The Soul Reborn: From Silence to Sovereignty Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Embrace of the Sea

Before we thought about signing any leases, there was one thing we absolutely had to do first…

Enjoy the beach, of course!

It didn’t matter how many streets we crossed or how many apartment ads I skimmed at red lights. None of it compared to the view that unfolded as we reached the shore.

Blue stretched endlessly to the horizon, so vast it seemed to swallow the sky itself. Waves crashed in steady rhythm against the shore, their white crests scattering into spray that caught the light like shattered glass. The air was sharp with salt, alive with the cries of seagulls wheeling overhead, each note echoing across the open expanse.

Livia and Elowen were pressed against the window like kids, eyes wide, completely speechless.

I found us a good place to park.

“Welcome to the ocean,” I said with a grin. “Let’s go get some swimsuits.”

Just off the boardwalk was a shop crammed with racks of beachwear and overpriced sunscreen. I headed straight for the swimsuit section and chose a modest one-piece dress style in navy blue with a small ruffle at the hem. It covered just enough to keep wandering eyes away while still being cute for Noah to appreciate.

No two-piece for me. That was more than enough skin.

I turned around and held up a few options for the girls.

“Okay, so… This is what you're wearing,” I said, lifting a skimpy 2-piece swimsuit with a solemn face. It was hard to hold in the laughter. It was so thin that I’m pretty sure they both almost fainted.

Elowen’s soul visibly left her body.

Livia squinted like I’d just held up a battle flag and she was ready to fight.

“You don’t really expect us to wear that, do you?” Elowen asked, clearly horrified at the idea.

I just stared at them blankly until I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Of course not,” I said with a chuckle. “It was just a joke. You think I’d put either of you in something like that when you’ve barely seen your own ankles in public before?”

They both exhaled.

My smirk wouldn’t leave my face. I handed them both different colors of the same style I was wearing.

“This is what we’re actually wearing. It’s modest, practical, and still adorable.”

After some convincing, they had finally given in and even put on some flip-flops for their bare feet to be shown to the world. That was something very personal in the other world, as females in general don’t show any skin in public.

But damn, we looked good!

Three beautiful girls in matching dresses, while one carried a cute little daughter who had a wide-brimmed sun hat to keep her delicate skin safe from the sun.

Noah, on the other hand, had been in trunks and a shirt, something I would correct very soon in the near future, I smirked.

As we made our way down the boardwalk and onto the sand, we passed a group of guys jogging shirtless, laughing and tossing a football between them.

Livia and Elowen both reacted to that.

“Why are they…?”

“Where are their shirts?”

Even though they got completely red, that didn’t mean either of them actually stopped staring.

I blinked. “It’s a beach. Shirts are optional.”

It was pretty obvious that they wouldn’t get used to such a thing anytime soon.

I turned to Noah, who was casually carrying our beach blanket and bag, including other items we had bought before making our way out here.

“Are you going to let them show you up?” I teased. “You’ve got a literal eight-pack, love. Their six can’t even compare.”

He raised an eyebrow at my sudden challenge. “You want me to go shirtless?”

“Obviously,” I tried to be as serious as possible. “Don’t let me down.” Even though I saw all of him many times last night, that didn’t mean I would allow such a great opportunity to pass. It would also create entertaining reactions from those around me.

After a sigh came from his lips, he began unbuttoning his shirt with obvious amusement written on his face.

When I realized he was taking too long, I got impatient.

I stepped forward while holding Lyra in one arm, hooked my fingers under the fabric, and just ripped it the rest of the way off with a satisfying swoosh.

“There,” I said, tossing it into our bag. “Now you look damn sexy.”

Noah just chuckled and shook his head, completely unfazed. He was always a man of his word and would meet my expectations without complaint.

Elowen and Livia were frozen. To see someone they respected dressed in nothing but shorts threw their thoughts into complete chaos.

One of them kept opening and closing her mouth. While the other, who was far more curious, had commented, “He’s carved like actual marble.”

“Don’t make the same mistake twice, Elowen,” I said smugly, reminding her of past mistakes. After that I took his hand. “You two just enjoy the view and try not to faint. I’ll be building sandcastles with my shirtless warlord and divine baby.”

They said nothing because honestly… what could they even say?

Both of them just nodded slowly as they followed behind us towards our chosen location.

I was smirking so hard I could barely keep it together. Livia and Elowen weren’t just red; they were glowing. They hadn’t made eye contact with Noah since I dramatically ripped off his shirt, but that wasn’t even the worst of it. There were many other guys all around them who glanced in our direction as we passed.

After spinning around and facing them, “Okay, serious question.”

They looked at me like I was about to cast an evil spell on them.

“What do you think the people back at the castle would say,” I asked sweetly, “if you had told them you saw the Archduke like this?”

I gestured dramatically at Noah, who was shirtless, slightly tanned, toned, and carrying a heavy beach bag like it weighed nothing at all. In overall appearance he was like a god among men, but that could also just be my bias.

Neither of them could even answer because of how outrageous it truly was.

Elowen’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Then she just shook her head and looked out at the water like she was questioning her entire reality.

