《Tamed or Captured》 CH 1 ¡°¡­¡­¡­.catch the butterfly!¡± In the forest at sunset, a woman was running desperately with her bare feet full of wounds. Blonde hair and white pajamas fluttered like waves in the blazing red forest. Her clothes were torn from branches and grasses, and her slender limbs were scratched, but she was so preoccupied with running away that she didn¡¯t even know that. Maybe it was because she was running too fast, looking only forward, she did not see the thick roots of the trees protruding from the ground, she tripped and rolled roughly. She felt like her whole body was torn apart, but she clenched her teeth again at the threatening sound that followed her and limped with bloody legs. All she could think of was running away from that man. But she soon met a dead-end cliff. She stopped breathless. At the bottom of the cliff, the waves were raging as if they could swallow her. The sea breeze made her blonde hair flutter. But then, a creepy low voice came from behind. ¡°¡­¡­.Did you think you could run away from me?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened and she looked back. Behind her stood the arrogant emperor with a black cloak embroidered with splendid roses. His black hair and red eyes, creepy like his blood, stared at her piercingly. The youngest tyrant ever to ascend the throne, but the only tyrant who could not bloom¡­¡­. He¡¯s the Black Rose of the Empire, Karaf Rode Etzheim. Asha¡¯s eyes shook violently like a candle in the wind. Aside from his enchanting face, the sight of his red eyes frightened her, as if they had been imprinted on her body. When Karaf drew closer, Asha stepped back. They were at a distance where if she took one more step back, she could fall off the cliff. Karaf looked at her with his bright red eyes burning with anger. ¡°¡­¡­ How dare you repay my kindness in this way? I promised to keep you by my side and love you for the rest of my life. But why do you always try to leave my side!¡± Asha answered looking firmly at him with her purple eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong when a butterfly wants to leave a scentless flower?¡± Karaf frowned. ¡°Your Majesty, I am a useless butterfly that cannot bloom. So please stop and let me go.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t. You will have to realize that the more you try to run away from me, the more unhappy you will be. Every time you run away I will catch you again and again and tie you by my side. Even if I break your ankles, even if I cut off your wings, I will make you stay by my side. You will never leave my side¡­¡­ !¡± Seeing his obsession and mad eyes, Asha closed her eyes. As expected, this man will not change. If she returns to him, she will never be free. She will forever be by his side like a stuffed butterfly. It was impossible to become a butterfly and have to live crawling on the ground having its wings as decorations. Butterflies are creatures that must fly. Even if their wings get wet and damaged by a storm, they have to fly in the sky until the moment they die. Asha looked at him and smiled faintly. ¡°¡­.. Then I will fly away with those broken wings. I will fly far, far beyond Your Majesty¡¯s reach.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Asha took one last step back and fell off the cliff. Karaf¡¯s eyes widened and he yelled like a roar. But his scream was drowned out by the sound of the crashing waves. Her torn white pajamas fluttered in the wind like the wings of a butterfly. Asha closed her haggard eyes and felt the wind wrap around her body. Ironically, this was her first voluntary choice during her stay with him. * * * * * As she fell into the icy water, Asha exhaled and opened her eyes. As soon as she came to her senses, the terrible cold penetrated her entire body like blades. She was lying on a slope in the forest-covered in pure white snow. She thought she fell off a cliff, but this wasn¡¯t the sea. It was winter, and she was in the middle of a mountain. She blinked in disbelief and stayed there for a moment. When she heard footsteps and threatening voices, she held her breath. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have gone that far! Search everywhere!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Asha breathed with her eyes wide open. She doesn¡¯t know what was going on, but she knew someone was after her again. Asha slowly turned her trembling gaze away and looked around. The whole area was filled with thin trees and pure white snow. She instinctively realized where this place was. This was the Herta region, located in the northern part of the Empire, where she lived before being taken to the Imperial Palace. Asha quickly looked down at her outfit. She was clearly wearing a white silk nightgown dress when she fell off the cliff, and now she is wearing a northern leather robe. However, the worn-out clothes that looked like they were going to tear at any moment, were so wet. She luckily didn¡¯t appear to have broken bones or any injuries, but the cold seeped through her bones, and Asha shivered as she hugged herself. She clenched her teeth making a grinding noise. After regaining her reason and formulating several hypotheses, she came to an unrealistic conclusion. Maybe I am back to the past¡­? Asha laughed in vain, but instead of laughing at the vivid sense of reality that she felt throughout her body, she opened her mouth foolishly. Her memory of that day remained vivid in her mind. She would never forget that day she almost died. After leaving the village for a while and seeking food in the forest, she was driven away by bandits and hid on a slope as she is now. At that time, Karaf had announced that he would give a big reward if they brought ethnic minorities to the imperial palace, so she had no choice but to live being chased. Because she was one of those very minorities. Though the cold seemed to bring her to her senses, Aisha quickly recalled how she had safely returned to the village. But at that moment, an arrow flew out of nowhere and attacked the bandits. ¡°¡­¡­. Ahh!¡± All the bandits looked in the direction of the arrow. ¡°Damn you bastards! They are like wild dogs, they¡¯re running around like dogs!¡± ¡°¡­¡­. uh? That¡¯s what we want to say! Get lost while we¡¯re being nice, old men.¡± A young boy jumped out from behind a tree and fired his bow. The bandits covered their heads and quickly ran away. ¡°Hey, boss! Are they running away?¡± ¡°¡­¡­catch them.¡± The men who had been hiding like shadows behind the trees came out in an instant and started chasing the bandits. Asha was startled because she didn¡¯t even know people were hiding there. They surrounded and attacked the bandits from all directions with sharp movements reminiscent of wolves on a snowy field. In an instant, the position of hunter and prey was switched. It was an experience that meant a lot to her, who had always lived as prey. In the end, the bandits were stripped of everything they had and kicked out naked. It was pitiful and funny to see the bandits trembling helplessly while hugging their bodies wearing only their underwear. The men openly pointed their fingers at them and laughed. ¡°Did we make a fortune today? Let¡¯s have a barbecue party!¡± ¡°Great!¡± They shared the clothes of the bandits and loaded a bunch of salted meat on their horses. A boy with brown hair as light as a straw walked up to the man who seemed to be the captain and said. ¡°Captain, but are we just letting them go? Don¡¯t you think we should scold them not to do it again?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t eat human meat.¡± The man said firmly without looking at the boy. It was kind of a metaphor. The boy pouted his lower lip and went back, with his arms raised behind his head. Asha watched as she held her breath. This happened to her when she was twenty, that is, when she just became an adult. Thanks to those who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, she survived that day and was able to return to her village. The familiar feeling like a d¨¦j¨¤ vu, it seemed right that she had returned to the past. Asha was perplexed as to how this could happen, but she suddenly wondered if this was a ¡®butterfly¡® ability she didn¡¯t even know she had. It was a power she didn¡¯t know she had until she died. Aisha seemed to laugh in vain again. Meanwhile, a man named captain was stroking his horse with his leather gloves, preparing to leave. He has dark blue-gray hair, broad shoulders, and a firm body like a beast. He left his ethnic group for some reason. He had been living a nomadic life since he left the village, so it seems that he formed a new group and became the head. Then he suddenly glanced at the side where Asha was hiding. When she met his cold blue eyes, Asha, who was looking like a rabbit on the snowfield, frowned and quickly bowed her head. He must have seen her, but he looked back as if nothing had happened and said to his comrades. ¡°Let¡¯s just go back.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± In the past, Asha did not come out, even after making eye contact with him and after they completely left, Asha hid here for a long time and trembled until there was no sound of footsteps around. Her eyes darkened. When they finished preparing everything and were about to get on their horses. ¡°¡­¡­.. Wait!¡± The captain turned his head slightly and looked at the side where the sound was heard. A woman with fluttering light blonde hair and purple eyes with a hint of gray. Steam came out of Asha¡¯s mouth, she stood there with her mouth open and looked at him with nervousness. CH 2 ¡°Please take me too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.. oh, it¡¯s a woman!¡± Some rowdy men dressed in wolf fur spotted her and whistled. But the captain asked without blinking an eye. ¡°Who are you.¡± ¡°My name is Asha Camelia. I am from the Nepesh ethnic group.¡± He snorted slightly. ¡°Ethnic¡­whatever, that¡¯s none of my business. Did you just ask us to take you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He stared at her with cold eyes, then turned his head and said firmly. ¡°Go back to your village. That is a place where people with nowhere to go gather.¡± Asha said with slight hesitation. ¡°But I¡­¡­. I have nowhere else to go.¡± The men blinked their eyes and looked at each other curiously. The captain paused for a moment, then turned his head again and asked. ¡°You have nowhere to go. Didn¡¯t you just say you¡¯re from an ethnic minority?¡± ¡°Yes, but I left my village, I¡¯m a wanderer.¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± He clicked his tongue like it was ridiculous. ¡°¡­.. Then, you should be thankful that we at least saved you from being chased by bandits and you should go on your own way. Are you going to tell us to take responsibility for your food now.¡± His blue eyes grew even colder. The cold response left Aisha clasping her red hands and not knowing what to do. ¡°¡­¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it that way. Thank you so much for your help. Thanks to you, you saved my life.¡± If you asked a stranger to take you, it would have been natural to refuse. Asha put her hands in front of her, bowed politely, then went down to the hiding place behind her. There was a basket lying on the snowy field. Shrunken fruits, withered grass, and tree bark were scattered around, seemed to have scattered on the snow as she fled. Her hands were frozen and numb, but Asha put the food back into the basket. Even though the food was in poor shape, it would be enough for a day. Asha went back up the slope again and handed him the basket. ¡°This is the food I found after searching in the mountains all day. I give it to you in return for saving my life.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­..I don¡¯t need it. If you¡¯re going to win our favor with that kind of thing, then stop.¡± ¡°This is the least I should do. Please accept it.¡± He stared intently into Asha¡¯s eyes, then looked at the boy next to him and gave him instructions. ¡°Nagy, take it.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A light brown-haired boy named Nagy took the basket. He smiled and winked at her. It meant thank you. Winters in the northern regions were incomparably harsher than in other regions. Food was always precious in these places, so as the leader of the group, he made realistic judgment for his comrades. Asha spoke bravely again. ¡°I will never be a nuisance to you. As you can see, I can meet my quota.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.. Then continue living alone.¡± As he continued to speak bitterly, Asha became a little impatient and said desperately. ¡°I now¡­.. I need power. The power to protect myself. Please let me be a Lycaon.¡± The men¡¯s eyes widened slightly. The captain stared at her with his blue eyes and his open mouth, making her shiver. ¡°You seem to know who we are.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard that you are a hunter group that boasts a 100% success rate no matter what quests you receive.¡± ¡°¡­.. but you would come with us knowing that?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± Asha answered with a serious face. Asha was lying when she said she came from the village. Although she was an orphan, she had a place to return to. In the united village of ethnic minorities, unrelated younger brothers were waiting for her to return. But she lied because she didn¡¯t want to repeat the past. A year later, the village will be completely trampled and destroyed by Count Delphinium. In the process, she awakens as a butterfly. Instead of being sold as a slave, she is sold to Emperor Karaf. Asha will never forget the tears of that day when she could not do anything as a butterfly. She wanted to prevent that from happening again. Even if she couldn¡¯t get revenge on the emperor, she wants to build up her strength and save the poor villagers with her own hands. She believed that was the reason why she returned to the past, and to this very moment of all those days. To change the future, she had to choose a different option from the past. And now, the opponent she should not miss was this man right in front of her. Asha doesn¡¯t know if it¡¯s a butterfly¡¯s intuition, but she was convinced. After being quiet for a while, he spoke again in a deeper voice. ¡°¡­¡­.I¡¯m sorry, but women can join Lycaon when some of our members have a partner. So just go back.¡± He closed his eyes and turned his back on her to walk away as if he had nothing more to say. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­. Then I will be your partner.¡± He stopped walking and stood still. His comrades burst into cheers. The captain turned again. The slight frown made him look uncomfortable. He said harshly, thinking there was no need to be polite anymore. ¡°This¡­¡­.You didn¡¯t look like that, you were that kind of woman who recklessly sells her body.¡± Aisha bit her lip because her pride was hurt. But she couldn¡¯t back down. Asha was determined. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you think. I fell in love with you at first sight.¡± The men burst into laughter and cheered even more. Whistles were roaring all over the place. ¡°Captain! Accept her! She¡¯s a woman, but she¡¯s bold and outspoken just like a Lycaon!¡± ¡°Yes! And isn¡¯t it time for the captain to have a partner¡± ¡°A man who doesn¡¯t take a woman who said she fell in love with him at first sight, deserves to be starved!¡± Perhaps their reactions annoyed him. He turned around and said furiously. ¡°Shut up, all of you.¡± They stopped laughing. The captain looked at her again and asked calmly. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s true. Is that how badly you want to join our group?¡± ¡°Why do you think my words are not true?¡± At Asha¡¯s question, he was quiet with a face that had now lost his composure. The words ¡°I fell in love with you¡± seemed to take him by surprise. His comrades laughed and whispered among themselves. Soon a member of the group coughed heavily and spoke mischievously. ¡°Well, our captain is a bit of a hotshot, isn¡¯t he? He¡¯s pretty good-looking, too.¡± ¡°True. When another man says a man is decent, it¡¯s because he is.¡± They all agreed and glanced at Asha. They sincerely hoped that their captain would have a partner. Asha blushed involuntarily. The captain was rather handsome, even though he looked rough and frightening. If Emperor Karaf had a beautiful appearance like a flower, and a bewitching aura emanated from his characteristic languid eyes, he would have exuded a rough appearance that seemed to come from a wild beast. Perhaps because of the wolf fur on his shoulders, his large body looked bigger, and his blue-gray hair fluttered wildly like a wolf in the snow. It looked as if a beast was standing in the snow. Therefore, he was more reliable and trustworthy. ¡°I will do anything for Lycaon. So please accept me.¡± ¡°You will do anything, la¡­¡­ Do you know how dangerous a male-only organization can be?¡± Some of the men who were openly attracted to those words flinched due to the numbness of their feet. When a member gets a partner, Lycaon protects them like their own family. It was their rule to never touch other people¡¯s women. Some of the men thought that if the captain did not take her as his partner, they would take her. ¡°I don¡¯t care how lovely you are, take back what you said before you regret it.¡± ¡°I will not do it.¡± Aisha¡¯s bold reply made him frown slightly. ¡°You are a very stubborn woman. What if I don¡¯t accept it? What are you going to do next, threatening me to die in front of me?¡± ¡°Why would I threaten the person I fell in love with at first sight? I just¡­¡­. I will follow you until you accept me.¡± She ended up bringing out a strategy that she never wanted to use. Asha sighed. She never wanted to use this method because Karaf¡¯s obsession had already made her shudder¡­.. But if he doesn¡¯t accept her, there will be no more chance. Asha remembers that she had no contact with this man in her past life. She was convinced that there must be a reason why she returned to this moment. Contrary to Asha¡¯s complicated mind, he seemed to be at a loss for words. He mumbled to himself. ¡°Are you going to follow me¡­¡­ ? That long way?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± In response to Asha¡¯s confident answer, he asked involuntarily. ¡°Then what if you die?¡± ¡°Then there is nothing I can do. I am not afraid of death.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­that¡¯s ridiculous.¡± The corners of his lips twitched. She was chased by a gang of bandits a little while ago. But in the midst of this, Aisha stared at him without changing her gaze, as if she meant it. The look in her eyes bothered him. ¡°Then do it.¡± When Asha looked at him with a faint smile, he said with an expressionless face. ¡°Then try it. If you follow us safely, I will seriously consider whether or not to accept you.¡± He finished speaking and walked away. His comrades glanced at Asha in disappointment, but she followed after him. Then, Asha called out to him. ¡°Wait.¡± As he was about to get on his horse, he looked back. ¡°What else?¡± Asha said cautiously. ¡°Your¡­.. Please tell me your name. I will ask about you in case I get lost.¡± Someone whistled again, and then when he saw the captain¡¯s sharp gaze, shut his mouth again. He looked at Asha¡¯s hands and feet which were red and scarred. Just looking at her hands, it didn¡¯t seem like she would last long in this cold weather. Asha sighed inwardly when he just stared at her without answering. He doesn¡¯t like me. He doesn¡¯t even want to give me his name. Asha said, lowering her eyelids slightly in resignation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was rude to ask your name in the first place. You don¡¯t have to tell me if you¡¯re uncomfortable¡­ ¡­. .¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ Jackal.¡± He said, looking into the distance. ¡°Jackal Hyacinth. That¡¯s my name.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly and looked at him. It was probably not an illusion that his expression, which had been somewhat hard and cold, seemed to have relaxed a bit. CH 3 The jackal said as he got on his horse. ¡°We will continue heading north. Look at the horse tracks and follow them. If you can follow me.¡± As he mounted his horse with a short shout, his comrades followed him. There was a high possibility that the footprints would be wiped off due to heavy snow or other reasons, but he only gave directions, not the location. Perhaps it would be difficult to tell strangers where the organization is located. She understood but felt a little lost. Despite her bravery, she had lost her shoes and her body was covered in shabby clothes. If Asha was the girl she used to be, she would never have dared to follow them. The probability of being knocked unconscious on the way was close to 100%. She was timid, weak, and passive. But there was one thing he had overlooked. She wasn¡¯t the soft girl she used to be. She was a woman who had already seen the end of her life once. A person who once lost everything and experienced death had nothing to fear anymore. Asha pulled herself together and began to walk slowly. She had nothing to lose. After all, she had no food, and the way back to the village was as far away as following them. But first, she had to find the missing shoes. Since she was hurriedly running away from the bandits, there was a high probability that her shoes were caught in a tree root or something. Asha quickly traced the path by which she had escaped. She shouldn¡¯t have gotten too far from them from the beginning. Although she still couldn¡¯t keep up with the speed of the horses, she had to follow them as closely as possible so as not to lose their footprints. Asha soon found a shoe among the tree roots. Where¡¯s the other one? As much as she looked around, she couldn¡¯t find the other one. Still, thinking this was better than nothing, Asha put on the shoe and made a temporary shoe by weaving twigs and tree trunks together, and laying fallen leaves on the inside. Although it¡¯s not going to get much better, it was better than freezing or injuring her foot. After getting ready, Asha recklessly walked along the horse¡¯s tracks for a long time. It was very cold and the same landscape was repeated over and over again. Her entire body was frozen and her skin turned red as if on fire, but Asha wrapped her arms around her and kept walking. It was very strange. Asha wanted so badly to die, but she wanted to live when she was given a second chance. This time, I want to find the reason for my life. And why did I go back to the past? Asha would not give up until she could not walk a single step. She walked for many hours until she felt nothing on her feet. The shoes already had holes in them, but she couldn¡¯t feel the pain because of the cold. To make matters worse, heavy snowfall began to fall from the overcast sky. Amid the hectic snowflakes, Asha felt her vision blur and her mind wander. I¡¯m in trouble¡­. Running away from the Imperial Palace each time was like a job, so Asha was confident that her physical strength was still excellent. And to some extent it was true. Born as a butterfly, her healing powers were superior to others. People praised the butterfly as a divine being, but they did not know that divine power was inherent in its body. But maybe she has used all her power to go back to the past. It may have been that her body was more out of adjustment because she suddenly appeared in the snowy mountain after just breathing in the warm air of the Etzheim Empire. Asha lowered her head and stomped on her numb feet, finally tripping and collapsing in the snow. She had to get up again, but there was no strength left in her body. It seems she could only get so far. White snow quickly piled up over her disheveled blonde hair and her slender body. If I die, will I go back to the past again¡­¡­. She unintentionally returned to the past, but maybe God made a mistake about who he would kill and who would be saved. Please don¡¯t confuse me this time¡­¡­. Asha slowly closed her cloudy eyes. The sound of horse hooves came quickly and vigorously from afar, and the horse¡¯s neighs resounded for a long time in the mountains. Asha looked up at the hill with cloudy eyes. There, a horse with dark bluish gray hair stood tall towards her. It was a handsome steed with smooth, shiny fur, a muscular body, and a dark mane fluttering wildly. The way the horse looked at her as it stood tall on the hill, it was like a messenger sent by God. It seemed that God had no intention of killing her this time as well. The horse walked towards her with wolf fur in its mouth. The blue eyes that gazed at her were deep and beautiful. Asha asked with a weak smile. ¡°Are you giving it to me to use?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.. whinny.¡± The horse wrinkled its nose and answered. Asha barely lifted herself, paralyzed by the cold. Then the horse quickly put the wolf fur over her shoulder and dropped in front of her so that she could easily climb on. Asha who was slightly startled by the horse¡¯s cleverness asked. ¡°By any chance, is your owner Mr. Jackal?¡± The horse just looked at her. Asha muttered to herself in a daze. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­.. I feel like you resemble him somehow.¡± She thought she saw his silhouette, thinking that he had come to pick her up. Looking at it now, the horse has a dark bluish-gray mane and icy blue eyes just like him. ¡°I don¡¯t know if a horse can look like its owner, but¡­¡­. What a smart and handsome horse.¡± The horse¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Asha smiled and gently stroked the horse¡¯s mane with her hands. She walked alone in the cold for a long time. She was glad to have a companion. Although the companion was an animal, the horse somehow seemed to understand what she was saying. ¡°Did Jackal tell you to bring me?¡± The horse moved its front legs slightly. In exchange for an answer, the horse gently closed and opened its eyes. It meant getting on his back quickly. Asha felt relieved only then. Seeing that he sent the wolf fur with his horse, he seemed to know the situation she was in. She climbed onto his back, and the horse abruptly stood up. The sudden rise of her body caused Asha to stagger and quickly hugged the horse¡¯s neck. Her body tensed. But soon, as if the horse was trying to fulfill its duty, it began to run fast. As she was in close contact with the horse and with thick wolf fur on top, she managed to withstand the cold. The bluish-gray mane didn¡¯t smell like an animal, but the scent of musk, like a men¡¯s perfume, along with the smell of snow. Somehow, the scent seemed to calm her, so Asha closed her eyes and buried her face in the mane. The good scent and soft texture make her feel better. The warm, soothing sensation relieved Asha of her tension, and she fell asleep quickly. The horse saw that she fell asleep, and hastened its steps even more. A dark horse, which contrasted with the pure white snow, carried the blonde woman running through the heavy snow. * * * * * As soon as she reached the village, the members of the organization were shocked when they found Asha and ran toward her. The horse, which had been running for a long distance without a break, neighed and walked leisurely between them, exhaling heavy breaths from its nose and mouth. Then, a silver-haired man approached quickly, led the horse, and headed somewhere. He led them to the hut safely, avoiding the gaze of the members, and immediately locked the door and asked. ¡°¡­¡­Did you finally find her?¡± In an instant, the horse turned into a man with dark blue-gray hair. It was Jackal. He answered seriously, naked, holding Asha in his arms. ¡°She was lying on the snow. If I had been a little bit later, she would have frozen to death.¡± The silver-haired man sighed. ¡°¡­¡­. If the captain hadn¡¯t gone looking for her, she would have been really dead.¡± Jackal walked silently to the bed and carefully laid Asha down. When he stared at her red nose, hands, and feet, he spoke immediately. ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± The silver-haired man quickly spread several layers of blankets over Asha¡¯s body. Jackal looked at him and said it again. ¡°I¡¯m cold, me.¡± ¡°Ah, sorry.¡± Seeing the captain standing naked, he hurriedly fetched his robe and a towel. Jackal carried Asha with his naked body for a long time and ran through the heavy snow, so his whole body was frozen. It was better not to freeze. The moment he put on the robe, his broad and muscular shoulders like a wild horse moved dynamically. Jackal wiped the water off his head with a towel, then pulled out a bottle of liquor from one of the drawers, grabbed the bottle, and gulped it down. For those people living in cold regions, alcohol with a high alcohol content was a daily necessity for survival as it raised body temperature in a short time. Meanwhile, the silver-haired man diligently put firewood into the fireplace and lit a fire to warm his room. ¡°Sosa.¡± ¡°Yes, captain.¡± Sosa quickly looked back. ¡°I¡¯ll put the firewood, so go out and call the doctor. And tell Yuri to bring hot water and a towel and tell her to help me.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± Sosa left the hut. Jackal pulled the chair closer to the fireplace and sat down, covering his body with the loose blue robe, and drank the liquor again. A gulp of alcohol dripped down his muscular chest. He wiped his mouth roughly with the back of his hand, then placed the bottle anywhere on the fireplace and threw more firewood. As his frozen body gradually regained its warmth, he looked over at Asha, who was sleeping soundly on the bed. There was a strange curiosity in the way he looked at her. Returning to the village, Jackal sent scouts to see if she was still following him. The woman was slowly but steadfastly following them. One of his comrades who said that a man who doesn¡¯t take the woman who said she fell in love with him at first sight, deserves to be starved, was scratching his head awkwardly. ¡¸Captain, I was talking too much earlier. I was joking, but are you mad at me? I thought it would be better to bring that girl with us. The mountain road is rough, so I¡¯m sure she will collapse before she can cross the mountain.¡¹ ¡¸¡­¡­ If you know you made a mistake, keep your mouth shut. You have to experience things so that you come to your senses and know that your life is precious.¡¹ At the cruel remark, the man shut his mouth and glanced at him. As the leader, Jackal was determined to test her resolve to become a Lycaon. But when the unexpected heavy snowfall began to fall, his hidden expression darkened as he looked up at the sky. ¡¸¡­¡­ Are you still following me?¡¹ CH 4 A subordinate who went out to explore answered. ¡¸¡°It¡¯s been a while since we can¡¯t see her anymore. The footprints can no longer be seen because of the snowstorm. It¡¯s hard to find them.¡±¡¹ Maybe she gave up. He didn¡¯t expect her to be able to follow this rugged mountain road from the beginning, but life as a hunter was never easy. She couldn¡¯t be accepted as a member of the organization if she wasn¡¯t strong. Especially since there was no precedent for female hunters in Lycaon. He tried to act as if nothing had happened. He didn¡¯t specifically attack the bandits to save her. She was lucky she was saved while he was on assignment. After that, whether she lives or dies, it has nothing to do with him. But, oddly enough, he felt as if he had left something important behind. When he first saw her, she was being chased by bandits and she had no shoes. However, the look on her face was sincere when she said that she would become a Lycaon. It was a dangerous look that did not know its own limits. ¡¸¡°¡­¡­. I can¡¯t.¡±¡¹ He stopped talking and called someone. ¡¸¡°Sosa.¡±¡¹ ¡¸¡°Yes, captain.¡±¡¹ As Sosa reached his side, he said quietly. ¡¸¡°I¡¯ll bring the woman myself, so you can take the men back to the village first.¡±¡¹ ¡¸¡°Yes? But it¡¯s dangerous to go alone because of the heavy snowfall!¡±¡¹ ¡¸¡°¡­¡­¡­ I don¡¯t want anyone else to die because of me. Besides, there¡¯s a good chance the bandits are still nearby. They must be very angry with us, they will do anything if they find her again.¡±¡¹ While speaking seriously, Sosa also nodded with a serious face. ¡¸¡°All right. But you have to come back safe.¡±¡¹ ¡¸¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry, you go first.¡±¡¹ His comrades showed great interest in her. Everyone wondered if the woman would really follow them, and hoped that she would pass the test safely. When Sosa and the others went first, he hid until they were far away before transforming into a horse. Only Sosa knew that he was from the ¡®kelpie¡® clan that could transform into a horse. He ran very fast for a long time, until his mane fluttered. Finally, he found a blonde woman lying on the floor in the middle of a narrow path. She did not give up, but she collapsed. The more Jackal thought about it, the more ridiculous it was. I¡¯m not afraid of death. He, who was between life and death many times, felt a little sorry for her, who easily utters such words out of her mouth. But for some reason, she reminded him of when he had left his village. He, too, was determined to do anything to survive on the day he left the village. When he approached her, breathing heavenly, she lifted her head and narrowed her eyes at him. He clicked his tongue as he watched a faint smile of welcome creep over her pale blue, quivering lips. He felt as if he had found a deer that had died, had come back to life. But she looked at him and smiled. ¡¸¡°I don¡¯t know if a horse resembles its owner, but¡­ ¡­ What a smart and handsome horse.¡±¡¹ As soon as he heard those words, he showed an unusually bewildered expression on his face. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t that obvious because he was a horse, but he had already started to like her. Jackal wrapped Asha¡¯s body with the wolf fur he was wearing before his transformation, then carried her on his back and ran. He was concerned that her skin had touched his naked body, but he flinched when suddenly she buried her face in his back. While transforming into a horse, his senses, especially his sense of smell, multiplied several times. The fragrant and subtle scent emanating from her body pierced his nostrils and he couldn¡¯t come to his senses. Jackal shook his head, trying to ignore it, and sped up his steps to reach the village as soon as possible. He wondered if he would get frostbite and cuts on his fingers or feet if he was exposed to the cold for too long. While he was sitting quietly in front of the fireplace, contemplating, the doctor and Yuri arrived. ¡°Captain.¡± ¡°Yuri.¡± She bowed slightly to him. Jackal relaxed his expression and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for asking you to do this all of a sudden. It doesn¡¯t look right to me to do it myself ¡­¡­..¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Yuri smiled. She was one of the few female members of the organization. Yuri muttered playfully as she soaked the towel in warm water. ¡°But if you are going to have a partner, I don¡¯t think it would be bad for the captain to do it himself¡­¡­.¡± He startled in front of the fireplace. Yuri secretly giggled. She gently wiped Asha¡¯s frozen body with a warm, wet towel. ¡°Oh my God, look at these limbs! If you hit her, she might break!¡± The doctor diagnosed Asha¡¯s condition. ¡°She¡¯s in very bad shape. I can¡¯t believe she made it through the mountain in this body.¡± Jackal¡¯s face grew serious. ¡°Is that all¡­¡­. .¡± ¡°Yes. She¡¯s weaker than normal people. I think it would be good for her to get enough rest.¡± When the doctor and Yuri quietly left the room, Jackal, who was left alone, looked at Asha. She had many large and small wounds. She had a body that never seemed to have lived as comfortably as a princess. She was so light that he could barely feel her weight. It was then that he became curious about her story. She managed to get out of her village with this fragile body. ¡°Forgive me¡­¡­¡­¡± He blinked at a faint murmur. A tear fell from her closed eyes. ¡°Forgive me¡­¡­. please¡­¡­ .¡± Jackal sighed softly and now looked at her with pitiful eyes. She must have lived a harder life than he had imagined. Then he wiped her tears with his hand. ¡°I will do anything¡­¡­ please¡­..that child¡¯s life¡­¡­. save him¡­. Your Majesty¡­.¡± His eyes widened slightly, and his hand stopped in mid-air. He couldn¡¯t understand why the words ¡®Your Majesty¡® came out of her mouth. Soon, a deep wrinkle formed on his forehead. * * * * * Asha will never forget the first day she met Emperor Karaf. An imperial flower and a butterfly, the fateful mate sent from heaven. Unlike his reputation, her first meeting with him was neither romantic nor peaceful. She was a slave. A slave from the northern provinces was sold to enlighten the Emperor. The day her village was destroyed by Count Delphinium, Asha was dragged away with her hands tied, unable to even wear a pair of shoes. While desperately running away from the terrible sight of the entire village burning, she was caught by the knights and beaten hard. But at that moment, a bright golden light suddenly appeared on her body, and a butterfly pattern miraculously appeared through the torn dress. Upon hearing the auspicious news that a butterfly had appeared in the Empire, Asha was taken to the Imperial Palace. And, without even being properly dressed, she met the Emperor for the first time. Asha was kneeling on the floor in a torn dress. She heard a terrifying low voice right in front of her. ¡¸ ¡°¡­¡­.Raise your head.¡±¡¹ Asha gently lifted her face drenched in a cold sweat. On the shining golden throne, embroidered with red roses, a splendid-looking man sat proudly cross-legged. Asha had heard the rumors that he was a slaughtering, bloodless, tearless tyrant. But the moment she saw his face for the first time, she thought that he was a terrifyingly beautiful man. Perhaps because he is a flower that symbolizes the empire, she dares to guarantee that no one is as beautiful and fascinating as any man or woman she has ever seen. She wondered why so many women were so thirsty for his love, but she thought a man like him could fall in love at first sight. The problem was that he was a cursed tyrant¡­¡­.. It is said that all those who inherit the blood of the Imperial Family in the Etzheim Empire are born with the ¡®Flower Spirit¡®. However, those who became emperors always had a ¡®rose¡® in their heart, a symbol of the Imperial Family, and Karaf Rode Etzheim was a special ¡®black rose¡® among them. It was the first time in history that a black rose had appeared in the Empire. It is said that when the emperor blooms, he can keep the empire safe from unknown plagues and monsters. But the black rose was unprecedented. An oracle once said that when a black rose was born, it would have powerful power, but it would lead to the Empire¡¯s ruin as he could not control his power. Thanks to this, the nobles were busy checking and demeaning him even though he was born with extraordinary power. And as that prophecy came true, Karaf was cursed and turned into a tyrant before he could flourish. He looked down at her arrogantly, tilting his chin and narrowing his eyes. His bloodshot red eyes stared up at her. It was as if a wild beast was languidly looking at the prey it had caught. And the Emperor was the predator. A sneering smile crept around his mouth as he was looking at Asha. ¡°Your appearance is worthy of consideration.¡± Asha, who was the lowest class citizen, was given the title of ¡®Vanessa¡®, the butterfly of the Imperial Palace. The servants and aristocrats of the Imperial Palace believed that true ¡®blooming¡® would occur only if they had sexual intercourse, so they did their best to push her into the emperor¡¯s palace, and soon an unforgettable first night with him came. On the night of the faint crescent moon, two shadows overlapped the emperor¡¯s bedroom. CH 5 In the deep darkness where she could not see even an inch ahead, Asha shed tears alone. Even though their skins touched, she felt completely alone. Karaf would call her in his bedroom once a month. It was like a flower attracting a butterfly, but the flower stayed for a while and did not let the butterfly go all night long. It was a very long night. Every time Asha was with him, she was terribly lonely than ever before, and she felt pricked in her body and mind, but she couldn¡¯t tell anyone about it. Because the union between a flower and a butterfly was considered sacred. She couldn¡¯t adjust to life in the palace. Although Vanessa was the Empress and a saint, no one in the Imperial Palace treated her preciously. She was a slave rather than a butterfly. And it was the same with the Emperor. Asha tried to love him, but Karaf did not love her. He merely used her like a stuffed golden butterfly specimen to solidify his own position as Emperor. Rumors of her inability to make the Emperor bloom quickly spread throughout the Empire. As time passed, Karaf grew colder and colder toward her. He wasn¡¯t like that at first. She didn¡¯t know if he pities her for being sold as an enslaved person or if he was trying to change her to his liking, but Karaf pretended to care for her in his own way. Asha mistook it for affection, but he was a man who did not know love. As the meaning of the black rose in the language of flowers, Karaf was an obsessive man. He is a tyrant who would hurt anyone with his thorns. He was the kind of man who didn¡¯t even know he was hurting others. His attitude began to change noticeably when he found out that she couldn¡¯t make the flower within him bloom. He did not hesitate to threaten or verbally abuse her, and if she didn¡¯t do as he says, he would imprison her in a room and punish her. Asha lived a solitary life in complete isolation in the Imperial Palace. A foreigner who never quite fitted into the aristocratic world¡­¡­ When she finally escaped from the palace, the knights dragged her back. Asha knelt on the red carpet and looked up at him with a trembling face. Karaf unsheathed his sword and said, just looking at the blade without looking at her. ¡¸¡°¡­.. What are the servants and maids of the Imperial Palace doing? When a butterfly has so much time, she tries to escape, but how can they didn¡¯t know about it beforehand and didn¡¯t stop her?¡±¡¹ At first sight, the tone was relaxed, but they knew that he spoke fiercely. Everyone in the room was very scared. They knew that a bloodbath was about to happen. Karaf instructed the knights to bring all the servants who normally attended her. The servants, like Asha, knelt, trembling in front of him, unable to raise their heads. Karaf looked at the knights and calmly ordered them. ¡¸¡°For failing to stop the butterfly, kill them all in front of her.¡±¡¹ Asha¡¯s face turned red with shock. Her mysterious purple eyes were red as if she was going to cry blood. ¡¸¡°You¡¯d better kill me.¡±¡¹ Karaf looked at her uninterested. ¡¸¡°How could a flower kill a butterfly? What are the knights doing? Hurry up and kill them.¡±¡¹ Soon, a knight with a stiff face dragged out a servant who usually cleans Asha¡¯s bedroom. She was the first girl that showed her kindness. ¡¸¡±Lady Vanessa¡­.! Lady Vanessa¡­¡­!¡±¡¹ The girl screamed in a broken voice, begging for help. Asha threw herself at his feet, crying. She didn¡¯t care if she got hurt or was ignored and trampled on. However, she didn¡¯t want the lives of others to be destroyed because of her. Asha gasped in shock. ¡¸¡°I will do anything¡­.. please¡­¡­ That child¡¯s life¡­¡­ save her¡­ Your Majesty¡­.¡±¡¹ She knelt at his feet and bowed. Hot tears fell on the soles of his boots. Karaf sat down on his knees without a word, then he gently grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. Seeing Asha¡¯s tearful face, he gently lowered his eyelids and said with an infinitely compassionate expression. ¡°Never try to run away from me again. Don¡¯t even ask me to kill you. I prefer that you beg me as you are now. I think that side will break my heart less.¡± He gently wiped her watery eyes with his thumb and whispered softly into her ear. ¡¸¡°You are mine forever.¡±¡¹ * * * * * Asha opened her eyes. When she woke up, she found herself lying in an unfamiliar bed. Feeling a slight fever, she tried to raise her hand. But her arms and legs, which had been frozen for a long time, did not have any strength. Seeing that the bandages were carefully tied all over her body, it seemed that someone had treated her in her sleep. It¡¯s already night? The inside of the hut was dimly lit by the fireplace. The warm air and the soft feel of the blanket made her feel comfortable as if she was in heaven. But Asha soon found a man sitting in the distance in front of the fireplace. She was startled. His blue eyes looking into the fire burned calmly. Asha panicked and tried to get up, but he spoke without looking at her. ¡°Don¡¯t move, just lie down. The doctor said that your body is like a corpse from the dead.¡± Asha was slightly taken aback by his words. She came very close to dying twice. It seems that she was very weak. ¡°Where¡­..is this place?¡± ¡°My house.¡± Asha finally came back to her senses and suddenly felt ashamed. The bed she was lying in was the bed he usually sleeps on, and the smell of his body was soaked all over the bed. The musky smell was similar to that horse. ¡°Thank you for coming to find me.¡± Asha put a hand to her chest and bowed politely. He looked at her. With the look of elegance and grace all over her body, she truly was a woman who did not fit into this place. ¡°¡­¡­While you were sleeping, you called someone very sad.¡± Asha asked, slightly perplexed. ¡°Me¡­¡­ Did I talk in my sleep?¡± ¡°Yes. You were begging for forgiveness.¡± Asha didn¡¯t know what he was talking about. But then, the expressionless man suddenly turned his head fiercely towards her and asked. ¡°What are you up to?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What the hell did you approach me? Are you the Emperor¡¯s spy?¡± Her eyes widened when the word ¡®Emperor¡¯ came out of his mouth. His blue eyes were as cold and sharp as a sharp sword. She couldn¡¯t answer, and he chuckled cynically as if he knew. ¡°Well, if you seduce me and accuse me, did the emperor say he would forgive you?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what you mean¡­¡­ It¡¯s a misunderstanding¡­¡± Then, he jumped out of his chair and climbed onto the bed. Asha lifted the blanket in defense, but Jackal was already on top of her body. He enclosed her in his arms and looked at her. It was like a beast attacking its prey. The overbearing appearance reminded Asha of her old memories, and her body, which had already lost its strength, stiffened even more. She no longer had the strength to resist. However, Asha did not shy away from his gaze but stared. Jackal frowned slightly at her calm reaction and said in a low voice. ¡°You are well aware that the Imperial Family has issued a wanted order for ethnic minorities in the entire region. Among them, Lycaon is the most difficult group to deal with from their point of view.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You, who were able to escape, you have already met the Emperor¡­..What the hell are you doing? Are you a minority who have already been taken to the Imperial Palace and released on the condition that you cooperate with the Emperor?¡± Jackal finished speaking and looked at her face with complex eyes. His blue eyes trembled slightly for the first time. Minorities were forced to live in hiding for the rest of their lives so that the Emperor would not discover them. It was because the people who were said to have put a curse on his chest were the ethnic minority¡­.. She still didn¡¯t say if she had met the emperor, or that she was able to escape from the palace after meeting him. ¡°¡­¡­.Answer me. Don¡¯t tell me that hiding in the snow from bandits was all planned to meet me.¡± Asha did not answer. It really occurred to her that it might be planned regardless of her intentions. She had a random regression, and there was a good chance that it would. Seeing her not responding, Jackal¡¯s expression hardened even more. He didn¡¯t trust people. He has learned through long experiences that humans can betray others at any time in order to live even if they are of the same blood. But for some reason he wanted her to be different. He had a heavy responsibility to protect his people, so he purposely spoke harshly, but inside him, he only hoped that his judgment was wrong. He had mixed feelings and felt confused. But then, Asha spoke quietly. ¡°If I say that I ran away from the Emperor¡­¡­Will you believe me?¡± He looked at Asha sadly, without saying anything. Jackal struggled to hide his emotions and spoke bluntly. ¡°That means it¡¯s true that you¡¯ve been taken by the Emperor. That¡¯s why you told me earlier that you need the strength to protect yourself.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± Then he said again with a slightly mischievous laugh. ¡°You were lying when you said you fell in love with me at first sight, cheeky girl.¡± His smile was somehow bittersweet, and Asha felt a bit perplexed. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­Captain! Everyone is waiting for the feast, but why are you so late¡­..?¡± A man burst through the cabin door and froze in the doorway. Jackal and Asha, who were on the bed, turned their heads at the same time to look at him. CH 6 ¡°Huh¡­ ¡­ I¡­ ¡­ So¡­ ¡­ I didn¡¯t see anything!¡± He closed the door and left. Jackal, who was looking at the door with a puzzled face, suddenly realized that his pose was quite indecent. He was on top of her with his chest exposed. Asha was conscious of it only then, and she blushed with embarrassment. His body was full of solid muscles from shoulders to chest and abs like a wild horse. She didn¡¯t know where to look, all she could see was his chest. Asha turned her gaze away, and Jackal quickly got up from the bed and pretended to be calm. Then he looked away. ¡°¡­.. I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯re already on the run, so we can¡¯t afford to risk our lives to take a dangerous fugitive with us. I¡¯ll take care of you until your wound heals, then you¡¯ll have to leave here.¡± Asha, who came to her senses, said in surprise. ¡°But I¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You already failed the test. You don¡¯t deserve to be a Lycaon.¡± Asha was speechless. It was a bit harsh, but it was true that she didn¡¯t pass. As she lowered her gaze helplessly, Jackal said. ¡°You¡¯ve experienced it, so you know now how weak you are. Never do anything so reckless and foolish again. Unless you want to shorten your life.¡± After he finished speaking, he nonchalantly left the hut. Asha couldn¡¯t even tell him that she had returned to the past. Although she did not know if the emperor would catch her again. She felt like she was about to cry. * * * * * Jackal arrived at the fortress where the drinking party was in full swing. However, as soon as he appeared, his comrades sneered, secretly whispering to each other and laughing out loud. Jackal said coldly with a stiff face. ¡°I came here because there¡¯s a party, and it seems like everyone was setting up their own ancestral table.¡± The murderous comment instantly silenced the chattering, and a cold wind blew. However, they couldn¡¯t completely erase the smile that had spread across their lips. It was because what had happened in his cabin had already spread. They thought that the two of them were spending time alone. Then someone slyly muttered. ¡°As expected of our captain. He¡¯s a true man who cannot leave a woman alone.¡± Jackal thought he meant that he picked up Asha himself, but Nagy slipped out of the crowd and asked innocently. ¡°Boss! Is it true that she is your wife?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The brothers told me that the captain is now in the middle of a very important mission to become a real man. They said you couldn¡¯t come out because you were busy, and I shouldn¡¯t bother you.¡± The naive childish words caused everyone to burst out laughing. As Nagy glanced at him, then Jackal followed his gaze and looked at himself to finally say ¡®ah¡¯. He looked just like a person who had just left the bedroom. He was so absorbed in the conversation with Asha that he forgot to change his clothes. Jackal swept his hair violently. ¡°Damn it¡­..¡± He couldn¡¯t go back to pick up his clothes after saying such cold words to her. ¡°¡­.I don¡¯t know what everyone is thinking, but nothing happened, so keep your mouth shut.¡± Jackal gave up going back and walked over to the center table and flopped down on the wooden barrel. Sosa walked over with a bottle of wine and sat down next to him. He said with a smile. ¡°Everyone is delighted that the captain brought a woman for the first time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even my girl, what are you happy about?¡± Then Jackal grabbed the bottle and gulped it down. Sosa stopped joking because Jackal didn¡¯t seem very happy. However, after a while, the others who were drinking tactlessly asked him very excitedly. ¡°Captain, by the way, is your partner not coming?¡± Jackal stopped, holding the bottle in the air. ¡°Let me tell y¡¯all one more time, that woman isn¡¯t¡­..¡± Suddenly the door burst open and someone walked in, stopping the conversation everyone was having and looking at the door at the same time. Jackal turned his head and raised one eyebrow slightly. Asha was standing there. The gloomy fortress lit up as soon as she came in. Her shiny blonde hair shone like a halo. She had pure white skin, and her seductive eyes seemed to have drawn him in. Everyone has their mouths open. Asha walked gracefully towards Jackal. ¡°You¡­..¡± Asha asked, staring at him, a little perplexed. ¡°Can I sit next to you?¡± Even then, his comrades, who were frozen and staring blankly at Asha, said, ¡°Oh!¡± He put the bottle down on the table. Jackal tried to say no because he was afraid of further gossip but realized that he had no reason to say no. The rule here is that you are responsible for the woman you have brought. He obviously told her that she could stay until her injuries healed. But if he politely refused, she would feel ashamed. He gestured for her to come closer without answering, and Asha sat down beside him. Sitting side by side, the difference in their physiques was big, but it was a pair that matches well like a beauty and a beast. Jackal pretended not to care and glanced at her. She looked so hurt a little while ago, but now she was sitting peacefully as if nothing had happened. When Yuri gave her some food, she simply thanked her and even smiled at her. Jackal watched Asha closely as if watching the enemy, and slowly brought the bottle to his lips. Asha¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the big wild boar in front of her. It was truly a huge boar that was roasted from head to toe. She hasn¡¯t seen such a big, wild meal in a long time. As if she had forgotten how to eat, she repeatedly raised and lowered her hand hesitantly, then suddenly a large hand appeared. Jackal tore off one of the big boar legs and handed it to her indifferently. ¡°Eat it.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you¡­¡­¡± Asha took the meat with both hands, while he drank the bottle again as if nothing had happened. When the other members saw what they were doing, they giggled among themselves again, but Jackal only drank alcohol, lazy to make excuses. Asha took the meat and looked at it seriously for a long time. She had gotten so used to the rules of etiquette that it seemed so strange to her. Regardless of its taste, she was a bit hesitant to eat in front of others. Jackal glanced at her and snatched back the boar¡¯s leg. Asha¡¯s eyes widened and she stretched out her hands affectionately. ¡°Ah! My meat¡­. !¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat, don¡¯t eat it.¡± ¡°Who says I don¡¯t want to eat?¡± Asha said it with a slightly resentful expression, but it was unintentionally cute. Also, she said ¡®my meat¡®. She was oddly cute, so Jackal chuckled, then handed the board¡¯s leg back to her. ¡°Take care of your food. Because this is your own food.¡± Asha nodded, took the meat, and looked at it seriously. She swallowed hard and took a big bite, and the moment she opened her eyes, her eyes widened like a rabbit. The meat¡¯s juice and soft flesh melted gently in the mouth, and the taste was amazing. ¡°It¡¯s delicious¡­¡­.!¡± Asha uttered an exclamation without realizing it. Jackal stopped drinking and looked at her sadly. It was the first time he had seen a woman eat this way exclaiming honestly. However, the members were already so into her that they were nodding their heads with an ¡°aww¡± face. Asha had a hard time suppressing the urge to chew the meat without paying attention to her surroundings. The royal food would be more colorful and luxurious, but she couldn¡¯t understand whether it was because she was hungry or if this taste was more to her liking. The cook was delighted to see Asha eating and served her more food. ¡°Are you very hungry after walking so much, miss? Please eat a lot, and please take good care of our captain in the future.¡± ¡°Take good care of who?¡± Jackal swung the bottle back and forth and grunted, telling him to get lost. The cook quickly stepped aside. Jackal grabbed a boar¡¯s leg and took a big bite. He chewed with an indifferent face, but he was eating so fast that he looked like a glutton. Asha watched him eat unconsciously. She was struck by the way he ate so deliciously. As he chewed on the meat, he felt a gaze and glanced at his side. She quickly lowered her head in surprise and she started eating her bean soup. Now everyone was drinking and chatting among themselves. Asha finally relaxed and looked around closely. The fortress was dimly lit and was filled with the smell of sweat and alcohol, and the sounds of men laughing and shouting. It was a world that felt completely raw, but it seemed to have a human scent. It had been a while since she had seen a scene like this, and she was captivated. She had always been seen only by people wearing tight uniforms and fancy dresses, with breathtaking courtly manners. She didn¡¯t know where to look when the men showed their bodies so casually, but somehow she felt like she could breathe. At that moment, feeling distracted, Jackal quietly spoke. ¡°¡­..Are you going to keep acting like you¡¯re my partner? As far as I know, we¡¯re done talking.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I want to be recognized as a hunter, not as your partner. I will definitely help Lycaon as well.¡± Jackal looked dumbfounded. ¡°As I said before, if you want to become a hunter with that body, everyone will hardly believe it.¡± Then Asha said seriously. ¡°I have something to show you. I¡¯ll explain everything, so wait a little bit. I¡¯m very hungry now.¡± Jackal looked even more dumbfounded, but Asha eagerly ate the food in front of him. She was well-nourished in her own way, but in Jackal¡¯s eyes, the amount of food was so small that he wondered if that was all she was eating. Suddenly, he had a mischievous idea and instructed the cook. ¡°Wede, give this girl ¡®that¡¯.¡± The cook stopped cutting and looked back at him suspiciously. CH 7 ¡°Are you¡­. talking about that ¡®special meal¡®?¡± ¡°Yes. As a commemoration of coming to our place, we need to feed her properly.¡± ¡°All right!¡± The cook smiled mischievously and began to cook something passionately. Asha looked at him curiously, but her eyes widened. It was a ¡®fried wolf spider¡¯. Asha¡¯s face turned white and she covered her mouth with her hand. The terrifying spider was the size of her palm. Jackal asked mischievously. ¡°You said you were hungry. Why a wild boar, and not a spider?¡± ¡°But this¡­.Do I really have to eat this?¡± ¡°Of course. It has a rich amount of protein. It¡¯s also used as a medicine. It¡¯s crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, so it¡¯s perfect as a side dish with alcohol.¡± Then someone else joined the conversation with a beer in hand. ¡°Lady, that¡¯s expensive! Eat a lot!¡± As Asha was about to throw up, Jackal said sarcastically. ¡°Jeez¡­. You¡¯re a picky eater. You lost your appetite because of the bad food in the palace. If you don¡¯t quickly get used to common people¡¯s food, it will be difficult for you to make a living.¡± Food is hard to find in the northern regions, and wolf spiders were a great nutritious food. Jackal casually ripped off the spider¡¯s leg and popped it into his mouth and chewed on it. He asked sarcastically when Asha looked at him as if she had seen something she couldn¡¯t. ¡°Why? Is it disgusting? Do you want some?¡± He held the wolf spider with two fingers, looking carefully if there was any flesh on it. Seeing that, Asha said with an expression that seemed to have no appetite. ¡°¡­¡­No, thank you. I¡¯ll just eat it on my own.¡± Asha stared at the spider. The spider¡¯s black eyes were staring at her menacingly. Jackal watched Asha engage the dead spider in eye contact and burst out laughing. Surprisingly, he thought that she was a fun woman to tease. Asha turned her head and stretched her hand as far as she could to pull one of the many spider legs. Her body trembled at the eerie sensation of ripping a leg off the spider, she quickly closed her eyes and put it into her mouth. Before she could properly feel the chewy texture, Asha swallowed quickly and cleaned her mouth with alcohol. Jackal scolded her. ¡°You swallowed it without slowly savoring this delicacy. What a pity.¡± Asha rinsed her mouth with alcohol and then she said confidently. ¡°I ate it anyway, is it okay now?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t force you to eat it.¡± Asha looked at him seriously, but Jackal laughed softly again. She has never seen him laugh so naturally, so Asha relaxed. Even though he looked strict and cold, he know how to smile and laugh. But then, Sosa, who had gone outside, approached him with a serious face and whispered in his ear. ¡°Boss. Let¡¯s talk outside for a while¡­.¡± Jackal got up from his seat, it must be something very important. Asha looked at them leave but kept munching on the food. She thought that she needed to replenish her stamina If she wanted to tell him something important later. * * * * * As soon as they stepped out of the noisy fortress, the cold air of the winter mountains enveloped them both. He looked back at Sosa and asked. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°That is, the patrol team reported traces of someone caught in the trap placed on the border of the town.¡± ¡°Is it a person?¡± ¡°I think so. An animal would not have cleverly turned the trap around and fled. I think one of the bandits we met today was spying on us.¡± Jackal murmured ¡°Troublesome flies followed us. Should I have taken care of them ¡­..¡± ¡°They found a trap, so they most likely realized we were staying close.¡± Jackal¡¯s expression turned serious. If they found out that Asha was here, they would go wild even more. It didn¡¯t matter if they were targeted, but she was in danger. Jackal went directly to the border with Sosa and meticulously checked the traces. He sniffed the leaves and checked the smell of strangers, then said seriously. ¡°I will strengthen the security and I will send more recon team more often. Tell your men to pack important things in advance in case we have to leave here at any time.¡± Sosa answered seriously. ¡°Yes, Captain.¡± * * * * * While they were out, Asha had a friendly chat with Yuri. Perhaps because there are only a few women here, the two exchanged a few words and quickly became close. Yuri, who is on her chubby side, pointed to someone with a slightly shy face. ¡°That man over there is my husband.¡± When Asha looked up, a man who was relatively thin compared to the others smiled and raised a brown leather-gloved hand. Yuri also smiled and whispered in her ear so that only Asha could hear it. ¡°I¡¯m trying to feed him.¡± Asha covered her mouth and laughed. ¡°Even though he looks skinny, he is actually a manly man. All Lycaons here are beasts¡­¡­. No, they¡¯re very aggressive. Courtship is no joke when it comes to the girl they like.¡± Yuri said that she had rejected him twice. He wasn¡¯t her style, but she decided to marry him after seeing him risk his life for her. Her husband blew a kiss, and Yuri caught the kiss and swallowed it. And he skillfully blew kisses again. At the unstoppable love affair between the two of them, the Lycaons around them shook their heads laughing. Listening to the delightful love story of the two, Asha wondered if she would turn violent if suddenly another woman took a liking to Jackal. But then she shook her head. He looked so cold and blunt that it was unlikely. But then, a screeching noise was heard from somewhere. ¡°¡­.Just because she is pitiful, he brought an unknown woman. Lycaon is going down the drain.¡± In a noisy space, she heard the voice very clearly. Suddenly, there was silence. Asha knew that the intention was for her to listen, and looked back to where the voice come from. In the corner, a man with dark reddish hair was staring at her with a sneering expression on his face. ¡°Hey, ill-mannered princess. Come over here for a second. Let¡¯s find out how empty your head is.¡± ¡°Gabe! What a rude thing to say to the captain¡¯s partner!¡± ¡°Partner? She is his partner?¡± He said with a genuinely absurd face. ¡°Has the captain officially declared that woman as his wife? Or, did you ever go along with her fuss just once?¡± They did not respond to those words. Clearly, Jackal was taking an ambiguous attitude as to whether or not to take her as his wife. When Asha got up, Yuri, who was next to her, grabbed her wrist. Asha looked back at her, and Yuri shook her head seriously. With that look, she meant to stay out of it. A woman without a mate could be targeted by other Lycaon at any time. Yuri recalled the two members who used to fight like dogs over a woman, so she was genuinely worried. That day, two members caused a riot and almost got kicked out of Lycaon, but ended up crying, asking for her forgiveness, and both gave up on the woman. There is a rule that anyone who touches someone else¡¯s partner will have their wrists shredded. When it comes to women¡¯s issues, they can become more sensitive and violent than anyone else. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Asha walked towards him, Gabe said, looking up cheekily with his wolf-yellow eyes. ¡°You want to join Lycaon, princess?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then go the easy way, why do you want to go the hard way?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± Gabe jumped up from his seat. And, like a hawk, with one eye, it pointed threateningly at her face. ¡°If you want to seduce the captain, do it properly. Stop talking nonsense like being a hunter, and just be good at hunting men.¡± At those words, Asha¡¯s eyes sank. ¡°That madman¡­¡­ ! What if the captain finds out?¡± ¡°Stop drinking!¡± Some of the men approached him violently, but Gabe didn¡¯t even pretend to listen. He must have been offended by eavesdropping on her earlier offer to Jackal to be a hunter. Although he was not as tall as Jackal, he was also tall and had a good physique. There was a sense of danger in his cheeky expression, but Asha did not back down and confronted him. ¡°Why is it nonsense to be a hunter? I meant it.¡± Everyone was surprised by her statement. Gabe said openly, snorting at her. ¡°Do you know why we don¡¯t hire female hunters? It¡¯s because one woman can cause the organization to collapse in one shot.¡± He continued speaking while looking at Asha with bewildered eyes. ¡°Do you understand? Lycaon doesn¡¯t need a weak female hunter. This is not a charity that feeds and puts you to bed for free. To protect you alone, we, strangers, risk our lives, huh?¡± ¡°Gabe, stop it.¡± The members approached him and tried to stop him, but Gabe roughly shook his arms. ¡°Hey, let me go!¡± Asha looked at him and said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s understandable. You have the right to be dissatisfied with me.¡± ¡°Really? So now it makes sense. Don¡¯t say that you want to become a hunter again, and work hard to seduce the captain. I won¡¯t blame you for that.¡± He blew a bottle as if he had finished talking. Then everyone began to curse at him with grim looks. ¡°You..you.. you mother***ker¡­.!¡± ¡°How can you say that to a woman? That¡¯s why you will always be a jerk!¡± They clicked their tongues, but Asha stood silently and observed him. He had an eagle badge on the back of his neck with a cape. It was a badge that meant ¡®patrol¡®. He was always the first to go out on patrol so that the organization would not be endangered so that her existence felt like a threat. But Asha didn¡¯t feel particularly bad because Jackal had been in the same position since the beginning. Gabe tilted the bottle and saw Asha still standing there, and asked her a little crookedly. ¡°Do you still have something to say, Princess?¡± Asha sat down, facing him without a word. Gabe frowned slightly, Asha turned to the cook and asked him. ¡°Mr. Wede, can I have a bottle of alcohol, too? The same thing as him.¡± ¡°Wow, you want to play a game with me?¡± Gabe wiped his mouth with a glove, then cheekily looked up. Then Asha said with a soft smile. ¡°I think I¡¯ll join the same patrol from now on, and I¡¯ll try to get close with you.¡± Gabe¡¯s relaxed expression instantly hardened as if he had been shoot. CH 8 Gabe frowned slightly. ¡°¡­.Oh man, you didn¡¯t understand a thing I said. Or are you just stubborn?¡± When the cook came with a bottle of liquor, Gabe waved his hand with a displeased face. ¡°That¡¯s enough, bring me what I say. Let¡¯s make a bomb shot. You need to drink this much to socialize, don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°Gabe, take it easy. Are you planning to kill her?¡± ¡°Kill? Who? As she said, I¡¯m just congratulating her on joining the patrol in advance.¡± When Gabe answered with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Please bring it.¡± Gabe furrowed one eyebrow and smiled. ¡°Are you confident? You¡¯re not as strong as you seem, are you?¡± Asha did not answer. Gabe twisted the corners of his lips and started pouring all the liquor into a bowl. People, who were watching, anxiously muttered ¡®oh, that¡¯s strong¡­¡­.¡® Then Gabe poured the liquor into two wide wooden mugs and handed one to her. ¡°If you drink this and survive, I¡¯ll acknowledge your mental strength. If you pass out I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t see it.¡± He looked proud, but Asha looked into his eyes and answered. ¡°All right.¡± Then the two of them began to drink at the same time, staring at each other. She was startled for a moment by the terrible burning sensation in her throat, but Asha showed no expression. This drink was so strong that it could not be compared with any other drink she had ever drunk at the Imperial Palace. It seemed that tears would come out of her nose and throat mercilessly, but she closed her eyes and drank it in one gulp with a face that looked as comfortable as possible. In her past life, Asha was forced to drink because Karaf loved to drink. She was able to endure this much with what she called ¡®mental power¡¯. Everyone looked at her and admired her. That bomb drink was so strong that even men who enjoyed drinking would lose their minds if they drank it. Gabe glanced over Asha¡¯s mug and said. ¡°Impressive, my lady.¡± Suddenly, she went from ¡®princess¡® to ¡®lady¡¯. He also pretended to be relaxed, but anyone could see from his face that he was not okay. But then, just in time, Jackal returned with Sosa. The members were startled by their appearance, and looked at each other, not knowing what to do. They were speechless when they saw Asha and Gabe in the center of the commotion. Jackal walked over to her and glanced down at the bowl of liquor. He knew what kind of alcohol it was just by the strong smell, without even having to drink it. ¡°¡­.. Gabe, did you give this to this woman?¡± His voice was calm, but there seemed to be a strong wind inside. But Gabe replied with a smile on his face, half out of his mind. ¡°Yes, boss. This woman was so rude without knowing anything, so I tried to scold her¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­..Rude?¡± Jackal grabbed him by the neck. Sosa and all the members surrounding him, trying to stop him. Jackal looked at him with eyes burning with blue flames and said angrily. ¡°Say it again. What did you say?¡± Gabe¡¯s face became gloomy, and he started mouthing random words. ¡°Why are you so angry all of a sudden? Do you care so much about that woman that you can¡¯t tolerate even a little gossip? You must have grown fond of her in that short period.¡± ¡°¡­.watch your mouth. This is the last warning.¡± The atmosphere became irreversibly harsh. But Gabe didn¡¯t back down and yelled. ¡°If Captain really cares about this organization, take her as your wife or kick her out, one of two things¡­.!¡± At those words, Jackal¡¯s body stiffened, and his hands relaxed slightly. Sosa quickly separated them, stood in the middle, and told Jackal. ¡°Captain, I think that everyone is overly excited today. Let¡¯s talk when they¡¯re in their right mind..¡± Jackal reluctantly quit the fight as he saw his men staring at him with concerned faces. He said, looking back at Asha. ¡°I¡¯m drunk, so let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Asha tried to follow him confidently, slightly drunk, then turned back and looked at Gabe. The next moment, the members opened their mouths. Asha walked up to him and pointed at his face as he had before. ¡°You¡¯ll see. I¡¯m not as weak as you think, and I¡¯m a much more useful woman!¡± Asha turned and left the fortress before Jackal. It was the first time they had seen her angry, and they all looked at her with slightly dazed expressions on their faces. Jackal left Gabe and Sosa alone and followed her. As soon as the door closed, Asha staggered and collapsed into the snow. But before her knees hit the ground, Jackal grabbed her. He asked, slightly dumbfounded. ¡°Are you crazy? Do you know what kind of drink it was?¡± Asha answered drunk and with a red nose. ¡°¡­..He was congratulating me.¡± ¡°Congratulations? And you believed that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Gabe said. I just believed him.¡± Her voice was a little hoarse. Jackal bit his lips, then asked again with a serious face. ¡°What did he said with while I was gone?¡± Asha was silent for a moment, then spoke calmly. ¡°No, nothing happened.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Jackal noticed that she was trying to cover Gabe and stayed silent. Perhaps she didn¡¯t want to cause a rift between his men. Asha walked as if nothing had happened, but with every step she took, she lurched forward. It was hard for her to be well because she drank a lot of liquor. Suddenly, he grabbed her and carried her like a princess. Asha¡¯s eyes widened in embarrassment, but she rested her head on his chest. ¡°Put¡­.put me down. I¡¯m fine!¡± ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re fine? As soon as we get home, wash your feet and go to bed.¡± Asha was speechless. Jackal walked, looking forward, but inside, he felt a little sorry. She pretended to be fine, but her insides were burning. He said quietly. ¡°You didn¡¯t expect to be welcomed by everyone from the beginning. It¡¯s a given, so there¡¯s nothing to be disappointed about.¡± ¡°Yes. I know¡­.¡± Although it sounded cold, Asha knew he was trying to comfort her. Jackal kept carrying her until they reached the cabin. But as soon as she hit the ground, she entered the cabin very determinedly. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened as he suddenly saw what Asha was doing. As soon as Asha closed the door, she suddenly took off her coat. Jackal turned around. ¡°What are you doing now¡­..¡± Confused, he stuttered. ¡°¡­¡­ No way, is this what you wanted to show me earlier¡­¡­.?¡± He asked quietly, but his face turned red in embarrassment. Without knowing what was going through his mind, Asha, who wore only sleeveless underwear, said seriously. ¡°Yes. Please look at me.¡± His heart began to beat uncontrollably. He did not know how to react because this was the first time that a woman had seduced him in such an active way. Ordinary women would be terrified of him, and wouldn¡¯t even try to get close to him, much less talk. They get instinctively afraid and wary of the wild horse aura emanating from him. Humans unconsciously rejected beings other than themselves. However, Aisha did not avoid him from the first time she saw him and looked at him confidently. And the moment she boldly confessed to him that she was in love with him at first sight, he felt that she would be the only woman in this world who would not avoid him. He had never paid any attention to a woman until now, thinking that no woman would like a man who could transform into a horse, but Asha was the first woman to break down his wall. This opportunity may never come again. When he thought of it, his face suddenly flared up. His heart was telling him not to let her go, and his head was telling him to put his people first. Jackal then wiped his face with his large hand, before regaining his composure. ¡°¡­.. If you¡¯re trying to seduce me, stop. Your beauty doesn¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°Beauty¡­..?¡± Asha blinked. His stout back looked as if he was somehow having some inner conflict. ¡°Pfft.¡± Asha¡¯s laughter made him flinch. ¡°¡­..How can you laugh in this situation?¡± ¡°You seem to have misunderstood something, but that is not what I am going to show you.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not that, then what is it? You took off your clothes to show me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just trying to show you the benefits of accepting me into the organization.¡± ¡°¡­.benefit? What benefits?¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°So, if it¡¯s your body, it won¡¯t work¡­¡­¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡­.¡± Asha sighed, thinking that the conversation would not continue. When she found out that he was surprisingly shy in front of the opposite sex, she felt a little fresh. Earlier, he climbed on top of her body without hesitation and seemed to have acted on purpose to warn her. He chose such a radical method to let people know that he is a dangerous man and that this is not a place for women to live. She thought that maybe he could be a man who finds dealing with women more difficult than anything else. Asha walked behind him with a slightly mischievous face and patted him on the back. ¡°Please look at my chest.¡± He was visibly startled when she said ¡®chest¡¯. ¡°¡­.How careless you are, how can you say that to a man casually¡­¡­!¡± He looked back, slightly angry, and couldn¡¯t speak because his eyes grew bigger. He quickly turned his head again, but he saw a tattoo-like pattern near Asha¡¯s chest. It was a golden ¡®butterfly¡®. Asha calmly spoke, and she turned to see him frozen with his eyes enlarged. ¡°Now you know. I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m the Butterfly of the Empire.¡± He was so flustered that he couldn¡¯t say anything. He stood there like a statue. His eyes trembled as he looked at Asha. CH 9 As Asha put her clothes back on, Jackal said as soon as he came to his senses. ¡°¡­..You said that you ran away from the emperor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But, as far as I know, the current emperor hasn¡¯t found the butterfly yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He doesn¡¯t even know I exist yet.¡± He asked like a fool. ¡°What? But you just said that you ran away from the emperor¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Because that has become a thing of the past.¡± Jackal did not understand the situation at all. He couldn¡¯t understand what the hell she was saying now. When he regained his rationality, his red face turned cold. Asha lowered her gaze and continued speaking. ¡°All butterflies have special abilities other than making flowers bloom. I guess my ability was regression. I ran away from the emperor, but I was captured, and the moment I died, I returned to the past. You¡¯re the first one I saw as soon as I opened my eyes.¡± Asha calmly told him the story of the past when she was sold to the emperor. The story of the terrible day when her village was annihilated¡­¡­ Jackal just listened but did not answer. Asha finished the story with a small sigh. ¡°¡­.That¡¯s why I wanted to become a Lycaon. My abilities aren¡¯t perfect yet, and I don¡¯t know if I have other abilities, but if I improved them, it will definitely be helpful to Lycaon someday. Please don¡¯t kick me out.¡± There was a long silence in the room for a while. Jackal slowly turned around and stared at her. She didn¡¯t know what his deep blue eyes were thinking. Asha wasn¡¯t sure if he believed her, so she was just staring at the floor. If he didn¡¯t believe her, she would be in a dangerous situation. Since she revealed the secret of being the butterfly, she could not discard the possibility of being kicked out for the safety of his people or sell her directly to the Imperial Palace. To Lycaon, she is nothing, and as Gabe said, she is a dangerous fugitive. So no matter what decision he makes, she will accept it. It was her choice to follow him, but it was his choice to accept her. Jackal immediately spoke heavily. ¡°¡­¡­ What is your purpose?¡± Asha looked at him without understanding the question. His eyes were colder than ever. ¡°If it¡¯s true that you went to the past, then why do you want to become a Lycaon and improve your abilities? Instead, why don¡¯t you just hide from the Emperor? Is it, perhaps, to save the minorities?¡± He hit the nail on the head there. She said she would help Lycaon, but the main reason was to protect ethnic minorities. Now deceiving him could backfire, so Asha admitted. ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± ¡°You should have heard the rumors that I formed a separate group a long time ago. Because an old man told it to people of all ages.¡± The old man he was referring to was the chief of an ethnic minority village. Asha had also heard the story of Jackal when she was young. ¡°Do you know why I did that?¡± Jackal asked, shaking his head again. ¡°¡­..No. I don¡¯t want to talk about this anymore. It¡¯s not a very good memory to remember. Anyway, I¡¯m just a traitor to them. But will you come to me to help those minorities?¡± As expected, he didn¡¯t seem to have a very good relationship with the village chief. So it would not be good if she tried to help them. ¡°Yes. But I¡¯m not going to ask you to help me with that. When that day comes, I will leave Lycaon and disappear alone to help the villagers.¡± Jackal was silent for a moment, then asked. ¡°Disappear¡­..Then after that.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Where and what are you going to do to live after saving them?¡± ¡°Ah¡­..¡± Asha was taken aback when he asked such a thing. She panicked at the fact that she had never thought about her future. She answered with a slight stutter. ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet¡­¡­. Disappearing, as the word implies¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Why do you always talk about your life so easily?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened. His voice sounded somewhat angry. His unexpected reaction was enough to overshadow the idea that he might coldly sell her. Asha was perplexed. ¡°Oh¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry if I sounded offensive. I just came back from the past¡­¡­ For now, that¡¯s my only purpose.¡± ¡°That is a useless purpose.¡± Asha frowned slightly at the mocking remark. ¡°It¡¯s not useless to save lives.¡± ¡°Ah. I heard butterflies are divine beings from heaven, was that true? You are such an amazing saint!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be sarcastic.¡± ¡°Sarcastic? I was just telling the truth. The woman who is willing to give her life in vain to save people is either a saint or she is a foolish woman. Of course, I think they are similar.¡± Asha tried to protest, but he took a step closer. Jackal said softly, looking down at her with his blue eyes. ¡°I know one thing for sure. That you don¡¯t belong with us. We don¡¯t entrust the lives of our comrades to those who don¡¯t value their lives.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡­.¡± Asha spoke with a blank expression on her face, but he walked straight to the door. ¡°But you know what?¡± Suddenly, she stubbornly yelled. ¡°You said that my purpose is useless, but without my help, your purpose in life, let alone your life, will disappear. Because the year I became Empress, Lycaon was forcibly disbanded and you were captured by the Emperor and beheaded¡­¡­.!¡± Jackal stopped at the door at what she said. Asha realized that she had made a mistake after speaking. She got angry and said what she shouldn¡¯t have said. In the past, she learned the news from Karaf when she was trapped in the palace. She could not see it with her own eyes but was told that his head was exposed for the entire empire to see. He must be shocked to hear that he is going to die, too. It was a miserable feeling. But Jackal closed the door without a word and left. His face, reflected in the light, looked lonely as if he had somehow lost himself. The moment the door slammed shut, Asha lost her strength and fell to the floor. * * * * * Jackal walked forward with a serious face. The snow rumbled silently under his feet. He wanted to go to Sosa right away and tell him, but he was somehow hesitant. He wasn¡¯t sure if she would become a danger to Lycaon, or to save Lycaon. There was a lot to find out if what she said was true, and if it happened, exactly when and how it happened. Jackal wiped his lips. He thought it would be better to discuss it with Sosa after he had more information. Sosa always advises from an objective point of view, but if he pushes with his position, he will have no choice but to follow his decision. For the sake of his people, it was necessary to avoid making false judgments as a leader. He had too much weight on his shoulders to hold a woman comfortably. It was then that he walked in deep thought. ¡°¡­¡­.Captain!¡± Nagy appeared from somewhere and followed him like a puppy. ¡°There is warm water in the bathroom, go and take a bath!¡± Confused, he unwittingly went to the bathroom. A wide wooden barrel was filled with hot water, and steam rose above it. Nagy smiled softly and looked back at him. It was like a puppy waiting for praise. If Nagy had a tail, it would be flapping frantically. Jackal relaxed his expression and ruffled Nagy¡¯s hair with his big hand. ¡°Thank you, Nagy.¡± He took off his clothes and got into the wooden bathtub. The hard and impressive muscular body shone more vividly under the water. Nagy grabbed his clothes and fluttered out of the bathroom. His tensed body relaxed in the warm water, and his confused mind seemed to calm down a bit. Jackal wiped his face with water, paused for a moment, and closed his eyes. However, as soon as he closed his eyes, Asha¡¯s face immediately appeared and he felt embarrassed. Aside from the serious problem, images of her eating food like a rabbit and her smile came to mind. He couldn¡¯t get it out of his mind when she covered her mouth and laughed softly. Her smile seemed pure and innocent. That seemed to be her true nature. He recalled her drunken, slightly reddened face. The soft feeling of holding her body, and the white skin of her chest, which he had glimpsed as she showed him the butterfly pattern. Suddenly, the bathroom felt stuffy. Jackal decided to finish his bath early and got up from the wooden tub. But at that moment, he realized that he hadn¡¯t brought a change of clothes. He tried calling Nagy, but he left, thinking his bath would take a long time. Jackal murmured, holding his head with one hand because he was troubled. ¡°I¡¯m going crazy¡­¡­¡± * * * * * Asha is anxious to sleep due to her drunkenness, but she remained vigilant until Jackal returned. She felt she had to do something, either apologize or explain more. But then, she felt a presence, and someone opened the door and came in carefully. Asha thought it was Jackal, so she pulled herself together and jumped out of bed. But at that moment, her eyes met with a blue-gray horse¡¯s eyes that had snuck into the room. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha was speechless in this strange situation. The horse also froze with one leg in the air, blinking its large eyes in embarrassment. It looked as if it had stopped after coming in. CH 10 The horse came to its senses and backed stiffly back the way it entered. His appearance caused Asha to burst out laughing. ¡°Is it you?¡± Asha approached the horse without hesitation and gently stroked its nose. The horse, frozen, looked at her and accepted the touch. ¡°Right, good boy.¡± Asha asked slightly startled while she stroked its mane. ¡°Did you get wet? If you don¡¯t dry yourself well during the winter, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± Asha quickly grabbed a large towel and placed it over the horse¡¯s head. Her delicate movements made Jackal blush involuntarily. He thought he was lucky to have been turned into a horse. Asha said with a smile. ¡°Thank you for bringing me here.¡± When the horse glanced up from inside the towel, Asha said with a weak expression on her face. ¡°It was the first time in my life that someone came to rescue me. Many people wanted to catch me or chase me to kill me¡­..¡± Asha looked sad for a moment, then asked cheerfully. ¡°Are you here to find your master?¡± ¡°¡­. Purung.¡± The horse snorted in response. ¡°But what should I do¡­¡­? He got mad and left. But if you wait, he¡¯ll come back. Stay with me in the meantime.¡± Asha led the horse to sit on the rug and gently stroked its stiff back. She had been alone in the Imperial Palace for so long that she always wished she had someone she could touch like this. Jackal looked up at her, lying quietly on the rug when he heard that he was angry. He wondered if he had ever looked so angry before. Asha thought the horse looked concerned and sighed. ¡°¡­.I think your master hates me. I may never see you again.¡± The horse shook its head. Asha asked with a smile. ¡°He does not?¡± ¡°Purung.¡± ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re the only one I have.¡± Asha looked around, picked up a bowl of water, and held it out to him. ¡°I want to give you something, but it¡¯s not my house, so I don¡¯t have anything to give you. Just stay here drinking water here until your owner comes back, okay?¡± For a moment, she felt the horse hesitate, but soon the horse stuck out its tongue and slowly drank the water. He felt that the water was very sweet, maybe because he sweated a lot in the bathroom, or because Asha gave him water. Asha smiled and she murmured as she watched. ¡°In my next life, I want to be born as a horse, not a butterfly¡­..¡± The horse looked at her curiously, and Asha murmured faintly. ¡°I can go anywhere freely. In this life, I had no other way out than death¡­¡­¡± Jackal¡¯s blue eyes also turned lonely. Asha said, now lying next to the horse, gently stroking its nose. ¡°I¡¯m not your owner, but I wish you could be by my side like this sometimes. For some reason, I feel like you understand me.¡± The horse responded by gently closing and opening its eyes. ¡°I accidentally said something I shouldn¡¯t have said to your master. I¡¯ll apologize to him later. In this life¡­¡­I will prevent the emperor from catching and killing him¡­¡­.¡± Asha murmured and then fell asleep. All he could hear in the room was her quiet breathing. As soon as he confirmed that she was completely asleep, a human shadow suddenly appeared above the fireplace. Jackal carefully picked up Asha and carried her to his bed. Asha was drunk and fell into a deep sleep. The movement did not wake her. He stood by the bed for a long time and looked down at Asha with a complicated look on his face. He reached up and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. But it was then. ¡°Captain, are you here? I heard you were in the bathroom, but you weren¡¯t there¡­¡­¡± Sosa opened the door and walked in, to find Jackal standing naked in front of Asha, his eyes widening. A beast-like body strongly forked back muscles, and curvy copper-colored buttocks were stuck in his eyes. Jackal looked around the door calmly and asked quietly. ¡°¡­¡­.. You guys aren¡¯t even kids, why are there so many people who don¡¯t know to knock?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡­ Then have a good time¡­¡­..¡± Sosa carefully closed the door and tried to leave, but Jackal stepped forward and grabbed the doorknob. ¡°What a good time. I have something to tell you. Spend the night with me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± Sosa¡¯s eyes widened. Jackal realized that his words sounded strange again, and said, ¡°Damn¡­¡­¡± ruffling his hair fiercely. Sosa was embarrassed, trying to avoid his gaze. ¡°First, put on some clothes.¡± ¡°¡­..Wait a minute.¡± Jackal took the clothes off the hangers and went out with him. The cool night breeze caressed his hair, but he wasn¡¯t too cold as Asha had meticulously dried it. Sosa hesitated, then he asked cautiously. ¡°But why did you take off your clothes¡­¡­?¡± Jackal glanced at him and replied calmly. ¡°Why? I can¡¯t even take my clothes off in my house?¡± Sosa rolled his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not true, but¡­¡­ Rumors are already circulating among the people. How can I not misunderstand if you act like you just did?¡± Jackal answered as he ruffled his hair, a little annoyed. ¡°It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t bring my clothes. I can¡¯t walk home naked from the bathhouse. I think it¡¯d be funnier to hear that rumor.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Sosa nodded, thinking it was a serious problem. Jackal fiddled with his forehead and murmured. ¡°¡­.She stroked my head.¡± Sosa laughed, and Jackal glared at him. ¡°How would Asha react if she knew that the horse was the captain and that you were naked too?¡± Sosa laughed just thinking about it. Jackal looked at him seriously ¡°Even if I die, I will keep it a secret from her.¡± ¡°Then are you going to keep walking around Aisha like a horse?¡± ¡°¡­.. yes. Looking at her today, it seems like she can easily speak her mind in front of a horse. I think it would be good to appear in front of her as a horse sometimes. She also seemed to want me to come often¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Sounds like such a silly thing to say.¡± Jackal stared at him with a scowl, and blinked like, ¡®What did I just say?¡¯ ¡°I plan to accept Asha as a Lycaon.¡± Sosa¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°But she will belong here as a huntress, not as my wife, as she wishes. We¡¯re going to train her severely.¡± Jackal said, trudging along. ¡°Tell Gabe to come to the hall.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sosa recalled what had happened in the fortress. The reason he called Gabe was probably to ask him about today¡¯s affairs. Jackal arrived at the hall first and was organizing his thoughts, but after a while, Gabe entered the hall. Jackal folded his arms and leaned sideways over the wooden table where the meetings were being held, looking towards the door. Gabe was drunk, his face red and swollen, and his eyes bloodshot. As he walked forward and stood up straight, Jackal asked calmly. ¡°Do you know why I called you?¡± Gabe replied calmly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you call me to ask me about something earlier?¡± ¡°I called you to apologize to you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Gabe¡¯s eyes widened a little because he didn¡¯t expect it. Jackal said calmly. ¡°I heard from Sosa. Traces of intruders appeared at the border of the village.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± ¡°In a situation where our people could be at risk, you would have been frustrated and angry that I took in a strange woman for no reason.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Gabe had become very sensitive after discovering traces of an intruder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I grabbed you by the neck.¡± At his sincere apology, Gabe also relaxed his expression and lowered his gaze. ¡°I was harsh earlier, too. I¡¯m sorry to provoke her and gave her a bomb shot. Is she all right now?¡± ¡°She collapsed.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Gabe sighed as if he knew it. Even he, who is usually a drunkard, couldn¡¯t believe she could have been all right after drinking so much liquor. Jackal looked at him seriously and continued. ¡°I plan to accept her as a huntress, not my partner. The idea will remain the same¡± Gabe paused, then raised his head and asked with a slightly wary face. ¡°What¡¯s the reason? As a patrolman, give me a good reason.¡± Jackal, unable to tell Asha¡¯s secret, pondered for a moment, then spoke. ¡°She is not an ordinary woman.¡± It was a very thoughtful response on his part, but Gabe laughed like it was ridiculous. Jackal raised his eyebrows slightly. ¡°You are laughing at me?¡± ¡°No, I think there must be something the captain is so serious about. She was so confident about joining the patrol.¡± ¡°Asha said she was joining the patrol team?¡± Jackal asked, slightly surprised by the story he didn¡¯t know. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s already treated me like some kind of colleague, so I ended up giving her a bomb shot.¡± ¡°The patrol squad¡­..¡± Jackal rubbed his chin seriously. ¡°It would be good.¡± Gabe stopped laughing. His mouth was open and he looked genuinely dumbfounded. But Jackal still spoke calmly. ¡°She will do well.¡± Gabe asked. ¡°Why are you so sure? Even though there has been no record of female hunters in Lycaon?¡± The patrol team was made up of the most agile of its members and was a unit that went on duty at the risk of being attacked anytime, anywhere. Instead of replying ¡®she¡¯s a butterfly¡¯, he made another statement. ¡°I have a lot of faith. Like I believe in you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­..¡± Gabe¡¯s eyes twitched foolishly. Jackal tapped his shoulder a couple of times with one hand. ¡°Take care of yourself in the future. You know? Maybe one day she will save your life.¡± Gabe laughed. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen. What could I have not done enough to owe her my life?¡± Jackal stared at him without saying a word. The smile slowly faded from Gabe¡¯s mouth at his gaze. He was serious now. CH 11 When the main topic ended, Jackal returned to his calm demeanor and said. ¡°I¡¯m done talking now. If you say mean or insulting words to the same member in the future, you won¡¯t end up just being grabbed by the collar.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Gabe quietly curled his tail. * * * * * The next morning, Asha woke up in the soft bed. She was sure that she had fallen asleep on the rug while having a good time with the beautiful horse. But it seemed that someone had appeared, picked her up, and carried her to bed. I wonder if it was Jackal. Asha got up from bed, feeling a little stunned. But then, she heard the sound of chopping wood from outside. Asha put on the coat that was hanging and went out. In the front yard, Jackal was cutting wood with an ax with his shirt off. Each time he swung the ax down, the wood was precisely cut in two. Jackal scooped up the firewood, then tossed it aside, then he grabbed another tree stump until he found Asha looking at him. Asha couldn¡¯t give him a hasty morning greeting. Because she felt sorry for what happened yesterday. An awkward atmosphere came between the two. Jackal looked away first and said casually. ¡°¡­..It¡¯s cold, so don¡¯t come out. Sosa will bring breakfast soon.¡± He finished speaking and went back to chopping wood. His back looked really strong and reliable. Asha realized that he was chopping wood for her. The room was warm all night. She fell asleep, so she didn¡¯t notice. But now she knows that it was all thanks to his help. While she slept he was chopping wood. ¡°About yesterday¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jackal stopped chopping. He said, keeping his eyes fixed on the wood. ¡°¡­..You don¡¯t have to apologize. I did the same thing to you.¡± He also regretted misunderstanding Asha yesterday and pushed her away. By his standards, Asha¡¯s purpose was truly incomprehensible, but considering how big of a decision it was for her, who was living a second life, she was right. ¡°Yesterday you said I was going to die.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­that¡­¡­¡± Asha was puzzled, trying to think of something to say, then spoke calmly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, it hasn¡¯t happened yet. It¡¯s nothing strange to take the lives of others, so there¡¯s not much damage.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Besides, thanks to you, I know the future, so it¡¯s all right to change it. Judging from that, it seems like following me has never happened before, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s fine.¡± Jackal didn¡¯t say much, but what Asha said yesterday played over and over in his head. In this life¡­¡­ I will prevent the emperor from catching and killing him¡­¡­. When he remembered the face, when she said she would protect him, it was ridiculous to the point of laughter. But on the other hand, his heart was pounding. Because she¡¯s the only woman who can tell me that¡­. Somehow he was ashamed of himself and said something else. ¡°¡­¡­ I will make you strong. So, never say something like death recklessly or even think about it again.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly at those words. ¡°Then¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You will be a hunter.¡± A bright smile slowly spread across Asha¡¯s stunned face. ¡°Thank you! Mr. Jackal! I¡¯ll do my best!¡± Jackal glanced at Asha, who answered eagerly. Her slightly flushed cheeks and serious expression were somehow funny, so his mouth twisted a little. ¡­¡­ To be honest, she¡¯s cute. However, he still doesn¡¯t know how difficult it would be to train her as a female hunter, but he thought it would be worth teaching her. Jackal said indifferently, without looking at her. ¡°Call me captain like a Lycaon.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes sparkled when he recognized her as a Lycaon. ¡°Yes, Captain!¡± Jackal almost smiled but managed to hide it. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. The test is not over yet. For the next month, I will train you like the other members of the organization. If you don¡¯t pass the test, I will mercilessly kick you out. We want strong hunters, we don¡¯t want weak hunters that we have to protect.¡± He spoke more coldly on purpose, but Asha¡¯s face glowed. ¡°Great. I¡¯m glad to have another chance.¡± Asha promised never to miss this opportunity. But then, Sosa, who was bringing breakfast from afar, found them and ran towards them happily. ¡°¡­¡­ Huh? Asha! Are you awake?¡± When Asha looked up, he said with a smile. ¡°My name is Sosa Cotton. I am the right arm of the captain and the secretary of Lycaon. You may become the captain¡¯s partner, so I will take care of you with utmost care.¡± ¡°¡­¡­She is not my woman.¡± Hearing those words, a low voice was immediately heard. Sosa smiled and raised one hand to whisper to her. ¡°Even though he looks like that, he¡¯s shy.¡± Asha nodded, remembering his shy face from the night before. Seeing Jackal staring, Sosa quickly led Asha into the house. While she diligently slurped up the corn soup with a spoon and dipped bread into the soup, Jackal brought all the firewood at once and threw it into the fireplace, and sat in front of it, silently lighting it on fire. Asha spoke carefully to him. ¡°By the way, boss¡­..About the horse you¡¯re raising¡­¡± Jackal suddenly shrugged. ¡°¡­¡­What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± ¡°Well, the horse and I were together last night and when I woke up, I didn¡¯t see him¡­.. Where¡¯s the horse now? If I go to the stable, can I see it?¡± Even in the middle of winter, Jackal suddenly seemed to have cold sweat on his back. ¡°No, that horse is¡­¡­.¡± He narrowed his eyebrows and thought for a moment before replying. ¡°¡­.. on an outing.¡± ¡°Outing?¡± Asha blinked at the unexpected response. ¡°¡­¡­.uh¡­ The horse is a wanderer. Sometimes it goes and comes back.¡± ¡°Really? So, after the horse goes out on an outing, does he come back home on its own?¡± ¡°Yes. Horses are home-seeking animals by nature. Especially, it is much smarter than a normal horse, so it knows where its master is and comes to me quickly.¡± When Asha was truly impressed, Jackal was upset because he seemed to have unintentionally bragged about himself strangely. What do I mean, a wandering horse? It was ridiculous, but Asha nodded very seriously. Perhaps the reason the horse came to the hut last night was to get his owner¡¯s permission to go out. The horse felt like a human to Asha. Jackal sighed to himself, his mouth twisting slightly at her simplicity. Asha asked curiously. ¡°Then may I know the baby¡¯s name?¡± Jackal replied while coughing as she called him ¡®baby¡¯. ¡°Name it whatever you want. The horse has no name.¡± ¡°Really? Doesn¡¯t it have a name? You should have given him a name at least, it¡¯s your favorite horse.¡± When Asha slightly raised her eyebrows and questioned him, he felt even more upset because he seemed to be being scolded for not caring about himself. ¡°Okay then, name it.¡± Asha asked surprised. ¡°Me? Can I?¡± ¡°Of course. He will understand whatever you call him, but he may like his name¡­.¡± Jackal muttered at the end. In fact, the first time she asked him his name, he felt a bit excited. It was strange and exciting that someone would be curious about his name after a long time. And the reason was that nobody called him by his name Jackal anymore. Asha said with a happy face. ¡°Then I¡¯ll think of a name for him! I hope he comes back soon.¡± Jackal glanced furtively at Asha. ¡°Do you like that horse that much?¡± ¡°Of course! Absolutely. Your horse saved me.¡± Jackal laughed. ¡°It was not the horse who saved you, but me.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡­ I know the captain sent him. I¡¯ll never forget that.¡± Asha replied awkwardly. Jackal felt triumphant again, his shoulders lifted slightly, but he was taken aback by the words that followed. ¡°But it seems that your horse loves and is loyal to its owner, but the owner doesn¡¯t seem to care about him?¡± Asha glanced slightly, and Jackal replied in bewilderment. ¡°Who said I don¡¯t care about him? Do you know how much I care about him?¡± Asha asked, still suspicious. ¡°¡­¡­Really?¡± ¡°Yes. I even washed him yesterday.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Asha nodded, recalling that the horse¡¯s mane was wet yesterday. No wonder the horse smelled like soap. ¡°So when will he be back?¡± ¡°¡­.. I¡¯m not sure¡­. Last night I removed the dirt off him and polished him, he¡¯s going to roam the mountains hard looking for a mate.¡± Asha smiled happily. Her innocent look caused Jackal¡¯s expression to fall apart. ¡°I¡¯m sure he will get a pretty partner. Because he is handsome.¡± Jackal blinked as her words suddenly pierced through his chest again. He couldn¡¯t figure out why his face kept getting hot. But then, Asha suddenly said seriously. ¡°Captain, I have one request.¡± Jackal was nervous for a moment. Maybe she is trying to get the wild horse away from him. If he became her horse, it would be very beneficial to the clan. ¡°What is it?¡± Jackal braced himself, waiting for her to speak. Then Asha spoke with determination. ¡°Teach me how to ride.¡± Jackal blinked, not expecting it. Asha said a little embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯ve never ridden a horse before because the emperor wouldn¡¯t let me get close to one¡­¡­. The captain¡¯s horse was the first I rode in my life.¡± Jackal closed his mouth and looked at Asha. That¡¯s why she liked horses so much when she first saw me as a horse. No wonder, even when she was on my back, she hung vaguely unbalanced, not because her body was frozen, but because she didn¡¯t know how to ride a horse. Asha asked again, glancing at him. ¡°Is it a difficult request?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ No. I was just a little surprised. Basically, there¡¯s no one here who can¡¯t ride a horse.¡± Asha blushed even more embarrassed. Jackal asked. ¡°Then, did you run on foot when you escaped from the Imperial Palace?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­¡± His eyes grew slightly larger. ¡°You ran away without a horse? From that tyrant?¡± CH 12 ¡°Yes¡­..¡± Asha¡¯s shoulders shrugged even more. ¡°¡­. You were very determined to be a hunter. The strangest thing is that he didn¡¯t catch you. Riding a horse would not have been enough to run away from him. You know better how excellent the skills of the Emperor¡¯s knights are even if I don¡¯t tell you.¡± Asha nodded. The thorns that protect the Emperor, the Cactus Knights. They are very loyal, and they never let go of their target. They are like cactus armed with thorns all over their bodies, surviving under the scorching sun without water for a long time. ¡°¡­¡­.All right. I will teach you how to ride a horse.¡± At Jackal¡¯s words, Asha lifted her head in delight. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s better than not riding in a crisis situation. Besides, as I said before, we can¡¯t accept a hunter who doesn¡¯t know how to ride a horse.¡± Jackal spoke coldly but immediately came up with a plan. ¡°There¡¯s a horse that¡¯s perfect for beginners, let¡¯s practice with that horse first. I will teach you.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Asha responded with a bright smile. * * * * * As soon as Asha finished her breakfast, she first arrived at the vacant lot used as a training ground and waited for Jackal. Soon she could see Jackal bringing a white horse from afar. Asha¡¯s eyes widened and murmured at the sight of a horse that could hardly be distinguished from the snow. ¡°Beautiful¡­¡­¡± In an instant, the horse¡¯s pure white face flushed red. Jackal noticed when the horse closed its eyes and was acting coy. The horse froze as Asha delightedly approached, reaching out to stroke the bridge of its nose. Asha said with a light laugh. ¡°The horses here are somehow very shy. Just like a person.¡± Jackal stared at the horse without Asha¡¯s knowledge. The horse flinched at his gaze and pretended otherwise. Actually, the white horse was Sosa. Sosa was also from the kelpie clan that could transform into a horse. He widened his big eyes in embarrassment as if it was unfair. It was embarrassing enough to be standing in front of Asha, naked and with a morsel in its mouth. But, Jackal said, dismissing the look in his eyes. ¡°Horses tend to be wary of strangers. You are not afraid because you¡¯ve never ridden a horse before. What happens if you get kicked with his back foot?¡± Only then did Asha realize that she had been rude, and whispered to the horse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Was it a bit sudden? I did it because I was so happy. I love horses.¡± Sosa¡¯s ears perked up at her ticklish voice. Jackal coughed loudly. ¡°If you touch the horse¡¯s nose, it can get nervous, so try to slowly touch from the neck to the face.¡± Asha carefully touched the horse¡¯s neck with her hand. Sosa thought to himself, ¡®Captain, why are you doing this to me¡­.. ¡®, then he looked at Jackal, but he still ignored his gaze. ¡°This horse is gentle and easy to handle..¡± ¡°I see. That¡¯s a good thing.¡± Asha smiled and touched the bridge of his nose for the last time. Unlike before, the horse accepted her touch comfortably, and that made Asha happy. Sosa sighed inwardly and decided to act properly like a horse, but his eyes widened at Jackal¡¯s next instruction. ¡°It¡¯s good to brush the horses a lot if you want to get close to them. Horses love when people brush them.¡± For some reason, his eyes felt more meaningful, so Sosa swallowed hard. However, Sosa couldn¡¯t complain because it was something necessary that she needed to know. Asha happily grabbed the brush and brushed it in the direction of the hair growth. Sosa was shocked that she touched his bare body, but he was ashamed of himself for feeling refreshed. Closing his eyes and trembling involuntarily, Jackal hit Sosa¡¯s nose with his hand. Sosa whined. Asha asked in surprise. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°No. It was the horse that did something wrong.¡± ¡°What did the horse do wrong?¡± ¡°There is something like that.¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes were so sharp that Asha couldn¡¯t ask more. He fervently gave Sosa a threatening look, ¡®If you feel it, you will die¡¯, Sosa could only groan. Jackal then gave Asha a brief instruction on how to hold the reins and pull the horse in the direction she wants and then helped her to get on the horse. When he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her into the saddle, Asha blushed slightly with embarrassment. It was the first time she had been touched by another man besides the Emperor. She felt uncomfortable whenever Karaf touched her body. It was as if she was being stabbed by invisible thorns, but Jackal¡¯s touch felt ticklish and reassuring. ¡°It will be a little difficult at first because the saddle is high, but once you get used to it, you will be able to get on it without anyone¡¯s help.¡± Jackal also pretended to be calm on the outside, but his heart was pounding because it was his first physical contact with the opposite sex. Her thin waist and fluffy body were so different from the men he¡¯d known, she felt like a different creature. He came to his senses and coughed. ¡°The most important thing in horse riding is to stay focused. Make your body vertical from shoulders to heels, and focus on hips instead of thighs.¡± Asha nodded and did as he said. However, Sosa¡¯s face suddenly turned red again because he was conscious of Asha¡¯s butt. Jackal glanced at him, then hit his nose again. The horse whined again. Asha asked in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What else did the horse do wrong?¡± ¡°Yes. Although he is gentle, he is stupid.¡± ¡°He is stupid¡­..?¡± When Asha saw the horse¡¯s eyes tremble, she stroked it slowly. Sosa looked sadly at Asha¡¯s hand when she stopped stroking him, crying as if it was unfair. Sosa looked down with resignation after hearing what Jackal said. ¡­.. He meant that I had done something wrong. At that moment, Jackal slapped Sosa in the butt, looking satisfied as a villain. Sosa¡¯s eyes widened and began to walk forward. Asha rode the horse around the open space. The horse was high, but the smell of the fresh air seemed to make her feel fresh and excited. Watching Asha riding from afar, her childish face was bright like a child¡¯s. Jackal suddenly imagined that she was riding on his back. He felt that he could always give her his back if she wanted to ride a horse. In his clan, there was a tradition that the backs of married men were given only to their wives. Jackal, who had been thinking that far, quickly shook his head and erased the thought. Meanwhile, Asha came up to him before he knew it. He gently helped her off the horse. ¡°Thank you for today¡¯s lesson. It was very fun and helpful.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Asha didn¡¯t forget to say goodbye to the horse, too. ¡°Thanks. Pretty horse.¡± Asha gently brushed his fur, and Jackal, who was staring, immediately asked. ¡°Who is prettier?¡± ¡°What?¡± Asha and Sosa looked at him in surprise at the same time. But Jackal asked with a serious face. ¡°Which do you like better, my baby or that silly horse?¡± Sosa¡¯s eyes cooled down at those words that trivially described him. Jackal gave him a blank look with a ¡®what? what you wanna say?¡¯ Asha said with a smile. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s the captain¡¯s horse. That child is a very special horse to me. Of course, this child is also an angel with pure white fur, but shiny bluish-grey fur is really rare for a horse.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very rare. You can¡¯t find it anywhere else. Maybe the Emperor didn¡¯t have one.¡± Jackal liked what he heard and replied happily, and Asha also raised her eyebrows and replied seriously. ¡°That¡¯s right! He is very smart and brave.¡± ¡°Of course, he is so brave. Although it¡¯s a horse, he didn¡¯t know how to be afraid, so he once ran into the middle of the enemy camp and saved our men.¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± Asha sincerely asked with admiration. Sosa turned around and ran away, not wanting to listen anymore. Asha asked, slightly, tilting her head. ¡°Where is the horse going?¡± ¡°Probably home.¡± ¡°The stable?¡± ¡°Yes. Our horses find their home very well.¡± Jackal answered wisely. ¡°I see¡­.. How amazing.¡± Seeing Asha muttering seriously and trusting his words again, Jackal barely held his lips tight. Asha was lost in her thoughts for a moment, then suddenly tilted her head and asked. ¡°But, didn¡¯t you feel that the horse was crying for some reason?¡± ¡°Why would a horse cry?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s right.¡± Asha thought she had seen it wrong and ignored it, but in reality, there were big tears in Sosa¡¯s eyes as he walked fast. With every step he took, he cried in sorrow and shame, and tears fell on the ground. Jackal thought it was a very satisfying riding training, but he didn¡¯t know that today¡¯s behavior would come back to him¡­¡­¡­ * * * * * Jackal jealous of Sosa, transformed into a horse at sunset. He went to visit Asha with proud steps. He waited for her return. He had no doubts that she would be delighted to see him. But the moment he boldly ran through the door, he ran into Asha, who was changing her clothes. ¡°Ah.¡± Asha was slightly surprised but quickly approached with a friendly face. Embarrassed, Jackal avoided her gaze and turned away. His eyes trembled. Asha then grabbed her clothes and smiled. ¡°Oh, wait a minute. I will change soon.¡± When he turned around and sweated profusely, Asha smiled as she dressed. ¡°You really act like a person¡­¡­¡± The horse acted the same as Jackal, like the time she took off her clothes. It was clear that horses resembled their owners. After changing, Asha snuck up behind him and gently touched his neck. Jackal looked back, raising his head in surprise. His blue-gray mane fluttered wildly. CH 13 The horse was so frightened that Asha raised both hands in the air, even more surprised. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry¡­. Today, Mr. Jackal, no, your master taught me how to be friendly with a horse, but I¡¯m still not good at it¡­¡­.¡± Asha felt sorry, but she did what she learned today. It was he who had the strange reaction. Jackal sighed to himself. When he moved closer to her again, Asha rejoiced and began to caress his neck and face. ¡°Your master told me that I could name you. So I thought about it¡­¡­.¡± Asha said solemnly. ¡°I found a perfect name for you.¡± Jackal raised his head and his ears pricked up, looking at her with curiosity and anticipation. Then, Asha smiled and softly called his name. ¡°Sheppy.¡± Sheppy¡­¡­.? He thought it was a strange name, but Asha explained it when he made a sour face. ¡°It means naked.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.!¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes widened. And Asha just smiled. ¡°Aside from that, it also has the meaning of a ¡®mountain with a collapsed slope¡¯ or ¡®hill road¡¯. I named you like that because I thought it fit the situation when I met you, what do you think? Do you like it?¡± After pondering for a moment, Jackal answered because it seemed to be a meaningful name in its own way. ¡°Purung.¡± He didn¡¯t mean to say he didn¡¯t like the name she came up with, even though it was a name she worked hard on. ¡°It¡¯s a relief.¡± Asha was delighted and put his face on her chest. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened as he hugged her soft, soft chest. Asha, unaware of it, closed her eyes and muttered while caressing his face in satisfaction. ¡°How can my Shepy be so gentle and pretty!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± He was a fierce wild horse that could never be considered a gentle horse, but somehow he didn¡¯t want to deny it, so he closed his eyes and gently embraced her. A small blush rose to his cheeks. Asha suddenly opened one eye and asked mischievously. ¡°But your master said that you often go out alone. Where have you been? Did you really go looking for a wife?¡± Jackal quickly shook his head. Asha smiled in response and grabbed his face with both hands. ¡°Why? You¡¯re so handsome.¡± Jackal¡¯s face heated. Unaware of his feelings, Asha said with determination. ¡°Okay, then, let¡¯s start brushing you to make you more handsome!¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°If your fur is smooth, pretty mares will fall in love with you!¡± Asha laughed, holding a brush, and waited for him to come to her. She was only looking for a chance to get closer to Sheppy when Jackal said that horses love to be brushed. Jackal missed the chance to escape and was dragged into the middle of the room by his long tail. ¡°¡­¡­¡­Heeing!¡± Her violent behavior caused his eyes to widen and he inadvertently cried, but Asha refused to let him go. Eventually, he was forced to be brushed by her¡­¡­. Asha brushed his mane precisely as she had learned. Jackal shuddered every time her hand touched his bare body. ¡­¡­.. This is driving me crazy. Only then did he regret doing something unnecessary to Sosa. After finishing brushing his mane, she tied a handkerchief cutely around his head and then started trimming his fur. The moment she put her hand on his smooth, firm hips, Jackal jumped up and jerked around. This relationship is dangerous. He felt like he could no longer get closer to her like a horse. When the horse suddenly turned seriously towards the door, Asha asked, blinking. ¡°By any chance, are you embarrassed¡­¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­.¡± Asha chuckled, laughing. ¡°All right. I won¡¯t touch you. You¡¯re such a gentleman, I was too careless.¡± Jackal nodded his head up and down, as if in response. The reaction caused Asha to burst out laughing once more. She felt like she was talking to a person. Asha stopped laughing and spoke quietly. ¡°Take me with you the next time you go out.¡± When Jackal glanced back, Asha said with a bit of bitterness. ¡°I was always locked up in the Palace, so I don¡¯t remember what the world was like. I want to see the world you see.¡± ¡°¡­¡­..Purung.¡± After replying, Jackal left the room with a determined expression on his face. Asha smiled and waved goodbye until the door closed. Like a wandering horse, he always came and left without warning. Jackal returned to the tree where he had previously removed his clothes and turned back to his human form. However, even after dressing, he remained motionless for a long time. ¡­.. He¡¯s a very special horse to me. Asha¡¯s words kept ringing in his ears. He untied the red handkerchief, which was still cutely tied around his head, and stared at it. He recalled Asha fiddling with his mane, but suddenly an angry voice was heard from behind. ¡°Captain.¡± Jackal was slightly startled. He turned around, touching his head. Due to his beast¡¯s senses, he was highly sensitive to the presence of others and would notice whenever someone approached him. It had been a really long time since he had been careless when someone approached him right behind him without realizing it. Sosa looked very angry and just looked at him without saying a word. Jackal asked casually. ¡°Why are you so angry? Like an angry horse.¡± ¡°Do not make fun of me! You know how embarrassed I was today!¡± Sosa screamed. Jackal still spoke calmly. ¡°You just had to act like a horse, but if you acted like a human, you end up that way.¡± ¡°What kind of bullshit is that! Who forced a normal person to transform into a horse!¡± ¡°¡­¡­..bullshit?¡± Sosa flinched at Jackal¡¯s grim expression, but didn¡¯t back down and confront him. ¡°If you¡¯re going to do that, why don¡¯t you take Miss Asha as your wife!¡± Jackal was startled. Whenever Asha¡¯s name is mentioned, he feels embarrassed. Sosa was so excited that he spoke to himself. ¡°What, did I speak bravely? But I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m brave because I don¡¯t have the courage.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Sosa.¡± Sosa flinched again at his somber voice. ¡°Next time, teach her how to ride a horse. It was her first time riding a horse, so I left it to you in case she was in danger, but I didn¡¯t like when she touched another man. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Not knowing if it was jealousy, a grudge, or an apology, Sosa looked at him with a puzzled look. Jackal ignored him and fiddled with the handkerchief, thinking back to the conversation he had with Asha. Before he knew it, he turned into a horse and became addicted to talking to her. Seeing him tie a handkerchief to his wrist with an excited face, Sosa just sighed as if he couldn¡¯t stop him. * * * * * After the riding training progressed to a certain point, Asha learned hunting techniques from Jackal in earnest. Even though she was not good at swordsmanship, if she wanted to catch wild animals, she had to know archery. Jackal first showed a demonstration with a bow. His blue eyes that stared at the target were as sharp as a wolf¡¯s. Asha paid close attention to his stance as he aimed with a bow. She thought he had a very nice body. No, this isn¡¯t¡­¡­.. Asha slapped her cheeks with both hands, quickly regained consciousness, and observed him again. When Jackal released the arrow, it hit exactly the center of the target. Asha clapped her hands enthusiastically from the side. Jackal was somewhat embarrassed by the compliment and turned around. ¡°Now you try it.¡± He stood next to Asha like an instructor. ¡°You should keep in mind that in practice your target does not move but never forget that you have to hit a moving opponent in real life. Always look a few moves ahead and wait until the target reaches the correct position before shooting.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Asha looked seriously at the target and drew the bow. Jackal corrected the angle of her arm, the direction of her body, the position of her chin and gaze, and the width and waist of her legs. From a distance, it was as if a beast had wrapped around a slender woman from behind. As soon as his large, rough hands touched her waist, Asha unknowingly shivered again. It was a slight reaction, but Jackal felt it and stopped. There was a strange tension between the two. Their heartbeats were very close. Jackal said, gently removing his hand from his waist. ¡°¡­¡­maintain this position and angle at all times. To pull the bow, you have to constantly increase your arm strength.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As he moved on casually, Asha forcibly erased her thoughts and tried to focus only on the training. Jackal looked with satisfaction at Asha, who was perfectly absorbed in his teaching. He doesn¡¯t know if she had the correct posture or if she learned it in etiquette classes at the Royal Palace. But the way she pointed the bow was very straight and elegant. He didn¡¯t see any of the shortcomings that first-time archers do. It was also because she was completely following his advice. Jackal liked it a lot. Asha looked at the target gracefully. Her eyes were serious and fierce. Finally, when the bow was placed, the arrow flew fiercely. As soon as the arrow hit its target, Asha jumped in surprise. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened slightly. The arrow was right in the middle of the target without an inch of error¡­¡­. Some people, who were watching the two from afar, were startled and chatted among themselves. After that, Asha fired a few more arrows, proving that her first shot wasn¡¯t luck. Now, more people came out onto the vacant lot and stared blankly at the scene. Asha also looked down at the bow in her hand, puzzled. But at that moment, suddenly the wind blew around the bow causing her golden hair to flutter. Jackal noticed it, and his eyes widened even more. He led her somewhere, gently wrapping his hand around her shoulder. ¡°¡­¡­..captain?¡± Asha walked along, embarrassed. Jackal looked ahead and said seriously. ¡°I will tell you later. Just follow me.¡± CH 14 People began to murmur, coughing loudly at the sight of the two of them. ¡°Spring has finally come to our captain¡­¡­..