TMLLT 95

Chapter 95

“This Distance”

According to my plan, I should step back now.

“Noona.”

Siyute tapped my shoulder. He pointed with his finger behind me and spoke softly.

“It’s faster to board the ship from that side. Shall we move?”

“Okay.”

It was the perfect chance to give Roitz and Lucike some time alone.

I quickly turned in the direction Cute pointed.

But I stopped after only two steps.

No, I didn’t stop by myself—I was held back.

Both my wrists were grabbed, and it looked like I was doing some strange stretching pose with my arms pulled back.

“….”

“Ah, sorry, Sir. I thought you were leaving…”

“Where are you going, Serdin?”

My left wrist was held by Lucike, and my right wrist by Roitz.

“They said it’s faster to board from that side. I want to get on quickly so I can see everything sooner.”

“Then let’s go that way.”

“No. Commander, please stay here.”

My goal was to step aside for them, but if Roitz came along, it was useless.

‘Isn’t there some natural excuse to make distance?’

But my worry was suddenly and naturally solved.

“Step aside.”

Guards suddenly made way, as if someone very important had arrived.

The crowd split into two, like the miracle of Moses.

I used the chance and quickly jumped into the other side of the crowd.

“Serdin!”

“It split all of a sudden, I couldn’t help it! Let’s meet on the ship!”

I threw the line naturally and mixed into the crowd.

‘So who came?’

From what people were saying, it was Prince Ellus, the new Swordmaster of the Imperial Family.

He became Swordmaster after Grand Duke Eris passed away not long ago.

I had never met him, but thanks to him, I safely got away from Roitz and Lucike.

In my heart, I thanked the prince.

‘Wait, should I have taken Cute with me?’

I should’ve left the two of them alone, but I ended up leaving three people behind.

But by the time I thought of it, I couldn’t see them anymore, blocked by guards and people.

Should I go back through the crowd to fetch Cute? That would be hard—and honestly, troublesome.

‘Well, this much should be enough. Roitz and Lucike can handle the rest.’

Looking around, I noticed many couples among the people waiting to board.

“Soon the first firework will go off, right?”

“Yes, just after boarding. The sun will set soon… I’m glad I can see it with you.”

Many were talking about the fireworks, especially about the first and last ones.

If two people see the first and last fireworks together, their love will come true.

‘Nice timing for them.’

Then people started to move—the boarding had begun for the prince.

Being swept around in the crowd, I even saw some familiar faces.

There were priests from the temple… and farther away, I spotted Aaron and Manon.

‘Did they come together? Without me?’

But then again, I also came without them.

Still, I thought I should join my peers.

But as boarding time neared, the pier filled with even more people.

Getting to them would be like swimming upstream like a salmon.

‘Better to exit the crowd and re-enter from another side.’

So I squeezed my way out.

Outside the line, people who only came to see the cruise ship were gathered too.

‘Alright, let’s go around from here.’

After forcing my way out like against a river current, I aimed to re-enter near Aaron and Manon.

But just then—

Thud.

I froze at the sound.

An old lady who was watching the ship had fallen.

“Madam, are you alright?”

I rushed to help her up. She hadn’t fainted, but it looked like she sprained her leg.

“Are you alone?”

“Y-yes, I came out alone.”

I looked at the ship—boarding had already begun.

‘She can’t walk all the way to a clinic alone with that leg.’

So I turned back to her and lowered my back.

“Please get on.”

“How can I climb on a young lady’s back…”

“I’m stronger than I look. Hurry, please.”

Carrying her on my back, I ran to the nearest clinic.

‘The closest one should be at the end of this street.’

I ran as fast as I could.

I hadn’t learned martial arts teleportation, but I could run almost as fast as that.

If I did, I could still return before boarding ended.

But when I arrived—

“Closed from 6 p.m. We went to see the Delci fireworks.”

“…”

That wasn’t part of my calculation.

“Child, shouldn’t you get on the ship? Forget about this old lady…”

“No.”

I remembered another clinic at the other end of the street. If I ran even faster, maybe I could make it.

But there too—

“Closed for Delci fireworks. For emergencies, go to Ezel Street or the Imperial 24-hour hospital.”

‘Did Delci throw free tickets on this street or something?’

“Miss, Ezel Street is far from here.”

“Yes, it’s far.”

But I was already running.

Luckily, the Bebe Clinic there was open.

“Please take care of her!”

After leaving her there, I ran back without even catching my breath.

“Come with me. If you don’t go, I won’t go either.”

It wasn’t because of Roitz’s words.

I just didn’t like letting go of chances I had caught.

That’s why I was running so desperately now.

“Haah, haah…”

My breath grew rough. My throat tasted of blood.

The dress for the party kept tangling at my legs, slowing me down.

‘Should I tear it off?’

I thought about it but decided against it.

At last, I saw the pier in the moonlight.

‘Can I make it?’

But the boarding ramp was already being pulled back.

“Wait!”

I shouted desperately, but of course no one heard.

By the time I pushed through the crowd again, the ship had already left.

“Ah…”

I stopped, staring at the ship sailing away.

There was nothing I could do.

The ship carrying the prince wouldn’t stop for just me.

I could only watch the black sea widen between ship and land.

I sat down at the edge of the pier. The cold floor touched through my dress.

‘I’ll just watch the fireworks from here.’

The first firework should go off soon after departure. That would be enough.

‘By now, Roitz is probably with Lucike, having a sweet moment.’

In the original story, they watched the fireworks together.

Back then, Roitz’s curse almost raged out of control, but being with Lucike calmed it.

But now, the curse was gone. So they would just enjoy a peaceful date.

I looked up at the sky.

‘Even at this distance, watching the fireworks won’t be so bad.’

Fireworks didn’t disappear just because they were far away.

But then—

From the ship, someone suddenly fell into the sea.

“…!”

I jumped to my feet.

Nobody else noticed—everyone was too focused on the fireworks.

No one else jumped in after that person either.

Tonight, my knight’s chivalry was being tested again.

Without thinking, I leapt into the sea.

“Cold!”

The night sea wrapped me in freezing water.

I swam as fast as I could toward the person.

‘Where are they?’

But as I swam, I noticed—

The person was swimming toward me.

‘What?’

Under the moonlight, he came closer.

Black hair shining like the deep sea, a strong, broad body like a hero from myth.

‘A merman…?’

No. It wasn’t a merman.

It was Roitz.