32. He won
For a moment, Erna was gripped by the fear of the menacing sound, but soon she was absorbed in the fireworks.
A beam of light rose from behind the palace, bursting into flames as it reached the sky. The ever-changing, colorful display of light was a dazzling and beautiful display, beyond anything Erna could have imagined.
"Wow..."
Erna was in awe as each firework burst into flames. With each blink, a new scene unfolded, making it difficult to take her eyes off the night sky for even a moment.
“Is this your first time seeing fireworks?”
As the golden light, like a waterfall, began to flow across the night sky, the afterimages of dandelion-like flames lingering, Bjorn suddenly asked. Only then did Erna remember the Prince on the boat with her.
"Yes."
Erna smiled, as if succumbing to pleasure. Her smile was as bright as the weight of the debt she had just relinquished.
“It’s my first time.”
As soon as she finished her shy remark, Erna turned her gaze back to the night sky. It was the moment when a newly launched green firework burst into bloom.
Bjorn, who had been watching the woman, who seemed to have completely forgotten his presence, laughed a little in vain. The lady who had sat quietly and trembled quietly had disappeared, leaving only the excited child.
He thinks she was nineteen.
Although she was younger than Louise, she was an age when most women in high society were engaged and preparing for marriage. Come to think of it, Gladys was the same age as the woman before him when she had her wedding.
Bjorn gazed at the night sky, ablaze with fireworks, reminiscing about a memory that had unexpectedly surfaced. Four years ago, he had been with Gladys. Neither of them enjoyed such activities, but it felt like a great responsibility to show them the love of a newlywed couple, so they boarded the boat together.
As every year, the night on the Arbit River was ablaze with dazzling lights. Gladys, who had been feeling unwell since the day of the rowing competition, appeared particularly distressed on the boat. By the time the fireworks began, her complexion had become as pale as that of a sick person.
However, Gladys held her ground until the very end, repaying the Crown Princess's outpouring of love and support. She truly possessed qualities worthy of recognition as a worthy Queen. This was also the biggest reason why Bjorn readily accepted their marriage.
It was a week later that the reason for the Crown Princess's poor health on the day of the Summer Festival was revealed: she was pregnant.
Congratulations, Your Highness. You will soon be a father.
The royal doctor, overcome with emotion, offered his congratulations. It took a considerable amount of time for Bjorn to offer a fitting response. It was a particularly hot and eerie afternoon, like being a frog trapped in a slowly heating pot.
Bjorn, having grown tired of the fireworks, returned his gaze to Erna. She smiled, as if he were watching a flower bloom.
Can she really run away from her father?
It didn't seem like she was fabricating a lie, but it was hard to be certain she dared to do so. At some point, her will would crumble, and she would end up like Autumn's bride, sold to a place her father supported.
Bjorn didn't believe what he saw. Rumors, reputations, or appearances. These were usually complex, elaborate lies.
So where does the truth lie?
There was a time when he desperately agonized over it, but those sentimental days are long gone. No longer clinging to meaningless notions, life has become much lighter and more refreshing.
Just like that, without faith or doubt. Like the flow of water. Or like the flash of a fleeting light.
Bjorn loved those light, superficial days. As soon as his thoughts reached that point, everything became easier.
There's a beautiful woman before his eyes, the night of the festival is joyful, and he's triumphant.
It was a satisfying deal, as thanks to her, he ended up with a stake several times the value of the trophy she'd lost. Years from now, he might find himself thinking of Erna as casually as he did of Gladys. The woman whose pretty face and quirky antics provided him with much amusement and left him feeling like a valuable asset. She was the source of excitement for a season and a winning bet.
As the final moments approached, the fireworks became even more spectacular.
Erna, completely absorbed in the scene, belatedly realized that her hat had fallen off as she had tilted her head back so far. It had been hanging precariously on the boat's railing, but just as Erna's hand was about to reach it, it fell to the surface.
Erna, panicked, leaned out of the boat and stretched out her arms. Her hat seemed to be within reach, but it wasn't, and she was lifted up.
“Stay still.”
Bjorn firmly grabbed the woman's shoulder, who seemed on the verge of drowning. The boat, now unbalanced, tilted violently as their weight shifted simultaneously. Bjorn, caught off guard, lost his balance along with the boat. Trapped between the railing and his body, Erna struggled in shock, making the situation worse in an instant.
“Oh my god! Look over there!”
The shrill scream of a woman who had been glancing at them reverberated through the roar of the fireworks. The gaze of the people on the boats circling the area was drawn to that spot only after the Prince's boat had half capsized.
“There was an accident! It was an accident!”
As cries for help traveled from boat to boat, the final, largest, and most beautiful fireworks soared high into the sky. Entwined as one, Bjorn and Erna plunged into the river, reflecting the flames.