¡± They were the ones who misunderstood that the two of them were on a date while training¡­. Arriving at his house, Jackal looked around carefully to see if anyone had followed them before he locked the door. Looking at his back, Asha asked with a slightly wary look. ¡°But why did you lock the door¡­.?¡± Jackal looked back with a meaningful look. ¡°Because your identity cannot be leaked.¡± ¡°What¡­..?¡± Asha blinked. ¡°Butterflies have the Spirit of the Wind in their chests.¡± Asha felt a bit embarrassed when he suddenly spoke about it. Jackal asked calmly. ¡°The wind was blowing around your hand. Is this the first time doing that?¡± ¡°Oh yes.¡± ¡°I think you used the power of the Wind Spirit.¡± ¡°The power of the wind¡­..?¡± Asha asked in surprise, but Jackal still spoke calmly. ¡°You saw it before. You hit the bull¡¯s eye on every shot.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just because I have a talent for archery¡­..¡± Aisha blurted out the end of the sentence because she was somehow embarrassed. Jackal also said with a smirk. ¡°No matter how talented you are, how many people in the world do you think will hit the bull¡¯s eye in a row like that?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you do that?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Now I feel bad for some reason.¡± Jackal raised an eyebrow with a slightly sullen face. Asha looked at her hands and recalled the wind energy that had previously been in her hand. She didn¡¯t even know if she was too focused on the target or if she had used the power of the wind spirit. Then Jackal said. ¡°Among all weapons, the bow is the most affected by the wind. Archers learned to read the wind over the years. In your case, you can freely control the wind, so there is no need for that.¡± Asha muttered blankly. ¡°Then¡­¡­ I really¡­¡­.¡± Did I use the power of a butterfly? She felt somewhat moved and puzzled. In her previous life, she didn¡¯t know that she had such amazing power. Although she was a butterfly, she didn¡¯t know as much about her abilities as the others. It is no wonder that Asha was taken to the Imperial Palace as soon as the mark of the Butterfly appeared, leaving little chance of knowing her abilities. Asha thought he was right, that she didn¡¯t even think to find out. Because the only ability she had to learn was ¡®making the Emperor bloom¡®. As if her existence was only to make the Emperor¡¯s Flower bloom, no one expected or wished for more power from her. But in the end, Asha failed to enlighten him, and everyone ridiculed and despised her. Just as the people around her did not value her, she also did not value herself. There were days when she felt useless. Seeing Asha¡¯s face suddenly turn into tears, Jackal asked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I think it¡¯s something to be happy about.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m so happy. I have always wondered. Why did it have to be me¡­.? Why was I chosen as a butterfly, who could not do anything?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Asha asked, looking at him. ¡°Me too¡­..I¡¯m valuable as a butterfly, right?¡± Jackal said, looking straight ahead. ¡°Your value is determined by yourself, not by others.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She felt as if she had been given a blow to the head. She had never thought of it before. Jackal added quietly. ¡°Live freely like a butterfly. Do not let yourself be tied down by anything or anywhere. That is why you must have been born as a butterfly.¡± Asha¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. He was the first person to tell her this. Asha soon murmured softly in a hoarse voice. ¡°Thank you¡­¡­ Mr. Jackal.¡± * * * * * Asha¡¯s archery skills improved day by day, reaching a point where she can deftly shoot arrows even on a running horse. Watching her ride a brown horse and hit the target with the lightness of an elf, Sosa snuck up behind Jackal and said. ¡°If that¡¯s enough, can I go?¡± Jackal didn¡¯t answer. His arms were crossed, but he seemed to agree. Asha was no longer the fragile woman he had to protect, but a wonderful Lycaon. That night, when Asha returned home from her day at work, her eyes widened to find a new hunting suit on the bed. It was a hunting suit made of pure white wolf skin in women¡¯s size. As Asha blankly stroked the white fur, she heard a voice from behind. ¡°It¡¯s your hunting suit.¡± Asha looked back in surprise. Jackal was leaning against the door. ¡°It¡¯s made from the wolf I caught in the wolf hunting quest. The village chief told me to just take it as a reward. To commemorate, wear it tomorrow for your first hunt.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened at the words ¡®first hunt¡®. Jackal said calmly. ¡°You could go hunting with your skills. They all agreed, and I don¡¯t think it¡¯s too dangerous because we¡¯re hunting wild animals, not humans.¡± Asha looked at the hunting outfit with an overwhelming look and held it firmly in her arms. Just touching the soft white fur made her feel better, and her whole body felt warm. Jackal asked gently. ¡°Do you like it that much?¡± ¡°Yes! I love it! Thank you for giving me such precious clothes.¡± At those words, Jackal¡¯s expression softened like melting snow. He ordered the hunting outfit for Asha when he went to a clothing store, but provided the fabrics. She always wore uncomfortable dresses in the Imperial Palace, but when she wore the hunting suit, Asha felt like she was about to fly. Jackal looked at her from behind her and ran his index finger across the tip of his nose. He recalled when Asha saw the white horse and said it was beautiful, he was the one who had a fierce battle with the white wolf. White leather would be a protective color that would not be easily seen by the enemy, along with Asha¡¯s blonde hair in the winter snow. For her, who always lived on the run and in hiding, it was the most necessary item and a thoughtful gift from Jackal. * * * * * Asha put on her hunting outfit as soon as the sun rose the next day and headed for the hall with light steps. Her back looked like a fluttering butterfly. When she opened the door, the members of the organization looked at her at the same time. And Jackal, who was standing in front of them, looked back, and his eyes widened a bit. Asha dressed in elegant elongated clothes with the soft pure white wolf fur was like an angel coming down from heaven. They all looked at her blankly, as if possessed. Asha thought that her outfit was wrong because of their gaze. She blushed slightly and touched her outfit, then she glanced up and asked. ¡°This is my first time wearing something like this¡­¡­ Did I put it on wrong?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Shall I tie my hair then? It might get in the way when I¡¯m hunting¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Do whatever you feel like.¡± Without hesitation, Asha tied her long blonde hair high up with a brown leather strap. Even her movements were graceful and beautiful. One of the members rolled his eyes and pretended to faint. When her soft white neck was revealed, Jackal¡¯s eyes were slightly larger, he said unexpectedly. ¡°Untie it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Untie your hair. Don¡¯t tie it too high, just tie it as low as possible. If your ponytail shakes¡­ As you said, it could get in your way.¡± Jackal spoke firmly, but Sosa noticed and laughed secretly behind his back. Asha gently untied her ponytail and tied a low ponytail as he instructed. Previously, she looked lively and cute, but now she looked calm and elegant. Either way, she really didn¡¯t look like a hunter. Jackal clicked his tongue, but someone spoke with a very serious expression on his face. ¡°Let¡¯s hire more female hunters in the future.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it! That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the hunting plan.¡± Jackal ignored them and spread out a map of the forest on a wooden table. ¡°We¡¯re going to hunt just for food, so there¡¯s nothing particularly deviating from the basic rules.¡± He told Asha, who is going on her first hunt, the area in which to hunt, what to do in case of an emergency, and how to call nearby colleagues. Small pieces of wood cut into the shape of a wild dog on the map, moved here and there. After the Lycaons finished arming themselves and leaving the hall one after another, only two people remained. Jackal noticed that her hair was tucked into her hunting outfit. He involuntarily reached out. The moment he pull her hair out, he made eye contact with Asha. The blue and purple eyes looked at each other and trembled slightly. The two of them quickly averted their gaze away, and an awkward atmosphere suddenly arose. ¡°¡­¡­ Then we will leave too.¡± Jackal withdrew his hand and trudged out of the hall. After Asha held her breath, she exhaled and fiddled with her hair, and her face turned slightly red. She felt the warmth of his touch. Asha was the last to come out. She quickly mounted the horse with an arrow in her shoulder. I¡¯ve been practicing hard. I can do it well. Asha instilled self-confidence. As she traveled up the mountain trail with the group, Nagy smiled at her side, teaching her his hunting knowledge, including how to find a rabbit hole, a badger hole, and a tree hole that might have squirrels. The group members passed by, cutely touching Nagy¡¯s head with their palms. ¡°That¡¯s right, you catch those little cute little animals. Because your older brothers are going to catch the big fish today.¡± Nagy shouted even louder, spurred by their words. ¡°You brothers catch beasts that crawl on all fours! I¡¯m going to kill the winged beast!¡± Jackal, who had been listening quietly, spoke. ¡°¡­¡­If you don¡¯t catch the prey you just talked about, you will be dusted off today.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± After that, no one spoke. Jackal¡¯s words were more terrifying than the blizzard from the north. When they finally reached their destination, he turned and said. ¡°If you find an animal that you cannot catch by yourself, call using the horn.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Then spread out.¡± Following his instructions, the Lycaons began to scatter into the forest like wild dogs. This is my first chance to be recognized as a Lycaon. Asha also made up her mind. She checked the bow and arrow barrel once again and headed into the forest. CH 15 She worked hard to find traces of wild animals, as she had learned. However, she suddenly got goosebumps as she recalled the bandits that were chasing her following in her footsteps. For a hunter, checking the movement and traces of animals was the most important thing. She seemed to understand now why she was always quickly caught whenever she escaped from the Imperial Palace. She was clumsy at covering her tracks, and the Emperor¡¯s knights could not have missed such a sloppy opponent. Asha shook her head, trying to erase the thought. After searching the forest for a long time, she finally found traces of what appeared to be deer tracks. Judging by the shallowness of the footprints, it looked like a newborn fawn. The footprints went on and on. They¡¯re wandering around here, and if those animals are not vigilant, she will be able to catch them easily. Asha made up her mind, hid behind a tree, and waited patiently and silently. As soon as she heard the sound of small footsteps nearby, Asha stepped out from behind the tree, aiming her bow sharply. But immediately her eyes grew bigger. In front of her was a baby deer, frozen in place, staring at her with bright eyes. It was a golden opportunity to point the arrowhead exactly at the neck. However, Asha was unable to release the arrow. It was because she found herself in the gaze of a baby deer limping on one of its legs. The fawn was not wary of her. It approached Asha and made a cute face near the tip of the arrow. The baby deer didn¡¯t think she was a dangerous person at all. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous. Stay away from me.¡± Asha quickly hid the bow behind her. The fawn blinked its big black eyes and looked around. Asha realized something and asked. ¡°Have you lost your mother?¡± Seeing that the baby deer kept wandering around this area, it seemed to have lost its mother here. But then, the voices of the others were heard from nearby. Asha whispered urgently. ¡°Go ahead. You can¡¯t come back here again, okay?¡± The fawn seemed to understand her, so it quickly began to run. And as if to say goodbye, the fawn looked at Asha one last time before disappearing behind a snowy-white hill. Since then, Asha has been distraught and unable to focus on the hunt. She already noticed that her time was running out, so she hurriedly looked around as Nagy told her, but couldn¡¯t find a rabbit hole. Eventually, Asha returned empty-handed. The hunters arrived in advance and proudly released the animals they had hunted in front of her. Asha glanced sideways to see if there were fawns or mother doe. Fortunately, no deer were seen among the prey. Asha sighed in relief. Jackal walked, checking out the prey one by one, but stopped when he finally reached Asha, who was at the end. He looked at Asha without saying a word, and Asha looked down silently at the ground. It was empty. Gabe commented out loud that he knew it would happen, snorted loudly, and turned his head. Asha was the only hunter who couldn¡¯t catch any prey in today¡¯s hunt. Jackal didn¡¯t think she was unlucky enough to find an animal or lose it by mistake. She could have easily caught a rabbit or a squirrel with her good bow skills. He could tell without seeing that she had released her prey. As the two continued to stand silently facing each other, Nagy, who was next to her, looked at her and gently whispered into Asha¡¯s ear. ¡°Sister, do you want a pheasant I caught?¡± Seeing Jackal frown, Nagy quickly shrugged. Then he spoke seriously ¡°Asha Camelia.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes, captain.¡± ¡°You failed in the hunt, so you will starve for dinner tonight.¡± The cold words frightened the entire group. Asha lowered her eyes, sadly. ¡°Yes¡­¡­¡± Jackal said firmly. ¡°If a hunter cannot hunt, he or she should starve. If you had not joined our organization, it¡¯s a result you should have done and endured on your own without anyone¡¯s help. Take responsibility for your choices.¡± ¡°Yes¡­..¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go back.¡± Jackal walked past Asha, looking away. They all began to follow after him without protesting because it was the captain¡¯s decision. Jackal didn¡¯t say a word on the way back to the village. The hunters glanced worriedly at Asha, following her helplessly. They usually throw a party to celebrate when a new hunter has caught prey on their first hunt. But, if they couldn¡¯t catch even a single prey, they were all treated like Asha without exception. Those were Lycaon¡¯s rules, and those strict rules kept them safe from danger. It was evening and while everyone was eating at the fortress, Asha was left alone in her room enduring hunger, only filling her empty stomach with water. Although Jackal was cold-hearted, he was right. She showed compassion to the young deer, and she caused trouble for her colleagues as a result. As Gabe said, Lycaon was not a charity that feeds for free. They couldn¡¯t keep wasting their precious food while she didn¡¯t do anything. Then. The door opened cautiously, and someone sneaked in. It was Nagy. He said with an awkward smile, holding a bowl of food in his hand. ¡°Sister, are you hungry? I brought this in secret, eat it quickly.¡± In the bowl Nagy had brought, there was porridge and a pheasant¡¯s leg on the side. Asha was a bit touched. ¡°Nagy¡­¡­Thanks, but I¡¯m fine. What if they scolded you too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay! I always get in trouble even if it¡¯s not this.¡± Nagy replied with an innocent smile. ¡°No. Still, it¡¯s my responsibility. Go ahead and eat again. They¡¯ll get suspicious if they know you disappeared.¡± Asha advised him, but Nagy was stubborn and refused to go back. ¡°I hate hunger! I mean, it¡¯s really hard!¡± But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­I knew you¡¯d be here, Nagy.¡± At the sudden low voice, Nagy got shocked and looked back. Jackal was standing in the doorway. ¡°Cap¡­captain.¡± ¡°Who told you to disobey my orders?¡± ¡°That¡­ Can¡¯t you just let it slide this time, please?¡± Nagy looked at him brightly, eager as a cat¡¯s eyes. Jackal sighed blankly, then pulled something out from behind his back. Nagy¡¯s eyes widened, and he held back his laughter. ¡°¡­¡­ I will keep it a secret, so you keep it a secret too.¡± ¡°Yes! Then I¡¯ll be on my way!¡± Nagy saluted, then happily left the room. Jackal also had a bowl of food in his hand. It had larger pieces of meat than the one Nagy brought. Jackal was a bit embarrassed, so he coughed loudly with his fist to his mouth. Then he put the bowl on the table. ¡°Give me an excuse. I will listen to you.¡± ¡°I have no excuses¡­¡­ I indeed released my prey¡­¡­.¡± Asha couldn¡¯t look at him at his face. After a long silence, Jackal spoke calmly again. ¡°I felt it from the first time I saw you, you don¡¯t fit in as a hunter.¡± Hunting was wild work. Since it was a matter of taking someone¡¯s life, they had to be prepared to see the blood and be able to boldly stab their opponent in the neck. But no matter how he looked at it, she didn¡¯t seem right for that kind of work. Asha sat sadly, knowing that he was going to tell her to quit being a hunter immediately. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­So instead of hunting, you should do what you can.¡± Asha looked up in surprise. ¡°What I can do¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. You told me you wanted to improve your butterfly¡¯s abilities. Then do it. Find something that helps the organization. A person who was hunted until yesterday cannot suddenly become a hunter overnight.¡± Jackal walked over to the bed, sat on the edge, and handed her the bowl. ¡°Eat it.¡± Asha took the bowl silently and diligently moved the spoon around. Since she was hungry, she felt the rice as sweet as honey. Jackal watched Asha diligently devour the food. ¡°To refresh yourself, go for a walk in the nearby forest tomorrow with my horse. If you can¡¯t hunt, you must be able to ride a horse perfectly.¡± Asha looked up in surprise while eating. ¡°With Sheppy? Is that okay?¡± ¡°Yes, you can.¡± Asha managed to contain her excitement. Jackal said that to make Asha feel better, but somehow he was more excited than she was. Asha didn¡¯t notice how excited he was. * * * * * The next morning, Asha changed into comfortable clothes to go for a ride and took her bow just in case. But as soon as she opened the door, she saw a blue-gray horse patiently waiting for her right in front of the door. Asha exclaimed as her eyes grew bigger. ¡°Sheppy!¡± ¡°Purung.¡± Asha gently caressed Sheppy¡¯s face. He lowered his head in embarrassment, but his ears fluttered with delight at her touch. ¡°Your owner permitted me to go for a ride with you today. But I think I should say goodbye to him before I go, where is he now?¡± Asha looked around and tried to go down to the hall, but the horse pulled on the reins. Asha looked back curiously and saw Sheppy shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have to go find him?¡± ¡°Purung.¡± It seems that he brought the horse here himself, so there was no need to go looking for him. Suddenly, Jackal sighs in shame at himself, who approached her with a bridle in his mouth. If Sosa saw him, he would openly snort and laugh at him. But the moment Asha gently climbed onto his back and whispered something to him, he didn¡¯t care anymore. ¡°As expected, I missed this back.¡± Jackal stiffened as Asha gently stroked his neck and back. He thought the words ¡®I missed this back¡¯ would haunt him every night¡­¡­ Asha went out for a ride now that she was quite skilled at horseback riding. Oddly enough, Sheppy moved as if he already knew where she was going. Asha asked curiously. ¡°Sheppy, you were supposed to go out with me last time. Can we go there today?¡± Jackal thought for a moment. He replied, pondering where to take her. ¡°Purung.¡± Jackal immediately changed direction and started running. Asha was startled and gripped the reins tightly. He was running at tremendous speed. CH 16 Asha felt sorry for the brown horses she had practiced riding on, but Sheppy was incomparably fast. Asha¡¯s eyes were wide open and she was laughing happily like a child. The surrounding trees whizzed by at an incredible speed, and the cold wind hit her face hard, but she wasn¡¯t scared at all. Instead, she felt reassured. She had such a sense of security that she would never fall off his back. Eventually, they came to a cliff covered in clouds and mist, as if it were a place where God lived. Jackal breathed in the fresh air. This was a place where he would occasionally come alone to contemplate when he had a lot of thoughts. Looking at the scenery from here at a glance, it felt like he was in a different world. In spring, colorful flowers bloom in this pure white space covered with snow and mist. Compared to that, it is now a shabby landscape, but it is still a beautiful place that could be called a magnificent view in its own way. It was the perfect place for a date. Jackal blushed for a moment at the thought of him dating her and kept running forward, thinking that she would definitely like it. But Asha¡¯s face suddenly turned pale as he recklessly approached the cliff. ¡°She¡­.Sheppy, stop¡­..!¡± Jackal moved closer to the edge of the cliff to get a better look at the clouds, but Asha suddenly felt sick and her head ached as she recalled the memory of that day. Asha squeezed her eyes shut and hugged Sheppy¡¯s neck. Only then did Jackal¡¯s eyes widen and stop. He could feel her body shaking slightly as she buried her face in his mane. ¡°Sheppy¡­. I¡­. I don¡¯t like being here¡­.. Let¡¯s go back¡­¡­ Please?¡± Jackal guessed at Asha¡¯s trembling voice, and his blue eyes sank coldly. He remembered that when she ran away from the emperor, she was able to return to the past. But he never thought that she had jumped off a cliff to run away. He gritted his teeth as he imagined that damn tyrant chasing after her and driving her over the edge of the cliff. Jackal quickly moved away from the cliff to reassure her. Only when the cliff was barely visible did Asha stumble off its back. Jackal seemed genuinely apologetic, seeing her face covered in a cold sweat. He took her on an outing to cheer her up, but it seemed to make her mood worse. He was heartbroken because it seemed like her memories with Sheppy had turned into one of her bad memories. Perhaps he had been lowering his head sullenly without realizing it. Asha forced a smile on her pale face and stroked his mane. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡­ It must have been a wonderful view, so you wanted to show me, but I have a bad memory of cliffs¡­¡± Jackal closed and opened his eyes slightly, neighing as if he understood. Asha gently stroked his nose and forehead in gratitude. Then suddenly, a horn sounded from afar. Jackal raised his head and looked somewhere. Asha was also slightly startled and muttered. ¡°That¡¯s the sound of the patrol horn¡­¡­..¡± Jackal was surprised that she remembered the sound of the patrol horn. But now was not the time for him to be surprised. Soon after, a brown hawk toward them. The hawk could not find a place to land and circled in the air, then landed softly on Jackal¡¯s nose. It was a note for the captain, but Asha, not knowing Sheppy was Jackal, thought it was a letter for her. She untied the note. Inside was a letter hastily scrawled in blood. [Sudden attack on East Canyon] Support -G] G is an abbreviation for Gabe. Now that she sees it, this hawk was Gabe¡¯s. He would often have a hawk on his shoulder, proudly displayed as if it were an accessory. Asha thought she should report to Jackal right away, but since she was deep in the mountains, support would be greatly delayed if she returned now. She looked determined, tied the note back to the hawk¡¯s leg, and released it skyward. She yelled with her hands clasped to her mouth at the flying hawk. ¡°Give it to Jackal or Sosa!¡± Asha, who sent the hawk away, immediately jumped on Sheppy¡¯s back. Jackal, who was seriously considering whether he should turn human, looked back at Asha, surprised. Asha said seriously, stroking his mane. ¡°Sheppy, let¡¯s help them.¡± Jackal immediately shook his head, but Asha spoke calmly. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Trust me.¡± Asha fiddled with the bow on her back with a determined look. Jackal didn¡¯t think she could shoot a human being, that she couldn¡¯t even shoot an arrow at a wild animal. So he hesitated, but suddenly a wind blew from Asha¡¯s hand, which was holding the reins, and gently ruffled his mane. ¡°¡­.. Let¡¯s go, Sheppy.¡± The irresistible command made Jackal run like crazy. * * * * * As they headed to the place indicated by the hawk, they saw Gabe and several patrolmen surrounded by bandits in the distance. Gabe was helplessly on the ground with a gush of blood running down his forehead. His legs looked painful, as he had been hit by an arrow. As the sound of horse hooves came quickly from a distance, the bandits who were watching turned their heads and shouted. ¡°It¡¯s the Lycaons!¡± Gabe also raised his head with blurry vision, and his eyes grew bigger. Asha was firmly holding the bow, riding a wild horse and aiming at them. Her blonde hair fluttered while her purple eyes shone strongly. Asha shot arrows at the bandits without hesitation. ¡°¡­..Ahh!¡± Jackal quickly broke the siege, paying attention to keeping her balanced. Asha¡¯s eyes sparkled. I won¡¯t hesitate to save anyone now. In her previous life, the day her village was destroyed, she was scared and just ran away. She regretted it now. Only if she had known sooner that she was a butterfly and had this power. Even if she couldn¡¯t kill lives in vain, she was confident that she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to save lives now. And when she decided to do it, her power grew stronger. Asha put arrow after arrow into the bow so fast you couldn¡¯t see it. On the surface, it seemed as if she was shooting arrows at random, but surprisingly, her aim was deadly. Her hands and arrows were constantly swirling with the golden wind. The wind helped her shoot the arrows exactly where she wanted. The arrows pierced the skin of the bandits. Jackal felt a sense of euphoria and ran wild with more excitement. Fortunately, there weren¡¯t many bandits, so Asha was able to defeat them on her own. Having dealt with all of the bandits, Asha asked, looking at Gabe, while running her hand in a rough motion through her long hair. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Gabe gaped at her like a fool. All the fallen bandits groaned. Gabe asked, pursing his lips. ¡°How did you get here? I sent a note to the captain¡­¡­.¡± Jackal flinched, but Asha said calmly. ¡°I found your hawk when I was out with Sheppy.¡± Gabe smirked. Even the baseless name ¡®Sheppy¡® sounded funny to him, and her taking a horse out for a ride that didn¡¯t fit the current situation was even funnier. But the fact that she knew it was his hawk was amazing. Asha was surprised to see his injury, and she ran toward him. ¡°Are you hurt? Let me see!¡± ¡°¡­.. It¡¯s all right. Don¡¯t make a fuss, unnie.¡± ¡°Unnie¡­.?¡± T/N: The author literally wrote unnie (elder sister). It¡¯s just a way of calling someone comfortably without being overwhelmed. Asha blinked. Her title changed from ¡®Princess¡® to ¡®Lady¡¯, and now it has changed to ¡®Unnie¡¯. It was the first time a man had called her ¡®Unnie¡¯, and Asha thought hard about it. Is it a good thing¡­¡­? But why do I feel that being called unnie is stronger than lady? Gabe continued to speak seriously. ¡°I let my guard down. I didn¡¯t know they were targeting our patrol team¡­..¡± ¡°Maybe they were trying to use you as bait.¡± Gabe was slightly surprised by Asha¡¯s answer. ¡°¡­ ¡­ What?¡± ¡°They would have tried to negotiate with us using all of you as bait.¡± Asha naturally said ¡®us¡¯, but Gabe was so taken aback that he didn¡¯t notice. ¡°How do you know that?¡± Asha said with a slightly bitter smile on her lips. ¡°It¡¯s obvious. What is the benefit of killing you to them? They probably did it intending to take revenge for the last incident. They tried to get something bigger and more valuable than the food you took from them. Don¡¯t ask how I know. It¡¯s very clear. I¡¯ve been through a lot of that too.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Gabe sobered up a bit. He seemed to have misunderstood her. He thought that she had lived a comfortable life like a princess, but it turned out that she also went through all kinds of hardships. Lost in his thoughts, Gabe suddenly made eye contact with the horse behind her. The horse with blue eyes somehow resembled the captain. It seemed that he was saying ¡®your thinking is correct¡®. ¡°¡­¡­.?¡± Gabe was puzzled for a moment by the appearance of a human-like horse, but Asha immediately startled him. Asha took a handkerchief and tied it to his bleeding leg. Gabe panicked without saying a word, but Asha said, fixing her gaze on the handkerchief, trying to tie a knot tightly. ¡°When we go back to the village, heal your wounds first. If it gets worse, you may not be able to walk for a long time. Then the captain will scold you.¡± At her last words, Gabe just laughed. They mounted their horses and headed to the village together. Gabe, who hadn¡¯t said a single word for a long time, spoke as if he was talking to himself. ¡°¡­..you were kind of cool earlier, unnie.¡± Asha looked at him and asked. ¡°Are you going to keep calling me unnie?¡± Gabe furrowed and smirked. ¡°Why? I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you whatever I want.¡± Asha closed her eyes and said. ¡°Since I saved your life, you will cook today¡¯s dinner.¡± Gabe just laughed. ¡°I will do it¡± Sheppy was neighing because he was upset. He was secretly jealous of the pleasant atmosphere between the two of them. Asha gently strokes Sheppy¡¯s mane, trying to appease him. ¡°Sheppy, let¡¯s go eat too. You did a great job today.¡± Gabe asked, looking down at him. ¡°Did the captain give you that horse?¡± Jackal felt a prickle in his conscience. CH 17 ¡°What? No. As the captain said, I borrowed him for a while.¡± ¡°Really? That horse looks fierce.¡± Jackal glared at him and hastened his steps. Asha looked back at him with a smile. ¡°Sheppy hates it when you say that kind of thing to him.¡± ¡°What is he going to do if he doesn¡¯t like it? It¡¯s just a horse.¡± Gabe snorted as if it was ridiculous, but Jackal¡¯s expression as he walked turned even more serious. Arriving at the village, Sheppy trudged, as usual, back to his house. Gabe looked back and murmured. ¡°That¡¯s a really unique horse¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I know, right? It¡¯s a very smart horse.¡± Asha stood next to him, genuinely curiously, looking at Sheppy¡¯s back. Jackal headed home, changed quickly, and then headed for the meeting room. Gabe, who was receiving treatment for his injury in the meeting room, bowed his head as soon as he saw him, slightly embarrassed. Jackal asked calmly. ¡°I heard from Asha. You were attacked.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­ I¡¯m deeply ashamed.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m glad you made it back safely.¡± Gabe looked up. He was surprised. He was slightly moved as if he knew and understood everything. ¡°Captain¡­¡­ I was wrong.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Gabe looked at him and said seriously. ¡°Asha is already a Lycaon.¡± Jackal had a satisfied smile on his lips. ¡°Did you realize that now? You said you¡¯d never owe her a life, you said something useless.¡± Gabe looked down. ¡°¡­¡­I said harshly the last time she would become a hindrance to the organization, but I almost became a hindrance instead. I will definitely pay her back.¡± ¡°All right, don¡¯t forget that.¡± Jackal walked over to him and calmly examined Gabe¡¯s wound. Fortunately, the arrowhead did not pierce deep into his leg, and it seemed to be fine. Jackal looked up at Gabe, then poured disinfectant on his wound. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± Gabe groaned and clung silently to the chair. Jackal said calmly, stitching up the wound with a needle. ¡°I¡¯ll give you two weeks to recover quickly. Our organization cannot live without you.¡± Gabe looked at him with a cold sweaty face and laughed. ¡°Are you taking revenge on me for what happened last time?¡± ¡°Revenge? How can you say that when the captain himself is healing you with his own hands.¡± ¡°Ahhh¡­ ¡­ !¡± As Jackal roughed up his sewing, Gabe couldn¡¯t hold anymore, and with tears in his eyes, he raised a hand. ¡°Do not touch it. I could sew the stitches wrong.¡± Gabe withdrew his hand immediately, but his hand flapped helplessly in the air. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, and raised his head as if he were about to go crazy. ¡°Ugh!¡± Jackal smirked at his insignificant and pitiful gesture. ¡°Do you want me to make you a bomb shot? You can drink it and pass out.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Gabe¡¯s eyes were already red and full of tears. Sosa, who was standing with his arms folded at the door, shook his head and said. ¡°Gabe, I¡¯ll keep it a secret from the others.¡± ¡°Who says I¡¯m crying¡­¡­! Argh!¡± Gabe closed his eyes tightly, but Jackal just continued the treatment with an evil grin on his lips. In fact, Gabe took a test similar to Asha¡¯s when he wanted to join Lycaon. Jackal rejected him because he didn¡¯t like his first impression of being stubborn and impulsive, but Gabe walked through the vast snowfields to reach him, only to collapse. Jackal looked at him cheekily as he lay shivering in the snow. But he admired his indomitable will, and eventually accepted him. Gabe had a crooked personality and is a tough talker, but he was loyal to Jackal. If Jackal¡¯s right arm was Sosa, Gabe was his left arm. He didn¡¯t even pass the test, but Asha must have had it even worse. And with that thought in mind, Jackal suddenly looked displeased. He just wanted to tease Asha to keep her in place, but when he saw her face that seemed to be losing its mind, Jackal decided to let it slide just this once. Maybe from now on Gabe will no longer look down on Asha. Asha was very cool today. That evening, Asha enjoyed a hearty feast of meat. It was a party to congratulate her on joining the patrol team as an official Lycaon. Since they couldn¡¯t hold a party for her first hunt, this party was held even more grandly. Asha¡¯s performance circulated among the members of the organization that night. Everyone around Gabe was so engrossed they were talking in exaggerations. ¡°Well, when Miss Asha shot an arrow, I told you there was a storm around it and leaves were flying. I thought a legendary martial arts master had appeared! ¡°Hey, you¡¯re exaggerating again.¡± ¡°I am not exaggerating! I saw it with these two eyes!¡± When he raised his two fingers and spoke excitedly, everyone burst out laughing. In the distance, Jackal nodded calmly with his glass touching his lips. Listening to the praise about Asha, he was very pleased. The story of spirits was not well known to the general public. In particular, flowers and butterflies were the most sacred beings and symbols of power in the Empire, so there was a lot of information that only the Imperial Family and nobles knew. Jackal had heard of it from his former village chief, but among minorities, only those on the council knew about the spirits. Then Gabe walked towards Asha on crutches. A glass of liquor suddenly appeared next to her, Asha looked directly at him and asked. ¡°Another bomb shot?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Gabe sighed after consecutive hits from Asha following Jackal. ¡°Welcome to the patrol team.¡± Gabe clinked his glass with Asha and just laughed even though his face was pale from losing a lot of blood. There was a warm atmosphere throughout the night. Asha laughed and chatted with the others, but she didn¡¯t know until now. That the tough ties that were intertwined in her past life are bound to be intertwined again in her new life. And there is a greater force that cannot be changed even with the power of butterflies¡­¡­. * * * * * Perlach, capital of the Etzheim Empire. In the Royal Palace, Emperor Karaf sat cross-legged, and the bandit leader bowed his head in front of him. ¡°It is a great honor to meet Your Majesty, the God of Flowers!¡± Karaf asked, leaning on his chin and looking down at him with his red eyes. ¡°I heard you have something to tell me directly.¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°If you waste my precious time, you will pay for it.¡± The bandit responded with a forced smile while sweating profusely. ¡°Yes, of course! I¡¯m sure this is the news Your Majesty has been waiting for.¡± The bandit told him in detail what had happened in the forest. The story of an adult woman who appears to be from a minority ethnic clan, who uses the power of the incredible wind spirit to shoot arrows and how she fought alone to save the Lycaons. Karaf¡¯s red eyes grew slightly bigger. ¡°Is that all true?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty! I can swear on my two eyes and my tongue!¡± The bandit spoke very vulgarly, but Karaf didn¡¯t care and was lost in deep thought. He couldn¡¯t believe that there is still someone from an ethnic clan who used the power of the wind spirit.¡­ And on top of that, that person is a grown woman. This was an extraordinary thing for him. The Knight Commander Duran, who was standing next to him, also spoke seriously. ¡°It could be a butterfly.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­. This time it seems like a good opportunity.¡± Karaf rested his sensitive, sculptural face on one hand and pounded on the armrest with the other. There was no one speaking, so there was silence in the audience. Now that there is a butterfly in the Empire, and unless that butterfly dies, the next butterfly will not be born. The story was tantamount to a butterfly hiding somewhere in the empire. Then he snapped his finger and stopped. ¡°¡­¡­Subdue the Lycaons. Catch every single one of them. If they resist, kill them immediately.¡± His red eyes glowed darker than usual. Duran, the Knight Commander, responded with an arm across his chest. ¡°Yes, I will take your orders.¡± Karaf glanced at the bandits. ¡°You there.¡± ¡°What? Yes!¡± ¡°Follow the Knight Commander to subdue the Lycaons. If she really is a butterfly, I will reward you enough to live in luxury for the rest of your life.¡± The bandit¡¯s eyes gleamed insidiously. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty! Just trust me and leave it to me! I will catch them!¡± Duran strode out with the bandits. Left alone, Karaf murmured with a little excitement. ¡°You have finally appeared¡­¡­ Vanessa.¡± * * * * * Asha learned self-defense from Jackal. Her specialty is archery, but her life could be at risk in close combat where she couldn¡¯t shoot an arrow. It was necessary to learn how to dominate and defend against an opponent with a dagger or without any weapon. Jackal demonstrated to her by pointing a dagger made of wood at vital points. Asha copied him, swinging the dagger hard. But the way she held the dagger was very awkward. She was still not used to inflicting direct wounds on other people¡¯s bodies. Jackal, who couldn¡¯t stand it, took Asha¡¯s hand and put the dagger close to his heart. ¡°Do it like this.¡± The distance between the two was very close. Asha¡¯s eyes grew bigger and she snatched her hand away. Seeing her pale face, Jackal immediately lowered the dagger. ¡°¡­¡­If you don¡¯t want to kill, aim here.¡± He kindly told her one by one the parts that would not kill the opponent if stabbed but could cause fatal injuries. It was brutal training, but it certainly helped with her archery. Asha nodded as she swallowed hard. Jackal taught her how to attack the enemy in case she gets caught. Then Asha, who was holding on to the wrist, yanked him with all her might, but instead, she was dragged and fell into his arms. ¡°Oh¡­!¡± Jackal¡¯s body was big enough to cover Asha¡¯s entire body. ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s my first time seeing this kind of skill.¡± As he spoke softly with Asha in his arms, Asha blushed in embarrassment. CH 18 His thick biceps, broad chest, and firm thighs felt strangely tingling and suffocating whenever she touched his body. Asha put her hands under his arm and whimpered hard to escape him as she learned, but his heavy body did not budge. Finally, Asha timidly said. ¡°Mmm¡­ captain¡­.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You can let me go now¡­..¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Jackal, who had been hugging her without realizing it, was taken aback. The two turned to the side for a moment and blushed as they avoided making eye contact. They were training a bloody killing technique, but somehow the atmosphere was like cherry blossoms fluttering in the spring breeze. Gabe, who was passing by, noticed it and shook his head muttering. ¡°What the hell are these two doing¡­¡­.?¡± Jackal came to his senses and spoke sternly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know this, I¡¯ll teach you one of the most important killing techniques.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± When the atmosphere changed, Asha quickly asked nervously. ¡°Kick here.¡± Jackal pointed his finger at his vital point. Asha followed his finger and unconsciously looked down, her mouth hanging open. ¡°First of all, daggers, self-defense, or anything else, start here. Here¡¯s a straight shot.¡± Asha looked up hesitantly with a flushed face. Jackal said as he turned around in embarrassment as her gaze was fixed especially on his vital part. ¡°¡­.. But don¡¯t really kick me there.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Really¡­..It¡¯s a joke.¡± His jokes made the atmosphere even more awkward, and the strange self-defense training ended. In exchange for the lesson, Asha made a scarf out of the rabbit skin that members of the organization had secretly hunted. ¡°Mmmm¡­ captain¡­¡­¡± When Jackal looked up, Asha, who had come down from the upper floor, approached him a bit shyly hiding a scarf behind her back. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Asha showed him the scarf without saying a word. Jackal¡¯s eyes grew slightly larger. He froze for a while, only staring at the scarf. ¡°¡­¡­¡± When he didn¡¯t say anything, Asha hesitated, wondering if the scarf was too much to the point where he lost the words in shock. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­.. If I had just entrusted it to Yuri, it would have been a more useful scarf than this¡­¡­¡± ¡°All scarves are scarves, There¡¯s no useless scarf.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.Is that so?¡± Asha¡¯s face lit up a bit. ¡°Then since I¡¯m giving it to you, I¡¯ll wrap it around your neck.¡± Suddenly, she stretched her hands behind his neck, causing Jackal to freeze hard. Unintentionally, the two seemed to be embracing. Jackal¡¯s face turned red as he recalled Asha hugging his neck and rubbing his face every chance she got whenever he transformed into a horse. Asha was also a bit shy. She wrapped the scarf around him and quickly removed her hands. The white scarf made of rabbit fur was as fluffy as new, but the short scarf barely covered his thick neck. ¡°¡­¡­.Thank you. I will use it well.¡± He said it indifferently and turned his blushing face undetected. Asha was relieved that he accepted the gift without refusing, but in fact, Jackal was very excited. When he walked around with the scarf around his neck, the members of the organization who saw him covered their mouths and laughed. The fluffy white scarf really didn¡¯t go well with him¡­¡­ Although he knew it, his earlobe was a little red, but he was coughing hard, as if nothing had happened, and said to everyone. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to hide in the middle of winter. It¡¯s all right if you can warm yourself up.¡± It was a reasonable statement, but no one listened to it. Seeing him walk with the scarf around his neck, Asha felt surprised and saddened that she didn¡¯t have so much rabbit fur. He always wore the finest wolf skins, but Asha was confident and serious. She promised that next time she would make a marten scarf. T/N: A marten is a species of carnivorous mammal that lives in Asia. It resembles a weasel. * * * * * After training in self-defense, Asha received one last survival training. When this training ends, then all her training is over. Jackal recalled the first time Asha was being chased by bandits and told her what she most needed to learn. Asha learned to hide using the surrounding natural environment, such as snow, soil, and grass, and how to set up traps between trees and under the soil. Jackal crossed his arms and watched her without wasting a single moment. Since she¡¯s only lived in the Royal Palace, it must have been her first training for survival in the wild, but she learned pretty quickly and adapted well. He was proud to see her perseverance and overflowing will. But that was when Asha climbed a tree. ¡°¡­¡­.Ah!¡± Maybe she stepped on a brittle branch by mistake, and the branch broke, causing her to fall. The moment she closed her eyes, she felt a solid body holding her securely from below. Asha gently opened her eyes. Right in front of her was the grim face of Jackal. ¡°You need to be careful.¡± His voice was so sweet and soft that Asha¡¯s eyes widened and froze. Jackal giggled at her silly expression, but Asha came to her senses and immediately turned her face red, and quickly escaped from his arms. But she sprained her foot while climbing a tree, and immediately staggered with a short groan. ¡°You got hurt?¡± ¡°What? Oh, no. I¡¯m fine¡­¡­.¡± Asha pretended to be fine, but her forehead was covered in sweat. If she was sweating in this weather, it must have been quite painful. Jackal looked at her, leaning his head to examine her complexion. Aisha avoided his gaze because she was embarrassed and a little intimidated. Getting hurt would cause trouble for others. ¡°That¡¯s all for training, let¡¯s go home.¡± Jackal grabbed her wrist and walked forward. But since Asha was limping, he immediately picked her up in his arms. ¡°Oh! Put¡­put me down! I¡¯m really fine!¡± ¡°Why? It¡¯s better if I carry you.¡± ¡°Carry¡­?¡± Asha asked absurdly but kept her mouth shut because it was something that could not be denied. Looking back, it seems that¡­¡­ Asha slowly averted her gaze to the side. She felt it every time he forced her into his arms, but it was as comfortable as riding a horse. It was because he was actually the horse, but Asha, unaware of that fact, only tilted her head. Jackal strode back to his own home, holding her immersed in his thoughts. His firm lips were slightly curved upwards, trying to suppress a laugh. The hut was cozy and warm, probably because Sosa had already lit the fireplace. Jackal made Asha sit on the bed. He grabbed a first aid kit, knelt on the floor, and took off Asha¡¯s shoes. His bold action surprised Asha as if she had been struck by lightning. Jackal felt that he had made a mistake. He let go of her feet and said, looking at the floor. ¡°¡­.. I¡¯m a bit rude and clumsy. I have always treated only men¡­¡­. Please understand.¡± ¡°Ah yes¡­¡­I¡¯m fine.¡± Asha answered, trying to calm her surprising heart. Without realizing it, he treated her as if she really were his partner. Jackal, embarrassed, didn¡¯t make eye contact with her after that, focusing only on her wound. As if looking at a dying patient, he looked at her thin ankle with a serious expression on his face. His mood seemed so serious that Asha glanced at him, worried that she might have suffered a serious injury. Then Jackal mumbled. ¡°It¡¯s a sprain¡­..¡± The ankle area was red and swollen. Even though it wasn¡¯t a major injury, Asha, who thought she had broken a bone just by looking at his expression, breathed a sigh of relief. But when Jackal fetched an ice pack and put it on her ankle, she frowned slightly and involuntarily made an ¡°Ugh¡­.¡± sound. The sound that came from her mouth was unintentionally strange. Asha quickly covered her mouth with her hand and blushed. Fortunately, Jackal still looked at the floor treating her wound. He seemed familiar with this situation, having healed his comrades¡¯ injuries. Asha was relieved, but Jackal was struggling to keep a blank face as his heart pounded like crazy. She¡¯s a really careless woman¡­¡­. Although he was nervous inside, he frowned, trying not to focus on Asha¡¯s white, soft feet. But his careless act of grabbing a woman¡¯s ankle and fiddling with it was something he didn¡¯t even think about¡­¡­. After the treatment, Jackal raised his head a little and found more wounds on Asha¡¯s hand. Asha noticed his gaze and fiddled with her hands, turning a blind eye. She didn¡¯t want to be seen as a weak woman making a fuss over this. But this time, Jackal took her hand seriously without hesitation. There were blisters, scratches, and calluses on her soft, smooth hands. He silently took out a white powder, and carefully applied it to her wounds. A warm warmth radiated from his large hand. Every time his hand touched the wound, Asha felt as if her entire body was being electrocuted, and her chest was tingling. Jackal looked up and made eye contact with Asha. At that moment, their hearts were pounding. Jackal quickly stood up and said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wake you up for dinner later, so rest in the meantime.¡± He sat down at a nearby desk and began to work. The desk was stacked with numerous bundles of parchment. It seemed that they were all requests from Lycaon. Asha, who was dazed, asked cautiously. ¡°Then, do you plan on staying here¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Of course. This is my house. The second floor was originally my office.¡± Jackal glanced at her and asked mischievously. ¡°Why? You said you¡¯d be my partner at some point, and now you¡¯re worried that I¡¯ll do something to you?¡± ¡°Oh, no! I¡¯ll just quietly wipe my feet¡­¡­ No, I¡¯ll just sleep¡­..¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± Asha blushed and lay on her side on the bed, pulling the blanket up around her neck. Jackal looked at the documents smiling and laughing. CH 19 Asha was nervous, but the warm atmosphere of the room lulled her to sleep. Maybe she was tired from training, but as soon as she lay down on the bed, she quickly fell asleep. Only the sound of breathing and the flipping of papers resounded softly in the room. Jackal turned his head and stared at Asha sleeping. Asha looked so embarrassed before, but her expression was completely relaxed. She looked innocent as a child when she sleeps. She looked like a deer that came to the hunter¡¯s house and went to dreamland without even thinking that she would be eaten. He let out a small sigh. She seemed so innocent that he thought she must have suffered a lot at the tyrant¡¯s side. When he first met her, she hid on a snow-covered slope. Her vigilant and curious purple eyes were really clear. Just like her surname, she really was like a camellia-like woman blooming alone in the snow in the middle of winter. Originally, for the safety of the organization, they would never have brought a strange woman into their nest. Even more so if she is from a minority village. But when she mentioned that she had left her village and become a wanderer, a bit of sympathy kindled in his heart without realizing it. No, I couldn¡¯t tell if it was sympathy or mere curiosity, or if I liked her. Jackal ruffled his hair, trying to organize his thoughts, and then began to focus on his work again. Most of the requests were to deal with bandits or to hunt wild wolves or boars. Suddenly, there was a piece of paper of a different color right below it. His hand stopped and he frowned slightly. It was an official letter from the Imperial Family. A quick glance revealed that the Imperial Family was planning to send knights and nobles to subdue minority clans on a large scale. He crumpled up the paper and tossed it directly into the blazing fire. It was an official letter from the Imperial Family, but to him, it was just firewood to keep him warm. A few days later, the Cactus Knights set foot on the northern lands. In the dark mountains far from the village, they silently watched the lights and smoke rising like shadows. Next to him, the bandit leader made a fuss and said. ¡°It¡¯s right there! That is the Lycaon¡¯s territory!¡± The blond man looked at the lights and roughly guessed the size of the village and muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s wait here. We will attack when they are distracted.¡± * * * * * After a long time, Asha went out and had a late-night party with the others. They sat in a circle in the open space, lit the campfire, and roasted sweet potatoes. She skewered a baked sweet potato on a wooden skewer and was blowing on it when Jackal crept up beside her, sat down, and said. ¡°I feel it every time I see you, you really eat well.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Asha blushed at those words as she peeled the skin off the sweet potato skin and ate it. ¡°It looks good.¡± Jackal spoke lightly and picked up a sweet potato. Asha spoke too, watching him munch on a sweet potato as if it wasn¡¯t hot. ¡°I feel it every time I see you too, but please enjoy it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°My mouth is watering just looking at you eat.¡± ¡°Is it a compliment?¡± ¡°Yes. It looks good.¡± Asha spoke coyly and started eating the potato again. Other members of the organization laughed and chatted, drinking as if today was the last day. To others, they seem like people living from day to day, but Asha liked this lively, free-spirited atmosphere. She was always anxious about the future, but she enjoyed the present to the best of her ability and had no regrets about the past. ¡°¡­.Oh, it¡¯s hot!¡± Asha was careless and laughed that she had burned her hand and quickly dropped the sweet potato. ¡°What¡¯s hot about this!¡± He took the sweet potato, but it was as hot as burning coal. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Jackal was taken aback for a moment, but he had already proudly said that it wasn¡¯t hot at all, so he endured and began to peel it. Looking at his serious face and red-hot fingertips, Asha tilted her face to the side and asked mischievously. ¡°Captain, be honest. It¡¯s hot, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s too hot, right? Isn¡¯t it?¡± Jackal blows on the hot and soft sweet potato as Asha laughs and teases him. ¡°It¡¯s not hot. Don¡¯t talk nonsense and just blow. Don¡¯t burn your tongue.¡± He spoke harshly, but he was a warm person to her. Jackal didn¡¯t say a word after that. He glanced at her, but Asha stifled a laugh and pretended not to notice. After roasting chestnuts and stuffed pancakes in the brazier, she slowly began to feel sleepy. He said quietly. ¡°Let¡¯s talk for a second.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I have something to give you.¡± Asha was taken aback, but when he got up first and trudged on, she followed him silently. Jackal turned quietly behind the dimly lit log house, waiting for Asha to come. As she approached him, he took something out of his chest pocket and held it out to her. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°A dagger. Take it out.¡± Asha politely took the dagger in both hands. The steel-colored scabbard was engraved with a horse¡¯s head, and its eyes were studded with sapphire gems. Her eyes grew bigger. ¡°This¡­.. looks like a very expensive and precious dagger, can I have it?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s very expensive and precious. It¡¯s a keepsake from my parents.¡± At those words, Asha¡¯s eyes widened even more, and she quickly returned the dagger and spoke firmly. ¡°I cannot accept something so precious. Take it back.¡± ¡°Take it. I have many daggers.¡± ¡°But this is valuable!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not very valuable. I was going to throw it away. It was always a headache figuring out what to do with it.¡± Then Asha asked foolishly. ¡°Why? If it were me, if my parents gave it to me, I would cherish it¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s not a gift, it¡¯s a heavy-duty.¡± ¡°Duty?¡± Jackal meant a ¡®duty to protect the clan¡¯, but he just shook his head. ¡°¡­¡­There¡¯s something like that. To me, this dagger made my heart ache just by looking at it. But it¡¯s light and well-bladed, so it¡¯ll be convenient for you to use. Take it as a reward for your training. You deserve it, you worked hard.¡± Asha gulped and drew the dagger from its sheath. The beautiful silver dagger was quite shiny enough that she could even see the pores on her face. Asha gasped and Jackal just glanced at her. ¡°You can use it as a mirror then.¡± His joke made Asha laugh again. In her past life, she couldn¡¯t remember the last time she laughed, but ever since she¡¯s been here, she¡¯s been laughing a lot, even at small things. Jackal¡¯s expression softened. He seemed brighter than when she first joined the organization. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­ Oh? But why is Sheppy¡¯s name engraved on the scabbard?¡± His carelessness startled him. But Asha didn¡¯t notice. She was busy feeling the scabbard with her fingertips. ¡°I like it a lot. It looks like Sheppy.¡± For some reason, she felt that Sheppy would protect her anytime, anywhere if she carried this dagger on her body. Asha was moved. ¡°Thank you very much. I¡¯ll take good care of it.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s go back.¡± Asha, feeling cold after walking away from the campfire for a while, rubbed her hands together. But then Jackal immediately grabbed her hand and strode forward. Asha¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly as she felt his thick, warm hands gently wrap around hers. Back near the campfire, a drunken Sosa was engrossed in playing the flute. ¡°There it goes again. That old man.¡± The members shook their heads as if they couldn¡¯t stop him, but despite their reaction, Sosa closed his eyes and played the flute with enthusiasm and sadness. However, his good skills surprised Asha. ¡°Sosa, you can play the flute?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He only plays the flute when he¡¯s drunk.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an unusual drinking habit.¡± Asha laughed and listened to the clear and beautiful tone of the flute. It was a lyrical song that suited the scenery of a rustic village with a campfire under the starry night sky. However, the members furiously shouted. They didn¡¯t like the song. ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°You have ruined the fun!¡± Sosa opened his eyes and muttered. ¡°What a bunch of idiots who don¡¯t even know art¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What? What did you just say?¡± Sosa closed his eyes again and played a cheerful song as if nothing had happened. Now everyone was happy because of the joyous song and they toasted again. Then, they quickly brought a variety of instruments and joined in the performance. Stringed instruments such as mandolins and ukuleles appeared, as well as percussion instruments made by weaving barrels, and the music became richer. Among the men who were singing vigorously as if they were angry, Asha was also so excited that she moved her shoulders to the beat. She was so cute that she made Jackal laugh. But then, Aisha, who was slightly drunk, suddenly walked towards the center. As everyone stared in amazement, Asha smiled and bowed gracefully with one hand raised. ¡°Everyone. Let me cheer you up.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± They raised their glasses in excitement. ¡°Sosa! Play a more exciting song, come on!¡± Sosa played a bright and lively song with more force. When Asha started dancing to the beat, everyone was startled and cheered even more. In fact, Asha learned several types of dance while in the palace, and she had a talent for dancing like a butterfly. Coupled with the power of the wind, when she dances, she moves like a gracefully fluttering butterfly. Everyone clapped passionately to the beat. When Asha turned around and saw her hair fluttering like gold dust, their mouth dropped so wide that they wouldn¡¯t even notice if flies got in. Thanks to her, the mood was on fire. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened at her unexpected appearance. He just stared blankly at her. CH 20 Asha gave Yuri a deep look, held out a hand, and asked for a dance. Yuri looked around in amazement, and then timidly approached the center. Asha put her hands together with her, funnily moved her feet, and danced happily. The shouts grew louder, but the two of them were just absorbed in the dance, despite the laughter. Jackal was watching her for a long time, and suddenly, someone¡¯s hand moved in front of him. He came to his senses, and when he looked to his side, Gabe said with a mischievous smile. ¡°Captain, do you know that you can¡¯t take your eyes off Asha even for a moment?¡± Jackal felt weird. He felt his face getting hot from the drunkenness. ¡°Do you even know you have a smile on your lips?¡± Gabe giggled like it was fun to tease him. Jackal instantly changed his expression and glared at him with sharp eyes. Gabe quickly looked down. ¡°Sorry, I crossed the line.¡± ¡°You know well.¡± ¡°Then, since it¡¯s over, let¡¯s move on a little further.¡± Jackal looked at where he pointed. Asha was dancing skillfully as if she was flapping her wings. To commemorate his legs being healed, Gabe held her hands as well and began to dance, to which everyone roared with laughter. He didn¡¯t know how to dance, so he moved his body freely out of excitement, but Asha did everything he did. Jackal¡¯s eyes looking at the two of them burned brighter than the campfire. Gabe winked at him and smirked at him. ¡°If captain is confident, you can dance too, right?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Jackal did not dare to say that he could not dance. He seemed very unhappy. He wanted to dance with Asha, too, but he was afraid his ridiculous moves would disappoint her. He knew how to perform threatening dances like the sword dance, but he had never ballroom danced with the opposite sex. If he danced now, he might perform a sword dance for Gabe. Gabe seemed to have noticed her sentiment. He giggled and gave a polite greeting to Asha. He figured that if he teased him any longer, Jackal might sew his mouth instead of his legs. After such a fun night, Asha¡¯s eyes were half-closed. Then suddenly, her blurry eyes saw Jackal sitting on a log carving a piece of wood with a rustic dagger. In his spare time, he would often carve out pieces of wood. But seeing as he doesn¡¯t make anything particularly meaningful, it seemed like a habit he made whenever he wanted to organize his thoughts. The moonlight fell like snow on his blue-gray hair. Perhaps due to the light, his hair suddenly looked like an eerie purple color. Asha looked at him in awe. Jackal suddenly felt a gaze from the side and looked back at her. He clapped his tongue at Asha¡¯s drunken expression. ¡°You¡¯re drunk again. Go in, wash your feet and go to sleep¡­¡­.¡± Jackal could not finish speaking and froze. Suddenly, Asha closed her eyes and leaned on his shoulder. He looked at Asha¡¯s face, and he murmured to himself. ¡°You¡¯re very drunk.¡± ¡°Ummm¡­¡­¡± Asha rubbed her face against his shoulder, as she had with Sheppy, and sank deeper into his arms. Her daring act caused Jackal¡¯s eyes to widen and freeze completely. Asha, who was drunk and sleepy, didn¡¯t know what she was doing. Jackal¡¯s heart was beating fast. He lent her his shoulder without moving, and soon carefully wrapped a blanket around her body without causing Asha to wake up. Asha murmured with her eyes closed. ¡°Sheppy¡¯s scent¡­ smells good¡­¡­.¡± He smiled mischievously, but the way he looked at Asha was full of affection. However, his expression quickly became bitter. ¡°If you find out who I am, you¡¯ll end up not liking me either¡­¡­¡± What kind of woman really likes a man who transforms into a horse? He hated the fact that he was a member of the kelpie clan, and thought that his weakness was turning into a horse. The reason he didn¡¯t reveal this to his comrades was that he thought they would be shocked and hate him or there might be chaos within the organization. For him, it was kind of complex. If a wild horse other than her husband stood by the bedside on the first night, most brides would probably faint in shock. All members of the kelpie clan were forced to reveal their true selves, even for a brief moment, when they had their first night with the opposite sex. God played a mischievous trick to hide his identity from the other person until the end and prevent him from continuing his false love. He had the advantage of a fateful relationship of deep trust with his partner, but he was a man who firmly believed that there would be no woman in his life. But before he knew it, Asha was deeply ingrained in his daily life without him noticing. His feelings for her continued to grow uncontrollably in his heart. ¡°Someday I will be able to tell you¡­..But not now. It¡¯s enough that you¡¯re here.¡± He muttered to himself, and slowly made his way back to his house, carrying Asha like a princess. His heart deepened under the moonlight. * * * * * ¡°¡­¡­Captain!¡± Early in the morning, when everyone was sleeping after the drinking party, a patrolman suddenly came to Jackal¡¯s house in a hurry. At the sound of a loud knock on the door, he asked, lifting his sensuous half-naked body from the bed. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The patrolman opened the door and spoke urgently with a pale face. ¡°There¡­¡­ On top of the mountain¡­..The Cactus Knights¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡­..The Emperor¡¯s knights?¡± Jackal frowned. The sudden noise woke Asha up and she ran down from the upper floor. Frozen in the middle of the stairs, her face looked pale and tired. Jackal jumped up and gave instructions to get ready quickly. ¡°We are moving right now. Tell everyone to gather in the courtyard with their luggage and weapons as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The members of the organization were taken aback by the sudden attack. But they finished their preparations in perfect harmony and gathered in the courtyard. The sky was still a light blue color just before sunrise. Jackal instructed. ¡°Set the village on fire. It seems that our location has already been discovered anyway, so we will have to eliminate our traces and cover the escape route with smoke.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They set fire to a pile of wood and straws and threw it towards the village without any regrets. Asha watched in disbelief as the village she had been living in for a while was burning in front of her. It felt as if the happy and enjoyable memories of last night had turned to ashes in an instant. She suddenly remembered the day her village was destroyed. Watching the fortress, the meeting room, and finally, Jackal¡¯s house burn in flames, where she had a good time with the others. Asha muttered with a pale face as if she was being possessed by a ghost. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­..because of me¡­.It¡¯s because I came here¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Jackal said calmly. ¡°We have always been like this. It¡¯s nothing new.¡± ¡°But¡­.! But I¡¯m sure the Emperor is coming for me¡­..!¡± Asha instantly recalled Karaf¡¯s blood-red eyes and shivered involuntarily. Jackal put his firm hand on Asha¡¯s shoulder. To her surprise, the shaking stopped immediately. As Asha looked at him blankly, he met her eyes and said seriously. ¡°You¡¯ll be safe with us, so don¡¯t worry.¡± With his calm blue eyes that didn¡¯t seem to be shaken by anything, Asha soon calmed down and nodded. Each of them mounted their own horses and began to race through the mountains. They were all not in good condition because they had drunk a lot the night before. It must have been a deliberate attack on this day. Gabe said, clinging to Asha¡¯s side. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sister. Are we Lycaon for nothing? It wasn¡¯t just luck that we survived until now. If you¡¯re worried, maybe sister will sweep them away with an arrow.¡± As Gabe smiled as he ran, Asha also laughed a bit calmly at his joke. Gabe told Jackal, who was leading the group at the front. ¡°Captain, I¡¯m going to see how far they¡¯ve come.¡± ¡°Yes, be careful. Don¡¯t let the enemies find out.¡± ¡°Yes. I will follow you soon.¡± Gabe immediately changed direction and ran back. His red-brown hair fluttered wildly in the wind. His eyes were fiercer than those of a hawk¡¯s. Asha turned her head to look at him, then suddenly looked around, and her eyes widened and she screamed. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­! I can¡¯t see Sheppy¡­¡­!¡± She couldn¡¯t see anyone riding Sheppy. She felt as if her heart was sinking. But Jackal said casually. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. He will catch up on his own.¡± ¡°How did you know? Did he go out again¡­¡­?¡± Hearing Asha asks in bewilderment, Sosa, who was following behind them, burst out laughing. Jackal glanced at him. Sosa then smiled kindly and said to Asha instead. ¡°This time he went out with the most beautiful white horse in the world, so he will be safe. That horse is stronger than it looks.¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡­that white horse is a female?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a male.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a male.¡± Sosa and Jackal¡¯s faces hardened as they spoke at the same time. They never wanted to be mistaken for going out on a date together. Asha was anxious but decided to relax for now because the two of them were joking around and talking casually. Above all, she had the belief that Sheppy would not be defeated so easily. They left the village early in the morning and it was not until dawn again that they unpacked their luggage in a cave to rest for a while. Asha was so nervous that she couldn¡¯t even eat properly. The knights chased after her all day, but she was relieved as soon as she sat down on the ground. Gabe returned safely after spying on the knights. Jackal asked. ¡°How is the situation?¡± ¡°They are also camping in the valley.¡± Jackal nodded. ¡°They must have decided that it would be dangerous to keep chasing us in the middle of the night.¡± Unlike those who lived in the forest and had brilliant night vision, the knights who lived in the luxurious Imperial palace were vulnerable to darkness. No matter how skilled the knights were, they decided that it was dangerous to run through the thick forest at night. Jackal looked around and said. ¡°Let¡¯s get up a little faster than them and set off just before sunrise. We will rest for three hours and leave immediately.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± CH 21 Nagy, who was in the process of growing up, stuffed the bread in his mouth. Then he immediately stretched out on the luggage and fell asleep. Jackal placed a thick layer of wolf fur on the ground and said to Asha. ¡°Rest here for a moment. You must have been very nervous today.¡± ¡°Ah yes. Thank you¡­¡­¡± Asha lay on her side using her luggage as a pillow. In order to avoid the pursuit, they had to replenish their energy as much as possible, so they all went to sleep without talking. However, to protect his people, Jackal did not sleep, but sat at the entrance of the cave, keeping watch in silence. Perhaps even at this time, the knights could also take turns searching their surroundings. Even if it was a cave, there was a high chance that they would be discovered if a fire was lit. It is the hunter¡¯s instinct to react to even a small light or smoke. They need to endure this level of discomfort in order to escape the chase and escape in the safest way possible. Although they all shivered from the cold, they did not complain and forced themselves to sleep. Asha shivered too. She went back and forth between her dreams and reality, but suddenly she felt another blanket cover her body. She could tell it was Jackal without looking. As her body warmed up, Asha fell asleep, as if she had just passed out. Jackal made sure she was asleep and walked back to the cave entrance. He sat with his back against the wall and placed his arm on one of his knees. Sosa quietly approached him. Jackal said. ¡°Sosa.¡± ¡°Yes. Please tell me, Captain.¡± ¡°¡­..How do you feel when you see our men risking their lives for a woman?¡± Jackal asked so seriously, but Sosa answered with a smile. ¡°I think it¡¯s stupid.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s worthless.¡± Jackal turned his head and looked at him. Sosa said very calm. ¡°Because the value of life depends on what you put into it.¡± He was saying something similar to Asha. Jackal immediately looked down and said. ¡°You were helpful.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s a relief.¡± Sosa smiled kindly at him. Jackal stared at him and spoke sadly. ¡°Sosa. I know it¡¯s a little late, but I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± His eyes were so serious that Sosa followed him out of the cave without saying a word. * * * * * Asha was alone in the middle of a vivid and unrealistic landscape that was indistinguishable from reality or dreams. Arrows fell from all sides like rain, and the white snowfield was filled with bright red blood as if it was in the middle of hell. The shouts of the knights and the screams of the Lycaons constantly pierced her ears. ¡®Sister! Quickly go over there¡­¡­!¡¯ Nagy¡¯s urgent voice came from somewhere. But the moment she looked at him, Asha¡¯s eyes slowly widened as if time had slowed down. A long arrow flew right in front of her and pierced Nagy¡¯s face¡­¡­. Nagy collapsed to his side with his eyes wide open. Asha covered her ears with both hands and let out a shrill cry. Soon after, Sosa and Gabe were also pierced by the knights¡¯ spears and swords, and the bodies of numerous Lycaons were left strewn beneath their feet. Asha couldn¡¯t move. Then, suddenly, from afar, a man who was fighting fiercely with the knights caught her attention. It was Jackal. He looked back at her and shouted loudly. ¡®Run away Asha¡­¡­!¡¯ But at that moment, a long arrow flew and pierced his chest. His body swayed and blood dripped from his mouth. ¡®No¡­..!¡¯ Asha screamed. She came back to reality with her eyes wide open. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the dark cave wall and tears welled up in her eyes. Asha gasped and exhaled as she looked at the ceiling. She was still lying on the ground of the cave, surrounded by the other sleeping members. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t actually scream, and thankfully, she didn¡¯t seem to wake anyone up. However, the sleeping members scattered here and there reminded her of the nightmarish snowfield. Asha shook her head quickly, trying to forget the scene, but the ominousness of the dream engulfed her so vividly. In fact, in her previous life, Lycaon met a miserable end after being caught by the Cactus Knights. She believed that perhaps the time had come earlier. It¡¯s because I joined the Lycaons¡­¡­ In the past, if it was a minority village, this time it might be Lycaon¡¯s turn to be annihilated. The shadow of death always haunted her. Asha wrapped her arms around her trembling body. Despite this cold, her body was full of cold sweat. But suddenly, Jackal who was sleeping next to her, caught her attention. He covered her with all the extra blankets, and he fell asleep with only a thin cloth. He looked pitiful, curled up on his side. Asha¡¯s eyebrows furrowed sadly. She reached out to him. But then, someone¡¯s voice came from the cave entrance. ¡°¡­¡­ Are you awake?¡± Asha shook her head, but she realized the identity of the voice and answered confidently. ¡°Mr. Sosa.¡± Asha immediately got up and walked over to Sosa. His silver hair gleamed softly in the moonlight. ¡°The captain told me that he would go in and rest for a while. He¡¯s such a light sleeper that he usually wakes up even when he hears someone whispering. He must have been very tired.¡± Asha looked at Jackal again. A deep fatigue lay on his hardened face. He must have had a hard time trying to find a way to escape relentlessly while leading his subordinates, but he didn¡¯t show any tiredness so as not to demoralize his people. It was heartbreaking seeing him sleeping from exhaustion. ¡°Sosa, you should go in and rest. I will protect this place.¡± ¡°What? No. It hasn¡¯t been that long since you woke up, so don¡¯t worry about me. Go in and rest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m sorry.¡± Asha¡¯s expression seemed genuinely apologetic. Sosa kept his mouth shut. He immediately sighed and said. ¡°¡­¡­.I see. Instead, you¡¯re going to change shifts with me in 20 minutes, okay? If anything happens, wake me up immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± Sosa before entering the cave, looked back and said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No matter what happens, the captain will always protect you. Asha is very precious to the captain.¡± He gave her a kindly smile and went inside. Left alone, Asha looked up at the starry night sky and was lost in thought. She didn¡¯t really show her emotions in front of Sosa, but she still trembled because the nightmare kept replaying in her mind. As soon as she saw Jackal¡¯s sleeping face, she thought of his face bleeding from his mouth. She closed her eyes tightly. The scenery she saw in her nightmare was not so different from the forest they are in now. She felt unbearably anxious. ¡¸¡°Do you know why we don¡¯t hire female hunters? It¡¯s because one woman can cause the organization to collapse in one shot.¡±¡¹ Suddenly, she recalled what Gabe had said before. She wondered if what he said could really become a foregone conclusion. They will not be able to escape from this forest and will be captured and killed by the knights¡­¡­ Asha looked up at the moon and decided to do something. If her fate was to be locked up in the Imperial Palace and unable to escape from the Emperor, then there is no need for everyone to lose their lives in vain because of her. It was the same as not being able to save the villagers in her previous life. And she couldn¡¯t let it happen again. While Asha was lost in thoughts, Sosa covered himself with a blanket and closed his eyes. A moment ago, Jackal revealed to him that she was a ¡®butterfly¡¯. He also found out that she died while fleeing from the Emperor, taking her back in time before meeting him. Sosa didn¡¯t say anything for a while before the unbelievable story. But in his head, the questions he had been wondering came together as quickly as pieces of a puzzle. The reason Asha suddenly appeared and approached them, then Jackal¡¯s sudden change of heart in deciding to accept her, and the natural talent she had for archery. Lastly, the reason why the knights are desperately chasing after them to kill them¡­¡­. Sosa only said this to him. ¡®Asha is a Lycaon.¡¯ Jackal smiled and put his hand on his shoulder. They will be with Asha until the end. They will protect her from the tyrant. She is now their precious comrade. Above all, Sosa was certain. If she succeeds in escaping this time and settles in a safe home, Jackal will really welcome her as his wife. Sosa knew better than anyone what the dagger he gave Asha was. The dagger was nothing less than the treasure of the Kelpie clan. Although Jackal hated the dagger and kept it without ever using it, he would not have given such a significant dagger to anyone without thinking. Therefore, he was going to do his best for the captain¡¯s ¡®future wife¡¯. And he had no doubts that that would be the will of the entire organization. Asha waited until she could hear Sosa¡¯s steady breathing, and then quietly rose from the ground. And before she left, she calmly looked around once more. The familiar faces are engraved on her heart, and it broke her heart. Asha struggled to avert her gaze. She looked at Jackal one last time. She whispered in a soft, low voice that sounded like the wind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ And thank you for all this time¡­¡­.¡± Asha quietly walked out of the cave and mounted a brown horse. She then began to run quickly back the way she had come. The strong wind scratched her face and ruffled her hair wildly, but Asha didn¡¯t blink once and headed to the valley where the knights camped. * * * * * At that moment, some knights who were on guard saw a woman riding a horse from afar and shouted. ¡°An intruder!¡± Soon the bells rang loudly, and nearby torches began to light up one by one. Asha got off the horse and walked slowly towards them. The sentries simultaneously raised their spears from all directions and shouted fiercely. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Please call Knight Commander Duran.¡± Her calm words caused them to step back for a moment and loosen their grip on their spears. It was strange to them that a woman appeared alone at night, but her terrified calm demeanor made them realize that she was no ordinary woman. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­What¡¯s the commotion?¡± CH 22 Knight Commander Duran walked out of the barracks. He was a handsome man with a slim, elegant figure and blond hair. Asha had several contacts with him in her previous life. Duran Dandelion. Like Baron Dandelion¡¯s head of state, he had an appearance reminiscent of a dandelion. His lustrous dark blonde hair was as beautiful as hers, and his eyes, dark green like a leaf of midsummer grass, were soft and unshakable. He was a man with a strong heart that would never be broken even if he was stepped on by someone or a storm raged. He looked at Asha without saying a word. Green and purple eyes met in the dark. Duran looked into her mysterious purple eyes and intuitively realized that this was the woman the bandit was talking about. The description was consistent, and more importantly, he knew there were no female hunters on Lycaon. Then, Asha spoke first. ¡°I am the Butterfly of the Empire.¡± The knights all gasped at the same time. Only Duran was not surprised and asked. ¡°I heard that you had been living in Lycaon, but did they abandon you or did you come to negotiate with me?¡± Aisha was slightly taken aback by the sharp remark but responded with a bit of resignation. ¡°¡­¡­The latter. So take me, and don¡¯t chase them anymore.¡± Asha calmly spread her hands. Duran stared at her and instructed the knights. ¡°Take her.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They tied Asha¡¯s hands and body with ropes. Her body trembled at the rough movement, but Asha didn¡¯t resist and stood calmly, staring at the ground. Then Duran asked her. ¡°Did you come here alone without telling your leader?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes. After all, I¡¯m the one you¡¯re looking for anyway.¡± ¡°But you could have just run away, why¡­..¡± ¡°I saw the future.¡± The knights were surprised by Asha¡¯s resolute response. She¡¯s the Butterfly of the Empire. It was a situation where her butterfly ability could be seen as a prophecy. ¡°If you saw the future¡­¡­¡± ¡°I realized I couldn¡¯t run away from you. The end was only death. I heard that the Cactus Knights never miss their targets and pursue them all the way to Hell. Am I wrong?¡± Duran kept his mouth shut. It was true. Though he might die while carrying out the Emperor¡¯s orders, he never returned empty-handed. Like a dandelion, which symbolizes strong vitality and uprightness, he would persistently survive on the battlefield to cut off the enemy leader¡¯s head. Duran said with a strange smile. ¡°Fortunately, you seem to have a better understanding of the situation than your leader.¡± Asha looked at him and said. ¡°Promise me. If you take me, you¡¯ll leave them alone.¡± Her purple eyes went up and down like a full moon alone in the dark night sky. Duran thought for a moment before answering. ¡°I am only obeying His Majesty¡¯s orders. I¡¯ll try, but I can¡¯t guarantee it. As you know, His Majesty¡¯s hatred of ethnic minorities is too big a problem to be solved simply.¡± Asha¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°However, if you are really a butterfly and can make His Majesty¡¯s flowers bloom, Lycaon and the other minority clans will be able to lead a much safer life than they do now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Then that is enough.¡± Asha said it with a little relief. ¡°Please let us return to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible. Otherwise, they¡¯ll know I¡¯m gone and they¡¯ll come after me.¡± Duran nodded. He instructed the knights to be ready to leave right now. He gathered up Asha¡¯s belongings while everyone was getting ready in perfect order. Looking down at her dagger, Jackal¡¯s face suddenly flashed into her mind, causing Asha¡¯s heart to ache. Duran said, seeing her bitter expression from the side. ¡°This is a weapon, so I will keep it.¡± He had held a sword all his life, so he recognized at a glance that this dagger was no ordinary one. And from the expression on her face, he could also tell that it was a precious object to her. Asha knew she would never touch the dagger again, but she was grateful that he kept it. ¡°Then let¡¯s go now.¡± Asha got on a horse with a lieutenant. But it was when they were about to leave the campsite after finishing their preparations. From afar, an arrow flew frantically and struck the lieutenant¡¯s arm holding the reins. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± The lieutenant groaned, clutching his arrowed arm. Duran looked back and saw a man in the distance riding a horse fiercely down the hill. His blue-gray hair fluttered wildly in the wind, and in the darkness, his eyes shone eerily like blue flames. Asha¡¯s eyes widened slowly. He seemed to have come alone after finding out that she had left. Jackal followed closely behind them like an angry wild horse and shot arrows at them. Seeing the knights unsheathing their swords and aiming arrows at him, Asha desperately shouted at Duran. ¡°Please! Please don¡¯t kill that man¡­¡­!¡± Duran, who was about to give the order to attack, paused for a moment. Asha desperately asked once more. ¡°Please¡­¡­. That man and the Lycaons still don¡¯t even know I¡¯m a butterfly. They kept me safe until now only because I am also from an ethnic minority clan.¡± Duran was lost in thought for a moment. The Emperor ordered him not only to bring the butterfly but also to find and catch people from ethnic minority clans. If he disobeyed the order, he would be punished as well. Normally, he would have followed his master¡¯s orders without reflecting on the situation. However, the butterfly who willingly gave herself up to save them was admirable, and Lycaon, who kept her safe, actually made a big contribution to the Empire. There would be no greater reward than sparing their lives now. Duran finished thinking and shouted. ¡°Aim for the horse, not the man!¡± Fortunately, he was not as bloodless as the Emperor. The knights who were about to shoot at him immediately turned and shot at Jackal¡¯s horse. No matter how well he could avoid it, it was difficult to avoid all the arrows fired by dozens of knights. Eventually, the horse was hit by an arrow and fell forward. Jackal fell abruptly from his horse. Asha¡¯s eyes grew bigger and she screamed. ¡°Jackal¡­..!¡± Jackal jumped to his feet as soon as he fell at the sound of her voice calling out his name. His face was contorted and his eyes were bloodshot. He did not give up and persistently pursued them with his bow. Duran shouted as his men agonized over whether or not to attack him. ¡°Put down your bow and just defend!¡± They immediately raised their shields and defended their horse¡¯s surroundings like a fortress. Since Jackal was from the Kelpie clan, he chased after them at incredible speed while shooting arrows. But no matter how much he chased after them, the humans couldn¡¯t keep up with the horses¡¯ speed. The gap between them grew wider and wider. Jackal ran at full speed, trying to catch up with her. ¡°Asha¡­..!¡± Asha¡¯s tears welled up at the sound of his earnest voice and sorrowful eyes. Her heart ached, but this was right. She and he were not supposed to be together. He won¡¯t be happy if she stays. Take care¡­¡­ Jackal. Asha muttered it to him and smiled sadly for the last time. It was a farewell. Duran screamed out loud. ¡°All troops, run at full speed all the way to the Imperial Palace!¡± Jackal staggered to a halt when they were too far away. Even if he now transforms into a horse, he would not be able to defeat them with the body of a horse. He took a deep breath before yelling. ¡°Damn it¡­.!¡± His voice echoed in the forest. His voice was so loud that even Asha could hear it. It was a mournful voice as if a beast was howling. Soon after, several members of the organization, including Sosa and Gabe, followed behind Jackal. They only looked at Asha, who had already left. Jackal was kneeling in the snow with his head down. * * * * * The knights rode for a long time and reached the capital of the Empire, ¡®Ferrach¡®. Suddenly, the bright sun rose above the horizon. As soon as she left the northern region of Herta, a gentle spring breeze with the scent of flowers wafted into her nose. Asha felt strange as if she were in a different world, but at the same time, she felt bitter that she had returned to a place she was all too familiar with. Seeing the small changes, she felt as if she had been forced to wake from a sweet daydream. Asha struggled to hold herself. She didn¡¯t come here to meet the same end. She would no longer be swayed by the situation and would do her best. To save Jackal and the rest of the ethnic minority clan, she had no choice but to win the Emperor¡¯s favor. Even if it was later revealed that she could not make the Emperor¡¯s flower bloom, she at least had to win the Emperor¡¯s favor so that the minority clans would not be held responsible. Just as Jackal tried to protect her till the end, she will protect him and Lycaon this time. She walked with confidence. Duran, who was walking ahead, said calmly. ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time in the Imperial Palace, I will give you some advice. Please be as obedient in front of His Majesty as when you gave yourself up. That side would be good for your image.¡± Asha looked at his back, but he was walking, only looking forward. It was not a threat or a command, but advice from the heart. Being the Emperor¡¯s closest confidant, he was well aware of Karaf¡¯s fierce nature, so he was giving advice beforehand not to offend him. But Asha had already made up her mind on how to act. She thought about it and pondered it seriously until she reached the Imperial Palace. Duran¡¯s advice was correct, but she couldn¡¯t win the Emperor¡¯s favor if she only followed his advice. Asha knew what kind of women Karaf liked more than anyone. He had no interest in obedient women. He liked a butterfly-like woman who flapped and writhed like a wild fly. To be precise, he liked to ¡®tame¡¯ such a woman and make her completely his own. The time when he showed the most interest and obsession with her was when she ran away. Ironically, he showed the greatest interest in her when things didn¡¯t go his way. CH 23 A woman who is easily swayed, obedient, and doesn¡¯t contradict him from the start will soon tire him out. It was obvious that if she had acted the same as in the past as a fragile and tearful woman, she would not be able to capture his heart. Before heading to the audience, Duran turned around and said something he had just remembered. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a moment to get ready. I will guide you to the drawing-room.¡± He was being considerate. Asha¡¯s face looked like a trapped prisoner as she fled, and her hair was drenched in sweat. But Asha said calmly as if she didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°It¡¯s all right¡­ I¡¯ll go like this. It would be ridiculous for a prisoner to appear clean in a dress.¡± Duran bit his lips when she said ¡®prisoner¡®. His eyes were filled with regret and many complex emotions. No matter how many ethnic minority clans there are, it seemed that women, even if they were the butterflies of the empire, had been savagely brought in. And that bothers him. He was a gentlemanly aristocratic man. But when Asha didn¡¯t seem to care at all, he immediately gave up and led the way. Soon the door to the colorful courtroom opened. Asha entered surrounded by knights. Memories of her old days made her nervous, but she tried to keep her composure. She swallowed hard and clenched her fists. Just like when Asha first met him in the past, she crossed the first threshold unpretentiously. In the distance, on the throne, a man with dark hair and red eyes crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand. He also wore a black robe with red lining, collar, and sleeves. But his muscular chest was slightly exposed between the loose robe. He didn¡¯t think it was necessary to show any manners when meeting ethnic minority people, so he wasn¡¯t even dressed properly. He looked like he had just left his room and even had a glass of wine in his hand. She hasn¡¯t seen his face in months since she returned. But the moment she met him face to face, her heart began to pound. The man I once tried to love¡­¡­ She felt as if a thorn had pierced her heart. The courtroom was filled with the smell of alcohol and the strong aroma of roses emanated from his body. Karaf was the rose of the Empire. A non-human aura evoked from his body like thorns. Ordinary people trembled at his unknown intimidation and fell flat on the floor without even making eye contact, but Asha just stared at him without greeting him. Karaf smirked, seeing that his red eyes didn¡¯t intimidate her and that she showed no manners at all. ¡°¡­.. How rude!¡± A knight from the side shouted. Not only was she tied, but she was more like a captured slave. The harsh atmosphere forced her to kneel. Asha gracefully bent her knees, holding the hem of her hunting outfit as if it were the hem of a dress. ¡°Greetings to the Flower of the Empire, Your Majesty the Emperor.¡± Her greeting did not match the hunter¡¯s custom, but her noble manners were perfect. Karaf¡¯s expression changed slightly. After Asha finished her greeting, she continued to kneel on the floor with her head slightly lowered and politely placed her hands in front of her. A haughty voice was heard in front of her. ¡°Name.¡± ¡°My name is Asha Camelia.¡± He said with a mischievous smile. ¡°I heard that you are from an ethnic minority clan. You look like a barbarian wearing wolf fur.¡± Asha stared blankly at the floor, but anger simmered inside her. It was a meaningful piece of clothing that Jackal gave her. She liked it because it symbolized her freedom as a huntress. Asha hated it when others insulted her precious clothes, but she spoke bluntly. ¡°Nothing was more useful than this to overcome the cold of the North, Your Majesty¡± Asha finished speaking and closed her purple eyes. She just expressed her will to him. She won¡¯t be as obedient as she used to be. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t change her clothes on purpose. Gorgeous dresses are really nothing but decorations. ¡°It¡¯s useful¡­¡­.¡± Karaf said it with a tilt to his head and smirked. ¡°I wonder if you are ¡®useful¡¯ too.¡± She felt unpleasant for how he treated her like an object, but for him, the butterflies were only there to make him bloom. Asha stared at him without hesitation. Karaf asked, leaning back comfortably in his chair. ¡°I heard from Duran. He said you are a butterfly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Can you prove it here?¡± For a moment, his red eyes sparkled a little. Then a bandit who was on the floor intervened. ¡°Your Majesty, I heard that every butterfly has a butterfly pattern somewhere in its body! If you check it out here¡­¡­ Ugh!¡± Suddenly, he covered his face with both hands because of the sudden splash of water. Everyone looked at Asha in surprise. She waved her hand at the bandit. The water contained in the cup on the table was blown away by the force of the wind. She was able to use this amount of power freely. Karaf¡¯s eyes grew slightly larger. Asha said calmly without changing her expression. ¡°I wanted to spit in his face, but I didn¡¯t dare because I was in front of Your Majesty.¡± The bandit¡¯s face covered in water, turned red and blue. But at that moment, a knock was heard. The bandit looked up at the throne foolishly. Karaf chuckled and fiddled with his lips. Asha felt strange when she saw him smile so innocently like a child for the first time. Duran was also blinking at the sight of his master. Karaf soon stopped laughing and asked the bandit in a low, cold voice. ¡°¡­¡­How dare you tell a woman to take off her clothes?¡± His voice seemed to contain thorns made of iron. The bandit¡¯s face turned pale, and he fell to the floor. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry! Your Majesty! I¡­. I just thought it would be better to make sure¡­.¡± ¡°I would have ripped out that filthy tongue of yours, ripped your clothes off, and kicked you out of here, but I¡¯ll put up with it for the hard work you put in to bring the butterfly.¡± The bandit hurriedly bowed his head closer to the floor. ¡°Thank¡­.thank you for Your Majesty¡¯s generosity¡­.¡± ¡°Give them some bags of gold and silver. Get lost now.¡± Karaf didn¡¯t hear everything the bandits said and waved his hand in annoyance. Duran looked down at the bandit with his dark green eyes and spoke coldly. ¡°You¡¯ll really get your tongue cut off if you keep talking nonsense. Get out of here.¡± He quickly closed his mouth. In this Imperial Palace, people had their tongues cut off for talking too much in front of Karaf. When a knight ushered the bandits out of the courtroom, Karaf tilted his chin again and watched Asha carefully. Despite the commotion, Asha showed no emotion at all and calmly looked down at the floor. Then he got up from his throne and walked slowly like a wild beast. With every step he took, his dark-red robe swayed gracefully like a flower petal. He finally stood in front of Asha and squatted on the floor. His daring action caused Asha¡¯s eyes to tremble slightly as she looked at the floor. ¡°Raise your head.¡± He slowly lowered his red eyes and met her face, but Asha didn¡¯t look at him. With him right in front of her, she recalled the memories of the first day they met. Her heart pounded uncontrollably. Karaf came down from his throne because he couldn¡¯t see her face, but when she didn¡¯t show her face, he tilted his head to the side regretfully. Duran sighed to himself, standing next to his master. Perhaps frustrated, Karaf quickly grabbed Asha¡¯s chin and forced her to look at him. Asha frowned slightly at his rudeness, but the moment she faced him, she involuntarily flinched. She hates to admit it, but Karaf was a breathtakingly beautiful man in the embodiment of a rose. With pale skin as if carved in the moonlight, a sharp jawline and fair features, red lips, and his strangely quirky eyes and long eyelids gave off fascinating and wild energy that seemed to captivate people. Asha looked at him with her eyes wide open. She didn¡¯t avoid his gaze. Karaf smirked in satisfaction. He seemed to quite like her appearance. But soon he raised his chin and looked down at her arrogantly. ¡°Do all ethnic minority people bite their master? Those who ignore my grace and know only betrayal must be uprooted and trampled down before they grow like weeds.¡± Asha looked at him with eyes that couldn¡¯t hide her contempt. Karaf said with a smirk as if he knew it. ¡°But I wonder what my Butterfly would be like.¡± While Asha looked at him suspiciously, Karaf spoke generously. ¡°You are the butterfly of the Empire, so I will give you a special chance to save your life. What do you think? Pledge allegiance right here, and find a way to undo the curse with just the two of us. Isn¡¯t that pretty good condition?¡± Then Karaf grinned. It sounded really insulting. Duran, who was behind him at the master¡¯s blatant suggestion, also stiffened slightly in embarrassment. Asha suddenly remembered when they had sexual intercourse in her past life. She forgot that she had to look good to him, and turned her head to the side. He was making a huge mistake now. His curse wouldn¡¯t be lifted so easily just by sleeping together. If that was really the way to lift his curse, she would have already made him bloom dozens of times in the past. Karaf said narrowing his eyes. ¡°I heard that you gave up yourself to save Lycaon.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It seemed to me that you had a very affectionate relationship with your boss to be just a colleague. That man has been chasing the Knights alone until the very end to save you.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes grew bigger when Jackal was mentioned. CH 24 Looking at her reaction, Karaf said with a cold expression on his face. ¡°Your people, no, can you abandon that man and become my woman? I hate women who are not chaste.¡± Asha panicked and spoke without realizing it. ¡°I had nothing to do with that man. Our relationship is nothing more than a leader and a member of the organization.¡± ¡°Really? Then you wouldn¡¯t mind if I told Duran to kill him and bring me his head right now.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± When Asha bit her lips and couldn¡¯t answer, Karaf¡¯s red eyes grew even deeper. ¡°The knight commander was too weak-minded and did not carry out my orders.¡± Duran, who was behind him, was startled. Karaf got up from his seat and gave him a hard look. ¡°I¡¯m sure I ordered you to bring the ethnic minorities people to me.¡± Duran bowed his head. ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty¡­¡­ The energy of the knights was greatly reduced due to the pursuit that continued until dawn. I decided that we would not have to fight unnecessary if we brought the butterfly.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Who told you that you can decide that?¡± Duran kept his mouth shut. Asha felt her chest tighten. But it seemed like it wasn¡¯t just her. Everyone in the courtroom had a painful expression on their faces as if their chests were blocked by the pressure he exuded. Duran immediately lowered his gaze and knelt on the floor. ¡°¡­¡­ Forgive me, Your Majesty.¡± Karaf said coldly. ¡°I will give you a chance to make up for your mistakes. Duran, immediately follow Lycaon back and bring every single one of them to my feet. If you can¡¯t catch a single dog, don¡¯t even think about coming home.¡± Asha looked at him with trembling eyes and said earnestly. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­Please withdraw that order.¡± Karaf glanced at her again and said calmly. ¡°Choose. Will you remain a person from an ethnic minority or will you live fully as my woman?¡± Asha shivered. Although her goal was to become his butterfly and protect her people, he seemed intent on completely separating them so they couldn¡¯t co-exist. Lycaon will not be spared even if she declares that she will become his butterfly They will eventually be subjugated by him and meet their death. Her hands were shaking because she couldn¡¯t do anything. ¡°Answer me.¡± As Karaf stood fiercely without blinking, waiting for an answer, Asha quickly closed her eyes and answered him. ¡°¡­..Please give me some time. I need time to clear my mind.¡± Karaf didn¡¯t expect that kind of answer, but he just nodded as if he was satisfied with it. ¡°I¡¯ll put the order on hold. I have no intention of taking the butterfly right now. The flowering ceremony is coming up soon, so decide until then. If you become my butterfly and make my flower bloom, I will let you enjoy wealth and glory for the rest of your life in this luxurious Palace. I will give you all the love that I can give.¡± Asha got goosebumps all over her body at those words. He wouldn¡¯t know for the rest of his life how much that love he was talking about had oppressed her in the past. He was a man who believed that obsession was love. He didn¡¯t know how to give love. Then Karaf said quietly. ¡°You don¡¯t know what my words mean right now. Let me help you understand which choice will benefit you.¡± He said looking at the door. ¡°Chamberlain.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The chamberlain bowed his head politely. ¡°From now on, the butterfly will serve me. Take her to the servant¡¯s room. Let her do chores until the flowering ceremony, and keep an eye on her so she doesn¡¯t escape.¡± The chamberlain was slightly startled by his order and muttered to himself. ¡°What? How can the Butterfly do the chores of a servant¡­..¡± Karaf¡¯s red eyes shone. ¡°Before being the butterfly of the empire, she¡¯s from an ethnic minority clan. The blood of those rebels runs through this woman¡¯s veins. Treat her like a servant until I declare she will become my butterfly. In the meantime, I will make the butterfly pay for the sins committed by the ethnic minorities.¡± Seeing his gleaming eyes, the chamberlain was sweating profusely and quickly bowed his head again. ¡°I will obey your orders, Your Majesty.¡± Asha looked at him with trembling eyes. He liked the joy of crushing his opponent and receiving a declaration of defeat. Asha couldn¡¯t forget the ecstasy smile he wore as his opponent knelt at his feet. His brutal desire for conquest and domination placed him in the position of the most powerful tyrant in a short period of time. Karaf became more obsessed with opponents he couldn¡¯t destroy and didn¡¯t give up until his opponent succumbed. It was obedience or death. Asha was one of those who chose death over submission in the past. She followed the chamberlain and left the courtroom without hesitation. Karaf watched with interest as she walked with grace and dignity to the end. Her eyes seemed empty and sad the moment he first saw her. Her eyes held no expectations or ambitions. He saw a lot of those eyes on the battlefield, as well as on slaves and prisoners of war. Karaf thought she would be easy to tame. He thought that if he gave her a chance to get out of her misery, she would simply take the bait and bow to him in gratitude. But she seemed to have a much nobler soul than he thought. He felt a strange excitement inside him as he looked into her eyes. His desire to conquer. He wanted to tame those raw eyes entirely for himself. * * * * * The Flowering Ceremony was held for about a week and it was the largest festival in the Etzheim Empire. Asha became a servant until the ¡®banquet of flowers¡¯, announcing the beginning of the flowering ceremony. Due to Karaf¡¯s strict order, her identity was kept a complete secret from the moment she left the courtroom. Everyone was gossiping when a new servant occupied a private dormitory instead of a group dormitory. Furthermore, all her duties were related to the Emperor. The servants murmured among themselves about the fact that she had become the Emperor¡¯s exclusive attendant. ¡°It¡¯s surprising that His Majesty¡­¡­ is interested in a woman.¡± Ever since Karaf ascended the throne, the position of Empress has been vacant for a long time. He has never taken a woman to the Palace or taken her to his bedroom. Rather, the noblewomen who threw themselves at him to have his heir met a shameful end. He expelled from his bedroom many women who came to him in the middle of the night. No woman could approach him recklessly anymore. Many women were wounded by his thorns, but many still thirsted for his love, especially his fame and wealth. ¡°There¡¯s a rumor that she¡¯s from an ethnic minority clan! They say at this time, the Cactus Knights went to subdue the ethnic minorities. Could it be that she is a slave brought from there?¡± ¡°I know right! The time she entered the palace also coincides. Now that I see it, he didn¡¯t like her. He made her serve him to get revenge!¡± The servants laughed openly and giggled so that Asha could hear them. The reputation of ethnic minorities in the capital was not very good. However, Asha didn¡¯t feel much emotion after listening to their conversation. It was the same contempt and ridicule that she received in her previous life. It seemed that her emotions had really gone numb a lot. Asha was surprised at herself, and sad too. Asha deliberately avoided the servants so that they wouldn¡¯t be rude to her. But they scowled at her again, knowing that she had ignored them. ¡°She¡¯s from a minority group, she¡¯s so inferior!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see how long she can survive in the Imperial Palace, though she¡¯s a slave!¡± Asha went to the Emperor¡¯s office regardless of what they said. Karaf had gone to a meeting about the upcoming flowering ceremony. His office was empty. Asha was captivated for a moment by the scenery she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. Karaf surprisingly enjoyed reading books and newspapers, contrary to his tyrannical side. The fact that he handled the affairs of the state very well without neglecting them was praiseworthy for a tyrant. If he had been drinking every day, squandering his treasury, and enjoying lustful games with women, the Empire would have been completely destroyed. The Etzheim Empire was a powerful country, so neighboring countries couldn¡¯t beat it easily. It was because he made the entire continent disappear from the map¡­¡­. Asha shook his head, trying to erase the thought. Books were neatly arranged by size, color, and type in his office, where one wall was all made of bookshelves. His neat-freak personality was revealed. Karaf couldn¡¯t sleep well at night, so he would read a book in his bedroom on the sofa wearing fancy gold-rimmed glasses until he fell asleep. Although he is ruthless and violent, women will fall for him with just his smart appearance. Asha, who had changed into maid clothes, was wearing a white cap and gloves on her hands. Karaf must have thought that working as a maid would make her feel embarrassed and frustrated. But it was nothing like this. Lycaon made her strong and gave her a positive mindset that she could do anything. Her goal is to make the Emperor withdraw his order to wipe out ethnic minorities. But first, it was important to make him like her. Asha had been with him for three years in the past. She knew his tendencies to the point that she was tired of them. She had more confidence in her than anyone else, that she would do the cleaning the way he liked. You¡¯ll be very surprised! Asha was fired up. She took out the books that Karaf frequently reads and cherished, one by one, disinfecting and dusting them. They were mainly books related to the history of the empire, but surprisingly, stories such as myths and legends were also mixed. The fact that he likes this kind of frivolous book, Asha felt a little fresh. She opened those books a bit. But she immediately noticed something, and her expression hardened. Now that she sees it, these books were all about butterflies. She could feel the extent of his obsession with butterflies, and it gave her goosebumps. CH 25 He was so interested in breaking his curse, seeing that he had read all these legends. Even next to the bookshelf, butterflies specimens were also on display. He preserved all those butterflies. Seeing this, Asha got goosebumps all over again. Perhaps he had been eagerly awaiting the day when a butterfly would fly to him. Although he must have been very disappointed that the butterfly came from a minority ethnic group, she still thought that it couldn¡¯t be that difficult to win his favor. There was a little hope. Asha closed the book and began to organize his desk. Karaf hated that the papers he was looking at were in other places, or that someone tampered with them in the slightest. There was an incident where a maid almost lost her head when a document flew off his desk. The event was so well known in the Palace that no one did not know about it. After that, the servants just carefully dusted the desk and didn¡¯t touch any of the scattered papers, which made his desk look very messy and disorganized. However, Asha boldly organized his paperwork. Instead of organizing the documents in similar agendas, she organized them first in the order of topics that could be easily resolved to complicated tasks that required deep thought. The urgent matter could roughly be deduced from the date on the paper and how far away it was from his pen. Karaf was the type to put aside the first non-urgent agenda once a stack of documents arrived. When she finished cleaning his desk, it was dazzlingly shiny without a single dust. She opened the windows to dust off the sofa cushions. She was very pleased and placed a flower on his desolate desk. She left the office thinking about the next thing she had to do, clean his bedroom. * * * * * Upon returning to the office after the meeting, as soon as Karaf opened the door, he paused in the doorway at the smell of fresh air and rosemary. For some reason, he felt that this was not the room he normally worked in. He soon found out why. His eyes grew cold as he saw all the documents on the desk neatly arranged. ¡°¡­¡­Who dared to touch my desk?¡± The servant standing by the doorway said, sweating profusely. ¡°That is¡­. Lady Vanessa is in charge of cleaning Your Majesty¡¯s office from today¡­¡­¡± It was then that Karaf realized that he had given the order. He ruffled his bangs with a very annoyed look on his face, then sat down at his desk and looked at the organized papers. His head ached just thinking that his paperwork must have been disorganized, but his eyes gradually widened as he went through the papers one by one. ¡°¡­¡­¡± As he continued to go through the papers with a serious expression on his face without saying a word, the chamberlain¡¯s lips seemed to dry up. He thought he would reprimand him. He regretted not telling her not to touch His Majesty¡¯s desk even if she died. Unlike the poor servant, who was quickly recalling a will in his head, Karaf was now quite surprised. He mumbled unconsciously. ¡°How the hell is this¡­..¡± Suddenly, the chamberlain knelt on the floor as if he had been waiting for those words. He closed his eyes. ¡°Your Majesty, I have committed a grave sin.¡± However, the chamberlain opened his eyes and said ¡®Huh?¡¯. Karaf muttered very seriously. ¡°How the hell can this be so perfect?¡± The chamberlain looked up at him differently, startled. ¡°Did she really organize my desk?¡± ¡°What? Yes! Lady Vanessa is the only person who has entered Your Majesty¡¯s office today.¡± ¡°Has she ever been in charge of the Imperial Palace, politics, or diplomacy before?¡± ¡°¡­. Yes?¡± The chamberlain blinked, not knowing what to say. Karaf also shook his head, thinking it was a silly question even though he asked. ¡°¡­¡­No, it can¡¯t be.¡± She belonged minority ethnic group. She has always been busy being chased while trying to fill her hungry stomach, so she could never have done something so serious as this. If she was good at cleaning, then it should be just that, but looking at how the documents were organized in order, he couldn¡¯t believe it. Karaf was certain she had not been properly educated. His desk was cluttered with tiring documents, so he thought she wouldn¡¯t be interested, much less understand. Karaf raised his head and suddenly found a vase filled with rosemary on the desk. He stopped again. [Rosemary: It¡¯s a plant that reduces anxiety and stress, and also calms the mind and headaches. Keep it close by and smell it often.] Seeing the elegant handwriting on the note, he was speechless once again. How did she know I had frequent headaches and stress¡­.? He wondered if it was her ability. He had never seen her face, much less met her alone. She could only have heard rumors that he was a tyrant since he was young. However, Karaf was taken aback by her demeanor, as if she had seen everything just by looking at him once. He turned his head and walked toward his bookshelf as if he was possessed. His favorite books were neatly arranged, and the dust was gone. Karaf smiled a little. He really liked how she cleaned. He wondered if there had ever been a servant who had cleaned to his liking. The floor was shiny enough that it reflected his face clearly, and sunlight and fresh air came in through the window with the ribbon-tied curtains. It made him feel good. Meanwhile, Asha, who went to his bedroom, was dusting the pillows and quilt. The flapping sound was so loud that it reached Karaf¡¯s ears in his office. He then came to his senses and walked to the window and looked into his bedroom. From the window, he could see Asha holding his quilt with both hands and shaking it vigorously. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± No one was watching from behind, but she looked really enthusiastic. His lips twitched slightly. It was kind of funny to see her dusting the quilt vigorously with a wretched face. It was like seeing a ¡®cleaning fairy¡® from a fairy tale. ¡°¡­.. Is cleaning her hobby?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Karaf spoke to himself, but the chamberlain was surprised to find out that he was asking himself a question. He answered, straightening his back. ¡°I will go and find out right now.¡± He didn¡¯t ask him to find out, but when he was about to leave, Karaf turned to him and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll find it out for myself, so tell the butterfly to finish cleaning up and go straight to the outdoor bathroom.¡± * * * * * Having finished cleaning the bedroom to perfection, Asha raised her arms and wiped the sweat from her forehead, then she looked around with satisfaction. She always felt good to see a clean and tidy room. ¡­.. Would this be enough for him to be satisfied? Asha sighed. Karaf¡¯s bedroom was also a place she had been in and out of many times in the past, and it was one of the places she really hated going into. As the day approached when she decided to spend the night with him, she couldn¡¯t sleep a wink since that day. Asha recalled Jackal¡¯s cozy home. The house that has now been burned to ashes and gone¡­.. She longed for a home full of warmth. She missed the hard bed, the warm fireplace, the characteristic smell of dust, and the subtle scent of musk that spread throughout the house. Remembering the house, Asha felt alone as Jackal¡¯s face flashed into her mind. Although he looks fierce and cold, he is actually a warm and caring man. The way he smiled, his serious and thoughtful eyes, and his desperate expression that she saw when he tried to reach her to the end¡­¡­ She misses him. She misses Sosa, Gabe, Nagy, Yuri, also the cook, and the rest of the group. But now that she¡¯s back here, she may never see them again for the rest of her life. All the sacred butterflies that would make the emperor¡¯s flower bloom were called ¡®Vanessa¡®. From the moment she became a butterfly, she would lose her name and be bound by the Imperial Family for the rest of her life. ¡­. This is the right thing to do. It was supposed to be like this from the beginning. Her nose turned cold. She shook her head to forcibly erase her thoughts when the chamberlain suddenly approached her. ¡°Lady Vanessa, His Majesty has told you to come to the outdoor bath right now.¡± It¡¯s his outdoor bathroom. Asha was flustered when she was suddenly called to such a place. He had already had a long history of acting beyond common sense, so she was automatically nervous. She doesn¡¯t know what his intention was, but it was the Emperor¡¯s command. Asha followed the chamberlain and sighed behind him. * * * * * The outdoor bathhouse is located in a quiet forest. Karaf was walking leisurely across the lawn barefoot in a loose, dark red bathrobe. He always sunbathes and bathes at noon, when the sunlight is best. As the embodiment of flowers, he had to periodically absorb sunlight and water into his body, so bathing was a fairly important part of his daily routine. ¡°¡­..Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor.¡± Asha greeted him politely, then looked away in embarrassment. As he moved, his red bathrobe was loose, revealing his firm, pure white chest, and thighs. Karaf glanced at her and grinned. ¡°While I was gone, a butterfly flew into my office and cleaned it up.¡± Asha got a little flustered. She wondered if the reason he called her here was to question her about the cleanliness of his office. But Karaf said with great satisfaction. ¡°I like it. Keep cleaning my office.¡± Only then did Asha relax a bit, but Karaf immediately said sarcastically. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m suddenly curious. How good are you doing other things? From now on, I will tell you what to do.¡± The moment Asha looked up at him, he threw his robe over her head. Asha quickly rolled off his gown in humiliation and embarrassment, but her eyes widened at the sight unfolding in front of her. CH 26 Right in front of her, there was a body that had been carefully sculpted like a statue. His white, muscular body gleamed in the sunlight. With a seductive and sensual body like a rose, he had the talent to seduce both men and women whenever he wanted. Seeing Asha¡¯s reaction, Karaf lifted the corners of his mouth slightly. Asha quickly looked down at the robe. As an Emperor who loves luxury, even his bathrobe was as glamorous as a rose. But suddenly, Asha sensed the scent of pheromone emanating from his robe. She was startled and said sternly. ¡°The flower of the empire, how can you take off your clothes like this?¡± Duran, who was standing around, looked at her a little startled. Karaf said, twisting the corners of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve felt it since the first time I saw you, but you¡¯re fearless. I want to see you tremble.¡± ¡°Please behave with some dignity, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Why do I have to behave with dignity in front of you? You will see this body again and again in the future.¡± As he smirked, Asha felt even more embarrassed and closed her eyes. Karaf asked, staring at her with his red, sucking eyes. ¡°How did you know I can¡¯t sleep at night?¡± Asha was slightly nervous, but Karaf asked again with a fixed gaze. ¡°Answer me. Did the servants tell you?¡± ¡°No. I just¡­.As soon as I saw it, I knew right away.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity. ¡°How?¡± Asha spoke in an effortless and sullen tone. ¡°It¡¯s just my intuition. And I was convinced while organizing the bookshelf. People who can¡¯t sleep often read history books at night.¡± Karaf burst out laughing. ¡°That is an interesting logic.¡± He said stroking his chin. ¡°There¡¯s no better way to fall asleep than drinking and passing out reading a book.¡± ¡°It¡¯s bad for your health. Instead of drinking alcohol, have a cup of hot tea before bed.¡± Karaf was taken aback by Asha¡¯s inadvertent remarks. ¡°Are you worried about my health right now¡­.?¡± The question ¡®why?¡® surfaced on his face. ¡°Can I not worry? It¡¯s only natural for butterflies to be interested in the health of flowers.¡± Asha met his eyes. Her eyes grew bigger. Karaf looks a little bit shocked. ¡°¡­.. It¡¯s a bit refreshing, perhaps because I¡¯ve only heard ethnic minorities cursing people. But it¡¯s not bad at all that the butterfly takes care of me¡­ ¡­ .¡± As he said so, he looked at Asha with a slightly complicated expression on his face. She was completely different from the ethnic minorities he had ever seen. Asha spoke softly. ¡°Sick and withered flowers are unattractive.¡± Then Karaf¡¯s expression loosened again as if he was enjoying himself. ¡°From now on, I will give you a reward every time you satisfy me.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened as her jaw dropped. She seemed to have succeeded in arousing his curiosity. As she unknowingly stared dumbly at his robe in her hand and his naked body, Karaf said with an innocent smile. ¡°Wash my clothes clean. I just want to wear clothes washed by the butterfly.¡± He spoke slyly and glanced sideways to see her reaction. Asha was afraid that he would order her to help him bathe or to satisfy his body, but she asked, feeling a little calmer. ¡°Laundry¡­. Do I just have to wash Your Majesty¡¯s clothes?¡± ¡°Then what did you imagine?¡± When Karaf said this sarcastically, Asha blushed. He chuckled, got into the bathtub with his arms stretched out, and took a leisurely bath. Unlike Jackal, who had a body full of muscles like that of a horse, and his skin was tanned by the sun, Karaf¡¯s body was pale white, with fine muscles carefully arranged like sculptural pieces. The Emperor¡¯s bathroom was as luxurious as his bedroom. All kinds of flower petals were sprinkled in the spacious white marble bath, and various perfumes were prepared for him. The servants were carefully wiping his body with a towel as if they were handling a treasure trove, and next to him, they fanned him hard as the heat dissipated from his body, constantly serving drinks of various kinds. Karaf took a sip of the wine from the goblet placed on the silver tray. He glanced back at Asha, who was still there. ¡°You still there? You can go back now. Or, you can come in and enjoy a bath with me.¡± Asha couldn¡¯t hide her disgusted expression causing Karaf to laugh again. He sounded like a naughty boy. However, it was embarrassing when he said those outrageous things. Asha bowed and tried to quickly leave the uncomfortable place. But it was then. A calm voice was heard again. ¡°If you become my butterfly, you can stop doing chores right away. If you are by my side, you too can become a noble.¡± Asha stood still. Karaf wasn¡¯t looking at her, but his face was quite serious. Asha turned her back on him and also answered seriously. ¡°A butterfly is not bound by just one flower. And your worth is determined by yourself, not by others.¡± Asha walked proudly, saying the same words that Jackal had said to her before. The knight commander Duran was standing nearby. Her pale yellow blonde hair shone like gold in the sunlight. Asha looked him in the eye, but she greeted him with a nod and walked gracefully past him. When she was completely out of sight, Karaf closed his eyes and absorbed the sunlight throughout his body, reflecting on what she had said. A butterfly is not bound by just one flower¡­¡­ She was truly a peculiar woman. He was not familiar with the goodwill of others. People who pretend to be nice to him turn out to have wanted something or were hiding a dark heart that wanted to hurt him. And he obviously thought her goodwill was because she wanted something, too. If I don¡¯t achieve that purpose, she will not be mine, and if I achieve that purpose, she will leave my side with no regrets. As everyone has done so far. So he had a mischievous desire to make her resent herself for faking her goodwill. He didn¡¯t know if he would feel more comfortable if she hated him. That way, he will be able to resent ethnic minorities to his heart¡¯s content without any remorse. Minorities deserve to be hated¡­¡­. But why? The thought of being hated by her made him feel numb and his heart ached. Karaf¡¯s face turned slightly bitter as he recalled his mother, who was a former butterfly. To prevent the butterfly from leaving his side, he wanted to find a way to completely bind her to him. He slowly opened his eyes and said. ¡°¡­. Duran.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°I have an order for you.¡± Duran politely extended one arm forward and bowed his head. ¡°Please, give me your command.¡± ¡°Monitor every move the butterfly makes and report back to me. Investigate about her childhood, her likes and dislikes, her weaknesses, and anything else she might be tempted to do.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Duran didn¡¯t know what he was thinking, but he could sense that his feelings for her had changed since the first time he saw her in the courtroom. Karaf narrowed his eyelids and scooped an icing topping with a cherry out of his wine glass and popped it into his mouth. His red lips gave off a strange humor. He is a short-tempered person, so normally he would have chewed the ice to get the content, but now he slowly sucked on the ice with his tongue and melted it bit by bit. * * * * * ¡°Captain¡­.¡± Gabe, who entered the white tent, stopped at the door, looking sad. Jackal was there in the dark, where no light entered. He was sitting alone in a corner, perched on a wooden crate, with his hands on his knees and his head down. He has been in that state since the day Asha was taken to the Imperial Palace. Gabe was standing with a bowl of food. ¡°You have to eat something.