12.
As if trying to smooth over what had just happened, Ian took her around to explore other places for quite a while. Just as she was beginning to feel a little tired, they arrived at the garden.
“I figured you might be getting a bit weary, so I brought you here. This place is only accessible through the garden you’re staying in, Miss Free.”
It seemed to be in a different direction from what she could see from her room. A garden she’d never seen before unfolded before her eyes.
A neat and cozy garden.
“Ian, you said no one lived in the palace I stayed in, right?”
“Yes.”
“For that, this place is really well maintained. A day or two of upkeep wouldn’t be enough for it to look like this.”
Sitting on a fluffy white cushioned chair, Free looked around.
Her room looked exactly like the one she had in the Ezan Kingdom, but the scenery outside was different.
The palace visible from the outside was tidy and serene. Its understated harmony with nature was the very image of an ideal garden she adored. It reminded her of the Ezan Kingdom. The main palace she’d briefly seen looked like white sand along a blue beach, while this place resembled a castle built in the Ezan style, her homeland.
Maybe that’s why it felt so comfortable. Free gazed at the castle that gave her the illusion of being back in her country.
“Is that so?”
Since the earlier incident, Ian had mostly held back his words, offering only a gentle smile.
Her words weren’t really a question, but more of a musing, so Free didn’t press further.
She welcomed the breeze brushing past and slowly released the tension in her body with the lush greenery all around.
The sweet scent of blooming flowers wasn’t bad, but somehow, this peaceful greenery was far more soothing to her.
‘It’s like someone read my heart—it’s all perfect.’
Everything she’d ever wished for was here. A place she had always dreamed of living in—it was all right here.
And so, she sat quietly, letting herself soak in the moment, surrounded by green.
“Shall I prepare some tea?”
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed.
Opening her eyes slowly, Free, who had been lost in thought, looked at Ian with glittering eyes.
“No, that’s okay. I just want to savor the moment.”
“I’m glad you seem to like it. This garden isn’t flashy, but it shows a different face in every season.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Each season paints it in different colors.”
“Have you seen them all, Ian?”
Free leaned her chin on her hand and looked at him.
Ian hesitated for a while, perhaps worried that he might say something wrong. Then, looking into her eyes, warm like sunlight, he replied.
“You mean in this palace?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve seen them all. I suppose it’s fair to say I’ve been here since birth.”
Free couldn’t hide her surprise.
Since birth?
“Could it be… with him…?”
Realizing how easily his words could be misunderstood, Ian hurriedly waved his hands.
“Oh, no. Nothing like that. My mother was already working at the imperial palace when she had me. So I was here from birth. That’s what I meant—I’m sorry for the confusion.”
“Ah, I see.”
So that’s not it. But then, Argent’s words came to mind.
— “It might be fun to take Princess Gaia, the one my younger brother fell for at first sight.”
That threat he made back in the Ezan Kingdom.
He was so eager to meet the Emperor of the Behport Empire. And he used the word “younger brother” without hesitation.
‘Nothing is known about Argent, the barbarian king—not even his birth. And yet… he refers to the Emperor as his younger brother?’
The term “younger brother” is usually used among siblings.
‘Could he… be of royal blood?’
She hadn’t seen Argent’s face without his mask, but perhaps it was because of the black hair—there was something eerily similar between him and the current Emperor. But nothing was certain.
‘If I asked… would he tell me?’
She looked at Ian. Maybe if she asked, he’d answer. But hearing it from someone who wasn’t the person in question didn’t feel right. In the end, Free gave up on asking about Argent and looked at Ian instead.
“Does your mother still work at the imperial palace?”
“Yes!”
“Oh, I see. Your mother… I’d like to meet her sometime. Since you’ve been so kind to me… I’d like to thank her.”
“I’m only doing my job. But I’m sure my mother would be delighted to meet you.”
“Really?”
Would she, though?
Free was still quite uncertain when it came to meeting people, especially because of how coldly Argent had treated her.
Noticing her hesitation, Ian leaned in a little.
