Spsh Spsh Spsh

  "Hehehe! More! More!" ［Natalia］

  A pair of hands were waved and the waters followed after. As water spshed left and right, ripples littering the vast blue sea, soft and cheerful giggles resounded in the air along the cries of cawking seagulls and the symphony of bubble foams popping.

  A new day has started once again and as the sun tio climb the eversting horizon, the sea has bee lively again, a number of familiar figures shouting and ughing as they wasted their time away in enjoyment.

  "Mama! Mama! More!" ［Natalia］

  "Fufufu! Okay, okay, but don't move too much. Listen to Mama, okay?" ［Natasha］

  "Um! Nalia, listen!" ［Natalia］

  The Little Princess agreed without a hint of hesitation, making her mother smile. Little waves soon drifted her way again as the Princess waved her hands up and down, water spshing on the former's cute, little face.

  But as the mother and daughter priandem eheir time together, a lone figure hem at high speeds, parting the waters away and spshing waves at its wake. It drew closer and closer, the noise eg louder and louder.

  "GRAAHHHH!!!" ［Galleus］

  Waves spshed once again and a mysterious figure emerged from the waters, its face covered in green as kelp hung down its head. A loud cry echoed ever so fiercely as he raised his hands, ready to pou the two.

  "Papa!!" ［Natalia］

  But rather than flin fear and surprise, the Little Princess' faly shone brighter like a star twinkling in the middle of the night. Such a sparkling expression only left the Prince dumbfounded and in disbelief.

  "Haah... And here I thought I'll get you this time..." ［Galleus］

  "Fufufu! Our daughter is quite the fearless one, no?" ［Natasha］

  "Haah... You say that again..." ［Galleus］

  A lengthy sigh left the Prince's mouth as he removed the kelp from his head, a silent plop resounding as he dropped it back to the water. There was a little bit of disappoi in his face as he looked at how sparkly his daughter's eyes were.

  It wasn't the first time he tried to surprise the Little Princess with a little scare, but every siime, without fail, he failed to do so. Rather, the tter's expressions only beamed brighter every time, even spotting him before he could eve close.

  "Papa! Papa! Carry Nalia!" ［Natalia］

  "Hm? Do you want a shoulder carry or a piggyback?" ［Galleus］

  "Piggy! Piggy carry!" ［Natalia］

  "Hahaha. Alright. Here es Princess' Natalia's loyal ride～!" ［Galleus］

  Well, no matter how disappointed he was, he was still more than happy to py with his beloved daughter. Not even wasting a single sed, Galleus quickly lowered his back, letting the Little Princess hop on with a happy smile on her face.

  And even wheill wore extra floaters in her little arms, Galleus made sure to hold her tightly, letting only her lower body be submerged iers. The Little Princess was a little koa ging to her mother... Or rather, in this case, her father.

  "Right, Dear, would you also like a piggyback ride ter?" ［Galleus］

  "Mmn... I'm afraid I'll have to dee this time." ［Natasha］

  "How about a bridal carry then?" ［Galleus］

  "Dear... That's even more embarrassing..." ［Natasha］

  The Prince wasn't just doting to his daughter, but his wife as well, invitio flirt out in public. Thankfully, the Princess had some on sense, saving herself and everyone else from a little bit of embarrassment.

  Apart from the family of three, the others were enjoying themselves as well. The kids were pying in the shallow waters, the King and Queen were rexing atop a rge floater, the Landevar couple was expl the coast, and of course, Kris and Aria were at it again, bantering like they usually do.

  Sadly, some couldn't make it for the day as they still had some things to do. Both Jiro's family and the Beldons were not with them, only sending them their regards. It was unfortunate, but it didn't make the outing any less.

  "Hey Julius, caught anythi?" ［Grey］

  "Shut up! 't you see I'm trating here?!" ［Julius］

  As for the teens, they were having a fishing test to see who could catch the most, the rgest, and the most beautiful fish, holding fishing rods in their hands. It ot reended by their very own Marika who is also joining them.

  And as one would expect, the one who caught the most fishes was Marika. It has only been about half an hour, yet she has already caught six of them. She may be the clumsiest, but she was also the most experienced out of them. An easy feat.

  Of course, they weren't just using normal fishing rods. They were ones Grey personally ented to be as durable as they . Even if a beast were to pull it, both the rod and line wouldn't snap and break.

  "Ah! I got another one!" ［Elise］

  "M-Me tooー Ah! It's fighting back!" ［Tilda］

  "Please hold on a minute! I'm ing to help!" ［Eine］

  Eine quickly rushed to Tilda's rescue, and with both their strengths bihey easily reeled the fish out of water. And as soon as it was in range, Eine easily caught it with her bare hands and dropped it inside a bucket.

