Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

As she approached, only then did Aven raised his lowered gaze and looked at her.

“I’ll go straight to the conference hall. See you there, Aven.”

His eyes widened at her unexpected words.

“Duchess, there are three days left until the conference.”

“It’s late night now, so practically there’s just two days left.”

Normally, Aven would’ve nodded with a yes and turned around, but this time around he couldn’t.

“…I’m afraid you’ll overdo it.”

Seira burst into laughter at the words that tumbled out of his mouth after licking his lips several times as if he was shy.

“What are you so worried about?” she asked with a giggle, “I’ll probably eat, rest, and enjoy myself to the fullest.”

Despite her playful reply, Aven couldn’t keep up with the mood. He stared at her with dark sunken eyes and asked, “All right, but please call me whenever you’ll need me.”

“Yes, I surely will.”

He bowed to her and turned around in silence.

Seira stood outside for some time until Aven climbed into the driver’s seat and drove the rough, black carriage out of Jeff.

As one of the few master-class slayers and counts in the Empire, the carriage he was pulling was the very same one Seira used seven years ago when she left the palace after choosing Askan over becoming the crown princess.

Despite Aven’s suggestion to change to a bigger and more comfortable carriage, Seira insisted that what they had was good enough. It wasn’t because she thought they’d waste money, but because the carriage meant a lot and carried many important memories to her.

However, today she regretted not listening to Aven with her stubbornness. Even though it was quite sturdy, she felt sorry for Aven for driving the carriage alone.

It felt like she betrayed him, someone who had always been by her side after the palace abandoned her.

Still, it was a choice she had to make to protect him. Even though he hadn’t turned his back on her, she pushed him back first.

‘My feelings are probably meaningless.’

Seira internally chastised herself. What was her deal with the carriage? To her it carried good memories, but it was probably burdensome and difficult for Aven.

What she should be sorry for wasn’t as trivial as letting him ride alone in a small and old carriage. She should be sorry for wasting the prime of his life with Askan and her, going through all kinds of hardships, and getting himself exposed to danger.

“Seira.”

Seira turned at Baron’s low call.

“I guess it’s time to change the carriage,” she said with a click of her tongue, “I didn’t realize it was already that old.”

Baron smiled at her and held out his hand to her.

“If possible, you could change it to something that could block pheromones,” he suggested, “And perhaps even sound proof it?”

“You like that sort of carriage?” Seira snorted.

She took his outstretched hand, and Alec and Noah followed them at a distance as they walked together toward the main building.

“Can I ask you something?” Baron said out of the blue.

“Yes?”

“Is Aven included in the ‘Alphas of Askan’ you mentioned before?”

Seira glanced at Baron and nodded.

“There is no particular reason why he should be an exception,” she replied.

“I see.”

“Why? Does it bother you?”

“Rather than that…”

His words trailed off, and he touched and smoothed out his cravat. Compared to how he looked completely disheveled in the morning, was neatly swept away.

“Now that I have experience, it will be much different than the first time.”

“…?”

Seira’s mouth hung agape as she watched Baron talking sheepishly. Someone as big as a tiger like him was quite cute when he acted this way.

“Baron,” she called him, “Listen to me.”

He stopped in his tracks and leaned toward her.

“Actually…”

Pressing her lips to Baron’s ear, Seira whispered a few words. Her voice was so small that even a knight with superior senses wouldn’t hear it.

“…understood?”

“…”

Baron stopped talking. He was frozen in place like a statue and looked at Seira who walked first, leaving him behind to follow.

Before long, redness spread across from ear to ear. Her sweet voice that carried her warm breath touched him. It took less than three seconds for Baron’s entire face and neck to flush into a vibrant red color.

Straightening his bent back, Baron released a long sigh. His bright yellow eyes, which reflected Seira’s silhouette from afar, shone ferociously like a beast on a hunt for prey.

In an instant, he caught up with Seira and wrapped her in a big, tight hug.

“Ugh, what is it?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t think this would happen after you provoked me like that.”

Without even using his power, Baron ran at a terrifying speed as if his life depended on it. If the attendants hadn’t opened the doors in time, he might have even crashed right through it. Everyone stared in awe as he crossed the hall and jumped the stairs in one fell swoop.

“You know it won’t be any use if you hit and kick me today.”

Seira ground her teeth at the warning he gave her while she was in his strong arms.

‘He talks so big as if he isn’t on the verge of exploding.’

He was almost out of breath, as Seira felt the beating of his heart race a thousand miles like he was running a crazy marathon.