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~Chapter 23~
Branches with green leaves hung low, wrapping quietly around the peaceful lake.
Far away, the flag at the top of the imperial palace fluttered in the wind.
Sunlight slowly faded, and golden sparkles danced on the blue lake.
Splash, splash.
It sounded like someone was splashing water.
Suddenly, a small, white hand shot up from the blue water.
The little hand splashed quickly, and the frightened face of a young child broke the surface.
“Help…”
The pale, unfamiliar face disappeared underwater in an instant.
Splash, splash.
The child’s tired movements grew slower and weaker.
“No!”
Dahlia reached out with her hand and snapped awake.
She looked around, still sleepy, and saw the outdoors.
She had fallen asleep leaning against a tree.
She stood up quickly and looked at the sky to guess the time.
She’d seen the golden sparkling lake in her dream, so it must be late afternoon.
But it was still early.
Dahlia closed her eyes, pressed her hands together, and tried to calm her pounding heart.
She hadn’t saved her mother. Even though she never saw her mother’s death in a dream, she always wondered—if she had been faster, could she have saved her?
Regret and guilt she’d buried deep inside started to rise.
Dahlia shook her head and forced those feelings down.
Now isn’t the time to worry about the past. I have to save the child.
She looked up and checked her surroundings.
There it is! Far away, she saw the flag from her dream. She needed to ask Lemon to take her there.
Dahlia shouted toward the sky.
“Lemon! Lemon!”
She walked forward, looking straight up at the sky.
Just then, a familiar voice came from right in front of her.
“Young Lady. You need to look ahead.”
Startled, she looked forward—
The emperor’s broad chest was right in front of her face.
“You almost ran into me,” Oreon said from behind the emperor, sounding worried.
How long had she slept? The emperor must have finished his meeting and was heading back.
Dahlia hurriedly shouted at the emperor.
“Your Majesty! The lake! Please, send someone to the lake!”
The emperor looked down at her as if to say, What is she talking about?
“How many lakes are there in the palace? It has to be a really big one. It felt like a quiet lake in the woods.”
“Lady Herdan.”
Dahlia spoke in a rush, and the emperor called her name as if to calm her.
“There’s no time. How many lakes are there?”
“Only one big lake,” Oreon answered from behind the emperor.
“Oh, thank goodness…”
Dahlia let out a deep sigh of relief.
She’d worried there might be more than one.
The emperor watched her quietly, then asked,
“What’s going on?”
“Please, don’t ask anything—just take me to that lake. You can count this as our third meeting. Or, could you at least send an attendant? I get lost easily.”
She pleaded desperately.
Grey frowned, looking her up and down.
She was always calm before—what could have happened to make her act like this?
“Oreon.”
“You have about an hour before your next meeting,” Oreon answered quickly.
Grey looked at Dahlia, who stared back with desperate eyes.
He could have just sent an attendant. But he still felt like he didn’t know her at all.
Why is this pink-haired young lady clinging to me like this?
I need to find out the reason myself.
“I’ll count this as our third meeting.”
“Thank you.”
Grey watched her glance up at the sky in obvious relief.
Dahlia followed the emperor deep into the woods, and Lemon soon joined them.
Pipi.
Lemon chirped as if to say, Don’t worry.
Just having Lemon nearby made Dahlia feel better. She followed the emperor’s broad back, determined.
Ethan and Oreon pulled aside some low branches, and soon a beautiful view appeared.
Green leaves circled the blue lake.
On the surface, the sunlight shimmered.
Thankfully, it wasn’t golden yet. She wasn’t too late.
Where was the child? She had to stop it before the child fell in.
Dahlia looked all around, her palms sweating every time she saw the rippling water.
“Young Lady, what are you doing?”
“Just a second. I’m looking for something.”
She could feel the emperor staring at her disapprovingly, arms crossed.
Dahlia tried not to look at the lake but forced herself to scan the water.
Then, the lake’s surface began to glow gold. Oh no.
Dahlia looked around nervously. The emperor’s low voice sounded in her ear.
“Well, I hope you find it.”
Dahlia looked at the emperor with desperate eyes.
“Can you stay with me a little longer?”
“Why?”
Her violet eyes darkened with fear.
“…I’m afraid of water.”
“If you’re scared, why did you ask to come here?”
His voice grew low, like a hunter laying a trap.
“Um…”
Dahlia hesitated, unsure how much to say.
A child will fall into the lake? I saw it in a dream about the future? But maybe it’s not today. It could be tomorrow, or a year from now…
“Your Majesty, it’s time.”
Oreon stepped in, giving Dahlia an apologetic look.
Even then, the emperor’s eyes stayed on her.
Dahlia lowered her head, her eyes trembling.
“Thank you for your time. You can count this as our third meeting.”
She could still feel the emperor’s intense stare, but she didn’t lift her head. Soon, she heard him turn and leave.
Only then did she look up and watch the emperor’s back as he walked away.
When the emperor’s group disappeared, Dahlia sat down away from the lake.
The quiet lakeside looked so peaceful, as if nothing bad could ever happen.
She squinted, trying not to look at the water, but a shiver ran down her back.
As a child, she loved water and swimming.
But after her mother drowned, water became something terrifying.
If only her mother hadn’t drowned, she’d still love swimming.
She had begged the emperor to come here because of her dream,
but she knew she couldn’t save the child alone. She only hoped the emperor’s people would be nearby if it happened.
But then, the lake’s surface began to sparkle gold, and Dahlia’s face brightened with hope.
This was the exact time in my dream. But if it’s not today, if it’s tomorrow or far in the future, I can prepare more next time and save the child.
Dahlia stood up bravely.
The lake was too big to check alone.
Next time, I’ll bring Cole, who’s good at swimming, and search every corner.
But just then, Lemon started circling far away.
Pipipipipi!
Lemon’s chirping sounded different from usual.
