About Your Pride and My Prejudice
Chapter 53: Lake Dove

Chapter 53: Lake Dove

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It was when the sun was high up in the sky when I left the mansion door. The sun was hot, but in the shade of my hat’s brim, I looked happier than anyone else.

The scenery along the way to the lake shimmered with dazzling colors, as if all hopes and expectations in the world were put together. As I walked through that landscape, I realized once again how amazing it is to be alive.

“I should have come out sooner.”

Spring is such a season. Even in the midst of my haze, my steps were light, and my uncontrollable excitement flowed out with a hum.

“It can’t get any better than this.”

The wind made branches softly wave and the singing of the birds brushed past through my ears, and the scent of fresh grass densely soaked in the wind. In my hand was a basket which contained sandwiches, fruit and some wine. My heart was excited by the pleasant feeling of it’s weight.

When I arrived at the lake, I felt my whole body relaxing.

“Wow… “

Spring is when everything comes alive while enjoying the blessings of the sun. In the middle of it, Lake Dove, which stretched out, reflected the golden sunshine was endlessly overflowing with brilliant gold. I was the only one who was enjoying this marvelous landscape, luxuriously.

I sat with my back against a nearby rhododendron tree, staring at the golden waves that filled my vision for a long time.  It was truly perfect peace.

Later, when I realized the existence of a basket, I took out an apple. Feeling the refreshing breeze caressing my cheek, I cut down the bright red fruit, and the thick juice of the fruit moistened the tip of my nose. A fresh and sweet scent wafted slowly in the air.  Next, the smell of moist soil and the fresh forest……….

The afternoon was also bewitching.

“It would be perfect to read here.”

I pondered several times whether I should go back to the mansion and bring the book. But I shook my head because my whole body was drowsy and heavy as wet cotton. As long as I stay here, I can come back as many times as I like, so there’s no need to rush.  I could come tomorrow as well.

Nevertheless, I was eager to see the huge sunset over the expansive lake, so I thought that I would definitely bring a book next time. Time flies so fast when one reads a book. Before I know it, when I will raise my head, the sky and lake will be colored with a bright red sunset.

“It will be beautiful…..”

As I imagined that moment, my heart tickled with overwhelming anticipation.

Rather than feasting on a sandwich and wine, I laid my stomach on the soft meadow. Instead I feasted on the beauty of the scenery until I felt full. As I was getting full, I felt my drowsiness take over  like I was going to be submerged in the waves of sleep at any moment.

Didn’t I fall asleep while holding the teacup in my hand this morning?

“…….”

Then I suddenly wanted to grab a pen. It’s too early to start a new story, but I wanted to write about my current mood in my diary.

I agree to some extent with the idea that moments are remembered as scents. At this moment, wouldn’t it be remembered as the watery smell of water and the sweet scent of apples?

When I thought about it, I could not help but laugh. Let’s bring a book tomorrow. I’ll be out at the same time as today.

And at the end of the evening……I will watch the red sunset melting over the reddish lake.  without hesitation……  without hesitation……

* * *

For some time I was walking along a foggy forest path. The cold fog was so thick that it was impossible to tell an inch ahead, and the dense trees above my head did not allow even a faint ray of light.

Nevertheless, I took a step without hesitation. I was lost, but I didn’t feel uneasy. An unknown sense of déjà vu guided me. Like I’ve been here before.

“The fog…”

As I reached the end of the dark road, the fog suddenly cleared up. What appeared in front of me was a garden surrounded by a fence made of high bars. The iron bars, with sharp tips rising like they were soaring through the sky, were wrapped in dense rose vines as if they were buried in it.

I don’t know who owns this garden, but it doesn’t seem to be properly maintained. I even wonder if it’s an abandoned place.

Even so, the iron grates engraved with a graceful comb pattern were charred in some places, and the roses also seemed to be of wild species, not the species commonly seen in the kingdom. I had never seen a rose so richly colored and beautiful before.

“A secret rose garden hidden in the deep forest…..”

It was clear that it had been a long time since people had stopped visiting. In such a secluded and deserted place, it would be difficult to come back since I stumble upon it by chance.

After a moment of hesitation, I decided to go into the garden. It was hard to remember whether I was supposed to meet someone here or something else, but an unknown conviction led me to the narrow entrance.

“Hik,”

In an instant, the cold night dew that had settled on the petals soaked into my shoulder like water. I shuddered like a startled bird.

Starting with my movement, the countless deep red flowers that had bloomed flooded in like ripples, no, like huge waves. A dense, thick scent burst upon me like a cannon and swept me. It was as if they were welcoming or trying to enchant.

As I entered the garden and the scent hit me, my legs relaxed as if I was drunk. I fought the sensation of my body melting and continued forward. Surprisingly, a larger garden appeared than I originally thought.

