Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

He responded as if he had never heard of certain time-related events, no matter how many times Seira mentioned it. For example, her engagement with Calrad, and the break-up thereafter. He didn’t understand how the imperial family could betray them, as well as why Seira was all alone.

Maybe he couldn’t accept that there was no one to protect his only daughter or be by her side always. In the end, Seira thought it would be better if she used military supplied swords than to see her father’s frozen expression.

‘I can’t. Things aren’t going out as well as I planned it to be,’ she thought.

“If you marry me, everything here will belong to you…”

Seira’s eyes widened as Baron’s words reached her ears. Her head shot up and she asked him with a stunned look, “…what?”

“Seira, aside from the contract we signed yesterday, what do you think about marrying me?” he asked her.

This was the very first that Seira heard Baron spoke so seriously. His face didn’t show a single hint of a joke, making it clear that he was determined to show her his intent to win her heart.

“I have wished to ask you this for the longest time, and I am sure it wouldn’t change in the future,” he continued, “I didn’t mean to be impatient, but after seeing how His Majesty treated you a few days ago, I couldn’t just sit still and do nothing.”

Seira looked at Baron silently, her eyes and whole face void of any expression. He took a step closer towards her, their faces merely inches apart now.

“As per our contract, the first child can succeed Askan, and the second child can succeed Jeff. Can’t you give me a chance to protect you from now on?”

Baron’s voice was crystal clear. He didn’t stutter nor did he make any mistakes with what he said. He wanted to show Seira how serious he was to do anything for her, to have her by his side.

To be honest, Seira was utterly caught off guard. She didn’t expect Baron to make this suggestion himself today.

Did he know the consequences of embracing Askan as part of his family? Or did he just choose not to bother despite the inevitable chance of clashing with Calrad?

Words could barely come out of Seira’s lips despite her many efforts to open her mouth.

“If I say yes, can it really be like that?” she finally found the right words to speak.

She knew it would be hugely beneficial for Askan if she nodded and pushed to sign a marriage contract right away, but she also knew marriages between noble families shouldn’t happen that way.

“You are the head of Jeff. There are a lot of things to consider for you to take Askan in as your companion…” Seira reasoned out, “Can you truly decide by your own wishes without considering the opinion of other people? Are we both even capable to make such sacrifices?”

Baron knew Seira’s concern was reasonable, however, his answer to all her questions came out naturally as if he firmly believed he was right.

“At least I think anyone with Jeff’s name should be ashamed. The imperial family betrayed their trust and shied away from their responsibility. Isn’t it funny that Jeff, who urged marriage when Askan was still thriving, turned their backs just because the situation had changed?”

Seira frowned.

“I want to believe you, too, but…”

It would be much of an advantage for Askan, however…

“The Duke’s marriage still needs the consent of the senate, right? I do hope it goes well,” she finally added.

“Yes!” Baron’s face immediately lit up when he heard Seira’s words, “I do hope so as well.”

“If Jeff disappoints you, you can always walk away even empty-handed,” Seira smiled and patted his chest in response to his ecstatic reply, “Don’t worry. My dad originally wanted you as a son-in-law anyway.”

Without looking back at Baron’s response to her last remark, Seira walked out towards the exit.

‘Is it really possible?’ she whimsically asked inside her head.

She was still skeptical, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but secretly feel excitement. She started to believe perhaps the night spent with him wasn’t that bad at all.

Or was it because it was the first in a long while since someone wanted her so badly? Or was it because of the hope that Askan wouldn’t fight alone anymore?

‘Well, I hope it works out. Then I could finally get to use that powerful longsword.’

Seira decided it was worth it to look forward to the unexpected twists in her life for a while.

* * *

Jeff’s head butler, Noah, came and delivered important news in person just after Seira washed and changed her clothes. The message was from Domina, who had just returned home and wanted to meet her.

“Let’s eat first then meet my grandmother,” Baron suggested.

“No, I think it’s alright, Baron,” Seira declined, “I don’t think the conversation would be that long anyway, so I better go and meet her first.”

Baron’s expression clearly showed displeasure, but he only nodded in silence as respect to her decision.

Domina was staying separately in a detached house from the main building. The reason for it was that pure-blooded alphas tend to feel uncomfortable living together no matter how close their blood relation was.

“If my grandmother is up to no good, then you can just leave right away,” Baron told her.

“Wouldn’t it be quite difficult on your part if I act unsophisticated towards her? There’s a reason one must look good for a short period of time,” Seira chided.

Baron raised his eyebrows at her joking remarks.

“This and that are different things,” he sighed, “you don’t even know yet who she really is.”

Seira shook her head with a slight giggle and insisted, “I know.”

The two of them exchanged a few stories and laughter on their way to Domina’s place. Just as they arrived in front of the house, someone stood tall and greeted them.

“Greetings to the both of you,” the woman said with a slight curtsy, “I am Olivia Tellon, the second daughter of the Marquis of Tellon.”