Chapter 3 (Part 6)

Standing on the deck and gazing at the endless sea, Meia looked up at the seagulls soaring in the sky. Seeing the seagulls meant they were nearing the port.

The closer they got to the port, the colder the wind became. Teillon was a place that saw snow all year round, so it was colder than other places.

Theodore brought Meia a thick blanket and a warm strawberry tea.

“Thank you, Grand Duke Theodore.”

Meia blew on the teacup and took a sip of the strawberry tea.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, nothing.”

Seeing him fidgeting as if he had something to say, she tilted her head and looked at him.

“Is the strawberry tea to your liking?”

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Today, he kept asking if the strawberry tea tasted good. Whenever she drank from the cup and said it was delicious, a very satisfied expression would appear on Theodore’s face.

‘Could it be? Did he make this strawberry tea himself?’

“The strawberry tea is unusually delicious today.”

His face brightened noticeably.

“Do you enjoy it?”

Seeing his face full of expectation, she nodded.

Until now, Theodore had been hiding his flushed face and running away. But at some point, he started sticking to Meia, not wanting to leave her side for even a moment.

Wherever she went, he not only escorted her but also brought her strawberry tea and snacks at the right time, quietly staying by her side as she read or looked at the sea.

With Theodore taking care of these tasks, Anna and Asen, who were supposed to attend to Meia, felt quite burdened.

How could they not feel burdened when the Grand Duke of the Sirius Empire, Florence, was personally attending to the lady they served? Initially, they felt uncomfortable, but now they just let it be.

Once, Meia said, “This is something Anna should do,” but seeing his drooping shoulders, she felt bad and ended up letting him do as he pleased.

“Lady Meia, here.”

“Thank you, Grand Duke Theodore.”

Meia looked at Theodore. When their eyes met, he smiled brightly.

A very desirable appearance. His masculine yet gentle impression was pleasing.

When he didn’t smile, he looked like a somewhat cold, handsome man, but when he smiled, he looked really pretty.

And when his cheeks and ears turned red, he wasn’t just handsome but also cute.

“Thank you. Anna could have done this.”

“I wanted to do it. I have a question, Lady Meia.”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you planning to go directly to the Mage Tower?”

“Yes. I want to see my master right away.”

At Meia’s words, Theodore’s eyes drooped.

“Why do you ask?”

“I don’t want to part with you.”

Whimpering like an abandoned puppy, saying he didn’t want to part with her made her feel not unpleasant.

“I will be at the Mage Tower for a while, so please send me letters.”

The thought of parting from Meia caused a painful ache in Theodore’s heart.

‘Is there really no way for him to stay with her a little longer? It seems I need to discuss this with Aethon.’

Already, 15 days have almost passed. He had been praying every night that the ship would just stop, but the cruise ship was stubbornly heading towards its destination.

Theodore spent the night sleepless, agonizing over the approaching separation. Even with Aethon’s help, there was no method they could think of to allow Meia to stay with him.

Meia came out wearing simple, easy-to-move clothes and a cloak.

Before disembarking the cruise ship, the sailors, captain, first mate, and attendants stepped forward and formally announced.

“Salute to Lady Meia Hatzbellua of the Carpen Empire’s Hatzbellua family!”

“Thank you!”

The people threw flowers and handkerchiefs at her, hailing her as a hero.

“I didn’t do it expecting gratitude, but it’s embarrassing to be called a hero.”

Meia looked back at Asen and Anna.

“Asen and Anna, thank you for your hard work until now.”

“It was an honor for us to serve you.”

Asen had learned a lot about what a true noble is like by serving Meia. Anna felt the same way.

“I hope we meet again.”

“We would be delighted to serve you again. Please feel free to use our cruise ship anytime.”

“Alright.”

Turning back, Meia saw Theodore standing there to escort her.

Seeing Meia, Theodore was dazed.

The harmony of the snow falling from the sky, her pure white skin, and silver hair was simply beautiful.

“Aethon… Lady Meia must be a snow fairy, not a human, don’t you think?”

Aethon firmly patted Theodore’s back.

“Your Grace, escort.”

“Right!”

Theodore rushed towards Meia and held out his hand.

“Lady Meia Hatzbellua, may I have the honor of escorting you?”

“I accept the escort of Grand Duke Florence, Theodore.”

The people bowed their heads to Meia as she passed by, continuing to express their gratitude.

The guards took the pirates into custody. Since the pirates were wanted, the guards were delighted and thanked Meia.

But there was one person they couldn’t immediately arrest – the bald mage.

His name was Paulo. When a mage commits a crime, they are sent to the Mage Tower. The Mage Tower’s will shall decide his punishment.

“I didn’t mean to do that, sniff, it’s just that my mother… was taken hostage.”

Paulo kept making excuses, but they were just excuses.

“No one helped me. I only aided the pirates to save my mother, sniff.”

Meia spoke coldly to Paulo.

“Did your mother wish for you to commit crimes? Even if committing crimes could keep your mother alive, would a mother be glad to see her son become a criminal?”

“Th-that’s…”

“You say you wanted to save your mother? You have already killed your mother.”

“I’m sorry.”

“We plan to escort him to the Mage Tower.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Bound in magic shackles and being led away, Paulo finally wailed and admitted his wrongdoing.

“That scoundrel won’t be able to escape at all.”

Meia looked at the snow falling from the sky and said.

“No matter how unfair it is or how justified his reasons for committing crimes may seem, as long as there are people who remember the crimes Paulo committed, is there any place in the world he can escape to? There won’t be any.”

Hearing Meia’s words, Theodore looked up at the sky she was gazing at and said.

“Those who commit crimes don’t remember what they did.”