  It was a saltwater silver-scaled carp, spanning more than a foot ih, with scales sparkling brightly like silver as sunlight hit it. Though it wasn't a rare fish, it was very beautiful and hy, and also tasted delicious too. It was a good catch.

  "Waah～! It's so beautiful... You caught a wonderful oilda." ［Eine］

  "Hehehe. It's nothing, and... Lady Eine helped me, so it's our catch!" ［Tilda］

  "Is that so... Fufufu! I'll gdly accept then." ［Eine］

  With it, Tilda's total went up to three with the cooperation of Eine, putting them ahead of the others. As for the one itom of the scoreboards, it was her than Helen and Julius, both tied at zero catches.

  As frey and Yuna, they were simply enjoying their time. After all, if they really wa, with their heightened sense and superb abilities, catg a couple dozen wouldn't be a problem. Still, it would make the petition useless so they both refrained from doing so.

  Several more minutes passed and more fishes filled the buckets. Marika was still in the lead, with 11 fishes in her bucket, Yuna came in sed with 9, Grey and Elise tied at 8, Ei 6, Amelia and Tilda at 5, Helen finally catg some, now at 2 fishes. And of course, Julius still got nothing. The unluckiest of them all.

  "Agh! Goddammit! These damn fishes are so sly!" ［Julius］

  Or rather than being unlucky, he was just far too impatient for his own good. Before the fish could even bite the bait, he quickly reels the line in and scares the fish away. It was the reason he never got a catch even up until now.

  Julius was ning, ready to rip the fishes apart, looking like a bloodthirsty demon as he threw the rod towards the wavy sea, a loud spsh resounding in the air, sg the fish away at the same time. He's crazy, alright.

  "Hey, Julius, if yonna quit, don't rage right here. You're sg the fish away with all the ruckus." ［Grey］

  "Ha! Who said I'm quitting?!" ［Julius］

  "Wait, what are you..." ［Grey］

  Julius waved his right hand and a spear appeared at his behest. He quickly grabbed ahold of it, g it tightly as he gazed at the blue abyss below him. His eyes were n with fierce passion, like a warrior heading to battle.

  "If they're not ing for me, then... I'll be ing to them instead!" ［Julius］

  A loud decration echoed in the air and soon a simirly loud spsh resounded as Julius leaped into the water, holding his trusty spear as he dove deeper and deeper, fluttering freely as if he owhe seas.

  He may not be good at using a fishing rod, but if it's using his spear, it's a pletely different matter. If he could fell rge beasts in a sirike, then small fishes would be pletely helpless. It was time for spearfishing!

  "Haah... That bastard... Really..." ［Grey］

  "Umm... Will Big Brother Julius be alright?" ［Marika］

  "Yeah, he'll be fine. He may be an idiot, but he take care of himself. If anything, I'm worried what sort of trouble he'll make." ［Grey］

  It wasn't just Grey. Both Elise and Eine were also in agreement with his words, nodding their heads in silence. With all the stunts Julius had pulled throughout the year, they are not even sure whether they should ugh or cry. Truly troublesome.

  "Amelia, just curious... Are you really sure you want to marry Julius? I'm also a little ed for your future." ［Yuna］

  "Fufufu! It's okay... His Highness may be like that, but he also has his good sides. Rather, isn't it adorable that he acts like a child sometimes?" ［Amelia］

  "Mmn... I guess that's true..." ［Yuna］

  But oh well, what mattered the most was the fiancée's opinion. Growing with him from childhood, she was already used to his shenanigans and have e to love that side of him as well. She accepts him for who he is.

  Julius out of the se, everyone tiheir fishing spree and caught fish after fish with every passing minute. And havi how to fish, Helen had also started to catch up with the others, closing their gap with every catch.

  "Waah～! So many fishes!" ［Galvin］

  "Elder Sister Amelia, did you catch all of these?" ［Iris］

  "Big Bro! I want to py too!" ［Bel］

  And as they tihe children soon arrived at their fishing spot. All were still wearing floaters around them as they he previous group, eyes sparkly as one be as they observed their catch.

  Thankfully, the ground, although wet, was not really slippery nor was it rough. The children o take ra precaution and could simply enjoy the wonderful sight without any worries, the familiars following after them.

  "Do you want to catch fish too, Bel?" ［Grey］

  "Yes! I?" ［Bel］

  "Of course... e here, I'll teach you." ［Grey］

  "Yaay～!" ［Bel］

  A bright smile on her face, Bel approached Grey and sat in front of him, holding the fishing rod with Grey's assistance. She doesn't really know what's happening but was still very happy that she could join them in their fun.

