Chapter 75
One month later. A lake in the Kingdom of Campton.
As September drew to a close, the southern kingdom of Campton was at the height of its summer heat. Even standing still, sweat would roll down one’s skin. In that sweltering weather, Chanellica stood with her feet dipped in the cool lakeside water.
“You can come in a little deeper.”
Eleusis called out from inside the lake. His bright blond hair, soaked to the tips, looked darker than usual, and his firm upper body was faintly visible through his thin white shirt.
“No, I’m fine here. This is refreshing enough.”
But her face betrayed her words—filled with envy. Unlike Eleusis, Chanellica clutched her long skirts in one hand, stepping only far enough into the water to cover her calves.
The lake was cool all year round, so even dipping her legs felt refreshing. But the sun’s heat from their journey here still lingered in her body. Seeing Eleusis soaked from head to toe in cold water, she couldn’t help but envy him. Still, she wasn’t eager to wade in deeper.
“Are you sure? Your face looks flushed red.”
“…It’ll cool down soon enough.”
Eleusis didn’t miss the faintly timid tone in Chanellica’s voice—unlike her usual self.
“If you come in, you’ll see jewel-water mushrooms.”
“Jewel-water mushrooms?”
“They’re mushrooms that grow underwater, glowing in different colors. If you touch them, they even make sounds like animals. Just a bit further in and you’ll find them.”
“Wow, that sounds beautiful… No, I’ll stay here.”
She wavered, then composed herself. Watching her hesitation, Eleusis suddenly realized the reason.
“Are you afraid you won’t be able to touch the bottom?”
“Eh? Ah, well…”
Chanellica hesitated, then nodded.
What’s the point in hiding it? He’s already figured it out.
Ten days ago, she had gone with Eleusis to the seaside. The icy seawater had been paradise in the heat. But while walking freely on the soft sand beneath the waves, she had stepped too far and slipped into deeper water.
It wasn’t dangerously deep—just high enough that she could have gotten out by tiptoeing a little.
The problem was, when she tried to swim, water flooded her nose and mouth. Chanellica hated that sharp, stinging sensation. And the water clogging her ears had been unbearable.
It hadn’t been a matter of life or death. It was simply an experience she never wanted to repeat. Which meant she had to keep her distance from deep water.
To Eleusis, this side of Chanellica was irresistibly endearing. Normally, she acted fearless, as if nothing in the world could faze her—but now she fussed nervously over the thought of slipping under.
“I’ll hold you so you won’t fall in. Don’t worry—come closer.”
“…What if I’m too heavy and you drop me?”
“You can’t possibly be heavy, Lady Charnel. And besides, everything feels lighter in the water.”
“You really won’t let go?”
Eleusis nodded. Maybe it was the way he stood, wet and steady in the water, but his shoulders looked broader than ever. Just looking at them made her want to lean against him.
“Then you must hold me tightly.”
Gathering her resolve, Chanellica reached out to him.
“Then, excuse me.”
“Ah—!”
Eleusis gently took her outstretched hand—then pulled firmly, bringing her body against his in an instant.
A strong man’s arms wrapped around her slender waist. Startled by the unfamiliar closeness, Chanellica instinctively threw her arms around his neck, afraid she might fall. Her clothes dampened where they touched his soaked body.
“Relax.”
Only then did Chanellica loosen her grip slightly. Eleusis’s face was right beside hers. Their eyes met up close. Today, his blue irises looked even deeper.
“Ahem. Where are the jewel-water mushrooms?”
Chanellica turned her head away first. Something told her if she kept staring, something dangerous might happen. The way his arm supported her waist and hip made her strangely conscious.
They were pressed so close she briefly considered letting go of his neck—but by now, they had waded even deeper. The water reached Eleusis’s chest and her waist.
No, she couldn’t let go. If she did, she’d surely swallow half the lake.
“There, you can start to see them now.”
Eleusis pointed, and Chanellica followed his gaze. Sure enough, glowing mushrooms shimmered beneath the surface. Even under the strong midday sun, their gem-like light was visible.
“Wow, they’re so beautiful!”
“If you touch them, they change color. Do you want to try?”
“Are they safe? With such bright light, I’d think they’d be scorching.”
“They glow with mana, so it’s harmless.”
He reached out and tapped one. The small mushroom, which had glowed red, shifted to blue—and squirted a little jet of water. Chanellica’s eyes widened.
