After leaving the antique shop, the three headed to a flower shop.

The fragrant scent of flowers that filled the street wrapped around their noses, making it impossible to resist entering the flower shop.

Inside, various types of flowers and plants were displayed.

“Even the colors of the flowers in Macglier are so vibrant.”

“Indeed.”

Flowers were arranged by type in tall containers, and the ones that stood out were the pink roses symbolizing summer, the orange hibiscus, and the blue water lilies.

Ariel examined the brightly blooming flowers one by one. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she decided which flowers to choose without hesitation.

Pink roses. White spirea with small flowers. And purple statice.

At her gesture pointing to the flowers, May quietly approached the shop owner to place the order. The shop owner wrapped the flowers in white paper.

‘I can’t wait to try it.’

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she watched the scene.

***

The garden was filled with dazzling sunlight.

The flowers wrapped in white paper were placed on a stone table.

‘Flower arranging… I learned it along with noble etiquette. I’m finally getting to use it.’

Carefully, so as not to wilt the petals with her body heat, she unwrapped the paper and arranged the flowers.

Pink dignity roses with lovely overlapping petals and light pink Gorky Park. Spirea flowers forming fluffy clusters. And the cute, crinkly petals of the statice.

The flowers spread out on the table were reflected in her emerald eyes.

She cut the stems diagonally and arranged them neatly in the vase they had brought.

A cool breeze blew under the large tree’s shade, gently brushing Ariel’s hair.

A melody from the music box flowed from her tightly closed lips.

“Your Majesty, you look happy.”

She felt sorry for Empress Ariel, who had to worry about demonic beasts and dark mages even while traveling.

Seeing Ariel’s relaxed face, May felt relieved.

“It’s fun. There, it’s done!”

The different types of flowers harmonized beautifully.

May and Solviche exclaimed in admiration.

Ariel, who was looking at their reactions with satisfaction, lifted her head and looked toward the gate.

‘The sound of hooves. The sound of carriage wheels…’

Was Leopold here?

She took off her apron and ran out of the gate.

“Did the interrogation go well?”

Leopold gently wrapped his arm around Ariel’s shoulder with the hand that wasn’t holding the documents and kissed her forehead. She wrinkled her nose and leaned against his chest.

“Hmm. Those guys don’t seem to be related to Noah Diaz.”

“That’s a relief. Let’s go inside.”

As the two walked hand in hand into the garden, May and Solviche greeted them with proper etiquette.

“Glory to Atlan.”

“Now that we’re back, you may return to your quarters.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At his command, the two quickly left the mansion.

Bang-!

The main gate closed, and only Leopold and Ariel remained in the sunny garden.

“What are these flowers?”

“I was bored staying at home, so I went to the market. While I was there, I bought some flowers and arranged them in a vase. How do they look?”

Her eyes were seeking praise. Leopold, whose lips curled up as he gazed into her sunlit, sparkling eyes, said,

“Hmm. They’re not as pretty as you, but they’re pretty nonetheless.”

Ariel’s face softened at his playful tone. Leopold placed his hand on the table and kissed her flushed cheek.

His lips lingered near Ariel’s ear.

“I have something to talk about. Shall we go inside?”

The sweet whisper made her skin tingle.

“Yes. Let’s go inside.”

When Ariel picked up the vase with the flowers, Leopold took it from her.

“I’ll carry this.”

What could it be about?

What was in the envelope he was holding?

Ariel’s eyelids trembled as she followed him inside.

***

Leopold bent over and placed the vase on the living room table. Then he sat down on the sofa.

“How about placing it here? It would be nice to see it while going in and out of the kitchen or bedroom.”

“Sounds good.”

Ariel sat across from him.

“What happened at the palace?”

“Hmm. Well… First, take this.”

He handed her the envelope he was holding. She opened it and took out the documents inside.

They were papers proving that the ownership of this house and land belonged to Ariel Diaz.

“They kept their promise.”

“Of course. A promise is a promise, especially one made to you.”

Ariel scanned the documents with a bewildered expression.

At the bottom, where her name was written, was the seal of King Macglier.

She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t take her eyes off the papers.

Although she had amassed money as a demonic beast hunter, she had never thought about what to do with it.

She had saved money while trembling in fear that her family might also be killed. She thought she needed money to live in another country, away from Leopold’s reach.

For ten years, she had been fixated on the single goal of survival.

Whenever she had such realizations, a part of her heart ached.

‘But at that time, I thought it was the best I could do. And because of that time, I am who I am now.’

Ariel smiled bitterly.

“You said it was good, but why the face, El?”

“Hmm. I’ll talk after I hear your story.”

Ariel stared intently at Leopold. He shrugged his shoulders and began to speak.

“Kaiser wants to throw a party for us. So, I told him to go ahead.”

She was surprised by the unexpected news but soon regained her composure and nodded.

She wanted to experience the noble culture of Macglier while she was here.

‘Will there be anything special?’

Most of the people she had passed by on the streets today looked like commoners.

“You did well. Is that all?”

“And I’m thinking of returning to Atlan earlier than planned.”

Ariel pouted her lower lip involuntarily. Seeing her expression, Leopold smiled awkwardly, feeling sorry.

“How much earlier?”

“About two weeks.”

She hadn’t even properly enjoyed it yet…

Her eyes were filled with deep disappointment.

She had wanted to visit the sea and the fields they had passed by in the carriage. But she suppressed those words that were on the tip of her tongue.

“Can I know the reason?”

Even though he said the dark mages had no connection to Noah Diaz, why was he planning to return early? Was there another reason?

Ariel asked cautiously. Leopold’s pupils trembled slightly.

Should he tell her or not, knowing that if she understood his concerns, she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the trip peacefully either?

‘But I don’t want to hide anything from Ariel.’

He sighed deeply.

“I don’t have a clear reason to explain to you. It’s just that I have a bad feeling. Noah Diaz said something that made me think he knows something.”

“Hmm. He said something similar to me as well.”

“Of course, I never felt any dark energy from him.”

“Me neither.”

There was circumstantial evidence but no physical proof.

“If something had happened, Walter would have sent someone. But since there’s no news yet, my hunch might be wrong.”

“If you’re that uneasy, let’s return right away, tomorrow, even.”

She spoke sincerely. She understood why Leopold wanted to return quickly.

Ariel, too, had been trying not to worry about Noah Diaz, but she hadn’t been completely at ease.

“Let’s go back after the party.”

She wanted to stay a little longer in Macglier, using the excuse that she couldn’t ignore the efforts of the people preparing for it.

‘May and Solviche will be greatly disappointed…’

She recalled the faces of the two who were looking at the city center of Macglier with bright eyes.

“Can we really do that?”

Leopold’s heart ached.

‘It’s my fault.’

He blamed himself for proceeding with the trip, thinking it would be okay even though everything wasn’t settled yet.

Leopold raised his hand to wipe his face dry and looked at her again.

“This house is mine now. We can come back anytime.”

Ariel said, waving the paper.

Seeing her face bright with a smile, his anxious heart finally found some relief.

Leopold stood up and moved to sit next to Ariel.

“Let’s come every summer. It’d be nice to come in winter too.”

Then, he cupped her chin and scattered small kisses over her red lips.

To have beauty, swordsmanship, and wisdom…

I can’t believe someone like you is by the side of someone as lacking as me.

He pressed his trembling heart and gave her a brief kiss on the lips.

“Okay.”

Their lips brushed with each word they spoke.

Feeling her plump lips, Leopold ended up laying her down on the sofa.