When we entered the forest, a beautifully decorated path soon appeared in a line. Fully bloomed flowers and neatly trimmed trees. Statues that seemed crafted stitch by stitch by an artisan stood magnificently.

I didn’t know who was managing it with such care, but it was obvious they were putting considerable effort into it. As I looked around in admiration, at some point the shape of a mansion began to come into view in the distance.

Whether Thadeus had contacted them in advance that he was coming, when we arrived in front of the mansion, all the servants were already outside. Among them, a middle-aged man with a gentle impression stepped forward and greeted Thadeus.

“You’ve arrived, young master.”

“Yeah. What I mentioned?”

“It’s been prepared without any problems.”

“Then I’ll head there right now.”

The servant said he’d bring a horse and asked us to wait a moment before disappearing. What on earth had been prepared? 

From the start, I had no expectation that he’d prepared something good for me. With a sense of foreboding, I grabbed his collar.

“What?”

“What do you mean, what?”

“That… preparation thing.”

“Ah, that?”

Thadeus, who’d been examining my face, smiled mischievously. My anxiety grew even more. That was the expression he often showed when he was enjoying himself.

“It’d be better not to try to find out in advance.”

“Why?”

“Because even if you knew, it’d just be scary.”

My expression instantly hardened. If that Thadeus was saying such things, there was definitely something there. Was this my last chance to escape? 

When I glanced ominously at the path we’d come from, Thadeus whispered softly.

“If you’re that anxious, should I give you a hint?”

Normally I wouldn’t have fallen for talk of hints or whatever. But right now, in this moment, I wanted to rely on the handful of mercy Thadeus was offering.

“Fine, give me a hint. You can do at least that much.”

“It’ll be a very stimulating day. Even if you close your eyes, dozens of eyes will be directed at you. Endlessly desiring and craving—if you can endure them, that’s good, but if not, it might be quite horrifying.”

Maybe it would’ve been better not to hear it. Dozens of eyes. Endlessly desiring and craving. The vulgar imagination rising in my head disturbed my thoughts.

‘Surely not… a group orgy?’

Once started, the imagination continued endlessly. The image of myself surrounded by multiple men whose faces I didn’t know, panting and being forcibly violated, was truly horrifying just to think about.

“You… human trash!”

This wasn’t something I could handle. The promise we’d made should’ve ended between just the two of us.

‘This isn’t right! It’s wrong!’

I turned around, ready to run away immediately. But Thadeus, who’d keenly noticed what I was about to do, grabbed my wrist.

“Let go!”

“Where are you going? Clea, do you know how hard I worked to prepare this for you?”

Laughter rang in my ears. The more he laughed, the more I screamed desperately.

“I never wanted anything like that! If you’re going to do it, do it by yourself!”

Meanwhile, the servant who’d gone to get the horse arrived. With both hands held by him, I tried to kick his shin with my foot, but Thadeus lifted me up and placed me on the horse’s saddle.

“No, I said no!”

“It’s too late now. You’d better just accept it.”

I saw the startled face of the servant at my struggling. But regardless, I twisted my body and acted like someone desperate to jump off the horse. Eventually, I had to be helplessly dragged away, held down by Thadeus’s entire body.

The place we rode to was a large lake. Thadeus got off the horse while holding me tightly so I couldn’t escape. Even then, I didn’t give up and was preoccupied with trying to run away.

“Let go! Human trash! Disgrace of the knight order! You’re worse than a sea anemone!”

“I don’t know why I have to hear such things.”

“Of course it’s because…!”

“Is coming to a lake to feed fish something that deserves such insults?”

‘What…? Feed fish?’

Only then did I come to my senses and look around. It was a quiet place where not a single person could be seen. Next to the lakeside was a boat that could hold two people, and inside it was a bundle stuffed full of contents.

At that sight, the words he’d said passed through my head one by one. Dozens of eyes and endlessly desiring and craving. It was all about the fish.

“I don’t know what you imagined, but. I feel a bit wronged.”

I’d been had. I’d fallen completely for Thadeus’s nasty prank. Though I was relieved that the horrifying thing I’d imagined hadn’t become reality, I was very displeased with his attitude of toying with me like this.

“You know you’re really unlucky and annoying, right?”

“Well. That’s the first I’m hearing of it.”

I wanted to beat up that face still wearing a smile like he found it amusing. If I hit him with a stone in my hand, it’d hurt even more. As I cursed with my eyes, Thadeus extended his hand to me.

“Then, my lady, would you grant me the honor of escorting you to the boat?”

He seemed to be imitating a considerate gentleman. My insides twisted at the sight, and I answered coldly.

“I don’t need it. I’m going home.”

