Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

“Hmm…”

Seira wrinkled her nose slightly at his words. He had a point after all.

She remembered the night they spent a few days ago. The difference of how skillful he ended and how clumsy he began was too great not to be doubtful. As in battle, he was a man who could use his body like a weapon at any moment in time.

“But Baron, where’s your companion?”

He leaned his head toward her and said, “Don’t you really know?  I don’t usually wear bothersome things.”

“Ha!” Seira laughed mischievously, trailing her hand down his firm chest, “What cold-hearted man. Miss Olivia must be very upset.”

When she entered the hall, Seira confirmed that Olivia Tellon also attended the banquet. Perhaps because the number of Omega from high-ranking noble families was small, the invitation seemed to have gone even though she was only the second daughter.

“Seira…” he groaned with a low voice as Olivia’s name spilled from her mouth.

Come to think of it, this was the first time they saw each other face-to-face ever since that day. Seira closed and opened her mouth from too much hesitation, and so Baron continued.

“I really do apologize for that day. I didn’t know that beasts were among my family…”

Baron looked down as if he was truly remorseful, and then added as he lifted his gaze back to Seira, “I know that this might sound like an excuse… but I’m doing the best I can to get it right.”

In short, it meant that the Jeff was going to be overturned.

Seira knew from Aven that he came to apologize to her. He seemed to be trying his best, but she wondered if it would turn up the way he wanted to. Dealing with the elderly would be an entirely different matter for Baron who had more experience on the battlefield.

“I think it would be quite difficult for my situation to say it’s fine. I do have an honor to protect,” she said then quickly added, “But I’ll accept your apology, Baron.”

“…yes, that’s enough, for now.”

As she spun and twirled to the tune, Seira found several people looking their way with green eyes.

‘I heard he’s popular, but it must be true.’

Not only Omegas but also a lot of Alphas were glancing at Baron enviously. That would be quite understandable. Didn’t she also feel envious when she saw the gloriousness of his naked body?

Baron’s hard and dense muscles, which by far were the strongest amongst master-class slayers, still stood out even with banquet robes.

‘No matter what anyone says, he’s the best groom.’

Seven years ago, when he just turned into an adult, he already showed off his charm as a male, how much more now that he was at his prime?

It was sure that there would be more than one Omega that longed to hug him even for a night.

“Where are you looking?” he asked as he suddenly pulled her waist.

“Ugh,” Seira rolled her eyes, “Why are you showing off your strength all of a sudden?”

Despite Seira’s protest, Baron tightened his grip and pulled her closer to the point his own chest weighed down on her.

Baron’s unique low and harsh voice poured into her ears as he said, “I want you to focus on me when you are with me.”

“What did I do wrong?” she grumbled as she looked up at him.

A lot of complicated emotions played in his eyes.

“Do you feel bad that I attended the ball with a partner?” Seira asked even though she already knew the answer to her question.

Baron’s brows scrunched in the middle at her question. He looked really, really irritated now.

“Yeah. I want to throw your partner out of the terrace this instant,” came his honest response.

“You’re different from your cousin, aren’t you?”

Considering whether Baron was so sensitive when Calrad and she were together, of course he wasn’t.

“I can’t compare His Majesty and Franto.”

Seira got curious. Does Louis Franto hate it that much? Or is his loyalty to Calrad that much?

Seira smiled vaguely at Baron’s firm answer.

“Yes.”

For Seira, Calrad was the most threatening opponent, but it was only because of her situation and their shared past.

Baron’s lips pressed together into a thin line at her expression. He had a lot more to say, but he had to end the conversation because the dance song was about to end.

Baron had the first dance with her as a prize to his hardships in the battlefield, but it was actually her freedom that he wanted most.

Seira read the longing in his eyes as soon as she pulled away from his hand. His scent as he exhaled shortly afterwards smelled of dense wood spread out.. Wait, he was spilling his pheromones!

“…!”

It wasn’t serious, but she couldn’t help it because her body was hot and her breathing labored.

Baron smiled briefly at her reproachful eyes.

“Find me when you want to, Seira,” he said to her.

His body, which was tightly worn with several layers of cloth in between, was as hot and hard as that night.

“You’re always welcome.”

Everything that touched was threatening as if it would be dyed red or burned white.

The music finally came to a stop.

The two each took a step away from each other and bowed politely. Now that they weren’t obliged to do anything for anyone, and they turned around without regret.