Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

Regardless of whether it was all a misunderstanding, Seira wondered what he meant. But she also had problems that she had to get answers too. If it was the temple that instigated the late Emperor Laud, what would their purpose be? Why did he do that to her?

‘Could I find out through Calrad?’ she wondered silently.

Seira glanced up at him and his blue eyes were fixed at her. They were cold, but strangely they have softened today.

She thought she could try to negotiate at least once now.

“Your Majesty, if you really want to resolve the misunderstanding with me, I would like you to make one promise.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. From the first time we were reunited, His Majesty only wanted me to obey. He didn’t even think about looking back at my misery and the agony the imperial family had made me go through.”

“That…”

In order not to blame him directly, Seira brought up her resentment towards the imperial family, not Calrad himself. Now was the time to continue the conversation and get what she wanted without offending him as much as possible.

“His Majesty is nothing but a fearful existence to me. If that’s what you want, His Majesty has succeeded.”

“…you know very well it’s not like that.”

“Then, I don’t know about anything else, but please don’t force me to imprint. Unless my heart truly belongs to you, it’s useless anyway. I don’t want to ruin our relationship like that.”

Seira looked straight at Calrad and waited for him to respond. Contrary to the calmness of her eyes and expression, her mind was a nervous wreck.

‘Please, Calrad…’

After a while, he opened his mouth and replied.

“Alright, I promise. Instead, I want you to give me a definite answer, too. That you won’t avoid me.”

Seira didn’t think that Calrad knew she had been avoiding him with all her might, but she replied brazenly, “Why would I avoid His Majesty?”

He looked at her gently and nodded as he stared at her, “Is that so?”

His gaze, which began to move again, seemed to feel like the days which they couldn’t reach for now.

“Well, I’m old enough to get tired playing tag and hide-and-seek.”

Even though it would’ve been a fair time for the two of them to mature as full-fledged man and woman, Calrad’s attitude toward her remained the same. It’s as if they spent their days together every day.

Seira gazed out the window with a sigh.

It seemed the same here at the imperial palace as the years passed. Seeing that every scenery that came into sight hasn’t changed.

* * *

After Calrad and Seira left the conference room and the other nobles left one by one, all that remained in the room were Aven, Louis, and Baron.

Baron, who was staring at Aven with complicated eyes, asked, “Why didn’t you tell Seira first? She seemed very surprised. It would’ve been nice if you’ve given her a heads up.”

“…”

Aven just stood still without answering. Baron couldn’t question him further seeing that he couldn’t see joy in him rising as the next heir to the throne.

Baron heaved a long sigh in frustration, and paused as he tried to brush his hair backwards. Considering their next schedule, he shouldn’t ruin how he look seeing as it took hours to finish.

“Don’t you know how much Seira cares about you? You’d better explain the situation instead of making an excuse because you’re late. It’s not like she wouldn’t understand.”

Though he thought it wasn’t needed, Baron didn’t want him to forget his advice. It was for both Seira and Aven, as colleagues who frequently left with him for the battlefield.

“Then I’ll see you at the dinner, Your Majesty the Crown Prince.”

Baron bid farewell to Aven politely in his own way, and went out first. Only then did Louis open his mouth.

“Is it that bad?”

Originally, Aven often didn’t show his emotions, so most of the nobles just thought he was silent because he felt awkward with the change of status. However, Louis saw through without difficulty that Aven was low and was ready to dig into the ground.

“There must be more than one or two people who wish to sit in that throne.”

Even Louis, who said that, didn’t mention the power he could enjoy when he coaxed Aven. That was not how he could move him.

‘You can give back everything that Seira had. You can fully support the restoration of Askan, or offer up the position of a noble empress.’

‘How long are you going to get hurt and wander the battlefield? You don’t really believe that’s what she wants.’

By the time Aven’s eyes changed bit by bit, Louis hit the wedge to completely lodge his ideals into him.

‘You know what? Seira is overdoing it. Every time I use my powers, my physical condition deteriorates rapidly. She won’t last long at this rate. When and where will that life end…’

When Louis said that, he almost died at the hands of Aven.

For Aven, leaving Seira alone and in pain would be hell. Therefore, another way to call the great anger that he felt at that moment was despair.

Louis, who was looking into Aven’s eyes that turned bright red in an instant, finally realized. The hope of all the brothers, wandering in the darkness and waiting for the day of liberation, has finally come.