Episode 28
The tranquil waves of the vast lake, bathed in sunlight, shimmered like jewels.
A gentle breeze passed by, lightly caressing the water’s surface.
With each movement of the boat, the water parted smoothly, reflecting the sunlight in a dance of silvery ripples.
I leaned against the edge of the boat and tilted my head back. The warm sunlight enveloped my face.
“This is nice.”
I murmured unconsciously.
I hated following Lu’s suggestions, but I had to admit that listening to him this time was a good decision.
The boat ride was enjoyable and peaceful.
“It’s been a while since you had a break, hasn’t it?”
Lu, who had approached me at some point, spoke.
With the sun behind him, his silhouette stood out clearly.
His golden hair, washed by the sunlight of a similar hue, emitted a faint glow.
“Your face is already dazzling, but with the backlight, it’s really unfair.”
“Unfair?”
Lu tilted his head in curiosity.
“What do you mean?”
“It means you’re ridiculously handsome.”
“I hear that often.”
Lu responded with a sly grin.
“But hearing it from you, Chrales, makes me even happier.”
Hah. As if he really meant that.
I shook my head.
“Anyway, I thought you needed a break like this. You were busy even when you were with the Guardians, and since arriving in the Empire, you’ve been constantly on the move.”
“I did rest not long ago.”
“Lying down because you were sick doesn’t count.”
Lu stated firmly as he sat beside me.
He bent one leg and rested his arm on his knee, looking up at me.
Behind him, the lake stretched out with its gentle ripples, meeting the sky at the horizon—like a painting.
‘He really is ridiculously handsome.’
I’d lost count of how many times I’d thought that, but the fact remained: Lu was absurdly good-looking.
‘If only his personality were better!’
…Wait?
If his personality were better, then what?
Was I actually thinking about dating Lu or something?
Startled by my own ridiculous thought, my shoulders trembled.
“By the way, are you really okay without an antidote?”
Lu, oblivious to my thoughts, asked.
I quickly pulled myself together and answered—without looking at him, of course.
“You know I have a resistance. Besides, it wasn’t even a strong poison. I could handle it just fine.”
“What does that mean?”
“You know. A strong poison kills instantly, but a weak one just makes you sick. In that sense, it wasn’t that bad.”
“So you’re saying it was weak, but it still made you sick.”
“Well, technically, yes?”
“…….”
Lu didn’t reply. When I turned to look at him, I saw his face twisted into a frown.
“You really don’t take care of yourself, Charles.”
“I mean… I said I was fine because I am fine. I don’t get why everyone keeps making a fuss.”
“Because when you say you’re fine, it’s not the same as what most people mean.”
Lu let out a long sigh and pressed his lips together.
Then, he stared at me—so intently that it made me feel awkward. I averted my eyes, feeling strangely embarrassed.
Another sigh escaped him.
“Never mind. From now on, I’ll be by your side to protect you.”
By my side? From now on?
I looked at him in surprise, trying to understand his words.
“Because soon, I’ll be your husband.”
“…….”
I let out a sigh.
“…It would be nice if you added ‘fake’ to that.”
“Haha. It doesn’t have to be fake.”
I get confused when Lu says things like this.
Is he serious, or is he joking?
‘It must be a joke.’
There’s no way someone like Lu would like someone like me.
That’s just impossible.
It would make more sense for the sun to rise in the west.
Because…
‘I’m not the kind of person Lu would like.’
Lu was an exceptional agent.
He had a face so beautiful that people called him angelic. His personality… well, when he wasn’t being sarcastic, he was kind and not bad at all. He was, in many ways, a perfect man.
So the person Lu would fall for would be someone far more amazing and impressive than me.
Not a liar and a fool who can’t do anything right.
Thinking about it that way made me feel inexplicably bitter. My mouth felt dry and unpleasantly astringent.
Unconsciously, I frowned.
“Charles?”
Lu noticed and asked.
“Do you have a headache again?”
“No, no. The sunlight is just strong.”
Ah. Lu sighed softly and nodded.
“Then shall we head back? We can eat the lunch Mardi packed for us too.”
I knew he was only suggesting this for my sake.
I let out a small laugh and nodded.
“Sounds good.”
Lu stood up, took hold of the oars again, and the boat slowly made its way toward the shore.
***
“Take my hand.”
With a small grunt, I grabbed Lu’s hand and stepped onto solid ground.
After spending so much time on the rocking boat, standing on land made me feel a little dizzy. My legs wobbled involuntarily.
“Be careful.”
Lu wrapped an arm around my waist as he spoke. At the same time, his scent brushed past my nose.
A woody fragrance—sweet yet tinged with bitterness.
A scent that was undeniably his.
“…Thanks.”
I subtly pushed him away as I thanked him.
Maybe it was because I’d just had such an absurd thought, but having Lu so close suddenly didn’t feel as comfortable as before.
His scent still lingered at the tip of my nose, leaving me with a strange feeling.
‘Get it together.’
I clenched and unclenched my fists, trying to refocus.
Then, I slowly looked around.
“How about over there? We can see the lake, and there’s a nice patch of shade under that tree.”
I pointed at a large zelkova tree standing tall.
“Looks good. And it’s far from the alligator farm too.”
Oh, right. There was an alligator farm in the area.
“An alligator farm? Seriously?”
“It’s the latest trend among nobles, apparently.”
“I know that. What I mean is, why would they even build something like that?”
I clicked my tongue.
“They’re taking animals that should live in the wild and locking them up just to use them as attractions. I hate that.”
“I agree. That’s why I suggested we go somewhere farther away from it.”
In this regard, Lu and I shared the same perspective.
I smiled slightly and nodded.
“Let’s go.”
As we approached the zelkova tree—
“…Huh?”
A group of people was already gathered beneath it.
Great. Guess it really was the best spot.
“Too bad.”
Clicking my tongue, I pulled on Lu’s arm.
“Someone got here first. Let’s find another spot.”
“Hmm.”
Lu adjusted the picnic basket in his hand and blinked.
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”
“Huh?”
Lu gestured behind me.
When I turned—
“Oh my! Lord Lu!”
A woman beamed at us like a flower in full bloom and ran toward us.
“What a surprise to meet you here! How delightful!”
She had a charming beauty mark by her lips and bright yellow eyes, like a baby chick.
“…Oh, you’re not alone.”
It was none other than—
“This must be your first time seeing such a beautiful lake, Lady Charles. I suppose there aren’t any in the countryside, are there?”
Cecile Rosefelt.
Oh, wonderful.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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