Chapter 97

"Dia, look. There's a carriage in the sea!"

"Huh? Really?"

Perplexed, the two of them were informed by Brin with a smile that it was a bathing machine.

"The carriage has doors at both ends, and you go inside through one door to change into your swimsuit. Then the driver pulls the carriage to deeper water. From there, you enter the water."

"Can't you just walk in?"

Dia chuckled.

"Originally, it was made for swimming naked. Since you can't walk naked on the beach, it quickly takes you to deeper water to hide your body."

"Oh!"

"But now, it's used conveniently as a changing room and a place to rest without having to leave the water."

"I see. So, are we going to ride one?"

"Hmm, the island we're going to doesn't have carriages. Since it's just us, we don't need to worry about other people's gazes."

"I see."

Dia was a bit disappointed. The carriages standing here and there in the sea were a fascinating sight.

It took some time to travel by boat from the coast to the island.

The island they arrived at was incredibly quiet and beautiful. The white sandy beach and the transparent sea. The mansion with many windows had an exotic feel.

The servants were dressed in light clothing. Brin informed them that boats came to the pier twice a day.

At the end of the shore, the white breaking waves were coral reefs. Recalling the geography Haya had taught her, Lirika explained enthusiastically.

"That's what stops the big waves, making the western side of the islands calm."

Dia looked somewhat disappointed with the explanation. "I wanted to see waves as big as houses," he said, shaking his head.

They unpacked at the mansion. Inside, there were many pieces of furniture made from willow. Lirika and Dia chose connected rooms.

Attil also brought Jazz and Pie and was using a connected room.

Jazz had suffered from seasickness the whole way and seemed to be lying on the bed now.

As soon as they arrived at the accommodation, Lirika and Dia changed clothes.

They put on knee-length pants and sailor-style tops. Brin had said that long sleeves were better because their arms would tan, but Lirika's mother had sided with her, saying, "Since you're still young, short sleeves should be fine," so they could wear short sleeves.

Dia dressed similarly to Lirika. The two of them looked at each other and smiled brightly before running to the beach.

Standing by the beach, Lirika said, "Here," and handed Dia a necklace.

"What is it?"

"It's an artifact. It helps you see clearly underwater and has a breathing function... but you have to breathe in water to activate it..."

It was an aquamarine hexagonal crystal with magic woven into it.

"Put it in your mouth to activate it."

"Wow, thank you, Princess."

Dia quickly put the necklace on. Lirika also put one on. The rest she left with Bran to give to Attil's group.

"Let's go in!"

"Let's go!"

Dia boldly splashed into the sea. Seeing this, Lirika gained courage and started to enter the water.

"It's cold! Ah, it's so salty!"

"The sea is salty water, it really is! Gulp, gulp."

"Wow, wow, wow—"

Exclamations kept coming. The sea is amazing.

"Ah, but it's refreshing. Do you know how to swim?"

"Only what Dia taught me last time..."

"Swimming in the sea is different, but it should be fine somehow."

Saying this confidently, Dia put the necklace in his mouth and dove into the water, then came back up.

"Princess! You have to go down below! The fish are so beautiful!"

"!!"

Lirika quickly put the necklace in her mouth and dipped her head underwater. The sunlight shimmered on the white sand at the bottom.

"!!"

The fish swimming around were small and colorful.

From then on, whether they could swim or not didn't matter. Lirika and Dia repeatedly went in and out of the water.

There were many coral reefs in the deeper areas, and Dia skillfully swam to them. Lirika was still afraid to go where her feet couldn't touch. That area was no longer a sandy beach, but there were more fish there.

Dia persuaded her, saying he would hold her hand, and both of them were pulled in.

"Can't you hear me?"

Lauv said with a sigh. Lirika and Dia were surprised and looked up.

"Lauv?"

"How could this happen, I didn't even notice you coming."

"You were too busy playing. Brin has been calling you for a while."

Lauv smiled wryly.

"You've been playing for a long time. Take a break."

Looking at the beach, they saw a tent set up somewhere. The three of them walked to the shore. Their wet clothes became heavier and heavier.

