TTPB 10

Chapter 10: A Surprise Right in Front of Me

“AAAAAAAH!”

Arachne hurled everything she could get her hands on.

“So annoying, so frustrating! That useless brat actually dared to talk back! Since when did she get so good at talking?”

Not long ago, her younger sister had looked half-dead, those pale blue eyes barely blinking, lips sealed shut.

That stupid girl—when did she grow the guts to talk back? And now she’d completely humiliated her. She had fallen for it perfectly.

“She’s smarter than I thought.”

The face of Rose, smirking with calculated malice, flashed through her mind. Was she always like that and just hiding it? Her recent behavior was starting to become a real thorn in the eye.

“What is she relying on?”

Come to think of it, it was odd she even left the palace. And she seemed surprisingly informed about imperial matters. But no one from the Third Princess’s side would be feeding her intel. As she gnawed on her lips, Arachne’s eyes gleamed.

“She’s definitely trying to seduce Brother Tanasis.”

She must be trying to raise her status while he’s away, claiming credit for something. But the position next to the Second Prince—soon to be the official heir—belonged to her. She had even framed the First Princess and sent her off to a distant country. There was no way she’d let the Third Princess steal that seat now.

Arachne pulled a sheet of paper from her drawer and began writing furiously. She lovingly traced the name of the recipient—someone who could be her everything. The letter would soon reach the borderlands of Calon.

The wide-brimmed hat did little to protect Rose from the harsh sun. She kept trying to peel the clinging fabric of her dress from her sweaty skin. The dress Lance had hastily acquired was far too small. It was suffocating in this heat. Having no maid was a real inconvenience.

Arsen was renting a rowboat from an old man with a hunched back. Standing against the sea under the afternoon sun, the man’s broad frame drew every gaze. Over his neatly tailored black tunic, brocade embroidery traced elegant patterns down the cuffs. The subtle weight of the fabric emphasized his masculine build.

His casual clothes softened the image of the disciplined knight commander. Only the long sword at his belt marked him as a warrior. The fingers resting lightly on the hilt looked like they belonged on a statue carved by David himself.

“Seriously, how is he this perfect?”

He was her number one pick, her ultimate favorite. While she admired the chiseled line of his jaw, he approached.

“This way, Your Highness.”

Amid a row of drooping willows, small boats floated by the dock. Arsen stepped onto the cleanest one first. Creak. The wooden boat groaned, rocking unevenly with his weight.

“So this one passed your strict inspection?”

“Yes. My apologies for the wait.”

“Safety first, after all.”

As she took his hand to board, dizziness suddenly washed over her, and she stumbled right into him. Her waist landed squarely in his grasp. Their bodies pressed together.

“…Are you alright?”

He quickly released her and checked her face. It hadn’t been intentional this time, so even Rose was a little flustered.

“Is this motion sickness? From such a small boat?”

The heat and discomfort had been building, and now her head throbbed. She forced a smile and said she was fine. He seated himself between the two oars.

“Will I get seasick? It’s a small boat, I’m a little worried.”

“The waters are calm. You’ll be fine.”

When she still looked uneasy, Arsen chuckled softly.

“I may not look it, but I’m a remigis. I’ll take good care of you.”

“Pfft. That’s right. You’re the captain, aren’t you?”

His witty tone eased her tension. Just before departure, Arsen gave a command to the knight on shore.

“From this moment, close the harbor to entry.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Maintain distance and guard us.”

“Yes, sir.”

The red-haired knight saluted politely and withdrew.

“Then, we’re off.”

Arsen began rowing. Just like the sailors of old, Lafayette’s strength was impressive. With only a few strokes, the boat glided across the sea. But Rose couldn’t enjoy the scenery. Yesterday had been too crowded to take it all in, and today—being alone with him—was an entirely different problem.

“Forget the sea. Look at the snack right in front of me!”

With each pull of the oar, his muscular forearms flexed. The veins bulging beneath his sleeves made even his neatly pressed tunic look seductive. The thick tendon at his neck dipped down to a well-defined collarbone, and his firm chest shifted slightly with every move. It was like observing a masterpiece sculpted by a god.

“There’s nothing better than a sweaty man’s arm muscles.”

“I like it too.”

“W-What?!”

