Chapter 2 (Part 3)

Meia returned to her room and immediately collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

She usually doesn’t fall asleep impulsively like this.

She always bathes, receives massages from Agnita and Yudy, applies various fragrant oils good for her skin, grooms herself, lies on the cozy bed, and memorizes books and information read to her by Yudy before falling asleep.

But today, as soon as she collapsed on the bed, her eyes closed.

‘I’ll just sleep.’

Acting impulsively and not studying at night were first-time experiences for Meia.

As soon as she closed her eyes and opened them again, the dark night had disappeared.

The warm morning sunlight streaming through the window indicated that it was morning or noon.

“I must have been quite tired.”

Meia closed her eyes again and tried to sleep but couldn’t.

“This is why habits are scary.”

Turning her head to look at the clock, it was 7 o’clock.

Usually, Meia wakes up around 7 a.m. to do horseback riding, basic physical training, and mana training to build her strength.

Then, she bathes, relieves fatigue with massages, has breakfast, and goes through an extensive schedule of learning various virtues and studies required of an empress, attending tea parties, and participating in palace events.

‘I don’t need to live so frantically anymore.’

She closed her eyes again and counted sheep, but sleep wouldn’t come.

Unable to sleep any longer, Meia got up, stretched, and yawned widely.

She entered the bathroom, washed lightly, and changed into comfortable pants suitable for going out.

Then she opened the window.

The sparkling blue sea that unfolded before her eyes filled her with excitement.

Every breath she took carried the scent of the sea, making her heart race.

After packing her magic bag, Meia left a note asking for lunch to be brought to her room and left a tip for the cleaners.

Then she opened the window even wider and threw herself out, chanting a magic spell.

“Fly.”

The view of the sea from the sky was indescribably moving.

“Shall I go to the mountain behind the port that I saw yesterday?”

Meia flew towards the mountain behind the port that she had noted the day before.

It took her ten minutes to reach the mountain.

The view of the sea from the cliff was better than she had imagined.

“This spot looks good.”

Meia sat down in front of the cliff.

“Sparkling and beautiful. I’m so glad I came to see the sea.”

The sea, which she had only seen in pictures, was mysterious and beautiful.

The fresh air and the salty scent of the sea were delightful.

Everything she saw and experienced for the first time was very pleasing.

Meia took a deep breath.

“Whew.”

After taking deep breaths for a while, Meia carefully took out a framed picture from her magic bag.

The picture in the frame was a portrait of her parents.

With a longing expression, Meia wiped the frame once.

She held the picture against her chest, turning it towards the sea so that her parents in the portrait could see the ocean instead of her.

“Father, Mother. It’s the sea.”

After her coming-of-age ceremony, she had promised to go on a sea trip with her parents once her national wedding was decided.

“I really wanted to come with you, Mother and Father. Hmm…”

Although she had decided to accept that she would never see her parents again, the thought of never seeing them again brought intense longing and made her feel like she was wandering alone in a maze.

Trapped in a complicated maze with no answers and no direction to walk.

If I missed them too much, would I be able to see them in my dreams at least once?

All the good memories and the feelings of regret. Various memories mixed in her heart, making it a mess.

But one thing was clear in that mess.

“I miss you, Mother, Father.”

‘I didn’t want to cry.’

But tears kept flowing.

“Sniff.”

She had been trained to cry when alone but always smile in front of others.

Since she was alone now, it was only natural that she couldn’t control her tears.

Thinking that way made her feel a bit more at ease.

And so, more tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep the position of the fiancée you left for me. But… even if I become the empress, you, Mother and Father, won’t be here to congratulate me. So instead of thinking I must keep it, I wanted to give up. I’m sorry.”

Meia quietly looked at the sea, feeling the wind on her face.

She hugged the frame tightly and shed silent tears.

The wind that brushed past Meia wiped away the tears on her cheeks as it blew.

For a while, Meia hugged the frame tightly and cried while looking at the sea to her heart’s content.

As she wiped away her tears and touched her eyes, she felt that they were swollen.

“I should have learned some healing magic.”

Being alone made her realize that she had been ignoring her longing and sorrow for her deceased parents. Meia carefully wiped the frame and put it back in her bag before standing up and shaking off her body.

“I should go back to my room and slowly enjoy the sea view.”

With a slight sense of regret, she cast the ‘Fly’ spell and flew towards the window of the suite at the top floor of her hotel.

“Oh.”

She tried to open the window, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Could it be?”

Meia tried to open the window again, but it didn’t move.

“What is this? The window won’t open.”

It seemed that the staff had locked the window while cleaning.

“I guess I have to go down. I should have left a note asking them not to lock the window.”

With no other choice, Meia started to descend to the ground.

At that moment!

As she was descending, a hotel window suddenly opened, and a familiar voice called out.

“We meet again by chance.”

Theodore, whom she had met last night, leaned out the window and spoke.

His hair was tousled as if he had woken up late, but his beauty was still dazzling.

“Indeed. I was surprised that the window suddenly opened.”

“I’m sorry if I startled you. I just opened the window and found you there, Mage.”

Who would have thought? She never imagined they would meet like this.

“Where have you been, Mage?”

“Ah, I was just coming back from seeing the sea.”

Meia answered and immediately regretted it.

By saying she had come back, she had essentially revealed that she was staying at this hotel.

Theodore smiled brightly like a beautiful sunflower and said.

“Since we met by chance, please tell me your name and join me for a meal, Mage.”

“I believe we agreed on coffee, not a meal.”

“Could we have lunch and then coffee? Please, Mage.”

“Alright. I was planning to eat anyway…”

At Meia’s consent, Theodore, unable to hide his excitement, nodded vigorously and opened the window wider.

Through the wide-open window, Theodore’s fair and smooth skin came into full view.

His broad shoulders, chest, well-defined muscles, and smooth abdomen were visible.

Meia covered her eyes and turned her head.

It was her first time seeing a man’s body in person, and she felt very embarrassed and shy.

Of course, she had received basic s*x education, but it was her first time seeing a man’s firm muscles up close.

“Mage? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Shall we meet on the first floor? Or should I come to escort you?”

“Let’s meet on the first floor.”

“Yes, Mage.”

Meia went down to the first floor and, guided by an attendant, went back up to the VVIP room.

She earnestly asked the staff not to close the window.

From her magic bag, she took out a light beige dress and simple accessories.

After giving the maids appropriate tips, she got dressed and did her makeup.

When she went down to the first floor, Theodore was already waiting for her.

“Mage!”

Theodore approached Meia quickly. He had a rosy smile on his face.

Meia slightly grabbed her dress and bowed, greeting him with the etiquette only noble young ladies could perform.

Theodore, receiving Meia’s refined greeting, also bowed properly and greeted her.

Aethon, who was watching, widened his eyes and looked at Meia.

Seeing her greet with the etiquette only noble young ladies could perform, he realized she was no ordinary mage.

“Your etiquette is excellent.”

“You are excellent as well, Mage. This is my aide, Aethon.”

Aethon, who had been looking surprised beside Theodore, admired Meia’s excellent etiquette greeting and respectfully greeted her.

“Hello. I am Aethon of the Licotton family from the Sirius Empire.”

“Shall we move to another place, Mage?”

Theodore extended his hand, and Meia lightly placed her hand on his as she replied.

“Sure.”