By Zephyria 
The first day after arriving at the villa, the people of House Ernhardt gathered for a pleasant meal, and I spent time alone practicing martial arts and footwork to relieve my stiff body.
Michael and Asdel also received their own rooms separately, and the children loved them because the rooms were lavishly decorated and filled with toys perfectly suited for their age.
On the second day, there was a luncheon with both families.
While eating together, we talked about the recreational activities available around the villa. There was a large lake perfect for swimming, fishing, or boating; the elevated terrain offered views of wild roses blooming profusely in the summer; or we could venture into the forest for a hunt… The possibilities for recreation were endless.
Both those speaking and those listening were excited, and I found myself caught up in the mood. When asked what I wanted to do first, I replied that I wanted to go boating, as my parents seemed interested in water activities when we were planning the trip. Mother glanced at me as if embarrassed, but with a broad smile on her lips, I felt no concern at all.
After the meal, we decided to travel by horseback. Donkeys were prepared for the children. I was surprised by the thoughtfulness. They were padded with soft cushions and even had backrests on the saddles, making it unlikely that children unaccustomed to riding would fall off easily, and even if they did, there was little risk of serious injury.
As I was inspecting the donkeys, naturally intending to carry the children myself while riding a horse, Count Servel embraced me with a smile. He was Logan Servel’s father, with hair a shade darker than Logan’s. His personality was also more outgoing, and he was unreserved in his interactions with people.
“Why? Are you worried about your younger siblings?”
“No. I’m just surprised. I hadn’t expected that each child would be given a horse.”
“In our House Servelle, we tend to provide children with whatever they desire. It’s only by having much and losing much that they learn how to use what they hold.”
“I see.”
“Also, the experience of riding a horse alone at a young age becomes a very special source of pride for children. It was for me, too.”
Strictly speaking, they were donkeys, not horses, but to the children, the difference likely wasn’t significant. Count Servel patted my shoulder kindly, as if to reassure me, and I watched his back as he went to find his horse. I could easily tell who Logan took after. It was the master of the house’s back, looking dependable even though he was short. I could clearly see that he had already decided in his heart how he would lead the family. I, too, resolved to ask about House Ernhardt’s thoughts on the succession to the throne during this trip.
Waiting for an opportunity to be alone with Father, I mounted the white horse assigned to me. It was a pure white horse, as beautiful as clouds, equipped with dark blue reins and a saddle, its appearance fitting for today’s immortal-like leisure.
“Alright, let’s go.”
With a gentle flick of the reins, the white horse began to walk slowly. The donkeys, having each received a carrot, followed along the side of the larger horses, trotting along without minding the children’s clumsy movements. The knights deliberately kept a distance behind us, allowing us to feel the tranquil atmosphere.
We rode like that for a long time. We weren’t riding fast, but rather leading the horses slowly as if on a stroll, so it didn’t strain my body at all. My selfish desire was to gallop far away on a horse, something I hadn’t done in a long time, but I was afraid the donkeys carrying the children might get too excited, so I obediently followed the group.
During that time, a gasp of surprise arose from ahead. Looking up, I caught a fleeting glimpse of something sparkling through the bushes before it disappeared. As soon as we rode over a low hill, a dazzlingly luminous lake came into view. It was blue, reflecting the clear sky, and silver, embracing the pouring sunlight. A wide, dry sandy beach stretched out in front of the lake, making it even better for playing, while lush bushes surrounded the back, adding a touch of mystery. The sound of hooves on the sand was soft.
After a few steps, the members of House Servelle dismounted, and I did the same. Seeing the escort knights help the children off the donkeys, I walked forward, holding the reins.
“The water is clear, so let’s let the horses drink and rest here. The pleasure boats are tied up over there.”
“The water is shallow here, which is good for swimming, but the bottom keeps scraping, making it inconvenient to row, so we tied them up further away. There are two types of boats: transparent and white. Which do you prefer?” Count and Countess Servelle asked in an excited tone. They seemed accustomed to hosting guests at this villa, as they were adept at offering choices. My siblings and I, intrigued by the mention of transparent boats, chose the transparent one. My parents, with Mother saying she found transparent boats scary, decided to take the white one. Members of House Servelle, skilled at rowing, agreed to help us. Mother and Father would share a boat with Count and Countess Servelle, while Logan Servel would join me and my two younger siblings in our boat, offering to teach me how to row. Logan’s two younger siblings, with a mature gesture, yielded to their family, saying they were fine with riding in a boat with the escort knights. Seeing them sneakily wink at us, I was relieved that they didn’t seem too disappointed.
