047. Summer Lake (1)
“How did I end up doing that….”
The next day, Lucia woke up in a panic.
It was because the events of yesterday came to mind vividly.
“Did I make such a mistake?”
Even if she was drunk, it wasn’t like her to make such a mistake.
She never made such a big mistake before.
No, she never even drank enough to get that drunk in the first place.
But yesterday, despite knowing she had exceeded her limit, she kept drinking wine.
Owen’s love was both astonishing and difficult.
“But no matter how you look at it, it’s still strange.”
Lucia let out a deep sigh.
It was one thing to have had a drink, but she couldn’t understand how she could have blurted out words to Owen in a moment.
And she ended up saying things to him that weren’t even necessary.
“Amidst that, memories from the last picnic came to mind.”
Thinking about what Marie had said back then wasn’t really that important.
But still….
“Why did I even tell Owen about that….”
There seemed to be a good reason why they say alcohol isn’t good for mental health.
Lucia sighed again, trying to clear her mind.
It was useless to regret now.
“Your Highness.”
Just as Lucia was about to call a maid to get up and wash, Marie entered the room.
“Viscount Verdin sent a letter.”
“…Is that so?”
Lucia flinched momentarily, having just recalled her embarrassing past.
However, she quickly composed herself and accepted the letter.
She opened the envelope with a paper knife, as usual, and inside was a neatly written letter in elegant handwriting.
[Lucia,
It may be an intrusion to send a letter so early in the morning, but I was worried if you had rested well yesterday.
Since the knights and maids were with you, there shouldn’t be any major issues, but just in case.
I found “The Witch’s Man” quite impressive.
I understand why you liked it.
I also enjoyed it.
Both the female lead and the male lead, their relationship and story, were all quite impressive.
The banquet was still a few weeks away.
Before that, I might see you a couple more times, and I wanted to ask if your schedule allows for it.
Owen Verdin.
Postscript. You had let go of the words. I’m not sure if you remember. I preferred it that way.]
“….”
Having finished reading the letter, Lucia fell into a brief silence.
As expected, Owen seemed to remember all my ramblings.
Pointing out the parts I wished to forget.
He didn’t possess the nature to tease people, so it seemed he genuinely enjoyed it.
‘…It’s quite an impolite request.’
Honestly, I couldn’t quite grasp it.
After all, she was just a noble’s daughter, and he was the head of the family.
Currently, the only ones who could be condescending to him were members of the royal family.
Things might change if a Duchess of Verdin appeared.
Lucia tried to put herself in Owen’s shoes for a moment.
But no matter how much she pondered, besides feeling quite uncomfortable in such a situation, nothing else came to mind.
Perhaps he wanted to punish her or demand something in return.
But Owen said he liked when Lucia acted condescending.
“It may seem like a sign of intimacy, so I’m fine with it.”
Of course, there was nothing wrong with it from my perspective.
If everyone saw me speaking comfortably with Owen at the royal banquet, they would all have the same thought.
That the two of us would eventually get married.
-For your happiness. That’s all I wish for. It’s my desire and greed, Lucia.
In an instant, Owen’s voice echoed in my mind.
It was what he said at the restaurant yesterday.
-My feelings are my responsibility. There’s nothing for you to feel sorry about. These are my emotions.
His words felt relentlessly selfless, even selfish.
To the point of being cruel.
Because he made me feel sorry for using him.
Taking a deep breath, Lucia closed and opened her eyes slowly.
After he said that yesterday, Lucia found it difficult to easily voice my desires.
Because she felt sorry for him.
She was afraid of inadvertently hurting him by taking advantage of his feelings.
It was difficult because it was truly unfair.
“…You said it was okay.”
After much contemplation, Lucia reached that conclusion.
It was what Owen had brought up first in the letter.
So, this much should be fine.
Thinking so, Lucia went to her desk to write a reply.
She took out the stationery and mentioned the possibility of meeting twice more, along with discussing a suitable place for their next meeting if they were to meet again.
She also added that she would let go of her words if he enjoyed it when they met next.
* * *
“Owen.”
The two met again a week later.
This time, they agreed to meet at the lake of Count Edelt’s estate.
They reunited at the lakeside where they had visited once for a spring garden party.
The lake, now in full summer bloom, had a different hue from spring.
The cherry blossom tree that had bloomed in spring was now lush with greenery in summer.
