Chapter 83: Chapter 83

The boat was surprisingly large. Or at least, it seemed that way—right up until Arthur and Tristan sat down in their respective boats.

Well, these were probably built assuming an average person’s height…

The boats dipped slightly under their weight, and both men tensed for a brief moment. But before they could adjust, the boatman clapped his hands.

“Gentlemen, would you escort the ladies aboard?”

Both of them shot to their feet. The boats wobbled lightly in response.

They immediately extended their hands toward us—completely expressionless, though I was certain their teeth were clenched behind those calm faces. Why are you two so weak to provocations?!

But in the end, it worked—Maria and Arthur finally held hands.

I cheered internally as I sat across from Tristan.

“Oh, there’s more space than I thought,” I remarked.

“…Seems like it,” he muttered, looking mildly dissatisfied as he started rowing.

For a brief moment, I was uneasy.

But then, the boat drifted smoothly away from the dock—

“Wow!”

The dazzling ripples of the lake spread before us.

Petals swayed on the water’s edge, the August sunlight reflecting brilliantly across the surface. It felt as though we were floating atop a giant mirror.

In a way… it’s like we’re the only ones between the sky and the water.

As if this small boat was our only piece of land.

Tristan must have noticed how much I was enjoying it—his lips curled ever so slightly.

“Shall we move a little?”

“Yes!”

“Do you have a particular direction in mind?”

“Hmm… That place the guide mentioned earlier, the one only accessible by boat. I was thinking of going there.”

It wasn’t hard to guess which way. A secluded corner, walled off by thick vines, where a passage hidden beneath layers of wisteria leaves practically invited us in.

“Then let’s head there, slowly.”

Tristan rolled up his sleeves.

Beneath his shirt, muscles honed through endless training and sparring flexed in the sunlight.

Why is even his arm—no, stop!

I physically forced my gaze back into place, but my thoughts prodded me insistently.

Why not look?

He’s your fiancé. Your soon-to-be husband. There’s nothing wrong with admiring his arm.

Even now, as I stared out at the lake, he was looking at me—@@novelbin@@

…He really is looking at me, isn’t he?

A delayed realization sent heat rushing to my face.

Even while rowing, his gaze never wavered from the side of my face.

It wasn’t a mistake. Even when I slowly shifted my gaze, pretending to look at the lake’s edge, he still hadn’t looked away.

If anything, it felt like he had been waiting for our eyes to meet.

If I turned my head just one centimeter more, we would—

My heart pounded.

Half in anticipation. Half in unease.

As his face slowly leaned into the shade of my parasol, I wondered what would happen.

I didn’t want to repeat what had happened during the hunting tournament.

Tristan, please—look somewhere else—

“...Oh.”

Tristan abruptly stopped rowing. The boat rocked slightly.

The reason lay about five meters ahead.

“Well. It seems our destination overlaps with the young duke’s.”

Arthur and Maria’s boat was also heading toward the wisteria-covered path.

For a split second, I almost clapped.

Arthur! You actually understand that you need to make a move in a situation like this!

So he does have romantic instincts.

…But my warm sentimentality didn’t last long.

Suddenly, Tristan gripped the oar handles tightly and muttered,

“Doris. Close your parasol and hold onto the edge of the boat.”

“Wait, you’re thinking something dangerous right now, aren’t you?!”

“It’s not dangerous. It’s winning.”

“You do realize we’re not here for a competition?!”

My protests did nothing to dissuade him. Reluctantly, I closed my parasol and gripped the side of the boat, turning to glance at Arthur’s boat. Surely Arthur wouldn’t—

But just as our eyes met—

“…”

Arthur’s grip on his oar tightened—so hard it looked like he might crush it.

His lips moved. I couldn’t hear the words, but it was obvious.

Hold on tight.

Mother…

I hadn’t particularly missed her since parting ways, but right now, I felt a sudden urge to see her again.

With a sharp inhale, Tristan yanked the oars through the water.

The boat shot forward at terrifying speed.

Is he really rowing this with human strength? Is this secretly a motorboat?!

Meanwhile, through the spray of water, Arthur’s boat was moving just as fast.

STOP WASTING YOUR PROTAGONIST POWERS ON THIS!!

You’re here for a date, not a rowing race!!

But at this speed, trying to speak would just make me bite my own tongue. I could only sit there, gripping the boat for dear life.

Maybe I should change my perspective. This isn’t a romantic rowboat ride—it’s an amusement park ride. We’re on some crazy water attraction, that’s all…

Like hell we are!

A far bigger problem was quickly approaching.

Even from here, it was clear—the entrance to the hidden garden was just wide enough for one boat.

And there were two testosterone-fueled men tearing through the water at full speed.

It was impossible for both boats to pass at the same time.

But… would they even stop if I told them to?

Tristan’s arms, his eyes—his entire being—were radiating adrenaline and dopamine. If I yelled that we were going to crash, he’d probably just say, Then we’ll just make it through first!

This required something other than brute force.

It required strategy.

I let out a sudden, high-pitched scream. “Kyaaa!”

At the same time, I loosened the ribbon on my hat.

It was a terrible, unconvincing performance—but with the sound of the rushing water, no one would be able to tell.

The lightweight summer hat floated into the air.

And almost instantly, Tristan slowed down.

Thank God!

Arthur’s boat didn’t stop—it whooshed straight into the hidden garden. The absence of other people inside was confirmed as a flock of white birds scattered into the air.

It was like something out of a movie.

A breathtaking, cinematic moment.

A moment that didn’t involve me.

Please take your time setting the mood.

Feigning innocence, I turned to Tristan.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry. I lost my hat.”

It was now drifting gently on the water, just out of reach.

“Could you retrieve it for me?”

“Of course.”

Tristan suddenly shrugged off his vest and loosened his cravat.

For a second, my gaze was drawn to the sharp shadows along his collarbone—then, even more painfully, to the faint scar from the hunting tournament.

Then I realized what he was about to do.

“Your Highness—!”

Before I could stop him, he jumped into the lake.

With his long limbs, he cut through the water effortlessly, grabbed my hat, and was back at the boat in moments.

“Here. Luckily, it didn’t get too wet.”

“…Your Highness.”

“I’m getting back in. Hold onto the boat.”

Water dripped from his clothes as he pulled himself aboard. I quickly snatched up his vest and cravat—then used them to cover my own eyes.

Because Tristan had taken off his shirt to wring out the water.

I’ve seen too much today.

“…Doris. You can uncover your eyes now.”

“I—No, I don’t think I can.”

What’s the point? His shirt is transparent now, you idiot!!

I resolutely looked away as he picked up the oars again.

“The sun is strong. It’ll dry soon.”

“Sigh… That’s great and all, but why did you suddenly jump in?!”

As if waiting for that question, Tristan suddenly dropped the oars, turned his head at a dramatic 45-degree angle, and tilted his chin slightly.

“For you, I would do anything.”

“…You could have just rowed the boat closer and picked up the hat with an oar.”

“……Oh.”

“……”

“…Ahem.”

He returned to his seat, looking genuinely flustered.

Had he really just… done whatever seemed the most impressive?

Is he an idiot?

I should have been annoyed.

But seeing his face crumple in embarrassment was just a little bit…

“…Hahaha!”

I burst into laughter.