If not in this world, then somewhere else. Heaven or hell, anywhere. As long as you stay by my side like this...
"Huh? Are you talking about immortality? Or the afterlife?"
"No, nothing. Then what is your wish?"
"I hope that everyone on the island lives happily and peacefully like they do now. Of course, the health and happiness of the young master as well. And if possible... I hope that one day I can go to the outside world beyond the sea. I also hope many survivors live safely in other worlds like us."
"Someday, the day will come when I can go out. I hope so too."
I'll take you out, Angie. Just wait a minute. Just wait a minute.
The words he had not yet finished saying melted into a faint smile.
My present and future are all yours. I will do my best so that you can be happy while holding my future in your hands... so that you can live in the light with me forever.
I'll do anything to protect just you.
Generalife, the greenhouse garden with a name that tickles the tip of his tongue like a song, was transformed into a honeymoon space every night. The man and woman who had finally confirmed their love met there every night. They didn't even need an agreement. The two greeted each other every midnight as if they had made a promise.
Angie met him during the week when she worked as a temporary maid at the Duke's mansion, and also on weekends when she spent time at her parents' farmhouse. It was easy to get from her bedroom to the garden, but her heart always raced when she sneaked out of the house and got into the carriage without her parents knowing. Fortunately, they were both deep sleepers, so she never got caught.
The dreamlike days continued. Blackwell Hill, located at a high altitude, was colder than the village below. But the bitter cold of the January night did not stop the two men and women from meeting. In fact, nothing could stand in their way.
Every night, they confirmed their love and shared the joy of joy in their own world. The rosy future was in each other's eyes, and their deep and affectionate hearts overflowed uncontrollably as if they were going to form an ocean. Their hearts were always filled with the happiness of having found their destined other half.
Towards the end of January, an unprecedented event occurred. One morning after a typhoon had passed, a sailing ship was washed up on the eastern shore.
The captain, who lost all his crew in the typhoon, was surprisingly a member of the Imperial Navy of the Trieste Empire, the mainland of the island. He could not hide his joy, saying that after sailing for years to find the Blackwell family's island, he had finally reached Cullinan Island.
“It’s truly a miracle! I was swept away by a typhoon and ended up on the Duke’s island that I had been searching for so long... This area was inaccessible due to the fog, but I’ve been safe until now! This must be God’s grace. And the strange shark you mentioned didn’t exist. It wasn’t even caught in the storm.”
All the residents were shocked by the first appearance of an outsider, and by the fact that the outside world was safely recovering from the aftermath of the war and that the epidemic was coming to an end. Teenage children in particular could not hide their excitement.
“Wow, the outside world is safe now! So we can go to the mainland too? I can’t believe the route has been cleared!”
“It’s still difficult right now because of the fog, but we’ll have to wait and see for a few years! Eventually, it will be possible to travel freely between the mainland and the island. Oh my, I never thought this day would come!”
For a while, the island was bustling, never a day of silence. Angie, too, had heard the topic so much that it was painful to the ears, not only in the Duke's house but also in the Sunday chapel and the embroidery club. She, too, was excited and happy. No matter how rich and peaceful the island was, there was no way it could not have curiosity and desire for the outside world.
But behind the excitement, there was also anxiety. It was none other than because of Kyle.
“Then, you too will be crossing to the mainland now? The captain said that he would set sail again on the last week of February when the fog clears according to the lunar cycle. So, won’t you also be leaving then?”
“I think so. The imperial family has been trying to find the Duke’s whereabouts for a while, so they’ll bring him in this time. They’ll probably find a way to clear the fog on the mainland, so we can finally go to the mainland! Just imagining it is so exciting!”
Angie's agitation grew louder as her friends spoke excitedly. It was a joy to break the isolation from the outside world, but what if it meant increasing the physical distance between her and the master? Just thinking about it made her heart sink.
Was it because of that vague sense of unease? She had even forgotten that Martin Silva had once mentioned the outside world in a dream.
That night, Angie didn't see the master. The letter that came in through the crack in the maid's room door was written in his elegant and delicate handwriting.
