Picnic Day! (1)

The weather was good.
A summer day that was not too hot, nor was the sun too strong.
Selene admitted that she would have regretted it if she had taken a boat to the continent of Vetgraz on a day like this.
If she had, she might have had to watch bugs on the damp and hot deck, just as Theron had said.
But thanks to postponing her study abroad, Selene was able to wait for Theron under the bright sky.
Because today was the day they had decided to go on a picnic.
“Let’s go, Your Majesty.”
Theron, who had arrived at the main gate, got out of the car and escorted Selene.
Selene glanced at Theron.
It was impossible to imagine the Theron who had parted with her in anger at the art museum a few days ago; he had returned to his original self.
An attitude that was not just sly, but a little brazen.
Selene still found it amazing how Theron’s appearance changed so quickly.
“Won’t it be uncomfortable?”
Selene, who had gotten into the car, asked Theron.
Although she and Theron were alone on the way, since they had decided to meet Evelyn and Rupert at the villa, which was their destination, they would have to spend the day with them at the villa once they arrived.
It would be quite an uncomfortable situation for Theron.
Evelyn still considered Theron a fraud, and Rupert had a history of being hit in the face by Theron for no reason.
‘It’s not easy to earn the resentment of both of them, a couple.’
“Even if it’s uncomfortable, I can’t help it. They’re not people I can avoid for the rest of my life, are they?”
Theron shrugged his shoulders, holding the steering wheel.
“Because they both live in Cantora?”
At Selene’s question that followed, Theron let out a breath and looked at her.
“Is that the only reason? It’s because they’re both close to you.”
Selene did not particularly agree with Theron’s words.
Evelyn certainly might be, but Rupert was uncomfortable with her.
Selene also did not particularly consider Rupert to be close.
So, it would be rare to see the two of them often.
Besides, the word ‘lifelong’ from Theron was a little bothersome.
“Theron Cox. I’m still just watching you. So don’t talk as if I’m not going to study abroad.”
Selene had no intention of letting Theron cross the line.
If she didn’t, she might get swept away by the sly Theron at some point, and the words that she was just watching him for a while would become meaningless.
“Tsk, you caught me.”
“You still seem to take me lightly.”
Theron’s eyes widened as if he were wronged.
“Of course not! You’re the most difficult person in my life. Honestly, I did take you a little lightly at first, but considering I changed my mind just a few days after meeting you, that’s what it was. Don’t you remember when you suddenly changed your expression and pushed me into the fountain?”
“I don’t remember.”
“You’re always like that, only remembering what’s convenient for you.”
Theron, who was pouting, looked displeased.
Selene didn’t care much.
This flow of conversation was now familiar.
Theron, still with a displeased face, turned the steering wheel crookedly with his chin propped on the car window frame.
“I just want to look good to the people around you. Especially Miss Evelyn. Wouldn’t I be anxious, having been branded a fraud by the person I need to look good to the most?”
Today, Theron was bothering Selene in many ways.
Following the word ‘lifelong’, from the familiar address ‘Miss Evelyn’ to ‘have to look good’, ‘anxious’, and so on.
Most of the words Theron had uttered now were stuck in Selene’s head.
Theron, who was unaware of that fact, was nonchalantly continuing the conversation about Evelyn.
“That’s why I’m going to the picnic today. To make up for my mistake to Miss Evelyn. I even picked out a gift myself to look good.”
The most bothersome word for Selene was updated from ‘anxious’ to ‘gift’.
“What is it?”
“Huh?”
“What kind of gift did you prepare?”
“Ah, Miss Evelyn seems to be very interested in fashion, so I bought her some clothes.”
“Clothes?”
As far as Selene could remember, Theron had never gifted her clothes.
“I chose it carefully, so don’t worry. Miss Evelyn will like it moderately.”
Although Theron said it to reassure her, Selene was not worried at all that Evelyn would not like the gift he had prepared.
Rather, she had a premonition that Evelyn’s anger towards Theron would be completely resolved at this picnic.
