“We’ve arrived.”

Rowena’s words brought the Countess back to her senses as she was immersed in her thoughts.

“Countess?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was thinking of something else.”

“No, that’s fine.”

Rowena replied gently, took the hand of the servant who approached her, and got out of the carriage first. Countess Rachel followed, but the clatter of horse hooves on the gravel interrupted them.

“Your Excellency!”

The Countess, who turned around quickly, spotted Killian before her, and lifted the hem of her skirt in a curtsy. When Killian dismounted from his horse, he caught sight of her and nodded his head.

“Thank you for coming such a long way.”

“No, I will gladly come running even if it took me a month to get here. It’s your excellency’s invitation after all.”

The Countess laughed cheerfully and quietly retreated.

“Rowena . I am a little tired and I want to wash up and change my clothes.”

“Oh, I’ve told them to heat the bath for you now.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll see you in the dining room for dinner later after you have rested”

As she felt a hand wrapping around her waist naturally, Rowena called one of the maids who had been standing by and instructed her to show the countess the way.

“Rowena.”

As the Countess entered the villa, Killian helped her climb into the saddle of his horse. He then sat behind her back and held the reins. Once on the horse, Rowena asked with a puzzled look on her face

“Where are we going?”

“I have something to show you.”

Killian answered briefly, putting his foot on the back and kicking the horse’s side with his heel.

* * *

After running without rest, the horse gradually slowed down when they reached a white sandy beach.

Killian, who had dismounted first, extended his hand to her. Rowena shook her head in refusal as his hand was about to hold her waist.

“Just hold my hand please, I can handle dismounting a horse on my own.”

“You’re going to fall down.”

“I’m fine.”

Tsk, he clicked his tongue as her stubbornness but held out his hand anyway which she grabbed. She began to dismount cautiously when Killian suddenly withdrew his hand.

“Kyah!”

At the same time, Rowena, who had lost her balance, fell into his embrace and immediately began to push him away with her face all flushed from the sudden hug.

“Why did you let go!”

“I’m confident I can support your body.”

Killian, who raised the corners of his mouth cheekily, motioned her to look the other way. Rowena, who had shifted her gaze along where he was pointing, fluttered her eyes wide open at the sight.

It was the exact image she had seen in her dream. A round dining table and two  chairs placed at the edge of a water stream. A table draped with a lace tablecloth was topped with a delicious-looking arrangement of red wine, a refreshing fruit salad, and a fresh oyster dish with onions and mushrooms.

“Don’t tell me, you had this prepared, your excellency?”

Instead of answering, Killian guided her toward the dining table. Following him, Rowena approached the dining table and sat down in the  chair the waiter had pulled for her.

The sky was a bright blue without a cloud in sight, and the sea was equally brilliant like a sapphire. The sound of the waves and the distant chirping of birds laid as profound as a fine restaurant orchestra playing. It was an incredible place to be experiencing. While she was distracted for a moment by the refreshing cool waves that tickled the tops of her shoes and dissipated, Killian’s nonchalant voice pierced her ears.