048. Summer Lake (2)

 

“You told me not to feel sorry, but Owen, I’m not usually that kind of person either.”

Lucia started speaking just as the rowboat reached the shore.

Lucia carefully stood up and stepped out of the boat first.

Owen watched her silently before standing up to follow her.

Once the two of them were out of the boat, the boatman slowly rowed away, heading back to where the other rowboats were docked.

“But I realized I can’t do that anymore.”

Lucia walked towards the willow tree.

In her green summer dress, she looked fresh and vibrant.

She was beautiful as always, but Owen didn’t have time to appreciate her appearance.

“…Why?”

He was baffled.

This was a scenario he had never imagined.

He thought Lucia would enjoy this situation.

He believed she would like it and use it to her advantage.

But now she was saying she couldn’t do that anymore.

“I’m fine with it.”

Did she suddenly start caring about him?

But was there a reason for her to do so?

Owen thought about it as he continued speaking.

“Do whatever you want.”

When Owen said that, Lucia suddenly stopped walking.

She stood in front of the willow tree, and he heard a deep sigh from her.

Soon after, Lucia turned around with a soft smile.

Her fiery red hair, like the sun, fluttered in front of the green willow branches.

“You don’t understand, Owen.”

Owen couldn’t respond.

She was right.

He didn’t understand why Lucia was bringing this up, why she had come to this conclusion.

“I don’t fully understand myself right now either. I know I’m acting differently than usual, but…”

Despite his silence, Lucia continued.

She smiled lightly and stepped closer to Owen until only a step remained between them.

In the cool shade provided by the large trees, their eyes met directly.

“I don’t know why, but I feel sorry for you. If you had demanded something from me, I probably wouldn’t feel this way.”

“I…”

Owen opened his mouth to respond to Lucia’s words but found he had nothing more to say.

It was impossible for him.

Demand something from Lucia?

Using his love for her to demand anything felt like a tyranny.

It was beyond selfish; it was violence.

At least, that was how Owen saw it.

“See? You don’t understand at all. Normally, people use their situation or status to their advantage.”

“…”

“But you, you just lower yourself and give everything away. All I do is take. So, I can’t act selfishly anymore.”

I’m not usually like this, you know.

Lucia added those words.

Owen knew it well.

Lucia didn’t usually feel sorry.

She believed that being selfish and self-centered were basic human emotions.

She only apologized for things she truly felt she did wrong.

“Well, I’m still acting as I please right now.”

Lucia smiled brightly as she continued.

“I’m acting this way because you said you loved me. Didn’t you notice?”

He had noticed.

Unlike before, Lucia’s tone and manner of speaking had become much lighter and more comfortable.

Her formal speech had turned into informal, and her cautiousness had disappeared.

The words she carefully chose to please him were gone.

But Owen left her like that.

He preferred it this way.

It was much more like Lucia.

Lucia wasn’t someone who acted cautiously to please others.

“I like it better this way.”

“I should have known your taste sooner.”

“If you had known?”

“I would have acted like this from the beginning.”

Owen suddenly thought of Lucia’s actions in *The Flower of the Empire*.

If Lucia had approached him this way instead of how she did in the original story…

“…I would have been confused.”

That was certain.

He would have been flustered and unsure of how to respond.

“Really? That sounds fun too.”

Lucia chuckled mischievously.

Her red eyes gleamed with playfulness.

“I want to see you flustered.”

“…”

Owen swallowed hard.

He thought her taste was peculiar too.

Wanting to see someone uncomfortable?

Most people wanted to see others smile.

“How can I make you flustered?”

Lucia began seriously contemplating.

Then she smiled slyly.

Feeling a sudden sense of foreboding, Owen tried to step back.

However, just before Owen could move, Lucia reached out and grabbed his cravat, pulling him towards her.

Under normal circumstances, he would have easily evaded her, but perhaps due to his flustered state, Owen, despite being a Swordmaster, was led by Lucia’s hand.

“Gotcha, didn’t I?”

Before they knew it, the distance between them had closed again, now leaving just a hand’s breadth between them.

“My goodness, your ears are red.”

“…I know, even without you saying it.”

He was already aware of his ears turning hot, but hearing Lucia say it made them even redder.

Owen took a deep breath and grabbed Lucia’s hand that was holding his cravat.

“It’s hot, so let’s keep some distance.”

His heart was pounding too wildly, making it difficult to bear.

Even before he recognized his feelings, his body had reacted, but now that he had fully realized them, it was much worse.

