I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Side Story 13

The situation of someone reaching out a hand to him was so unfamiliar that it was almost bewildering.

“Hurry up.”

But the little girl, who extended her hand to him for the first time, didn’t have much patience. She grabbed his hand without waiting for permission and pulled him to his feet.

“Let’s go.”

Then she dragged him through the garden. The problem was when they emerged from the deserted garden into a more crowded area.

“Oh my? Isn’t that…”

“Wasn’t he the one chased away by Princess Camilla? Ah… I thought his outfit was odd…”

As the murmurs of those who recognized him grew louder, Margaret tilted her head and looked back at him.

“What’s this, why is a servant like you so famous?”

It seemed she still hadn’t realized he was a prince, which made sense.

When Enoch pressed his lips together and didn’t respond, Margaret glared at the whispering crowd.

“What are you looking at? Don’t you know me? If you stare, I’ll bite!”

Margaret’s growl made the crowd’s whispers intensify.

“Oh dear. Why is Lady Floné there…?”

“Isn’t she the second lady of the Floné family? Look away. She might really bite if you make eye contact.”

“She wasn’t always like this, but they say she’s been acting strangely lately.”

“How did such a rascal come from the prestigious Floné family… It’s the end of times.”

Hearing the people’s conversation, Enoch was secretly surprised. The girl, like him, was the subject of gossip.

Yet the girl was undaunted. She didn’t seem to care at all about what they were saying. Enoch, a bit concerned, offered her some advice.

“If you act so rudely, you’ll be ostracized in society. It’ll be hard to get marriage proposals.”

“I know. I’ll handle it. I don’t like it when others tell me how to live my life. I’m the one who makes my future,” Margaret answered, picking her ear. Her words and actions were not those of a typical child her age.

Enoch thought she might indeed struggle to survive in society. But he couldn’t understand why her words lingered in his mind.

“Is that something your future self told you in your dream?”

The girl nodded with a wide grin. “Yes. Isn’t it cool?”

“Yeah. It’s cool.”

The girl’s eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected such an answer from Enoch. Then, like a blooming flower, she gave him a radiant smile. Enoch thought he had never seen such a beautiful smile before.

Bang!

At that moment, fireworks blossomed like jewels against the black sky.

Margaret, Enoch, and everyone else in the garden looked up at the sky.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful, isn’t it?”

Margaret asked Enoch, smiling just like before. That smile was even more beautiful than the fireworks in the sky.

Enoch nodded while staring at Margaret’s face in a daze. “Yeah. Beautiful.”

He thought that the night, painted with fireworks across the pitch-dark sky, was as beautiful as this moment.

***

Enoch chuckled quietly at the memory of the past. Indeed, their first impression had been quite nice. Though they reunited years later as adults, Margaret had forgotten him entirely and behaved as if she were meeting him for the first time, blushing shyly.

But her shyness was short-lived, as she soon became frighteningly obsessed with him. Because of that, Enoch had grown weary of Margaret, and he too had erased their first meeting from his memory.

“Enoch, are you listening to me?” Margaret’s voice broke through his thoughts, and he looked up. Margaret, lounging with him in the hut, was pouting at him.

Enoch lay back down inside the hut, following her lead. Margaret snuggled into his arms as the morning light began to break.

“Sorry, I was just lost in thought. What were we talking about?”

“I told you I got advice from Arthdal. Relationship advice. I thought you were avoiding me. It’s been a month since we last saw each other, and you disappeared without a word.”

“Well…” Enoch started to speak but then stopped. It wasn’t the right time to mention the gift. “It’s a misunderstanding to say I’m avoiding you.”

“Then why did you take Eunji away? He seemed to say my father is preparing something.”

“……”

“Oh, never mind. Forget it. Don’t tell me,” Margaret said, turning away in a sulk.

Enoch watched her back silently before sitting up. He wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her onto his lap.

“Oh…!” she exclaimed, surprised.

“This is the only way to prove my feelings,” Enoch said, his hands gently caressing her back. Margaret sat up straight, looking at him with a tense expression.

She glanced at the dawn breaking outside.

“Focus on me, Margaret,” Enoch murmured, gently turning her chin back to face him. His breath hovered over her lips, swollen from the night’s kisses. Their breaths intertwined, over and over.

No matter how much he kissed, licked, and touched Margaret, it never seemed enough.

The two were pressed against each other with no space between them. Only after they had shared breathless kisses did Margaret suddenly realize.

“You’re using this to distract me. That’s unfair.”

“Didn’t you tell me to prove my feelings? I was only following your wishes. Ah, perhaps it wasn’t enough?” Enoch asked innocently, kissing her lips lightly.

