TMOHI 32

Chapter : 32

“…Alright.”

At my permission, he smiled brightly, as if he had finally spotted a ray of light in the darkness.

Though it should have been a smile of relief, strangely, it looked extremely uneasy.

A few days had passed since I promised my engagement to Harten.

“Actually, I was going to be the one to bring up the engagement first.”

After all, I had intended to marry him.

If he hesitated about marriage, I planned to throw the bait: propose an engagement first, and we could take our time thinking about marriage later.

Opening the resort on the island was the priority anyway.

“But… I didn’t expect him to bring up the engagement this quickly.”

It seemed Harten’s anxiety was greater than I had anticipated.

I thought he would last at least a few months.

“Have I neglected this man for too long?”

Thinking that, I let out a small chuckle.

I remembered what Harten had said to me that day:

“I should have given you the trust to tell me you were a mage, but I didn’t. So it’s my fault.”

“Then, in reverse, is it my fault that Harten is feeling anxious?”

…Hmm, I suppose there’s nothing to be done.

For the time being, I would keep Harten on this island and plant abundant trust in me.

Just then, a knock sounded, and Elin entered my bedroom.

“Eani-nim, I’ve finished preparing for our outing.”

“Good work. Where’s Harten?”

“He’s waiting in the lobby.”

I nodded at Elin’s words, tightened the robe I was wearing, and stepped out.

Walking toward the central lobby, I saw Harten standing there, also wearing a robe.

“Eani.”

Harten, standing a bit awkwardly, quickly hurried over to me.

Seeing him, I naturally linked my arm with his.

“Shall we go then~?”

“Do… we really have to go dressed like this?”

“Hmm? I got this just for an occasion like this.”

“I’ve never worn this before.”

“Then you’ll get used to it now! You’ll adapt quickly, Harten~.”

Taking him along as he fumbled, we crossed the lobby and headed to the back door of the villa.

What awaited us there was…

“Tada~.”

A large swimming pool, carved out from the rarely used back garden of the villa.

Clean marble flooring, gravel surrounding the pool, and water rippling invitingly.

It was a refreshing sight, tempting enough to jump in immediately to escape the scorching sun.

“When on earth did you have this made?”

“I prepared it in advance.”

With magic, a swimming pool like this can be made in no time.

I answered simply, slipping off my robe.

Beneath it, a one-piece swimsuit swayed, reaching mid-thigh.

“When I first possessed this body, I didn’t even know swimsuits existed~.”

But looking at magazines and shopping catalogs, swimsuits were already familiar attire here.

More precisely, among commoners rather than the nobility.

“I heard nobles avoid swimsuits that expose the legs because they consider them low-class.”

Still, in the hot south, everyone enjoys water regardless of social status, so both nobles and commoners wear swimsuits.

The creator of this swimsuit was also a southern noble.

“Thanks to that, one less thing for me to worry about.”

I almost had to invent swimsuits myself~.

Humming happily, I was about to step into the pool when Harten quickly ran up to me.

Then, in a swift motion, he took off his own robe and wrapped me tightly with it.

“Hmm?”

I looked at him with wide eyes. Harten, his face bright red, spoke.

“This outfit seems far too defenseless!”

Indeed, swimming and swimsuits seemed completely foreign to Harten, not being from the south.

I glanced down at him for a moment.

The muscular body beneath his shirt, which I’d only ever felt before, now stood vividly before me.

“From my perspective, this seems more defenseless…?”

Women’s swimsuits are mostly one-piece, with minimal exposure.

In contrast, men’s swimwear exposes more of the lower body.

I found my gaze repeatedly drawn to his beautifully sculpted form, reminiscent of Greek statues.

“Truly, the body of a romance novel’s male lead.”

Instinctively, I admired Harten’s upper body, then glanced sideways.

The three sisters, who were there to serve us, were waiting.

“…….”

“Hooh.”

“Wow!”

Elin bowed her head, Belin let out a small gasp, and Selin’s eyes sparkled.

“Wondering who should really be in a robe.”

I chuckled and spoke to the three sisters.

“You all stay over there.”

Startled, they quickly retreated a few steps.

Meanwhile, I loosened the robe Harten had tied on me and looked at him.

“Don’t worry. I won’t be wearing this anywhere except in front of you~.”

“Then… that’s a relief.”

“Come on, Harten~.”

I took his hand, leading him into the pool.

I, too, was a little excited to swim after such a long time.

“Do you like swimming, Harten?”

“I’ve never tried it.”

“Then I’ll teach you! You’re athletic, so you’ll pick it up quickly~.”

“Eani, you can swim? Since when?”

“…I learned briefly as a child~.”

I had learned it in a general studies class during school, so technically as a child.

I briefly taught Harten how to swim.

“Of course, swimming is just an excuse~.”

The real purpose was to spend enjoyable time together and relieve Harten’s anxiety and stress.

“…And yet.”

A little later.

Splash—!

Splash! Splash! Splash!

“Not bad.”

Sitting on the sunbed by the pool, I sipped my ready-made juice.

Harten was frantically swimming on the other side.

“Even fish wouldn’t be this fast.”

I knew Harten was one of the Empire’s top knights, but his innate athletic ability was truly monstrous.

I never imagined he could surpass me—who had swum nearly fifteen years from kindergarten to high school—in just one day.

“I wasn’t even that great at swimming myself.”

Yet he adapted immediately, understanding everything I explained and applying it to his body.

Truly a genius when it comes to physical activity.

“…Wait. Genius?”

Then…

“Harten!”

Harten, who had almost become one with the water, immediately snapped to attention and swam toward me.

Standing upright, he threw his soaked hair back.

“Sorry, I got a little too excited on my own.”

“No, it’s fine. Just seeing you enjoying yourself makes me happy.”

I smiled and stepped closer, wiping water from his strong jawline with the back of my hand.

Then I whispered gently.

“Shall we go somewhere just the two of us this time?”

Harten, shyly blushing at my touch, looked up wide-eyed.

“Just the two of us?”

“Yes~. No maids, truly just the two of us. I’ve picked out a place~.”

“Good. Let’s go immediately.”

His answer came without hesitation, making me smile.

I whispered softly in his ear.

“Understood?”

“Hmm, not difficult at all.”

Harten nodded and stepped out of the water.

The children waiting at a distance began approaching with large towels.

“Now!”

Flash!

Harten scooped me up lightly and dashed past the sisters.

“Ah! Eani-nim! Young Viscount!”

“Where are you going?!”

“W-Wait! Please stop!”

I could hear the children’s panicked voices but didn’t respond.

I could have stayed with them and left the villa peacefully with Harten…

“But that would ruin the thrill of escaping, wouldn’t it?”

Having them panic makes it all the more fun~.

“Harten, you’ll get caught like this~!”

“Not a chance!”

He seemed genuinely excited now, picking up speed.

Racing like a thoroughbred in the direction I pointed, he laughed out loud.

“Hahaha! I’ve never felt like this before!”

His laughter was like that of a young boy.

So pure and innocent… I couldn’t help but laugh along.

“I wanted to relieve Harten’s stress, but I think I’m enjoying this too~.”

I wondered if the other tasks I assigned were going smoothly…

“Eeek! How dare you! How dare you!”

The Duchess of Saind, Fabatia, shrieked as she tore the letter she was holding into pieces.

“Detestable Eani Nasel! I can’t stand the sight of you, Eani Nasel!