While he was taking in the scenery around him, a red figure on a nearby boat suddenly caught Hayashi Maki's eye.
It was a woman in a red gown.
She had slightly orange-toned hair, a delicate face, fair skin, and well-proportioned features. The dress accentuated a heavy, eye-catching curve at her chest.
And on that beautiful face was absolute confidence.
"Oh? Fancy meeting you in a place like this. You lecherous commoner—hurry up and come greet me properly, won't you?"
Hearing such arrogant words come out of those soft, enticing lips left Hayashi Maki a little speechless.
Priscilla really was as self-assured as ever.
And wasn't that exactly part of her charm?
So Hayashi Maki put on an act and waved his hand. A bridge of water appeared between the two boats, extending neatly to the tip of Priscilla's red shoes.
"After you, Lady Sun Princess."
"Mm. That's more like it. You may be a commoner, but you do have some sense. I suppose I'll graciously forgive you for not coming to receive me."
Priscilla spoke with lofty pride, then stepped forward with elegant poise. Amid the surrounding onlookers' astonished gazes, she crossed the water bridge one step at a time and arrived on Hayashi Maki's boat.
Once she was safely aboard, Hayashi Maki snapped his fingers, and the bridge dissolved into mist in an instant.
Under the sunlight, the droplets and haze merged into a rainbow that bloomed across the horizon.
"By the way, Miss Priscilla—earlier you said it was a 'sin' that I didn't come pick you up, but you never even told me to. I didn't even know you'd be in Pristella."
"And where's your one-armed knight?"
Priscilla shot him an annoyed glare.
"You know perfectly well!"
"Al was ugly and unbearably dull, but you turned him into your puppet when you 'treated' him last time. Don't think I didn't notice."
"And since he was nothing but a tedious puppet, I simply ordered him executed."
"…You killed Al?" Hayashi Maki stared at the princess in red, genuinely taken aback.
"Of course I did. You expected me to leave him alive just so he could keep being your puppet?"
"That is the gravest insult—an offense worthy of beheading! But since you've been reasonably obedient today, and since you've brought something cute, I'll magnanimously forgive you."
As she spoke arrogantly, Priscilla's blazing gaze locked onto Liliana.
"You're the Songstress, aren't you? I love your songs. From now on, you'll belong to me!"
"Hold it."
Before Liliana could even react, Hayashi Maki stepped forward and positioned himself in front of her, facing Priscilla.
"Miss Priscilla, how can you just poach my people like that? Liliana's already with me. She's not going anywhere with you."
"Oh? You mean to stop me?"
Priscilla's expression sharpened, and the air instantly grew tense—like swords drawn at the slightest touch.
"Um, Miss Priscilla—this is a boat. Please don't do anything dangerous!"
Emilia hurriedly stepped in to mediate.
In her eyes, Priscilla was the kind of woman who acted first and worried later—someone you had to handle carefully.
If she put a hole in the boat, not only would they have to pay for it, they'd also end up swimming back.
"Hmph. Unlike you, I'm not so irrational," Priscilla snapped at Emilia, then turned back to Hayashi Maki, bristling with momentum.
"The world turns around me. My words are truth. Even if you refuse now, this Songstress will be mine sooner or later!"
Hayashi Maki just shrugged and didn't argue further.
Liliana was a person, not a commodity.
What she chose was ultimately up to her—and he would respect her decision.
Besides, he suspected Priscilla had already been in Pristella for a while. She'd likely even heard Liliana sing yesterday and had gone out today to "coincidentally" run into them.
After all, Priscilla had the Blessing of the Sun. It granted her formidable yang-attribute magic—and, in daytime, a luck boost.
She could wander around and still stumble into people and events that benefited her.
It was basically cheating.
Of course… even that kind of "cheating" didn't compare to Hayashi Maki.
Emilia, still annoyed from being snapped at, puffed out her cheeks and shot back, "I'm not impulsive either! I'm very mature now—a mature woman!"
As she spoke, she lifted her chin and stood tall, the full curve of her chest bouncing slightly. Paired with her lovely face, it made her charm impossible to ignore.
After Hayashi Maki's "lessons," she truly was no longer naïve—so she wasn't about to feel intimidated by Priscilla.
Priscilla froze for a beat, then seemed to realize something. She whipped her head around and glared at Hayashi Maki.
Hayashi Maki, utterly calm, invited her in a teasing tone.
"What, Princess? Got something you want to say to me in private? If you don't mind… come to my room and we'll talk."
It was obvious flirting, yet Priscilla didn't get angry. Instead, she threw Emilia a smug look, lifted her chin proudly, and said, "Lead the way."
Emilia didn't get jealous. She simply watched Priscilla's back with a meaningful look.
She trusted Hayashi Maki to handle Priscilla.
The moment they entered a cabin room, Hayashi Maki wrapped an arm around Priscilla's slim waist and pressed her against the wall.
Smiling, he pinched her chin and met her gaze, a mischievous look in his eyes.
"Well? You really dared to be alone with me, Princess. Don't tell me you've decided you're ready to become mine?"
Priscilla snorted, unflinching as she met his eyes head-on.
"You really are bold. I've had several husbands—none of them even touched a finger of mine before they 'died in accidents.'"
"So tell me… do you dare to touch me?"
As if that even needed asking.
He'd already touched her before.
Hayashi Maki didn't waste words. He lowered his head and stole her soft, rosy lips in a direct kiss.
If she was coming to him of her own accord, he had no reason to let her walk away.
Priscilla's cheeks flushed as her lips were taken so brazenly. She stared wide-eyed at the shameless man, her body turning oddly weak.
Before she even realized it, her pale arms had slid up and wrapped around his neck.
A special man deserved special treatment.
In an instant, the air grew scorching.
Their breathing quickened.