¡± ¡°¡­..Get out.¡± His voice was low and dejected. Gabe sighed once and spoke louder. ¡°You have to come to your senses so that Sosa will feel a little less guilty!¡± Jackal paused for a moment, then jump up out of his seat. Watching him silently leave the tent, Gabe followed anxiously. As soon as he came out, he saw Sosa with his head down on his knees on the muddy snow field. Jackal just looked at him. Sosa was deeply remorseful for leaving her guard that day. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t sound asleep, so he could quickly notice that Asha had disappeared, but it was also true that she was taken to the Imperial Palace by a narrow margin. Sosa rested his forehead on the ground and said in a tearful voice. ¡°Captain¡­..don¡¯t forgive me¡­.¡± Gabe looked at him sadly from behind Jackal. Within a few days, Sosa¡¯s face turned pale and his skin was rough, and the whites of his eyes were red and bloodshot with broken veins. Jackal with dark circles spoke heavily. ¡°¡­.. come in. I need someone to talk to.¡± Sosa flinched and slowly raised his head. Jackal trudged back to the tent without looking back. When Sosa tried to get up from the ground, he stumbled, but Gabe quickly came to his side and helped him. Gabe silently patted him on the shoulder and walked back to his comrades. Sosa entered the tent, then Jackal looked at him with his exhausted face and said. ¡°I have no intention of blaming you. Even if you hadn¡¯t changed the guard, Asha would have tried to leave us one way or another. She judged that she was only harming us and that the only way for her was to sacrifice herself. She¡¯s that kind of woman who doesn¡¯t realize that her life is also precious and takes care of others first¡­¡­.¡± When he finished speaking, Jackal¡¯s face was infinitely more bitter. Sosa could not answer and just had his head down. ¡°But I am responsible for not saving her. You and me too.¡± Jackal raised his head and said determinedly. ¡°We will rescue Asha from that damned tyrant at the flowering ceremony.¡± CH 27 Sosa looked at him in surprise. Jackal had a look that seemed to have concealed a calm storm inside him. Seeing that, Sosa immediately responded with seriousness. ¡°Then I will follow you.¡± * * * * * Asha followed the chamberlain throughout the day, taking care of all the chores. She performed all the chores associated with the Emperor as if she was his personal attendant, and wherever she went, eyes followed her and gossip continued. She wondered if they were jealous of her just because she was a servant brought by His Majesty. Even if the servants didn¡¯t bully her directly, doing it behind her back was worse. And before she knew it, all the servants were secretly handing over all their jobs to her. As soon as the Emperor finished eating, she went to the kitchen and could see the dishes piled up like a mountain. ¡°Then, shall we go and prepare the banquet for the flowering ceremony?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do it.¡± They ran out of the kitchen, chatting loudly among themselves so that Asha could hear. Cooking utensils used by the best chefs were scattered everywhere, and plates were piled up like a mountain. Asha bit her lower lip and began to work in silence. Although it seemed unfair, she couldn¡¯t help it. She didn¡¯t know if this kind of situation was what the Emperor wanted. He is waiting for the moment when she can¡¯t take it anymore and kneels before him. She won¡¯t surrender so easily as he wishes. Just as she was making a decision, a maid approached her from behind. Asha, who thought that someone was approaching to pick a fight again, turned her head and her eyes grew bigger. There stood a girl with wavy red hair, green eyes, and freckles on her face. The only maid who stayed by her side until the end in this Imperial Palace¡­¡­ It was Sonya Carnation. Asha felt her heart ache. Sonya was the only maid she had a close relationship with and Karaf nearly decapitated her because of her. On the last day of her escape from Karaf, Asha sneaked out of the palace and found her in an empty alley. There was a moment while escaping that she knew they couldn¡¯t escape together, Asha stood bewildered with her eyes wide open, but Sonya just smiled at her and said one last time. ¡®Come on go, Lady Vanessa. No matter what happens, I will guard the door.¡¯ Although she must have been traumatized by her near decapitation, Sonya helped her escape until the very end. She helped her unconditionally and at no cost, and told her to run away to a place where the Emperor is not and to be happy¡­¡­ And while she trembled with fear, she won¡¯t forget her face as she held her hands tightly as if trying to reassure her. Her eyes reddened with tears. When her expression suddenly turned into tears, Sonya jumped up in surprise and said. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t cry! Perhaps because the flowering ceremony is coming up, everyone is very sensitive due to the sudden increase in work. That¡¯s probably why.¡± Sonya seemed to think she was depressed because the servants were bullying her. ¡°If you don¡¯t know anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask me! I haven¡¯t been to the palace long, but I¡¯ll teach you all I know. It¡¯s your first time at the palace, so you don¡¯t understand much. I¡¯m also confused.¡± Sonya said that and timidly twisted her curly hair with her fingers. She must be having a hard time in the Imperial Palace, but she was indeed a lovely and kind-hearted child. Asha said with a slight smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± She had said the same thing at the last minute before separating from Sonya. ¡¸¡°Thank you¡­..¡±¡¹ As soon as Asha was found missing from the Imperial Palace, Karaf immediately executed Sonya. There was no mercy for her twice. Sonya risked her life for her master¡¯s happiness, but she never managed to escape from Karaf¡­¡­ Feeling sorry for Sonya, Asha couldn¡¯t bear to raise her head. But Sonya was only happy when she just thanked her. Her face was flushed and she helped her wash the dishes. Asha glanced at her sideways. Thank you for being by my side back then and now¡­¡­. If she was officially announced as the butterfly on the day of the flowering ceremony, she wanted her to be her exclusive maid, freeing her from all these chores. The higher her position is in the Imperial Palace, the more stable and comfortable her life will be. She had another purpose for returning to the Palace. Asha wanted to be a proud master to her in this lifetime. She also wanted to repay her for her negligence. And to do that, she must completely capture Emperor¡¯s heart at the flower banquet. Thanks to Sonya, Asha made up her mind again. After washing the dishes, Asha went straight to wash the Emperor¡¯s clothes. To relieve stress, she wanted to put all the Emperor¡¯s clothes in a huge basin and step on the clothes with her feet. But she had to carefully wash the precious clothes by hand so as not to damage them. It took her longer to finish the laundry than she thought. With no time to dry the clothes, Asha hurriedly grabbed the basket and headed out. One by one, Karaf¡¯s clothes were hung on the clothesline, and the sunset could be seen from the sky. She thought that the clothes would not dry today. Exhausted, Asha tried to use the power of the wind to dry the laundry, but she made a mistake in controlling her power, and the Emperor¡¯s robe he used to sleep in was blown away. ¡°Oh¡­..!¡± Just as she reached for the robe fluttering in the air, someone snatched the robe. Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly, and she froze. The robe was rolled up, revealing the luxurious dark green uniform of the knight commander, a symbol of the Cactus Knights. Numerous golden badges and insignia hung from the broad shoulders and chest. It was Duran. But somehow he kept his mouth shut, avoiding Asha¡¯s gaze. The way she tried to grab the robe a while ago was unintentionally so funny. He was forcing himself to contain his laughter. Asha, who finally came to her senses, said while blushing from the sudden surge of embarrassment. ¡°¡­.Thanks.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Duran handed her the robe. Fortunately, the robe didn¡¯t fall on the ground, so it didn¡¯t need to be washed again, but she felt strange when she took the emperor¡¯s robe from him. But then, Duran said. ¡°I had no idea that the power of the wind could be used for such a purpose.¡± Asha¡¯s face turned even redder. She calmly counterattacked because it seemed like he was making fun of her. ¡°Sir Duran is not as clumsy as I thought.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Asha pointed lightly at her own head. ¡°You have gray hair, you know?¡± This time, Duran, perhaps embarrassed, immediately blushed, and gently put one hand over his head. That naive childish reaction forced Asha to suppress her laughter. The man she remembered was a man thorough enough not to miss anything. She felt a little fresh that he also had this sloppy side. Duran stuttered making excuses. ¡°Our Dandelion family¡­.. We tend to have a lot of gray hair. I don¡¯t know why, but if we leave it alone, it can turn completely silver.¡± ¡°It really looks like a dandelion, and it looks good. I¡¯d like to see you have silver hair one day.¡± As Asha taunted him and laughed, Duran¡¯s face turned red and he couldn¡¯t raise his head. Asha laughed bitterly because she felt a bit strange while playing a prank on him. In her previous life, she had never had these kinds of private conversations with him. To her, he was just a heartless man who came to catch her on the Emperor¡¯s orders. ¡°¡­..Sir Duran.¡± Duran¡¯s eyes widened at her solemn and dignified voice. Asha looked at him and asked gracefully. ¡°Did His Majesty order you to keep an eye on me?¡± Duran felt a pang of conscience. He asked hesitatingly. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Seeing your reaction, I¡¯m right.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Duran seemed speechless. He probably didn¡¯t know that she had already caught him. Asha could feel Duran pacing nearby from time to time as she worked. Duran was an expert at killing people as the knight commander, but Asha could tell him through the wind energy. If someone was standing still, like a rock, even though the wind current changes subtly, she could tell it was him without looking. But at his unexpected words, Asha blinked. ¡°¡­.. I¡¯m sorry, I couldn¡¯t keep my promise.¡± His expression was blank, but there was sorrow in his eyes. The day she met the emperor, he reprimanded him for not bringing the Lycaon as well. Asha looked away and said. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to apologize for. I already expected it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What did His Majesty want to know about me?¡± He was so embarrassed that he couldn¡¯t answer. Asha asked again without changing her expression. ¡°He wants to know about my childhood? It¡¯s an unfortunate past, so it¡¯s probably not a very interesting story.¡± Duran sighed. It was the Emperor¡¯s order. ¡°¡­.. When did you realize that you are a butterfly? Butterflies have different awakening mechanisms, so I heard that many women don¡¯t even know that they are butterflies even when they reach adulthood.¡± As he said, there were certain ¡®awakening mechanisms¡¯ to make the butterfly hatch from its pupa. There were cases where the butterfly pattern didn¡¯t form on their bodies and therefore they did not know that they were butterflies. Asha felt a little vague and answered calmly. ¡°It was a long time ago. When my village was destroyed, I suddenly found out that I was a butterfly. I still remember it very well. My awakening was going to the brink of death.¡± Duran¡¯s face hardened as he kept his mouth shut. It was the harshest awakening he had ever heard. All butterflies go through all kinds of hardships and trials until they wake up as butterflies. They had to survive harshly from childhood, which was compared caterpillar stage in butterfly terms, and they were given the final test to awaken from the pupa. Those were the ¡®awakening mechanisms¡®. Of course, not all awakening mechanisms were atrocious, but the more difficult the girls experienced, the more likely they were butterflies. Most of the butterflies were commoners and not nobles. This was the reason why all women who came of age were always invited to the Palace for the flower banquet. And in the case of Karaf, finding a butterfly was very difficult, and that is why the flower banquet was celebrated for many years. CH 28 Asha was able to escape death the day Count Delphinium attacked her village and she was awakened as a butterfly. It was the seed of misfortune¡­¡­. Although it hasn¡¯t happened yet, she didn¡¯t lie to Duran. ¡°I would also like to know about His Majesty.¡± Duran, who was in deep thought at Asha¡¯s question, looked at her with delight. ¡°Then, do you have the slightest desire to break your Majesty¡¯s curse?¡± Asha sighed slightly and replied. ¡°I still don¡¯t know how to break the curse. But if it¡¯s something I can do, I¡¯ll try to do it.¡± Duran nodded and asked. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± ¡°About His Majesty¡¯s past. How did he end up under a curse?¡± Duran flinched. ¡°Sir Duran has always been by His Majesty¡¯s side, so you must know the details of the curse.¡± He hesitated before speaking. The story of the curse was not to be taken lightly, but Duran sincerely hoped that she, the butterfly, would save His Majesty from the depths of darkness. ¡°¡­..This story is known by only very few people in the Imperial Palace. His Majesty did not want this story to spread, so everyone was silenced.¡± ¡°But please tell me. I think it will help me in some way to understand His Majesty.¡± Asha wanted to know more about the story as she recalled her past failures to make him bloom. It was a story she wouldn¡¯t have dared to ask in the past. And even if she had, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to give an honest answer to a story that was nothing more than his own arrogance. Now it was the opportunity. Duran looked up at the red sky where the sun had begun to set and carefully began to talk. ¡°¡­..Believe it or not, His Majesty was not a cruel man without blood or tears enough to be called a tyrant. I watched His Majesty since childhood, he was the loneliest of all, but he was not a cold-hearted man. However¡­. Since that day, everything has changed.¡± Duran¡¯s eyes darkened. Asha asked. ¡°That day, are you referring to the day His Majesty was cursed?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± He sighed. ¡°From a young age, the Emperor was always alone, people were only by his side to keep his Black Rose power in check, and I know that the previous Empress did not love His Majesty. Rather, she neglected him and hated him.¡± ¡°She hated him? Why¡­¡­He is her only son¡­..¡± As Asha mumbled in disbelief, Duran smiled bitterly. ¡°Because the black rose was not a very good symbol to establish her position as the Empress. Rather, it was more of an ominous symbol that would anger the empire and divide the nobility. The former Empress abandoned her role as a mother. His Majesty even now hates to talk about his mother.¡± For some reason, Asha felt that the reason why he was so mean and obsessed with her was probably related to his mother. ¡°When His Majesty was the Crown Prince, he had a close friend who comforted his loneliness. Although he was of low status, he was like a brother to His Majesty.¡± Asha was surprised that Karaf had such a childhood, but was even more surprised to learn that he had a close friend of low status, even though he was the Crown Prince. He was really different from what he is now. Perhaps back then, there wasn¡¯t a single peer around him to put his mind to. But what he said next left her speechless. ¡°On the day the previous emperor died, his very close friend cast a curse on His Majesty¡¯s heart. After that¡­. everyone knows.¡± Karaf¡¯s bloody coronation ceremony was so famous that no one in the Empire knew about it. That day, there was a bloodbath in the Palace. Karaf purged all those who opposed him to his accession to the throne with a sword. Whether it was his will or the power of the curse that manipulated him. But on that day Karaf was reported to be running like a madman with a sword in his hand, and his eyes glowing redder than blood. The Imperial Palace became a sea of blood, and it was recorded in history that the coronation ceremonial uniform of the first black rose was stained with dark red blood as if it symbolized him. Asha could barely open her mouth to ask. ¡°His close friend¡­..Did he really betray His Majesty?¡± ¡°Yes. And he was also from an ethnic minority.¡± Asha trembled unconsciously. It was only then that she understood why Karaf hated ethnic minorities. Duran kept talking with a complicated look on his face. ¡°From that day on, His Majesty could not trust anyone and did not open his heart to anyone. He¡¯s like a rose that protects itself with thorns. He has developed the habit of testing people for the possibility of betrayal. If there was any sign of them stabbing him in the back, he would stab them off first.¡± Asha was also very aware of his personality. He doesn¡¯t trust people easily and puts them to the test. His instruction given this time must have been an attempt to give her a chance and put her to the test. He was the type to hurt others first because he didn¡¯t want to be hurt. And after that, it¡¯s up to him to decide whether or not that person will remain by his side until the very end. It was a very crooked and wrong way to build a relationship, but he had no choice but to do it. It must have been the only way he could protect himself from all the betrayals and threats around him¡­.. Asha suddenly looked at Duran and asked curiously. ¡°Then how did Sir Duran earn His Majesty¡¯s trust? You said that His Majesty doesn¡¯t trust anyone, but I have heard that you are His Majesty¡¯s favorite henchman.¡± Duran was the person who supported him from beginning to end, who brimmed with suspicion. Asha wanted to know how to win Karaf¡¯s heart. Duran answered with a bitter smile. ¡°Actually, I died once.¡± ¡°¡­..Yes?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes grew bigger. She felt that she had misheard. Duran said calmly as if it was natural for her to react that way. ¡°The day His Majesty¡¯s close friend betrayed him, I was attacked and pierced by his sword while trying to protect His Majesty. I definitely stopped breathing.¡± ¡°But how¡­¡­¡± Asha looked at him speechlessly. ¡°You may be wondering how I am still alive and well.¡± He said looking at Asha with bitter eyes. ¡°His Majesty saved me. Even though he was cursed and seriously injured, he gathered his strength and saved me with the vitality of flowers. When I heard that, I felt that His Majesty¡¯s powers were far greater than the nobles could have imagined. I can¡¯t even bring myself to talk about it. However¡­..¡± Duran¡¯s eyelids were lowered. ¡°His Majesty suffered indelible wounds in body and mind. He was unable to get out of bed for several months.¡± Asha was at a loss for words at the shocking story. He then looked up into the distant sky. ¡°Why did he use so much power to save someone like me¡­¡­. I thought about it countless times while His Majesty slept. Perhaps His Majesty feared not having anyone by his side more than losing his life. If I disappear, there will really be no one left by his side¡­¡­.¡± His golden bangs, tinted by the sunset, were gently ruffled by the breeze. ¡°I received a great grace that I will never be able to repay even if I dedicate my whole life to His Majesty. I cried and swore to his Majesty, who was unconscious in bed like a dead man, that I would now live only for him. Maybe Lady Vanessa does not understand me. Actually, good and evil are not so important to the Cactus Knights.¡± He turned to her and said with determination. ¡°We are the thorns that protect His Majesty. I follow His Majesty¡¯s command. I would do anything to break His Majesty¡¯s curse so that he doesn¡¯t suffer anymore. I don¡¯t care if we¡¯re called His Majesty¡¯s puppet, but it¡¯s my mission to never leave His Majesty¡¯s side even for a moment.¡± The relationship between Karaf and the Cactus Knights seemed to run much deeper than she had thought. The Cactus Knights are made up of all the knights that have been there since he became Crown Prince. And they were all in his debt. Duran was also a knight of commoner origin, but after risking his life to save Karaf, he earned the title of baron. In the Etzheim Empire, the duke, marquess, and count were titles that could only be held by the five founding families of the nation. So the title of baron was the last position that could be held. However, Karaf cared for him much more than other nobles and placed him, who was only a baron, as the knight commander. The Cactus Knights were an elite and very loyal troop. In the past, Asha feared those who blindly obeyed the Emperor¡¯s orders, but after hearing Duran¡¯s story, she seemed to change her mind. ¡°His Majesty is lonely. He just doesn¡¯t know how to relieve his loneliness, he just blindly hugs you and stabs you with thorns. It¡¯s really difficult to gain His Majesty¡¯s trust, but once he decides, he considers you one of his own. He values you and cares for you more than anyone else.¡± Duran paused for a moment. But it¡¯s a bit ridiculous that he asks her not to hate His Majesty so much, who is called the worst tyrant in history. So he coughs once and then changes the subject. ¡°But you seemed to be in trouble before, so I¡¯ll help you with anything.¡± ¡°Ah¡­..Then, just hold on to them tight so that the clothes don¡¯t fly away.¡± Asha also turned away from the sudden awkwardness, but she soon clasped her hands together and blew the wind towards him as he was holding the clothes. When Duran let the clothes fly because of the strong wind, Asha shouted in surprise. ¡°How can you let go of the clothes! I told you to hold them tight!¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t know the wind would be so strong!¡± A shadow leaning on the wall moved slowly at the ridiculous sight of two people running side by side with their hands outstretched to catch the flying robe. It was Karaf. He had come to see Asha and found her talking to Duran instead. He hid behind a wall and secretly eavesdropped on their conversation. His red eyes reflected in the sunset looked a bit sad. * * * * * After finishing the laundry, Asha headed to the communal dining room used by the servants for a late dinner. However, as soon as she entered, the eyes of the young enemies fell on her, and Asha stood up in the doorway. The servants, who were chatting happily a while ago, stopped talking when she arrived and looked at her in silence. Asha felt a cold sweat break out on her back at the sudden, terrifying silence. CH 29 With every step she took, the still gazes clung tenaciously to her. It was her first meal after entering the palace, but there was little left to eat in the dining room. Asha was very hungry. It seemed that the servants had purposely disposed of all the leftovers before she arrived. But Asha, without complaint, swept the leftovers into a bowl, then walked to the door and said. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, so enjoy your meal.¡± Asha returned to her private dormitory, but as soon as she opened the door, she paused at the scene in front of her. Her room had been ransacked. As she tidied up her room, it was clear that they deliberately made a mess. All the drawers were all open. Asha smiled bitterly. She didn¡¯t bring anything. It was upsetting. The treatment of ethnic minorities in the palace was not good. She was grateful that at least she had a nice private room. Asha ate alone in her room. Although the food wasn¡¯t good, Asha ate like crazy. She was so hungry, maybe because she worked hard all day. She couldn¡¯t tell if the cold soup or the hard bread were going through her nose or her mouth. Due to the lack of food in the village where she lived since she was a child, she never had a proper meal, let alone a warm meal. Asha told herself that this was nothing. She expected it, and it was pretty good. She felt more comfortable working frantically than facing him. However, as soon as she finished eating, someone opened the door and walked in without knocking. At the doorway was a woman who seemed to have a poisonous appearance. Asha recalled that the other servants referred to her as the ¡®Head maid¡¯. She heard that she was in charge of cleaning the Emperor¡¯s bedroom before she arrived. She crossed her arms and said with a disapproving look. ¡°Stop eating and go clean the outdoor bathroom.¡± Asha asked curiously. ¡°Do I have to clean the bathroom too?¡± ¡°Of course! It¡¯s the servants¡¯ job to keep the bathroom clean every day after His Majesty¡¯s bath.¡± Asha quietly followed her. But when the sun went down, there was no one in the dark outdoor bathroom. ¡°Then clean.¡± She threw the cleaning tools on the ground and then left Asha alone. Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly when she realized that the other servants had left all their work to her. Originally, cleaning the bathroom was laborious and time-consuming, so all the servants had to clean it all together before going to bed. But after she entered, no one seemed to have any intention of doing it. Asha looked around the dark bathroom for a moment in the moonlight. Just looking at it, it was terribly big to clean alone. She didn¡¯t know that she would have to stay up all night to clean the whole place by herself. * * * * * Late at night, a scream erupted inside the Emperor¡¯s bedroom. Duran, who was standing in front of the door, immediately kicked the door open and ran inside. ¡°Your Majesty, what¡¯s the problem!¡± On the bed, Karaf sat up and covered his head with both hands, panting. He took a deep breath, and the front of his loose robe was drenched in a cold sweat. Duran hurried over, knelt by the bed, and asked anxiously. ¡°Did you have another nightmare¡­..¡± He quickly held out his handkerchief, and Karaf smirked as he wiped the sweat from his neck and chest. ¡°It was terrible¡­..¡± Karaf touched his neck with trembling hands. In his nightmare, his mother climbed onto his body and strangled him. He was chained to the thorn bushes he had made, unable to move. He couldn¡¯t ask for help because he couldn¡¯t even speak. Duran looked at the book lying on the bedside with a sad expression on his face. It was a history book containing all the butterflies of all time. He couldn¡¯t sleep and seemed to have fallen asleep after reading a book all night. Duran¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°The day of the new moon is just around the corner¡­ Why does it have to coincide with the blooming season¡­¡­¡± A new moon means ¡®the day the moon does not rise¡®, but it had a different meaning for Karaf. He frowned and muttered obsessively. ¡°Vanessa can¡¯t see me like this before the opening ceremony. Not now. We have to delay it somehow.¡± Karaf opened the drawer by the bed, immediately poured an excess dose into his mouth in one go, and drank the water. It¡¯s his regular medicine that he¡¯s been taking ever since he was cursed. His hand trembled as he grasped the cup, and a stream of water ran down his neck. When Duran saw it, he got up and started to make tea. Karaf still asked in a sharp voice. ¡°What are you doing? You can ask the servants to do it.¡± Duran responded calmly as he was making tea ¡°Lady Vanessa gave me the mixed flower tea earlier.¡± ¡°¡­.. Vanessa?¡± Karaf asked, slightly surprised. ¡°Yes. She knew that Your Majesty do not trust people, so she asked me to tell you directly.¡± Duran was a little embarrassed that he had told her about it, so he hid a part of it. As he was about to serve the brewed tea, he paused for a moment and said. ¡°Just in case, I¡¯ll drink it first.¡± As Duran poured the flower tea into a new cup, Karaf asked with a grin. ¡°Why? You think there¡¯s poison in it?¡± ¡°I believe in Lady Vanessa, but I don¡¯t think there is anything wrong with being careful in this Palace.¡± Duran drank the tea first to make sure it was safe, then handed him a cup of tea. Karaf looked at him, then picked up the teacup and took a sip of the flower tea. He closed his eyes and slowly exhaled a deep breath. ¡°¡­.. This makes me feel a little better.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s a relief.¡± Duran looked at him like he was genuinely happy. Karaf opened one eye and glanced at him. In fact, he was a little moved by what Duran had said to Asha earlier. Duran stayed in front of his bedroom every single night after the horrible incident. The reason he stood sentinel without having to order another knight was that he didn¡¯t know when and how he would be threatened with assassination. If he ordered Duran to die on the spot, he would stab himself in the head without hesitation with the sword he gave him. He has been very harsh with him and has told him many times not to come back home if he couldn¡¯t carry out his orders. Karaf called out to him in a soft voice. ¡°¡­. Duran.¡± ¡°Yes, please tell me, Your Majesty.¡± Duran bowed politely, and Karaf muttered sadly. ¡°Look at how I look now, but you haven¡¯t changed in the slightest¡­.¡± Duran¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Your Majesty¡­.. Are you really all right? You look very worried today.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Karaf looked down at his teacup. There, some flower petals, which Asha had prepared for him, floated beautifully. He felt the door to his heart slowly open for her without realizing it, but he was still afraid. He was afraid of being betrayed again after giving his heart¡­.. He may not be able to resist if the butterfly betrays him. ¡°¡­ ¡­ Duran, what do you think?¡± Duran looked at him curiously at the sudden question. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°What do you think of Vanessa?¡± Looking at his serious expression, Duran hesitated for a moment, then said. ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­.. She¡¯s a good person.¡± He looked at him with a slight frown on one eyebrow, but Duran added politely. ¡°I knew it from the moment she came to the Palace. She appreciates the lives of others more than anyone. Even at her own expense.¡± Karaf felt a little annoyed when he suddenly recalled that she was trying to save Lycaon¡¯s leader. ¡°Furthermore, even when the servants torment her, she never gets angry or responds. She also appears to be a kind and patient person.¡± Karaf asked, slightly startled. ¡°Are the servants tormenting Vanessa?¡± Duran sighed and told the truth about what had happened. But when Karaf heard the story, he had nothing to say. The servants tormented her because, in effect, he was the mastermind. He felt confused. Looking at his darkened face, Duran said cautiously. ¡°Actually, I am a little concerned¡­.. .¡± ¡°About what?¡± He said cautiously. ¡°Your Majesty is also a good person, perhaps it hurt your heart to give such an order¡­.. I am a little concerned.¡± Karaf burst out laughing. ¡°Do you think I will feel guilty for tormenting Vanessa now? Look what the ethnic minorities did to me! Compared to that, what I¡¯m doing now is like a drop in the ocean!¡± Duran looked down without saying a word. He still vividly remembered that Karaf was a kind and caring person a long time ago. He was never a heartless man who never tolerated a single mistake as he is now, nor did he have the destructive tendency of not being able to control his anger. He had been discriminated against since he was a child. He used to have a pious heart towards ethnic minorities and commoners. But now he has become a tyrant due to the wounds of betrayal. He has lost the trust of the people of the empire and has become a solitary emperor who trusts no one. The people of the Empire feared him, calling him a ¡®Bloody Tyrant¡® no matter how strong the empire was. Knowing this, Duran had no choice but to leave him alone. Because he knew better than anyone the severity of the wounds he had received and how deep the dagger went into his heart. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty¡­¡­. I made a slip of the tongue¡­.¡± ¡°All right, get out of here. I¡¯m tired.¡± Duran got up quickly, greeted him, and left the room. Karaf lay back on the bed, feeling his presence silently guarding the front of his bedroom. But soon after, he kicked off the blanket and got up. Duran asked, startled to see him trudging out of the room. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­ ?¡± ¡°I have something to tell Vanessa right now. Follow me.¡± Duran hurriedly followed behind him. His silver robe billowed as he walked. CH 30 At dawn, all the servants who were sleeping suddenly woke up at the sound of a bongchan and gathered in the lounge. T/N: The sound of knocking on a bongchan while sleeping (idioms) refers to a word that is used when someone suddenly makes a different sound, regardless of anything. ¡°Your majesty! What brings you here?¡± They all stood behind Karaf, then he turned around in his robe. All the servants flinched at his domineering gaze, and immediately bowed their heads. Karaf looked around and spoke in a majestic tone. ¡°I came to see Asha. Where is she now?¡± The maids were surprised that the Emperor personally visited one of the maids during the night, but no one answered the question. As they looked at each other, he said terrifyingly. ¡°Guide me to her room right now.¡± Upon arriving at Asha¡¯s dormitory, Karaf slammed the door open without knocking. He knew that she wasn¡¯t in her room due to the reaction of the maids. And his prediction was correct. Karaf¡¯s face hardened at the sight of the messy room. No matter who looked at it, this room wasn¡¯t her mess. Just by looking at how she organized his office and bedroom, he could tell her neat and delicate personality. Besides, she couldn¡¯t have defiled the room he¡¯d given her. It was a clear sign of bullying. Duran muttered seriously from behind. ¡°Where is she at this late hour¡­¡­.¡± ¡°She¡­she wouldn¡¯t have run away!¡± A maid responded immediately. The maid intended to calm their anxiety, but she didn¡¯t know that it only aggravated his anger. Karaf screamed out loud. ¡°Where is that maid now!¡± Immediately after his harsh cries, a woman appeared in a hurry. She was the woman who made Asha clean the bathroom before. She had just woken up and her hair was a bit disheveled. She couldn¡¯t help but look Karaf in the eye. ¡°Where is Asha now?¡± ¡°She¡­.. Looks like she¡¯s still in the outdoor bathroom.¡± ¡°Outdoor bathroom?¡± When Karaf raised an eyebrow, her face turned pale. Karaf didn¡¯t look at her anymore and headed straight for his outdoor bathroom. The maids followed him in terror. When they got to the bathroom, they immediately froze. In the distance, a woman could be seen cleaning the bathroom by herself until this late hour. The figure of her on her knees and rubbing the floor with her thin arms looked somewhat pitiful, but her blond hair shone in the darkness. Sonya covered her mouth with a face that seemed to cry, and was unaware that the head maid had done such a thing. ¡°¡­.. What are you doing here?¡± Asha raised her head and looked towards them. In front of her was Karaf with a terrifying expression on his face, and behind him she could see the maids trembling in fear, looking down. ¡°Ah¡­..¡± Asha, noticing the situation, spoke calmly. ¡°I¡¯m cleaning the bathroom.¡± ¡°¡­. I can see that! I mean, why are you cleaning all by yourself in the middle of the night?¡± Asha felt that he was now very angry. But she couldn¡¯t understand why he was angry. Asha blinked and asked, somewhat puzzled. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what I¡¯m supposed to do?¡± Karaf kept his mouth shut at her ridiculously, naive reply. He knew the maids had done it, but he was more moved that she took her job seriously. Asha casually asked. ¡°But what are you doing here, Your Majesty? Is there anything else you would like me to do?¡± He had something to say, but after witnessing this, he was speechless. ¡°Is it urgent?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ No.¡± Asha hid her tiredness and spoke calmly. ¡°Then please wait a moment. I¡¯m almost done.¡± She started scrubbing the floor faster and faster. Karaf found Asha¡¯s tattered clothes soaked in water. When he glanced down, her white hands were all swollen and frozen red from the cold. Even though spring had arrived, it seemed that her condition worsened after working outside for a long time in the still cold weather. His expression hardened even more. Evidently this was what he wanted, for her to look ragged and suffer. He thought that she would submit and surrender to him soon. However, for some reason he felt very bad after witnessing it. He felt miserable, as if something precious inside him had been destroyed by some mischief, as if something he owned had been snapped in half. It certainly wasn¡¯t the feeling he wanted or expected. He never wanted to see this any more. Karaf strode over and grabbed Asha¡¯s hand. Asha looked up in surprise, but he stared silently at the many calluses and blisters on her hands. He spoke in a low voice. ¡°I told you to take care of me, but I never made you clean the bathroom by yourself. But¡­.. What are you doing now?¡± When Karaf finished speaking, he looked at the maids with terrifying eyes. Seeing his red eyes flash, they flinched and bowed their heads. They all trembled for fear of being killed. No matter how hated minorities were, it was clearly negligence when they handed over their assigned work to others. Karaf never forgives anyone who was negligent while living in a luxurious palace. The head maid, who made the most decisive mistake among them, tremble pitifully and even had tears in her eyes. When she, who had been venomous and arrogant, looked like this, she felt sorry for her. Duran closed his eyes as he sensed that blood would be spattering at the Imperial Palace at dawn. But it was then. ¡°I told them I would clean by myself, so everyone should go in and rest first.¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened slightly and he turned to Asha. Suddenly, Asha had a subtle smile on her lips. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me to indulge you, Your Majesty? So again, I tried to satisfy you. I love to clean.¡± Karaf looked at her with a slight frown. It was a well-intentioned lie, but he could hardly believe the situation. Lady Vanessa¡­¡­ She is a good person. Recalling what Duran had said, Karaf clenched his fists out of her sight. ¡°¡­.. As you said before. Your worth is determined by yourself. But look at you now. Is this what you are talking about?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°A person¡¯s worth depends on where they stand.¡± Asha looked at him and said. ¡°Do you really think so?¡± Karaf paused. ¡°I am very sorry if you think so. In Your Majesty¡¯s eyes, do you see me as a worthless woman now?¡± He was unable to answer that question. Vanessa was a noble being. She was the only woman in this empire who could make him bloom. Even though she was wearing a shabby maid outfit, she did not lose her worth. Then Asha said with a subtle smile. ¡°It¡¯s always worth helping someone. I am very happy to be able to ease the work of the maids on my own.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened. Since he was cursed, there hasn¡¯t been a single day that he hasn¡¯t resented minorities. But she was different. She was a completely different being. Karaf soon relaxed his fierce eyes and looked down. ¡°¡­..Don¡¯t do what I haven¡¯t ordered you to do in the future. No, just don¡¯t do it.¡± Asha looked at him curiously, but Karaf jumped up and turned his head. ¡°You did a good job cleaning today to my satisfaction, so I¡¯ll give you a reward.¡± When he finished speaking, he walked past the servants. Duran made eye contact with Asha, nodded once and followed him. As the two disappeared, the maids rushed to help clean up, but Asha stopped them. ¡°I¡¯ll finish it, just go back and rest. You must have been very surprised today.¡± They opened their eyes wide open. Even though the Emperor was out of sight, Asha still didn¡¯t say a word of resentment to them. Her slender back looked reliable as she quietly organized the cleaning tools. They returned feeling sorry. However, it was difficult for everyone to fall asleep again in the middle of the night. They almost lost their heads, but there was no way they could go back to sleep peacefully as if nothing had happened. Moments later, they poked their heads out the bed. When their eyes met, they quickly got off the bunks and gathered around. ¡°What the hell happened¡­¡­?¡± They chattered about what had just happened. This was the first time that Karaf showed mercy to someone. After being cursed, he gets easily tired of everything, and never gave a second chance to anyone who made a mistake or let him down. But to change him like that¡­¡­ His eyes when he looked at Asha did not contain hatred, but regret and guilt. The maids made a ruckus about it and talked excitedly. ¡°His Majesty must really like her!¡± Sonya worked hard to tell good stories about Asha with hype. All the maids had drooping eyebrows and blamed themselves for being too harsh on her. ¡°I guess not all minorities are bad people¡­¡­¡± ¡°I think we misunderstood. I felt sorry¡­¡­¡± They talked all night about Asha and Karaf. Countless rumors arose about their relationship, but Asha¡¯s reputation rose like a mountain. * * * * * Late in the morning, Asha returned to her quarters, but fell sound asleep as soon as she lay down on her bed. Suddenly, the sound of birds chirping and the sunlight shining on her face, Asha frowned a bit and slowly opened her eyes. The moment she realized that she had slept until noon, Asha jumped out of bed in shock. As she hastily prepared to leave, she stopped when she noticed something on the table. CH 31 The food was better than what she had eaten in the last few days. Asha didn¡¯t know if it was Karaf¡¯s instructions or the maids¡¯ payment for last night¡¯s incident. It seems that they were grateful. But since it was her first hot meal, Asha was so immersed in the food that she forgot she was late for work. As she moves the spoon and looks around, her messy room was already neatly organized. Apparently, the other maids carefully cleaned her room so as not to wake her up in her sleep. Asha got ready and left her room, but the chamberlain popped up next to her. ¡°Did you sleep well, Lady Vanessa?¡± Asha looked at him in surprise. ¡°I was waiting for Lady Vanessa to wake up. Please follow me.¡± With a puzzled face, the chamberlain led her to a certain room. But as soon as the door opened, her eyes widened as she lost sleep over the countless dress fabrics she saw. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± ¡°His Majesty ordered me to make a dress for Lady Vanessa for the banquet.¡± The chamberlain added with a hoarse cough. ¡°This is a gift from His Majesty, please accept it with pleasure.¡± It was then that Asha blinked as she recalled what he had promised her before. At that moment, a woman in the room gracefully greets her while grasping the hem of a beautiful dress. ¡°I¡¯m Ella, the dress designer. Pleased to meet you, Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha was surprised by Karaf¡¯s change of heart, but even more surprised that other people knew that she was a butterfly. He spoke softly, trying to reassure her. ¡°Don¡¯t be so surprised, Lady Vanessa. Nobody else knows about this. If they opened their mouths, His Majesty will behead them.¡± The chamberlain said it so casually because he saw many such scenes, but Ella turned pale and began to sweat profusely. Asha first measured her body and then received a thick album of dress designs. Every time she turned the pages one by one, beautiful and colorful dress designs appeared, but Asha looked at them indifferently. In the Eztheim Empire, a flowering ceremony is held once a year in the spring, when the flowers are in full bloom. Karaf had said that on the day of the opening ceremony, the existence of a butterfly would be presented in front of all nobles for the first time. Knowing the future, Asha knew that this day would be the decisive day on which Karaf would change his perception of himself. Once upon a time at this Flower Banquet, he was nearly killed by a female assassin who infiltrated as a butterfly candidate¡­¡­. That year¡¯s banquet was put on hold but to the assassination at the Imperial Palace. A few months after that, she was captured and taken to the Imperial Palace. Although she got to know him a little bit earlier, she wondered how he would react if she stopped her from doing so. Perhaps in return for saving his life, she could ask him for something. It was a life-threatening gamble, but she was no longer the fragile butterfly she used to be. Asha closed the album and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this isn¡¯t enough. To catch the attention of His Majesty and the nobles, I need a dress that is far more unconventional and edgy than the designs here.¡± Ella¡¯s face turned red because she was somewhat embarrassed and her pride was hurt. She started her dress business even before she came of age, and was in charge of many noblewomen¡¯s dresses for more than ten years. While Ella kept her mouth shut proudly, Asha hinted. ¡°As far as I know, Miss Ella Ranunculus is one of the most respected dress designers in the Eztheim Empire.¡± Ella blinked at the sudden compliment, then responded with a slightly stern smile. ¡°¡­¡­ You praise me too much.¡± ¡°I will know from now on if it¡¯s too much or not.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Asha took the parchment paper and began to describe the dress she envisioned. Ella¡¯s eyes changed every moment as the pencil in her hand slid across the paper without hesitation. Despite having been designing for a long time, she was now completely stunned by a design that she had never thought of before. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask Miss Ella to make this unique dress. It will probably be a dress that will go down in the history of the Empire. And Miss Ella will always be known as an Imperial designer in the aristocratic circle.¡± Ella¡¯s eyes widened. Asha¡¯s eyes were serious, but brimming with dignity like any noblewoman. Ella instantly realized that she was the best suited for the position of Empress and that she was supposed to serve. She hurriedly put her hands forward and bowed her head. ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Lady Vanessa.¡± * * * * * At that time, Jackal and Sosa were studying the structure of the Imperial Palace that was spread out on the table. The calm blue eyes scanned the map persistently and slowly. Sosa told him. ¡°It seems impossible to rescue Lady Vanessa from the Imperial Palace.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Jackal was silent, but he also agree with that. The structure of the Imperial Palace is very complicated, and during the banquet, all the nobles will participate, so the security will be doubled or tripled. Above all, it would be difficult to approach Asha in such a short time, reveal his identity, and persuade her to run away together. She went to the Imperial Palace on her own to save Lycaon, and she would never take a path that put them in danger¡­¡­. After thinking for a while, he spoke very seriously. ¡°I will go by myself.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sosa looked at him in surprise. ¡°I will go to the Imperial Palace to meet Asha first.¡± His blue eyes darkened. ¡°I will transform into a horse and infiltrate the Imperial Palace first, so on the last day of the festival, you wait with the others near the monastery. We will rescue Asha the moment the butterfly is announced.¡± Sosa¡¯s eyes grew bigger, but when he quickly shook his head, it seemed that this method had the highest chance of success at the moment. In particular, on the last day of the festival, a large number of people, both nobles and commoners, will flock to the monastery to see the Empire¡¯s newly appointed butterfly. It would be difficult to escape through the huge crowds, but it was far more advantageous to flee by hiding among the people in a large open space than in the complex and narrow Imperial Palace. No matter how much the Cactus Knights were, they couldn¡¯t carelessly shoot arrows in a situation where they could shoot ordinary people if they made a mistake. If there were a lot of people, the disadvantage side was not the prey, but the hunter. Of course, with Asha¡¯s skill, she¡¯ll be able to hit the right person if she wants¡­¡­. As Jackal unknowingly thinks of her, he smiles bitterly. Her voice, especially when she called him Sheppy was like the spring breeze and still lingered in his ear. And after Asha left, he was like a living corpse who felt nothing. But when he smiled for the first time in a long time, Sosa felt a little relieved. Jackal rolled up the map again and tossed it into a corner. ¡°Keep the details a secret, organize the plan perfectly and plan the movements at the monastery.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The only person in the organization who knew his true identity was Sosa, a member of the same clan, so Jackal only worked with him on the strategy. The other members may feel sad, but originally, he often talked to Sosa, who was no different from Lycaon¡¯s secretary, so everyone understood. The Lycaons were shocked to learn that Asha was a butterfly, but they all agreed that she should be rescued from the tyrant. When they heard that she gave herself up to save them, they all cried and were ready to run and save her immediately. Sosa sweated a lot every time his comrades wanted to leave to save her, and he prevented Gabe from going on a rampage with a bottle of alcohol, yelling he would save her. Jackal walked to the window and looked up at the moonlit night sky. Suddenly, he remembered the last peaceful night he spent with Asha. That day, he regretted over and over again for not confessing his feelings to her. This time will be different. When I see you again¡­ ¡­ Will I be able to tell you my secret then? Can I confess my true feelings to you? In the moonlight, his bluish-gray hair once again turned purple. Jackal silently placed a piece of carved wood on the window frame. When Asha was taken away, he thought it would drive him crazy, so he carved a piece of wood while he organized his thoughts. It was the first meaningful sculpture he carved. He murmured, looking calmly at the intricate carvings of Asha¡¯s face. ¡°Hang in there. I¡¯ll be right there.¡­.¡± His rough fingertips, covered in calluses, carefully stroked Asha¡¯s eyes and hair. His touch was very affectionate. Sosa observed him and quietly left. With every night filled with thoughts, time flew by quickly, and the day of the festival approached. * * * * * The ¡®Festival of Flowers¡® is the largest event in the Empire, lasting a total of one week. It consisted of one day symbolizing the period from which the first seed sprouted. The next five days symbolized the five petals protecting the Imperial Family, and the last day, the Flowering Ceremony. Asha rose from dawn to dress up for a ball called ¡®Flower Banquet¡®, which marks the beginning of the festival. By order of the Emperor, Ella and several maids washed her body from dawn, changed her clothes, and adorned her hair. The fact that she was a butterfly was still kept a secret, but everyone was happy to attend to her. They all fell in love with Asha because of the previous incident, and the prejudice and hatred for minorities faded away. Asha bathed in rose petals that filled the bathtub and was massaged all over her body with the Emperor¡¯s favorite perfume. After the massage was over, the makeup began in earnest. Asha is one of the most beautiful butterflies of all time, and her appearance exudes an elegant aristocratic aura. When she dressed up, she looked as if she had golden wings on her back. The maids were excited and helped with more passion. Asha finished all her makeup and wore a hair accessory that was elegantly adorned with black rose petals and silver rose vines. It would be an implicit symbol that she¡¯s the Emperor¡¯s Butterfly. Asha knew better than anyone how much the world of the nobility was imbued in lies and illusions. At this Flower Banquet, she had to be seen as a more splendid and rare woman than any other woman in the world. She will thus fully capture the Emperor¡¯s heart. Asha¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination as she confidently headed for the ballroom. CH 32 Numerous women who have come of age this year entered the ballroom one after another. According to the laws of the Empire, all women who had not yet had a coming-of-age ceremony were invited to the Imperial Palace to check whether they had the qualities of a butterfly. For commoners, it was the only day in their lifetime that they could enter the Imperial Palace, regardless of their status. However, the atmosphere in the ballroom was somewhat chaotic. The women were chatting among themselves when they saw someone standing in the middle. It was standard to wear colorful clothes reminiscent of flowers for the Flower Banquet. However, Asha was wearing a turquoise dress that became darker as it went down, and her long blonde hair was half-braided and reached her waist. Not knowing that she¡¯s a butterfly, some of the nobles laughed at her for not knowing the basic court manners. But whatever they did, Asha simply stared at the throne. Karaf was there, dressed more splendidly than ever. Maybe it was because it was an important event that only happens once a year. He was wearing a fancy uniform instead of his usual loose clothes. The black uniform, symbolizing the black rose, was decorated with many dazzling gold trim on the collar and sleeves, and the dark red cloak around his shoulder was also embroidered with golden roses. He paid more attention to his appearance for today¡¯s event. His hair was neatly slicked back and he even put on makeup. In Etzheim, the kingdom of flowers, both men and women used makeup extracted from flowers for important occasions. With his already gorgeous appearance and makeup, he was dazzlingly bright, and at the same time gave off an overbearing aura like a rose with thorns. Many women were mesmerized and stared at him. But then, for a brief moment, his red eyes were fixed on her. His eyes widened slightly, then an eyebrow furrowed. She expected that kind of reaction from him. He paid so much attention to his appearance because of the butterfly, but he didn¡¯t expect the butterfly to be dressed like this. His slightly disappointed face looked as if he regretted not choosing her dress himself. But he didn¡¯t know either. The secret behind this dress¡­¡­. Soon the music began to play and the ¡®butterfly dance¡® began. The flower banquet was the first to mark the beginning with the dance of the butterfly candidates. They all began to perform the traditional dance of the Empire, which they practiced a lot for this day. But, the women who overtly ignored Asha soon realized that they were completely wrong about her. As soon as the dance started, everyone¡¯s eyes focused on Asha, who was standing in the center. A barefoot Asha performed a passionate dance without hesitation. Amid all of the bright and glamorous dresses, her dark figure stood out the most. Asha danced seductively, gently lowering her eyelids with indifferent eyes. Her delicate arms curved gracefully in the air, her snow-white skin, red lips, and the elegance in her cold expression, it was like seeing a single camellia blooming in winter. All the nobles were enchanted by her. Asha dances, looking only at the Emperor. She deliberately placed herself in the middle of the ballroom to stand out to him. As expected, Karaf watches her attentively. His eyes widened and his lips parted slightly as if he was genuinely surprised. It seemed as if the petals were fluttering around her every time she turned around. Her bare feet moved so lightly that they barely touched the floor, as if she were alone in a field of flowers, gliding freely over the flowers, like a boundless butterfly. However, the tempo of the music was getting faster and the dance was heading toward the end. Everyone who looked at Asha¡¯s eyes widened at the same time. Suddenly, a whirlwind blew around her dress, and a layer of the dress slipped off her shoulder, revealing a new red top. The upper part of the dress was divided into 5 as if they were petals giving a new shape to the skirt of the dress. Like a flower that opens in an instant, the dress turned green and red as she twirled. It looks so natural as if it had been a dress that looked like this from the beginning. It was a kind of ¡®symbol¡®, a kind of magic that only butterflies can do, keeping the spirit of the wind in its heart. As the butterfly dances, the flower blooms. Her red dress meant a rose, but also a camellia flower. It meant that the Emperor would blossom as well as she herself would bloom anew. A true ¡®butterfly dance¡®, like a butterfly hatching splendidly from its pupa. Asha wanted to show this narrative to everyone through her dance. Shortly after the music ended, Asha struck a seductive ending position with one hand up and the other down. With an elegant figure that seemed to fly away at any moment, thunderous shouts and applause resounded in the banquet hall. Asha took a slow deep breath. She had a slight sweat on her forehead, but the lively atmosphere brought a faint smile to her lips. Ella was standing by a pillar with a shocked expression on her face. Then Karaf got up from his seat and said. ¡°I would like to express my gratitude to the butterfly candidates who lit up this banquet today. You are all precious guests who have been formally invited to the Imperial Palace, so put all your worries and concerns aside and enjoy the banquet to your heart¡¯s content.¡± When he finished speaking, he glanced at Asha. But Asha didn¡¯t meet his eyes on purpose. She looked away with an indifferent expression. The corners of his sharp eyes turned up slightly, and then one corner of his mouth lifted slightly. ¡°A real butterfly flew into this banquet today.¡± At those words, everyone¡¯s gazes turned to Asha at the same time again. Although he didn¡¯t specifically refer to her, everyone knew that it was her, so the protagonist at today¡¯s ball was Asha. ¡°Asha Camelia.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Asha bowed and greeted him politely, lifting the hem of her dress. ¡°Come to my side.¡± Everyone in the banquet hall was shocked by the Emperor¡¯s words. During several flowering ceremonies, he had never called a woman to come to his side. But Asha, with no shame, grabbed the hem of her dress and walked over to Karaf. Karaf¡¯s smile grew stronger at her boldness. The mere movement of her footsteps was enchanting as if a scent emanated from her. Many noblemen had already fallen in love with her. As Asha drew closer to him, Karaf tapped the empty seat next to him. As she sat down, the Imperial Musicians began to play bright music suitable for social events. Karaf says as his deep gaze looks at her. ¡°You look very beautiful today.¡± Asha was inwardly shocked at those words. He had never openly told her before that she was very beautiful. She has received a hell of compliments from him like ¡®all you have is that good looks¡¯¡­. Seeing Asha¡¯s reluctant expression, Karaf smiled slightly, and then asked, pulling his face closer to the side. ¡°So, have you given my proposal a good consideration in the meantime?¡± Asha didn¡¯t look at him, but looked ahead and answered calmly. ¡°¡­¡­ Butterflies only use their bodies to choose flowers.¡± The corners of his lips turned up. ¡°I like it.¡± He hid his expression, but his voice was full of excitement. ¡°There is still time until the official announcement of the butterfly. On the last day of the festival, you will be introduced to the people of the Empire as Vanessa and my Empress. Until then, relax and enjoy the festival.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Asha looked around the hall, ignoring his eager eyes that seemed to want to hold her hand. A wonderful mural was painted on the ceiling. It was a sacred picture of Etzheim holding and smelling a rose on which a butterfly had landed. It was a flower garden in full bloom. In the mural, the god Etzheim was wearing a white robe as if he was embracing everything, his eyes were closed, and a benevolent smile. Etzheim, the kingdom of flowers, was named after a god worshiped by distant ancestors, meaning ¡®tree of life¡®, and he was the god who reigns over all plants. Although butterflies were known to have close communion with God as they were chosen beings, Asha had never had communion with God even though she has resented God. Asha looked at the mural, then turned her gaze back to the people. As the banquet began, the women invited to the Imperial Palace began to socialize enthusiastically. Although they were not chosen by the Emperor, they wanted to fully enjoy their once-in-a-lifetime banquet. They laughed and babbled as if butterflies were flying through the flower garden in search of their favorite flower. Asha had never experienced this before, so this scene was a bit refreshing, but she was soon focused on finding someone. Now the time for the assassin to appear was imminent. There was only one chance. While keeping Karaf from danger, she was also vigilant so as not to lose her life. After her last words, Asha didn¡¯t say a word at Karaf¡¯s side. Karaf leaned to the side, looking intently at her contemplative face. She danced recklessly earlier, and from the moment she sat down next to him, she became very quiet. However, her upright posture and calm gaze seemed worthy of an Empress. And her slightly loose hair, delicate neckline, collarbone, and long eyelashes looked so elegant from the side. He felt it when he first saw her, but when he took a closer look, she was more beautiful and mysterious. He couldn¡¯t understand why he was mean to such a beautiful woman. Suddenly, a desire to capture her arises in Karaf¡¯s heart. It was like the hunting instinct of an animal, but in this case, a flower attracts a butterfly with its scent. It was to let the other party know that they had sweet honey. Soon, a dizzying and strong scent of roses emanated from his body. It was a strong pheromone that would bewitch any normal woman. CH 33 No woman would not fall for him if he was determined to seduce her, but even if that was not the case, no woman would reject him since he is the Emperor of the empire. Nevertheless, he made his special move after a long time. An ordinary woman would immediately fall in love with his breathtaking looks and body scent, but she was different. She still looked away from him and remained indifferent. Then, Karaf suddenly grabbed Asha¡¯s hand. The moment his cold hand touched her skin, memories of her past came to mind, and Asha shivered unconsciously. Karaf looked down a bit, remembering Asha¡¯s swollen hands from the other day. ¡°Your hands are very cold. Are you nervous because I¡¯m next to you?¡± Certainly, if any woman of lower status sat next to the Emperor for the first time, even next to the dazzling throne, anyone would be nervous. Asha slowly removed her hand from him. ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯m not.¡± Karaf asked again, moving his head closer. ¡°¡­¡­ Then why don¡¯t you look at me after seducing me? Didn¡¯t you like the flower when you saw them up close?¡± He asked mischievously, but Asha with trembling eyes did not reply. Karaf became more competitive when she didn¡¯t even respond despite exuding such an alluring scent. He calmly took a bottle of wine in one hand and poured it directly into his glass and hers. The fragrant wine dripped from the luxurious bottle engraved with golden roses. Originally, he would have taken the drink that others would have given him, but now the situation is completely reversed. He said with a gentle smile, trying to hide his impatience. ¡°It¡¯s my favorite drink. It¡¯s made with flowers, and the aroma and taste are amazing. It¡¯s a precious drink, so I don¡¯t bring it out unless it¡¯s a special day, but I want you to try it too.¡± Asha immediately recognized what kind of alcohol it was just from the scent of flowers that wafted from the alcohol. That¡¯s what she drank every time she spent the night with him in the past¡­¡­. He, who enjoys drinking, always made her drink before going to bed, but she felt a little embarrassed when he said that he drank it on special occasions. But then something caught her attention, beyond his face, curious as a young boy. Asha¡¯s eyes suddenly turned sharp. You¡¯re here ¡­ assassin. She just looked at the assassin, took the glass that Karaf had poured, and slowly spilled it on the floor. The blood-red wine spilled on the floor resembles his eyes. Karaf¡¯s smile faded from his lips and he frowned at her rude behavior. ¡°What are you doing now¡­¡­.¡± Before he could finish speaking, a dagger flew from somewhere. Asha reflexively stopped the dagger with the glass she was holding and struck it off. She was only able to stop the attack because she focused all the wind¡¯s energy on the assassin. She already expected it, so she wasn¡¯t too nervous, but what happened next made Asha¡¯s eyes widen. Soon, a smoke bomb flew through the window, and the banquet hall began to fill with smoke. In the past, she had heard of the incident from maids but was never told that smoke bombs were used. Soon, a woman rushed through the thick smoke. Another dagger was in her hand¡­¡­. Asha blocked the attack once more, but the glass was now completely shattered and it fell to the floor. Then, blood dripped from her hand, which was stabbed by the broken glass. Asha frowned slightly at the pain. The assassin was the woman standing in a corner. No one paid any attention to her as she vaguely danced in a corner, even dressed in the most common colored dress. She thought that she had set up the assassination without anyone noticing, but Asha kept an eye on her. Asha thought that the woman who acted most inconspicuously and made suspicious movements was the assassin, and her prediction was correct. When everyone was socializing, she was the only one who looked around suspiciously and anxiously, as if she had no interest in such things. Also, unlike the other women who had given up on being the butterfly, she kept glancing at them, especially the wine glasses. In the past, assassins have tried to assassinate Karaf by poisoning his drink. And knowing nothing, Karaf drank the liquor the servants served him and vomited blood on the spot. But the assassin wouldn¡¯t have known that a real butterfly flew into the banquet today. So when Asha was ordered to come to his side and walk toward the throne, she felt embarrassed. And it seemed like she changed her plans the moment Asha spilled the poisoned wine on the floor. Asha also expected she would take a different action if she failed to poison them, but she didn¡¯t expect her to use smoke bombs. Asha narrowly dodged the assassin¡¯s fast-wielding dagger, as if in a passionate dance. Dodging her attack, she was a bit flustered, but she soon clenched her teeth as if about to kill the saboteur, and lunged forward with more violence. Asha recalls the dagger defense Jackal taught her and defends herself strongly. At this point, she thought that it would be really nice if the dagger Jackal gave her was in her hands. It was not easy for her to stop the attack without a single weapon. In the end, the assassin¡¯s dagger slid down her arm ripping her skin. At that moment, Asha¡¯s head was spinning and she was dizzy. Suddenly her whole world began to look yellow. As she looked down at her arm with a trembling face, she saw dark red blood oozing out of her open wounds. The dagger was smeared with poison from the glass¡­¡­. Her dress was stained with blood like a seductive rose petal. The sharp cries of the women, the footsteps of the knights, the harsh shouts, and the sounds of the swords being wielded rang in her ears at once. Asha held her bloody arm and slowly breathed in and out. She was dizzy and breathless. It was deafening as if she was trapped in a giant glass jar, unable to properly hear any sound. When she slowly opened her eyes in a cold sweat, she saw Karaf, who was looking at her in shock, and Duran, the Knight Commander, standing in front of her. The knights quickly subdued the escaping assassin, but that no longer matters. Asha looked at Karaf and lost consciousness. At that time, Jackal, who was riding with Sosa towards the capital, suddenly felt ominous energy and raised his head. The Imperial Palace in the distance caught his eye. Jackal sped up his horse and ran even faster. His hair fluttered wildly in the wind. * * * * * How much time has passed? Suddenly, she heard the sound of birds chirping and running water. Asha frowned at the white light and then slowly opened her eyes. Where am I¡­¡­ ? She was lying in a field of flowers that she had never seen before. The flower field was filled with endless unknown flowers, and the scent of the flowers confused her. It was a peaceful and beautiful place that even she thought was a paradise on earth. Asha got up and walked barefoot through the flower field. However, a small, shabby red flower suddenly caught her eye among all the colorful flowers. Asha approached the flower with a faint smile. ¡°What a pretty flower. But it doesn¡¯t seem to go well with the others flowers¡­¡­.¡± Asha felt sorry for the flower as if it was surrounded by nobles in the Imperial Palace. So she asked, carefully stroking the petals. ¡°Do you want me to take you?¡± But it was at that moment when she was about to pick the flower when she heard someone. ¡¸¡°Don¡¯t pluck that flower.¡±¡¹ Asha raised her head in surprise at the voice she heard from somewhere. In the distance, in the flower field, stood a man with long turquoise hair and a dazzling ivory silk robe. His mysterious jade-colored hair strangely shone like gold when exposed to sunlight. His appearance exuded divine energy. He smiled and said. ¡¸¡°It¡¯s a flower that people who come here for the first time do not pay much attention to. You have found it.¡±¡¹ Asha lowered her gaze feeling slightly embarrassed. ¡°I think each flower has a different beauty. I like these simple flowers, they are prettier.¡± ¡¸¡°This butterfly is really different.¡±¡¹ Asha was startled when he found out who she was. The man still had a strange smile on his face. ¡¸¡°Actually, all the flowers blooming here are people living in the Etzheim Empire. If you look closely, there are no flowers with the same shape.¡±¡¹ All the flowers that represent the people of the Empire were gathered here. Asha¡¯s face turned pale from the fact that she had almost killed someone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡­.¡± ¡¸¡°It¡¯s alright. You obviously wouldn¡¯t know about this. But where the flowers bloom is destiny. Flowers cannot choose where they will bloom, but they can choose how they will bloom. Just like humans.¡±¡¹ Asha swallowed hard at the meaningful words. Those words sounded like they were referring to her. ¡¸¡°Of course, for a flower to bloom, several conditions must be met, but sometimes there are flowers that break everyone¡¯s expectations and show amazing appearances. For example, a flower that bloomed alone between the marble cracks that no one believed could bloom.¡±¡¹ Asha smiled involuntarily at those words and looked around her. Here, flower buds that had not yet bloomed were also mixed with other flowers in harmony. At that moment, the man¡¯s voice was faintly heard. ¡¸¡°As a butterfly of the empire, I wish you could care for and cherish all the flowers without discrimination like you do now.¡±¡¹ Asha suddenly realized something and stopped. Suddenly, the mural painted on the ceiling of the ballroom came to mind, and Asha quickly looked back at him, but her eyes widened a little. Suddenly, there was no one, as if there had been no one there from the beginning. There was no trace that the grass had been crushed where he was standing. Asha had something she always wanted to ask God. She wondered why he chose her to be a butterfly. Asha felt a little regretful, but she walked aimlessly again, careful not to step on the flowers. But not long after, a single flower, taking root alone on a cliff in the distance, caught her attention. The flower, which was particularly large compared to other flowers, and in a bud state, was a black rose. Unlike the other flowers where they huddled together, the black rose¡¯s surrounding was full of desolate soil except for a dandelion that was a little further away. Furthermore, the rosebud was rotting from the bottom without blooming, and it was hanging precariously on the cliff as if it was about to fall. It was a flower that could not take deep roots in a barren land with no place to lean on. Asha suddenly remembered Karaf and inadvertently moved closer. But at that moment, under her feet, thorny bushes like tentacles began to protect the rose. Asha staggered from the sudden gusts of wind and earthquake, but she put her hands up to block it. CH 34 The cold wind slapped her face and her blond hair fluttered wildly. The sky turned blood red as if the world had already perished, and the peaceful flower garden lost its fragrance and was engulfed in dark shadows. But it was then. ¡°Sob¡­¡­ sob sob ¡­.¡± There was a sob somewhere, and Asha slowly opened one eye. Suddenly, someone appeared through a large rose vine surrounded by thorns like a cave. Inside, a dark-haired boy was crying, burying his face in his knees. It¡¯d be nice if he just cried, but the boy was swallowing his tears to the extent that anyone who saw him would feel sorry. The more the child drowned in grief, the closer the thorns came to the child and hurt him. The boy¡¯s body was already covered in wounds to the point that there wasn¡¯t a single place free of scars on his body. Asha reached out to rescue the boy, but her hand was stabbed by a thorn sharp as a knife. ¡°Ah!¡± Asha screamed and quickly pulled her hand away. A drop of blood ran down her hand and fell to the ground. At that moment, there was an eerie silence around him. As if everything had stopped, the boy raised his head and looked at Asha. His blood-red eyes were brimming with tears. His eyes somehow resembled Karaf¡¯s. Didn¡¯t he think someone would come to him? The moment the boy¡¯s red eyes, which widened in surprise, stared at her, Asha took a deep breath and opened her eyes. When she came to her senses, she was laying on a luxurious bed. It was a nightmare¡­.? Seeing the darkness around her, Asha tried to fumble where she lay with her hand. But when the soft bedding rubbed against her fingertips, she felt a terrible pain in her arm. Asha frowned and quickly grabbed her injured arm with her other arm. It was then that she remembered collapsing after being struck by an assassin with a poisoned knife. Bandages were carefully wrapped around her arm where she had been stabbed, and her clothing was changed into a more comfortable nightgown. Asha smiled involuntarily as she looked at the white silk nightgown. It was the same nightgown she was wearing when she jumped off the cliff¡­¡­. Asha took a deep breath as she looked up at the ceiling. However, she did not have time to organize the situation, and immediately a low and slow voice was heard from nearby. ¡°¡­ ¡­ You¡¯re finally awake.¡± Asha stood rigidly frozen. She struggled to hide her surprise and slowly turned her head to see Karaf sitting cross-legged on a wooden chair by the window. The moonlight fell softly on his black hair, and his red eyes glowed brighter in the darkness. Asha remembered the boy she had seen in her dream and just stared blankly at him. Karaf also looked at her with his arms crossed, then quietly opened his mouth. ¡°How did you know there was an assassin hiding in the banquet hall?¡± When Asha felt a prick in her conscience, he said again with a serious expression on his face. ¡°It¡¯s useless to try to deceive me. Do you think I don¡¯t know? The reason you spilled the wine on the floor was probably that you knew there was poison in it. Am I wrong?¡± Asha looked down a bit. ¡°¡­¡­ That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Is that a butterfly ability?¡± When Asha couldn¡¯t answer, he spoke again. ¡°If you knew there was an assassin, why didn¡¯t you tell me or Duran in advance?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s because I wasn¡¯t sure.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Asha looked at him calmly and continued speaking. ¡°I had a vivid dream last night. But I wasn¡¯t sure if it was going to happen or if it was just a nightmare. So¡­¡­ I thought I¡¯d have to find out first. I don¡¯t trust myself either, but even if I tell you, I don¡¯t know if anyone in this palace will believe me.¡± It was a lie, but Karaf felt guilty. It sounded like he was included in those words. In fact, he tested her and sent people to keep an eye on her because he didn¡¯t believe her until what happened today. She was in a situation that would have made her ponder whether or not she should speak up. Karaf suddenly remembered Duran¡¯s first report. Asha also said that she had seen the Lycaons being killed by knights. But whether or not that was really going to happen, she must have wanted to see with her own eyes if it was the right choice for her to turn herself in and be taken to the Imperial Palace. Once he figured out Asha¡¯s heart, his expression became serious. Karaf got up from his chair and walked over to the bed. She couldn¡¯t figure out for herself how long it took for him to move since she was frozen in shock. But Asha clutched at the quilt as if she knew instinctively that she would be stabbed by his thorns. Then, Karaf paused a bit, and quietly sat in a small chair next to her instead of sitting on the bed. It was the first time that he was so careful with other people, especially minorities. Karaf put his hands on his thighs with a somewhat complicated look on his face. Then he asked after a while. ¡°Did it¡­¡­ hurt a lot?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she was avoiding his worried gaze. ¡°I¡¯m fine. No one dies from a stab wound like this.¡± Asha said it so casually, but Karaf was even more shocked by those words. She was stabbed with a poisoned knife while trying to save him from an assassin, and she acted as if nothing had happened¡­¡­. Karaf unknowingly got angry. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know you almost die!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine now. Didn¡¯t I wake up?¡± Karaf¡¯s expression went blank when he saw that Asha was still looking down with an unpretentious attitude. As for what he was dissatisfied with, he frowned and licked his lips, then changed his expression and asked in a low voice. ¡°Was it¡­¡­ scary?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Asha was taken aback by the unfamiliar questions. ¡°Even so, there was an assassin. I¡¯m used to receiving so many assassination threats from a very young age, but you must have been very surprised¡­¡­.¡± Asha replied with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve almost died several times too, so I¡¯m fine. However, if there was something that scared me, I was afraid that would not be able to stop the assassin.¡± Karaf kept his mouth shut. To him, those words sounded like she was afraid that she couldn¡¯t save him. How on earth had she lived to say such words when she had only become an adult? It was natural for Karaf to know how difficult it must have been for her to live with the threat of survival as an ethnic minority. ¡°¡­ ¡­ I heard from Duran about your childhood.¡± He just said that and kept his mouth shut again. He couldn¡¯t even say frivolous words like ¡®it must have been a tough life¡®. The reason she went through it was because he had placed minorities on the wanted list across the empire. From the elderly to children. He had no right to say anything. He threatens them to catch them and threatens anyone who has the potential to break his curse. He was deep in thought with a face full of regret and guilt, but to Asha, his expressions were only unfamiliar. Before regression, he had never wondered at all about her past, and he didn¡¯t blink when he heard that she was close to death. Rather, he treated her preciously as an empress who had been sold as a slave, so he only treated her like his own property and forced her to fulfill her duty as a butterfly. Then Karaf let out a deep sigh and spoke seriously. ¡°¡­¡­ You saved my life, so I will surely repay you. Let me know if you want anything. I¡¯ll listen to everything.¡± Asha was surprised by those words. He truly became a different person from the first time she met him. Karaf must have been touched by the fact that she had saved his life. Duran said in the past that he sacrificed his life to save Karaf and because of that, he became his favorite subject. Perhaps she had gotten one step closer to breaking through his thick layer of thorns with this incident. Asha immediately raised her gaze and opened her mouth, looking into his red eyes. ¡°What I want is¡­¡­ There is only one thing.¡± Karaf did not avert her gaze and asked calmly. ¡°What is it? You can tell me.¡± ¡°Please give Lycaon a reward equal to the reward you gave to the bandits.¡± Karaf¡¯s face hardened a bit as soon as Lycaon was mentioned. Asha lowered her gaze and spoke as politely as possible. ¡°They didn¡¯t know I was a butterfly, but they kept me safe from the bandits. Without them, I would have been dead before coming to your side.¡± Karaf already knew about it from Duran¡¯s report. But he kept worrying about why. He continued to worry about Lycaon¡¯s leader. ¡°¡­¡­you have a point. But for me, ethnic minorities are unforgivable. Until my curse is broken, it will be difficult to reward them¡± ¡°Then, until then, please withdraw the order to eliminate Lycaon. They are a group from a long-time ethnic village. They had never attempted to rebel against the Empire, and they¡¯re living like fugitives, only taking small hunting requests. I don¡¯t think there can be a greater reward for them than that.¡± Karaf paused for a moment and looked at Asha. Asha seemed calm on the outside, but when he wasn¡¯t responding, her heart sped up. She was worried that he would reject her request. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­I understand. I will grant your request.¡± Asha looked at him with wide eyes. ¡°Will you really grant my request?¡± ¡°Yes. Since you saved my life, I should save their lives.¡± ¡°Thank you. Thank you very much, Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± Asha has a genuinely moving expression on her face. But Karaf looked at her with some distaste. He asked her to tell him what she wanted, and he felt a bit strange to see her so happy when she asked him to save someone¡¯s life. ¡°However, you should tell me the truth. You must have absolutely nothing to do with their leader.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Karaf¡¯s expression softened at Asha¡¯s response. Seeing him persistently inquiring about him, Asha wondered if Jackal was a bother to him. Karaf had a terrible hatred when other men who approached her in the past. Truly, his possessiveness was so strong that no one could beat him. ¡°I will trust your word. However, the rumor that a butterfly flew into the Imperial Palace due to today¡¯s commotion has now spread throughout the Empire, so it must have reached the ears of Lycaon. So they will have to let you go now.¡± He said while his red eyes glowed a bit. ¡°But if they fail and challenge me again, then this agreement is broken.¡± CH 35 Asha worried for a moment that Jackal might have recklessly come to her rescue, but she brushed the thought away. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Then, since you¡¯re still confused, don¡¯t think about anything today and rest comfortably. I will tell the chief physician to treat your wound so that it does not leave a scar.¡± He got up from his chair when he finished speaking. Asha was overwhelmed to finally achieve what she wanted, but at the same time, a certain sadness touched her heart. This is it¡­¡­. She didn¡¯t join Lycaon as Jackal¡¯s partner. Therefore, she hoped that he would have a good wife, and now enjoy a normal and happy second life. Even if they never met again, it was enough for her as long as they were safe. However, as he left the room, Karaf suddenly stopped by the door. ¡°¡­¡­Asha Camelia.¡± Asha looked up, a bit surprised when he called her by her full name. He said, looking back at her with his red eyes. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve become my woman.¡± When he finished speaking, he left the room. Asha stared blankly at his back. When he turned around, his expression was somehow a little excited like that of a boy with his first love. Although Asha didn¡¯t know, she would be surprised to find out how much effort he put into his appearance before attending the banquet. Karaf was excited to think that she would finally become his butterfly, so he stayed up all night. And just like Asha, he woke up early in the morning to make himself as splendid as he could. He wanted to show her only the best. Seeing that he hadn¡¯t changed his uniform despite everything that had happened, anyone can see how much he wanted to look good for her. * * * * * Karaf returns to his office. After the commotion, the banquet was forcibly suspended. During the festival, the distinguished guests temporarily stayed in the empty rooms of the Imperial Palace, and the knights patrolled the palace more strictly and thoroughly than ever. When he got to his office, Duran, who had been waiting for him with his head bowed in front of the door, said. ¡°¡­¡­ I have something to tell you, Your Majesty.¡± Karaf was about to enter when he turned around. ¡°You have nothing to say even if you have two mouths.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Duran removed his sword from his waist and placed it in front of Karaf. It was the sword that Karaf personally bestowed on him the day he became Knight Commander. Duran is now kneeling on the floor with his eyes downcast. ¡°¡­¡­ As the Knight Commander, I will pay with my death for not keeping Your Majesty and Lady Vanessa safe.¡± His bright, neat blonde hair was all messy, and his skin was rough and hazy. His face suddenly turned haggard from the sudden assassination incident, running around all day giving orders and cleaning up the scene. Karaf walked over and picked up the sword. Then he took the sword out of its sheath, pointed it at Duran¡¯s neck, lifted his chin with it, and said. ¡°Go ahead, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had something to tell me? Even if I kill you, I will listen to you then I will kill you.¡± Duran said resignedly, closing his eyes. ¡°¡­¡­ The assassin swallowed poison and killed himself on the spot. Looks like she had some poison in her mouth in case the assassination failed. She died without a trace. I have nothing more to say, Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I guess you have nothing but sins to tell. Do you have anything else to say?¡± Duran answered calmly. ¡°Lady Vanessa will be fine. According to doctors, the wind spirit in Lady Vanessa¡¯s body exerted natural healing powers and expelled the poison from her body.¡± Karaf was a little relieved hearing that. When she collapsed, her face was as pale as a corpse, and it seemed like she would never be able to wake up, but he was relieved after she came to her senses. ¡°¡­¡­ This is all my report.¡± Duran reverently awaited his punishment. Karaf looked down at him with his red eyes and raised the sword high. But as the sword pierced the floor, the shoulder epaulets fell from his uniform. T/N: epaulet is an ornamental shoulder piece on a garment, especially on the coat or jacket of a military uniform. Duran opened his eyes. Then Karaf threw the sword to the ground. When the heavy sword hit the ground, it made a loud sound. ¡°¡­¡­ You swore back then that your life will belong to me. That you¡¯d live just for me and die just for me.¡± Duran slightly startled, asked. ¡°Did Your Majesty¡­. hear?¡± Those were the words he tearfully swore to Karaf at his bedside as he slept under the curse. ¡°Killing you with my own hands is killing the day you decided to save me. Don¡¯t ever ask me to kill you again. Without you, there will be no one by my side.¡± Duran responded sadly to those words. ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty. I will never say that again.¡± Karaf then said with a firm expression on his face. ¡°Hang the body of the traitor in the middle of the square so that all the people of the Empire can see it, and find out whose order it was, even if you have to chase the souls.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°And one more thing.¡± Karaf hesitated a bit, then said reluctantly. ¡°Remove Lycaon¡¯s wanted order. Make sure all the nobles gathered in the Imperial Palace know about it as well.¡± Duran¡¯s eyes grew slightly larger. Realizing that Asha had managed to persuade Karaf, he smiled furtively. ¡°Yes, I will.¡± As Karaf headed back the way he had come, Duran suddenly called out to him. ¡°¡­¡­ But Your Majesty.¡± He stood still. Duran said now with a soft expression. ¡°I am no longer the only one by Your Majesty¡¯s side now. You no longer have to worry and suffer alone.¡± Karaf walked away without saying a word, looking straight ahead. But there was a slight smile on his lips. As soon as he reached his bedroom, he stripped off his heavy ceremonial uniform and sat on the sofa with his arms and legs spread out wide. When he closed his eyes, the scene in the banquet hall came to life again. When Asha collapsed bleeding out, he was really frightened to the point of losing his mind. The butterfly he¡¯s been waiting for¡­¡­ He couldn¡¯t let her die like this in vain. He could never let a precious butterfly die because of him. Despite Duran¡¯s insistence, he ran toward Asha like a madman and held her in his arms. Her eyes were closed and her face was pale without a trace of color. The moment he saw her face, Karaf¡¯s eyes grew bigger and his pupils trembled. Suddenly, his head hurt so much, that he put a hand on his forehead and frowned. It was she who was stabbed by a dagger, but he could barely breathe and his heart was about to burst. For some reason, Karaf felt that he had seen a scene similar. As he had seen countless deaths, he was now insensitive to the deaths of others, to the extent that he was unimpressed when someone¡¯s neck snapped in front of his eyes. But the moment he suddenly thought that she might die, his heart sank. Karaf was afraid¡­¡­ ¡­.. of her death. Her hands were covered in blood, and it stained his uniform. As he looked at her, he felt a terrible sensation as if a dagger had been stabbed in his chest. He hurriedly hugged Asha and carried her to his room, and he went back and forth without knowing what to do behind the doctors. All he could do was threaten them to do whatever it took to save her life. The physicians were so nervous their necks would fly off. They were sweating profusely and doing their best to heal Asha¡¯s wounds. Karaf felt so pathetic that he couldn¡¯t do anything at this critical moment when her life was in danger. With an expression that almost looked like hell itself, he sat by the window and didn¡¯t move until Asha opened her eyes. The physicians and servants trembled in fear, unable to even look at him. He sat like a rock behind them like a reaper from the underworld. It was as if he would kill them immediately if they said anything negative about Vanessa. When Asha came to her senses, he was finally able to let out the breath he had been holding. How happy he was then, she will probably never know. Karaf pretended to be calm in front of her, but he really felt that the sky had fallen and risen. Today was a very significant day for him. It was a miraculous day that two people in the world could even risk their lives for him. He does not care if the person is evil or kind. He will not try to save them even at the cost of his own life. Especially if it¡¯s a minority¡­¡­. He felt the door of his heart open wide to her. In his 24 years of life, she was the first woman to shake his heart and care so much for him. It wasn¡¯t long since he¡¯d met her, but for some reason, all her actions and words were etched in his mind. ¡°Asha Camelia¡­¡­.¡± Karaf muttered her name. He seemed to have heard her name somewhere. It was painful and nostalgic just by trying to remember. * * * * * The next day, the capital was noisy in the morning because of what happened in the Imperial Palace. Jackal, transformed into a horse, went to the auction house with Sosa, and he overheard the people. ¡°Well, did you say that this time a butterfly appeared at the banquet hall?¡± ¡°Yes, and an assassin also appeared! I heard that Lady Vanessa came to protect His Majesty and was stabbed instead.¡± Jackal stopped walking, his eyes grew bigger, and he froze. Sosa was also in shock, then leaned against the wall like a spy to listen to the conversation. Passers-by glanced at the two of them. It seemed very strange to see a sturdy horse and a white-haired man hiding side by side against a wall. But they weren¡¯t in the mood to care about that right now. Jackal¡¯s eyes filled with fury upon hearing the details of yesterday¡¯s incident. He couldn¡¯t shake the thought that something so bad had happened to Asha while she was standing next to the damned tyrant. He must have committed many sins, so there will always be assassins around him. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought that Asha would be in danger every time. As Jackal let out a snort, Sosa said, soothing him. ¡°Captain, calm down. Don¡¯t we have to rescue Asha as soon as possible?¡± Jackal nodded and finally calmed down. When Sosa took him to the auction house, thousands of people looked at him with greedy eyes. CH 36 In order to infiltrate the Imperial Palace, Jackal took care of his body with a knife-like diet and strength training. Thanks to this, he became a more handsome and magnificent horse. Sosa looked around and approached the noble-looking people in the distance. There, Marquis Iris, one of the five great noble families, was talking to other nobles with a worried expression on his face. ¡°Since something like that happened in the Imperial Palace this time, His Majesty must have been more nervous¡­ ¡­ I¡¯m worried that the gifts I prepared this time are already insignificant and will go against¡­.¡± The nobles, assuming that the Emperor would be in a very bad mood, prepared a tribute. The fact that a real butterfly appeared at this flower banquet also contributed to that. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m already behind the two dukes¡­¡­.¡± Marquis Iris, who had come from the border, sighed heavily. Sosa boldly walked ahead of them with Jackal. The nobles stopped talking and looked at them with their eyes wide open at the sudden appearance of a fine steed. Jackal looked at them with charismatic eyes. His figure looked very majestic and oozed elegance. Marquis Iris asked, coughing heavily. ¡°Hey, will that excellent horse be auctioned off too?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! If you can recognize this amazing horse at glance, you have a very good eye! This horse is to be presented to His Majesty the Emperor. It is said that His Majesty likes to hunt, so he¡¯s very interested in horses¡­¡­.¡± Sosa spoke while looking at Jackal out of the corner of his eye. They needed a powerful aristocrat who would recklessly offer Jackal to the Emperor. Jackal gave the nobles a charismatic look. It was an unspoken threat to ¡®buy me¡¯. ¡°Wow, his eyes are amazing! It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen such a horse!¡± Marquis Iris¡¯s eyes sparkled, and he asked, dumbstruck by Jackal. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sell me this horse?¡± Sosa said to himself, ¡®This is it!¡¯,¡¯ but said with a victorious smile. ¡°Can I trust you, Marquis? This horse has been meticulously trained and maintained since birth to be His Majesty The Emperor¡¯s only horse. It must be presented to His Majesty during the flowering ceremony when the butterfly appears.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll make him as pretty as possible!¡± Sosa sold Jackal only after receiving confirmation from him over and over again. Seeing the Marquis handing out a huge sum of money that he had never seen before, Sosa was very surprised but hid his surprised expression. The Marquis was proud to have obtained an excellent and valuable steed. Sosa felt uncomfortable because it seemed that he sold the captain with his own hands, but Sosa looked at him with a face that said that now everything depended on Jackal. Jackal exchanged glances with him and walked after the Marquis. But the Marquis had his servants groom him as soon as he bought him. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened and struggled at the touch of his bare body, trimming his mane with scissors. ¡°Wow, good boy.¡± The servants appeased him and smeared perfumed oil on his muscular body with the scent of flowers. His bluish gray fur now has a shiny feel and even a sultry feel to it. Jackal closed his eyes and endured the embarrassment, recalling only Asha. If he could get to Asha safely, this was nothing. He only hoped that Asha was safe before his arrival. * * * * * Ever since Karaf left the room last night, Asha has been awake and hasn¡¯t been able to sleep again. But since morning, someone has come up to her and politely greeted her at the door. ¡°This is the Knight Commander, Duran Dandelion. I would like to formally greet Lady Vanessa.¡± Duran bowed politely in the doorway, bending to one knee and placing a hand on his chest. ¡°Ah, yes. Please take care of me from now on.¡± Duran was slightly embarrassed by Asha¡¯s reaction and raised his head to ask. ¡°Aren¡¯t you mad at me?¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t keep Lady Vanessa safe at the banquet. Please don¡¯t hold back and get angry. I have nothing to say, even if you throw a glass at me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha wondered if His Majesty does this often¡­¡­ but she just bit her lips. Karaf became so violent that no one could stop him once he got angry. Throwing things is the basics, and if there is a problem with a job, he would grab the noble who proposed it to him. Duran¡¯s face looked particularly haggard, probably because of the assassin. His head had really sparsely white hairs like dandelion seeds. His hair seemed to turn white even when he was under a lot of stress. Asha looked at him sadly and said. ¡°You must have been through a lot of hardship by His Majesty¡¯s side all this time.¡± Duran¡¯s eyes widened in response, and he looked up at her. This morning, Karaf approached him while he was guarding his bed and instructed him to apologize directly to Vanessa. After going through something like that, she thought that he must have lost faith in himself. He was prepared to go in, but Asha didn¡¯t blame him in the least. ¡°You forgave me¡­.?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask for my forgiveness. It¡¯s my fault I didn¡¯t tell you about the assassin in the first place.¡± Asha sighed, then glanced at him, still dazed, and asked mischievously. ¡°Or, do you want to be punished?¡± ¡°Oh, no. Thank you for your forgiveness, Lady Vanessa. I will do my best to serve you in the future.¡± Duran got up quickly and placed a ledger on the table. ¡°After the flowering ceremony, you will officially have a maid, but until then, you will need a maid to serve you. There will be people who may find it difficult for you to see their faces, so please, Lady Vanessa can choose whoever you want.¡± As Asha skimmed through the list, Duran added bitterly. ¡°If you single out the maids who disrespected Lady Vanessa, I will take immediate action to remove them from the Palace. His Majesty will not leave them alone.¡± Asha remembered what happened last time. Her complexion turned pale as she imagined the scene where Karaf would behead the heads of the servants. Asha quickly shook her head and said. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. Everyone has treated me well since that day. But, I want to take care of a girl named Sonya Carnation. She is the person I can trust the most.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Duran instructed the chamberlain to bring a maid named Sonya. Soon, a wavy, red-haired girl walked into the room with a shrunken body. Sonya found Asha and her eyes grew bigger. Asha said with a smile. ¡°Come. Sonya Carnation.¡± Sonya¡¯s face flushed and she fell to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m honored that Lady Vanessa remembers my name!¡± Everything had already spread during the banquet, and Sonya seemed to know her true identity. Sonya was delighted when she heard that Vanessa had shown up at the Palace, but she was so shocked that Asha was the butterfly. Her hands were shaking, not knowing what to do. Asha spoke softly. ¡°From today on, you will be my exclusive maid, so please take care of me. You won¡¯t have to work as hard as before.¡± At those words, Sonya¡¯s face almost looked like she was about to cry. ¡°Lady Asha, no, Lady Vanessa¡­¡­. How come you¡¯re giving me so much great grace for nothing?¡± Asha had a faint expression on her face. In her past life, when she was lying on her bed crying because of Karaf, Sonya would always come to her and comfort her while wiping away her tears. Those were the memories that she could never forget. ¡°Sonya, you are the warmest person I have ever met in this Palace. I trust people with a warm heart the most. So I want to keep you by my side.¡± Sonya was moved and cried out all excited. ¡°Lady Vanessa! From now on, I will only be loyal to you! No matter what happens, I will protect Lady Vanessa without leaving your side¡­¡­ !¡± Even if she didn¡¯t say it, she had already done it in her past life, but Asha replied with a faint smile. ¡°Thank you, Sonya.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring you some food, so please wait a moment!¡± Sonya only dealt with tasks like cleaning, but it was the first time she had heard from a high-ranking person. She was very embarrassed and flustered, but the way she did her best seemed lovely in Asha¡¯s eyes. Hearing the door slam shut, Asha realized that she had just returned to this palace just then. The scenery in this room was very familiar. This was the ¡®Empress¡¯ Palace¡® that Karaf had prepared since his accession to the throne so that the butterfly could use it at any time. Asha had been living in this palace like a butterfly trapped in a collection bin for three years. Her expression darkened as memories of her past life surfaced. Meanwhile, Sonya was walking quickly down the hall when she suddenly noticed a man walking in the distance like a lion, and her eyes widened. ¡°Your¡­ Your Majesty!¡± Sonya quickly turned to the wall like a magnet, put her hands in front of her, and bowed. Karaf walked in front of her without saying a word. Sonya couldn¡¯t even look up and was sweating profusely. He asked her as he glanced at her, who was nervous. ¡°You have red hair¡­¡­. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen a maid with your hair color, what happened to the Empress¡¯s Palace?¡± Karaf¡¯s voice sounded slightly wary. To Sonya, those words sounded like, ¡®Are you wandering around this place because you want to die?¡® It¡¯s not unreasonable to think that way, but Karaf hated anyone with red hair, regardless of age or gender. Most descendants of the Imperial Family had red hair. Occasionally, when roses of other colors were born, such as yellow or white hair, but such cases were rare, and red roses were overwhelmingly common. Red eyes were a common symbol of the Imperial Family. But since Karaf was a child he has been discriminated against only because of the color of his hair, so it was only natural that he hated the color red. Sonya stuttered, gritting her teeth so hard she felt pitiful. ¡°La..la..lady Vanessa as..asked me to serve her¡­¡­.¡± When he found out that Asha was the one who chose her, Karaf¡¯s expression softened a bit. ¡°Did Vanessa wake up?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty¡­ ¡­.¡± ¡°How is she?¡± Sonya¡¯s eyes, which were only looking down at the ground, grew bigger at the question. It was truly the first time he had ever been asked about someone¡¯s well-being. Considering that the only greeting she had ever heard from him was dreadful, ¡°Is the criminal still alive?¡± His change was definitely good. CH 37 ¡°Well¡­ she looks fine on the outside, but her wound seems deep¡­¡­. I think she should rest doing nothing for a while¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I see. When you prepare her food, prepare mine also in a simple way. I¡¯m having dinner in Vanessa¡¯s room tonight.¡± Sonya¡¯s eyes widened further at Karaf¡¯s words. ¡°Yes! I will prepare it quickly!¡± As Sonya hurriedly disappeared, Karaf now stood by the door and peered into the room. But his eyes immediately widened a bit. Asha was sitting on the edge of the bed, exhausted, with a sad expression on her face. Strands of her unkempt, golden hair fell across her forehead. She had bags under her eyes and her lips were pale from bleeding. She looked 180 degrees different from the way she danced in a fancy dress in the banquet hall. But even that appearance of hers was beautiful in his eyes. He put a hand on his chest. I must have fallen in love with her¡­. He was sure he had a good eye for women. No matter how many beautiful ladies approached him, he didn¡¯t like them, but he likes to decorate, so he likes gorgeous women. No, I thought I liked it. Until he met a woman he really liked, no matter how she looks¡­¡­. Then, Asha looked toward the door and her eyes widened. She was embarrassed by his surprise visit, and Karaf walked in. But Asha immediately turned her head the other way. Karaf looked at her in bewilderment. The Emperor entered, but instead of greeting him politely, she now completely ignored him. But instead of being annoyed by this somewhat amusing situation, he asked, slightly raising the corners of his mouth. ¡°How did you know I was standing by the door? I¡¯m good at hiding my presence.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ How can I not know when the whole room smells like roses.¡± A light flashed in Karaf¡¯s red eyes. ¡°Do I smell like roses?¡± ¡°Yes. I remember you filled the banquet hall with the smell. Weren¡¯t you deliberately trying to show off to everyone there that you were the rose of the empire? The strong scent of roses was suffocating.¡± Karaf looked dumbfounded by the outspoken words, but then he burst out laughing. Even though Asha insulted him, she looked at him slightly surprised by his smiling face. He said with a smile still on his lips. ¡°I see. Ordinary women don¡¯t know what it is and come to me saying they like it. But while they can respond to pheromones, only butterflies can smell my real body odor.¡± Asha was surprised again. That was something she didn¡¯t know until now. He had always smelled like roses, so she naturally assumed everyone could smell it. Needless to say, Karaf¡¯s body smelled like a really strong masculine rose scent, so she couldn¡¯t be ignorant of it. But he said that no one but her could smell it¡­¡­. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as if he had discovered something special. Seeing his burdensome look, Asha looked away because it seemed like she had said useless words in front of him. But despite her reaction, Karaf looked at her with a smile, just happy. Some people might misunderstand him as a man who fell in love and lost his mind a bit. Karaf suddenly remembered something. According to the maid who changed her clothes, she had a golden butterfly engraved near her chest. He smirked. At that moment, it occurred to him that the bandit deserved to be slapped with water. But on the other hand, in his heart, the desire arose to see the pattern with his own eyes. He wanted to touch the dazzling golden butterfly pattern. Karaf was startled by a sudden lust boiling within him. Asha was the first woman to arouse such lust in him. Now, he sat politely next to Asha with his hands together. When Asha tried to get out of bed, he stopped her. ¡°Just sit down. You are not feeling well.¡± Asha was still averting her eyes as he approached, her gaze fixed only on the bed sheet. It was a stubborn gaze that would make anyone think there was something on the sheet. But then, Karaf took her wounded hand. Asha was startled, but he didn¡¯t care and asked, gently stroking her bandaged hand. ¡°Are your injuries okay?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°From now on, I will not let a drop of water fall on your hand.¡± He then coughed a lot, probably because he thought he had said something embarrassing, but he couldn¡¯t apologize after that. Asha was astonished by his change, but she spoke coldly without realizing it. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. Either way, I won¡¯t live long and I¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ die? How can you say something so horrible!¡± When he suddenly shouted out loud, Asha was startled. His face was slightly distorted. Asha was subconsciously thinking that being by his side would have an ending similar to her last life. Coexisting with him in this palace was something she could never have imagined as she had already experienced it in her past life. But as if what she had just said sounded so shocking, Karaf¡¯s face turned pale, and he gripped her hand tighter and wouldn¡¯t let her go, as if he let her go now he would lose her forever. As Asha pondered, she concluded that it was because he had no one to break his curse when she died. ¡°As Your Majesty knows, I have the power of prophecy. I came here and saw myself die, and this made me convinced that it wasn¡¯t a dream.¡± At those words, Karaf¡¯s face turned even paler. ¡°You saw yourself die¡­¡­? Then did you see how you died?¡± ¡°Yes. I fall off a cliff and die.¡± Asha replied bitterly. It was then that Karaf understood why she was sitting on the edge of the bed with a sad, tired expression on her face. And since this assassination came true as she had predicted, what she had just said must have been true. His hands trembled with shock. However, unlike him, Asha remained incredibly calm next to him. She looked like someone who was preparing in advance for her upcoming death. ¡°Why¡­¡­ Why do you talk about your death so easily¡­.?¡± Asha paused for a moment. Jackal had asked a similar question before. ¡­¡­ Why do you always talk about your death so easily? Asha responded with an awkward smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s because I don¡¯t have any regrets in life¡­¡­. I have never been so happy in my life.¡± Karaf now looked beyond ridiculous as if he had been struck by lightning. Oh, this man had a strong fear of death. He was most afraid of not being able to bloom since he was cursed. Karaf, who had been frozen for a while, asked again in a low voice. ¡°¡­¡­ If you can see the future, can you see my fate?¡± Asha¡¯s expression turned cold. After all, this man only cared about his own fate, whether he died or not. Asha responded coldly without realizing it. ¡°I died before Your Majesty, so I don¡¯t know what will happen next.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I won¡¯t let you die.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes grew bigger again at his unexpected words. Karaf said seriously. ¡°I asked about my future. If I had the power to protect you, I will save you somehow.¡± When Asha looked at her in disbelief, he laughed. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a lie? I brought Duran back to life, who had previously lost his life.¡± He pretended to be clever, but his smile looked somewhat anxious. Asha didn¡¯t know, but he was seriously considering whether he should push the entire empire down the cliff now. And just in time, Sonya brought the food. The two of them sat across from each other at the table and ate in silence, putting their uncomfortable feelings behind them. Asha glanced at him, pretending she didn¡¯t care. It was the first time he had personally come to her room to eat. Compared to his dining room, this place must have been very modest and simple, but she didn¡¯t care about that and was silently moving the spoon with a serious face. Perhaps she had no appetite and was nervous because he was right in front of her. Asha didn¡¯t know what the food tasted like, so she ate the soup a few times before putting down the spoon. Karaf said calmly without looking up. ¡°Eat a lot. That way your wounds can heal faster.¡± Asha said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I feel like I¡¯m going to get indigestion.¡± ¡°Why? Is it because you ate with me?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha looked at him guiltily. Fortunately, he said it half-jokingly and half seriously. ¡°You can be honest. No one had ever felt comfortable eating with me. When I ate with others, watching them shiver with forks and knives in front of me makes me want to cut off their fingers in frustration. So, I usually don¡¯t eat with anyone.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Seeing Asha¡¯s hands immediately stiffen, he said quietly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t feel that way about you¡± She wondered if this was something to be relieved and happy about. Asha looked at him with a slightly puzzled expression, but her eyes widened even more. Karaf¡¯s earlobe was slightly red. What on earth¡­ Asha was a bit confused, but right now, he was now refraining from saying that he preferred to feed her with his own hand. To others, it might seem like more of a scary situation than a confession. CH 38 Asha asked reluctantly. ¡°You like to eat alone, why do you eat with me?¡± Karaf only looked at her and listened. ¡°Are you asking because you don¡¯t know? There is nothing better when a flower is with a butterfly¡­¡­.¡± Asha coughed and covered her mouth. It seemed that what she had just eaten would bounce back. Karaf looked at her and asked, frowning slightly. ¡°I¡¯m asking just in case, do you dislike being around me that much?¡± Asha replied softly, wiping her mouth with a napkin. ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s not that, but shouldn¡¯t we protect you? How sweet is the honey of the Imperial Black Rose, I dare not covet it.¡± Karaf laughed out loud at her bold response. ¡°You are the first person to judge me and test so openly¡­¡­!¡± The passing servants were startled by the sound of his laughter but soon smiled happily, thinking that the two were talking sweet and funny stories as if they were newlyweds. After a while, Karaf stopped laughing and looked at her seriously. ¡°I understand. I will wait for your decision. I¡¯ll tell you what a great man I am right now. Follow me.¡± He got up from his seat and walked ahead of her, seeming more excited for some reason. Asha had already lost her mind and was following him in her nightgown. Eventually, the two of them arrived in a spacious dressing room. Asha asked with wide eyes. ¡°What is this¡­ ¡­ What is all this?¡± Karaf turned around and said. ¡°Don¡¯t you see? Everything is yours.¡± His shoulders seem to spread out like a peacock with its colorful feathers inflated to its fullest. When all these things were prepared, the room was filled with all kinds of gorgeous dresses, shoes, ornaments, and jewelry. Asha¡¯s face went beyond absurd and seemed astonished. When Karaf looked back at her surprised expression, he smirked. ¡°All right, you must have been very surprised. This is what my wealth can do. You will have to get used to it. It¡¯s something you can naturally enjoy when you¡¯re with me.¡± He put his fist to his mouth and coughed a little. ¡°What do you think? Isn¡¯t this a flower with pretty sweet honey?¡± Without answering, Asha walked slowly to where a dress was hung. Karaf couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her elegant back. Hanging in the closet was the drab dark green dress she had worn in her past life, all brand new. Asha fiddled with the dress, feeling emotionless. At that time, she was so afraid of him that she deliberately chose only those kinds of dresses to live like a dead mouse without being noticed in the Imperial Palace. For her, this dress was a protective color that she chose to survive. Karaf immediately asked from behind. ¡°Do you like that dress? There are many other colorful dresses¡­.¡± Asha shook her head quickly as bad incidents from her past life came to mind. ¡°I think bright dresses would be better.¡± Asha chose a bright yellow dress to emphasize that she is a butterfly, but she chose a comfortable and modest design with as few decorations as possible. At that moment, Karaf seemed to like it, so he ordered the maids to help her change her dress. As he waited sitting on the sofa, he felt strange, as if he had become a groom waiting for the bride to put on a wedding dress. When Asha finally emerged from the red curtain, Karaf¡¯s eyes widened, and he stared at her. A blonde Asha in a yellow dress was truly stunning, and she looked as if she was a golden butterfly shining loftily in her own right. Karaf said, fidgeting around his mouth with no reason to hide his pounding heart. ¡°¡­¡­ Now it¡¯s time to choose the accessories that go with the dress. How about that diamond necklace over there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°This dress is enough. I don¡¯t need anything else.¡± Karaf seemed taken aback because he didn¡¯t think she would refuse, but he quickly came to his senses and brought what he had prepared. He walked over to her and gently placed a silver crown on her head. The crown was designed as a woven rose vine, and in the center was a ruby gem that symbolizes the red rose of the Imperial Family. Asha flinched a little as he suddenly raised his arms in front of her, but her eyes widened as she soon saw his satisfied expression. Karaf smiled gently. ¡°This is how I feel, so accept it.¡± Looking at his smile, she couldn¡¯t understand why her heart ached so much. It was a painful sight to see him, who knows no love, pretending to be a lover. Asha muttered unconsciously. ¡°Then, why back then¡­¡­.?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why back then¡­¡­? Why didn¡¯t you treat me like this back then¡­.?¡± Karaf looked at her curiously, but Asha whispered like the wind and immediately bowed her head slightly and left the room. The wind blew softly around her dress, and a bleak wind blew between them. Now, without his permission or consent, Asha was the first to leave, turning her back on the Emperor, but Karaf was unable to catch her and he went stone still. At first glance, he could see tears in her eyes as she bowed her head. ¡°Your majesty¡­¡­.¡± Duran, who was standing like a pillar at the doorway, approached worriedly. Karaf said, looking straight ahead. ¡°Duran¡­ ¡­ Is woman such a difficult creature?¡± Duran blinked. Karaf was called the most powerful tyrant in the empire, and it was very unfamiliar for him to ask such a question. But Karaf said with a really complicated expression on his face. ¡°The women I have seen so far have liked shiny things a hundred times more. When I gave them these lavish gifts, they would smile broadly or cling to me with tears in their eyes to the point of becoming an annoyance. But I don¡¯t know why this doesn¡¯t work on Vanessa¡­¡­.Duran, do you know something?¡± Duran answered, perplexed. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t even know. I don¡¯t know much about women¡­¡­. But Lady Vanessa certainly seems different from other women.¡± Karaf put a hand on his forehead and sighed. Duran spoke to him cautiously. ¡°Perhaps¡­¡­ she just needs a little more time?¡± Karaf asked, brushing his hand away. ¡°¡­¡­ time?¡± ¡°Yes. Lady Vanessa must have been mistrustful and wary of Your Majesty since childhood. But since she became Vanessa overnight, she just needs time to adjust and, above all, time to get closer to Your Majesty.¡± Karaf answered thoughtfully. ¡°I see¡­¡­ You¡¯re right. I was pushing her so hard. Vanessa must have been overworked. Especially before the banquet, I even made her work¡­.¡± Karaf took a deep breath. He wondered why he did that and sincerely regretted it. He had been harassing her up until now, and now his sudden kindness seemed shameless and unreliable to her. What she said earlier must have been her resentment. Why didn¡¯t you treat me like this back then¡­? Duran looked at him sadly. ¡°Why did you do that¡­ ¡­ .¡± When Karaf glared at him at his brazen criticism, Duran quickly averted his gaze. It seemed that things were going as he had feared last time. Karaf nervously moves his fingers on the red rug where the jewels were. Far from touching these alluring jewels, she didn¡¯t even spare them a glance. As if everything he had was of no value to her, so there was nothing he could give her¡­¡­. His life had never been smooth before he ascended the throne, but it was the first time he felt so exhausted. If he wanted anything, he would have it by any means and method, and he would trample on anyone who got in his way. He gives generously to those who will be his, but he destroys so that no one can have it if he cannot be his. That was his basic way of thinking. But for some reason, he was just nervous, anxious. Karaf was fine if she didn¡¯t love him, so he thought it would be good if she just accepted the love he gave her. Karaf looked at the accessories, then shortly after instructed the maids. ¡°¡­¡­ put it away. This rubbish doesn¡¯t suit Vanessa.¡± The maids were startled. The accessories on the table were by no means ¡®trash¡¯, but they quietly followed his instructions, fearing that his madness would flare up again. Karaf said with a gleam in his eyes. ¡°I will make the only unique ring in this world. Bring in the most talented jeweler in the Etzheim Empire.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The chamberlain replied politely. Karaf let out a slightly absurd laugh as he reflected on what had happened earlier. There is a woman in the world who hates diamonds¡­. He was sure that he would give Vanessa a present that would satisfy her. This way he would let her know that he is happy when she is by his side. But Karaf suddenly remembered something and said it seriously. ¡°Duran. Could it be that Vanessa doesn¡¯t like jewels, but land?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Pardon?¡± Duran was taken aback, but Karaf was deep in thought with a very serious expression on his face. Perhaps she, like the high-ranking nobles, was not interested in jewels and wanted land. Because if she is an empress, the scale must be large. He never imagined that Vanessa would hate diamonds but him. At this rate, they were on the verge of conquering the continent¡­¡­. In the blink of an eye, Karaf, who had a burning desire to win and conquer, gave instructions to Duran. ¡°Tell the nobles to make a tribute right now.¡± * * * * * Instead of the abruptly interrupted banquet, only the nobles were invited to hold a tribute ceremony at the Imperial Palace. Asha considered this to be one of the emperor¡¯s duties, and did not take it lightly, but was a little surprised when she had to attend the ceremony as well. It seems that he wanted the butterfly to sit next to him. He obviously said he would formally introduce her to the aristocrats at the festivities, but it seems like he suddenly changed his mind. He immediately introduced her to the aristocrats and marked her as his woman as soon as possible. As Asha sat down beside him, Karaf solemnly instructed in a dignified manner. ¡°Send in the tributes.¡± The door to the banquet hall opened, and the nobles entered in order. ¡°Greeting to Your Majesty the Emperor and Vanessa, the Butterfly of the Empire.¡± Asha looked bored at the faces she already knew. Lilac, Blossom, Iris, Delphinium, and Fresia, are the five founding families that protect the Etzheim Empire alongside the Emperor. They were called ¡®five petals¡¯ of the Etzheim Empire, and they had different hair colors that symbolized their families, just like Duran. As they entered the banquet hall, they all looked at Asha, who was sitting next to Karaf. Is that woman who was selected as Vanessa this time? CH 39 Asha looked down at them with the grace of an empress, her back straight and with no sign of embarrassment or shyness. Rather, they were puzzled by her and her imposing momentum. They heard that she was from a minority background, but she didn¡¯t seem like a normal woman. Among them, the Duke of Blossom, who had pink hair like a cherry blossom, looked at Asha and smiled brightly at her. Duke Sihan Blossom was a playful and cheerful man that Asha remembered and was rumored to be a playboy. If Karaf saw it, he would feel offended¡­. Asha glanced at him and was startled. Karaf was already glaring at him with fierce eyes, clutching his armrest. He had a bloody expression that seemed to be looking at the assassin who was aiming at the empress. The moment she looked forward again, Asha made eye contact with someone with mysterious blue hair. Count Kiam Delphinium. He was the man who in the past had destroyed ethnic villages¡­¡­. Asha could not forget his cruel, laughing face that day, as he trampled her village. On the dirt floor, his men had grabbed her by the hair and dragged her in front of him in her bare feet. His beastly bright yellow eyes stared at her as if he had found a prey. She was sure that he heard the rumors that she is from an ethnic minority. Suddenly she felt sick and covered her mouth with one hand. When Karaf saw her, he asked anxiously. ¡°Are you sick?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± Asha tried not to look at him, but she couldn¡¯t hide her trembling hands. When Karaf saw it, he slyly placed his hand on top of hers. His hands, white as they were, had been roughened by swords countless times until now, and now they covered her hand. Asha looked at him in surprise, but Karaf looked ahead as if nothing had happened. She doesn¡¯t know what was happening, but his intention was to reassure her with him at her side. Thus began the tribute ceremony. Karaf usually liked big, beautiful, and colorful things. Seeing that the gifts from the nobles were of the highest quality, he now had his shoulders held high and ready to break through the ceiling. ¡°If you like any of those things, tell me. I will take everything to the Empress¡¯s Palace.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Asha had no particular desire to receive any tribute but said so because she was in front of the nobles. But when Asha¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t too bad, Karaf thought he finally had a chance to score points. The nobles paid tribute one after another with flattering greetings, but he was too busy examining Asha¡¯s face. Is there something you like¡­.? As time passed, Asha¡¯s attitude of showing little interest in the tributes made Karaf more anxious. He never wanted to admit that he couldn¡¯t give her what she wanted. There was nothing that hurt his pride as an Emperor as much as that. The nobles greeted them at the foot of the stairs and quickly looked away. Rumors that the Emperor fell in love with the butterfly had already spread throughout the empire, but actually seeing it was even more amazing. Seeing him unable to take his eyes off the butterfly with an ecstatic face like in love, they doubted if this man in front of them was really the bloody emperor they knew. Asha also knew that Karaf was just looking at her, but she pretend not to notice his gaze as the nobles¡¯ reaction seemed to intensify. However, Asha¡¯s eyes, which had been looking at the tribute items indifferently for a long time, suddenly widened. Karaf, who had been watching Asha intently, looked quickly ahead. When the hall door opened, a very compliant blue-gray horse entered with a dazzling white light. Healthy muscles and strong body curves, perfectly organized and shiny mane, this is the description of a true horse. As soon as Asha saw the horse, she inadvertently jumped up and screamed. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­!¡± Sheppy also recognized her and made an exciting snorting sound, and gently flicked his long tail. ¡°¡­¡­ Sheppy? Do you know this horse?¡± When Karaf asked, Asha realized her mistake, tried to hide her emotions, and spoke calmly. ¡°It was a horse I used to raise. I lost it when I left the village¡­¡­.