SUNLIGHT ON THE WATER’S SURFACE
1
It happened on a fine afternoon, with a sudden declaration.
“I’m bored, Al. Let’s do something amusing.”
“Whoa, easy there, boss. One out of three tyrants would say that’s a shocking way to start a conversation. You’ve gotta slow your roll or I won’t be able to keep up. What’d you say again?”
“I am bored. Let’s do something amusing. If you can’t deliver, your head will fly.”
“Huh?! So we’re just gonna fully embrace being a tyrant now?” he cried, his voice muffled as he shot both arms to the sky.
Leaning against the iron railing of the balcony, he gazed up at the big blue sky and noticed the clouds drifting by a little faster in the wind. Just as the thought Might rain tomorrow…crossed his mind, his chin was suddenly pushed firmly inward.
“Dah! Wah! Grah!”
With nothing to support him, he tumbled halfway over the railing. His body was flung into the air, and just as his right arm instinctively reached out, it caught on to something. After desperately flailing, he realized he was gripping on to a soft, supple sensation for dear life.
As he stared down at the garden directly below the balcony, his breath caught in his throat. “That—that was close! I was literally standing on the edge between life and death just now…”
“Sorry to inform you, but your crisis isn’t over. Actually, I’d say you’re in much more danger now.”
“Huh?” he yelped stupidly, shifting his gaze upward. And there, on the other side of the metal railing, was the owner of the white arm he had grabbed on to—and she was wearing a sadistic smile.
She was a young woman with coppery hair, lustrous skin, and a bold, revealing red dress. With him still hanging on to her left arm, she stretched out her icy-white fingers toward him.
“P-Princess?! Princess! Please, might I suggest a moment of mercy?”
“For a few seconds, you dared to touch my treasure-like skin. Accept your glory and die.”
“AGGGH!”
With her merciless declaration, the fingers of her right hand flicked outward. In a certain time and place, such a gesture might be akin to a playful forehead flick, but the speed and force behind it were on a completely different level. With a resounding impact, the blow sent Al flying.
He tumbled backward, at the mercy of the air currents, flipping upside down right before he slammed headfirst into the water and sank.
“O-o-oh no! I believe that Sir Al has just fallen into the pond!”
“Ah, Schult, good timing. I want tea. Go prepare it—quickly. That’s your job. Don’t make me wait.”
“Y-yes, Princess! Of course, I will! But I also worry about Sir Al!”
Al sank into the rather deep water, blowing bubbles as he went. The boy’s troubled voice echoed in the distance, mingling with the loud laughter of a girl enjoying herself.
Ahh, what the hell am I even doing?
With that thought, he kicked off the pond floor and shot back up to the surface.
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