Chapter 29
It was cold.
The first thing she felt was the chill. But as her body temperature gradually adjusted to the water, it started to feel somewhat cozy.
Having taken a deep breath before diving in, she wasn’t short of breath just yet. She opened her eyes underwater and swam slowly.
“The stones are sparkling.”
The white stones lining the lakebed shimmered in the moonlight filtering through the surface. In her current life, Iris had little reason to swim, but in her past life, she had been quite good at it.
“I used to love the water too.”
Even after getting a job, she had regularly visited the swimming center.
“This world doesn’t have as many swimming pools as I expected.”
Perhaps it was due to the difficulty of maintaining water quality. They seemed to build fountains or ornamental lakes, but there weren’t any dedicated spaces for swimming.
The cold water seemed to cool her boiling emotions and mind somewhat. She could only hope the Crown Prince would be sharp enough to drive that guy out of the country.
“But why on earth did Jace come here?”
It couldn’t really be to chase after her. If that were the case, it would’ve been smarter to come when the Crown Prince wasn’t around. And his reaction did seem like that of someone who had run into her by chance.
“A love potion?”
She recalled the items on the shelf where he had been.
“No way he’s relying on such a cheap trick.”
A potion that lasts only a day. Being a magic shop, it probably wasn’t entirely ineffective. But even if they renewed their vows during that day, wouldn’t the happiness crumble the next day?
“I didn’t think he was *that* bad.”
Or maybe he was. Perhaps he hit rock bottom the moment he cheated.
Lost in these thoughts for a while, she started to feel cold and exhaled as she surfaced.
*Splash!*
Flipping her long platinum hair back, she swam slowly toward the lake’s edge when she suddenly noticed someone standing on the shore.
“Who’s that?”
Judging by the unfamiliar silhouette, it didn’t seem to be the Crown Prince following her.
A man in a long robe stood motionless, his face shrouded in deep shadows, making it impossible to read his expression.
“What’s this? Should I make a run for it?”
As she considered the stranger’s presence, a strange voice suddenly broke out.
“A f-fairy?”
What’s he talking about?
The man, sounding surprised, slowly lifted his robe.
“Was that kid telling the truth?”
As he removed the robe, a cascade of aquamarine hair spilled out. The man, with a mystical air, wore a monocle adorned with geometric patterns.
“Hmm.”
Iris floated in place for a moment. Then she slowly swam to the shore and placed her hands on the grass. The man hesitated, then knelt on one knee, looking down at her.
“Are you, perhaps, the Moon Fairy?”
“Do I look like one?”
“You’re not?”
Iris, finding the situation amusing, playfully dodged the question.
“Am I not?”
“Ha…”
The man’s face lit up with something like awe, as if he had found something he’d been searching for.
“There’s an old legend that on the night when the moonlight is strongest, the Moon Fairy appears at this lake.”
“I didn’t know about that legend. I just came because I like the moonlight.”
“Well, that’s just a human perspective.”
“Haha.”
Iris burst out laughing, unable to contain herself. Her clear laughter rang out, and the man with aquamarine hair gazed at her as if enchanted.
“So why are you looking for a fairy, sir?”
“Well, that’s…”
The man bit his lip, hesitating, before declaring loudly,
“A wish…! They say you grant wishes.”
“A wish? Are you saying you can show magic greater than a wizard’s in a magical kingdom?”
“Magic is a remarkable art, but it cannot sway the human heart.”
At those words, Iris had a hunch about what wish this young man might have. Unrequited love, perhaps.
‘He’d be better off talking to the girl he likes instead of relying on this.’
With his decent looks and noble attire, he seemed like he could be from a good family.
“What’s your wish?”
She asked to point this out, and without hesitation, he answered,
“I want to marry the most beautiful woman in the world.”
And then came a wish she hadn’t expected.
“Wait, aquamarine hair…?”
She had momentarily forgotten, but Iris knew someone like this. She hadn’t met him in person, but…
“Harmia Beverich?”
The wizard the Crown Prince was searching for, and the ally of the original story’s heroine!
“Why is he here?”
Wasn’t this wizard supposed to be in the north?
“Why is he suddenly showing up here, going on about the world’s most beautiful woman?”
“Isn’t that a bit too vague of a wish?”
He replied with a deadly serious expression,
“No, it’s clear.”
And then, in a very polite tone, he took her hand, which was resting on the shore, and said,
“No, it’s clear now. Will you marry me?”
She was momentarily dumbfounded, but then a shout came from the distance.
“What kind of pervert is this?!”
With the sound of rustling grass, someone charged forward. Recognizing the familiar figure, Iris immediately shouted,
“Jack?!”
Jack, who had rushed in, aimed a kick at Harmia Beverich.
“Jack, hold on!”
She couldn’t afford to make an enemy of him when the Crown Prince had a favor to ask.
*Whoosh!*
But contrary to her worries, a blue magic circle appeared in the air.
“Urgh!”
It instantly repelled Jack.
*Splash!*
Jack, momentarily thrown off balance, quickly regained his stance and landed safely on the ground.
“Who are you?”
“That’s my line, you bastard. Who are you to be standing next to Iris?”
“Iris?”
Iris sighed and slowly climbed out of the water. With a *splash*, she emerged, drenched, and said,
“Sorry for teasing you. I’m Iris. I was just swimming, and since you seemed to have some strange misunderstanding, I thought I’d play along a bit.”
“Iris?”
“Yes. If I offended you, I’m sorry. I was just…”
“Your name is beautiful too.”
“I was just teasing… Wait, what?”
“Even if you’re not a fairy, it doesn’t matter. Will you marry me?”
As Harmia spoke again, his eyes sparkling, Jack muttered,
“Is this guy crazy?”
Iris looked up at him, exasperated. But she noticed his gaze subtly avoiding her. Following his line of sight, she realized,
‘It’s my clothes.’
Wearing a light dress, she had jumped into the water without thinking, and now that she was out, the soaked fabric clung to her body.
Jack, noticing this belatedly, threw his outer coat at her.
“Put this on quick.”
“Thanks.”
“Thanks?”
“It’s a thing.”
As Iris slipped on the coat, Harmia brightened and said,
“Oh, I can help with that.”
“What?”
Before she could ask more, a warm breeze enveloped her.
In the blink of an eye, her wet hair and dress dried with the warm air.
“Impressive. Magic?”
“Yes. Was it helpful, my lady?”
He seemed to be trying to show off, and Iris couldn’t help but laugh again.
“Haha! Yes, thank you. But I don’t think I can grant your request.”
“What? Why not? If you need time…”
“I have a fiancé.”
“A fiancé?!”
His eyes widened as if he’d been struck by a great shock.
“Well, I suppose it would be stranger if someone like you *didn’t* have a fiancé…”
“It’s not like that, but thanks for the compliment.”
“But you’re not married yet, are you?”
“What?”
“No matter who your opponent is, I’m confident I won’t lose. I am none other than the…”
“Wait, hold on.”
Iris raised both hands to calm him.
“He’s just some crazy guy. Let’s leave him.”
“Wait a second, Jack.”
She called out to him.
“Mr. Harmia Beverich.”
His eyes widened in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected her to know him.
“You know me?”
“I know you’re a wizard from the north.”
“But very few people know my name. How…”
“How about we continue this conversation tomorrow at the Beberia Palace?”
At the mention of the palace, Harmia blinked.
“Let’s have lunch together at the palace tomorrow.”
The palace.
Harmia narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge her identity.
“How about it?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
He answered quickly, caught by Iris’s slight smile.
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By Anna