¡± Asha couldn¡¯t bear to lie and looked at Sheppy excitedly. She missed those blue eyes so much that looked at her quietly¡­¡­. Karaf felt Asha¡¯s joy and looked carefully at the horse. Although the horse was in the hands of Marquis Iris, the strength of the horse was so great that it seemed as if the Marquis was being held by the horse instead. Although such a horse is an excellent steed, Karaf knew from long experience that it is difficult to tame. But Asha asked carefully. ¡°Your Majesty¡­ ¡­ I want to greet the horse, I haven¡¯t seen it for a long time, would you please allow me?¡± ¡°Do as you please.¡± As soon as permission was granted, Asha quickly got up from her seat, grabbed the hem of her dress, and hurried down the stairs. It was a moving moment of reunion. Jackal watched her run towards him as slowly as if time had stopped. The face he longed to see was right in front of him, even when he closed his eyes. Asha finally reaching him, whispered in his ear, lovingly caressing the back of his nose and mane with trembling hands. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­ Did you come all the way here to see me?¡± ¡°Pureung.¡± Jackal flapped his ears and let out a loud snort. His desire to hold her in his arms was like a fireplace, but for now, the only way to express his feelings was like this. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you came.¡± Asha hugged the horse¡¯s neck and rubbed her face. The horse looked surprised for a moment, but soon closed his eyes and accepted her. He was fierce, but he turned into a gentle horse with just her touch. Karaf blinked at her affectionate appearance. It was the first time he had seen her miss, and like someone so much, even though she seemed to have no greed for anything. If it wasn¡¯t a horse, it would be a scene in which two lovers dramatically meet again after a breakup. As he watched them, jealousy suddenly assailed his mind, and he was surprised. I¡¯m crazy¡­¡­. Am I jealous even of a horse now? He let out a small laugh and looked back at the horse. The horse, which Asha was holding, looked into his eyes for a moment and made a small snort as if it was laughing at him. Karaf¡¯s eyebrows rose. For some reason, he thought that the way the horse was looking at him was really fierce and arrogant. Jackal suddenly saw her slender arm. Suddenly, Sheppy lowered his eyelids and pushed her arm with his nose, fixed only on her bandage. When Asha noticed, she spoke softly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s all healed now.¡± She said so, trying to reassure him, but Jackal, whose sense of smell became more sensitive after transforming into a horse, could smell the blood seeping through the bandages. As much as Karaf hated minorities, Jackal couldn¡¯t stand the fact that someone so defenseless was the only being who could undo his curse. He could tell what kind of treatment Asha had received at the Imperial Palace. His blue eyes, which looked at him sitting on the throne, were bloodier and fiercer than the wind that blows in midwinter. However, not knowing how Jackal felt, Karaf quickly ordered the chamberlain, thinking it was an opportunity for him to get closer to Asha. ¡°Give that horse the best stable and let Vanessa see it whenever she wants.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Asha said, looking back at him with lively eyes. ¡°Your Majesty, thank you so much!¡± Karaf was a little stunned when he saw such a bright appearance for the first time. ¡°You like it so much?¡± ¡°Yes! I like it so much. It¡¯s the best gift I have ever received.¡± When Asha liked it so much, Karaf looked at Marquis Iris and said with satisfaction. ¡°The Marquis is the only one who has brought a tribute to Vanessa¡¯s liking. I have high expectations for the Marquis in the future.¡± The Marquis was greatly moved by those words. But he tried in vain to cough, stretched out his chest, and replied. ¡°It is an honor, Your Majesty. Please continue to trust me.¡± Karaf nodded, and the surrounding nobles looked at him with envy and jealousy. After that, the tribute ceremony ended, and Asha left with the horse. In the corner of the banquet hall, precious tribute items that she didn¡¯t even notice were piled up like a mountain. Duran watched silently from behind as Karaf crouched down with a disturbed expression. Even though he had everything, he was speechless at the sight of it, as if he had lost everything to the horse. * * * * * Asha followed the chamberlain to the stable. Following Karaf¡¯s instructions to prepare the best stable, she came to a large room that hardly resembled a place for horses. Asha blinked. The standard of ¡®best¡¯ that she thought was different from his. The room was carpeted instead of straw, and large, soft cushions were placed on it. It was a room that was warm and comfortable enough for people to stay in. Jackal was relieved. The place was different from the scruffy and gloomy stables he had been staying in until now. ¡­¡­ I like it. On the other hand, Jackal was mentally and physically exhausted as he had undergone all sorts of hardships to infiltrate the palace. Asha led him to a cushion, then Jackal lay down comfortably on it. He looked so cute that Asha sat down next to him and gently stroked his mane. Jackal fell to the ground, softly closing his eyes and blushing. If there was a heaven, he thought it would be this place¡­¡­. Its shiny bluish-gray tail, like a silkworm, was beautifully scattered on the floor and moved smoothly. Sonya laughed naively from behind. ¡°I guess that horse really likes Vanessa!¡± Asha said softly. ¡°Yes. He followed me a lot. This horse is not mine but another man¡¯s ¡­¡­.¡± Jackal looked at her, stroking his mane with a weak gaze. Sonya asked, tilting her head. ¡°A man?¡± Asha realized her mistake and answered quickly. ¡°This owner of this horse was also from the same village. Please keep this secret from His Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes! Don¡¯t worry! I will the secret to the grave!¡± Sonya spoke boldly, but Asha smiled bitterly. It was a fact that she knew better than anyone. Sonya looked at the horse and admired it. ¡°Its fur is smooth! Its muscles looked very strong! I understand now why women like muscles.¡± Sonya snorted like a pervert and secretly tried to take her hand to the horse. Jackal groaned as a shadow fell over him. CH 40 Still, he couldn¡¯t allow a stranger other than Asha to touch his naked body. To be honest, Jackal still wasn¡¯t used to Asha¡¯s touch, so he gets surprised every time she touches him. Then he withdrew his leg. It meant a flat refusal not to touch him. In response, Sonya asked, surprised. ¡°Lady Vanessa, by any chance, does the horse only accept your touch?¡± ¡°Well, it seems like he¡¯s shy because he¡¯s in an unfamiliar place.¡± ¡°The horse is shy?¡± ¡°Yes. Sheppy is a gentleman among others horses.¡± Asha smiled happily. Sonya, feeling a little regretful, pulled her hand away. Then Asha said. ¡°I¡¯ll be with Sheppy until dinner, so why don¡¯t you come back first?¡± ¡°Yes! Then I¡¯ll go ahead and prepare dinner and a bath! Have a good rest. Goodbye Sheppy!¡± Sonya innocently waved her hand at the horse and left the room. Then the two of them were alone. Asha let out a deep sigh, which she hadn¡¯t been able to do. ¡°¡­¡­Why did you come alone leaving Jackal and Lycaon? Did something happen to them after I left?¡± Sheppy shook his head. Asha then asked with a sense of relief. ¡°Then, did you come to see me by yourself, Sheppy?¡± Sheppy nodded. ¡°How¡¯s Jackal?¡± Sheppy nodded even more vigorously. Asha smiled and immediately muttered with a weak expression on her face. ¡°Thank god. I am so glad everyone is safe¡­¡­.¡± Jackal was heartbroken. Asha chose to be taken to the Imperial Palace to keep them safe. She sacrificed herself. Sacrificing himself for the sake of the members was his job as the leader of the group, but it seems like he had put too much of a burden on her. It¡¯s not useless to save lives. When she said those words before, her determined expression came to mind. At that time, he laughed at her¡­¡­. Now, he regrets it all. Asha asked playfully, trying not to show her sadness. ¡°Will Jackal be disappointed if I take Sheppy?¡± ¡°Pureung, Pureung.¡± Jackal snorted loudly and shook his head. ¡°Pureung pureung, you¡¯re so cute¡­¡­.¡± Asha smiled and gently nuzzled his nose once more. Hearing how cute he was, he put his face to the ground and his sharp eyes narrowed. He wonders if he has ever heard that he¡¯s cute in his life. From a very young age, his impression was as fierce as a rogue, and his parents had never told him that he was cute. Asha said playfully as she scanned Sheppy¡¯s smooth body. ¡°But when did you get groomed like this? It¡¯s as if you had come to look for a mare.¡± To find a mare¡­. Jackal sighed to himself. She would probably be shocked to learn how desperately he had to change his appearance to infiltrate the Imperial Palace. But as soon as he saw Asha¡¯s face, he forgot all his troubles. ¡°Meeting Sheppy was the luckiest thing in my life.¡± Asha gently grabbed his big face with both hands, and suddenly kissed his nose. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened, and he froze hard. It was the first time he had been kissed, so he couldn¡¯t get his act together. His heart was beating like crazy and he felt like he was half out of his mind. Asha didn¡¯t even know that when she suddenly put her face on his stomach and muttered. ¡°I¡¯ve been lonely and anxious all by myself, but I am relieved to have Sheppy by my side. I feel like I have a friend to talk to¡­.¡± Asha fell asleep listening to his heartbeat. Seeing Sheppy relieves her tension, and she always fell asleep. Jackal lifted his head and his eyes grew bigger as he saw her fall asleep on his stomach. The skin-to-skin contact was driving him crazy¡­¡­. He lay still for a while, not knowing what to do for fear Asha would wake up, but after a while, he carefully returned to his human form. Jackal, naked, lifted one of his arms and gently tucked Asha¡¯s hair, which was on his thigh, behind her ear. But suddenly, he realized that his important part was right near her face, causing his face to get hotter and hotter. It seemed like he would give up reason and turn into a real wild horse at any moment. But then, Asha frowned slightly, speaking in her sleep. Jackal was startled and tried to transform back into a horse, but his expression relaxed when he saw her asleep again. Asha murmured in her sleep. ¡°I miss you, Jackal¡­¡­.¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes widened, but then the corners of his eyes curled up. ¡°Me too¡­¡­ I missed you a lot too.¡± Jackal looked at her with affectionate eyes and whispered in her ear. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot on your own. There isn¡¯t much time left now, so please bear with me a little longer.¡­.¡± Asha smiled slightly at Jackal¡¯s sweet dreamy voice of Jackal. * * * * * At that time, Karaf was staring at a document, pushing aside numerous documents awaiting his approval. He examined the document with a slight frown and a hand on his forehead. It seemed as if he was suffering over an important matter of the Empire. But on the front of the paper were large letters written in a solemn font. [Analysis of Lady Vanessa¡¯s tastes] It was a list of Asha¡¯s ¡®likes¡¯ and ¡®dislikes¡¯, ¡®what she usually does during her free time¡¯, and ¡®who she is friendly with¡¯. However, reading and rereading did not provide good quality information. Karaf let out a small sigh and put the document down. And he glanced at Duran, standing in front of his desk with his hands clasped politely like a child being examined for his homework. ¡°Are you kidding me now?¡± Duran was startled. ¡°Did you bring me this poor list resembling a child¡¯s diary as a report? Should I have also stripped you of your position when I cut off your epaulets? Duran blushed. Karaf slammed the desk down with a very displeased expression. Duran glanced at him, then pulled out a book that he had been hiding behind his back. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± When Karaf saw the title of the book, he was completely speechless. [An amazing love dictionary that is useful to know. I am a Love Doctor! Confessions of a Real Man Who Captivates Women] Duran said all blushing. ¡°It is said to be the most popular love book on the market these days¡­¡­. It might be of some help to your Majesty just in case¡­¡­.¡± In the past, Karaf would have thrown it away, saying how he dares bring such a book. But this time, he opened the book seriously. But as soon as he read the first paragraph, his expression hardened. [Right now in your head, you and she are newlyweds living in a house, and you¡¯re smiling at the birth of your child, but the reality is that you haven¡¯t even had a proper conversation with her yet. Am I wrong?] For some reason, he felt very uncomfortable because this book was like a mirror of his mind. [Giving gifts before she likes you can come as a burden to the lady who is not prepared. Have you ever sent an expensive gift or bouquet to her house, or come to see her in person and put the gift in her hand? At this point, there is still hope. Did you ever propose a diamond ring to her before building intimacy with her?] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karaf lost his strength and dropped the book. He hated to admit it, but he seemed sure the popular book is useful. Karaf picked up the book again, frowned a little, and continued seriously reading the next paragraph. He was careful about turning the pages. Duran bit his lip and lowered his head when he was about to burst out laughing. ¡°¡­¡­ Duran.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± He looked at Duran without knowing if he was crying or smiling. Karaf said, looking at him with his bright red eyes. ¡°If I don¡¯t get close to her after thoroughly reading this book, prepared? to get slapped in the face with this book. Even if I can¡¯t spit on your smiling face, I can spit back on a useless book.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Duran¡¯s face paled. * * * * * That night, the lights in Karaf¡¯s bedroom were kept on all night. In his loose robe, he leaned back on the headboard, reading a book in a sleepy pose. The nightstand was dimly lit by a lamp, and he was reading a book earnestly with his glasses on. Just looking at his appearance, it was no different from his usual appearance, but the problem was that the book in his hand was a very conspicuous hot pink¡­¡­ Even the cover of the book had a big heart drawn on it. From a distance, it was a great book. When Duran asked people to buy this book, he knew how embarrassed he would be. As he read the book, his expression changed each time, he looked angry at one point and then turned cold, his eyes widening and narrowing. As Karaf continued to read earnestly, he frowned as he noticed a passage, and his eyes grew bigger. ¡­¡­ This is it! After finally getting the answer he wanted from the book, Karaf put the book on the table and took off his glasses. His eyes lit up. When he lay down on his bed, his expression seemed very comfortable and satisfied. * * * * * During the festival, Asha freely roamed the Imperial Palace. Before the flowering ceremony, she thought it would be good to know the structure of the Imperial Palace in detail. As Asha walked down the hall, she saw the engraved marks on the walls that only she could recognize. She smiled bitterly as she suddenly recalled some memories. She had made a mark like this several times in the past to escape from this Palace. But then, she saw someone crouched down and hidden in the bush in the distance. Asha¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the blue-gray hair sticking out slightly above the bushes. Jackal was sneaking out of the stable and sending a message to Lycaon. Gabe¡¯s hawk, which was sitting in a nearby tree, spotted him and flew towards him. Jackal tied a note to the hawk¡¯s leg and sent it away. [My love, we are finally reunited safely. I¡¯m preparing for our next date. I¡¯ll get back to you soon. ¨CJ] He wrote it with only important words to make it look like a simple secret love letter from lovers if anyone sees this note. ¡®My love¡® on the note was a code for Sosa, meaning it was a note sent to him. Jackal¡¯s expression faltered as he suddenly felt unwell. Still, he met with Asha, so from now on, the key was to reveal his identity to her and convince her. It was then that he was deep in thought with a serious expression on his face. ¡°Jackal¡­¡­?¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes grew bigger at the sudden voice of Asha coming from behind him. CH 41 Asha¡¯s eyes widened as she walked through the bushes. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­! Why are you alone in this place? You scared me. Could it be that you were waiting for me here?¡± Jackal, who managed to transform successfully, nodded in relief. Asha smiled slightly as she petted him. ¡°Really¡­¡­ Jackal can¡¯t be here¡­¡­.¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes seemed sad at those words. He was supposed to reveal his identity to Asha soon, but he¡¯s not ready yet. Furthermore, it was easy to be found out if he revealed his identity in such an open space. He thought it would be better to observe the situation more carefully before acting. Asha took the reins and went for a walk with Sheppy. ¡°Sheppy, go play freely. Okay?¡± Asha patted him on the back, willing Sheppy to run freely across the grass, if only for this once. But Jackal looked back at her with a slightly uncomfortable expression and remained motionless. He wanted to be with her, even in this brief moment. But when Asha forcibly pushed his buttocks, he was startled and inadvertently walked forward. Asha smiled and waved her hand. She expected Sheppy to jump on the grass like a riotous pony and roll over the flowers to its heart¡¯s content. Jackal looked around, sighing to himself. Since it was the Imperial Palace, he could find flowers blooming everywhere. He pretended to go for a walk and quickly returned to Asha. He had a pretty red tulip in his mouth. Asha¡¯s eyes widen as she looks at him from afar, wagging his tail. A horse with a flower in its mouth¡­¡­. Asha covered her mouth with her hand and smiled innocently. ¡°How can you be so romantic? You are truly a gentleman!¡± Jackal smiled warmly at her innocent smile. His runny nose was dripping a little due to pollen. When he came over and offered her a tulip as if proposing, Asha took the flower with a smile on her lips. Closing her eyes and smelling the scent of the tulips, she said admiringly. ¡°Smells great. Thank you, Sheppy.¡± Seeing Asha happy as if she had received a rose from her lover, Jackal felt satisfied. He had no intention of picking roses in the first place, but even if that wasn¡¯t the case, he strangely couldn¡¯t find any roses here. Instead, he picked tulips. The floral language of red tulips is ¡®confession of love¡® and ¡®eternal love¡®. Asha picked two light pink apricot blossoms from the surrounding tree and put one of the blossoms in her own ear and the other in Sheppy¡¯s ear. His ears fluttered as he felt a tickling sensation. Jackal cautiously walked beside Asha, in case his face turned red like an apricot flower and the flower fell out of his ear. The back of the two people walking side by side along the flower path as a couple was like a beautiful painting. So they took a slight turn around the road ending the dreamy walk. It was time to part with Sheppy and return to the cramped palace. ¡°Sheppy, I¡¯ll see you later. I had a lot of fun today.¡± Asha said goodbye to Sheppy and went back the way she had come. Sheppy stood still and watched her to the end as Asha walked away. He still had the pretty, soft apricot flowers on his ears. He didn¡¯t even move when a servant approached him, even after pulling the reins. Then Asha turned around and waved her hand. So when she completely disappeared from his sight, Jackal sighed to himself and was led back helplessly by the servant. He wanted to stay with her, but he could only see her at certain times of the day. The flowering ceremony was coming up soon, and he wanted to take her to Lycaon¡¯s new home. On the way back to the Empress Palace, Asha found a mark she had never seen in the sparsely populated hallway. Asha tilted her head at the wall. She used to put an X on the walls of the path, where she had run away in the past and failed, which she had second thoughts about. Who made this mark..¡­? That was when Asha was lost in thought. Suddenly, a shadow appeared in the corner and covered her mouth. ¡°Ugh¡­¡­ !¡± Asha looked up with surprised rabbit eyes. Standing there was a man with cold eyes, covering his nose and mouth with a black hood. ¡°¡­¡­ You have to follow me quietly, Vanessa.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes shook. Meeting a kidnapper in broad daylight, even in the Imperial Palace, was truly surprising. Whether there was numbing powder on the cloth covering her mouth, Asha¡¯s eyes gradually closed as her body relaxed. But it was then. Suddenly, the kidnapper screamed, and red blood splattered on her face. Asha flopped on the floor with the kidnapper. ¡°¡­¡­gosh, you¡¯re already a handful, what should I do with you?¡± She heard a languid, relaxed voice. Asha looked up, trembling at the familiar feeling. Karaf was there. But contrary to his languid tone, his red eyes were terrifyingly cold. When he made eye contact with Asha, he immediately relaxed his terrifying expression and said. ¡°I told you. I will not let you die.¡± Then, along with the cries of a horse, the sound of horse hooves was also heard in the distance. Asha looked at Sheppy, running from the end of the hallway with wide eyes. Jackal, one step behind, alternately looked from Asha to Karaf to the unidentified man who had fallen to the ground with wide eyes. Asha blinked and looked at Sheppy. He knew she was in danger and she was so thankful that he ran to her like this. It was then that Jackal tilted his head and looked around. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty! Lady Vanessa! Are you all right!?¡± Duran also hurriedly ran over. Karaf shook the bloodstained sword, then slowly returned it to its sheath. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill him, so take him to the torture chamber and find out who ordered it. He showed up later and allowed me to catch the kidnapper myself, so whatever happens, we must find out.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Duran roughly tied the hands and feet of the kidnapper who had fallen to the ground and dragged him away. ¡°Were you very scared?¡± Asha, who was still on the ground, looked at Karaf blankly. He dropped to one knee and looked at Asha¡¯s face. Perhaps because of the anesthetic, her eyelids were trembling halfway down. Karaf took a rose-embroidered handkerchief from his chest pocket and wiped the blood from Asha¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Why are you wandering around this place alone? Did you even get lost while walking with that horse?¡± At his playful question, Asha was momentarily dismayed but responded with a hint. ¡°I was a bit curious about the structure of the Imperial Palace¡­¡­ Sonya often gets lost, so I wanted to know in advance.¡± ¡°Right. This imperial Palace is really large and complex. It¡¯s easy to get lost if you wander around without an escort. We could encounter a killer like today without knowing it.¡± Karaf said it was like it was nothing, but Asha felt a chill run through her body. Jackal looked at Asha with pitiful eyes as the words ¡®without escort¡¯ hurt his self-esteem and made him feel guilty. Karaf looked at Asha and said. ¡°You¡¯ll have to get used to it.¡± When Asha looked up, Karaf spoke seriously. ¡°In this palace, people are trying to end my life. Now that a butterfly appeared next to me, they won¡¯t leave you alone either. They will try to tarnish and damage your reputation.¡± Jackal¡¯s expression turned complicated. He was still convinced that Asha would be in danger if she stayed by his side. But in her previous life, Asha had never been attacked by assassins. At that time word spread throughout the Empire that Emperor Karaf hated her, and it became public knowledge that Vanessa could not make him bloom. But now, the attention of the nobles is focused on Karaf¡¯s excessive interest, but in the past, she was like a doll that poses no threat to the surrounding powers. Asha smiled bitterly. ¡°Always stay close to my sight. That way, I won¡¯t be worried.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha didn¡¯t answer, but Karaf stood up with an expression of understanding that he had already adjusted to such a disrespectful attitude. ¡°Can you walk?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Asha got up, but her legs were shaking a little. Karaf steeled himself and grabbed Asha¡¯s trembling hand. Jackal glanced at her from the side. Asha also glanced at him anxiously. Karaf met her eyes and said cautiously. ¡°Drink a cup of tea with me, you need to calm down.¡± It was a date. He faithfully followed the author¡¯s advice, ¡®Don¡¯t ask her out of the blue, creates an opportunity that doesn¡¯t exist and do it in secret¡¯. Asha nodded perplexed. When he turned his head, Karaf¡¯s face lit up like a flower in full bloom. Finally, that damn pink book works. Karaf put a fist to his mouth with a friendly but somewhat serious expression and thought there¡¯s a reason that there¡¯s a reason why that book is the most popular¡­¡­. and coughed loudly. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the rose garden and have tea. It¡¯s a beautiful place with many flowers, you will like it. If you want, you can take your favorite Shappy or something with you.¡± ¡­¡­ It¡¯s Sheppy, you bastard. Jackal glared at him when he got his name wrong. ¡°Can I really do that?¡± When Asha asked with a smile, Karaf happily said. ¡°Yes. Since you loved that horse, I¡¯ll treat that horse well. The best food will be served to him.¡± Then, seeing Asha¡¯s pale complexion brighten, he was sure he was following the book¡¯s manual very diligently. In the love book, it is also said that it is a very good way to protect a woman in dangerous situations. It is also said that it is easy to mistake a beating heart for love. Seeing Asha gently stroke his mane, he reached out a hand toward the horse. But Jackal immediately raised his nose in disgust, causing Karaf to jerk his hand straight to the side. Karaf frowned slightly. It was the first time he had seen such a cheeky horse. CH 42 Asha was perplexed and quickly made an excuse. ¡°Sheppy is very shy.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Do you know about horses?¡± When he looked at the servant in charge of the horses, the servant immediately bowed his head and replied. ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s true, Your Majesty. The horse does not even allow others to touch it.¡± The servant was sweating a little as he struggled to prevent the stubborn horse from escaping. Karaf didn¡¯t say a word but just stared at him. As if they were having a staring contest, Jackal met his bright red eyes with his cold blue eyes. Jackal saw his proud eyes as if he knew he was an excellent horse, and then Karaf scoffed. He tried to take Asha out on a date just for the two of them to curry favor with Asha, but was ungrateful and against her will. Originally, he would have drawn a sword and struck Karaf in the neck, but he decided to put his temper aside just this time after seeing Asha. ¡°You managed to tame such a violent horse.¡± ¡°I¡¯m flattered, Your Majesty.¡± When Asha bowed politely holding the end of her dress, Karaf¡¯s expression softened a bit. I didn¡¯t mean to compliment you.¡­. Asha positively accepted everything related to Sheppy¡­¡­ In any case, he seemed certain that he had gotten closer to her. Confident, Karaf walked excitedly at the thought of going on a date with Asha. Jackal put Asha, who couldn¡¯t walk very well, on her back, and followed Karaf looking at him somewhat dissatisfiedly. * * * * * They enjoyed a quiet afternoon of tea in the heart of a secluded rose garden. In the rose garden filled with the fragrance of flowers, only the chirping of insects, the chirping of small birds, and the sound of water from the fountain were softly heard. A little further from the table, Jackal lay down on the grass and stared intently at them. Karaf prepared the best food for horses, high-quality hay, abundant fruits such as carrots, corn, apples, and even sugar cubes. Jackal pushed the hay aside and replenished his energy with fruit. Since he has been living in horse form and eating very little, he had to supplement his nutrition sufficiently until the flowering ceremony. Jackal ate the fruits and chewed on the sugar cubes, but he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off them for a moment. If the Emperor ever did atrocious things to her, he would jump up and break his torso. He glanced at Asha to make sure she was alright, but strangely Karaf kept eye contact with him and not with her. The horse looked at him with very fierce eyes. That gaze felt like a ¡®don¡¯t cross the line with my master¡® warning. Karaf was dumbfounded. How can I kill that bastard horse¡­¡­.? He thought to himself. Asha drank the tea in silence to calm her frightened heart. Seeing this, Karaf raised his hand and called a servant. ¡°Put Vanessa a parasol so she doesn¡¯t get sunburned.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± When the servant politely retreated, Asha asked. ¡°Your Majesty, do you not need it?¡± ¡°I have to sunbathe regularly.¡± When Karaf finished speaking, he languidly leaned back against the chair and stretched out his arms. His appearance in the sunlight looked vivid and beautiful despite being a black rose. Although he was cursed, he was also a flower. His pale skin, unlike humans, became healthier and more radiant as he received sunlight. After closing his eyes and basking in the sun, Karaf suddenly noticed her gaze and opened his eyes. Seeing the curious expression on her face, he said with a mischievous smile on his lips. ¡°¡­¡­ It looks like it¡¯s a little hot.¡± He reaches up and undoes his tie, exposing his skin. Asha sighed, then realized she was looking at him and averted her gaze. Whether he was intentionally enjoying his gaze or trying to seduce her, he was just smiling. As his bare skin was slightly exposed, his rose pheromone also grew stronger. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­ Purung.¡± Somehow, the horse sounded annoyed. Is that bastard crazy? Or is he an exhibitionist? Jackal looked disgusted, and Asha quickly turned around and asked. ¡°Sheppy, is there something wrong? Or would you like more food?¡± As the horse shook its head, Asha smiled. ¡°Take a break there. You should play to the max, okay?¡± ¡°Pureung.¡± Sheppy put its head lightly on the ground, looked at Asha, and gently shook his long tail. Karaf raised his eyebrows again. That horse is very coquettish in front of his master¡­¡­. They were unaware of each other, but they were two men who did their best in front of her and brought out their charms¡­¡­. Karaf tried to ignore him and turned to Asha. ¡°If you visit me in the future, I want to spend time with you here.¡± Asha remembered those words from the past. He once brought her here when she first came to the palace..¡­. Of course, at the time, she was so scared that she couldn¡¯t look at him properly, and couldn¡¯t answer his questions well, so he quickly lost interest. ¡°Is this Your Majesty¡¯s favorite place?¡± ¡°Yes. It has been my only refuge since childhood. Neither my mother nor the previous emperor could find me.¡± His eyes darkened. Asha realized that he had called his father by a distant title, ¡®the previous emperor¡®. Asha asked a little curious. ¡°But it¡¯s a rose garden, and I don¡¯t see a single rose here?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s because I cut them off.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Why?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes grew bigger. Karaf replied calmly. ¡°The day I ascended the throne, I cut all the roses here because I no longer needed to hide. I have a lot of roses here, do I really need more roses?¡± Asha kept her mouth shut. What he had said had a double meaning. It was nothing more than a bloody declaration that whoever was aiming for the throne, he would cut them all off. As Karaf recalled his blood-stained coronation ceremony, he muttered bitterly. ¡°Even though it¡¯s the same rose, I somehow don¡¯t want to look at them anymore. When I look at the colorful roses, it feels more real that I am different from them¡­¡­.¡± It was the first time he had spoken openly about this, so Asha was a bit surprised. He didn¡¯t trust others, so he never brought up stories that would be his own weakness. Duran was the only one who occasionally listened to his concerns, but he seemed to trust her. Karaf saw Asha saddened and quickly changed the subject. The Pink Book said that a man who confided his worries to a woman, even during a date, was unattractive. ¡°In the capital, there are desserts that can only be eaten at the festival. I prepared some because I wanted to eat it with you, so feel free to enjoy it.¡± He snapped his fingers, then a servant quickly brought something. There were candies made from fresh flowers neatly packaged in a pretty wooden box with separate compartments. Gorgeous flowers were inside the candies like amber jewels glistening in the sunlight. When Asha¡¯s eyes grew slightly bigger at those beautiful candies, Karaf asked with a smile. ¡°What do you think? Doesn¡¯t it make you want to put it in your mouth just by looking at it?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­ indeed.¡± Asha took a candy with a red flower inside and popped it into her mouth like she was possessed by something. Looking at her plump red lips, Karaf sighed involuntarily. He quickly picked up his teacup to hide his feelings and took a sip of the fragrant flower tea, but his gaze turned to her lips again. Asha said, who dazedly put a sweet candy in her mouth and rolled it around with her tongue. ¡°It¡¯s so sweet¡­¡­. It¡¯s my first time eating something like this.¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯m glad you like it.¡± He couldn¡¯t believe that she became happy just from sweets. Karaf wanted to show her what true happiness was, that she had nothing. ¡°¡­¡­ But Your Majesty.¡± Then, at Asha¡¯s words, Karaf came to his senses. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I understand that Your Majesty is between a flower and a human.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°But is it okay for you to have a family feud?¡± Karaf spat out the tea. Duran, who was nearby, thought he had drunk another poisoned cup of tea, so he let go of his hands that were behind his back. Another unfortunate incident occurred at the Imperial Palace, so he left the interrogation to his subordinates to protect Karaf. Karaf chuckled, covering his mouth with his hand. ¡°As a flower, isn¡¯t it too weird to eat flowers?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­ I apologized. I¡¯ve been rude.¡± Asha had asked that question out of curiosity, but her face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°You are such a strange woman.¡± ¡°Then why do Your Majesty give such precious time to a strange woman?¡± Karaf looked deeply and said. ¡°It was a compliment, but you must have got it backward. I really like special things. And for me, the butterflies are as important as the Empire.¡± Then this time Asha spit out the tea. In the distance, Duran looked at them again with wide-open eyes. He couldn¡¯t figure out what they were talking about, the two of them took turns spitting out tea like that¡­¡­. Jackal, who was quietly listening to their conversation, thought to himself. Should I chew on his hair and pretend I mistook his hair for grass? Asha cringed at his strangely romantic words. Was Karaf always like this before¡­¡­? It was really strange. The man in front of her didn¡¯t look like the man she knew. Asha turned her head abruptly, only to find Sheppy standing up. ¡°Sheppy, do you want to eat one too?¡± Jackal looked at Karaf with piercing eyes and snorted. Karaf smiled and said generously. ¡°Horses like sweet things. Let¡¯s give him one too.¡± Karaf picked the ugliest flower he didn¡¯t like among the fresh flower candy and threw it on the ground. Jackal just stared at him without looking at the candy, then Karaf said relaxed. ¡°Eat it.¡± CH 43 When asked to eat what fell on the ground, Jackal shook his head because his pride was hurt. Karaf frowned. ¡°That damn thing¡­¡­.¡± He was just doing a good deed, but the horse was very rude. Asha spoke quickly making excuses again. ¡°Sheppy only eats what I give him.¡± ¡°Uh, really¡­¡­.¡± He wondered what kind of horse could be so ridiculous. Karaf was speechless and couldn¡¯t say more than click his tongue. Meanwhile, Asha took a candy with purple hyacinth petals, with a slightly weak expression. Jackal felt sad when he realized that she was thinking of him looking at the flowers. ¡°Sheppy, say ¡®ah¡¯.¡± As Asha nuzzled his nose and placed the candy in her palm, Sheppy stuck out his tongue and ate the candy. Karaf, who was looking at them, felt jealousy boiling inside him again. He wondered if that was an act of love between lovers. At this moment, he is also holding back the desire to put a candy directly into Asha¡¯s mouth, but that damn horse is in front of her. As Karaf clenched his fists, he suddenly imagined putting a piece of candy in Asha¡¯s mouth. As he continued with his horrible imagination, his eyes widened and he stopped moving. I am crazy. He must have been so hungry for physical contact that he even thought about this, but his expression suddenly turned serious. But then, the horse suddenly sneezed. Asha asked with wide eyes. ¡°Sheppy? You don¡¯t feel good?¡± Jackal was still coughing. The pollen is driving me crazy¡­¡­. In fact, he had a ¡®pollen allergy¡¯. Horses were originally animals with a well-developed sense of smell, so pollen was really deadly to him. He couldn¡¯t eat raw flowers while transforming into a horse, but he was happy to receive them because Asha gave them to him. However, the smell of roses and poisonous pollen emanating from Karaf¡¯s body was simply unbearable. It was only then that Karaf noticed pollen flying off his body and was stunned. When he¡¯s jealous, he seems to have involuntarily shed pollen from his body like thorns¡­¡­. Asha felt it too, her eyes widening a bit and looking back at him. ¡°By any chance¡­¡­ Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± Karaf said, quickly covering his exposed chest. ¡°The pollen gets worse once a month. It¡¯s an instinct¡­¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t bother to explain what that instinct was. It was a kind of ¡®reproductive instinct¡®, in which flowers spit out pollen for fertilization. But Asha didn¡¯t notice and smiled innocently, covering her mouth. ¡°Once a month¡­¡­ It¡¯s like the time of the woman¡¯s moon.¡± Karaf looked at her with a puzzled expression, but when he saw that she was holding back her laughter for his own good, he blushed and turned his head away. ¡°¡­¡­ You can think as you please. My body is indeed strange. I¡¯m not doing this because I want to.¡± When Karaf finished speaking, he turned around and put a hand to his head. He feared pollen would stick to his hair and look like dandruff. And when he found the pollen on his head as expected, he went, ¡®Damn¡­¡¯ Then he ruffled his bangs nervously. Meanwhile, Jackal had a runny nose and wiggled nostrils. Asha took out a handkerchief and dabbed his nose lovingly, Jackal looked down in embarrassment. A man with a runny nose in front of the woman he likes. He was pathetic. He was really happy that he was now in the form of a horse. Asha asked worriedly as he watched Sheppy who kept sneezing. ¡°Sheppy, do you want to come inside?¡± Jackal shook his head. He wouldn¡¯t be able to stay by her side because of that damn pollen. He wanted to be near her at all times to prevent bad people from showing up again, or the tyrant from doing anything bad to Asha. But it was then. A knight rushed towards them from afar. ¡°Your Majesty! The spy opened his mouth¡­¡­!¡± Karaf looked serious and asked him. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes! This time again, the minorities did it!¡± As the knight reported, he found Asha beside him with her head down. He believed he had made a sensitive report in front of Vanessa, who is from a minority. The knight didn¡¯t know what to do, but Asha¡¯s face had already turned white. The minority was the culprit¡­¡­? Jackal, who was planning a recapture operation under the guise of some kind of kidnapping, also looked at the knight with a shocked expression on his face. The unexpected appearance of a minority kidnapper was derailing the plan. Asha did not understand why minorities wanted to kidnap her. The rumor that she belonged to an ethnic minority had already spread throughout the Imperial Palace, so it was inevitable. Karaf said with a hardened face. ¡°I will question him personally. Let¡¯s go right now.¡± He looked back at Asha and was about to say something, but closed his mouth and followed the knight. It wouldn¡¯t be comforting to tell her anything. Especially if he has to torture them in the future. I¡¯ve been wanting to go on a date with Vanessa¡­¡­. The expression on his face as he walked forward was as bloody as a grim reaper. Asha couldn¡¯t sit still in her anxiety and nervousness. She didn¡¯t know what he was thinking, but she knew that there would be bad consequences. * * * * * Karaf descended into the dungeon with the knights. Inside the iron bars, a disastrous-looking man hung with his hands tied to the ceiling. Seeing the color of his hair with his head bowed down, Karaf thought of someone and frowned for a moment. The subordinate, who was questioning him, turned to him and bowed. ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Karaf trudged into the iron grate and asked calmly. ¡°It was you who dared plan to harm me and Vanessa?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Lift your head. Let¡¯s see how ugly you are.¡± Karaf jerked up a chair to sit proudly across from him, legs apart, arms resting on the back. The man raised his head. At first, his hair looked dark and gray, but upon closer inspection, it was a grayish brown. Through his sweat-drenched hair, his bright blue eyes could be seen. Karaf said, frowning mischievously. ¡°You look very much like him. Are blue eyes a symbol of betrayal?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I am different from Mr. Cylon.¡± Karaf¡¯s face stiffened at the name that suddenly came out of the man¡¯s mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ What did you just say?¡± The man said with his blue eyes shining fiercely. ¡°I am different from the one who was carried away by a momentary affection and forsook the cause. He just put a curse on you and died¡­¡­ A shame for the clan!¡± At that moment, a chair wildly flew over his body. ¡°Ugh¡­¡­.¡± Suddenly, Karaf jumped out of his seat and kicked the chair. The knights around him were a bit flustered, but their faces were hardened with anger just like him. They were well aware that many knights had died in that incident. ¡°Hahaha¡­ How can I not hate minorities?¡± Karaf laughed like a madman, then ruffled his bangs and spoke coldly. ¡°Duran.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Bring me the whip.¡± Duran handed him a whip, looking at him with a ghostly face. Karaf said calmly fiddling with the whip. ¡°My curse seems to be nothing more than a ¡®momentary affection¡¯ for your people ¡­.¡± ¡°Do you think you will live to the end and rule the empire as you please? No! You will never bloom and will slowly wither and die. No one in this world can break your curse¡­¡­!¡± Karaf¡¯s red eyes flashed with madness. ¡°¡­¡­I will let you know a tenth of what pain I feel.¡± When he finished speaking, he swung the whip mercilessly and wildly. The gloomy and dank dungeon reverberated for a while only with merciless whips and cries of pain. * * * * * Asha, who quietly returned to her room, heard the news thanks to the servants¡¯ chatter. The imprisoned minority people disguised themselves as servants at the Imperial Palace on the day of the banquet and said that they had poisoned Karaf¡¯s glass. Also, another assassin was hidden just in case the assassination plan failed. It wasn¡¯t enough for them to kill the emperor, they even tried to kill the butterfly. However, when Asha overheard the maids¡¯ conversation, her eyes widened when she heard about the man who cursed Karaf. ¡°¡­¡­ Well, they say that the spy spoke remarks to His Majesty. That no one in this world can break His Majesty¡¯s curse or something¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Is His Majesty still interrogating him?¡± ¡°Ah, Lady Vanessa¡­¡­.¡± The maids who were chatting among themselves found Asha and rolled their eyes as they looked at the ground. The rumor that the butterfly was the only one capable of breaking his curse had already spread throughout the Empire. Asha¡¯s expression turned serious when she noticed what they were thinking now. For that man to say such a thing, meant that he knew how to break the curse. Maybe Karaf will torture him without killing him until he finds out how to do it¡­¡­. As expected, Karaf had interrogated the spy all day and returned to his bedroom at night. Tired, he ruffled his hair when he suddenly found a bloodstain on his uniform. He frowned and threw his clothes on the floor in annoyance. The chamberlain noticed that he was in a bad mood. Silently he took the uniform and tried to back away. But then Karaf asked. ¡°¡­¡­ What about Vanessa?¡± He asked without even looking at him, but the chamberlain answered politely right away. ¡°I heard from the maids that she had been resting in the room all day.¡± ¡°I see¡­.¡± Karaf looked down a bit. She must have felt uncomfortable after hearing the news. He thought that she might have heard the news that he cruelly tortured him¡­¡­. Tiredness washed over him, and Karaf went to the bathroom and roughly cleaned his bloodied body. Since he wasn¡¯t feeling well, he went to bed earlier than usual and had a nightmare that night. * * * * * Karaf was standing alone in the middle of a forest while it was raining. The knights lay bleeding on the ground around him, and the last remaining Duran stood before him, his sword on the ground gasping for breath. The whole place was covered with blood. Karaf said, holding out a hand to him with trembling eyes. ¡¸¡°Duran¡­¡­.¡±¡¹ CH 44 Duran looked back at him with heavy eyes. His blonde hair, drenched in blood and sweat, streamed down his forehead, and blood gushed from his mouth. ¡¸¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­. please¡­¡­ don¡¯t forgive me¡­¡­.¡±¡¹ As soon as he finished speaking, he collapsed as if his body was falling apart and he fell face down into the mud. Karaf howled like a beast as he saw Duran collapse. ¡¸ ¡°Cylon¡­¡­!¡¹ The gray-haired man turned to him, his face bloodied. Karaf¡¯s eyes twitched. ¡¸¡°Why¡­¡­? Why did you betray me¡­¡­.?¡±¡¹ He spoke in a low voice. ¡¸¡°Karaf¡­¡­ No¡­ Crown Prince. Did you really think we were friends?¡±¡¹ ¡¸¡°What¡­¡­?¡¹ Cylon looked at him and raised his eyebrows as if in pity, then continued. ¡¸¡°We could never be close friends from the moment we first met. People should not deviate from their roles and their positions. You didn¡¯t deserve the throne from the beginning.¡±¡¹ ¡¸¡°Is that the reason you betrayed me? Weren¡¯t we like blood brothers¡­.?¡¹ When Cylon didn¡¯t answer, Karaf¡¯s eyes twitched restlessly. ¡¸¡°Cylon¡­¡­ I beg you ¡­. It¡¯s still not too late¡­¡­. Come back to me now¡­¡­. Please don¡¯t do this to me¡­¡­.¡±¡¹ Even now, Karaf begged him earnestly, as if all this had never happened as if he wanted to believe that he had not betrayed him. But Cylon pointed his dagger at him with a cold expression on his face. ¡¸¡°Now die.¡±¡¹ The rain, which was pouring down as if there was a hole in the sky, with one of his gestures, stopped in midair to the point of frightening. In an instant, the raindrops stopped and silence fell. It was a silent and bizarre sight as if everything had stopped. Karaf then staggered off the ground and got to his feet. He drew his sword head down, and ran at Cylon, screaming. His blood-red eyes burned with anger. Cylon dropped raindrops on Karaf. The raindrops that had stopped in midair flew towards him. Karaf ran through the arrow-sharp-edged rain, finally reaching him, and was able to stab him in the stomach. At that moment, the temporarily stopped rain fell again. A liquid that Karaf did not know if it was rain or tears, poured one after another from his eyes. His sword, stuck in Cylon¡¯s stomach, rattled. He knew the fact that Cylon deliberately missed all his shots ¡­. Cylon smiled and placed a hand on Karaf¡¯s chest. ¡¸¡°Karaf, you still have a long way to go before you become a true emperor¡­¡­.¡±¡¹ At that moment, a red light flowed from his hand, and a crescent moon was etched on his chest. The terrible pain in his chest burned, and Karaf fell to the ground with a sharp cry. At the same time, Cylon also collapsed. The two looked at each other with blurry eyes already on the ground. ¡¸¡°Karaf¡­¡­ I¡¯m ¡­¡­.¡±¡¹ Blood spurted from Cylon¡¯s mouth. He took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth again. ¡¸¡°I couldn¡¯t change my destiny, but ¡­¡­ someday for you¡­¡­ a miracle could happen¡­¡­. a true saint¡­.. could break all these bad ties¡­¡­.¡±¡¹ With a faint smile on his blood-stained lips, he couldn¡¯t finish his words and slowly closed his haggard eyes. Karaf¡¯s face twitched and contorted. Although his body and mind were in terrible pain, he mustered all his strength and desperately stood up. He fell to his knees again and again, but he did not give up. His black hair fluttered. His clothes were torn and had holes in them after being hit by sharp raindrops. The red crescent moon pattern etched on his chest shone clearly. Karaf took a deep breath, clutching his chest with his hand, forcing his eyes to focus again and again. His eyes darkened and blood spurted from his mouth, but he forced himself to hold his breath and staggered toward Duran. When he reached for Duran¡¯s neck to check his pulse, Karaf¡¯s hand stopped. He wasn¡¯t breathing¡­¡­. Karaf¡¯s face hardened with wide eyes, he frowned and quickly sent all the energy of his flower into Duran¡¯s chest. Dazzling white light flashed from his hand, but as soon as he exerted his full strength, the crescent moon etched on his chest reacted violently and began to burn like fire. He felt as if his heart was sealed and his power blocked. Although Karaf screamed, he did not give up until the end. Eventually, the light disappeared and he collapsed next to Duran. After that, it got dark. * * * * * ¡°Huh¡­¡­ Ugh¡­¡­.¡± Karaf awoke from the nightmare, breathing heavily. When he regained consciousness, he felt a burning pain in his throat and his body was boiling. With trembling hands, he fumbled for the table by the bed and took a teacup. But just as he was about to bring the cup to his lips, he stopped in a fright. There may be poison in it¡­¡­. There had already been a poison assassination attempt before so that another spy might be hiding among the servants. He¡¯s had enough of betrayals. Karaf frowned and dropped the cup. Suddenly, an attendant asked urgently outside the door hearing the sound of glass breaking into pieces. ¡°Your Majesty, are you all right!?¡± Feeling that Karaf was in a very bad mood, the servant did not rush into the room until given permission. Karaf was annoyed, so he jumped out of bed and left the room. The chamberlain was surprised when the door burst open. ¡°Your Majesty?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to see Vanessa right now.¡± ¡°Yes? But it¡¯s past midnight¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t complain and follow me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Following Karaf, who was flapping his robe and striding forward, the chamberlain quietly followed him. The days he woke up from nightmares always had a bad prognosis. It was best not to go against him. When Karaf arrived in front of Asha¡¯s room, he stood there for a long time without knocking. It was the first time he had hesitated like this, so the chamberlain quietly waited from behind even though he was surprised. Before long, Karaf took a deep breath and politely knocked twice. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± But he couldn¡¯t hear anything from the inside. He knocked again. ¡°Are you inside? I¡¯m going in.¡± He opened the door carefully, but the bed was empty. Karaf¡¯s eyes widened and he immediately screamed. ¡°Find Vanessa right now! If you don¡¯t find her, I¡¯ll kill everyone tonight¡­¡­!¡± The servants and knights began to search the entire palace in a hurry throughout the early morning. It was the second disappearance since the time Asha hadn¡¯t been in the bedroom cleaning the outside bathroom. Outside the window, there was thunder and lightning and it was pouring rain. It was the same day that Cylon betrayed him. Frantic, clutching his forehead, Karaf had been pacing around Asha¡¯s room, but he looked out the window and realized something. He grabbed his coat and quickly ran out. * * * * * At that time, Asha was walking through the rose garden, unaware that the palace was in chaos because of her. She couldn¡¯t sleep, so she suddenly went for a night walk to organize her thoughts. She wanted to take Sheppy for a walk, but she gave it up because she was afraid of waking up Sheppy, who was already sleeping well, and that he would catch a cold. She thought that it was not a bad thing for her to freely roam the Imperial Palace alone. It was something she could never have imagined in the past, and she felt refreshed. The rainy rose garden was cold and damp due to the gloomy sky, but at the same time, the smell of fresh grass and flowers spread everywhere. Asha was deep in thought as she grabbed an umbrella and fiddled with other flowers in a roseless rose garden. It made her feel uncomfortable because she kept thinking about the man who tried to kidnap her. She was worried that Karaf would change his mind, and she was anxious that she would not be able to protect the ethnic minority and Lycaon at this rate. If I help Karaf¡¯s rose to bloom, can I leave here someday? I think Karaf will let me go by then. Because he doesn¡¯t really love me. Asha once again imagined her future in her head. But as soon as she was hopeful for a moment, she quickly shook her head. Having been fed up with Karaf¡¯s obsession and possessiveness, she concluded that he wouldn¡¯t let her go so easily. Although it went a bit too far, it was a bit different from her previous life¡­¡­ Asha was devastated as she recalled when Karaf was kind to her. It was a time when no one knew that she was still unable to enlighten him. His attitude will change when he finds out about it¡­¡­. As she thought that she would live through such a bitter experience again, she smiled bitterly without realizing it. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­ Vanessa!¡± She heard Karaf¡¯s desperate cry from somewhere. The scent of roses, stronger than usual, cut through the rain and reached her. It felt like the rose was hitting her with all its might. Asha looked back, and her eyes widened. There, even without an umbrella, Karaf, wet from the rain, stood, breathing heavily. He had run all the way here relentlessly, and with each breath he exhaled, white smoke billowed out of his mouth. ¡°Why¡­¡­? Why at this hour¡­¡­ are you alone here¡­¡­.?¡± When Karaf took a shy breath and spoke, Asha smiled and responded to hide her concerns. ¡°Then, why is Your Majesty doing here at this time?¡± ¡°I am not kidding! The whole palace is turned upside down because of you¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Why? No way¡­¡­ Did you think I escaped?¡± Karaf was speechless. Asha calmed down slightly at his reaction. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I just couldn¡¯t sleep and felt suffocated inside so I decided to go for a walk and then come back. The thought of running away¡­¡­.¡± But at that moment, he suddenly came over and hugged her tightly. Asha was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t finish speaking. CH 45 Karaf said with his head lowered. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to doubt you. It¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m anxious¡­¡­.¡± He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on Asha¡¯s shoulder, murmuring. ¡°I was strangely unbearably anxious. It seemed like you were trying to run away from me¡­¡­ I felt like you were going to leave my side forever¡­¡­.¡± Asha felt a small prick in her conscience. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Majesty. I¡¯m not going anywhere. Didn¡¯t I tell you that I made up my mind from the moment I first arrived at the palace?¡± Asha smiled bitterly, then Karaf spoke more calmly, whispering in her ear. ¡°I know¡­¡­.¡± ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± ¡°It was my intuition.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha looked at him slightly, he returned exactly what she said the other day: ¡°my intuition¡±. But Karaf spoke seriously. ¡°Where else can you go in this imperial palace? I could find you so easily.¡± His muscular chest and abs were visible through his rain-soaked pajamas. He wore a waistband over his robe, but no underwear, as his thighs peeked out. Asha¡¯s face reddened. ¡°So, can you please let me go¡­¡­?¡± It was then that Karaf realized that he was hugging her so tightly that it felt like it would break her body. Perhaps he was more embarrassed by his own unexpected behavior, so he quickly let her go. Asha said, looking at the umbrella that fell to the ground when he suddenly hugged her. ¡°Your Majesty has wet my clothes. I was going to take a light walk and go back to sleep¡­¡­.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Karaf quickly picked up the umbrella from the ground and put it on her head. ¡°It¡¯s late. I¡¯m already wet.¡± Karaf was unsettled by Asha¡¯s somewhat cold tone, and then he took off his robe and threw it over her shoulder. Asha put on his large robe and looked at him with a slightly dazed expression on her face. She looks beautiful with her white face drenched in rainwater and wet blonde hair. Karaf¡¯s heart pounded and he turned his head to the side. His face turned red, but it seemed to be a fever in Asha¡¯s eyes. His heart was beating abnormally, and only then did Asha realize that his condition was strange. ¡°Your Majesty, are you feeling well? Now that I think about it, the pollen in the morning¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m fine.¡± Karaf is headstrong, although his complexion didn¡¯t look good. This was his second date with her, and he didn¡¯t want to waste another good opportunity just because he wasn¡¯t feeling well. There was no one interfering, so it was a perfect opportunity to be just the two of them. Asha immediately placed her hand on his forehead and cried out in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re not! Your forehead is like a fireball!¡± Karaf looked at her with wide eyes as she placed a hand on his forehead. ¡°I think you¡¯d better hurry up and go inside.¡± Karaf closed his eyes for a moment and breathed heavily due to the heat felt in his body. Raindrops splashed on his face. He unintentionally looked weird and sexy. ¡°Okay¡­¡­. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll catch a cold if I stay here. Let¡¯s go to my room.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ What?¡± Asha asked because she thought she might have misheard. ¡°Why should I go to Your Majesty¡¯s room instead of mine¡­¡­?¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, so shouldn¡¯t you take responsibility?¡± ¡°But Your Majesty is the embodiment of flowers, so isn¡¯t it good that it rains on you regularly?¡± Asha¡¯s retort left him speechless. Because it was true. Usually, he liked it when it rained on him. It got to the point of deliberately walking without an umbrella on rainy days. Karaf said, in embarrassment, and coughing for no reason. ¡°Then take responsibility for making me feel uneasy when you disappeared tonight. Isn¡¯t this a circle, a flower following a butterfly?¡± Karaf continued with a smile full of ulterior motives. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep at the moment, so have a glass of wine in my room. Can¡¯t we have a drink together before bed?¡± Immediately after hearing those words, Asha¡¯s body tensed. The phrase ¡°Would you like to have a drink with me?¡± was the same as ¡°Would you like to spend the night with me?¡± in his dictionary. In the past, he always drank alcohol before sexual intercourse. ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t feel like drinking right now.¡± When Asha stiffly turned her head to the side, Karaf immediately took her hand sadly. ¡°Then stay by my side until I fall asleep. Please.¡± Why is this man so clingy today¡­¡­.? Asha frowned at Karaf again, startled by his serious gaze. His hands were trembling slightly. His body was boiling and he was breathing heavily, and his condition seemed so bad. For some reason, it looked like he was going to drink alone all night because he would get upset if she refused. As a butterfly, she couldn¡¯t let a flower drink with a sick body. Asha sighed silently as if she had lost. ¡°Did you have another nightmare?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karaf didn¡¯t answer because he was embarrassed. He¡¯s not a child. He was ashamed of himself for waking up screaming every time he had nightmares. However, in Asha¡¯s eyes, for some reason, he looked like a pitiful rain-soaked dog. Asha said, looking away. ¡°¡­.. I can sing you to sleep.¡± Karaf¡¯s face lit up. ¡°That¡¯s great! There¡¯s nothing like falling asleep with you by my side.¡± When Asha narrowed her eyes at him, Karaf had a cheeky expression on his face as if he had never been sick, and he smiled. He walked forward with a smile on his face. It was as if a puppy had persuaded his owner to go for a walk on a rainy day. * * * * * At that time, Jackal was alone in the room looking out the rainy window. He needs to inform Sosa of what happened at the Imperial Palace quickly and review the plan, but in this weather, even if a hawk flies by, the note will get wet, so he won¡¯t be able to deliver it. Hoping that the rain would stop as soon as possible, Jackal returned to his human form and wrote a long note to Sosa. He wrote in the note that due to another spy belonging to an ethnic minority, the palace¡¯s security became tighter, making it difficult to save Asha, and the Emperor¡¯s anger against the minority also grew stronger. What the hell are they doing¡­¡­. Jackal¡¯s forehead tightened. For some reason, he felt that the minorities kept dragging their feet. He had to find out why they were targeting Asha. Jackal belatedly sensed someone¡¯s presence and looked somewhere. A servant, who was hiding behind the door and looking at him was surprised when he made eye contact with him. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened as well. He was a stout adult man now naked. It was a perfect situation to be misunderstood as a spy who infiltrated the palace. ¡°The¡­ the horse turned into a human¡­ ¡­ ! I must inform His Majesty immediately!¡± The servant hurriedly turned around and ran. Damn it. Jackal frowned and turned back into a horse. He left the room, ran at full speed, and followed the servant. After all, humans can¡¯t keep up with the speed of horses. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t come¡­¡­!¡± The servant looked at the wild horse with wide eyes as he fell. Jackal jumped high above him, vigorously kicking his hind feet. The servant trembled as he squeezed his eyes shut and ducked at the terrifying sight of a great horse reaching for him like a shadow in the dark. But at that moment, Jackal returned to his human form in midair, landed softly on his body, and hit him on the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened and he looked at the stunned man with a confused expression. What do I do now¡­¡­? Killing the enemy who discovered his identity was the right thing for him to do. However, even if he kills this man here, it was impossible to completely dispose of the body without anyone knowing, and above all, he didn¡¯t want to recklessly kill an innocent person. It wasn¡¯t his style. He looked around, and fortunately, there seemed to be no witnesses other than this man. Cold sweat formed on his forehead and neck. He would soon be discovered by other servants. His heart was pounding amid the chaos. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened as an idea occurred to him. * * * * * Asha returned to the palace with Karaf, washed, and changed into a new nightgown. The maids who received instructions from Karaf were more excited about the unexpected preparation. She was going to go back after drinking, but somehow everything seemed to be going well, with the ¡®lovemaking confirmed¡¯, so Asha was very upset. Especially the venomous head maid has been excessively loyal to Asha since the day she covered for her. She arbitrarily judged that Asha¡¯s anxious appearance had been strained by her affair with the emperor, so she massaged her with lavender essential oil to ease the tension. They were more concerned after clearly hearing from Karaf that Vanessa liked purple flowers. The luxurious emperor¡¯s bedroom had a terrace overlooking the night view of the empire. Asha was dressed in a light but elegant silk nightgown and was lost in thought as she looked at the night view, but then the door slowly opened. Asha turned around as the strong scent of roses wafting through the door startled her. Karaf was at the doorway, lavishly dressed like a peacock. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± A question mark appeared above Asha¡¯s head. She wondered what kind of monstrous attire he was wearing to sleep. Dressed in a robe delicately embroidered with golden thread, he stood by the door smiling triumphantly. He wanted to look good for her, so he chose the most glamorous attire he had. Perhaps because of the rain, Karaf¡¯s face looks smoother and brighter than usual. She thought that he was a real flower that came to life right after it rained. The servants entered with expensive wines. Karaf walked over to the table, and calmly popped the cork. Asha asked cautiously, looking at him anxiously. ¡°Do you tend to drink before going to bed¡­..always dressed like this?¡± CH 46 ¡°Yes. Taking medicine before going to sleep is a great cure for insomnia.¡± Karaf responded, pouring a large amount of medicine into his mouth along with alcohol. ¡°That¡¯s bad for your health.¡± He smiled with satisfaction. ¡°I am happy to hear your nagging, but please take care of me just for today. At the flower banquet, some dung flies were involved, so we couldn¡¯t drink together.¡± Asha was speechless as he described the assassins as ¡®dung flies¡¯. However, she had nothing to say as she reminisced about that day. Karaf served a dark red wine with a similar feel to his mood. Soon the entire room was filled with the scent of wine and flowers. Asha looked at him and drank with him. To the sound of the sparkling goblets, they sat down, each bringing their wine glasses to their lips. Asha gently lowered her glass and looked up at him. He was drinking the wine as if it were water. Suddenly, a stream of wine from the glass trickled down his Adam¡¯s apple. It was then that Asha inadvertently reached out to give him a napkin. Karaf gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him. Asha looked up at his face in surprise as she leaned against his chest. Suddenly, his red eyes stared at her. He looked drowsy and strange, she didn¡¯t know what he was thinking. Suddenly, there was a strange tension in the room. As she drank the flower-scented wine, Asha felt like she was getting drunk. But it was then. ¡°Ah¡­¡­!¡± Karaf picked her up suddenly. ¡°Your Majesty, what are you doing¡­¡­! Put me down!¡± Asha struggled in his arms, but she was very weak compared to the strength of his strong arms. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll put you down.¡± Karaf smirked, carried Asha to his bed, and gently laid her down. Asha looked up at him anxiously. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? You seemed sleepy, so I put you to bed.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I don¡¯t need such kindness.¡± Asha turned away bitterly. Spending the night with him was not a good memory of her previous life. She wanted to avoid it if she could. ¡°Hooo¡­¡­ It¡¯s getting hot.¡± Karaf took off his robe. Asha freaked out, stepped back to the end of the bed, and covered herself with a blanket. Karaf saw her reaction and smirked. ¡°Why are you suddenly avoiding me? Do you think I¡¯ll do something bad to you?¡± He leaned in and asked closer. His red eyes shone like rubies through his black hair. Asha muttered in bewilderment not knowing what she was talking about, not knowing if she was drunk or not. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve never slept in the same bed with a stranger¡­¡­.¡± Karaf paused. Asha was momentarily embarrassed and could not finish speaking. She pulled the blanket up around her neck and lay down, then heard a gruff voice behind her. ¡°First¡­¡­ time?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± It wasn¡¯t her first time with him, but it was her first time in this new life. Asha didn¡¯t bother to reply, but her silence spoke positively to him. Karaf muttered to himself in a panic. ¡°You said something about choosing flowers with your body at the banquet¡­¡­.¡± He stopped talking and kept his mouth shut. ¡­¡­ Butterflies only use their bodies to choose flowers. Thinking about it now, it seems that what she said back then was misunderstood. Karaf tried to joke around, but instead, he panicked. The atmosphere had become an irreversible awkwardness. However, the pheromones were spewing out of him again. It wasn¡¯t his will, it was his body that wanted to become one with the butterfly.¡­. Asha unconsciously sneezed while he was trying to get rid of the pollen. Karaf moved quickly away from her. After a long silence, Asha was afraid of what he might think, but she didn¡¯t look back. She thought it was better not to know. But if she had seen his expression, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep her mouth shut. Karaf looked very happy and excited to be her first man. When she found out that she really had nothing to do with the Lycaon leader, his tight chest felt renewed. Perhaps embarrassed, the figure of Asha lying unresponsive looked more coy and lovely in his eyes. Karaf tried to speak calmly. ¡°¡­¡­ don¡¯t worry. I will wait until you are officially my Empress. I have been anxiously waiting for a butterfly, and waiting a little longer is nothing.¡± Suddenly he felt thirsty, so he took the glass of wine and drank it again. ¡°I will do my best to be the man you like until the ceremony.¡± For some reason, Asha opened her eyes. She couldn¡¯t believe that he would go to any lengths to be her ideal man¡­¡­. She was the one who always tried to please him, and he was the one who treated her effort as insignificant. It was a really strange scene for her to see him humbling himself. After neatly brushing the pollen off his body, Karaf lay down next to Asha. Asha turned around and asked with a worried expression on her face. ¡°¡­¡­ But why are you lying next to me?¡± Karaf slyly lay down beside her, then looked up at her, holding his face with one arm. ¡°This is my bed. Should I, the Emperor, sleep on the floor?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha closed her eyes in shame. Karaf grinned. ¡°I won¡¯t do anything, so sleep without worry. This bed is quite spacious, but our skins might touch if we¡¯re not careful¡­¡­ I won¡¯t¡­¡­.¡± Somehow, towards the end, his voice seemed to grow smaller and more subdued. Asha asked stiffly. ¡°Do you have any sleeping habits? I can¡¯t sleep in the same room with someone who has a sleeping habit.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s complicated.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not officially Vanessa yet. I am very embarrassed now. It¡¯s my first time experiencing something like this, so please understand, Your Majesty.¡± Convinced that he had the initiative, Asha spoke with more determination. This was also not possible to do in her previous life. But when she emphasized that it was her ¡®first time¡¯ again, Karaf flinched. He sighed a bit and said. ¡°¡­¡­ Sometimes when I have nightmares, I scream without realizing it, but if you want, I can lie down like I¡¯m dead.¡± ¡°Then please.¡± Asha spoke firmly, but strangely, the situation was a bit funny, and a small smile appeared on her lips. As time passed, the sound of Asha¡¯s breathing filled the room. But Karaf couldn¡¯t sleep, so his eyes were wide open in the dark. Originally, he suffered from insomnia as if it were a chronic illness, but his heart was pounding and he couldn¡¯t come to his senses. It was even more so because the woman he likes was lying next to him. Have I had too much to drink¡­..? Normally, he would pass out after drinking a lot of alcohol. Karaf crept over to drink the tea Asha had given him, then turned his gaze to Asha, who was sleeping peacefully beside him. Her golden hair was disheveled like a wave on the white pillow, and a fragrant smell came from her. Karaf suddenly felt a boiling lust, and his face flushed with a frown. Ugh¡­ I¡¯m really out of my mind. He got out of bed and drank the cold tea. Meanwhile, his eyes kept looking toward Asha. Why do butterflies smell more fragrant than flowers¡­.? The woman who said he smells like roses, does she really not know what kind of smell comes out of her body? Suddenly, her skin was showing through the white nightgown she was wearing. Perhaps because she lived in a cold region, her skin was as white as snow. She was slim, but probably a huntress, her body was slender without fat, and her skin had a healthy glow. Karaf sighed over and over, wanting to bury his face in her neck. He shook his head quickly and hesitantly pulled the blanket up around Asha¡¯s neck, and headed for the sofa. He often slept on the sofa after working late at night, but this was the first time that he, the Emperor, had voluntarily slept on the sofa for someone like her. Suddenly he felt the blood rushing to his lower part and feeling hardened, Karaf lifted the blanket and looked down, lamenting. Shit¡­¡­. How can I get excited at this time of night ¡­.? He forced himself to calm down and lay on his side with the blanket over his shoulder, but he couldn¡¯t sleep after that. I have to hold the flowering ceremony as soon as possible¡­.. Asha¡¯s breathing synchronized with his sighs. * * * * * At dawn, the servant¡¯s eyes snapped open and he rose to his feet. ¡°The¡­the horse!¡± He hurried to the other stable servant and told him without hesitation what he had seen. ¡°The horse turned into a human and attacked me.¡± The other servant looked at him with pity and disgust. ¡°You must have seen wrong because you were drunk. Why did you drink so late at night?¡± The servant was all red from face to neck, and the smell of alcohol wafted from his body. ¡°I didn¡¯t drink!¡± ¡°That¡¯s funny. Do you want me to believe you now?¡± ¡°What I say is true! I¡¯ll show you right now! This is a serious matter to report to His Majesty!¡± ¡°Oh, you are so annoying! Don¡¯t you know that today is the first day that His Majesty and Lady Vanessa spend the night together? Don¡¯t make a fuss and ruin the good mood for nothing if you don¡¯t want to lose your life.¡± The servant¡¯s face turned white in an instant. ¡°If you¡¯re just playing a trick on me, I¡¯ll kill you with my bare hands.¡± The servant put on his robe as if he was going to die of anguish and followed him. The two came to the room where Jackal was. When he picked up the lamp and looked inside, he saw a gray-blue horse leaning against the wall sleeping. There were bottles of wine lying around that appeared to have been drunk by his coworker. When he stared at him, the other servant said with a fuss. ¡°Wake up! That¡¯s a human being!¡± He hid behind him, probably frightened by the memories before he passed out. Then, Jackal glanced at them with wide eyes. The servant gulped down. CH 47 Jackal blinked like a tame horse that knew nothing, went to a nearby watering hole, and began to drink as if thirsty. And while he was at it, he started mumbling the straw next. ¡°Hey, look carefully. Does that look like a person? No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s not a horse.¡± ¡°This¡­this is strange! It can¡¯t be¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen nothing, you were drunk!¡± The man hit the servant on the head. ¡°Please pull yourself together! Drunkard.¡± ¡°No, what I¡¯m trying to say¡­¡­.¡± The servant took his hands to his head as if it was unfair, but the man spoke harshly. ¡°How dare you drink so much in front of Lady Vanessa¡¯s favorite horse? Thank God you didn¡¯t report this to His Majesty. Because it was me, you¡¯re saved, but if anyone else saw it, you¡¯d be fired. You understand?¡± The servant frowned and glanced at Jackal unhappily. But Jackal closed his eyes again and fell asleep. The servant cocked his head, trying to recall if he had been drinking, but backed away, wondering if he really saw anything. As soon as they closed the door and left, Jackal returned to his human form and spit out straws. He let out a sigh of relief, rubbing his chest. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t seem to have been caught. A while ago, Jackal dragged the passed-out man into a room and headed to the storeroom where the servants kept the alcohol. Fortunately, the warehouse was not far from the stable. It was a very lucky time to learn a bit about the palace¡¯s complicated structure before infiltrating the palace. Jackal came back with a bunch of bottles and poured one into the mouth of the passed-out man. I¡¯m sorry. He poured the entire bottle, then emptied another bottle, and with another bottle, he poured half of it on his clothes to make it look like he was drinking it. He barely got through the crisis with his wit, but he thought he had to be more careful now that it was dangerous to turn into his human form. He was sure that the servant would keep an eye on him. Jackal pushed back his sweaty hair. He had to meet Asha before the flowering ceremony and reveal his identity to her, but it was difficult to do so. * * * * * At dawn, when everyone was asleep, Asha suddenly opened her eyes in the dark. When she woke up, Karaf had moved to the sofa to sleep, and there were bottles of medicine and alcohol on the table in front of him. He seemed to have not slept for a long time, even after she fell asleep, and seemed to have taken too much alcohol and medication. Asha glanced slightly at his sleeping face. Seeing him sleep and breathe regularly without moving, he seemed to be truly fast asleep. He is a tyrant when he is awake, but he looks like an innocent child when his terrifying face is relaxed. She felt a little sad. Suddenly, she remembered the black-haired boy she had met when she passed out. A child who is not loved by his mother and is covered in thorns. Somehow Karaf looked as sad as the little boy. The cursed flower¡­¡­. The nickname Karaf was given must have meant more than just being unable to bloom. Asha did not yet know the details of the curse placed upon him. She feels sorry for him, so she reached out to him, but her hand stopped in midair without touching his body. Asha¡¯s eyes widened a bit. Suddenly it occurred to her that this was her chance. All the servants were asleep, and Karaf was drunk and sleeping more soundly than usual. She had something to ask the spy. Maybe Karaf didn¡¯t get any information from him. That¡¯s why he had a nightmare and looked so anxious when she disappeared. The man would be tortured to death, but he would never tell Karaf how to break the curse. But maybe she didn¡¯t know if she could get a little clue out of him. Because she also comes from a minority clan. The spy was obviously aware of this and approached her, not to kill her, but to kidnap her. Asha wanted to know why. If Karaf, enraged by this incident, ordered the subjugation of the minorities, then it would really be bad. Only the timing was slightly different, but it would be the same ending as in the past. And Asha could never let that happen. Asha tied the towels and clothes carefully to the window. Karaf would never allow her to come into contact with the man under the guise of danger, so she had no choice but to escape. Landing safely on the grass like a butterfly, Asha looked up. Her purple eyes glowed brightly in the dark. Asha learned in her spare time the structure of the palace, so she used the shortest passageway to the dungeon. When she suddenly appeared in the middle of the night, all the knights guarding the dungeon were shocked. ¡°Pardon me, Lady Vanessa. What are you doing here at this hour?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to see the spy.¡± The knights murmured helplessly. ¡°But His Majesty ordered us not to let anyone in here¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I came here at this hour on purpose. If I get caught, you and I will be in big trouble.¡± As Asha smiled, her beautiful face made them dazed. ¡°I came to see if I could find out how to break His Majesty¡¯s curse. It will take a minute.¡± Since they were still hesitating and refusing to move, Asha added earnestly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will not feel any compassion for someone who almost killed me. But I need to know why he tried to kidnap me. Think of it as a different kind of interrogation.¡± At last, they sighed. ¡°¡­¡­I understand. Instead, you must be quick. If you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll be in big trouble!¡± ¡°Yes, I will keep that in mind. Thank you.¡± Asha smiled at them, and as soon as she entered, her expression hardened and she made up her mind. As she was walking down the corridor, he finally found the spy in the innermost room. Inside, the spy was drenched in blood, with his arms tied up. The clothes he was wearing were in tatters and stuck to his wounds. Asha bit her lower lip and walked slowly toward him. The man slowly raised his head when he heard footsteps approaching. His eyes widened and he screamed. ¡°You¡­!¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Asha put her index finger to his mouth and said calmly. ¡°Listen carefully from now on. I am here to save you.¡± The man looked at Asha¡¯s face as if he couldn¡¯t believe it with his swollen eyes. ¡°If you tell me how to break His Majesty¡¯s curse, I will do my best to save you. I came to the Imperial Palace on my own to save minorities.¡± The man started laughing. Asha frowned and asked him. ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± ¡°¡­¡­You came here for the same purpose as me. Although the method seems a bit different.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°I also want to save our people. That¡¯s why I did it.¡± Asha said very seriously. ¡°If you thought that assassinating the Emperor was the way to save minorities, you are wrong. The more you provoke the Emperor, the more the minorities will be persecuted than they are now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­No. It¡¯s not me who¡¯s wrong, it¡¯s you, Vanessa. This is just for you, so listen carefully from now on.¡± The man forced his immobile body to lean as far as he could and whispered in a somber tone. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about breaking his curse. When he blooms, you die.¡± Asha¡¯s face paled. ¡°What the hell¡­. do you mean?¡± Her voice trembled. He said with more determination. ¡°The curse on his body is not just a curse. If he blooms, it will hurt not only you but everyone in the Empire. And minorities will never be able to escape from the vicious circle.¡± ¡°What are you talking about¡­..¡± ¡°This black rose is our last chance for our people. It¡¯s not too late yet, so run away from him as soon as possible¡­¡­!¡± His voice became more and more intense, and at the end, it sounded like a scream or a shriek. Asha was confused and couldn¡¯t answer. She came to ask him how to break the curse, but only got an answer not to break the curse. ¡°Vanessa, there is another man who needs to bloom, please enlighten him for our people. If you can¡¯t kill the Emperor, then that¡¯s the only way to stop him.¡± Asha was even more surprised. ¡°I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s another man¡­¡­ Who the hell is that?¡± ¡°Go to the temple. Your butterfly intuition will recognize him immediately. He¡¯s also the embodiment of a flower like the Emperor.¡± Asha looked at him with trembling eyes. ¡°And don¡¯t worry about me anymore. Since I failed to kill him, all I have left is death.¡± He looked down and put on a calm expression as if he knew he was going to die. Asha suddenly wondered if the reason had something to do with the manifestation of another flower he was talking about. She got goosebumps. But then, a loud noise came from outside. Thinking it was a sign to get out quickly, Asha walked back the way she came in a hurry. Looking back while running, the man looked at her with resignation. When she was completely out of sight, someone appeared as a shadow from behind the wall. Red eyes glowed like blood in the dark. It was Karaf¡­¡­. After tossing and turning all night because he couldn¡¯t sleep, he saw her escape in the middle of the night and secretly followed her. He didn¡¯t want to doubt her anymore, but seeing her escape through the window seemed so suspicious that he couldn¡¯t help it. His face hardened as she headed for the dungeon. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust her. But he had to know what she was going to talk about when she met the spy secretly at night. He was wearing a thick cloak so she couldn¡¯t detect his scent. He sucks into the dungeon through a secret passage known only to the Cactus Knights. And thanks to the rain, the scent dispersed and he was able to chase after her without being caught. And Karaf, who had just overheard their conversation, had bloodshot eyes. CH 48 Asha climbed into the room through the rope she made that hung from the window. However, as soon as her feet hit the ground, she found a shadow standing in the middle of the room, and Asha almost cried out in surprise. ¡°¡­¡­ Where did you go alone in the middle of the night? Secretly through the window, too.¡± His deep voice sounded angry, like the growl of an animal. As he walked to the window, she could see his pale face cold in the moonlight. Asha trembled and swallowed hard. His eyes were cold, 180 degrees different from before. It was the same familiar gaze that had always looked at her in her previous life. Asha intuitively realized that he had followed her. Besides, seeing how angry he was, he seemed to know everything, from where she had been, also that she had sneaked out of the room through the window secretly. The reason he didn¡¯t wake up all the servants as loudly as last time is probably because he didn¡¯t want rumors that Vanessa had run away during their first night. But it was even more terrifying to get to the room with him waiting for her in silence. He was testing her now. Lying in this situation will destroy the trust that she has built so far. Asha lowered her eyes and spoke the truth. ¡°¡­¡­ I went to the dungeon.¡± When she answered honestly, Karaf¡¯s cold expression softened a bit. ¡°Why did you go and talk to the spy without telling me?¡± Asha said in surprise. ¡°I said nothing! I just wanted to know how to break Your Majesty¡¯s curse¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So you went to interrogate the spy yourself?¡± ¡°Yes¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not your job, but mine and the knights!¡± Karaf raised his voice for the first time. His appearance felt even more daunting. Feeling like a prey against a predator again, Asha shivered unconsciously. ¡°I heard the bullshit he said. Because I¡¯m cursed, I shouldn¡¯t bloom.¡± He smirked at himself. ¡°I have heard it since the day I ascended to the throne, I¡¯m tired of it now. But strangely, it was unbearably unpleasant to hear it this time. How dare he tell my Vanessa to pick up a man other than me!¡± As expected, he heard everything. As Asha lowered her eyes even further, he said while looking down at her in an authoritative manner. ¡°I told you to stay by my side no matter what happens. I told you that I will protect you and take care of you so that you don¡¯t have to do anything and just be comfortable. But you try to mingle with the spy. I¡¯ve been working hard to please you, but did you find it so ridiculous?¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty¡­¡­It¡¯s not like that¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Do you think so too? That I am the seed of misery that will destroy everything in the Empire?¡± ¡°That is not true¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Then why did you listen carefully to him when he said such nonsense? Why didn¡¯t you get angry when he insulted me and even asked who the other man is!¡± As he screamed, Asha closed her eyes in a daze. His usual cold appearance disappeared, and before she knew it, he looked like a madman. She could feel the strong breath right in front of her. He deserved to be angry. He must have felt that the butterfly would leave him and fly off in search of another flower at any moment. But he clearly told her that he had no doubts about her¡­ The hope that he could change was shattered. Asha gave up making excuses. And as she always has in the past, she leaned down and begged him to forgive her. ¡°¡­¡­ I was wrong, Your Majesty¡­¡­. I am very sorry to have offended and defamed Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Do you also¡­¡­ think I am cursed?¡± His voice, which seemed to suppress his anger, contained an unbearable pain. ¡°That is not true.¡± ¡°Then will you try to make my flower bloom?¡± ¡°I will try.¡± ¡°Try¡­¡­ you will try¡­.¡± Karaf smiled bitterly. ¡°That¡¯s a very formal answer. It doesn¡¯t seem like the relationship of an emperor and empress.¡± Asha looked up. Her eyes caught Karaf by surprise. Her purple eyes were full of sadness and resignation. He asked in a trembling voice. ¡°Why¡­¡­ Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Asha did not answer. The two of them didn¡¯t really have a normal relationship as emperor and empress. In the past, they did not love each other. Karaf¡¯s face contorted painfully at Asha¡¯s silence, but his expression barely changed and he spoke coldly. ¡°¡­¡­ you don¡¯t like me, but it seems I misunderstood and my heart raced by itself.¡± He was originally pale, but in the dark, it seemed as if he had no blood. His pride was hurt, he bowed his head for a moment, pursed his lips, and shouted loudly. ¡°Duran!¡± Duran, who was waiting outside, entered. ¡°Did you call me, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Watch Vanessa so she doesn¡¯t leave the Palace.¡± ¡°Pardon me?¡± ¡°From now on, make sure she doesn¡¯t go out alone and don¡¯t let anyone meet and talk to her without my permission. My butterfly seems to fly through the windows, so close all the windows in the room and cover them with wooden boards.¡± Asha squeezed her eyes shut. She went back to the past, but she was walking towards the same end. ¡°There isn¡¯t much left until the flowering ceremony, so until then, don¡¯t go anywhere and just stay quietly in your room. This is a command. This is all for your safety, so don¡¯t blame me. If you don¡¯t want to be kidnapped or die like last time, you¡¯d better do as I say.¡± Karaf calmly said what he had to say, and left the room without looking at Asha. Left alone in the dark room, Asha lost strength in her legs and collapsed onto the bed. * * * * * A long rainy season has come to the Empire before the flowering ceremony. In the rainy season, when summer had yet to come, the reaction of the people of the Empire was divided into two. Some people say that this phenomenon is an ominous omen, but roses bloom between spring and summer. Some say that it was a good sign that a butterfly appeared this time and that the actual ¡®flowering day¡¯ was approaching. Karaf arrived at Asha¡¯s room during his busiest work schedule. He made the decision to lock her in her room, and he wasn¡¯t comfortable with that, so he couldn¡¯t get any job done. But from that day on, Asha curled up like a pupa and lay on her bed like she was dead. The maids were worried that she was getting sick and reported everything to Karaf. Karaf would visit Asha whenever he had a lot on his mind, but at the door, he would look at her lying in bed through a crack in the door, hesitate, and just go back. He returned to his office, nervously tapping his quill pen on the desk. After falling out with Asha, his days turned unpleasant like a rainy season. The spy¡¯s last curse still rang in his ears. You will never bloom and die¡­¡­! Just because Vanessa is by your side? I bet my life she resents you and hates you. No butterfly will love a sick, rotten flower¡­¡­! As soon as he heard that, his eyes shook, and he drew a sword and struck his neck. He didn¡¯t want to hear anything from his mouth anymore, even though he had a lot to find out. Trembling with rage, Duran looked at him from behind and fell silent. Karaf said, barely containing his anger. ¡­¡­ Find out everyone who has anything to do with this bastard, take off their clothes and take them out of the Imperial Palace. Cut their throats if they ever gave this bastard any information. He wanted to kill them, regardless of the severity of the crime, but changed his mind, remembering that Asha would hate it. He was afraid that if he did that, Asha would hate him and start avoiding him. The further apart they were, the more anxious Karaf became. Asha would have nothing to regret if they weren¡¯t together. He had nothing she wanted in the Imperial Palace, and he didn¡¯t know if she would be comfortable living in the palace as a person from an ethnic clan. But he couldn¡¯t live without her. Because she¡¯s the only one who can save him from the curse¡­¡­. Karaf put all the documents on the desk aside and covered his forehead with both hands. He¡¯s supposed to give Vanessa nothing but the best, and he was supposed to make her fall in love with him, but instead of being nice to her, he¡¯s punishing her¡­¡­. It seemed that by doing this she would resent him and hate him. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, but he didn¡¯t know how to fix this situation. Meanwhile, Jackal realized that something had happened to Asha when she didn¡¯t come to visit him. He was also nervous because the flowering ceremony was just around the corner, but at that moment, he heard the conversations of the passing servants. ¡°¡­¡­ His Majesty is imprisoning Vanessa in her room?¡± Jackal gritted his teeth. He wondered why that damned tyrant was suddenly so nice to Asha, but this time he went too far. For some reason, she seemed to be in danger whenever she was near the emperor. She would be safer if she lived like a wanderer. ¡°His Majesty is doing this to protect Lady Vanessa, but she won¡¯t be able to leave the room no matter how hard she tries¡­¡­.¡± Among the servants, there seemed to be very few maids serving Asha. They even said they were all under the emperor¡¯s supervision and reported every move she made. When he thought of Asha, who must have been hurt by him again, his heart ached. He wanted to immediately run to her and comfort her. Jackal lowered his head. He should be by Asha¡¯s side. He didn¡¯t have much time now. Now that this has happened, it was all or nothing. Jackal was able to escape from the servants¡¯ surveillance, secretly returned to his human form, and opened the door. And as soon as he left, he turned back into a horse and ran down the corridor. CH 49 Focusing on Asha¡¯s scent as he ran, he quickly ran into the knights. They panicked as a burly horse ran excitedly toward them. Duran noticed it too, his eyes widening and he took a step forward. He tried to stop the horse by force. ¡°Force encircling formation¡± The nearby knights formed a formation and attempted a rope capture operation. Ultimately, Jackal was interrupted by them before reaching Asha. The horse rebelled in such a state of excitement that the knights broke out in a cold sweat even though they tied it up tightly with ropes. Otherwise, they would all be dragged along by the horse. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­ Sheppy!¡± Asha, startled by the disturbance, ran out of the room. As soon as Jackal saw her, he roared, raised his front legs, and struggled noisily. His cry sounded somewhat mournful. Duran saw some commonality in the horse¡¯s appearance. He recalled a man, Lycaon¡¯s boss, reaching out one last time and calling out Asha¡¯s name. He raised a hand and instructed the knights. ¡°Let them see each other for a moment.¡± ¡°But¡­¡­! If we let go now, Lady Vanessa might get hurt!¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, let it go.¡± Duran spoke so calmly that the knights relaxed their grip on the rope as they swallowed hard. As soon as Jackal was released from the restraint, he immediately rushed toward her. Even though the burly horse was running fiercely, Asha was not afraid and just waited with open arms. Surprisingly, the horse slowed down, and when it reached her, it gently closed its eyes on her arms. Seeing that, all the knights¡¯ eyes widened. Asha hugged Sheppy and whispered sadly. ¡°Sheppy, did you come to see me? Because I¡¯m imprisoned in the palace?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Purung.¡± He gasped. ¡°But why did you come to me like this? It¡¯s dangerous¡­¡­ If you cause trouble, I don¡¯t know what His Majesty will do to you.¡± Jackal shook his head in her arms. He wanted to go to Karaf right now and break his ribs. But now was the time to be patient. He knew he had to be patient, but his heart kept getting impatient. Asha was right in front of him, and his heart ached even more from the fact that he couldn¡¯t reveal his identity. Asha patted the excited horse stroking the soft fur. With her warm touch, Jackal¡¯s rough breathing gradually calmed down and he came to his senses. The news reached Karaf¡¯s ears. He was working in the office, and when he heard the report, he laughed as if it was ridiculous. ¡°Is escaping a hobby like its master¡­.¡± But the expression on his face when he said that wasn¡¯t good either. He knew well that Asha was his most treasured possession and the only existence that made him feel free. He felt terrible as if he had become the villain. He was walking a tightrope when he felt within himself the evil urge to destroy her possessions and make her focus only on him, and the fear that by doing so, he would be forever hated by her. From that day on, even Jackal was unable to go out under the supervision of the knights. With Asha¡¯s security tightening up before the ceremony, he had no chance to reveal his identity at all. And if he had tried to run away alone with Asha as he planned from the beginning, he would have a 100% chance of failing. The only way left now was to break through on the day of the flowering ceremony. When he was worried about Asha, the door opened and a red-haired maid slipped in. He looked up and glanced at her, then realized it was Asha¡¯s maid. ¡°Hello, Sheppy!¡± Sonya happily greeted him. ¡°Lady Vanessa wanted to know how Sheppy was doing. Oh, and she told me to bring this as well.¡± Sonya put down a basket with all kinds of fruit. ¡°She told me that Sheppy doesn¡¯t like hay very much, so she told me to give you fresh fruit. Ah, that¡¯s right, there are sugar cubes here too. She said that you like sweets, but sweets are hard to find, so I brought sugar cubes instead.¡± Jackal lowered his eyelids. She closely watched what he ate the day she drank tea in the garden with the emperor. Asha was such a caring woman. Even when she¡¯s imprisoned, she still cares enough about him to send him fruits¡­ When Sonya saw Sheppy¡¯s eyes moisten, she gently stroked his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Lady Vanessa is fine. She told me that you can understand.¡± Jackal answered ¡®Pureung¡¯, and put his face on the ground helplessly. If anyone other than Asha had touched him, he would have refused right away, but this time, he stayed still and was thankful that the maid had come to break the news to him. However, when Sonia saw that the horse responded, she widened her eyes and shouted. ¡°Do you really understand me? How amazing!¡± Jackal just wrinkled his nose and sighed. ¡°Are you worried about Lady Vanessa? You look weak today. You¡¯re not even eating the fruit you like¡­¡­¡± With that, he came to his senses, quickly stuck his head into the basket, and began eating the apples and corn. He expected her to tell Asha that he was fine and was eating the food she gave him. Sonya¡¯s expression relaxed. ¡°Aww, you¡¯re eating so well! Good job! I¡¯ll tell Lady Vanessa that Sheppy is doing well too! So, even if you miss Lady Vanessa, you can¡¯t run away like last time, okay? If Sheppy does that, Lady Vanessa will get worried and get into a lot of trouble. Even now, she is worried about what will happen to Sheppy.¡± Jackal impulsively ran to comfort Asha but regretted it as he thought his unexpected behavior would have made her position more awkward. Sonya waved out of the room, and soon a hawk flew through the window. Jackal turned back into a human and read the note tied to the hawk¡¯s leg. It was Gabe saying that everything was ready, including the escape route and the moves. There isn¡¯t much time left until ¡®Operation Retrieval Asha¡¯. Although unexpected variables suddenly arose, this incident made him feel more strongly than ever that he must rescue Asha. Jackal responded by writing with a pen attached to the hawk¡¯s other leg. His gaze, as he sent the hawk back, was very serious. * * * * * After so many days, the day of the flowering ceremony that everyone had been waiting for arrived. The ceremony was to be held publicly in the temple for all the world to see. As it was her first public appearance as a butterfly, Asha got up very early to get ready. She bathed in pearl powder to make her skin glow. Countless servants were by her side making her pretty. They did their best not to leave even a hair alone, constantly massaging her shoulders and legs and serving her refreshments so she wouldn¡¯t get tired. Asha wore an ivory-colored, goddess-like dress edged with gold to take an oath before the god Etzheim. The light ivory loose-fitting dress flowed naturally over her body, and the sheer see-through fabric on her wrist was elegant and reminiscent of a butterfly¡¯s wings. ¡°Oh my God, Lady Vanessa, you are so beautiful¡­¡­.¡± Sonya and the other maids couldn¡¯t take their eyes off her. They were making a fuss about it. A courteous voice was heard along with a knock. ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s me.¡± The maids¡¯ eyes widened. They hurriedly moved away from Asha¡¯s side. Asha said expressionlessly, looking only at the mirror in front of her. ¡°Come in, Your Majesty.¡± As soon as permission was granted, Karaf tense, a little nervous, opened the door and went inside. He also wore ceremonial attire for the ceremony, and unlike Asha, he wore a black suit with gold trim. Black hair and a black suit, and blonde hair with an ivory dress, the two of them looked so good together as if they were bride and groom at a wedding. The servants looked at the two and praised them, Karaf¡¯s shoulders lifted, but he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Asha¡¯s shining appearance either. The ivory dress dazzled in every sunlight, and her lightly braided hair shone beautifully like golden threads. His red eyes trembled with indescribable emotion. He believed that this day would never come. He had no expectations after a few festivities with no butterfly. To him, the blooming ceremony had long been a meaningless day as a formal annual event. But in the end, he was so moved when the butterfly flew to his side, that he stood in front of Asha for a long time without saying a word. Asha broke the silence and spoke first when she saw what was in his hand. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Karaf, finally coming to his senses, raised his hand. In his hands, he held a wreath made of all kinds of flowers. ¡°I came because I wanted to put this on you.¡± He placed it carefully on Asha¡¯s long braided hair. He pulled his hand away and couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her again. The beauty of the woman in front of him could not be compared to anyone, even if all the goddesses in the world descended before him. Asha quietly asked. ¡°Did you sleep well last night?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He looked at her silently, then sighed and spoke sincerely. ¡°¡­¡­ No. Actually, I couldn¡¯t sleep a wink.¡± Karaf hesitated for a moment, then closed his mouth, then opened it again. ¡°After the ceremony, you can freely walk around the Imperial Palace. As of today, I¡¯m lifting your imprisonment.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ ¡± Asha only bowed silently. She was infinitely calm, but after not seeing her for a few days, she had a slightly different vibe than before. Her calmness and silence made Karaf feel strange and uneasy. He added an excuse. ¡°¡­¡­ It was all to protect you. Please don¡¯t be angry. From today on, you will truly enjoy only the best as Empress. I will make you happy.¡± But then, the chamberlain said from outside. ¡°Your Majesty, Lady Vanessa. It¡¯s time to go to the temple.¡± CH 50 Karaf still has a lot to work out with Asha, he was disappointed that he didn¡¯t have time to talk about it. But today was a really important day, so he quickly returned to his dignified appearance and said. ¡°Let¡¯s go out now. Everyone eagerly awaits the Empire Butterfly.¡± He held out a hand, so Asha took it without a word. She had held his hand before, but unlike Jackal, his hands were as cold as ice. They left and headed to the temple in a colorful and antique carriage. The temple was already crowded and noisy with many spectators even before they arrived. The two of them got off at the entrance and were about to mount prepared horses and go straight through the people of the Empire. But then, from afar, a familiar horse walked hand in hand with a servant. Asha¡¯s emotionless purple eyes slowly widened and her vitality returned. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­!¡± She quickly ran over to stroke his mane, Jackal raising his head up and down, expressing his joy. Eyes wide, Asha gazed at the smooth-groomed blue-gray fur, ornate silver saddle, and magical bridle. Karaf said softly from behind. ¡°I brought your horse because I thought you would be very nervous. I think that horse would make you less nervous. This will be the most special and joyous day for both of us, so ride the horse you love the most.¡± Asha looked back at him, a little moved. Karaf¡¯s expression was calm. He sent for Sheppy because he was worried that they couldn¡¯t see each other since the day they were locked up. It was his first sincere apology. Asha tilted her head slightly towards him. ¡°¡­¡­ Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.¡± Karaf¡¯s worried expression relaxed a little. Asha once again made up her mind as she looked at Sheppy who was staring at her from the side. Asha now thinks that if she walks this path, she will walk a path of no return. As in the past, she has chosen the path of becoming the Emperor¡¯s Butterfly, but it is not yet known what the consequences of that choice will be. As Karaf said, today will be remembered as the most special and happy day, or as the most painful and sad day¡­¡­ But she would never regret that choice. Seeing Sheppy, she was reminded again that Lycaons could enjoy a free life, and her mind calmed down. Just like in the past, she was not alone in this palace. Now there was Sonya at her side, friendly maids, and above all, Sheppy. She was no longer afraid of anything. Asha climbed lightly on Sheppy¡¯s back, and said, gently stroking his mane with her slim white hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Sheppy.¡± Sheppy walked solemnly, looking only forward. When the two of them entered the temple, the people on both sides of the road cheered at the same time. ¡°Long live Your Majesty! Long live Lady Vanessa!¡± All the people wore the traditional clothes of the empire. Women wore dresses with transparent shawls on their shoulders as if symbolizing the wings of a butterfly, and men wore clothes with puffed hems above the ankles as if symbolizing flower buds. Today was an auspicious day when a butterfly descended. Asha smiled gracefully at them and waved her hand slowly. Karaf also appeared before the imperial people today with the dignity of an emperor. With his hair neatly pulled back, he looked down at the people with his red eyes and smiled languidly but confidently. Rose petals fluttered in all directions and the screams rang out with such force that they could tear eardrums apart. The two of them were really well-matched emperor and empress. On the hill where the journey would end, a magnificent silver altar with a hole in the roof was visible in the distance. There, Asha would light a beacon of blossoms and hold a ceremony to marry the Imperial Flower. But then when they entered the narrow path that led to the altar. Sheppy, who had been walking fine until recently, suddenly started acting strange. Sheppy suddenly changed direction and started running like crazy. Asha¡¯s eyes widened and screamed. ¡°Uh oh, Sheppy¡­¡­!¡± Asha panicked and pulled on the reins, but Sheppy didn¡¯t listen and galloped off wildly. ¡°Vanessa¡­¡­!¡± Looking back, she saw Karaf approaching in great shock. ¡°Sheppy, stop¡­¡­!¡± Asha tightened the reins again, but Sheppy still didn¡¯t listen. Jackal ran at full speed and jumped through the dense crowd. People got scared and hurriedly fled. Having managed to avoid a collision with people, Sheppy began to run more recklessly. The surrounding servants and knights realized something was seriously wrong with the excited horse. ¡°Everyone stop that horse!¡± As Duran yelled, the knights quickly grabbed their weapons and began chasing after Sheppy. However, at that moment, smoke rose from all directions along with a deafening roar. They were smoke bombs. Karaf¡¯s face paled and weary, then turned fierce. His red eyes flashed and he screamed. ¡°It¡¯s the minorities! Chase that horse right now¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s not going to happen.¡± Gabe, who was hiding in the crowd, grinned and murmured. They settled into the temple in advance and prepared for Asha¡¯s retrieval operation. It was a serious operation that would not tolerate a single mistake, resulting in at least a beheading if they failed, so they memorized the geography of the temple¡¯s surroundings over and over enough to walk around with their eyes closed. Jackal also received a map from them in the guise of a dating spot, and while he was staying in the Imperial Palace, he grasped the structure of the temple. They began simultaneously detonating smoke bombs from all directions, and signaling with explosives and the howl of a hawk so that Asha and Jackal could escape safely. Jackal was blind and his nose was paralyzed, relying solely on his hearing to find his way. Their original plan was to detonate smoke bombs during the flowering ceremony, and they would find Asha¡¯s scent, force her onto his back and run. However, things went relatively smoothly thanks to an unexpected favor from Karaf. The Cactus Knights aimed their arrows at him, but there were too many people and the smoke obscured their view, so they couldn¡¯t fire hastily. It was a situation where people could get hurt if they made a mistake. Furthermore, it was difficult to discern who the enemy was because all the Lycaons wore the traditional clothing of the Empire and hid among the general public. Nagi and Yuri, short in stature, disguised themselves as mother and son, obstructing the movement of the knights. Nagi cried loudly as if he was afraid of the world, and Yuri ran riot like crazy and secretly blocked the knights¡¯ movements. The people around them were even more agitated by their reactions, and scattered in all directions. That was enough to distract the knights. Duran narrowed his brows and followed Asha with hawk eyes. Asha leaned her upper body forward, squinting against the smoke at the speed of the horse¡¯s frantic gallop. The wind ruffled her hair, which had been beautifully styled by the maids. It was a fierce chase that was impossible to see. But then something happened when they were about to leave the temple. As soon as the crowd around him thinned out a bit and the smoke cleared a bit, an arrow flew from afar. And at the same time, Sheppy let out a sharp cry. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­!¡± When Asha looked down in surprise, she saw an arrow pierced just above his pelvis and blood dripping from it. But Sheppy didn¡¯t stop running even though he was breathing heavily. Gabe¡¯s hawk soared high into the sky through the smoke with a long, high-pitched cry. Following the hawk, Sheppy headed straight for a deserted mountain road, and, while avoiding the dense trees, went deeper into the mountain so that the knights could not easily pursue them. After that, Sheppy, who ran for a long time and completely lost track, soon stopped only after reaching a deep cave. With his injured body, he ran at full speed with all his might, his eyes were blurry as if he was going to run out of breath at any moment. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­!¡± Asha scrambled down, removed Sheppy¡¯s bridle and saddle, dragged him into the cave, and set him on the ground. Sheppy¡¯s body, drenched in blood and cold sweat, shook from head to toe. A suffocating sound escaped incessantly from his nose. With tears in her eyes, Asha couldn¡¯t bear to caress Sheppy¡¯s aching body with her trembling hands. ¡°Why did you do that, Sheppy¡­¡­. Why? ¡­ Huh? Did you want to take me out of the palace because you were afraid that I would be unhappy if I stayed there¡­¡­?¡± With those words, he exhaled sweetly, faintly opened his eyes, and looked at her. The way she looked at him seemed so sad as if the world had fallen¡­¡­. Asha buried her face in Sheppy¡¯s neck and began to cry. ¡°You can¡¯t die¡­ ¡­ . If Sheppy dies, I will die with you.¡± Jackal slowly closed his eyes again. Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes as well. Asha mercilessly tore at the precious dress she was wearing. When she carefully examined Sheppy¡¯s body to cover his injuries, he still had a sharp arrowhead stuck in the side. She couldn¡¯t believe he was running so fast with her on his back. Asha¡¯s eyes trembled, but she soon pulled herself together. ¡°Sheppy, it¡¯s going to hurt a lot. But you have to put up with it, okay? I¡¯ll make sure it doesn¡¯t hurt too much.¡± Asha held the arrow in both hands, took a deep breath, and pulled the arrow out of his body. Sheppy jerked violently, his agonies echoing through the cave. Asha covered his wound with the fabric of her torn dress and hugged Sheppy¡¯s body fighting the pain so that the wound would not open any further. Asha¡¯s dress was stained with blood. Sheppy, gasping for breath in her arms, soon couldn¡¯t get over the pain and closed his haggard eyes. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­? Sheppy¡­¡­!¡± Asha got scared and covered the horse¡¯s face with both hands, but Sheppy was already unconscious. She looked around helplessly, not knowing what to do, and got out quickly. It was as if she was going to lose her mind, and it seemed to her that the whole place was spinning. CH 51 Asha managed to come to her senses and hastened to gather herbs to help him heal and grass the horses could eat. She went to the nearby shore and drew up cold water with a large leaf. As soon as she returned to the cave, she carefully opened Sheppy¡¯s wound. The bleeding wasn¡¯t as much as before, but blood was still oozing from the open wound. Asha crushed the herbs with a clean washed stone and placed it on his wound, then tore her dress again and wrapped it around the wound. She tried his best to focus to the point where a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. There must have been an uproar over her disappearance, but now she couldn¡¯t think of anything else but to save Sheppy. Although Sheppy couldn¡¯t talk, he always understood how she felt. Sheppy could tell right away when she wasn¡¯t happy the few times they met at the Imperial Palace. He would immediately tell what was troubling her, if she was fine or sad just by looking at her face¡­ Asha dampened the rest of the dress with water and carefully wiped down Sheppy¡¯s body. Sheppy¡¯s smooth body was wet with sweat and blood from trying so hard to escape with her. When she realized that he had come to the imperial palace to look for her even though he was a wandering horse, and had come to save her, tears rolled down her cheeks. Asha tilted her head back for a moment, forced back her tears, and poured water into Sheppy¡¯s mouth to moisten his dry mouth. She took care of Sheppy without a break. She thought that it would have been nice if her healing power would also work for Sheppy¡­ Asha clasped her hands and prayed reverently to the god Etzheim desperately. Please save Sheppy¡­¡­. Although she escaped, she wished that the god who loved everyone in the Etzheim Empire would also hear her prayers. She arrived here at noon when she left the temple, and the sun was setting outside the cave as she treated Sheppy. At the same time, rain began to fall from the gloomy sky. Asha could breathe a sigh of relief at that moment. It was lucky that it was raining. The rain would wash away Sheppy¡¯s tracks, so the knights wouldn¡¯t be able to find them easily. It was safe for now. I wonder if Jackal and the others are safe¡­ Smoke bombs exploded and a commotion began in the temple as if it had been planned. The moment Karaf yelled that it was a minority act, she knew. The Lycaons came to save her. She and Sheppy escaped safely, but she was worried about Jackal and the other members, indeed they were hiding somewhere right now. But until they found this place, she could only hide and wait. As the forest went completely dark, Sheppy¡¯s breathing became steady. Only then did Asha build a small fire inside the cave and fill her stomach with the fruits she collected from the forest earlier. Then she forced herself to lie down on the ground, thinking that she needed to replenish her energy a bit. Her dress was now torn and tattered like rags. The dress was now so short that her thighs were showing and it didn¡¯t help with the cold, but Asha was so nervous all day that she fell right next to Sheppy as soon as she lay on the ground. * * * * * ¡°¡­¡­ Where the hell is boss?¡± Gabe muttered with a worried face. He sent his hawk, but his hawk didn¡¯t come back, and Jackal and Asha are missing. Sosa also said this with a worried expression on his face. ¡°If they managed to escape, they will contact us soon. Let¡¯s wait a little longer.¡± ¡°How is the situation on the knight¡¯s side?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think any knights have returned to the Imperial Palace yet. They¡¯re probably looking for boss with eyes burning with fury.¡± ¡°We have to find them first¡­¡­¡± Gabe frantically paced back and forth, anxiously awaiting his hawk. But then, a hawk flew up in the night sky with the sound of flapping wings. ¡°Here it is!¡± Gabe¡¯s face lit up. He reached out with one arm, and his falcon perched on it, then gently caressed his wet body with his opposite, leather-gloved hand. ¡°Did you find Boss and Asha?¡± The hawk nodded once, then flew up into the sky again. Gabe said, looking back at everyone. ¡°Let¡¯s go right now!¡± * * * * * At dawn, Asha woke up suddenly thirsty. The silhouette of a man came into view in the light of the small fire. Asha¡¯s eyes gradually focused and the man¡¯s figure became clear. Her eyes widened. Suddenly, in front of her was Jackal, naked¡­ Asha wanted to scream but barely covered her mouth. Her heart was pounding. Fortunately, Jackal¡¯s important lower part was covered with a cloth, but she didn¡¯t understand the situation at all. Why is Jackal here¡­..? Asha looked at him blankly. Jackal¡¯s hair was much longer since the last time she saw him. His long blue-gray hair, like a wild horse, was scattered on the ground, and his bangs, drenched in cold sweat, ran down his forehead. However, the darkness under his eyes and lips due to the bloodshed had a completely different atmosphere. Sheppy¡¯s blue-gray hair, blue eyes, and even the position of the wound¡­ As soon as all the pieces were put together, Asha¡¯s hands trembled in surprise. No way, Jackal is Sheppy¡­¡­? A piece of cloth from her dress bandaged his wound, but Asha could not bear to touch his body again. But then Jackal sensed movement, and immediately frowned slightly. Asha was surprised by that small reaction and froze in place. After frowning several times, he slowly opened his eyes. Asha was looking at him with a shocked expression right in front of him. His eyes widened and he held out his hand. ¡°Asha¡­¡­.¡± A hoarse, cracked voice came out of his throat. He was very embarrassed. As he lost consciousness, it seemed that he had inadvertently unleashed his transformation. Asha shuddered. In response, a look of sadness flashed across his face. While quietly lowering her outstretched hand and lowering her head, Asha said with a trembling voice. ¡°Answer my question first. Since the day we met on the snowy mountain¡­ Were you Sheppy?¡± Jackal pursed his lips and answered honestly. ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry for deceiving you until now.¡± He couldn¡¯t even lift his head. Asha stared at him without saying a word. His fever rose again, his face red and his breathing quickened. But Jackal made no more excuses. His mane-like hair ran down the sides of his face helplessly. He vowed to confess his identity to Asha if he succeeded in escaping, but he never dreamt that it would be revealed in this way. He felt hopeless. But then, Asha spoke calmly. ¡°¡­¡­ It was reckless.¡± Jackal raised his sweaty face. ¡°Did you purposely transform into a horse to get me out of the Imperial Palace?¡± The look on her face was sorrowful and serious. Asha seemed to be overwhelmed with emotion beyond words. The Lycaons had infiltrated the temple for the sole purpose of rescuing her. Jackal, not forgetting her, risked his life to protect her from the tyrant until the end. He spoke earnestly, looking at Asha with eager eyes. ¡°I promised to protect you from the emperor. But I could not¡­¡­. I haven¡¯t been able to sleep a single day since I let you go like this. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could remember is your face saying goodbye to me¡­¡­¡± Jackal took a deep breath looking to the sides. ¡°¡­¡­ Maybe you won¡¯t trust me anymore. Like you said before, you may never see the horse again.¡± ¡­.I think your master hates me. I may never see you again. Asha recalled what she had said to Sheppy before. ¡°But don¡¯t even think about going back to the Imperial Palace. I¡¯ll take responsibility and get you out of here. Don¡¯t worry about Lycaon, from now on, only think of you. This is my last request as your captain.¡± Jackal finished speaking and tried to get up, but then he grabbed his side and fell to the ground. ¡°Ugh¡­¡­¡± As he lowered his head while moaning, blood spurted out of the cloth Asha had used to stop his bleeding. But at that moment, her white hand touched the back of his dark hand. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened slightly and he raised his head again. Before he knew it, it looked like Asha was about to cry. Jackal¡¯s eyes wobbled at the sight. He wondered why she didn¡¯t avoid him after learning his secret. Also, why is she making that expression to the person who deceives her? Not understanding, he went blank. Asha ripped the hem of her already tattered one again and wrapped it silently over his bleeding wound. ¡°You¡­¡­.¡± Jackal muttered involuntarily. ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t hate me?¡± They were strange words that he didn¡¯t know if he was talking to himself or asking. Asha said, looking at his wound. ¡°¡­¡­ I don¡¯t hate you. Because no creature understood me as well as Sheppy. Besides, no one cared about me as much as you¡­..¡± Asha didn¡¯t avoid him. That fact alone made Jackal extremely touched. She¡¯s the only woman who knows his hidden secret and doesn¡¯t avoid him. Jackal was convinced that she was the only woman in the world who could accept him as he is. So he didn¡¯t want to miss out on it anymore. He didn¡¯t want to lose the woman he loved who was right in front of his eyes, like a fool again. Inadvertently, his heart swelled like a torrent, but he did not want to forget this emotion. He wanted to be greedy ¡­.. For once. Jackal slowly raised a hand. Then, he handed Asha¡¯s hair, which was dripping with sweat, behind her ears. As she looked at him, her eyes widened slightly, Jackal looked into them and said earnestly. ¡°You said this back then. You want to see the world I see.¡± ¡­¡­ I want to see the world you see. Recalling what she had said to Sheppy before, Asha swallowed. ¡°I wanted to show you a free and happy world without worries and difficulties¡­¡­. And that became my life¡¯s purpose before I knew it.¡± Asha¡¯s heart started pounding. CH 52 Her warmth when she touched his hair continued to linger, tickling him like a spring breeze. Jackal said, lowering his eyelids slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I mocked your purpose back then. Now that I think about it, I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know how to apologize¡­¡± Asha reached her arms forward and cupped his head and pulled him close to her chest. Her action made Jackal¡¯s eyes widen. Asha said calmly as she hugged his head. ¡°¡­¡­ There¡¯s nothing to be sorry about. There are only things I am grateful for. I don¡¯t know how to repay you.¡­.¡± Asha gently ran her fingers through his mane-like blue-gray hair, as she always did with Sheppy. Jackal¡¯s eyes softened. He slowly raised his head and met Asha¡¯s eyes closely. Asha felt that her face was a little red from the reflection of the fire. The two looked into each other¡¯s eyes for a long time. Although their eyes were of different colors, their eyes contained the same emotion. Suddenly, there was an affectionate atmosphere between the two of them. Jackal soon confessed, looking at her with trembling eyes. ¡°I like you. I love you with all my life.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes trembled as well. When she showed no sign of avoiding him, Jackal cautiously moved closer to her face. Then he looked into her eyes as if to give her a moment to prepare her mind, and then he closed his eyes and brought his mouth closer to Asha¡¯s. It was his first kiss. Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly and she inadvertently stopped breathing, but soon she gently closed her eyes and kissed him. Suddenly, the inside of the cave burned with heat, and her eyelids and body trembled. It was pure ecstasy itself, without anxiety, without fear, without a burden. Jackal placed his larger hands on her waist more boldly and pulled her body closer to him. As his tight embrace completely engulfed her body, Asha felt like her heart was about to burst. His arms were strong and cozy as if they kept you safe from all the dangers in the world. The two stayed together for a long time and shared each other¡¯s warmth in the cold cave. At that moment, the Lycaons who arrived just in time found their very affectionate reflection outside the cave and turned their heads pretending not to know. ¡°They pretended they didn¡¯t have that kind of relationship, I knew it would end up like this¡­ A man and a woman having a secret meeting in a cave¡­¡± While one Lycaon muttered that, the rest shook their heads with smiles on their lips. When Nagy tried to look inside again, gulping wide-eyed, Gabe quickly covered his eyes. Sosa said with a slight smile. ¡°Let¡¯s come back later, let¡¯s not disturb them.¡± * * * * * ¡°¡­¡­How is it possible that no one knows where Vanessa is!