Chapter 53…………………
The deep crimson waves surged in and receded again and again as the sunset spread across the sea.
Looking at the gentle ripples reminded me of the wave illusion Goldman had once conjured with his crystal orb.
“The real waves are much better after all.”
Unlike ordinary parties, once a yacht party set sail, it was hard to board afterward, so all the guests had already arrived early.
Faces filled with anticipation for the rare yacht party greeted me and boarded the vessel.
“Sir Eriksen, make sure nothing dangerous happens.”
“Of course.”
The boat Rexin and Cheryl would ride was a small yacht that could hold no more than ten people.
The waves were calm today, so there was little danger, but one never knew what could happen. Eriksen nodded, his expression saying, Would I dare disagree?
Normally, children didn’t attend such gatherings, but since Rexin had been so disappointed, I arranged a small event just for them.
“It’ll be fine since Cheryl is with him.”
Cheryl wouldn’t do anything reckless, so that gave me some peace of mind.
“Have you been waiting long?”
Axion had just escorted Cheryl elsewhere and returned, looking—again—almost unbearably dashing.
His hair, usually left a bit tousled, was neatly swept back today, revealing a clean, straight forehead. With his handsome face laid bare even more than usual, it felt like more eyes than ever were on him.
“…Why do you look so handsome today?”
The words slipped out before I could stop myself. He blinked wide in surprise, then suddenly broke into laughter.
He looked even more handsome when he laughed, leaving me momentarily speechless. I quickly regained my senses and pulled him closer to me.
“Something like this should be for my eyes only!”
Of course, I couldn’t say that childish thought aloud, so I simmered inside instead. To hide my flustered heart, I changed the subject.
“But didn’t you say you hated the sea?”
“…Even so, it’s not enough to make me miss your birthday.”
He hesitated slightly before answering, but since he denied it, I couldn’t push further. I simply nodded.
We weren’t planning to swim, just ride the yacht, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
“Shall we go then?”
“Yes.”
Axion escorted me as usual, nothing out of the ordinary in his demeanor. Soon we boarded, and not long after, the yacht slowly set sail.
Since it was a yacht party, they’d prepared only the bare minimum of alcohol, just in case of any accidents. Anyone wanting to get drunk would have to finish all the bottles on board.
But I’d been drinking often lately anyway, and just enough to get pleasantly tipsy was more than enough.
Once we drifted a little away from shore, the sea breeze filled my chest and cleared my head.
The sun had set, and the moon shone bright upon the waters.
Tonight, the moon seemed especially radiant.
As I gazed at its reflection dancing upon the waves, an odd sense of déjà vu washed over me. It felt as though I had once stared at the moon like this from a boat before…
“What are you thinking?”
Axion had approached with a drink—nonalcoholic, of course—and asked softly.
His question shattered my drifting thoughts in an instant.
“I was just thinking that the moon looks beautiful.”
“To me, you’re more beautiful than the moon.”
“…Ahem.”
Though he was always kind, whenever he said things like this, his face grew so utterly sincere that it left me the flustered one.
“When are you giving me my present?”
In the end, I had no choice but to change the topic again. As always, he let me.
“When we’re alone. Are you looking forward to it?”
“Of course.”
He often bought me little gifts, so it was impossible to guess what it might be this time.
Soon, people began claiming spots along the railing. The evening’s final event was about to begin—fireworks.
It had been so long since I’d seen them that even I felt giddy with excitement.
A crackling sound, then a sharp whiish—and a firework shot into the sky.
They burst open like blooming flowers, filling the heavens. The explosions pounded in my ears as the crowd gasped in awe. Everyone was marveling at the display.
I too watched with wide eyes, the colorful sparks casting flickering light across my face.
But then—from the beach where the fireworks were being launched—came a foreboding shout.
By the time I looked, one of the launch racks had tipped, aiming directly toward the yacht.
The realization struck me just as the firework collided with the ship.
