Chapter – 38
The pleasure boats slowly glided over the lake, which shimmered like molten opal.
“What are you looking at, Roa?”
Stella, having finished an entire bunch of grapes, leaned forward and turned her head toward where I was staring.
“Merina Eikel and Count Gadeun Yeongsik, Violet?”
“Miss Clen likes Yeongsik. By the way, Merina Eikel and Yeongsik met alone in the Rose Garden on the day when the sun is in the center of the moon.”
“What?”
Stella’s eyebrows shot up. Soon after, she eagerly picked up a telescope and focused on the boat Merina was on.
“Stella, no matter how interesting it is, it’s rude to watch someone so closely when they’re nearby.”
“But Gades, it’s her. Merina Eikel herself!”
“She’s quite famous in the duchy too. Isn’t she the one who nagged Lady Leviann to hand over her jewels?”
“Yeah. She’s the type who just can’t stand it whenever Roa’s around. You have no idea how annoying it is to watch her do things.”
I gestured to the boatman to row toward Merina’s boat.
“I wish Violet would grab that brat by her hair—ah! She did it!”
Prince Stein, who had been leaning on the boat to watch a distant flock of swans, took the telescope from Stella, evidently intrigued.
“Gades, what are you doing?”
“Oh, a man is hugging Merina Eikel? He’s stopping the woman who’s trying to attack her. Wow, the attacker isn’t holding back either—it looks like she knows Eastern martial arts.”
Prince Stein ignored Stella’s protests and continued narrating the scene.
Violet couldn’t possibly have learned Eastern martial arts; she must be acting out of rage toward Merina, striking without thinking.
By the time our boat drew near Merina’s, a loud splash rang out.
Plop!
Unable to restrain herself, Violet stood up—and with her, Merina and Yeongsik also rose, causing the boat to capsize.
“Hurry, get closer! Quickly!”
No doubt, Yeongsik would save only Merina and get her out of the water, while Violet would be at death’s door from nearly drowning.
Since Violet was my invaluable ally, I couldn’t let her die; saving her would also strengthen our bond.
“Miss Violet Clen!”
I reached out and grabbed Violet’s hand as she sank beneath the water.
“Miss, don’t lose consciousness.”
“Puh…ugh.”
With the help of Prince Stein and me, Violet barely climbed back onto the boat, and I used a handkerchief to wipe her face.
Looking toward the lakeshore, as expected, Yeongsik had already rescued Merina and brought her out of the water. He was gesturing to a servant, seemingly instructing them to bring towels.
“Let’s head over there too.”
We rescued the maid and the boatman as well and made for the shore.
Although the boat was meant for six, it had no problem carrying eight out of the lake.
“Miss Clen, it’s cold, but please hang on just a little longer.”
Ignoring her drenched dress, I wrapped Violet’s shoulders, and she leaned against me, trembling from the near-death experience.
“Now it’s safe, so don’t worry.”
Stella and Prince Stein also watched Violet with concerned eyes as the boat neared land.
Fortunately, a servant arrived with plenty of towels, leaving some even after accounting for Merina and Yeongsik.
Wrapping Violet in a large towel and giving her warm herbal tea, her shivering gradually subsided. She glanced around and noticed Yeongsik drying Merina’s hair by hand.
Soon, Pony’s boat—the host of the party—and several others arrived at the lakeshore.
“What on earth happened?”
Pony, hurrying over with her dress lifted, was shocked to see three people emerge from the water.
“Oh my!”
She had thick robes and a brazier brought over.
Once the three recovered, curiosity arose about how such an accident occurred. Some people just can’t resist curiosity.
Earlier, Miss Kess, who had asked me about the relationship with the tower lord, tossed a stone into the calm lake.
“How did the boat overturn? Was there a problem with it?”
Since a fault in the boat would have been a stain on the Pink family, Pony pressed her lips tightly.
“I don’t think so. We nearby saw everything…”
I hesitated, and all eyes, including Miss Kess’, turned toward me.
“That’s right. There was nothing wrong with the boat. It was all because of that woman!”
Violet Clen, having regained her composure, answered in my place.
“Miss Eikel? What exactly happened?”
“Miss Clen, still saying that! Why are you treating Miss Eikel like that?”
“Miss Eikel insulted me first! She said I came without a partner, assumed no one asked me because I’m unpopular!”
“Miss Clen did come without a partner. And it’s true that she isn’t popular among the men…”
As Yeongsik stepped forward to shield Merina, Violet’s anger boiled over.
Moreover, the remarks about Merina and Yeongsik were extremely distasteful in social circles.
Though unpopular ladies and gentlemen were sometimes paired in secret, even if such a person applied for an escort, etiquette required a polite refusal.
“That’s only your kind of ill-mannered men’s perspective!”
Whether Violet’s feelings for Yeongsik evaporated or not, she retorted sharply.
Violet believed she was no worse than Merina. Furthermore, the Clen family, being a better count’s house than the Eikel family, felt sidelined since Merina’s sister became Empress.
“I’d rather go alone than be escorted by a man like you.”
Several ladies like Violet existed, and they seized this moment.
“Yeongsik, that’s truly rude.”
“And Miss Eikel as well. Saying Violet isn’t popular? Judging people by popularity alone is despicable.”
When the scene unfolded, those who disliked Merina eagerly showed their disdain.
“How many people is Miss Eikel dating anyway?”
“Exactly. Before, she attended the party with Yeongsik Casano, then went to the opera with another Yeongsik, and next…”
Everyone was shocked at Merina’s record, even Yeongsik, who had been blindly defending her.
“That’s not popularity, that’s vulgarity.”
At that remark, the atmosphere dampened. Even Yeongsik hesitated to defend Merina.
The Eikel family, though the Empress’ house, couldn’t always maintain a flawless social reputation.
If bad rumors circulated, her position could become unstable.
Society works like that: either you consume or get consumed.
“Well, I…”
Merina blinked, fluttering her long lashes, but even that would appear obnoxious to the assembled ladies.
“Everyone, don’t be too hard on Miss Eikel.”
I stepped in, pretending to ease the tense ice-rink atmosphere.
“I’m sure Miss Eikel didn’t act out of malice.”
Though the animosity had dimmed, my intervention—rumored to be on bad terms with Merina—elicited curiosity and some admiration.
I smiled gently and turned toward Merina, seated before me.
“To prevent further misunderstandings, it would be best for Miss Eikel to clarify her stance as well.”
“Eh…?”
Merina asked, sounding like a fool.
“You previously said you had feelings for Duke Lisiancius, yet you meet with Yeongsik. And at the gathering at the Duchy embassy, you seemed to be with His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Stella crossed her arms and nodded, and several other ladies agreed.
“Which of them do you have feelings for? Or could it be someone else entirely?”
As the heroine of a reverse harem story, Merina was involved with several men beyond the main cast.
By now, besides Yeongsik, she must have received confessions or continued chance encounters with others.
For Merina, destined to receive attention from multiple men and naturally enjoying it, choosing just one would be excruciating.
“If not, then please clarify right here.”
I pressed her persistently on this point, and many around me shot Merina fierce glares.
Merina blinked several times and finally spoke.
“Do I… really have to choose just one?”
