Chapter 7: Flowers Are Innocent; Only the One Who Brings Them Is Guilty
“Visiting the Marquess of Siren’s residence so early in the morning… could it be that you had something urgent to attend to?”
Reneb averted her gaze, pretending not to notice Lucius’s hand.
It would have been awkward to meet the hand he extended. Few would dare to refuse such kindness. Yet, Lucius, as if nothing had happened, folded his hands behind his back and began walking a step ahead.
“I was strolling through the palace gardens, and those flowers caught my eye. They reminded me of you, so I came running.”
What nonsense.
Reneb clenched her fists tightly as she stared at his familiar back. She felt an almost irresistible urge to smash his head right there.
At that moment, Lucius turned his head slightly and looked back at her.
“My lady?”
“Thank you for the flowers, Your Highness. I’ll display them in my bedroom.”
“They’re a modest gift, hardly worth such praise,” Lucius said, a satisfied smile gracing his face.
He strolled for a while through the Marquess’s garden, chatting casually. There was no doubt he had come intending to persuade Reneb, who had chosen to go to Bascher instead of remaining at the palace.
As they walked, they came across a small, unused villa.
Lucius stopped in front of its quaint, storybook-like exterior.
It was a villa the Marquess had built for Reneb’s late mother.
“I didn’t know there was such a place in the Marquess’s estate,” he remarked.
In her previous life, Reneb had shared her first kiss with Lucius right in front of this villa. She had been so excited she could hardly sleep afterward. To be fair, Lucius’s beauty was indeed exceptional.
“My lady?”
Lucius gently pulled her out of her reverie.
“The sun is getting stronger. Perhaps we should head back, Your Highness?”
Reneb tore her gaze from the villa and looked toward him.
“…!”
She flinched in surprise—Lucius was suddenly right in front of her.
“…Your Highness?”
Their eyes met, and he slowly tilted his head toward hers. The pale blue of his eyes, narrowed slightly, fixed on her lips.
‘Ah, so instead of words, he’s trying to persuade me with his body.’
Reneb stared into Lucius’s deep eyes for a moment.
And then…
“Ah—atchoo!”
She sneezed deliberately to break the tension. Lucius’s normally composed brow furrowed slightly, as if the ruined atmosphere had irritated him.
“Seems like you’re coming down with a cold. Let’s return to the mansion for now.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” Reneb said, lowering her head slightly in a formal gesture.
Lucius, still walking half a step ahead toward the mansion, suddenly stopped.
As she tried to sidestep him, he grabbed her wrist.
“Reneb…”
“Don’t touch me!”
Reneb instinctively shouted and pulled her wrist free.
Immediately, she realized her mistake. This was not the time to reveal her claws—or her emotions.
Yet, with Lucius so close, breathing near her, it felt unbearable. She had reached her limit.
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?” Lucius asked, tightening his grip slightly with a tired expression.
“Ugh…”
“Three years. You know very well it’s not a short time, right?”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t leave for Bascher, Your Highness?”
Reneb responded to his question with a question of her own. Lucius brushed his large hand across his face before speaking.
“Reneb, unlike ordinary nobles, you know royal marriages happen early. Could you try… to understand my position… haah.”
Anger welled up as he spoke, and he gripped her wrist even tighter.
“Ah!”
She had been holding back, not wanting to appear weak, but the pain was too much.
The difference between her frail body and Lucius’s trained strength was stark.
“Please… let go.”
“You’ll never escape me, Reneb.”
With that, Lucius pulled her wrist and kissed her.
‘This… insane bastard.’
Reneb twisted her body, struggling against him.
But his strong hold made it nearly impossible.
He roughly held her chin, causing her lips to part slightly.
“Ugh…!”
Seizing the opportunity, Reneb bit his lips. Even in her anger, she moderated her strength; she didn’t want to die for injuring a royal this time. Still, a drop of blood formed on Lucius’s lips.
“Reneb. What are you—!”
Lucius raised a hand, his face twisted in anger. Reneb reflexively tried to kick him, but then…
“…?”
Something flew between them. Lucius spotted a small stone rolling on the ground and shouted.
“Lewin! Lewin!”
The royal guards immediately came running.