  And as one would expect, as soon as they saw Bel snuggle close to Grey, the other children also watched them with sparkly and expet eyes. Even Iris who is usually reserved couldn't help but g them, also wanting to join in.

  "Fufufu! e here, Yhness. Let's fish together." ［Amelia］

  "You too, Galvin! Fish with Big Sis, okay?" ［Yuna］

  "Liz, here. Let's show them how amazing the Landevar sisters are!" ［Elise］

  It was futile resisting. With such expet looks on their faces, there was no way they couldn't grant their simple request. Oer another, everyone found themselves a partner and they started fishing together.

  "A-Ah! What should I do?! I-It's shaking!" ［Iris］

  "Please calm down, Yhness. The fish would struggle even harder if you shake it like thatー Ah... It got away..." ［Amelia］

  "S-Sorry...!" ［Iris］

  "Fufufu! It's okay, it's okay. It's just a single fish, anyway... Let's just do our best ime, Yhness!" ［Amelia］

  "Y-Yes!" ［Iris］

  It wasn't just Iris. The other children were having a hard time grasping the cept of fishing as well, and to top it all off, the oeag them also just learned how to fish just retly. It was quite an iing sight to see.

  Of course, the petition was still on. Everyone now has to teach the children to fish while catg as much as they at the same time. Although now, it was much calmer and lighter than ever. It was just a friendly petition, after all.

  Snap Snap Snap

  And as they were having fun, Grey didn't fet to snap them a lot of pictures. Bright and wonderful smiles floating all over the pce as he took them. The children didly know what it was for, but they happily plied when Grey asked them to smile, not a single ounce of hesitation in their eyes.

  It was a shame that Grey doesn't have any advanced camera's with a zoom feature, but thankfully, the pictures he took were good enough. Just seeing everyone's smiles as the photos printed was more than enough for him.

  "Speaking of which, Elder Sister Amelia... I don't see Elder Brother Julius anywhere? Was he not with you?" ［Iris］

  "Well, he was... But not too long ago, His Highness decided to go spearfishing on his own. He retty eager at the time." ［Amelia］

  "Elder Brother was?" ［Iris］

  "Yes. But don't worry, Yhness. I'm sure he will be all fine." ［Amelia］

  "Okay..." ［Iris］

  Or so Iris said, but her eyes still waowards the vast blue sea before her. Though she knew full well how powerful her brother was, she couldn't help but worry about him. After all, like Grey and Yuna, he was always oo attract trouble.

  trary trey was very calm. He has been where Julius was with his "Heaven's Eye" and kly where he was at the moment, in fact, he knew full well what he's up to, his eyes trag the red hue dyeing the waters below.

  "Don't worry too much, Iris. He'll be back soon." ［Grey］

  "Hm? What do you meaー" ［Iris］

  SPLAASSSHHHHH

  Lo and behold, a loud spsh echoed in the air. Iris couldn't even finish her words when a rge tuna leaped towards their dire. And it wasn't just any tuna, it was one which had a hole in its side, blood trig down from it.

  ??Barrier?? ［Grey］

  But so much as to harm them, the tuna couldn't eve hem. Only a loud thud resounded in the air as the tuna bounced back after hitting Grey's barrier, heading back to the waters like a ping pong ball passed to the oppo.

  "Gwaakk!!" ［Julius］

  And that oppo was her than the Kingdom's Sed Prince, Julius who just resurfaced out of the water, only to be greeted by the rge tuna he ohrew towards the ground. A loud shout echoed as it struck him in the face.

  Everyone was dumbfounded about what just happened, only Grey and Yuna calm like undisturbed waters, unfazed and collected. They were a plete opposite of Julius whose veins were now about to burst from anger.

  "Hey! That hurt a lot! What was that for?!" ［Julius］

  "That's my line! Why did you throw that tuna our way?!" ［Grey］

  "You could have just caught it then!" ［Julius］

  "Haah?! What did you say?! Are y to test my patience?!" ［Grey］

  There they go once again. Though they refrained from cursing each other as there were children around, their banter was still harsh and loud, irked veins popping up in their heads as they tried to trol their rage and irritation.

  "Grey, just you wait! I'llー" ［Julius］

  "Yhness. Let's have a lovely little chat, shall we?" ［Amelia］

  Like usual, the oo stop their bickering was her than the beautiful and dignified Lady Amelia. The dy who was smiling and not at the same time, giving Julius a look enough to send cold shivers down his spine as if death was greeting him.

  It was like anyone would have expected. As soon as Julius climbed the rod reunited with everyone, he got a scolding full of love from Amelia, kneeling to the ground with his head hung low. He owerless against her.