¡± Karaf was going berserk with anger in the Imperial Palace. All the servants and knights turned white and tilted their heads towards the door when they saw him sweeping up all the items on the desk and violently throwing them on the floor. The flowering ceremony was forcibly interrupted by Vanessa¡¯s horse when it suddenly took her away and disappeared with her. Karaf, who had had a fever for hours, soon sat down on the sofa and covered his forehead with his hands. He¡¯s mad at the knights, but he doesn¡¯t know where she is either. He couldn¡¯t blame anyone. It was no one but himself who provided the excuse for the horse to escape. He thought he should have killed the damn horse right away. It was a big mistake to let her ride that horse on the most important day of the year, knowing that the horse had a special attachment to its master and was wary of him. It was the first time he had felt so foolish and pathetic since Cylon betrayed him. Karaf said, gasping for breath in anger. ¡°¡­¡­ Where is Duran now?¡± The chamberlain felt sorry even to speak, so he said without raising his head. ¡°Sir Duran has not returned. The rain washed away the horse¡¯s tracks during the pursuit of him, so he has been riding north all night.¡± Karaf¡¯s hands trembled. Suddenly, a conversation he had with her before flashed through his mind. ¡®You saw yourself die¡­..? Then did you see how you died?¡¯ ¡®Yes. I fall off a cliff and die.¡¯ His face turned pale and he trembled relentlessly. If something bad happened, she could die. No one knew if the damn horse would get too excited and run off the cliff. Maybe that has already happened¡­¡­. The moment it occurred to Karaf, his eyes widened, and he jumped off the sofa and screamed out loud. ¡°Tell Duran to search the cliffs right now!¡± He felt unbearable anxiety and was about to go out looking, but his legs gave out, and he fell to his knees. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­ !¡± The chamberlain ran to him and tried to help him, but Karaf shook his hand roughly and forced himself to his feet. ¡°Vanessa¡­¡­ We need to find Vanessa quickly¡­¡­ Vanessa¡­ She might die¡­¡­¡± Dark shadows had settled under his eyes, he already seemed insane. Seeing the cold sweat on his forehead, the chamberlain cried out in surprise. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some medicine right now!¡± The chamberlain hurried to order the servants to bring water and medicine. Karaf gulped down the pill and swallowed it with water. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­ You should get some rest. You haven¡¯t slept a wink in days. Please close your eyes until Sir Duran returns¡­¡­.¡± Karaf tried to decline his sincere request, but he soon accepted it as if it had turned into a complete failure. ¡°Your Majesty, lean on me.¡± As he shivered with chills and anger, the chamberlain supported him with a worried face. As he trembled with chills and anger, the chamberlain held him up with a troubled face. He missed the butterfly when she was right in front of his eyes, right at his fingertips¡­¡­ His outstretched hand did not reach her. For some reason, he felt that this was not the first time something like this had happened. * * * * * ¡°¡­¡­Captain! Are you all right?¡± Sosa forced the others back a bit and approached Jackal and Asha alone when the time was right. The two of them were somewhat surprised by his sudden appearance, but luckily, it was after his act of affection. But when Sosa saw Jackal wounded in the side, he approached with wide eyes. ¡°Boss!¡± Jackal spoke with a calm face even though he was breaking out in a cold sweat. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I almost died, but Asha healed me.¡± Sosa bowed his head to Asha and sincerely thanked her. ¡°Thank you for saving him, Lady Asha.¡± He said, lowering his eyelids ruefully. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry¡­¡­Lady Asha had to leave to save us, but without asking your opinion, we implemented an escape plan on our own. You must have been very shocked.¡± ¡°I was really surprised. But I¡¯m also a little angry.¡± The expressions of both men darkened at the same time. Asha narrowed her eyes at Jackal. ¡°How can you behave like a pure wild horse in front of me? I didn¡¯t even know that, and whenever I saw Sheppy, I was so happy that I even touched its body¡­¡­.¡± At that moment, Asha¡¯s eyes widened and her face turned red. She was speechless. But also Jackal. He was also blushing with his head down. Sosa shook his head just looking at them. Asha glanced sideways at Jackal. The voluptuous beastly body of Jackal was openly revealed. Asha¡¯s face was now uncontrollably red. She couldn¡¯t stop her mind from remembering the times she had buried her face in his neck, caressed his naked body, and put his face on his chest. Somehow, whenever she behaved like this, Sheppy would get embarrassed and act like a human being, but now it all seemed to make sense. When she realized that, she couldn¡¯t look at him anymore¡­ Sosa finally discovered that Jackal was naked and his eyes widened. He was barely covering his most important part with Asha¡¯s torn dress. He barely covered his biggest part with the fabric of Asha¡¯s torn dress. Sosa quickly handed a black robe to the two of them and turned his head. ¡°Hurry up, put it on. Let¡¯s go back to the hideout and treat your wounds first, Captain.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Jackal struggled to get up, but Asha helped him. When her hand touched his hard trapezius muscle, Jackal looked at her for a moment, then rested his head against her clavicle. Asha¡¯s eyes got slightly bigger. ¡°Captain¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Call me by my name. I don¡¯t have anyone to call me by my name¡­¡± Jackal said so and closed his eyes gently in his arms, as Sheppy used to do. t was an act he did unconsciously because he felt so relaxed and so safe. But then Sosa yelled with a disgusted face. ¡°Boss! This is not the time to be doing this!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Alright. Why are you angry?¡± Jackal looked at him indifferently, dressed, and went out. As the three of them emerged from the cave, the organization members, who were waiting and lurking a short distance away shouted with delight. ¡°Boss! Lady Asha!¡± Seeing them call her by her own name instead of ¡®Vanessa¡¯, Asha smiled softly. Now she understood a little of Jackal¡¯s feelings. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­Unni!¡± Asha inadvertently laughed out loud at Gabe¡¯s harsh shout. Gabe ran to Asha with wide eyes and tears in his eyes. Then, holding her by the shoulders with both hands, he frantically swayed her body from one place to another. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Gabe. Calm down.¡± Asha replied while her body trembled like a branch. Jackal looked disapprovingly at Gabe, who was touching her without hesitation but decided to let it go just this once. Today is an auspicious day, Lycaon beat the tyrant. Everyone was overexcited and elated, and they deserved it. Seeing Nagy suddenly running towards Asha crying, she couldn¡¯t help but think that everyone had been struggling until now. CH 53 When the rain, which had been pouring down like a water pump from the sky, abated somewhat, they all moved to a new hideout built in a deep mountain valley. As soon as Yuri heard their footsteps, she ran out of the tent in tears. Asha shared an emotional reunion, holding her tight. Yuri found Asha¡¯s beautiful dress torn and messy and quickly led her inside. At the new home, a change of clothing was prepared in advance. Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly when she saw the pretty spring clothes that were perfect for her body size hanging on the wall. It was a light mint-colored dress and it reminded her of fresh grass in spring. Her blonde hair plus the mint-colored dress gave her an air of free spirit, further enhancing her slender image. Asha changed her clothes and stared blankly at herself in the full-length mirror, turning around in place. Her reflection in the mirror was like seeing a forest fairy. Yuri smiled and said from the side. ¡°Boss said you would wear it when you came. It is made of the finest fabric.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha was so moved that she didn¡¯t say anything for a while. The clothes he gave her were the same as last time, and they were comfortable and cozy as if she were wearing nothing. Soft and light, as if the spring breeze tickling your skin, it was different from the uncomfortable dresses of the imperial palace, which squeezed your body like a cage. Yuri said with a melancholic gaze. ¡°I¡¯m glad you came home safely, Asha.¡± Looking at her, who called this place ¡®home¡¯, Asha also smiled slightly. It felt like she was really back home. * * * * * At the time, Jackal was being treated by a doctor in another room. Having lost so much blood, he closed his pale eyes and passed out in a dream. He slowly regained stability when he returned home, with high blood pressure and cold sweat. Asha went to thank him for her new clothes, and when she saw him, she stopped at the door. For now, it just seemed right to let him rest in peace. Asha quietly left the room and left the house with a hoe and a basket. At that moment, Sosa saw her from afar and hurriedly approached in surprise. ¡°Lady Asha, where are you going?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to the woods for a while. I¡¯m going to collect some herbs for Jackal.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± Sosa said firmly. ¡°The captain threatened me¡­¡­ No, he asked me to. If Lady Asha is in danger, then I will probably lose my life.¡± He seemed really nervous. It was only then that Asha remembered that she had broken her promise to him and ran away from the cave. Because of her, he must have had a really tough time. Asha said quietly. ¡°There are some herbs I know of, herbs that are good for wounds. Would you like to accompany me? It could be really dangerous.¡± ¡°I will do it.¡± Sosa followed Asha with a strong sense of duty. Asha carefully searched for herbs in the nearby forest. She was knowledgeable about herbs, having often climbed the mountains in search of food since she had been in her village. She was unlucky that day and was chased by bandits, but thanks to that she was able to meet Jackal. When she thought back to that day, maybe that day was the luckiest of her life. While Asha was gathering herbs, Sosa looked at her. So, making the best use of his horse¡¯s instincts, he closed his eyes and sniffed without her knowing. It was to explore and be on the lookout. Soon after, Asha collected some herbs, berries, mushrooms, and tree buds in a wooden basket and returned with a proud look. Fortunately, since it was spring, there was more food in the northern regions than in winter. It was awkward to cook after so long since she left her village, but Asha did her best to make a herbal soup. She wanted to do something for Jackal, who always provided her with delicious food and a warm place to stay. Having finished cooking the soup, Asha put it in a bowl and came back to visit him. Fortunately, Jackal woke up and was lying in bed with a disheveled face, and when he saw Asha come in, he forced himself to get up. But when he realized the clothes she was wearing, he stiffened on the bed, his eyes wide. ¡°¡­..What do you think? Does it look good on me?¡± Asha looked at him and asked with a slight smile as if she was a bit embarrassed. Jackal stared at her, stunned, and then muttered involuntarily. ¡°It¡­¡­ It suits you well.¡± He blamed himself for not being able to say ¡®pretty¡®. Realizing that, Asha raised an eyebrow and asked. ¡°Does it only look good on me?¡± ¡°No¡­ yes¡­¡­.¡± Jackal blushed again, and Asha asked playfully. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°¡­¡­You are beautiful. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life.¡± Suddenly, Asha¡¯s face turned red even though she was joking. Jackal¡¯s face was also red. Asha quickly turned around, fanning herself with her hand. ¡°I came to feed you the soup that I cooked.¡± ¡°Soup¡­¡­?¡± ¡°You took care of me when I was sick. It¡¯s my turn to repay you.¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes grew bigger at the fact that she cooked for him. Even if he didn¡¯t say it, he was very touched. Asha covered him with a blanket to keep him warm, took a soup spoon, and blew on it. ¡°Sheppy, say ah.¡± Asha¡¯s joke made Jackal¡¯s face red again. Asha said mischievously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Hurry up and open your mouth. You have to eat it.¡± Jackal looked down in embarrassment and opened his mouth slightly. Asha fed him soup. Jackal closed his eyes and ate the soup in silence, Asha asked with a slightly expectant look on her face. ¡°How is it? Is it good?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± His inaction caused Asha¡¯s eyebrows to rise slightly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you answer?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Sheppy can¡¯t talk.¡± Asha looked at him in bewilderment and burst out laughing. But Jackal couldn¡¯t bear to say in front of her that the soup was not good. He learned something new from her that her cooking skills weren¡¯t very good¡­¡­ Asha smiled and said a little anxiously. ¡°As a side note, I added herbs to the soup, the soup is somewhat bitter.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I see. Anything good for the body is bitter.¡± ¡°Sure, of course.¡± Asha wanted to say that it wasn¡¯t because she wasn¡¯t good at cooking, but she swallowed it and shook her head. Jackal secretly smiled at her because she was so cute. He felt compelled to eat all the soup for her sake. He was okay with her not being very good at cooking. It¡¯s enough if she cooks for him every day. He finally emptied the bowl and put it down. ¡°Let¡¯s look at your wound now.¡± Jackal looked away and said. ¡°I can¡¯t show you.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡­ naked.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened and soon her face turned red. In fact, important parts were hidden under the blanket he was using. Without knowing that, Asha¡¯s face automatically lit up when she thought she might have touched him while she covered him with the blanket. ¡°Then¡­then I¡¯ll prepare some herbal medicine! You have to take medicine after eating!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Just stay here.¡± Asha jumped up and looked up at him, who was holding her wrist. Jackal¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°The doctor or Sosa will bring it. Until then just¡­stay by my side.¡± There were so many people coming and going into this room that there wasn¡¯t much time for the two of them alone. Also, due to his injuries, he fell asleep all the time, so Jackal wanted to be with her even for a moment. As soon as he came to his senses, he searched for Asha, but after hearing from the doctor that she went to gather herbs with Sosa, he stayed awake until she returned. He was afraid that if he closed his eyes, she would disappear again. When he closed his eyes, the memory of that day returned to him, so he couldn¡¯t sleep because of the anxiety. The memory left a deep scar like a trauma. Asha let out a small sigh and said. ¡°¡­¡­I see. I¡¯ll stay by your side then.¡± Only then did Jackal lie down on the bed, looking satisfied at the ceiling. Asha cautiously asked. ¡°But Jackal¡­ Does everyone know that you can transform into a horse?¡± ¡°No. Only Sosa knows. Sosa, like me, is a member of the Kelpie clan, so he can also transform into a horse.¡± ¡°What¡­.?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened. He is from the Kelpie clan. The minorities consisted of a total of five clans, among which the Kelpie clan was a difficult clan to find now because there were so few of them. So she didn¡¯t even know that kelpies could transform into horses. There were probably only a few people in the village who knew about it, the village chief and the successors of each clan. Then suddenly something came to her mind, Asha asked with a stutter, causing her pupils to quiver. ¡°Jackal, let me ask you a question. By chance¡­ The beautiful white horse I rode¡­ Is it Sosa?¡± Jackal was taken aback. ¡°¡­¡­¡± When he didn¡¯t answer, Asha covered her face and sighed sadly. She wondered what the hell she had done. Asha suddenly jumped out of her seat, Jackal asked with a slight surprise. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me.¡± Jackal was surprised by her sudden cold response. ¡°I¡¯m¡­sorry.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to look at her or hold her hand again. Asha left the room with a feeling of betrayal. Before, the situation was so dire, but suddenly a sense of betrayal seemed to come late at the thought that Sosa had teamed up to deceive her. But just in time, she ran into a Sosa who was walking from afar. Recalling memories from the past, Asha¡¯s face turned red like someone who had been backstabbing. Sosa tilted his head a little and asked. ¡°Lady Asha? Did something happen?¡± Asha looked up and said. ¡°Sosa. Are you keeping something from me?¡± CH 54 Sosa swallowed at the sudden question. They say that the scariest thing to hear from a woman is that. Sosa tried to control himself rolling his eyes quickly. ¡°What¡­what are you talking about all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Never mind. You two join hands and walk out. Ah, you can¡¯t hold hands because you¡¯re a horse, right?¡± Asha humphed, turned her head, and walked away. Sosa¡¯s eyes widened at those words, and he quickly opened the door and stepped inside. ¡°Boss! Did you tell Lady Asha my identity?¡± He was about to lose his temper and stopped when he saw Jackal perched on the bed in a frustrated pose. ¡°Gosh¡­¡­¡± Sosa grabbed his forehead with one hand because of a headache. * * * * * Two wild horses deceived me. She got angry thinking about those two who must have laughed at her. But then, there was a knock on the door. When she didn¡¯t answer, a cautious voice was heard. ¡°¡­¡­Lady Asha, it¡¯s me, Sosa¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Asha¡¯s words came out colder than expected. Sosa hesitated outside. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry for deceiving you¡­. You must have been surprised to learn that the captain could turn into a horse, but I am embarrassed that you have to find out like this¡­ Please forgive me and the captain¡­¡± Asha sighed and said. ¡°Come in.¡± Sosa walked in with slumped shoulders like a criminal. He was very disappointed because the captain¡¯s first successful relationship with a woman seemed to be for nothing. Sosa put his hands together and said politely. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I would like to tell you about our clan in detail.¡± Asha was intrigued and tempted, but she pretended not to and coughed. ¡°Tell me. I¡¯ll listen to it first and think about whether I¡¯ll get mad or not.¡± Sosa¡¯s face lit up slightly. ¡°Really? Thank you for the opportunity. Indeed, as you may have expected, our Kelpie clan¡­ is nearly extinct now.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes, which tried to remain calm to the end, grew bigger. ¡°Really¡­¡­?¡± ¡°The captain and I are the last descendants of the clan.¡± Asha froze in shock. Sosa sighed and continued. ¡°Originally, our clan has a lower population than other clans, but as you know, it was not easy for us to leave offspring, according to the custom of minority tribes that said members of the same clan could not marry. The reason is¡­ I think you know even if I don¡¯t tell you.¡± Asha knew immediately what that meant. It was rare that a woman didn¡¯t leave when she knew that the man she had a relationship with would turn into a horse. ¡°However, there was a major event that led to the extinction of our clan. It was an incident where Chief Horak, you may know him, made our people go to war protecting the village, sacrificing their lives.¡± Asha gasped in surprise. Sosa said with mixed feelings. ¡°Of course, he did it to protect minorities. From childhood we were taught that kelpies were stronger and more agile than other clans and that we could transform into horses, making them perfect for acting as village warriors.¡± ¡°So¡­¡­ both of you leave the village?¡± ¡°Yes. The village chief and the captain had a big fight before we left. The village head said harsh words to Jackal. Because he didn¡¯t take charge of the clan and didn¡¯t participate in missions, our entire clan was wiped out.¡± Asha was shocked and couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°The village chief has forced the captain to go on secret missions as a warrior multiple times. Since the captain¡¯s parents were the heads of the kelpie clan, it was the captain¡¯s turn to take over after they passed away.¡± Asha suddenly remembered what happened when Jackal handed her the dagger that was said to be a memento from his parents. ¡®Because it¡¯s not a gift, it¡¯s a heavy-duty.¡¯ ¡®To me, this dagger made my heart ache just by looking at it.¡¯ She wondered how angry he must have been when the village chief told him those things like protecting minorities is the purpose of his life. Asha couldn¡¯t help but be disappointed to see the true faces of the minorities she was proud of. ¡°I don¡¯t know the details of what the village chief has been trying to do to the captain since I am not the successor. But the captain was deeply hurt in his heart that day and he decided to leave the village. The village chief yelled at him to get out of this village immediately if he didn¡¯t do his duties.¡± Sosa chuckled bitterly. ¡°Before leaving the village, the captain asked me if I wanted to go with him. Perhaps it was the consideration of the captain. If I hadn¡¯t left the village, the duty would have been entrusted to me. Maybe I was just used as a horse, but I¡¯m a gentle horse who loves peace, so I¡¯m not very good at fighting compared to the captain.¡± Sosa deliberately added a joke to lighten the heavy atmosphere, but immediately regretted it after seeing Asha¡¯s serious expression. ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m sorry. I brought this up for no reason and made you upset.¡± ¡°No. Thank you for telling me something so important. When I lived in the village, I really didn¡¯t know about such things. And how many sacrifices the kelpies made to protect the village. If you hadn¡¯t told me, I would have kept trying to defend them without knowing anything.¡± Asha understood how frustrated Jackal must have been when he found himself sacrificing himself for the good of minorities. He saw with his own eyes that the kelpies received no compensation even though they made sacrifices. Sosa said cautiously, looking around. ¡°The captain got completely bummed out while you were gone. He said that if he ever sees you again, he would tell you his secret, but it seems like the timing wasn¡¯t right¡­¡± Sosa let out a deep sigh. Sosa saw the two of them kissing in the cave, believing everything would be fine in the future. Asha thought seriously but then said with a determined look on her face. ¡°I need to see Jackal right now.¡± When she got up from her seat and left the room, Sosa didn¡¯t follow her but looked at her back a little worried. He sincerely hoped that the captain would not make a mistake this time. From his point of view, Jackal was indeed an old man when it came to women. Asha reached the house where Jackal rested, took a deep breath, and cautiously opened the door. But as soon as she opened the door, she saw a big gray-blue horse standing with its head stuck in a corner. Asha¡¯s eyes widened and she involuntarily did not call Jackal, but by the name, she had given him. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­ ?¡± Sheppy looked back helplessly at Asha¡¯s voice. His droopy blue eyes glistened wetly. Ugh¡­¡­. Asha put a hand on her chest. What a pitiful horse he is. His nose was flaring and tears were about to spill from his drooping eyes, and just looking at him made her want to hug him. Asha was very perplexed. Since when did my taste become like this¡­¡­? When she called out to him, Jackal said nothing, stepping back sullenly and looking down helplessly. He seemed to think that she was still angry. However, Asha thought he looked cute, and her anger dissipated. He knew that she liked Sheppy. So he turned into a horse and was reflected against the wall until she came back. ¡°¡­¡­ Jackal.¡± Jackal¡¯s hunched shoulders flinched at Asha¡¯s call. ¡°Come here.¡± Jackal turned his head again to look at Asha. Seeing her relaxed expression, he cautiously walked towards her. But Asha immediately took his head to her chest. ¡°¡­¡­ !¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes widened. He panicked and tried to pull his face away from her arms, but Asha calmly hugged him closer. ¡°When I did this back then, you didn¡¯t do anything, so what¡¯s wrong now?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Cunning horse.¡± Jackal blushed and closed his eyes. However, the corners of Asha¡¯s mouth were slightly turned up. ¡°Just seeing my cute Sheppy makes me relieved enough to wonder if he was really mad.¡± Jackal thought to himself that he had done the right thing in transforming. However, as if reading his thoughts, Asha slightly rolled her eyes. Jackal quickly pretended not to know. Asha bit her lower lip, trying not to laugh. She seemed to have an excellent understanding of him. ¡°Jackal, does it take a lot of energy to transform into a horse?¡± Jackal nodded in her arms. Asha said in surprise. ¡°Then change back! How can you waste your energy when you are sick!?¡± When Asha finished speaking, she took a nightgown and put it over the horse¡¯s torso. He quickly turned back into his human form. Asha was so surprised when she witnessed the transformation. She almost told him to transform back because it was amazing. But seeing him standing, she swallowed hard as she saw his stocky body naked in just a barely clad robe. Jackal lowered his head and said, adjusting his robe. ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± That simple apology sounded more sincere than any other word. He always thought carefully before speaking. He probably did the same when he was about to tell his secret¡­ Asha looked down slightly and said. ¡°I was angry that you deceived me all this time, but it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t understand. If I could have transformed into a real butterfly, I would have tried to hide it from the people around me.¡± Jackal chuckled a little involuntarily. Asha immediately raised her eyes. ¡°Are you laughing now?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ No. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jackal straightened up and apologized. However, he imagined Asha transforming into a small yellow butterfly not knowing what to do and flying around, he kept biting his lip, feeling the laughter escape him. Asha hesitated for a moment as she looked at him, then said determinedly. ¡°Jackal. Actually, I also have something to tell you.¡± CH 55 A strong wind blew into the Imperial Palace and everyone was nervous. Karaf was restless and anxious, unable to keep still. He felt that he had to find any trace of Asha to solve his problem. If there was anything that could feel her traces, his anxious mind would be more at ease. Karaf frantically searched the empress¡¯s palace where Asha lived, but he did not find much in this palace. Everything in the room was gifted from him, but for some reason, they seemed like just gaudy decorations and he couldn¡¯t feel any trace of her. He couldn¡¯t even feel the scent of her fragrant body or the slightest trace of her touch. As if there was no one in this room in the first place¡­ And that drove him crazy. Karaf ordered the chamberlain to bring all her belongings when she first entered the palace. She didn¡¯t really have much when she came here. Karaf¡¯s face crumpled even more as he looked at the small basket of belongings. However, the moment he found something on it, he inadvertently hit the desk with his fist. The loud sound startled all the servants and knights around him. Karaf picked up one of Asha¡¯s belongings with trembling hands, his eyes grew bigger. It was a steel-colored dagger. His trembling fingers slowly brushed against the horse¡¯s face carved on the dagger. The horse was so familiar to him. No, it¡¯s a face I¡¯ll never forget. Because it looked exactly like the damn horse that stole Asha from the flowering ceremony. Karaf¡¯s hands trembled and his face contorted in pain. ¡°Vanessa¡­¡­ You lied to me.¡± She clearly stated that it was a horse that she had raised in her village. But as if the horse had been prepared, as soon as the opportunity presented itself, it ran on its back, and the Lycaons immediately attacked the temple. Did she deceive me by conspiring with them from the beginning? Even the woman he trusted ultimately betrayed him¡­ The spy¡¯s last curse resounded unpleasantly in his ears. ¡®¡­¡­ Just because Vanessa is by your side? I bet my life she resents you and hate you.¡¯ Karaf clenched his fist so hard it cut his skin. He made up his mind to never trust minorities again¡­¡­. He felt so pathetic that he thought this time would be different. He felt so insignificant and miserable for having been betrayed even by his beloved woman, that he couldn¡¯t bear it. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Dur¨¢n hurried over to him. Karaf muttered, staring straight ahead as if he had lost his soul. ¡°Didn¡¯t she say that she would abandon everything and stay by my side?¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­.¡± ¡°I believed that¡­¡­ She tried to distract me with sweet words to betray me. Is that how everything was from the beginning¡­¡­.? Betrayal always flows in the blood of the goddamn minorities. Isn¡¯t that right, Duran?¡± Seeing him mutter like a maniac with glowing red eyes, Duran quickly said. ¡°Your Majesty, please calm down. It is still unclear if Lady Vanessa betrayed Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Then why hasn¡¯t she returned if she didn¡¯t? That damn horse keeps running nonstop?¡± As he said between laughs, Duran lowered his head and answered. ¡°¡­¡­ There has to be something. I also saw Vanessa being very surprised by the sudden action of her horse at the Flowering Ceremony. The horse was out of control. Judging by Lady Vanessa¡¯s reaction, Lycaon could have committed the meticulous crime themselves. The reason why Lady Vanessa can¡¯t return to the palace maybe because she is being closely watched by her. Vanessa already has a history of running away without them knowing.¡± Karaf paused. Those words sounded plausible. Perhaps Vanessa wanted to come to him, but the persistent wild dogs took her by force and locked her up somewhere. It certainly wasn¡¯t a coincidence that Sheppy the horse entered the imperial palace, but it must have been part of their elaborate plan. Vanessa has nothing to do with them. Vanessa¡­ she may not have contacted them. Karaf regained his reason for a moment hoping that a small spark in his heart would ignite when he only had ashes in it, but he was soon confused again. But hadn¡¯t she already talked to the spy without his knowledge? She might have fallen for his nonsense. She could have changed her mind and decided to leave him for another flower. Karaf muttered calmly to himself. ¡°Just one last time¡­¡­ I want to trust her just one more time. Duran, as you said, there is a possibility that the Lycaons are imprisoning the butterfly to rebel¡­¡­. Maybe Vanessa doesn¡¯t know anything and she¡¯s just a victim getting caught up in their plans¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Your Majesty.¡± Duran responded quickly as if he had been waiting. ¡°But if¡­¡­ If she doesn¡¯t come back even when I destroy Lycaon¡­.¡± Karaf couldn¡¯t bear to say anything and choked back the words. The moment he said it, he was afraid that the words would turn into seeds and blossom into flowers. Knowing how he felt, Duran seriously said. ¡°That will never happen. So rest assured, Your Majesty. Lady Vanessa is not one of those people. Didn¡¯t she save Your Majesty¡¯s life?¡± That talk brought a lot of peace to Karaf. It was the defining moment that made him completely trust Asha. He couldn¡¯t even doubt that moment. Suspecting that even that was insincere, there was nothing left for him. Seeing Karaf calm down, Duran handed him the report he had been hiding behind his back. Karaf asked, looking at the report. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°This is a request. As a result of the search in the northern region of Herta, we found someone who had commissioned Lycaon before. He is a minority.¡± Karaf took it and read it quickly. His gaze moved quickly over the paper. He spoke a bit desperate. ¡°But Lycaon must have moved by now. They know we¡¯re looking for them, but they won¡¯t show up twice in the same area.¡± ¡°Yes. However, on the contrary, if we request them, we may be able to catch their tails.¡± ¡°¡­¡­make a request?¡± Karaf raised his head and asked curiously. Duran responded seriously. ¡°Yes. We caught the man and questioned him, he said that Lycaon always used a hawk when receiving requests. The other day, the bandits also told me that Lycaon had sent a hawk and contacted his comrades. How about using that man to make a false request to Lycaon? We can give him one condition, if he cooperates with the Imperial Family, he will be released.¡± ¡°¡­¡­That¡¯s not a bad idea. But right now they must be busy running away, will they have the spirit to accept the request?¡± Duran¡¯s eyes turned serious. ¡°I don¡¯t know about Lycaon, but Lady Vanessa will accept that request.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Karaf asked, but soon realized something and his eyes widened a little. * * * * * Asha told Jackal about the conversation she had with the minority spy. Jackal¡¯s face hardened as he found out what had happened to Asha without his knowledge, and that she had been imprisoned in her room for it. ¡°¡­¡­ The emperor must have been so mad at that man. I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s another flower beside him in this bloody empire¡­¡­.¡± Asha asked with a worried and anxious look on her face. ¡°He said if I go to the temple I will instinctively know who is he. Should I find him and make him bloom¡­¡­?¡± Jackal remained silent for a while. He honestly wanted her to be truly free, now that she was back here, free of all her duties or responsibilities as a butterfly. He wanted her to forget all about the imperial family, the empire, and minorities, and think about her own life in her new home. Just as he left the village long ago and founded Lycaon. But Jackal knew that she would do it differently than he did. And as expected, Asha couldn¡¯t erase what the spy said from her head, and even after coming here, she was still confused and unable to calm down. ¡®If he blooms, it will hurt not only you but everyone in the Empire. And minorities will never be able to escape from the vicious circle.¡¯ Asha didn¡¯t know exactly what that meant. Somehow, she did as the spy told her and ran away from him, but her heart ached at the memory of Karaf¡¯s sad expression. Obviously, for the sake of minorities and the people, it seemed right not to enlighten Karaf. But what if I walk away from him, who was betrayed by a trusted friend and cursed into a tyrant? Then what will happen to him? To leave him until he withers is to do the same as his mother, the ancestor Butterfly, did to him. As Asha was deep in thought, Jackal opened his mouth. ¡°I will support your decision unconditionally.¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± ¡°Do whatever you want. Whatever decision you make, I will stick to it.¡± Asha looked at him in surprise. Jackal continued to speak with serious eyes. ¡°I think that your return to the past is also the result of your will being reflected, even a little. You barely got a second life. Do as you please.¡± ¡°Jackal¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You saved me, and you saved Lycaon. My life is yours now.¡± Jackal¡¯s blue eyes looked even bluer in the moonlight streaming through the window. Asha looked at his serious face with trembling eyes. Jackal said calmly. ¡°There is a saying that kelpies, long called horse warriors, serve only one master.¡± He dropped to one knee on the ground as if taking the oath of knighthood. Asha¡¯s eyes grew bigger just looking at him. ¡°No matter what they say, my master, no, my king is Asha, you. Whatever happens, I will follow my chosen king.¡± He lifted Asha¡¯s hand and lightly kissed the back of it. It was a ritual passed down from generation to generation when the kelpies took an oath. The touch of his warm, soft lips on the back of her hand made Asha¡¯s heart pound like crazy. CH 56 Jackal quickly put her hand down and took something out of the drawer next to him. It was a rugged Indian-style necklace with a natural blue crystal gemstone on the leather strap. He made it for Asha. ¡°Even though it¡¯s a bit shabby, this necklace will protect you.¡± ¡°What do you mean shabby?¡­¡­ It¡¯s so pretty.¡± Asha stroked the sparkling blue crystal The light reflected off the jewel and her eyes sparkled. Asha liked the gem even more because it resembled Jackal¡¯s eyes. It was a color that calmed her just looking at it. Jackal put the necklace on Asha¡¯s neck. He carefully brushed back her hair and spread out his large hands. His hands tickled her and Asha couldn¡¯t look directly at him while standing right in front of his eyes. Even the smallest touch was filled with his warmth. Jackal smiled slightly at Asha, who couldn¡¯t bear to look at him and only looked down. ¡°When this is all over, then I¡¯ll propose to you properly.¡± He finished his sentence and gently kissed Asha on the forehead. Asha touched the necklace and her eyes grew bigger. She could feel her heart beating madly under the jewel. Asha made a deep commitment to the jewel. I will never make the wrong choice, even for him. This time, I will definitely find a way for everyone to be happy and at peace. * * * * * Karaf, who had been drinking and worrying all day, was forced to lie in bed late at night. But he had another nightmare. ¡®You cursed child¡­¡­! You are just like your father after all!¡¯ Little Karaf did not dare to approach his mother and stayed at the door. His mother was a woman with beautiful blonde hair, symbolizing a golden butterfly like Asha. But ever since she entered the palace, her face turned pale, her body parched like a winter tree, and her bright hair turned ugly and disheveled like an old witch¡¯s. ¡®Mother¡­¡­.¡¯ Karaf reached out with trembling eyes, then flinched at her words. ¡®Don¡¯t call me mother! Don¡¯t look at me with your horrible eyes¡­! She let out a high-pitched cry, hysterically pulling at her hair with her skinny fingers. The maids rushed into the room and grabbed her limbs. ¡®Let me go! Just let me die.¡­¡­!¡¯ ¡®Kyaaak!¡¯ The maids who received slaps on the cheek and kicks in the stomach rolled on the floor screaming. Amid all sorts of shouting and shouting, the young Karaf quietly turned around and left the room. Dark shadows settled under his eyes as he walked down the hall. He had never been loved by his mother since he was born. He had been raised by his nanny since he was a baby and was only allowed to see his mother¡¯s face once a week. Karaf was looking forward to that day, but it was just a formal meeting at a table, drinking tea, and exchanging a few greetings without eye contact. Even then, she would just skip a week due to work or appointments. Due to this family environment, from a young age, he had a dark personality, but he would try to pretend to be bright and say anything to get his mother¡¯s attention. However, she only responded coldly with short answers, and as if confirming whether he was alive or not, when the time was over, she stood up and left him behind to return to the empress¡¯s palace. Karaf didn¡¯t know why his mother hated him so much. Even so, in his young heart, he clung even more to his mother and yearned for her love. He wanted to be loved somehow, to hear a kind word, so he did praiseworthy things, but the more he clung to his mother, the more his mother grew distant from him as if she was sick and tired of him. On a day when her stress was at its peak, she would kick or punch the young prince, the only one in the royal family. Karaf silently accepted his mother¡¯s blows. Even if his face swelled and his nose bled, he wanted to be in the same space as his mother, even for a very short time. He wouldn¡¯t blink even if he got hurt, but if it relieved her stress even a little, it wouldn¡¯t be bad if she looked at it once. It was a twisted affection for his mother. Finally, the situation ended only when the Emperor appeared and stopped her. Karaf looked helplessly at his father, who was violent towards his mother, who dared to lay her hands on the prince who would become the next emperor. Violence gave birth to other violence, and that violence became his. He really didn¡¯t know at the time. That he was an existence that should not have been born. The black rose is a symbol of a bad omen and a flower that brings misfortune to the empire. And that was the reason why his mother hated him¡­ His father, the former emperor, was a very libertine man. He didn¡¯t go a single night without a woman, so his mother somehow tried to have a ¡®son¡®, a means of cementing her place in the Imperial Palace. However, the moment Karaf first came into the world and let out a loud cry, she cried in despair at the sight of his black hair. Her child, her last hope, was not the one who brought her glory or who gave her freedom. He was just a lump of baggage that only left a stigma on the empire. She yelled, looking at Karaf with her face full of hate. ¡®You ruined my life! If only you hadn¡¯t been born¡­¡­ I¡­¡­!¡¯ She yelled, shaking her head hysterically. ¡®This is terrible. You¡¯re a terrible bud¡­¡­. You will end up walking the same path as your father. There will be no butterflies in this world that will love you¡­¡­!¡¯ As soon as her last words overlapped with the assassin¡¯s voice, Karaf took a deep breath and woke up from a nightmare. ¡°Huh¡­¡­. Ugh¡­¡­.¡± He took a deep breath and grabbed her fragile head with one hand. Those words stuck deep into his heart like a thorn and would never leave him. He, who was not loved by his parents and did not learn to love, could not love anyone. ¡°Vanessa¡­ ¡­ What happened to Vanessa? Did you find her?¡± Karaf, like a man without a soul, touched the sheets next to him, where she had once been lying. However, the place was cold without any warmth. Karaf¡¯s fist clenched the sheet. ¡­¡­She left me. No, the bloody wild dogs took her from me. I have to get her back. I¡¯ll definitely get her back. Karaf, like a drunk, grabbed an entire bottle from the table and gulped it down. There were already countless empty bottles lying on the ground, but he couldn¡¯t control himself. His hands were shaking and a stream of alcohol flowed down his Adam¡¯s apple. Finally, he tossed the bottle onto the table and wiped his mouth once with the back of his hand. His red eyes burned with anger in the dark. ¡°¡­¡­ Duran.¡± Duran, standing guard outside the door at his loud call, strode straight into the room. ¡°Did you call, Your Majesty?¡± Karaf said, his eyes shining sharply. ¡°Prepare for the operation.¡± Realizing that he had made up his mind, Dur¨¢n respectfully bowed his head in response. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Karaf pulled the ring he had made for her from his breast pocket. It was the only ring in the world that was made by the best ring craftsmen from the Empire. He clenched the ring in his hand. I will never lose her again. Even if she hates him, he won¡¯t let her leave his side, even if it means breaking her wings. That would be his only way to protect her, he firmly believed. * * * * * Asha fell asleep after talking to Jackal all night but suddenly woke up in bed. Soon, warm sunlight streamed in through the window. Did I fall asleep in the same bed with Jackal without realizing it¡­? Asha jumped in surprise, but the man who was supposed to be lying on the bed was nowhere to be seen. Besides, they shared the same blanket. Apparently, he took her to bed while she was sleeping when she was supposed to take care of him and left somewhere else early in the morning. Asha¡¯s face turned red at his kind gesture even though he was sick. As she stepped out with a thin shawl loosely draped over her shoulders, she saw Lycaons returning from their early hunt. Since they had left all their food behind when they fled, they would go hunting every day to stock up on food. ¡°¡­¡­Sister Asha! We caught a huge wild boar today!¡± Nagy, who found Asha, waved his hand and shouted innocently, and the nearby Lycaons cheered fervently with wolf howls at the same time. It was their ritual to celebrate the hunt. Asha¡¯s eyes widened as she saw a large wild boar being dragged along. Gabe smiled and said. ¡°Tonight we will celebrate with a wild boar. Look forward to it, sister.¡± Asha imitated the howl of the wolf, her palms going to her mouth with her wide eyes. They all burst out laughing. While the Lycaons take care of the prey, Asha decides to milk the goats for Jackal¡¯s breakfast. She went up to the goats in the barn, milked them with both hands, squeezed them tight, heated them on the fire, and went outside. However, she saw a blue-gray horse restlessly pacing in front of the door, waiting for her. After going out for a while, when he came back, Jackal was a little worried because he didn¡¯t see her. ¡°¡­¡­ Jackal!¡± Asha was happy and ran towards him. ¡°Where have you been? I haven¡¯t seen you since morning.¡± Asha¡¯s question reminded Jackal of what happened yesterday. Last night while nursing him she fell asleep, he picked Asha up and put her in his bed. He tried to put a blanket over her so that she could sleep comfortably, but Asha suddenly pulled him and he ended up laying down with her. He was taken aback for a moment and froze, then Asha spoke in her sleep and moved closer to him, pressing her flesh against him. Her careless action made Jackal¡¯s heart beat so fast it was about to burst. CH 57 Jackal looked back, feeling his heart beating wildly. However, Asha, who approached him first, fell asleep again, resting her face on his back as if nothing had happened. His back was a really cozy shelter for Asha¡­¡­. Jackal sighed and decided not to get out of bed, but to stay still. Asha seemed comfortable with his back as a pillow, so he thought he should help her sleep well. But even with his back to her, her warmth was still transmitted to him. He closed his eyes and tried to force himself to sleep, but her soft touch drove him crazy. Jackal ended up staying up all night¡­¡­. Early in the morning, he got out of bed without her knowledge, looked at her, and washed his face with cold water. When she asked him where he¡¯d been, Jackal had a look that meant, ¡®I was just trying to ask you where you¡¯d been.¡¯ But he forgot that he was now in the shape of a horse and opened his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ Heing.¡± A deflated sound escaped from his mouth as if the wind was escaping. Jackal¡¯s face turned red. Asha secretly suppressed her laughter. But then, a yellow butterfly flew up and landed on the bridge of his nose. It was truly amazing timing. Asha covered her mouth, her face flushing unbearably red now, and she laughed. Jackal¡¯s face grew redder despite being a bluish-gray horse. Asha made a funny face as she barely managed to contain her laughter, but stuttered. ¡°Last time, a hawk landed on your nose, I think¡­¡­. The animals seem to like your nose very, very much.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Jackal blushed and closed his eyes. Asha opened one of his eyes and looked at him before jokingly saying. ¡°¡­¡­ I like it too.¡± The moment Jackal opened his eyes, Asha pretended not to notice and placed a hand on the bridge of his nose and spoke softly to the butterfly. ¡°Butterfly, Jackal is shy.¡± Wondering if it would work, the butterfly flew back into the sky. A butterfly perched on a horse¡¯s nose¡­ She likes it. Asha said, holding back her laughter. ¡°Jackal, I have a favor to ask you. Can you hear?¡± Jackal was tempted and his ears fluttered. He seemed like he was asking what is it? Asha said with a smile. ¡°I just brought you fresh goat¡¯s milk to drink, but can you drink it in your horse form?¡± She had the same sinister smile she had when she brushed him earlier. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± When Jackal didn¡¯t reply, Asha¡¯s eyes moved slightly to catch his attention. ¡°You were so cute when I gave you water in the hut before, I wanted to see it again¡­¡­¡± Her purple eyes twinkled and Jackal finally gave up. ¡°¡­¡­ Purung.¡± ¡°Really? Oh my god!¡± Asha was happy as innocent as a child and she transferred the goat¡¯s milk into a wide bowl. Jackal told himself that this was nothing if she likes it. As he stuck out his tongue and began to drink the goat¡¯s milk, Asha crouched in front of him, tilting her head slightly to look. Her face was filled with affection as she looked at Sheppy. Jackal closed his eyes in shame and drank the goat¡¯s milk little by little. He felt as if he had returned to being a young colt. But he wondered if Asha could consider him a beast, and he was a little worried on the inside. After emptying the bowl, Asha wiped the cute white goat¡¯s milk from his mouth and philtrum with her handkerchief. She gently stroked the bridge of his nose as if proud. ¡°Sheppy¡¯s nose is mine.¡± Hearing that, he unknowingly became excited and let out a loud snort. Asha laughed innocently and kissed him on his nose. Jackal was about to lose his mind from the boiling heat in his body. Before he knew it, he was a wild horse completely tamed by her. As soon as he finished eating, he and the others worked on rebuilding a new home. He seemed very serious and calm as he wandered restlessly, taking in the construction situation and reviewing documents with Sosa. They say working men are sexy. Asha sat on a log and looked up at him with her hands over her face. Jackal looked different from cute Sheppy. Jackal stopped flipping through the papers before feeling a gaze on him and glanced in Asha¡¯s direction. Asha said. ¡°Rest up a little. Your wounds haven¡¯t healed yet.¡± He was still wrapped in bandages, but he shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. As the chief, I must participate in the rebuilding of the village. I have to quickly build a house for us to live in¡­¡­¡± Jackal paused. Asha¡¯s eyes widened a bit and she asked him back. ¡°A house for us to live in¡­..?¡± Jackal turned around and covered his mouth. His earlobes were red. Asha also suddenly felt her face heat up. Jackal said, looking at the ground in embarrassment. ¡°¡­¡­Pretend you didn¡¯t hear what I just said. I was going to keep it a secret until it was finished¡­¡­¡± Asha responded quickly. ¡°What did you just say? I didn¡¯t hear anything.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Okay.¡± Asha walked away quickly, but a smile spread on her lips. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m going to live with him¡­. Just thinking about it made her heart pound. Her heart sped up when she thought that the paper he was holding in his hand with a serious expression on his face was actually the structure of their house. As Asha disappeared from sight, Jackal let out a hot breath and pulled the cart full of wood out into the open space. It was the place where their house would be built. No matter how sick he was, he intended to build Asha¡¯s new home with his own hands. His eyes were very determined as he walked forward. * * * * * Returning home first, Asha suddenly found Nagy running from afar. ¡°Nagy?¡± ¡°Sister! Hide me¡­¡­!¡± Nagy looked so desperate that Asha let him in, even though it wasn¡¯t her house. Soon, from afar, she saw the chef, Wede, running towards her with a large knife used to chop wild boars. Asha exclaimed, her eyes wide. ¡°Mr. Wede, what the hell do you have in your hand?¡± Wede looked down at his hand and was even more startled. ¡°This! I thought I had a ladle¡­¡­.¡± Nagy got scared when he saw it and ran away. ¡°By the way, what are you doing here?¡± Asha¡¯s question brought him to his senses. ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t Nagy come running over here just now?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen him. What¡¯s the matter?¡± Wede sighed deeply. ¡°Well, Nagy ate all the dessert for dinner tonight.¡± ¡°What?¡± Asha blinked. For some reason, she could feel a shudder inside the house. ¡°I begged him to wait until dinner, but he ate it all! We are going to have a special party to celebrate your return tonight¡­!¡± Wede jumped on the spot with his heavy body, then lost his strength and sat on a log. Asha smiled and moved closer to him. ¡°I¡¯m fine without it. Thanks for your concern.¡± Wede answered sullenly. ¡°But, the boss made a special request¡­¡­. Actually, the mood was on thin ice before you got back. It¡¯s been a while since I thought the atmosphere was getting better, but I made this mistake¡­¡­¡± The fact that Jackal was secretly preparing an event for her, made Asha blush again. ¡°I¡¯m really fine. I¡¯m rather happy that Nagy ate them.¡± Nagy, who had been hiding against the wall, froze with slightly wide eyes. Asha told him a story from her old days when, on her first hunt, Nagy came to her room with a plate of food. Hearing the story, the chef¡¯s eyes widened and he said in disbelief. ¡°Oh my God, is that true? No one can stop his gluttony¡­¡­ That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Nagy eats a lot?¡± ¡°A lot! When I first came here, he could eat a day¡¯s worth of everyone¡¯s hunting by himself.¡± Asha was slightly surprised. They both were already from the same Nephesh clan, and she was wondering how a little boy like Nagy became a hunter, but Wede told her first. ¡°One day, a thief sneaked into the village. Everyone assumed it was a highly intelligent beast since only food was lost in the traps he had set. But then we found out that he was Nagy. That day, he must have been very hungry and forgot to pay attention. The boss found him in the kitchen hastily stuffing food into his mouth, grabbed him from behind, and dragged him out.¡± The chef smiled broadly as he recalled the memory of that time. ¡°But perhaps it was more surprising because the boy ate so well that the boss told me to prepare food for him. The boss likes people who eat well.¡± He winked at the end of his sentence. Asha suddenly remembered what Jackal had told her before. ¡®I feel li every time I see you, you really eat well.¡¯ Her face got hot for some reason. Jackal stared at her every time she ate something and seemed to like the way she ate well. Wede cleared his throat and continued. ¡°But Nagy, this boy, ended up having an upset stomach. You don¡¯t know how pitiful it was to see a child covering his mouth to prevent vomiting while he broke out in a cold sweat.¡± ¡°¡­¡­so what happened?¡± When Asha asked curiously, Wede shrugged and said. ¡°We just scolded him. But the boss also seemed sorry for the orphaned bum. He took care of him all night, patting him on the back. And from the next day, he made him pay for the stolen food.¡± Asha laughed again. Goodwill was good, and the way they made him pay back was also good. Wede also smiled. ¡°He became part of our group. He was small and agile, so he was good at hunting and climbing trees, so the chief let him in. He¡¯s a naughty boy, he is often scolded, but we praise him when he does something good, so even now, Nagy follows Boss as if he is his father.¡± Jackal was truly a leader who seemed cold on the outside, but he gave everyone a fair chance and warmly cared for everyone behind the scenes. The Lycaons followed him without any complaint or challenge. Jackal would catch Nagy whenever he tried to do something bad like a steal and would slap Nagy on his buttocks with his palms. Hearing Jackal punishes Nagy to reflect by looking at the wall, Asha laughed again. It was because last night, she remembered Sheppy staring at the wall, reflecting. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard Nagy give food, but I guess he likes you quite a bit.¡± Wede laughed again. In fact, Asha didn¡¯t know, but when Asha and Nagy first met in the snowy field, Nagy liked that she willingly gave them food in exchange for saving her life. But then, Jackal was seen walking in the distance. Asha held out her hand in surprise when she saw that he was trying to run inside. ¡°Ah, inside¡­¡­!¡± CH 58 Jackal entered before Asha had time to stop him, immediately grabbing Nagy from behind and dragging him outside. ¡°Why is he here?¡± ¡°Nagy, this boy¡­¡­!¡± Wede¡¯s eyes widened and he yelled, Nagy smiled awkwardly as he dangled in the air. Jackal stood with his arms folded and listened to what had happened. Nagy looked at Jackal desperately. After Wede finished speaking, Jackal looked at Nagy. Nagy flinched at his gaze and looked away. ¡°B..boss¡­¡­ So, what happened¡­¡­.¡± Jackal extended a hand causing Nagy to squeeze her eyes shut without making excuses. Jackal said, ruffling his light brown hair roughly. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to hide properly?¡± Nagy looked at him with wide eyes. Jackal said with a calm expression on his face. ¡°Alright, you can go. You¡¯re forgiven, so it shouldn¡¯t matter.¡± Nagy nodded to the chef and him respectively with watery eyes. And finally, he looked at Asha and said. ¡°Sorry, sister! Guess I didn¡¯t think right. And thanks for covering for me! I¡¯ll definitely repay you!¡± Nagy nimbly ran somewhere. Asha let out a sigh of relief. Jackal muttered while looking at Nagy¡¯s back. ¡°¡­¡­poor kid. He lost his parents at a very young age, so he does those things on purpose to get attention.¡± Nagy was often scolded by everyone, but even if he was scolded to tears, the next day, he would affectionately cling to everyone as if nothing had happened. The members of the organization could not bear to hate Nagy. However, Weed¡¯s eyes widened a bit. Unlike him, who thought it was simply because of his gluttony, Jackal had eyes that seemed to understand more deeply than that. Asha somehow got the idea that he was going to be a ¡®good father¡¯. Asha¡¯s face flushed red at the thought that came to her mind, and she deliberately changed the subject. ¡°Mr. Wede, may I know what the dessert was?¡± ¡°Oh nothing special, it was a flower-shaped cookie with jam made from flower petals instead of fruit. We were trying to bring a bit of a festive atmosphere.¡± Asha felt a little nostalgic when she heard that. Food was plentiful everywhere in the capital of the empire. People living in the Etzheim Empire were entitled to enjoy the Flower Festival, but minorities were always an exception. Living in hiding in the cold northern regions, they did not enjoy anything like the strangers who were not invited to the festival. She also experienced the festival for the first time when she was brought to the Imperial Palace, and it was the first time she knew that the most delicious foods in the world were on the street. Then Asha came up with a good idea. ¡°Mr. Wede, let¡¯s go to the kitchen right now!¡± * * * * * In the evening a wild boar festival was held. Asha involuntarily closed her eyes and trembled as she took her first bite of the boar in a long time. ¡°Ohh.. I missed this taste¡­¡­.¡± As she dove into the roast boar and slowly savored it, Gabe chuckled. Jackal again tore off the big boar¡¯s leg and put it on Asha¡¯s plate without saying a word. Nagy, who was in the prime of his growth years, hastened to bite into the roast boar with his teeth and tore it open. The speed with which the food disappeared was enormous, even though Nagy ate all the desserts earlier. Nagy suddenly found Asha eating slowly like a rabbit next to him and looked at her. ¡°Sister, if you eat slowly like this, all the food will be taken away.¡± Suddenly, Nagy took out a dagger from his waist and without hesitation cut the boar meat and put it on Asha¡¯s plate like a mountain. He put the dagger back in and, humming as if nothing had happened, went back to eating the meat. She thought he was just a child, but he seemed like a skilled hunter right now. They all looked at him and laughed mockingly. ¡°You know how to feed the lady, you¡¯re all grown up, kid!¡± ¡°Sister is skinny, so she has to eat more than me.¡± When Nagy responded calmly, they laughed even harder. But it was then. Yuri opened the door screaming. ¡°Okay, everyone pays attention! Today we have a special dessert prepared for you! And amazingly, Asha helped make them too!¡± Women appeared with large trays in each hand. The trays were full of cute and pretty sweets. Sweets ranged from colorful flower shapes to fresh fruit shapes. All of Lycaons¡¯ eyes widened at those beautiful sweets, and they exclaimed in admiration. Jackal looked at her a bit surprised when he heard that Asha had made them too. Asha smiled and took some of the sweets from a tray and was the first to approach Jackal. The candies resembled hyacinths, camellia blossoms, and other pretty flowers. She was happy that she could do something for them herself. Asha said playfully. ¡°This isn¡¯t a real flower, so it¡¯s okay, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re allergic to pollen.¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes grew slightly larger. ¡°¡­¡­You know?¡± ¡°Yes. I noticed it before when I saw Sheppy sneeze into a runny nose.¡± Jackal¡¯s face turned red. Back then, he thought he was lucky to be a horse, but now he wants to hide in a mouse hole. But Asha laughed innocently. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Sheepy¡¯s runny nose was cute, too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Jackal didn¡¯t say anything more embarrassed and took the sweet in the form of a camellia. Then this time Asha stammered, blushing in embarrassment. ¡°Do you want to eat that? There are many other pretty sweets..¡­¡± In fact, she made the camellia sweet. She had eaten those kinds of sweets before, but it was her first time making them, so the shape was very clumsy. The sweets she made were uglier than those made by other skilled women with their hands, so Asha deliberately hid the sweets she made among the other pretty sweets so they wouldn¡¯t be noticed. But Jackal said casually. ¡°This is the prettiest in my eyes.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha turned her head without saying a word, but a small smile appeared on her lips. The others just looked at them and shook their heads. Jackal recognized at a glance what sweets Asha had made. He secretly suppressed a laugh and took a bite of the sweet, and after that, he chose to only eat the sweets she made. Seeing Jackal eating the sweet she made, Asha finally turned to Nagy with confidence. Nagy was fascinated by the dessert that he had never seen before. He tossed the sweet into his mouth in one gulp, chewed with his puffy cheeks, and swallowed it in one swallow. It was hard to tell if he was tasting it. Nagy said with a dreamy face. ¡°Sister¡­¡­ I feel really happy right now¡­¡­.¡± Everyone laughed. ¡°Have you ever felt unhappy when you ate something?¡± ¡°Have you ever felt unhappy every time you eat something?¡± ¡°Nagy, there¡¯s still a lot left, so don¡¯t worry and eat a lot, okay?¡± He is the youngest in Lycaon, but he always took care of her. She wanted to repay him. Nagy¡¯s eyes twinkled as if he was genuinely moved. ¡°Yes! Thanks, sister!¡± Nagy inhaled several in a mouthful this time. The sweets Asha made had many unidentified shapes, but luckily Nagy didn¡¯t mind. Watching him eat happily, Asha suddenly remembered the little children she had left behind in her old village and smiled slightly. Jackal, who had been watching her closely, asked. ¡°Do you really like children?¡± Asha replied with a smile. ¡°Yes. When I lived in my old village, I took care of the orphans as if they were my little brothers. When I look at Nagy, I think of the children I left behind. I wonder if they are alright¡­¡± Asha snapped with a bitter look on her face. She wondered if in her past life, the children were killed when the village was attacked and she was taken to the Imperial Palace. It was so hectic that it was not clear who died and who survived. She was lucky to be alive, but she was worried that the children who followed her around with runny noses would not eat properly or live well. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­ Captain! A request has been made to Lycaon!¡± The members, who had been laughing, stopped talking at the same time and looked towards the door. They all looked a bit surprised. It was because they had not received any more requests since they left the old fortress. The Emperor¡¯s order to subdue Lycaon spread throughout the empire and their reputation were not good. Jackal said casually. ¡°The situation is not good at the moment. Tell them we won¡¯t accept any requests.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not a hunting request, it¡¯s a request to find people. It comes from the minority village.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions changed. Jackal hesitated, then turned his head and asked. ¡°A request from the minority village¡­¡­?¡± Lycaon and the minority village were never friendly, so they didn¡¯t ask each other for help. Seeing that they had requested Lycaon, it seemed that there was a big problem in the village. Jackal took the request and read it very seriously. However, as soon as he saw the content of the request, his expression hardened. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Boss?¡± Sosa and Gabe came up to him curiously, but Jackal continued to stare at the request in silence. They looked at the request content from behind and showed similar reactions. When the three fell silent, Asha felt uneasy. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there something wrong written on it?¡± Jackal put the request down on the table and stared at Asha. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ They say that there have been many missing people in the village recently. Your name is among them.¡± Asha felt bad when she thought that the minority people must be worried about her disappearance. It seems that they still didn¡¯t know that she is a butterfly. But Jackal¡¯s subsequent comments made her eyes widen. ¡°And the orphans in the village you mentioned disappeared as well.¡± Asha froze in shock. ¡°The children¡­¡­ disappeared?¡± CH 59 Needless to say, Jackal¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look good either, having just heard Asha¡¯s loving story about those children. As he began to recite the names of the missing children one by one, Asha¡¯s face paled. Even without hearing her answer, everyone could tell that those were the children she took care of in her village. Jackal asked the patrolman with a serious look. ¡°The Emperor could have set a bait to find Asha. Was the person who made the request really a minority?¡± ¡°Yes. It had the crest of the Nasson clan. We were contacted through a hawk.¡± Jackal¡¯s expression turned more serious. The Nasson clan, to which Gabe belonged, had asked him for a petition only once. The Nasson clan seemed to ask for help because they were the closest to the Kelpie clan in the past, but the memory of rejecting the minority village¡¯s request came to mind. He would have rejected it without looking back. Jackal had already cut ties with the minority village and had nothing to do with them when they branded him as a traitor. Rather, it would be better for everyone not to get involved with them. But seeing Asha¡¯s pained expression, he couldn¡¯t bear to look away. Jackal turned to Gabe. ¡°What do you think?¡± Jackal asked if he wanted to help because he was a member of the same clan. But Gabe just shrugged it off and said. ¡°Do I look like someone who cares about my clan?¡± ¡°No.¡± When he answered firmly, without blinking, Gabe grumbled. He also left the minority village a long time ago and worked as a thief, so he had no attachment or pride for his clan. But even if it wasn¡¯t him, all the people of Lycaon also left their clans. They chose the life of wanderers, although they came from different backgrounds, they were united by a bond stronger than anyone. After thinking about it, Jackal said. ¡°Tell them we accept.¡± ¡°Captain¡­¡­!¡± As the other members stood up in surprise, Jackal raised a hand to stop them. It meant that he would accept no objections. Asha said, looking at him anxiously. ¡°If it¡¯s because of me, you can refuse. Jackal, please put Lycaon first.¡± ¡°¡­¡­No. It¡¯s better this way. I think it would be good to take this opportunity to pay everything off and end the relationship. Even if I think about it, it ended very badly.¡± Jackal looked at her seriously, remembering the oath he had taken yesterday. He didn¡¯t say it directly because the members were present, but he thought of Asha as his top priority. Since the day Asha was brought to the palace, all his priorities have been tailored to her. He didn¡¯t want to see his sad and worried look anymore. Since it was the captain¡¯s decision, the Lycaons also did not argue further. After finishing the meal, they dispersed somewhat carelessly. Asha went to Jackal¡¯s room to have a serious talk. But then, on the way, she ran into Yuri. Realizing where Asha was going, she raised an eyebrow and whispered in her ear. ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°What?¡± She wasn¡¯t going to go to a battlefield, but Yuri still wished him luck. Asha blinked in puzzlement, but Yuri winked at her and calmly continued on her way. ¡°¡­¡­ Jackal, are you in there?¡± When Asha arrived, she opened the door and went in, and she was startled. Jackal quickly ran to hide under the bed but hit the desk and made a loud noise. The objects on the desk fell onto his stubby back. ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m sorry!¡± Belatedly realizing that he was undressing, Asha turned around. Jackal panicked and quickly tried to transform into a horse, but he blushed and only put on his underwear. Asha seemed to know why Yuri reacted the way she did. She seemed to know that Jackal was in the room, tending to his wounds. Why didn¡¯t she tell me¡­¡­ ! Asha exploded in exasperation, then suddenly her eyes went wide. Is that what it means to wish me luck?! It was only then that Asha belatedly guessed what Yuri was thinking and her face suddenly turned red. Yuri didn¡¯t want to let her know what she meant when she wished him good luck¡­. Jackal pretended not to be concerned but asked with a very puzzled look. ¡°What brings you here¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Well¡­ well, I have something to say to you, and I want to take care of you tonight as well. But what happened to you¡­.¡± Asha snapped and looked down at her body. When she asked him why he took off his clothes, Jackal was quick to say as if he was making an excuse. ¡°I was cleaning myself with a wet towel before treating the wound. If I take a shower, the wound will get worse¡­.¡± The two spoke awkwardly, then fell silent. Asha shook off her witty thoughts and said with a determined look. ¡°Then, since you¡¯re all washed, I¡¯ll treat your wound.¡± To get rid of the awkwardness, Asha approached with a first aid box, looking very motivated. Jackal was still in his underwear, so he got flustered and said in a hurry. ¡°Uh? No. I can do it alone..¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t refuse. I want to do it¡­¡­ Kyaaak!¡± Asha stepped on something that fell to the ground, slipped, and fell forward. Asha squeezed her eyes shut, feeling Jackal¡¯s body supporting her, then gently opened her eyes. But soon, her eyes widened when she saw him below her. Now she was on top of Jackal¡¯s body on the bed¡­¡­ Jackal must have been very nervous too, just looking at her with his blue eyes. Sheppy¡¯s appearance could be seen in him. But it was then. ¡°Captain, I¡¯m going to treat your wound¡­¡­.¡± Unaware of anything, Sosa flung open the door and stopped at the door, his eyes wide. Jackal and Asha turned their heads at the same time to look at him. Contrary to last time, this time, Asha was on top of him who was only wearing underwear. Also, the area around the bed was littered with things that seemed to have fallen from the desk, such as Jackal¡¯s clothes, bandages, and papers. It was a very wild sight¡­.. ¡°I¡¯m¡­so sorry to disturb you!¡± Sosa hurriedly shut the door and ran out. He went back the way he had come sweating and telling himself what a foolish, ignorant bastard he was and hitting his head with the palm of his hand. Sosa left, and only silence hung in the room. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Another absurd situation occurred again, the two of them blankly stared at each other¡¯s faces from top to bottom for a while. Asha hurried down from his body with a wave of embarrassment, and Jackal also hurried up and sat on the bed. The two of them were sitting on the edge of the bed, looking in different directions. A long time later, Asha joked first to end the awkward mood. ¡°I think there are only really good people in Lycaon. Everyone is so worried about your injury¡­.¡± Jackal smiled and said. ¡°They don¡¯t know how to knock, and they don¡¯t have any tact.¡± Asha was stung by those words and quickly turned around. ¡°Then, shall we look at the wound?¡± She continued to speak awkwardly, so Jackal bit his bottom lip, trying not to laugh. Asha pretending to be fine while her ears turned red made her look even cuter. ¡°Then, should I transform into a horse now¡­¡­?¡± Jackal asked quietly, but somehow Asha spoke very firmly. ¡°No. I¡¯ve already seen everything, but what are you doing after you transform? You¡¯re going to waste your energy.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± That was also true, so Jackal kept his mouth shut. Asha secretly looked at Jackal¡¯s body, she was excited inside. He was so cute when he was a horse, but seeing him like this made her realize that he is a wild horse. Asha carefully untied the bandage that had been tied to Jackal¡¯s side. Fortunately, the bleeding had stopped and he looked much better than before, but the stitches on his wound were still hideous. She was making a serious expression without even realizing it. Jackal calmly said. ¡°It is a wound of glory to me.¡± When Asha looked up, he had a really proud look. ¡°I was raised as a warrior from a very young age, so I always had scars all over my body. But I think I¡¯ve never been as proud as this time, even after getting injured.¡± As Asha tried to argue, the image of Sheppy, who had been hit by an arrow to save her and was running towards his death, suddenly came to mind. Just thinking about it made her heart sink, and she was about to cry. But then Jackal gave her a slightly concerned look. Then he said, wiping the tears from Asha¡¯s eyes with his thumb. ¡°I was joking. Don¡¯t cry.¡± Asha smiled with tears welling up on her face. This kind of touch became natural to them. Asha said sadly. ¡°If you die because of me¡­ I will return without regret to the moment when I first met you in the winter.¡± Jackal looked at her and asked. ¡°¡­¡­What if it fails? What if that ability was something you could only use once in your life?¡± Asha pondered for a moment. Perhaps the condition of regression was ¡®death¡®, or ¡®going to the brink of death¡®, was the condition of one¡¯s awakening. Whatever it was, in the first place, it would have been the ability to activate only in extreme situations where the time of death was approaching. Asha smiled a little bitterly. ¡°Then I can¡¯t help it. I am not afraid of death.¡± Jackal was speechless when he heard Asha say exactly what she said when he first met her. But this time, he couldn¡¯t laugh about it. He knows very well that it is not an easy thing to say, but it was her sincerity. She already made up her mind over and over again¡­¡­. ¡®You can¡¯t die¡­¡­. If Sheppy dies, I¡¯ll die too.¡¯ The words that she had spoken in the cave echoed with pain in his heart. His heart became so numb that he couldn¡¯t say anything. However, Asha added, smiling gently. ¡°But if I die and can¡¯t regress again, it would be kind of sad if we parted¡­¡± Hearing those words, Jackal was heartbroken as if his heart stopped. CH 60 Jackal, who had been silent, said seriously. ¡°¡­¡­ Even if I die, don¡¯t regress. Keep living your life. Even if you succeed in regressing, losing my memories of you would be the saddest thing for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha felt a warm feeling spread through her heart. Jackal didn¡¯t say anything, but he was thinking the same thing as her. If Asha died before him, he was willing to die. Of course, before she dies, he will savagely kill all the bastards who killed her¡­¡­. After he succeeds in avenging her, he will join her in eternal rest. The two looked at each other sadly. Suddenly, a warm atmosphere in the room enveloped them. They naturally hugged each other tightly. His bare chest was very hot and the sound of his heart could be heard close and loud. It was like a vivid reminder that he was alive, so Asha leaned into his chest, closed her eyes, and listened to his heartbeat. After a while, Asha made up her mind and started treating his wound. There were really a lot of scars on his body. It was hard for her to imagine what his childhood had been like. Asha disinfected the wound with alcohol on a cotton pad, then daubed the wound with ointment and powder. She was very careful. Jackal stared at her as she tended to his wound, suddenly realizing that his posture was rather strange now. He is sitting on the bed with his legs apart, and she is touching his body while carefully looking directly over ¡®there¡® between his legs¡­.. Jackal¡¯s face turned red, he turned his head, raised a hand, and touched the corners of his mouth innocently. If she knew what this wicked wild horse is thinking now, she would probably run away from here¡­¡­. If that happens, he won¡¯t end up like Sheppy staring at the wall to reflect like last time. He did his best to ensure that his important part did not react to her touch. He repeatedly told himself that he must have good thoughts. But when Asha, after treating his wound, stretched out her arms and began to wrap the bandage, he bit down hard on the back of his hand with his teeth. I just have to endure this¡­¡­. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± As soon as he heard Asha¡¯s words, he loosened the power he was exerting on his entire body. After examining the bandage again with a satisfied look, Asha raised her head, noticing his belated expression, and her eyes widened. ¡°Jackal! Did it hurt a lot?¡± His face was flushed and he was breaking out in a cold sweat. Looking at him now, his entire body was red and sweaty. ¡°My God, what to do! Why didn¡¯t you tell me it hurts! You¡¯re so silly¡­.¡± Asha was upset and she quickly put him to bed. Jackal couldn¡¯t bear to be honest, so he closed his eyes silently and remained calm as did Asha. It might have been a bit dangerous, but he was glad that his bottom was covered by a blanket¡­¡­. Asha put the first aid kit aside and quickly grabbed a towel to wipe off the cold sweat. Jackal shuddered again at the touch of her carefully cleaning his body. After finishing, Asha stood up and said. ¡°Then rest now. I¡¯ll be on my way now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Are you leaving?¡± Asha looked back when she heard his loving voice. Jackal hesitated a bit, then tried to be bold. ¡°Stay a little longer. If you are tired, lie down next to me¡­ You can rest here.¡± Asha glared at him and thought to herself once more, ¡¯Sly horse¡¯, but she hid the thought and said something else. ¡°No. I¡¯m not a patient. I can¡¯t go back to sleeping in the bed like last time. Then I¡¯ll watch you until you fall asleep.¡± Asha put her arms on the bed and then put her head on them like a sepal. Jackal rolled onto his side with one hand on his head and stared at her. She could see the veins in his masculine, coppery and muscular forearms. Suddenly, she couldn¡¯t breathe and the mood turned hot. Jackal smiled faintly at Asha, who involuntarily glanced at his neck and firm chest. Asha jumped to her feet, her face heating up as she met his gaze. ¡°I can¡¯t. I don¡¯t think you will be able to sleep if I¡¯m here, so I will really go now.¡± Asha turned and walked a few steps until she was walking towards him again. The moment he stared at her in disbelief, she placed a soft kiss on his forehead, just like she did with Sheppy. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened. Asha, whose cheeks turned red before his eyes, said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t get sick, and have a nice dream.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes suddenly changed and he leaned his head closer to her. When his lips touched hers, Asha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise this time. Jackal kissed her softly, and immediately pulled away. ¡°Good night to you, too. Don¡¯t worry about me anymore.¡± Asha froze in place, her eyes wide, but Jackal lay back on the bed as if nothing had happened. Their faces turned red from the unexpected goodnight kiss. ¡°¡­¡­Then I will go.¡± Asha carefully covered him with the blanket one last time and left the room. At the sound of the door closing, Jackal turned his head and looked at the door sadly, but tried to give up. He thought that if she didn¡¯t lie next to him now, he really thought that something could happen to her. Furthermore, with such an injured body, he can¡¯t properly use his abilities¡­ Jackal shook off his thoughts and pulled the blanket up to his chin. * * * * * The date of the request is approaching. The Lycaons would undertake a search together to find the missing children. Jackal wore a dark blue cloak with a hood. In the current situation, the Imperial Family¡¯s attention was focused on the northern region, especially the minority, so it was easy to discover them if they moved recklessly. However, since all requests were carried out only when his decision was finally made, Jackal would always go to see his client in person on these important issues. No matter how injured he was, it was about Asha¡¯s well-being, so he seemed to be relieved just seeing it with his own eyes. A feeling of coolness flowed from him as he pulled on his hood and looked only ahead. Asha looked at him expressionlessly for a long time. Sensing her gaze, Jackal looked at her with piercing eyes, then a small smile appeared on his lips. Seeing him change his expression as soon as he looked at her, Asha¡¯s heart pounded again. He obviously has the same face as when they first met, but now his eyes looking at her are completely different, and she also thinks of him differently. Asha didn¡¯t realize it then, but maybe what she said about falling in love with him, at first sight, was true. She wanted to ask him to take her as he did then, but knowing how much he cared about this problem, Asha gave up and said something else. ¡°¡­¡­have a safe journey. If it gets dangerous, use the horn immediately. Then I¡¯ll take my bow and quickly go to save you.¡± Jackal laughed, and the Lycaons whistled and howled like wild dogs. Before getting on his horse, Jackal approached Asha, gently grabbed her side face, and lightly kissed her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Despite their display of affection, the Lycaons laughed and mounted their horses. Asha, her face slightly flushed, clenched the necklace Jackal had given her. He glanced at their distant backs. When they were completely out of sight, Asha looked up at the sky with a worried look. There were a lot of dark clouds and a lot of wind, which somehow gave her an ominous feeling. * * * * * The Lycaons arrived at the lakeside to meet the client. The request contained information that the children went fishing in the lake and did not return. Asha also went to the forest to find food for them, but she never came back, so they requested because she was in a similar situation. Jackal got off his horse and found a man standing in the distance under a large zelkova tree, the meeting place. ¡°Are you the client?¡± As he approached, the man shrugged. ¡°¡­¡­ Yes, I am.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check each other¡¯s faces first.¡± Jackal removed his hood first, and the other man seemed to hesitate before removing it. Brown hair and yellow eyes. They were the features of the Nasson clan. Jackal relaxed a bit and asked very curtly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that old man to ask us for a request.¡± The man rolled his eyes and said. ¡°That¡­ ¡­ Actually, the chief doesn¡¯t know about this. I personally made this request to Lycaon.¡± Jackal¡¯s eyebrows went up. Even with that small reaction, the man trembled in fear. ¡°You should know that we do not accept personal requests without the approval of the village chief.¡± ¡°B¡­ but¡­ I couldn¡¯t help it because the village chief wouldn¡¯t agree if I asked Lycaon¡­. I will give you any amount of money, so please accept the request¡­.¡± The man fell to the ground and begged him fervently. Jackal kept his mouth shut and Sosa looked embarrassed when he saw him shaking his body pitifully as if he was scared. Surely a chief wouldn¡¯t be too interested in losing orphans who aren¡¯t even sure of their origins. It was not uncommon for ethnic minorities to be taken away so they wouldn¡¯t go looking for missing people. And Asha was also on that list. Jackal secretly clenched his fists. If the missing people in the village were tribal chiefs, not ordinary people, would Chief Horak have stayed put? If he had known that Asha was a butterfly, would he have left her in such danger? No. He must have tried to find even the smallest clues anyway. Even if it means sacrificing someone¡­¡­. Jackal, well aware of his discriminatory tendencies, hardened his expression. With this opportunity, he wanted to talk with the village chief and tried to release the emotions accumulated in the past. However, the village chief was not the type to apologize first or create a place for reconciliation. Since Jackal disregarded him first, that would be the end of it, but Jackal wanted to confirm if he had turned into a different human being. ¡°¡­¡­ Is this the place where the children disappeared?¡± The client¡¯s eyes, who had set aside his expectations, widened at those words. CH 61 Looking at him, Jackal said calmly. ¡°I accept the request.¡± ¡°Thank you so much!¡± He was grateful, even shedding tears, but somehow he seemed to be engulfed in deep guilt. Jackal looked at the members and said charismatically. ¡°Everyone spreads out and investigates the lake shore.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The client handed over to them the items and clothes that the children used to wear. Jackal and Sosa waited for the members to disappear from sight, then went to a location away from the client and transformed into horses. The two wild horses sniffed at the scent of the children. This was the reason why they received search requests in addition to hunting requests. Horses were indeed animals with a developed sense of smell. Other members of the organization also searched the area diligently with search dogs. But Gabe, who was passing by, suddenly noticed two horses walking side by side, sniffing amicably. He paused for a moment, staring at them puzzled. The two horses glanced back, perhaps sensing the presence, but soon sniffed again and calmly walked away. Is that the captain¡¯s horse? He¡¯s such a weird horse¡­¡­ Gabe shook his head. He didn¡¯t even go near the client, who was from the same Nasson clan, let alone say hello. In Lycaon, there were only those who decided to cut ties with their clans and start a new life. Therefore, everyone tried not to engage in private exchanges with minorities. The sky turned gloomier in the middle of a search. Jackal looked up at the dark and thunderous sky as if it was going to rain at any moment. It would be difficult to continue the search in this weather. If it rained, not only the smell but also the tracks disappeared, so it was not easy to find tracks. It was windier than usual and there was a river nearby, so a lot of other smells were dispersed due to the smell of water and rain. Also, strangely, it was difficult to find the scent of the children due to the pungent smell, as if the surroundings had been burned. Jackal was going to transform into his human form and tried to tell everyone to leave for today. But it was then. In the distance, along with the sound of the horn, an urgent cry was heard. ¡°Captain! It¡¯s a raid¡­¡­!¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes grew wide. In an instant, screams, the sound of armor, and the sound of a drawn sword resounded everywhere. The Lycaons tried to split up and flee, but arrows were flying from all directions as if they had already figured out the escape routes. The Lycaons quickly stopped running, but some members fell to the ground screaming as they were hit by arrows. The area around the lake quickly became a mess. The Lycaons quickly drew their swords and engaged in a sword fight with the rushing knights. However, it was not enough to defeat them while they were on horseback and armed with armor. A brief battle ensued, and eventually, Lycaon was quickly surrounded with the lake behind them. Jackal frowned as he saw a man riding wild in the distance. Red eyes shone fiercely between the black bangs. It was Emperor Karaf. Last night, upon hearing Duran¡¯s plan, he was still distraught. ¡®Let¡¯s say the minority village made a request to them¡­¡­ She would help them¡­¡­.¡¯ ¡®Yes, that¡¯s right. Moreover, also, I heard that when Lady Vanessa was in the village, she took care of orphaned children. If the children are missing, she probably won¡¯t be able to sit still. Because Lady Vanessa¡­¡­ is a good person.¡¯ Duran¡¯s expression was also filled with guilt. Karaf didn¡¯t want to hear or know anything about ethnic minorities, but she still cared about minorities, especially Lycaon. And that prediction was right. Karaf had never felt Asha¡¯s warm heart in such pain as this time. It was painful for him to use her good heart to help others, but he could never forget that moment when he let go of her hands during the flowering ceremony. It became a nightmare every night, turning his mind devastatingly upside down. It was as if she would disappear forever if he let go of her hand, so every night he couldn¡¯t sleep unless he had something in his hand, be it a pillow or a bottle. Jackal looked around quickly, but the client was no longer in sight. No way, was it a trap¡­¡­? He gritted his teeth. There was more pollen than last time, coming out like spikes from Karaf, who looked crazy. It was a flower full of threats as if trying to suffocate the opponent to death. All the Lycaons covered their noses and mouths from the yellow pollen dust. Quickly dismounting from his horse, Karaf glared coldly at the Lycaons caught in the trap he had set. He slowly looked at their faces one by one, but Asha¡¯s face was not there, as if she had been forcibly hidden in case he appeared. He was a little devastated that he was going to take her immediately after he found her, but he was glad she wasn¡¯t there. He also didn¡¯t want to show her the cruelty that was about to happen. Karaf turned his head and looked at Duran, coldly instructing. ¡°Eliminate them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Duran raised a hand, and the knights aimed their bows at them at the same time. ¡°Damn it! These cowards¡­¡­!¡± Gabe uttered a harsh curse. Karaf looked around calmly and muttered. ¡°Now that I think about it, I can¡¯t even see the guy who claims to be your leader. I wondered what kind of man it was that coveted my Vanessa.¡± At that, the Lycaons quickly looked around and seemed slightly relieved. They thought it was very lucky that the captain escaped so he could get Asha to safety. Karaf laughed at that. ¡°He abandoned you. You risked your lives following a cowardly leader, right?¡± The Lycaons glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about our captain without knowing anything!¡± Karaf relaxed his expression and said. ¡°Well, it wouldn¡¯t be bad if he saw his men die in a sea of blood. I need to tell you what kind of disaster your greed has caused.¡± The ground was already littered with bleeding men. The Lycaons¡¯ faces turned miserable. Gabe frowned and shouted at his comrades. ¡°We have to make time as much as possible to protect the captain and Asha!¡± With Jackal and Sosa gone, the command immediately transferred to Gabe. Jackal felt something hot rise from inside his chest. It was his subordinates who followed his opinion 100%, putting Asha first. Leaving his men behind¡­¡­ He couldn¡¯t be happy running away alone. When the Lycaons immediately raised their weapons and formed a defensive formation to attack, Karaf¡¯s eyes flashed, he pointed his index finger at Gabe and spoke coldly. ¡°Kill him first.¡± It was then that Duran aimed his bow at him and shot an arrow. Jackal, who was nearby, quickly turned into a human and threw himself at Gabe. An arrow narrowly missed Gabe¡¯s head and the two fell to the ground together. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened. Karaf¡¯s eyes also grew bigger. ¡°Damn¡­¡­ Was that bloody horse you?¡± Jackal, who was naked, put on the cloak that he had been holding in his mouth before transforming and getting up from the ground. His blue eyes glittered with bitterness. Karaf laughed like it was really absurd. ¡°What the hell is this amazing thing!? A human who can transform into a horse¡­¡­! Until when are minorities going to surprise me?¡± But the Lycaons also seemed very surprised and froze in place, looking at him with wide eyes. Jackal looked at Karaf with his blue eyes like a calm storm. Karaf chuckled. ¡°Looking at him now, those cheeky eyes are the same as that horse¡¯s¡­ Did you aim at my Vanessa without any fear, even though you¡¯re barely a horse?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s much better than a less fallen flower that can¡¯t bloom on its own without a butterfly.¡± Karaf frowned. ¡°The only thing you know how to do is hurt others with your thorns. I can¡¯t bring Asha back to you. I will never let Asha die twice because of you.¡± ¡°What? Who is going to die?¡± Karaf snorted. ¡°It won¡¯t be with me, she will die if she stays with you. From now on, I¡¯m going to slit the throats of every one of you here.¡± His red eyes flashed as madness seized him. He had already looked insane, but it seemed that Jackal¡¯s words made him look completely crazy. Karaf felt a strong sense of betrayal inside him. He couldn¡¯t bear it when he thought that he secretly had a sweet tryst with Asha at the Imperial Palace. As Karaf trembled like an alcoholic, Jackal looked at the white horse a short distance away. He meant to take advantage of this time when he was confronting him and go to Asha quickly. Jackal calmly conveyed his thoughts to Sosa. [Hurry up. Take Asha and go to a very far place. Let her be free.] It was a telepathic ability that could only be possessed by the ¡®successor¡¯ of a clan with more innate abilities, even if they belonged to the same clan. Jackal closed and opened his eyes once without saying a word. Tears welled up in Sosa¡¯s big sky-blue eyes. Now he was not giving an order, but a sincere request. They belong to the same Kelpie clan and as the leader of the Lycaon, Jackal wanted to protect Sosa as much as possible. Understanding in his heart that he couldn¡¯t bear to leave his men alone, Sosa gritted his teeth and began to run like mad. Karaf saw it, he raised his bow directly with an expressionless face. ¡°You have to kill horses that don¡¯t listen and do as they please.¡± It was at that moment that Sosa was about to be hit by his arrow. A desperate cry was heard from somewhere, and at the same time, a strong wind blew. ¡°Everyone stop¡­¡­! Stop¡­¡­!¡± CH 62 Surprisingly, Karaf¡¯s arrow was deflected by the wind and began to fly in the opposite direction. They all looked to the side where they heard the sound, blocking the strong wind with their hands. There, Asha rode a brown horse and ran towards them, her blond hair fluttering. As soon as she heard the horn, she mounted a horse and came running. Jackal yelled with wide eyes. ¡°No¡­¡­! Run away from here¡­¡­!¡± Hearing his desperate voice, Asha felt her heart sink. Run away, Asha¡­¡­! Seeing the confrontation between Lycaon and the Cactus Knights, the scene in the forest that she saw in her dream came back to her vividly. Goosebumps broke out on her skin as her nightmare came true. Asha quickly scanned the few members lying around, bleeding. If she had arrived a bit later, this forest would have been stained with the blood of the Lycaons. Asha held the horse¡¯s reins tightly in her hand as she sweated. Even though she couldn¡¯t do anything in her dreams and watched everyone die helplessly, this time was different. She could never allow something so terrible to happen. She will stop him even at the cost of her life. Asha reached out to catch the arrow flying towards her with her bare hands, then ran over to where they were. Then, she immediately got off the horse, stood in front of Jackal, held the arrow in both hands, and extended it toward Karaf like a dagger. ¡°Stop right now! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll shoot it with the wind¡­!¡± Asha¡¯s purple eyes stared intently at Karaf. But her eyes were throbbing. When she aimed the arrow at him again, Karaf¡¯s face fell in disbelief. The last thread of hope that he held on to was broken in his heart. Karaf asked anxiously in a trembling voice. ¡°¡°Vanessa¡­ now you¡­ Are you aiming an arrow at me¡­? To me, who rushed directly to the battlefield to protect you¡­?¡± His face became infinitely sad, like that of a betrayed child. Karaf said with an anguished face as if he was suffocating. ¡°At that time, I should have warned you. If the Lycaons don¡¯t understand and defy me again, then I¡¯ll pretend I never promised you anything.¡± Asha had nothing to say about that. He nervously shook his head. ¡°¡­¡­No. Now, none of that matters. Even if you lied to me, even if no one in the world truly loves me, I¡¯m the kind of person who has to get their hands on the target I¡¯ve set for myself. Vanessa, I¡¯ll have you even if I have to kill all those Lycaon bastards.¡± His eyes shone terribly with obsession and madness. He was like a ticking time bomb about to explode. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty, I am not your property. If you don¡¯t realize that fact, I will never stay by Your Majesty¡¯s side, and I will fly away again.¡± Asha finished speaking calmly with a sad face. She then turned the arrow, which had been aimed at him, and aimed at her own neck. Karaf and Jackal shouted with wide eyes at the same time. ¡°Asha!¡± ¡°Vanessa!¡± Asha¡¯s face looked infinitely sad and lonely. Karaf stretched out his hand with a sad face and said. ¡°Please don¡¯t do that¡­. It¡¯s not too late. If you come back to me now, I¡¯ll let all this go. So please¡­¡­¡± ¡°Your Majesty, it seems to me that this is another cliff.¡± Asha smiled bitterly. Karaf was speechless, his eyes trembling. From the moment he heard that she was about to fall off the cliff, he trembled at the mere mention of the word ¡®cliff¡¯, like a neurotic. ¡°No no! This is definitely not a cliff! I won¡¯t let you die¡­..!¡± The way he obsessively muttered seemed like he was angry. Jackal also looked at Asha with bloodshot eyes. He turned back into a horse and shook his head at Asha with a harsh breath. He meant to say please don¡¯t do that. The reason he transformed back into a horse was to stabilize her, but also to prevent her from dying quickly. Please don¡¯t die, Asha¡­¡­ Sheppy¡¯s blue eyes looking at her looked so sad. Asha¡¯s eyes distort as she remembers the conversation she had with Jackal the night before, the future she had dreamt of with him. Her heart ached to think that Jackal was happily building a house for the two of them. It was a dream that could not come true¡­¡­. Asha could only understand now. She realizes that she can never be freed from the fate of a butterfly¡­¡­ If she dies here and does not regress, Jackal will kill Karaf with all his might and follow her into eternal rest. He won¡¯t let her walk that dark path alone. But she couldn¡¯t let that happen. If both men die because of her, she won¡¯t be able to close her eyes in peace even if she dies. There has never been a more tragic ending than that. Finally, Asha collected her thoughts and spoke calmly. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty.¡± Karaf looked up, visibly startled by the voice calling out to him. ¡°I will follow Your Majesty.¡± Karaf asked with wide eyes. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. But in exchange, could you promise me one thing?¡± ¡°What is it!?¡± When Karaf urgently asked, Asha gave him a distant look and answered. ¡°Promise me that if I put this arrow down, no one will die here for me.¡± At those words, the Lycaons shed hot tears. They felt so bad that they couldn¡¯t protect her, that she was saving their lives without being helpful. Tears and sniffing could be heard here and there. The atmosphere by the lake calmed down as if they were in a graveyard. Karaf clenched his fists so hard that his hands bled. Lycaon was the main culprit behind Vanessa¡¯s kidnapping on the day of the Empire¡¯s biggest event, the Flowering Ceremony. It was total treason. He felt that he had to tear them to pieces immediately to ease his anger, but he had to endure for her to return safely to his side. He managed to restrain himself and tried to exercise what little self-control and patience he had left inside of him. Self-restraint and control were never easy for him, who was cursed. Then he said. ¡°¡­¡­ I promise. No one will die here.¡± Only then did Asha let go of the arrow when she saw Karaf trembling, calming down his anger. He raised his head and shouted at the knights with a stern look. ¡°All troops! Tie up Lycaon and Vanessa!¡± * * * * * The news that Karaf found Vanessa caused another uproar in the empire. ¡°¡­¡­Did you hear that Lycaon tried to kidnap Vanessa this time?¡± ¡°Why are minorities so anxious that they can¡¯t kidnap Vanessa¡­ tsk tsk¡­¡­¡± ¡°You do not know? Lady Vanessa is an ethnic minority!¡± ¡°Then, since Vanessa is an ethnic minority, shouldn¡¯t she be more honored? They even say that His Majesty cared a lot about Vanessa. I heard that he also withdrew the search warrant for minorities.¡± ¡°She is wasting the chance to live comfortably in the Empire. Fools.¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡­ she ran away because she loves someone else?¡± ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t talk nonsense! What if someone hears it!¡± They shut their mouths and looked around to see if there were any knights on patrol. No matter how wrong a person was, they would be taken to the imperial palace and it would be hard to get out alive. However, this incident was currently the most shocking and interesting topic in the empire, to the point that the nobles held social gatherings every day to discuss this. Meanwhile, in the dungeon of the Imperial Palace, the interrogation was in full swing. Jackal¡¯s hands were chained to the ceiling, like a slave, and sloppy shreds of gray fabric that could hardly be called clothing were wrapped around his waist and thighs. The iron bars opened and Karaf¡¯s cold voice was heard. ¡°¡­¡­ That damn horse was the leader of Lycaon. Did you have fun deceiving me and having a secret tryst with Vanessa with that dirty body?¡± Jackal raised his head and looked at him serenely with his blue eyes. Karaf grinned. ¡°As expected, blue eyes are traits of traitors, aren¡¯t they?¡± He trudged in front of Jackal, grabbed him roughly by the chin, and lifted his head. ¡°How does it feel to be betrayed by minorities? Do you have any idea how I felt?¡± Jackal laughed. ¡°¡­¡­ Are you talking about betrayal to me now? In the first place, I had no expectations whatsoever. So there is nothing to be disappointed about. But I don¡¯t think the guy who cowardly set me up and threatened me has nothing to say to me.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly. Jackal looked at him with his chin raised and said. ¡°I heard that threatening people with their lives is your hobby, is that true? But for Asha, it¡¯s not a threat, it¡¯s a plea, right? Your precious life is in her hands.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyebrows furrowed even more. Jackal said, glaring at him coldly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Asha¡¯s ability won¡¯t make you bloom. That ability is for her own good. So don¡¯t cling to her, set her free. If you really love Asha.¡± When he called Asha¡¯s name as if she were his lover, Karaf finally snapped. He reached out and grasped the wound on Jackal¡¯s side. ¡°Ugh¡­¡­.¡± Jackal closed his eyes and lowered his head at the terrible pain that pierced the wound. The still unhealed wound opened up again and blood began to spurt. Karaf¡¯s hands were stained red with the blood that flowed from his wounds. ¡°¡­¡­Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re going to die soon, so you don¡¯t have anything else to say in front of me.¡± Karaf put on an expression of the utmost arrogance and brought his head close to the Jackal¡¯s face. ¡°How dare you tell me to let her go in front of me? How dare an unscrupulous guy who stole someone else¡¯s woman, the emperor¡¯s woman?¡± His red eyes flashed with madness. CH 63 Jackal glared at him with a cold sweat breaking out on his face. ¡°¡­¡­ The emperor¡¯s woman? Do you think you deserve to talk about her after leading to her death?¡± Karaf responded dumbfounded. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the hell you are talking about. Aren¡¯t you the one who is leading her to her death? If she hadn¡¯t met you, none of this would have happened to her!¡± Jackal burst out laughing. ¡°That is exactly what I want to say now. I am speechless. Do you realize how much pain Asha has suffered all these years because of you?¡± Jackal¡¯s piercing blue eyes and Karaf¡¯s fiery red eyes collided. Karaf said, clenching Jackal¡¯s jaw so hard it almost broke. ¡°I gave him all the love I had. Still, it was she who betrayed my heart first. She left me for another man¡­!¡± Jackal gritted his teeth. ¡°The flower must be bad in front of the butterfly¡¯s eyes.¡± Karaf once again gripped the wound on his side tightly. ¡°Ough¡­¡­.¡± Jackal closed his eyes tight and frowned. He twisted the wound and could no longer control his expression. Karaf said in a low voice. ¡°From now on, the name ¡®Hyacinth¡¯ will never be mentioned again. Because that flower will disappear forever in the Empire.¡± Jackal gasps for air. Karaf¡¯s face expressionless watched him in pain, then withdrew his hand from the wound and wiped his bloody hands clean. Drops of blood fell to the ground, and at the same time, Jackal lowered his head. ¡°¡­¡­Duran.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Duran, standing in the doorway like a stone statue, answered. ¡°I¡¯m going to go see Vanessa now, so torture him. If he faints, wake him up immediately, and don¡¯t let him rest for a while. Oh no, don¡¯t kill him by mistake.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± When Jackal heard that he was going to Asha, his blue eyes immediately widened and he charged as if he was going to run away at any moment. The chains that restrained his body rattled frantically. Karaf glanced at him, turned around, and said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You won¡¯t die that easily. I have an appointment with Vanessa.¡± Jackal looked at him with bloodshot eyes as Karaf smirked. ¡°In return, I will give you pain worse than death. You will beg me to kill you. There¡¯s nothing more exciting than that.¡± Karaf walked out of the cell. He wasn¡¯t smiling at all as he kept walking. As he walked down the dark dungeon corridors, his face was dark and maddened as a reaper¡¯s. * * * * * The prison where Asha is being held is made of dark stone walls, but unlike Jackal, she was in a cleaner space. This was a place where nobles of relatively high status were detained for only a short period by the Imperial Family when they committed crimes, and it was different from the worst dungeon. But here, too, a prison is a prison, so the place is dark and cold. Asha was squatting against the bed with her head bowed. From the small square window, sunlight streamed in and shone down on her. The sunlight made her blond hair shine white, and the dust rose like a mist around her. Then, the sound of footsteps broke the silence. Finally, the footsteps stopped in front of the iron bars, and Asha, who had been crouching like a pupa without moving, raised her head. Karaf stood before her like a cold, solid pillar. His expressionless face was white, and a fierce wind seemed to be blowing. His authoritative look brought Asha back to her old memories. Every time she ran away, he would always make that face when he caught her¡­¡­ He remained silent, then asked in a deep voice. ¡°Why did you betray me?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Answer me. Why do you always lie to me? Why don¡¯t you trust me?¡± The word ¡®trust¡¯ brought Asha to her senses. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty.¡± When she spoke in a low voice, Karaf remained silent and listened. Asha looked at his face and continued. ¡°Have you ever trusted me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Karaf¡¯s face hardened a little, but somehow her face looked so sad that he was embarrassed to say anything else. Asha tried to smile through her pained face. ¡°You must be expecting me to make Your Majesty bloom. But I can¡¯t break Your Majesty¡¯s curse, I can¡¯t make you bloom. I tried my best, but I have already failed once in the past.¡± ¡°What¡­¡­?¡± Karaf¡¯s face paled at the completely unexpected words. He asked, stuttering uncharacteristically. ¡°What¡­What did you mean¡­¡­? You failed in the past?¡± When Asha didn¡¯t reply, he pressed on fiercely. ¡°Answer me! I asked what the hell that meant!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty.¡± Karaf paused. ¡°Your Majesty, can you forgive that close friend who led Your Majesty to death? Can you love again that close friend who put a curse on Your Majesty¡¯s heart before he died¡­¡­?¡± When Asha didn¡¯t answer the question and asked a random question, Karaf¡¯s face became even more confused. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Neither do I.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­..¡± Karaf didn¡¯t understand what she was talking about. He felt as if a flower and a butterfly were talking to each other in different languages. And that, ironically, was the feeling he felt every time Asha spoke to him¡­¡­ Karaf, again, couldn¡¯t accept that for reasons he couldn¡¯t understand, the person he thought was his, was trying to get away from him. Then, without realizing it, he pressed on more eagerly. ¡°So you mean you weren¡¯t going to forgive me from the first day you entered the palace¡­..?¡± Asha didn¡¯t answer. In response, Karaf said more furiously. ¡°Yes, I resent your people and torment the innocent. However, I regretted it shortly after the flower banquet, I treated you with all my heart. I did my best to give you love, to win your heart. You keep saying that I didn¡¯t trust you. Is that why you abandoned me and chose that man?¡± Asha stared at him without saying a word, he was blinded by jealousy. Karaf¡¯s face hardened. ¡°I came here after torturing him.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes trembled. Karaf clenched his fist seeing her react as soon as he mentioned it. Does that mean that he is so precious to her? If so, I can¡¯t leave him alone. If I make her precious man suffer, she will feel helpless. Unlike me, who is already stained with malice to the bone, she is a good person, so she will have no choice but to choose me and love me, even if it is forced. The only thing precious to her has to be me. She is the Empire¡¯s only butterfly, and she is his only light and hope¡­¡­. Looking at Asha, who couldn¡¯t say anything, Karaf deliberately spoke more cruelly. ¡°He will be tortured and die painfully. And his head will hang in the square for a long time until his flesh rots beyond recognition.¡± Asha¡¯s face paled and trembled. It was the same ending that Jackal had in the past, although the reason had changed. Karaf laughed like a madman. ¡°All the people will look and point to his face. He dared to kidnap the emperor¡¯s woman on the sacred day of the flowering ceremony. I will throw his rotten corpse to the wild beasts or the crows. The grave is a luxury for him.¡± Asha screamed, closing her eyes and covering her ears, not wanting to listen to these terrible things any longer. ¡°Stop¡­¡­! Please stop¡­¡­!¡± Seeing her strong reaction for the first time, Karaf¡¯s eyes widened slightly. As soon as he came to his senses, he saw Asha crouching miserably and trembling on the ground. He could see her tears dripping down the floor. Karaf felt a sharp pain in his head and put a finger to his forehead. He felt again that he had seen her like this before¡­.. It was the same during the flower banquet, and every time he saw Asha, he kept seeing different memories, like a feeling of deja vu. Karaf lowered his voice to Asha, who was crying silently. ¡°Still, I¡­¡­ I will never let you die. I¡¯ll give you one last chance. Now, completely erase him from your heart and become my woman. Choose me.¡± Although he was speaking firmly, his eyes were slightly trembling. He was afraid that she would choose death instead of him. Just imagining her death made her heart collapse. He doesn¡¯t want to see it. Then Asha looked at him through her teary purple eyes and said. ¡°¡­¡­ Your majesty. As I said before, I cannot love the person who killed me before, twice.¡± ¡°What the hell do you¡­¡­.¡± Karaf muttered with a pale face as if his soul had left his body. ¡°Now that I think about it, you told me the same thing¡­¡­. What the hell did you mean by that? Please explain it in a way that I can understand!¡± He exploded with rage. He always thought that he would get angry no matter if the situation didn¡¯t turn out the way he wanted. ¡°¡­¡­If a person tries to take a rose and was deeply pierced by a sharp thorn, that person will not try to take the rose.¡± Asha squeezed her eyes shut, shivering. ¡°I am afraid of Your Majesty. You¡¯re scary enough to give me goosebumps just coming near me¡­!¡± Karaf¡¯s expression now contorted piteously at her cry of pain. I wished that this day would never come¡­¡­. Asha finally made up her mind and opened her mouth as if driven by some irresistible force. She thought that she would keep it a secret for the rest of her life until she died. ¡°¡­¡­Your Majesty. Actually, this is not the first time that Your Majesty and I have met.¡± CH 64 Asha slowly confessed everything while looking at Karaf¡¯s face, which seemed lost. Everything that happened in the past, and even the tragic ending. All without exception¡­¡­ As he listened to the story, Karaf¡¯s face changed every moment in shock. He felt strange as if he didn¡¯t exist in this space. He was dazed and unable to move. It was an unbelievable story for him, but Asha¡¯s expression as she told her story was so calm that he even felt scared. When she finished speaking, his face was as pale as a ghost. It was as if all the blood had drained from the tips of his hands and feet. Obviously, Jackal was the one that was bleeding, but he was the one who had a ghostly appearance with no blood on his body. Everything that was left inside him crumbled. He felt as if a great thorn had pierced his heart. He felt as if the spike his mother had put in his heart as a child was now so deep that he could never get it out again. His cold body no longer felt any sensation, so he wasn¡¯t sure if he was still alive. There was a silence between the two. Through the small square window, a cold wind, like a midwinter breeze, passed between them. It was a deep, dark silence that never seemed to end. Karaf said nothing for a long time, then he staggered, dragging his boots, walking out of prison. As soon as he was out of sight like a shadow, Asha wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face in them. Finally, she came to the idea that nothing had changed. She felt miserable so much that she couldn¡¯t bear it. She said harsh words at him when the butterflies and flowers were closer than anyone else. Her heart ached so much as if she had said harsh words to herself. Asha held onto her chest with both hands. * * * * * Karaf did not know where he was going and wandered aimlessly, out of his mind. Then, suddenly, his legs gave out and he fell to the ground. He lay down on the ground and tried to collect his thoughts but to no avail. What she had told him a moment ago was pieced together in his head like the pieces of a puzzle, making no sense at all. He doesn¡¯t understand those goosebumps all over his body¡­¡­. Seeing the goosebumps on his arms in a daze, Karaf clutched his chest as if having a sudden panic attack and began to gasp for air. He was at his limit. He had endured only until the blossoming ceremony, but his mind and body were now in a bad state. He forcibly dragged his body, which was not moving as he wanted, and returned to his room. Then he swallowed an excess of his usual medicine and passed out. * * * * * He had a vivid dream as if he had returned to the past. Karaf woke up in bed because of the sunlight, then looked out the window at the cloudless sky and touched his chest. ¡®That¡¯s right. They were all lies That didn¡¯t happen.¡¯ It was a nightmare like a long rainy season. Karaf shuddered and forcibly brushed his hair to get rid of his thoughts, and went directly to the empress¡¯s palace. He felt that he could relax if he saw Asha¡¯s face at this moment. He wanted to see her smile, covering her mouth as she teased him, ¡®Did you have another nightmare?¡¯ When he thought of Asha, the pace of his steps grew faster and faster, and soon he was running. However, when he arrived at the Empress Palace, he stopped. He suddenly witnessed the happy scene of Asha holding a bouquet in her arms. He immediately hid behind a wall and watched her. Next to Asha, her maid Sonya chattered briskly with delight. [This is the flower that Baron Violet asked me to give to Lady Vanessa! How can there be such a beautiful purple color?] [I know right. It¡¯s really beautiful.] Asha held a bouquet of purple violets in her arms and happily sniffed the scent emanating from them. Karaf couldn¡¯t understand why the jealousy boiled inside him. Could it be because those purple flowers are similar to the color of the fresh hyacinth candy she had picked before? No, it¡¯s not. Karaf shook his head. Jackal Hyacinth is no longer here. Because all those damn nightmares were fake. The man Vanessa chooses is not Jackal but him. But even so, he never felt relieved. He could give her everything he had. He was the only man in this Empire who could make her happy and prosperous at any time without caring about money or fame. Common violets like that were scattered throughout the rose garden. However, she didn¡¯t show such a happy face when he showed the entire luxurious rose garden, and it angered him that she smiled so easily with just a simple bouquet. He couldn¡¯t stand the fact that she, who always looked at him with fear, was genuinely happy with the gift given to her by a man from a similarly named family. Asha returned to her room, carefully unwrapped the bouquet, and placed it in a glass vase of water. She was admiring the sunlit vase with a soft smile, but at that moment someone appeared from behind and snatched the vase from her. At the moment when Asha looked back in surprise, a red-eyed man threw the vase to the ground with a cold stare. It was Karaf from the past. The sharp sound of breaking glass filled the room. Sonya covered her mouth in surprise. However, he didn¡¯t stop there and continued to stare at Asha, cruelly crushing the purple flowers with his shoes until the shape of the flowers became unrecognizable. The purple liquid from the flowers stained the red carpet like blood, and at the same time, Asha¡¯s purple eyes which looked like the violets began to fill with tears. She was a very beautiful woman even when she cried, but in the past, he hated her for not showing him a smile. So, he would always talk to her cruelly. [¡­¡­Who dares to give flowers to my Vanessa! Who¡¯s the reckless bastard? ] He stared at Asha, who was crying without saying anything and then left the room. The current Karaf, who was standing by the door and watching the whole scene in disbelief, stared blankly at the other self that passed through his body. ¡®No way, am I having another nightmare¡­¡­?¡¯ He wanted to see Asha smile but ended up seeing her cry. It¡¯s also because of the illusion that resembles him. ¡®He¡¯s fake¡­¡­. It¡¯s not me.¡¯ Karaf trembled with his eyes wide open. In the past, he summoned Baron Violet, who presented the bouquet, to the imperial palace separately and took away his baronial title. The crime was a ridiculous false accusation of rudely harassing Vanessa and damaging the honor of the Imperial Family. It was clear that the poor baron, who had been reduced from an aristocrat to a commoner overnight, had not been properly aware of the news from the imperial palace since he used to live on the outskirts of the empire. With a pure heart, he wanted to gift violets that his family has planted and cared for in the family for generations to Vanessa, whom he admires. Not even knowing that the emperor would be angry since in the flower language, violets meant ¡®innocent love, please think of me¡¯. The current Karaf was looking right next to Asha, like a bystander. Even in the midst of this, someone outside could hear it, and it seemed that the sound of crying came from the delicate Asha, who was crying quietly and sadly. Asha buried her face in her hands and trembled. Karaf put his hand on her slender shoulder, but his hand went right through her shoulder. He couldn¡¯t interfere in the slightest with the situation, as if he had turned into a ghost. Shortly after him, Sonya appeared and comforted her. Karaf didn¡¯t know what to do and remained motionless. For some reason, he felt a shiver run through his body. It was because he wanted to beat up that crazy guy who looked exactly like him, but at the same time, he understood him. As if he shared a mind with him. No, we just looked alike¡­¡­. ¡®No¡­¡­ That¡¯s not me. There¡¯s no way I can make her sad. I wanted to make her happy¡­.¡¯ Karaf swallowed and watched what came next. Flowers other than black roses were no longer allowed into Asha¡¯s room. Even the mood in a funeral hall would not have been as gloomy as in this room. The news that the Baron had been sacked for giving Vanessa flowers quickly spread throughout the empire. Some people thought that he had told Vanessa a nasty joke with a bouquet, but those who generally knew the baron¡¯s character cursed the emperor behind his back, knowing that he was innocent. Because Karaf¡¯s obsession with butterflies was pretty well known. After that, everyone was afraid of the Emperor and didn¡¯t even try to get close to Vanessa or talk to her in private, let alone think about giving her a gift. No one could know what kind of crime they would be framed for and what kind of punishment they would receive. Asha gradually became completely isolated in the palace. It wasn¡¯t Karaf¡¯s intention, but he caused it. Even in the ballroom, the nobles whispered as they saw her alone. It was as if the flower and the butterfly of the empire did not get along. The rumors reached Karaf¡¯s ears and angered him unbearably. It was unacceptable to him that there was another emperor in history who would treat Vanessa like this when he loves her very much. Karaf firmly believed that there would not be another emperor in history who would have given Vanessa all kinds of gold and silver treasures and all the best things in the imperial palace as much as he did. Rather, it was she who didn¡¯t love him. He was sure that his love for her was unmatched by anyone else. He was sure that he was much better than the previous emperor. His promiscuous father left his mother, a butterfly, to play around with other women. On the other hand, he thought that he was a hundred times better, no, a thousand times better since he only focused on one woman without paying attention to other women. However, as the days passed, Asha grew thinner like her mother, and her expression darkened. She had the best food, medical care, and amenities in the palace, but she seemed to be getting sicker and sicker. Karaf from the past was biting his nails with anxiety and nervousness. CH 65 Karaf was afraid of why she was sick, not in body, but in mind. Mental illness is not easy to cure. His mother was also mentally ill and had finally changed, so he couldn¡¯t bear to see the situation anymore. So Karaf called Asha to the rose garden after a long time. He wanted to give her a break and get a clue as to why she was so sick. However, his pride was hurt, so he couldn¡¯t ask if it was because of him. He tried to find some time outside of his busy work hours but was unable to have a proper conversation with Asha. She had her head bowed the whole time in front of him. His frustrated self from the past left her alone, who was drinking tea in front of him, and the present Karaf was surprised to see Asha¡¯s expression. Asha was terrified of him now. Seeing her shoulders tremble slightly, she seemed afraid that he might turn violent again. Karaf suddenly had a thought. Maybe Asha didn¡¯t like the rose garden, but hated being alone with me¡­. How can I bring her here to relax? Now that he sees it, he¡¯s never thought of something as stupid as that. She could never relax in front of him. He only realized this now. On the other hand, as the news of the emperor¡¯s flourishing had not been heard no matter how much time had passed, countless other rumors began to spread throughout the Empire in the past. Rumors like the emperor don¡¯t want to sleep with her, or that the butterfly has another man. Or even say that the butterfly of this generation cannot make flowers bloom due to its weak power¡­ The entire empire was interested in the news of his blooming, and in the past Karaf felt that a heavy burden had fallen on his shoulders. So he started to get obsessed with his bloom, and he wanted to prove it to everyone. You¡¯re all wrong. Vanessa has enough power to make him blossom, and he loves her too much. They didn¡¯t avoid each other either. Wanting to prove that fact as soon as possible, he would often spend the night with her. The problem was that he couldn¡¯t think of how to win her heart except to spend the night with her, so he didn¡¯t bother looking for her at all for other things.¡­. He thought that married couples should have sexual intercourse and believed that even if there wasn¡¯t much talking, the distance of the mind would become closer as their bodies got closer. Because his father and mother didn¡¯t. He vaguely thought that everything would be fine if he did the opposite of what his parents did. But he didn¡¯t know that the more he did it, the more she sank into despair. Karaf, who was painfully watching her from the side as a bystander, froze coldly as the color drained from his face. His nights with the butterfly he had been dreaming of were completely different from what he had imagined. She couldn¡¯t bear to look at Asha¡¯s suffering face on the bed, so he turned his head away. How could he think only of himself and behave like a savage? He seemed oblivious to his own pleasure. He and Asha were in the same space, but the mood was 180 degrees different as if they were in different spaces. Karaf wished the man in the bed wasn¡¯t him but had a conflicting desire to tear him apart and kill him if that man was a different man from him. The scene kept changing against his will. He was relieved that the scene he didn¡¯t want to see was over, but he didn¡¯t want to see the next scene or the next. He wondered if it hurt his pride that she didn¡¯t look for him first, that she didn¡¯t whisper words of love to him first, and that she was afraid of him. Intentionally harassing her, being cold to her, and making her cry are things that even little boys won¡¯t do to the girl they like. However, once a month, the day when the moon did not rise came without fail, and Karaf struggled with the pain of the curse as always. In the past, he couldn¡¯t bear the terrible pain and eventually blamed it on Vanessa. [Don¡¯t you belong to an ethnic minority? Why can¡¯t you break my curse? Why can¡¯t you flower me? Is it not that you can¡¯t, but that you don¡¯t want to? Don¡¯t pretend I¡¯m good enough because I know you don¡¯t like me!] [No¡­no. It¡¯s not like that at all, Your Majesty..