If I Throw Myself into His Sea - Episode 2.12

‘I guess I won’t be able to go to the greenhouse for a while.’

It wasn’t that she particularly liked the landscaping of the Coral Palace greenhouse. Having never received any education in art or landscaping,

Irene wasn’t even aware that the late queen had put so much effort into the greenhouse scenery. She had even clashed with Pereian, so one might think she would avoid it, but the reason she visited the greenhouse every day was simple: it was the closest place to Pereian’s Deep Sea Palace from Coral Palace, where she resided.

A space crafted with water plants and coral. But in this sea, in the place that most resembled land, Irene constantly gazed at the Deep Sea Palace where Pereian would be.

Without a maid, or even Sipri or Atina, she superimposed Pereian onto Ian in her memories, as if daydreaming.

That time was entirely Irene’s. She never dreamed that Pereian himself would come to the greenhouse.

When he walked into the greenhouse and called her name, Irene, who happened to be facing the Deep Sea Palace, felt as if she had been caught in a love affair, and her heart pounded.

She fussed with the hem of her dress, worried that the sound of her beating heart might reach Pereian’s ears. But all that came back was his gaze, still cold and unrelenting. The news that came from his mouth was even more shocking.

“He said he would send an envoy, my father.”

Irene’s sighing murmur filled the silence of the room.

An envoy from the royal family of Epin. Her royal father was not one to celebrate Irene’s marriage. He was even less likely to pay attention to Irene, who had been treated poorly and ignored as an illegitimate child her whole life.

‘Who will he send?’

Irene frowned as she thought of the people of the land.

There weren’t many who came to mind. Would it be the magician who cast the silencing spell? Or the maids of the royal castle who used discipline as an excuse to beat her? Or perhaps the men who observed her every move from the basement and reported to her royal father?

From the beginning, few people knew of Irene’s existence, and with the exception of her nanny and Rupel, everyone seemed to despise her, so she didn’t want anyone to visit.

If her royal father sent someone here, it must be for a purpose. The problem was that she couldn’t guess what that purpose was.

She thought everything would be stable once she left Epin and came to Deltia. Her father – Epin, she thought everything would disappear from her life. That’s why she threw herself into the sea with a willing heart.

‘Was it all for nothing?’

The boundary between the sea and the land was not as deep as she thought. Her father was a man who could control Irene even in this sea if he set his mind to it.

Irene, realizing that nowhere was safe, hugged her knees. She hated herself for feeling fear at the thought of land, and she held her trembling body tightly.

Eventually, tears burst out from the fear. Irene hated herself for always crying like this when she was scared.

‘I miss my nanny. Rupel, too…’

The only people from the land she truly missed in this sea were those who had fallen out of favor with her father.

People who had been sent to port cities far from the capital simply because they were close to Irene, simply because they treated her kindly.

‘I probably won’t see them again.’

Irene wished that if someone from the land came as an envoy, it would be them, a wish that could never come true. She bit her lip to hold back her tears, but it was not enough. Rather, blood droplets flowed from the torn lip.

The bitter taste of blood swirled on the tip of her tongue. Irene groaned softly at the chilling sensation.

To be honest, she didn’t want to face anything from Epin. And right now, Pereian was the only one who could grant her wish. But he rejected Irene’s desperate hand without a moment’s hesitation. “I have no official justification or personal reason to listen to your whining.”

It was a rejection that felt like it was being hammered in painfully with each recollection.

“If you’ve taken a seat that’s too good for you, at least do the job you’re supposed to.”

To act like a queen. What Pereian wanted was the opposite of Irene’s desire.

Ever since it was revealed that Irene wasn’t the princess who was supposed to marry into the Deltia royal family, this had consistently become his weapon. It was the same this time as well.

Irene had to do as Pereian demanded. Because the weapon he held could threaten the minimal safety Irene had been granted. Because if someone else found out about that fact, even this precarious peace could be taken away.

As Pereian said, receiving the envoy was the queen’s responsibility. So, Irene would have to greet the people of Epin with a smiling face. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t anyone’s fault.

Pereian, the king of Deltia, wouldn’t have been able to refuse the envoy sent by the king of Epin. Without being able to explain the circumstances, everything was decided.

The envoy’s visit would not be postponed, and Irene had to treat them as the queen of the underwater kingdom. Even if the envoy in front of her was the one who had harmed Irene. Pereian’s ignorance was so sharp.

She was afraid of the past suddenly approaching this sea. She was afraid of Epin’s visit. The reality that she couldn’t stop anything tormented her the most. Her sobbing breaths gradually grew rougher.

As her sleeves became soaked, a chill ran through her. All the situations placed on her narrow shoulders were overwhelming.

***

“Irene, I heard there will be a total of three envoys visiting this time.”

Atina brought news assigned to the Coral Palace from early morning. Irene had directly requested it to know the number of visitors in advance to prepare for welcoming the envoy.

“Thank you, Atina.”

Irene smiled warmly at Atina, who was busily sorting documents related to the envoy.

Four days ago, when she first heard about the envoy’s visit and was blankly staring, she would have still been floundering if Atina hadn’t readily stepped forward.

“Don’t worry too much, Irene. Whatever Irene was like on land, you are now the Queen of Deltia.”

“…Queen of Deltia.”

“Yes. The one and only owner of the Coral Palace. With Sipri and me as your support.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

It was fortunate that Atina knew that Irene’s life on land hadn’t been so smooth.

“…Thank you.”

Irene expressed her gratitude again, feeling thankful. Atina smiled bitterly, seeing her master conveying her thanks shyly.

The visit of the Epin envoy was not welcome news for Atina either. Atina knew about the scars on Irene’s body and was a close aide who served her. The person who hid a painful past as much as the scars hidden on her back was the master of the Coral Palace that Atina served.

Four days ago, after receiving news that Pereian Richard had headed to the greenhouse, Atina rushed, worried about Irene. There was no one at the place she arrived.

As if she had hurriedly left, the gravel laid on the path leading to the inside of the Coral Palace was all scattered. The master Atina was desperately looking for was huddled in the bedroom as if dead.

Without even asking what had frightened her so much, Atina stood Irene up. Irene’s feet were already covered in scratches.

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