A red burst flared against the railing, and in an instant, chaos broke loose.
The startled guests stumbled backward, making the yacht rock violently.
At that moment, another surge of déjà vu gripped me. My mind knew what would happen next, as if reliving something already lived.
“Hasn’t this happened before…?”
My body lurched with the yacht, and I was pitched toward the sea.
The dark waters, like spilled black ink, filled my vision. I was falling in—yes, I knew this feeling too well.
Cold water flooding my mouth. Darkness pressing in on all sides. Only the sound of waves roaring in my ears. And someone calling my name—
“Jeneia, are you alright?!”
Fortunately, Axion’s arm caught my waist just in time. Without him, I would have gone under.
The shock brought me back, and I swallowed hard.
I nodded faintly, dazed, and Axion quickly pulled me far from the railing. Looking around, I saw thankfully no one seemed injured.
“Shion, I’m fine.”
Almost without thinking, I cupped his cheek in my palm.
He was so shaken that I could feel the veins and the pounding of his pulse beneath his skin.
His rigid expression slowly softened under my touch, though he still stroked my back as if to steady himself as much as me.
His face was more tightly drawn than I’d ever seen before.
“Really, I’m okay. Just… a little startled.”
“…Everyone’s rattled. Maybe we should disembark.”
I nodded. When I ordered the attendants to dock immediately, the yacht began steering back toward the shore.
Once the anchor dropped and everyone else disembarked, only Axion and I stepped off last.
Inspection showed that the impact site was only slightly scorched—nothing serious.
It had only been the sudden movement of panicked guests that rocked the yacht so badly.
“Are you truly unharmed?”
Leonil approached and asked gently. I nodded slowly. The real issue was Axion.
Though he stayed close to me, he still looked as if he hadn’t regained himself. The thought that if he hadn’t grabbed me I might have drowned seemed to weigh heavily on him.
“Axion?”
At my voice, his eyes flicked to me.
“…Are you really alright?”
“Yes. But what about you? Are you okay, Shion?”
“I was just… startled as well.”
His words didn’t convince me entirely, but I could only nod. Leonil, too, seemed to notice Axion’s unusual reaction and regarded him curiously.
“Auntie!”
“Your Grace!”
Just then, Rexin came running toward me from afar. The children had been kept on another boat a little farther away, but not so far that they hadn’t seen the commotion.
His eyes were wet, his face scrunched with worry as he looked me over. Cheryl too wore an anxious expression.
“Are you really alright?”
“Of course. No one’s hurt. The ship just rocked a little, that’s all.”
“Really? I thought you were injured, Auntie… sniff… hic.”
Unable to hold back, Rexin burst into tears. My heart ached at the sight—he’d been so worried for me. Despite the chaos, I couldn’t help but smile softly.
“Were you frightened, Rexin?”
“I… I was…”
I held him close, more tenderly than ever, as he trembled in my arms.
Cheryl watched with worried eyes.
“Brother, you’re really okay, right?”
She turned to Axion. He knelt and drew her into his arms as well.
“Of course. Sorry to scare you, Cheryl.”
“…As long as you’re alright.”
Her voice was prickly, shaken from fear, but she leaned against him quietly all the same.
Rexin’s tears showed no sign of stopping, so Jeneia accompanied him into the carriage. Cheryl, worried for her brother, climbed in too.
That left only Leonil and Axion standing behind.
“Tell me.”
“….”
Axion stood gazing after the departing carriage, but Leonil’s eyes never left him.
His tone was firm, as if to say, I know everything already, so out with it.
Normally, Axion would have brushed him off with a sharp retort. But this time he didn’t.
He pressed his lips together as though struck in the heart. And though he clearly didn’t want to speak, his silence betrayed him.
Leonil knew this side of Axion well—and knew exactly how to respond.
So he simply watched him without a word, a silent insistence.
At last, worn down by that unyielding stare, Axion finally opened his mouth.