¡­!] He didn¡¯t think about the pain she was going through, so he complained to her, ¡®why don¡¯t you heal me when I¡¯m in pain? Why are you not fulfilling your role as a butterfly and making me bloom?¡¯ Every time he did that, she tearfully clung to him, saying it was never like that, but he brushed her off and coldly walked out of the room. He might have thought that this would make her cling to him more, that she would somehow try to find a way to bloom him, and that she would crave his love. As his younger self did to his mother¡­¡­. But, in fact, in nature butterflies do not have the task of making flowers bloom. It was just a symbiotic relationship, where she only came to suck the flower¡¯s nectar, but she accidentally helped the flower and left when she finished her job. The present Karaf tortured himself by holding his head with one hand and beating his chest with the other. He tormented himself over and over again every time he saw Asha being cold-handed, ignored, and treated like a useless person. However, the scene in the Imperial Palace, which had been going on for a long time, suddenly changed to a new space. It was¡­¡­a cliff. Karaf¡¯s eyes widened when he saw the haggard blonde woman in front of him. It was a different Asha who has changed beyond recognition. What¡­ what the hell¡­ How could a beautiful woman become so thin to the point of being unrecognizable? Karaf¡¯s red eyes trembled relentlessly. In front of his eyes, a man with the same terrifying red eyes as his, spoke in anger. [¡­¡­ You will have to realize that the more you try to run away from me, the more unhappy you will be. Every time you run away, I will catch you again and again and tie you by my side. Even if I break my ankles, even if I cut off your wings, I will make you stay by my side. You will never leave my side¡­¡­!] She said with a slight smile on her face, exhausted and pale like his mother. [¡­¡­ Then I will fly away with those broken wings. I will fly far, far beyond Your Majesty¡¯s reach.] Asha took one last step back and fell off the cliff. Karaf was shocked at how loud the screams were and the voice seemed to vomit blood, so she was barely able to escape the nightmare. But he held his head and didn¡¯t budge in bed. The man in the dream¡­¡­ It was my past self¡­¡­ * * * * * ¡°¡­¡­ Bastards, where did you take our captain!¡± The Lycaons sat close together, shackled on their ankles and chained together in a cramped prison cell. As Gabe raged, one of the knights on duty gave him a cold look and said. ¡°Your captain is currently being tortured. He probably won¡¯t make it out alive. You too will be beheaded as soon as His Majesty orders it.¡± ¡°What? You son of a bitch¡­¡­! Won¡¯t you shut up?¡± Gabe tried to jump but fell backward on the chains that pulled him to the ground. The knights just laughed and ignored him. Sosa stopped Gabe and asked the knight calmly. ¡°Asha¡­¡­ No, what about Lady Vanessa?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? She¡¯s the mistress of the Imperial Palace, you cannot reach her or get close to her.¡± He only said that, but he didn¡¯t say that Vanessa was now being held in another prison. The prison is already under tight security, but it was feared that another kidnapping case could follow if her location was revealed. Since it has already been revealed that there are people among the minority who can transform into animals, the possibility of them transforming into birds or other animals and getting close to Vanessa again cannot be ruled out. If Cactus Knight couldn¡¯t protect her this time, they might have to give up all their positions. So, everyone was on edge, waiting for His Majesty¡¯s orders. Gabe exclaimed, squealing. ¡°If you make Asha cry, I¡¯m going to beat you to a pulp! You understand?¡± The soldiers laughed, but Gabe¡¯s legs were shaking with nervousness. When he realized that his people had betrayed him, he could not bear the humiliation. He had long since left his clan, but the fact that he was a member of the same clan felt sickeningly terrible. He sincerely wanted Jackal and Asha to be happy. Tears welled up in his eyes as he thought of Jackal sacrificing himself to save him, and of Asha aiming an arrow at her throat to save them. Neither of them seemed to have the slightest thought for their own lives. Gabe looked up at the ceiling and squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to swallow back the tears. ¡°Damn it¡­¡­ shit¡­¡­ shit¡­¡­!¡± Sosa looked at him and raised his chained hand and patted him on the shoulder without saying a word, instead of saying: ¡®I¡¯ll keep it a secret that you cried.¡® * * * * * A season of strident rains accompanied by thunder and lightning continued for two days. And late at night, a shadow slowly appeared in the prison where Asha was imprisoned. Asha, who was crouched in the same posture without moving, didn¡¯t bother to look up and check who it was, even if she felt a presence. It was because the only person who would come was either Duran or Karaf. However, the footsteps stopped in front of the iron bars and did not move. The man didn¡¯t say anything. A cold wind was still blowing through the iron bars that separated them. He was silent for so long. Then, Karaf opened his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ Vanessa.¡± A hoarse voice came out of his throat. He sounded like the voice of a completely different person. When she didn¡¯t answer, he opened his mouth again. ¡°Asha¡­¡­¡± His voice was a little thin and hoarse, like a child about to burst into tears, and Asha shuddered slightly. She slowly raised her head and saw Karaf. His face was pale and his eyes red. CH 66 He looked incredibly haggard from how much he had suffered in the last few days. As if he had been sick, he barely smelled roses. When he first opened the iron bar door and tried to enter, Asha backed away. Behind her, it was already a cold wall and she had nowhere to retreat, making her look even more pitiful. Karaf¡¯s expression contracted even more painfully as he saw her avoid him. After all his memories returned, he seemed to know that Asha was thinking of him even without saying anything. But the next moment, Asha¡¯s eyes widened. Karaf slowly knelt in front of her. It was as if a steel fortress that seemed never to collapse collapsed in an instant. His face was right in front of her feet, and she could see the top of his head. Asha looked at him, unable to breathe. She couldn¡¯t believe that this proud man was kneeling before her. There would be no one in this empire who could see the crown on the emperor¡¯s head, other than God Etzheim. A major shock came before the confusion disappeared. Karaf was now sadly begging for forgiveness with tears in his eyes. ¡°I was wrong¡­¡­. really¡­¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡­ I¡¯ll make you happy. So please don¡¯t leave me¡­¡­.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he burst into tears. His broad back trembled slightly, and hot tears fell like candle wax onto her feet. Asha was startled by the incredible sight, and she froze completely. She wondered if this was the first time the words ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ had come out of his mouth in his entire life. Karaf was like a child clinging to his mother who is about to abandon him, pitifully grabbing her skirt and refusing to let go. His appearance made her suddenly remember the story of his childhood that she had heard from Duran. A rose that symbolizes love, even if he had everything, ¡®love¡® was something he couldn¡¯t have. It was truly a tragedy and a curse for him. Karaf said, caressing Asha¡¯s foot with shaking hands. ¡°The day I left you here and turned around, all the memories came back to me. all the memories came back to me. I¡­I¡­¡­ I was a really bad guy. You shouldn¡¯t associate with me, I¡¯m such a shameless person. You¡­¡­ I was such a piece of trash that I didn¡¯t even know what I was doing wrong until I took you to your death¡­.¡± He breathed heavily as if he couldn¡¯t breathe well. His back was shaking so badly it was hard to tell if he was crying or talking, and a mixture of tears, mucus, and saliva stained her feet. To that extent, he was in a state of panic where he couldn¡¯t even think about his own appearance. ¡°I¡­¡­ I don¡¯t know how to ask for forgiveness¡­¡­ Asking for forgiveness doesn¡¯t mean things I did in the past will disappear¡­.¡­. All I can do now is ask for your forgiveness¡­¡­.¡± His body, drenched in a cold sweat, trembled as if icy water had been poured on him. He laid down his position as emperor in front of her. ¡°I was really stupid. I was such an idiot who only realized how important you were after letting you go¡­¡­. When you fell off the cliff, it felt like the world was falling apart¡­¡­ You were really important to me¡­¡­ And I broke you with my own hands¡­¡­.¡± He cried out loud now. It was a cry of lamentation. At some point, Asha was shedding tears like him without realizing it. Karaf couldn¡¯t bear to look at her and kept talking at her feet. ¡°You don¡¯t have to forgive me. You don¡¯t have to try to make me blossom any more. You can curse me and hate me for the rest of your life. I don¡¯t deserve to be an emperor or be loved by someone. But¡­¡­ Please don¡¯t leave me like my dead mother¡­¡­.¡± He seemed to have given up on everything now. She doesn¡¯t have to break the curse, or make him blossom¡­¡­. They were the biggest goals of his life. And yet, he was saying to throw it away. Perhaps, after hearing what the minority spy said before he died, he may have made up his mind to some extent¡­ And now it was time for her to make a decision as well. Asha slowly reached out a hand and placed it lightly on Karaf¡¯s black hair. He shuddered. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty.¡± Asha gently stroked his frizzy hair with her slender hand and said calmly. ¡°Your Majesty can stand alone without me. Just like when you first ascended the throne, you are definitely someone who can do that.¡± Those words sounded like euphemistic refusal, so Karaf looked up. He still had tears in his big eyes, and his messy red face was dripping with sweat. Even his face, ruined by crying, looked decadent and beautiful at the same time, maybe because he¡¯s a rose. However, Asha found it challenging to see his face as she remembered his childlike appearance. ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I¡¯ll do anything, so please¡­¡­¡± ¡°No. Your Majesty is a person who must stand upright even without a butterfly. I will do so. So¡­ let¡¯s make a contract.¡± His eyes trembled at her incomprehensible words. His trembling gaze, as if trying to read Asha¡¯s thoughts, quickly scanned her face. Asha, like a saint, wiped his tears with her thumb and continued to say. ¡°I will do my best to break Your Majesty¡¯s curse and make your flower bloom. I have already made up my mind countless times and, above all, I came back here to do it. If I manage to do that¡­ By that time, please, Your Majesty, listen to my request.¡± Karaf just pursed his lips. Although she had once died because of him, she said that she would stay by his side to break his curse. He couldn¡¯t blatantly tell her not to leave his side until the end. Asha stared at him. Her face resembled his mother¡¯s, unflinchingly firm and gentle. He immediately lowered his head. Her touch, which was caressing his head, was so soft and warm that he was afraid of losing it all if he became more greedy. ¡°You once asked me what I wanted. There was actually one thing I really wanted. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve never had in my life.¡± Karaf looked at her and Asha continued. ¡°It¡¯s freedom. Your Majesty grant me what I was not given before, freedom. I can regress regardless of my will until I succeed in making Your Majesty bloom. Please, let us not repeat this long life in vain. Please do not imprison me.¡± Karaf said nothing for a long time, then finally spoke a word as if letting out the breath he had been holding. ¡°¡­¡­I need time to decide.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait then.¡± Just as he asked for time to think, she wanted to give him a chance. Asha politely placed a hand on her chest and bowed her head. It was an unspoken sign of respect for him as emperor. Unable to show his ugly side anymore, Karaf forced himself to his feet. Rising to his feet, he stumbled once, but then he opened the grate and stepped out. Before leaving, he turned his head and looked at Asha. He looked at her with eyes filled with many emotions and then he was gone. Duran came immediately and stood guard, perhaps under his orders. He brought water, blankets, and wet towels and handed them to Asha without a word. After a while, Asha called out to him silently. ¡°¡­¡­ Sir Duran.¡± Duran immediately turned his head. ¡°Yes, Lady Vanessa. Please speak.¡± Asha looked at him and asked with slightly sad eyes. ¡°Jackal¡­¡­ Is he badly injured?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Duran, who tortured him himself, did not reply, but bowed his head slightly and remained silent. Asha looked at him and said. ¡°Please, let me go see Jackal.¡± He showed his generosity last time and let her meet him. He was not as bloodless and tearless as Karaf. Duran hesitantly said. ¡°But¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I beg you. I know very well that Sir Duran puts your Majesty¡¯s well-being first. But meeting Jackal now is also for His Majesty¡¯s safety. Trust me.¡± Duran was slightly taken aback by those words and turned around. Asha looked at him and spoke seriously again. ¡°If you wish, you can watch us and listen to the conversation. I must say something to him. Please let me see Jackal one last time.¡± * * * * * Asha followed Duran through the long, damp corridors of the dungeon. An unpleasant sound came from under his feet with each step she took. Asha walked nervously, biting her lower lip, it was an even worse prison environment than the last time she went to see the spy. As a notorious prison where criminals die without realizing it, there was no sunlight here, and the air was so soggy that it truly felt like being in the coffin of death. Eventually, a huge iron door appeared at the innermost part of the dungeon. As Duran unlocked several layers of chains and opened the door, a dark cell appeared with the heavy sound of the iron door scraping the floor. Duran turned to her and said in a low voice. ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s just for a moment. I will quietly watch from behind, so please think of me as someone who is not around and have a conversation with him.¡± Asha nodded. She had no intention of conversing secretly as if she was conspiring. She just¡­ wanted to know if Jackal was okay. Entering the dark cell, Duran illuminated the interior by hanging a torch on the wall. But at that moment, at the terrible sight of Jackal illuminated by light, Asha covered her mouth with both hands with a short cry. CH 67 Inside the cell, Jackal was lying on the floor, almost naked and bleeding. After barely coming to his senses at Asha¡¯s voice, he gathered all his strength and transformed into a horse. He did not want to show this terrible side of Asha. However, seeing him lying on the ground after transforming into a horse was just as terrifying and devastating. His entire body was deeply dented with whip marks, blood dripped from every wound, and the area where the arrow had hit him was severely torn and bleeding. Every time he breathed in and out, blood flowed from his mouth and wet the ground. Asha rushed over to him and pulled him onto her knees as her eyes widened and tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Jackal! Are you alright?¡± Jackal was very puzzled by the fact that Asha had come here, but first, he looked up and saw her face. He responded relieved to see that she wasn¡¯t hurt. ¡°¡­¡­ Purung.¡± Asha burst into tears. He was a mess, but he still took care of others first even though his entire body was injured. Asha couldn¡¯t help but bury her face in the back of his neck crying. She could hear Sheppy¡¯s heartbeat and feel his breathing. There were so many things she wanted to talk about, but after seeing him like this, her mind seemed to go completely blank. Asha hugged him and held back her urge to cry. She knew that he would suffer even more if he saw her sad, so she desperately suppressed her tears. Jackal could hear the sound of gulping and crying. Asha soon took off the thin robe she was wearing and wrapped it around his body. ¡°¡­¡­ Jackal, I have one last thing I want to say.¡± Jackal¡¯s blurry eyes widened slightly. Her words sounded like she was saying goodbye, so he weakly shook his head. Asha placed a light kiss on the bridge of his nose and spoke softly to reassure him. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯re going¡­..we¡¯re going to be apart for while..¡­ I wanted to see your face after a long time. I want to keep it deep in my eyes and remember it for a long time¡­¡­.¡± At that, Jackal returned to his human form. Asha stared at him, face to face, with her messed up face. Jackal couldn¡¯t open one of his eyes because it was horribly swollen, but with the other, he took a good look at Asha¡¯s face. His blue eyes shone clear and serious even in the dark. Asha slowly opened her mouth. ¡°You promised me back then.¡± ¡®Whatever happens, I will follow my chosen king.¡¯ Recalling Jackal¡¯s oath, Asha continued. ¡°I decided to do my best without giving up. Because this life is really precious to me¡­¡­. I met new friends and made precious memories¡­.. I don¡¯t want to lose again. I intend to persuade His Majesty to make a contract.¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes widened just a bit. ¡°So please do what you can, Jackal. But promise me you won¡¯t die¡­ Promise me.¡± Asha forced a smile through her teary eyes. Jackal lifted Asha¡¯s hand and kissed it with his torn, bloody lips. And he spoke in a broken voice. ¡°¡­¡­I won¡¯t die. I will wait for you forever. I just hope that you are happy with whatever decision you make.¡± * * * * * ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty, It¡¯s Duran.¡± After Asha and Jackal¡¯s meeting, Duran came to Karaf. He kept the fact that he had allowed them to meet in secret but wanted to comfort Karaf¡¯s aching heart at least a little. However, Karaf looked at him with a cold sweat on his face and said coldly, as if he had already reached his limit. ¡°¡­¡­ Didn¡¯t I tell you to guard Vanessa? Is my command a joke now?¡± Duran lowered his head. ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty.¡± Karaf nervously ran through his sweaty hair and said. ¡°If you understand, get out of here.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Did you not hear me!¡± Karaf groaned. He didn¡¯t want to be mad at the only person who was on his side, but his emotions were out of control right now. Fearing that he would unknowingly speak badly towards Duran, he wanted him to get out of there quickly. However, Duran did not come out and said with a worried look. ¡°Your Majesty, the new moon is coming¡­¡­¡± At those words, Karaf held his head like mad and laughed. Duran couldn¡¯t leave him alone because he knew he was out of his mind. Karaf laughed for a long time and said while catching his breath. ¡°¡­¡­I will leave the palace for just a few days. I never want to show my ugly side to Vanessa again. She doesn¡¯t want to see my face anyway, so it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, then I too¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t come with me, stay by Vanessa¡¯s side. This is my command. Don¡¯t make me repeat it three times.¡± When Karaf rolled his eyes, Duran lowered his head bitterly. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± Seeing Karaf sitting on the edge of the bed with his head bowed, Duran had no choice but to leave the room. * * * * * Returning to her cell, Asha waited for Karaf to make a decision. Jackal¡¯s torture stopped until he made his decision, giving her some peace of mind. However, even after a day and two passed, he didn¡¯t even show his nose. Suddenly, outside the dark window, thunder and lightning roared with force, and rain began to fall. Somehow, ominous energy washed over her. It was the first time Asha had been afraid that he wouldn¡¯t come to visit her. Thunder rang out from the sky, like a beast streaking through the sky. While listening to it, she had an ominous feeling, as if something had happened to him. It was a butterfly¡¯s intuition for a flower. Asha called softly to Duran, who was standing guard outside with a miserable look as if he was in a bad mood. ¡°Sir Duran.¡± Duran looked back at her. His face was stained with worry. Asha looked into his eyes and asked. ¡°Where is His Majesty now?¡± Duran shuddered, slightly averted his gaze, and said. ¡°¡­¡­ His Majesty has been away from the palace for a few days. He will return after organizing his thoughts. If you wait until then¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Duran was slightly surprised by Asha¡¯s words and looked back at her. Asha asked seriously. ¡°Tell me the truth. What¡¯s going on with His Majesty? Is that why he can¡¯t come here?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Duran let out a small sigh and spoke the truth. ¡°Lady Vanessa, I probably told you once before. Since His Majesty was cursed, he would suffer severe pain once a month¡­.¡­.¡± Asha remembered that. Her face hardened a bit and she asked. ¡°Is it around this time?¡± Duran nodded. ¡°Originally, the period coincided with the flowering ceremony, but I understand that His Majesty has been forcibly enduring it by taking medicine.¡± Duran turned his head with a sad look on his face. He thought that telling her this would not change anything. But it was then. ¡°Lead me right now.¡± At Asha¡¯s resolute words, Duran raised his head. Her expression was very determined. She didn¡¯t say anything else, but he knew what she was thinking and what was on her mind. Duran led her out of the cell without saying a word. He went out with Asha and went to the stable where his horse was. And soon he led his special horse, a dark horse, and said. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust Lady Vanessa, it¡¯s for your safety, so I want the two of us to ride a horse together.¡± As he said, if the two of them were riding different horses, it would be hard for him to protect her if something unexpected happened. It was even more difficult to do it in a situation like the current one when it¡¯s raining heavily and nobody can see an inch ahead. Asha nodded and got on the horse first. Duran jumped after her and led the horse with the utmost courtesy. The two of them ran quickly through the heavy raindrops. * * * * * There was a small castle in the forest a bit far from the imperial palace. It wasn¡¯t long after it was built, but it was a secret place that no honored guest could enter and see. On the surface, Karaf was known to visit this place to recuperate once a month. From the past until now, Asha only knew that he was going hunting as a hobby and staying overnight. When she went down to the hermetically closed castle basement, a terrible scream was heard from the corridor. It was the sound of gasping in pain, like a monster tearing its chest off and screaming. Asha ran after Duran, her face turning even paler, and soon she was in front of a room locked with chains. It was like solitary confinement for a vicious criminal. Now, there was an intermittent sound of breathing that sounded like sobs. As Duran tried to open the door with a pained look on his face, Karaf gasped from inside. ¡°¡­¡­ Who is it!?¡± ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s me, Duran¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I told you not to come¡­¡­¡± He was unable to finish his sentence and let out another terrible scream. Duran asked urgently. ¡°Your Majesty! Are you all right!?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Don¡¯t open the door.¡± Duran paused at those words. Karaf muttered under his breath in a beastly voice. ¡°Don¡¯t open the door¡­¡­. If you do, I could kill you¡­¡­ I¡¯ve done this before on my own¡­¡­ I can get over it. So go back¡­¡­. This is an order.¡± At that time, Asha said with a distorted look. ¡°Open the door.¡± When Karaf heard her clear voice, she could feel him startle. ¡°Who else is there¡­.?¡± ¡°Your Majesty, please forgive me for being disloyal¡­¡­.¡± Duran closed his eyes and opened the door. As the iron door opened with a loud sound, Asha¡¯s eyes widened and trembled as she saw the room that soon appeared. In the middle of the room, a blood-soaked Karaf lay writhing. Red veins like rosebuds radiating from his heart seemed to bind and wound his entire body. A red pattern like a full moon burned into his chest like fire, creating deeper and deeper wounds. It was almost as if a rose monster sleeping inside him was about to grab him and devour him. As if stabbed by his own thorn, Karaf rolled to the ground and groaned in pain. Without blooming, he was already rotting inside¡­¡­. Asha covered her mouth and inadvertently shed a single tear. He raised his sweaty face and found Asha, and his red eyes trembled. ¡°Asha¡­¡­?¡± CH 68 For the first time, he calls her Asha instead of Vanessa. Asha bit her lip hard. Karaf was already making a face as if he had given up everything as if he was sure the butterfly would leave him. Even so, his heart ached even more because her gaze looked nostalgic and pleasing. Asha never thought that he would have such a secret. She didn¡¯t know that he always wanted to show her his handsome and dignified side of an emperor, so he thoroughly hid his weak and sick side. She also saw only his outward appearance as a tyrant and did not try to see his true face. Because at that moment, it was too much for her to bear her own pain¡­ No, maybe she turned a blind eye on purpose. Because she wanted to avoid him. The flower and the butterfly were closer than anyone, but they didn¡¯t know each other. They couldn¡¯t empathize because they didn¡¯t know each other¡¯s pain. Since when did this relationship become so bad¡­¡­? Asha was devastated. Karaf¡¯s eyes, which had been looking at her with warmth, soon filled with self-loathing. He rested his head on the cold ground and muttered, breathing hard. ¡°Scram¡­¡­ get out of here¡­¡­ I really¡­¡­ could hurt you¡­¡­¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he vomited blood. His back shook wildly with each inhalation and exhalation. But each time his eyes rolled back and he tried to pass out, the mark on his chest wouldn¡¯t let him. It was as if the red mark wanted him to go through all this pain until the end. The red mark kept waking him up and not allowing him to sleep. He vomited everything he had in his stomach, so he hadn¡¯t eaten anything, but even so, gastric juices mixed with saliva constantly came out of his mouth. He groaned as he wrapped his arms around his face so that Asha couldn¡¯t see his horrible, ugly sight. ¡°Asha¡­¡­ Hurry up and send Asha back to the palace¡­¡­ Duran¡­¡­!¡± Duran¡¯s eyes reddened as Karaf yelled out loud. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± He couldn¡¯t even imagine how much pain his master was going through right now. Perhaps it was because he had suppressed his symptoms with medication, his symptoms seemed two to three times more severe than usual. It will take much longer for him to get back to normal. Karaf said, out of breath. ¡°This side¡­¡­ I don¡¯t want to show it to you anymore¡­¡­.I¡­¡­ I¡¯ll be fine if I hold on a little longer¡­¡­. So quickly¡­¡­.¡± His teeth clenched in pain. Tears welled up from his tightly closed eyes. Originally, she hated him, but after being exposed, he was afraid that she would really hate him. Karaf always gives her the best and shows her the best¡­¡­.. He was more afraid that Asha would look at him with an abominable look as if she was looking at an insect, just like his mother did when he was young. Asha stopped in the doorway with great shock, looking at him. Karaf was the most beautiful and cruel rose that reigned in Etzheim, the empire of flowers. But now, in pain, he was nothing more than a pitiful, cursed human being. But it was then. Karaf came back to his senses for a moment, then suddenly his eyes changed. He shook his head and looked at Asha with completely different eyes. His eyes glowed like red fluorescent lights in the dark as if they were glowing with blood. His black pupils had already narrowed vertically like the eyes of a snake. He laughed like crazy and then got up off the ground. And staggered toward Asha. It looks like a murderer who came to strangle her. Duran quickly blocked his way. He had seen this sight like this before. Even on the day of the Emperor¡¯s coronation, Karaf lost his reason and raged, slitting the throats of many who opposed him. It was a terrifying sight, like a sword dance. Duran believed that the only thing he could do for his lord now was to prevent the cursed man from harming Vanessa. If he hurts Vanessa with his own hands¡­¡­ He would probably suffer for the rest of his life and torture himself. That was the only thing that had to stop. As Duran determinedly drew his sword from its scabbard, Asha stepped forward faster than he did. And in the next moment, Karaf¡¯s red eyes went wide. Asha held him in her arms and gently stroked his cold back. She spoke calmly into his ear, like calming a crying child in a fit. ¡°It¡¯s fine now. I¡¯m here¡­¡­ So everything will be fine.¡­¡­ don¡¯t cry.¡± Asha closed her eyes. In her eyes, Karaf¡¯s appearance was similar to that of the child from her dream, crying like an abandoned child. Instead of strangling her, the boy appeared to be grabbing his mother by the neck. Karaf¡¯s sharp eyes gradually softened and returned to normal. He let his head fall onto Asha¡¯s shoulder. Asha swayed under his weight, but she stood her ground and held him, stroking his back all the time. Seeing the butterfly instantly calm his madness, Duran¡¯s eyes widened and he froze in place. Just touching his body calmed him down and seemed to ease the pain a bit. Although Karaf¡¯s eyes were closed, his body was still shaking and he was breathing hard as if he had been submerged in icy water. It seemed that he had exhausted all his energy suppressing his madness by himself with the door closed for several hours. Suddenly, a tear fell from his eye. In fact, he didn¡¯t want to hurt anyone with his thorn either. Nobody loved me, so I just wanted to take a step closer. However, he did not know how to approach¡­.. Only then did Asha understand her feelings, she silently stroked his head. Karaf exhaled heavily and his eyes opened slowly. He definitely had a lot to say to Asha, but nothing came to mind. Her arms were so soft and placid that he wished this moment would last forever. Karaf wanted to say at least the clich¨¦ ¡®Thank you and I¡¯m sorry¡¯, but he didn¡¯t have the strength to get the words out, so he just breathed out. Asha felt his heartbeat slow down. The flower seemed to be at peace when it came into contact with a butterfly. Hugs from a butterfly made him feel a sense of security¡­¡­ She dared not guess what a disturbing childhood Karaf must have had. Those who did not know about his curse thought that he was just a murderous tyrant. Rumors had spread that countless people had died because of his tyranny. That¡¯s how Asha knew him before coming to the palace for the first time. His grudge against the minority was worse. Karaf didn¡¯t seem to deny the evaluation of himself. It was also true, and he thought that it would be more comfortable to govern if he implanted in the people the image of a tyrant. In fact, after the rumors spread, other empires did not think of easily attacking the Etzheim Empire, and no aristocratic forces were trying to shake or take the throne from him. He chose the stability of the empire at the cost of his own stigma. Asha slowly turned to Duran and said. ¡°We have to move him to another room.¡± ¡°Yes? But if His Majesty goes berserk again¡­¡­ he would get out of control¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That will not happen.¡± Duran said it out of concern for her safety, but Asha was so adamant that he kept his mouth shut. He bowed his head without saying a word. Karaf was moved to an empty room on the second floor with the help of two people. Under the bright candlelight, Asha was able to examine the red vines that entangled his heart. The center of the vines, near the heart where the crescent moon was originally marked, was filled with a red full moon. When the moon did not rise due to the curse, a red moon appeared in his heart. When she placed her hand on the full moon pattern, the blood vessels quivered and began to throb. The pattern of his curse reacted violently toward her, Karaf squirming and scowling in pain. Duran watched the entire scene nervously. Asha pressed her hands against his heart, as if it were artificial respiration, and took a moment to catch her breath and relax her mind. This is about saving people. Don¡¯t hesitate. She then put her lips to Karaf¡¯s lips and breathed into his mouth. At that moment, surprisingly, the red veins that had spread like vines on his chest began to resume the pattern. Karaf¡¯s harsh breathing also lessened. When she laid her lips on his once more, the full moon slowly distorted, resuming a dim crescent shape. The vines of his curse would come out once a month to bloom, and if it failed, they would return to his heart and hide. Due to his black rose complex, Karaf did not show his face to people. Ironically, it was a pattern that suited him very well, hiding behind countless rumors of being a thorny tyrant. After calmly completing the task, Asha wiped the sweat from her forehead with her arm, then dipped a towel into a basin of cold water. Then, silently, she wiped the blood from Karaf¡¯s body. His face, with his eyes closed, was pale and gaunt, as if all the blood had drained from him. No matter how painful it was, his body was covered in nail marks. He was in enough pain to hurt himself¡­¡­ Asha bit her lower lip. Karaf used to force himself on her once a month. Somehow, that day, he would lose his temper and come at her crazier than usual, and he thought maybe it was because of his craziness. Every time he kissed her and joined his body with hers, he let out a deep breath as if he felt safe. Asha was convinced that his madness subsided as soon as their bodies touched. For him, the existence of a butterfly would have been like a savior¡­ She wanted so badly to run away from him. He tortured her to the point of wanting to die, but seeing him in such pain made her heart ache to the point of bitterness. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­ Thank you for saving His Majesty, Lady Vanessa¡­¡­.¡± Asha turned her head in the direction of the voice. Duran prostrated at the door. CH 69 ¡°Sir Duran, stand up.¡± ¡°No, Lady Vanessa¡­¡­ I don¡¯t even deserve to look at you.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Duran looked at the ground with a pained look and continued. ¡°I have to apologize, Lady Vanessa. This Lycaon subjugation operation was planned by me for His Majesty. I guessed that Lady Vanessa has a special relationship with the man who is said to be the leader of Lycaon, I tried to separate the two of you in the most brutal way¡­..¡± Asha didn¡¯t say anything, just looked at him. But she also had bloodshot eyes. Duran lowered his head further and said with his forehead on the ground. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do anything every time His Majesty was in pain¡­¡­ So, I would do anything to ease His Majesty¡¯s suffering, even if it meant staining my hands with blood. Perhaps if His Majesty had told me to kill that man, I would have gladly done so¡­¡­.¡± Duran closed his eyes, remembering the old memories. Once, Karaf went completely crazy because he couldn¡¯t bear the pain. He clung to Duran¡¯s arm with his eyes closed and pleaded. ¡®Duran¡­¡­ please kill me¡­¡­.¡¯ It was the first time he had seen him like that. That day, Duran quietly knelt on the ground and wept. He could understand how painful it was for him to say such a thing, but he could never obey the order. He always resented himself for not being able to do anything except always watch from afar. Karaf was in terrible pain and did not know what he was saying. But after seeing Duran¡¯s hot tears, he finally came to his senses, and since then, no one has been allowed to enter this place. Karaf was afraid of what he would say again and what he might do. He didn¡¯t want to show her uglier sides to those he cared about, and above all, he didn¡¯t want to hurt them with the bullshit he talked about because of the pain. Asha looked at Duran with mixed feelings. She suddenly remembered Duran¡¯s expression before she had jumped off the cliff when he had been chasing her. At that time, she was so preoccupied with running away that she didn¡¯t have time to look closely at her surroundings, but at that time Duran looked at her with a very sad and anguished expression. Even when he instructed the knights to chase after her, he had a truly painful look on his face. Even when she last spoke to Karaf on the cliff, Duran couldn¡¯t look directly at her from behind. ¡°¡­¡­ Sir Duran.¡± Duran flinched slightly at Asha¡¯s serious tone. Asha looked at him calmly and said. ¡°People can change. And I believe in Sir Duran.¡± In her previous life, Duran turned a blind eye, but in this life, a lot had already changed. Even though he was a considerate man in the past, he didn¡¯t try to help her or pay as much attention to her life in the imperial palace as he did in this life. He obeyed the emperor¡¯s orders, but he knew how to be generous, and he knew how to make his own decisions and actions. He would have known what the right path was. Duran froze to the ground in shock for a moment. His green eyes trembled. He thought she would insult him, question him, or tell him to go away because she didn¡¯t want to see his face again. However, she spoke to him in a calm voice that contained neither anger nor sadness. Duran trembled involuntarily. She was like a sacred being that he didn¡¯t even dare to look at. Asha said. ¡°I will take care of His Majesty, Sir Duran, please go back. You haven¡¯t been able to rest. Everything will be fine now. Just as I believe in Sir Duran, I want you to believe in me that His Majesty will not harm me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I will, Lady Vanessa. I appreciate it.¡± Duran got up and added. ¡°I believe in Lady Vanessa. But if something happens, don¡¯t hesitate to call me.¡± Duran handed her the whistle he used to train knights, bowed silently, and left the room. In the silence covered in darkness, only the sound of Karaf¡¯s breathing could be heard. Asha calmly looked at his face. In the moonlight, his face was really pale and beautiful. He looked decadent and charming, even in pain. But what¡¯s the use of all that beauty? There is no one by his side. Of all the flowers, the rose seems to be the most beautiful and the most powerful, but in reality, it was a flower that always trembled in fear of being harmed by others and protected itself with thorns. A double-edged flower that seduces others with its beautiful figure, but stabs them with its own thorns if it gets too close. That was Karaf. Asha gently brushed his black hair which was wet with sweat and streamed down her forehead. But then, a low, cracked voice came out of his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ Asha.¡± Asha jumped a little. At that moment, a tear fell from Karaf¡¯s closed eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡­.¡± It was a short sentence, but it was a sincere apology. A tear fell from Asha¡¯s eyes again. Karaf still did not move and went back to sleep in the same position as if he had passed out. After a while of breathing easily and calming his heart, Asha whispered in Karaf¡¯s ear. ¡°Your Majesty, I believe that all the flowers in the world can bloom. I believe that with a warm touch, flowers can bloom even in the aridest environment. I believe that anyone can change their own destiny.¡± Karaf soon fell back asleep, but he held Asha¡¯s hand tightly and did not let go, as if he would never hold her hand again if he let go now. Karaf¡¯s body was as cold as a corpse. Perhaps it was because he was in poor health and could not relax in the imperial palace. But he steadied himself as he held onto Asha¡¯s warm hand. Asha, who had been in agony ever since she left the Jackal¡¯s cell, soon made up her mind. Even if he is a cursed flower, even if the prophecy is true, she won¡¯t give up on him. She regressed to change the past, so it will be different this time. ¡¸¡°As a butterfly of the empire, I wish you could care for and cherish all flowers without discrimination like you do now.¡±¡¹ She was determined to keep the words she had heard from God. Perhaps the true role of a butterfly is to give instructions to flowers that cannot carry seeds on their own. On the desk, there was water with honey and medicines that Duran had brought. Duran said that every time this day approached, Karaf would take medication to relieve the pain. Asha gave Karaf medicine and slowly poured honey water into his mouth with a spoon. He couldn¡¯t swallow the medicine and honey water well, so it ran down the side of his mouth, but Asha didn¡¯t give up and carefully fed him the honey water. * * * * * [Jackal, is it delicious?] Jackal, a young foal, was lying on his stomach with his face in someone¡¯s lap. He was still a child who did not yet know how to freely transform between human and horse form. His mother gently stroked his fur and spooned the crushed fruit juice into his mouth. As Jackal ate with his eyes closed, she said happily. [I¡¯m proud of you for eating well. Eat a lot and grow quickly to become a wonderful horse.] She said, gently stroking Jackal¡¯s forehead and mane. [Our clan is very noble-blooded. Among the minority clans, the Kelpie is a sacred clan that is protected by water. Always remember that and be proud of it. You will become a great leader like your father.] Even so, the kelpie clan had a lot of maternal power compared to other clans. In fact, in the world of horses, the oldest mare became the head, but due to the nature of the kelpie clan, which was not easy to leave offspring, women played an important role in the continuity of the clan. Jackal¡¯s father was touched by his mother for choosing him, even though she knew he was a wild horse, and he honored her as a true leader and loved and protected her with his life. His parents were warriors who represented the clan, guarded the village, and died at the same time. Even if the enemy killed Jackal, he thought that he would not feel alone because he was with them until the last moment. In the warm arms of his mother, Jackal suddenly opened his eyes. The blurred vision gradually became clearer and the image of his mother transformed into a different person. Surprisingly, Asha was in front of him. As Jackal¡¯s eyes widened and he tried to get up, Asha gently pressed her hand against his body and said. ¡°Lie down. Your injuries are still serious.¡± ¡°How¡­¡­.¡± Jackal, realizing that he was lying on a bed, asked in disbelief. He obviously passed out in the dungeon with injuries after Asha left, but before he knew it, his body was wrapped in bandages and moved to a small room with sunlight and wind. Asha said with a sad face ¡°You will stay in the palace for a while. You are also in a lot of pain¡­ I will treat you and take care of you.¡± Asha briefly recounted what had happened. Jackal was surprised to hear Karaf¡¯s change of heart, but his mind was a little preoccupied. Asha looked at him and said calmly. ¡°The next time we meet, we will meet with His Majesty. This is the only way.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes. I have to negotiate with him.¡± Jackal felt sick to his stomach just thinking about Karaf¡¯s face, but he still decided to follow Asha¡¯s will. It seems that Asha really managed to change his mind, so now it was his turn. She said that other Lycaons had also been released from the dungeon and were imprisoned in other rooms. He had to take action for them. He had a serious expression without realizing it when suddenly, Asha¡¯s hand reached out from the side. She said as she carefully touched the bandages all over his body with her trembling hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It must hurt¡­¡­.¡± Jackal looked at her with sad eyes. CH 70 Rather, she was the one who hurt him. Because of her, he got hurt again. She felt sorry for hurting him¡­¡­. Jackal lowered his head. But Asha really did feel bad for Jackal. If she hadn¡¯t foolishly fallen into a trap set by a minority, both he and Lycaon would have been safe. As Asha stared sadly at the quilt, Jackal held out his arms to her. Asha¡¯s eyes widened as he held her close. Jackal said, holding her in his wide arms. ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry. I will do my best to prevent such a situation from happening in the future.¡± He ran his bandaged hand through Asha¡¯s blonde hair gently. Just as she always relaxed and fell asleep simply leaning against Sheppy, Jackal wished she could relax for a moment in his arms. Asha closed her eyes slightly as he held her in his arms. She was always the one who had to carry heavy responsibilities, but when she was in his arms, all her problems seemed to disappear. As if carrying the load for her, Asha felt so calm. * * * * * Asha spent the whole day taking care of Jackal and Karaf, going back and forth between the palace where Jackal is and the small castle where Karaf is. Did I overdo it? Asha inadvertently fell asleep while nursing and suddenly opened her eyes. Before she knew it, she was in a field of flowers she had seen before. Asha made up her mind and headed straight for the black rosebud on the cliff. Withered flowers came to life and bloomed again as she walked through the field of flowers. It was a fantastic sight, almost magical. There were still many thorny bushes sticking out of the ground on the cliff. Asha cautiously approached the boy crouched in a cocoon. But when she looked closely, the boy was unconscious with injuries all over his body. ¡°Karaf!¡± Asha was surprised and quickly took the boy into her arms. This time the thorn bushes didn¡¯t attack her as they did back then. Asha put her ear to his chest. His heartbeat was faintly audible. Perhaps because it was cold, the boy¡¯s face was white and his lips were blue. Somehow, he had the same decadent appearance as Karaf. Asha quickly removed her cloak and wrapped it around his body. ¡°Everything is fine now. I¡¯m here.¡± She patted him and whispered to him like a spell, remembering the time she used to take care of orphans in the village. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­ They say I¡¯m a flower that shouldn¡¯t bloom¡­¡­.¡± A boy¡¯s voice was heard. As Asha looked at him in surprise, the young Karaf continued to speak weakly with his eyes closed. ¡°My mother and the nobles told me that. Nobody in this world loves me. I wish I had never been born¡­¡­¡± Asha¡¯s expression turned sad. Her heart ached from his words. ¡°No, that¡¯s not true. Think carefully. There are definitely people who like you. Take a good look around you. There is a flower hidden among the other colorful flowers.¡± Karaf still had his eyes closed, but a slight smile appeared around his mouth as if someone had suddenly come to mind. He was pitiful and cute, so Asha said as she stroked his hair. ¡°What do you think? Can you see it clearly? You have to find the flower and call it by its name.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Then that person will stay by my side forever?¡± At those words, Asha was silent for a moment. ¡°Nothing in this world lasts forever. Everything is seasonal, and in the end, we all leave this world.¡± The boy¡¯s face saddened slightly at the pitiful words. ¡°That¡¯s why you have to do the best you can while you¡¯re alive. So you have no regrets left. I realized that recently.¡± The boy¡¯s expression turned serious as if he was thinking about it. In a short time, his blackened lips were recovering their color. Seeing that, Asha smiled and said. ¡°Beautiful.¡± Young Karaf flinched. ¡°Beautiful¡­¡­? Me¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re a pretty flower.¡± Asha said it, caressing his cold face with her warm hands. However, Asha¡¯s words caused the young Karaf¡¯s face to distort. Asha was worried that she had made a mistake, but she felt tears well up in his eyes and her eyes widened. The little boy was crying silently again in her arms. Those were the words that he really wanted to hear from his mother ever since he was very little¡­.. She felt very sorry for him, who had learned to hide his tears at an age when he should have been loved by his parents. Asha looked down and whispered. ¡°Many people in this world are waiting for your blossoming. You have to bloom quickly to light up the whole world. I will be waiting for that day. And when that day comes¡­ I will smile brightly next to you.¡± * * * * * Karaf¡¯s eyes snapped open at dawn. Where am I ¡­¡­? His face paled as he rummaged through his memory, he remembered the scene of Asha coming into the room. He vaguely remembers being in her arms, but after that it was dark. Wouldn¡¯t Asha have been disappointed to see my ugliness? No, did I not hurt her? I used to lose my mind. He was so startled that he jumped out of bed. However, when he found someone by his side, Karaf¡¯s eyes widened even further. Asha was sleeping soundly on the edge of the bed. She must have taken care of him all night. There were basins with wet towels, glasses of water, and medicines. Karaf¡¯s eyes trembled slightly. She must have witnessed his ugly and monstrous appearance, but she did not leave his side and take care of him. He didn¡¯t believe it, so he slapped himself. Feeling the tingling sensation, it didn¡¯t seem like a dream to him. Suddenly, the rain that had been accompanied by thunder and lightning stopped, and the stars shone clearly in the clear blue night sky. Also, the pleasant sound of insects singing made him feel like the two of them was on vacation. He silently looked at Asha¡¯s sleeping face. Her face in the moonlight was so beautiful and divine, like a goddess descending from heaven. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her for a moment. Then suddenly Asha¡¯s brows frowned slightly. Karaf was startled. He quickly and carefully lay back on the bed and covered himself with the blanket. Asha woke up and raised her head. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but she could see that Karaf¡¯s face had a much better complexion than before. He looked so kind that it was hard to believe that he is a tyrant. Asha breathed a sigh of relief, but the look on her face was a bit puzzled. Do you even know how much I suffered and how much I had to give up to take care of you? Asha felt upset for some reason, and she pinched his white cheek. She wasn¡¯t satisfied with that for some reason, so now she grabbed his cheeks with both hands and pulled them. But at that moment, Karaf opened his eyes and looked at her. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Compared to his amused cheeks, his eyes were those of a beast. Asha was so surprised that she didn¡¯t even think to let go of his cheeks. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­ You are awake?¡± Karaf had been watching everything she was doing. He looked down slightly to the side and looked at her hands pinching his cheeks. Only then did Asha startle and let go of his cheeks and excuse herself. ¡°I¡­was checking why Your Majesty wasn¡¯t awake yet, but I somehow grabbed your cheeks¡­..¡± Asha didn¡¯t even know what she was talking about and made stupid excuses. As Asha stared again, Karaf smiled slightly. He didn¡¯t question anything. His smile seemed a bit sour, so Asha stopped making excuses and closed her mouth. Karaf stopped smiling and looked out the window as he spoke in a cracked voice. ¡°Why did you come to see me? I wish you would have let me die¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­There are no butterflies that let flowers die.¡± Karaf turned his gaze and stared at her blankly. ¡°No. You¡¯re wrong. My mother almost killed me once. My mother meant it back then.¡± Asha was speechless. ¡°And you didn¡¯t tell me before? Diseased and wilted flowers are not attractive.¡± Karaf muttered with a pale face like a patient. ¡°That¡¯s why everyone is leaving me¡­¡­. Come to think of it, what the horse said wasn¡¯t wrong.¡± ¡®The flower must be bad in front of the butterfly¡¯s eyes.¡¯ He lowered his gaze in resignation. ¡°Your Majesty may be right.¡± Asha looked directly at him and said. ¡°But not everyone is like that. Whether a person is attractive or not, I don¡¯t like or dislike a person based on their appearance.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened slightly and he looked at her. When he looked at her purple eyes, he felt embarrassed, as if his black heart had been exposed. Asha really does have eyes that seem to see a person¡¯s inner beauty, he thought. Asha slightly relaxed her expression and said. ¡°And I have told Your Majesty before. Helping someone is always valuable to me. So I¡¯m just doing what¡¯s worth it..¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Have Your Majesty thought about the proposal I made before?¡± Karaf didn¡¯t answer. She asked for freedom in exchange for doing everything possible for him to flourish and become a good emperor. He couldn¡¯t make up his mind, but he couldn¡¯t make up his mind even more when he remembered what had happened today. He really couldn¡¯t live without her by his side. Karaf covered his face with both hands, took a deep breath, and then asked carefully. ¡°You said before that butterflies don¡¯t settle for just one flower¡­ So¡­ Even if we can¡¯t always meet, can you be with the same flower¡­¡­?¡± The expression on his face seemed so desperate. Asha realized what he was talking about. It was his final option, asking her to put aside her greed and not leave his side. CH 71 As Asha¡¯s silence lengthened, his expression grew more and more pained. However, as if she had made up her mind, Asha replied calmly. ¡°Yes. If I like those flowers, I¡¯ll probably come to see them often.¡± A hint of hope bloomed on Karaf¡¯s face. He thought for a moment, then spoke heavily. ¡°¡­¡­ I will not accept it.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened when she looked up at him. ¡°Then¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Well, if you break my curse and free me from this pain, I will also free you from everything that binds you. I promise it with my life.¡± Asha was so moved that she was speechless for a moment. It must have been very difficult for him, who was more possessive and obsessed with butterflies than anyone, to make this decision. A lot has really changed compared to her previous life. Asha involuntarily burst into tears. Karaf¡¯s eyes grew bigger when he saw her cry. ¡°Is it too good to the point of crying¡­..?¡± Asha then burst into a small laugh as she held back tears as she saw his face quickly fill with disappointment and sadness. Then Karaf asked with a more complex expression. ¡°Are you so happy that you can¡¯t help but laugh¡­¡­? Do you hate me that much? Enough to torture sleeping people by pinching their faces?¡± Asha stopped laughing and said. He saw it! Asha¡¯s face flushed red and she made an awkward excuse. ¡°It was¡­¡­ a joke.¡± ¡°No one has played such a prank on me, the emperor. They all knew that if they did that, their fingers would be cut off.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Asha kept her mouth shut. Karaf¡¯s expression softened and he said. ¡°It¡¯s a joke, don¡¯t worry. And compared to what I¡¯ve done, this is nothing¡­ Even if you had scratched my face and ripped off some flesh, I wouldn¡¯t have had anything to say.¡± Asha automatically flinched at the cruel joke, but now they both had a small smile on their lips. It was as if the thick rose vines that rose between them had been uprooted. ¡°Stay by my side.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do anything to you¡­¡­ Stay with me tonight. Please¡­¡­.¡± When he finished speaking, he closed his eyes. His expression looked pained again, so Asha just nodded. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll stay, so please rest well.¡± Asha gently stroked Karaf¡¯s head as if she were putting a child to sleep. Karaf fell asleep again at her touch. After a long and short recovery, he regained his strength and returned to the palace with Asha. * * * * * Jackal had a secret meeting with Karaf at the Imperial Palace. The meeting, which took place without anyone knowing, was very desolate and heavy. As the chamberlain opened the door to the audience chamber, Jackal entered. In the distance, on the throne, a markedly gaunt-looking Karaf sat haughtily and stared at him blankly. Asha sat next to him, and Duran stood guard below the platform near Karaf. Looking at Jackal, Asha¡¯s face was both happy and surprised. He appeared dressed appropriately after tending to his injuries. Judging from his outward appearance, he looked like a clean and tidy local aristocrat. Even the people in the palace who knew Jackal¡¯s face couldn¡¯t recognize him, so he seemed to have dressed like this on purpose. He looked at Asha and nodded once, then stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked at Karaf. Neither the chamberlain nor Duran made him kneel, but neither did they give him a chair. Jackal was still the head of a group that conspired against them. Karaf, who had been looking at him for a while as if he were looking at a criminal, opened his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ Hey, stupid horse.¡± Jackal¡¯s face crinkled slightly. ¡°A dead man came here at the empress¡¯s request, so be grateful.¡± Karaf called Asha ¡®Empress¡® to emphasize that she was his woman. At the tension between the two of them, Asha swallowed and just watched. ¡°Yes, you will help me bloom.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jackal continued calmly, remembering what he had discussed with Asha. ¡°If you free me and the Lycaons, I¡¯ll go to the Minority Village to find out about you ba¡­ no, your curse.¡± ¡°I heard from Asha that you left the village a long time ago.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll gladly return to the village for you ba¡­ no, for you.¡± The term ¡®bastard¡¯ kept coming up, so Jackal corrected himself several times. The chamberlain and Duran frowned at his words and actions but did not stop him because Karaf was still. Originally, if someone had called the emperor that way, they would have immediately cut out their tongue, but those two had a truly unique relationship. ¡°The village chief must have pretended not to know, but I¡¯m sure the old man knows about the curse. I may have to throw away my pride and family honor and bow down to him. But at least you will know why Cylon betrayed you and cursed you.¡± Karaf¡¯s expression changed at the mention of the Cylon. Jackal stared at the slight tremor in his eyes. As soon as Karaf heard that, another bad memory came to his mind, and Karaf had a face as if he was just woken up from a nightmare. He was really curious about that. Why did Cylon, with whom he had a close relationship, betray him¡­..? While he wanted to know the truth about that incident that ultimately ruined his life, feelings of fear coexisted inside him. It was like facing trauma for him. Jackal knew that his biggest weakness was ¡®that incident¡¯, and the moment he mentioned the story, he realized that victory had come to him. But Karaf asked, still doubtful. ¡°How can I trust you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t trust me, trust the person next to you.¡± Jackal answered without blinking. ¡°I¡¯m willing to do it for Asha, not for you. The only thing I can do for her right now is to find a way to break your curse.¡± He would do anything if Asha could indeed be safe and happy. Karaf looked away and met Asha¡¯s eyes. Asha nodded and told him about the day she regressed. It was a painful story for Karaf, a story he didn¡¯t know. His expression changed every moment as he listened. The fact that the first person she saw when she regressed was Jackal, lends credence to the idea that he could be someone who could help with the bloom. Jackal looked at him and said calmly. ¡°If you bloom safely, it will be able to break the old bad relationship between the ethnic minorities and the imperial family. That¡¯s what I want too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I see. If you help me flourish, I promise to give freedom to minorities as well.¡± Jackal¡¯s face relaxed a little as if that were enough. Karaf looked at him again, but this time coldly. ¡°Then tonight, pack your things and leave the palace immediately.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly. At that moment, she made eye contact with Jackal. She knew they had to be apart for a while, but her heart broke that now they really had to part. Jackal looked at Karaf and said. ¡°¡­¡­ Give me a moment to say goodbye.¡± Karaf let him do it for Asha. The two moved to another room to talk alone. Seeing that no one was eavesdropping on them, it was clear that Karaf really wanted to trust them. However, when the moment of separation came, neither of them could say anything. Asha tried to hide her shaky voice and spoke calmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me and go back to the village.¡± Jackal looked into her face with eager eyes. He was really worried that while he was away, he would hear the news that she was having a hard time at the Palace. Asha smiled at him. ¡°Everything will be fine. This time it will be different. You said that you believed in my decision and would follow it, right?¡± ¡°Yes. I will always believe in you.¡± Saying so, Jackal raised Asha¡¯s hand and kissed the back of it. ¡°I believe in you too, Jackal. We¡¯re just¡­ going to be apart for a while.¡± Jackal lowered his eyelids. ¡°¡­¡­ If I miss you so much one day, Sheppy might suddenly come to the temple. If you find a blue-gray horse, don¡¯t be too surprised.¡± Asha laughed out loud. But she muttered with a sad face. ¡°I will miss you¡­¡­.¡± Jackal hugged Asha deeply for the last time. He released his hold on her and looked into Asha¡¯s eyes. When Asha looked at him with a flushed face, he immediately gently held her face with both hands and kissed her in the mouth. Asha¡¯s eyes widened, but she immediately raised her arms and hugged him back. The two shared a brief but emotional farewell. Jackal was released that day along with the Lycaons. The Lycaons who had heard what had happened so far seemed confused, but decided not to be intimidated by the fact that there was still hope. It was another precious opportunity that Asha had created for them. Karaf dismissed the rumors about the relationship between the head of Lycaon and Vanessa as false. Many people were suspicious, but Vanessa¡¯s reputation was barely spared. There were many eyes in the Imperial Family, so Lycaon left the capital at dawn when everyone was sleeping. In case servants or nobles were found talking to the head of Lycaon, rumors might spread, so Asha was also not allowed to send them away this time. Gabe walked in with a stern look on his face as if he was going to go after the Nasson clan that betrayed Lycaon. Before leaving, Jackal looked toward the empress¡¯s palace where Asha was staying. There, the curtains were closed and there was no light. It seemed that there was no one inside. Jackal soon gave up and started walking again. Sosa and Gabe supported him as he was crippled by a wound that had not fully healed from his torture. But it was when they were about to leave the palace. ¡°¡­¡­ Excuse me! Mr. Sheppy¡­¡­!¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes widened slightly and he looked back. A woman in the distance was running towards them with her red hair waving. She was Asha¡¯s exclusive maid. Sonya clutched her knees, catching her breath, with her face red from running. ¡°Mr. Sheppy¡­¡­ No¡­¡­ Boss?¡± When they came face to face, Sonya¡¯s eyes widened because she didn¡¯t know what to call him. Some of the Lycaons burst out laughing at his title. CH 72 Sonya¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. She called him that because she didn¡¯t know his name, but when she thought about it, she seemed rude. Her face is now a hot sweet potato, especially with the memory of her nuzzling his nose and trying to bring her hand to his knuckles without knowing it was him Sonya lowered her head and handed him a basket. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m here to deliver this! It was sent by Lady Vanessa.¡± Jackal took the basket and looked inside. The basket was beautifully arranged with first aid supplies like ointments, powdered medicines, and bandages, as well as the best medicines used in the palace. Jackal¡¯s eyes deepened. Even when they first met in the snowy field or when they were in the stable of the imperial palace, it was Asha who put the things he needed in a basket. Sonya raised her head and spoke resolutely. ¡°Lady Vanessa asked me to tell you that she will do well in the imperial palace, so stay healthy until the day she meets Sheppy again. Lady Vanessa also said don¡¯t worry about her. I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± Sonya¡¯s expression and eyes seemed to show a good heart for both of them. He was a little relieved that Asha had a good maid by her side. Jackal gently closed and opened his eyes and bowed slightly in gratitude. That was the greeting he gave her when he was Sheppy. Sonya recognized it and burst out laughing innocently. Jackal took something out and held it out to her. ¡°Give this to her.¡± There was a blue bag in his hand. ¡°Yes, I will!¡± Sonya gladly accepted the bag, took it in her arms, and returned with light steps. Jackal, along with his comrades, resumed the same path. Asha looked through the corridor window for a long time until they were completely out of sight. She then looked up at the night sky and prayed with her hands together for him. Please protect Jackal. On her way back, Sonya saw Asha standing in the corridor and rushed to her. ¡°Lady Vanessa! The boss asked me to give you this!¡± Asha also laughed when Sonya called him the boss. But the moment she opened the blue bag, her eyes went wide. Inside it was a small wooden doll. It was a sculpture of Sheppy and her on his back. A bow was tied to Asha¡¯s back, facing forward like a warrior with her hair flowing down. Sheppy was looking at her with his front paws raised and his head turned. He had an arrow in his mouth. How exquisite the sculpture was, it seemed as if they were moving dynamically. A crown was worn over her head. Everything else was made of wood, but the crown was made of gold. Asha, who recognized at a glance that it was Jackal¡¯s work, was touched. His woodcarving hobby had no meaning for him, but only after he met her. Among the customs of minority peoples, there was a saying that objects made with strong wishes had magical powers. Jackal created this piece, only wishing for her safety. He wished with all his heart that this piece would protect her and bring her good luck even when he was not around her. Asha kissed the wooden sculpture, then returned to her room and placed the wooden sculpture next to her bed. Looking at this piece, she could feel that Sheppy was by her side anytime and anywhere. After a few days, the second flowering ceremony came. * * * * * Originally, the flowering ceremony was a big event on the last day of the Flower Festival, inviting all the people to the temple. However, this time, in preparation for an attack that could occur anywhere and at any time, only members of the imperial family, nobles, and members of the temple could attend for the safety of the people of the empire, the emperor, and Vanessa as the top priority. It was the first time that the flowering ceremony was held twice in one year. Karaf inadvertently had many records that were the first in history in many ways¡­¡­ Asha, who changed her clothes, did not ride a horse this time. Karaf looked at Asha somewhat calmly, then held out his hand. Asha looked up at him, placed her hand gently over his, and they walked towards the altar together. It meant that the two of them would face the same direction and walk down the road together. The other nobles who came out to watch had already heard numerous rumors and looked at them slightly puzzled. Some of the nobles looked at them and whispered among themselves, but all the palace servants congratulated them with excited faces. Sonya put her hands together and prayed to God Etzheim for Asha¡¯s happiness. As Asha approached the altar, she suddenly remembered what the ethnic minority spy had said earlier. ¡®Go to the temple. Your butterfly intuition will recognize him immediately. He¡¯s also the embodiment of a flower like the Emperor.¡¯ Asha turned her gaze and slowly looked at all the nobles and priests who were there. Somehow she had the feeling that the man who was also a flower might have something to do with how to lift Karaf¡¯s curse. If she really had a ¡®butterfly intuition¡¯, then she might even figure out who that man was. Karaf also looked at Asha from the side with a bit of confusion, probably thinking about the spy¡¯s words, and then began to look around. He pretends to be calm, but he was rotting on the inside. But he accepted Asha¡¯s contract and trusted that she would make him flourish. Arriving at the altar, the High Priest gave the two a long candle. It was a rose-shaped candle. ¡°Please light the altar together to signify that you two have become one.¡± Asha held the candle with Karaf. The moment their hands overlapped, Karaf looked at Asha with a slightly tearful look. Just the look in his eyes seemed desperate to see how long he had been waiting for this moment. Asha gave him a vague look and nodded. The two of them slowly tipped the candle and lit the altar. As soon as the fire touched the altar, the fire grew in an instant, and several butterfly-shaped flames began to fly around the altar like firecrackers. Asha blankly stared at the exultant scene. The nobles and priests also watched the scene with wide eyes. This is said to happen only when real flowers and butterflies meet. This proves that Asha is the real Vanessa. The people gathered in the temple cheered enthusiastically and blessed them. It¡¯s been more than 20 years since the previous emperor held the flowering ceremony, so it was an enchanting sight to see for the first time in a long time. Karaf took a deep breath for a moment before taking something out of his pocket. He seemed a little uneasy, and Asha looked at him curiously, then her eyes went wide. Karaf dropped to one knee. His action left everyone present with their eyes wide open. It was the first time that the so-called tyrant had bowed the knee to someone in front of everyone. As Asha looked up in surprise she saw his red ears as he gently handed her the ornate ring case. ¡°My Vanessa is frugal, so you might not like this kind of fancy jewelry, but¡­ I still wanted to give it to you. I promised to give you the most beautiful ring in the Empire. I really didn¡¯t know that diamonds aren¡¯t the problem¡­..¡± He cleared his throat and looked at Asha. ¡°I have no other thoughts, so feel free to accept it as a commemoration of becoming empress.¡± It was a rose-shaped ring made of platinum and black diamonds, which were truly precious in the Empire. The contrast between black and white created extreme beauty, and a golden butterfly gently perched on the edge of the jewel. It was the most beautiful ring in all of the empire. Karaf felt a bit embarrassed because the ring seemed to contain his obsession that the butterfly should see only him. If his memories of the past had come earlier, he would have made her a ring not in the shape of a rose, but in the shape of a camellia that resembled her. However, it was already too late to regret it. Asha stared at the ring with wide eyes. Karaf waited for Asha to accept it, holding the ring case up, silent, as if he were going to propose. Everyone¡¯s eyes were focused on the two of them, and silence fell as if they had forgotten to even breathe. Asha felt that the priceless ring was a great burden, but she was sure that if she refused, Karaf would lose face. His imperial authority, as well as his image, which had already fallen, would decline. Karaf was waiting in an unyielding position, but anyone could see that he was feeling nervous and restless. Asha smiled and answered. ¡°What a beautiful ring¡­¡­. Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Only then did Karaf place the ring directly on Asha¡¯s ring finger with a relieved expression. Asha caught her breath and saw that Karaf¡¯s hand was trembling slightly. He smiled slightly as he saw that the ring fit perfectly on her ring finger. ¡°Luckily, it fits perfectly.¡± His smile was so dazzling that Asha looked at him with a slightly clouded expression. She knew how long he had been waiting for the day he would give her this ring. He had always liked to take from others, and this must have been the first time he was so eager to give something to others. However, Karaf, who averted his gaze, noticed that some nobles were still looking at them in fear. He was also well aware that bad rumors had spread throughout the empire. If bad rumors spread early on, Asha would have a difficult life in the imperial palace, just like in her previous life. So for her sake, he had to take this opportunity to completely dispel the rumors. Karaf looked back at Asha and spoke quietly so only she could hear. ¡°¡­¡­ Follow my lead.¡± As he stood up and grabbed Asha around the waist and hugged her, Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly. But then she realized what he was talking about, and as she looked down, she touched him lightly on the shoulder. The nobles were truly surprised by the affectionate and romantic scene. CH 73 There were rumors that Vanessa had dumped him and run off with another man, but they seemed to get along like a pair of lovebirds. Before the second flowering ceremony, Karaf dispelled the rumors, that they weren¡¯t true, and seeing the nobles now, he noticed their opinions gradually changed. They expressed that they seemed to have misunderstood. Karaf patted Asha gently on the back and whispered to her. ¡°¡­¡­Everything will be fine now. No one will speak ill of you. I will get rid of curses from now on.¡± Asha felt a little hurt. Karaf was convinced that she didn¡¯t love him at all and asked her to act. Asha broke free of his embrace and gently took Karaf¡¯s face in her hands to look into his eyes. He was a bit taken aback by her bold touch, but soon his expression relaxed and he smiled slightly. Asha couldn¡¯t easily read if that smile was genuine or fake, aware of the people around him, or if it was just resignation or affection. But one thing was for sure, she no longer felt intimidated or scared, despite being so close. In the romantic setting, Karaf placed his hand on the back of her head and moved closer to her lips. He didn¡¯t kiss Asha but deftly turned his head to the side so the others could see they were kissing. Asha and Karaf looked into each other¡¯s eyes from very close, while the cheering began again. She could feel his breath right in front of her nose. Her posture was so embarrassing that she couldn¡¯t bear to look at him, so Asha squeezed her eyes shut. Karaf held his face close to hers one last time, then pulled away slightly. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to extinguish the fire with holy water.¡± At the order of the high priest, a young priest who was following him came forward carrying a silver gourd-shaped bottle. At that moment, the floral scent hit her, startling her. The young priest bowed his head respectfully and slowly raised his head and looked at Asha. Asha felt a chill from head to toe when her eyes met his. The man who appeared with the thick floral scent was wearing a white robe, with a hood on his head, but he had silver hair and silver eyes as if all the pigment had been removed from his body. If her intuition is correct, this man is¡­ He is the second flower of the empire. Asha was so frightened that she froze, but Karaf, who received the bottle for her, did not notice it. ¡°Let¡¯s do this together.¡± As Karaf glanced back, Asha quickly came to her senses and nodded. If she had shown a strange reaction in front of him, she thought that Karaf could kill that man right here. When Karaf was looking for Asha, he also searched the temple like a rat. It was because he got the idea that Asha might have secretly sneaked off to the temple to find the other flower. There was little chance of fleeing to the temple, but he searched the entire temple with a feeling of finding it. And if she found another flower first without him knowing, he¡¯d try to get rid of it. The temple was also in trouble because Vanessa was kidnapped from the temple during the flowering ceremony. The priests were more serious than usual because they were paying attention to Karaf. Asha was breaking out in a cold sweat and her heart was racing, but she calmly completed the blooming ritual. At the same time as the holy water poured out of the gourd-shaped bottle, the flaming butterflies that were flying around vanished and turned into drops of cold water. After the ceremony, Asha and Karaf stood next to each other and clasped their hands on the altar, and prayed to God. Asha prayed to God to help him blossom from a tyrant to a sage. Having finished her prayer, Asha pretended not to care and looked toward the place where the second flower was. But before she knew it, he disappeared. She was a bit disappointed but decided to be content with just confirming that there was a second flower in the temple. She was so confused and distracted that she didn¡¯t have time to get a good look at him. Golden dust and flower petals flew around the temple, blessing the two. Asha and Karaf were recently named in the empire¡¯s history books as an imperial couple, a butterfly, and a flower. * * * * * After the ceremony, the two went to the empress¡¯s palace. The room where she will live as the Lady of the Imperial Palace. Asha walked in with a determined face but was surprised when the door opened and her room looked completely different from before. Had he been preparing all this before returning to the palace? The newly renovated empress¡¯s palace looked truly dazzlingly luxurious. Standing in a daze in the doorway of the dazzling bedroom, Karaf spoke from behind. ¡°I changed everything in case you remember bad memories. But I wasn¡¯t sure how to decorate it to your liking¡­..how funny¡­. Even though we were already married once, I don¡¯t know anything about what you like¡­..¡± He sneered at himself. In preparation for Asha¡¯s return, he ordered the servants to redecorate the empress¡¯s palace, but when asked how to decorate it, he could not answer anything. He always gave Asha everything he wanted, without asking if she liked it. He didn¡¯t know if she really needed anything else¡­ Not knowing if it was what she needed or what she would be delighted to receive, he sent her gifts as if to show off. Asha stared back at him, her eyes widening slightly when she saw the vase in his hand. Karaf walks past her and into her room, carefully placing the vase in a sunny spot by her bed. The mysterious purple flowers were violets. Asha realized why he brought that flower and her eyes turned red inadvertently. Karaf couldn¡¯t bear to look at her and said, just looking at the ground. ¡°I know you were delighted when you received this flower from Baron Violet¡­¡­. I was so pathetic that I only knew how to give a garden to the woman I loved, but I didn¡¯t know how to pluck a single flower with my own hands.¡± Karaf raised his head and was distraught to find Asha, who seemed to be about to cry again. Somehow, from time to time, he seemed to just make her cry. Karaf couldn¡¯t bear to put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her and looked away as if embarrassed. ¡°If you don¡¯t like this room, feel free to tell me, Empress.¡± Asha suddenly went blank as she heard him speak formally. Karaf¡¯s gaze sank further. She was the only woman for him, the only butterfly in this empire, who did not treat her properly as an empress just because she was from an ethnic minority. He only realized it after his memories returned. Foolishly, he only realized now that there was no way for others to treat her properly, even when the emperor did not treat her properly. ¡®A man¡¯s worth depends on his position.¡¯ Even though he had said that with his own mouth before, he was unable to follow through. He made himself feel like an idiot. Karaf said, clenching his fists as if his chest were tight. ¡°I¡­¡­strangely, once I get angry, my body shakes unbearably and I can¡¯t control it. But I¡¯ll fix it for you. So would you give me one more chance? This time I will definitely, definitely make you happy. I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty.¡± Karaf raised his head when she called out to him and looked at her with some concern. But Asha, whose expression had softened, spoke quietly. ¡°I¡¯m fine, so please treat me like you used to. Your sudden respect makes me feel distant from you.¡± ¡°But¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really fine. I didn¡¯t understand Your Majesty¡¯s feelings until now. But I do¡­ now. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. When people try to change everything at once, they quickly get tired. Let¡¯s walk slowly. I¡¯ll walk next to Your Majesty.¡± Asha walked softly beside her, sniffed at the flowers, and smiled. ¡°It smells really good. Thank you for the flowers.¡± Karaf looked at her with trembling eyes. And soon, his earlobes turned red and the corners of his mouth twitched as if he was about to smile. It looked like he was about to die of joy. Asha pretended not to notice but held back a laugh because he seemed like a child happy to be praised. Karaf spoke with a flushed face. ¡°You may get tired of seeing the same flower, so I will come with different flowers every day. I want to show you only fresh flowers that never wither. And if you want¡­ I¡¯ll take you to the rose garden.¡± He gave Asha an entire rose garden as a gift, but he hated the garden himself, so he left it unattended and did not visit. So he hadn¡¯t even thought about taking a walk in the rose garden with her. He became depressed again and reflected on his actions. ¡°Your Majesty, I actually liked the black rose as well.¡± At her words, Karaf raised his head with his eyes slightly wide. Asha said with a smile on her lips. ¡°I know that Your Majesty ordered the servants to change the black rose every day.¡± Karaf was embarrassed and looked away. In his past life, Karaf was extremely obsessive, he wanted her to look only at him, and he didn¡¯t want to show her any withered roses, so he made the servants change the roses for new ones every day. He was embarrassed and muttered to himself as if he was talking to himself. ¡°What¡¯s so beautiful about a dull black rose¡­¡­¡± ¡°Each flower has its own beauty and scent. I pressed some of Your Majesty¡¯s black roses with books. I wish I could show you. It¡¯s a bit disappointing¡­..¡± Asha said so and awkwardly smiled. Karaf is surprised that she kept the roses he gave her. His desire to see the pressed flowers was like a chimney, but unfortunately, that too was a thing of the past. But even without seeing the roses, Karaf¡¯s heart warmed. It was a short conversation about flowers, but this conversation also eased their deep emotions. After a long rainy season, they all felt more mature. But at that time, the chieftain reported from outside. ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s time for lunch.¡± CH 74 ¡°Ah.¡± Karaf frowned slightly as he remembered that he had decided to have lunch with the nobles. He wanted to enjoy the time alone with Asha and have a cordial conversation, but he felt that a distraction had appeared again. The chamberlain looked at Asha and bowed politely. ¡°Lady Vanessa will have to come to lunch as well. Everyone is waiting.¡± Asha suddenly recalled old memories thanks to those words, and she felt sick to her stomach. Not long after the blossoming ceremony ended like now, she had lunch with nobles for the first time. However, at that time, she was no different from a commoner who had just entered the palace, so she could not master table manners or court etiquette, and for that reason, she attracted the secret ridicule of many aristocrats. Karaf watched Asha¡¯s pale expression. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m going to get sick, so let¡¯s just pretend there was no lunch today.¡± ¡°What? But¡­ but Your Majesty. The five nobles are already gathered in the dining room¡­¡± The chamberlain was perplexed and sweating profusely, not knowing what to do. No matter how rebellious an emperor he was, he would get a bad reputation if he didn¡¯t go out on his whim after inviting the five families that contributed to the foundation. Karaf sighed with an expressionless face and said. ¡°Even if you become emperor, you always have to do things you don¡¯t want to do¡­¡­¡± He added, looking at Asha. ¡°But my empress doesn¡¯t have to. I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t have to do what you don¡¯t want to do in the future.¡± At those words, both Asha and the chamberlain¡¯s eyes widened. Karaf said calmly. ¡°This lunch is sure to be uncomfortable, so the empress should not attend. I tell the nobles that you are resting because you are not feeling well. Rest assured, I will protect you in case of any inconvenience in the future.¡± After he finished speaking, he quickly added, afraid that his words would sound like she was being held back in a different way. ¡°¡­¡­If it¡¯s unnecessary protection, tell me right away. I don¡¯t want my arbitrariness to become more uncomfortable for the empress.¡± Asha was taken aback for a moment by Karaf¡¯s surprising change. If he had been like this in the past, she would have tried to dress up and take her place where she would be formally introduced as Vanessa. In fact, he has been like that in the past as well. Karaf remembered the nobles¡¯ taunts leveled at her in the past and promised himself that from now on he would not expose Asha to them as little as possible. He didn¡¯t know that he forced Asha to attend the last tribute ceremony, but when he remembered her pale face, he was able to strengthen his mind. ¡°I¡¯ll be back then.¡± He left the room with a heroic face as if he were heading to a battlefield. * * * * * As soon as Jackal recovered from his injuries, he immediately prepared to leave the hideout. It was to keep his promise to Asha. Sosa, who was ready to go out together, knocked on the door. ¡°Captain, the preparations are complete.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be out soon.¡± Jackal tied up his shoulder-length hair and wrapped a waist support around his waist, hiding a silver dagger inside. Likewise, fine metal fittings that can cut ropes are hidden in the soles of the shoes. It was because if they were caught alive, they had to escape. His expression as he tied the laces on his leather shoes was very serious. The two planned to visit the ethnic minority village. He left the village before becoming an adult. And it¡¯s been a long time since that time. However, Jackal and Sosa did not go to their long-awaited hometown, instead, they felt as if they were entering the middle of the enemy lines. The sunny sky was cloudy and windy as if something was about to happen. As they were about to leave, Gabe came out from behind just as they were ready. Jackal and Sosa looked at each other curiously, and he said with a determined face. ¡°I¡¯m going too.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I think that my heart will only ease when I get rid of that traitor. Don¡¯t stop me¡± Gabe carried a bag full of dangerous weapons on his back like he was going to a battlefield. The Lycaons who were seeing them off shook their heads at the sight. While Gabe was imprisoned in the imperial palace, he constantly spat curses at two people, one was Karaf and the other was the traitorous Nasson Clan. Cursing the emperor was one of the great insults, so Sosa made an effort to keep his mouth shut so as not to create a bigger problem. Karaf¡¯s direct order of knights stood guard in front of the prison, and it was really dangerous to curse the emperor in front of them. Gabe then got even angrier at the Nasson Clan and cussed at them, saying he¡¯d kill half of them if he got out of prison. Sosa couldn¡¯t even stop him. Various kinds of swear words came out of his mouth colorfully, but if this was a hideout instead of a prison, he would have done it again like a drunk, which he thought was lucky among misfortunes. Jackal stared at him and blocked his way. ¡°You stay here.¡± ¡°Captain!¡± Gabe looked at him with his big, heavy backpack on his shoulder, his eyes wide as if that was unfair. He had already packed everything, but now he doesn¡¯t know how to stop him. Jackal said, putting his thick hand on his shoulder as if he knew his heart. ¡°Protect Lycaon here instead of me and Sosa. I¡¯m trusting you.¡± Gabe¡¯s eyes trembled. Jackal didn¡¯t say anything else, he just looked seriously into his eyes. He knew very well how to deal with Gabe, the epitome of simple ignorance. However, he was really touched by Gabe¡¯s behavior the other day, and he was determined to entrust Lycaon completely to him. Gabe looked puzzled when suddenly the load on his shoulders was barely a backpack full of weapons. Jackal drove a wedge. ¡°You¡¯ll do well. If we both get into trouble, you¡¯ll have to lead Lycaon. So put your revenge aside for a while. We¡¯ll even get your share of revenge.¡± Gabe lowered his head as well, giving up. ¡°¡­¡­ Alright. But you must come back. As the captain already knows, I have a dirty temper, so I can¡¯t be a leader. If you don¡¯t want to see Lycaon ruined, you¡¯ll have to come back soon..¡± Jackal smiled slightly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be back.¡± It was a precious second life given by Asha. He never intended to die easily. He could never die at will until he made her happy. Jackal and Sosa¡¯s faces when leaving were quite serious. * * * * * ¡°Long time no see, Marquis de Iris. My God, you don¡¯t look good.¡± Someone said, arriving at the dining room in anticipation and looking at the Marquis de Iris sitting helplessly. When he turned his head and looked towards the door, a pink-haired man was entering the restaurant with a smile as bright as a cherry blossom. It was Duke Sihan Blossom. ¡°I heard that you brought the Lycaon leader directly to the palace. From your appearance, I see that you just got out of prison.¡± The Marquis de Iris shuddered but turned his head away because he had nothing to say. Just as he said, Karaf, crazed, threw him in jail. It was because he was the decisive reason that Jackal was able to infiltrate the Imperial Palace. Duke Sihan spoke at ease. ¡°Don¡¯t be too heartbroken. Well, things happen. You just came from the border, and of course, you didn¡¯t know the situation of the capital and the palace.¡± ¡°Are you making fun of me¡­¡­ Duke?¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­ I¡¯m just watching an interesting incident take place. Didn¡¯t the marquis have an eye for excellent horses? I don¡¯t know if you have a good eye for people.¡± Sihan grinned back. The sarcastic comment made the Marquis of Iris lower his head. The other nobles snickered as well. The Duke of Lilac did not join the two in their conversation, but he let out a silent grin as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. They knew very well that the Marquis de Iris had an inferiority complex and was jealous of the two dukes. When he won His Majesty¡¯s favor with just one excellent horse, he was in high spirits, but his appearance looked very ridiculous. But it was then. ¡°Your Majesty is entering.¡± At the chamberlain¡¯s report, the dining room door was flung open. Karaf walked with dignity making his uniform flutter. The representatives of the 5 flower families stood up from their seats at the same time and bowed their heads. ¡°Sit down.¡± Duke Sihan Blossom asked with a slightly curious face. ¡°Your Majesty, Lady Vanessa did not come?¡± Other nobles stared at him with curious expressions. They all seemed determined to find out more about Vanessa at this lunch. Everyone in the empire already knew that Vanessa was not in an ordinary relationship with the Lycaon leader. Furthermore, all the nobles knew that when she returned to the imperial palace, she was indeed captured along with the Lycaons. Although she may not have left voluntarily, everyone assumed that Vanessa had at least the slightest thought of leaving the Emperor¡¯s side. No one was unaware of Karaf¡¯s tyrannical nature and his nervous and impulsive nature. They all secretly expected and laughed at the fact that it would not be easy to handle and love such a man. Sihan said as if he was very sorry. ¡°There are no butterflies in the flower garden, so the flowers seem to have lost their vitality.¡± The other nobles were stunned by the remark. They wanted to know how much the Butterfly knew about politics, if she was from the imperial faction, or if she was just playing nice with him for imperial power. Karaf said flatly. ¡°The empress is not feeling well right now. She is a weak person, but her health seems to have deteriorated a lot while she was away. Of course, she was with those wild dogs, so she couldn¡¯t be in good shape. She must have gotten more tired of holding the Flowering Ceremony twice, so please understand.¡± Karaf spoke lightly as if everything that had happened so far was nothing. But then, again, someone opened their mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ I believe that Your Majesty must have been deeply saddened by this incident.¡± The nobles looked in the direction of the sound. Karaf also glanced in that direction. A blue-haired man was sitting where everyone could see him. It was Count Kiam Delphinium. Karaf¡¯s expression hardened as he glanced at him. CH 75 Count Delphinium was one of the main contributors in the past to the raid on the ethnic minority village and brought back a butterfly. The scene of the massacre, which he had never seen before, seemed to unfold like a panorama. Karaf didn¡¯t dare imagine how scared Asha must have been at that moment, how desperate and guilty she must have felt before the villagers. No wonder, in the last tribute ceremony, she was turning white looking at someone, and she seemed to be looking at Count Delphinium. Karaf laughed bitterly at himself. At that moment, he only cared about winning her heart, but he couldn¡¯t see what kind of person she was uncomfortable with. Karaf looked at him blankly and said. ¡°I am very grateful that the count thought of me a lot.¡± Karaf didn¡¯t appreciate it at all, but Kiam cheekily responded. ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure, Your Majesty. I was really worried that Lady Vanessa might have gone looking for another flower.¡± Some nobles hid their expressions by pretending to wipe their mouths with napkins at that daring remark, which was tantamount to saying that they were worried that the butterfly might have tricked him. Karaf said, suppressing his rage inwardly, grabbing a knife and gracefully slicing the steak. ¡°I heard that social gatherings have increased significantly these days, but it seems that some aristocrats with nothing to do have been roaming the salons spreading such rumors.¡± When he also answered directly, the mood at the table gradually subsided. Everyone was looking at the tension rope that was taut between the two of them. Count Kiam replied leisurely. ¡°I¡¯m glad it¡¯s just a rumor, but as one of those who are eagerly awaiting the news of Your Majesty¡¯s blossoming, I would like to make a proposal to Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Proposal?¡± Karaf looked at him with the look of asking him to try it. ¡°Yes. How about having another woman who can soothe Your Majesty¡¯s heart? I remember that there were many decent women among the butterfly candidates during the Flower Banquet.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Are you saying that Vanessa can¡¯t soothe me?¡± Karaf¡¯s face darkened. He then responded eloquently. ¡°Ah, I never meant to say that, Your Majesty. It just occurred to me that it wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing if Your Majesty had one or two more women. There have been many cases in the history of emperors having concubines, so it¡¯s not strange, right? The former emperor had many women by his side throughout his life¡­¡­.¡± Before he could finish speaking, Karaf suddenly hit the table with his fist. The deafening noise caused everyone to open their eyes wide. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± There was a terrifying silence in the dining room. Karaf said, calmly shaking his fist and wiping it on his handkerchief. ¡°Oh, sorry, you were talking. A fly flew around my plate.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karaf held the edge of the table with both hands and looked up through the black hair that fell to his forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, let¡¯s keep eating.¡± As his eyes lit up like crazy, they all looked at the bowls in front of them and gulped. The servants by the door were pale and kneeling when they heard the word fly. It was a metaphor for Kiam, but if there really was a fly, it would be big trouble in its own way. Karaf chewed the meat and spoke calmly. ¡°The meat is overcooked.¡± The chefs rushed to take the plate and brought another steak with a bit of blood. Even then, the silence continued in the dining room, as if they were sitting on cushions of thorns. When the steak came out, Karaf settled back in his chair and calmly began to cut into the steak. However, it made a squeak every time he moved the knife, and the blood from the meat pooled on the plate. No one moved a spoon, which made the sound particularly horrible. Karaf spoke calmly, concentrating only on the meat. ¡°Ah. Count Delphinium. I think you were talking, I¡¯m sorry I interrupted you. So what were you talking about?¡± Kiam couldn¡¯t answer, just wiped the cold sweat from his face with a handkerchief. Karaf immediately recognized his dirty intentions as soon as Kiam spoke. His one and only daughter also participated in this flower banquet. Of course, he couldn¡¯t even remember what color dress his daughter was wearing or what she looked like because he didn¡¯t even look at her, but Kiam Delphinium was an ambitious and power-hungry man. It seems that he firmly believed that his daughter would be the butterfly of this generation, and he couldn¡¯t help but know that there were strange rumors that his daughter had a secret upbringing in the count¡¯s residence. He must have raised his daughter in a stricter and harsher environment. The more hardships and adversities she goes through, the more likely she is to turn into a butterfly. Only to turn her into a butterfly and fly her to his side. He had more hope in the fact that no woman with a butterfly pattern had yet appeared, and he believed that his daughter would turn into a butterfly on the day of the Flowering Ceremony. However, on the day of the long-awaited flower banquet, it must have been very disturbing for him to hear that the butterfly had suddenly appeared and that she was an insignificant minority person. In the past, when his daughter was not chosen as a butterfly, he immediately went out to subdue the minority village to make another contribution, but luckily he found a butterfly and offered her to the emperor. When Karaf remembered his past self, who had promoted him from count to marquis and given him more power after he had made great contributions to the empire, he suddenly felt disgusted with himself and felt sick to his stomach. What he hates the most are debauched people. Because his father was such a person, the memory of making his mother, miserable and neglecting her, left him with indelible scars. So he never intended to have multiple women around him like his father. Karaf took the blood-dripping steak into his mouth and munched on it. ¡°The steak is amazing. The sliced meat tastes great.¡± He took the last piece of meat to his mouth, rinsed his mouth roughly with wine, then put down his glass and said. ¡°Listen, everyone. I hate repeating things twice. I don¡¯t need fake butterflies. In the future, if some fake butterflies or flies crave my sweet nectar, I will cut everyone¡¯s throat like this steak. Do you get it?¡± When he finished speaking, he took a glance at the nobles with his glowing red eyes. His voice sounded like the growl of a beast. The nobles swallowed at the terrifying impression that the flower was unbelievably a nightmare. Even though it was a beautiful rose, it is really scary when it brings out its sharp thorns. They all knew that he would stab his opponent with enough thorns to see him bleed. Karaf looked at Kiam one last time. ¡°One more thing, Count Kiam. I have high standards, I¡¯m not satisfied with a butterfly with an average appearance¡­ Even if it¡¯s your daughter.¡± When Karaf raised the corners of his mouth and spoke in an openly dismissive tone, Kiam¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Then let¡¯s finish lunch. You all look hungry, eager to bite into your steaks.¡± The nobles began to eat without saying a word. No one said anything, and for a moment there was a heavy silence in the dining room except for the sound of cutlery hitting plates. * * * * * Jackal and Sosa ran for a long time until they reached the Minority Alliance Village. As soon as they entered the village entrance, some people who recognized their faces shouted with wide eyes. ¡°It¡¯s the kelpie clan¡­¡­!¡± The two of them were soon surrounded by villagers. They didn¡¯t look kindly on them, and anyone could overhear whispers here and there. ¡°¡­¡­Why did these traitors crawl all the way here?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re here to beg, get out of here!¡± The men with grim faces openly shouted at them. However, despite the unusual atmosphere, Jackal was calmly looking ahead. ¡°¡­¡­ What is this ruckus?¡± People moved to the sides upon hearing someone¡¯s voice. Chief Horak, who led the village officials, walked with authority. He was a leader who also served as a priest in the village, and the officials next to him were the tribal chiefs of the other four clans, excluding the Kelpie clan among the five minority tribes. Horak stopped some distance away and looked at Jackal. ¡°Look who we have here. Aren¡¯t you the heir to the Kelpie clan? Oh no, I can¡¯t call you heir anymore. You have abandoned your clan.¡± Chief Horak¡¯s eyes grew cold. Jackal spoke to him calmly, ignoring the whisperers. ¡°I wanted to greet you first since I haven¡¯t seen you in a while, but before that, please speak clearly, chief. I have only left the village, but I have never abandoned my clan.¡± Sosa looked at Jackal¡¯s profile with serious eyes. The chief¡¯s words saying that he abandoned his clan were wrong just because Jackal took Sosa with him when he left town. Both men¡¯s eyes were tense. ¡°What are you doing here then?¡± ¡°I came here because I have someone to hold accountable.¡± The village chief frowned slightly. ¡°Take responsibility?¡± ¡°Yes. This time, the Nasson clan betrayed us with a single request. Thanks to that, Lycaon was captured and taken to the imperial palace and we were almost killed by the emperor.¡± People began to murmur loudly. Jackal confidently said, without blinking. ¡°Even though the Nasson clan is a minority, they tried to overthrow Lycaon in cooperation with the imperial palace, which was no different from an enemy. Not only that, but they also put the butterfly in danger. As the leader of Lycaon, I must hold them accountable and receive compensation for the false request.¡± The village chief made a small groan as he was deeply troubled. He was also well aware of the fact that this time a butterfly came from an ethnic minority. Also, the day the Nasson clan betrayed Lycaon when the emperor released that person he confessed to him crying, so he knew exactly what had happened. ¡°If you came here to ask for an apology from us, we¡¯ll do as you wish.¡± ¡°No.¡± Jackal said, looking at him with a charismatic look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I didn¡¯t come back to this village just to get an apology or something.¡± His words caused the people around him to murmur even more. The village leader asked, wriggling slightly. ¡°Then, what did you come for?¡± CH 76 Jackal said confidently. ¡°Since Lycaon¡¯s safety has been threatened, I must also obtain confidential information that protects the safety of this village. The confidential information I want is information that is currently harming Lycaon as well. We are no longer ethnic minority villagers and as a leader, I cannot sit idly by and watch the damage done by you.¡± The village chief kept his mouth shut, but the surroundings were in an uproar. Some of them brazenly shouted asking what they wanted as they left the village, while others hurled stones or mud at them. When people¡¯s reactions were more intense than expected, Sosa¡¯s face turned white. However, in the past, the status of the Kelpie clan was not this bad. Suddenly, he found friends he had been close to within the circle of people standing, but their expressions when they looked at him were filled with awkwardness and embarrassment. They didn¡¯t swear or throw anything, but they avoided his gaze because the situation was uncomfortable. It made him wonder what the village chief was saying to the people while they were away. Jackal did not move from his place and waited in silence for the response of the village chief. The village chief raised his eyebrows and said. ¡°No matter how hard it is, I can¡¯t tell confidential information to anyone who isn¡¯t a member of the village. Even that high-class information is information only a few of us know about.¡± ¡°They almost massacred the same minorities. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s cheap for the lives of the remaining minorities?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll force you until I find out. As you know, there are many excellent hunters in Lycaon.¡± Jackal finished speaking and looked around the village. When they felt his sharp gaze, they started to breathe in and out. His words sounded like a warning that he would wipe out the village unless he cooperated. The village chief, Horak, spoke in fear. ¡°Are you threatening us?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a threat, it¡¯s about cooperation. Now that this great butterfly has emerged from a minority, our fate, whether we like it or not, is tied together. If someone does something bad, everyone will be exterminated. Shouldn¡¯t we work together at a bad time like this?¡± At that, the village chief kept his mouth shut and then asked seriously. ¡°Work together¡­¡­ Are you saying that now, seriously?¡± ¡°I¡¯m dead serious.¡± The village chief looked into his eyes and said. ¡°¡­¡­ Come with me.¡± ¡°Chief!¡± The surrounding officials stopped him, but the village chief turned around first and trudged somewhere. People stared at them, but Jackal and Sosa followed him regardless. Finally, they arrived at the luxurious house of the village chief. They thought he was going to the town hall, but he took them to his house. However, while looking at the double and triple locked doors, Jackal was tense in case something happened. Since he risked his life to come here, he had to win something. Eventually, the village chief pointed to the other side of the wooden table and said. ¡°Sit there.¡± As Jackal and Sosa sat down, the boss sat across from him and asked, clasping his hands on the table. ¡°So, what are you curious about that you came all the way here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you know it well. It is about a man named Cylon who betrayed the Emperor in the Imperial Palace a few years ago and cursed him.¡± The village chief was expressionless, but there was a light of caution in his eyes. Jackal looked him straight in the eye and said. ¡°Until now, I thought that his actions were only personal. I thought that he had a close relationship with the emperor, but he might have betrayed him because he didn¡¯t like something. But why? I feel like you¡¯re kind of involved in that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The village chief didn¡¯t reply, but it sounded like a safe answer. Jackal said with a stiff face. ¡°I need to know about the curse Cylon placed on him.¡± * * * * * While Karaf was going to have lunch, Asha cautiously asked the chamberlain. ¡°Where can I see the former emperor and Vanessa¡¯s records?¡± Asha wanted to know more about Karaf¡¯s parents. She thought that if she knew Karaf¡¯s background, she might get some clues on how to break the curse. ¡°Ah, that¡­¡­.¡± The chamberlain said with a slightly puzzled look on his face. ¡°His Majesty locked it in the basement of the imperial palace.¡± ¡°Is it an underground warehouse?¡± When Asha asked in surprise, he said, averting his gaze. ¡°Yes. In fact, His Majesty told me to throw it away because he didn¡¯t want to look at it, but he agreed to keep it in an underground warehouse so that the nobles and the people¡­¡­.¡± Asha kept her mouth shut. She thought that it was really like him. ¡°So no one can enter?¡± ¡°Yes. But His Majesty¡¯s permission is required. In reality, no one wants to see it, so this question itself is very strange¡­..¡± The chamberlain smiled awkwardly and blurted out the end of the sentence. ¡°Who¡¯s managing it now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, but¡­¡­.¡± Asha said with a twinkle in her eyes. ¡°Then you can lead me!¡± ¡°That¡­. that¡­¡­¡± The chamberlain became even more nervous and broke out in a cold sweat. Asha said with a very confident expression. ¡°If His Majesty says something, just say that I grabbed you by the neck and forcefully dragged you away.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The chamberlain¡¯s eyes and mouth opened wide at the same time. He was one of the few people who saw the entire series of events that had taken place at Karaf¡¯s side. So now, he also knew better than anyone that Karaf would be killed by Vanessa. If Vanessa wants to see it, he¡¯s bound to have a hard time, but eventually, he¡¯ll open the warehouse. Fortunately, Karaf did not restrict her access to any part of the imperial palace in the slightest. Now, as the true lady of the palace, she was free to roam the palace whenever she wanted. The chamberlain sighed and said as if he had aged ten years. ¡°¡­¡­Please take a look at it as soon as possible. This old man¡¯s heart is too weak to face His Majesty and make excuses right in front of him¡­.¡± Asha responded with a laugh. ¡°I will.¡± The chamberlain took her down to the basement. Going down the spiral staircase, as the chamberlain said, a large warehouse appeared, padlocked. The chamberlain opened the heavy door and said. ¡°I come from time to time to clean, but the air in the warehouse will still be a bit stuffy.¡± Asha nodded and went inside. There, from the portraits of the previous emperor and Vanessa, the items they cherished and used, the relics given to Karaf, and the historical materials of their reign were neatly arranged like a library. Asha noticed the portrait of Karaf¡¯s father hanging on the wall and stopped in place, her eyes slightly wide. In the painting, a man with a face very similar to Karaf¡¯s smiled arrogantly. His red hair and red eyes were very intense as if to prove that he was the legitimate blood of the imperial family. His father was as handsome as Karaf¡­¡­. It is said that he flirted with many women throughout his life, and it seemed that his appearance, which seemed to attract people just by looking at him, was transmitted through the portrait. Contrary to Karaf¡¯s dark and decadent expression, he was a man of a cheerful character, and there was not the slightest darkness in his face. So he felt like a ¡®free libertine¡¯ instead of an emperor. Ricardo Rode Etzheim. He was an emperor famous for being promiscuous, but he was also the one who greatly developed the culture and art of the empire. He loved beautiful things and had a hobby of collecting them, he was not prejudiced against bringing artifacts from other empires. The chamberlain spoke politely from behind. ¡°I remember when this portrait was painted. Painting portraits for the imperial family is one of the great ceremonies. To capture the emperor¡¯s beauty in a painting, we invite the best painters of the empire to test their skills and instruct them to draw the portrait only after training for a month. This painting was completed in six months.¡± Asha asked with great surprise. ¡°In six months?¡± ¡°Yes. The previous emperor was especially obsessed with his own portraits, and when he looked at them very carefully, he would destroy them, so several portraits were destroyed in the middle of the painting process. And at the same time, the artists¡¯ writs almost get crushed.¡± He seemed to be very proud of his appearance. Asha now looked at the portrait of the former empress hanging on the opposite wall. It was customary for the empress¡¯s portrait to hang next to the emperor¡¯s, but the two portraits were not together, facing each other on opposite walls. It felt as if the empress wanted him to look directly at her as if she was asking him to look only at her. She didn¡¯t get his attention when she was alive, so she might have wanted his attention after death. Karaf¡¯s mother was not so fatally beautiful compared to the beautiful women the previous emperor had. But she still had a modest and delicate appearance. Like Asha, she had blond hair and her eyes were green, reminiscent of a green meadow, but they were filled with jealousy and cruelty. She was smiling gently in her portrait, but that smile seemed a bit restless and nervous. She had the expression of someone whose position could be threatened at any moment rather than the dignity of an empress. Deneb Calendula. ¡®Marigold¡¯ is a flower that blooms and sets with the sun, and it really made a good match with the previous emperor. Like the flowery language of a marigold, in the portrait, she had a face full of pain, disappointment, and sadness. It was rumored that she hated women more beautiful than her. Later, she even fell into delirium and saw all the beautiful women as demons coming to take her husband away. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh. She felt sorry for Karaf again, who had grown up on a thorny path alone. Because none of them had any interest in their son¡­¡­ Karaf was not a child born of love. He was a child born by force for imperial power. It was like a child born on the highest cliff in the wasteland, without the nutrients really necessary for a child. That¡¯s why maybe he didn¡¯t have deep roots in the ground. Asha asked with a slightly disturbed expression on her face. ¡°Is there a childhood portrait of His Majesty?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­ That..¡­.¡± The chamberlain hesitated with a puzzled look before saying. ¡°The former empress objected to painting a portrait of His Majesty¡­¡­.¡± When Asha realized what she meant, her face hardened. CH 77 Karaf¡¯s appearance was very similar to the previous emperor, but there was a difference. It was the hair. Black hair was never a symbol of honor in the imperial family, so his mother forbade even a portrait of her only son to be painted. Seeing Asha¡¯s expression darken, the chamberlain said as if remembering something. ¡°Oh, there is probably still a painting of the crown prince ceremony and victory commemoration. It was a glorious day when His Majesty returned from the war for the first time.¡± The chamberlain searched the room and soon came out with a portrait. There was an armored Karaf. Although he looks younger than he is now, she could clearly sense the qualities of an emperor from his armor and standing bravely with a cold face. Learning about what happened at that time from the chamberlain, he said that Karaf went to the battlefield from a young age in order to look good before the empress. It was because that was the only way he, a black rose, could honor her. No, maybe it wasn¡¯t for such a great reason, but he just wanted to hear a compliment from his mother. A deep loneliness seemed to be seen behind his cold and arrogant face. Asha reached up a hand and carefully stroked the portrait. It was as if she was comforting him. The chamberlain silently watched the scene from behind. After a while, Asha asked him quietly. ¡°¡­¡­Can I keep this painting? I like it.¡± ¡°What?¡± The chamberlain was taken aback, but after thinking for a while, he said. ¡°Then please keep it a secret from His Majesty. His Majesty hates those days when he was young. And His Majesty probably doesn¡¯t even know that this portrait exists¡­.¡± Since this room was so neglected and ignored by Karaf, there was a high chance that he would not notice even if a painting disappeared. Asha smiled and said. ¡°Thank you.¡± With this painting, Asha¡¯s desire to erase the stigma attached to the black rose, and to help Karaf stand tall as a great emperor, resurfaced. The chamberlain came out of the warehouse with the portrait and followed her. But Asha, who was walking deep in thought, collided with someone in the corridor. ¡°¡­¡­Oh, isn¡¯t this Lady Vanessa?¡± The man who spoke rudely with wide eyes was Count Fresia. It seemed that lunch with the nobles had already ended. Asha said gracefully. ¡°Count Fresia, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor that you recognize me!¡± He spoke with a look of genuine surprise, but Asha sensed that he was being sarcastic. Like a minority that hasn¡¯t even set foot in the capital, claiming to have studied as a noble. With her long experience, she could tell what he was thinking without having to ask. But Asha smiled slightly and answered. ¡°What¡¯s the use of a butterfly that doesn¡¯t even know the name of the flowers!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, haha. I heard that you couldn¡¯t make it to lunch because you weren¡¯t feeling well, but it seems like you feel better now¡­ Seeing you walk around the palace looking healthy.¡± The Count grinned and gave a bony comment. ¡°Yes. I was taking a walk because I wasn¡¯t feeling well, but now I feel better. Thank you for your concern.¡± Asha didn¡¯t want to have a very long conversation with him, so she just lightly bid farewell and tried to keep walking, but he stopped her by grabbing her wrist. Asha did not tolerate his rudeness when he dared to touch the Empress¡¯s body, but only raised her eyebrows, revealing her displeasure. ¡°What kind of disrespect is this?¡± Count Fresia quickly released her wrist and said. ¡°Oh. Excuse me. Actually, there was something I really wanted to ask you, Lady Vanessa, but I was in such a hurry that I committed a disrespect.¡± Asha stared at him intently and asked, in order to quickly get rid of the bothersome talk. ¡°What do you want to ask me?¡± ¡°Well, my family is going to start a perfume business soon, so is there any chance of success?¡± Asha looked slightly puzzled at the sudden question. ¡°Oh, I heard rumors that Lady Vanessa has the power to predict. It is said that you knew that an assassin would kill His Majesty in the banquet hall.¡± Asha felt tired for some reason, but she responded with restraint. ¡°Unfortunately, the perfumery business doesn¡¯t seem like a very good idea for the Fresia Family.¡± She had heard that the Fresia Family started a perfume business in the past, but it was never mentioned among the nobles if the business was successful. Asha didn¡¯t attend social events very often, so she didn¡¯t know the details, but if the matter was really well known, she would have heard about it. However, he appeared displeased by Asha¡¯s words, and his expression hardened. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see.¡± He didn¡¯t give up and took out a high-end perfume from his pocket, handing it to her. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve met, I¡¯ll gift it to you. I heard that at the tribute banquet, Lady Vanessa showed no interest in anything except that gray-blue horse. I hope this perfume captures Vanessa¡¯s heart more than the man who offered himself as a tribute.¡± He smiled mischievously when he finished speaking. The fact that the horse was Jackal had already spread throughout the entire empire. What he had just said meant nothing more than a rebuke, accusing her of having an extramarital affair with a man in front of noble people during the tribute banquet. Asha¡¯s face turned red with displeasure. Looking at her, he realized it had an effect on her, he gave her a smirk of satisfaction. ¡°I heard that you like the scent of flowers. This is a test perfume I did for Lady Vanessa. Would you like to smell it? Since you are the butterfly, I think you can distinguish the fragrance better than the dogs we raise in our house.¡± When he finished speaking, he laughed out loud, as if he found what he had just said amusingly. Here we go again.¡­. Asha sighed inwardly. She knew well that the nobles were trying to discredit her, as she had been through enough in her past life. Unable to degrade the emperor, they tried to degrade Vanessa instead. As if that was the only way to demean the Emperor. Vanessa was the only one who could make the emperor¡¯s flower bloom, and he thought that her existence could manipulate him. Karaf was not here, and the purpose was to openly ignore and denigrate the butterfly. She couldn¡¯t help but imagine what rude questions would have made her uncomfortable if she had attended the luncheon. Asha seemed to be getting tired quickly. The chamberlain next to her yelled fiercely, scowling in her place. ¡°Count Fresia, you¡¯re being rude right now in front of Vanessa!¡± It was the first time Asha had seen him so angry, so she looked at him slightly moved. He seemed angry, but in fact, his trust in her had increased after their recent visit to the underground warehouse. But it was then. ¡°¡­¡­I was wondering who the sly snake was that was chattering in front of my butterfly. it turned out to be Count Fresia.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened even more and she turned to look behind her. Before she knew it, Karaf was walking toward her like a ferocious beast, swaying from side to side, into the distance down the hall. The shadow under his eyes had sunk, and the flicker of his restless eyes made it clear that he had just overheard their conversation. This is a disaster¡­.. Asha inwardly sighed and looked at the Count with genuine pity. The Count turned pale and tried to excuse himself. ¡°Your¡­ Your Majesty¡­¡­ This¡­¡­.¡± However, before that, Karaf strode over and snatched the bottle of perfume from the count¡¯s hand. The three of them were surprised and looked at him. Karaf opened the cork as if to smell the fragrance, closed his eyes, and took an exaggerated breath. He then looked at the short man with a mocking expression and said. ¡°As expected, Vanessa¡¯s ability is extraordinary.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you feel the cheap fragrance that vibrates throughout the palace? It smells worse than when I don¡¯t take a bath for days. The perfume business is doomed if this is all they have. Don¡¯t you think so, Count?¡± Some of the nobles that followed Karaf suppressed their laughter. The Count¡¯s face turned red and he screamed. ¡°But Your Majesty! This is the best representation of our family, made with only the highest quality materials!¡± ¡°¡­¡­Are you saying that you made this trashy perfume and undervalued my sense of smell and Vanessa¡¯s as well?¡± He fell silent at Karaf¡¯s low question. Karaf smiled leisurely and asked. ¡°Do you have a paralyzed nose? Or is it because your sense of smell is worse than a dog¡¯s, so you can¡¯t distinguish smells¡­?¡± As Asha watched Karaf repeat exactly what the Count had told her, she felt a sense of satisfaction. The Count¡¯s face turned red, perhaps from wounded pride, but he couldn¡¯t predict what would happen next. And so was Asha. It was at that moment that the Count, trembling with humiliation, was about to retort, when Karaf suddenly raised the bottle of perfume and poured it over Count Fresia¡¯s head. The Count stood there in a daze as if he hadn¡¯t realized what had just happened to him, as the perfume dripped from his head. As she looked at him, Asha¡¯s mouth also dropped open in disbelief. After a while, the Count came to his senses and shouted with a red face. ¡°Your Majesty! This is an insult¡­!¡± Karaf cut him off and looked back and said. ¡°Oh¡­.. don¡¯t you hear a dog barking somewhere, gentlemen? Judging from the fact that it gnaws at non-prey ones, it seems that the meat I prepared was not enough.¡± Other nobles coughed uncomfortably at his words. Then, Sihan Blossom responded with a grin. ¡°The sound of a barking dog is one thing, but Your Majesty, but I think our noses will be paralyzed by the cheap smell. It is better to ventilate the room.¡± ¡°I also believe it. Vanessa is going to feel sick. I thought dogs could distinguish scents, but¡­¡± Karaf stroked his chin with a genuinely curious expression, then looked at the Count and said. ¡°Oh, you were still here?¡± Her expression as she looked at the Count had a madness beyond mischief. Asha had forgotten about it for a moment. That Karaf is a much crazier man than anyone can imagine¡­¡­ He said to the Count with an arrogant and relaxed expression. ¡°Crawl like a dog.¡± CH 78 The count¡¯s face turned ashen as if he had seen a ghost. Sihan Blossom shook his head helplessly and then noticed Asha standing beside him. He looked at her pale face and smiled softly as if she understood Karaf¡¯s tendencies all too well. Count Fresia was beet red and frozen in place, unable to move. However, Karaf remained unfazed, determined to make him crawl like a dog. He spoke casually, almost nonchalantly. ¡°Strange. The dogs I know with fluffy fur don¡¯t behave like that.¡± Count Fresia¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, and he spoke to Asha in a barely audible voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lady Vanessa. I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± But Karaf interrupted him sharply. ¡°That¡¯s not how you apologize. Maybe I should throw this perfume bottle in your face to help you understand?¡± The count knelt on the ground, pleading for forgiveness. Despite feeling ashamed, he could not raise his head as he spoke. ¡°I apologize for my rudeness, Lady Vanessa. I assure you that it will not happen again. Please forgive me this once.¡± Despite his apology, Karaf remained resolute in his order for Count Fresia to crawl like a dog, hoping to set an example. Asha quickly intervened before the situation escalated further. ¡°I accept your apology, Count Fresia. However, I hope that we never have to see each other again.¡± With a flicker in her eyes, Asha mimicked Karaf¡¯s usual arrogant expression before moving closer to him and gently taking hold of his sleeve. ¡°Your Majesty, since he has already apologized, please forgive Count Fresia.¡± ¡°My compassionate Vanessa, your heart is like the Pacific Ocean. How will you survive living among beasts in this imperial palace? Isn¡¯t she a saint sent by God, gentlemen?¡± As Karaf looked around calmly waiting for their answer, the nobles quickly began to voice their agreement. ¡°Indeed, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Nobody can match Lady Vanessa¡¯s compassion.¡± Feeling the need to escape this absurd situation, Asha tugged at Karaf¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s leave now.¡± ¡°Very well. It¡¯s better for your health and well-being if Vanessa only smells the pleasant scents emanating from my person, rather than those cheap ones.¡± Asha¡¯s face turned red at the words that sounded somehow ambiguous. However, sensing the attention of the nobles on her, she tried to hold back the words she wanted to say and walked nonchalantly with Karaf. As if he had lost interest in the perfume bottle, Karaf casually tossed the empty bottle on the floor and walked away. Accidentally walking arm in arm-with Asha, he looked very pleased. After the two had left, Count Fresia was visibly shaken with humiliation, while the other nobles tried to stifle their laughter with their fans and left. It was likely that his embarrassing ordeal would be the talk of the salon for some time. Upon returning to the room, Asha closed the door and looked straight into Karaf¡¯s face. She questioned herself how she got such courage to confront him about his actions. ¡°Your Majesty! Did you do that intentionally to embarrass me?