Even if she didn’t want to admit it, Theron had good sense.
Although he had never mentioned it, she could tell just by looking at his usual attire.
Theron knew what style suited him, and he also knew how to choose a gift that the other person would like.
That’s why women would talk about Theron Cox until their mouths were dry.
Suddenly, her classmates from her study abroad days in Velora, who used to talk about Theron Cox, came to mind, and Selene’s mood sank even lower.
But that was just the beginning.
When she arrived at the villa and met Evelyn and Rupert, Selene’s mood sank even further.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Miss Evelyn.”
Theron smiled with the corners of his eyes and politely pressed his lips to the back of Evelyn’s hand.
Even though she knew it was just a greeting from a gentleman to a lady, perhaps because it was the first time she had seen Theron greet someone else like that.
Selene was a little shocked, as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.
Evelyn, who was unaware of that fact, replied coyly to Theron.
“Mr. Cox. Although I invited you here, you should know that it doesn’t mean we’re on good terms. It’s just to watch you carefully to see if you’re worthy of being by Selene’s side.”
“Of course.”
Even at Evelyn’s prickly attitude, Theron smiled calmly.
After that, he also exchanged a simple greeting with Rupert.
“Selene.”
Rupert had an awkward face, as if he couldn’t adapt to this mismatched group.
Since this sight was unfamiliar to Selene as well, she stood there blankly for a moment, and then Evelyn came and linked arms with her.
“Let’s go in the water before the sun sets. We can’t come all this way and not even dip our feet in, can we?”
Selene, who had come to her senses, nodded.
‘Yes, since we’ve come all this way, we can’t waste time worrying about useless things.’
Selene remembered the precious piano practice time she had lost due to this picnic that had squeezed into her schedule.
“Rupert, Selene and I will go change and be right back.”
Selene, led by Evelyn, went inside the villa and changed into the simple swimming attire she had prepared.
The swimming attire was shorter than her everyday clothes and closer to a form-fitting one-piece.
“Selene, look at this.”
But Evelyn’s attire was different from Selene’s.
She was wearing a swimsuit that was currently popular among the women of Cantora, and her attire was quite radical.
It was as form-fitting as underwear, and her skirt didn’t even cover half of her thighs, revealing a lot of skin.
Selene asked unconsciously, “Are you going out like that?”
“What’s wrong with it? All the women on the beach are dressed like this these days.”
Selene’s brow furrowed for a moment.
Although she didn’t want to click her tongue at the changing world like her grandmother, this was a radical change that was difficult for her conservative self to accept easily.
Sure enough, when they went outside, even Evelyn’s fiancé, Rupert, blushed at her bold attire.
“E-Evelyn…”
“Why, Rupert. Am I too pretty?”
“You’re showing too much skin…”
“What’s wrong with it? I wore it to show you.”
At the lovey-dovey conversation of the couple that she didn’t want to hear, Selene looked for Theron.
She was a little worried that he might be staring at Evelyn in a daze like Rupert, but Theron was staring at her with a very serious expression.
Then, as their eyes met, Theron spoke as if he had been waiting.
“Selene, why are you wearing something that shows so much skin? Your skirt is too short too.”
“Evelyn’s is shorter.”
“What if you get a tan? It will be very painful.”
“I’m going in the water, so I can’t wear a long skirt.”
‘Should I be glad?’
Theron had no interest at all in Evelyn’s attire.
He just seemed to be racking his brain on how to cover her exposed shoulders or legs.
“Theron, why didn’t you change?”
Selene asked, ignoring Theron’s gaze that was examining her from head to toe.
In fact, Theron’s attire had been noticeable since earlier.
Unlike Rupert, who was only wearing shorts, Theron was wearing pants and even a white shirt.
“I’m not going in the water.”
“Why?”
“Um… I don’t particularly like going in the water.”
Theron only said that much.
However, since Theron’s expression was not good for a moment, Selene did not ask any more questions.
Just then, Evelyn’s cheerful voice was heard.
“Selene! We’re ready, so let’s go to the lake!”