in Kenji.)
You: (I should maintain this trust.)
You: Secretary Kenji, you have always known that Marius planned on donating the patent, didn't you?
You: You convinced Edison to leak company information because you knew that Marius had a way to resolve this issue. Didn't you?
Kenji: ...
Kenji only responds with silence and a cold, fathomless, expression.
And it is this silence that leads you to your conjecture.
You: (He did it... to protect Marius!?)
With this revelation, you suddenly begin to see Kenji's cold attitude in a whole new light.
He never actually changed. He is still the Kenny who would hand Marius a handkerchief when he sees him crying.
He taunts and distances himself from Marius to protect him.
Marius takes your phone and glances at the photo. Then, he places it on the coffee table in front of Kenji without revealing his own emotions.
Marius: So this was your plan. You sacrificed yourself to get rid of Don Edison.
Marius: What a perfect plan...
Marius: If I didn't come to you, were you just going to leave the firm?
Kenji zooms in on the photo. His attention is still fixed on the smiles on his and Giann's faces. There is a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
Kenji: Yes, it was all part of my plan.
Kenji: But I never thought of this as a sacrifice.
He returns the phone to you with a smile on his lips.
Kenji: Sorry, Miss [Player]. I used to agree with Director Harrison.
Kenji: We didn't think that you and Marius belonged in the same world. But now, I realize that you are indeed a very capable young woman.
Kenji: The way you helped Marius over and over again proves that the two of you can achieve even greater heights together.
Marius: Hah...
Marius sneers. This is the first time you've seen him like this.
He is angry and scornful, refusing to even look Kenji in the eye.
Marius: Secretary Kenji, your actions prove that you have no right to say such things.
Marius: You have no right to approve of [Player]. You didn't believe that I had the ability to deal with Edison myself.
This is the first time you've seen Marius act so aggressively. He is even worse than he was at the Board of Directors Meeting.
Other than anger, his eyes are also filled with disappointment.
Kenji shakes his head like a big brother who is proud of his baby brother.
Kenji: No, I knew you were capable. I knew you could do much better.
Kenji: But this is the only way to save you from harm and keep your hands clean at the same time.
Kenji: You don't like being manipulative, so I took care of it for you.
Kenji: In this entire saga, you and Pax are the biggest victims. But from now on, no one will dare underestimate you.
Marius is outraged by his words. He suddenly stands up and grabs Kenji by the collar, completely overpowering him.
Marius: Shut up... Don't make me punch you.
You've never seen Marius lose control like this. His body is completely tense, like a leopard ready to pounce.
You: Marius...
Worried that Marius might do something irreversible, you call out his name, only to realize that your voice has also gotten coarse.
Marius: I can manage my own company and reputation.
Marius: I...
Marius: I don't need you putting yourself on the line, and I especially don't need anyone to use my brother to fight for my rights!
Marius' voice trembles and Kenji's tone softens.
Kenji: Marius, you really have grown up...
Kenji: To me, you are still that little runt who was always following me and Giann.
Kenji: What kind of brother would I be if didn't protect my sibling?
Kenji: I don't know what happened to Giann to make him leave the country and throw away his career at Pax.
Kenji: But I'm sure... that since he's not here, then I have to take on the responsibility of a big brother and protect you on his behalf.
All of a sudden, you are reminded of the photo Granny Cienna showed you.
In the photo, there is the crying toddler, the teenager dressed in black comforting the boy, and Giann, tenderly watching the scene behind the camera.
They've never changed.
They are still the big brothers who care about their baby brother. In their eyes, Marius will always be that little boy running around in their shadows.
Marius: Protect me?
Upon hearing Kenji's explanation, Marius lets go of his collar.
With a melancholic smile on his face, he takes a few steps backward but accidentally knocks a teacup off the coffee table.
Clink!
The sound of the teacup smashing on the floor is sharp and loud, making you cringe.
Granny Cienna: What's going on?