[My Angie.
I won't be able to meet you tonight or tomorrow night, as I have a lot to talk to the captain about. Come to Generalife at midnight the day after tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you.
-Your Kai.]
Her heart was already sinking at the thought of not being able to see him for two nights in a row. Angie tried to calm her nerves and carefully folded the letter. This time, she didn't put it in the secret box under her bed right away.
She changed into her nightgown and untied her neatly tied hair. Her long blond hair, reflecting the candlelight, had an orange tint. Angie gathered her lusciously wavy hair to her waist, put on a cap, and blew out the candle. She left the folded letter under her pillow.
As soon as she laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes, Kyle's face came to mind. A vulgar prayer pierced through the center of her heart.
Kai. Don't abandon me. As you once said, I am the only woman for you, right? If that's true... If I am Kai's one and only, your precious destiny, please don't abandon me.
Please always be with me.
Two days passed and the long-awaited night arrived. It was the last night in January when Angie left her room around midnight and arrived in the Generalife gardens.
“Angie, I have something to show you. Follow me.”
Kyle showered her with hugs and kisses and led her out into the garden. It was a particularly warm night. The remnants of the heavy snow had cleared away, and the cold that had been raging for days had eased slightly. Still, Kyle wrapped his fur muffler around her, worried that she might be cold, and led her outside instead of into the annex.
“Kai, where are you going? This is...”
“Almost there.”
The two walked through the forest that led to the backyard of Blackwell Heights. It was an area that even servants did not enter. Angie shrugged her shoulders slightly as she walked alongside him, fearful of the darkness of the forest.
“It’s okay. What’s there to be afraid of when you’re with me? Just go a little further.”
Kyle tightened his grip on Angie's hand as if trying to reassure her. His faintly smiling face reflected the moonlight, creating a mysterious atmosphere.
Angie smiled back. Her heart was pounding with anticipation. She was certain that something wonderful was waiting for her at the end of the forest, no matter what it was.
What on earth is this? A surprise gift prepared by the master...
Finally, when they had passed the last of the beautiful trees, Kyle gently grabbed Angie's shoulders and stood behind her. He then covered her eyes with both hands. His fragrant scent permeated her body, sweetly permeating it.
“Just walk a few steps like this. Trust me... and take your time.”
Angie took each step carefully as he led her. Beneath her covered eyes, her full lips were slightly raised as if in pleasure. There was a rustling sound under her heels. The remains of broken branches and fallen leaves rose gently above the stillness of the night.
“Yes... Now open your eyes slowly.”
After a moment, Kyle stopped her. He took his hands from Angie's eyes and slowly lowered them to her shoulders. Angie opened her eyes. A thin sigh escaped her lips. It was a sigh of wonder.
“Wow! How could this be... so beautiful!”
The two men stood on the cliff. Given that the Duke's residence was located on the top of a hill, it was not surprising that there was a cliff at the end of the forest. However, the view of the ocean from the cliff was spectacular.
The beach and the water surface, both of which were illuminated by moonlight, were radiating a much more dazzling blue than the moonlight. It was an incredible spectacle. The long strip of light along the coastline, combined with the winds surrounding the island and the fog surrounding it, made it look even more mysterious.
“How can you make that color? It’s brighter than moonlight.”
“It’s a luminous organism called a sea firefly. It’s also called a sea firefly. I don’t know if it glows like this every night, but at least it did when I came. And it did today too.”
Kyle smiled softly. His smile seemed brighter than daylight because of the brighter fireflies than the moon. Beneath his beautifully lined lips, his teeth were neatly placed and shining white.
“You’re the first person I’ve brought here, Angie. My father used to come here often before he married my mother.”
“Ah... I see. It’s really pretty. I think it’s the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Later, I’m going to clear the forest on this cliff and build a villa. For you.”
“Really? But cutting down trees and destroying the forest...”
“I’ll just cut down a little, so it’s okay. I’m going to build a small one-story house where the two of us can stay sometimes. There’s a villa down there too... but the view from here is prettier.”
