ILOIML 37

Chapter 37

“Wow…”

Palanuvo made me let out a natural gasp. It wasn’t just the heat and humidity hitting my skin the moment we arrived. The blazing sun, the beautiful scenery, and the lively people—everything was enough to make anyone gasp in awe.

I looked around and raised my hand to block the sunlight.

“Bell-bell, what’s that trash? It’s gross.”

Leon pointed at the bracelet on my wrist. I had hidden it under my dress sleeve, but when I raised my hand to shield my eyes, it became clearly visible. I quickly lowered my arm and clumsily pulled my sleeve down to hide the dirty bracelet.

“I really hate this bracelet.”

I felt unfairly wronged by this mysterious bracelet.

“It doesn’t come off easily…”

“Want me to take it off for you?”

Startled, I quickly shook my head. His eyes sparkled unusually. Though it was already hidden again, I felt a chill on my wrist and pulled my sleeve down as far as it would go.

Leon’s villa was quite a distance away, even within Palanuvo. Even though it was chosen to avoid people’s eyes, the journey itself felt like a pilgrimage. Just when I thought I wanted to turn back to Aster from exhaustion, we finally arrived.

The beach was so beautiful that my tired eyes flew wide open. I forgot my fatigue, took off my shoes, and ran straight toward the beach. I could feel the soft sand under my feet, and its warmth spread up through my body.

Looking at the vast sea in front of me, I felt happy without realizing it. I spread my arms wide and ran around like a puppy in the snow.

“Is it your first time seeing the sea?”

Leon’s casual question shattered my emotional moment.

“First? Of course not.”

Was I too excited? I had definitely been to the sea before. But today felt strangely exciting.

“I don’t like getting sand on me.”

Leon stepped carefully as he spoke. I playfully grabbed his arm and tugged. That made him stumble and fall onto the sand.

“Whoa?!”

He tried to keep his balance but ended up falling with a thud. He frowned in disgust, brushing sand off his clothes. I held out my hand to him. He looked at me for a moment, then turned his head and took my hand.

As soon as I grabbed it, his strong arm yanked me down, and I ended up falling onto the sand as well.

“Hey!!”

With my face buried in the sand, I raised my head and shouted.

“Hey?”

I blinked with sand all over my face. The sand got into my eyes and stung, so I squeezed them shut.

A gentle touch brushed my face. Leon was carefully wiping the sand away.

“Sorry.”

He spoke softly. I squinted at him to keep more sand from getting in.

Why was he smiling so brightly if he was apologizing?

“Hmph.”

I brushed my own face off and stood up.

“I need to go wash up.”

Leon got up and stood beside me. I gave him a “hmph” again and quickly walked away. He grabbed my arm.

“The sand’s all over me. It’s gross. Give me a piggyback ride.”

“…You want me to carry you?”

“What? If I carried you, I’d die.”

Leon jumped back at my words. Why was he asking when he would jump away like that?

“Your Highness!!”

A big man came up to Leon with a booming laugh and hugged him. Leon struggled to push him away.

“What the heck?”

The man grinned slyly, then looked at me. His expression froze instantly. I stared at him with hostility, then turned to Leon and spoke.

“This guy is…”

“You’re meeting Zeus for the first time, right? This is His Highness the Grand Duchess.”

Kalsen quickly interrupted Zeus and spoke.

Oh, this guy is Zeus? I didn’t like the hostility I saw earlier, but hearing he was Zeus made me instinctively nod. In the novel, he really hated Bella.

“Zeus manages this villa here in Palanuvo.”

“Oh, the villa manager.”

I repeated the words. His eyes were glowing with intense hostility.

“Zeus, what’s with the look? Did Leon do something wrong?”

At that, Zeus waved his hands in a panic. His eyes suddenly looked like those of a gentle lamb.

“N-No, Your Highness. I wouldn’t dare.”

Leon pointed at me with his chin. Zeus looked between us and sighed heavily.

“Greetings, Grand Duchess. I’m Zeus.”

“Nice to meet you. It’s a beautiful place. Staying in a place like this could really cleanse a troubled and dark heart.”

“…Are you saying my heart is dark and dirty?”

Wait, what? Why the sudden leap? I was speechless. Right, in the novel he was always full of victim mentality and quick to attack others. But since Bella was always the target, it felt satisfying when reading.

The problem now was, I was Bella.

“Zeus, that’s too much.”

Leon mumbled seriously. Zeus’s face went pale. I pretended not to hear Leon.

“I didn’t mean it that way. You two go ahead and talk. I’ll go wash up.”

I left the rest to Leon and went inside the villa.

The petty irritation I’d felt toward Leon was already gone. I hummed a tune as I finished my bath.

“Ma’am, Zeus is still waiting.”

“Hmm… I don’t really want to see him.”

I muttered to myself. Amy seemed to have heard me and asked carefully.

“Zeus can be rough and difficult, but he’s not a bad person. If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll tell him to come back another time.”

“Oh, you heard that? Still, it’s rude to make someone wait.”

I also wanted to show Leon’s people how gracious I could be.

So I let him in.

With my permission, he walked in stiffly.

“What is it?”

“I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”

His face didn’t look apologetic at all, but he was at least saying the words. Leon must’ve scolded him thoroughly. Only Leon could control him.

“I understand.”

I nodded with a gentle smile. His stiff face suddenly twisted.

Something felt… off. Was it wrong to say I understood?

His clenched hand showed how tense he was. I unconsciously tensed my shoulders. After standing still for a while, he sighed deeply and opened his mouth.

“Then please rest. I’ll be going.”

And without waiting for a reply, he left.

Once he was gone, I relaxed my shoulders which had tensed as tightly as his fists.

I really didn’t want to run into him again.

Thankfully, he managed only this villa.

If I had to see him every day in Aster, I might’ve run away to the capital even if I wasn’t the real Bella.

“Ugh… This won’t be easy.”

I sighed and left my room to have dinner with Leon.

* * *

The peaceful days in Palanuvo passed quietly.

Zeus, who had been the most difficult person, vanished after the first day, and everything was peaceful.

We ate breakfast together every morning, walked along the beach where the sun sparkled like jewels on the waves, and dipped our feet in the endless sea while laughing. Leon’s silly comments made me laugh without a care.

If I could keep just one moment forever, I’d choose this time without hesitation.

Forget the bleak, hopeless future—just this sea, just us.

Leon’s laughter kept washing deeper into my heart like the incoming waves.

“I absolutely hate the cold.”

“I don’t like the cold either.”

Leon suddenly spoke as we gazed out over the vast blue sea.

“I hate cold winds.”

“I hate when my ears go numb from the cold.”

“I hate when my lips get chapped.”

Leon turned to me with a smile.

“Hmm? But they look smooth and soft right now.”

Without realizing it, I reached out to touch his smiling lips—then quickly stopped my hand mid-air in surprise.