“Really? Then there’s nothing I can do. The hungry fish must’ve been waiting for today.”

“Hungry fish…?”

“From what I hear, they’ve been starving for a while. Who knows when they’ll eat again after today passes, but if that’s your answer.”

It was a statement meant to make me feel sorry. But I was done getting caught up with Thadeus.

“W-Why are you telling me that?”

“Then who should I tell?”

“There are servants! Just order them to feed them…!”

“I don’t particularly want to.”

This was clearly unreasonable. Couldn’t anyone feed the fish? 

No, why were they starving in the first place? I narrowed my eyes and glared at him to gauge whether Thadeus was just teasing me or being serious.

“If you don’t want to, go back. You choose.”

His attitude of pretending to give me a choice was vicious. Irritation surged at how he calmly asked while having decided the answer from the start. But what did the hungry fish do wrong? 

Everyone’s just trying to survive in this world. When he tried to untie the horse’s reins from the tree, my mouth moved on its own without realizing.

“Ugh, fine! I’ll feed them!”

Only then did Thadeus smile with satisfaction. He extended his hand asking for mine, and I had no choice but to grab his hand.

As soon as we floated the boat on the river, I saw fish with their mouths at the water’s surface, opening and closing, probably because they were hungry. 

I scooped feed from the sack as soon as I saw the fish. Fish from the surroundings swarmed in droves to the falling feed. My heart ached at the sight of them opening and closing their mouths, trying to push it in somehow.

“How long has it been since they ate?”

“Probably their first time.”

“First time? You haven’t been feeding them until now?”

“Why would I feed fish that live well on their own in the lake?”

“Then… what’s this?”

“Fish feed.”

It seemed to be another trick to tease me. If he’d ordered them to prepare fish feed that they don’t normally give to this extent. In frustration, I threw the spoon I’d been using to feed the fish at him.

Yet Thadeus, far from being upset, laughed like he found it amusing. I realized anew that another person’s laughter could sound this unpleasant.

“I hope you become a starving fish in your next life.”

“You’re thinking about my next life? This is quite touching.”

I closed my mouth, feeling that talking more with him would only worsen my mood. Thadeus rowed while I looked at the passing surroundings with a scrunched face.

The waves bathed in sunlight sparkled and rippled like jewels, and the fish living in the lake occasionally revealed their existence by flopping out of the water. The calm and peaceful lakeside scenery gently melted my sharp mood.

‘But why am I doing this with him? What’s so good about it?’

This was exactly the kind of date course only lovers would do. As soon as I thought that, I felt inexplicably uncomfortable. I glared at Thadeus, but his appearance under the sunlight was like a painting.

Black eyes containing the lake and violet hair fluttering in the breeze. A cleanly defined nose bridge and even a melancholic atmosphere. Though I didn’t want to admit it, anyone who saw Thadeus like this wouldn’t be able to easily look away.

‘So what? His personality is so rotten.’

At that moment, our eyes met. It was my fault for staring so intently. I quickly turned my gaze away, but Thadeus spoke in a playful voice.

“It’s fine to look more.”

“…It’s not like that.”

“If your preference is to watch secretly while hiding, I’ll pretend not to notice.”

“I said it’s not! I was thinking about something else and our eyes just happened to meet.”

“Really? What were you thinking about that you didn’t know what you were looking at?”

Thadeus asked me with a face that didn’t believe me at all. I didn’t want to admit I’d been looking at his face even if it killed me, so I made up something plausible.

“I-I was thinking… why we’re doing this.”

A mischievous smile instantly settled on his lips. His black eyes folded beautifully, creating a bewitching eye-smile.

“Ah, you want to skip this and just f*ck already?”

“N-No! What do you think I am?”

“If your body’s already heated up, just say so. If outdoor s*x is your preference, I’m confident I can accommodate.”

Why was the conversation flowing this way? I tried to say no, but then I’d probably fall into Thadeus’s intentions again. I rolled my eyes around and thought of a question that would trouble Thadeus.

“Now that I think about it… isn’t it actually because you want to?”

“How did you know?”

“What…?”

My voice shook at the unexpected answer. This wasn’t the picture I’d imagined. Plus, Thadeus went even further and said to me.

“I was already going crazy from the tension in my lower parts since earlier. Since it’s come to this, should we just do it here?”

The lake was wide open on all sides. Though there probably weren’t many people passing by since it was private property, I still had absolutely no desire to mix bodies defenseless in a place like this. I covered my chest with both arms and screamed.

“A-Are you crazy? Don’t talk nonsense!”

In timid rebellion, I dipped my hand in the lake and splashed it at his face. Take some cold water and come to your senses. 

Thadeus giggled and laughed, seemingly finding my appearance amusing.