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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Fishing in Peace
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"Haa..."
The destination finally came into view. I'd really held out well.
"We've arrived."
The coachman said.
I climbed down from the coachman's seat. The other participants were getting off from their normal seats in the other carriages. Just me on the coachman's perch.
I needed to blend in quick. I really didn't want to stand out anymore.
I started slinking away quietly, trying not to draw eyes.
"My."
A voice rang out.
That languid yet sharp tone, unique to her.
I turned my head.
Black hair. Piercing eyes. Lirian de Goldwin.
She was looking at me.
Or more precisely...
At the spot where I'd climbed down—the coachman's seat.
"Young Master."
Lirian approached.
"You got off from the coachman's seat?"
What should I say?
"...The view was nice."
"The view?"
"Yes."
"From the coachman's seat?"
"...Yes."
Lirian's eyes narrowed.
The calculating gaze of a merchant.
"Hmm."
She smiled.
A smile whose meaning escaped me.
"I see."
She gave a curt nod.
"Excuse me."
Lirian walked past.
What was that? Felt like I'd been marked. In a bad way.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Before the mission kicked off, there was a short wait.
I stood in the corner and pulled out my crystal orb to log in.
📰 Breaking News[Gif] Galju's side profile from the coachman's seat just dropped... I'm straight-up sobbing right now ㅠㅠ
Posted by: Northern Beauty Student | Views: 9,521 | Likes: 3,802
[Image: Kasian in gray clothes, facing the wind, gazing into the distance with a profile view]
You guys gotta see this... Is this really a human face? ㅠㅠ He wore gray to blend in, but it just makes him look even more premium lololol No flashy anything, yet his face is pure luxury... Look at that lonely gaze ㅠㅠ Mom!! I wanna marry into the North!! ㅠㅠ I'll wipe away that look in his eyes!! ㅠㅠ💬 Comments— AnonymousIt's not the clothes—his raw face is national treasure level for real ㅠㅠ Take me away, Galju!!— Eastern_MarquisFam_3rdDaughter_AliasLook at that humility ㅠㅠ While everyone else is decked out in gold, he's in dust-colored clothes and still shines the brightest ㅠㅠ— SilverHairHottie_Mine_Approved?Ha... that vibe... those eyes full of backstory... I'm booking a North-bound carriage right now ㅠㅠ
It was already up. Real-time, for sure.
"...Haa."
I put the crystal orb away. No good for my mental health to keep looking.
"Alright, we'll now announce today's mission!"
The host's voice rang out. I tucked the orb into my pocket and headed forward.
The host stepped up front. Participants gathered around.
"Today's mission is 'Free Activity'!"
Free activity?
"You can do whatever activity you want. Hunt, explore the forest, rest—anything goes."
Oh. Free for real?
"However."
The host smiled meaningfully.
"The one with the most impressive activity today will get..."
The air went quiet.
"Alone time with Her Highness the Princess."
Murmurs rippled out. The men's eyes lit up.
The count's third son clenched his fist.
"Alone time...!"
The viscount's second son adjusted his glasses.
"Impressive activity, huh..."
The baron's fourth son rolled his shoulders.
"Heh... chance is here."
Everyone was pumped.
Me?
Alone time with the princess? Big bro would think what if he heard?
'My little brother's spending time alone with the princess.'
'Trying to tie up with the imperial family? Dangerous.'
Dead. Absolutely cannot take first.
"Get ready, and enjoy your free time!"
The host raised his hand. Participants started moving.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"I'll go hunting!"
The count's third son declared.
"I'll bag a magnificent prize and offer it to Her Highness!"
His eyes sparkled. Pure enthusiasm.
"Hunting for me too."
The viscount's second son said.
"Strategic approach, and it's doable."
"Hunting here."
The baron's fourth son loosened his bulky frame.
"Just overpower 'em."
The western viscount's third son nodded too.
"Yeah... hunting for me."
Everyone picking hunting.
Made sense. For 'impressive activity,' nothing beats hauling in a big beast. Eye-catching, perfect gift for the princess, shows off manly prowess. That's the play.
"And you, Master Valentine?"
A staffer asked.
"What activity will you choose?"
Me? Hunting? First place means princess time. Then dead.
"I'll..."
What to pick? Something totally unnoticeable, zero interest.
"...go for a walk."
"Pardon?"
"Just a stroll."
The staffer looked blank.
"A... walk?"
"Yes."
"Everyone else is hunting..."
"I'm walking."
I said flatly.
The staffer scribbled with a flustered look. 'Valentine Young Master - Walk'.
