Chapter 95
Soaking my body in the warm water, all the fatigue in me seemed to vanish.
“Ah, this feels good.”
I roughly shook my damp hair and stepped out of the bathroom. The soft wool carpet tickled my feet. Beyond the large glass windows, the vast blue ocean stretched endlessly.
The sound of the waves rolled in, and the afternoon sunlight cast golden patterns across the floor.
I had considered getting a house on Muia Island, but ultimately decided against it. For someone who could leave anytime, putting down roots was a luxury.
Instead, I rented a top-class accommodation entirely to myself and spent my days in luxury.
It was the epitome of perfect relaxation.
But there was one person disrupting my peace.
“…?”
In the middle of the spacious living room, at the window bathed in sunlight, sat a man calmly sipping tea from a steaming cup.
“Y-you…”
I froze, my hand mid-shake as water dripped onto the carpet. There was no time to care about it.
His soft light-brown hair glimmered in the sunlight. His warm chocolate-colored eyes lifted from the teacup and met mine.
It was Reve.
“Why are you here?”
I had just sent him away earlier!
How did he even get onto Muia Island? On my way back to the accommodation, he had shamelessly called me over.
And to make matters worse, it was just about an hour ago that I had issued him the banishment order after he looked completely pitiful falling into the sea.
‘But… he actually came all the way here?’
As I stammered in surprise, Reve smiled faintly.
“When I told the cheerful boy on the first floor that I’m your friend, he let me in.”
The cheerful boy… must be Lucas? That kid… fell for it just like that!
I let out a ridiculous laugh. Reading my expression, Reve shrugged.
“Don’t misunderstand. I went through my own little verification process.”
“Verification?”
I crossed my arms and raised my chin. Despite my clearly displeased attitude, Reve spoke calmly.
“He asked all sorts of questions to make sure I was really your friend.”
He started listing off information that would make anyone gasp if they heard it.
“Your birthday, any food allergies, whose side of the bed snores the most… things like that?”
“….”
I pinched my forehead in disbelief. I didn’t even know where to begin correcting him. Reve chuckled softly at my reaction.
“I just… happen to know too much about you, that’s all.”
Knowing? What a joke.
I exhaled a sigh and gave him a skewed glance.
“…So?”
I had no intention of letting an uninvited guest into the peaceful space I had finally found.
“Once you’re done talking, can you leave?”
Even though I spoke coldly, Reve’s expression remained serene. His hand moved gracefully with the teacup. It was clear he had no intention of leaving politely.
“I have a lot to say… but…”
“Go.”
“…Kanoe won’t let me leave, it seems.”
At this point, I felt I had been more than patient.
I drew up the energy of the water. A blue glow gathered around my fingertips, forming a soft, transparent droplet wrapping around my hand.
“It seems you have no intention of leaving on your own.”
Squinting my eyes, I slowly raised my hand.
“You want me to drive you away, huh?”
I sent Reve out into the open sea, far from the beach.
It was a kind of warning—a way to imprint the idea that there were boundaries between us, deep and unbreachable like the ocean.
From the window, I watched him plunge into the water, then turned away without a second thought.
Since he possessed abilities that allowed him to survive even in the sea, I didn’t worry about his life.
Or at least, I thought I didn’t…
“Master, today’s lunch is grilled chicken and mango salad, by the way.”
“We eat like this every day.”
“Master, is it really okay for us to just lounge around and eat all day?”
It was time to eat with the others as usual. Then, a familiar voice came from the table next to me.
“Hmm, which dish here is the most delicious?”
I whipped my head around. Reve, dressed neatly, was casually ordering food.
“You…”
I immediately clapped my fingers together. The nearby security guards rushed over and asked what I needed.
“Make sure this person doesn’t step foot on the island again.”
Reve was dragged away, still smiling.
I lost count of how many times this had happened. Somehow, each time, he managed to return to the island and linger near me.
“Wow, this place really has good food!”
Even when eating at a restaurant.
“Hmm, I guess you should swim when you’re at the beach.”
While lounging on the sunbed.
“This drink would probably sell well even in the capital.”
Even while snacking at a café!
No matter how I instructed the guards, it was useless.
“Reve doesn’t seem like a bad person, though?”
“They didn’t find anything on him during a body search, and even after days of observation, he was no different from an ordinary tourist…”
“Yes. Yesterday he even bought a group meal for everyone!”
“He said he wanted to clear up the misunderstanding because he’s an old friend of Kanoe.”
“Talk about social skills!”
I slammed my hand on the table, frustrated. Lucas, sipping watermelon juice nearby, shook his head.
“Sis, why not just accept Reve?”
What? Lucas too?
I picked up the jelly he was about to eat.
“Jelly, don’t follow a suspicious person just because they offer you food. Anyone who does that has no pride, a pathetic sea creature.”
“Yes, Master. If Master commands it, of course I’ll obey.”
Lucas raised a finger to point at himself.
“…Does that mean I’m the one with no pride for food?”
I just looked at him silently. He protested with an aggrieved expression.
“I wouldn’t follow some random guy! I’m a member of the Pinkbell crew, after all!”
Raising his voice, he set the juice down and turned away.
“I think you’re misunderstanding why Reve came here, sis.”
“I don’t really want to know.”
“Really? Even if it’s related to Ian?”
I parted my lips, then closed them. Seeing me unable to respond, Lucas nodded knowingly.
“…Did you say something to Reve?”
I barely managed to speak. Lucas, as if he had been waiting, replied with a dark smile.
“Oh, remember the day Reve came to your accommodation? Ian had returned to the mainland and mentioned that you weren’t doing well.”
“I can’t live.”
I sighed automatically. Lucas continued, ignoring me.
“So then Reve said, ‘Then I should talk to Kanoe sooner,’ or something like that.”
Lucas glanced at me and added,
“I don’t know exactly, but it seemed like something was going on over there too.”
It had already been almost two weeks since Ian had returned to the mainland. There had been no news, no contact. Perhaps his promise to come back had just been a kind, gentle lie to put me at ease.
“Maybe Reve just wants to make it possible for you and Ian to meet again.”
“….”
Clinking.
My heart sank as if my carefully hidden feelings had been exposed. Ice cubes tumbled down onto my lap.
Lucas shook his head, watching me.
“See? He really wanted to meet you, didn’t he?”
“…You little, who told you to tease an adult?”
I said it like that, but I couldn’t deny it.
Ian.
The truth was, I really wanted to see him.
“…I guess I should talk to Reve.”
After all, waiting around quietly didn’t suit my personality.
