My mind went blank.

An unfamiliar sound, an unfamiliar touch, an unfamiliar warmth.

And then, once again, the ship tilted and our lips parted.

From the Grand Duke’s cheeks.

“…….”

“…….”

An indescribable air current passed between us.

Because something had happened that shouldn’t have happened.

Thump, thump, thump.

I can’t tell whose heart it is.

‘Kiss…….’

As I mulled over the word, I felt like crying.

I can’t think of another word that doesn’t fit between the Grand Duke and I.

“T, that…….”

I can’t keep my mouth shut.

I wasn’t the only one who was surprised.

The Grand Duke’s entire body, not to mention his expression, was frozen.

We were as immobile as stone.

“So, that…….”

I know I can’t undo what’s already happened.

But…….

I closed my eyes once and opened them, wishing I could go back to a moment ago, before the accident.

“……Flotty.”

He spoke heavily.

His ears flushed bright red.

“The ship tipped over and……. It was an accident, wasn’t it?”

“…….”

“I, I’m sorry, I never thought this would happen…….”

I cut off the Grand Duke’s words in shame.

No matter what he said, I was going to be embarrassed.

‘Ha, you idiot. What do you think of this atmosphere?’

If I had a rat hole, I’d hide in it right now.

I looked around, unable to find a place to hide.

“Flotty.”

Then the Grand Duke called my name again.

“Y, Yes?”

As nonchalantly as possible.

Nonchalantly…….

Turning my head to look at the Grand Duke, I am momentarily speechless.

His face is flushed, but his expression is really…….

His blank gaze is unfamiliar, like someone who is somewhat mesmerized.

“…Are you okay?”

Yeah, the only one more surprised than me is the Grand Duke.

I was caught by surprise.

I swallowed my shame and worried about his condition.

“Your complexion is a little……”

I waved my palm in front of his unfocused eyes.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

After a few more shakes, his eyes came back into focus.

“Your Majesty, are you sure you’re okay? Your face looks like……”

I stepped closer to him,

“I don’t see a reason for me not to be okay.”

The Grand Duke takes a step back.

‘What?’

‘No way, is he avoiding me?’

On the deck, we’re standing a reasonable distance apart.

“I’m not feeling well, though, so……. Oh, shall we go inside?”

I took another step toward him.

Again, he took a step back.

‘What, really?’

I know I had made a mistake.

But is this what you’re going to do to me?

The shame that had plagued me a moment before vanished.

The Grand Duke is visibly distancing himself from me.

“I could use some fresh air.”

“…….”

“…….”

There is a long awkward silence.

“Okay, I’ll just go inside and… rest a bit.”

The Grand Duke nodded once.

***

The island was truly beautiful.

I never realized how beautiful an unspoiled natural landscape could be.

‘I never realized it when I was younger.’

The towering trees and the blue sky above them.

The sound of the waves crashing in and out.

Everything is beautiful.

Except,

“How long are you going to walk that far apart from me?”

Except for this one guy.

“……I’m just enjoying the moment.”

Look at his robotic, awkward, stiff tone.

It’s obvious he’s avoiding me.

I tell him he’s not alone.

‘You’d think I’d eat you.’

Undeterred, I match the Grand Duke’s pace.

But as I slow, he slows, too.

“You’re avoiding me.”

I finally stop in front of him.

He visibly flinches, which is ridiculous.

“I, when?”

Awkward tone.

“Now. See, when I go forward, you go backward.”

Awkward gestures.

“I’m not …… you’re mistaken.”

I narrowed my eyes.

I’d made a mistake, but I wondered if it was worth it.

“What happened earlier was a mistake. The ship was swaying.”

“…….”

“And it wasn’t a big deal, was it?”

It wasn’t even a peck on the lips, just a peck on the cheek.

A moment of silence.

The Grand Duke’s gaze wavered for a moment, then finally returned to its normal color.

“That’s right.”

“…….”

“It was a mistake.”

The Grand Duke laughs, a sound like wind being blown out of his sails.

“Now… are you okay?”

Another nod.

I’m finally able to relax and smile.

“Where are we going?”

It’s pretty, but I don’t see a place to stay.

I look around and see nothing but fine sand, ocean, and lush trees.

“Flotty, come here.”

I take a light step forward, then turn around.