"Huh? Are you talking about immortality? Or the afterlife?"
"No, nothing. Then what is your wish?"
"I hope that everyone on the island lives happily and peacefully like they do now. Of course, the health and happiness of the young master as well. And if possible... I hope that one day I can go to the outside world beyond the sea. I also hope many survivors live safely in other worlds like us."
"Someday, the day will come when I can go out. I hope so too."
I'll take you out, Angie. Just wait a minute. Just wait a minute.
The words he had not yet finished saying melted into a faint smile.
My present and future are all yours. I will do my best so that you can be happy while holding my future in your hands... so that you can live in the light with me forever.
I'll do anything to protect just you.
Generalife, the greenhouse garden with a name that tickles the tip of his tongue like a song, was transformed into a honeymoon space every night. The man and woman who had finally confirmed their love met there every night. They didn't even need an agreement. The two greeted each other every midnight as if they had made a promise.
Angie met him during the week when she worked as a temporary maid at the Duke's mansion, and also on weekends when she spent time at her parents' farmhouse. It was easy to get from her bedroom to the garden, but her heart always raced when she sneaked out of the house and got into the carriage without her parents knowing. Fortunately, they were both deep sleepers, so she never got caught.
The dreamlike days continued. Blackwell Hill, located at a high altitude, was colder than the village below. But the bitter cold of the January night did not stop the two men and women from meeting. In fact, nothing could stand in their way.
Every night, they confirmed their love and shared the joy of joy in their own world. The rosy future was in each other's eyes, and their deep and affectionate hearts overflowed uncontrollably as if they were going to form an ocean. Their hearts were always filled with the happiness of having found their destined other half.
***
Towards the end of January, an unprecedented event occurred. One morning after a typhoon had passed, a sailing ship was washed up on the eastern shore.
The captain, who lost all his crew in the typhoon, was surprisingly a member of the Imperial Navy of the Trieste Empire, the mainland of the island. He could not hide his joy, saying that after sailing for years to find the Blackwell family's island, he had finally reached Cullinan Island.
“It’s truly a miracle! I was swept away by a typhoon and ended up on the Duke’s island that I had been searching for so long... This area was inaccessible due to the fog, but I’ve been safe until now! This must be God’s grace. And the strange shark you mentioned didn’t exist. It wasn’t even caught in the storm.”
All the residents were shocked by the first appearance of an outsider, and by the fact that the outside world was safely recovering from the aftermath of the war and that the epidemic was coming to an end. Teenage children in particular could not hide their excitement.
“Wow, the outside world is safe now! So we can go to the mainland too? I can’t believe the route has been cleared!”
“It’s still difficult right now because of the fog, but we’ll have to wait and see for a few years! Eventually, it will be possible to travel freely between the mainland and the island. Oh my, I never thought this day would come!”
For a while, the island was bustling, never a day of silence. Angie, too, had heard the topic so much that it was painful to the ears, not only in the Duke's house but also in the Sunday chapel and the embroidery club. She, too, was excited and happy. No matter how rich and peaceful the island was, there was no way it could not have curiosity and desire for the outside world.
But behind the excitement, there was also anxiety. It was none other than because of Kyle.
“Then, you too will be crossing to the mainland now? The captain said that he would set sail again on the last week of February when the fog clears according to the lunar cycle. So, won’t you also be leaving then?”
“I think so. The imperial family has been trying to find the Duke’s whereabouts for a while, so they’ll bring him in this time. They’ll probably find a way to clear the fog on the mainland, so we can finally go to the mainland! Just imagining it is so exciting!”
Angie's agitation grew louder as her friends spoke excitedly. It was a joy to break the isolation from the outside world, but what if it meant increasing the physical distance between her and the master? Just thinking about it made her heart sink.
Was it because of that vague sense of unease? She had even forgotten that Martin Silva had once mentioned the outside world in a dream.
***
That night, Angie didn't see the master. The letter that came in through the crack in the maid's room door was written in his elegant and delicate handwriting.
