CHAPTER 252: TO THE BEACH AGAIN

Completely unaware of the dramatic scene unfolding in the Undine family study, Nero pulled out his phone. A small smile touched his lips as he typed a message to Khione.

[Hey there. What are you up to right now?]

He didn’t have to wait long for a reply. His phone buzzed a moment later.

[Believe it or not, I was just dragged out by Eltreth and Azalea. We’re on our way somewhere now.] Khione’s message read. [I have no idea what they’re planning, but whatever it is, it won’t work.]

Nero’s smile widened. He wasn’t worried. It was definitely unusual for those two to invite Khione out, and he had no doubt they were up to something. But he trusted Khione completely to handle whatever it was.

[Sounds interesting!] he wrote back. [Well, we just finished a basketball game. The plan is to head to the beach for the day. You in?]

The reply was immediate.

[Yes. We’ll meet you there.]

With their summer break slowly winding down, they were all determined to squeeze in as much fun as possible. A day at the beach sounded perfect.

Nero relayed the plan to the others. The group then split up to quickly rinse off the sweat from their game and change into comfortable summer clothes—light shirts, shorts, and sandals. Now, all that was left to do was wait for the girls to arrive so their day at the shore could begin.

About thirty minutes later, the girls returned. Eltreth and Azalea were chatting animatedly, but Khione broke away from them and walked straight to Nero. The two shared a quick, warm hug, and Nero leaned in to give her a brief kiss.

The public display of affection immediately got a reaction from their friends. Lux shook his head, a knowing and amused smile on his face. Adam let out a low, impressed whistle. Blake just blinked, looking surprised at how quickly their relationship seemed to be progressing.

Nearby, Azalea let out a soft sigh as she glanced at Eltreth. For just a moment, the princess’s confident expression faltered, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face before she quickly composed herself again.

Without a word, the three girls then headed inside to change into their beachwear for the outing.

While they were gone, Adam stomped over to Nero. He tried to throw an arm around Nero’s shoulders, but the height difference made it awkward. Giving up, he settled for a good-natured slap on Nero’s back.

"You’re really something else, kid," Adam said with a gruff laugh. "You’ve got Khione completely charmed. Kissing her right in front of everyone without a care. You’re becoming a real pro. So," he leaned in with a teasing glint in his eye, "how far has this thing gone, anyway?"

Nero just shrugged, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "I’ll let you use your imagination, little Adam."

The response made Lux and Blake burst into laughter. Adam’s face flushed a bright red. "Why, you—!" he sputtered, and made a lunge for Nero.

But Nero, whose speed and reflexes had been enhanced by his second awakening, easily danced out of the way. The two of them ended up in a comical chase around the courtyard, with Adam huffing and puffing while Nero stayed effortlessly out of reach.

The "chase" ended with Adam leaning over, hands on his knees, panting heavily. He pointed a shaky finger at Nero, who wasn’t even breathing hard.

"You’re no fun, kid," Adam wheezed.

Nero simply shrugged again, his smile never fading.

A few minutes later, the girls emerged, each dressed in a style that perfectly reflected their personality.

Eltreth wore a vibrant red summer dress that complemented her fiery red hair and intense orange eyes. The color seemed to radiate the same confident energy she always carried.

Azalea had chosen a soft, leafy green dress that brought out the color of her emerald eyes. She had styled her blonde hair up, which gracefully showcased her long, elegant elven ears. The overall look was both regal and natural, fitting for the princess of elves perfectly.

Lastly, Khione appeared in a flowing summer robe of white and pale blue, the cool tones a perfect match for her silvery-white hair and crystalline blue eyes. She looked every bit the serene and untouchable ice queen.

Nero’s eyes went straight to Khione. As she approached, he took her hands in his, his gaze warm and appreciative.

"You look beautiful," he said, his voice soft but sincere. It was a simple compliment, but the way he looked at her made it clear he meant every word.

A small, genuine smile—one full of clear affection—touched Khione’s lips at Nero’s compliment. The others watched the exchange, and while they were happy for their friends, they couldn’t help but roll their eyes a little at the sweet display.

Could you two take the lovey-dovey act somewhere else? they all thought, though none of them dared to say it out loud. The couple’s happy atmosphere was a little too much for the rest of them so early in the day.

Soon after, the group piled into the Leclair family’s robust black car, easily identified by the family’s insignia on the door. The driver navigated out of the estate and headed for Angel’s City’s popular beach once more.

Because the car belonged to the city’s ruling family, they passed through the busy streets without any delays. Even though it was a Saturday and the traffic was heavy, they made good time and arrived at the sunny, bustling beachfront shortly after leaving the estate.

•••

The group found a more secluded spot on the beach, away from the main crowds. They laid out large towels and set up a large umbrella to provide some shade from the brilliant sun.

The girls disappeared behind a makeshift screen to change into their swimsuits, and the boys did the same. When they reappeared, the atmosphere shifted with a new, easygoing energy.

It was then that Khione, in a stunning white and blue bikini that contrasted sharply with her pale skin, handed Nero a bottle of sun oil.

"Could you put this on my back?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying a clear note of intimacy.

Nero’s face lit up with a soft smile. "Of course," he said, happily taking the bottle.

As Nero began carefully applying the oil to Khione’s back, the reactions from their friends were immediate and varied. Adam’s eyes widened, and his face flushed a bright red. With a strangled noise, he immediately turned on his heel and stomped off towards the water, muttering to himself about needing a "very cold swim."

Lux watched the scene with an amused and curious smile, shaking his head in wonder. He remembered how distant and untouchable Khione used to be, and it was still amazing to see how much she had opened up around Nero.

Blake, for his part, had already stretched out on a towel under the umbrella. He watched the scene through half-closed eyes, looking far too lazy to be shocked by anything, before promptly dozing off in the warm sand.