Chapter 51

Ashton was the first to wake up in the morning.

‘Did I fall asleep?’

He was bewildered that he’d slept, sure he’d toss and turn all night. He actually thought he’d stayed awake for a long time after lying down.

In any case, regaining consciousness, he felt much better. At least the pain was gone. The subtle misalignment between skin, muscle, and bone was now familiar and didn’t bother him.

He was about to sit up, rubbing his temples, when he froze.

Sabina was sleeping with her forehead buried against his ribs. Through the robe, he could feel her round head lightly pressing on his chest. Holding his breath, he could even hear her quiet breathing. She’d pulled the blanket over her head to block out the sunlight.

Ashton couldn’t bring himself to move.

He lay there staring at the ceiling until check-out time approached, listening to Sabina’s sleeping breath.

Sabina woke as the sun climbed toward its peak. She groaned softly.

“What time is it…”

Ashton checked the wall clock and answered,

“10:20.”

“When did you wake up?”

He couldn’t say exactly. He hadn’t looked at the clock.

Sabina yawned, hidden under the covers, then threw off the blanket, her hair a mess. She carelessly pushed her hair back, not embarrassed at all. Her face was a little puffy from sleep.

Watching her, Ashton thought she really was a person, not a clay doll.

“You must’ve missed breakfast because of me.”

“It’s fine.”

Sabina rose naturally, draped her shawl, and went to the bathroom. Soon she came out with wet hair around her face and sat at the vanity, brushing her hair herself.

Ashton sat leaning against the headboard, quietly watching Sabina as she got ready. Sabina was not skilled at makeup. After some hesitation, she lightly dabbed a pale lipstick onto her lips with her fingertip.

The man got up behind her. The tie of his robe was a little loose, exposing his firm chest. Without a word, Ashton stood behind Sabina.

She wondered what he was doing, when his large hands gathered her hair.

He braided Sabina’s long hair down her back. Compared to what Mitchel or Vicky usually did, it looked rough, but Sabina was so beautiful that it was still lovely enough. After braiding her hair, Ashton went out to the living room, gathered all the flowers decorating the table, and adorned Sabina’s hair with them.

While he arranged her hair and she let him, not a word passed between them.

Sabina gazed at her reflection in the mirror with an unreadable expression.

Ashton finished styling her hair to his liking, then went to wash his face in the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Sabina chose her clothes. Since there were no maids to help, she had to pick something simple she could put on herself. After some thought, she chose a white dress with light blue floral patterns—a light, flowing Retonan dress from Ashton’s birthday gift list.

She could manage about eighty percent of dressing herself. There weren’t many undergarments to wear, and the dress was loose enough to easily slip her arms and body into. But, as if refusing to let Sabina be an independent lady, a formidable obstacle waited at the end.

“…….”

Sabina bent her arm as far as she could, reaching behind her back.

“…….”

But fastening the buttons alone was impossible.

Eventually, she had to ask Ashton for help. Ashton just chuckled and quickly approached, fastening the buttons in an instant. Her white back and neck were gradually covered.

Sabina turned away as Ashton changed his clothes. For him, it was much easier than her ordeal.

“Front buttons must be nice.”

“Haha.”

Ashton laughed at her envious remark.

Because Sabina acted so naturally, Ashton didn’t suspect she’d stolen a little of his medicine during the night. He hadn’t thought of it, so he didn’t even try to read her memories.

He simply picked up the crystal vial rolling on the floor, put it in his pocket, and energetically urged her on as if nothing had happened the previous day, carrying her travel bag.

Sabina glanced at him sideways.

Taking their time getting ready, they missed check-out. But a little extra fee was nothing to two wealthy people.

They ate pasta loaded with clams and shrimp at a restaurant near the hotel, then boarded a carriage with a glass of lime juice each.

“How long will it take?”

“Two to three hours?”

Sabina made a subtle face, meaning the journey was tedious. But as the carriage rattled along and the vast sea appeared in the distance, her expression slowly changed.

Brinita wasn’t a country without beautiful water scenery.

Even in Ridblon, where Sabina lived, there was a magically created canal. Going to the suburbs, you could see small rivers, and following the streams further out, in summer there were wide, icy-blue lakes.

But beyond the canal were buildings, and beyond the rivers and lakes were mountain ridges or forests.

Beyond the endlessly stretching sea, there was nothing.