Livia was trying to act like she wasn’t impressed, but her eyes were lingering and at the same time dancing from one person to another. Well, at least she seems a little interested in the opposite sex. I still questioned it, though.

I couldn’t help but laugh as Lyra joined in and giggled in my arms.

“You two are impossible,” I said while nestling my adorable baby.

Then I turned to Noah, slipped my arms around him with care so as not to disturb Lyra, and pressed my face to his bare chest, right against that glorious, reality-defying eight-pack.

His scent was comfortable, something I’ve been inhaling for a while now. Is this just something you develop when you’re in love?

“You see this?” I said over my shoulder to the girls, still holding onto him. “This is what you’re missing by not finding someone.”

Noah was obviously amused, as I felt his body shake from laughter.

“That’s why I keep telling you to stop being so close-minded. Live a little. This world is so much freer than you could ever imagine.”

Livia made a quiet, grumbling sound. “It’s indecent.”

Elowen was still red. “It’s… very different.”

“Exactly,” I said, stepping back just enough to take Noah’s hand and tug him toward the waves. “That’s the whole point. So don’t be so judgmental. There are no nobles who would whisper behind your back and no rules about showing off your ankles. Just breathe and enjoy yourselves.”

Lyra playfully played with the frills on my swimsuit, visibly content with her current position, letting out a happy coo.

“Come on,” I added. “Let’s go touch the ocean; it’ll change your life.”

The two of them hesitated… Then… slowly, followed.

Because I’m sure their curiosity to enter the water filled their heads more than any fear they were feeling.

There was so much more I wanted to show them in the future. The theme park and the beach were only the beginning.

I turned to Noah as he spread out our beach blanket across the warm sand and set Lyra into her stroller that was now under the umbrella.

“Noah,” I said expectantly as I scrunched my toes against the sand underneath. “Watch our little princess for a while, would you?”

He gave me a nod. “Go have fun.”

I leaned in close and whispered with a smile, "Later… it’s just you and me in that water." My finger traced toward the open ocean. "It’s the perfect place for a date. We could play in the waves like teenagers just discovering love, and then share a deep kiss as the sun sets behind us."

The look on his face was priceless as I left after blowing a kiss his way.

“Try not to miss me too much,” I added, winking.

Then I waved the girls over. “Alright, ladies… Let’s go undo a lifetime of mindsets that take all the fun out of living.”

They followed a little stiff, wide-eyed, and with the glint of obvious anticipation in their expression. I feel like etiquette turns people into robots who only have selected responses; it’s really pathetic. I’m going to turn my family and those who I care about into real humans.

The moment our feet hit the edge of the shore, the foam swirling over our feet, both girls stopped like the ocean had personally offended them.

Elowen yelped and lifted one foot, jumping back.

“It’s wet!”

“Yes… its water,” I said, exasperated. “That’s kind of the whole point.”

Livia just stared off into the horizon. Her arms were crossed, most likely debating on whether or not this was a good idea.

I kept walking as they contemplated their own decisions, letting the water soak higher up my calves, relishing the coolness of the water as I went deeper.

After I turned back and noticed both of them still only ankle deep, I raised a brow.

“Okay, serious question,” I called out. “Can you two even swim?”

Livia blinked. “What?”

“Swim,” I repeated. “You know… actually move your bodies through the water with intent, instead of dropping straight to the bottom like a stone.”

Elowen’s face suddenly turned mildly horrified. “No.”

Livia frowned. “I’ve bathed in a basin once. That’s all.”

I rubbed my temples. “Okay, yeah, stay back. Don’t go too far in if you can’t swim; it’s actually pretty dangerous. You see these waves coming in?”

They both nodded.

“That’s from something called an undercurrent. It’s a powerful force beneath the surface that can drag you out to sea before you even realize what’s happening, and if you can’t swim?”

I gave them a flat look. “You’re screwed. So stay in the shallows,” I said with a serious face, something I don’t show them too often. So they knew I meant it.

“Why is it trying to pull me away?” Elowen asked with a quizzical expression.

“Because it doesn’t care who you are,” I said, laughing. “Oceans are wild like that, so stay safe.”

She just nodded at my words.

I walked back to them after I swam around a bit, getting myself fully submerged in the water. The waves weren’t actually that bad, so the risk was low.

“Just feel the water and let it wash over you. Laugh, splash around, do whatever you like. The whole point is to let go of those preconceived notions you cling to so tightly.”

Very slowly, almost painstakingly so, I coaxed them a little deeper into the water. I held each of them by the hand, gently guiding them forward. Their tension was clear, so I adjusted to their pace and moved with care.

Each time a wave, barely a foot high, rolled toward us, they huddled at my sides for protection. It was impossibly cute, and I couldn’t get enough of their expressions.

Elowen in particular grabbed onto my arm once the water was at her knees like a death grip. She refused to let me go; when I looked at her, she had eyes that were pleading with me to keep her safe.

I just smiled at her and said nothing. They were at least making progress; I was satisfied with that.

When I glanced back at the beach, I saw Noah holding Lyra, making the cutest faces at her. I couldn’t resist catching their attention, and we all laughed when he realized we’d been watching.

One day we’d splash each other in the water, but for now, this was enough. It was pretty obvious both girls were at their stress limits for the day.