  "Waah～! So big!" ［Galvin］

  "Big Bro, what's this big fish?" ［Bel］

  "That's tuna, and it's really delicious. Should we cook it for lunch?" ［Grey］

  "Eh?! We'll be having tuna for lunch?!" ［Helen］

  Meanwhile, as Julius was getting scolded, everyone else was admiring the rge tuna he caught and thinking of ways how to prepare it. Everyone's eyes were sparkling brightly as Grey and Yuna expined what kind of dishes they could make with it.

  Before long, their fishing session was finally over and everyone headed back towards the sheds. And as one would expect, Marika was the winner of their little petition, showered with cheers and appuse from everyone else.

  Along them were buckets upon buckets of fresh fish they caught, ranging from different shapes and sizes. Unfortunate fishes which will soon be iheir bellies after they have been into delicious and wonderful dishes.

  And as noon roag close, when they arrived, all kinds of curious faces greeted them back. Curiosity which soon turo surprise aement as soon as they saw what was ihe bucket they brought back with them.

  "Oh my! You caught all of these?" ［Eleanora］

  "Mom! Look, I caught this oh Big Bro!" ［Bel］

  "Really? Our daughter must be a genius in fishing, then." ［Marianne］

  All sorts of ents and praises were throw and right as everyone showed their catch to their parents, proud smiles blooming in their faces. But perhaps the most eye-catg one off them was the King himself,

  "Ohh! As expected of my son! To catch such a big tuna! How wonderful!" ［Ernes］

  "Hahaha! That's only to be expected! Who do you think I took after?!" ［Julius］

  "Well said, my son! Well said! Hahaha!" ［Ernes］

  The King and Julius ughed their hearts out as they puffed their chests with pride. Seeing them act like that, one could easily tell where the Sed Pri his loud and troublesome personality. Like father, like son.

  It was fortuhat Iris ied the grace of their mother, otherwise, one could only imagine how chaotic things would be. One could only hope that the Little Princess would grow up to be her aunt, a prim and proper princess.

  "Fwy! Fwy! Fwy!" ［Natalia］

  Speaking of the Little Princess, she is currently fpping her arms up and down, cute as one be, as she mimicked the seagulls she sees flying in the distance. She also hopped and circled around as she fpped her arms happily, smiling and giggling ever shtly.

  And as soon as she spotted Grey and Yuna, she quickly ran towards their dire, all the while still fpping her arms. She was so excited, she didn't even look at where she was heading to as she ran, magnifitly tripping over.

  "Woah! Careful there, Little Princess." ［Grey］

  "Hehehe! Catcsh!" ［Natalia］

  Thankfully, Grey was there to save her from falling, catg her with ease. Though, it seems that the Little Princess really didn't mind it as she was still giggling even when she almost fell over, eyes still sparkling brightly as Grey carried her.

  Well, the Little Princess wasn't the only one giggling. Just a couple distance behind her, her parents were also subtly smiling and giggling as they let Grey and Yuna py with the Little Princess. She was just too adorable to scold.

  "Big Bro! Big Sis!" ［Natalia］

  "Hm? What's the matter, Little Princess? Do you need something from us?" ［Yuna］

  "Um! Fwy! Fwy!" ［Natalia］

  The Little Princess requested, but Grey and Yuna could only tilt their heads to her words, fusion traced in their eyes. Though her fumbling of words were very cute, there are times they just don't uand her. It was one of those times.

  It was only when she poiowards the birds above that they finally uood what she meant. She just wao take off the skies again ahe cold winds caress her skin. To fly freely in the sky.

  "Hm? Does the Little Princess want to fly with the puppies again?" ［Grey］

  "Um! Fwy! Puppiesh, fwy!" ［Natalia］

  Grey was right on the mark. As soon as he asked, the Little Princess happily raised her hand with a response full of excitement ahusiasm. She was eager to ride the backs of the familiars again, soar through the sky like they previously did.

  "Hahaha. Alright, alright, let's do just that. But for now... How about we prepare for lunch first? We'll fly ter." ［Grey］

  "Un! And if the Little Princess wants, let's also go diving, okay? I'm sure it will be a lot of fun!" ［Yuna］

  "Really...? Pwomish?" ［Natalia］

  "Un! Of course!" ［Yuna］

  "Waah～! Yaay～!" ［Natalia］

  It was a simple promise, but the Little Princess' smile was extending from ear to ear as she cheered happily. She gave Grey and Yuna a tight and warm hug, expressing her gratitude in one of the few ways she knows.

  The salty breeze blew once more and lifted the white sand in the sandy shores, answering to the call of the waves and peacefulness of the sky. It was yet another bright and peaceful day.

  "Grey! Hurry up! We're starving!" ［Julius］

  "This bastard...." ［Grey］

  Well... Almost a peaceful day...

  CHAPTER 247 END