It was true that he had little interest in the sight of framed pressed flowers lined up. Of course, he was willing to participate since Chloe wanted to see it.

Then Chloe, who blinked once, casually changed the schedule.

“Since it’s not something we must do, let’s do something else then. What should we do today?”

It was just a joke he made because she asked. But seeing Chloe immediately suggest doing something else made him feel strange.

He felt good that Chloe was considering him, but it wasn’t entirely pleasant that she was giving up something because of him. He had made the joke, so he should have taken her answer lightly. But this…

With these complex feelings, Andert neatly put down his knife and fork. Perhaps he had become a more emotional type since boarding the cruise ship.

Laughing at himself for acting immature only in front of Chloe, Andert plainly chose the original plan.

“Let’s go. I want to see you enjoying yourself in front of flowers too.”

Wildflowers that grow stubbornly without special care in barren land, and Chloe. It was a combination that seemed mismatched yet had a strange commonality.

“But……”

“It was a joke. We’ll reach Ron around 2 PM, so before that, shall we visit other places on the ship?”

“Other places? Where?”

“Let’s go together once you finish your meal.”

He naturally suggested to Chloe, who still seemed to want to refuse.

After finishing breakfast, which was much later than usual, the two went back to the deck. Their destination was the private zone located at the stern of the ship.

“This is a space with a private pool and bar prepared. Please visit when you need quiet relaxation.”

Though he had been guided by the captain two days ago, even he was visiting for the first time. Andert didn’t add any special explanation.

The swimming pool, surrounded by railings on all sides except where an employee guarded the entrance, was truly quiet. After looking around carefully, Chloe finally realized this was a place where people didn’t frequent.

“It’s really quiet.”

Chloe, who exclaimed softly, bent her knees and put her hand into the rippling water surface. With that movement, waves rippled over the sky-blue tiles.

She felt a pleasant coolness through her fingertips, neither too cold nor lukewarm. It was right after that when Chloe, who had been playing with the water, slightly splashed water on Andert standing a few steps away.

Though she knew it was childish behavior, she was curious about his reaction.

“Refreshing, right?”

At the question accompanied by an unexpected attack, Andert burst into laughter.

Though he had no memory of playing in water like this, it seemed quite enjoyable with Chloe. Without bothering to wipe off the water droplets on his face, he approached her who was crouching down.

At the same time, Andert lifted Chloe, who was still in a sitting position. The green eyes that looked at him curiously instantly filled with embarrassment.

‘Surely not?’

The usual Andert wasn’t someone who would push others into water like this. But the sparkle in his deep blue eyes, reflecting the strong sunlight, wasn’t ordinary.

Chloe tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. The temperature of the pool water was suitable for cooling the heat. But she didn’t want to plunge into it like this.

“You wouldn’t, right? Don’t, Andert. And I only splashed a little water. Retaliating like this isn’t gentlemanly behavior.”

Chloe pretended to be dignified as she dissuaded him. Although her posture was more like clinging and hanging onto his neck.

Staring directly at her, Andert countered without backing down.

“It’s okay. You know better than anyone that I’m not gentlemanly.”

The s*xual nuance dissolved in his low voice was secretive. Chloe, who had personally experienced the meaning of those words, couldn’t refute. Just the fragmentary memories that immediately came to mind weren’t just one or two.

In the end, Chloe put forward the most realistic and plausible reason.

“I can’t swim!”

At her desperate cry, Andert burst into quite loud laughter. The hands clinging tightly to him actually pleased him more.

From Chloe’s perspective, she had gone this far, so she intended for him to put her down now. But she lost her words in front of the man who seemed even more delighted.

“That’s fine too. I know how to swim.”

Andert, who answered that there was no problem, smiled brightly. And before Chloe could open her mouth to say anything, white spray rose over the calm water surface.

Chloe, who instantly fell into the water, felt wronged. To repay a small prank like this.

“It’s refreshing, Chloe.”

