034. Ocean (4)
After that, teatime continued calmly.
The two of them revisited past conversations and also talked about the sea.
They made a promise to travel to another villa together next time.
As they spent time together, the scenery beyond the window had changed.
The sun, shining so brightly as to be blinding, dimmed the sky with a somber hue.
As the sky turned red, the sea also changed its color to crimson under the light.
“It seems like the sun is setting. Should we go out now?”
The time when the sun was fully up in the sky was too harsh with its glaring sunlight.
The beach was also filled with heat, making it obvious that it would be hot.
Because of this, Owen deliberately waited until the sun began to set.
“Alright.”
Lucia replied with a smile.
They both got up from their seats and headed towards the seaside together.
A few knights tried to follow, but Owen waved them off.
After all, the sea was right in front of the mansion, and he was a swordsman.
Moreover, all the villas along the beach belonged to the affluent class.
It was a place where it was difficult for anything dangerous to happen.
“The sea has turned red.”
Lucia murmured at the sight of the sea tinged with the evening sky.
Swoosh-.
Lucia’s hair fluttered in the wind that blew with the waves.
Even against the crimson sea, her red hair sparkled distinctly.
Owen gazed at her as if enchanted by her appearance.
Lucia, standing under the setting sun, turned around.
Against the backdrop of the crimson landscape, her hair and clothes fluttered in the wind, vividly visible.
She was more splendid and beautiful than the sky and sea tinted by the sun.
Surely, anyone would think so.
If they saw this sight, they would definitely think that way.
Owen was certain.
“How about Owen?”
Lucia asked with that look, focusing his red eyes.
In the gaze they shared, Lucia added, “Do you like the sea?”
“….”
So that was the question.
Understanding her inquiry, Owen pondered.
Did he like the sea?
He didn’t have any particular feelings about the sea.
The sea was just the sea.
There was a beach, there was seawater.
Just a blue and white sea.
There was nothing special about it.
Some people were captivated by this scenery and visited the ocean every year, but that wasn’t him.
But still….
“I like it.”
The sea intertwined with Lucia was truly dazzlingly beautiful.
It was regrettable that he hadn’t realized until now how beautiful the sea was.
He felt like he understood why people liked the beach, the shore.
“Very, very much.”
It would be a moment that would remain etched in his memory forever.
Clear and definite.
He wanted to capture it in a photo if he could.
“I should have asked Kyle for a video orb.”
In that moment, he felt that regret.
In this world where technology was replaced by magic, there were items that could replace cameras.
An image orb imbued with magical power.
With that, even if he couldn’t take a photo, he could capture a video.
“I’ll have to ask him next time.”
Unfortunately, this time, it couldn’t be helped.
Owen decided to make sure to bring the hologram next time.
It was not a trivial matter that holograms were difficult to make and manage, and costly to produce.
If the problem was that the process of making them was difficult and complex and the number of people who could make them was limited…
“There’s no way Kyle can’t make it.”
Kyle was not only the owner of the highest tower but also a 9th-class grand wizard.
On top of that, he was the original male lead.
It was impossible for him not to make a hologram.
Although he might hear warnings not to take advantage of their friendship, he would surely help if asked.
“I’m glad.”
While Owen was lost in such useless thoughts,
Lucia smiled and replied.
Seeing her radiant smile, Owen realized that she was genuinely happy.
“It will be a pleasant memory for Owen as well. Not just mine.”
Owen understood what she intended to convey with her straightforward words.
Lucia wanted to give me confidence.
Because I said those words at the hunting competition.
To completely possess me.
And these words were part of that plan.
“If that’s the case, you will remember it for a long time. The time we spent together.”
He thought it was a story Lucia could tell.
If she were an ordinary person, she would have said she was happy to have pleasant memories together.
Sharing precious memories was a meaningful thing to do.
“I hope that’s the case.”
However, Lucia was not an ordinary, average person.
She had never cherished or experienced love.
She had never received affection or love, so it was natural in a way.
There was someone who cared for her to some extent.
Mary, her personal maid whom he had seen before.
But she, too, was ultimately bound to the noble Edelt family.
It was also because she could not stand on an equal footing with Lucia.
There was a significant social barrier between a maid and a noble lady.
“If remembering this time whenever Owen thinks of the sea will make me happy.”
While reading “The Empire’s Flower,” Owen thought.
Lucia needed someone to teach her about love, someone to cherish her.
Perhaps Owen needed the same.
Both of them seemed to need each other.
However, they were also unable to provide what the other needed.
Perhaps that was why Owen and Lucia did not understand each other at all in the original work.
Children who grew up without love became adults with different flaws, and adults who did not know love or people could not understand the flaws of others.
“Because that would mean I have become that important and precious to Owen.”
Lucia smiled broadly.
