Flower of Steel

“Do you like this place?” the Crown Prince asked.

“Yes,” and I answered wholeheartedly. This place was like a wonderland for all gardeners.

No, even if it wasn’t for gardeners, anyone would be mesmerized by the beauty of this place. It was certain that this place was man-made. However, looking at the paradise-like garden, it was as though nature was moved into a small place and made me, who was mostly unimpressed by it, touched. It was so amazing to see a mere human replicating nature to such an extent.

‘I wanted a garden like this too. A beautiful garden, filled with flowers that I love, healing and giving me rest,’ I thought.

“This is…”

I suddenly felt my voice fail me. Was this how it feels to be touched? Yeah, I can’t even put it into words how grateful I was feeling. But I still thought I had to put praise into words out of respect that it deserved. As such, I barely got my voice to speak out the words, “So… beautiful.”

Tears dropped from my eyes from such astonishment. I was so impressed that this beautiful and wonderful place was a man-made garden. Then I felt like I, a person with so much guilt, was somehow given relief in such a paradise-like place. Oh, how I wanted time to stop. It felt burdening to go back to reality, but it also felt like I could thank my life for having the opportunity to look at this paradise-like place at least once.

The Crown Prince is a nutjob. But I feel like I can ease the intensity of what I call him just because he has shown me such a beautiful place. Yeah, I should say thanks to him.

“Thank you… you?” But before I could finish my thanks, his long finger touched my cheek where tears fell.

‘What the?’

I froze because of his unexpected action. His face then slowly lowered towards mine. I took a deep breath. His face got so close that I could now feel him breathing. I would have reacted immediately if this was usual for me. But I couldn’t move because of his purple eyes gazing at me.

I stood there, frozen, only blinking slowly. If I didn’t I felt like I was going to be seduced by those eyes. Do demons that seduce humans have such an eye color? It was the color purple, which is said to only appear in the royal family. They were so beautiful that they brought chills to me. Am I breathing right now? There was only us here. His face came closer, and I felt like my heart would come to a stop.

If he was a real demon, a demon who lured me with paradise as bait, maybe it might be easier to just have him seduce me because I find it really hard to even breathe. I couldn’t even blink anymore. I was held captive by his eyes. A bit of fright and slight excitement coexisted within me.

If he were to come closer, and maybe. Perhaps, if he kisses me, then I would be seduced. However, his face didn’t come any closer to my face. Instead, it moved over to my ears. The handsome nutjob, without much action, just teased me as if he was making fun of me for freezing up.

“You’re ugly when you cry.”

‘Ugly…? Yeah. Heck, I know I’m ugly! You handsome nutjob!’

Yeah, maybe he showed me this garden to bring me to my most delighted state, just so that he can make me feel the most miserable afterward. I was a fool to think about thanking him and expecting something normal from that nutjob! AARGH!