* * *
“Mmmh.”
I had fallen asleep for a moment, and when I woke up, I forgot where I was.
Staring blankly outside, which was growing dim, it took me about three blinks to gradually realize…
Right, I came on a trip!
Hurriedly getting out of bed, I tidied up my messy hair and headed out of the bedroom.
The delicious smell kept wafting from somewhere, making my stomach growl.
“Lacius?”
“Ah, you’re awake. I was just about to call you since the food is ready.”
“Food?”
Lacius was in the kitchen, just around the corner from the living room.
The problem was that he seemed to be doing something there.
Lacius pulled out a chair at the dining table for me to sit down.
Then he brought over a white bowl, which smelled delicious.
“Fried eggs?”
“I don’t know many things, but at least I can make this. And this one, do you call it pancakes? I made it too.”
“You made them yourself? All of this?!”
“Yeah, while you were sleeping, I went out and picked some more mangoes and raspberries. I’m not sure if they taste good, though.”
A few more plates were placed on the narrow table.
I opened my eyes wide in admiration at the pancake’s visuals.
They were delicious, too.
“Is there anything you can’t do?”
“I’m glad you like it. I was nervous because it was my first time doing it.”
“You’re nervous?”
“I thought of catching a rabbit if you didn’t like them.”
…Well, I’m glad the pancakes were delicious.
I ate my pancakes almost soaked in maple syrup and ate the sliced mango too.
Then I glanced at him, and for some reason there was syrup on the corner of his mouth.
“Wait, you have something on your lips.”
“… … .”
“You unexpectedly have this side too. I always thought you were perfect.”
Perhaps it’s because we’re far away from everything.
It was fascinating to see Lacius in a slightly more relaxed state.
I absentmindedly wiped the syrup off his lips with my finger. As I did, Lacius, who had been silent, suddenly grabbed my hand like lightning.
“Sweet.”
“… … !”
If he had just held onto it, it would have been fine, but he deliberately stuck out his tongue and licked the syrup off my finger.
A hot sensation lingered on my finger as his tongue gently moved over it.
Even though he wiped off the stickiness, why did the atmosphere suddenly become so sticky* instead?
*(젖어-Sticky. Not really sure but it seemed to be another word for “hot”. I’m guessing cuz when it’s hot you get sweaty and sticky.)
I blushed and quickly changed the subject.
“Oh right. Didn’t you say you’d show me something amazing when I woke up?”
“I did.”
“Is it something more amazing than you making pancakes? That was also really amazing.”
I don’t think that’s what he meant.
Then Lacius laughed softly, shaking his head.
“It’s probably about time. You’ll know when you go out.”
Come to think of it, there was no separate window in the kitchen.
Curious, I quickly put down my fork and stood up.
It was still not completely dark when I woke up, which is why as soon as I stepped into the living room, I noticed that it had gotten dark.
“We should turn on the lights—”
“No, look outside first.”
His hand rested on mine as my hand reached for the candles to light them.
The unexpected warmth surprised me, but before I could withdraw my hand, Lacius pointed outside.
What unfolded there was a sight more beautiful than any sea I had ever seen.
* * *
“Oh my, why is the sea so beautiful?”
The rushing seawater emitted a blue light. It was so mysterious that when I scooped up water in my hands, it was filled with blue light as well.
“The name of this beach is Moonlit Beach, a place where you can actually touch the moonlight.”
“Wow, it’s like a secret that only the Schweiden family knows and everyone else is clueless about.”
“That’s right.”
So this is the daily life of the superrich. I sighed in admiration and waved my hands in excitement.
Then, as I straightened my back, a strange thing happened.
“Aren’t those three rocks?!”
“You found them.”
“They were in the sea?!”
Then you can only find them if you go into the sea! This is a trick. I pouted, feeling a bit betrayed.
A group of blue lights seemed to cover the top of the rock, and there were one, two, three rocks that looked like mountain peaks. Undoubtedly three. I wonder what gift they’re hiding.
But I don’t know how to swim, and it’s nighttime, so I’m a little scared.
“If you want, you can go and pick it up tomorrow morning.”
“I’m curious now…”
“Treasure hunting is only meaningful if you find it yourself. It’s useless if someone else does it for you.”
I glanced at him for a moment, but Lacius was resolute. I had to go and find them myself.
That was the rule of treasure hunting.
Hesitantly, I finally took off my shoes and carefully dipped my feet into the seawater.
As it was nighttime and the temperature had dropped, the water felt slightly cold, causing me to shiver.
The sensation of sand grains coming in between my toes and then being washed away was ticklish.
“Lacius, do you know how to swim?”
“I’m good at it.”
“Then can you hold onto me so that I won’t drift away?”
“Of course.”
Lacius’s voice was filled with confidence, which reassured me a little.
It seems like it will be very cold, but should I give it a try and go in?
I tightly grabbed onto the hem of his shirt and cautiously ventured further into the waves.
First up to my ankles, then my knees. Then waves came crashing down on my thighs. And that was my limit. Going deeper into the water was too intimidating for me.
The three rocks were so far away that they had to be waist-deep.
“Hey, Lashin. Can’t you just carry me there in your arms?”
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