Emerging from the woods, Brando saw the girl standing atop the mountain. The sea breeze lifted her hair as Delphine stood beneath a European maple, one hand pressing down the back of her hat. Her ebony-black hair streamed in the wind as she gazed toward the distant coastline.
The emerald hills and azure sea interlocked in the distance. A white line marked the shore, gulls cried overhead, and the white Rataki City rested in a bay. Today, the Chancellor's daughter wore a navy dress. Its hem fluttered up, revealing black stockings beneath, while her alluring curves complemented the fiery fruit of the wild apple trees along the mountainside.
Hearing the sound, she turned around. Her violet eyes fell on Brando, and a smile bloomed across her face, revealing snow-white teeth. "Well?"
"Very good."
"I mean, how do I look? Pretty?" The Chancellor's daughter lifted her skirt with both hands and tilted slightly to one side as she asked with a light smile.
Brando was startled for a moment, then nodded and answered honestly, "Very pretty."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"We should be thanking you. You did better than any of us imagined. Even the Buga people were won over by your speech. I heard Missril recount it—it was quite an impressive speech—"
"But I don't want you to thank me." Delphine proudly raised her head. "I only want you to fall in love with me."
Brando shook his head. "But you know—"
"I know." Delphine closed her eyes, her lashes trembling faintly. She took several steps toward the mountain peak and inhaled deeply. Her full chest rose and fell as she answered, word by word, "But I don't care!"
Seeing Delphine really walking toward the cliff with her eyes closed, Brando was startled. He hurried forward and caught her