“She will like you.”
“…Do you think people here will like me?”
“Of course. Everyone already does. Don’t worry.”
But the words “but…” almost came to Free’s lips before she swallowed them.
How could she explain it? That unease, that nervousness?
All she could do now was believe in the words of someone standing in front of her, telling her not to worry.
“I’ll trust you.”
Like a gentleman inviting a lady to dance, Ian reached out his hand to her with an innocent smile, as pure as a wildflower blooming by the roadside.
“It’s getting chilly.”
Free, who had been sitting like a statue lost in thought, finally ended her moment of solitude and stepped back inside.
For the past few mornings, Ian had been visiting her room with flowers.
“The wildflowers bloomed beautifully today.”
“Did they?”
“Since you arrived, it’s like the heavens have blessed us. The weather’s been wonderful. The flowers are in full bloom.”
The flowers Ian brought closely resembled the ones Free had seen in the Ezan Kingdom. Tiny yellow petals clustered together like sugar sprinkled on the ground. Seeing them, her face lit up. Taking the bouquet, Free placed the flowers in one of the empty vases in her room.
“They’re lovely. Thank you.”
Her room was already filled with flowers—each one flaunting its own beauty. Some flamed like the blazing sun, others, like the ones Ian brought, bloomed quietly like tiny bubbles of dreams.
Each seemed to mark a different time. Some sparkled with fresh water, while others drooped as if their time had ended. All of them had been arranged in her room daily, filling the space with floral fragrance.
Humming, Free placed the flowers where the sunlight was best, then turned to Ian.
“Have you been the one putting flowers in my room every day?”
“Pardon?”
“These flowers. They change every day. I was wondering if it was you who brought them.”
Realizing what she meant, Ian raised his voice even before she’d finished.
“Y-yes, of course.”
Though there was a slight pause, he nodded without much difficulty. But something in his subtly trembling voice unsettled Free.
Could it be someone else?
She briefly wondered who else it could be. But aside from Ian, there was no one who would bring her flowers. When she asked Seth, she denied it.
‘Could it be him…?’
She quickly dismissed the thought. That man hated her. The kind of man who made himself useless, just to drive her away. There was no way he’d do something so kind.
Flowers, of all things?
Free let out a faint, bitter laugh at her own conclusion and gently stroked the soft petals.
“It must’ve been hard… Thank you. For every morning.”
The flowers changed every day, but they weren’t something one could just buy anywhere. That made her heart soften even more.
As if they were prepared just for her—each bouquet carried so much care.
“It’s nothing. I just…”
Ian mumbled as if hiding something, but Free didn’t notice—she was too busy choosing which vase to use. Some of the flowers were fresh, others already wilted.
Which left her in quite the dilemma.
“You’ve brought me so many beautiful flowers, but I’m out of vases.”
“I prepared a new one.”
As if expecting this, Seth handed her a transparent vase with a red ribbon tied around it. It even had ice inside to keep the flowers fresh.
Burying her nose into the bouquet, Free inhaled deeply, then smiled as she placed the flowers into the vase.
“Are you satisfied?”
“Flowers are always lovely. But sometimes it feels a little sad. Each one had a life, but they’re cut down just because they’re beautiful.”
At that, both Ian and Seth’s cheerful expressions dimmed a little.
“We’ll discuss what we can do about that.”
“Discuss?”
“Yes, with Miss Seth.”
Seth blinked, caught off guard, then nodded as if she understood.
“Ah, I see.”
As if it was nothing important, Free lowered her gaze to the flowers, then placed the vase where the sunlight was strongest.
“Well then, another day has begun.”
That’s how every day started.
Greeting the morning warmly with the flowers Ian left, Free would wash up and get ready for a meal with Argent. Today was no different. Having finished her preparations, all that was left was breakfast.
Perhaps that’s why—her heart beat a little faster. Tying her blonde hair low, Free turned around. Since that flutter in her chest wasn’t unpleasant, a smile spread across her face.
“Shall we go?”
