Chapter 3

Hummm…

A brilliant light burst forth, so dazzling that every mermaid in the hall was forced to shut their eyes.

The searing radiance vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

“…Little sister?”

The first to notice Lea’s disappearance were her six older brothers.

Within moments, the ceremonial hall erupted into chaos.

The room buzzed with endless chatter.

The heavy scent of perfume lingered in the air.

Bored beyond measure, a pair of violet eyes gazed idly out the window until a shadow fell across them.

“So, I was thinking we could go together to buy a ruby necklace this time.”

“…”

Simply being in front of Caspian Felix was enough to fill Delailu with excitement.

Her smile was brighter than usual.

Her voice was sweeter.

A rosy blush colored her cheeks.

Even though…

He wasn’t paying attention to her at all.

“Your Grace?”

At her second call, his gaze slowly shifted away from the window and settled on her.

That single glance was enough to make Delailu’s heart race.

“My apologies.”

“What were you saying?”

“I asked if you’d accompany me tomorrow while I shop for a necklace.”

“Hm…”

“I already have plans tomorrow.”

“More importantly, I’ll be heading to the temple now.”

Thirty minutes.

He had stayed long enough.

He had patiently endured enough of her endless conversation.

That was more than sufficient.

“Then let me come with you.”

As he rose to leave, Delailu quickly stood as well.

Just looking at the eager expression on her face irritated him.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I’ll go alone.”

“But as the guardian family of the Temple of Wortanon, it would be much easier for you to enter if I accompanied you.”

She was doing everything she could to stay by his side.

Caspian looked down at her with cold indifference.

“This isn’t my first visit to the temple.”

“And thanks to Duke Gwyn’s consideration, I’m already permitted to enter as your fiancé.”

“…”

She knew that if she pushed any further…

This cold-hearted man might simply return to his duchy.

“Then…”

“I’ll wait here.”

Unwilling to let him out of her sight, Delailu took a step back and smiled graciously.

“As you wish.”

Whether she waited or not made no difference to him.

Without another glance, he walked through the temple doors.

Watching the massive doors close behind him, Delailu muttered quietly,

“No matter how cold you are…”

“You’ll soon become my husband.”

It wouldn’t be much longer now.

Their lengthy engagement would finally end.

And that proud, unattainable man would belong to her.

Creeeak…

The enormous temple doors slowly opened.

The moment Caspian stepped inside, his calm pace changed completely.

He hurried forward.

Almost running.

His frantic footsteps finally stopped before the sacred spring flowing beneath the statue of the Water Goddess Marisa.

Crystal-clear water streamed from the goddess’s fingertips.

The gentle sound of flowing water echoed peacefully throughout the vast chamber.

Countless shimmering blue scales of light danced across the sacred pool, creating an almost divine atmosphere.

Normally, it would have been breathtaking.

Today…

He had no time to appreciate it.

Splash!

Without hesitation, Caspian plunged his face into the holy water.

He drank greedily.

Desperately.

As though his life depended on it.

“…Haah.”

Only after drinking his fill did he finally lift his head.

“I feel alive again.”

The terrible thirst that plagued him never truly disappeared.

It constantly robbed him of his dignity.

With a weary sigh, he dropped to the floor and leaned against the stone wall.

A bitter smile tugged at his lips.

His current life…

Was no different from a dog chained to its master.

“Hm?”

Something was different today.

The holy water was calming his thirst far more effectively than usual.

“…Why does it feel so refreshing?”

An indescribable sensation spread deep through his chest.

It was so invigorating that a pleasant chill ran down his spine.

Slowly, he turned his head and surveyed the sacred pool.

Then—

His gaze froze.

“…Who’s there?”

His voice echoed through the chamber.

There was no response.

A young woman dressed in a white nightgown lay motionless beside the pool.

Her upper body rested on the stone floor.

The lower half of her body remained submerged beneath the sacred water.

Watching silently, Caspian rose and approached.

