032. Ocean (2)
When the topic of the rickety carriage was brought up to the coachman, the response came back that the fastest route to Ocean was not in good condition.
Thanks to this, the group decided to take a detour that would take roughly two more hours than their original schedule.
After that, fortunately, there were no more instances of the carriage rattling.
Peacefully riding in the carriage, Owen and Lucia exchanged various small talk.
While conversing, Owen tried to figure out what emotions Lucia was revealing, but he still couldn’t come to a clear conclusion.
The place where they stopped for a meal was a small town that had developed quite well between the capital and Ocean.
Upon getting off the carriage, the two were immediately surrounded by the gazes of many people.
Lucia, who wanted to spread rumors to many people, showed a happy expression.
Of course, she seemed to be trying to hide it as much as possible, but it was difficult to conceal the look that flashed in her eyes.
Seeing her gaze and realizing the truth, Owen was satisfied.
Lucia’s desire for him to accompany her to the royal banquet was to firmly establish the current rumors and to prevent “Owen” from easily escaping by revealing their relationship on an official stage.
However, since the schedule for the royal banquet had been postponed.
He thought it would be good to widely publicize the fact that they had traveled together in social circles.
Fortunately, his expectations were spot on.
“Where will we be staying in Ocean?”
Lucia asked with a content expression as Owen continued to eat happily.
For some reason, a very satisfied, lazy cat came to mind because of her expression, but Owen quickly pushed the thought aside and replied.
“There is a villa named after the Viscount of Verdun. My parents owned it.”
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‘Owen’ is not materialistic.
His involvement in countless businesses and his almost constant preoccupation with work were a kind of aftermath.
A trauma-induced aftermath from the mental and physical abuse he suffered from his parents since childhood.
Forced and oppressive education from a young age to become a perfect head of the family, to have outstanding abilities, led him to become addicted to work.
Owen, who was indoctrinated to do anything for the family, saw his purpose of existence as the “perfect head of the family” and the “Viscount of Verdun” itself.
So, he had no enthusiasm for life and no interest in others.
Maintaining what had already been achieved was his only goal in life.
“So it’s an inheritance left by the Viscount couple.”
“Something like that.”
Therefore, ‘Owen’ wouldn’t buy a villa or the like.
For him, traveling was a worthless endeavor.
He probably didn’t even understand the concept of travel well.
He might not have even found the difference between a business trip and a vacation.
“It’s nice to be invited to such a place. It must be precious.”
“….”
In response to Lucia’s words, Owen tried to say something.
But no words came out of his lips, so he closed them again.
“A precious place….”
That couldn’t be the case for ‘Owen’.
To him, the villas owned by the Viscount were nothing more or less than property.
That was how it was for him as an adult.
And for the young him….
-Butler. Keep an eye on Owen while we’re away.
The image floated like a watercolor.
At first, he was confused and disoriented, but now he understood.
This was a memory.
‘Owen’s memory.
-Don’t worry and go. Your Highness, my lady.
The cold voices stuck in his ears.
-He’s not throwing a fit this time. He used to insist on going with us until last year.
-….
The child fell silent at his mother’s words.
The mother, as if not expecting a response, got into the carriage with the child’s father.
“Have a safe trip. You were going to Ocean this time, right?”
“Yes. Ocean is the most beautiful in the summer.”
As the vacation season approached, the child’s parents set off on their journey.
The child was left behind at the mansion.
At first, the child had tried hard to follow, saying they wanted to go together.
However, after several years and repeated failures, they completely gave up hope.
And so, the child no longer expected anything from their parents.
– Master.
“Owen?”
The calls overlapped.
With it, the fragments of ‘Owen’ that had come to mind scattered.
“….”
Owen raised his gaze without a word.
With the memory of ‘Owen’ he had just encountered, his pupils were slightly lowered.
Perhaps Lucía would soon realize.
She was quick-witted.
She couldn’t have missed the clear, unyielding face and expression.
“…Even if it’s not the case, it’s okay.”
Sure enough, she quickly changed the subject.
As if the brief silence was a lie, Lucía smiled slyly and winked.
Her bright eyes were clear and vivid, without even a slight tremor.
“It will be a precious place after this trip.”
* * *
After finishing lunch and spending a few hours moving back into the carriage.
Finally, beyond the transparent glass, the scenery of Océane began to appear.
Océane, filled with houses made of white bricks and sky-blue roofs, resembled a village from a fairy tale.
The spot where the carriage stopped, the mansion closest to the beach with the best view of the sea, was grand and extravagant to the point of being absurd, even as a villa.
Passing through the center of Océane, it was completely different from the quaintness seen before.
In fact, all the mansions built along the coast were like that.
It was only natural since they were all villas of the nobility or the wealthy.
“Wow.”
Lucía’s eyes widened in admiration.
The magnificent seaside mansions lined up with blue roofs and white brick walls, the white sandy beaches, and the sprawling azure sea beyond.