The pleasure boats were long and narrow at the bottom. Inside the boat, there were four raised platforms, which served as seats. Some Mana Stones were embedded in one side. When I asked, I was told they were engraved with a transparency Magic Formula. Oh, it truly elicited admiration. The convention was for the two people in the middle to sit facing each other, so Michael and Asdel, seated facing each other at close range, giggled at something they found so amusing. Logan and I each received two oars, taller than us. The pleasure boat had supports on both sides where the oars could be placed, allowing for a simple rowing method by pushing and pulling in rhythm. Although it was a small boat, it was more than adequate for playing on the calm lake. Logan boarded first and took the children from me as I lifted them, seating them in their places. When I boarded last, the boat swayed for a moment, but a helping attendant stabilized me as I sat down.
“Okay, when I say one, you pull; when I say two, you push.”
“Got it.”
“One, two. One, two…”
Thanks to Logan demonstrating how to move the oars from the shore, I was able to row skillfully. The boat surged forward. It was faster than I had expected, which was fun. The children, holding onto the handles with their small hands, exclaimed, “Wow!” in delight, which was adorable.
“Wait a moment! Michael! Too fast!”
“Huh?”
“We need to go slowly, slowly! We’re not racing…”
“Mmm.”
It seemed I had moved my arms too enthusiastically. I apologized with a slight bow and composed myself. Asdel, who had been alternating between looking at the transparent bottom and the calm ripples, suddenly let out a cute exclamation, “Wow!”
“Oppa, there are fish here. They’re swimming by.”
“Where? Where are the fish?”
“Here.”
I paused rowing to look with Asdel and Michael, who were looking down. It was fascinating how clearly we could see the creatures below. I, too, found myself mesmerized, gazing at the red and yellow fish.
“Did you release ornamental fish beforehand?”
“Of course not. These are fish that live here naturally. In fact, we’re careful not to disturb the existing fish by introducing ornamental ones, so we only occasionally feed them.”
“What do you feed them?”
“Just earthworms… or fish food made from ground grains.”
I gently pulled the children, who were practically pressed against the bottom of the boat, back to sit upright and looked around. We were already in the middle of the lake. My parents and Count and Countess Servelle were leisurely circling the lake in their boat. I felt a little sheepish realizing I had rowed too fast.
“Let’s enjoy ourselves leisurely now, too. We can just lock the oars here and fix them in place.”
“Mmm. Like this?”
“That’s right. If you stand up in the boat, it might capsize, so you must never stand up, okay?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
The repeated instructions, which we had already heard several times on land, were clearly for the children. Michael and Asdel responded readily, smiling brightly, and then bent their heads to look down at the lake again. Seeing them point at things and giggle amongst themselves filled a corner of my heart with warmth.
Sitting opposite Logan with the children between us, I felt awkward about asking what I wanted to ask, and also awkward about saying nothing. After a moment of searching for words, I finally decided to remain silent. Logan then brought up a suitable topic.
“I didn’t expect we’d end up boating together like this. I’m glad you seem to be enjoying it more than I thought.”
“Mmm, me too. I didn’t realize I liked this sort of thing…”
I did like water. Looking out at the vast lake, I felt a sense of noble spirit welling up within me. That’s why I loved Dongting Lake in the Central Plains. Gazing at the grand lake, where all the joys and sorrows of the world seemed to be gathered, my regrets no longer felt like regrets, and my sadness no longer felt like sadness. When I was lonely after losing a dear friend, I would often sit by a large river and pass the time. I would cast my fishing rod for three or four days, and if I caught a fish, I would throw it back into the river, and throw it back again and again. Seeing the water flow endlessly, passing without obstruction, made me feel as though the time of the one I had lost was also continuing to flow, and I liked that.
But when had I ever had the chance to look into the depths of that water? Until now, I had only skimmed the surface of the water, never taking the time to observe the shape of the water weeds or how the fish swam in schools. I took this day as an opportunity to feast my eyes to my heart’s content.