[My Angie.
I won't be able to meet you tonight or tomorrow night, as I have a lot to talk to the captain about. Come to Generalife at midnight the day after tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you.
-Your Kai.]
Her heart was already sinking at the thought of not being able to see him for two nights in a row. Angie tried to calm her nerves and carefully folded the letter. This time, she didn't put it in the secret box under her bed right away.
She changed into her nightgown and untied her neatly tied hair. Her long blond hair, reflecting the candlelight, had an orange tint. Angie gathered her lusciously wavy hair to her waist, put on a cap, and blew out the candle. She left the folded letter under her pillow.
As soon as she laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes, Kyle's face came to mind. A vulgar prayer pierced through the center of her heart.
Kai. Don't abandon me. As you once said, I am the only woman for you, right? If that's true... If I am Kai's one and only, your precious destiny, please don't abandon me.
Please always be with me.
***
Two days passed and the long-awaited night arrived. It was the last night in January when Angie left her room around midnight and arrived in the Generalife gardens.
“Angie, I have something to show you. Follow me.”
Kyle showered her with hugs and kisses and led her out into the garden. It was a particularly warm night. The remnants of the heavy snow had cleared away, and the cold that had been raging for days had eased slightly. Still, Kyle wrapped his fur muffler around her, worried that she might be cold, and led her outside instead of into the annex.
“Kai, where are you going? This is...”
“Almost there.”
The two walked through the forest that led to the backyard of Blackwell Heights. It was an area that even servants did not enter. Angie shrugged her shoulders slightly as she walked alongside him, fearful of the darkness of the forest.
“It’s okay. What’s there to be afraid of when you’re with me? Just go a little further.”
Kyle tightened his grip on Angie's hand as if trying to reassure her. His faintly smiling face reflected the moonlight, creating a mysterious atmosphere.
Angie smiled back. Her heart was pounding with anticipation. She was certain that something wonderful was waiting for her at the end of the forest, no matter what it was.
What on earth is this? A surprise gift prepared by the master...
Finally, when they had passed the last of the beautiful trees, Kyle gently grabbed Angie's shoulders and stood behind her. He then covered her eyes with both hands. His fragrant scent permeated her body, sweetly permeating it.
“Just walk a few steps like this. Trust me... and take your time.”
Angie took each step carefully as he led her. Beneath her covered eyes, her full lips were slightly raised as if in pleasure. There was a rustling sound under her heels. The remains of broken branches and fallen leaves rose gently above the stillness of the night.
“Yes... Now open your eyes slowly.”
After a moment, Kyle stopped her. He took his hands from Angie's eyes and slowly lowered them to her shoulders. Angie opened her eyes. A thin sigh escaped her lips. It was a sigh of wonder.
“Wow! How could this be... so beautiful!”
The two men stood on the cliff. Given that the Duke's residence was located on the top of a hill, it was not surprising that there was a cliff at the end of the forest. However, the view of the ocean from the cliff was spectacular.
The beach and the water surface, both of which were illuminated by moonlight, were radiating a much more dazzling blue than the moonlight. It was an incredible spectacle. The long strip of light along the coastline, combined with the winds surrounding the island and the fog surrounding it, made it look even more mysterious.
“How can you make that color? It’s brighter than moonlight.”
“It’s a luminous organism called a sea firefly. It’s also called a sea firefly. I don’t know if it glows like this every night, but at least it did when I came. And it did today too.”
Kyle smiled softly. His smile seemed brighter than daylight because of the brighter fireflies than the moon. Beneath his beautifully lined lips, his teeth were neatly placed and shining white.
“You’re the first person I’ve brought here, Angie. My father used to come here often before he married my mother.”
“Ah... I see. It’s really pretty. I think it’s the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Later, I’m going to clear the forest on this cliff and build a villa. For you.”
“Really? But cutting down trees and destroying the forest...”
“I’ll just cut down a little, so it’s okay. I’m going to build a small one-story house where the two of us can stay sometimes. There’s a villa down there too... but the view from here is prettier.”
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