Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

She had been so accustomed to Aven’s skillful attendance, but then she left without much thought.

“Please call me a maid instead.”

“…Alright.”

Jeff’s maid rushed into the dressing room with Baron’s call, staring blankly at the ruined dress. She managed to pick something to put on her that matched Baron, who held the torn string with a sullen face.

“Why does the dress show too much of her skin? Surely the measurements are wrong.”

“Didn’t you see the ladies wearing them at the banquet? This is good enough. Revealing the top of your chest is quite trendy these days.”

Baron’s eyes widened and he murmured with clenched teeth, “You’re crazy.”

“You’re crazy.”

“That is why I prefer blouses and pants. It’s fine if we don’t ride together.”

When Seira discovered where his stubbornness came from, Baron’s ears instantly turned red.

In the past she would’ve laughed and laughed, but now that their relationship progressed to this point on, it was a bit more like a tease.

‘I’m seriously naïve about this…’

Baron was a reliable commander-in-chief who was incomparable to no one in tactics and strategies, let alone individual incompetencies. But why was he such a novice with relationships? It was outrageous. Of course, she couldn’t say he was clumsy with sex anymore.

The first formal luncheon at Jeff was spectacular after all the fuss.

‘A variety of meat is piled up in mountains!’ Seira thought with glee.

Even though she grew up to have tasted various high-end dishes when she stayed at the imperial palace, there were still quite a few varieties of meat that she didn’t know of.

“You didn’t seem to have eaten veal steak before, so I told them to prepare a variety.”

It was just a bit like eating steak from the morning, but Seira just smiled and nodded.

“Thank you for the food.”

She felt sorry for Jeff’s chef, who would’ve been annoyed as hell with Baron, and she didn’t want to disappoint him who triumphantly smiled as he revealed the dish to them.

The dish actually suited her taste quite well. Meat was always the right thing to do, even if it wasn’t as good as the food that Aven cooked with all his heart.

“I wanted to take you someplace else, but let’s go there another time. We still have two chances to date.”

“Okay.”

By the time they were almost done with the vegetables. Seira asked in a passing tone, “Oh, but are there any contraceptive pills in the mansion?”

Baron stared at her for a while before lowering his eyes.

“There isn’t,” he simply answered.

He could’ve lied and brought out a fake one, but he thought it was best that he was clear there were none.

“Baron, even if you don’t give me one, I’ll end up getting one and drinking it anyway.”

“If you wish so,” he replied, “But I won’t give you a contraceptive with my own hands.”

“I see…”

He looked up at her with conflicted eyes, “Seira, are you seriously thinking of marrying Louis Franto?”

“Hmm… well…”

Louis’ plan wasn’t to marry her. However, she couldn’t tell Baron this. She signed a contract with Louis as a pretend lover, and Baron was included in their list of people she should deceive.

“One thing is for sure, this is the only thing I can share with you in the near future.”

In fact, she needed Baron, to be precise, his regenerative power. But she didn’t mean to take advantage of his heart. The joy it brought was too great to trample on the pure affection she received for the first time.

‘If Baron wants to, we can continue our relationship, but…’ Seira thought with a pause, ‘If he doesn’t like it, I can find another way.’

If that happened, it was up to her to deal with the consequences. She couldn’t return his affection, and it was her duty to let him go whenever he wanted.

“I see.”

A smile spread across Baron’s lips as he heard Seira’s words.

“Do you mean the fox hasn’t proposed to you yet?”

“Huh? Well, yes. We’re just started to date.”

“That’s fine then.”

Seira was confused, but he didn’t seem disappointed. Rather, Baron looked much better than before.

“I’d be a coward if I give up without even trying,” he finally added, “I’ll do my best, Seira.”

“…”

He gave her a smile, which she couldn’t bear to answer and merely stared back at him.

“I’m glad you finally know my true feelings.”

“What are you trying to say…? No matter what, you’re Jeff’s…”

As soon as she tried to continue her words, Seira shut her mouth at a sudden knock.

“Your Excellency.”

It was Noah, the general butler. It seemed urgent since he came to Baron who was still spending time with Seira.

“Come on in,” Baron permitted.

Noah entered and bowed politely.

“What’s going on?”

“We have a man from the Duke of Franto.”

“To me?”

“No, to the Duchess of Askan.”

Seira received a letter from Noah and read it.

After reading the letter, Seira folded it with a smile and asked, “Is the person who delivered this still out there?”

“Yes. I’m waiting for you to give me an answer right away.”

Seira nodded and looked at Baron.

“I have to go.”