Had she just said that out loud? Rose jerked back in shock.

“The sea, I mean.”

“Oh… right. The sea.”

When he looked at her oddly, she gave an awkward cough.

“Ahem. Not that surprising, really. You’re the island lord, after all.”

“Not all islanders love the sea.”

“Lance said everyone in the Remigis Order was obsessed with it.”

“They didn’t have much choice. Most of their lives are spent on the sea.”

He smiled faintly, a little bitter.

“For me, the sea was a duty and a burden.”

“A burden?”

“I inherited the marquisate young, after losing both my parents. They were lost at sea in an unprecedented storm.”

“I’m… sorry.”

“No need. It’s been over ten years. But as a boy, the weight of the family was too much. It took me a long time to genuinely love the sea.”

That young boy, newly orphaned, had no time to grieve—he had to become the lord of an island. She could feel the heavy responsibility he had borne.

“When did you start liking it?”

“When I was nineteen, newly knighted and starting my voyages. The sailors accepted me despite my inexperience.”

“The Remigis Order supported you well, then.”

Arsen nodded.

“Sailing with them, I grew attached. That’s how the weight on my shoulders began to lift.”

“You seem close. I’m jealous.”

“Not just the knights. The people of the territory also helped me face the sea.”

He looked out beyond the horizon with affection. His eyes seemed to chase the dark island lying somewhere in the distance. Rose felt a pang of guilt knowing he hadn’t been back in over a year.

“Don’t you want to return home?”

“I still have duties here.”

He always put his homeland first. Even now, he served as a knight of Calon for its revival. After the Revan War, the island of Dunstane, cut off for 200 years, had slowly declined, its legacy fading.

In the original story, Arsen left the island to restore House Lafayette’s name. He led the Remigis Order, joined the imperial forces, and eventually pledged loyalty to Tanasis.

And then…

“By the order of Crown Prince Tanasis, he executed Rose without hesitation.”

For his homeland, he could be merciless.

Her fluttering heart suddenly turned cold.

She had no power to keep Arsen by her side. She was still the useless, dim-witted youngest princess. Tanasis, the more promising heir, was clearly the better choice. She felt bound, as if tied in invisible chains. Her mood darkened, and she turned her face away, losing interest in the sea.

She lowered her eyes. The deep water beneath the boat looked endless.

“I can’t breathe.”

Was it motion sickness? Her throat tightened. Her chest thudded violently, and her tongue tasted bitter. The waves threatened to swallow her whole. Still, she couldn’t look away. Her body began to tremble with cold, unresponsive.

Then—

She collapsed forward.

“Your Highness!”

SPLASH. She plunged into the abyss.

“Not again. I fell into the sea… again.”

The last thing she felt was a bone-chilling cold before blacking out.

When she opened her eyes, she was in what looked like an inn room.

“Gawain, get some dry clothes for Her Highness. And not a word about what you saw.”

The red-haired knight glanced at the pale princess and shut the door firmly. Arsen, soaking wet, must’ve dived in after her.

“I apologize. I didn’t even realize you were seasick.”

“No… it wasn’t seasickness.”

Only after plunging into the depths did she realize the true cause of her headache and nausea.

Aquaphobia.

Water dripped through her trembling fingers. The irony—she had claimed to love the sea. But she had a good idea of the cause. It must’ve started after her death.

The suffocating car. The rising flood. The frigid sensation rushing into her body.

She shuddered.

Arsen lit the fireplace and began wiping her down with a blanket. He didn’t seem to notice the water still dripping from his own body.

“I’ll bring you some hot tea.”

“D-Don’t go! Stay with me.”

Rose grabbed his arm, pleading. He hesitated, then gently took her hand in his. Thankfully, he didn’t ask anything. She wouldn’t have known how to answer.

Sitting in front of her, he peeled off a layer of wet clothes. He loosened his belt and dropped it to the floor. His sword clunked heavily against the wooden boards.

The firelight painted his skin in warm amber. Broad shoulders, a wide chest like a finely bred stallion, a sculpted neck and firm waist—all of it glistened before her.

As she stared, captivated, a deep voice murmured:

“Your Highness… pardon my rudeness.”

And before she could figure out what he meant, that bare chest—swept her into an embrace.