Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

Calrad’s brows wrinkled at her words. He clenched his teeth as if holding back something before his eyes closed and opened and said, “I…I matched the measurements with the clothes from your old room, so it will probably fit well.”

“Ah….”

On the day of the royal banquet, Calrad seemed to have found the clothes she’d left behind after she had sex with Aven. If so, he would’ve seen the traces of their affair, which made him angry all the more.

Even Seira, who was always brazenly confident in front of Calrad, couldn’t do that now. She could only imagine how hurt he’d be, who valued the first night he spent with her very much. Of course, Calrad himself caused it.

Perhaps because he knew, he didn’t say much to blame her.

“I’ll send the attendants, so wash slowly, change everything, and then come down.”

“All right.”

This time around, Seira nodded her head obediently and entered the room. More than half of the knights escorting the emperor remained in the corridor, and the rest disappeared along with Calrad.

‘Anyway, this is…’

Passing through the spacious and luxurious room decorated like a drawing room, it was a powder room for dressing up, and beyond it was a bedroom. Seira looked around the bathroom attached to the bedroom, then came back to the powder room.

‘It looks like nobody’s using it now.’

It seemed to be a spare bedroom prepared for guests who stayed the night at the imperial palace.

‘I’m not a regular guest, but…’

Depending on the emperor’s preference, the empress could be allowed to stay here, and if there was no companion, it was likely to be used to bring in partners or anyone disposable for the sake of having sex.

It was difficult to take off the dress alone, so Seira sat comfortably on the sofa and waited for the attendant to come. When she looked back on the contents of the meeting in preparation for dinner, Seira could only heave a long sigh.

‘It’s surprising that Calrad decided to join, but I’m glad we solved the problem of him forcing me to imprint. But I’d better be careful not to go against his will until I found a way to counter his power of domination.’

It wasn’t an easy task to subjugate the nest. Once a guardian’s ability exceeded that of a master-level slayer, and if intermediate-level and higher-level beasts who used special skills attacked together, it was hell on earth.

Moreover, there won’t be support from the knights this time, so the best strategy and condition management would be the key to a successful mission.

‘It’s the first time I’ll go on a subjugation alone without Aven…’ Seira mused.

Because he’d always been by her side, she was able to focus only on the battle in front of her, but this time around she will have to take care of everything herself.

In the meantime, she had to steal the black debris. To be honest, it was almost impossible.

‘But you must do it.’

She didn’t know when another opportunity might come if she failed.

In the future, things were bound to take a worse turn for her. As long as Askan’s most powerful force, Aven, was gone, those who aim for her will reach out regardless if it was night or day. At least now that they decided to move in small numbers, her situation was at its best.

Lost in thought, Seira straightened herself to a sudden feeling. A question popped in her head as she tried to look around casually, thinking that the attendant Calrad sent had arrived.

‘I didn’t hear a knock…’

Come to think of it, she didn’t even hear the door open and close. She wrapped her right hand around the bracelet on her left wrist, nervous at the thought that it might be her enemy.

Then, a familiar scent brushed at the tip of her nose.

The color of magical power spread faintly in the air was clearly someone Seira knew. There was no way she wouldn’t know whose footsteps it was who approached her quietly without any intention of masking his presence.

She tried to call his name out of habit, but quickly closed her mouth. Now, his name shouldn’t be called recklessly without permission.

But…

“Duchess.”

Seira’s lower lip trembled at the sound of his voice calling her.

It only took a moment as his fierce shadow seemed to devour her. Lowering himself, he knelt at her feet.

Looking at her stiff face full of surprise, he carefully wrapped his hands around her feet half covered by the hem of her dress.

“I’ve come. May I have your permission?”

“What the…”

She opened her lips several times in embarrassment. Repeatedly closing them, she pushed his hand against his shoulder.

“Stop playing tricks, Your Highness.”

“I don’t know anything else, but I don’t have the talent to make you laugh with nonsense.”

“…”

When Seira closed her mouth as she couldn’t find the right words to answer him, he turned to her feet. With his large and firm hand, her shoes slipped and lightly fell on the floor.