TYND 96

The Magic Stone Harvest Festival concluded successfully and the distinguished guests returned home.

The Archduke’s residence, which had been bustling for several days, became quiet.

Theon and Rothy were busy catching up on the official duties that had been postponed due to the festival.

Last year, there was a lot of work because the war had just ended, and this year there was a lot of work because the post-war cleanup had just finished.

The House of Palsen had a strong influence in the North, so the lords also informed the Palsen family first when they were planning important projects in their territories or when major incidents occurred. This had been done for generations, so no one questioned it. This was why the Palsen family was called the master of the north.

Managing other territories as well meant that even after hiring more administrators, the hired administrators were clamoring for more reinforcements.

While recruiting more talent, Theon also hired a large number of additional mages to assign to Rothy.

‘A magical wind is truly blowing in the North!’

‘A magic promotion policy, how wonderful! This must be the blessing of the Grand Duchess, who is a great mage!’

The mages who had been living with poor treatment in the north actively stepped forward as if they wouldn’t miss this trend.

As both husband and wife were busy, their summer vacation this year ended up being around the same time as last year.

The tourist destination chosen this year was the moving islands.

In the waters off the southern continent, there are two imperial islands that are bustling metropolitan tourist destinations rivaling Nympia in scale.

Above all, the characteristic of these islands was that the islands themselves were moving.

They sail diagonally at very high speed from the waters off the empire’s south to the far waters off the southern continent, and the round trip takes only four days. No one has been able to determine the sailing principle. It can only be described as divine providence.

Because of these moving islands, the empire could easily trade with southern continent nations. Without the islands, one would have to travel by land from southern Sivia through Solten, Toran, and Gamia, then sail for another month to reach the southern continent. Naturally, the empire would have fallen behind in intercontinental trade.

The two islands stay close to the southern waters with a two-day time difference, and while they move at very high speed when sailing the seas, they stop motionless for three hours when staying in the coastal waters.

As if giving people time to board or disembark…

Theon and Rothy boarded the island disguised as a Palsen territory trading company doing business with the southern continent.

“Wow… it really moves. But it doesn’t feel like we’re moving. So amazing…”

“Indeed. The wind is chilly, so put on a coat.”

Since they boarded in the evening, by the time they put their luggage in their lodging and came out to the island’s beach, it had become a dark night.

The sight of the beach running while creating white waves was truly spectacular, but Theon was more captivated by Rothy’s flushed cheeks than by the scenery.

He draped the thick coat Ultje had brought over Rothy’s shoulders.

“I’m not cold at all… you worry about me too much.”

“You had a cold not long ago. In the middle of summer.”

“That was really unfortunate. I don’t know why I caught a cold either…”

“I’d like you to go inside the lodging before another unfortunate situation occurs.”

“Okay. I’ll go in.”

Rothy rubbed his cheek once against Theon’s large hand and turned his steps.

The lodging was a luxury hotel with a panoramic view of the beach. Because tourists flocked from all kinds of countries, the architectural style mixed feelings from the western continent, southern continent, and eastern continent.

“Wow, the bathtub is really unique!”

“It’s eastern continent style.”

“Theon, let’s bathe together. It’s huge. It’s bigger than the bathtub in our mansion. Even ten Theons could fit in it.”

Theon sent Rothy in.

“Wash first.”

“I heard married couples bathe together, so why won’t Theon bathe with me?”

“Not until you become an adult.”

“Why can’t we bathe together when I’m young?”

“……”

“Okay… sorry… I’ll become an adult quickly…”

Rothy quickly gave up without putting Theon in a difficult position.

While Rothy washed first, Theon shared the next day’s schedule with his subordinates.

“The sea breeze is chillier than expected. Since you recently suffered from a body ache cold, it would be better to greatly reduce outdoor activities. Especially nighttime outings are absolutely forbidden.”

At the doctor’s words, Ultje made a regretful expression.

“Lord Rothy was really looking forward to the outdoor performance… He’ll be disappointed.”

“We really shouldn’t have told him the schedule beforehand. Then he wouldn’t have had any expectations from the start.”

Jay glared at Chungnip. Everyone had agreed to keep quiet to Rothy since they didn’t know how the schedule might change, but Chungnip had not only blabbered about the outdoor performances that were a specialty of the moving islands, but even showed him a magazine featuring the outdoor performance. After that, Rothy had made a firm plan to hold skewers from the night market in his hand and enjoy the outdoor performance of the bards.

