Chapter 33
“Thank you so much for inviting me, Riez. This is the best vacation.”
Darius said this with a brilliant smile.
It had only been one day since he came to our territory, yet he was already giving such high praise. I felt overwhelmed.
“I’m happier that you came! You must have seen many beautiful views already. I truly appreciate your generous evaluation.”
He maintained a faint smile.
“The weather is nice too. It’s bright but not hot—very comfortable.”
Weather fairy, thank you!
Without a weather forecast system, planning outdoor activities was basically gambling.
The only prediction I could make was that if the night sky was clear and full of stars, tomorrow would probably be sunny.
“Shall we take a walk around the lakeside?”
“Sure.”
Darius rowed the boat again, and the pleasant sound of splashing water added to the peaceful atmosphere.
While enjoying the calm comfort, the boat continued drifting slowly.
Then Darius suddenly shifted his gaze behind me.
“Riez, look over there.”
I turned toward where he pointed.
Under the steep cliff, I saw rows of willow trees.
The drifting boat had unknowingly reached the lakeshore on the opposite side of the dock.
Between the dense leaves, there was a narrow gap barely wide enough for one small boat.
“We can go inside there. Shall we?”
Looking interested, Darius rowed more energetically, and the boat slipped quickly through the willow leaves.
Inside, hidden behind a curtain of willow leaves, there was a surprisingly spacious area.
The lake water filled a crescent-shaped hollow in the land, forming a small bay.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves in scattered fragments, so it didn’t feel dark or gloomy. The mixed shade made it feel like a secret resting place.
The soft breeze and water sounds felt like music meant for this mysterious space.
Darius looked around and steered the boat deeper inside.
“It’s wonderful. I can’t believe there’s such a hidden space inside the lake. It’s perfect for a date between lovers.”
Only then did I suddenly remember what Millie told me this morning, her face slightly flushed.
“Lady, have you heard the romantic legend of Lake Lagria?”
“What legend?”
“There’s a secret space surrounded by willow leaves that can’t be seen from outside, and you can only enter by boat. The entrance is so narrow that you might pass by without noticing if you don’t look carefully while rowing around the lake. It’s said that a man and woman who enter there together will surely become lovers! Eek! Isn’t it thrilling?!”
The place Millie talked about was definitely here.
“Brother Darius, let’s leave.”
“Hm?”
“Let’s get out of here!”
I urgently pointed toward the exit and urged him.
I don’t blindly believe in superstitions or legends, but it’s better not to stir unnecessary trouble.
Darius only sees me as his friend’s younger sister, and I have no intention of becoming more than that.
But what if some irresistible force acted?
For example, something like an arranged political marriage.
“No!”
If things go wrong, we might become strangers forever.
Pure fan-like admiration started to feel irritating.
I had repeated it like a mantra many times, but I absolutely didn’t want to become that kind of relationship with Darius.
I want to be a viewer of romance dramas or reality dating shows, sitting with popcorn and watching from the sidelines!
“Ah, are you scared? I understand.”
Darius must have misunderstood and thought I was afraid of this place.
He quickly adjusted his sitting posture.
Just then, a huge water bird, about my size, suddenly dived down from the sky.
“Kyaah!!”
The big water bird fluttering on the boat was chased away by Darius swinging the oar.
The bird, which had grabbed the picnic basket handle with its beak, jumped into the air mockingly.
This was the food-seeking attack the boatman warned us about earlier.
Fortunately, we had finished eating, so the basket was almost empty.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes… I was surprised…”
Darius sighed in relief and sat back down.
“What an absurd bird.”
He laughed helplessly, then suddenly looked at the two oars in his hands and groaned.
“Ah.”
“Uh-oh.”
The bird failed to get food—but it succeeded in messing with us.
During the chaos, the only oar on this boat split cleanly in two.
***
At the same time, Simon and Kyleus were sitting face to face in a boat, drifting on Lake Lagria.
Despite sharing the same scenery, a bleak atmosphere contrasting with Darius’s boat floated between the two.
About thirty minutes earlier, when Simon chased after him and grabbed the back of his neck, Kyleus struggled and shouted.
“Let’s go ride a boat, you bad-tempered little brat.”
“Let go! You don’t even want to ride with me either!”
Dragged along like luggage, Simon was surprised by the boy’s fierce resistance.
The strength coming from a body even smaller than Riez’s was tremendous. It was not fake that he trained every day with blood and sweat. The intimidating energy bursting from that small body was ferocious.
Seeing Kyleus escape from his grip in the end, Simon let out a dry laugh.
Half-blood or not, he still carries the Diern family blood.
Cracking his stiff finger joints, Simon approached Kyleus.
He had tried to carry the boy like luggage earlier, but after seeing the sharp golden eyes that showed no intention of giving up, he changed his plan.
Suppressing the child by force would not look good to others and might cause troublesome consequences later.
“…If you follow me quietly, I’ll tell you Darius’s weakness.”
Instead of a whip, he waved a carrot.
Kyleus’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“You’re his friend. Why should I trust you?”
“We are friends, but also rivals. That guy stole the first place this semester, and my stomach is still a little sour about it.”
“…The honor student who was top of the academy until last semester was you?”
“Honor student… well, yes. So, do you feel like talking now?”
Simon’s temple twitched slightly at the impolite tone, but he tolerated the boy’s arrogance for now. Discipline could be taught slowly later.
The strength in Kyleus’s raised fist loosened a little.
“What is that guy’s weakness?”
“If you ride the boat with me, I’ll tell you.”
“….”
“I’ll tell you a fatal weakness.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
Kyleus, who was about to rush forward, relaxed his posture and accepted the negotiation.
Thus, the boating trip reached a dramatic agreement.
Fifteen minutes after the small boat left the dock, Kyleus, who was tapping his legs nervously, couldn’t wait any longer and urged Simon.
“Hey. Tell me now. Darius’s weakness.”
Simon curled one corner of his lips wickedly and stopped rowing.
“Before that, let’s fix the way you address me. Repeat after me: ‘Simon big brother.’”
“Shut up.”
“You can’t swim, can you?”
“….”
Seeing Kyleus flinch, Simon stretched his lips wider.
Except for a very small number of nobles who enjoyed swimming as a hobby, most people did not learn how to swim. Even Simon himself learned it only last year during a school practical class.
“What would happen if I dropped you into this lake?”
“…Do you think I’d obediently let you do that?”
“Well, what do you think? Try attacking me and find out.”
Simon snorted and stretched his arms.
Grinding his teeth, Kyleus glanced around. The surroundings were quiet.
To intimidate the child, Simon intentionally rowed the boat to a remote corner of the lakeside.
There were no spectators—and it meant that if someone fell into the water, no one would rescue them.
Panting in anger, Kyleus finally lowered his tail.
“…I won’t call you ‘you’. That’s enough, right?”
If the child kept acting recklessly, Simon had planned to dunk him into the water once.
But surprisingly, the child made a rational decision.
His face was pale; he probably felt the difference in strength earlier and became scared.
“Fine.”
Simon snorted and shrugged.
It seemed his pride wouldn’t allow him to be called “big brother,” so he would let it go for now.
Clasping his hands together, Simon spoke again with authority.
“First, answer a few questions, Kyleus.”
