ELND Chapter 13

“Your Highness, do you truly not know about the ‘Demon King’s Gift’?”

I had stepped outside for a walk to shake off the sluggishness weighing down my body.

When I scolded Adrian for not bringing a single candle, he chuckled softly and asked me that.

“The Demon King’s Gift? I’ve never heard of it.”

At my reply, Adrian turned his gaze to the field of flowers spread wide across the garden.

Deep purple flowers swayed gently with each passing breeze.

They looked like soft waves rippling across the night sea—so beautiful it felt surreal.

“That’s the name of those flowers. They’re demonic flowers—ones that don’t exist in the human realm.”

“No wonder… I always thought it was odd how they bloomed so persistently even in the cold.”

“That’s not the only curious thing about them.”

Adrian smiled and held out his hand to me.

“Would you care to walk through the flowerbed with me?”

I gently took Adrian’s politely extended hand and began walking slowly.

By the time we reached the boundary where the violet flowers began—

“Please, extend your other hand toward the flowers, Your Highness.”

“Toward the flowers?”

At his sudden request, I tilted my head curiously but extended my hand.

I felt the soft petals brush against my palm as I took a few steps further into the bed.

Then, I gasped at the breathtaking sight before me.

“Wow… what is this…?”

Wherever my hand touched, the flowers began to emit a mysterious purple glow.

Under the night sky, the countless glowing flowers lit up the darkness like stars scattered across a dream.

I kept brushing the petals, delighted like a child each time the radiant light responded to my touch.

Watching me, Adrian smiled warmly.

“The Forest of the Demon Realm is extremely dark. If one happens upon these flowers after losing their way, they are considered fortunate. That’s why they’re called the ‘Demon King’s Gift.’”

“I see… but why didn’t anyone tell me about them? Not even Mina—or you, Adrian. That’s kind of disappointing.”

Adrian gazed at me in silence for a moment, as I remained captivated by the flowers.

“They’re such beautiful flowers, you see. In the Demon Realm, lovers often promise their love while looking at them together.”

“…”

“So, everyone just assumed… that Your Highness already knew.”

Adrian’s gaze fell slightly.

“After all, the Grand Duke is… still with you.”

Only then did I realize why Adrian had looked at me with such sympathy.

‘So even this shows how unloved I was by Cedric…’

Feeling a little awkward, I turned my gaze away into the distance.

“Well, now I know. Even if we’re not lovers…”

Then, with a calm heart, I smiled at Adrian again.

“I’m even happier that it was you, my loyal butler, who told me about it.”

At my words, his amethyst eyes began to glimmer faintly with emotion.

“Your Highness… do you truly mean that?”

I nodded with a gentle smile.

Then Adrian, with a soft smile, plucked one of the flowers from beside him.

“Since I’ve already overstepped, allow me to do just one more thing…”

He leaned in and gently tucked the flower behind my ear.

As he brushed aside my hair, his fingertips grazed my earlobe.

“In the Demon Realm, lovers sometimes place these flowers by each other’s ears.”

“…”

“So they can better see the face of the one they love.”

He stepped back slightly and smiled tenderly as he looked down at me.

“People from the Demon Realm are surprisingly romantic.”

Embarrassed, I muttered a bit awkwardly, and Adrian chuckled softly.

“Ha, you could say that.”

As I watched his pleasant smile, I couldn’t help but raise the corners of my lips as well—

Creaaak—

Thud. In the quiet, the sound of a window closing echoed faintly.

‘Is someone still awake at this hour…?’

The sound came from the direction of the House of Light.

I quickly turned my head, but all I saw was silence and stillness.

The Next Day, Duchess’s Dressing Room

As the final touches of my dressing were done, I kept lowering my head, hiding the grin that kept creeping up my face.

‘I’m finally going to meet Bianca…’

Bianca—the beloved youngest daughter of the Grand Duchy of Twins and Cedric’s much younger sister.

Yes, I needed her favor to survive.

But truthfully, even without that, I would’ve wanted to get on her good side.

Because…

‘Our Bianca is just too! Darn! Cute!’

She was my second favorite character—after Cedric, of course.

Bianca, who followed the heroine Robelia around, overflowing with affection, was the epitome of adorableness.

And her greatest charm? Her white, squishy cheeks.

Whenever Robelia stroked those puffy little cheeks, Bianca would look like she owned the whole world.

‘In the original story, she didn’t return home until after Rebecca left… I thought I’d never get to see her. Waaah…’

My face twitched in glee just thinking about it.

