Long branches drooped toward a quiet lake, their green leaves cradling the still water.
Far in the distance, a flag fluttered atop the highest point of the Imperial Palace.
The sun slowly began to sink, casting a shimmering golden gleam across the blue surface of the lake.
Splash, splash.
The sound of thrashing water echoed out, as if struck repeatedly by frantic hands.
Just then, a small, pale hand broke through the surface.
As the hand flailed against the water, the terrified face of a child emerged.
“Save m—…”
In the blink of an eye, the child’s pale face was dragged back under.
Splash, splash.
The desperate splashing grew weaker and weaker, as if the last ounce of strength had been drained away.
“No!”
Dalia snapped her eyes wide open, her arm thrust forward into the air.
Blinking away the fog of sleep, she looked around and found herself outdoors.
She had dozed off while leaning against a tree.
Scrambling to her feet, Dalia cast her gaze up toward the sky to gauge the time.
She had seen that sparkling golden light in her dream; it had to be late afternoon.
There was still time.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Dalia clasped her hands tightly together, willing her racing heart to calm down.
She had failed to save her mother. Even though she had never seen her mother’s death in a dream, she still believed that if only she had been a little faster, she might have saved her.
The guilt and regret she had buried deep within reared their heads once more.
Shaking her head vigorously, Dalia cast off the dark emotions threatening to drag her down.
‘The past doesn’t matter right now. What matters is saving that child.’
She lifted her chin and surveyed her surroundings.
‘There!’
In the distance fluttered the very same flag from her dream. She needed to tell Lemon to head in that direction.
Dalia shouted toward the sky.
“Lemon! Lemon!”
Craning her neck so far back it felt ready to snap, she stumbled forward in a daze.
A familiar voice called out right in front of her.
“Watch where you’re going, Miss.”
Startled, Dalia jerked her head down to find the Emperor’s broad chest barely an arm’s length away.
“You nearly walked right into him.”
Orion’s worried voice carried over from behind the Emperor.
She must have been asleep for quite some time, as the Emperor had already finished his meeting and was on his way back.
Dalia urgently cried out to him.
“Your Majesty! The lake! You must send someone to the lake!”
The Emperor gave her a bewildered look, clearly unable to fathom what she was talking about.
Without missing a beat, Dalia pressed on in a rush:
“How many lakes are there in the Imperial Palace? It has to be a very large one, quiet and deep, as if tucked inside a forest.”
“Miss Herdlan.”
His tone was calm and grounding, contrasting with her frantic, tumbling words.
“We don’t have time! How many lakes are there in the palace?”
“There is only one lake of that size.”
Orion answered from behind the Emperor in his stead.
“Ah, thank heavens…”
Dalia let out a deep, shuddering sigh of relief.
She had been terrified there might be several.
The Emperor studied her unsettled state in silence before finally asking,
“What on earth is going on?”
“Please, can you guide me there without asking any questions? You can count this as our third meeting. Or send an escort with me if you prefer—I lose my way very easily.”
Dalia pleaded, desperation thick in her voice.
Gray furrowed his brow, staring down at her without a word.
‘She has always carried herself with an abundance of composure. What could have unraveled her like this?’
“Orion.”
“We have roughly an hour before the next meeting.”
Orion reported swiftly, grasping the Emperor’s intent without being told.
Gray met Dalia’s pleading gaze, which clung to him in earnest appeal.
He could have simply assigned an escort to accompany her.
Yet the investigation into her remained incomplete, and he felt as though he understood nothing concrete about her.
Not a single thing made sense.
Why did the Lady of the Pink Flower Field cling to him so desperately?
This time, he intended to find out for himself.
“We shall count this as our third meeting.”
“Thank you so very much.”
Gray watched her carefully as an unmistakable wave of relief washed over her features, her gaze darting briefly up toward the sky.
They followed the Emperor deeper into the woods, and before long, Lemon caught up with them.
Lemon let out a gentle chirp as their eyes met, as if offering reassurance.
Finding comfort in the familiar little presence by her side, Dalia hurried in the wake of the Emperor’s broad back.
When Ethan and Orion pulled aside a pair of long, drooping branches, a breathtaking sight opened before them.
A blue lake lay cradled by lush green foliage.
Sunlight glittered brightly over the water’s surface.
Fortunately, the light had not yet turned to that brilliant gold.
It wasn’t too late.
‘Where could they be?’
It would be best to stop the child from falling into the water in the first place.
Dalia scanned the surroundings, casting a wary sideways glance at the lake.
Despite her efforts, her palms grew clammy every time she caught sight of the rippling water.
Trying her hardest not to look directly at the lake, Dalia moved briskly, sweeping her eyes over the shoreline.
“Miss, what are you doing?”
“Just a moment. There’s something I need to find.”
She could feel the Emperor’s displeased gaze as he stood with his arms crossed.
Deliberately brushing off his scrutinizing stare, Dalia forced herself to look out toward the water.
The surface of the lake was beginning to take on a rich, golden hue.
‘Oh no.’
As she looked around in mounting anxiety, the Emperor’s low voice cut into her ear.
“Very well, then. I hope you find whatever it is you seek.”
Dalia turned to him, her face filled with desperate entreaty.
“Please, could you stay with me a little longer?”
“And why should I?”
A shadow of fear darkened her violet eyes, deepening the gloom within them.
“…Because I am afraid of water.”
“If you fear water, why did you ask to come here in the first place?”
The Emperor’s voice dropped, quiet and deliberate as a hunter setting a snare.
“That’s because…”
Dalia hesitated, her voice trailing off into nothingness.
Just how much of the truth could she reveal?
Could she say that a child was going to fall into the lake?
Or that she had seen the future in a dream?
And what if it wasn’t meant to happen today?
What if it were tomorrow, or even a year from now…?
“My Lord, it is time.”
Orion stepped in, offering Dalia a faint, apologetic glance.
Despite Orion’s urging, the Emperor’s eyes remained fixed on her face for a long, quiet moment.
Lowering her trembling gaze, Dalia bowed her head.
“Thank you for sparing me your time. You may deduct this as our third meeting.”
She could feel his persistent gaze lingering on the crown of her head, but she did not look up.
A moment later, she heard his footsteps turn away.
Only then did Dalia raise her head, watching his broad back recede into the trees.
Once the Emperor was entirely out of sight, she sank down onto the grass a safe distance from the shore.
The water’s edge remained peaceful and serene, as though insisting no such tragedy could ever unfold here.
Dalia narrowed her eyes to avoid looking at the lake, yet a chill ran down her spine and sent a shudder through her back.
As a little girl, she had loved the water. In fact, swimming had been her favorite thing in the world.
Yet ever since learning that her mother had drowned, water had become an object of sheer terror.
Had her mother not drowned and perished, swimming would still be her dearest passion to this day.
She had begged the Emperor to take her to the lake because of her dream, but she had never expected to rescue the child herself.
She had simply hoped the accident would coincide with the Emperor being nearby so that he could save the child in her place.
Just as the light dancing across the lake turned a rich gold, Dalia’s expression gradually brightened with hope.
In the dream, this was the exact moment it had occurred.
Which meant it wasn’t happening today.
If it were tomorrow or some further day ahead, she would have time to prepare properly.
And then… she would save the child.
Dalia stood up, dusting off her skirts with renewed resolve.
The lake was simply too vast for her to watch alone.
Tomorrow, she would return with Cole, who was an adept swimmer, and they would scour every last corner.
Right at that moment, Lemon began circling overhead in the distance.
The bird’s cries sounded entirely unlike its usual chirps.
