9.
And what unfolded before her eyes was an endlessly stretching sea.
The sunlight glinted off the waves, making the water shimmer brilliantly. Frie was completely captivated by the sight of the sea she was seeing for the first time in her life. She had only ever heard of it, or seen it in drawings.
No wonder the place had smelled so different the moment she arrived!
It was a scent she had never encountered before, and now she realized—it was the smell of the sea.
A radiant smile spread across her face, brighter than ever before.
She loved the scent of the breeze brushing past her. The water sparkled as if hundreds of chandeliers had been scattered across it. It was something that no painting could ever fully capture. Frie couldn’t tear her eyes away for a long while.
“Lady Frie.”
“Ah. Yes.”
‘My sisters told me not to space out like this.’
She must’ve gotten distracted again.
Frie quickly turned her head at the voice calling her. There stood a woman she had never seen before. Her hair was neatly tied up in a single bun, and as soon as she saw Frie, she bowed politely.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Seth, and I’ll be attending to you starting today.”
“Ah. I’m Frie Ezan.”
“Please feel free to speak comfortably, Lady Frie.”
“If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call on either me or Seth,”
said Cliden, offering a polite farewell before exiting the room—perhaps to avoid making her feel uncomfortable.
But his departure didn’t eliminate the awkwardness. Each time their eyes met, Seth simply gave her a harmless smile.
“Is there anything you need?”
“I’d like to rest…”
“I’ve already prepared warm water for you.”
“Oh…”
“We even have a special scented oil prepared just for you, Lady Frie.”
Her every move was gentle and reverent, as if she were serving someone of noble standing.
Frie was overwhelmed by doubt. Do I really deserve to be treated this way?
Why are you being so kind to me?
The people here treated her far more considerately than those in the Kingdom of Ezan. Despite her saying she was fine, Seth helped her undress, step into the bath, and even wash up.
Gently, but with care.
It was a luxury she had never experienced in Ezan.
Thanks to that, Frie was able to take a relaxing bath for the first time in a long while. Her body, stiff and sore from the long journey in the carriage, loosened up and relaxed.
That night, despite being in an unfamiliar place, Frie slept surprisingly well.
Of course, it wasn’t an entirely peaceful night. Though she drifted into sleep easily due to accumulated fatigue, she awoke again in the early dawn.
Fortunately, she was alone in the room. Seth had quietly stepped out to avoid disturbing her rest.
Careful not to make noise that might draw Seth back in, Frie tiptoed to the window and opened it to peer outside.
Her room was shaped in an L-formation, giving her a view in two directions—one facing the sea and the other facing into the inner castle.
She had only one destination in mind.
The sea—she’d seen it earlier, but she wanted to see it again.
The sea at night gave off a completely different feeling than in the day. If the daytime sea sparkled like diamonds set in the water, then the night sea looked like stars had been gently dropped into it. It felt serene.
“It’s beautiful.”
Just watching it seemed to dissolve the weight on her chest, making her conflicted heart feel a little lighter.
It felt as though this place was a kind of paradise. Her mind and body floated, untethered, and even she couldn’t fully explain why. In the end, Frie spent a long time there—until the sky began to brighten with the coming dawn.
As the chill in the air increased, Frie finally stood up.
The sun was already rising far off in the distance, painting the world in a different hue.
“If they find out I was out here all this time, they’ll probably worry.”
Though she wanted to stay until someone came looking for her, she didn’t want to make anyone anxious.
Just as she reached out to close the window, a voice caught her attention. It was faint—coming from quite a distance—but she was sure it was Argent. Few people had such a distinct, powerful voice.
Perhaps that was why Frie instinctively opened the nearest window in the direction of the sound.
She saw him.
Even in the early morning, Argent looked busy as he strode across the vast garden toward somewhere unknown. For some reason, Frie’s gaze followed him for a long time.
As if she would lose him if she looked away.
As if she really had feelings for him—her entire being refused to let him go.
Only when she felt that he might be looking her way did Frie hurriedly shut the window.
“He—he didn’t see me, right?”
Flustered for no reason she could explain, Frie sank to the floor.
