Episode 32

I must not fall.

Tickling, the lapping water brushed my shoulders.

The dress moved like a fin underwater.

Watching it, Igon made a few jokes.

I burst into laughter.

Seeing me laugh, Igon laughed too.

Under the midday sun, a man wet from the water sparkled and laughed brightly.

It was a sight so beautiful it made my heart thump.

A wind filled with the scent of grass blew.

Under the warm sunlight, the water’s surface sparkled.

Everything in the world flowed beautifully and slowly.

The world that had seemed dark and cloudy now shone with vivid colors.

I felt more alive than ever before.

As I thought how beautiful it was, I suddenly wondered if I was born for this moment.

My chest swelled with emotion.

Igon, looking down at me, pressed his forehead against mine.

Breaths soaked with water passed in the small space between us.

Igon taught me how to swim while holding me.

He wasn’t a bad teacher, and by the time the sun was setting, I could move without sinking.

Promising for tomorrow, we got out of the water.

Water dripped down.

I felt like a sponge, soaked through.

The dress clung to my bare skin as if wrapped around me.

I hadn’t noticed while playing, but now my body, cooled by the water, began to shiver.

I rubbed my arms with both hands when a thick shawl was draped over my shoulders.

Mumbling a thank you, I wrapped the shawl around me, and then my feet lifted off the ground.

“Igon!”

I struggled to get down, but I couldn’t match his strength.

Igon, holding me with one arm, organized the things with the other.

“Let’s do it together. I’ll help.”

Thinking it would only be a hassle if he didn’t put me down anyway, I stayed still in his arms.

Igon, carrying me with one arm and a basket with the other, climbed back up without showing any signs of struggle.

Pushing through the bushes, we came face to face with two men.

“Oh my God!”

“Your Highness!”

One man called out to God and the other recognized Igon.

I was startled and let out a small scream, but only Igon remained calm.

He seemed to have known they would pass by.

Both men bowed to Igon.

Judging by their clothes, they seemed to be forest keepers here.

“Your Highness.”

“The sun is setting. We will guide you to the mansion.”

“Alright.”

One of the men took Igon’s basket.

Held in Igon’s arms, I felt embarrassed and buried my face in his shoulder.

My body swayed gently with his movements.

Was it the sense of security that he would never drop me?

Or was it because I had played too hard in the water?

Listening to the wind brushing through the branches and the birds’ chirping, I dozed off.

In my sleep, I heard the soft, low voices exchanging greetings, the creaking of a door opening, and footsteps climbing the stairs.

I knew we had arrived, but I couldn’t lift my heavy head.

I heard the sound of fabric brushing against each other, and soon a blanket was draped over me.

“Sleep well.”

I heard the whispered greeting in my ear and buried my face in the pillow.

The hair touching my nose smelled of the river’s briny water mixed with Igon’s scent.

I dreamed.

In my dream, I was being chased again.

Normally, I would have been caught and killed here.

But this time was different.

I wanted to live.

Suddenly, that thought sprang up.

I wanted to escape my fate.

If so, I had to find a way.

So, I crawled away with my legs.

Since I had never done this before, the count’s knights, no, the dream itself was greatly bewildered.

The ground I ran on sank like a swamp.

I forcibly pulled my legs out with my hands.

As I passed the swamp, rain poured down so heavily that I couldn’t see ahead.

I felt the raindrops hitting my body but kept running.

I wouldn’t die helplessly.

No matter what the original story was, I had to live.

As I was running for my life, the sky suddenly cleared, and a river appeared in front of me.

I swam across, just as Igon had taught me today.

The knights chasing me from behind shouted.

Ah.

Yes.

Lifting my head from the river, I exhaled a long breath as if breathing in water, “Ha….”

“Awake?”

When I woke up, Igon was beside me.

He was gently stroking my hair.

Startled awake, my hands trembled.

When I grabbed Igon’s arm, he naturally tried to lift me into his arms.

But tonight, I was okay.

This night was okay.

Instead of being held, I stroked his rough hand.

I caressed his large fingers, intertwining my fingers with his.

“My lovely Eve.”

Hearing his low voice, I fell back asleep.

* * *

“It’s the festival season.”

