Who is the Villain?

Chapter -26

Maria packed a picnic basket for her, accompanied by Rosetta. Lucien held her parasol as they walked the other way round which was 15 minutes away.

"Amazing,"

Lucien uttered when they finally reached the spot. It was different from the last time she encountered the emperor. She was glad this wasn't a restricted area.

The gentle cool breeze brushing against her cheeks made her remember the time she met Yeong-Su for the first time who saved her from drowning. She didn't know how to swim at that moment or now. 'Let's just forget him.' Her mind echoed removing the teen-smiling Yeong-Su from high school. 'This is a great day. So, let's not ruin it.'

Lucien loves the scenery, the glittering lake, and the snow-white fluffy long-neck bird though the neck is not noticeable, floating on the water or trying to fly. 'I'm sure that's a crane.' She assumes.

On the other hand, the lake surrounded by blooming trees was enchanting. Not to mention lily pads were floating on top of the water.

"Do you wish to go for a boat ride, my lady?" Rosetta asked when they stood near the shore of the lake.

"A boat ride? There is a boat?"

Lucien's eyes sparkle however, her body trembles making her parasol wiggle. Her action was somehow noticed by her maid.

"My lady, are you perhaps afraid of water?" 

Lucien's body flinched at the sudden comment and with that Rosetta got the indication. She quickly turns her head to the other side and scuffs.

"DON'T LAUGH. IS IT WRONG FOR SOMEONE NOT TO BE ABLE TO SWIM?"

"Of course not, my lady. Though, Noble ladies were educated how to swim at an early age."

"SHUT UP. I HAVE A REASON. GET THE BOAT. WE'RE GOING FOR A RIDE." Even if her face was burning red, she agreed that she couldn't swim. After the incident of drowning, she was more scared of standing near a lake or river. As much as she loves the crystal clear water she had to stop dreaming about riding on the boat. Nevertheless, she couldn't let this opportunity slip away and the little mock she received from Rosetta.

Rosetta and Lucien have already made themselves comfortable on the boat. Now that Lucien thinks about it, the boat was more like a huge wide canoe with an open umbrella to cover from the sun, comfortable soft seats with cushions, a transparent curtain, and a clinking sound of a wind chime.

"It's comfortable."

"Yes, my lady," Rosetta answers sitting on the other side. "The emperor made certain that the transportation was safe and he used mana to let this boat ride in a save way to its destination without relying on somebody to row the boat."

"Wow! He sure is thoughtful for an emperor."

A few minutes later, they were away from the berth. Rosetta pours her tea with a citrus aroma. Lucien could see fish jumping out. As much as her body trembles when she gazes down at the clear water, she couldn't help but admire the mesmerizing view.

Until a few hours later.

"Rosetta, am I the only one who could feel the water on my feet?"

Lucien's gaze fixed on Rosetta, refusing to look beneath. Her hand trembled as she tried to balance the tea she was holding.

"It appears that this boat is beginning to fill in with water. The shore is not too far away, perhaps, we could swim across if we–"

However, as though Lucien heard a f*******n word, her body froze. Rosetta didn't know what to do when her master didn't know how to swim. She couldn't see anyone around to ask for help nor her voice was going to get anyone's attention.

Rosetta didn't have a choice but to fill the water out from the boat with the teapot that was recently filled with tea but empty now.

"My lady, I am guessing the boat is drowning." A few minutes later, Rosetta informed her.

"You think I didn't realize when my gown is drenched?"

Lucien sarcastically replies, she hardly sits still but decided to help Rosetta to put out water from the boat with the teacup, nonetheless, it wasn't working. 'Why the hell is the cup too tiny?' She complains unable to fill even the size of a bucket with the tea cups.

"I apologize, my lady." Rosetta bows in apologetically. "I was–"

"Enough with your chat and make haste."

Lucien quickly cuts in with a wide glare. Her body was trembling either out of the cold from her soggy gown or the trauma of her drowning. She did not want to think how it felt like to be incapable to breathe or unable to land her feet on any solid surface. The only thing she remembered was being pulled down to the bottomless lake.

It happened years back nonetheless, it felt as though it happened just yesterday. Her breathing became to quiver as her heart thumped into an audible sound that was too loud for Lucien. Nor could she hear Rosetta calling her name that a boat was sailing over this way.

Lucien lost her balance and fell right out of the boat with a loud splash. Rosetta didn't have to think twice but jump right in to save her master.

It was either 'heaven's luck'or the 'devil's curse' according to Lucien. When she finally opens her eyes, she was laying down in a comfy seat. Her eyes squirm trying to adjust the light from above.

As she finally regained consciousness, she was told that she was just saved by an unexpected person, the emperor.

She didn't want to feel like a DeJaVu thing when things were happening as though they had happened before. With twitching eyebrows, she bowed before the Emperor. "I am deeply indebted to you, Your Majesty. Thank you for saving my life."

"What kind of a Noble lady doesn't learn how to swim?"