The sun, touching the sea, was slowly sinking beneath the surface.
Looking at Lucia, with the deep sea behind her, Owen slowly spoke.
“Do you want that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want Owen.”
Her sharp eyes, like a cat’s, curved with a hint of mischief.
There was not a shred of hesitation in her response.
“…Alright.”
Owen knew.
The meaning hidden beneath that “want.”
It was just as it sounded.
Since it had been mentioned several times in “The Empire’s Flower,” he couldn’t be unaware.
Lucia often said such things to those she wanted.
Regardless of gender, age, or status.
To make them her own.
Even when the other’s affection was not of a romantic nature.
“So please remember for a long time. Today’s sea.”
Swoosh-
The sound of waves hitting the sea, almost engulfed in the sinking sun, could be heard.
Lucia, standing by the sea, was still radiant.
“Willingly.”
Even if Lucia didn’t ask, he would have remembered today for a long time.
When he thought of the sea, he would have thought of the scenery they saw together, and in stories related to the sunset, he would have recalled today’s Lucia.
Yes, that’s how it would have been.
Owen did not misunderstand.
He knew her well, perhaps better than anyone else in this world, understood the true meaning behind her words.
There was no reason to misunderstand.
“The sun has completely set.”
But he was willing to act as Lucia wished.
What she probably wanted was to be loved.
He hoped that the words “I love you” would come out of his mouth.
The stories she brought up today were likely meant to infuse the emotion of love.
He must have thought that loving her was the only way to truly have her.
“So it has. The sun has completely set.”
“….”
So all he had to do was say the word “love” as she wished.
“I love you, I like you.”
It should have been as simple as uttering those words briefly.
Yet, for some reason, they didn’t come out easily.
“…Shall we head back now?”
In the end, Owen, who couldn’t contain anything, filled his mouth with different words.
The sky, now painted black with the moon instead of the sun, was serene.
Under the chilly moonlight, Owen simply held Lucia’s hand as they walked by the sea.
“Or perhaps a stroll by the night sea wouldn’t be bad.”
“Okay.”
As Lucia nodded, Owen took the first step.
She quietly followed his guiding hand.
The sensation of stepping on unfamiliar sand tingled at the tips of her toes.
Under the moon and stars shining brightly, Owen, bathed in moonlight, exuded a slightly different aura from daytime.
It seemed like he had erased his emotions, yet at the same time, he felt somewhat resigned.
Whatever he had become, the fact remained that he was beautiful.
For Lucia, this moment was enjoyable.
Walking by the seaside in silence wasn’t so bad.
The sound of the waves penetrating the silent space between the two was pleasant.
The colors of the night sea and the cool breeze were all perfect.
-Your Highness, usually in such situations, we use the word ‘happiness’ rather than ‘fun.’
In a flash, Mari’s words came to mind.
When was it?
It seemed like it was the year she first stepped into high society.
She seemed to have said she found it fun, meeting people and engaging in conversations with an excited heart.
-Why? Is it strange if a debutante finds it fun?
From Noble mtl dot com
-It’s not that, but… Your Highness, what you found fun wasn’t the debutante ball, but meeting people, laughing, and sharing conversations with them.
-Is that so?
-Yes. Your Highness, it was because people shared conversations with you, laughed at your stories, and enjoyed being with you.
She vaguely remembered not fully understanding Mari’s words.
So she had said it was fun because of that.
Then Mari added more.
-Being happy is that kind of emotion. It’s a feeling of warmth and fullness. It’s when you feel so good and happy in the moment that you don’t want to forget it.
-….
-I’ve been by Your Highness’s side for a long time, but I won’t know all of Your Highness. Still, when I saw Your Highness’s expression today, I was certain. You were happy, our Your Highness.
To Mari’s words, Lucia couldn’t offer any response.
She just stared blankly.
Happy?
I had never really thought about such things.
In fact, I still didn’t understand it.
Emotions were complex and strange.
The emotions she clearly knew were anger, sadness, joy, and pleasure – vivid ones.
Happiness or love seemed excessively abstract and ambiguous.
I wondered if there was a need to know.
It felt silly to strive for happiness and yearn for love in a complicated way.
Watching people, Lucia thought so.
Everyone seemed to live too bothersomely and wearily.
In social circles, they would gather and say that I liked Owen, but that wasn’t true.
The reason I was interested in Owen was simply because he was beautiful.
That was the only reason.
Having something beautiful made me happy and joyful.
“Lucia.”
As Lucia’s thoughts continued, Owen abruptly stopped walking.
Then he turned his body and looked back at her.
Like her, who smiled brightly back at the sun, he stood with the moon at his back.
Unlike the sun that engulfed the sky and sea in red, the moon’s light was subtle.
While the sun and the moon bathed the sky and the sea in red, the moon simply shimmered alongside them.