Chapter 12
12. Fishing at the Lake
The next morning, my parents and Sophia returned home in the carriage prepared by the imperial palace.
His Majesty Aleksanteri and I stepped outside the entrance to see them off.
It had only been a single day, but I was deeply satisfied to have been able to spend that quiet time with my family.
After seeing my parents and Sophia off, His Majesty Aleksanteri and I walked down to the lake.
Today, we were going fishing.
The guards watched over us from a respectful distance, while Lord Theo seemed to be in charge of teaching us how to fish.
He prepared two fishing rods and turned over a large nearby stone—beneath it were several earthworms.
Lord Theo quickly caught one and attached it to the hook.
I watched his movements carefully.
“Is it fine to use earthworms as bait?”
“Yes, worms or small insects found under stones will do.”
“Then I’ll try doing it myself.”
“Your Highness!?”
He looked surprised.
But earthworms are common if you tend a garden. They enrich the soil, so I even feel grateful toward them.
The stone was heavy, so I had His Majesty Aleksanteri help me turn it over. I quickly caught one of the worms and attached it to my hook.
“You truly can handle worms and insects with your bare hands, Your Highness?”
“Yes. I’m used to it from my home garden.”
Smiling, I cast my line into the lake.
His Majesty Aleksanteri, on the other hand, had Lord Theo attach the bait for him before casting his own line.
After a while, it seemed a fish had taken His Majesty’s bait. Lord Theo began instructing him.
“Your Majesty, give the line one strong pull, then carefully lift it.”
“Understood.”
Following the advice, His Majesty pulled up a small fish.
Not sure what to do next, he hesitated until Lord Theo grabbed the fish, removed the hook from its mouth, and said:
“It’s a small one, so let’s release it.”
“I see. Then I’ll need to catch another worm.”
While the two of them were busy baiting again, my own rod suddenly tugged.
I pulled hard once, then carefully reeled in—a fairly large fish appeared at the end of my line.
I removed the hook by hand as I’d seen Lord Theo do, and when I looked up, he was staring at me in surprise, watching the fish flap in my grasp.
“You did that yourself?”
“Yes. It’s my first time holding a live fish, but I’ve handled dead ones for cooking. This one’s quite lively.”
“Please place your catch in here.”
He pointed to a large bucket filled with water, and I placed my fish inside.
After fishing for a while longer, a big fish took my bait. It was so heavy that I couldn’t pull it up, so His Majesty took over.
He managed to reel in an impressively large fish.
“This one looks suitable for dinner.”
“Really?”
“Then tonight’s meal will feature the fish that Reisi caught.”
“But it was Your Majesty who landed it in the end.”
“Then let’s say we caught it together.”
Smiling happily, His Majesty and I continued fishing until lunchtime.
Together, we caught six fish in total—the largest one was His Majesty’s catch.
After our pleasant fishing trip, we returned to the villa.
I washed my hands and changed clothes.
Although it was already autumn, the sun was still strong, and fishing had made me sweat a little.
When I entered the dining room, His Majesty had also changed.
My hair now reached my waist, and His Majesty’s silvery hair extended to about his back.
His beautiful, silk-like strands were tied together at the lower end.
“Reisi, it seems the weather may turn this afternoon. Will you continue your embroidery?”
“Yes, I think I will.”
We had lunch together, then spent the afternoon in our respective tasks—His Majesty working on imperial documents that only he could handle, and I continuing my embroidery.
I completed the embroidery for His Majesty’s wedding gloves and began work on my own.
Mine were longer, reaching close to the upper arm, so there was more area to cover. I used silver thread again, this time in a smaller vine pattern.
Focused on my work, I lost track of time until my maid called for me.
I put away my embroidery tools and went to the tea room.
His Majesty was already waiting there.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Did your embroidery progress, Reisi?”
“Yes. The embroidery for Your Majesty’s gloves is finished.”
“I look forward to seeing the completed piece.”
Sitting beside his smiling face, I accepted a cup of tea and asked:
“Is that vine pattern your favorite, Your Majesty?”
“It holds many memories of Cecil.”
“Would you like the same vine pattern for the wedding attire?”
“No, it doesn’t have to be. You may embroider whichever pattern you prefer.”
It seemed that vine motif carried precious memories for him.
I found myself torn—wanting both to honor his memories and to try something new.
Perhaps I would think more about the design later.
As we sipped tea, His Majesty gently brushed his fingers through my long black hair.
“Madam Laval told me you once considered cutting and selling this hair.”
“I have no such plans now. Madam Laval also told me that if I ever do, I should consult Your Majesty first.”
“They say a woman’s hair is her life, yet to think you could part with yours so easily—it made me ache, imagining what kind of life you must have led.”
“Nowadays, many women wear their hair short. Cecil’s wasn’t long either, was it?”
I recalled Cecil’s appearance from my dreams—her black hair cut around shoulder-length.
For commoners, maintaining long hair was difficult; it required much water and care, unless they had reason to grow or sell it.
“Lord Renan never seemed particularly interested in my hair.”
Indeed, I could hardly remember him caring about my appearance at all.
He used to mock my homemade clothes as “cheap-looking,” though I doubt he could have told the difference even if they were custom-made.
“I dislike hearing that name.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong. It angers me that someone treated you so cruelly.”
At his words, I found myself remembering Renan.
“He never liked anything I did. If I took top grades, he sneered that ‘a woman shouldn’t be first.’
If I sewed, he said I was ‘a noble acting poor.’
And when he learned I grew vegetables, he sighed that he’d never stoop so low.”
“A worthless man indeed. Lady Laval said you were so capable that your empress training was easy.
Your skill with needlework surpasses most professionals—I’m proud to wear what you make, and I think everything you create or wear is beautiful.
Even the eggplants and cucumbers you grew yourself were fresh and delicious.”
“That’s what I love about Your Majesty—you accept every part of me as I am.”
“Because I love every part of you, Reisi.”
“And I love you, Your Majesty.”
There was no need to ever recall Renan again.
His Majesty would never mock or belittle me as he did.
He respected every part of me.
Setting down my teacup, I took His Majesty’s hand.
He lifted my fingertips and placed a kiss upon them.
“Reisi, your fingers are magic—they create beauty.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Please, stay by my side and continue creating beautiful things.”
“May I continue sewing even after I become empress?”
“Were you planning to stop?”
“I thought I wouldn’t have time once I became empress.”
He slowly shook his head.
“You may have more duties as empress, but I’ll make sure you still have time for the things you love.
Don’t give up anything because of your new role, Reisi.
I want you to do everything you wish to do.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Overwhelmed with warmth at his words, I felt my heart quietly glow with happiness.
