With his senses returning to normal after briefly going off track, the first thing that entered Reus’s eyes was Roel’s slightly pale face.

“The dress is a bit…”

“Is the dress uncomfortable?”

Having not heard the previous conversation, he thought it was just due to simple discomfort. However, from Roel’s long hesitation, he could immediately tell that it wasn’t that, but there was another reason.

“No, it’s not uncomfortable… It’s just, how should I say it, it looks strange. It doesn’t really suit me either…”

At the voice that sounded somehow depressed, Reus’s expression rapidly stiffened.

“Did someone force you to wear it even though you didn’t want to? What kind of crazy…”

“What? No…! No…! I just thought Reus wouldn’t like it much either… And to my eyes too, it somehow looks like it doesn’t suit me.”

If she really hated it, it would have been natural for her to bluntly say she didn’t want to wear it, or that it was a design she didn’t particularly prefer.

But Roel, as if Reus’s reaction was more important than her own feelings, said that and was the first to put herself down more than anyone else.

‘It’s obvious even without looking.’

Those damned Ebelians, just how much did they break her spirit with absurd reasons?

Among all those clothes, since she always chose clothes that were so neat that they looked a bit stuffy, I thought that was Roel’s taste. But the abuse had affected even her trivial preferences.

Reus wanted to frown and mutter curses right away.

“Reus…?”

But now he knows that his unintended behavior scares Roel. So he quietly just held out his hand. Even that was so careful that even Roel, who was a little tense, felt puzzled.

Soon, a hand as delicate as a snowflake settled on his hand. Reus moved his steps very slowly to match Roel’s pace and asked in a gentle voice.

“Roel, do you not like the dress?”

“Hmm…”

Although she noticed that Reus was not different from usual, Roel still looked hesitant.

“The dress… is pretty.”

At that answer, Reus’s expression darkened slightly. It was because the helplessness that flooded him every time he discovered traces of abuse in unexpected places like now was a little overwhelming.

Reus’s heart became even more painful with the thought that what he said would not be much of a comfort to Roel.

If only he was someone who knew how to say kind words like a woman.

After pondering for a long time about what to say, Reus soon pretended to be nonchalant and threw out words as if this was his best.

“Then that’s enough.”

“Pardon…?”

That’s enough? Roel couldn’t take her eyes off Reus even as she walked forward.

‘Is this really the end? Or is he just passing it over so I don’t feel embarrassed?’

Seeing that she was lost in deep thought, it seemed that the woman was still trying to gauge his feelings.

Soon Reus, making eye contact with Roel who was looking at him, said.

“It’s the clothes you’re going to wear, so what’s important is that you like them, what could be more important than that?”

It was a reaction as if there was no more obvious truth in the world than this. Roel lowered her head slightly and looked at the dress.

‘My feelings…’

If she put aside everything else and looked at it, Roel honestly really liked this dress.

On a bright summer day like today, even if she wasn’t going on a trip, she wanted to wear it often even inside the Grand Duchy.

‘Before too, and now… I think it’s pretty.’

Roel timidly fiddled with the hem of her skirt.

Just by looking at the delicate touch that was fidgeting, one could tell how much she liked the dress.

Soon a faint smile hung on the corners of Roel’s lips.

“It suits you well.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

There was not a hint of lie in the calm tone of voice.

Soon Roel lowered her head deeply. It was because if she kept looking at Reus, she felt like she would blush without even realizing it.

As she was walking while looking only at the innocent ground, finding it difficult to control her fluttering heart, it was then.

“But you should wear an outer layer when you get on the boat. Especially when it gets late, the wind is cold…”

“Ugh, I got it…”

“Did you just get annoyed?”

It was an embarrassing level to say that she was annoyed. However, considering Roel, who always acted as if her opinions and feelings were put on the back burner, even such a whiny tone was a huge improvement.

“No, that’s not what it was…”

Avoiding his eyes a bit brazenly and turning her head away was also like that. Compared to before, the scars of abuse had faded a lot, and Reus spoke without realizing it.

“It’s nice to see.”

“…Pardon?”

What kind of person in the world says it’s nice to see someone getting annoyed?

Before, he said to be selfish for once, and now he says it’s nice to see her getting annoyed.

‘He really is a peculiar man…’

* * *

The port of Pillaren, with its dazzlingly sunny weather, was again full of a lively atmosphere today.

