A Ride on the Lake

Perhaps because I had relieved myself alone a few days ago, or maybe because I was still completely under the lingering influence of the alcohol.

Whatever the reason, one thing was absolutely certain: my condition had been incredibly good ever since that day.

“You seem to be in a remarkably good mood today.”

“Yes.”

On any other day, I would have just offered a subtle smile and left it at that, but today I really was in a great mood. As I nodded, a deep smile spread across Prince Eighteenth’s face.

“Your health isn’t the best, so I was worried that I might have insisted too much on us going out. I am glad to see you looking so pleased.”

I didn’t think he would care about that part at all, so this was unexpected.

After shifting my gaze to Prince Eighteenth for a brief moment, I turned my head back to take in the scenery outside the carriage.

“……”

Today, I was out with Prince Eighteenth again. Unlike our outing a few days ago, today we were traveling toward a secluded area. I preferred quiet places anyway, and since there was no one around, it was comfortable to wide open the carriage window and look outside.

I was enjoying the gentle breeze and looking at the lush forest. Soon, the forest path that seemed like it would never end vanished, and a wide-open plain came into view.

“The scenery of Hefei is truly beautiful.”

“Yes.”

While traveling, I had seen countless landscapes that naturally drew exclamations of admiration, but nowhere else could I find a place as peaceful and elegant as Hefei.

Agreeing with Prince Eighteenth’s words, I watched the scenery endlessly. As the plain ended and a lake stretched out, my body naturally leaned toward the window.

“Target locked.”

It felt like it had been a really long time since I last looked at a lakeside like this.

Since I had never been to a lakeside except for the time I broke off ties with Namgung Hwi, this was the first time I was enjoying this view with a peaceful mind.

In fact, I couldn’t be sure if this lake was the exact same one where I broke off ties with Namgung Hwi. There were quite a few lakes located in Hefei.

Even if it really was that lake, it wouldn’t be a problem. There was no better place than this to enjoy the mood, after all.

“I have prepared something today because I want to leave a good memory for you, Young Master.”

“A preparation?”

Hearing him say he prepared something out of nowhere in the middle of an empty field made me wonder what it was. When I looked at him without a word, a smile spread across Prince Eighteenth’s face.

“We will arrive soon, so your curiosity will be solved shortly.”

“Yes.”

If that was the case, I didn’t need to ask further.

Lost in thought about what on earth he had prepared, I continued to look outside. Before long, a small dock caught my eye through the carriage window as we began to slow down.

And I could instantly figure out what Prince Eighteenth had prepared.

“……”

“It is that.”

I can see it too.

At the dock, a brilliantly decorated boat was stationed.

I glanced at Prince Eighteenth’s guard, who was checking around the boat and giving directions to the people. Then, as the carriage finally came to a halt, I shifted my gaze to Prince Eighteenth.

“My Lord, we have arrived.”

“Let us get off immediately.”

“As you command.”

The person who heard Prince Eighteenth’s response immediately opened the carriage door. Getting off the carriage first, Prince Eighteenth extended his hand to me.

“This way.”

I was bewildered by the sudden boating situation, but that didn’t mean it was a bad thing.

Now that I thought about it, I recalled the fact that I hadn’t even taken a boat once during my travels. I cast my gaze over the boat through the carriage window one more time before looking back at Prince Eighteenth.

“I can hold this hand for you anytime.”

Where is this sudden flirtation coming from?

For a moment, I looked at him, completely lost for words. Interpreting my gaze in his own way, Prince Eighteenth burst into laughter.

“You are remarkably shy today. Hurry up and take my hand.”

Hearing him call me shy made me feel like giving him a sharp piece of my mind.

Suppressed my words and grabbed Prince Eighteenth’s hand, and he carefully pulled me out.

“Thank you, My Lord.”

“Then let us go to the boat. I have been sourcing this boat since a few days ago.”

“…Since a few days ago?”

As I blinked at the unexpected words, Prince Eighteenth cleared his throat briefly and shrugged his shoulders.

“Crowded places are good, but I heard that you like to enjoy the scenery while drinking alcohol, Young Master. So I prepared this diligently, and I hope you like it.”

To think he prepared something like this just because he heard I liked it.

When I stared silently at Prince Eighteenth at his unexpected words, he naturally wrapped his hand around my waist and led me toward the boat.

“Since your mood didn’t seem very good last time, Young Master, I gave instructions today to make sure there are as few people around as possible.”

Looking around at Prince Eighteenth’s words, I noticed that there was no other boat on the lake except for this one and another boat floating far away. Staring quietly at that boat, I chewed over Prince Eighteenth’s words once more.

“……”

My mood didn’t seem very good, huh?

Well, it was true that I had been feeling restless ever since Namgung Hwi and Yeon Ji-oh took their seats across from us. On top of that, I was a bit displeased by Yeon Ji-oh’s actions, as he behaved absurdly as if trying to scratch at me.

I didn’t think he would notice, so this was unexpected.

Feeling much better, I chuckled and replied.

“Thanks to you, I can get some fresh air, so I am merely grateful.”

“I have also prepared a lot of food on the boat, so let us eat whatever suits your taste and enjoy ourselves.”

“Yes.”

Heading toward the dock together while conversing, I lost my words upon confirming the situation inside the boat, which was hung with translucent white fabric.

“Target locked.”

I could already tell from the outside that it was brilliantly decorated.

Furthermore, just as Prince Eighteenth said, delicacies of all kinds were prepared inside the boat.

