Episode 7
“Shouldn’t Your Highness use those soldiers you’ve been training more effectively?”
That one sentence kept echoing in Sebastian’s head.
‘Brianna Clark.’
He muttered her name to himself with a grimace.
“…Tian.”
“…”
“Sebastian.”
A firm voice pulled him back to reality.
Sitting on the imperial throne, Cassius was staring straight at him.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Sebastian quickly composed himself and bowed.
Even after entering the audience hall, his mind had been filled with his earlier conversation with Brianna.
He gave a small shake of his head, then lowered it again.
“I was… distracted for a moment.”
“You? Lost in thought? That’s rare.”
Cassius chuckled like it was something amusing.
Then, leaning forward on the throne, he spoke.
“It’s time you moved back to the capital.”
That was the reason Cassius had summoned him today—he wanted Sebastian, who had been stationed at the northern border, to return.
“I haven’t completed the mission Your Majesty gave me.”
“Nonsense.”
Cassius’ voice was sharp.
“The woman’s dead. There’s no reason for you to stay there any longer.”
That troublesome woman who always opposed him at every turn—she was gone now.
Dead.
No one would stop him anymore.
‘And besides…’
Anyone who had gotten too close to that place could not be allowed to live.
Cassius smirked as he fixed his gaze on Sebastian.
“Stay by my side and help me, Sebastian.”
To Cassius, Sebastian was still a useful piece.
Since Cassius had ascended the throne, the Adelaide Empire had reached new heights of glory—all thanks to Sebastian leading their conquests.
Rich farmlands, gold, diamond-filled mines—all now belonged to Adelaide.
But Cassius still wasn’t satisfied.
“Don’t be greedy. Too much ambition only brings disaster.”
Cassius had no intention of losing such a perfect hunting dog.
He didn’t even have to get his hands dirty—Sebastian always brought back victories on his own.
‘You’re my hunting dog.’
Sebastian lowered his head respectfully.
“I will obey.”
Cassius looked pleased at his loyal response.
“Now that the useless ones are gone, the palace feels so much richer.”
Sebastian’s eyes chilled at those words, but when he raised his head again, his expression was blank as if nothing had happened.
Soon after, Sebastian left the audience hall.
As he walked down the grand hallway out of the palace, a knight approached.
“I’ll send word for the plan to begin immediately.”
The knight bowed shortly and started to leave, but—
“Colin. Wait.”
Sebastian called him back.
“Cancel the coup.”
“…What? Cancel? What do you mean, cancel?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Sebastian’s voice was firm, leaving Colin completely dumbfounded.
“What happened inside? Why are you suddenly making this decision?”
But Sebastian gave him no explanation—just a cold look—and walked past.
“Your Highness!”
Colin hurried after him, biting back further questions because of nearby eyes and ears.
As Sebastian strode forward, Brianna’s last words replayed in his head:
“I can help you achieve what you’re trying to do.”
She had written that under the line saying she’d visit the ducal mansion.
‘Achieve what I want? She thinks she knows?’
A bitter laugh almost slipped out, but he held it back.
“I don’t understand.”
He couldn’t even understand why he was letting her words get to him. Frowning, Sebastian finally gave Colin a quiet order when no one was around.
“Put someone on Brianna Clark. Watch her closely.”
At the Leonhardt Ducal Mansion
Only a single gatekeeper stood at the entrance.
He yawned and muttered:
“No one ever comes here anyway…”
He’d worked here for over five years, and in that time, not a single visitor had come.
But then, someone appeared, walking up the road.
“…A guest?”
Not on horseback.
Not in a carriage.
And not even a man.
It was a slender young woman.
She stopped in front of the gate and held out a slip of paper.
“Brianna Clark, daughter of Count Clark. I have an appointment with the Duke of Leonhardt today.”
“You’re… Lady Clark?”
The gatekeeper’s eyes widened.
He looked around in disbelief, clearly searching for her carriage.
But there was none. He had seen her walk up the steep mountain road with his own eyes, but it was still hard to believe.
The Leonhardt estate sat high on a hillside, far from the busy city.
The path up was rough and difficult, especially for a woman traveling alone.
And Count Clark—the man was so wealthy he basically controlled the empire’s finances.
Everyone knew he had more money than anyone else.
No way would such a man let his only daughter come all the way here without a carriage.
Looking troubled, the gatekeeper stammered:
“I-I’m sorry, Lady Clark, but I wasn’t informed of your visit.”
Brianna’s face showed slight embarrassment.
‘Well… it was kind of a one-sided notice.’
When she’d told Sebastian she would visit, he hadn’t given any reply.
‘I thought maybe he’d at least let me…’
Maybe she had expected too much.
Even so, she wasn’t about to turn back.
Before she could say anything else, the mansion gates creaked open.
“Welcome, Lady Clark.”
A middle-aged woman, clearly a head servant, greeted her warmly.
“I am Abba, the housekeeper of the Leonhardt household.”
Smiling kindly, Abba stepped aside and gestured.
“His Grace asked me to escort you to the parlor. Please, come with me.”
Relieved, Brianna followed her inside.
From outside, the mansion had seemed dark and foreboding.
But the inside told a different story.
The gardens were neat, waiting patiently for spring to arrive.
The trees were pruned with care, their bare branches blending beautifully with the last chill of winter.
“In just a couple of months, these trees will bloom with gorgeous flowers.”
Abba noticed where Brianna’s gaze lingered.
“The Duke himself enjoys gardening. He personally chose the flowers. Soon, you’ll see them in full bloom.”
Hearing that, Brianna felt an odd sense of unease.
She had never imagined someone like Sebastian—always with a sword in hand on the battlefield—would care about flowers.
‘Wait… these trees…’
As she drew closer, she realized what kind of trees they were.
‘Cherry blossoms.’
The very symbol of House Floria.
The Floria Dukedom had long valued flowers, plants, and the beauty of nature.
Instead of words, they would often express themselves by gifting flowers, each with a meaning.
The cherry blossom, above all, was their most cherished flower.
‘The beauty of the spirit.’
That was its meaning—an ideal House Floria had upheld for generations.
Their estate, too, had once been filled with rows of cherry trees.
‘But spring will never come again for that household…’
