Up close, the woman’s face looked young and beautiful. Her water-soaked skin and mysterious features had an otherworldly allure that could enchant anyone.

But beneath the surface, glimpses of her torso revealed that she was completely n*ked, and through her wet hair, Regina caught a glimpse of an ear… that wasn’t human.

“W-Who are you?”

Regina asked, her teeth chattering.

The woman tilted her head, her pale, milky eyes moving over the bridge of her nose. She didn’t seem inclined to answer.

“Where is Sir Fret?”

“Who?”

The woman’s voice grated like metal against metal, making Regina grimace. She had such a sweet voice when she sang, but when she spoke it was unbearable.

“The man who fell into the sea with me! Don’t tell me… you killed him?”

“Killed? I don’t kill men.”

The woman, who had been expressionless all this time, suddenly smiled.

“Do you want him back?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Regina nodded. Most of the Knights of Cabil had followed Barbara since the days on the battlefield. Despite her tough exterior, Barbara was tender-hearted and would surely grieve if one of her men died.

“No!”

But the woman burst into giggles and splashed water in Regina’s face.

“No. He’s mine now.”

“What…”

Regina was stunned by the childish prank. Then she felt something brush against her frozen leg. At first she thought it was seaweed – but soon realised it was a slippery finger.

Startled, Regina slapped the hand away as it slipped under her dress. The woman clicked her tongue in disappointment and whispered with gleaming eyes:

“I want your legs.”

“What?”

“I’ll take them.”

Before Regina could react, the woman dove deep into the sea. She knew instinctively – she was the prey now, and the moment she was caught, her bones would be buried beneath the waves.

Regina spun around and flailed desperately for the shore. But in the deep water, even taking a few steps was a struggle. She hadn’t gone far when a sharp blow struck the back of her calf. She plunged forward, and the salty water that filled her mouth tasted like death.

Despite her efforts, her leg was grabbed and she was pulled deeper into the sea. The force was terrifying. Despite the current pushing against her, she was being pulled in the opposite direction at an alarming rate.

Twisting her body, she clawed and pinched at the hand holding her, trying to break free. But the woman’s skin was as slippery as a slime-covered eel – it was no use.

She felt herself being pulled down, into the dark, cold water. Hot tears streamed from Regina’s desperate eyes. But even these would be meaningless here – mere bubbles, swallowed by the bitter sea, buried forever.

Alongside the pitiful corpse of a woman who had never been loved.

‘Grey. I want to see you one last time.’

The thought came unbidden and she almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of it.

People really don’t change. Even on the brink of death, she was still thinking of him. How stupid she must be. No doubt, if Grey were in her place, she wouldn’t be the one he remembered.

‘Ah… so this really is the end.’

Even as an unfathomable fear gripped her, Regina felt a small pang of relief.

This wretched, unrequited love – so impossible to sever on her own – would now be cut cleanly by the cold scythe of death.

‘Grey Cabil, If there is such a thing as another life, then… I don’t want to love you anymore.’

In the deep sea, where even the moonlight couldn’t follow, Regina breathed her last.

“Regina.”

She thought she heard a familiar, longed for voice amidst the muffled bubbling around her.

“Regina!!”

The water echoed with a muffled roar as a blinding light began to fill her vision.

Perhaps this was the gateway to heaven.

Her corneas, accustomed to darkness, screamed in pain at the sudden brightness and she instinctively closed her eyes. For a moment it felt as if she had lost consciousness.

And then – with a shock that felt like her heart might burst – Regina’s eyes flew open.

“Cough, cough!”

Before she was fully conscious, Regina was coughing water through her nose and mouth. She collapsed on the pier, gagging and choking uncontrollably.

“Spit it all out. Every last drop!”

A strong arm supported her body, slapping her back again and again. It hurt – so much she wondered if her ribs would break – but she couldn’t even find the breath to protest.

It felt like a cold fire burning through her lungs and solar plexus.

As her intestines twisted in agony, she vomited up every last mouthful of seawater.

Completely exhausted, she collapsed like a rag doll, unable to hold herself upright. Only then did the hands that held her fall away.

“Bloody h＊ll.”

She saw Grey through her tear-filled vision.

“I’m not going to survive at this rate because of you.”

He was soaked from head to toe, his face paler than a ghost’s.

It seemed he had been the one to save her.

“My lady! Are you all right?”

Dain ran over, belatedly wrapping a blanket around her.

“You said you were going for a peaceful walk, and then what – why did you jump into the sea, huh?”

Her shrill, tearful voice pierced Regina’s head.

“I called and called, and you didn’t even look back! You weren’t thinking of something terrible again, were you?”

Regina let the words wash over her, barely paying attention. She looked around. Sir Fret – who had fallen into the sea with her – was nowhere to be seen.

She tried to say that he needed to be rescued, but her voice wouldn’t come out.

“Just rest for now.”

A large hand gently covered her eyes.

From that warm skin came Grey’s distinctive scent, rich and familiar.

It was like inhaling an anaesthetic – her mind became hazy and her senses slowly faded.

***

The second time she opened her eyes, she was in her own bedroom.

“You’re awake?”

Barbara, sitting beside her, offered her a glass of water.

Regina, parched, drained the cup in a flash.

“There’s more. Drink slowly.”

Only when she had finished the second glass did she finally catch her breath.

Barbara looked at her daughter-in-law – who looked like someone who had come back from the dead – and expressed her regret.

“I shouldn’t have left you like that.”

“No, Mother.”

Regina replied, her voice rough and scratchy like sandpaper.

“I’m the one who’s sorry. It was only one night and yet something like this happened… Ah!”

A sudden flash shot through her head, as if she’d been hit.

Without thinking, Regina took Barbara’s hand and asked.

“Mother, what happened to Sir Fret? Has he been rescued?”

Barbara’s stiff expression was answer enough.

“Regina. I know you’re not well right now, but I need to know what happened that day. Please, tell me everything.”

Though her tone was hard as stone, Barbara’s grief was unmistakable. It was clear that she had cared deeply for the knight.

Holding her aching head, Regina sifted through her memories. Without adding or omitting anything, she recounted everything that had happened to her that day.

“So… you’re saying a woman dragged Sir Fret into the water?”

“Yes. He went in on his own, but I’m sure she’s the one who took him.”

“That’s strange.”

Barbara murmured, her eyes clouded with confusion.

“Fret didn’t like water. There was even a time during the war when he didn’t bathe for over three weeks and became the b*tt of everyone’s jokes.”

“He seemed disoriented. He rushed in and said he had to save her. But to me it looked like she was just swimming calmly.”

“Has… has Sir Fret’s body been found yet?”

“No. Not yet.”

Barbara folded her hands neatly in her lap and fell into thought. Her lowered eyes and sharp expression gave off a chill. Regina wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but there was something strangely cold about her demeanour.

Remembering how affectionate Barbara had been the last time they’d parted, Regina couldn’t help but feel confused.

“Um… Mother. Have I… done something wrong?”

After much hesitation, Regina asked her directly.

“If I have made a mistake in the confusion, please tell me.”

“Very well. I’ll be honest with you.”

Barbara said, nodding briefly before finally speaking.

“We’re wondering if you tried to take your own life, Regina.”

“W-What?!”

Her voice broke in shock. She wanted to deny it – to say it wasn’t true – but the words caught in her throat, stuck behind a painful lump that refused to go away.

Barbara watched as her daughter-in-law struggled to breathe, coughing as if the weight of it all was crushing her chest. Then she said in a cold, calm voice,

“Dain told us what she saw. You walked into the sea… on your own feet.”