Gerard put a pill in his mouth without reserve then he opened the bottle of water from his side and tilted it to his mouth.

“What do you say? It’s fine right?”

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand while looking straight into my eyes. I nodded lightly and reached out my hand towards him.

Whatever, I don’t know anymore.

I closed my eyes tightly and put the medicine into my mouth. I drank some water and I was surprised because it’s cold.

“……thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I gave the water bottle back to Gerard and placed it back to a leather pouch on his side. I got a glimpse of a dagger in a sheath on half-topped waist when he lifted his shirt a little.

“Now put your arms upward and put a bit of pressure on your wrist with your other hand.”

“Why should I do it?”

“It’s a good place to put pressure on when you feel sick.”

It’s a good place to put pressure on when you feel sick? Is it some kind of acupressure? But is there any chiropractic in Western culture?

Suspicions rose up in my head for a moment, but it suddenly came to me that it kind of reminds me of a massage.

Only then did I imitate Gerard’s movements. I put my arms forward and clenched my fist in the air.

“The part about two cm from the center of the wrist. Press there tightly”

“Here?”

“Yes. You can press it, take a break, and then press it again.”

Finding the location, I pressed the area tightly and then repeatedly did what he told me to do. To my surprise, I really feel much more better than before.

“How is it?”

“…..it seems like it’s working. “

“Right? Actually, it’s probably because you took some medicine rather than this.”

I don’t know what kind of medicine it is, but it really worked. I feel sorry that I doubt you, even for a moment, mister.

I turned a blind eye to my impudence and thought of how to ask Gerard implicitly for another one for when I ride a ship again when I come back.

“Where did you buy it?”

“Huh?”

“The medicine you just gave me.”

“I didn’t buy it, but someone I knew made it for me.”

I don’t know who made it for him, but they must be as talented as Grandfather Conrad.

“Where can I go to buy it?”

Gerard scratched his chin in an awkward manner to my subsequent questions.

“Well, I’m afraid it’s not a drug available on the market. It’s just a hobby of his.”

“….is that so?”

I shouldn’t have expected it.

Gerard’s voice continued as he looked at me with regret.

“I can give you a few more instead, do you want it?”

“Of course!”

My disappointment disappeared at his offer.

Gerard smiled at me again and asked me to wait a moment. After a while, he came back and handed me a small pouch.

“Take this. It’s in here.”

The texture of the pouch was very good. The soft and colorful patterns were something that seemed to cost a fortune, so I tried to ask Gerrard immediately.

“This pouch is…”

“Take it.”

“But…!”

“It’s alright. We have a lot of those in our house.”

Really?

I don’t know if he read my innermost thoughts from my expression, but Gerard suddenly burst into laughter.

“What’s with your face? It’s true. My family’s veeery rich.”

“…..okay, thanks for this, but tell me anytime if you change your mind. I’ll give it back right away.”

“Haha. You’re so cute.”

I shrugged instead of answering. Come to think of it, this guy keeps talking down to me.

“How old are you?”

“Why. You’re interested in me, now?”

“…..”

“Good, because so do I.”

“….I’ll take my leave.”

“Uh, wait!”

He stood in front of me before I can even take a step away, his lips still stretched in a fresh smile.

“I’m twenty. What about you, Rose?”

“Twenty-six.”

_{(t/n: lmaoo so she’s asking because he keeps talking down on her when she’s older. She’s not lying tho. Lololol)}

“Hahaha, you’re good at joking.”

“I’m serious.”

“Really? Then should I call you Mrs. Rose?”

I was speechless for a second.

“Why am I a Mrs.?”

“You just said you’re 26.”

It was beyond dispute to say so. The people in Larson Empire can get married at the age of sixteen, which is already recognized as an adult while aristocrats get married earlier than that in most cases.

Anyway, calling me with the title [Mrs.] was a no-no, so I sighed and told him Maria’s age.

“I’m sixteen.”

“Uwaaa, it was a ten year age jump.”

Why do you have to say that?

“Is this your first time in Hardel?”

“Yeah.”

“Then make sure you go near the palace. It’s really grand and fancy even from afar.”

“Of course it is.”

Gerard smiled when I answered in a nonchalant way.

“That’s a terrible reaction.”

“It’s a palace, so of course it’s big and fancy.”

It’s where the emperor of the country lives. How couldn’t it be?

“That’s right. That’s why it’s easy to get lost. It’s really big, and they even have a few maze-like gardens.”

“……”

I’ve been listening casually at him talking for a moment when a thought of passed through my mind. I turned my head and looked at Gerard.

“Have you ever been there?”

“Huh?”

“You told me, there were several maze-like gardens, just now.”

Or did you hear it from someone?

Gerrard was still smiling at me, then he suddenly spoke with a low voice as if he were telling the secret.

“You see, I’m actually a bit of a top dog. That’s why I visit the Larson Imperial Palace quite often.”

