As night approached, Lucien and Seraphina proceeded with their plan. They headed towards the lakeside, where a fishing boat rested beside the dock.
Lucien stepped onto the boat first, then supported Seraphina as she followed him into the small vessel. Seraphina sat on the first seat, while Lucien sat across from her. Since this was a fantasy world, things naturally operated differently here.
In the modern world, one would need a paddle to control and move a boat. However, in this mysterious world, Lucien simply had to use magic.
He cast a simple enchantment on the small boat, guiding it smoothly across the serene lake. The water shimmered under the twilight, reflecting the soft hues of the fading sun like a canvas painted with silver and rose. Gentle ripples followed in their wake, as if the lake itself were holding its breath in quiet reverence.
The celestial view of the lake reflected in Lucien's eyes, a hint of melancholy in his expression as he thought deeply about the past. He remembered his time as Seojun, a lowly civilian struggling to rise in a cruel and unfair society.
He couldn't even have a girlfriend back then. Simply because every girl he took an interest in either had a boyfriend or liked someone else. Apparently, he was the "date to marry" type of guy, so he didn't want to use dating apps to find a girlfriend, as most of those relationships eventually ended.
Now here he was, married and on a date. Only, he was in someone else's body, living a life that wasn't his. Not only that, he was burdened with the responsibilities of a world he barely knew.
A single thought had lingered in his mind for a very long time now, ever since he had been transmigrated:
'Why me? Of all people, why was I the one chosen to embark on this journey?'
As he stood on the small boat, with his right foot on the bow, Seraphina suddenly called out to him, confused as to why he had been silent for a while.
Lucien turned his head towards her, his brows furrowed. "What is it?"
Seraphina was silent for a moment. "You're thinking deeply about something, aren't you?"
Lucien was surprised, though not really. Looking back at the start of their relationship, she had always managed to read him easily.
Lucien didn't answer and simply returned to his seat. "You really know me well," he said with a smile that seemed sorrowful.
Seraphina then smiled, her innocence making him want to protect her even more than he already did—not as Lucien, but as Seojun. And not because he was being sneaky, but because he felt responsible.
By now, the sun had dipped below the horizon, replaced by the graceful view of the night sky. Soft stars began to twinkle overhead, like tiny lanterns scattered across a velvet canvas. A gentle breeze stirred the air as the twin moons rose slowly, casting a pale glow over the lake's surface. The world felt quieter, calmer—as if even time had slowed to admire the view.
Lucien sat still, watching the night sky, feeling both familiar and unfamiliar with it. Back in his world, there was only one moon, but in this world, there were two.
Seraphina, too, was gazing upon the night sky, the stars reflecting in her rose-like eyes.
The two of them were silent, their eyes fixed on the twin moons.
Lucien took a deep breath. Slowly, he glanced at Seraphina. Noticing his gaze, Seraphina also looked at him. Now, their eyes were set on each other. No words were spoken. She moved first, her head slowly drawing closer to Lucien.
However, just as her lips were about to meet his, Lucien suddenly placed his hand on her mouth, surprising her. "Oh?"
Lucien turned away from her. "Sorry, my mouth smells."
Seraphina's expression suddenly became blank.
"..."
"Huh?"
Lucien's face was still turned towards the lake.
'Fuck, I wanna kill myself.'
Suddenly, Seraphina began laughing, startling Lucien. "I never thought you'd ever say something like that!" she exclaimed, holding onto her stomach, almost dying from laughter. Meanwhile, Lucien just stared at her motionlessly as she laughed under the moonlight.
'Even the original Lucien has never seen her like this before!'
For some reason, his heart couldn't stop beating faster.
And before he knew it, everything was over.
They had now returned to the dock, where the boat was originally placed.
Lucien was so immersed in their moment that he barely realized they had returned to land. Her laugh still lingered in his mind; it was too hard to forget.
Lucien offered his hand to Seraphina, supporting her as she stepped out of the boat. He felt her delicate hand as she took his. However, as she stepped out of the small boat, she stumbled slightly, leaning against Lucien's chest. He embraced her to ensure she didn't fall.
They stayed like that for a moment before realizing their position. Then, Lucien immediately pushed her away gently.
'It's just getting worse…'
Lucien turned his face away, feeling flustered for some reason.
"Seraphina, shall we go back?"
She gazed upon the twin moons and said neutrally, "Sure."
The two of them then started walking, heading back to the stone villa. Lucien used a magic spell to illuminate their path. He didn't really have to worry about anything dangerous happening, as he was sure the knights were nearby, watching. And if the danger proved too much for the knights, there was someone else of a much higher level following them.
Soon after, they finally arrived at the stone villa. They had separate rooms, which Lucien had initially arranged. But before they rested, they would have one last moment at this lakeside. Outside the villa was a table and chairs, with food already prepared.
Though it was dark, the glowing flowers around them, the light-emitting fireflies, and the twin moons illuminating the night were enough to brighten their surroundings.
It might not have been obvious, but they were both exhausted by now. And so, they hurried to eat their meal, hungry but at the same time savoring this memorable moment. They chatted as they had earlier, about unimportant things like the stupid actions they once did in the past.
Seraphina could somehow remember their first date. That time, Lucien had done many things worthy of burying himself to the ground. He hadn't performed as well as he did today, simply because the one possessing his body was no longer him. But still, that moment was very memorable for Seraphina. After all, the life of a noble was full of responsibilities, leaving barely any time for themselves.
Her daily life had always revolved around work, causing her to constantly stress and overthink matters she wasn't supposed to at such a young age.
Yet, whenever she was with Lucien, the worries that weighed her down seemed to melt away. His simple, even clumsy, actions lightened her heavy load, like a natural comedian who brought unexpected smiles.
'He truly is a fool.'