“You called, Your Highness?”
Lucius knelt on one knee, picked up the stone, and turned toward the direction it had come from.
“Search the area.”
“Yes!”
The guards swiftly formed a perimeter around Lucius, while some spread out to search the surroundings.
“Your Highness, we should return by carriage!”
Judging the situation dangerous, they urged him to go back to the palace.
“Reneb. You’d better be careful. Today will be the last time I tolerate such blatant disrespect.”
Lucius slowly licked the drop of blood that had formed on his lips, speaking in a low warning.
Reneb furrowed her brows as she watched him and the guards leave.
“Who could have been so reckless…?”
As soon as Reneb entered the mansion, she shouted:
“Patrick! Patrick?”
“Miss, the young master is out.”
The butler, who had heard her voice, informed her of Patrick’s whereabouts, but she still felt uneasy.
“Where’s my father?”
“He went out with Master Patrick…”
If it wasn’t either of them, then who had committed such a dangerous act? Whoever it was, attacking a royal could have cost them their life if discovered.
“Do you know where they went?”
“My lord went to the palace, and Master Patrick went to the salon, as far as I know.”
“Good. Then check if any of the servants were absent just now.”
“…Yes?”
“Immediately.”
“Yes, Miss. I’ll do it at once.”
Once the butler hurried off, Reneb bit her lip.
At least there was evidence of Patrick and her father going out, so that part was fine.
But she needed to prepare in case Lucius protested later.
It wasn’t yet time to reveal everything, and she had already raised his suspicion…
Reneb ground her teeth as she watched Lucius’s loyal followers rummaging through the Marquess’s estate as if it were their own.
At that moment, a maid carrying a bouquet approached.
“Miss, the flowers are so fresh and beautiful! They say the prince prepared them himself just for you. Truly romantic, Your Highness…”
The maid, chattering excitedly, swallowed hard when she noticed Reneb’s cold expression.
“Shall I put them in a vase?”
“No. Leave them there.”
“Yes, Miss.”
As soon as the maid left, Reneb threw the bouquet onto the floor.
She stomped on it with her shoes, jumping on it as if venting all her frustration.
Flowers are innocent. Only the one who brings them is guilty.
After verifying the movements of all the mansion’s staff, the royal guards left the Marquess’s residence.
Fortunately, all the staff had been at their posts, leaving the guards no reason to interfere further.
By the time the guards departed, the sky was already darkening.
“If it wasn’t Patrick, father, or the servants… then who could it have been…?”
Reneb headed toward the scene of the incident, partly hoping to find clues, partly to calm her tangled thoughts.
As she approached the villa, a deep male voice rang out:
“Taking a late-night stroll alone without a maid—quite fearless, aren’t you?”
Startled, Reneb calmly turned toward the voice.
“…Who’s there?”
Suddenly, a dark figure leapt down from a tree some distance away.
A tall man, easily two heads taller than Reneb, landed in front of her.
As he stepped into the light, his face was fully revealed.
“…!”
The moment she saw him, Reneb’s eyes widened.
‘The Emperor of Bascher!’
She regretted coming out alone without maids or guards.
But then she realized it wouldn’t have mattered.
Even if she had brought a few guards, they would have been useless against someone who had trespassed into the heavily secured Marquess’s estate.
‘Why is he here at the Marquess’s residence?’
Confusion swept over her.
As fear caused her to step back slightly, Icar halted in place.
“No need to tremble. I have no intention of harming you.”
Reneb swallowed dryly, scanning the man in front of her.
His black hair was tousled.
His crimson eyes glowed like the sunset.
His features were perfectly proportioned.
A strong, masculine neck.
Broad, sturdy shoulders and thick arms not fully concealed by his black shirt.
The intimidation of the so-called war-monger up close was overwhelming.
“You don’t seem like someone who would tremble even in the face of a monster. What happened to the courage that led you to volunteer for study abroad?”
Icar tilted his head, arms crossed, speaking casually.
Reneb knew who he was but, not being acquainted, she pretended not to recognize him.
“…Who are you? Identify yourself.”
She tried not to sound terrified, though her trembling voice betrayed her.
“Me? I’m… the escort responsible for your safety until you arrive in Bascher.”
