Skip to content 
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞
“Wow~.”
ㅤ
Alma exclaims in delight.
ㅤ
“It’s even more beautiful up close!”
ㅤ
The two, who had just set down their luggage, were already at the beach.
ㅤ
“Look, look! Luke! It’s a faint green, like a magic potion! I wonder where all this water came from!”
ㅤ
Alma is completely overjoyed.
ㅤ
“Alma, be careful if you get too excited.”
ㅤ
“I’m fine! Come on, Luke! It’s fun when the soles of your feet move. . . Ahh!”
ㅤ
Alma, who was playing at the water’s edge, was swept off her feet by a wave and fell on her bottom on the beach.
ㅤ
A wave then washes over her.
ㅤ
“Ahh. . . it’s salty! So the sea really is salty!”
ㅤ
“I told you so. . . Are you okay. . .”
ㅤ
Luke, who was about to reach out his hand, stops mid-sentence.
ㅤ
“Luke? What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”
ㅤ
Alma makes a puzzled face at Luke, who quickly turns his face away.
ㅤ
“No. . . Alma, your. . . your shirt is. . . see-through. . .”
ㅤ
ㅤ
“Really?! Well, it’s okay, I’m wearing a swimsuit underneath.”
ㅤ
Alma laughs as she takes off the shirt she was wearing over her swimsuit.
ㅤ
A voluptuous pair of hills wrapped in a glossy black swimsuit appears from underneath.
ㅤ
It’s a top-of-the-line swimsuit made from the fur of a rare one-horned seal.
ㅤ
Alma looks up at Luke with a coy glance, her ears turning bright red.
ㅤ
“How. . . how does it look. . .”
ㅤ
“I, I think. . . it suits you very well.”
ㅤ
Luke also nods, his cheeks blushing.
ㅤ
(Yes, good job, Sicily!)
ㅤ
Alma clenches her fist in her heart.
ㅤ
She bought it with a lot of effort, thanks to Sicily’s recommendation.
ㅤ
ㅤ
“Hey, Luke, let’s swim together! The water is cold and feels good.”
ㅤ
“No, I’ll pass. You go ahead and enjoy, Alma.”
ㅤ
“Is that so?”
ㅤ
Alma makes a surprised face at Luke’s reply.
ㅤ
“The sea is so beautiful, I’m sure swimming will be fun.”
ㅤ
“No, I’m not really into that.”
ㅤ
Just then, a large wave washes up to where the two were sitting at the water’s edge.
ㅤ
“Whoa!”
ㅤ
Luke lets out a scream and backs away, putting his hands down.
ㅤ
ㅤ
“. . .”
ㅤ
“. . .”
ㅤ
After a moment of silence, Alma opens her mouth.
ㅤ
“Could it be. . . Luke, are you not good at swimming?”
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
◆
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
“If you had told me you’re not good with water. . .”
ㅤ
“That’s. . . true but. . .”
ㅤ
Luke was sitting under a parasol, hugging his knees.
ㅤ
ㅤ
“It’s not that I’m not good with it, just. . . I don’t really like. . . getting in the water.”
“Ah. . .”
ㅤ
Alma raises her eyebrows as if she’s just realized something.
ㅤ
“That’s because of what happened. . .”
ㅤ
Since falling into a muddy stream while being targeted by assassin sent by his uncle, Luke has been unable to enjoy water.
ㅤ
“I was scolded a lot by master about this, but I still can’t get used to it.”
ㅤ
Iris also tried various ways to help Luke overcome his dislike of water, but he still resists getting in the water.
ㅤ
“But. . . why did you decide to come to Iam? It’s famous for its sea.”
ㅤ
“I’m fine with just looking at it. And I wanted to visit Iam once. And then. . .”
Luke smiled at Alma.
ㅤ
“I knew you wanted to go. I wanted to go with you, Alma.”
ㅤ
“Luke. . .”
ㅤ
Alma rests her head on Luke’s shoulder.
ㅤ
“Thank you. . . for me.”
ㅤ
“It’s okay. I wanted to see the sea too. And this place is really beautiful as rumored. I’m glad I came.”
ㅤ
Luke looked out at the sea.
ㅤ
Luke couldn’t imagine what was at the end of the sea.
ㅤ
The master said the world was round, but Luke wanted to confirm it for himself someday. Looking at the sea, he felt a surge of such feelings.
ㅤ
ㅤ
“Why don’t you swim, Alma? I’ll be here.”
ㅤ
“No, I’ll stay here with Luke.”
ㅤ
Alma shook her head, but Luke knew she was itching to swim.
ㅤ
He had heard from Sicily that she would swim in the public pool whenever she had time.
ㅤ
“I’m fine. And I want to see you swim, Alma.”
ㅤ
“Is, is that so? If Luke says so. . .”
ㅤ
At Luke’s words, Alma quickly stood up and ran towards the sea.
ㅤ
She jumped into the sea with a wave of her hand and swam out to sea with great speed.
ㅤ
She was as vibrant as a sea creature.
ㅤ
“Amazing. . . she’s really good at swimming.”
ㅤ
ㅤ
“She’s a wonderful woman.”
ㅤ
As Luke admired Alma’s swimming, a voice came from behind him.
ㅤ
When he turned around, there was the butler Alfred, standing silently.
ㅤ
“Despite being a noblewoman, she doesn’t flaunt it, and behaves without indulging in her position. It’s understandable why Flora-sama likes her.”
ㅤ
“Exactly. I’ve been saved by her kindness and strength many times. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I am who I am today because of Alma.”
ㅤ
“Luke-sama, you are also a great person. Despite the hardships you’ve been through, you don’t show any signs of it. In fact, you’re more composed than most nobles. As a royal butler, I’ve met many nobles, but few are as calm as you.”
ㅤ
“It’s flattering to be praised so much.”
ㅤ
Luke turned back to Alfred with a shy smile.
ㅤ
“More importantly, didn’t you need something from me?”
ㅤ
At those words, Alfred nodded lightly.
ㅤ
“I came to ask you both to attend a party.”