It was a maze garden. A wall of wild roses filled my vision but……. I shuddered a little at the extremely dramatic and enchanting sight.

As I walked through the endless red labyrinth, and through the scent that was as fresh as lemon and suffocatingly cold and sensual, I obsessively held on to a certain dangerous and burdensome emotion. I didn’t know if it was a burning desire or a desperate longing.

Soon after, I suddenly froze. Of course, both my legs were tired, but not for that reason.

“…….”

A slender man was standing against the background of dark red flowers, blooming with their coveted petals wide open. It was as if he was buried among the blossoming flowers, yet he looked like he belonged there.

On the way toward him, the petals that brushed me fluttered and fell down. The man’s back, apparently aware of my presence, stopped without any movement. Can’t you hear the sound of my dress rubbing against the leaves?

Nevertheless, I suddenly thought it was okay as it was. It was because of his neat back hair, straight and broad shoulders, and the curves of his waist was as beautiful as a painting. It’s good to have it engraved in my eyes, so I want to keep looking at it.

But when he finally slowly turned his head to look at me.  When those cold eyes like the winter sky caught my trembling gaze…… I thought as I ran towards him without resisting.

There is no masterpiece more beautiful than this.

“Melissa.”

The moment I saw his lips, redder than roses, open like petals, I had an unbearable thirst. I was exhausted as if I had wandered through the distant desert day and night, and my throat was burned dry and it was as if full of sand. He was the spring I found.

If I don’t drink right away, I’ll die in an instant.

I rushed and jumped into his arms with blind longing. My trembling legs deeply wrapped around his hard body. As if not to miss him, my hands soaked in night dew grabbed his face in a hurry.

His cheeks were wet, too. Ah, as I let out a low moan and slowly stroked the moon-like dazzling face with my thumb as our foreheads rested against each other.

When a seductive man like a rose closed his eyes, I kissed him impulsively. He didn’t shake me off. Perhaps he wanted me, too. No, even if it wasn’t, he had no intention to stop.

I licked his creamy soft lips and violently swallowed his softly intertwined tongue, a pleasant moan burst out. But no matter how much I drank his sweet breath, I was thirsty like crazy. The endless thirst made me impatient.

If I could drink it all without leaving a single drop…… Then this thirst seemed to end.  But unfortunately I didn’t know how to do it.

I kissed the cold, noble eyelids and begged like a poor child.

“A little more… a little more, please.”

“…….”

Instead of answering, he distorted the beautiful forehead. It was a strangely stoic face. As if the appearance of willingly accepting the tip of my tongue soaked with desire was all a lie.

Now it was the limit.  I whispered, biting his beautiful lips painlessly.

You said you’d give me whatever I want, Alan.

“Ah…!”

Suddenly, a distant night sky covered in mist spread out behind him. The red petals that filled the floor were crushed under my wing bones, giving off a strong scent. The moment I met Alan’s eyes that were captivated by passion, I became a small animal for predators.

“Hurry… “

My body trembled with the desire to be swallowed up. A large, white hand with a bulging blue vein grasped my breast, he grabbed the button at once and tore it open.

Alan, as soon as I called out his name with a breath of excitement, all reason melted at the kiss that poured down my soft skin.

And when his sharp fangs finally scratched the reddest spot, I woke up like a shriek.

Unbelievably, I was lying under a misty evening sky.

“…….”

Before my eyes, the sunset-colored sky was pouring down onto the calm water. It was true that I wanted to see the sunset on Lake Dove, but it was never like this.

No, more than that…….

“I’m a rogue…….”

Alan Leopold was completely insane. I hate him for his arrogance and cunningness, and I am angry at the atrocities he has committed.  With an unshakeable sincerity.

But my foolish heart, mortgaged by the times I loved Alan and unfortunately seemed to need time to shake him off. As if to taunt me, he came to my dream when I was about to forget him.

It was by no means pleasant that the frequency of these dreams were becoming more routine., But before it was always Alan who was overbearing and arrogant, and so far I had been able to evade him in my dreams and gloss over it.

But now…….

“…..I won’t come tomorrow.”

I murmured with a solemn face. Then I thought, How can I get rid of this terrible afterimage?

Let’s go back to the mansion first. Wash my body, eat diligently, and at night…… Let’s devote myself to the novel so much that I wouldn’t be able to think of anything.

I’m fine.

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Only then did I have the heart to get up, and I put my elbow on the damp grass.  The moment I slowly turned around while lifting my face that seemed to still have a feverish sensation.….

A startling sigh broke out.

“Ha,”

Since when? A bouquet of unidentified roses lay beside me.  It was a bundle big enough to fit in my arms.

At first glance, it looked dark red under the burning sunset.