The Grand Duke holds out his hand to me.

It made my heart pound for no reason.

I don’t know why.

“Why?”

I put on a nonchalant face and take his hand.

“Because it’s easy to get lost.”

He smiled his charming smile and led me deeper into the forest.

‘What’s out here?’

It was just a bunch of big trees.

To my surprise, there was a path.

As we walked along the long trail, the trees soon cleared and a small cottage appeared.

“Wow, it’s pretty.”

It was small compared to the mansion, but it was very pretty.

Perfect for the island.

“So there’s a place like this.”

The cottage was perfect for a healing trip.

The birds chirped instead of people.

It was very relaxing.

“I’m glad you like it.”

The Grand Duke smiles pleasantly and leads me into the cottage.

It was warm and cozy inside.

It was clean, like it was tended to daily.

“But this is……”

“Where I used to come with my brother.”

He said like he knew what I was going to ask.

“Not with other woman.”

He replied to the joke that had already passed.

***

He said he would take me to the best place to see the stars.

He said the stars were so pretty through the thick trees.

‘He’s not lying.’

The stars that filled the night sky could not have been more beautiful.

“It’s worth the climb.”

I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen the sky like this.

The stars were beautiful enough to make me forget everything for a moment.

“Come here.”

The Grand Duke laid his jacket on a flat rock.

“Ah, thank you.”

I took the seat without objection.

“How long have you been coming here?”

“First time since I was a kid.”

“Why? Isn’t it so nice?”

The Grand Duke sits down on the rock next to me.

He gives me a puzzled look.

“To be precise, the first time since my mother died.”

“Ah…….”

By his mother, I assume he means the empress who died when he was a child.

‘I shouldn’t have asked.’

I awkwardly looked away.

I had a vague idea of what he must be thinking right now.

Rustle—

“……?”

I hear a stir from a few feet away.

The Grand Duke must have heard the same, because our gazes met.

“Didn’t you hear anything?”

“Nope. We should be the only ones on this island.”

He said that the island belonged to the imperial family, so no one else was allowed to enter.

“Haha…, W, wild animals, is it possible?”

Well, rabbits and deer.

Such animals love the forest.

The Grand Duke stared intently in the direction of the sound.

There was no light except for the stars, so he couldn’t see into the darkness of the forest.

“Well, what do you see?”

I asked, leaning in close.

The sounds from the woods faded for a moment.

“Is that a real rabbit…….”

“Shhh.”

The Grand Duke held his breath.

I swallowed hard, too,

“Kyaaak!”

Something big, black, and sharp flew toward us.

‘Shit, what the hell?!’

I cringed, closing my eyes reflexively.

Whoo!

A dull thud echoed through the quiet forest as the Grand Duke moved swiftly.

I cautiously opened my tightly shut eyes, and there it was, a leopard with saccharine fur.

“There’s a hawk and beasts here?”

A leopard like you’d see in a zoo.

And how big it is.

It was intimidating from the side and from above.

The leopard shakes its head and regains its senses after being hit by the Grand Duke.

“W, what do I do?”

“Get behind me.”

The Grand Duke hid me behind him.

The leopard’s eyes glowed red.

“Your Highness, those eyes…….”

I knew instinctively.

I instinctively knew why the leopard’s eyes were red.

The Grand Duke must have sensed the same thing.

“They have many ways to annoy me.”

I can feel the energy from the leopard.

I felt it in the abandoned palace.

It reeked of Omen.

The leopard bared its large fangs at us.

“Grrr…….”

The growl made the hairs on my back stand on end.

The Grand Duke drew his sword from his belt, ready to deal with the leopard.

This was no ordinary beast.

His sword emanated a black aura that he had seen before.

“D, don’t hurt yourself.”

“Who do you think I am?”

He replied smugly.

The moment the beast had finished its search, it lunged, and the silver blade with its black aura sliced through the leopard’s head.

Thud!

The great beast crashed helplessly to the ground.

“A, are you okay?”

My hands trembled at the brutal sight and I inquired about the Grand Duke’s well-being.

Sticky droplets of blood splashed onto his face.

“Don’t look.”

The Grand Duke’s large hand covered my eyes.

I knew what he was asking me not to see.

I could feel it on my back…….

There were countless beasts.