Chapter 8.5

Ding.  

“Welcome.”  

The flower shop owner greeted the customer in a dry tone, lifting her head indifferently. But when she looked toward the door, her face instantly stiffened.

“I’d like to buy a bouquet.”  

Silver hair like spun thread, striking features, a tall frame, broad shoulders, and deep, mysterious eyes.  

A truly rare handsome man stood at the door. The owner, who had been admiring him blankly, hurriedly nodded and stood up.

“Y-yes… What kind of flowers are you looking for?”  

“I don’t know much about flowers. Is there something you recommend?”  

“Ah, just a moment!”  

Flustered by the unexpected visit from such a handsome man, her gaze slid to the bouquets she’d prepared that morning. But for some reason, the bouquets she’d been so proud of suddenly looked shabby.

The owner awkwardly asked, 

“A-are you picking out flowers for your lover?”  

“…If you mean lover.”  

After a short pause, the man nodded slightly.  

“I’m still in unrequited love, but that’s my hope.”  

The owner stared at his dazzling smile and sighed involuntarily.  

How could a man like that talk about unrequited love? It was a new kind of deception.  

Although many customers passed through the flower shop on Peterman Street every year, she’d never seen anyone so handsome. She felt a fierce envy toward the unknown object of his affection. Even as a married woman, she couldn’t help it.

Embarrassed, the owner picked up a rose.  

“T-then, how about a classic rose? This summer’s roses are lovely and have a strong fragrance. Would you like to smell it?”  

“No, thank you.”  

The man declined politely, with a gentle smile.  

“Now that I think about it, maybe something with a lighter scent would be better.”  

“Ah, then…”  

The owner, feeling awkward, put down the rose and went to the back of the shop. She’d set aside some flowers for a reserved customer, but now wasn’t the time to be picky.

“How about these? They’re lisianthus, with a subtle scent and a variety of colors. Many people give them to lovers. Their meaning is ‘unchanging love.’”  

“Unchanging love…”  

The man’s silver hair shimmered as he accepted a pure white flower. He brought it close to his face and smiled in satisfaction.

“That’s a beautiful meaning.”  

At his low words, the owner blushed. Dangerous. She sensed she’d never forget this gorgeous man for the rest of her life.

“All right. I’ll take these, please.”  

The owner, as dazzled as the lisianthus he’d chosen, nodded as if entranced.

* * *

‘Is this too much?’  

Walking down the street, Herace looked down at the pure white bouquet in his hand. He’d suddenly stopped in front of the flower shop while heading to the tailor because he’d remembered Brienne gazing at flowers in the garden.

How would she react?  

How would she smile?  

By the time Herace imagined Brienne holding the bouquet he’d given her, he’d already entered the flower shop without a second thought. Even while choosing the flowers and waiting for them to be wrapped, Brienne’s face didn’t leave his mind.

After the day he’d talked with Brienne in the garden, Herace had been busy preparing to become an assistant instructor. He made time to stroll through the campus, hoping to run into Brienne, but never did.

If he hadn’t gotten Brienne’s permission to assign Aaron as her escort, he wouldn’t even have known she’d been spending time at the library.  

Maybe because of the pickpocket incident, Brienne readily accepted Herace’s request to keep Aaron as her escort.  

He’d gotten scolded for assigning an escort without telling her, but Herace felt only relief.

Of course, it would have been better if he could have assigned a more capable escort than Aaron…

<It’s fine, I’m comfortable with Aaron.>  

<But as you know, Aaron isn’t a formal knight. He’s just a trainee raised by my family.>  

<I know. That’s actually a good thing. I get to hear stories about your childhood, Herace.>  

At first, he hadn’t understood what she meant. But Brienne even teased him playfully.

<Herace, you were a mischievous child, weren’t you? How could you break your arm falling from a tree one day and then jump out of a window the next?>  

<…>  

<You wanted to be a bird? Young Herace sounds like someone from a fairy tale.>  

Of all the stories to share, she had to pick that one. The moment he heard it, Herace deeply regretted not sending Aaron back to Rontiano sooner.

<…That’s not true.>  

<Oh, but I heard it from an old knight of the Belif Dukedom. And since I asked, you shouldn’t scold Aaron, or send him away.>

<Brienne, but…….>

<That day’s incident was also my own carelessness. It happened while Aaron had his back turned.>

<……In that case, how about assigning another escort besides Aaron?>

<No, that won’t do. If I walk around with multiple escorts, people will see me as a noble lady. I don’t want that. I just want to be an ordinary student here in Roeta.>

When she spoke so firmly, Herace could not bring himself to refuse. He relented at that point, respecting Brienne’s choice.

After all, Brienne’s wishes were his own.

As Herace walked towards Morgen Atelier, he stopped in front of a shop and glanced at his reflection in the shop window.

It was the first time he was giving flowers to someone, so holding a bouquet felt quite awkward. He shifted the flowers to his other hand for no reason and stared at himself for a while.