Drawn in by the sound, Granny Cienna hurries over to Kenji's side.
Kenji shakes his head and pats her on the back of her hand to reassure her.
Kenji: I knew that Edison would drag me down with him no matter what.
Kenji: But I don't regret it. I used this rumor as bait to find out who on the board of directors is disloyal.
Kenji: I didn't do much. You did most of it yourself, and you did really well.
Kenji: Marius, I can only go with you this far as your brother. You have to go the rest of the way on your own now.
He straightens his clothes, nods to you and Payton, and leaves with Granny Cienna.
Marius, on the other hand, just dejectedly watches him leave
What a mess. Go talk with Payton.
Marius stands there, hanging his head slightly. Only his fists remain tightly clenched.
You: (Marius... He must be feeling confused right now...)
With this in mind, you squat down to begin tidying up.
Payton Way: Miss [Player], allow me.
Payton, who is back from seeing the guests off, stops you.
Payton Way: You have something on your mind. You'd better leave the cleaning up to me in case you hurt yourself.
Payton quickly cleans up the mess on the floor. He glances at Marius before leaving.
Payton Way: I know you must be feeling horrible right now, but Master Marius, he...
You: Don't worry, Payton. Marius has me.
Payton is right. You are the only one Marius has right now.
Payton Way: Good. I'm glad you're here.
Marius looks very sad. Go talk with him.
When it's all over, everything returns to its former calm.
Marius still has his fists tightly clenched, fixed to the same spot. You lead him to the sofa and sit him down. He doesn't resist.
You: Relax...
You: Calm down... Okay?
His knuckles have become bluish-white from the exertion. You carefully try to loosen his fist.
You: You don't have to... do this...
He seems unable to hear you. His eyes are red and fixed on a point in space.
You stare at him. The sense of powerlessness that you've been suppressing is becoming overwhelming.
Suddenly, tears well up in your eyes.
Marius: [Player], what's wrong?
Marius seems frightened. He loosens his fists and turns to you.
You: ...
Marius: You...
He drops the estranged attitude and holds your face in a panic, softly wiping your tears.
Marius: I haven't cried yet, so why are you crying?
His thumb brushes against your cheek, and the warm touch makes everything feel even more unbearable.
You: I don't know...
Perhaps the thought of caring for someone is irresistible.
You don't know why, but before you realize how sad you are, tears are already streaming down your cheeks.
Marius: Miss, your tears are so warm.
He leans over and gently kisses away your tears ever so softly.
You: Marius...
He's... obviously upset, yet he still took the initiative to comfort you instead.
Marius has made you forget what you were about to say.
Marius: More than anything else, I'm afraid of you crying over me.
Marius gently wipes your tears away and smiles.
His smile is gentle, yet it reminds you of the Marius that you know.
Marius: It pains me when I see you cry.
Marius: Everything's going to be all right, okay?
Marius still sounds a bit upset, but he already looks a lot more relaxed than before.
You: When I thought about the things that you've been through... It made me sad.
You'd only cried a little, but your voice has become hoarse.
When he comforts you, you are indulged in his warm and gentle voice.
Marius: Don't worry about it...
Marius: I was so caught up in my own emotions that I didn't realize I was stressing you out.
Marius: It's my fault. I'm sorry.
Hearing his apology is like having knives stabbed into your heart.
His tenderness and reassurance sadden you even more.
You: Marius, stop apologizing to me.
You: I love you, and I'm concerned about you. That's my right!
You: Even if it comes with stress, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Marius: Yes, I understand.
You: If... if you're still feeling apologetic, just tell me about your feelings, okay?
Marius' eyes light up and he nods softly.
Marius: Promise me you won't cry again?
You: Yes, of course.
He lets go of you and hesitates for a moment, like a child who has misbehaved.
Marius: I just feel as though... I hurt someone else again...
Marius: Kenny said he sacrificed himself to protect me, and now you're so worried about me...
Marius: It's always like that. I want to protect people, but... in the end, I couldn't protect anyone.
