If I Throw Myself into His Sea - Episode 2.22

‘If you are of a similar kind to me.’ Pereian’s expression twisted, his heart growing complicated at the mere thought.

‘You must hate me for not knowing your circumstances, for treating you like a woman who has lived a noble life.’ But it couldn’t be helped.

Whatever life she had lived, Pereian could not accept her now. He could not accept her as his one and only mate.

That place, at least in Pereian’s heart, belonged to Ruine.

‘So, you will continue to…’ Pereian ruffled his hair.

Ripples shimmered with the movement.

“…Hate me as much as you want.”

He had no intention of covering Irene’s wounds with love. Hate me. Despise me. All he could do was say such things.

Since he had failed to keep his promise to Ruine anyway, Pereian thought that leading his remaining life in unhappiness was atonement for Ruine. Separate from rejecting Irene. So even if Irene’s hatred was added to that atonement, there was nothing to fear.

Being hated was something he had been prepared for since he pushed away the mainland princess. It was strange that she hadn’t shown him hatred and animosity until now.

Pereian silently reached out and summoned one of his confidants. Where the bubbles had formed, the one he had planted in the Coral Palace was summoned.

“Did you call, Your Highness?”

“…Do it.”

“Yes?”

Pereian uncharacteristically trailed off. He rubbed his forehead, a sign of his confusion, and spoke again.

“Withdraw all the trusted aides stationed at the Coral Palace.”

He no longer felt the need to monitor Irene Iphraim. She was a queen who remained secluded, never emerging.

Once a man named Rupel returned to the mainland, she would simply cling to her head chambermaid or Sipri from time to time to catch her breath, as she always had.

“Then you mean we should stop monitoring the mainland princess…”

His trusted aide questioned Pereian’s sudden decision.

In the Deltia royal family, where obedience to superiors was the rule, he had dared to question the monarch’s words.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Perhaps it was an unintentional remark, for he immediately bowed and apologized. His head was buried towards the floor as if he were afraid to look at Pereian’s face, which was quite pathetic. Pereian watched him.

When he raised his hand, the aide flinched. He seemed to think he was going to be killed.

“That’s enough apologizing. Look up.”

Seeing the aide staring blankly at him, he spoke again.

“Instead, we’ll have to monitor the Epin delegation. Reassign those who were at the Coral Palace to that task.”

“Monitor the entire delegation?”

Pereian remained silent for a moment at the aide’s question. He withdrew his gaze, which had been fixed on the Coral Palace.

“No.”

With his hand on his waist, he turned his back on the aide and moved forward. Towards the Deep Sea Palace, where his residence was located.

“Rupel, exclude him.”

His voice, attempting to pronounce Rupel, cracked pathetically.

***

In Irene’s curtained bedroom, not even the common sea’s aquamarine light could set foot. The coral palace, devoid of even a speck of light, was drab, unlike its name.

Although Athena offered to attend to her, Irene refused even that. She needed time to sort out her thoughts entirely alone, not someone to help with chores. She needed a place to do so. Across the vast land and the boundless sea, the only place where Irene could relax and think was the bedroom of the coral palace. Even that was not entirely Irene’s space.

‘Pereian might come.’

Her husband, who held the underwater world in his hands, could come to Irene whenever he pleased, if he so desired. Pereian had always been like that. Only when she didn’t want him to, only bringing up topics and conflicts she didn’t want.

“Ah…”

Irene, who had been perched on the sofa, groaned and rose to her feet. The dress, which had ridden up because she had been hugging her knees, fell softly to the floor. She stood and headed for the door. She intended to lock it so that even if Pereian came looking for her, he couldn’t easily enter.

With a metallic sound, the door locked. Irene gripped the doorknob and shook it with her weight. Only after confirming that it would not open immediately, did she relax and turn away. Irene approached the chest of drawers. She pulled open the last drawer, and inside was a small box.

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