Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

With Louis as her partner, her main goal was only to divert Calrad’s attention. Frankly speaking, she didn’t expect much from the estate’s revitalization. After all, isn’t magic the basis of magic engineering in the first place?

Money spent on wizards to revive Askan has been enormous. However, they never sprouted a single bud, so she wondered if Louis could do anything different this time around.

‘Even if I don’t gain any income, I’ll pretend to wait for a while and go on dates with Louis,’ she told herself silently.

It would be great if there was just a little result, and if it didn’t, then it was fine as well.

Seira couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, ‘Calrad… you’ll be very surprised.’

The Emperor will be surprised, and then angry again.

He was the one that hated seeing her talking with other Alphas. Even if the affection was long gone, his fierce desire to control her still remained. He was a person who would rather destroy something that wasn’t his so that others can’t have it.

The image of him with his neck grabbed was stuck on Seira’s head. His eyes trying to figure out what to do with the situation.

“Are you nervous?”

Seira spaced out as she stared blankly outside. She casually replied to Louis question with, “Do I look like what?”

Louis observed Seira’s expression and shook his head, “On second thought, I don’t think so.”

“Then it’s not.”

“Isn’t there any love left for His Majesty?”

This time around, his question got stuck in Seira’s ears and she turned to look at him.

Love – what a meaningless word.

Calrad became the ruler of the entire empire and didn’t lack anything. If they wanted to revive the past, then small concessions were needed. If they had corrected Emperor Laud’s mistakes from going back on his words to protect her and Askan, then their relationship would not have been ruined.

However, the devastated land, which was meaningless to him, was much more important to him than the love they shared.

It even got to the point of taking all of Askan’s benefits and driving Seira to the brink.

Originally, that was what power was like, so she didn’t have any intention of going wild with anger. She just admitted it. An agreement, a heart, was not worth a few gold coins. One couldn’t even move a notch on the scale.

“Louis,” she called out to the Duke Franto.

A picture perfect smile hung on her lips, “I will be the Duke of Askan until the day I die. This is the answer, right?”

As an answer, she came up with a heavy truth that couldn’t be compared from their fluttering emotions.

Franto mulled for a second and then answered, “Yes, I understand what you mean.”

Louis gave a slight nod and then closed his mouth as if he was thinking about something. Seira on the other hand, turned her attention outside once more.

Soon after, the carriage passed through the familiar palace gates. It was quite crowded in front of the carriage waiting station, but there was no need for Franto to line up at all. He was allowed to enter before anyone else, so they were able to get off right in front of the Gaudium Hall where the banquet was held.

Louis got out of the carriage first, and then reached out to help Seira. To be frank, she didn’t need anyone’s support, but she gladly took his hand still.

Perhaps in consideration to Seira’s shoes, Louis moved slowly. Seira noticed and said in an uneven voice, “Even in this outfit,its not uncommon to catch a few beasts.”

“Is that so?”

“You don’t believe it.”

He smiled softly, “No, I know it’s possible.”

“Then why are you walking so slowly?” she asked him.

“Hmm…,” he hummed in a prolonged manner, as if he deliberately wanted to make Seira wait, “Isn’t this normal? Everyone is walking at a similar pace as we do.”

Seira glanced around and replied, “You’re walking slowly so everyone could see us. You don’t know that either?”

More eyes were already staring at them.

“If that’s the case, it’s not bad. Should we walk a bit faster?”

Now that he mentioned it, Louis’ walk sped up, but it was still below average. Seira didn’t know he intended it or if it was just the same from everybody else.

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter.’

Whatever he wanted, she knew it wouldn’t be much far from what she intended.

As they entered the building, Philip, the attendant who was standing at the entrance of the banquet hall, recognized her and his eyes widened in shock.

“Your Excellency…”

“Long time no see, Philip.”

He was a very familiar figure to Seira as well. He had been caring for Calrad since he was the crown prince and treated Seira as a crown princess in the past. Of course, it wasn’t just people in the palace who did so. Everyone at Viceltium used to be.

“How… No, I mean,” Philip struggled to find the right words, “why does Your Excellency…”

Seira looked at him nonchalantly, stuttering as if he was very embarrassed.

“Why, I’m here to attend the banquet,” she replied simply.

“However, the one who is by your side by side…”

It seemed unbelievable that Franto’s Duke was standing next to her who attended the banquet for the first time in seven years.

“I hope you’ll get on with it, sir. I don’t want be delayed,” Louis said as he glanced down at the old man.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

Philip stepped aside in a hurry.

It was clear as day that Seira Askan and Louis Franto attended the banquet together as a couple. From there on, he decided what he had to do – report to Calrad immediately.

Seira and Louis walked past a nervous-looking waitress and entered the banquet hall.

There was no announcement of positions for the two dukes, as Philip’s mind blanked during his duty. However, everyone in the hall was watching the entrance from the moment they stepped inside the hall.

The Gaudium Hall, decorated with hundreds of luxurious lights that could easily be blindingly dazzling, and bright pieces of light fell on her platinum hair.