Everything was so breathtakingly beautiful.
“It’s beautiful.”
As if enchanted, she murmured to herself.
To her, who loved beauty, it must have felt like paradise.
“Do you like it?”
Owen asked, watching her in admiration.
To which she nodded in response.
“Yes, very much.”
At her answer, Owen naturally smiled.
That was enough.
There might not be any fond memories of Océane and its mansions for Owen, but as long as Lucía liked it.
It was okay not to worry about such trivial things.
After all, I can’t even remember properly….
“Wait?”
As Owen continued his thoughts, he hesitated for a moment.
“It’s only natural that I can’t remember.”
There was something bothering him.
He had taken for granted, thinking of ‘Owen’s memories as his own.
It couldn’t be his memories.
If it were, he would have known the memories of the past.
‘I am wearing Owen’s shell, but I am not the real Owen.’
‘Owen’ and the current Owen are different people.
Surely, it must be like that.
‘Why did I naturally think that way?’
Something bothered him.
Since the first time ‘Owen’s past came to mind in the forest of the hunting competition, the part that had puzzled him grew larger once again.
‘It was the same during lunch. It wasn’t me who had a childhood trauma, it was him, so why did I react like that?’
When Lucia brought up the topic of the villa at the restaurant, he had reacted overly sensitively.
Even if this place was not a precious place to ‘Owen,’ it was completely irrelevant to me.
“Owen.”
A gentle warmth touched his hand.
Simultaneously, confusion swept over him in an instant.
Someone with red hair fluttering in front of his black-eyed focus.
The person leading me with a radiant smile.
“Let’s go in.”
Facing Lucia’s eyes, Owen simply nodded his head.
There was strength in her voice and eyes.
It made one concentrate just by listening and watching.
So, it pushed away any other thoughts.
Complex thoughts faded away, leaving only her to be seen.
Without any interference from anything else, pushing away the painful thoughts.
Just her.
Just being able to think of her in the present moment.
“Yes.”
He followed the gently guiding touch.
Lucia was in front of him, and she wanted him.
Yes, that was enough.
Everything else, later.
All of it, later.
Owen moved his steps, pondering all this within himself.
“Please come in, Your Grace, and Lady Edelt.”
As they entered the villa, the staff welcomed the two.
The staff members included the housekeeper in charge of managing the villa, maids and footmen responsible for cleaning and miscellaneous tasks, cooks and assistants, totaling around thirty people.
“Let me guide you to the bedrooms first.”
Since the unpacking was the responsibility of the staff who accompanied them, the two could rest.
Thus, the butler immediately led them to the bedrooms.
“Your Grace’s bedroom is on the 4th floor, and Lady’s on the 3rd.”
The relationship between the two was not that of a married couple, engaged, or even lovers.
It meant they wouldn’t be sharing the same room.
Moreover, the Empire was still quite conservative.
Unless they were a married couple, sharing the same room was not a thing.
In noble circles, even if of different genders, sharing the same floor was uncommon, so this bedroom assignment was somewhat expected.
The 1st floor was the living area with a dining room, kitchen, banquet hall, and reception room, while the 2nd floor was where the staff resided.
It felt natural for Lucia to be on the 3rd floor and Owen on the 4th.
Since the 3rd floor was closer, Lucia’s bedroom was the first to arrive.
“This is Lady’s bedroom.”
Lucia’s bedroom had a window overlooking the sea.
The large window framed the sea like a picture, offering a picturesque view.
“You can see the sea right from here.”
“Because this mansion is the closest to the beach.”
The butler felt proud at Lucia’s admiring voice.
Owen glanced at the butler for a moment, then turned his gaze around the room.
‘Must have been tough.’
Sure, the location was great, but preparing the room reflecting Lucia’s taste in just a few days was quite impressive.
The room, which would have been adorned in blue, had been replaced with red-toned curtains and bedding preferred by Lucia.
From vases, flowers, to small trinkets, each item reflected her taste.
‘I had to mention it, but… I didn’t know they would pull it off this perfectly.’
Owen admired his staff’s abilities once again.
Though he had instructed the butler days ago to prepare according to Lucia’s taste, even sending letters about her preferences, producing such a result in just a few days was remarkable.
“Since it must have been tiring to come here, take a rest until dinner.”
Admiring the staff’s abilities inwardly, Owen quickly set aside his thoughts and turned his gaze towards Lucia.
It had taken quite a while to get here, so going straight to the beach seemed impractical.
Riding tomorrow would be better for both the schedule and physically.
Today, taking a short rest and a walk by the beach seemed appropriate.
“Owen.”
As she finished speaking like that, the carriage headed towards the butler and the 4th floor.
Lucia’s voice caught his attention.
Approaching him briskly, she whispered in Owen’s ear.
“I’ll come to Owen’s room in a little while.”