Her heart pounded so wildly, she feared it could be heard even outside.
“What’s wrong with me, seriously…”
She should’ve either watched him openly or not at all.
Because right now, she looked…
“Suspicious.”
Realizing how ridiculous she must’ve seemed, Frie stood up with a huff of determination.
She quickly reopened the window she had just slammed shut. Thankfully, Argent was nowhere in sight now.
After searching for him in vain, Frie gave up and sat at the table.
Leaving both the window to the sea and the one through which she’d watched him wide open, she sat there, letting the sound of the waves be her music.
*
“Lady Frie, you’re already awake.”
Frie was scribbling away in a worn-out journal when she looked up at the sound of the voice. The platinum strands of her hair shimmered under the sunlight as she tucked them behind her ear and smiled brightly.
“Good morning.”
Seth blinked in surprise at the sight of her.
She was different from the day before.
Yesterday, she had seemed nervous, glancing around uneasily. Today, she was like a flower freshly bloomed—gentle, and more at ease. Even the way she treated Seth had changed.
“Wasn’t the night chilly? It’s winter in this region, after all…”
“But it’s still warm,” Frie said, shaking her head slightly.
Compared to the place she had come from, this was far warmer. Or maybe her heart just felt lighter—it was hard to say, but she felt good.
Still, Seth couldn’t hide her worried expression.
Her eyes scanned Frie’s body quickly. Perhaps because Frie was from the northern region, she was smaller than the locals in every way. Her head was smaller than Seth’s, and her pale skin made her look sickly.
Even though they lived on the same continent, each region had its own distinct racial features due to the continent’s vast size.
Here, people generally had a healthier skin tone rather than being ghostly pale. Perhaps because they lived near the sea, their faces were naturally sun-kissed.
Thanks to their abundant diet—including seafood—and comfortable living, they were generally taller than people from other nations.
Even though Seth was older than Frie, her build was also significantly larger.
To Seth, Frie looked like a tiny, fragile bird.
“You must be careful.”
“It’s okay. Even the cold breeze doesn’t feel that chilly.”
But Seth had already draped a thick shawl over Frie’s shoulders. She went further and closed all the windows—from the one facing the castle to the one facing the sea.
Then, after a moment of hesitation, she opened the sea-facing window just slightly.
“More importantly, His Majesty has requested that you join him for breakfast.”
“Me…?”
“Yes.”
Frie blinked and repeated the words.
“He wants to eat with me?”
“Yes. He specifically asked for a private meal—just the two of you.”
Only after the second confirmation did Frie meet Seth’s steady gaze.
“I should get ready then.”
“I’ll help you right away.”
Though Frie only nodded silently, inwardly, her heart fluttered.
She had thought of herself as nothing more than a slave or a hostage. She had tried to live quietly, trying not to draw his attention, believing that not seeing him was her best chance at survival.
She assumed Argent saw her the same way.
That he’d lose interest soon. But that wasn’t the case. To share a meal with her from the very first day…
That alone made her heart soar.
What’s wrong with me?
Even while washing up, fixing her hair, or putting on the dress—her heart wouldn’t stop racing.
It’s just because I’m worried he might’ve caught me watching him this morning! That’s why I’m so nervous!
Forcing that explanation on herself, Frie exhaled a long sigh. Noticing something off, Seth glanced at her with concern mid-preparation.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Oh! No, I’m fine.”
“I was a bit worried since these clothes are different from what you used to wear.”
Unlike the tightly bound garments of Ezan, the clothes here were lightweight and easy to wear—to the point they felt like they’d slip off.
“I like them. They’re not suffocating.”
“That’s good to hear.”
As they chatted, Frie’s gaze drifted across the dressing room.
There were hundreds of dresses—so many that she wondered if another woman had once lived here. Shoes lined up in every variety, and countless pieces of jewelry were neatly arranged.
Did someone else live here before?
She had so many questions.
They said there was no other empress, but clearly, another woman must’ve stayed here before.
That thought made her heart sink a little.
Getting ready didn’t take long.
Frie didn’t realize it herself, but as she headed off to have breakfast with him, her sky-blue eyes sparkled.