It had been a long time since she’d seen the horizon where sky met water. Though she already knew the view, Sabina was instantly captivated. Toy-like fishing boats floated on deep blue water. The weather was unbelievably clear.

As the carriage continued, the sea grew ever wider. Ashton watched Sabina, who was leaning toward the window, gazing outside. He smiled.

Both of them pretended nothing had happened the night before.

From Dialun to Berna, they traveled in silence, but neither felt bored.

Soon after entering Berna, Ashton got off the carriage and climbed onto the driver’s seat to give detailed instructions. The small window toward the driver’s seat didn’t seem enough.

After a brief stop, the carriage started moving again.

Berna was a beautiful city. Roads paved with white stone, houses built along the edges, small and colorful like toys. Ivy roses climbed up the walls, and behind them, every house had sunflowers poking their heads out. The inns scattered throughout were at most five stories tall, painted in bright colors like the other houses.

Ashton’s house was by a white sandy beach full of Miras flowers. Though called small, it was in a prized location with stunning summer views.

Sabina wondered what the old gentleman, who’d bought Ashton such a house and then vanished from Berna’s hotel, had been thinking. Perhaps he’d squandered his fortune on a whim, knowing he would die soon.

After nearly three hours, she stepped down from the carriage. As usual after a long ride, her legs felt a bit dizzy as they touched the ground. Ashton smiled and steadied her arm. With him carrying her travel bag, Sabina walked down onto the sand and looked out at the sea.

“It’s warm.”

That was her first impression.

Berna, a southern city in southern Retona. Though autumn was approaching, the midday here was still lingering summer. The distant waves and white sand sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight. Ashton came up behind her and placed a straw hat firmly on her head.

The beach was small and so close to houses that there wasn’t a single tourist in sight, even though it was late enough for sightseeing. Sabina, careless, took off her shoes and stepped barefoot onto the sand.

“Careful.”

Ashton whispered, picking up her shoes.

“You might step on a broken shell.”

There was no need to worry. The broken shells he feared had been rolled and polished by countless waves into soft sand. With each step, fine sand slipped between her toes. Digging into the sand with her feet and covering them, the sand from soles to ankles radiated warmth through her body.

“The sand is deep.”

No matter how much she dug, it was still sand. The deeper she went, the cooler it became, untouched by sunlight. Ashton kept pulling Sabina’s hand away from digging deeper and led her toward the incoming waves.

The sea they’d seen from the carriage was dark blue, but the beach water was turquoise. Sabina slipped her hand from Ashton’s and looked at him.

“Check if the water’s cold.”

“You can check yourself, you know?”

Sabina was not easy to fool. She took off Ashton’s jacket. Confused, he gave her his jacket, and she promptly lifted him into the air, dropping him into the shallow sea.

Caught off guard, Ashton swallowed a mouthful of seawater as he tumbled in. Sabina held his jacket and turned away, giggling.

“Is the water cold?”

He quickly stood up before another wave could crash over his head. His silk shirt was ruined by saltwater. He put one hand on his waist, swept his wet hair back with the other.

“It’s warm.”

The water was cold, but he lied. As he tried to wade out, rolling up his wet pants and taking a few big steps—

Sabina’s straw hat flew off in the wind.

And she, holding up her dress, slipped into the water. Ashton took a step back. Sabina walked straight up to him. Her gathered dress was useless now, as she waded into the deeper part where Ashton stood. They were very close—by Sabina’s choice.

She looked up and whispered,

“Liar. It’s cold.”

Ashton grinned.

He wrapped his arms around Sabina’s waist and fell backward. Instead of screaming, Sabina drew a sharp breath and squeezed her eyes shut. The sea rushed in, tumbling them together.

They staggered and dove under. The current was stronger than expected. Sabina grabbed Ashton, afraid she’d be swept away.

When they surfaced, Sabina’s face was flushed from holding her breath. Still, she couldn’t stop the salty water from stinging her nose. She coughed lightly.

“It’s cold.”

Her thin, fluttering dress clung to her silhouette. After falling into the water, Ashton’s carefully braided hair was a mess.

Water dripped from the hair plastered to her cheeks and jaw. Because she was holding Ashton’s neck, he supported her. Soon, her feet weren’t touching the ground.

Their chests pressed together, and one heart pounded heavily. The man’s ears, turned away from the sun, were red. Sabina still didn’t know why he liked her. But she could feel how hot his neck was and how rapid his breath had become.

She closed her eyes and pulled him closer.

END VOL 2