Having nothing to say, Chungnip just turned his head awkwardly.

Then Naran Daisy quietly raised his hand.

“If he can’t see the performance due to health reasons, Lord Rothy will blame himself for not managing his health properly.”

“That’s right.”

“So let’s eliminate the outdoor performance.”

The guard mage who was a former assassin had a tendency to be reckless when it came to Rothy’s sake.

Chungnip and Jay barely stopped Naran who was about to charge in immediately.

After changing the next day’s schedule and returning to the room, Rothy, who had become warm and cozy, was wearing a white gown and just coming out of the bathroom. Rothy had a very excited expression.

“Theon, bubbles come out in the bathtub!”

“Is that so.”

“There are several buttons, and when you press the rightmost one, pink and yellow bubbles come out. Make sure to press it. Got it?”

“Right.”

Theon stroked Rothy’s warm cheek with the back of his hand.

He was half-pushed by Rothy into the bathroom. The bathtub was as warm as Rothy’s cheeks and filled with steam. Except for the steam and heat, the bathroom was very cleanly tidied up.

Seeing two duck toys floating nicely near the bathtub, Theon smiled with mixed feelings.

A child who plays with toys while bathing.

Lovable, and, somewhat overwhelming.

“……”

Theon, who had just been about to undress, paused.

The bathroom door wasn’t completely closed. Rothy was peeking through the gap with wide-open eyes. His gaze was very innocent and bright. Theon first finished taking off his shirt and calmly set it down.

“Rothy, what’s wrong?”

“You need to press the right button.”

“Right. I understand. The right button. Will you close the door now?”

“Okay.”

Rothy closed the door.

Theon sighed and finished undressing.

After washing and coming out of the bathtub, Rothy was asleep in the middle of the bed with his arms and legs spread wide.

His peaceful and tranquil appearance filled his heart with contentment.

He used to say he’d be like a stone and sit curled up in the corner of the barracks. Even when laid on a bed, he sometimes slept curled up like a shrimp at the edge.

Now he knew he was allowed to take up the entire bed like this.

Unable to contain his loving feelings, Theon sat beside Rothy and kissed his flushed cheek.

Squeak….

Chi-chi, who had been dozing on Rothy’s stomach, perked up his ears and sat up.

Chik chik chik…

“……”

Chiii-chik chik…

He thought Chi-chi would get up to take over guarding Rothy, but instead it plopped down and said something. It was exactly like scolding behavior.

Though Rothy seemed to communicate with Chi-chi, Theon naturally didn’t know ferret language.

Chiii-chik! chik!…

…He definitely didn’t know ferret language, but somehow he felt like he understood what Chi-chi was trying to say.

“I know too. You must have felt left out.”

Though he understood not being able to bathe together, he must have felt hurt on one level.

Theon also knew that to avoid showing that hurt, he had deliberately acted more innocent by talking about the bubble button.

Theon bent his finger to stroke around Rothy’s eyes.

“It can’t be helped. It’s for Rothy’s sake.”

Chiii…

Chi-chi seemed displeased but moved aside as if forgiving him.

Theon pulled up the blanket to cover Rothy and lay down beside her. He couldn’t take his eyes or hands off Rothy’s face.

He carefully touched his cheek, afraid of waking him. Then the watch on his wrist caught his eye.

Romeri had made a suggestion to Theon, who wanted to talk to future Rothy.

‘You should try talking to your future self rather than the future Grand Duchess.’

Until now, Theon’s mind had been filled only with thoughts of talking to future Rothy. He had never once thought of communicating with his future self.

Surely his future self would also know why there were no scars on Rothy’s body. And since it was for Rothy’s sake, he would definitely answer.

However, it had already been two weeks since hearing that advice, and he still hadn’t attempted to talk to himself.

It was because of the warning to be prepared for the Trimule’s destruction.

If he tried and the Trimule was destroyed without even hearing an answer, he would lose the clue forever. Since the Trimule’s ‘malfunction’ had deepened through several attempts and failures, he couldn’t afford to try halfheartedly now.

“……”

Theon put the back of his hand to sleeping Rothy’s cheek. Fortunately, he had no fever. As he caressed his soft skin, Rothy’s eyelids fluttered, so he quickly withdrew his hand.

He swallowed a sigh internally, afraid of waking the sharp-eared young duchess.