Step.

Step.

After only a few strides, he stopped.

His eyes carefully examined the unconscious girl.

Sky-blue hair.

Soft as clouds.

Snow-white skin.

A delicate frame.

Finally, his gaze returned to her face.

He studied her long, closed eyelashes.

Trying to determine who she was.

Sky-blue hair…?

A woman with hair that color… in the Akarzen Empire?

Impossible.

Blonde.

Silver.

Those existed.

Sky-blue…

Never.

“Wait…”

His gaze slowly shifted downward toward the portion of her body still beneath the water.

“What is that?”

Tiny white particles drifted from her submerged body.

Each sparkling grain reflected countless colors like fragments of opal.

Looking around, he realized the entire sacred pool glittered with the same mysterious light.

Which meant…

He had just drunk that water.

And now…

His body felt more perfect than it ever had.

How is that possible?

Was there truly something even more miraculous than water blessed by the Goddess Marisa?

The mysterious woman was undeniably suspicious.

Yet…

Instead of caution…

His heart filled with anticipation.

There was no reason to hesitate.

He bent down.

Carefully lifted her into his arms.

Then carried her toward the window.

“Julius.”

At his quiet call, a man immediately appeared atop the windowsill.

Caspian handed the unconscious woman over.

“Take her back to the estate.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Julius vanished instantly with the woman in his arms.

Left alone, Caspian looked toward the crimson sunset beyond the temple windows.

For the first time in a very long while…

A genuine smile appeared on his face.

Lost in a dream, Lea couldn’t wake.

Until an unbearable thirst forced her eyes open.

“…I’m thirsty.”

Her dry, cracked voice broke the silence.

Her vision slowly focused.

Dim predawn darkness filled the room.

Where… am I?

Something was wrong.

The statue of Marisa that should have been inside the temple was nowhere to be seen.

More importantly…

It wasn’t sunset anymore.

It was night.

Everything had changed.

Anxiety slowly tightened around her heart.

Did Delailu already find me?

Have I been imprisoned again?

The thought seemed the most likely.

Just as before, Delailu had probably been the first person to discover her.

Lea let out a shallow sigh and slowly sat up.

Then—

A chill ran down her spine.

Someone was watching her.

She could feel an intense gaze against her right cheek.

Slowly…

Very slowly…

She turned her head.

“…”

“…”

Her eyes met a pair of violet ones.

A man sat quietly in the darkness, watching her without moving.

Gulp.

The sound of her swallowing echoed loudly in the silent room.

The man’s red lips slowly parted.

“Hello.”

The deep, masculine voice instantly shattered her daze.

“Aaaah!”

She screamed.

Again.

And again.

“Hey!”

“Calm down!”

Caught off guard by her violent reaction, the man instinctively grabbed her wrist.

“L-Let go!”

The rough texture of his calloused hand touching her skin made her whole body shudder.

She immediately burst into tears.

“P-Please…”

“Please don’t hurt me…”

She sobbed uncontrollably.

She was on the verge of panic.

Why…?

Why is there a human man here?

His broad frame looked enormous.

Terrifying.

Ever since childhood, she had been taught that humans were dangerous.

To her…

The man before her was nothing more than a frightening human male.

And after everything she’d suffered in her previous life…

That fear had only grown.

“All right.”

“I’ll let go.”

“So stop crying.”

He released her wrist and stepped back several paces.

Only then did Lea slowly raise her tear-filled emerald eyes.

“Who are you?”

“I’d like to know your identity.”

His calm, powerful voice demanded an answer.

Lea shrank back.

“And who are you?”

“Why am I here?”

She remained tense with fear.

Her emerald eyes darted anxiously around the room.

Searching for something.

A door?

Caspian followed her gaze.

It stopped on the room’s exit.

She’s looking for a way to escape.

His lips curved ever so slightly.

Where exactly does she think she’s going to run?

“I am Caspian Felix.”

“Duke of the Akarzen Empire.”