The festival's finale was marked by screams echoing along the water's current.
The world was plunged into darkness for a moment, and the sound disappeared.
Erna struggled in the absolute silence and darkness. The more she struggled to breathe, the more intense the pain, as if water was filling her lungs.
Please save me!
As the screams that she had been repeating without being able to make a sound began to die down, she remembered her body being held by something hard.
It's okay.
It was as if she heard a voice, urgent and rough, yet strangely reassuring. It was okay. It was okay. It was a much more effective mantra than the one she used to recite on her own.
I see.
Erna dazedly accepted it. Despite the fear and pain still present, she felt like everything would be okay. Even as her fading senses began to reawaken, one by one, the spell remained vivid.
“Miss Hardy!”
Even amidst the noise of the world that began to pour in all at once, the voice, just like in her memory, was transmitted clearly.
With each repetition of the voice calling her name, Erna's consciousness gradually became clearer. The sound of footsteps on wooden planks. The light of lanterns. The commotion of people. The peaceful night sky, the dreamlike beauty of the fireworks is gone. And that man, Bjorn.
“Are you awake?”
Erna nodded with difficulty in response to the question posed by the Prince, who was looking down at her. At that very moment, a cough erupted.
Erna coughed violently and spat out a river of cold water. The pain was so intense that her whole body trembled and tears flowed, but the shame was even greater.
"It's okay."
Bjorn turned Erna's face away from her to prevent water from entering her airway. As the coughing subsided, the convulsions that had been crouching around her body gradually subsided.
“Everything is okay now.”
He looked down at Erna, who was limp and limp, and let out a long sigh of relief. The water flowing from their soaking bodies was spreading dark stains across the wooden deck.
It was a ridiculous accident, but they were lucky.
There was a large ship nearby carrying women and children, and people who heard the news of the accident quickly rushed to help.
Bjorn collapsed beside Erna, who lay collapsed, and ran a hand through his wet hair. His other hand still cupped Erna's pale cheek.
Still breathing heavily, a chuckle escaped him. The more he thought about it, the more absurd it became. It was the first accident since a drunkard, quite some time ago, threw himself into the river and turned a festive night upside down.
The reason is just a hat.
Bjorn gripped Erna's chin tightly as she began to struggle to turn her face away from him. The woman, now frozen, stared helplessly at him.
If only she'd just stayed quiet when he tried to help, the boat wouldn't have capsized. The sigh mixed with laughter deepened as he remembered Erna, who'd been acting like a thug.
Well, that's what happened the night she stole the trophy.
It was impossible to tell whether this was the naive country girl's antics or her detestable pretense, but in any case, she was clearly a troublesome woman in many ways. Now that everything was over, it was a good thing, after all.
Bjorn released the woman he had been clutching, almost crushing her, and finally stood up. Those who had been watching him for a moment finally rushed to their side. While the women frantically attended to Erna, Bjorn took off his drenched jacket.
"It's okay."
Bjorn, with a laugh and a word, stopped the enthusiastic attendant who had taken off his jacket. He flinched, stepped back outside the designated area, and Bjorn brushed past him. He leaned against the bow railing, catching his breath.
The ship was already nearing the dock. The sight of the crowd of onlookers, who had gathered after hearing the rumor, made his ears tingle. Among them were Gladys and Viscount Hardy, and even his mother and father.
She is a lady who makes a sensational appearance and then makes a thrilling exit.
Bjorn briefly glanced at Erna, who had given him such a powerful beginning and ending. He'd gotten himself into a rather annoying situation and looked ridiculous, but he felt it was a price he'd paid for using her in a bet, so he didn't feel wronged.
Bjorn nodded his head to Erna, who happened to turn around and see him, and offered his final greeting. Whether that woman succeeded in her midnight escape as planned or gave up and settled down in this city, either way, they were done for. They had used each other and been used, so their relationship was pretty good.
Bjorn strode briskly off the docked ship. He never once looked back as he navigated the onslaught of attention and concern.
“What is this! Are you okay? Miss Hardy?”
Peter and Leonard, belatedly hearing the news, rushed to the waiting carriage, where he was about to board. The strong smell of alcohol wafted through the air, as if he'd been drinking heavily.
“Bring me my money.”
To Leonard, who held the stakes, Bjorn whispered in a calm, composed voice. With that, the two men, who had been staring blankly at him as he boarded the carriage, almost simultaneously clicked their tongues and shook their heads.
The carriage carrying the drenched Prince began to speed away, leaving the chaotic dock behind. Bjorn closed his eyes, drawing the curtains to block out the chaotic scene.
The festival was over. Now it was time for everything to return to its proper place.
