Summer 18

He extended his hand toward Senita. She didn’t have to worry about how to get on. The Prince’s attendant approached, clasped his hands together, and told her to step on them. However, she had overheard that he was the son of a count. Could she really step on his hands? Senita hesitated, unsure of what to do.

“Senita.”

Iskandar’s voice interrupted her hesitation. Looking up, she couldn’t see his face clearly because the sun was behind him. Senita squinted her eyes. Then, she could finally see Iskandar bathed in the light. His beautifully curved lips and cold eyes stood out.

“I told you to come.”

He commanded.

Senita had to obey.

***

The late summer morning air was refreshing. It was a moderate temperature, not too hot nor too cold, with bright sunlight filtering through the still-green forest. The horse walked slowly through it, moving forward.

Senita clutched the edge of the saddle with stiff arms. Despite trying not to be nervous, her body was tense.

“Still scared even though it’s not your first time?”

Iskandar asked, noticing her stiff posture. His voice resonated against her back. Senita, sitting sideways with her legs together, slowly lifted her head. Their eyes didn’t meet. Iskandar’s gaze was fixed ahead.

“I-I’m… fine. I’m not scared.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

“It’s just that the horse is a little tall for me…”

“Well, you are small.”

Iskandar chuckled softly. Senita kept her mouth shut, unable to retort. It was difficult to argue when she was much smaller than he was.

Silence settled in, and light poured into the space between them. Golden waterfalls cascaded down through the cracks in the forest’s green canopy. The well-trained horse continued forward, unfazed by the sun’s rays. Its strong hooves crushed the lush grass, creating a rustling sound.

Senita took a deep breath. Along with the forest’s fresh, slightly bitter scent, the clean, gentle fragrance of the prince seemed to fill her lungs. Iskandar was so close that his scent was strong. Despite her efforts to avoid touching him, she couldn’t help but brush against him each time the horse swayed. Senita pressed her hand against her chest. Her heart pounded so hard that she felt as if its rhythm were visible through her clothes.

The horse stopped by the Eloro River, which flowed through Martiera. Across the wide river, flowing into the North Sea, stood villas designed like farmhouses. The strong scent of lisianthus blooming along the riverbank hinted at their impending decline.

After helping her down, Iskandar tied the horse to a nearby tree trunk and gestured to Senita. She cautiously followed behind him as he walked ahead.

Fragments of light intruded on the child’s gaze, which had been fixed on his feet. Looking back, she saw fragments of the sun scattered on the river, sparkling like fish scales. The shimmering light dancing on the ripples was as dazzling as floating gold dust.

“Senita.”

He spoke before she could be completely captivated by the light. Senita looked ahead. Iskandar was still walking with his back to her.

“Since you’ve been my playmate, people will ask you about me or Her Majesty.”

His voice, lower than a boy’s but still softer than a man’s, continued. Senita listened quietly.

“Tell them you don’t know anything.”

Iskandar finally turned around.

“It’s our little secret. Right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Understanding the situation, Senita replied obediently. The secret intimacy implied by the phrase ‘our little secret’ felt sweetly intoxicating.

Satisfied with her answer, Iskandar resumed walking. Senita quietly followed. There was no need for her to lengthen her stride or quicken her pace. He walked very slowly. Slowly enough that a child wouldn’t have to hurry.

“You did well.”

At the voice coming from above, Senita looked up. His back, bathed in the summer light, seemed impossibly far away even though he was right in front of her. Even his voice sounded like a distant foghorn.

“You did remarkably well. You endured for a long time.”

Iskandar was definitely here, offering a gentle compliment to the maid who had been his playmate for the summer.

Senita suddenly remembered the first time she played with him. It was the time when she had cried, overwhelmed with tension, and asked if she had done well.

This time, even though she hadn’t cried or worried, he told her she had done well first. It was as if he knew she was worried about incurring the Empress’s displeasure. It was as if he was trying to make sure that she wouldn’t cry.

How could he be so considerate? To be so considerate of a maid like her… How could the Prince be so kind?

Her heart swelled with gratitude and her chest tightened with emotion. Emboldened by the surge of courage, Senita spoke up.

