I held onto the bridge pillar with superhuman strength, supporting my body. I almost fell over.

But now, the real problem began.

As I stepped inside, the water current became stronger, making it difficult to even take a step.

‘Wait, this seems a bit dangerous.’

Normally, carrying a child while moving would be a piece of cake for me, but it felt surprisingly challenging.

The water, rising up to my knees, hindered my path, and suddenly, my body temperature dropped, not feeling well.

Shivering.

The child in my arms trembled.

I forced my legs to move.

Each step was difficult. Heavier than when I came.

The hand holding the pillar kept slipping. Fortunately, a piece of wood coming down the stream scraped past my legs.

A sharp pain surged through my calves, and my body swayed. I barely leaned on the pillar.

A chill ran down my spine.

‘It’s no joke.’

Gritting my teeth, as I took a step, more rushing water poured down.

Swoooosh!

I was engulfed!

Holding onto the child and the pillar tightly, I closed my eyes. In an instant, a strong force pulled me up.

I lay on the ground, gasping for breath.

Heaving.

Rough breaths echoed in my ears. The soaked dress weighed heavily on my body.

Did the servant help? Is the child okay?

While still dazed, a thunderous voice erupted.

“Do you have a death wish or not?”

I blinked my eyes. I raised my head. It wasn’t until my neck almost snapped that I could see the other person’s face properly.

Water dripped from wet hair. Giovanni glared at me fiercely with an angry expression.

I felt a bit bewildered by the situation.

“Your Highness?”

“Why did you go into the water without thinking?”

“……”

“Don’t you know you shouldn’t come outside on a day like this when it’s raining?”

It felt strange to hear the words I had said to the girl thrown back at me.

“Why are you here?”

“I heard you went this way.”

“You came to find me?”

“Yes.”

I grabbed his hand and stood up.

“Living so recklessly, I’ve never seen a woman like you. Do you have two lives?”

“……”

“At home, you’re smart. But now you’re acting like a fool!”

I don’t understand why he’s so angry.

Meeting someone unexpected in an unexpected situation, I wasn’t as surprised as I thought I would be.

Perhaps, having just survived a life-threatening situation, my sense of reality had blurred.

So, I casually asked.

“How did you know I have two lives?”

“Huh?”

Giovanni looked at me incredulously. His stern face, when angry, was quite intimidating.

I discreetly shifted my gaze away.

‘But I should still greet him.’

After stealing a glance at his wet face, I lifted the hem of my soaked dress and bowed my head lightly.

“Because I owe you my life, I will definitely repay this favor.”

“I hope you won’t do anything dangerous.”

“That’s another matter; gratitude is gratitude.”

“Before repaying the favor, you might die.”

“……Was that a harsh remark?”
Giovanni looked at me pitifully. It must have been embarrassing for him. I shrugged my shoulders for no reason.

Suddenly, I turned my head towards the commotion next to me.

“I told you not to go out!”

“Ouch, don’t hit me. It hurts more because I’m wet.”

“Does this hurt? You almost died! If it weren’t for those people, you would be dead!”

“Ouch! It hurts!”

The girl was hitting the boy hard. Despite playfully meowing, tears were welling up in her eyes.

I was reckless.

Still, at least, I prevented those tears from turning into tears of sorrow.

“Aren’t you lucky to be alive?”

Giovanni replied coldly.

“We could have all died if you had made a mistake.”

“Well… Thank you, Your Highness.”

It seemed like he could have done that, so I smiled. There was nothing more to say; I would have acted the same way if a similar situation happened again.

Seeing him sigh, I became curious all of a sudden.

“Why did you come looking for me?”

“What on earth is going on? What’s the problem in the kingdom?”

“It’s the result of the explosion of the shrine. A very rare case. I’d like to explain more, but…”

My ears perked up. In the distance, another scream could be heard.

“Your Highness!”

“……”

“Could you please help me?”

Giovanni raised his thick eyebrows.

“Thank you for saving me!”

I handed over the seventh person to the servants. The servants who were continuously going back and forth seemed exhausted.

When the servant who took the Jace siblings in the carriage returned, other servants were with him.

The servants were responsible for taking the exhausted people in the carriage. Giovanni looked at the child, wrapped in a blanket from the abandoned house, being saved earlier.

The person who saved someone swept away by the water was soaking wet from head to toe.

With wet black hair entwined around his large physique, he looked like a god living in the sea.

“Rest a bit, Your Highness.”

Approaching me, the servant gently held the child wrapped in a blanket.

“Is this the last one?”

“It seems like it.”

“Hurry up.”

As we climbed the high hill, servants who were helping people get on the carriage came running.