Late at night, when all was still, the wind in Lakeheart Town slipped through the window lattice and stirred the gauze curtains.
The candle had long since gone out. Only moonlight spilled across the edge of the bed, where Paul and Laddie slept in each other's arms.
Yet at the same time, they both fell into a strange dream.
In the dream, the two of them stood upon an endless silver lake. There were no stars in the sky, but the water reflected layer upon layer of overlapping images.
They looked at each other, astonished that the other was here too.
"How did you appear in my dream?" Paul asked quietly.
Laddie's brows drew together slightly as her fingertips brushed her husband's cheek. The sensation was so real that it could not have been an illusion.
She suddenly froze, a look of realization flashing through her eyes. "It's her... Isabella."
Before she had finished speaking, ripples spread across the lake, and a figure slowly rose from the shimmering water.
Isabella came walking barefoot across the waves, her green hair cascading like a waterfall, her skin glowing faintly beneath the moonlight.
She was completely naked, yet not the least bit bashful. The corners of her lips curled into a familiar smile tinged with playfulness.
"At last, I'm seeing you again, you heartless, faithless scoundrel." The moment she opened her mouth, she began reproaching him, drawing out the final syllables. "You're enjoying yourself in my sister's room while sending troops to attack the Serdan fleet outside. Tell me, shouldn't you be punished?"
Paul was stunned. "The Serdan fleet?"
"Of course." Isabella approached and lightly tapped his chest with a fingertip. "Those hunting ships are ours, but what happened now? Your people sailed out in big ships with cannons, firing at every vessel