The sound of waves breaking the silence echoed in my ears. I chuckled awkwardly, hiding my surprise.

“Well, well done! Roger!”

Anyone who heard would think it was genuine. I swallowed my followup words, but Roger didn’t respond. Normally, he would have puffed up his shoulders in pride…

Peeking at him cautiously, Roger’s face was red as a beet. Even his ears were flushed; his face looked like it could burst at any moment.

“Lise, I want to practice too!”

“Yu, Yurik. You too?”

“Yeah. But don’t lie that you like me, say something else.”

Yurik cut in between Roger and me, rebuking him.

“……Um, okay. What should I say?”

Yurik, who needed no practice, widened his eyes in anticipation of my words. My attention was drawn to Roger. His red face hadn’t settled down yet.

It was awkward that the normally playful Roger was behaving this way.

“Lise.”

Yurik called my name again, capturing my gaze, which was wandering elsewhere.

“……Let’s stop! A day of practice won’t make us good liars, right?”

I backed out, and Yurik couldn’t hide his disappointed look.

Another gust of wind came, as if heralding a storm. The previously calm waves grew larger. We couldn’t enjoy the view for more than a few minutes before we had to go back inside. Yurik, noticing my reluctance, extended his hand.

“Wanted to dip your feet? It’s okay for a bit, even if the tide is in.”

“Really?”

Upon my asking, Yurik nodded. I hastily took off my boots and socks. The instant my feet touched the sand, chills ran down my spine. Holding Yurik’s hand, I stepped forward, and a wave briefly touched my toes before receding.

“Agh! It’s cold!”

“Hey! Be careful!”

The sea water was colder than I thought, and I jerked back. Roger, from the opposite side, steadied me. With a mischievous grin, he said:

“I thought you were just a prude, but you’re quite clumsy, aren’t you?”

“That’s what makes her cute.”

Roger looked shocked at Yurik’s comment.

“Cute? You have peculiar taste.”

Regardless of their chatter, I looked down at my two feet submerged in water. My already pale feet looked even whiter. They even seemed smaller.

“Guys, come on in!”

From afar, a woman’s voice called. My feet were getting colder, so I hurried out of the water, but the sand was even colder. I wanted to put my socks on, but my wet feet felt uncomfortable, and walking barefoot to the house would freeze my feet.

“Uh, should we just run?”

Bouncing my feet, Roger looked at me with disdain.

Left with no choice, I picked up my shoes to start running. However, Yurik acted quicker. He picked up my socks and shoes and tossed them to Roger.

“Leave your shoes to that guy and climb onto my back, Lise.”

“What? Cli, climb on?”

Upon my question, Yurik nodded.

“Yes, if not now, when will you ever get to ride on a Fenton heir?”

Roger sarcastically remarked, making me hesitate.

‘So, he lied about liking me earlier.’

I glared at Roger and then climbed onto Yurik’s back. Whether he expected me to actually do it or not, Roger’s smile gradually faded.

“Hold tight, Lise.”

“Huh? Ah! Yurik! You’re too fast!”

I hugged Yurik’s neck tightly. He ran, maintaining a stable posture.

“Hey! Come along!”

Roger followed, running late.

‘Lise. You promised you wouldn’t lie again. How can you lie once more? I’m really disappointed.’

‘…….’

‘I’m too tired to forgive you anymore. Leave. You’re no longer a Marsen.’

“Gasp.”

I opened my eyes to Isabelle’s stern tone. Darkness and emptiness engulfed me.

“…….”

What a shitty dream.
It was an involuntary nightmare. Isabelle, who had turned her back before even parting her lips, flickered in his mind. It was too late to follow her retreating form. His fingertips fell woefully short of reaching Isabelle.

“I’m really disappointed in you.”

He recalled Isabelle’s words.

His heart was tearing apart, but he was also filled with indignation. Just as he had lied to Isabelle, she too had many things hidden from him. He couldn’t stand being abandoned without hearing anything from her.

“……Ah.”

His mind was complicated. He was fully awake now.

It was still the villa. Originally, he was to share a room with Yune, but Mrs. Fenton, who was concerned that Yune’s illness might be contagious, had offered him a separate room.

Thanks to that, he had a spacious room and even a bed all to himself.

“……?”

As he was about to get up to drink some water, he heard footsteps beyond the door. Someone was in the hallway, and not just one person; the footsteps were varied.

Carefully, he approached the door and opened it. The hallway was submerged in darkness, making it impossible to see anything.

“……Lise?”

Yurik’s voice echoed from ahead. Shifting his gaze toward the noise, he blinked several times to get accustomed to the darkness. However, it remained pitch black.

“Yurik? What are you doing there?”

“This fool wanted to go to the bathroom.”

“Fool? Roger is there too?”

“He’s beside me.”

He could sense Roger’s presence. Yurik let out a deep sigh and continued.