For a moment, Erna was gripped by the fear of the menacing sound, but soon she was absorbed in the fireworks.
A beam of light rose from behind the palace, bursting into flames as it reached the sky. The ever-changing, colorful display of light was a dazzling and beautiful display, beyond anything Erna could have imagined.
"Wow..."
Erna was in awe as each firework burst into flames. With each blink, a new scene unfolded, making it difficult to take her eyes off the night sky for even a moment.
“Is this your first time seeing fireworks?”
As the golden light, like a waterfall, began to flow across the night sky, the afterimages of dandelion-like flames lingering, Bjorn suddenly asked. Only then did Erna remember the Prince on the boat with her.
"Yes."
Erna smiled, as if succumbing to pleasure. Her smile was as bright as the weight of the debt she had just relinquished.
“It’s my first time.”
As soon as she finished her shy remark, Erna turned her gaze back to the night sky. It was the moment when a newly launched green firework burst into bloom.
Bjorn, who had been watching the woman, who seemed to have completely forgotten his presence, laughed a little in vain. The lady who had sat quietly and trembled quietly had disappeared, leaving only the excited child.
He thinks she was nineteen.
Although she was younger than Louise, she was an age when most women in high society were engaged and preparing for marriage. Come to think of it, Gladys was the same age as the woman before him when she had her wedding.
Bjorn gazed at the night sky, ablaze with fireworks, reminiscing about a memory that had unexpectedly surfaced. Four years ago, he had been with Gladys. Neither of them enjoyed such activities, but it felt like a great responsibility to show them the love of a newlywed couple, so they boarded the boat together.
As every year, the night on the Arbit River was ablaze with dazzling lights. Gladys, who had been feeling unwell since the day of the rowing competition, appeared particularly distressed on the boat. By the time the fireworks began, her complexion had become as pale as that of a sick person.
However, Gladys held her ground until the very end, repaying the Crown Princess's outpouring of love and support. She truly possessed qualities worthy of recognition as a worthy Queen. This was also the biggest reason why Bjorn readily accepted their marriage.
It was a week later that the reason for the Crown Princess's poor health on the day of the Summer Festival was revealed: she was pregnant.
Congratulations, Your Highness. You will soon be a father.
The royal doctor, overcome with emotion, offered his congratulations. It took a considerable amount of time for Bjorn to offer a fitting response. It was a particularly hot and eerie afternoon, like being a frog trapped in a slowly heating pot.
Bjorn, having grown tired of the fireworks, returned his gaze to Erna. She smiled, as if he were watching a flower bloom.
Can she really run away from her father?
It didn't seem like she was fabricating a lie, but it was hard to be certain she dared to do so. At some point, her will would crumble, and she would end up like Autumn's bride, sold to a place her father supported.
Bjorn didn't believe what he saw. Rumors, reputations, or appearances. These were usually complex, elaborate lies.
So where does the truth lie?
There was a time when he desperately agonized over it, but those sentimental days are long gone. No longer clinging to meaningless notions, life has become much lighter and more refreshing.
Just like that, without faith or doubt. Like the flow of water. Or like the flash of a fleeting light.
Bjorn loved those light, superficial days. As soon as his thoughts reached that point, everything became easier.
There's a beautiful woman before his eyes, the night of the festival is joyful, and he's triumphant.
It was a satisfying deal, as thanks to her, he ended up with a stake several times the value of the trophy she'd lost. Years from now, he might find himself thinking of Erna as casually as he did of Gladys. The woman whose pretty face and quirky antics provided him with much amusement and left him feeling like a valuable asset. She was the source of excitement for a season and a winning bet.
As the final moments approached, the fireworks became even more spectacular.
Erna, completely absorbed in the scene, belatedly realized that her hat had fallen off as she had tilted her head back so far. It had been hanging precariously on the boat's railing, but just as Erna's hand was about to reach it, it fell to the surface.
Erna, panicked, leaned out of the boat and stretched out her arms. Her hat seemed to be within reach, but it wasn't, and she was lifted up.
“Stay still.”
Bjorn firmly grabbed the woman's shoulder, who seemed on the verge of drowning. The boat, now unbalanced, tilted violently as their weight shifted simultaneously. Bjorn, caught off guard, lost his balance along with the boat. Trapped between the railing and his body, Erna struggled in shock, making the situation worse in an instant.
“Oh my god! Look over there!”
The shrill scream of a woman who had been glancing at them reverberated through the roar of the fireworks. The gaze of the people on the boats circling the area was drawn to that spot only after the Prince's boat had half capsized.
“There was an accident! It was an accident!”
As cries for help traveled from boat to boat, the final, largest, and most beautiful fireworks soared high into the sky. Entwined as one, Bjorn and Erna plunged into the river, reflecting the flames.