“I heard that you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Then…will you come again next summer?”

“Perhaps.”

Iskandar stopped walking. Senita had been following him, looking only at his feet. She was so preoccupied with what to say next that she bumped her nose against his back.

Iskandar chuckled softly at her clumsy mistake. He couldn’t help but laugh at her flustered reaction as she covered her nose, acting as if she had caused a major accident.

“Do you want me to come back?”

“Yes.”

It was a surprisingly straightforward answer. Iskandar gazed intently into Senita’s eyes, a faint smile on his face.

“Why? Do you want to wear pretty dresses again?”

“No!”

Senita quickly denied it. Her round, flushed cheeks looked like ripe fruit.

“Then what? Being my playmate was fun, wasn’t it?”

“That’s not it. I just…”

“Just?”

“I mean, even without such favors, I just…”

Her blue eyes filled with tears as she became flustered. Iskandar waited patiently. Though hesitant, Senita continued, struggling to speak.

“I…want to see you again, Your Highness…”

He had wondered what she was trying so hard to say. It turned out to be quite a bold statement. There was even a touch of sentimentality to it. It was a pure sentiment, devoid of any hint of mockery. Although she hadn’t expressed herself perfectly, it was commendable that she had voiced the main point in front of the Prince.

Iskandar averted his gaze from her flushed cheeks. His golden eyes looked beyond the river. He could see the edge of the Summer Palace beyond the dense forest. It was the quiet, peaceful paradise that had served as his mother’s summer refuge.

Would he ever come back here again?

“I’ll think about it when summer approaches.”

In truth, there was nothing to consider. He had already made up his mind. He would come if it was a hot summer, if he had free time, and if someone important wanted to escape the heat. If those conditions weren’t met, he wouldn’t come.

The distance from Rasrosad to Martiera was considerable. If not for the pastoral tastes of an ancestor several generations ago, the Summer Palace would have been built much farther south. In fact, the current Emperor had a separate summer villa by a lake closer to the capital.

Unless he had ample free time or another purpose, he wouldn’t make the journey here again.

Could Senita be that purpose?

No, not at all. It was a pointless hypothetical not worth considering. This young maid was merely a means to make his time here more enjoyable.

A toy for a season.

She was a being whose usefulness had ended now that the Empress, her owner, had grown tired of her.

He was simply taking care of the aftermath. Although there was no cause for concern regarding a maid who had only played games with him, his innate nature was to personally confirm everything to the very end. Checking on the young maid was also part of that.

He was also curious about how Senita was coping after witnessing the Empress’s outburst. He needed to silence her. He had brought her to this secluded riverside to ensure there were no witnesses. That was all.

“Senita.”

It was as simple as that, yet Iskandar suddenly extended his hand toward Senita. This time, he couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation for his actions. Perhaps this primal urge to reach out was just a touch of pity for this small, pitiful child.

“Let’s go back to the palace.”

Senita hesitated, then took his hand. Iskandar willingly clasped her small, rough hand and looked down at her for a moment. Her golden hair, rare in Malezik, seemed to shimmer like sunlight on water.

“Your Highness?”

Senita called out to him when he remained silent. Her upturned gaze was blue. It was pure, as if it wouldn’t be stained even if it rolled in the mud. Though she belonged to the lowest social class, her gaze was clear and boundless, like the highest sky.

“No, Senita.”

Iskandar received her gaze and, his mood inexplicably lifted, smiled gently.

“Say my name.”

“Yes?”

“I taught you, didn’t I? Have you already forgotten?”

As he urged her with his eyes, Senita, after some hesitation, cautiously spoke.

“Iskandar.”

She whispered the name softly.

“Yes.”

A strange satisfaction bloomed within him as the maid uttered his name.

“Well done.”

Driven by an inexplicable emotion, Iskandar bent down and pressed his lips to Senita’s forehead. It was a kiss no different from the courtesy shown to a noble lady.

After a moment that felt like an eternity, he pulled away. Senita’s face, which flushed easily, was now as red as a plum. Amused by her appearance, Iskandar chuckled again.