Chapter 3
CHAPTER_TITLE: Slipping Sandals and Stirring Flames
Nefetia gripped the swaying rope ladder tightly and slid downward with careful steps. When she reached the bottom, her foot slipped and one of her sandals tumbled off into the void.
“Ah!”
A brown sandal bobbed lightly on the rippling sea surface. What if it drifted away like that? The princess, suddenly worried, released the rope and leaped into the ocean.
Plop! Water splashed up, soaking her calves to the knees. The cold seawater and fine white sand squeezed between her toes made a surprised gasp escape her lips.
“...Waaah.”
The water tickled her calves, flowing in and out in a rhythmic hiss. This was her first time stepping on the sand submerged in the sea, so Nefetia gazed at the sparkling turquoise waters for a long time.
She snatched one sandal floating on the surface and then took off the other. Walking barefoot across the wet sand, which felt refreshing, made her smile more and more with every step.
After her foot play, other things caught her eye. Ah, what’s that?
Small creatures were scuttling busily across the wet ground where white foam had just slid down. She scooped them up with her bare hands, and they wriggled their legs on her palm. They had hard shells and multiple legs, one pair especially long like scorpion tails, and two horns like snail antennae twitched constantly.
“How fascinating. Now go away.”
She set them down and they darted away at once into a small hole. It was amazing how they navigated without getting lost or returning the way they came, heading straight for their destination. How could they possibly do that?
Just as she admired these tiny, insignificant creatures, Nefetia felt a presence and lifted her head.
Six or seven young laborers in worn hoods were staring at her blankly. They carried ropes and logs, but she could tell they weren’t Kepetians—they must be workers from Credo Island.
Since she was used to such situations, she wasn’t surprised, but she worried that Shadia might notice from the opposite side of the ship.
“Shameless. Go away.”
Nefetia’s eyes widened. They scattered in a panic and fled. Their cheeks and necks flushed red with embarrassment.
Those indecent men! Nefetia frowned and clicked her tongue. Glancing at the direction they had disappeared, she checked her surroundings and climbed onto the beach.
She already knew this was exactly the moment Shadia had worried about. However, she had no intention of hiding her body even a little bit out of concern for others’ gazes or reputation.
Fundamentally, humans feel fear when they see something sacred, and that emotion often surfaces as discomfort. It was a simple truth even small children knew. Without a doubt, her body formed by the sacred was the most beautiful woman’s form in the world, so everyone would surely feel various emotions upon seeing it.
...My outer robe, what about it?
Nefetia smirked and, before climbing higher up the beach, stealthily glanced at the opposite side of the ship. She caught a glimpse of Shadia’s voice from behind the stacked wooden crates.
A smile returned to Nefetia’s face. Go have your fun alone! The princess boldly crossed the sandy beach and entered the lush forest.
***
Nefetia walked with her heart constantly steadying itself. The cool, damp moss tickled her feet, and the earthy scent mixed with moisture felt refreshing and invigorating. It was a sensation she had never felt in the dry sands of Kepet.
Because the dense trees blocked most sunlight, the forest gradually became darker and more mysterious.
The tangled trees, thick branches, and vines intertwined to form the forest canopy, through which scattered sunlight filtered down beautifully.
...The world. Nefetia’s eyes sparkled as she looked around. She reached out to touch the broad, large leaves and examined each pretty, colorful flower one by one. She had no idea she was getting farther from the beach....
“Ah.”
Something brushed her cheek. A blue-winged butterfly fluttered around her. The princess, delighted, chased after the butterfly’s flight and stopped at one spot.
...A person?
Through the tangled underbrush, a person was faintly visible. The man with long legs stretched out was leaning against a large tree, eyes closed. His honey-bright golden hair glowed white even from a distance.
‘Who is this? A person from another kingdom?’
Nefetia stopped and watched him. He was like a painting. An incredibly beautiful man she couldn’t simply pass by. Had the men who had looked at her felt this way?
Nefetia walked through the branches, drawn to the sleeping man. Up close, he was a handsome man with a tidy, neat appearance compared to his disheveled pose. High nose bridge, slightly parted red lips, tightly arched eyelashes on his drooping eyelids. Flawless beauty....
But... why was such a man sleeping here? Was he sick?
Nefetia carefully inspected the man’s pale face. Sweat beads formed on his smooth forehead, and his hair, wet with sweat, had fallen onto it.
...Was he hot?
The man’s clothing was unfamiliar to Nefetia, but it looked far too hot to wear here. The blue outer robe embroidered with silver, the brown pants and leather boots. On top of that, a red cloak. Nefetia tried to loosen the cloak, but the silver brooch shaped like a leaf was firmly attached and she couldn’t help.
What to do? Worried, Nefetia looked around, but found no one. Just this handsome man lying alone, breathing heavily as if dropped from the sky. Without someone attending him, he probably wasn’t a noble or royal. Then, perhaps she should find his companions?
Nefetia found the man’s sword next to the tree stump. There were no conspicuous gold decorations or jewels. She carefully examined the plain scabbard and handle, then nodded.
Of course. If the only ornament was a leaf brooch, he definitely wasn’t royal. Probably just a handsome low-ranking servant. Since he wasn’t from Credo Island, he must have wandered into this unfamiliar forest and lost his way.
“...Ugh.”
The man suddenly groaned. His long golden eyelashes trembled, and he started to gasp and moan. She didn’t know what was wrong, but he looked terribly in pain.
Poor thing.... Nefetia approached the man without hesitation. She didn’t know from which kingdom this servant had come, but with the blessing of the sun god, perhaps she could help a little....
The exact moment her fingertips touched the man’s cheek.
“Ah...!”
The touch stuck immediately, and an intense force rushed up through her fingers, hands, and arms to her chest in an instant. Startled, Nefetia hastily pulled her hand away. What... what was that just now?
“What is this?”
Overwhelmed, she forgot to breathe. After calming herself, she looked around. Besides Nefetia herself, the surroundings were still quiet. The forest was silent, and the man was still sleeping... but less painful than before. It really felt like he had been ‘healed.’
“That’s strange...?”
Nefetia turned her palms back and forth, puzzled. What was that feeling just now?
Summoning courage, she placed her hand back on the man’s white cheek. The moment she touched him, ‘that’ returned through her fingers. Something shapeless undulated, making her breathing irregular. What should she call this? Refreshing... a fiery lump?
The one thing she was sure of was that it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. Instead, it was a pleasant feeling that made her feel good. It was similar to the clear, clean, cold air she had felt when she first entered this forest. As if she had scooped up cold moonlight with her hand and molded it...
How strange. Nefetia thought hard about what this mysterious power was, touching and releasing the man’s cheek repeatedly. Then, slightly, her thumb brushed his red lips.
“...Ugh.”
An intense and mysterious sensation overwhelmed Nefetia helplessly. An unknown pleasure danced wildly inside her, squeezing her pounding heart, and finally wrapped around her body once before shooting out through her fingertips.
“Waaah.”
Her forehead was sweating from the surprise of the feeling moments ago. Who was this man? As Nefetia stared at him, something suddenly flashed through her mind. That sensation she had felt just now. The amazing, wondrous, heart-pounding feeling that covered her entire body and made it tremble. Could this be...?
At that moment, the man’s eyelids fluttered open. As his closed eyes opened, his calm, cool blue irises gazed at her hazily.
“......”
“......”
The two stared at each other in silence for a while. The perfect beauty of the man showed no smile and no frown either. He simply stood still as if he couldn’t understand the situation at all.
“...Who are you?”
After the long silence, it was Nefetia who spoke first.