The festival's finale was marked by screams echoing along the water's current.
The world was plunged into darkness for a moment, and the sound disappeared.
Erna struggled in the absolute silence and darkness. The more she struggled to breathe, the more intense the pain, as if water was filling her lungs.
Please save me!
As the screams that she had been repeating without being able to make a sound began to die down, she remembered her body being held by something hard.
It's okay.
It was as if she heard a voice, urgent and rough, yet strangely reassuring. It was okay. It was okay. It was a much more effective mantra than the one she used to recite on her own.
I see.
Erna dazedly accepted it. Despite the fear and pain still present, she felt like everything would be okay. Even as her fading senses began to reawaken, one by one, the spell remained vivid.
“Miss Hardy!”
Even amidst the noise of the world that began to pour in all at once, the voice, just like in her memory, was transmitted clearly.
With each repetition of the voice calling her name, Erna's consciousness gradually became clearer. The sound of footsteps on wooden planks. The light of lanterns. The commotion of people. The peaceful night sky, the dreamlike beauty of the fireworks is gone. And that man, Bjorn.
“Are you awake?”
Erna nodded with difficulty in response to the question posed by the Prince, who was looking down at her. At that very moment, a cough erupted.
Erna coughed violently and spat out a river of cold water. The pain was so intense that her whole body trembled and tears flowed, but the shame was even greater.
"It's okay."
Bjorn turned Erna's face away from her to prevent water from entering her airway. As the coughing subsided, the convulsions that had been crouching around her body gradually subsided.
“Everything is okay now.”
He looked down at Erna, who was limp and limp, and let out a long sigh of relief. The water flowing from their soaking bodies was spreading dark stains across the wooden deck.
It was a ridiculous accident, but they were lucky.
There was a large ship nearby carrying women and children, and people who heard the news of the accident quickly rushed to help.
Bjorn collapsed beside Erna, who lay collapsed, and ran a hand through his wet hair. His other hand still cupped Erna's pale cheek.
Still breathing heavily, a chuckle escaped him. The more he thought about it, the more absurd it became. It was the first accident since a drunkard, quite some time ago, threw himself into the river and turned a festive night upside down.
The reason is just a hat.
Bjorn gripped Erna's chin tightly as she began to struggle to turn her face away from him. The woman, now frozen, stared helplessly at him.
If only she'd just stayed quiet when he tried to help, the boat wouldn't have capsized. The sigh mixed with laughter deepened as he remembered Erna, who'd been acting like a thug.
Well, that's what happened the night she stole the trophy.
It was impossible to tell whether this was the naive country girl's antics or her detestable pretense, but in any case, she was clearly a troublesome woman in many ways. Now that everything was over, it was a good thing, after all.
Bjorn released the woman he had been clutching, almost crushing her, and finally stood up. Those who had been watching him for a moment finally rushed to their side. While the women frantically attended to Erna, Bjorn took off his drenched jacket.
"It's okay."
Bjorn, with a laugh and a word, stopped the enthusiastic attendant who had taken off his jacket. He flinched, stepped back outside the designated area, and Bjorn brushed past him. He leaned against the bow railing, catching his breath.
The ship was already nearing the dock. The sight of the crowd of onlookers, who had gathered after hearing the rumor, made his ears tingle. Among them were Gladys and Viscount Hardy, and even his mother and father.
She is a lady who makes a sensational appearance and then makes a thrilling exit.
Bjorn briefly glanced at Erna, who had given him such a powerful beginning and ending. He'd gotten himself into a rather annoying situation and looked ridiculous, but he felt it was a price he'd paid for using her in a bet, so he didn't feel wronged.
Bjorn nodded his head to Erna, who happened to turn around and see him, and offered his final greeting. Whether that woman succeeded in her midnight escape as planned or gave up and settled down in this city, either way, they were done for. They had used each other and been used, so their relationship was pretty good.
Bjorn strode briskly off the docked ship. He never once looked back as he navigated the onslaught of attention and concern.
“What is this! Are you okay? Miss Hardy?”
Peter and Leonard, belatedly hearing the news, rushed to the waiting carriage, where he was about to board. The strong smell of alcohol wafted through the air, as if he'd been drinking heavily.
“Bring me my money.”
To Leonard, who held the stakes, Bjorn whispered in a calm, composed voice. With that, the two men, who had been staring blankly at him as he boarded the carriage, almost simultaneously clicked their tongues and shook their heads.
The carriage carrying the drenched Prince began to speed away, leaving the chaotic dock behind. Bjorn closed his eyes, drawing the curtains to block out the chaotic scene.
The festival was over. Now it was time for everything to return to its proper place.
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