Roel’s eyes turned to the horizon that stretched far away.

Clouds that billowed up into the clear sky in clusters were seen moving in groups. The clouds wore a cleaner color than ever in the scorching sunlight, as if they would smell like well-dried laundry.

And how beautiful the emerald sea just below was. The surface of the sea, shimmering as if radiance had sunk, was enough to make one instantly forget the humid heat.

The sweet sunlight settling on her shoulders, the sound of waves slapping the port, and the occasional cries of seagulls further lifted Roel’s mood.

‘It feels good.’

Soon, Roel’s eyes, which were holding the lively sea, were filled with a white cruise ship. It was a scene as if a white hotel had been moved onto the water as it was.

“Wow…”

Roel couldn’t help but exclaim with her mouth open, forgetting to manage her expression.

Since she had vague memories of her previous life, it wasn’t the first time she encountered a cruise ship.

However, the presence or absence of vividness that exists between photos and the real thing has a big influence on appreciation, so it was perhaps natural to be delighted like a child who came to an amusement park for the first time in her life.

And Roel’s innocent reaction brought great joy to Reus as well.

How can her eyes sparkle like that every time?

Just quietly watching that sight made him feel good, but on the other hand, it was also amazing.

Even though she had many wounds from the world, Roel always tried to see only the good points of the world.

To be honest, if he were to leave an impression of the port he saw with his own eyes, it seemed he wouldn’t be able to utter very good words.

The reaction of people whose dissatisfaction had reached its peak due to a long wait only grated on his nerves, and the garbage cans in the port that had not been emptied in time caused disgust just by glancing at them.

Even the large cruise ship actually had a lot of water stains and scratch marks on the walls, making it hard to feel much difference from the stained floor he was standing on now.

But it was different when looking at the world through Roel’s aqua eyes.

The sky looked like a vast playground for birds. The sea below it felt like a masterpiece in every moment it was captured by the eyes, and the sound of the waves flowing into the ears at regular intervals boosted vitality.

Even the huge cruise ship made of iron and the bustling people looked like part of the scenery.

The world seen through eyes that sparkled as if filled with excitement was so brilliant that he had to keep looking into them.

They soon boarded the cruise ship.

Roel was even more excited than when she was looking at the port. It was because of the many things to enjoy arranged inside the cruise ship with a large build.

There were casinos, music halls, spas, pools, and even courts to enjoy sports.

In the cafeteria overlooking the sea and the pool, people who had boarded earlier were already occupying good seats and enjoying their leisure.

Roel looked around for a long time, taking in the scenery inside the ship as if even such a sight made her heart flutter.

“Do you like it that much?”

At the voice that sounded as if she couldn’t be helped, Roel smiled for a moment and then answered.

“Reus likes it too. You’ve been smiling since earlier.”

Reus, who had a face that clearly showed he had no idea, awkwardly stroked his chin. Then, a laugh was heard from Roel.

It wasn’t a laugh with any special meaning, but it was a harmless laugh that made one’s insides ticklish just by hearing it.

“It’s nice to see you laughing like that, Reus.”

Who’s the one to talk? Reus, who reflexively let out a small laugh, stiffened his expression again.

Seeing laughter leaking out like this without him realizing it, he could somewhat imagine how stupidly he had been spacing out all day.

At that moment, Dewin approached them.

“Your Highness, I think you can go up to your room now.”

Thanks to his aide appearing at a good timing, Reus was able to quickly escape from the unfamiliar feeling.

* * *

Reus went to talk with Dewin about the schedule after arriving at the Levaen Kingdom, and I came to the shopping center with Millie.

To be clear, I had no intention of shopping at all. However, I was unwittingly caught in Reus’s trap and ended up on the 1st floor here.

‘I should have just smiled without answering.’

Not long after arriving at the room, Reus abruptly asked me. Since we came on a cruise trip for a change, wouldn’t it be nice to properly enjoy it like others before leaving?

“Since I don’t know when I’ll be able to go on a cruise trip again, I’d be happy to fully enjoy it before leaving.”

Casually saying that was the root of the problem.

Reus smiled meaningfully as if he had caught me well, and told me that it would be good to go and look around the most visited place by people after boarding. And by the time I came to my senses, I had a huge sum of money.

It was because the ‘place most visited by people’ that Reus mentioned referred to the shopping center inside the cruise ship.