Igon said as he ate breakfast at the table.

“The forest keepers told me yesterday that it starts today and lasts for three days. They said there will be a night market.”

He took a big bite of bread. Maybe because of yesterday’s water play, I had a good appetite even in the morning.

“Shall we go see it?”

I nodded at his question.

This trip might be the only chance, so I planned to do everything I wanted to while I was here.

A local summer festival would definitely be enjoyable.

Even as a commoner, night markets would occasionally open during the summer.

Nighttime festivities always strangely excited and thrilled me.

“Alright, let’s go after breakfast. We’ll need to use a carriage, so I’ll inform them in advance.”

Igon stood up, apparently finished with his meal.

As he rose, he picked a raspberry and popped it into my mouth.

I accepted it without refusal.

Igon smiled in satisfaction and walked out of the dining room.

I continued my meal. Today, my appetite was particularly strong.

* * *

After lunch, I rummaged through the wardrobe to prepare for going out.

The clothes needed to be plain and modest.

Unfortunately, among the clothes I brought from the duke’s residence, there were no such outfits.

Fortunately, when I mentioned this to a maid who had come for work, she brought suitable clothes for both Igon and me.

As a token of thanks, I gave her one of my brooches.

“Oh my! Miss, I can’t accept this!”

The maid blushed and waved her hands in refusal, a reaction quite different from those in the duke’s residence in the capital.

“It’s nothing special, just for getting me some spare clothes. It’s too much.”

“Take it.”

Despite her protests, I forced the brooch into her hands and sent her off.

Even though she refused, she seemed to like the brooch, as I heard her humming happily outside.

With the clothes secured, I was ready.

I went down to Igon’s room and handed him the prepared clothes.

He looked at the clothes with a reluctant expression.

“…You want me to wear this.”

“Were you planning to announce your presence as the duke’s daughter with your attire?”

He said nothing.

No way.

Was that really his plan?

I shot him a shocked look, and Igon’s eyes slowly shifted.

“Eve, I am indeed the Duke. So what should I do?”

This meant he had no intention of hiding it.

Though I knew, I was still taken aback by his brazenness.

“How can we enjoy the festival if Your Grace comes? It would be inconvenient.”

“Please, make sure to change your clothes.”

He firmly instructed and closed the door.

I went up to my room and picked up a dress.

The style and length were not bad.

Surely, he had brought the best available one.

It was a navy blue dress, designed to be tied at the waist.

I changed into the dress and tied my hair up.

After changing, I opened the door to find Igon leaning against the window, waiting for me.

Igon, standing with his arms crossed and the setting sun behind him, lifted his head.

Two bright, clear eyes pierced through the air.

Like breaking through a winter mask, his stern face slowly softened into a smile.

“That dress suits you well, too.”

His approaching arm wrapped around my waist.

His lips brushed lightly against my cheek and then pulled away.

His gentle eyes examined me as if I were the most lovable thing.

Igon complimented me on how well the dress suited me, but that was what I should have said about him.

Despite his noble appearance, his plain tunic and trousers suited him perfectly.

I had asked for the largest sizes, and though the trousers seemed a bit short and the shoulder line slightly off…

Well, anyway, his handsome face above made everything look fine.

We went down the stairs and walked along the path to the carriage.

The carriage headed toward the port area.

Before long, we saw a brightly lit square.

“Please ask them to stop here! If we go inside, the carriage insignia might be noticed.”

When I urged Igon, he knocked on the carriage wall.

The carriage turned and stopped in a quiet alley a little away from the square.

When the door opened, a strong scent of the sea hit us.

From afar, we could hear the bustling sounds and music.

My heart was excited and restless, but Igon, unaware of this, walked slowly behind me.

I hurried him along, heading towards the festival.

Under the lit torches, the square had transformed into a lively night market.

It was crowded with quite a few people.

We could smell food and alcohol, hear loud laughter, chatter, and music, and see people dancing to the tunes.

Holding Igon’s sleeve, I weaved through the crowd.

We browsed the crafts displayed at the stalls and, like others, bought flowers to adorn our hair.

There were plays and a wrestling ring for strength contests.

There were several recreational activities, such as lifting heavy objects or throwing stones to hit jars.