Genie, carrying fish in both arms, returned.
Jade was about to explain something to San-gi but he closed his mouth nonchalantly as Genie arrived.
San-gi, seemingly enjoying the situation, alternated his gaze between Jade and Genie and laughed.
Genie chuckled and asked, "What were you two talking about?"
San-gi laughed playfully and stood up from his seat. "Tonight, we'll have grilled fish!"
San-gi took the fish that Genie had gathered and carried them away.
"We'll need skewers to grill the fish over the fire. I bet there are plenty of them in the forest, so I'll go get them this time."
Genie responded, "Then let's go together."
San-gi shook his head with a sly smile. "No. Gene, you stay here."
San-gi turned his head and glanced at Jade.
Jade, who was leaning against the cave wall, looked at San-gi, slightly flustered.
San-gi, enjoying Jade's reaction, calmly exited the cave.
The cave was now left with only Genie and Jade.
Genie slowly walked and sat a little apart from Jade, leaning her back against the cave wall.
"Living on this deserted island is quite tiring," she said, gently closing her eyes.
Jade turned his head slightly, looking at the Princess who was resting with her eyes closed against the wall.
He noticed her plump pink lips and neatly flowing black hair down to her chest.
He quietly watched the tired-looking Genie with her eyes closed.
Still with her eyes gently shut, Genie spoke again. "Jade."
Jade hurriedly shifted his gaze back to the burning pile of firewood in front of him and answered, "Yes, Your Highness."
Genie's soft voice echoed in the cave.
"Do you think we'll be able to get out of this deserted island safely?"
Looking at the crackling fire, Jade responded, "Yes, we will be able to leave safely."
"I hope that Lady Han and Lady's attendant Park will also return safely to Hana..."
"... Don't worry too much, Your Highness. They will be fine."
With a soft voice, Genie continued. "Jade… do you have any regrets in life?"
"... I haven't really thought about it."
"I…"
Opening her eyes, Genie slightly turned her head to look at Jade's profile.
His sharp nose and neat lips stood out.
"I thought I had lived without regrets up until now… but now I'm afraid that I'll regret many things in the future."
Startled by her sudden words, Jade turned his head and looked at her.
He saw sadness in Genie's clear, large eyes as she stared at the blazing fire.
Jade remained silent, continuing to stare at the fire in front of him.
Genie spoke in a quiet voice. "I know that the reason I'm returning to Hana Kingdom is to inherit the throne."
"..."
Jade had informed Genie upon meeting her again in Arabia that Gen's health had greatly deteriorated and that the king had requested the Princess's return to the country.
But hearing that the Princess had already anticipated the situation was surprising to him.
'The Princess didn't show it but knew all along…' Jade thought.
Genie continued speaking. "I also know that inheriting the throne won't be easy."
"..."
'It won't be easy, Your Highness… there are already forces in the Hana Kingdom who are eyeing the throne.'
Genie said, "I'm not even sure if I am the right person to inherit the throne… but one thing is certain."
At her firm words, Jade took his eyes off the fire and looked at her.
Her clear eyes glowed orange as they reflected the light of the fire.
"If the one who inherits the throne in my place is someone who forsakes the values that Hana Kingdom has upheld… I will never let that happen."
Jade's eyes slightly trembled.
"Then… do you mean, Your Highness, that you will claim the throne yourself?"
"If necessary, I will."
From the firm response of Genie, Jade could sense something.
She was definitely not just a young and headstrong Princess.
Genie, sensing the seriousness of the atmosphere, awkwardly added, "Haha. I've gotten too serious. So Jade, let's talk about something more fun."
With a playful smile, Genie looked at Jade.
In the firelight, Jade's handsome profile seemed to shine even more.
Jade turned his head slightly and faced Genie, who was smiling mischievously.
His heart began to throb softly.
'What is this...'
Jade, feeling the strange heartbeat, avoided her gaze and looked down at his knees.
"Yes, please tell me something fun, Your Highness..."