“Y-Your Highness…”

The maids’ faces turned ghostly pale, as if they’d seen a specter.

Apparently, my excited expression, mixed with my naturally sharp features, had made me look downright terrifying.

‘Right… I do tend to look a bit harsh. Bianca might be shocked when she sees me. I need to tone it down.’

But despite my resolution, my cheeks kept twitching up on their own.

‘In the novel, Bianca was nine. Since the story hasn’t started yet… she must be around eight?!’

‘She was adorable at nine… but eight?! Her cheeks must be even chubbier! I’m going to lose it…’

I quickly covered my mouth and lowered my head.

And at that level, I could see Mina’s skirt trembling slightly.

I slowly lifted my head to find Mina staring at me in horror.

“Y-you really don’t want to attend Lady Bianca’s welcome, do you, Your Highness?”

Her voice was awkwardly high, her lips forced into a wobbly smile.

“Of course! If I were you, and I’d just left the mansion only to return and find my in-laws throwing a celebration for someone else—I’d be furious!”

“…”

“It’s absolutely not because Your Highness is harsh or anything! Nooo, not at all!”

Even though it sort of felt like she was insulting me, she seemed to be trying desperately to empathize.

It looked like everyone, including Mina, thought I was angry about Bianca’s return.

My twitching face only seemed to confirm their misunderstanding.

‘Well, I suppose that’s understandable.’

In the original, Rebecca hated Bianca.

Which meant Bianca was likely afraid of me now.

And if she feared me, then I might not even get the chance to talk to her—let alone see her smile…

“No way… I don’t want that…”

When I murmured tearfully, Mina’s lips trembled in sympathy.

And then… her face hardened with resolve.

“Your Grace, don’t worry! I’ll go to the House of Light right now and make sure they know!”

“Know what?”

“That the young lady is still a child and may make mistakes!”

She clenched her fists like she’d made a vow.

“Just in case… I’ll make sure she never, ever comes near Your Highness!”

“…What?”

“This won’t do! I’ll go down there and beg on my knees if I must—!”

“No! Absolutely not!”

I jumped to my feet in panic, and Mina’s eyes went wide.

‘Mina… please. I should be the one begging to get near her, not the other way around…’

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed her hands.

“Mina, listen carefully. I intend to get along with Lady Bianca.”

“…Excuse me?”

Mina gave me a look that said ‘I must’ve misheard that.’

“I want to rebuild our relationship. So please, don’t do anything to get in the way. Got it?”

“U-uh, yes…”

Mina still looked uncertain.

So did the other maids.

They clearly still didn’t trust me.

But they’ll see, soon enough.

“I should go now.”

I checked the time and stood.

“Mina, go to Adrian and tell him to bring what I asked for directly to the House of Light.”

Soon, it was almost time for Bianca’s arrival.

As I neared the House of Light, I saw the senior staff lined up by the front gate.

And standing before them, talking with an aide—was Cedric.

‘It’s been a while…’

He looked just as I remembered.

The way the suit hugged his frame, the relaxed posture, the aura of tension that clung to him—every detail.

As I saw him, I remembered the way he had looked at me that day on the forest path.

‘Has he finally… let me go?’

I faltered slightly at the thought.

“Rebecca. You came.”

Cedric noticed me and subtly gestured for me to stand beside him.

As I approached, the staff behind him bowed their heads nervously.

“Cedric, how have you been?”

“…Well enough. You seem to be doing fine as well.”

I naturally walked up to him.

Soon after, Adrian arrived with the gift I’d asked him to prepare.

A grand floral wreath shaped into the initials of Lady Bianca.

“I thought the welcoming ceremony might feel a little empty, so I had Adrian prepare this.”

All eyes shifted between the wreath and me.

Everyone seemed surprised that not only was I attending, but I had even prepared a floral tribute.

Yet strangely, Cedric’s gaze remained fixed on Adrian.

Even as Adrian stepped away toward the staff, Cedric didn’t take his eyes off him.

‘Hmm… Is Cedric eyeing my capable butler?’

Time to brag a little.

“Adrian is really talented. He knows my tastes well, so I trust him completely.”

“…Ours?”

I turned back at the sudden low voice.

And locked eyes with Cedric’s sharp, sensual gaze.

It bore down on me even more intensely.

“No.”

“…?”

“You don’t like lilies.”

Cedric’s lips parted again, slowly.

“Sorry, but it seems I know you better than your Adrian does.”