“You’re speaking so seriously, but there’s only marriage, isn’t there?”

“I didn’t mention it directly.”

“Prince Leharht proposed to me too. So, he’ll be even more careful.”

Unconsciously, Etiénne had already concluded that marriage was the answer.

“But there’s something else I’m worried about.”

Etiénne, raising her upper body while hitting the bed with her fist, looked at the maid.

“We’ve been dating for a short time. Isn’t it a bit too much to get married right away?”
“Was that your concern?”

Etiénne, who hadn’t even mentioned dating the Crown Prince to the maid, realized it again.

“You might be worried that if you stay quiet, Prince Leharht or Fernando might steal me away. Still, don’t we need time to get to know each other better?”

“Well, since there are many strategic marriages, the dating period doesn’t seem to be crucial.”

The maid gave her own answer for Etiénne. If the Crown Prince proposes, wouldn’t it be fine to just accept it?

“That may be true, but…”

Something bothered her. The feelings when they were dating and after getting married might not be the same. Etiénne wanted to enjoy the excitement of the current moment more.

“If he becomes Emperor, he’ll be so busy that we might not see each other a few times, and if we marry right away…”

The free time, like now, will disappear as he will be occupied with the responsibilities of being an Emperor.

Etiénne, supporting her face with both hands, expressed a mixture of regret and contentment.

“You don’t seem to have any intention of refusing his proposal.”

The maid, watching Etiénne like that, smiled and said, “Of course not.” Etiénne had considered whether to marry soon or not, but she hadn’t said she wouldn’t.

“Well, that’s natural.”
Etiénne swept her hair down to her waist, gave an answer, and then indulged in whimsy. Since the maid knew it was out of embarrassment, she just found it amusing. Then Etiénne added.

“You know what it feels like to be loved. It’s natural not to want to reject that love when you want to receive it for a lifetime.”

“Is the Crown Prince that good?”

“Of course…”

However, the trailing words became blurred due to the belated thought that crossed her mind. When did she talk to the maid about her relationship with Leharht? Well, whatever.

“Alright. I like Leharht.”

Etiénne expressed her feelings with a bashful smile. She truly liked Leharht.

As they headed to the Duke’s Lake, Fernando couldn’t forget what he heard from Leharht. He always acted as if he knew something unknown.

It was because of his ability, and it made him anxious. He was so curious about what he could see.

So, as soon as they left the palace, he came straight to the place with the lake.

Despite rushing here, Fernando, upon arriving at the lake, didn’t immediately enter the water.

“There was a time when I looked at it like this.”
Originally, I only thought of the lake as one of the training places, finding it unpleasant. While others praised it for its beauty, he disliked the lake because he had no good memories associated with it.

On a day when he had mentally prepared himself to die in that very lake, he encountered Etiénne. She not only pulled him out but also gave him many things. She provided the leisure to appreciate the lake and guided him on the direction he should move forward.

Therefore, the feeling of looking at the lake now was different.

“Etiénne.”

However, the reality that he couldn’t become Etiénne’s lover was incredibly regrettable for him. Despite his determination not to give up, if Etiénne never looked back at him in her lifetime, he would remain a one-sided love forever.

To dispel the bitter feelings, Fernando took steps toward the lake.

When his ankles, knees, thighs, and even his waist were submerged, Fernando stopped walking. This was enough.

Fernando put his hand into the lake and closed his eyes.

His father could imprint memories on the water. That was his father’s only ability. However, Fernando could not only manipulate water but also see something like his father.

He recalled the first time he sensed the ability of water. At that time, when someone pushed Etiénne at the fountain, he realized he could do something about it.

Closing his eyes and concentrating, Fernando felt the calm lake around him starting to ripple.
As the circular waves centered around Fernando gradually expanded, the individuals guarding Fernando were reduced to only one person. They disappeared to inform Princess Supraher Gaju.

During this process, Fernando continued to enhance his abilities…

Etiénne saw herself being called by Fernando. The current Etiénne was similar yet different. It was a memory of her father.

Thanks to this, Fernando became a perfect third party and observed her.

The Etiénne captured in the memories seemed serene and calm somewhere.

When the Fernando in the memories turned around and answered, Etiénne’s expression changed. Even though he hadn’t treated her kindly, just looking at her seemed to bring joy to him, making her smile.

Etiénne was smiling as she looked at herself.

With an affectionate gaze filled with emotions…