Chapter 81
I didn’t expect him to be curious about that.
I rolled my eyes toward him for a moment, then slowly traced back through my memories.
What did I like again…?
Ah, that’s right.
“I used to like reading books.”
There were so many books in Sertia’s library that you couldn’t even take them all in at a glance.
I would struggle to climb up on a chair that was too tall for my small body, and with my little hands, I’d carefully turn the pages.
It was the only hobby that neither Rachel nor Father ever scolded me for.
“At first, I didn’t like them because they were all full of difficult words. But not all the books were like that.”
One day, I opened a book that I thought was about trade and economics, but when I read it, it turned out to be more like a sailor’s journal.
It was filled with stories of things that happened while crossing the sea, impressions of foreign lands, and longing for home.
As a child, I forgot how late it was getting outside, completely absorbed in that book, and fell asleep with my heart pounding.
And in my dreams, I became the captain of a grand ship.
“After that, I started digging through all the books in the library looking for adventure novels.”
When I read those stories, I could be the owner of a great trading company, or a brave knight.
“What about you, Denok? What did you like when you were a child?”
At my question, Denok paused his rowing.
“…I think I only ever read spellbooks.”
At that, I couldn’t help imagining his younger self — a boy with a stiff expression, staring at his book in silence.
Somehow, it felt… natural to picture him that way, like he’d never enjoyed anything else.
And then—
From somewhere above, a bird suddenly swooped straight toward my head.
Its sharp eyes were fixed on… the ruby adorning my hairpin.
From a distance, it must have looked like a red cherry.
Before I could react, frozen in surprise, Denok sprang up and reached out, trying to drive it away.
The problem was… we weren’t on solid ground.
We were on a lake.
And Denok — with his build — wasn’t exactly light.
Before I could even brace myself, the boat flipped over.
“Kyah!”
“Edith!”
In an instant, my entire body plunged into the icy water.
Bubbles clouded my vision, and my soaked dress dragged me downward like an anchor.
I flailed my limbs, but I only sank deeper.
Just as a chill of panic began to grip me, a strong arm seized me and pulled me upward.
It was Denok.
He wrapped his arms around me and used magic to propel us to the surface.
“Pwah!”
“Ha… are you all right?”
“Haa… yes, I think so. But…”
I glanced down and immediately wrapped my arms tightly over my chest.
My ivory-colored dress clung completely to my body.
The fabric, thin from the summer heat, revealed the contours of my skin beneath it.
Denok seemed to realize it at the same moment — he jerked his head up, quickly averting his eyes.
“Madam!! Are you all right?!”
From a distance, Melissa’s voice rang out.
She must have seen the boat tip over.
I raised my hand and waved, signaling that I was fine.
A little later, Denok and I sat beneath the shade at the edge of the forest.
Wandering around in wet clothes was out of the question.
Melissa and Gerald had hurried back to the estate to fetch towels and dry clothes.
They ran off so quickly that we didn’t even have time to stop them — leaving just the two of us behind.
A small but warm campfire flickered before us.
Denok had built it himself.
I glanced at him cautiously.
It’s still fire, even if it’s small. Is he all right?
Sensing my gaze, he said calmly, “It’s fine as long as it’s small.”
As he spoke, he sent a soft breeze toward me — warm air born from magic.
The contrast of the cool air and the gentle heat made me laugh, oddly enough.
I never thought I’d actually fulfill a childhood dream.
To fall into a lake like this — who would’ve thought?
In a way, it even helped me.
All the tangled thoughts that had been weighing on my mind seemed to have been washed away with the current.
No matter how much I dwell on Siren’s intentions, what good will it do?
I wouldn’t know unless I faced it myself.
All I could do was prepare for what I could.
I’d already secured the magic tool that could summon lightning through Arbel, and I carried a small dagger, too.
With those troublesome thoughts gone, a long sigh escaped me, and a soft laugh followed.
Then, Denok’s voice gently filled the quiet.
“One year, wasn’t it? That was the length of our contract.”
When I looked up, the firelight flickered faintly in his eyes.
“What do you plan to do after that year passes?”
Plan, huh…
“Well… I suppose I’d travel a bit. Here and there. But I think… I’d like to see the sea.”
“The sea?”
“Yes. There’s something my mother once said before she passed away.”
I had few memories of my mother, but her voice was etched vividly in my mind, as if carved there.
“If you ever leave this empire far behind and cross the rolling waves… there is a place where the sea sings.”
“It’s so beautiful… you must see it for yourself someday.”
Perhaps it was somewhere she had lived before she met my father.
When I remembered the longing in her voice, I couldn’t help wanting to go there.
Maybe I could find traces of her — or someone who remembered her.
And once I find my mother’s village… after that…
I bit my lip lightly, letting my imagination drift.
I’d wander freely again for a while — then someday, settle down in a quiet seaside town.
And I’d become a lazy librarian in a small bookshop.
Maybe I’d cut or dye my hair.
I’d live in a place where no one knew who I was.
Open the door whenever I wanted, pick up a book, and read by the shore.
Sleep when I felt like it, wake when I felt like it.
A truly carefree life.
If I spent all my remaining dowry, it didn’t seem impossible.
Besides, I doubted Denok would let me leave empty-handed after everything.
It would be nice to build a bonfire by the sea like this, too.
Gathering branches, lighting them, and blowing gently at the rising smoke…
“Let me do it,” Melissa would probably say, pushing me aside.
A small laugh almost escaped me — and then stopped.
Ah.
Melissa wouldn’t be there.
Nor Gerald, who’d come over to warn me to be careful with the fire.
Nor Vernon, who’d smile gently and hand me snacks.
Nor Denok, who’d silently reach out to shield me from the sparks.
None of them would be there.
A chill wind seemed to creep through my chest.
When I fell quiet, Denok looked at me with concern.
“Are you all right? You’re trembling.”
“Oh, yes. I think I’m just a little cold.”
I hugged my knees tighter, and he extended his hand again.
The warm breeze grew stronger.
“Thank you,” I whispered softly.
When I looked up again, he seemed to hesitate — as if there was something he wanted to ask.
Perhaps… how I plan to gain my freedom after that year is over.
But I couldn’t tell him.
Because by then… I’ll be dead.