“Really?”

If so…

“Can I ask you a question?”

“What is it?”

“Do you know the Crown Prince?”

“Of course. We’re very close. He’s like a friend to me.”

His confident attitude made me laugh. A lie like that won’t work on me, but I didn’t show hi because I was helped a while ago.

“Then do you know what the Crown Prince’s troubles are these days?”

“Hmm. . . . . .about Glick being sick?”

“Glick? What is that?”

“The name of the leopard raised by the Crown Prince”

“…….!”

My eyes widened.

What? Are you really close to the prince enough to know it’s name?! Or is it just a made-up lie?

I don’t know how he interpreted my expression, but Gerard continued to explain with his bright smile on his face.

“Ains happen to pick up a baby leopard before and he decided to keep raising it. But I guess he’s having a hard time because it’s been acting violent these days.”

“Ain…. “

“Hm?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

It’s alright, that was natural.

I was about to ask if Ains is the crown prince’s name but I hurriedly shut my mouth up.

The reason why Koreans do not know the name of the crown prince was because they thought it was nonsense.

_{(t/n: she’s referring to SK’s Royal Family btw.)}

Whether or not he knew what I was thinking, Gerard continued while still smiling.

“He always denies it but I really think he resembles Glick a lot. Both in personality and appearance.”

His remark struck me with wonder.

Both personality and appearance? Does that mean the prince’s appearance resembles a leopard?

‘That’s weird. The hunters said he was handsome.’

“By the way, Miss Rose.”

“Why?”

“Can I ask you a question, too?”

Gerard made eye contact with me with a smiling face. The golden hair fluttered in the wind, shining beautifully in the sunset.

“What is it?”

“How long are you going to talk down to me?”

◆◇◆◇◆

Sometimes, the waves are calm, sometimes the waves are a little too wild.

That’s the only thing I could say if you ask me to say something about my time on this ship.

But I was a bit comforted because this ship was a bit of an upper class passenger ship so there were quite a few auxiliary facilities.

Of course, there’s also games like cards, chess, and the like that some people could play together. It was perfect for killing time.

Besides spending time in places like that, I also liked to look at the sea from the deck.

Especially when the sun was setting, the view of the sea during the sunset was spectacular.

I decided to leave the cabin to watch the sunset today. I could already feel the cool sea breeze as I climbed the stairs.

Is it because of the good weather? There’s quite a lot of people today.

I stopped in front of the deck railing and breathed heavily.

The cold air entered my lungs and I felt my chest grew lighter.

“Hey, Rose!”

As soon as I was about to lean my arm against the railing, I heard a familiar voice somewhere. I turned my head to the source of the and I saw Gerard approaching.

“Did you come out to feel the breeze?”

“Yeah.”

“You and I are really connected.”

I come out of the cabin quite often.
The same was true for Gerard so we didn’t really make promises to meet since I always end up running to him about once or twice a day anyway.

“You still have a long way to get to Hardel, right?”

Gerard already knew the answer to that but I still nodded nonetheless.

“Well, you still have long way to go. And you still have to ride a ship once you come back.”

“Hah…. “

A sigh came out of my mouth unconsciously.

Killing time on a ship in the open sea was harder than I thought.

I can’t believe I have to go through this agonizing boredom twice.

I was sighing in a vague mood, and Gerard, who was looking at me, suddenly called my name.

“Rose.”

I turned my head towards him.

“Do you know that we’ll be docked on Tiere Island soon?”

“Tiere Island?”

“It’s an island which is like a gateway to Hardel. That’s why dozens of ships come and go every day. All the street there is full of rare items from all over the world and there’s this restaurant that is full of delicious food.”

Gerard, who finished explaining, pushed his face close to me.

“Especially at night, clowns perform great tricks, I’m sure your eyes will pop out when you see it..”

*Gulp*

My mouth was watering without even realizing it.

Rare treasures, delicious foods, and fascinating sights. I can feel my heart was pounding at the fact that I will finally be able to get off the ship even just for a short time.

“What do you say? It’s going to be fun!”

“Yeah”

“But it’ll be crowded and so it’ll be easier to get lost. It’ll be complicated. So what about going with me? Let’s get off the ship together.”

I managed to hold my head back from almost nodding. I know he’s a good guy, but I still haven’t fully trusted him yet.

“……okay, but I won’t go far.”

I looked at Gerard straight in the eyes. Gerard shrugged and chuckled helplessly.

“Well, you’re such a vigilant lady.”

“If you don’t like it, never mind.”

“All right, all right. Go ahead, then.”

“Good thinking.”

I smiled and I held out my right hand to asked for a handshake.

He sighed but then, he smiled again. And that’s how our negotiation ended smoothly.

◆◈◆◈◆◈

Gerardo oh Gerardo? Who art tho, Gerardo? Lols. Anyways, this chapter just confirmed that Gerard is no ordinary lad. Any guesses?