Then he glanced at her, gauging her reaction, and kissed her again. The teasing turned earnest as his gaze deepened.

Margaret finally raised her hands to grip his shoulders. “I’ll let it slide. But it’s my turn now.”

She pushed him down onto the floor and smiled as she straddled him.

“I enjoy looking down at you like this. How does it feel to be beneath me?”

She meant for him to be flustered, but Enoch blushed to his ears and couldn’t speak. He sighed and covered his face with one hand.

Even though she was on top, Margaret felt like she was being weighed down. His body seemed more solid than ever.

“It seems you don’t want to leave here today.”

“…Not really.”

“Why? I could do this all day,” Enoch said, pulling Margaret down. She collapsed onto him helplessly.

Enoch, as if waiting for this, embraced her again and savored the morning. Their slightly intense morning continued for quite some time.

***

Enoch asked about a story from my childhood. It was about a dream I had as a child.

“You mentioned that you had dreams after visiting the Magic Tower. Your future self in those dreams told you, ‘Life is all about crappy timing.’”

Damn it. That sounds like something I’d say. I can’t remember it. Well, it’s more remarkable to remember a dream from childhood anyway.

‘Still, it’s fascinating that my future self appeared in a dream,’ I thought, trying to recall the details.

He had said it was after visiting the Mage Tower. What did I do there?

As I pondered this, Ruzef called out to me, “Lady, are you all right?”

I finally looked up, realizing that Ruzef, Arthdal, and I were supposed to be choosing clothes for the fireworks festival the day after tomorrow. More precisely, I was in Arthdal’s room because he had been whining for me to help him pick a disguise.

Ruzef checked my complexion with a worried look.

“I’m fine,” I assured him. “But, Arthdal is from Hestia, so that’s understandable, but your face is quite well-known. It might be hard to enjoy the festival together.”

“I will ensure I don’t get in the way,” Ruzef replied, sounding determined.

“That’s not what I meant… I misspoke,” I said, feeling the need to apologize.

Ruzef waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine.”

For once, Arthdal wasn’t adding playfully and remained quiet. He was quite calm. Though his ragged clothes and the bread hat on his head for his tragic artist concept didn’t look very dignified. It seemed he had decided on that outfit.

Suddenly, Ruzef made a startling comment. “Lady, if you ever feel burdened or want to escape, come to the Holy See anytime.”

“What? Why so suddenly?” I asked, taken aback by the unexpected offer.

“I know it’s hard for you these days. I’ll be waiting at the Holy See whenever you need,” Ruzef said, his voice sincere.

Ah, this must be because I sleep in the hut I built in the garden. Enoch was worried too. But it’s not like everyone worries. It’s not some serious aftereffect; I only go there to sleep when I’m bored… Why this misunderstanding…

Regardless, Ruzef was very serious. He continued with a calm expression, “You know the Holy See is very secluded. I’ll do my best to protect you.”

From what, exactly…? I wondered, feeling confused by his intensity.

“Wow, if you go to the Holy See carelessly, you might get imprisoned? Be careful, Lady. You’d be better off coming to the Kingdom of Hestia,” Arthdal interjected, adding his own twist to the conversation.

I didn’t know what Arthdal had heard to make him say that. And it seemed that Arthdal’s words had annoyed Ruzef. He glared at Arthdal with a fierce expression.

“What kind of nonsense… You should be careful; you might be the one imprisoned,” Ruzef shot back, his voice sharp.

“Oh. It’d be a unique experience for a future king to be imprisoned by the Pope. It would make for a distinctive record in the history books,” Arthdal replied, his positive language grating on people’s nerves.

Ruzef, who had maintained his dignity throughout, finally snapped. He threw the stole draped over his shoulders to the ground and stomped on it repeatedly with his shoe.

He looked like a person with a terrible personality, but I understood his feelings. Knowing Ruzef’s character, he must have endured a lot as the Pope.

Arthdal, oblivious to his actions, was clapping in amusement beside him, which seemed to provoke Ruzef further. Finally, he swatted the bread hat off Arthdal’s head.

“Did you just hit me? This is an international dispute!” Arthdal exclaimed, looking both surprised and amused.

“I hit the tragic artist,” Ruzef said, referencing Arthdal’s costume.

Since Arthdal was cosplaying as a tragic artist, he seemed at a loss for words. Even children wouldn’t fight like this. With Kayden gone, Arthdal and Ruzef were now fighting. At least they maintain some dignity in front of others, which is a relief.

I watched them bickering, thinking, I wish every day could be as joyful and peaceful as today. Most of all, I was excited that the fireworks festival was already just one day away.