You: ...
You don't know what to say. You hold his hand firmly.
He is holding onto your hand tightly like it is a piece of floating driftwood. Then, you realize his palm is full of red marks from clenching his fists too hard.
Marius: I thought I could keep things under control, just like how dad and Giann were able to manage Pax on their own...
Marius: But I'm not...
Marius: It turns out that when I was acting like an arrogant child, someone was doing the heavy lifting for me behind my back.
Marius sneers with self-mockery.
You: No, it's not like that...
You clasp his hands tightly.
You try to gain more trust from Marius by using his usual tactics.
You: Kenji's plan was risky. If he didn't think you had the ability to manage the situation, he wouldn't have made that decision.
You: And to me... you're just you. You're unique. You're Marius.
You: You will never become someone like your father or brother... But you also don't need to.
Marius: I... am just me...
Marius murmurs, lost in thought.
You: Yes, you're Marius. You are my dearest Marius.
Marius: ...
After a moment of silence, he looks at you with a relieved smile on his face.
Marius: Fine, I am yours.
You are surrounded by his presence. Underneath his tenderness, there is an undeniable sense of possessiveness.
That is your Marius.
Marius: By the way, I have a gift for you.
As soon as he calms down, Marius regains his smiley appearance.
You: A gift?
Marius: Well, I was waiting for a better time, but...
Marius: Now that I'm yours, I shouldn't hide anything from you.
You are embarrassed by his interpretation of your choice of words.
He turns around in a hurry and goes upstairs. Soon, he comes back with a painting.
Marius: Take a look at this.
He flips the painting over and offers it to you like it is some sort of treasure.
You: This is...
It is an interesting painting. It consists of two parts.
On the right side is the Marius whom you painted in the studio. His mouth is tilted upwards and his vision is unfocused.
On the other side is you. You are smiling and looking away. Obviously, it was painted by Marius.
And yet the two parts exude an inexplicable sense of harmony on the canvas.
In the painting, you are gazing at each other.
You: (This is...)
Marius picks up a brush and does something to the eyes. He frowns slightly.
You: I have no idea what went wrong. I painted this based on you, but I can't seem to get the eyes to look straight ahead...
So that's why you couldn't get him to focus straight ahead, no matter how you painted him.
Because Marius wasn't looking at the canvas. His focus has always been on you.
Marius was also painting you at the same time.
Marius: I asked Vincent to combine these two paintings into one and frame it.
You: So you were secretly painting me.
You: No wonder you looked funny when I was looking at you from my angle, and the painting looked funny too.
You: So you already knew why my painting looked strange back then...
You: But you didn't tell me and just let me doubt myself the whole time...
Marius: If I had told you back then, you wouldn't have the surprise you see now.
Marius flashes you a cheeky smile proudly. You find that very cute.
You: Marius...
You wrap Marius into your embrace and press your face tightly against his chest.
You: Thank you for the surprise!
He is stunned for a moment, but he soon hugs you back tightly.
Marius: If you don't let me apologize, then please don't apologize yourself, okay?
You: Sure.
You feel extremely safe when you are holding Marius around his waist. You then realize how attached and dependent you are on him.
Marius: [Player], I'm so glad you're here.
Marius: I... like you. I really like you a lot.
Marius: Before I met you, I thought I already had enough possessions.
Marius: But after falling in love with you, I realized that my desire for you will never cease.
Marius: I'm a greedy person, so... [Player], you have to stay with me, always.
His gaze is gentle and clear. You are almost intoxicated by the sight.
You: Yes, I will always be by your side.
You: To watch over you, be with you, and love you.
Even before you realized it, he has always been the center of your focus.
From now on, no matter how things change, your focus will always be on him.
I will yearn for you, just as much as you yearn for me.
[Obtain evidence: Painting Completed with Marius]
Summary
Evidence
Painting Completed with Marius
A painting made up of your and Marius' works. In it, you are both smiling quietly at each other.