It was almost unbearable.

“What a pity.”

When Owen removed her hand, Lucia spoke in a playful tone.

It was all just a joke to her, it seemed.

She really enjoyed teasing him.

Well, she always treated those she had in her hands like this.

It was when she had just acquired someone that she tormented them the most.

After some time, she would calm down because she easily got bored.

But she never discarded people; she would appropriately place them where needed.

Of course, Owen was different from the others.

“So, is your conclusion that you still don’t know what to do next?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Although Owen had dodged the question, Lucia nodded without showing any signs of frustration.

“Can I ask what you initially planned to do?”

“Well…”

Lucia seemed to contemplate before she answered slowly.

“It was an engagement. A formal relationship would be safer.”

“But now you don’t want to do it.”

“Yes…”

“Eventually, we’ll have to get engaged and married anyway.”

Lucia coughed in surprise at Owen’s straightforward response.

“Oh…?”

“Isn’t it? Most nobles end up getting married anyway. Although you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

Nobles generally married and started families. For heirs, it was almost a duty.

Although Lucia was not expected to inherit her family, Owen’s case was different.

“…Yes, that’s true.”

Realizing Owen’s point, Lucia replied slowly.

Owen would have to get married someday.

As long as she was around, others wouldn’t easily approach him, but if she remained unmarried, things could change unpredictably.

“I was suggesting we take some time.”

Honestly, Lucia wouldn’t mind getting engaged right now.

But Owen was different.

He loved her.

Could he endure unrequited love, especially in such a selfish form?

‘…Why am I even worrying about this?’

She had no reason to worry about this.

If she only thought of herself, there was no need to consider Owen’s situation.

But…

She couldn’t do that.

It would be too cruel to such a person.

This might be guilt and sympathy.

– Think seriously about what you really want, my lady.

As she was thinking, Marie’s words came to mind again.

For some reason, ever since then, Marie’s words had been recurring in her thoughts.

She couldn’t understand why.

Her heart started pounding again, just like when she had grabbed Owen’s cravat.

– Do you really think it’s just about wanting something?

* * *

While Owen and Lucia were talking in the shade, servants approached and brought a picnic blanket and basket.

The blanket was wide enough for two people to sit with plenty of space left.

The servants weighed down the corners of the blanket to prevent it from blowing away.

Then they wished the couple a pleasant time and disappeared.

The picnic basket contained salmon sandwiches, fruit pudding, nut cookies, strawberry lemonade, and walnut pie.

Lucia was a bit surprised by the variety and the effort put into preparing such elaborate items.

“They’ve really gone all out. I suppose they wanted to make a good impression.”

Lucia chuckled and looked at Owen.

He tilted his head in confusion before realizing and parted his lips.

“Ah.”

“They must think you’re going to be the lady’s husband.”

Lucia teased nonchalantly, causing Owen to blush again.

It was fascinating.

He could talk about engagement and marriage without difficulty, yet he reacted sensitively to such teasing.

Like a shy boy experiencing his first love.

‘…Oh.’

As she thought about it, Lucia realized it was true.

She looked at Owen with fresh and surprised eyes.

‘It’s his first love, isn’t it?’

She had forgotten, but Owen, despite his outstanding appearance, had never dated anyone before.

‘Well…’

If there were gods, they must be weeping.

A masterpiece they had created so meticulously had spent all his time just working.

Unlike the imperial family, which supported temples, atheist Lucia had no qualms about betraying the state religion with such thoughts.

‘But it’s a good thing for me.’

Of course, for Lucia, it was good news.

She would be his first.

Nothing leaves as deep an impression and mark as a first love.

She intended to be his last as well, making it perfect.

Even though Lucia herself had never dated anyone, she nonchalantly had such thoughts.

“What’s this?”

While the two were talking on the blanket, a familiar voice interrupted them.

“A picnic? At the lake in the garden?”

Lucia made a face of annoyance at the sound of the young boy’s disdainful voice.

They had been too busy to see each other recently, and she had been pleased about it, but now they had to meet like this.

Feeling suddenly fatigued, Lucia responded lightly.

“If you’re back, just go inside and rest quietly.”

“You’re doing something so pathetic… Oh, Your Grace?”

Apparently, he hadn’t seen Owen.

Noticing Owen, Louis was startled.

“Uh, what I meant was…”

“Didn’t you hear what Lucia said?”

As Louis tried to make excuses, Owen spoke in a stern tone.

“She told you to go to your room. Are you planning to ignore your sister’s words?”