‘I don’t want to look clumsy, at least in front of Brienne.’

Herace tidied his slightly tousled hair and slipped one hand into his pocket. It felt as if he had returned to his childhood, practicing the smile he would show Brienne.

Herace’s face, wearing the well-practiced smile, looked softer than before.

‘Now, this is presentable.’

Finishing his self-assessment, Herace checked the time and began to walk slowly.

He had no worries about Brienne and Kaiden meeting again this time.

Those unfair coincidences that seemed to target him—he didn’t need to wait for them, he could simply create his own chances.

***

“Yes, welcome…….”

“Keep the change.”

Brienne placed the coins on the stall and hurried her steps. The man who had just turned away was already leaving the main street and entering an alley.

His posture was upright, his stride steady.

Brienne watched the man’s back with narrowed eyes, following him at a slight distance. They were moving farther from the carriage stop, but there was something she absolutely had to confirm right now.

‘This time, I won’t miss him.’

How could she run into him again in a place like this? She hadn’t seen his face, but she was sure the man was Kaiden.

Why was Kaiden still here? Brienne glanced down at the Rontiano newspaper she had just bought. As she expected, Kaiden Bannon was still listed as missing.

‘Could it be that Kaiden had run away from the Duke without permission?’

‘If so, why did he reveal his identity by sending me a gift?’

Unanswered questions filled her mind. She thought about calling out Kaiden’s name, as she did that day, but there were too many people around now.

Brienne furrowed her brow, organizing her thoughts.

First, she needed to confirm if that man was really Kaiden, then ask what was going on. Then she would tell him to go back to Rontiano so the Duke wouldn’t worry.

As Brienne finished her thoughts, the man entered a quiet alley and stopped abruptly. Brienne kept enough distance not to be noticed and cautiously stepped toward him.

However, as if waiting for her to approach, the man turned the corner and disappeared. Brienne, flustered, quickened her pace and stepped into the spot where he vanished.

“How long are you planning to keep following me?”

In an instant, the man turned and pressed a sharp dagger under Brienne’s chin.

Brienne gasped, her gaze moving from the deep blue eyes hidden beneath his hat to the tip of the blade against her neck.

“Why…….”

Brienne’s face went pale as she grasped the situation.

“……Brienne?”

Only then did Kaiden’s eyes widen as he recognized the person before him. Kaiden quickly withdrew the dagger and reached out toward Brienne.

But Brienne stepped back, avoiding Kaiden’s hand.

“Wh-why did you just pull a knife…….”

Kaiden had pointed a blade at her neck.

She was so shocked she could barely breathe. The cold touch against her skin sent chills down her spine. It was a close call.

Thinking she could have lost her life made her knees weak.

“Brienne, it’s not like that. I really didn’t know it was you…….”

Kaiden, looking flustered, stepped closer and placed his hand on Brienne’s trembling shoulder.

Just as Kaiden was about to explain—

“There they are!”

A man who emerged from the opposite alley shouted loudly.

“Everyone, over here! This way!”

Kaiden’s face, which had been watching Brienne’s complexion, turned cold. He glanced around, then stepped back and grabbed Brienne’s wrist.

“Brienne, can you move? We have to get out of here right now.”

“Let go……!”

“Please, this isn’t the time.”

Kaiden looked anxiously over his shoulder and positioned himself in front of Brienne. He took off his hat and placed it on her head, cupping her cheek and lifting her face.

Their eyes met—his deep blue gaze filled with unknown emotion.

“Breathe slowly, stay focused. If we run into those people, it’ll be truly dangerous. We have to go back the way we came. Can you do that?”

Brienne, barely steadying herself, slapped away Kaiden’s hand from her face. Her eyes, which once held his gentle smile, now wavered.

“I’ll explain everything, just trust me, please. For Herace Belif’s sake, if nothing else.”

“…….”

What on earth was happening?

Brienne looked at Kaiden’s outstretched hand with confused eyes.

Meanwhile, the men who had come out of the opposite alley began running toward them, crossing the street.

“Brienne, hurry.”

Kaiden’s voice was followed by shouts from the men. The heavy footsteps echoed louder and louder.

Memories from Rontiano she tried so hard to forget came flooding back.

The man who knocked on her carriage. The people who chased her relentlessly. The underground prison where she was dragged with her eyes covered. Even the moment she hid inside a coffin.

Her heart raced.

She thought she had forgotten, living ordinary days. She thought she could forget.

Derrick Harrington, that strange religion that followed Riela.

She thought these were things that would never happen again.

But…….

Looking between the alley and Kaiden, Brienne hesitated, then took Kaiden’s hand.

She still couldn’t trust Kaiden, but in this ominous situation, there was no other choice.

“Just run straight ahead. Trust me.”

Brienne nodded and started running through the winding alley, relying on Kaiden’s hand.