Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

Louis came to pick her up early as promised. She climbed into Franto’s carriage thinking of the note she entrusted Alan to deliver to Aven as soon as he returned.

“Good morning, Seira. Did you sleep well?”

Unlike her gloomy and tired look, Louis Franto’s face was as radiant as the morning sun.

“Yes, thanks to you,” came her half-hearted reply as she glanced at him casually.

Her bangs, which usually were neatly brushed, were only half combed today. It felt a little bit off today.

“What about you?” she said as she tried to make small conversations.

“I didn’t sleep well,” he said with a smiling face that didn’t match his words, “I’m nervous.”

Seira tried her best not to scoff as she said, “It doesn’t look like it at all.”

“That can’t be true. As of today, Seira and I may be lovers.”

“Oh! I am impressed by your confidence…”

“How would you like it to be then?”

His reply filled the air around Seira with tension. She was stunned by his question – what does she want it to be like?

Even those that didn’t care for Askan knew well what Seira Askan’s biggest wish was. There was only one thing that she could spend huge amounts of money she earned from running head on to wherever conflicts occur.

“Either way, we’ll see the results soon.”

Smiling at the woman who didn’t answer his previous question, Louis turned his attention outside the window. Seira also followed and gazed at the scenery outside.

The Dews estate adjacent to the emperor’s direct jurisdiction was originally a very fertile land. This was because the stem of Piretta, one of the two rivers that originated from the Taul Mountains, which surrounded the northwest of Askan like a roof, flowed across the Dews estate.

However, it has been 15 years since the fertile land had become a wasteland. Farmland was covered in pit black ashes, and nothing ever came to life in its soils ever since. Three years ago, magicians were hired to remove all the ashes, and Seira continued her efforts to purify and fertilize the lands back to how it used to be.

As a result, the estate managed to regain its original appearance. Since it was outside, it had the highest chance of being revived too. This year again, as soon as spring came, Seira transplanted greenhouse grown seedlings into the Dews soils. Although, all of them didn’t even last until the summer and withered.

Was it because of her experience of recurring failures? Even when Louis said he achieved something, Seira didn’t have much high expectations. She thought she would. If she didn’t expect too much, then the disappointment won’t be much either.

But beyond the small window of the carriage they rode, Seira couldn’t dare to believe what she saw in the distance and her eyes blinked wildly.

‘Am I seeing something wrong now?’

She even rubbed her eyes, but the scene that caught her attention didn’t fade away.

“That… don’t tell me…” she stuttered in disbelief.

Everywhere her eyes laid on were waves after waves of gold. It looked like a wheat field ready for harvest.

“It grew well, didn’t it?”

Even after hearing Louis’ words that confirmed what she saw was real, Seira still couldn’t dare to believe it.

She wanted to jump out of the running carriage that instant. She wanted to touch them with her own two hands to check if she was only looking at an illusion. Seira was deeply afraid that it didn’t exist in reality like how Nathan was in D-Arc. Was she becoming mad?

Seira was determined to touch it. As soon as she stepped on the ground, she had to check the evidence of abundance that captivated all of her senses.

Eventually, Seira couldn’t help it and popped open the carriage door.

“Wait, Seira…!”

Despite Louis Franto’s objections, she didn’t listen and went on to jump out of the carriage. She couldn’t even hear the bewildered cries of the knights escorting them on horseback.

She threw herself recklessly and was finally buried in the golden waves of the wheat field.

“Ah…!”

The sweet scent of the earth invaded her senses. She stood mesmerized in the middle of rolling golden waves up to her waist. It wasn’t a fantasy. She felt it. She felt it.

Shoot!

The winds boasted full vitality of the wheats that were ready for harvest.

“Really…? Really…?!”

Seira’s heart was full to the point it was suffocating. There was evidence at her feet that Askan had hopes for survival.

“You must have sown a lot of seeds.”

She froze at the voice that came from behind her. She realized it too late that she had acted out of character in her excitement.

‘Manage your facial expressions… you must manage your facial expressions, Seira Askan!’

But no matter how she prepared herself, it wasn’t possible at all. As soon as she turned to face Louis, Seira almost jumped at him and kissed him.

“Seira…?!”

His eyes widened with surprise at her eager gaze.

“How…?”

Regardless of this, she grabbed his hand.

“How the hell did you do that?!”

Her heart pounded like crazy as if it was about to explode. Laughter was brimming from her mouth, ready to spill at any moment.

“How the hell, in only a few days… God, this isn’t a dream, is it?”

Louis looked down at Seira and raised his free hand to touch her cheek. A wide smile was painted all over her reddened happy face.

“Do you like it that much?” he asked.

She didn’t care at all when he touched her, and readily replied, “Of course! It’s a miracle!”

Louis watched, without even much as blinking a single glance, as the joy in her beautiful purple eyes swelled but then suddenly fell.