Brin frowned.

"You're not even wearing a hat."

"But if I wear a hat, I can't go into the water."

Brin sighed at Lirika's protest. Lirika said,

"Brin, Brin, come in, okay?"

"I don't like the sticky seawater. I prefer to watch from here."

"Aww."

Disappointed, Lirika sat in the shade of the tent. The drinks Brin gave her were endless.

"I'm hungry..."

"You've been playing for a long time. You didn't even hear when I called you."

Brin opened the snack basket. There were plenty of sandwiches baked to melt the cheese, well-cooked sausages, fried potatoes, and chicken.

After eating and drinking for a while, their bodies felt limp.

"You shouldn't go into the water right after eating."

"Okay."

Walking along the beach with Dia, picking up seashells and coral pieces was also fun.

Attil came down to the beach with Pie and Jazz. He burst out laughing when he saw Lirika.

"You're completely covered in salt?"

He reached out and brushed the salt off Lirika's dried cheeks and arms.

"How was it? Did you like the sea?"

Attil, who spoke as if the sea belonged to him, asked. Lirika nodded vigorously, telling him about the fish she saw and how she managed to float in the water.

Attil nodded.

"If you go deeper, you can see sea turtles, small sharks, or even large rays."

"!!"

Lirika was startled and flustered.

"It seems scary, but I'm curious, yet it still seems scary."

Attil laughed.

"I'll take you when you feel like it. I also received this gift, so now I can see it comfortably."

Attil lightly flicked the necklace with his finger. Pie bowed.

"Thank you, Princess. I always receive gifts."

"Ah, what a—"

"Okay, how is Jazz feeling now?"

"I can't use that medicine. I feel better now, but the taste is terrible."

Lirika nodded, relieved.

With the group growing, the sea became even more enjoyable. They played with the ball Attil brought and had races in the water.

When washing up, their hair became surprisingly stiff and sand kept coming out. It seemed Brin was right about the seawater being sticky.

They were so tired after dinner that they dozed off and fell asleep early in the evening.

"Princess, Princess."

Someone shook Lirika awake. Her whole body felt heavy, and she didn't want to get up.

"Umm..."

When she rolled over, Dia said, "Oh dear," and roughly pulled her up.

It was a violent way to wake up, something Brin would never do.

"Ah, wha—?"

"Ah, this won't do. Get on my back."

"Umm...?"

Lirika was carried on Dia's back and dozed off again. Dia shook her and said,

"Open your eyes for a moment."

"Ugh..."

Lirika opened her eyes slightly. Blinking—

"Ah?!"

She sat up abruptly on Dia's back. Somehow, they were back on the beach.

Lirika exclaimed,

"The sea is glowing!"

"Isn't it beautiful? Isn't it amazing?"

Dia said brightly. The sea sparkled with each wave.

It looked as if the stars had fallen into the sea.

"Wow, wow, Dia, put me down."

"Okay."

Dia carefully put Lirika down. Though she was barefoot and in her pajamas, it didn't matter since no one else was on the island.

She carefully dipped her feet into the glowing sea. The waves crashed and sparkled brightly around her ankles before receding.

It was so beautiful that she felt like crying.

"Amazing..."

There are so many beautiful and wonderful things in the world.

"Are Mother and Father watching too?"

"Of course."

Dia said it as if it were obvious, making Lirika laugh.

'Is Pio aware of this scene? It would be nice to see it together.'

"Since I showed you today, that's enough. Brin said the sea breeze is salty and sticky."

"Already going back?"

"We can see it again tomorrow."

Dia's straightforwardness in insisting on coming to see it and then deciding it was enough was typical of her.

"Get on my back. You're barefoot."

Dia lightly carried Lirika and walked up the path.

"How did you know?"

"His Highness Attil told me. He said we should go down together since the Princess was sleeping, but I couldn't wait. I looked out the window and quickly brought the Princess."

"Hmm, then I should pretend to be surprised tomorrow."

Lirika's comment made Dia laugh.

* * *

Life