Perfect.
A walk. Amid hunters bagging deer, nothing less impressive. No way first place.
I nodded, satisfied.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I headed to the forest edge. Opposite the hunting packs. Noises faded.
"Over there!"
"Chase it!"
"Don't let it get away!"
So noisy. Yelling like that, good luck catching anything.
In the North, hunting's silent. Dig traps, bait, wait. Running around in packs? Monsters turn the tables.
Whatever. Not my problem. No hunting for me.
I followed the stream. No staffer tailing. Who would? Even I'd chase the hunters.
Soon, gentle water sounds. Birds chirping. Cool breeze.
Nice.
Walked a good while. Stopped.
A small pond ahead. Crystal clear, sky reflected on the surface.
Willows draped around. Shade just right.
Here.
Scanned around. Good tree. Springy branch.
Broke it off. Pulled knife, started whittling.
Scrape. Scrape.
North lesson. Made tons in winter downtime.
Fishing rod.
String from bag. Horsehair swiped from camp.
Twisted, tied, hooked a needle.
Done.
Solid rod.
Next, seat.
Folded chair from bag. Camp swipe.
Set by pond. Under willow shade.
Sat.
Good.
Rod in hand.
Worm on hook, cast.
Splash.
Ripples spread.
Faded.
Quiet.
Birds only.
Wind only.
Water only.
This.
Exactly what I wanted.
This serene peace.
My ideal.
Faint yells from afar.
"Over there!"
"Get it!"
Still running around. Poor guys.
I'll stay here.
Rod dangling.
Breeze blowing.
No thoughts.
Fish bites? Cool.
No? Fine.
Fish ain't the goal.
This peace is.
"......"
Eyes closed.
Wind brushed face.
Warm.
Sun danced on eyelids.
Grass tickled nose.
Shoulders relaxed.
"Nngh..."
A groan slipped out.
"This is it."
Perfect afternoon.
Perfect peace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
How long?
One hour?
Two?
No clue.
Time melted away.
Just peace.
No fish.
Didn't care.
If only the day ended like this.
Then.
"Hmm..."
A voice.
Languid, sharp.
Like a cat purring.
From above.
"......"
Lifted head.
Under the tree shade.
A woman with long black hair stood.
Looking down at me.
Sharp eyes.
Mysterious smile.
Lirian de Goldwin.
Heir to the empire's largest guild, Goldwin Merchant Guild.
She spoke.
"While everyone's out there chasing beasts in a frenzy..."
Her catlike eyes gleamed.
"You're here fishing away the day?"
"......"
Why here.
Why come all this way.
Liked it empty.
"......"
Too lazy to reply.
Just turned head.
Back to pond.
Rod steady.
"......"
Lirian moved. To my side.
"Ignoring me is kinda rude."
Laughter in her voice.
"You actually fishing?"
"...Yes."
"Catching anything?"
"...No."
"Then why keep at it?"
"...Just 'cause."
Short answers.
No more talk.
Lirian went quiet.
Felt her gaze.
Observing.
"......"
What're you staring at.
"Amusing."
Lirian said.
"What is."
"You."
"......"
"Other guys going nuts for alone time with the princess."
"......"
"You uninterested?"
"...Not really."
"Not really?"
Lirian snickered.
"Alone time with Her Highness is 'not really'?"
"......"
What to say.
Say no interest, sound weird?
Already weird to her.
"...I just wanna be quiet."
Honest.
"Quiet?"
"Yes."
"Fishing over hunting?"
"...Less fishing."
Thought a sec.
"Just wanna do nothing."
Truth: Laziness maxed.
"......"
Lirian paused.
Thinking.
"......"
Silence dragged.
Awkward.
Go already.
"You're weird."
Lirian said.
"...Am I?"
"Northern Grand Duke's son."
"......"
"Prefers fishing over princess time."
"......"
"Hmm."
Lirian tilted head.
Cat spotting something. Curious.
But wary too.
"......"
Back to pond.
No rod shake.
Just holding.
Go.
"Mind if I sit?"
...
What?
Turned.
Lirian pointed at ground beside.
"Sit there?"
"Why not?"
"...Ground."
"I know."
"Gets dirty."
"Don't care."
"......"
Why?
Why sit?
Here?
With me?
"......"
Wanna refuse.
But refusing weirder.
"...Do what you want."
"Thanks."
Lirian sat beside.
Skirt'll dirt.
Didn't care.
"......"
Awkward.
Super awkward.
Both staring at pond.
No words.
Haa... life...
Truly tough...