Andert kissed the corner of her beautiful eyes, which glared at him without real anger. He too had water dripping from his head, having jumped into the pool while holding Chloe.

Andert, who didn’t let go of her in his arms even in the water, kissed her once more before helping her sit against the railing.

Chloe, who looked down at her completely soaked clothes in dismay, wrung her clothes to squeeze out even a little moisture. Then a calm voice as if it were someone else’s matter reached her.

“It’s useless, Chloe.”

“Now, here, this……”

Chloe, who was about to argue point by point, soon closed her mouth. It was after facing the man looking up at her from the water.

Andert, smiling with both hands folded on her knees, was… handsome. In other words, it was insufficient to diminish his innate appearance just because he was soaking wet.

If anything, his features, clearly revealed with moisture, caught the eye even more.

The unchanging nature of her taste, having fallen for Andert Dietrich at first sight, remained. Chloe, who smiled unknowingly, gently pushed back the short blond hair sticking to his forehead.

She was already in the water anyway. She didn’t want to have unnecessary arguments with Andert. Her calves immersed in water felt cool, and Andert in front of her was dazzling.

That seemed enough. It was then that Chloe, who briefly turned her gaze to the blue sea, discovered something.

“Huh?”

Before she could continue, a sleek body burst from the water nearby. In the next instant, dozens of dolphins surfaced, sending up sprays of water.

“Did you see? Andert, just now. There, can you see?”

Chloe called him with an excited voice. Andert gently embraced her upper body, which was leaning forward against the railing.

“Don’t forget to make a wish, Chloe.”

One could only say they were lucky. If they had been indoors or looking in another direction, they would have missed this sight.

Since one of the two things Chloe wanted most here had come true, they were half successful. Andert kissed Chloe’s hand, which he pulled toward him as she was captivated by the dolphins swimming toward the distant horizon.

Though it was embarrassing, he too conveyed a short wish while watching the receding spray.

To live happily with Chloe for a long time. He had no other desire besides that.

It was quite a good start to the day.

* * *

A strange staff member came looking for Bellisa as noon approached.

“You’re asking about Duke and Duchess Dietrich, correct?”

She reconfirmed the duke’s instructions to bring a change of clothes and toiletries. She had been wondering why the mistress, who had gone with the master for a late meal, hadn’t returned.

‘But what happened that they need clothes brought?’

Though her curiosity rose, Bellisa calmly packed the items into a large bag.

She planned to bring everything the mistress might need, just in case. Eventually, Bellisa, who shared the enormous luggage bag with the servant, hurried her steps.

As she approached the stern of the ship as instructed, the employee who had come looking for her earlier opened the door. Bellisa carefully entered the secluded place, which was unlike the spaces crowded with people.

‘But why would the mistress be in such a place……’

Bellisa, who couldn’t resolve her confusion, opened her mouth at the unexpected sight.

The person walking toward the sun beach was clearly Duke Dietrich whom she knew. But Andert, who had removed his upper garment, was completely wet as if he had just come out of the water.

That wasn’t all.

“Mistress.”

Bellisa rushed to Chloe, who was equally soaked.

Though this was a trip to the resort town of Larcel, specifically aboard a cruise ship, she had packed plenty of swimwear and beach-appropriate clothes and accessories for the mistress. But when Chloe saw the swimsuit while unpacking, she shook her head saying it wasn’t necessary.

“I can’t swim, Bellisa. I won’t be going into the sea enough to get my clothes wet, so you don’t need to unpack this.”

So why had she jumped into the water with her clothes on?

“It’s nothing, Bellisa.”

Despite Chloe’s smile, Bellisa hurriedly wiped her wet hair with a towel she had pulled out. Then she glanced at the duke, who was drying his hair with a towel handed to him by the servant.

Though she couldn’t understand exactly what had happened, the atmosphere between the ducal couple didn’t seem bad.

No, rather, it felt as if a whispering spring breeze wrapped around the two separately.