But that wasn’t the problem right now.

Placed right in the middle of the boat, an unknown fur blanket covering a large raised platform—roomy enough for two people to lie down with space to spare—caught my eye. On top of that, checking the bedding laid out with a long pillow visible behind it, I blinked.

“I had it prepared because I thought it would be nice to enjoy a midday nap in a place with such good sunlight.”

“……”

Isn’t this a bit too本格적 (serious) to just call it a nap?

Just as I was wondering if there was really a need to prepare a place to lie down like this, the guard who was inspecting the boat approached and paid his respects.

“My Lord, the preparations are complete.”

“Ah. Let us go quickly.”

As Prince Eighteenth nodded and moved his steps, I followed him, boarded the boat, and settled myself on top of the fur blanket.

At that, the people standing around quickly brought something for Prince Eighteenth and me to lean our backs against and secured it.

“How is it?”

“…It is fine.”

If my back had been empty, it might be different, but having something to lean against definitely put my mind at ease. Furthermore, I quite liked the fluffy feeling brushing against my back.

“Hurry up and make the boat set off.”

“As you command!”

Receiving Prince Eighteenth’s order, the guard immediately spoke to the boatman. Following that, the man who bowed his waist straight away started the boat.

The boat, which seemed to move sluggishly at first, gradually began to pick up speed. Through the white fabric fluttering in the gentle breeze, the lakeside scenery was visible, creating a different feeling from when looking at it from outside the lake.

“Remove the fabric.”

“Yes.”

No sooner had Prince Eighteenth’s words fallen than the people tied the fabric fluttering in the wind to the pillars. Thanks to that, my view opened up wide, and the superb view belatedly entered my eyes.

“Wow.”

In fact, I had opportunities to take a boat before.

According to the content of the original novel, I had tried to lead Namgung Hwi to go boating, but due to his fierce refusal, I ended up just taking a bunch of penalties and couldn’t ride the boat.

In short, this was my first time riding a boat since possessor-ing into this body.

The sound of water could be heard periodically, as if rowing. And wherever I placed my gaze, the superb view of the lake unfolded.

Admiring continuously while looking around, I belatedly snapped out of it at the sound of laughter coming from the side.

“If I had known you would like it this much, I should have brought you here first.”

“……”

Prince Eighteenth’s gaze looking at me was so sweet.

Realizing that I had shown a gap while temporarily enchanted by the scenery, I tried hard to manage my expression. However, Prince Eighteenth already seemed completely infatuated by the sight of me he had seen just a moment ago.

“While I am in Hefei, I must show you many things, Young Master Seo-yul.”

“……”

“Even the sight of you being so shy is merely beautiful to me.”

I am dying of embarrassment, so I wish he would tone down his advances.

The more Prince Eighteenth added words, the more heat rushed to my face. Furthermore, his laughter also began to grow louder.

At times like this, it was best to soothe my mind while eating or drinking something. As I picked up the teacup, Prince Eighteenth immediately poured tea into the cup.

“I couldn’t prepare tea. Instead, I prepared a weak alcohol, so drink it slowly.”

“Yes.”

If possible, I wanted to drink tea, but I couldn’t demand what wasn’t there.

Smelling the aroma and carefully putting my mouth to the cup, I immediately took a sip of the alcohol.

And as I felt a thick apple scent mixed with the weak alcohol, my eyes naturally widened.

“I prepared a fruit wine that isn’t strong, so let us enjoy it slowly.”

“I like it.”

In fact, while staying on the battlefield, I had drank quite a bit of good fruit wine. However, it couldn’t even be compared to the alcohol I drank just now.

Staring at the wine bottle containing the apple fruit wine that naturally made me smack my lips, Prince Eighteenth smiled and picked up the wine bottle.

“I am glad it seems to be to your liking.”

“I like it very much.”

“Would you like to try another one? I… brought a lot from home while thinking of you, Young Master.”

The only place Prince Eighteenth would call home was the Imperial Castle.

Only then realizing why I hadn’t tasted this alcohol on the battlefield, I immediately nodded my head. At that, Prince Eighteenth picked up another wine bottle placed next to the table and filled my cup as it was.

“This is a fruit wine brewed from apricots. It is sweet, so it will suit your taste.”

“Thank you.”

If the taste of the first alcohol had been terrible, it might be different, but once I put something delicious to my mouth, I looked forward to the next alcohol so much. As soon as the cup was filled, I tilted the wine cup slowly again, and although it was different from the apple fruit wine, this was also delicious, so I nodded my head layout with satisfaction.

“Now, don’t just drink alcohol, eat the prepared food too.”

“I will.”

“Seeing you like what I prepared so much makes me very happy.”

“Thank you, My Lord.”

If nothing else, at this moment, his benevolence made me feel grateful enough to think that Prince Eighteenth deserved to be treated as Prince Eighteenth.

As I offered my gratitude with all my heart, a flush colored Prince Eighteenth’s face, as if he was staring blankly at me.

“When I return later, I must send you a lot of fruit wine, Young Master.”

“I will accept it gratefully.”

“Yes, I shall send it frequently.”

If he did that, it would be the best thing for me.

Nodding my head, I ate the food Prince Eighteenth served me and enjoyed the scenery while drinking alcohol.

As the boat that was visible far away shifted to a close distance before I knew it, I directed my gaze toward it.

And I discovered Namgung Hwi and Yeon Ji-oh, whom I ended up facing today as well, following our last outing.