Episode 29
Though the Castle of Edmond, named after the Flower Mage whose presence made flowers bloom wherever he went, was rarely noisy, today it was unusually loud.
The flowers lining the outer walls were beginning to wilt, and the ones in the garden had started to fall one by one.
Contributing to this commotion was none other than Peyton Sel Meria, who had once served as a physician.
“All these flowers wilting at once? In Edmond’s castle, no less? That means Edmond is sending a signal! To me!”
He, who could manipulate plant life however he pleased—make it grow geometrically, wither instantly—was now causing them to die. There was only one reason for that: he was in danger and trying to send a message.
But the stiff-headed common folk wouldn’t listen to a word he said.
“Lord Peyton, please calm down…”
“No! I can’t calm down! What, do I need to screech like I’ve snapped all the strings on a violin just to get you to move?”
His rainbow-colored, cloud-like hair shimmered in multiple hues, and his eyes changed color with every passing second. He looked nothing like a normal person, and with a sharp tongue, he barked at those blocking his way.
He was trying to go to the top floor, where Edmond’s private chambers were.
But these clueless fools were standing in his way.
“Move before I drag a piano here and smash all the keys!”
“We were given orders not to let anyone in. Especially not you, Lord Peyton.”
“Hah! Are you kidding me? Well, I’ve changed my name starting today, so move aside!”
The guards exchanged troubled looks. Of all the mages, Peyton was the most tiresome to deal with. He wasn’t someone who responded well to reason.
“But Lord Peyton, we were ordered…”
“Hey, there goes Jay! Looks like she’s walking alone and having trouble with her legs!”
“What? Where?”
As all the guards turned their heads toward the name they all adored, Peyton darted forward.
“An opening!”
“Ah…!”
He shoved his way through the guards and burst past the door, heading straight for the stairs to the top floor without so much as a glance back.
At the top, he came upon a door adorned with lilies and pushed it open without hesitation, shouting.
“Edmond!”
But what he saw wasn’t the Edmond he had been desperately calling for.
The room, which Edmond had turned into a garden filled with his favorite white flowers, now looked like it had been drenched in blood—floor, walls, and flowers alike.
A body was sprawled on the floor, and two figures stood between it all.
One of them met Peyton’s eyes.
“Peyton.”
The voice calling his name was chilling, paralyzing his body. But then he noticed something—the body that appeared dead was actually breathing, faintly.
Peyton gathered his courage and took a step forward.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“…”
“Don’t try to save him, Peyton Sel Meria.”
Each word uttered in that voice became a chain, and Peyton stopped moving.
At that moment, the man near the body grabbed Peyton’s ankle with a trembling hand. Lifting his face, Peyton realized it was Edmond.
His once jet-black hair was now blood-soaked, and his green eyes, once like a meadow, had lost their color.
“Lang…!”
As Edmond cried out the name, the red flowers in the room swelled and opened their mouths wide, trying to devour the one called Lang.
Lang’s face remained bored.
“Wheel.”
At the sound of his name, the person beside him moved swiftly, slicing all the flowers in an instant.
His jet-black hair fluttered in the air like butterfly wings, but nothing about his actions was beautiful.
The Salia flowers that had been cut down turned back into small buds and withered away. Life, so easily snuffed out.
“Stop interfering… Wheel!”
“You’re still just as disobedient, huh.”
Despite being barely able to lift his fingers, Edmond shouted. But Lang shook off his grip and pressed down on his throat.
“If you had just quietly laid on your deathbed with your son, you wouldn’t be in this much pain.”
“…”
“Even your closest friend didn’t realize he wasn’t speaking to the real Edmond.”
“Guh… ugh…”
“You disobeyed my orders, your son is dead, and everything’s turned to ashes—what reason is left for you to exist in this world?”
Each word pierced not only Edmond’s body but also his heart. As Edmond’s voice grew weaker, Peyton stepped forward and called to him.
“Lang, stop…”
“Wheel.”
Again. Wheel, like a puppet, lifted his sword and aimed it at Peyton without expression. The cold steel made Peyton instinctively cover his neck and retreat.
Bladed weapons were among the things he feared and hated most.
“Stay right there.”
“…”
“I heard you received a letter from Roberti.”
“…Yes.”
He had. Over half a month ago. A secret letter from the family’s personal physician, asking if he could explain why someone collapsed as a flower crown rapidly withered.
How could he not know? The cause stood right before his eyes.
But he didn’t respond. He didn’t want to get involved.
And now, here he was—neck on the line for it.
“What did you write back?”
“…The same thing as everyone else. That they wanted me to become their family doctor.”
He didn’t want to answer honestly, so he deflected.
“Really?”
“Yes. And it was an old letter. I already replied, saying I declined. I can’t leave this castle, after all.”
“It’s fine now. You can go.”
“…What?”
The calm smile he gave was too unsettling, so Peyton asked again. This time, Lang smiled even more sweetly and dropped a terrifying truth.
“Go become their physician.”
“Wha—Why are you…?”
Lang, who had never let him leave the castle before, was suddenly letting him go. The one who told him to reject all such offers had now changed his tune.
“I played a little trick when I visited the estate. Found out Rona Ray is still there.”
The image of the withered flower crown from Serita flashed in Peyton’s mind. Was that to find Rona?
“So I gave them Salia. To try and kill Rona Ray.”
He said the dreadful words with an angelic face.
“But then I thought, wait—why would Rona Ray still be there without her master?”
“I don’t follow…”
“She must have a child.”
At the end of his gaze stood a Salia flower, not yet fully bloomed and unable to open its monstrous mouth. Its petals shifted from pale pink to red.
That confirmed it for him.
“My child is still alive.”
He brushed his long, lavender hair aside and fixed his eyes on Peyton. His amethyst-like gaze glimmered beautifully.
That innocent childlike smile on his face sent shivers down Peyton’s spine. The fact that he could smile like that while Edmond gasped for breath beneath him was nauseating.
When Peyton didn’t answer, Lang turned his eyes to Wheel beside him.
“If you won’t go, I’ll send Wheel.”
Wheel, with his hollow red eyes, stood waiting for a command.
He was a blade in human form. Wherever he went, blood followed. Peyton quickly spoke up.
“I’ll go. I’ll do it.”
And at that very moment, he felt Edmond’s life slip away. His bloodied corpse shimmered briefly, then vanished like a puff of light.
“Good. I leave it to you.”
“…”
“Oh, and there’s someone else you need to find. The pink Salia. You’ve seen it, haven’t you?”
“…I understand.”
Once Peyton answered, Lang left the room with Wheel. Only then did Peyton walk to where Edmond had been and fall to his knees.
He reached out to the floor, but Edmond had left no trace behind.
Again. Again.
Though he possessed the power to keep life from dying, he had failed to save once more.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
He would never see the blooming gardens again. Flowers blooming regardless of season—he would never see them again.
And neither would Edmond.
Swallowing his sobs in silence, Peyton slowly stood up.
When he stepped outside the castle, a carriage awaited him.
“Please get in. Your luggage has already been loaded.”
“…How long will it take?”
“It will take some time, but we won’t be stopping, so it shouldn’t be too long.”
For a mage, rest or eating wasn’t necessary. Both the coachman and the passenger were mages—there would be no stopping along the way.
Peyton let out a small sigh and boarded the carriage. By the time he arrived, perhaps this storm of emotions would be settled.
And with that, the carriage set off toward the Roberti estate.