“Let’s go a bit further, yes?”
Her curiosity finally overcame her hesitation. Together, they went deeper, playing with the jewel-water mushrooms.
By the time she realized it, Chanellica had forgotten all about the heat. Even though she hadn’t actually swum, she was soaked from the splashing mushrooms. Her pale pink hair had darkened several shades.
On the shore, attendants and royal guards silently watched the scene.
None said a word, but the rumor was already widespread: the king and Lady Chanellica were lovers. How else could a man and woman spend such carefree time together in so public a place?
This wasn’t their first time playing by the lake.
Chanellica was unusually vulnerable to heat. Their seaside trip had also been for her sake, as she hadn’t fully recovered and had collapsed from the weather. But Eleusis, as king, couldn’t stay long at the distant coast.
So they had turned to this lake near the palace. Chanellica visited daily at midday to cool her legs, and Eleusis joined her when he had time. But this was the first day they had gone so deep together.
“Shall we rest now?”
When Chanellica suggested it, Eleusis carried her back to shore. He carefully set the soaked young woman onto a reclining chair.
Maids quickly arrived with towels, drying her off. Others followed with large fans. There was no need to change clothes—the hot air made fanning in wet clothes more refreshing.
Just as Eleusis moved to sit beside her, an unwelcome face appeared.
“Your Majesty. You must return now.”
“There’s still some time left.”
“Matters have gone awry. The nobles are in uproar—you may need to mediate early.”
Eleusis sighed inwardly. Duty called—he was king, after all.
Though regretful to leave Chanellica, he rose with an unbothered expression.
“I’ll go ahead. Stay and rest a while longer.”
“Yes, don’t worry about me.”
After quickly drying himself, Eleusis started away from the lakeside. But suddenly, his steps faltered.
There stood a tall man with black hair and eyes, expression unreadable. Chanellica’s former fiancé—Derwin.
Their gazes met. Derwin dipped his head slightly, as he always did.
Eleusis turned to look back at Chanellica, reclining gracefully on the chair.
It had been a month already.
He remembered the day Chanellica had agreed to stay at the palace. On that day, she had made one request:
“Please appoint Duke Cartel as my escort knight.”
At first, Eleusis was stunned. Was she joking? He had promised her anything, yet this—this was too much.
“That would be… difficult, wouldn’t it?”
Indeed. Assigning an honorary duke to guard a woman who wasn’t of royal blood was unthinkable. And worse—her former fiancé, always at her side? Absurd.
“Then I’ll leave once I recover, as planned. Sorry for bringing it up.”
Eleusis hadn’t answered, but Chanellica had nodded, as though resigned, and turned away.
He clenched his fists. He couldn’t let her leave. Even if her lingering feelings for Derwin were the reason—if keeping Derwin near meant she’d stay, then so be it.
“Very well.”
He accepted immediately, despite the distaste.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?” she asked, reading his face.
“May I?”
“I think I owe you at least that much. You’d be curious.”
“Then tell me.”
“Because I want him to feel guilty when he sees me.”
For a moment, Chanellica had looked unbearably sad.
Eleusis had asked nothing more. He only set one condition: Derwin would not guard her alone—another knight would always accompany him. Chanellica readily agreed.
The real problem had been Derwin himself. Eleusis expected him to refuse outright. After all, why would he agree to guard a former fiancée? Eleusis had even prepared an excuse: shamelessly declaring her the future queen.
But to his surprise, Derwin accepted without objection.
Instead, it was Lydia who protested fiercely. His image was already tarnished enough as an honorary duke guarding a foreign princess—how could he now guard her former betrothed?
But Lydia’s opinion didn’t matter. And so, Derwin became Chanellica’s escort knight.
From the very first day, Eleusis had kept a wary eye on him. But nothing happened. The maids in Chanellica’s residence, the other knight Wills—all reported no signs of impropriety.
Meanwhile, Eleusis and Chanellica had grown closer. That comforted him somewhat. Still, seeing her former fiancé always at her side made unease gnaw at him.
They had once loved each other. A single spark could reignite that fire. He could never let his guard down.
Thinking so, Eleusis let out a dry chuckle.
As if he’d ever had a choice in the matter.
All he could do was what he had always done—give Chanellica his all.
And soon, the day would come when she would be entirely his.