Genie, still looking at Jade playfully, responded.
"You know, Jade..."
Just then, San-gi returned to the cave, holding several skewers made from branches he had cut in the forest.
"I've brought the skewers for the fish!"
San-gi waved the skewers joyfully in the air.
Genie immediately stood up. "Where did you find so many?"
San-gi grinned and handed a few skewers to Genie.
"I cut them from fallen trees myself."
Soon, Genie and San-gi started skewering the fish they had caught.
Jade also leaned against the cave wall and began to skewer fish with them.
After all the fish had been skewered, Genie and San-gi placed the skewers over the fire.
The fish roasted over the crackling flames.
Genie saw Jade standing up and approaching the fire.
"Oh? You don't need to get up."
"I can still move a bit. The bleeding has stopped and I'm feeling much better."
Jade smiled slightly and sat next to Genie, roasting the fish skewers over the fire.
After a while, the three of them had a satisfying dinner thanks to the fire and the fish.
Genie said, "This is the first time we've had a proper meal since we ended up on this deserted island. Thanks to San-gi, we're having delicious grilled fish. Thank you."
San-gi waved his hand. "No, no. If I hadn't met you two, I'd probably be eating these fish raw."
San-gi stood up.
"I'll go step outside for a moment to pee."
Before turning, San-gi gave Jade a sly smile.
'I'm just giving you two some time together.'
Jade, realizing what the smile meant, chuckled to himself.
'What a funny guy...' Jade thought.
As San-gi left the cave, only Genie and Jade remained again.
Genie, standing up, walked to the entrance of the cave and sat down.
The endless sea shimmered in the golden light of the sunset.
Jade, sitting by the crackling fire with his back against the wall, stared at the Princess's back.
Now that she had filled her stomach, Genie's mind was full of various thoughts.
Her father, who was said to have become very weak, was her biggest concern, even more than the matter of inheriting the throne.
Since her father had sent Jade to Arabia to bring her back, it was clear that his health was quite bad.
She also deeply worried about Lady Han and Lady's attendant Park, who had been separated when the ship sank.
Genie prayed fervently that they had survived safely.
Thinking of Lady's attendant Park and Lady Han made her feel even more grateful to Jade.
Even now, stranded on an unknown island, the only reason she could avoid despair was because he was always there to protect her.
Genie looked at the golden-lit sunset sky and once again thanked God for sending Jade to protect her.
It felt as though he was a gift sent by God to watch over her.
"By the way, what was that fun story you were about to tell, Your Highness?"
Jade's low voice echoed in the cave.
Genie turned around and looked at him.
The fire in the center of the cave lazily illuminated Jade, who was leaning against the wall.
His injured leg was stretched out, and he propped his chin with one hand, gazing at her.
Genie absentmindedly looked at his symmetrical lips, which gleamed golden in the firelight, and the sharp jawline beneath them.
She thought to herself that whether it was the Jade from eleven years ago or the Jade now, he still looked incredibly handsome.
"Did I get something on my face?" Jade asked playfully.
"Oh, no."
"I thought I might have fish scales on my mouth," Jade said with a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Haha. I was wondering if I had something on my mouth, but there's no mirror to check."
Genie laughed awkwardly.
The evening wind, now cool, began to blow.
Genie walked to the fire and sat down beside Jade.
"Your leg still hurts a lot, doesn't it?" Genie asked, inspecting Jade's outstretched left leg.
"It's much better than before."
Jade looked at Genie, who was worriedly inspecting his injured leg.
"It's thanks to you, Your Highness..."
Hearing his words, Genie looked up from his leg and met his gaze.
For a brief moment, they stared into each other's eyes.
Genie felt a strange fluttering in her chest.
It wasn't that she was unwell, but her heart seemed to be racing.
Jade felt the same, ever since they had reunited in Arabia after eleven years.
Every time he saw her, his heart seemed to vibrate.
'Do I have to see a physician once we return to Hana...?' Jade thought.