Instead, the bird cherry tree planted next to it extended its branches and leaves, filling the air with a rich scent of greenery.
“Come this way.”
As Lucia gently took Owen’s arm and spoke, the servants around them looked surprised.
It seemed they hadn’t seen her since the night she had seemed overwhelmed by Owen’s confession.
“I prepared a rowboat ride. Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
Owen willingly followed her lead to the rowboat.
The two of them boarded the rowboat together.
Just like last time, they sat facing each other with a boatman in between.
Once seated, Lucia smiled and asked, “Did you enjoy me letting go of my words?”
“I did.”
“I’ve mentioned before, but your taste seems quite unique.”
Until recently, Lucia had considered the memories of drunken days as a dark history, but she quickly moved away from that.
She generally lived thinking of the past in that way.
Just as something that had flowed by.
That’s why Lucia wasn’t held back by things from the past.
Moreover, Owen seemed to like that mistake, so there was no snag there.
“What part?”
“Just, all of it?”
Though it was strange that he enjoyed being contradicted, Owen’s unique taste didn’t stop there.
“You want to give me everything I want? Make me have what I desire. Normally, people would call this wasteful.”
Lucia knew that even someone who liked her wouldn’t necessarily appreciate her spending habits.
Except for the man in front of her, there wasn’t a single exception.
“I just like honesty.”
“People usually say to hide a bit of greed and live.”
“Am I not an ordinary person?”
“Not quite.”
“Then it’s okay to ignore that ‘ordinary person’.”
The conclusion seemed odd.
As Lucia narrowed her eyes slightly, Owen grinned.
The boatman rowed, and the boat had already reached the center of the lake.
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His smile, leaving behind the serene lake, was clear.
“You’re just a special person. If people who don’t understand such a person like you are called ‘ordinary people,’ don’t bother with them. It’s just tiring.”
“…You are hard to understand, even though I know you.”
“I hear that story quite often these days.”
“Other than me, who else talked about it?”
“The housekeeper.”
Lucia nodded as if she understood Owen’s reply.
“Talking every day might lead to such thoughts.”
“In what way?”
“From your contradictory side. You seem caring and kind, but sometimes you appear cold and calculating. Like now.”
“That’s….”
Upon Lucia’s observation, Owen began to speak slowly.
Then he finally finished his response.
“I don’t need to treat people who dislike you kindly.”
Shhh-.
The wind blew.
The branches of the bird cherry tree rustled in the wind.
The green leaves of the cherry tree trembled in the breeze.
Ripples formed on the surface of the blue lake.
“I just treat my people well. Generally, I try to treat others decently, but there’s no reason for me to treat those who make my people suffer nicely.”
Owen had never considered himself a good person.
Rather, he judged himself as bad and selfish.
Altruistic?
That was only skin-deep.
Contrary to Lucia’s words, he was a contradictory person.
He generally treated everyone well, but the moment the other party showed their claws, Owen cut off his kindness.
Even if he showed courtesy to a black beast, once that dark side was revealed, he would strike without mercy.
“That’s what being affectionate is.”
Lucia retorted, looking at Owen.
She said so in a kind voice, seeming to want to explain something different from his opinion.
“You would do anything to protect your people. Your love is like that. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The story from that day came out of Lucia’s mouth.
Owen blushed at the confession I had brought up.
Embarrassment surged.
The sensation of a fluttering heart rose, but he tried hard to calm down and suppress his emotions.
“I think it’s natural to think of them as my people.”
“Ordinarily, people prioritize their own lives and gains.”
“I also value my life and gains. But more than that, my people are important.”
“That was the part that fascinated me.”
Lucia pinched and brought out the truth.
Owen gave her a puzzled look before conceding as if it could be so.
“People have different aspects. More than that.”
The rowboat had already reached the bank where a birch tree was planted.
On the opposite bank from where they had embarked was where they would disembark.
Owen, looking at the nearing land, added, “What do we do next?”
Lucia wanted to have Owen completely, and Owen confessed as she desired.
Now, for Lucia to ‘completely’ have him, all that remained was to formalize their relationship on paper.
Engagement, and then marriage.
That was the most complete way for a person, especially for someone of unequal status, to possess another.
There was no bond as thorough as family ties proven on paper.
Lucia knew this fact better than Owen did.
“That’s true.”
Certainly, it was expected.
Yet for some reason, Lucia did not provide Moore with a clear answer.
She only mumbled in a troubled manner, “What should we do.”