Efthalia sat on the other side facing Lucien and Rosetta. Each of his sides was crammed with a fluffy pale cushion. His body leans to his left with his knuckle resting on his chin.

If Lucien thinks about it, she has never read or seen any king or emperor be so comfortable around a stranger and with exposed clothing. His light pale rope with gold embroidery was somehow like a yukata, exposing his smooth-toned chest. 'Is he an emperor? Does the emperor wear that kind of clothes or does the author have no clue at all?'

"I have a reason, Your Majesty," Lucien simply answers with a smile of hers. She wasn't going to flashback about her incident and trauma.

Efthalia sends a deep narrow gaze that nearly made Lucien sweat in nervousness. However, he didn't respond, and simply closed his eyes.

"Rosetta? Did the Emperor really save me?" Lucien questions in a low voice.

Rosetta nodded her head in return that the emperor used his magic and got them out of the water in an instant.

.

.

.

When Benjamin suggested a boat ride, Efthalia agreed without a question. It was a lovely day to ride until they came across a drowning boat with two people on the lake. Efthalia just wanted to let it be and see who would save them however, under the pressure of Benjamin, he helped them.

He moves his forefinger and they were out from the water.

"My gown, it's..." Lucien just realized that her drenched gown was swept clean and dry.

"His Majesty used his magic to dry us out," Rosetta answers in a low voice.

"Dry out clothes, that's interesting? My gown is dry but..." Lucien's mood drop off in an instant as her body began to tremble.

"My lady, are you cold?" Rosetta inquires when she notices her master's body shivering.

"Rosetta, inform that knight we are dropping off," She uttered in a low voice. Benjamin was at the front, looking around.

"But my lady, we are yet to arrive at the spot," Rosetta confusingly retorted with a curious look.

"I do not care. We need to get down." Lucien by any norms wished to get down from this boat. Rosetta was silent when she noticed her desperate look.

"Is something the matter, my lady?" Out of concern, Rosetta asked. If anything were to happen to her master when she was around, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.

Lucien hesitates for a second but finally answers. "I am still wet and I'm cold."

Rosetta glances at her, blinking her eyelids twice, however, she couldn't see anything that signifies she was drenched in water. Before Rosetta could question back. Lucien whispers in her ears.

"The gown is dry but my inner wear isn't dry."

Rosetta's eyes widen, "should I  inform..."

"Don't you dare say anything." Her gaze glares as her voice hisses like a serpent.

"Certainly, my lady," Rosetta stood up with a bow and made her way toward Benjamin.

The only thing Lucien wanted to do now was crawl beneath the lake, 'is he mocking me?' Even if she wanted to glare, she didn't dare to turn toward the sleeping emperor.

If Rosetta requested the emperor to use his magic to dry her inner garment, she swore to murder her right here.

"Thank you for giving us a ride, Your Majesty." At least, she had to thank the emperor for saving her life. As much as she hates him, she hates it more even for thanking him. She didn't think something similar to transpire in this world.

Even before the boat reaches the ground, Lucien was already picked up in a bridal manner by Rosetta and jumps out from the boat. At this moment, Benjamin was speechless. He quickly turns towards Efthalia. "Don't tell me you read their mind."

However, the Emperor didn't respond but only sat still.

"Did something happen to them?" Benjamin still questions gazing his view back to the two disappearing figures.

"The maid thinks a lot," Efthalia mumbled and ordered Benjamin to continue the boat ride.

Efthalia was still unable to read Lucien's mind. It was silent as ice, however, the maid sitting beside her wouldn't stop thinking which might have given him a headache.

~~

'I didn't think my lady was lying when she said she was afraid of water or unable to swim.'

'Forgive me, my lady, I'm such a weak person. Thenceforth, I'll protect you with my life.'

'Terrible, the picnic basket couldn't be protected. I couldn't serve her tea now.'

'But how was it possible for the boat to sink? We weren't that heavy or somebody purposefully did that....no it's impossible.'

'Regardless of that, I'm curious if somebody really did that. If I caught that culprit, I'll make sure to offer that person head to my lady.'

'My allowance has been deducted and I couldn't earn money. *sigh*'

'I have to do something to make my lady happy.'

~~

The information was too much for Efthalia to understand. It felt like somebody was continuously talking inside his head. He wanted to hold his hand up to let her stop thinking.

'What? My lady is still drenched? But His Majesty just used his magic to dry us.'

'What? His Majesty forgot to dry her innerwear? But mine is all dry.'

Efthalia never felt so sinful to be able to hear someone's thoughts that didn't feel right.

'Should I ask His Majesty to dry my lady's innerwear? Because she is uncomfortable right now.'

When he heard that, his entire body felt goosebumps not to forget his ears were bright red. 'Something is really wrong with this maid here.' His mind echoed. 'If she asked me, I'm gonna throw her out from this boat.'

However, it didn't happen. Lucien was able to prevent it from happening. Before Efthalia could use his magic to let them out of the boat. Rosetta has already made her way out.

'Who is this maid anyway?'