¡± Karaf looked genuinely surprised, with his eyes wide open. ¡°What are you talking about? I did my best to honor you before the nobles today.¡± Asha was dumbfounded and couldn¡¯t help but shout out. ¡°How could you put me in such an uncomfortable situation in front of all these nobles¡­!¡± Karaf responded awkwardly with a surprised expression. ¡°Did you feel uncomfortable? You seemed troubled anyway, so I just warned him. Aristocrats are quite dense, so if I don¡¯t say it outright like that, they won¡¯t understand.¡± Feeling like communication was impossible, Asha sighed softly and pursed her lips. Karaf noticed the cookies that Sonya had brought and picked one up, chewing on it leisurely. ¡°As expected, meals taste better with good company.¡± ¡°Did you not enjoy the lunch?¡± ¡°Have I ever enjoyed it? Didn¡¯t I tell you last time that I usually prefer not to eat with anyone? Today was one of those days when I wished I could cut off a few fingers.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karaf picked up a cookie and offered it to the frozen Asha. He said with a smile as she took the cookie and ate it with a bitter smile on her face. ¡°It seems like everyone is overly interested in you. Anyone who sees them would think they¡¯re Vanessa¡¯s lovers.¡± Asha coughed and covered her mouth as she ate the cookie. Karaf¡¯s playful expression disappeared, and he spoke with a serious tone. ¡°From now on, anyone who disrespects you will face my wrath.¡± Asha asked in surprise. ¡°Are you¡­ being serious?¡± ¡°Very serious. The mere thought of it makes me itch.¡± His hands trembled as if he had epilepsy. Asha was truly frightened and cried out. ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. And you need to be a bit of a villainess.¡± ¡°A villainess?¡± Asha looked truly bewildered, but Karaf spoke very seriously. ¡°Living like a saint is a very tiresome thing to do. It¡¯s easier to live as a villainess next to a tyrant. I¡¯ll teach you how to become a villainess step by step from now on. It will definitely be helpful for you.¡± ¡°Could it be that the evil woman Your Majesty is talking about means pouring perfume on heads as you did before?¡± ¡°You are very well aware of that. You have to do that much to keep the maggots from crawling in.¡± ¡°Maggots¡­¡­.¡± As Asha muttered blankly, he spoke casually. ¡°Well then. Anyone who dares to disrespect the flower and butterfly of the Empire is nothing but a maggot.¡± Asha let out a bitter laugh once again. It seemed impossible to win against his logic. Karaf¡¯s expression finally relaxed and he chuckled as he spoke. ¡°When I look at you, you remind me of my mother who always scolded me. I thought I was good enough, but my mother always punished me for doing wrong.¡± For some reason, Asha kept her mouth shut. The reason was that the portrait of his mother that she saw in the basement warehouse earlier came to mind. Oddly enough, whenever he talked about his childhood, her heart ached and she seemed to be at a loss for words. In contrast, Karaf looked completely unfazed and gave Asha a faint smile. ¡°But that¡¯s not bad either. I am an attention seeker who is very hungry for the butterfly¡¯s attention.¡± Asha couldn¡¯t help but laugh along with him now. After a while, Asha stopped laughing and said. ¡°Your Majesty, actually there is something I want to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I would like to seek your permission beforehand because I am afraid that if I disappear without a word like last time, it might anger you. I want to investigate another flower that is rumored to be in the temple.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened, and the relaxed atmosphere changed abruptly. To prevent him from being shocked, Asha quickly added. ¡°I suspect he may be related to the curse on Your Majesty¡¯s body. If you kill him, we won¡¯t obtain any information, so I will investigate first.¡± Despite pretending to be calm, Asha remembered the time when he killed a spy from a minority group, and her heart raced. This time Karaf remained silent for quite some time, and the longer the silence in the room, the more anxious Asha became. Finally, he spoke a word. ¡°¡­¡­ You¡¯re going alone?¡± ¡°Yes. I would appreciate it if Your Majesty would accompany me, but if you do, the man may feel uneasy and not tell us the whole truth. Perhaps he may not even know that he¡¯s a flower.¡± Karaf nodded slightly, acknowledging the reasoning. In the presence of the emperor, most people could not be honest. But as Asha saw his expression become crestfallen, her heart also became a little heavier. The man she was about to meet could have been someone who could have taken the emperor¡¯s place. That fact only intensified her anxiety and pain. ¡°I trust the empress, but¡­¡­ If that man approaches you with evil intentions..¡­If he forces you to make his flower bloom, then¡­¡­.¡± He couldn¡¯t speak anymore, but Asha could easily guess what he was going to say. His demeanor of avoiding eye contact and being unable to speak made him look like a young boy intimidated by his angry mother who was scolding him. He was taller and more robust than her, yet for some reason, he looked pitiful and fragile, like a delicate flower. Asha lightly placed her hand on the area of his chest where the crescent moon was engraved. Karaf looked at her in surprise, and Asha met his gaze with seriousness in her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will only conduct the flowering experiment on Your Majesty¡¯s body.¡± Upon hearing those words, Karaf finally reacted and pushed his head back with a grin, then asked. ¡°You¡¯ll experiment with my body? Just hearing it makes my heart race.¡± Asha¡¯s face turned red and she spoke hesitantly. ¡°You¡­ you already know, but it¡¯s not what you think.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯ve failed many times before.¡± Suddenly, he looked disheartened like a withered flower. But Asha, feeling embarrassed, turned away from him and spoke sternly. ¡°And the scent of roses from Your Majesty¡¯s body is quite strong, so I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s good for my mental and physical health.¡± Karaf¡¯s face became even more shocked upon hearing those words. Asha spoke firmly, closing her eyes. ¡°So please wait. Until I find a way to make your flower bloom.¡± ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t get in the way.¡± Karaf stormed out of the room, looking thoroughly dejected. As Asha watched him go, she let out a quiet sigh and brushed her chest. At least he didn¡¯t seem like he would harbor any ill intentions toward her or attempt to force any physical contact in the future. * * * * * At that time, Jackal sat across from the village chief at the table, prepared to engage in a fierce argument. The chief sighed deeply and looked at him with his fingers clasped together. His black eyes shone ominously against his white-gray hair. ¡°First, tell me your purpose. Why do you demand this information from me? It seems like an excessive request for the safety of Lycaon. And I still can¡¯t fully trust you. How can I be sure you won¡¯t betray us after obtaining this information?¡± Jackal was struck by his words and paused for a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. However, the village chief did not give him time to think and asked directly. ¡°Is it to take revenge on the emperor?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s to bring back the butterfly.¡± One of the chief¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly. ¡°Bring back?¡± CH 79 Jackal said to him seriously. ¡°As you may know, the Kelpie clan has a story of serving only one master. I have chosen her as my king, and I will become her companion.¡± He clarified that he would become her companion, not take her as his own. The village chief, Horak, narrowed his eyes but soon burst into a hearty laugh. Sosa watched him with a guarded expression, wondering why he was acting that way. Although the chief stopped laughing, he still had a smile on his lips as he spoke. ¡°So, you¡¯ve also fallen in love. Well, it¡¯s about time for you to get married. Time really flies, doesn¡¯t it¡­..¡± Jackal blushed with shame. Horak, the village chief, had been the oldest adult in the village and had watched Jackal grow from a newborn. When Jackal blushed without denying it, the village chief looked at him with mischievous eyes. ¡°If you had given any other reason, I would have been suspicious. But saying it¡¯s because of love makes you look honest and trustworthy.¡± The Kelpie clan was known for being cautious when choosing companions. Once someone became their companion, they would do their best for them for a lifetime. Jackal deliberately spoke in a cold tone to hide his embarrassment. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°We have different ultimate goals, but we¡¯re walking the same path. My goal is the survival of my people, and your goal is your love for the butterfly. You must have anticipated that the current emperor¡¯s demise is necessary to achieve that.¡± Sosa was surprised. Horak was openly revealing his evil intentions to murder the emperor. Although Jackal didn¡¯t show any emotions on the surface, his heart was pounding inside. The village chief asked, tapping his finger. ¡°So, I¡¯ll ask again. I probably asked you the same question before you left the village.¡± Jackal guessed what he was about to say and his gaze sank. The village chief looked straight into his eyes and asked. ¡°Are you prepared to sacrifice yourself as a guardian for this village?¡± Jackal looked straight into those meaningful eyes and asked. ¡°I have one question as well. Are you instructing me to assassinate the emperor?¡± The village chief raised a corner of his mouth. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Sosa was taken aback and looked at Jackal¡¯s profile. The betrayal of a man called Cylon¡­.. It must have been the village chief¡¯s order all along. He was originally supposed to assassinate Karaf. That was his given mission. Looking back now, he didn¡¯t even know if his approach to Karaf as a close friend was intentional for a specific reason. However, he wondered if he had unintentionally developed feelings and become emotionally attached to Karaf during their close friendship. In the end, he failed to kill Karaf and instead was left with an unknown curse on his chest. The village chief¡¯s displeasure when he brought up Cylon¡¯s story was probably due to the unexpected event. Jackal¡¯s face turned dark. After Cylon died cursing him, Karaf¡¯s rage reached its peak, resulting in a nationwide arrest warrant for ethnic minorities. As a result, many ethnic minorities were captured, and the Kelpie clan, including his parents, fought to protect the villagers and were ultimately massacred. Cylon¡¯s betrayal was the cause of all these incidents. Jackal¡¯s objective was not to assassinate Karaf but rather to stabilize the empire by bringing about Karaf¡¯s enlightenment, which was contrary to the village chief¡¯s goal. However, upon hearing the phrase ¡®love with a butterfly¡¯, the village chief hastily concluded that Jackal intended to bring back the butterfly from the emperor by any means necessary. The fact that Jackal left the village and returned on his own two feet only reinforced this belief. Nevertheless, it was fortunate that the village chief misunderstood them. Looking straight at him, Jackal spoke. ¡°It appears that the fox is still employing tricks and benefiting from them behind the scenes. Before I answer, I have one more question to ask. What would you do if I don¡¯t accept your proposal?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The village chief asked, perplexed. Jackal replied expressionlessly. ¡°It¡¯s been bothering me since earlier, but I think people are watching from outside.¡± The officers surrounding the village chief¡¯s house were startled by his words. The village chief¡¯s sharp gaze briefly turned towards the window, whether he knew about it or not. ¡°¡­¡­ They were just trying to protect me. I¡¯m sorry, but we cannot fully trust you either. If you have come only for information, then you can stay put.¡± He raised a hand as if to dismiss the officers. Sosa couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard at the thought that the village chief may have actually tried to kill them. The village chief spoke expressionlessly. ¡°Cylon, he was a traitor. He failed to perform his duties properly. And you, too, have a history of leaving our village. Show us that we can trust you again through your actions. Will you become the guardian of our village as the last successor of the Kelpie clan?¡± Jackal stared at him fiercely before finally responding. ¡°Yes, I accept your offer.¡± Sosa looked at him in even greater surprise. Without looking at Sosa, Jackal conveyed his thoughts. [This is actually good. We deceive the village chief, and we¡¯ll get the information we want. These minorities will pay the price of betrayal.] Sosa quickly came to his senses and started acting. ¡°Captain, this is not what we had in mind! We came here to overthrow the emperor by joining forces with the minority village, not for you to assassinate him alone.¡± The village chief watched the two of them with interest. Jackal replied without changing his expression. ¡°I just decided I could handle it myself.¡± ¡°But what if you die? You know that two assassins were caught and killed in the palace last time. That was also ordered by the chief!¡± When Sosa looked at the village chief, his expression also became a bit confused. ¡°They received some training, but they weren¡¯t great spies. Yes, I admit that. We need great warriors like the Kelpies. Cylon can use the power of the spirits, he was capable enough to kill the emperor. But¡­..¡± The village chief let out a sigh, seeming regretful that he had missed a great opportunity to get rid of the emperor. Sosa and Jackal¡¯s ears perked up at the new information. ¡°The power of the spirits¡± ¡°Yes. He was able to use the power of water by making a contract with a water spirit.¡± While Cylon was not part of the Kelpie clan, who were known for their affinity with water, he had made a contract with a water spirit. Sometimes, spirits chose their contract partners based on their own criteria. Moreover, he was said to have the most innate abilities of the Ayla clan, who were protected by the moon. The chief had considered him a suitable candidate to assassinate Karaf, who was the crown prince at the time. Hearing his story, the two were quietly surprised. Among minority groups, it was extremely rare to find someone who could use the power of spirits. It could often lead to one¡¯s rise to becoming the village chief, surpassing even clan succession. And currently, Horak, a member of the Eshe clan, was one such individual who possessed this ability. The village chief said with a significant expression. ¡°I have been trained to use the power of the fire spirit from a very young age. I assume that you have received similar training from your clan.¡± Jackal did not bother to answer. The Eshe clan¡¯s symbol was fire, whereas the Kelpie clan¡¯s symbol was water. Jackal had also undergone rigorous training to be a warrior from a young age, to be able to make a contract with a water spirit, but ultimately failed. Jackal asked quietly. ¡°If I were able to use the power of the water spirit like Cylon, do you believe there would be a possibility for me to assassinate the emperor?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s not just a possibility, but I believe you could definitely achieve it. Cylon wasn¡¯t from the Kelpie clan, but as a direct descendant, you inherited even greater potential.¡± Unwanted memories flooded Jackal¡¯s mind. It must have been shortly after Cylon betrayed the Emperor and a warrant was issued for the arrest of minority groups. On the day Jackal learned of the Kelpie clan¡¯s demise while defending the village, he collapsed at the entrance of the village, his legs giving out as tears streamed down his face. The image of his parents waving goodbye on their horseback and the people he knew well were still vivid in his mind. Tears streamed down his face as he thought of his parents, who had smiled and waved their last goodbyes to him as they rode away, and the people he had been close to. Their faces were still fresh in his mind. His parents had tried to prevent him from going to war before he reached adulthood, even arguing with the village chief. After that day, Jackal abandoned his training and became a recluse, never leaving home. But before the shock had even subsided, the village chief had come to him with his parents¡¯ heirloom and handed him a dagger, urging him to become the leader of the Kelpie clan and fight for the village. For the first time, Jackal raised his voice and argued with the village chief. The chief said something he shouldn¡¯t have. He told Jackal that the entire clan was annihilated because he didn¡¯t fulfill his duties as the heir. Jackal left the village. As if trying to persuade him, the village chief said once again. ¡°There¡¯s no one else but you who¡¯s capable of taking on this mission. You have great potential, and strong motives for it. Shouldn¡¯t you rescue the butterfly from the tyrant and welcome her as a companion?¡± Hearing the chief¡¯s offer, similar to what he had heard before, Jackal clenched his trembling fist and made a different decision inside. This time it will be different. Even in his past life and in the previous battle, he was captured by the Cactus Knights without putting up much of a fight, but he would not remain a weak leader like that anymore. He wanted to become stronger to protect Aisha. No, I had to become stronger. ¡°I will undergo awakening training.¡± The village chief¡¯s lips rose at Jackal¡¯s answer. ¡°I will support you with everything you need. Stay in this village for a while and train.¡± * * * * * As soon as Karaf gave his permission, Asha headed straight to the Temple. The high priest personally greeted her at the entrance when he heard the news that Lady Vanessa had made her way to the Temple. A gray-haired old man politely put his hands together and bowed his head. ¡°Greetings, Lady Vanessa.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, High Priest.¡± The high priest smiled gently at Asha and led her to the reception room. Butterflies and the Temple had a deep and inseparable relationship. Since everyone in the Temple worshiped the Etzheim god, they were more friendly towards butterflies than anyone else. He served the tea himself without asking the priests. ¡°We have lotus flower tea made from lotus flowers grown directly at our Temple. It has a good aroma, would you like to try it?¡± A large white lotus flower was in full bloom in the glass kettle. Asha cautiously brought the teacup to her lips, took a sip, and her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°The tea aroma is really unique and strong!¡± The High Priest smiled and replied. ¡°Yes. Lotus flowers have a unique and captivating fragrance that many people overlook due to their plain appearance.¡± Those words reminded Asha of the pure white man she had seen before. CH 80 The High Priest smiled warmly and inquired. ¡°By the way, may I ask what brings you to our temple?¡± ¡°I was wondering if you knew who the priest was that gave me the holy water during the Flowering Ceremony. I felt a strange energy from him.¡± The High Priest lowered his eyelids gently with a warm smile. ¡°That¡¯s understandable. He was born and raised here at this temple and is one of our most devout and gifted priests. He possesses a strong divine power.¡± Asha was a little surprised and asked. ¡°Did he grow up in this temple¡­?¡± ¡°Well, actually, he is an adopted child of the temple. I still remember the day he was left at the temple gate in a cradle on a snowy winter day, most likely abandoned by his parents at birth.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes grew bigger. Could he be the illegitimate son of the former Emperor¡­? The Emperor was known for his debauchery, so it was quite possible. If a child without royal legitimacy was born, they could be in danger of losing their life. It is plausible that one of the former emperor¡¯s many mistresses brought the baby to the temple just after giving birth. As he reminisced about the past with an affectionate expression, the High Priest continued. ¡°Lady Vanessa must have seen him on the day of the Flowering Ceremony, he was a very white boy. A boy with silver hair and silver eyes is not common in the Etzheim Empire. Had he not been left in our temple, he could have faced a life of persecution and isolation marked as evil. His parents may have had the same idea and abandoned him in the temple. But I knew as soon as I saw him that he was a boy sent by God.¡± Asha was even more surprised and her eyes widened. ¡°Did you feel the same energy as I did?¡± ¡°Yes, I too felt divine energy from him. It¡¯s uncommon, but there have been people in history who have possessed such unique energy.¡± At his words, Asha suddenly wondered if there were other children born with the flower spirit, aside from the emperor. Does that mean those children were also killed and abandoned like him? She felt a shiver run down her spine. But the High Priest let out a small sigh and continued speaking. ¡°He truly deserved the name of the Lotus Temple. So, I named him ¡®Dart Lotus¡¯, which means ¡®knowledge of the lotus¡¯. I fed and clothed him. I raised him like my own son. Though he is now a priest, he is still a child to me. He, he.¡± Upon hearing the story, it seemed that all the flowers had some kind of tragic tale¡­¡­ Considering that the man was abandoned here without even knowing his bloodline, it was truly an unfortunate fate. What was fortunate, however, was that he did not possess the distinct features of the royal family, such as red hair or red eyes. Although this fact was somewhat curious, it made it easier to sneak him out of the palace and keep him safe from any threats. In this empire, having red eyes was truly uncommon. Although hair color could vary, if he had possessed red eyes, he could have become a target for everyone and might have been killed without even knowing it. Moreover, it was fortunate among all the misfortunes that his scent, like that of a flower, could only be detected by butterflies. Dart Lotus is a pure white flower that has lost his original surname. Asha wanted to know more about him. ¡°Where can I meet him?¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s currently studying to be the next successor, so you may not see him often.¡± ¡°Successor?¡± Asha asked in surprise, and the High Priest replied with a very satisfied and proud face. ¡°Yes. That child is not only the smartest among the priests, but also possesses the strongest divine power, and will succeed me as the High Priest. Of course, he is still young, so there will be strong opposition from the elders, but if he passes the test that showcases his divine power, it will be more than enough.¡± Displaying one¡¯s abilities in any way possible was truly the mark of a royal descendant. Upon hearing his words, Asha felt an odd sense of relief. Although he couldn¡¯t become emperor, becoming the High Priest who represented the temple and living an honorable life was also a good outcome. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Dart to make some time for you. If he knows that Lady Vanessa wants to meet him, he¡¯ll come running even if he has other things to do. He has a strong fondness for butterflies.¡± The High Priest said this casually, but Asha was momentarily startled. Love for butterflies¡­¡­ If he was such a clever and capable man, he might already know about his own origins. If he was aware of his tragic past and harbored resentment, Asha couldn¡¯t let her guard down. ¡°Thank you so much. And while I¡¯m here at the temple, would it be possible for me to use the Lotus Library?¡± The High Priest readily agreed. ¡°Of course. Every space within the temple is practically yours to use. You are free to move around without anyone¡¯s permission. We will inform the priests in advance, so you can come to the temple and use the library whenever you feel comfortable.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Asha replied with a bright smile. For now, it would be good to visit the library and learn more about the awakening conditions and abilities of the past butterflies. Like the interior of the temple, the ¡®Lotus Library¡¯ was made entirely of shades of silver and white. Even the bookshelves were also silvery white, creating the illusion that the books were floating in a space where time had stopped. Asha frequently sought refuge in the palace library in the past, hoping to find ways to blossom, but unfortunately, she was never able to obtain any valuable information. Even Karaf, who carried books around with him, had combed the library like a rat for years, but if he hadn¡¯t found anything, there was no reason for her to return. Thanks to her past experience of avidly scouring through books, Asha could save time in this life. Undoubtedly, the situation would have been different if it was the temple¡¯s library. Since Karaf wasn¡¯t particularly religious, he didn¡¯t frequent the temple often, making it more likely that there was information they weren¡¯t aware of. Compared to the grandeur and size of the palace library, the Lotus Library was quiet, but Asha strolled around leisurely in the clean and spacious library. The librarian in charge of the library followed closely behind her. ¡°If there is a book you wish to borrow, please do not take it yourself. Instead, write it down on a notepad, and we will send it to the palace immediately.¡± ¡°Thank you. Everyone in the temple is so kind.¡± In response, the librarian¡¯s face lit up as if overwhelmed by something. ¡°Of course, Lady Vanessa. Please don¡¯t hesitate to call me if you need anything.¡± Thanks to her past experience of avidly searching through books, Asha no longer needed to lug around heavy, dictionary-sized tomes and meticulously sift through them one by one. She focused on selecting history books of the empire to investigate whether there was any imperial lineage in history that didn¡¯t have red eyes. As Asha jotted down book titles one by one in her small notebook, suddenly came to her senses and realized that she had already filled several pages. It seemed like there would be a mountain of work waiting for her when she returned to the palace. Asha sighed. Karaf said he forced himself to read these boring books to fall asleep, but now she herself didn¡¯t know if she would fall asleep at the desk. Lastly, Asha headed to the chapel, to pray for Jackal¡¯s safety and hoped to communicate with God Etzheim. As she looked at the all-white, majestic chapel, Asha¡¯s eyes and mouth widened open. In the past, Karaf had confined her and she had hardly ever left the palace, so this was actually her first time visiting a temple. Asha frantically scanned the lotus paintings on the ceiling and the magnificent pillars around her. The enormous chapel was empty, so her footsteps echoed loudly. But suddenly, she saw a man kneeling in front of the altar with his hands clasped together in prayer. Asha¡¯s eyes widened, and she stopped in place. Wearing a white priest¡¯s robe, an unknown flower scent was faintly emanating from the man. It was the second flower, Dart Lotus. Sensing someone¡¯s presence, he raised his head and looked back. His slightly enlarged eyes were filled with tears. Asha felt as if she had met a delicate and innocent flower face to face. As soon as she saw his moist silver eyes, she spoke in confusion. ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m sorry¡­..I thought no one was here¡­¡± Dart also seemed surprised and wiped his eyes with his sleeve as he stood up. ¡°No. I¡¯m sorry for startling you, Lady Vanessa.¡± He already knew that she was Vanessa, having seen her face once during the flowering ceremony. Dart politely bowed his head to her. Asha took out a handkerchief from her bosom and offered it to him. Dart looked slightly surprised and took the handkerchief to wipe his eyes. ¡°I showed you a disgraceful sight¡­¡­¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault for interrupting your prayer¡­¡­¡± Asha glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Alone in a world as white as the first unspoiled snow, he was offering his prayers to God with tears in his eyes. Just by looking at him, anyone could feel a divine energy emanating from him. Similar to Karaf¡¯s charm that seemed to attract people somehow, there was a mysterious and alluring energy emanating from him. His face also had a strange resemblance to Karaf¡¯s, but the two of them had different kinds of beauty that made them seem like brothers but also unique individuals. If Karaf was like a charming and flashy flower that seemed to exude danger, Dart felt like a delicate and pure flower. Unlike Karaf, who resembled the former emperor, it was unknown if Dart resembled his mother more. Then, Dart said. ¡°I will wash and return this handkerchief to you next time.¡± Asha was about to say that he could just return it, but she changed her mind, thinking that it would be better to create an opportunity to meet again. ¡°Do as you feel comfortable.¡± Dart looked at Asha hesitantly and said calmly. ¡°I believe in fate, Lady Vanessa. I believe there is a reason why I, as a flower, bloomed in this temple, why you were born as a butterfly to save the world, and why we met here.¡± Asha was taken aback by those meaningful words. Did he already know that he was also a flower¡­? CH 81 Asha was uncertain if the expression ¡°flowers blooming¡± was a common phrase in the Etzheim Empire. Dart¡¯s silver eyes gazed at Asha as he spoke. ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble, would you grant me the honor of kissing the back of your hand, Lady Vanessa?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Pardon?¡± Asha was taken aback by the sudden request, but Dart¡¯s earnest gaze made her eventually agree to the hand kiss. He knelt on one knee, took Asha¡¯s hand, and gently kissed it. At that moment, a fragrant floral scent spread in the space they were in. Despite his ascetic priestly appearance, Dart looked exceedingly pleased upon meeting Lady Vanessa. Asha asked him carefully. ¡°I heard that you have been living here since you were a baby under the High Priest¡¯s guidance.¡± Dart replied with a simple smile, still on his knees. ¡°Yes. To me, this temple is my home and all that I have.¡± Asha looked at this selfless priest with a somewhat sad gaze. Although he didn¡¯t get the throne, Dart seemed to be quietly cultivating his own flower beautifully in this place. She somehow understood why the spy who came from a minority group claimed that this man should be made emperor. If he became emperor, he might become a benevolent ruler who could embrace all his subjects without discrimination or violence. ¡°You must have had a difficult childhood¡­¡­¡± Dart replied faintly to Asha¡¯s words. ¡°The wind makes the grass stronger.¡± ¡°¡­..What?¡± ¡°I think I am where I am today because of the hardships I faced. I heard that Lady Vanessa also went through various hardships before hatching into a butterfly. They say that¡¯s the destiny of those who will become a butterfly.¡± He spoke earnestly as he looked at Asha. ¡°I believe that every living thing has its own value. Even a mere tiny creature or even a pest. It shouldn¡¯t be judged recklessly by human standards. I, too, am trying to fulfill the mission given to me by God in this place.¡± Asha felt a great resonance in her heart thanks to his words. Suddenly, she remembered the words of the God Etzheim that she had heard in her dream. [Where the flowers bloom is destiny. Flowers cannot choose where they will bloom, but they can choose how they will bloom. Just like humans.] As she prayed to God Etzheim and tried to ask about the path she would walk, she felt as if she had found all the answers through her conversation with Dart. The answer was already within her. ¡°¡­¡­That¡¯s a kind thing to say. I hope you become a great priest, following in the footsteps of the High Priest.¡± Asha sincerely blessed him to become a High Priest instead of an emperor. But now, Asha had a sickly flower in need of her care. There were two men before her, one who could carve out his own destiny and another cursed to stand alone without the help of a butterfly. Asha had made the choice to nurture the latter, planning to raise the sickly Karaf into a benevolent emperor no matter what obstacles they may face. It was her choice as a butterfly. She believed that if both the temple and the Imperial Palace had strong leaders, the Etzheim Empire would maintain peace and prosperity even more. Dart looked at her intently for a moment, then bowed his head and said. ¡°Thank you, Lady Vanessa. May God¡¯s blessings be with you as well.¡± He walked over to the podium and returned with a book in his hand. ¡°This book will be helpful to you, Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha exclaimed in surprise. ¡°You knew I had just come back from the library?¡± Dart smiled modestly and replied. ¡°I¡¯m not a butterfly, and I don¡¯t have a valuable ability like prophecy. I just had a vague feeling that you might visit me. So, I prepared this book in advance, hoping to give it to you when the time came. I¡¯m happy that you came to me so quickly.¡± Asha swallowed nervously, hoping he wouldn¡¯t notice. [About the Awakening of the Butterfly] As she read the title of the book, it made her feel as if he knew exactly why she had come to this place, searching for a way to help the emperor bloom. Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. ¡°Thank you. This will be a great help.¡± ¡°I hope that the answer Lady Vanessa is desperately seeking is contained within that book.¡± Dart said, placing a hand over his chest before bowing politely and leaving the chapel. Asha stood there for a moment, watching his back as he walked away. His footsteps made no sound, so he moved with a silent and reverent demeanor. Alone in the temple, Asha gazed at the great statue of the God Etzheim that stood above the altar. The god¡¯s benevolent face gazed down upon the worshippers praying before him. Many flowers bloomed around the statue, seemingly tended to by the priests who took turns caring for them. There was a barrier surrounding the flowers to ensure that visitors would not accidentally trample or damage them. Asha knelt before the stone statue and offered a brief prayer before rising to leave the chapel. Meanwhile, Dart stood by the window, his silver hair shimmering in the sunlight. His silver hair shone brightly in the sunlight. He watched her retreating figure with an odd expression. * * * * * On her way back to the palace, Asha stopped by an accessory shop for a moment. Perhaps due to the aftermath of the Flower Festival, there were many flower-themed accessories and butterfly accessories in the shop. Asha felt a little proud inside as she saw many black rose-shaped accessories. In the past, people used to avoid black roses, but now they seem to be popular after the festival. Asha calmly looked around the pretty necklaces neatly laid out on the red velvet and pointed to one. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡± After returning to the palace, Asha neatly packaged the necklace in a small case. ¡°Lady Vanessa, have you been out?¡± Sonya approached her from afar, and Asha handed her the case. Sonya¡¯s eyes widened as she asked. ¡°What is this?¡± Asha smiled and said. ¡°It¡¯s a gift for you.¡± When Sonya opened the case, her eyes widened even more. Inside was a necklace shaped like a red carnation. ¡°I wanted to give you a ring, but I chose a necklace because I didn¡¯t want it to get in the way when you work. You can wear it under your clothes anytime. If anyone asks why a servant is wearing such a precious necklace, just tell me right away.¡± Asha placed her index finger on her chin and looked up for a moment, thinking, then added. ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring a bottle of perfume and pour it over their heads.¡± Asha smiled like a villain, pleased with herself as she recalled Karaf¡¯s past actions. Sonya burst out laughing but was so moved that she stumbled over her words. ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­. How could you give such a valuable item to someone like me¡­.?¡± The necklace was adorned with real rubies. Asha smiled and replied. ¡°Because you are the person I have chosen.¡± Hearing this, Sonya placed her hand on her chest, deeply moved. Asha personally placed the necklace around Sonya¡¯s neck. Sonya blushed like a girl receiving a proposal, folding her hands over her chest and bowing her head forward. It was a reverent posture as if she was receiving a reward from the king. Sonya was so touched that tears welled up in her eyes and her nose started running. ¡°Lady Vanessa, I will treasure this forever. This will surely become an heirloom in our house.¡± Asha laughed out loud. However, there was a shadow behind the wall, watching them. It was a Karaf. Upon seeing Asha giving a gift to her servant, he involuntarily felt jealous inside and was startled. I shouldn¡¯t do this¡­¡­. He quickly shook his head, trying to push away the overlapping scenes from the past. But the words Asha spoke to her servant were something he wished to hear from her as well Because you are the person I have chosen. Karaf¡¯s face turned gloomy. He felt unworthy of receiving any valuable gift from her, and it made him feel depressed. Feeling dejected, he walked back to his office. But on the way back to his office, he saw a priest carrying books. All the books delivered to the palace were related to butterflies and flowers. As he looked through the books, a small hope began to grow in his heart. Maybe there¡¯s a gift for me too. This was the first time Karaf had seen Asha take such an interest in breaking the curse. He thought that perhaps her heart had opened up a little, and eagerly awaited her visit. As he sat at his desk, looking down at his paperwork, his face was as serious as a knight going to battle. Despite appearing to work diligently for anyone who saw him, Karaf¡¯s mind was consumed by thoughts of Asha, making it difficult for him to focus on the words in front of him. But no matter how long he waited, Asha didn¡¯t come. Karaf had expected her to at least greet him after her trip to the temple, but she coldly ignored him. Duran, who had arrived at the office, looked at Karaf cautiously as he sensed the tense atmosphere. He quickly bowed his head to avoid any conflict. ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty¡­ The love book I gave you doesn¡¯t seem to have been much help¡­ I¡¯m ready for Your Majesty to throw the book in my face.¡± Karaf looked up at him for a moment. Duran was really anxious and had his head down. ¡°No, that nasty pink book you gave me was helpful in its own way. However, the problem was that the premise was wrong to follow the contents written there.¡± Karaf murmured self-pityingly, causing Duran to look at him curiously. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m a trashy bastard. It was me who was wrong. No wonder Vanessa hates me¡­¡± Duran, unaware of Karaf¡¯s past life, was surprised. ¡°Your Majesty! Why are you saying such a thing!¡± ¡°Duran, maybe what I need is not a love book, but a self-improvement book that can help me develop my personality.¡± Karaf let out a deep sigh as if the ground had opened up after finishing his sentence. Asha had not left her room since she returned from the temple. It seemed that she was locked in her room reading the book that had been delivered to her. However, this made Karaf feel uneasy. Could something have happened at the temple? Perhaps she had met the man who was called the second flower and heard something unpleasant. Or maybe she simply doesn¡¯t like me¡­¡­. As he reached for his bottle of alcohol out of habit, he stopped himself. CH 82 I can¡¯t show Vanessa my drunken appearance anymore. Especially if I say something I can¡¯t remember due to heavy intoxication, it could be irreversible. His likability was already at rock bottom, and if he did that, she might never want to see him again. Karaf sighed and held his forehead. But then, someone announced at that moment. ¡°Your Majesty, Lady Vanessa is here.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Vanessa?¡± Karaf¡¯s complexion instantly brightened, and he unknowingly jumped up from his chair. As the door opened and Asha gracefully entered, Karaf couldn¡¯t conceal his delight and asked. ¡°Have you been busy lately? It¡¯s been hard to see you¡­.¡­¡± ¡°Really? It¡¯s only been a few hours, hasn¡¯t it?¡± When Asha asked with concern, Karaf fell silent and spoke with a stutter. ¡°Since you went to the temple¡­you didn¡¯t come looking for me, so I wondered if you hated me.¡± At his words, Asha looked bewildered. ¡°Didn¡¯t Your Majesty come looking for me?¡± ¡°What? Why wouldn¡¯t I come to see the Empress? I really missed you¡­!¡± He blurted out his true feelings, and then his face turned as red as a rose. Asha¡¯s eyes widened even more. ¡°What? Your Majesty¡­always came looking for me first¡­I thought you would do the same this time¡­¡± Karaf and Asha realized they had misunderstood each other. In reality, Karaf had always gone to see her whenever he wanted to meet her, no matter how fickle he was. Not once had Asha visited him first. Asha then handed him something that she had in her hands, which made Karaf¡¯s eyes widen slightly. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a suncatcher that I made myself. Since you gift me with flowers every day, I wanted to gift you sunlight. I even put in a prayer hoping for Your Majesty¡¯s blooming, so I¡¯m sure it will have some effect. Faith is essential for these kinds of things, after all.¡± Asha finished speaking and smiled brightly. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Karaf stayed in place for a long time holding the suncatcher speechless. The accessory was made of a wooden shell adorned with colorful stained glass, gemstones, and pretty seashells, all strung together with a cord. Whenever the glass and gemstones caught the sunlight, they shimmered and reflected on the ground. Suncatchers were popular among minority people who collected sunlight. Since photosynthesis was crucial for the flower¡¯s survival, Asha knew that this was something he truly needed. Rather than expensive treasures, she chose to give him this. Minority orphans had been making and selling suncatchers in the market to earn a living since they were young. Reminiscing about her childhood hobby, Asha had crafted the suncatcher with a joyful heart and hoped that the bright sunlight would shine on him. But as Karaf remained unresponsive for a while, Asha worriedly peeked at his face. Various concerns flooded her mind, such as whether he was upset that she had given him a traditional minority accessory, or whether the simple and plain gift was inferior compared to expensive jewels. In the end, Asha regretted jumping to conclusions too quickly. She noticed a slight glistening of tears in Karaf¡¯s eyes in the sunlight and asked him in surprise. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty?¡± Karaf finally realized the state of his face and quickly covered his eyes. ¡°Ah, the sunlight is too blinding¡­¡­¡± He pretended to wipe his eyes nonchalantly. Asha felt a twinge of sympathy when she saw how happy he was to receive such a simple gift, despite having access to anything he desired. ¡°Thank you. I will always keep it with me like a talisman. It¡¯s too precious to hang it in my room for display.¡± Karaf affixed the suncatcher to the chest of his uniform with a serious expression. As the modest suncatcher hung amid his uniform, adorned with various insignia and badges, Asha reached out hastily in embarrassment. ¡°No, please! Your Majesty¡¯s splendid uniform looks dull because of my simple gift. Please don¡¯t attach it to your clothes!¡± ¡°No. This is the most splendid and beautiful accessory I have ever owned. I should wear it on my chest and show it off to all the nobles. This is a gift from Vanessa.¡± Asha¡¯s face turned pale as she exclaimed. ¡°This is unacceptable! How could such a poorly crafted accessory be shown in front of the nobles¡­?¡± Karaf turned to her with a puzzled expression and asked. ¡°Poorly crafted? Do you really think anyone would dare say such things in front of me?¡± As she saw his eyes gleaming with madness, Asha averted her gaze. In front of him, who was proudly boasting about the gift given by Vanessa, no one would dare to utter such words. In another sense, Asha felt that she had given him the gift for no reason. ¡°Well then, I¡¯m off to brag.¡± Karaf said cheerfully as he walked out of the room as if he were about to fly away. Left alone, Asha buried her blushing face in her hands. * * * * * As evening fell, Jackal and Sosa made their way to the hall with their luggage, only to find someone already inside. It was a brown-haired man unable to lift his head. It was the man from the Nasson clan, who had betrayed Lycaon. Jackal said, expressionless. ¡°You seem unharmed.¡± The man flinched and shook uncontrollably as if his bones were rattling. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡­ I sold out Lycaon to save myself¡­¡± ¡°Do you have any idea how many lives were put at risk because of your one life?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He knelt before them, tears streaming down his face. Jackal stared down at him coldly and asked. ¡°Is this your own sincere apology, or just following orders from the village chief?¡± He raised his head in surprise. The man raised his head in surprise, tears welling up in his eyes. Jackal continued to speak in his cold tone. ¡°Did the chief instruct you to ask for forgiveness so you can stay in the village?¡± ¡°No¡­NO! this is truly from my heart..¡­.¡± ¡°Do you expect me to believe that the village chief didn¡¯t order you to do it?¡± Jackal snorted, causing the man to tremble. ¡°The chief did ask me to apologize¡­ but even before he did, I had already decided to do so. The day I betrayed Lycaon and returned to the village, my heart was filled with unbearable pain¡­ I survived, but every night I couldn¡¯t sleep peacefully.¡± That day, he had run away while wiping away his tears, listening to the screams and clashing sounds of Lycaon and the knights fighting by the lakeside. He was too afraid to look back, and he didn¡¯t have the courage to face the Lycaons who had died because of him. Even though he didn¡¯t witness the massacre, every night when he closed his eyes, the scene unfolded before him. He even saw the ghostly figure of Jackal with bloodshot eyes, staring down at him from his bedside. Jackal just stared at him as he trembled silently. The incident had nearly cost the lives of his fellow organization members, and he had also promised Gabe to take revenge on his behalf, so he couldn¡¯t just let this go. ¡°Get up.¡± The man struggled to his feet, but his head remained bowed. Jackal grabbed him by the collar and lifted his face, which was full of tears and snot. After inspecting his face, Jackal punched him hard in the abdomen. The man bent over, coughing and clutching his stomach. ¡°¡­¡­ A guy in our group who is also from the Nasson clan told me to hit you instead of him.¡± Jackal said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s obvious how that crazy flower man threatened you. Just looking at his red-hot eyes, you must have been scared out of your mind, not to mention the torture.¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened at Jackal¡¯s words, which seemed to have hit the nail on the head. Jackal suspected that he had been tortured as soon as he noticed his unsteady condition. He also remembered how the man had been wracked with guilt when they met by the lake. His suffering had been so intense that he had lost all reason to fear and seemed to have reached his limit. Jackal sighed deeply and spoke. ¡°If you meet my fellow Lycaons later, look them in the eye and apologize. I don¡¯t deserve an apology as their leader alone. They may take turns hitting you, but that¡¯s none of my concern. You¡¯ll have to deal with it yourself.¡± When Jackal showed his intention to end it at this point, the moved man bowed profoundly and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely do that if it means I can be forgiven. I¡¯ll do my best to serve you while you¡¯re both here.¡± He quickly led the two to his house and gave them the best room. Jackal and Sosa intentionally unpacked their luggage in the same room. It was because they were concerned that if they stayed in separate rooms, they might be vulnerable to attack or be unable to communicate effectively in case of an emergency. Sosa looked at Jackal apologetically. ¡°If there¡¯s anything that makes you uncomfortable, please let me know, Chief.¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± ¡°What if I snore?¡± Jackal thought for a moment before answering. ¡°It¡¯s okay. My nose might also get clogged when I sleep.¡± ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s not okay at all.¡± Sosa sighed. Jackal was used to having a separate room as an heir when he lived in the minority village. Even after becoming the leader of the Lycaons, he always valued his privacy and used a separate room. As a member of the Kelpie Clan, Sosa also had a long-standing habit of never sharing a room with the Lycaons when sleeping. Jackal glanced at Sosa and said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be that uncomfortable. You have nothing to hide from me.¡± ¡°Really?¡± As Sosa¡¯s eyes lit up again, Jackal burst into laughter. ¡°You¡¯re used to seeing me shirtless, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡­ that¡¯s kinda¡­¡­¡± Sosa rolled his eyes in embarrassment. ¡°Just kidding. Just don¡¯t look. I don¡¯t like it either.¡± When Jackal replied firmly, Sosa sighed. ¡°Sometimes you joke around so seriously¡­.¡± Jackal smirked. ¡°I feel more at ease when I¡¯m with you. I¡¯m serious. Let¡¯s go grab something to eat.¡± They made their way to the communal dining hall of the village with the Nasson man. However, as soon as they entered, the men who were already eating stopped their spoons simultaneously and stared at them. All of them were warriors who were training to protect the village. But from their expressions, it was evident that they didn¡¯t welcome the two of them here. Jackal looked at them expressionlessly and walked towards the remaining seats. At the end of the long dining table, two empty seats were left for them. They felt some kind of pressure as if the seating order had already been predetermined. As Jackal and Sosa sat facing each other, their faces quickly stiffened. Only plates were placed on their seats, and not a single utensil was provided. ¡°¡­¡­ Is there something wrong?¡± As Jackal turned his head, a man sitting at the head of the dining table arrogantly crossed his legs and smirked. CH 83 Seeing him seated in the front, he appeared to be the highest-ranked warrior among them. Seeing him seated in the front, he appeared to be the highest-ranked warrior among them. ¡°Animals know how to eat with their hands and mouths. Am I wrong, everyone?¡± He said confidently, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Sosa¡¯s face hardened, but he kept his mouth shut, only looking at his plate. Seriously, their treatment of the Kelpie clan was unacceptable. Their treatment toward the Kelpie clan was unacceptable, despite their departure from the village. The kelpies had been the strongest warriors of the minority village, and many warriors had sacrificed their lives for the village, earning them the title of a glorious clan. Jackal casually interjected. ¡°I think you¡¯re mistaken¡­none of them seem like normal humans. They all look like beasts, so I can¡¯t tell them apart.¡± Everyone who had been laughing suddenly froze at his words. Sosa couldn¡¯t help but cover his mouth and giggle. ¡°These people¡­ still don¡¯t seem to know their place.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing there¡¯s a hierarchy.¡± When Jackal said it so calmly, the man frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how we can get to the point.¡± Everyone sprang to their feet. ¡°These bastards¡­ how dare you traitors¡­!¡± Sosa looked at him in surprise. ¡°Chief, isn¡¯t this like a cowardly situation where it¡¯s 10 against 2?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s an appropriate number with five people per person.¡± Jackal spoke with a serious face, and all the men drew swords from their waistbands. ¡°Let¡¯s see how far their arrogance goes!¡± Sosa spoke perplexed. ¡°Chief, but I¡¯m so hungry right now¡­¡± ¡°Fight first and then eat. Even if we eat all our food, there are still 10 more servings.¡± As soon as Jackal finished speaking, the men shouted. ¡°Take them down!¡± The men rushed towards them at the same time, but Jackal swiftly jumped onto the dining table. With lightning speed, he kicked the head of the man sitting at the front, who had drawn his sword, and the man¡¯s head spun around before falling to the ground. The men hesitated for a moment, stunned at how easily their leader had fallen, and then Sosa began to swing plates from behind, shouting ¡®Yeah!¡¯. Dishes were shattered and the dining hall descended into chaos. Jackal dodged the men¡¯s punches with quick movements and kicked them in the feet and stomach. Even Sosa, who wasn¡¯t typically good at fighting, became excited like a raging bull, grabbing the men¡¯s heads from the side and hitting them with his fists as if he were a puppet being controlled. Although he preferred peace, his nature was that of a wild horse, and his fighting instinct took over. The men were no match for the ferocious attacks of the two, and they fell to the ground one by one. Jackal, who had finally knocked out the last one, stood up calmly and brushed his hands indifferently. ¡°Sosa.¡± ¡°Yes, chief.¡± Sosa straightened up and stood tall after vigorously beating someone up. The man had lost consciousness in Sosa¡¯s arms, so when he let go of him, the man fell to the ground lifelessly. Jackal placed a handkerchief around his shirt collar and said. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Sosa replied with a bright face. Jackal glanced down at the ground. All the men were lying on the floor, moaning in pain. He casually stepped over them and took a seat at the head of the table. Sosa sat calmly next to him, wiping the tableware with the clothes of the men lying on the floor, and politely placing it next to Jackal¡¯s plate. Jackal began to eat the meat as if he had been sitting there all along. As Sosa ate hurriedly, he exclaimed with a pleased expression. ¡°This tastes even better after some workout!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Not to mention the beautiful scenery, there¡¯s nothing like a feast like this.¡± Jackal said, dabbing butter with a knife and applying it to a large sliced baguette. ¡°I should do some finishing exercise after the meal. The dining hall looks so messy, so you need to clean it up. If you don¡¯t tidy up, that¡¯s not good manners.¡± As Jackal finished speaking, he opened his mouth wide and chewed on the baguette, making a clear crunchy sound. Sosa also dipped his baguette in strawberry jam, took a bite, and hummed with satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s right, chief. *A beautiful person makes even the place they leave.¡± T/N: *This proverb implies that a person who is kind, considerate, and thoughtful can have a positive impact on the environment and the people around them. Even after they leave a place or situation, their presence will be remembered, and the effects of their actions will continue to be felt. In other words, it encourages individuals to strive to be kind, empathetic, and helpful to those around them, as their actions can have a lasting impact on others. The faces of the men lying on the floor turned paler as the two continued their conversation. * * * * * Asha was immersed in her reading until the sun had completely set. Despite being occasionally annoyed by Karaf¡¯s constant chatter outside the door, Sonya trembled but defended her vigorously. ¡®Lady Vanessa is busy looking for a way to break Your Majesty¡¯s curse right now!¡¯ With just that sentence, Karaf returned powerless like a puppy with its tail between its legs. Asha felt a sense of pride knowing that she had taught him well enough that he had no right to disturb her. As she gazed at the stacks of thick books that were piled up like mountains, and the piles of parchment papers, she realized that burying herself in books was not so bad after all. Even when she cleaned Karaf¡¯s office before, she never realized she had a talent for finding and organizing information. Doing something she had never done in her past life always brought her joy. Asha comfortably leaned back on the bed and opened the book given to her by Dart. The book contained information on all the butterflies that had been associated with the flowers of the Imperial Family throughout history. Even their abilities and awakening conditions were meticulously recorded in the book Asha was reading. The abilities of the past Vanessas varied greatly, from healing and attack abilities to clairvoyance and telekinesis. Asha was amazed by the relationship between these abilities and the awakening conditions of the butterflies. She suspected that her own ability to ¡®regress¡¯ was due to her awakening condition of ¡®going to the brink of death.¡¯ As she delved deeper into the book, she couldn¡¯t help but be fascinated by some of the unbelievable awakening conditions. For instance, some butterflies awakened only when they were burned, prompting them to sneak into the kitchen and burn themselves as children. In the case of that butterfly, it was written that she had been supported by the Imperial Family, allowing her to live in the palace until the emperor became an adult. Other unique awakening conditions included getting pricked by thorns, spending several days in a dark room, eating something forbidden, being completely alone without any family or friends, and discovering minerals underground. To Asha¡¯s surprise, the awakening condition for Karaf¡¯s mother was finding a romantic partner. Asha was filled with bitterness about the romantic awakening condition. Because the former empress¡¯ love was never fulfilled¡­¡­ She felt even more sorry for the former empress as it was said that the former emperor did not love her. If she hadn¡¯t been chosen as a butterfly, could she have lived a happy life with another man? Suddenly, Jackal came to mind, and Asha felt even more trapped. She wondered if he was doing well and if his wounds had healed. ¡°I miss you, Jackal¡­¡­¡± As she murmured, Asha looked around in surprise. If anyone heard her, it would spread another bad rumor, so she had to be careful in the palace. Asha regained her composure and started reading the book again. If the chosen butterfly does not awaken until they reach adulthood, its unawakened butterfly qualifications will be quietly revoked and given to another woman. That is why there were no records left for women whose butterfly qualifications were revoked. Because they would not even know they were a butterfly if they did not awaken. However, as Asha traced back through history, she stumbled upon a peculiar condition for awakening that left her feeling embarrassed and red-faced. This condition was none other than having sexual intercourse for the first time. However, fulfilling this awakening condition would prove to be a challenge since it was impossible to know if the person she would engage in relations with was a butterfly. The historical records revealed that the man who met this condition was a commoner who was already married to a butterfly and had a child with her. However, the outcome for the husband and child was¡­..death. In the imperial court, it was unacceptable for an empress to be a married woman with another man¡¯s child, and as a result, innocent people were put to death. Asha¡¯s expression became grave as she realized the gravity of the situation. But then, at that moment¡­ ¡°¡­¡­ Lady Vanessa, this is Sonya. May I come in for a moment?¡± ¡°Sure, come in.¡± Asha briefly closed the book. Sonya approached Asha and handed her a golden invitation. ¡°The Duchess of Lilac has sent an invitation.¡± ¡°The Duchess of Lilac?¡± As she opened the invitation, she found a formal greeting and a request to attend a tea party. The purpose of the party was to choose a lady-in-waiting from among the noble ladies to celebrate the month of Flower Arrangement, now that Asha had become Empress. Sonya had a lot of work to do, and she also felt the pressure of being under the scrutiny of the noble ladies. No Empress in history had ever been without a lady-in-waiting by her side. Traditionally, when someone became Empress, noble ladies were invited to the palace to select the ladies-in-waiting. She had done this in her past life, following the chamberlain¡¯s advice. However, not only had she been ridiculed by the nobles, but the selection of the ladies-in-waiting was ultimately controlled by the nobles¡¯ will, not her own. It was a power struggle disguised as a goodwill gesture since she had only recently entered the palace and was unfamiliar with their ways. Even Asha, who was also unfamiliar with the nobles¡¯ lifestyle, could sense the subtle power struggle. She had even thought about making friends with girls her own age, but after being betrayed by them, she had concluded that being alone was better. As Asha thought about the tea party and how much envy and ridicule she would face, her head felt like it was about to explode. In the past, she had been insulted at social gatherings and wanted to decline the invitation, but as it was hosted by the Duchess of Lilac herself, it was difficult to do so. Last time, she had used the excuse of being ill to avoid attending the lunch with the five noble families, but she knew that the same excuse would not work again. I have to see their faces at least once anyway¡­.. Asha held her forehead with one hand. If she continued to avoid them, eventually the arrows would hit Karaf. The nobles have a habit of creating bad rumors, and there are rumors that Vanessa was *made emperor by not showing her to anyone and wrapping her tightly, or that she was locked in the palace to avoid a scandal. T/N: * Often used to describe someone or something being treated or considered in an overly grand or exaggerated way, similar to how an emperor would be treated with great pomp and ceremony. Either way, it was a headache-inducing situation. But then, Sonya exclaimed excitedly. ¡°Lady Vanessa! You have to go and wipe them all out!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ What!¡± Asha looked at Sonya with widened eyes, wondering if she had misheard her. CH 84 Sonya clenched her fists tightly, her eyes burning with determination as she spoke. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know how many rumors were circulating in the Imperial Palace while Lady Vanessa was away! Those rumors were all lies. Lady Vanessa needs to make it clear to them that you are not someone anyone can ignore. Everyone should admire you. Because Lady Vanessa shines with the God in the sky!¡± As soon as the day dawned, Sonya made a fuss about calling back the dress designer, Ella. After pondering, Asha concluded that Sonya was right and nodded her head. It would surely be an uncomfortable situation for her, but it would be good to re-evaluate the nobles and identify people who could help Karaf, as well as to understand how they thought about him beforehand. Above all, it was necessary to know in advance what they thought about Karaf. Asha responded to the Duchess of Lilac¡¯s invitation in elegant handwriting. * * * * * Early in the morning, Jackal tied his hair back into a ponytail, changed into black training clothes reminiscent of Eastern martial arts attire, and set off for the training hall with Sosa by his side. As his eyes scanned the smooth wooden floor and the arsenal of weapons adorning the walls, a sense of unease settled over him. This place was all too familiar, yet it was an unpleasant space. Ever since he learned to effortlessly shift between his horse and human forms, Jackal had spent most of his days here, away from his parents. He had trained relentlessly, mastering countless weapons and techniques: how to strike an enemy¡¯s vital points and end them with a single breath, how to deflect and evade enemy attacks, and even how to survive if captured by the enemy ¨C all while enduring countless injuries. ¡®Don¡¯t leave until you¡¯ve perfected what you¡¯ve learned today. It¡¯s the chief¡¯s orders.¡¯ They were harsh words thrown by his teacher at him, who was injured and collapsed on the ground covered in sweat. His father, ever busy defending the village, was often away and was rarely present to oversee his training. Instead, it was left to another Kelpie warrior to oversee his progress. Jackal gasped for air as he looked up from the ground, but his teacher turned around with a fierce expression and left the training hall. The light above him closed, casting darkness on his face. Outside, he could hear his mother protesting and clinging to his teacher. When someone suggested that the training was too brutal for a young child, his teacher firmly replied that being the successor of the clan was not something anyone could become. Jackal gritted his teeth and stood up, looking at his mother who was struggling to protect him. With blistered hands, he grabbed his weapon and was determined to show his mother that this level of training was nothing to worry about. He had only one thought in mind, to quickly master everything he had learned. When he returned home, his mother held him in her arms and told him stories about the clan. Perhaps she wanted to instill pride in her son, who had to carry the heavy burden of being the successor of the Kelpie clan and prevent him from hating his own people. Inside the training hall, Jackal tightly closed his eyes, the faces he had seen moments ago were all gone now. Only faint traces of his training remained throughout the place. Perhaps even the assassin who infiltrated the palace on the day of the ceremony had trained here until the day he left for his mission. Lost in deep thought, the village chief entered through the door behind him, followed by the top officials of each clan as usual. Was he the one who had inspired them to be so vigilant? Without greeting them first, Jackal just looked at them with a dry expression. They couldn¡¯t meet his eyes, as they must have heard about what had happened at the dining hall yesterday. Watching their oppressed appearance, Jackal sneered slightly at the corner of his mouth. There didn¡¯t seem to be anyone among them who could be considered his match. Dealing with the village chief might be a bit difficult, as he had a fire spirit, but he was much weaker in terms of stamina compared to the young and agile warriors. If Jackal were able to harness the power of the water spirit, he would be able to far surpass the chief¡¯s own strength. Perhaps realizing that his time was running out, the chief was grooming other talents to take on missions in his place, like a king ruling over minority people as if they were his puppets. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through this ordinary training to become a spirit contractee. Let¡¯s move to the next location.¡± The village chief said before leaving the training hall first. Jackal and Sosa exchanged glances before following him out. The sky was a pale, ethereal shade of blue before the sun had risen like watercolor paint spreading through the clouds. The dense forest was covered in dew, and the moist scent of grass wafted heavily. They came to a place that looked like a fresh and misty valley. In the subterranean cavern, it seemed as if the ground had been excavated to reveal a pool of enigmatic turquoise-colored water, while a slender cascade trickled down from a crevice in the wall. Jackal peered downward. The water was so crystal clear that he could glimpse the bottom, yet too clear to ascertain the depth. ¡°If you can accept a water spirit, you too will gain extraordinary power, like me.¡± The village chief extended his palm. A rose in his hand suddenly burst into flames, leaving behind nothing but black ashes that he clenched, murmuring to himself. ¡°Our small village needs more warriors and talented individuals. We must end the shameful disgrace and persecution that has befallen us with our own hands.¡± He seemed restless to dethrone Karaf. ¡°Are you truly resolved to undertake the trial?¡± The chief asked Jackal sternly, and he replied resolutely. ¡°Of course. It was my choice even before arriving.¡± ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s begin.¡± The chief gave instructions to the officials surrounding them. ¡°Bind his body tightly with chains.¡± Sosa tried to intervene, but Jackal stopped him by placing his hand on Sosa¡¯s shoulder. Jackal nodded, indicating that it was okay. As Sosa stepped back, the officials bound Jackal¡¯s hands behind his back and secured his entire body tightly with chains, with a rock hanging at the end. The village chief spoke. ¡°Since ancient times, it has been believed that this valley is protected by the water spirits. First, you must conquer your fear of water and make your soul compatible with the water spirit. Simply put, you must become one with the water.¡± Jackal nodded. ¡°Consider it a process of accepting the water and try to endure it as much as possible. If the water spirit accepts you, it will release you from your bindings.¡± The village chief gave a nod to one of the officials, who then kicked the rock with his foot. As the rock rolled down, Jackal fell into the deep water as if being pulled in. Sosa exclaimed in surprise. ¡°What if he drowns!¡± ¡°Well, that just means he¡¯s not a vessel capable of accepting the water spirit. It can¡¯t be helped.¡± Sosa was left speechless with confusion, and he listened as the other continued. ¡°The water spirits are known to have high emotional ups and downs and a strong childlike side. It¡¯s even said that they enjoy playing cruel pranks and drowning people as a hobby. But if it meets a worthy master, it will lend them all of its uncontrollable energy.¡± The village chief looked down at the bottom of the water, murmuring incomprehensibly. ¡°He won¡¯t die. That¡¯s for sure.¡± Originally, this training was derived from a ceremony symbolizing an offering to the water spirit. ¡°From now on, come here to train except during meal and sleep time. After making a contract with the spirit, I will hand over the village¡¯s confidential information.¡± He instructed, giving Sosa a meaningful look. ¡°You will assist and monitor him closely. He may have to repeat this process countless times in the future. And if anything happens to him, it will be your turn next, so it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be prepared.¡± Sosa¡¯s face hardened at those words. He realized that they were treated like disposable assets like the village¡¯s warriors. After the officials left with the village chief, only the two of them were left. Sosa quickly descended the stairs and looked at the water with a worried expression. He never imagined that training would be so thoughtless and cruel. Isn¡¯t this almost like water torture? The only fortunate thing was that it wasn¡¯t winter yet. If Jackal had received this kind of training in winter, he would not have lasted long. Soon, bubbles rose as if he was suffocating. Without hesitation, Sosa jumped into the water, untied the chains tied to his feet, and pulled Jackal up from the bottom of the water. Jackal, drenched from head to toe, came out of the water wriggling. Similar to Jackal, with a worried face, Sosa handed him a towel first and asked. ¡°Did you feel anything?¡± ¡°No, not even a fish, let alone a spirit¡± ¡°Well, keep up with this damn training game. We¡¯ll take proper revenge later.¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll just have to endure this damn training for now. I¡¯ll get my revenge later.¡± Jackal looked at the clear water with his blue eyes. * * * * * At that moment, Asha began to dress up with the assistance of Ella and the maids. She didn¡¯t want to overdo it for the tea party hosted by the Duchess of Lilac, as she didn¡¯t want to appear ridiculous. However, she also didn¡¯t want to dress too simply and give the impression that she wasn¡¯t taking the gathering seriously, which could result in criticism behind her back. To strike a balance, she decided to take Ella¡¯s advice, as she was well-versed in social circles. Ella was thrilled and nervous as if she had been entrusted with a precious task, and she selected a dress and jewelry with a bright hue that would accentuate Asha¡¯s delicate figure. ¡°Lady Vanessa has fair skin and a slender body, so a dress with bright colors would look good while maintaining a sense of volume.¡± Though Ella initially wanted to dress Asha in a red dress with a candid heart, red was too flashy and eye-catching, more suited for a ballroom than a tea party. After much deliberation, she settled on lavender. The dress started with a lavender hue that leaned towards white and gradually deepened into a darker purple, perfectly suited to Asha¡¯s elegant yet mysterious image. Having put on the dress, Asha elegantly turned her head upward and adorned it with a butterfly-shaped hairpin before heading to the balcony to mentally prepare herself before attending the Duchess of Lilac¡¯s tea party. However, she suddenly caught a strong scent of roses carried by the wind from behind her. Unconsciously turning around, Asha¡¯s eyes widened, and she froze in place. Startled, Karaf caught her waist to prevent her from falling off the terrace. Asha¡¯s body was completely in contact with his, and she was frozen and unable to breathe. CH 85 Asha¡¯s slender body fits perfectly in Karaf¡¯s strong embrace. The sound of his rapidly beating heart reached her chest, as memories engraved in her body came flooding back. Memories engraved in her body were always vivid. Suddenly, the memory of the day she jumped off the cliff came to mind, causing Asha to tremble in his arms without realizing it. Karaf felt her trembling body and was taken aback, but he slowly hugged her waist and pulled her closer to comfort her. As Asha¡¯s feet touched the floor again, she couldn¡¯t bear to lift her head. ¡°It¡¯s scary¡­. when you suddenly appear from behind like that.¡± Karaf was embarrassed and quickly let go of her body. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to scare you¡­..¡± Suddenly, Asha smelled a strong scent emanating from Karaf and looked up at his pale face, noticing his trembling hands. She felt a pang of guilt for reminding him of his own traumatic experience. It was clear that he too had just remembered the time she had fallen off the cliff. Asha asked him cautiously. ¡°By the way, what brings you here?¡± ¡°Ah, I heard you¡¯re going to the Duchess of Lilac¡¯s tea party today¡­¡­¡± Although his words were vague, Asha sensed that he was concerned about her. It seemed like he thought that because she had memories from her past life, she might encounter trouble among the nobility. Asha smiled confidently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do well and come back safely.¡± ¡°Alright¡­.. but if anything happens, I¡¯ll immediately¡­ No, I will rescue the Empress.¡± Asha chuckled softly. However, their conversation was interrupted by a voice from outside. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty, are you here?¡± Karaf frowned at the chamberlain¡¯s voice. ¡°Oh no¡­I think I have to escape. That old man keeps bothering me¡­.¡± ¡°Is he bothering Your Majesty?¡± Asha asked in surprise, unable to imagine what the poor chamberlain could have done to bother Karaf. However, from Karaf¡¯s anxious expression, it seemed like the chamberlain had found a weakness. Karaf said goodbye to Asha. ¡°Well then, I¡¯m off. Have a good time at the tea party.¡± And with that, he quickly descended to the lower floor through the terrace railing. Asha was taken aback and grabbed onto the railing, peering down below. Karaf smiled mischievously at her and ran down the corridor. Asha let out a small sigh and left the room, with Sonya following closely behind like a soldier going to war, wearing neat clothes to avoid appearing shallow and fearing that her presence as a maid might make Vanessa the subject of ridicule. Asha quietly chuckled as she noticed Sonya proudly displaying the necklace she had given her, which was previously kept hidden under her clothes. As they stepped outside, a luxurious carriage adorned with golden decorations was already waiting at the main gate. Asha blinked in surprise as the chamberlain said something. ¡°His Majesty has chosen the most skilled coachman to safely and comfortably escort you, Lady Vanessa.¡± Karaf already anticipated the tea party and took care of everything beforehand. Asha felt grateful for his consideration as she received the escort of the knights and boarded the carriage. Several Cactus Knights rode horses behind the carriage for added security. Though it was just supposed to be a simple tea party, it looked like they were on a parade in front of the imperial citizens. Initially feeling a bit embarrassed, Asha saw how excited Sonya was to ride in such a luxurious carriage and began to loosen up. Sonya, who had never ridden in such a luxurious carriage before, couldn¡¯t contain her excitement and kept exclaiming and chatting while looking out the window. Asha was grateful for Sonya¡¯s enthusiasm and chatter, which made the ride in the carriage much more enjoyable and relaxing. Upon arriving at the outdoor tea party venue, Asha gazed at the opulent landscape of the mansion and paused for a moment to calm her nerves. As she entered the venue, the gathered noblewomen turned their gazes towards her, some of whom had previously flirted with Karaf and been snubbed by him. Nevertheless, Asha walked gracefully and confidently. With every step, the transparent lace on her dress fluttered softly in the wind, evocative of a butterfly floating in a flower garden. Everyone instinctively felt a certain aura from her and discreetly swallowed their saliva. Asha spotted Duchess Ren¨¦ Lilac and greeted her with a smile. ¡°Thank you for inviting me to the tea party.¡± ¡°Ah, Lady Vanessa. It is an honor that you accepted the invitation.¡± Asha put a smile on her lips and leisurely followed the Duchess to the prepared seat. However, even though she smiled on the outside, memories of her previous visit to this place suddenly resurfaced, causing her to sweat inside. The noble ladies had made fun of her in a clever and subtle way in the past. ¡®Lady Vanessa must be so scared to be around His Majesty. Oh, but since you don¡¯t see His Majesty¡¯s face often, you should be okay, right?¡¯ ¡®It is said that minorities have many unique abilities, right? When will we be able to see the most important ability? We are all eagerly awaiting news of His Majesty¡¯s flowering.¡¯ Everyone there except for Asha had laughed heartily at their remarks. ¡®Are you nervous, Lady Vanessa? It seems like your first time in a gathering have you feeling tense and quiet.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s okay, just relax. Besides you, Lady Vanessa, there is no other butterfly here to seduce the flowers.¡¯ Asha suddenly felt a queasy feeling in her stomach, but she didn¡¯t show it on the outside. She had experienced this kind of thing too many times before, so she had to be wise in how she dealt with it. Suddenly, Karaf¡¯s advice came to mind. ¡®You need to be a bit of a villainess.¡¯ As she thought about this, she decided that she needed to become bolder. She silently chanted to herself, ¡°Be an evil woman¡­ evil woman.¡± Determined to become a villainess, Asha managed to put on an expression similar to Karaf¡¯s. The Duchess of Lilac spoke up in a composed manner. ¡°As I mentioned in the invitation, the reason I invited you, Lady Vanessa, was because I hoped you would choose a lady-in-waiting from among us noble ladies.¡± ¡°Yes, I was already considering it, but thank you for thinking of me first.¡± Asha replied with a smile, letting the noble ladies know that she was already considering a lady-in-waiting. The noble ladies, who had previously thought of avoiding her, showed some interest and their expressions changed at her words. Asha calmly scanned the faces gathered there. Since she didn¡¯t participate much in social gatherings, she still couldn¡¯t discern what kind of personalities everyone had, except for those who had previously looked down on her. However, since everyone there was ultimately just a bystander, she didn¡¯t feel like getting close to anyone either. Then, one of the noble ladies spoke up. ¡°Lady Vanessa, I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. Are you interested in crafts? His Majesty showed off the suncatcher you made, so rumors have already spread.¡± Asha suddenly felt embarrassed and her face turned red. Her poker face that she had been maintaining had crumbled. In the end, Karaf couldn¡¯t resist showing off the suncatcher to everyone. The noble ladies chimed in and said. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard about it too! It¡¯s supposed to be very unique. I want one too.¡± ¡°Me too! Although I don¡¯t know much about minority cultures, it¡¯s probably the most valuable and distinctive craft item to have at home.¡± As they finished speaking, they narrowed their eyes and chuckled. Asha couldn¡¯t help but feel the prickling of thorns in their words, but she kept her composure and spoke casually. ¡°Unfortunately, my skills are not good enough to give it as a gift.¡± ¡°Then how about choosing a tutor with good crafting skills as your lady-in-waiting? I think it would be perfect for a hobby.¡± ¡°They say Lady Rien is very skilled in crafting, right? She would make a great tutor.¡± The noble ladies laughed as they spoke, but Asha read their thoughts and her expression hardened a little inside. They all knew that the suncatcher she had made was nothing special in terms of skill. Their praises of wanting the unique craft item from a minority culture seemed like a lie. Although not as much as Karaf, they, too, hated and disregarded the minority groups. Asha politely declined. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t think I need a tutor. Contrary to what you may think, I¡¯m not really into crafts.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so? But even Lady Vanessa may need a tutor. To be honest, all previous commoner-born butterflies received empress education for a certain period to adapt to palace life.¡± They chuckled and smirked once more. Their words were true. It was typical for ladies of commoner origin to have tutors while in the palace. In the past, Asha had also learned various skills, including dance and other virtues that a lady should possess, in a short amount of time. She believed that if she adapted too quickly to the palace, the nobles might become suspicious. So, she pondered whether she should start acting differently and hire a tutor from now on. A woman with thick blonde hair approached them from the crowd while holding a large box. She held her skirt in one hand and greeted Asha. ¡°Greetings, Lady Vanessa. Nice to meet you. My name is Nia Delphinium.¡± Her smiling face, full of devilry, was exactly the same as that of Count Kiam Delphinium. However, unlike her father, her hair color was not purple. Usually, those who inherited the most blood in the family tended to have hair that symbolized the family. The birth of a dark blonde child, unprecedented in the Delphinium family, was likely to pique Kiam¡¯s interest. Normally, he would have criticized her as a girl who didn¡¯t have even a drop of the family¡¯s blood, but the blonde was also a symbol of a butterfly. Asha knew that the Count had gone to great lengths to make his only daughter into a butterfly, and she made sure to dress accordingly so as not to fall short. Her black dress hugged her figure, featuring seductive cuts and glimmering with gold dust that resembled embedded stars. Asha felt a little uncomfortable because it seemed like she was claiming to be the lover of the black rose. CH 86 Ella, who was nearby, also raised her eyebrows. Although she rarely missed social gatherings, Ella noticed that Nia was not wearing a dress she had designed herself. Feeling offended that Nia had deliberately entrusted her dress to another designer, Ella snorted at her. Despite Nia¡¯s effort to find the most glamorous and eye-catching dress, Asha noticed a bruise on her bare arm when she glanced down at her. Nia awkwardly smiled and slightly pulled her arm back to conceal the injury, possibly sensing Asha¡¯s gaze. Looking closely, she was beautiful, but also sick in some way. Asha could recognize it at a glance. As someone who had experienced pain, Asha instinctively recognized the pain in others. Asha calmly accepted her greeting. ¡°Lady Nia, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°It is an honor for me to meet Lady Vanessa. So, I prepared a present for you.¡± However, Nia¡¯s smile seemed fake as she handed over the gift box. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a gift! What great sense you have. We¡¯re all so curious to know what the gift is. Lady Vanessa, hurry up and open it!¡± Curious about the contents of the gift box, the noble ladies crowded around Vanessa urging her to open it. Asha opened the box surrounded by them. However, Asha¡¯s expression stiffened as she opened the box. Inside was a ¡®bow¡¯. Nia said with a smile. ¡°I heard that you were part of a hunting group before becoming an imperial butterfly. You must be more interested in hunting than crafts, right?¡± The noble ladies around them coughed awkwardly. Her words were laced with subtle disdain and contempt towards the hobby of hunting, which was considered unsuitable for noblewomen. No empress in history had ever had such a hobby. Thinking it was just another amusing incident, the other noblewomen smiled and played along with the joke. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize Lady Vanessa enjoyed hunting!¡± ¡°I heard she likes horseback riding too. It must be tough for her not to have her blue-gray horse with her.¡± Their words were spoken too openly, and they burst into laughter, their eyes widening in amusement. Asha was the only one standing there without smiling. It was clear the purpose was to openly shame her for leaving the emperor to play with wild horses. From the start, it was clear that this tea party was not organized to select a lady-in-waiting for Asha. Their expressions made it apparent that none of them had any interest in being her lady-in-waiting. Or perhaps, they were even betting with each other on who would be the unfortunate one chosen as her lady-in-waiting and gossiping about her every move. For nobles, scandals involving the imperial family were always exciting. Asha tightened her grip on the fine wooden bow. The bow was also a blue-gray color as if to remind her of Sheppy¡¯s color. If she were to lash out in anger now, she¡¯d only become the only woman to lose her temper. It was all too easy for everyone to turn a sane person into a crazy one in a situation where they all stood together. She was accustomed to being insulted, but she could not tolerate seeing Jackal being insulted and ignored by others. Just as she was about to retort with a sharp glare, a guard from the Duke¡¯s household came running frantically from afar. ¡°¡­¡­ Everyone, hurry up and evacuate!¡± But in an instant, he fell to the ground, his body soaked in blood. In the sudden chaos, everyone froze for a few seconds before breaking out into screams. Asha looked in the direction of the commotion, her eyes trembling with fear. Behind the guard, a monster resembling a giant tick was attached to his body, sucking and drinking his blood. Every time the giant monster moved its mouth, its stomach jiggled. This was a shocking situation that had never happened before. While there were rumors of demons appearing in the empire, they had never shown up in the capital. Although Karaf was a flower that did not bloom, it was because it was the land he protected. One of the main reasons the empire¡¯s flowers needed to bloom was to become safe from attacks by monsters like this. In Etzheim, the Empire of Flowers, monsters that damaged flowers mostly appeared especially aphids and pests. The noble ladies ran frantically to the mansion, their faces turning white. Some stumbled and fell due to shock, but none of them helped each other, as their only focus was to escape and survive. Then, another spider-like monster appeared far away, targeting Nia, who was struggling to run away. The sight of its creepy legs moving frantically gave chills just by looking at it. Nia, wearing an uncomfortable and excessive dress, was slower than the other ladies, and it seemed that she would soon be caught by the monster. Asha aimed her bow, which was a gift from Nia, in that direction. It was ridiculous, but she didn¡¯t feel good about letting Nia die. If Nia died, Kiam Delphinium would openly attack the palace and become an enemy. She could no longer ignore the exhausting situation. She shot an arrow towards Nia, and the golden wind around it created a whirlwind as it flew towards the monster¡¯s mouth, precisely piercing its throat. Nia, who had been freed, fell to the ground and her fancy dress was covered in dirt. Despite her disheveled appearance, Nia stared at Asha with trembling eyes. However, Asha calmly lifted the bow Nia had given her and smiled. It meant that she had used it well. Nia¡¯s eyes widened, but Asha raised the bow again and began to kill the rest of the monsters one by one. As she tried to counterattack, the monsters that had been hiding revealed themselves as if they had been waiting. A spider-like monster spewed out webs, but Asha agilely dodged and immediately shot another arrow into its mouth. The gold-colored wind whirled around her hand as she shot arrows one after another, hitting each monster precisely. Her drawing and releasing speed was so fast that it was almost invisible. Everyone was watching with their mouths wide open as Asha ran across the meadow like a fierce warrior. Her purple dress fluttered like she was dancing passionately on the battlefield every time she avoided an attack and struck back. Her movements as she shot arrows felt less like a battle and more like a dance or a sword fight. When another caterpillar-like monster charged towards her, Asha gracefully stepped aside, gliding along the ground in her dress, before hitting it right in the center of its mouth. She then spotted a few knights struggling in a distant fight and quickly rescued them with her sharp arrows. Unfortunately for the nobles, all the flying arrows hit the monsters¡¯ mouths as a warning to ¡°watch your mouth¡±. The noble ladies and gentlemen realized it too late, causing their faces to turn pale. The monsters fell down helplessly without even being able to scream in pain from the piercing wind hitting their throats. Her demeanor was like that of someone who would turn off an unpleasant piece of music during a venomous dance. Asha, in her own way, had managed to startle not only the monsters but also the noble ladies and gentlemen. The once peaceful tea party had turned into a hellish scene with shattered tables and chairs, and monster fluids spilled everywhere. After the battle, the soldiers and knights who fought alongside her rushed to her, bowing their heads in gratitude. ¡°Thank you for saving us, Lady Vanessa!¡± ¡°Thanks to Lady Vanessa, we were able to protect the duchy!¡± Asha replied as she casually brushed back her slightly disheveled hair with one hand. ¡°It was nothing.¡± As the soldiers carried their wounded comrades into the mansion, the noble ladies and gentlemen gathered around the doorway, staring at her with a look of horror as if they had seen a ghost. Asha glanced briefly at them before turning her attention to Nia, who was lying on the ground. When Nia looked up at her with a dazed expression, Asha reached out her hand and smiled gently. ¡°Are you alright, Lady Nia?¡± ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­¡­ I¡­¡­.¡± Nia was unable to continue speaking and lowered her gaze, feeling ashamed of her rude behavior. But Asha, appearing innocent and unaware of Nia¡¯s hidden intentions, spoke. ¡°Thank you for the gift. It¡¯s a very nice bow. How did you know that I like bows and that I¡¯m good at handling them? It¡¯s a perfect gift for me.¡± Nia couldn¡¯t bring herself to lift her head at Asha¡¯s words. ¡°It is an honor to have the opportunity to display the gift in this way and, more than anything, I am happy to be able to help the person who gave me the gift.¡± Asha smiled brightly. Her smile was so dazzling that it was hard to believe that she had just fiercely fought the monsters. In a hoarse voice, Nia spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lady Vanessa¡­¡­¡± The situation they had just been in had put the Empress in danger, but Asha had managed to save everyone. Asha slightly erased her smile and lowered her head, speaking seriously only to her. ¡°Go back and treat your wounds. Even the ones you can¡¯t see. If you leave them untreated, they¡¯ll only get worse.¡± Nia¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment as she looked up at Asha. Asha looked at her as if she knew everything. ¡°If the situation is not good, come to the palace. You can receive the best medical treatment there. You can¡¯t let your body and mind suffer, can you? If you feel in danger, come find me anytime. I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Asha smiled again. Her words contained a hidden meaning that if something happened in the Count¡¯s household, Nia should come and find her immediately. Nia trembled in disbelief as she looked at Asha. Even though her hair accessories were loose and her blonde hair was disheveled due to the fight, Asha looked like a noble goddess. Asha¡¯s warm and welcoming demeanor made Nia feel as if she would embrace her at any time. The butterfly that always gracefully fluttered over the flowers was a lofty existence that they could not dare to treat lightly. Nia finally realized that the woman in front of her was a ¡®real¡¯ butterfly that she couldn¡¯t overlook, and a shiver ran through her body. CH 87 Nia said with a serious face. ¡°¡­Lady Vanessa, I will definitely repay you for today¡¯s kindness.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯m someone who likes favors, so I won¡¯t refuse. I dislike mean pranks or bullying, though.¡± After saying that, Asha straightened her back and turned her gaze toward the noble ladies. As they received her gaze, they all seemed visibly uncomfortable, averting their eyes. ¡°Everyone, while I was fighting, I thought deeply and realized that I don¡¯t need a lady-in-waiting. I have to take care of His Majesty, so if there are too many ladies-in-waiting I have to protect, I¡¯ll become tired, you see.¡± As Asha finished speaking, she put her bow on her back and walked away confidently. The noble ladies, who were staring at her back with blank expressions, suddenly became restless and coughed awkwardly without meeting each other¡¯s eyes. Unlike Asha, they had pushed each other away and fled at the first sign of danger, as if asking when they had ever been on the same side. But then, at that moment¡­ ¡°¡­Vanessa!¡± With a distant scream-like shout, a thick rose scent blew in as a man with his sword drawn ran towards Asha like a lunatic. He had rushed over with all the Cactus Knights after hearing news of an unknown monster appearing at the tea party. Seeing the intimidating armored knights behind him, Asha¡¯s jaw dropped. Karaf rushed to her and was about to hug her, but he quickly changed his mind, thinking that Asha might be uncomfortable with physical contact. However, he was so excited that he blurted out. ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯m fine, Your Majesty.¡± When Asha replied calmly but with a hint of nervousness, Karaf immediately took her hand and examined it carefully, checking for any injuries or blisters. His gaze was persistent and somehow clingy, making Asha swallow her saliva. In truth, Karaf would have been content with just holding her hand, but Asha was unaware of his feelings¡­ With a relieved sigh, Karaf confirmed that there were no injuries and lowered his hand. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re unharmed.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, I wanted to clarify something that may be misunderstood.¡± When Karaf raised his head, Asha smiled and continued. ¡°The monsters didn¡¯t harm me at all.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You do?¡± ¡°Yes, I know better than anyone that there is no monster that can stand up against your archery skills.¡± ¡°But why¡­?¡± ¡°Do you think a monster would only take the form of a bug?¡± His red eyes flickered slightly. Asha realized what he meant and fell silent. Karaf seemed worried that she may have been hurt by the noble ladies rather than the monsters. He knew too well about the past and had hardly done any work since she left the palace, fearing that they might harass her. He had even considered secretly following her to protect her but gave up the idea since he knew she despised surveillance and confinement. Asha gently took his arm, as if to reassure him, and said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Majesty. Lady Nia gave me a beautiful bow as a gift, so I was able to defeat the monsters.¡± ¡°Yes. It must be a very good bow, seeing the monsters dead.¡± Asha replied, suppressing a laugh as Karaf expressed his regret while looking over the scattered monsters¡¯ bodies. ¡°Yes. It seems so.¡± ¡°But a gift. It¡¯s a bit unexpected¡­.¡± Karaf said with a surprised expression. Wasn¡¯t it Lady Nia Delphinium who was aspiring for Vanessa¡¯s position? However, seeing her trying to build a relationship with Asha by giving her a bow as a gift, he couldn¡¯t figure out what she was up to. As he looked for Nia, his gaze met hers in the distance. She politely lowered her head and gracefully left. Karaf, who had thought she would try to seduce him, finally realized that she had given up on her ambition and looked at her back with half-doubt. But soon his expression hardened as he saw that the bow Asha was holding had a bluish-gray tint. He realized the hidden meaning behind the gift. Before Karaf could get angry, Asha quickly led him away. ¡°Your Majesty, shall we return to the palace now? Since this commotion has occurred, we should postpone the selection of the lady-in-waiting.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go back.¡± Karaf replied, naturally escorting her away. The noble ladies who saw the two of them walking together intimately had expressions as if they were enchanted. They had previously thought that the kidnapping incident during the Flowering Ceremony would cause the relationship between Asha and Karaf to deteriorate. However, after seeing them together now, they were convinced that they had misunderstood. As Asha walked with Karaf, she made a slightly relieved expression. The Empress, who was always alone in the palace, and the lonely Emperor had finally found comfort in each other and felt like they could face the world. As a result of the incident, stories about Karaf and Asha became more popular at the nobles¡¯ social gatherings, but no bad rumors were spread anymore. Instead, many stories were circulating about Vanessa¡¯s great archery skills, and Ella played the biggest role in spreading the rumors in the social circle. She was thrilled to see that Asha had fought against the monsters so beautifully while wearing the dress she had made. ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­ If you choose me as your Lady-in-waiting, I will be the happiest and most honored person in the world.¡± Asha turned to her calmly. ¡°Then will you please?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡­ I overstepped my boundaries¡­Yes?¡± Ella looked at her in surprise. Asha smiled softly and announced. ¡°I have already decided on my first lady-in-waiting.¡± Ella¡¯s eyes widened, and then she grabbed the hem of her dress and bowed. ¡°It¡¯s an honor for me to serve as your lady-in-waiting, Lady Vanessa! I will do everything in my power to make sure you shine every day!¡± ¡°I¡¯m counting on you.¡± Asha replied with a smile. Despite she was not of high status, Ella Ranunculus was of noble birth, which made her a legitimate candidate for the position of lady-in-waiting. Moreover, she was already a well-known figure in the aristocratic circle due to the stunning dress she had designed for the Flowering Ceremony. Since no one knew Vanessa¡¯s fashion preferences better than Ella, they all agreed that she was the perfect choice for the position and had no objections to her appointment. Sonya, too, clasped her hands with a dreamy face at the thought that she would see Asha in a luxurious dress every day in the future. From the moment Karaf appeared, Sonya kept her mouth shut, but as soon as she returned to the palace, her previously sealed mouth opened wide. She was so excited that she couldn¡¯t stop talking to the servants about what she had seen at the tea party. Karaf was curious about Asha¡¯s performance and wanted a detailed report from his knights, but even their reports couldn¡¯t match the vividness of the scene as described by Sonya. After spreading rumors to her heart¡¯s content and returning, she told Asha. ¡°Lady Vanessa, I¡¯m really your fan! Please give me your autograph¡­!¡± It was as if she was asking Asha to sign her clothes, and Asha hesitated. ¡°The clothes are a bit¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay! I have many of the same clothes!¡± Sonya exclaimed innocently, but Asha thought seriously that she should buy her some new clothes. In the end, she took out a handkerchief and signed it for Sonya. Sonya received the handkerchief and happily held it to her chest with her eyes closed. Asha quietly asked her. ¡°By the way, was my villainous acting okay today?¡± ¡°What? A villainess? Was that a villainess?¡± Sonya¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°If it was a real villainess, we shouldn¡¯t investigate monsters, but their mouths!¡± ¡°Sonya, dignity.¡± ¡°Oh! I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sonya was elated, bouncing up and down while covering her mouth. Asha also covered her mouth and chuckled. Sonya proudly declared. ¡°It¡¯s okay. *You really flattened my nose! You were amazing! If Lady Vanessa were a man, I would have confessed my feelings to you!¡± T/N: * This is often used humorously or exaggeratedly to show gratitude or admiration towards someone who has done something impressive or helpful. Sonya realized she may have said something silly and slapped her mouth in embarrassment, but Asha couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud for the first time in a long while because of Sonya¡¯s antics. * * * * * As the sun began to set, Jackal and Sosa returned to the village after finishing their training. As they approached the entrance, they were greeted by the Nasson man who seemed to have been waiting for them. ¡°I heard about what happened at the dining hall last time¡­ I didn¡¯t expect such a thing to happen, I¡¯m really sorry¡­.¡± He was perspiring heavily and rolling his eyes. Jackal said nonchalantly. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Thanks to that, I was able to loosen up after a long time. Plus, I got a good idea of the skill level of the warriors who are guarding the village.¡± At those words, the man visibly flinched once again. ¡°I asked the chief to set up a separate dining room. I hope the two of you can dine comfortably from now on.¡± ¡°Thanks for that.¡± At his words, the man¡¯s face lit up again. It seemed like he was happy to help them even a little. As they followed him into the hut, they saw numerous dishes laid out on a large table. It was a carefully prepared meal just for the two of them. The Nasson man politely clasped his hands and said. ¡°I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Ruan. If there is not enough food, please let me know at any time. I¡¯ll bring it even if it means stealing all the food from my house. The Nasson clan have never lacked for crops from the land, having served the spirits of the land since ancient times.¡± ¡°What a prosperous clan.¡± Upon hearing Jackal¡¯s words, the man appeared apologetic and couldn¡¯t lift his head. After Ruan left, Sosa looked at the food with satisfaction but suddenly turned serious and asked him. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s poison in the food¡­.?¡± ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t want to doubt it, but it¡¯s not impossible, particularly since they have set up surveillance again.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I can sense a presence outside.¡± Jackal said as he gazed out the window with a charismatic look. Sosa¡¯s expression quickly changed, and he glanced out the window. Jackal ran his fingers over the well-cleaned tableware on the table before picking up an item and tossing it toward the door. A knife was lodged in the wooden door, and a startled voice was heard from outside. Jackal burst open the door roughly, revealing children with trembling legs cowering on the ground and gazing up at him. CH 88 Sosa blinked in surprise at the unexpected situation. Jackal maintained a stoic expression as he directed his cold gaze toward the group of children. ¡°Who ordered you to spy on me? Was it the village chief again?¡± ¡°Oh no! I¡¯m sorry! We didn¡¯t mean to spy on you¡­¡­¡± ¡°Then what?¡± Jackal carefully examined each of their faces, his intense gaze causing some of the children to tremble and even cry. Tears streamed down their faces as they sniffled and wiped their runny noses. Looking at their worn-out clothes and pitiful expressions, Jackal began to suspect that someone had used these children for spying. As he frowned slightly, he noticed that some of the children¡¯s faces looked familiar. ¡°Do you guys know Asha Camelia?¡± He asked, prompting the children to look up in surprise and confusion. ¡°Oh? Do you know our sister Asha?¡± Sosa also realized something at that moment and looked at Jackal with wide eyes. These children were the same children that Asha had cared for when she lived here in the past, who were used in the false disappearance case. Jackal¡¯s suspicion dissipated and said with a smile. ¡°Asha talked a lot about you guys.¡± ¡°Our sister Asha¡­¡­?¡± As soon as they heard the familiar name, they jumped up and down like a puppy meeting its owner. ¡°Where is our sister now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s at the Imperial Palace. She¡¯s Vanessa now.¡± ¡°Oh, right. That¡¯s true¡­.¡± Jackal spoke sarcastically, but the children¡¯s faces became slightly gloomy. However, they soon changed their expressions and asked him a question. ¡°Mister, if someone goes to the palace, can they eat lots of delicious food and wear nice clothes?¡± ¡°Of course, Asha is living very comfortably there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief¡­¡­!¡± The children exclaimed joyfully and smiled broadly, revealing their missing teeth. Despite their evident struggle to have a proper meal, they showed no signs of the difficult lives they were leading. As Jackal watched them, he understood why Asha held these children so close to her heart. After a moment of silence, he asked them. ¡°But what is happening here?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡­¡­ ¡± The children¡¯s faces turned embarrassed, and a loud ¡°gulp¡± echoed. The sound was answer enough for Jackal. He turned and gestured for them to follow him inside. ¡°Come in¡­..¡± The children hesitated at first, but when Sosa kindly urged them to come in, they followed him like a group of chicks. They noticed a lot of food on the table and went ¡°Whoa!¡± exclaiming in admiration. When Jackal gestured for them to sit down, they eagerly took their seats at the table, their eyes sparkling. ¡°Are you guys eating well? Asha was very worried about you all.¡± When their older sister was worried about them, the children quickly responded with courage. ¡°Yes! Please tell our sister that we¡¯re okay!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We can even hunt now! We go to the mountains to catch animals during the day.¡± ¡°They are great hunters!¡± Sosa smiled and complimented them. The children blinked in surprise, as if it was the first time they had received praise, and then began to boast about themselves more noisily. Jackal listened quietly and said. ¡°Stop talking and eat. If you keep talking, the food will get cold.¡± He added with a blank expression. ¡°I can¡¯t stand noisy kids.¡± The children felt embarrassed and looked down upon hearing Jackal¡¯s words, and began eating quietly. Sosa tried to scold Jackal for speaking so harshly, but he simply shrugged it off. Despite his words, Jackal ate slowly, making sure that the children had enough to eat. During wartime, he believed that as long as he ate enough to survive, it was sufficient. To him, this place was no different from a wartime situation. The way the children hurriedly ate made it clear that they were starving. On days when hunting was unsuccessful, they must have gone without food. As the children savored the warm and delicious food after a long time, their faces lit up with joy. Nagy¡¯s face flashed in Jackal¡¯s mind as he calmly looked at the children and said. ¡°From now on, you can come here and eat with us every day.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The children asked excitedly with their mouths full of food, and their eyes widened. Food was smeared all over their faces. ¡°Yes. No matter what, I have to make sure you eat your meals. In exchange, I want each of you to tell me what Asha was doing in the village after every meal. This is a deal. To become a true hunter, you have to know how to negotiate.¡± The children shouted with bright faces. ¡°Yes! Thank you, mister!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a mister.¡± Seeing Jackal speak firmly, Sosa laughed silently beside him. Jackal intended to take care of the children instead of Asha during his stay and train them to be hunters who could live without her. He knew all too well the feeling of becoming an orphan overnight. And more than anything, he wanted to know all about Asha¡¯s life here and all the memories she had. He only wanted to know everything about her. This is how he loves and remembers Asha, even when they were far apart. After the meal, the children began to share stories about Asha. ¡°Sister Asha is really bad at knitting! She once made us scarves, but there were holes all over them, so the cold wind kept coming in through them.¡± Jackal smiled and chuckled. Then, a child said, blushing. ¡°This is a secret, but that scarf is my number one treasure. I¡¯ve never taken it off my neck in winter.¡± Jackal nodded, remembering the rabbit fur scarf Asha had made for him, which he still cherished. ¡°Sister Asha loves flowers and plants. Whenever we went to the mountains and found a flower whose name we didn¡¯t know, she always wondered what its name was. Oh, and she also taught us how to differentiate herbs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! She also made us a lot of flower tea! We didn¡¯t know anything about tea, so we thought they were all the same.¡± The children giggled uncontrollably. Jackal¡¯s eyes clouded over. Listening to their stories, he felt as if Asha was still present in the village, right before his eyes. He retreated to his room to write a letter to Asha. He hesitated and lost himself in thought as he wrote about his meeting with the village chief and how the orphans were doing. Sosa saw him and sneaked up on him. ¡°Are you writing a letter?¡± Jackal lowered his head and shielded the letter with his hand. Sosa asked jokingly, with a smile. ¡°Is this a love letter to Asha?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The mention of a ¡°love letter¡± made Jackal¡¯s expression grow more serious. Wondering why he looked like that, Sosa stared at him and Jackal showed him the letter. ¡°Read it. See if it¡¯s okay.¡± Not knowing why he would show him such a personal letter, Sosa swallowed hard and read the letter carefully. But soon his expression became very dry and empty. While Jackal seemed uneasy, Sosa had a puzzled expression. ¡°Is this really¡­. something to send to Asha? It sounds more like a report¡± ¡°¡­¡­Well, it says ¡®Dear Asha¡¯ at the beginning.¡± Sosa remarked, looking at the stiff letter in disbelief. Maybe Jackal is dumber than he thought¡­¡­ Sosa returned the letter and said firmly. ¡°You need to rewrite this. It won¡¯t do.¡± ¡°Why? I think all the necessary information is in there.¡± ¡°What? There¡¯s nothing important in there at all! Asha will be so disappointed if she reads this! You need to include at least one clich¨¦ love phrase at the end!¡± Jackal¡¯s expression became even more serious. He knew deep down that there was something wrong with the letter. However, he had never written a love letter before and was unsure how to make it romantic. Jackal sighed and looked at Sosa. ¡°Do women really like romantic letters?¡± ¡°Yes, they do. It is said that men who write good love letters are attractive. If you write a letter full of love, she will read it over and over again and treasure it.¡± With this in mind, Jackal carefully selected his words as he wrote his letter to Asha. Sosa opened one eye and glanced at him. ¡°Why are you worrying so much? Just write something as if you sent it to me then. I miss you, my love.¡± At the moment when Sosa was skillfully acting, a crumpled wad of parchment flew from the side. He quickly ran out of the room. He had already crumpled up several letters and thrown them into the trash can. I should have written a proper love letter before¡­¡­. He thought, realizing that writing a letter to Sosa was different from writing one to someone he truly loved. With that in mind, he poured his heart and soul into the letter, hoping that Asha would like it. Soon, Jackal carefully rolled up the letter and tied it with a blue ribbon to Gabe¡¯s hawk leg. The blue ribbon symbolized him and indicated that the letter was from him. Meanwhile, Asha sat by the window in the palace, basking in the sunshine as she played with the wooden sculpture that Jackal had given her. Despite the physical distance between them, their hearts were still close. Suddenly, in the distance, a hawk appeared, flying toward her while emitting a loud cry. Asha recognized at a glance that the hawk was Gabe¡¯s, and her eyes widened. The falcon landed on the windowsill and turned its head. Asha quickly retrieved the letter tied to its leg and began reading it slowly, her heart pounding with excitement. However, most of the letter contained only information about the mission. Asha sighed, relieved to hear news about the orphans, but also slightly disappointed that it was all he had written. Then, she noticed the last part of the letter. [¡­This place is deep in the mountains, so all kinds of flowers bloom abundantly. However, the flower I really want to see is not here. Every day, while looking at these flowers, I think of you. ¡­.I love you and I miss you. ¨C Sheppy, with a flower in its mouth. To the woman who is more beautiful than any flower.] At the very end of the letter, pretty dried wildflowers were attached. Upon reading Jackal¡¯s heartfelt letter, Asha burst into a happy smile. She couldn¡¯t help but find him absolutely adorable, as she imagined him putting the flowers in his pocket despite being allergic to pollen, and carefully taping them to the edge of the letter with his large, hunched body. Her heart was pounding, and she felt like she wanted to hug Sheppy tightly and give him kisses on his nose. No, she wanted to kiss him directly on the lips as she gazed at his flushed face. As she thought about it, Asha¡¯s face turned red, and she fanned herself with her hand. She reread the letter several more times before sitting on the windowsill and feeding and watering the hawk, who sat calmly on the window frame, waiting. She was grateful that the hawk had flown a long way in the middle of the night. Asha looked up at the night sky, pondering for a while, before finally picking up her pen and beginning to write a reply. CH 89 The next morning, Karaf completed one of his important daily tasks, a bath. He enjoyed the feeling of the sunlight on his bare skin as he relaxed in the outdoor bath, absentmindedly spinning the suncatcher gifted to him by Asha. The sunlight filtered through the suncatcher and created a beautiful pattern on his face. However, his peaceful moment was interrupted by the memory of the conversation he had with the chamberlain a few days ago. The chamberlain asked hesitantly. ¡®Your Majesty, now that Lady Vanessa has officially become the Empress, it would be prudent for the two of you to reside in the same palace.¡¯ ¡®¡­¡­ What?¡¯ Karaf stopped moving and looked at the chamberlain with slightly widened eyes. The chamberlain seemed hesitant to speak, as if embarrassed. ¡®It¡¯s just that¡­¡­ although it may seem embarrassing for an old man like me to say this, there are rumors circulating among the nobles about the two of us using separate palaces, especially after the Flowering Ceremony.¡¯ Karaf chuckled at the remark. ¡®It seems like everyone is quite interested in other people¡¯s sleeping arrangements.¡¯ The chamberlain blushed and fell silent, unsure of how to respond. ¡®Perhaps they are all waiting for news of Your Majesty¡¯s flowering.¡¯ The chamberlain didn¡¯t say anything more, and he sighed quietly as he turned his back. Karaf tried to act indifferent, but the chamberlain¡¯s words left a deep impression on him. The idea of living together with his new Empress in the traditional sense, after the ceremony, was essential for the Emperor and Empress to follow. It was an imperial tradition, and the whole nation would bless the union. However, Karaf couldn¡¯t shake the thought that she might have bad memories associated with sexual intimacy. He knew that when she recalled her first marriage, it must have been like a nightmare for her¡­.¡­. Karaf felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he remembered that they couldn¡¯t sleep in bed together last time, but now he couldn¡¯t even bring up the idea of just lying in bed together. Moreover, Karaf knew that if he didn¡¯t carry out his own blooming, there could be even worse rumors circulating, which could torment Asha. However, the chamberlain relentlessly bothered Karaf about the joint palace at every opportunity. Karaf would disappear like a ghost whenever the chamberlain appeared, turning around so that he couldn¡¯t even bring it up. He was afraid of revealing the fact that even if a joint palace were established, he would not be able to bloom. But for the chamberlain, who knew nothing about his situation, it was frustrating and perplexing. To make matters worse, monsters had started to appear in the Lilac duchy.¡­. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh heavily in this helpless situation. The servants who served in the bath were startled by Karaf¡¯s reaction and worked even harder, assuming that he was dissatisfied. However, those who waited on the side knew that the two had not spent the night together. The chamberlain, who was nearby, quickly noticed the servants¡¯ reaction. As Karaf was lost in deep thought, the servants silently brought flower petals, herbs, and fragrant oil in perfect order without making a sound. It seemed as if he was the only one standing still while everything around him was busy moving. However, Karaf was too deeply immersed in his thoughts to notice anything else. With the joint palace posing a problem and the recent monster attack adding to the instability of the empire, Karaf knew he needed to find a new way to stabilize it. Meanwhile, the chamberlain summoned some attendants and gave them instructions. ¡°The fragrance of His Majesty¡¯s body and the radiance of his skin should be at their best. You must do your utmost to ensure that His Majesty and Lady Vanessa have a successful first night!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The attendants replied and worked more diligently upon receiving the order. In order to create the perfect atmosphere for a successful night, they exhibited all of their skills. Karaf, still lost in his thoughts, was surprised to find all sorts of dried petals and medicinal herbs floating in the bath when he finally came to his senses. As a result, the bath water displayed a splendid color, as if paint had been released, and a heavenly aroma filled the air. Although Karaf did not say anything, Karaf seemed satisfied. Karaf was determined to present his most attractive self to Vanessa from that moment on. He hoped that by doing so, he could capture her heart once again, even if it was only a little. With this in mind, he resolved to make every effort to impress her with his beauty and charm. Lost in his own thoughts and in a momentary bout of narcissism, Karaf wiped his face, which looked like a finely carved piece, in the water. He picked up a flower petal and watched it flow through his palm before addressing the attendants with a serious expression. ¡°Take care of my hair as well.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Karaf secretly harbored a complex about his hair spewing pollen whenever he was excited. The attendants carefully lathered Karaf¡¯s hair with fragrant flower soap, washing it with great care before applying nutritional supplements specially formulated by the imperial family to make his hair shiny. As they worked, Karaf placed a hand on his chest, where the curse was engraved. Come to think of it, Asha once said that she prefers inner beauty to outer beauty¡­. His inner beauty was far from beautiful right now. Perhaps this was why the monsters had appeared at the tea party. A wrinkle formed between his eyebrows as he pondered this. ¡°Darn it¡­.¡± As the attendants worked on his hair, one of them accidentally dropped the comb, causing it to roll onto the grass. The attendant who had dropped it paled and trembled as he saw Karaf looking uncomfortable. ¡°M-my apologies, Your Majesty! I deserve to die¡­.!¡± Karaf spoke, his gaze still fixed ahead. ¡°Dropping the comb is not a matter of life and death.¡± The servant immediately bowed and said. ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s kindness is greatly appreciated! I¡¯ll get a new comb right now!¡± After picking up the fallen comb, the servant hurriedly returned with a new one, just as lavish as the previous one, with its handle adorned with sparkling jewels and intricate designs. The combs used to groom the emperor¡¯s hair were always of the finest quality. As another servant was meticulously combing the emperor¡¯s hair, a single strand was accidentally pulled out, causing the servant to cry out in distress and prostrate himself on the ground in front of the emperor. ¡°Please kill me, Your Majesty! I have dared to harm Your Majesty¡¯s sacred body¡­.¡± As the other servants continued to bow their heads and plead for punishment, Karaf felt a sudden wave of exhaustion and let out a heavy sigh. His reaction only made the servants sob even more, sensing that he was not in a good mood. However, Karaf did not know how to handle this ridiculous situation, although he tried to reassure them that everything was fine, they seemed not to listen to him, lost in their own remorse and fear. Karaf was shocked and wondered if he really was a merciless tyrant. He resolved to make an effort to cultivate his inner self from now on and change things gradually. Karaf smiled awkwardly and spoke kindly to the servants. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t kill people for making a mistake.¡± The servants trembled at his words, but Karaf quickly realized that his smile and tone may have come across as intimidating. In the past, he didn¡¯t actually kill the person who made a mistake, but cut off a part of their body and expelled them. This is not right¡­. Karaf blinked in surprise at the servants¡¯ reaction. It can sometimes feel awkward when people do something that is outside of their usual behavior. Karaf cleared his throat and corrected his words. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t really like killing people.¡± He said, but no one believed him. His words came out sounding like he preferred torture over the killing. As a result, the servants all fell to the ground and begged for mercy. Karaf felt flustered as he looked around and noticed that even the chamberlain had misunderstood him, mistaking his red eyes as a sign of madness. ¡°I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I taught the servants wrong!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karaf was at a loss for words, feeling shocked at the strange situation unfolding in front of him. It seemed that his image was already irreparable. In his state of shock, he muttered to himself. ¡°Is my personality really that trashy¡­?¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty! No one would dare to think of you in such a manner!¡± Karaf stopped making excuses and returned to his usual cool demeanor. ¡°Finish your work. Once it is done, I will forgive you all.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty! We are truly grateful for your mercy!¡± The servants exclaimed as they resumed their work with renewed haste. Karaf refrained from sighing openly, fearing that the servants would once again tremble in fear. Instead, he let out a quiet inward sigh. Perhaps it was necessary for him to continue playing the role of the villain so that people could feel calm in their familiarity with his wickedness. To conceal his intimidating appearance, he crafted a mask using numerous flower petals. Though it made him look rather comical, he felt more at ease knowing that his face was hidden behind the colorful petals. After his bath, Karaf changed into his embroidered robe and examined himself in the full-length mirror. His skin appeared fresher than usual, moistened by the water and illuminated by the sunlight. The sickly appearance he had shown on the day of the new moon was no longer visible. Karaf touched his chin in satisfaction as he carefully checked his wet hair for any stray pollen. Everything was perfect. As Karaf¡¯s expression brightened, the servants finally relaxed. He took a quick look in the mirror before turning to them. ¡°Since today¡¯s bath was satisfactory, I will reward everyone. Chamberlain, give these servants gold coins equal to twice their usual salary as a reward.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The chamberlain replied, bowing politely. The servants were so surprised that they fell to the ground once again. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes, who had always been strict and punished those who did wrong, softened slightly at their reaction. Before he was cursed, he had not been that type of person. However, after being betrayed by his trusted friend, he had become disillusioned with humanity and had thrown away any sense of mercy. He believed that only through fear could he control others and protect himself from being attacked. He had initially been trying to impress Asha, but his actions had inadvertently led to a positive outcome. As a result, he was gradually changing. The chamberlain, who was watching his change from the side, looked at him with pride. The chamberlain immediately ran to Asha without Karaf¡¯s knowledge. ¡°Lady Vanessa, it¡¯s the chamberlain.¡± Asha, who was engrossed in a book, opened the door. ¡°What happened?¡± The chamberlain cleared his throat a few times and blushed slightly before speaking. CH 90 Instead of bringing up the sleeping situation, the chamberlain subtly conveyed the news that Karaf had rewarded the servants this morning. His expression as he spoke was very impressive and proud, making Asha feel a little uneasy. It was as if a child seeking praise had done something impressive, and she couldn¡¯t shake off that feeling. That made her think that what Karaf had done might have been what he was looking for. Despite this, the chamberlain¡¯s next words had a melancholic tone. ¡°It seems that His Majesty is gradually blooming¡­¡­¡± It was a double-edged statement. As an imperial flower, it was good for him to embrace enlightenment, but what the people wanted was for him to transform from a tyrant to a saint. The chamberlain, who had been subtly observing her, spoke taking advantage of the situation. ¡°By the way, it seems that His Majesty has not been sleeping well at night lately.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Not knowing anything, Asha eagerly took the bait he threw. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that¡­.. but I heard him calling for Lady Vanessa in the middle of the night.¡± Upon hearing this, Asha¡¯s expression darkened slightly. As the chamberlain watched her, Asha replied. ¡°Then I should go and put him to sleep tonight.¡± ¡°¡­..Really? Would you do that?¡± The chamberlain spoke with a happy heart, and his words unintentionally came out in a loud and clear voice before he blushed and coughed awkwardly. ¡°No, please don¡¯t misunderstand my words¡­.¡± A question mark rose above Asha¡¯s head, but the chamberlain misunderstood the significance of her determination to put him to sleep as sexual intimacy. Not knowing that, Asha did her best to make sure that she would put him to bed properly tonight. However, the servants were more serious than usual, concentrating on the preparations for the bath. This was Asha¡¯s first time attempting to go to the emperor¡¯s bedroom in the middle of the night, and everyone could tell what it meant. Only Sonya looked at her with a worried expression. Asha had a luxurious bath with massage and pearl powder dissolved in water but when she came to her senses, she was already wearing a silk nightgown and had been transported to Karaf¡¯s room. Karaf, who had returned to his bedroom after working late into the night, was surprised to see Asha in his room. ¡°Vanessa¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Ah, Your Majesty.¡± Asha replied, greeting him casually, while Karaf stuttered over his words. ¡°What, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°I came to help Your Majesty sleep. I heard you¡¯ve been struggling with insomnia lately.¡± ¡°Y-yeah¡­¡­ ¡± Karaf couldn¡¯t bear to say that the reason he suffered from insomnia as his head ached just thinking about the joint palace. But when Asha stood in front of him in her silk nightgown, her hair unbound, his mind went blank and he felt as if his head had turned white. ¡°How did you know that?¡± ¡°The chamberlain informed me.¡± ¡°That senile old man¡­¡­¡± Thinking it was the chamberlain¡¯s scheme, Karaf muttered with a frown. He felt awful now that he thought the old man had gone to such lengths as to persuade Vanessa. Asha, however, unaware of the situation, pushed a cart over to the bed. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± Karaf, who was lost in thought and didn¡¯t even notice, asked curiously and was surprised. Asha smiled and answered innocently. ¡°Your Majesty told me that reading history books at night helps to sleep better.¡± Asha proudly showed him the books that she had borrowed from the temple library. ¡°Tonight, I will diligently read the books for you. You can focus and listen or even fall asleep while listening. It¡¯s like killing two birds with one stone.¡± At Asha¡¯s innocent and naive words, Karaf was taken aback, and then he burst out laughing. Asha asked curiously. ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± He responded, wiping a small tear from his eye with his index finger. ¡°It seems like even Vanessa is having trouble sleeping these days.¡± ¡°Well, I¡­ have a lot of books to read and things to worry about, so I have trouble sleeping.¡± ¡°Then, I should also warm up my body so that the Empress can sleep well.¡± Asha¡¯s body froze at those words. It was only then that she realized she had walked into the lion¡¯s den on her own. Karaf looked at her and spoke mischievously. ¡°I was just joking. But I will indeed warm you up. Don¡¯t you have a particularly low body temperature?¡± ¡°How did you know that?¡± When Asha asked, slightly surprised, Karaf paused for a moment before answering with a melancholic expression. ¡°I know that much, at least.¡± He remembered how her body always felt cold whenever they slept together in the past. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was just because she was nervous during their intimacy, but every time he held her hand or embraced her, he could feel her cold body. However, he knew that his own body was also cold. On days when the moon doesn¡¯t rise, due to a curse, his body would burn like he was going crazy, while on other days, he would get cold as if trying to conserve energy. The fact that he couldn¡¯t warm Asha up with his own body was bittersweet. Seeing her uneasy, Karaf spoke calmly to reassure her. ¡°¡­¡­Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take your hand and sleep. How can a flower touch the butterfly first?¡± Despite Karaf¡¯s attempt to calm her down, Asha still looked uneasy. Karaf avoided her gaze and browsed through the books she had brought. ¡°You picked up a lot of really boring history books. I can¡¯t help but fall asleep with these.¡± ¡°What a relief.¡± ¡°Although it¡¯s a relief, I¡¯ve already read all of these books.¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± Asha asked in surprise. The books he held were records of past emperors. Karaf sighed and said. ¡°Yes. These books are must-reads from a very young age if you want to become an emperor. You need to know how messed up the previous emperors were in politics so you don¡¯t repeat the same mistakes.¡± Asha laughed. Karaf glanced at her. He didn¡¯t mean to joke, but he felt pleased and happy seeing her laugh. ¡°Then read this book so that Your Majesty will also understand me.¡± Asha said, presenting a book related to ethnic minorities. Karaf laughed and said sarcastically. ¡°I guess you still don¡¯t know what a minority enthusiast I am. There was a time when I gathered information like catching mice, if only that could break my curse.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Asha turned her head and suddenly noticed a hot pink book on the table. ¡°Uh? What¡¯s that¡­?¡± Unknowingly, she tried to grab the eye-catching pink book, but Karaf shouted in surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t look at that¡­!¡± Suddenly, he reached out his hand from behind, making it seem like he was pouncing on her. His strong reaction caused Asha¡¯s eyes to widen when she looked up at him. Karaf¡¯s face was red enough to be distinguishable even in the shadows. Fortunately, Karaf managed to take the pink book before Asha did. He quickly got up, put it in a drawer, and locked it with several layers of padlocks. However, his body trembled as if he had experienced something terrible, and he stomped and kicked the drawers comically. ¡°¡­¡­ It had a pretty heart drawn on the cover.¡± He immediately stopped and stiffened at Asha¡¯s words. ¡°¡­¡­ Did you see it?¡± He asked horrified, turning his head. Asha was startled, and she shook her head hastily, seeing those red eyes that could be seen in any horror novel. Karaf hadn¡¯t realized that he looked like a grim reaper who had just crawled out of the pit of hell. It was a look that didn¡¯t go well with the pink book with the cute heart on it. Asha quickly erased her expression and spoke with a stern face. ¡°I only saw the heart on the cover. It was so big that I couldn¡¯t miss it¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karaf looked away, embarrassed, and his earlobes were burning red. ¡°¡­¡­ Well, that¡¯s good.¡± Asha pretended to be calm, unable to bring herself to admit that she had seen the book¡¯s title. The title, written in red inside a large heart, was so eye-catching that it was impossible to miss. [An amazing love dictionary that is useful to know. I am a Love Doctor! Confessions of a Real Man Who Captivates Women] Karaf turned his back to her and lay down somewhat awkwardly, which was uncharacteristic of him. Asha couldn¡¯t help but secretly cover her mouth and giggle. She couldn¡¯t even imagine that he would try to win her affection with the help of a love book. The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous his actions seemed to her, and she burst into laughter. Feeling the bed shaking beneath him as Asha struggled to suppress her laughter, Karaf closed his eyes in embarrassment. Asha playfully poked his arm. ¡°Are you already asleep?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°In that case, I suppose I don¡¯t need to read to you tonight.¡± As Asha made out as if she was about to leave, Karaf finally turned around nervously. Asha then presented a cute and innocent-looking picture book to him and asked. ¡°You said you¡¯re a minority culture enthusiast, have you read this?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a fairy tale book for kids? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve read it.¡± Asha smiled and suggested. ¡°Then, shall I read it to you?¡± Karaf quickly nodded in agreement. The book Asha chose was a storybook about spirits, which was easily accessible to children from an early age in minority ethnic groups where spiritualism was prevalent. There was a rumor that minority people had mysterious powers as they had made contracts with spirits since ancient times. There was a rumor that minority people possessed mysterious powers as they had made contracts with spirits since ancient times. However, there were hardly any scholars who had studied them in-depth, and it was difficult to find any data on ethnic minorities in the imperial library, as they were already excluded from the Imperial Family. Although a lot of it was exaggerated due to it being a myth, perhaps Karaf would find it interesting to hear. Asha cleared her throat and began reading the book in a gentle tone as if she were telling a story to a child. ¡°Once upon a time, in the Etzheim Empire, there were five spirits.¡± Karaf chuckled at the quaint opening line but listened attentively because her voice was soothing to hear. ¡°These were the spirits of fire, water, wind, earth, and lastly, flower. They all relied on each other to survive, and together, they worked to protect the Etzheim Empire.¡± Asha read the fairy tale hoping to soften Karaf¡¯s negative feelings towards minorities, and would occasionally look at Karaf. ¡°But fire and water always fought whenever they met. The wind and the earth were far apart from each other. The earth was jealous of the wind, which occupied only the vast sky. Eventually, they began to fight each other to expand their own power. Meanwhile, the flower gradually withered. The flower spirit had the highest vitality among the five spirits, but it was a weak being that could not live without the help of others.¡± Karaf was completely absorbed in the story. He was so focused that a wrinkle formed on his forehead. Asha slowly read the next chapter. ¡°For the flower to flourish, it needs sunlight and water, it also needs air and soil. But while the four spirits fought, the flower burned, drowned in the water, could not grow its roots deep into the ground, and was buffeted by the strong wind¡­ until it finally withered.¡± ¡°¡­..No, it can¡¯t be!¡± Suddenly, Karaf let out a roar and Asha stopped reading for a moment, looking at him with slightly wide eyes. Karaf himself did not know that he had screamed, his eyes were shaking and he was out of breath. CH 91 Although he had become overly emotional while she was reading the fairy tale, the events unfolding in the story truly scared him. To reassure him, Asha quickly continued reading the next part. ¡°After the flower died, the beautiful world became desolate. The ground became barren, the water stopped flowing and became polluted, fire burned the earth and made the water dry, and the wind blew a dusty wind across the world. Now, in the land of Etzheim, no life is seen. They all mourned the death of the flower and reflected on their actions.¡± Karaf covered his eyes with his hands and lowered his head like some tragic hero. ¡°One day, God Etzheim, who felt sorry for them, gave them a flower seed. It was a small flower seed that the flower spirit had left with all its might before it died. The spirit of the wind did not even know that the seed had stuck to his body and was keeping him safe.¡± Karaf¡¯s shoulders trembled. ¡°When the seed fell to the ground, everyone did their best to protect the flower. Finally, the spirit of the flower was able to return to them and the Empire of Etzheim was able to regain peace and happiness.¡± Although the story had a happy ending, Karaf¡¯s expression remained somber. After pondering for a while, he asked quietly. ¡°¡­¡­ Do minorities grow up listening to these kinds of fairy tales?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a popular fairy tale, although it has been slightly modified.¡± ¡°The story is just like my current situation.¡­.¡± Karaf let out a bitter laugh. ¡°But what if I¡¯m not the flower seed in that tale¡­?¡± He seemed to be preoccupied with thoughts of the second flower while listening to the story. Asha shook her head and reassured him. ¡°The spirit of the wind protected the seed in the story. The flower¡¯s demise occurred before I returned, and the remaining events of the story match our situation, I think.¡± Karaf¡¯s quivering eyes hardened once more, and Asha suddenly recalled the spy. She wondered if minorities might interpret the story differently, perhaps viewing the second flower as the true hero who could save the world. It was possible, as Karaf had feared, that the man might have mistaken the Second Flower for the savior of the world and demanded that Asha make him bloom. Given the existence of the second flower, such a scenario was entirely plausible. But the important thing is that they did not know that Asha had come back from the past. Asha tightened her grip on the book and composed herself. The help of the minority was absolutely necessary for Karaf to flourish. If the relationship between Karaf and the minorities improves, he can break the curse and flourish. With Karaf now calm, Asha pulled out another fairy tale book. However, as she narrated the story, Karaf closed his eyes and smiled. ¡°¡­¡­This reminds me of my childhood memories. When I suffered from severe insomnia, my nanny would read me fairy tales.¡± ¡°Your nanny?¡± The fact that Karaf had a nanny piqued Asha¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Yes, she was a kind soul who took care of me instead of my mother.¡± ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°My mother killed her.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Asha¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock. Karaf smiled bitterly and said. ¡°It¡¯s not a pleasant story. It appears my mother disliked her. Maybe she didn¡¯t want to see her raise me with love instead of her. Or maybe everyone I care for dies¡­..¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened as she suddenly recollected the time when she had encountered a young Karaf. No, it¡¯s not like that. Think carefully. I¡¯m sure there are people who love you. He smiled softly, thinking of someone. Is he thinking about his nanny? Her heart ached at the thought that she might be the only one who cared for him in the palace. She gently placed a hand on his face, causing Karaf to look at her in surprise. Asha¡¯s face turned sad as she spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t say that with such a sad face.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes, if the empress doesn¡¯t want to hear it, I¡¯ll just keep it to myself.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like that either. I want you to be honest with me about everything you keep inside, your thoughts and emotions. That way, I can understand Your Majesty better.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened as he met Asha¡¯s gaze. The mood turned slightly pink, and his face was slightly flushed. Watching him like that, Asha gave him a light tap on the shoulder, as if to say, ¡®Don¡¯t even dream,¡¯ and said. ¡°Well, lie down. If you can¡¯t sleep, I¡¯ll sing you a lullaby.¡± Karaf complied without realizing it, settling onto the bed and placing his hands on his stomach. Asha patted the blanket and began to sing a soothing melody. Karaf closed his eyes, feeling his heart calm down at her sweet singing voice. He was reminded of his childhood nanny, who would sing to him when he was afraid and couldn¡¯t sleep. Though he couldn¡¯t now remember the exact lyrics, her voice had always been a warm and comforting presence. Suddenly, the words that her nanny had said to him when she came back to him injured rang in his ears. ¡®My Prince¡­.. I¡¯m sure Your Highness will become an emperor who is loved by everyone. Someone will come to you and teach you how to love sincerely.¡¯ To him, that person was Asha. Karaf wondered if his nanny was watching over him from the afterlife with a smile. Is she finally resting in peace? In the past, she might have looked at him and pounded her chest in frustration. She even could have blamed herself for not teaching him how to love properly¡­.. Karaf let out a little chuckle. But now, Karaf had learned how to love someone, and he hoped that she was now resting peacefully in heaven. Feeling Karaf¡¯s even breathing, Asha stopped singing and gently brushed his bangs aside, whispering. ¡°Sweet dreams.¡± Then she turned the lamp towards herself and finished reading in silence. Asha, who was reading a book that contained information about the emperors and empresses of the past, stopped at a certain passage. Asha came across a passage about the Emperor¡¯s flower, which stated that when the flower withers, his mate Vanessa loses her powers. The ability then passes on to someone else for the sake of the flower that will be born with the next spirit. The role of the empress only ends after the emperor¡¯s death. It was not entirely wrong to say that she could only be free from this fate after his death. Now the spy¡¯s words made sense. The butterfly, who was stripped of her position as empress, was said to have spent the rest of her life under the protection of the temple. Asha wondered if she could have met Karaf¡¯s mother at the temple if she hadn¡¯t died from a mental illness. Some time passed, and Karaf, pretending to be asleep, opened one eye and saw Asha dozing off with a book in her lap. ¡°Did she really fall asleep? Before me..¡­?¡± She intended to put him to sleep, but she was the one who fell asleep first while reading a book. Karaf smiled as he carefully laid Asha on the bed. She slept soundly with a peaceful expression on her face. He couldn¡¯t help but hold back a laugh when he saw the book she had been reading so diligently. It was a tedious book about the monarchy, arranged chronologically from year to year. ¡°I used to fall asleep all the time while reading this book.¡± He smiled sadly. His love for books was influenced by his nanny, but there were other reasons as well. And as someone who was considered a nuisance in the palace, he always looked for places to hide, and the rose garden and library were where he found solace. When he was young, reading books in the library by himself was the only time he felt truly free. Back then, Karaf had little to do, so he dedicated himself to studying and reading books, hoping to earn his mother¡¯s approval. Yet he had no idea that his mother did not want him to become emperor¡­ Karaf shook his head to clear the unpleasant memories of his past and looked back at Asha. She must have been exhausted from spending several days cooped up in the room, searching for information. Watching her work so hard to break the curse, filled him with immense gratitude. Karaf gently covered her with the blanket and turned off the lamp before lying down on the bed. Even though they slept with their backs turned to each other, he felt much closer to her than before. * * * * * At that moment, Sosa received a change of clothes to sleep in and was on his way to his room. While walking down the hallway, he heard a commotion coming from one of the rooms. Jackal had promised to teach the children hunting skills, but Sosa wondered if he was really giving them a lesson at night. As he cautiously opened the door, Sosa was stunned by what he saw. In the middle of the room stood a blue-gray horse surrounded by children who were climbing on its back, petting its fur, pulling its mane, and playing with excitement. Although Jackal had previously mentioned that he disliked noisy children, he was caught having fun with them. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± There was a moment of silence, and Jackal¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. He attempted to speak, but only weak, faltering sounds came out instead of words. ¡°Purung¡­¡­¡± Leaving Jackal even more embarrassed, Sosa casually asked the children. ¡°Was Mr. Horse playing with you?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Really? But that horse is very vicious.¡± ¡°No! Mr. Horse is not vicious at all!¡± ¡°We like Mr. Horse!¡± The children clung even tighter to Jackal¡¯s body, causing him to close his eyes and blush. ¡°¡­.Then, I¡¯ll go wash up first.¡± Sosa closed the door, shaking his head. As he had suspected before, Jackal pretended not to like the children, but deep down, he loved spending time with them. For a while, the joyful sounds of children playing echoed through the halls. * * * * * The following day, someone arrived at the Imperial Palace early in the morning. When Asha opened the door to the drawing-room, she was surprised to find Nia Delphinium sitting comfortably on the sofa. As soon as Nia spotted Asha, she stood up and politely bowed her head with her hands together. ¡°Greetings, Lady Vanessa. I¡¯m Nia Delphinium. We met at the tea party hosted by the Duchess of Lilac. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.¡± Asha was about to inquire about the reason for her visit when she noticed the somber expression on Nia¡¯s face and realized something was wrong. Asha¡¯s expression turned serious as she asked. ¡°Did you come to see me because something happened with the Count?¡± CH 92 Asha had told her to come to the Imperial Palace at any time if she was threatened by her family. Nia had tears in her eyes as Vanessa guessed her troubles and asked her what was wrong. ¡°I came because I have something to ask you, Lady Vanessa. It¡¯s an impudent request, but¡­ I want to become your lady-in-waiting.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened. Nia was the least likely candidate among the noble ladies present to become Vanessa¡¯s lady-in-waiting. She looked like a woman who would never become Vanessa¡¯s lady-in-waiting unless she tried to hurt her and take her place. Until monsters attack the tea party. But if she had come first to become a lady-in-waiting, something must have happened later. Asha calmly looked at Nia¡¯s face to read her intentions, but Nia spoke first. ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s true that I came to seek Lady Vanessa¡¯s protection. I thought it was the only way to fulfill my family¡¯s expectations while keeping myself safe.¡± Asha was silent for a moment, then asked seriously. ¡°Did the count order you to become my lady-in-waiting, or is it your own will?¡± At the sharp question, Nia looked embarrassed and avoided eye contact. Warm and mysterious, but with a strong will and a strong feeling of purple eyes were staring at her. Looking into those honest eyes, Nia couldn¡¯t bring herself to lie. ¡°It was my father¡¯s order, but it was also my own will. He invested several years in me, but I couldn¡¯t become a butterfly, so he told me to at least become a spy for the family.¡± Asha was taken aback by her confession, but what came next was even more unexpected. ¡°But I didn¡¯t come here to harm Lady Vanessa. On the contrary, I want to help. I will become your spy.¡± ¡°Are you serious.¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. I have decided not to live according to my father¡¯s will anymore. I made this decision from the moment you saved my life.¡± Nia had always followed her father¡¯s orders like a loyal follower since she was very young, without ever thinking of rebelling. If he told her to go hungry, she went hungry, and if he told her to do something that noble ladies didn¡¯t have to do, she obediently did it like a doll. Kiam Delphinium had always whispered to her like brainwashing. ¡®All you have to do is endure this. For a butterfly to hatch from a cocoon, it must face even greater trials than this. Every butterfly in history has gone through these trials and become Empress. If you want great power, you need great effort and sacrifice. If you suffer for 20 years, you can reap more than twice as much happiness in the future. So are you giving up now?¡¯ As Nia cried with a burn on her hand, Kiam struck the ground with his whip and yelled fiercely. ¡®Stop crying right now! You can¡¯t be in pain and act foolish like this! You should never show your weak side to others. Your suffering will disappear the moment you become a butterfly. So just endure it until then. For the glory of our family!¡¯ Nia reminisced about the past and said bitterly. ¡°When I first heard the news that Lady Vanessa had appeared, I felt like the sky was falling. All my efforts and struggles that no one had ever recognized were ultimately useless, and I thought my life was over.¡± Nia closed her eyes tightly and continued. ¡°But after meeting you in person the other day, I realized that everything about my father¡¯s education and what he said to me was wrong. Butterflies are never passive beings¡­ In the end, I was just a wildflower grown inside of a greenhouse.¡± When Asha shot the arrows to kill the monsters, Nia was really shocked. Nia had never fought for someone else¡¯s precious life before. She had never even thought of opposing her father. She had only thought of opposing Vanessa, whom she thought had taken her place. However, Vanessa fought against the monsters, not against her. She saved those who despised and harassed her¡­. Nia stared at the attack scene and ran away later than the other ladies, and was in danger of being killed by a monster. At that moment, Nia felt as if a beam of light was pouring down in front of her as she watched an arrow fly next to her with the golden wind. And she was certain. After enduring numerous hardships, Nia finally realized that she was not meant to be a butterfly from the beginning, as true butterflies are beings that choose to suffer and fight alone for others. When the real butterfly, Vanessa, reached out to her first and touched the wounds she had kept hidden inside, the emotions she had been holding back burst out in a single moment. It was like a flower that had been blooming alone in a cave with no light had finally met a golden butterfly flying in the sky for the first time. She wanted to lean on Vanessa, to dedicate herself to her, who had discovered and saved her life. She had sincerely fallen in love with the butterfly. With a pleading look, Nia turned to Asha. ¡°Please allow me to be by your side. I told my father that I would act as a spy, but I want to be your hands and feet. I¡¯ll find out all the rumors and political issues going around in the aristocracy for you. If our family tries to commit treason, I will report it directly to you without hesitation. When I realized that I was not a butterfly and my family abandoned me, I also abandoned my family. Please allow me to offer my allegiance to Lady Vanessa and His Majesty.¡± Nia finished speaking and knelt in front of Asha as if to make an oath. Asha was surprised by the unexpected show of support. Every time she made a decision and took action, something new happened that she had never experienced before. As if a flower was blooming where the butterfly had flapped its wings, everything was slowly changing. Asha then kneeled in front of her, placing a gentle hand on Nia¡¯s shoulder as she spoke. ¡°You told me earlier that you were just a wildflower grown in a greenhouse¡­.¡± Nia looked up, and Asha smiled softly. ¡°But that¡¯s not true, Lady Nia. Flowers grown in a greenhouse do not grow painfully or fail to grow.¡± Her words shook Nia, causing her eyes to tremble with emotion. ¡°Nia, you are still a caterpillar and haven¡¯t emerged as a butterfly yet. I hope that you can break through your father¡¯s strong shell and fly freely in the sky. Please take care of yourself from now on, Nia.¡± Overwhelmed with emotion, Nia couldn¡¯t believe that she would be accepted and tears welled up in her eyes. With kindness and gentle eyes, Asha wiped away her tears. Nia tightly held Asha¡¯s hand and cried, her voice trembling. ¡°Can I really become a butterfly too¡­? Can I also choose to live my remaining life freely?¡± ¡°Yes, you will. You will definitely become one.¡± Asha patted Nia¡¯s back with a sympathetic gaze. Vanessa¡¯s shoulders, which seemed infinitely fragile to Nia, were broader and more comfortable than anyone else¡¯s. For a long time, Nia leaned against Asha¡¯s shoulders and poured out hot tears. * * * * * Asha visited the temple to resolve Nia¡¯s issue and investigate the appearance of the monsters. She thought that as a priest who communicates with the gods, Dart might know something about this phenomenon. When she arrived at the temple, she saw the priests moving around busily. She stopped a passing priest and asked him what was happening. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Ah, we are preparing to pray together to God Etzheim now.¡± ¡°A prayer?¡± ¡°Yes. We are planning to offer a worship service because monsters had appeared in the empire.¡± Asha¡¯s expression darkened. As expected, the priests seemed to know about this phenomenon. ¡°Can I join you in the service?¡± ¡°Sure. If Lady Vanessa is with us, maybe God will listen to our prayers.¡± Asha followed the priest to the chapel where numerous priests had already gathered, including Dart, who was assisting the High Priest in front. Asha sat quietly at the back of the chapel to avoid disturbing anyone. The priests lit candles and knelt in front of the statue of the god, offering solemn prayers. Asha also bowed her head and joined her hands together in prayer. Later, the priests began to chant a hymn in a low voice, but suddenly a clear, beautiful male voice broke through their chanting. The beautiful voice made Asha open her eyes. She was amazed to hear the voice and looked up to see Dart at the center of the priests, eyes closed and singing along with a pure voice. Dart¡¯s voice was so beautiful that it felt like her heart was melting on its own. Perhaps because he was carrying the spirit of the flower, he exuded an extreme beauty that was a bit different from Karaf¡¯s. Maybe he also had the power to captivate people. After a short break, Asha cautiously approached him. He was watering the flowers even during his break. His pure white hair was beautifully dyed under the setting sun, and his long, slightly drooping eyelashes looked innocent. When he spotted Asha, he got up and greeted her. ¡°Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha greeted him politely, and Dart looked at her with a worried expression before speaking. ¡°I heard that the monsters attacked you at the Duchess of Lilac¡¯s tea party.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why I came to ask you if you know anything about this phenomenon.¡± Dart¡¯s face darkened at those words. ¡°¡­¡­Actually, this time I received an oracle. It happened while I was praying, so it still feels like a dream, but I still feel like I heard the voice of God Etzheim.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened, and she asked anxiously. ¡°If it¡¯s him, did God Etzheim say something?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­ But since it¡¯s related to His Majesty the Emperor, I don¡¯t know if I dare to say it.¡± When Dart hesitated, Asha spoke calmly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, so please tell me. Actually, I¡¯ve had a conversation with God Etzheim before.¡± Dart¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­¡­ Did you receive an oracle?¡± CH 93 Asha smiled awkwardly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if that was an oracle, but as a butterfly, he gave me an answer on how to proceed.¡± Dart thought for a moment before saying. ¡°I see¡­ God said to me¡­ that an empire ruled by an unflowered emperor is unstable and susceptible to the emergence of monsters. Especially since His Majesty is a black rose, the intensity of the threat is greater.¡± Asha¡¯s face darkened. In the Flower Empire, it has long been said that if the emperor does not rule properly, the flower will wither and the empire will gradually decline. Even the previous emperor, Ricardo, who didn¡¯t rule properly, had brought an unprecedented cold season to the empire. It was believed that the reason for the birth of the Black Rose was because of that. Just like the flowering ceremony of Karaf went wrong, heinous things kept happening in the empire. * * * * * Karaf sat alone in his office, suffering from a headache. There were numerous stacks of paper on his desk, all of which are incident reports of monsters appearing all over the empire. As a temporary measure, Karaf had quickly dispatched knights from the imperial palace to subdue the monsters. But before he knew it, his hands had become unusable, and now even the most elite unit, the Cactus Knights, had to step up. The empire was consumed by great anxiety, and suspicions about Karaf were growing among the people. Karaf nervously crumpled the papers and wrapped his arms around his head. But then, he heard someone announce. ¡°¡­¡­Your Majesty, Lady Vanessa has arrived.¡± Upon hearing Asha¡¯s arrival, Karaf quickly raised his head. ¡°Come in.¡± Asha discovered him buried in piles of paper with a troubled expression on his face. When Karaf looked at her, his face brightened as if he had never been troubled. As Asha approached him, she asked cautiously. ¡°Your Majesty, may I help you with the paperwork?¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s all right. I can do it by myself.¡± Karaf replied, suddenly becoming flustered and trying to clear the papers from his desk. At that moment, Asha sneakily picked up a fallen stack of papers from the floor and looked through them, causing Karaf¡¯s face to be slightly stunned. Asha could understand why Karaf would not let her see the documents. Her face became serious when she heard about the monsters appearing and Karaf¡¯s declining reputation. Karaf couldn¡¯t lift his face in embarrassment and kept his eyes fixed on the ground. His eyelashes, which had fallen over his red eyes, looked very uneasy. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. This is not something the Empress needs to worry about.¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Asha approached him, calling him again. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about either, Your Majesty. Aren¡¯t we both already aware that the current rumors are all nonsense?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Asha tried to comfort him, but Karaf couldn¡¯t be sure if it really was just a rumor. Could he really be sure that the events were not because of him? The sudden appearance of so many monsters at once was unprecedented. No, maybe it was an expected event that just hadn¡¯t happened earlier. He was cursed¡­. As Karaf was lost in thought, Asha, who was reviewing the documents, made a serious declaration. ¡°Your Majesty, I will also participate in the monster subjugation.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ What?¡± Karaf asked, startled as if he had just woken up. Asha looked into his red eyes seriously. ¡°As the Empress and Vanessa, I will participate in the monster subjugation for the honor of the Imperial Family. The people will feel and trust that they are protected by the Imperial Family. All the mishaps that occur in the empire should be taken care of by the flower and butterfly together.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not possible. I can¡¯t let the Empress be in danger. If something happened to the Empress again, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live sanely. If it¡¯s really for the peace of the empire, don¡¯t even mention such things.¡± Asha remained silent. As expected, he flatly refused. As she reviewed the documents, she suddenly had a good idea. ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s almost time for the Month of Blossoms, and we will be holding events at the palace soon.¡± ¡°Oh, yes¡­..¡± Karaf thought it was not the most important, but he finally remembered when Asha handed over the papers he had thrown away. His mind was complicated, and he muttered irritably while scanning the event documents. ¡°There are too many damn events in this empire. Should we just get rid of all of them¡­.?¡± ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The chamberlain who was standing at the door was frightened and shouted. But Karaf was serious. Most of the events held in the palace were pointless displays. In particular, since the previous emperor was extravagant and interested in entertainment, he would invite nobles to a party at the imperial palace whenever he had a chance, so there were a lot of special events. It seemed like a good idea to get rid of all of them except for what was necessary. But then, Asha spoke cautiously. ¡°Your Majesty, how about inviting the nobles to help the Imperial Family at this Month of Blossoms event?¡± Karaf seemed to have forgotten his thoughts about removing the events and focused on the documents again. The Month of Blossom event was a ceremony where flowers were gathered to keep the empire safe from all kinds of natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and landslides. In fact, it was not a bad event that could show the authority of the butterfly, a commoner. If the ¡®Flowering Ceremony¡¯ is the biggest event that highlights the emperor, then the ¡®Month of Blossoms¡¯ gave a unique authority to the butterfly to gather the people she wanted to her side. It is said that the reason why butterflies mostly come from commoners is the will of God who wants to keep the aristocracy in check and balance. Although Asha was ridiculed by the nobles and no one wanted to be close to her during the last flower festival in her past life, things were different this time. ¡°The Flowering Festival was ruined. How about we hold a ¡®Lantern Festival¡¯ together at the temple? The public sentiment is not good due to the outbreak of monsters.¡± ¡°A Lantern Festival?¡± ¡°Yes, it would be good to have a ceremony to pray to the gods while uniting the hearts of the people of the empire.¡± Karaf nodded his head, impressed by Asha¡¯s clever idea. Indeed, the people of the empire loved any kind of festival and eagerly awaited them. They needed a way to relieve stress and a source of hope during this depressing and desperate time. Asha smiled faintly as she spoke. ¡°Flowers must be pruned well in order to grow better. You should cut off withered petals as soon as possible so that they look better and don¡¯t transfer to other flower stems.¡± Asha remembered Nia Delphinium¡¯s visit and realized that as a butterfly, it might be a good idea to understand the tendencies of the forces around Karaf and attract necessary allies while pruning out the ones to reject. In the past, she had been too timid to do so, but now so much had changed. She wanted to fill Karaf¡¯s surroundings with good people and create a positive environment. It was time to arrange the flowers in the jungle-like palace. Karaf looked at Asha with a slightly vague expression. In the past, he had always dealt with these matters alone, but now that Vanessa was by his side, he felt secure. He regretted not consulting her sooner. Asha returned to her room and checked her to-do list for the event. First, there was a ritual of offering dance to God at the temple. Asha was confident in her dancing skills, as she had practiced tirelessly in her past life for this day. She knew she could captivate the nobles with her dance and gain their favor, just as she had captured Karaf¡¯s heart before. Upon hearing the news, Ella, who knew Asha¡¯s body size, went straight to work on making dresses. All the maids gathered in the dressing room, excited to see what kind of dress Asha would wear this time. Asha looked at them, her face flushed, feeling a little hesitant. Somehow, every time she wore a dress, they seemed to look at her with fanatical eyes. Asha asked Ella. ¡°Does the dance start at sunset?¡± ¡°Yes, Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha thought for a moment, then smiled as she whispered something in Ella¡¯s ear. Ella¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Lady Vanessa truly has a genius eye!¡± ¡°What is it? Please tell us too!¡± Sonya and the other maids crowded around Ella, eager to know. Asha secretly smiled and said. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± ¡°Just leave it to me.¡± Ella said with a determined look on her face before quickly leaving the room. * * * * * Jackal continued his training in the valley until late evening. He repeated diving into the water several times and was now meditating while being hit by the waterfall. With his shirt off, he untied his hair and closed his eyes. The strong stream of water fell onto his head, hitting his body with cold force. His tense muscles bulged, and his bronze skin looked like a dynamic and lively statue, soaked in water. Sosa had gone down to the village to gather information and avoid disturbing Jackal. After merging with the water for a while, Jackal suddenly heard a voice ringing in his ears. [¡­ Where are you?] It was a clear voice, reminiscent of that of a young boy. Jackal furrowed his brows and spoke telepathically to the unknown voice. [Who are you?] But the voice only murmured like an echo from afar and was no longer audible. Jackal opened his eyes, feeling certain that the voice he just heard was that of a water spirit. Was it looking for him? With a sense of urgency, Jackal sprang up from his seat and peered down at the bottom of the water. ¡°Are you there¡­¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t know when Sosa would return, but Jackal felt like he would miss the spirit forever if he didn¡¯t go look for it now. ¡°Wait. I will awaken you.¡± Jackal chained himself up, took a deep breath, and plunged into the water. As he sank to the bottom, he closed his eyes and sent another telepathic message. [Show yourself.] At that moment, a small vibration occurred in Asha¡¯s room. The dagger with a sapphire-eyed horse carving on it, which she had brought when she first came to the palace, vibrated and shook inside the small box of her belongings. A blue light from the sapphire eyes flickered suddenly. Simultaneously, Jackal struggled violently in the water, gasping for breath. Meanwhile, Sosa, who had returned from the village, screamed in panic when he realized that Jackal was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Chief! Where are you?¡± Running around with his nose sniffing, he finally found Jackal struggling painfully in the water and screamed. ¡°Chief¡­¡­!¡± CH 94 Sosa leaped into the water and pulled Jackal¡¯s body out, and both of them collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. Exhausted, Jackal looked at Sosa. His eyes were blurry, and he looked like he was about to pass out. Sosa shouted. ¡°Why did you go into the water alone? What would have happened if I hadn¡¯t come?!¡± ¡°I thought it would work¡­¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I spoke with the water spirit. Well, I can¡¯t really call it a conversation¡­ It was at a level that couldn¡¯t be a conversation, but¡­ I felt like I couldn¡¯t miss it.¡± Sosa was surprised and looked back into the water, but there was nothing there. Jackal shook his wet head and growled. ¡°If you start talking to someone, you should follow through to the end, you rude spirit.¡± ¡°Chief! What if the spirit hears it and gets angry?!¡± Sosa was shocked and looked around anxiously. Jackal looked at him incredulously. ¡°Sometimes, even though you¡¯re a wild horse, you can be as timid as a sparrow.¡± Sosa opened his eyes wide and looked at him. ¡°Did you not know? I am a sparrow.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Let¡¯s stop talking.¡± The two exchanged words casually, but no one knew what would happen in the future in the palace¡­ * * * * * After a long and busy day, Asha was finally ready to sleep. She changed into her nightgown and settled into bed, feeling tired. Soon, she drifted off into a deep sleep. Not knowing when she fell asleep, she suddenly felt her body heavy. As she tried to turn her body around, frowning slightly as if she had sleep paralysis, she heard a man¡¯s voice right in front of her. ¡°This is strange¡­ It¡¯s definitely a man¡¯s voice¡­¡± Asha opened her eyes slowly and saw the blurry figure of a man sitting on top of her. At first, she thought it was Karaf who had come to visit her in the middle of the night. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­?¡± But as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Asha looked closely at the man¡¯s appearance and her eyes widened in surprise. Before she was a man with long hair, dressed in a steel-colored uniform, with his hair tied up high like an Eastern assassin. His black hair had a bluish tone as it went down, and towards the tips, it had a frozen silver color. The man smiled slightly. ¡°I am not Your Majesty. My name is Nek.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± The man said, causing Asha to freeze in place with a bewildered expression on her face. His wolf-like blue eyes gazed calmly at her as he took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. ¡°Your skin is quite stiff. But your hands are good.¡± Only then did Asha regain her senses and let out a high-pitched scream. The servants outside asked anxiously. ¡°Lady Vanessa! Is something wrong?¡± But Asha was unable to answer, as the man had blocked her mouth with his hand. Trembling with fear, Asha looked at the man with fearful eyes, and he smirked. ¡°I finally found you. We won¡¯t be apart again, master.¡± ¡°Master¡­¡­?¡± As Asha muttered, he removed his hand. She couldn¡¯t grasp the situation at all. In a trembling voice, Asha asked. ¡°W-w-who are you¡­?¡± ¡°Me? Your dagger.¡± ¡°Dagger¡­¡­?¡± Asha looked bewildered. Not only had he entered the empress¡¯s bedroom without permission, but now he was touching her body and introducing himself as a dagger¡­ Asha squeezed her eyes shut and screamed. ¡°A madman! A madman has appeared!¡± Sonya and the servants outside rushed in. ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­¡­! What¡¯s wrong!¡± ¡°Th-that crazy guy over there¡­¡­!¡± Asha pointed her hand at the man, then stopped. Before she noticed, a dagger was lying on the bed. It was the dagger that Jackal had given her before. Asha rubbed her eyes and muttered to herself. ¡°There was definitely a man here, no, a man was standing here¡­¡± ¡°Could it have been a nightmare?¡± When her maids worriedly asked her, Asha was so nervous that she wondered if she had really had a nightmare. ¡°Just to be safe, I will ask the guards to search the palace.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring you some warm honey water, please wait!¡± Sonya offered, quickly bringing the drink. As Asha sipped on the honey water, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the dagger, still on guard. Although the dagger remained motionless, the blue eyes on the dagger¡¯s hilt, similar to Sheppy¡¯s, seemed to be alive. The dagger didn¡¯t move at all, but for some reason, it seemed like the blue eyes, which resembled Sheppy¡¯s, were alive. As soon as Sonya left the room, Asha sat on the edge of the bed, holding her head. What is happening to me¡­¡­ But that thought was immediately shattered by a voice. ¡°¡­¡­There was no need to call the guards.¡± Asha was taken aback as she looked back and found the dagger had vanished, only to discover the man from before sitting on her windowsill, staring at her. ¡°Who are you¡­¡­ !¡± ¡°Who are you? Do I need to introduce myself again?¡± As he walked toward her, Asha pulled the blanket up defensively. ¡°Hmm, I didn¡¯t expect my master to be such a scaredy-cat.¡± Asha stared blankly at him before finally managing to ask. ¡°So, are you really¡­ a dagger¡­?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe me?¡± He hopped onto the bed again. ¡°What is this¡­!¡± Asha was speechless as the man disappeared, leaving a dagger quietly on the bed. Asha looked at him as if she were possessed by a ghost and then, with a kick of her foot, she kicked him lightly. ¡°¡­¡­ What! Why would you kick a perfectly fine person with your foot!¡± ¡°You said you weren¡¯t human.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°A dagger can speak, and many strange things happen in my life¡­¡­.¡± Asha muttered absently, but she wasn¡¯t as surprised as she had been the day Jackal turned into a horse. Now she felt a strange sense of understanding. But at that moment, a curious curiosity flickered in Asha¡¯s purple eyes. ¡°Maybe if I hit it, he will feel the pain¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The tables had turned. Asha tapped the sword with her hand, muttering to herself. ¡°This is strange, why did it suddenly go silent¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I am a dagger.¡± Nek¡¯s attitude suddenly changed to being polite. Asha tried to pull the dagger out of its scabbard, but unlike before, she couldn¡¯t get it out no matter how hard she tried. Asha¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Let go of your strength while I¡¯m being nice. You naughty, insolent dagger.¡± ¡°But the scabbard is like my clothing¡­.!¡± Asha squinted her eyes. ¡°Then if I draw you out, will you be naked? You are a really nasty dagger, pervert!¡± She grabbed the handle and scabbard with both hands and pulled with all her might. ¡°Ouch! My hair is being pulled out!¡± At that, Asha glanced at the dagger handle. Now she noticed that the blue string hanging from the end of the handle looked similar in color to the hair tie that had been tying his hair like a ponytail. ¡°Oh, so this is really like clothing?¡± Asha finally managed to draw the dagger with all her strength. ¡°You, you drew me out¡­? This is the first time I¡¯ve seen an evil master¡­.!¡± ¡°Master?¡± ¡°Yes! But you are not my master yet! The test isn¡¯t over! You can use me only when I truly serve you as my master¡­.¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Asha threw the scabbard far away onto the floor. ¡°Oh, my clothes¡­!¡± ¡°If I can¡¯t use you anyway, you won¡¯t even need clothes, right?¡± Asha smiled mischievously. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Unbeknownst to her, her abilities to imitate a villainess were on the rise. Meanwhile, Sonya entered the room. ¡°Lady Vanessa, the guards thoroughly searched the palace, but couldn¡¯t find any traces of the intruder.¡± ¡°I see. I must have had a nightmare. Lately, I¡¯ve been preoccupied with many things.¡± Asha replied and glared at the dagger. Sonya looked at her with pitiful eyes as Asha held a dagger in her hand, thinking that she must have had a really scary nightmare. It was clear that the memory of being kidnapped remained a trauma. ¡°Sonya, do you see that scabbard on the floor over there?¡± ¡°What? Yes!¡± ¡°Where would you hide it if you don¡¯t want anybody to find it?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± In an instant, the dagger in Asha¡¯s hand trembled. ¡°I think someone might come looking for the scabbard.¡± Sonya tilted her head as she saw Asha speak incoherently. ¡°Who¡¯s going to get the scabbard?¡± ¡°Yes, among some minorities, it is believed that placing a dagger without its scabbard near the head can ward off nightmares. The superstition suggests that the nightmare will leave the room in search of the scabbard.¡± ¡°I see! Then, I¡¯ll keep this scabbard to ensure Lady Vanessa¡¯s peaceful sleep!¡± Sonya responded eagerly, taking the scabbard in both hands with a serious expression, as if she had been entrusted with an important mission, and left the room. As soon as the door closed, Nek¡¯s voice could be heard. ¡°Where is she taking my clothes?¡± Asha shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Sonya will do a good job of hiding it. Even if we search this vast palace, it will be hard to find it.¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± ¡°You? You should listen to your master¡¯s words carefully if you don¡¯t want to lose your clothes forever.¡± At those words, the dagger¡¯s mouth snapped shut. Asha fell into deep thought. Does Jackal know that this dagger is alive? No, he wouldn¡¯t have known. Despite being a keepsake from his parents, Jackal disliked the dagger and kept it only because he didn¡¯t want to throw it away. Jackal may never have used the dagger. I have to tell Jackal about this¡­ Or should I send the dagger back? How could I possibly use a dagger that transforms into a person¡­. Asha let out a deep sigh. She felt sorry for Jackal if he finds out that the dagger he had given her was actually a pervert dagger, hoping that it would protect her. But she also considered telling Karaft, only to shake her head immediately. He had already returned all the belongings he had taken from her. Although he would have guessed that the dagger was a gift from Jackal, returning the dagger to her meant that Karaf trusted her a lot. If she told him about this incident, he would probably consider the dagger vulgar and tell her to throw it away without hesitation. While Asha was lost in thought, she heard a sob. ¡°Sob¡­¡­ Why do I only get weird masters? Sob ¡­.¡± Irritated by those words, Asha narrowed her brows and asked. ¡°Weird masters?¡± ¡°Yes! My previous master was also very strange. He made a contract with me but didn¡¯t want to use my power. He said his name was Cylon or something¡­¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened in an instant. ¡°Your previous master¡¯s name¡­ was Cylon?¡± CH 95 Nek sighed. ¡°Yes. But he¡¯s dead. The flower spirit killed him.¡± Asha was at a loss for words at the shocking story. Then, she asked hesitantly. ¡°You¡¯re not a Water Spirit, are you?¡± Nek replied, smiling triumphantly. ¡°Finally, you realize my worth. But since you¡¯ve already made a contract with the Wind Spirit, I must go find my true master. Goodbye!¡± Nek turned back into a person, opened the window, and awkwardly prepared to jump out. ¡°Wait¡­!¡± Asha reached out, but he had already jumped out of the window. Asha held onto the windowsill and looked down. She quickly left the room to find him. She didn¡¯t want to let him go without possibly hearing the rest. However, soon she heard the screams of the maids outside. Asha let out a deep sigh. Going around the palace naked will only cause chaos. Just in case, Asha grabbed her bow and arrow before leaving the room. In the distance, the maids seemed to be covering their eyes as if they had seen something they shouldn¡¯t have. Asha ran towards them and asked. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Lady Vanessa! There¡¯s¡­a madman¡­¡± The maids replied, unable to think of a better adjective than the one Asha had used earlier. Asha sighed and asked. ¡°Where did that crazy person go?¡± ¡°We saw him heading to Sonya¡¯s room just now! Asha¡¯s eyes widened and she quickly ran toward Sonya¡¯s room. She wouldn¡¯t let Sonya look at that perverted dagger for nothing.¡­. Amid her regret, she heard Sonya¡¯s screams coming from her room. ¡°¡­¡­ Kyaaak!¡± Asha saw the door open, she rushed to the door and froze. A man with only his lower body covered with a white towel turned around and stood confidently with his hands on his waist. In front of him, Sonya was cowering on the floor, shivering and covering her eyes. Poor Sonya¡­¡­ Asha inwardly clicked her tongue but didn¡¯t notice that Sonya had all five fingers slightly spread out. Asha raised her bow and aimed it at the man. Nek looked back at her. ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± Asha looked down for a moment, stunned. He looked down as well. He noticed that the towel barely covered his hips and raised his eyebrows nonchalantly. ¡°I may be a dagger, but I do have one thing that¡¯s long.¡± Asha shot an arrow at him without hesitation. He dodged by moving to the side as if he were dancing. ¡°I would have stayed quiet if you hadn¡¯t taken my clothes!¡± ¡°Quiet? You were making noises like a grazing goat, you perverted spirit!¡± Nek quickly escaped through the gap between the servants and ran outside. The maids at the doorway screamed and covered their eyes as he sprinted down the hallway with all his might. The knights who came running were taken aback as he leaped high like a monkey, stepping on their shoulders and making his way out. ¡°Lady Vanessa! What on earth is going on?!¡± Asha straightened her bow and furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°I think we have to catch that madman.¡± Following her instructions, the knights thoroughly searched the palace. The entire place was put on alert due to the unbelievable incident that occurred at dawn. As soon as Karaf heard the news, he drew his sword and stormed into the Empress¡¯ palace. ¡°Are you okay¡­¡­!¡± But when Asha saw his face, her eyes widened. Flower petals were stuck all over his face. He had suddenly appeared barefoot in front of her when he was putting on a face mask. It was a truly ridiculous sight, but Asha calmed him down by holding his arm. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Your Majesty. But that man seems to be a water spirit.¡± ¡°A water spirit?¡± Karaf¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Yes, and his former master was a man named Cylon. He might know something about Your Majesty¡¯s curse.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. At that moment, a knight shouted. ¡°He¡¯s in the outdoor bath!¡± He immediately ran down the hallway in hot pursuit. When the knights arrived at the outdoor bath, they stopped and stood still with incredulous faces. A naked man stared at them like a water ghost, his face flushed with embarrassment, with only his eyes and nose exposed above the water. Karaf spoke again in anger. ¡°Even if I chop him up with this sword, it won¡¯t be enough punishment for that shameless bastard!¡± He fiercely jumped into the water with a sword in his hand, but Nek pulled his body back and easily dodged the attack. ¡°Uh? It¡¯s a flower spirit¡­¡­? Did you kill my master back then?¡± Suddenly, his eyes gleamed. When Karaf heard that, he swung his sword with madness, but Nek spat out an exclamation of ¡®hey¡¯ at him, avoiding the attack. Nek ran at an incredible speed like a wild horse, and Karaf couldn¡¯t catch him even when he chased and swung his sword. Duran chased after the naked man, watching Karaf swing his sword and Nek laugh and jump around cheerfully. Then Karaf said in a low voice. ¡°That crazy man.¡± Nek looked at him and said. ¡°My name is Nek, not crazy!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you what you want.¡± ¡°Really?¡± As Nek said enthusiastically, Karaf spoke coldly. ¡°If you beat me.¡± Nek¡¯s eyes widened. But soon, he started laughing. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the flower spirit was a fighter!¡± Karaf rushed towards him, and Nek pulled back his body, easily dodging his sword and reaching out a hand. A water stream like a tentacle grabbed Karaf¡¯s sword. Karaf tried to pull it out, but the sword didn¡¯t slip easily from Nek¡¯s hand. Nek looked at him and said calmly. ¡°Hmm, it seems the flower spirit has lost its strength.¡± At that moment, water tentacles flowed out of Nek¡¯s body again and tightly wrapped around Karaf¡¯s body, lifting him off the ground. The more he struggled, the tighter the water squeezed his body. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Duran drew his sword and rushed to attack. His sword slashed through Nek¡¯s body diagonally, but no blood flowed, and the cut flesh instantly reconnected as one. The knights¡¯ eyes widened in shock. It was apparent that Nek was a type of water spirit that could not be harmed with a sword. Duran was about to run to save Karaf, but Karaf stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t come!¡± Karaf spoke strongly. Nek said mischievously, looking at Karaf who had cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. ¡°Be careful not to lose your mind. The moment you lose your mind, even a little bit, you¡¯ll die.¡± The knights flinched at the terrifying words. ¡°Your Majesty¡­!¡± Duran shouted with an unusual anger. Karaf knew that his confrontation with the water spirit was not yet over. Since Cylon had placed a curse on his heart, he could never get close to the water spirit. However, he only wanted to prevent the knights, including Duran, from falling into a disaster due to their fight. Above all, he had to protect Asha. When the knights couldn¡¯t stand it and tried to rush in again, Nek raised his other hand and spoke fiercely. ¡°If you move one more step, I will kill the flower spirit.¡± Due to the water spirit¡¯s severe emotional ups and downs, everyone had to be cautious in their actions. Karaf felt like he was suffocating and losing his mind as he was surrounded by a whirlwind of water. Nek walked towards him step by step. Karaf glared at Nek with his red eyes, his face red as he gasped for air. Nek tilted his head and murmured. ¡°Strange. I wanted to greet you after a long time¡­. Why are you sleeping?¡± He carefully scanned the spirit¡¯s energy from Karaf¡¯s chest. But just as Nek lowered his hand toward Karaf¡¯s chest, he was thrown backward before his hand could touch him. He rolled several times before finally stopping. At the same time, the water stream that had bound Karaf¡¯s body disappeared in an instant, and he fell to the ground. Nek looked at him, his eyes widening as he lay face down on the ground. ¡°What¡­ what happened to you?¡± But then, strong winds blew from all directions, and arrows surrounded Nek¡¯s body. When he turned his head, Asha, holding a bow, appeared behind him. ¡°Your Majesty, are you alright?¡± Karaf, who had been lying on the ground, stood up. He clenched his chest with one hand and said. ¡°I¡¯m fine. But I have something to say to him.¡± Karaf immediately glared at Nek, who was still looking at Asha with his eyes bulging, as if he didn¡¯t understand. Karaf¡¯s gaze was fierce enough to tear him apart. ¡°¡­.You¡¯re a water spirit. Why are you here?¡± ¡°Huh? Why did you ask me that when I was left in that woman¡¯s room¡­?¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Nek¡¯s face hit the ground. Suddenly, Duran was savagely thrusting a blade against his neck from behind. ¡°Answer, you pervert.¡± ¡°I feel wronged¡­!¡± Duran once again grabbed Nek by the back of his head and banged it on the ground. ¡°I¡­¡­ I just wanted my clothes back¡­.¡± Nek cried out in a choked voice, feeling unjustly accused. Asha looked at him with pity, while Karaf frowned and asked. ¡°What kind of crap are you talking about?¡± Asha sighed and approached Nek with a scabbard. ¡°I¡¯ll return your clothes, but you must answer my questions.¡± Nek looked up at her with tear-filled eyes and nodded. ¡°First, transform. I¡¯ll put them on for you.¡± Karaf raised an eyebrow, but Nek obediently transformed into his dagger form. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of it. But, Asha calmly put the dagger back in its scabbard. Karaf asked, furrowing one eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s similar to that horse bastard. How can it transform like that?¡± ¡°Water has no form, so I can become anything!¡± Nek replied. Asha stopped asking and lightly touched Karaf¡¯s arm. When Karaf turned around, Asha gave him a serious look and told him to return to his room. He was so angry that he hadn¡¯t thought of that. Many eyes were watching them. Even though they were outside, it was easy for rumors to reach the ears of the nobles. It would be hard to hide the rumor that a strange spirit had been roaming the palace. And since there were many witnesses, it was better not to spread rumors related to Karaf¡¯s curse. Karaf nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my room.¡± * * * * * Once in his room, Karaf ordered the knights to keep everyone away. He sat cross-legged in a chair and looked at Nek, dressed and kneeling on the red carpet, tightly bound in chains. Karaf maintained a heavy silence for a while before slowly opening his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ So, you¡¯re a dagger, and Vanessa hid your clothes and that¡¯s what caused this commotion?¡± ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡± When Nek suddenly raised his head, before he knew it, Duran, who was next to him, pressed his head roughly again. Karaf glanced briefly at Asha, who was beside him. ¡°And, did that bastard appear at the Empress¡¯ Palace at dawn and touch the Empress¡¯ body?¡± Only then did Nek, who finally understood the situation, start to sweat. CH 96 Asha calmly replied. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Flustered, Nek tried to explain himself. ¡°I thought she was my master and wanted to test if she was qualified to become my master¡­.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Everyone here seems to hate me¡­¡± Nek muttered in sorrow. Duran struck him in the head again from behind. Karaf took a deep breath to control his anger while Asha asked. ¡°But why did you suddenly appear in front of me? You¡¯ve never appeared before.¡± ¡°Because my master recently woke me up.¡± ¡°Master?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened. Nek babbled. ¡°I stayed asleep in that dagger until the next contractor woke up. The last time I fought with the flower spirit, I was punished by God¡­..¡± Karaf¡¯s face twisted at the mention of God. Nek continued. ¡°But someone woke me up¡­ I can¡¯t hear that voice now.¡± Asha asked cautiously. ¡°By any chance, is the owner of that voice Jackal?¡± ¡°Jackal? Is he from the Kelpie clan?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Does his voice sound low and careless?¡± Asha looked up for a moment, recalled Jackal¡¯s voice, and then answered. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then, my master is Jackal!¡± Nek¡¯s face brightened as he had finally found his master. He looked somewhat lacking to be called a spirit. However, Karaf¡¯s face transformed like a ghost, and his red eyes flashed. ¡°So, he is your next contractor after Cylon¡­ That¡¯s what you¡¯re saying?¡± Asha stared at him in surprise, and Karaf muttered as he lost his senses. ¡°I have to kill you right here, right now.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ Flowers should be kind!¡± ¡°¡­. This time, I¡¯ll show you my power properly.¡± Karaf jumped up from his chair and drew his sword again. His red eyes flashed, revealing his strong will to slash Nek with his sword. But Asha quickly stepped forward and stopped him. ¡°Your Highness, if you kill the Water Spirit now, we will lose the opportunity to obtain information!¡± Nek intervened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, but you can¡¯t kill me. Because the flower spirit in your chest is not normal right now.¡± Karaf walked towards him in anger and grabbed his neck, shouting. ¡°Of course! Because you put a curse on my heart¡­!¡± He shook Nek¡¯s neck violently and screamed. ¡°If you don¡¯t break this damn curse right now, I¡¯ll tie you up under the scorching sun to dry you out!¡± Karaf gritted his teeth, but Nek frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t break your curse.¡± ¡°Why not?!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see earlier? As soon as I touched your chest, I was repelled.¡± Karaf frowned. Nek¡¯s curiosity was piqued and he asked with a glint in his eyes. ¡°Shall we try it again? Could you open your shirt so that I can see it better?¡± Despite trembling, Karaf took off his shirt. Asha felt a little embarrassed and turned her head to the side, but Nek clapped his hands like a child and cheered. She didn¡¯t understand why he was so happy but decided not to question it. Nek reached out and put a hand on Karaf¡¯s chest. However, he immediately removed his hand. He jumped up and down while holding his own hand in a ruckus. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s hot!¡± Asha and Karaf looked at him in confusion. Nek¡¯s hands turned red as if he had really touched lava, and then his hand melted down. It was a terrible and eerie sight, and Asha covered her mouth in horror. Nek trembled all over, but then he created a new hand. Water flowed from his wrist and transformed into the shape of a hand. ¡°¡­I guess it didn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you break the curse?!¡± Nek pondered for a moment before answering. ¡°To be precise, I didn¡¯t place the curse. We spirits only lend our power to the contractor like nature lending power to humans. There may be other conditions to break the curse. For example, the contractor who signed a contract with me must use their power to undo it.¡± Those words reminded Asha of Jackal. Karaf looked complicated and asked. ¡°Then I won¡¯t ask you anymore. You said Cylon was your former master.¡± When Nek looked up, he saw Karaf with slightly bloodshot eyes. ¡°Why did he betray me¡­.? Do you know why?¡± For the first time, Nek smiled sadly. ¡°My previous master was a nice person, but he didn¡¯t have the qualifications to be a contractor.¡± ¡°What qualifications?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t have a firm goal or a strong will to make a contract with a spirit.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°Not everyone is capable of making a contract with spirits. God does not easily bestow his powers or abilities on just anyone.¡± Asha nodded. ¡°However, there are people who have a strong need for the power of the spirits. These are usually individuals with a clear goal or motivation, who are willing to surpass human limits to achieve their desired objectives.¡± Asha was a little taken aback by these words. Perhaps she hadn¡¯t realized that she had been chosen as a butterfly because of her strong desire to overcome the overwhelming despair she had felt on the day the ethnic minority village burned down. This could have been the reason why the wind spirit was dwelling in her chest. Upon reflection, it seemed that all butterflies had an ¡®awakening condition¡¯ for this very reason. The reason why she was able to use the power of the wind for the first time was that she wanted to develop her strength to protect people by learning archery from Jackal. She didn¡¯t know that the hardships and adversities she faced might have been a ¡°test¡± that the wind spirit brought upon the contractor. And that was the decisive reason why Nia couldn¡¯t become a butterfly. In contrast, Jackal possessed the qualities of a contractor. He had a strong motivation to protect Asha. Then, Nek said. ¡°Normally, spirits store all their memories within their bodies. However, for some reason, my memories of my former master are scattered like pieces. It seems I put a seal on my memory when I sealed the flower spirit so that no one could see them recklessly.¡± ¡°How can we see the memories then?¡± Nek pondered before responding. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it only be possible for the next contractor to see those memories? Spirit contractors have the authority to access all memories.¡± This meant that Jackal had to form a contract with the spirit to learn exactly what had happened at that time. Nek sighed with disappointment. ¡°If the flower spirit was awake, we could ask what curse you have¡­ Anyway, I can¡¯t solve this alone. It¡¯s beyond my abilities.¡± ¡°Useless, pathetic bastard.¡± Karaf cursed him with a disappointed look on his face causing Nek to get angry. ¡°Why am I useless and pathetic? Where else can you find a great dagger like me?¡± ¡°Are you a great dagger?¡± Karaf asked with a slight smirk. Nek¡¯s eyes widened as he retorted. ¡°Of course! Can¡¯t you tell just by looking at my body? Where else can you find such a well-polished, perfect body in this world?¡± Hearing this, Karaf looked at Asha and said expressionlessly. ¡°He¡¯s crazy.¡± ¡°Yes, he is crazy.¡± Ignoring Nek¡¯s frustration as he jumped around alone, Karaf sat down and fell into deep thought. Why of all people is the horseman the next contractor¡­? He smiled bitterly, unaware of his own expression. Having the same spirit as the man who had betrayed him, he felt like it was some kind of twisted fate. ¡°Then, you¡¯ve gone through countless masters so far?¡± Nek nodded in response to Karaf¡¯s question. ¡°Since ancient times, we spirits have been searching for contractors who can use our power to protect the Flower Kingdom under the command of God Etzheim. From a young boy who played with me like a toy to nobles, knights, beggars, and adventurers¡­ Many have touched my body.¡± Although the ending of his sentence seemed odd, Asha tried to ignore it. ¡°So, did you test each master every time?¡± ¡°No. At first, I gave my body to anyone. Spirits each have their own standards for choosing contractors, but I¡¯m naturally capricious and didn¡¯t care who my master was. However¡­¡± Suddenly, Nek¡¯s eyes grew bitter. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do that after knowing that if an unworthy person acquired me, they would be unhappy. So I decided to choose a person with a pure heart as my master who wishes for my power.¡± Nek explained before falling silent. Suddenly, Asha thought of Cylon. ¡°¡­¡­Then I will go find my master. He must be somewhere nearby.¡± Nek had already changed his mind and started searching around like a fickle water spirit. Even this resembled the nature of water, very fickle. Asha firmly told him. ¡°Jackal is not here.¡± Nek¡¯s expression immediately collapsed like that of a lost child. ¡°He¡¯s not here¡­?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s really not here.¡± ¡°Really¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, he was here, but he¡¯s gone.¡± Karaf watched Asha answer Nek¡¯s childlike questions kindly and resolutely, with a slightly bewildered expression. Nek collapsed on the ground with a lost expression, muttering. ¡°Why isn¡¯t he here¡­? He called me out and left¡­?¡± Asha sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you meet your master soon. Just wait quietly until then.¡± Although displeased, Nek calmed down when Karaf offered him an outdoor bath as a place to live. From Karaf¡¯s perspective, he was annoying, so he didn¡¯t give him a room, but a luxurious outdoor bath. Despite being called a useless spirit, Nek seemed to like it. Although he looked like a fish, he was playing in the water like a child¡­ While Nek swam around with a gloomy face, Asha quietly placed a few duck dolls in the water, hoping to cheer him up. As she watched Nek happily play with the duck dolls and splash around in the water like a child, Asha let out a sigh. She knew she needed to introduce him to Jackal as soon as possible. * * * * * Jackal was in his room, reading a letter from Asha. After he finished reading, he started packing his things. Sosa was surprised and asked him. ¡°Was something wrong written in the letter?¡± Jackal replied while packing diligently. ¡°Monsters have appeared in the capital.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sosa was taken aback. It was not unusual for monsters to appear in the capital city, which received the most divine protection. ¡°Moreover, a water spirit appeared in the palace.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sosa¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Jackal explained earnestly. ¡°I have to go. I¡¯ll make a contract with the water spirit and come back. Tell the village chief that I¡¯m going to Lycaon for a while. Keep this a secret.¡± Sosa stared blankly at Jackal as he rushed out of the room. Something unusual had happened, but in fact, Jackal had actually read Asha¡¯s letter, which was filled with love, and had decided he had to see her right away. CH 97 Asha checked the event schedule to avoid running into the nobles. Their attitudes had completely changed after the incident at the Duke of Lilac¡¯s estate. Before they just ignored Asha, who was of a minority ethnicity, but now they seemed to like her and were even doing things they had never done before. They showered her relentlessly with gifts and waited for her in every alley to strike up a conversation. This made Asha uncomfortable, so she decided to visit the rose garden she hadn¡¯t come to for a long time, which was like the Emperor¡¯s sanctuary since no one could enter without his permission. For a slightly different reason, Asha knew why Karaf had come here to hide when he was young. Being alone among the fragrant flowers made her feel at ease and seemed to breathe a little. She remembered the scent of the flower she had smelled on Dart and tried to find it in the garden. It was a fragrance that she had never smelled before, and it was unfortunate that only she could smell it. However, she couldn¡¯t ask him because he might not know that he was the second flower, so she lowered her head and smelled the flowers by herself. But even in the garden where countless kinds of flowers were collected, she couldn¡¯t find a scent similar to his. It was really weird. After surveying the vast garden, Asha sat down on a long wooden chair, feeling a bit tired, and she checked her remaining schedule. After the ceremony at the temple, there would be a banquet held in the palace. If she successfully finished the dance, many nobles would probably approach her to request a dance or strike up a conversation. Despite her expectations of an exhausting day, Asha tried to regain her composure. Asha is tasked with putting a golden branch to the side flower that would adorn Karaf in the ballroom. As the flower side branch is the person who was destined to help the Rose Emperor in various ways, Asha had to be careful in selecting the right candidate. This was particularly important as the chosen noble would wield significant power, making Asha even more careful in her selection. As Asha finished reviewing some documents, someone called her name. ¡°¡­¡­ Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha looked up and saw Nia standing at the entrance to the rose garden, looking a bit hesitant. ¡°Lady Nia.¡± When Asha greeted her with a bit of relief, Nia cautiously asked. ¡°Would it be okay if I stayed with you for a while?¡± ¡°Lady Nia needs a place to hide too?¡± Asha smiled and asked jokingly, but Nia answered seriously. ¡°Actually, I needed a safe place where I could talk to you alone, Lady Vanessa. I saw you come here, so I waited without permission. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sensing the seriousness in Nia¡¯s tone, Asha¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Nia approached her. ¡°I wanted to offer some advice on choosing the flower side branch. I thought it might be helpful.¡± Her words were very meaningful. ¡°I hope you understand that I have no intention of manipulating you or forcing you to make any flower arrangements to my liking, Lady Vanessa. Based on what I¡¯ve learned from my father and my own observations in social gatherings, I¡¯ve compiled a list of flowers you should get closer to and ones that you should avoid at all costs.¡± Nia carefully took out a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Asha. Asha¡¯s eyes widened as she unfolded the paper. Asha was surprised as she unfolded the paper, seeing an extensive amount of information about nobles, including friendly, hostile, and even opportunistic ones. Asha realized that what was written on the paper was very honest and realistic. The information on the paper closely matched her own experiences and feelings, and it openly expressed Count Delphinium¡¯s blind desire for honor and power, as well as that he was an enemy. In addition, unexpected information about people that Asha couldn¡¯t understand was also available. Some people pretended to be friendly on the surface but were hostile and opportunistic behind the scenes, which made Asha feel a little scared. Nia said seriously. ¡°If Lady Vanessa wants to know more about any nobles, I can gather information. As long as I attend social gatherings and casually observe them, I can find out almost any top information. I¡¯ve told them that I became your lady-in-waiting on my father¡¯s orders to spy on you, so I don¡¯t think anyone will be suspicious. Rather, some may even ask me how to gain Lady Vanessa¡¯s favor in exchange for power for their family.¡± ¡°Lady Nia, please let me know if you encounter such people. I want to be able to distinguish them at the party.¡± Asha smiled at Nia and whispered. ¡°Please tell them that I¡¯m very interested in boring history books. I have insomnia, so I would appreciate it if they gave me books as a gift.¡± Nia smiled back and replied. ¡°I will.¡± While giving books as gifts may be common, if someone gave a book that is rarely considered a gift, it would be easy to distinguish them from others. Moreover, from the gift giver¡¯s perspective, it would be a sarcastic way to say ¡®study history a bit,¡¯ so it would be easy to avoid any young women who wanted to gift such books. These people are like bats, going back and forth to places where they can gain some benefit. If you keep them close to you, they might become the most troublesome enemy to deal with later on. Asha looked at Nia. ¡°Thank you for giving me such valuable information.¡± ¡°Not at all. I just want to help Lady Vanessa in any way I can.¡± Nia replied politely, bowing her head. As Asha looked at the list, she discovered that most of the noble families called the five petals of the empire were hostile towards Karaf. It was something she had expected, but she couldn¡¯t hide her bitter feeling. Karaf was truly alone. But then Asha suddenly discovered someone belonging to the category of ¡°people whose true thoughts are unknown¡± and her gaze fell on Nia. ¡°Lady Nia, is there any other information you know about Duke Sihan Blossom besides what is written here?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ actually, it was difficult to obtain information about him. He¡¯s so mysterious and good at hiding things. He¡¯s also thorough enough that if you forcefully try to dig up information, you¡¯ll be caught right away and face reprisals.¡± Asha nodded in agreement. Sihan Blossom always gave off a friendly impression with his constant smile and kind demeanor, but no one truly knew what he was thinking. Moreover, as a duke, he held a position of power that made it difficult for other nobles to approach him easily. ¡°Then, what¡¯s your personal opinion?¡± ¡°Are you asking about getting close to him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Nia took a moment to think before responding. ¡°This is my very personal opinion, I think it would be better not to get too close to Duke Sihan. He¡¯s someone who can easily manipulate and get rid of people. I feel like he is someone who can easily cut off anyone who¡¯s near him.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. There are countless rumors about him, but none of them have been confirmed. When I look at him, I get the feeling that he is a bit sinister. I think it would be safer and more reliable to deal with people who show their true intentions openly.¡± Asha nodded, feeling that she needed to find out who Sihan Blossom truly was. If he posed a threat to Karaf, he could potentially be the most dangerous person. She returned to the Empress¡¯ Palace feeling exhausted and went straight to the bathroom. However, as soon as she opened the door, she was surprised to find Nek striking a seductive pose in the bathtub. Asha¡¯s eyes went wide and she slammed the door shut. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± After a moment of silence, Asha cautiously asked from behind the door. ¡°Are you protesting against me right now¡­.?¡± ¡°Nek wants to see his master.¡± Asha closed her eyes as Nek spoke in the third person, sounding like a grumbling child. ¡°Nek, would you like to transform into a dagger for a moment?¡± Nek obediently transformed into a dagger without knowing why, and Asha picked him up from the bathtub. She then strode towards the window and tossed him out, prompting a loud scream from Nek that echoed through the night sky. ¡°Ah¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Your house is the outdoor bath, not my bathroom! Wait there quietly until your master comes. Before I tell your master everything you¡¯ve done!¡± Asha shouted down before slamming the window shut. * * * * * As the Month of Blossoms event approached, everyone was busy with preparations. Asha got dressed and headed to the temple to perform her dance as Vanessa. Her dress this time was a striking red one, intentionally designed with layered lace to resemble rose petals, befitting for the event. Although Ella had promised to present Vanessa with an extraordinary dress this time as well, the dress seemed more ordinary compared to the previous one. Duchess Ren¨¦ Lilac didn¡¯t like being in the same space as the commoners, so she missed Asha¡¯s dance at the last flower banquet. However, she had heard enough about Asha to the point where her ears ached, but in reality, she had only seen Asha hunting monsters with a bow at her tea party. She said, covering her mouth with a fan. ¡°Everybody seems to be making a lot of fuss. If you¡¯re a noble, dancing should be a basic skill that everyone can do.¡± The other noble ladies did not agree with her words, but they played along without offending her. But deep down, the Duchess wanted to see Vanessa dance from the best seat. Nia was among them like a spy, carefully listening to their conversations and gathering information to report back to Asha. Asha climbed onto the altar prepared for worship with Karaf and bowed her head with her hands together in prayer. The sun had already set in the sky, and the royal orchestra was preparing to play as Asha stepped barefoot onto the marble stage. The stage was so clean and transparent that even a grain of dust couldn¡¯t be found on the floor. Even the way she took off her shoes under the stage was so graceful that Karaf couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. Once on stage, she nodded slightly and elegantly stretched out her long, delicate arms as she assumed her dancing position. Karaf was so impressed that he almost clapped involuntarily, but he managed to restrain himself, knowing that it would look impulsive and disrupt the dance. The music started to play. CH 98 Asha danced barefoot to the music, her expression freer than ever before. In fact, when she received etiquette education before, the class she liked the most was ¡®dancing¡¯. When she danced, she felt a little relief from the stifling palace life, and most of all, the fact that she was talented at something made her feel alive. With a light gesture like a butterfly, Asha made a turn. As soon as her foot touched the ground, she moved to the side like flowing water, and it seemed as if she barely touched the ground. As the music grew more passionate, she boldly performed turns and jumps, causing Karaf to flinch. The see-through fabric inside her skirt swayed like butterfly wings every time she lifted her legs and leaned back to balance. Her slightly sweaty face and neck, and the way her muscles moved on her slender arms were all vivid and beautiful, like a painting. But then, something extraordinary happened. Karaf¡¯s eyes widened, as did those of the nobles around him. Asha began to harness the power of the wind. A golden wind, like gold dust, flowed from her hands, enveloping her dress in a dazzling glow. It was like watching a firefly that illuminates the night sky. The nobles and priests watched the spectacle in ecstasy. Just as the music reached its climax, Asha¡¯s red dress split in half, and she emerged from within it. The dress floated in the air, giving the impression that she had emerged from a cocoon. Asha had used the power of the wind to hold the dress aloft, leaving the spectators wide-eyed with wonder. Once the dress fell away, Asha revealed a new golden dress. At the Flower Banquet, she had worn a dress that changed from green to red, like a blooming flower. But this time, it looked as if a butterfly had hatched from a flower. The dress was covered in glitter that reflected the sunset light and created layers of luminosity-like watercolors spreading out. The lights on the dress shifted with every movement as if the sunset had been transferred directly onto the fabric. What kind of secret was hidden in the dress? Duchess Ren¨¦ was shocked, dropping her fan as her eyes and mouth opened wide. The assembled nobles appeared to have undergone a spiritual awakening, gazing at the ¡°Butterfly Dance¡± with astonishment. Butterflies were regarded as sacred beings that descended from the heavens. The priests bowed their heads in reverent prayer as if they were witnessing an angel dancing. Dart, in particular, was so overwhelmed that he watched Asha¡¯s performance with trembling eyes The mysterious scent of flowers emanated from him once again. His face was filled with intense emotion as he held his hands together, finishing the prayer ceremony. Ella, behind the pillar, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and shed tears. Despite receiving requests from numerous noble ladies, Ella vowed to make dresses only for Vanessa as her lady-in-waiting. The dance, which had started naturally, ended just as smoothly. As the sun set and only the remnants of the sunset remained, Asha¡¯s dress faintly shone. Karaf stood frozen, as if in a dream. Asha felt a bit embarrassed as she looked around and noticed that Karaf was frozen, not clapping as he was supposed to. When she lifted her head to greet him, she was surprised by his ecstatic and thrilled expression. It seemed a bit excessive for an emperor, who should be dignified, to make such an expression. It was as if it was against the law for someone with such a beautiful face to show such enthusiasm. Despite this, Karaf¡¯s face was lit up like someone who had just enjoyed a work of art, and his eyes were shining red as if he were intoxicated. Karaf threw a rose onto the stage as a sign of respect, and the audience erupted into applause, cheers, and whistles. The noble ladies were so overcome by Asha¡¯s overwhelming appearance that they couldn¡¯t even feel jealous or envious. Instead, they threw the flowers they were holding onto the stage. Sonya was holding a flower basket, throwing flowers along with other servants toward the stage. Thanks to the flowers thrown onto the stage, Asha looked even more like a butterfly standing in a flower garden. * * * * * Once the ceremony ended, they returned to the palace and enjoyed the ball. Asha attended the ball in the same outfit in which she danced. The ballroom was filled with nobles this time, rather than commoners. As Asha scanned the room, she suddenly saw Baron Violet talking to other nobles next to a column. He turned his head and caught sight of Asha, and hurried over with widened eyes. ¡°Lady Vanessa.¡± He politely bowed. ¡°Thank you for giving me the honor of offering flowers to you every day.¡± Asha was taken aback and couldn¡¯t answer at first. But soon, Asha realized something. Was it because of an incident in his past life that bothered him? It seemed that Karaf had ordered him to do so. While Asha was away, Karaf summoned Baron Violet to the palace. At the emperor¡¯s call, the baron arrived nervously at the audience room where Karaf greeted him calmly. ¡®I heard that the Violet family produces beautiful violets every year.¡¯ ¡®Yes, we do. I was actually planning to send some flowers as a gift to Lady Vanessa soon.¡¯ Karaf smiled bitterly. ¡®That¡¯s a very kind gesture. The reason why I called you here is also for the same reason.¡¯ Baron Violet looked a little surprised and looked up at Karaf. ¡®From now on, I request that you send the freshest violets grown in your manor to the Empress¡¯ Palace every day. Lady Vanessa loves purple flowers very much. I will reward you accordingly, worthy of such a kind gesture.¡¯ The baron was greatly moved and exclaimed. ¡®Thank you very much, Your Majesty! For the honor of my family, I will dedicate the freshest violets!¡¯ ¡®Yes, I look forward to your kind cooperation.¡¯ The baron looked nervous when he first arrived, but he left excited. Seeing the baron¡¯s foolishly innocent-looking back, Karaf sighed with guilt. ¡®Could this slightly redeem my past mistakes?¡¯ If this gesture could ease Asha¡¯s mood even a little, he couldn¡¯t ask for more. Asha, who had only just learned the truth, spoke with a gentle expression. ¡°Thanks to you, I enjoy seeing fresh flowers every morning.¡± Upon hearing these words, the baron was truly moved. As the two spoke, the surrounding nobles watched them, pretending to engage in their own conversations, but secretly paying close attention to every word and action Asha made. Since the Month of Blossoms event was organized by Vanessa, everyone reacted sensitively to her words and actions. The noble ladies who had made unpleasant remarks to Asha at the tea party felt too guilty to approach her, but the spectators were eagerly seeking opportunities to befriend her. Asha gracefully thanked every noble lady who gifted her thick history books, but inwardly she suppressed a laugh. Nia seemed to be doing her job well. There were so many people giving her books as gifts, those thick books piled up like a mountain next to her chair. They smiled in front of Asha but looked at each other warily. After insulting Vanessa like that, their glances suddenly shifted to suspicious ones, questioning why they suddenly changed their attitude. It was a strategy that achieved three goals at once: who¡¯s buying favor, choosing which nobles to keep by her side, and making them vigilant among themselves. While carrying out Asha¡¯s orders, Nia was amazed and impressed by these cunning people. Indeed, Asha was able to manipulate the nobles in a way that even Nia, who had been in the social world for a long time, could not have imagined. Asha had been tirelessly greeting the guests, but now found it difficult to smile due to facial paralysis. She worried that Karaf would become tired, but she was actually several times more exhausted from socializing than usual. Especially since she had never received such favor or attention before, it was even more difficult for her. But then, Karaf came to her side to protect her. ¡°¡­I want to ask the most beautiful woman in this ballroom to dance.¡± Karaf said with a smile as he kissed the back of Asha¡¯s hand. At his cheeky words, the noble women around him began to chatter and make a fuss among themselves. Asha smiled and replied. ¡°All right, Your Majesty.¡± Baron Violet bowed politely to Karaf and left. As Asha and Karaf took their place in the center of the ballroom, the nobles around them stepped back to face their partners. Then the music started, and the two began to dance slowly. Although Karaf looked expressionless, Asha realized that he was very nervous and focused. So she teasingly asked him. ¡°Your Majesty, are you nervous?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You¡¯re dancing too stiff right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Karaf¡¯s ears turned red, but he kept moving as if he was leading, and Asha followed his steps. Not forgetting to praise him, as he enjoyed compliments, Asha said. ¡°You seem to be an excellent dancer, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing I cannot do in this world.¡± Asha burst out laughing. After one round of dancing, the partners politely bid each other a polite farewell. Asha, who had worked up a bit of a sweat, went to the balcony with a glass of champagne to cool off in the breeze. As she gazed up at the night sky, someone opened the balcony door and approached her. ¡°Lady Vanessa.¡± Looking at the pink hair under the beautiful night sky, Asha replied. ¡°Duke of Blossom.¡± It was the man that Nia had warned her to stay away from. Sihan placed a hand on his chest and slightly bowed his head. ¡°I dared to follow you because I wanted to speak with you alone, Lady Vanessa. Please forgive my rudeness.¡± ¡°Is there something you want to tell me?¡± Asha asked with grace, but she was genuinely curious. He seemed very interested in her from the first time they met. He had shown obvious favor to her, but Asha did not trust the nobles. Sihan noticed her caution and responded with a friendly smile. ¡°Since you¡¯re being cautious, it appears that you¡¯re watching out for His Majesty.¡± Asha felt self-conscious, but Sihan continued to speak in a relaxed manner. ¡°I came to ask Vanessa for a favor because I want to assist His Majesty. I believe it will be of great help to have me by his side.¡± Asha was a little surprised that he was openly stating his intentions, unlike the other nobles. ¡°Why are you so sure?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m on the same boat as His Majesty and Lady Vanessa.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand what you mean.¡± Sihan looked around carefully to make sure no nobles were listening beyond the door or any spies were hiding under the terrace. Then he turned back to Asha, his expression suddenly serious. ¡°I, like His Majesty, know that Lady Vanessa has returned from the past.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. CH 99 Asha was so shocked that she was unable to say anything. Sihan smiled brightly again under the moonlight. ¡°Is Lady Vanessa¡¯s ability not prophecy, but regression?¡± ¡°H-how did you¡­¡­?¡± Shock spread across Asha¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take that truth to the grave. If the truth about your regression is revealed, I¡¯ll be hit hard too because I¡¯ve done a lot of bad things.¡± Sihan replied, laughing mischievously, but Asha didn¡¯t find it funny. Contrary to his cherry blossom-like appearance, he was a dangerous man. As Asha watched him warily, Sihan stopped laughing and said with a serious expression. ¡°If you choose me at the Month of Blossoms event, I will be a shield for His Majesty.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Sihan blinked at her question. Asha asked, looking into his eyes. ¡°Why do you want to help His Majesty and me?¡± ¡°Just for goodwill¡­ You wouldn¡¯t believe me if I said that, so let¡¯s consider it a kind of trade.¡± ¡°A trade?¡± ¡°Yes. In exchange for my loyalty, I would like Lady Vanessa to support our family so that we can become the only duke family to stand tall in the empire. I want to live my second life well.¡± Sihan smiled again after saying something strange. He had a rivalry with the Duke of Lilac. ¡°Since when did you know that?¡± ¡°Since Lady Vanessa danced at the Flower Banquet.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Sihan showed a charming smile. ¡°When I was watching your dance, I felt dizzy. Suddenly, memories from the past overlapped, and there was no memory of you dancing. It was truly overwhelming like thunderbolts striking my head.¡± Asha recalled the moment when Sihan winked at her during their first audience. He must have known the secret all along. ¡°As memories of the past come back one by one, I feel confused about whether I was dreaming or all of the past things were dreams. But there was one person who acted differently from what I remembered, and that was Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha swallowed hard. He really seemed to have been secretly spying on her all this time. As Nia had said, he was a man who was meticulous and yet hid himself well. He smiled slyly and said. ¡°It looks like my guess was right, judging from your reaction.¡± Asha realized she had fallen into a trap and blushed. ¡°Did you spy on me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for doing it. I also needed to be sure.¡± When Asha glared at him, he added. ¡°As far as I can remember, Lady Vanessa in the past couldn¡¯t bring His Majesty to bloom. You¡¯ve never joined Lycaon either. So I watched you for a bit to figure out if I could trust you, and after the Flowering Ceremony, I became completely convinced. I wanted to help you two.¡± Asha looked at Sihan with meaningful eyes and asked. ¡°How can I believe that? As you know, I don¡¯t trust nobles.¡± ¡°I understand. Just as I have been watching over you, I hope you will also watch over me like a chess piece and make your judgment.¡± With a polite farewell, Sihan stepped back and went inside first. Asha looked up at the night sky, feeling her heart racing and confused, lost in deep thought. Sihan was one of the few people who knew her secret. Now that he held her weakness, she felt uncomfortable. If the fact that the butterfly couldn¡¯t make the flowers bloom because she didn¡¯t do what they wanted, regardless of how baseless the rumors were, it would cause a severe blow to her image. Asha came out of the balcony, her face pale. Many nobles who wanted to meet her looked in her direction, but Asha was too tired to meet anyone. Then, Karaf, who was talking with other nobles, noticed Asha¡¯s state and headed toward her. In his past life, he always left her alone in the ballroom and tirelessly entertained the nobles, but now it was different. ¡°Are you feeling unwell, Empress?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­Your Majesty. My head ached because I was thinking deeply about something. But I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°What were you thinking?¡± ¡°Ah. I still haven¡¯t decided who to choose as the flower side branch.¡± Karaf responded calmly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who you choose. After all, nobles are all the same.¡± Asha looked around. He could tell she was struggling with the problem, but he just spoke easily without knowing it. When Karaft saw her expression, he quickly corrected himself, perhaps feeling that he had misspoken. ¡°As long as the person doesn¡¯t overtly display their malicious intentions, it should be fine. You have a better eye for people than I do, so you should be able to choose well.¡± Asha sighed. The one who had revealed their evil intentions too obviously was none other than Duke Sihan. As her face suddenly looked fatigued, Karaf suggested. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a festival happening outside the palace right now. Why don¡¯t we forget about your worries regarding this event for a while and go check it out together?¡± Asha was taken aback and questioned. ¡°What? But how can we leave if Your Majesty is not here¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. We can sneak out.¡± As he finished speaking, he looked in a particular direction. There, Duran was conversing with the knights about security arrangements for the day¡¯s event. Despite being fully armed and guarding the ballroom, he looked somewhat pitiful, and Asha couldn¡¯t help but stare at his stern expression. Karaf, on the other hand, spoke mischievously. ¡°He seems busy. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡­¡­ Really, what an immature emperor. Asha was dumbfounded, but she found herself running alongside Karaf like an accomplice, swept up in the wind of his sudden dash. He handed her a black cloak with a hood and donned a similar outfit before leaving the palace. ¡°It¡¯s not so bad to escape the palace like this. I can fully understand your feelings now.¡± Asha was taken aback once more, but noticing the unusual expression on Karaf¡¯s face, she kept quiet. When they arrived at the place where the festival was in full swing, it seemed that fireflies were scattered on the road splendidly due to the lights coming from all kinds of flower lanterns. Asha was busy looking around innocently like a child. Karaf found it strange as he observed her joy. She had never been to the capital before when she lived with him in the past. Unlike him, who had spent his whole life in the Imperial Palace, she would feel more at ease in this environment. Furthermore, minority groups were in a position where they were persecuted, so they probably couldn¡¯t even fully enjoy festivals like this that common people enjoyed. Those little things were more interesting than the tricks of the flashy court performers. As Karaf let out a sigh, Asha looked up in surprise. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty. I think I got too carried away alone without noticing. You must be uncomfortable and bored here¡­.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not uncomfortable at all. It¡¯s fun. I really like places like this.¡± Asha narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Karaf, knowing very well that he hated crowded and noisy places. Feeling stung by her suspicion, Karaf avoided her gaze and said. ¡°I¡¯ve been cooped up in the palace for too long. To become a good emperor, I need to see and feel how the people of the empire live¡­¡± He paused with a sigh, then continued. ¡°If I had known how much you loved this place, I would have taken you here sooner. I might die from all this excitement.¡± Karaf suddenly brightened up and dragged Asha to the nearby market stalls she had been curiously looking at. He casually handed over gold coins and bought the goods. Asha, not knowing what to do, spoke from behind. ¡°Your Majesty! I don¡¯t need it. I just came to look around.¡± ¡°No, since we¡¯re already here, let¡¯s buy everything. I haven¡¯t spent money lately, so it¡¯s a good thing.¡± He was still clumsy in expressing his love, so he tried to buy anything first. His most confident skill and the thing he was most confident in was ¡®spending money¡¯. However, when Karaf really tried to bargain with the vendors, Asha hurriedly stopped him. ¡°Actually, I have something else I want to do with you.¡± ¡°¡­.What do you want to do with me?¡± Karaf immediately put things down and his eyes lit up. At that simple appearance, Asha suppressed a laugh and replied. ¡°I want to put a flower lantern on the water.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! I¡¯ve never done that before.¡± Karaf¡¯s face was immediately filled with excitement. The two of them headed to a shop that sold flower lanterns to pick out their lanterns. Asha chose a camellia flower-shaped lantern to make a wish in the shape of her favorite flower, but Karaf appeared hesitant. Asha approached him. ¡°Are you still deciding, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really like my flower¡­.¡± The black rose lantern in front of him looked quite plain compared to the other fancy flowers. Given his personality, a lover of flashy things, the lantern did not appeal to him. ¡°Then how about that lantern?¡± As Asha pointed her finger towards a shelf, Karaf¡¯s eyes widened as he followed her gaze. There, a large lantern made up of petals in various colors resembling a peacock caught their attention. The lantern was not only big but also stunningly beautiful and unique, making it unmatched in the entire empire. Karaf¡¯s eyes initially lit up at the sight of the lantern, but his face soon took on a slightly disappointed expression. ¡°But that flower doesn¡¯t exist?¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s an imaginary flower? Having all the dyes of every flower seems like the emperor embraces all the people.¡± When Asha lightly praised him, Karaf nodded with a very serious face. ¡°The empress is right. It seems more precious and special because it is a flower that does not exist in this world.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. And Your Majesty will become that special existence in this empire.¡± Impressed by her words, Karaf¡¯s face brightened up. He is, after all, a very simple man. Asha almost laughed, but she felt a somewhat touching feeling. She had a strong desire for him to blossom into a special flower that was truly one of a kind. Now each one began to write their wishes on a piece of paper to later put inside the lanterns. However, Karaf wrote his wish very quickly and put it on the lamp with a relieved expression. Curious, Asha asked him. ¡°Have you already written everything?¡± CH 100 ¡°My wish has always been the same.¡± Asha could tell from the way he spoke as if there were nothing to worry about, that she knew exactly what his wish was. He probably wished that I wouldn¡¯t leave him¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he would be hurt again if his wish didn¡¯t come true. As her heart grew heavy, Asha raised the quill to the wishing paper. Although it was customary to write only one wish on the wish paper, Asha found herself with too many to fit on the paper. So she wrote them in small letters, pouring her heart out onto the paper. As she wrote wishes for the happiness of others ¨C Jackal and Karaf, Lycaon and Sonya ¨C Asha suddenly paused. A new thought had occurred to her, and without hesitation, she added one more wish at the very end. [Please allow me to be happy in this life.] She knew she couldn¡¯t take care of herself well, but she desperately wanted to be happy now. With a proud smile, Asha gently placed the paper into the lantern. As they made their way to the river holding their flower lanterns, Asha couldn¡¯t help but admire the beautiful sight. The long, straight river was already filled with countless lanterns, giving the impression of moons floating on the water. Standing next to Karaf, Asha took a moment to appreciate the surreal scenery before preparing to float their own lanterns. ¡°We have to make them float carefully so they don¡¯t tip over or sink in the water.¡± Karaf demonstrated at first, moving with unusually delicate precision. As Karaf¡¯s lantern slipped out of his hand, it glided smoothly on the water, becoming the most distinctive and eye-catching one among the others nearby. Children around pointed excitedly, urging their parents to get one just like it. Karaf beamed with pride upon hearing the children¡¯s voices, and Asha followed him with a smile, holding her own lantern. The two lanterns floated side by side on the water, slowly drifting down the river. Someone was watching them at that moment. ¡°¡­¡­ Your Majesty!¡± Suddenly, the footsteps of the knights were heard from behind, and Karaf let out a sigh. ¡°Oh, just when things were getting better, an intruder appears¡­¡± Duran spoke up in a firm tone. ¡°We¡¯ve been searching for you for a long time. This is not the time to be here.¡± ¡°For me, a date with Vanessa is the most important.¡± Duran was briefly at a loss for words before answering. ¡°Still¡­. how can the master of the Imperial Palace leave the palace on such an important event and let the guests wander around? The nobles have already started to gossip about your absence.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­.¡± Karaf let out another sigh and turned to look at Asha. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I need to go back. However, the empress can stay and enjoy the festival a little longer. It must have been frustrating being stuck in the palace. You should take this opportunity to relax.¡± Karaf instructed one of the knights to bring Sonya, her maid. Soon, Sonya came running from afar with excitement, but when she saw Karaf, she stopped and quickly put her hands together and bowed her head. ¡°Y-Your Majesty¡­..¡± Karaf spoke with a relaxed expression. ¡°I heard that Vanessa cherishes you the most. Do your best so she can enjoy the festival.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty¡­¡­!¡± With a face captivated by a sense of duty, Sonya turned to Asha. ¡°Lady Vanessa! I¡¯ll make sure to properly show you around the festival today! Just trust me and leave it to me!¡± Asha smiled excitedly at Sonya¡¯s bright energy. Karaf smiled, too, but his expression hardened when he had to go. Suddenly, he turned to the knights with a stern face, as if nothing had happened. ¡°You guys, come with me and carry these things.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡± The knights replied, freezing in place before picking up the items Karaf had purchased and following him back to the palace. Karaf glanced at Sonya and handed her a bundle of gold coins. ¡°That should be enough for you to enjoy the festival.¡± ¡°¡­. Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty! I will do my best to serve Lady Vanessa!¡± As Sonya bowed deeply, Karaf nodded in satisfaction and left, swaying like a contented lion. As everyone left, Sonya finally let out a breath she had been holding and gasped for air. ¡°Lady Vanessa, let¡¯s now enjoy the festival together.¡± Asha replied with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Sonya led Asha from shop to shop, showing her fascinating accessories and trinkets. In one corner, a small outdoor performance was taking place, with a man demonstrating by blowing butterflies made out of fire as if reenacting a blooming ceremony. As he blew the fire, butterfly-shaped red sparks flew up into the sky like fireworks, and the children around them clapped and cheered. Asha joined in, clapping and laughing while watching from under her hood. To commemorate the festival, nameless performers also came out onto the streets and held a parade. Asha felt like dancing and swayed involuntarily while secretly covering her face. She and Sonya wandered around trying all kinds of food. Sonya was buying things nonstop and pushing food into Asha¡¯s hand, causing her to eat constantly until she was completely full. The tempting array of desserts was too much for Asha to resist, and she indulged herself, eating more than her fill. Sonya emphasized repeatedly, saying the same thing five times in a row. ¡°You have to try this! It¡¯s hard to find because it¡¯s only sold during festivals. I¡¯ll remember the name and ask the royal chef to make it for you!¡± Sonya examined the food more closely and took a taste. Her face lit up with joy and satisfaction as she savored the transparent pudding with flower petals in it. Seeing Sonya¡¯s happiness made Asha feel better, and she smiled. Upon reflection, it seemed that Karaf had noticed that Asha felt happy when he did something nice for Sonya. He tried to consider her feelings and make it possible for them to play together. If all of his memories had returned, he would have remembered everything he did to Sonya in her previous life¡­. Perhaps he did it out of guilt. But then, Sonya suddenly spoke with a slightly tender look on her face. ¡°Meeting Lady Vanessa was truly the greatest fortune in my life.¡± When Asha looked over, Sonya blushed a little and lowered her head. ¡°Actually, I grew up very poor. My father, my mother, my three siblings, and I lived in a small and shabby room. I was the eldest, but when my younger siblings were sick, I couldn¡¯t do anything to help¡­¡± Pity filled Asha¡¯s face. ¡°I used to leave my house at dawn every day and clean other people¡¯s houses until late at night. But, by chance, I was noticed by the chamberlain and was able to work as a maid in the Imperial Palace. I was excited to think that I could finally feed my family, but the job was so demanding that I could only send money to my family. It¡¯s been a long time since I saw their faces.¡± Asha was heartbroken, not realizing that Sonya had gone through such a difficult time. She gently grabbed Sonya¡¯s shoulder and said. ¡°After this event is over, go home. I¡¯ll speak for you.¡± Sonya jumped up. ¡°Oh no! I¡¯m so happy just to be out of the palace like this. If it wasn¡¯t for Lady Vanessa, I wouldn¡¯t be able to walk around. My family is already under your protection, so I will continue to stand by your side. I am really happy to be Lady Vanessa¡¯s exclusive maid. There¡¯s nothing happier in my life than this.¡± Sonya bowed her head, and Asha looked at her, feeling emotional. However, Sonya quickly changed the subject, perhaps feeling ashamed to confess her true feelings. ¡°Lady Vanessa, shall we go and have our fortunes read with flower petals?¡± ¡°Fortune-telling?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s a fortune-telling that common people often go to, but it¡¯s surprisingly accurate! It¡¯s fun to try at least once!¡± Sonya exclaimed, leading Asha to a flower fortune-telling shop. Once inside the store, many large flowers looked like sunflowers and had folded paper petals glued around their edges. In the center of each flower, there was a round brown bead filled with sunflower seeds. ¡°All you have to do is pick a petal and check what¡¯s written inside! You can also pick a sunflower seed, and if you¡¯re lucky, they¡¯ll give you a prize.¡± Thinking it would be fun, Asha paid and picked up a flower petal and seed. But as she checked the contents inside the petal, her eyes widened in surprise. [A precious lover is waiting for you across the river. Don¡¯t miss the chance.] Asha turned her head toward the river, just in case. Suddenly, she noticed a tall horse standing across the river in the distance. As the moonlight shone on the horse¡¯s blue-gray fur, Asha¡¯s eyes widened and she cried out involuntarily. ¡°Sheppy¡­¡­ !¡± Sonya¡¯s eyes widened as well, and Sheppy responded to Asha¡¯s voice by lifting his front legs and neighing. Touched by the unexpected encounter, Asha quickly rented a small boat to cross the river. The boatman rowed cautiously, taking care not to collide with the lanterns floating on the river. When they finally reached the opposite shore, Asha tried to get off the boat but stumbled due to her impatience. ¡°Lady Vanessa!¡± Sonya quickly came up behind and supported Asha, while Sheppy moved in closer in surprise, pushing his face towards her. As soon as Asha caught sight of him, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. ¡°I missed you, Jackal. I missed you so much¡­¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes widened momentarily, but then he softly shut them and rested his head on Asha¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But how did you get here so quickly?¡± Asha leaned in close to Jackal¡¯s ear and whispered a question. He turned and made his way toward the nearby bushes. Suddenly, a tall, naked man stood up among the trees, and Sonya covered her eyes and turned around, exclaiming ¡®Oh my God!¡¯ Jackal hastily grabbed the clothes he had hung on a nearby tree and quickly got dressed before returning to Asha. As soon as she saw his face, her emotions overwhelmed her and tears welled up in her eyes. Throughout the festival, Asha had been worried that Jackal might not have experienced such an event before, but she never imagined their reunion would happen like this. The fortune teller¡¯s prediction was indeed correct. This time, Jackal took the initiative and walked toward Asha, wrapping her in a tight embrace. ¡°As soon as I received your letter, I transformed into a horse and ran nonstop to come to see you. I missed you so much¡­I couldn¡¯t bear it.¡± Asha closed her eyes and embraced Jackal¡¯s broad, sturdy chest. She could feel his heart beating strongly and quickly, and his familiar scent felt warm and comforting. The two stood facing each other in a romantic riverside setting, surrounded by flower lanterns that shone like fireflies. Asha¡¯s heart was pounding. Feeling uneasy about the atmosphere between Asha and Jackal, Sonya quickly stepped back, putting a hand on her eyebrows to scan the area to make sure no one was watching. As Jackal tilted his head and closed his eyes, he leaned towards Asha¡¯s lips. She hugged him and kissed him gently. The sweet fragrance of the flower taffy Asha had eaten earlier made the kiss even sweeter. Jackal was lost in the moment and deepened the kiss, pulling Asha even closer to him. As the two lovers shared a kiss so intense they couldn¡¯t breathe, a red firework exploded in the sky, followed by a loud cry that pierced the night. A red firecracker had exploded in the sky, and at the same time, a loud scream was heard. ¡°It¡¯s a monster¡­! A monster has appeared at the monastery¡­!¡± Asha and Jackal stopped kissing and looked toward the direction of the sound, their eyes wide with shock. CH 101 They witnessed a multitude of people on the other side of the river screaming and hastily fleeing. ¡°I must go to the temple immediately¡­!¡± Asha urgently declared, prompting Jackal to hesitate for a moment. He couldn¡¯t take her to such a dangerous place. But Asha is the Empire¡¯s butterfly. It was uncommon for the temple to be attacked by monsters during the flower festival, and such an event could deal a significant blow to the Imperial Family. However, seeing Asha¡¯s desperate and resolute expression, Jackal transformed into a horse. Asha glanced back at Sonya and instructed her. ¡°Sonya, quickly return to the palace, inform His Majesty of the situation, and seek refuge in a safe place!¡± ¡°Yes, Lady Vanessa! You and the boss must stay safe until then!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will!¡± With that, Asha mounted Jackal¡¯s back, and they quickly made their way toward the temple. As they reached the temple, they saw people evacuating in all directions, and numerous monsters emerging from the grass, creeping toward them. Asha and Jackal¡¯s eyes widened in unison as they saw the mites and scale insects, which were much larger than humans. This was the first time in history that monsters had appeared in a temple protected by God, and it took the priests by surprise. They quickly took out holy water bottles used for worship and created a defense line. While the high-ranking priests closed their eyes and recited spells with their hands together, the low-ranking priests and followers sprinkled holy water on the monsters to prevent them from advancing. As soon as the holy water made contact with the monsters¡¯ bodies, they let out terrible screams that sounded like scratching metal, as the places where the holy water touched them were burned. Meanwhile, the high priest emerged with a cane. ¡°The Lotus Temple is untouchable¡­!¡± As he struck the cane on the ground, a dazzling white light flowed from under it and attacked the monsters. Asha stood there, mesmerized by the wondrous sight, with her eyes still wide open. However, at that moment, monsters began to rise up around them like a volcanic eruption. Jackal changed into his human form, dressed up, and drew his sword to fight the monsters. He used quick movements to attack the monsters. ¡°¡­Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha turned around, and saw Sihan, with his pink hair blowing in the wind, and his knights standing there armed. ¡°Duke Sihan.¡± ¡°I came to help clean up before His Majesty arrives. To kill the bugs we have to step on them.¡± Sihan said, smiling brightly. Jackal looked at Sihan with a wary expression. Sihan also noticed him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the Leader of Lycaon? I think I saw your head hanging in the square before.¡± Jackal¡¯s face was stained with shock, and Asha was also surprised. But she quickly interjected. ¡°Duke Sihan has memories of the past.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jackal frowned and looked at Sihan. Sihan replied with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m on Lady Vanessa¡¯s side.¡± ¡°How can I believe that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of being chosen from now on.¡± Sihan looked at Asha with great seriousness. ¡°Choose me as the side flower. I will fulfill your expectations..¡± Asha responded with a resolute expression. ¡°I will trust you, Duke Sihan.¡± Sihan smiled mischievously. He had already gained Asha¡¯s trust just by being the first noble to come and help her. Asha took a golden twig from her pocket and gently inserted it into Sihan¡¯s front pocket. He closed his eyes and smiled like the sunlight on a spring day, bowing in an aristocratic way with one hand on his stomach. ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Lady Vanessa. I will do my best to repay your trust.¡± Sihan, accompanied by his knights, headed straight to the temple to subdue the monsters. But then he turned around as if he had forgotten something. ¡°Oh, I brought this just in case.¡± He signaled to someone, and a knight appeared with a bow, a gift from Nia. Sihan smiled. ¡°I thought you would be safer if you had a weapon.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­ thank you.¡± After seeing Sihan¡¯s thorough preparation, Asha accepted the bow nervously. He seemed to be convinced that she would head straight to the temple where the monsters had appeared. Asha was a little horrified that he knew her so well and had followed her with complete determination. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be on my way. I¡¯ll see you again soon.¡± As he drew his sword and ran, his face became bloody as it always had. He really is a dangerous man¡­. Asha couldn¡¯t help but think he was a dangerous man, but at the same time, she felt she had gained a reliable ally. ¡°Jackal, I think we should go see Priest Dart.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Priest Dart?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the second flower I mentioned before.¡± Jackal kept quiet. ¡°I think we need to find out more about what happened. He¡¯s in the temple, so he knows how this happened.¡± As Jackal was about to grab Asha¡¯s hand and run, he suddenly transformed into his horse form. With a charismatic look and a growling noise, he turned around and Asha climbed onto his back. Mounted on a horse with a bow, they looked exactly like the wooden sculpture Jackal had gifted her. They entered the temple building, and a fierce battle was raging even in the hallway. Black monsters covered the white hallway like stains, and in the center, Dart was standing alone, blocking the monsters. ¡°¡­Priest Dart!¡± Dart was startled by Asha¡¯s scream and turned around. ¡°Lady Vanessa! What are you doing here?!¡± ¡°I came to see the festival. But as soon as I heard that monsters had appeared in the temple, I rushed here.¡± ¡°No! This place is dangerous. Please go back to the palace!¡± But then, something happened. A scream was heard from the direction of the chapel. ¡°Oh no¡­¡± The three quickly headed towards the chapel. Suddenly, an earthquake occurred, causing them to stumble and stand in place. A gigantic, elongated monster like a caterpillar came running from the hallway and blocked their path. It was a looper. Asha immediately fired an arrow without hesitation. The looper screamed horribly when hit by the arrow but didn¡¯t die easily and started to flee along the temple¡¯s wall. Just seeing the monster wriggling and disappearing up the wall made one shiver. The three quickly entered the chapel through a gap. Inside, young believers who had not been able to escape were gathered and crouched in front of the stone statue of God Etzheim. The statue was surrounded by a small flower garden, and the priests always watered it with holy water and cast spells to keep it safe. However, as the flower garden was destroyed, the power of the barrier was gradually weakening. ¡°Priest Dart¡­!¡± When the young believers found him, they shouted with relief. Dart looked at them surprised for a moment before reaching out his hand. At that moment, an indescribable unpleasant pressure flowed from his body, and Asha¡¯s eyes widened in shock. It was similar to the aura that Karaf had exuded before, but different. Could he also know that he possesses the flower spirit? Or had he realized it through practice with the high priest? Asha was confused, but she suddenly felt a chill as if she had jumped into cold water. It was as if her butterfly intuition told her that his ability was dangerous. ¡°¡­Snap out of it, Asha!¡± Jackal¡¯s shout brought her back to reality. When he saw her trembling with widened eyes, he leaned in close with a worried face. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I think I was just too nervous.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Jackal hugged Asha and patted her back, and all her uneasiness disappeared as she felt calm again. Suddenly, another long, high-pitched scream followed by the sound of something fluttering in the sky nearby interrupted their moment. Asha and Jackal looked up at the sky, and she opened her mouth in surprise. A giant moth was flying in the sky. The moth, which had been flying in the sky, suddenly lunged at Asha with a whirling motion that resembled a vortex or whirlwind and struck her with a whip-like motion. Jackal quickly grabbed her and dodged the attack. ¡°Asha, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine! I¡¯ll take care of the moth!¡± Asha frowned and immediately shot an arrow at the moth with the power of the wind, but the moth blew the arrow away with the force of the wind. A power struggle ensued between the moth and the wind. ¡°Do you want to see who wins? Let¡¯s have a go.¡± Asha pulled the bowstring hard once again. Meanwhile, Jackal took an attacking stance and followed the looper with a keen eye as it attacked at a terrifying speed. The two fought against the monsters together, with their backs on each other. Jackal said quietly. ¡°¡­¡­ I take back what I said about you not being suited for a hunter. You¡¯re more suited than anyone.¡± Asha laughed, and they trusted each other completely, entrusting their backs to one another. Asha¡¯s arrow relentlessly flew towards the moth with the wind behind it. The moth tried to flap its wings to block it, but the arrow pierced one of its wings, unable to overcome the wind. At the same time, the looper flicked its upper body and attempted a quick attack, but Jackal rolled on the ground to avoid it. He quickly stood up and clung to the body of the looper. The looper wriggled and shook its body as Jackal hung on. Jackal frowned, regained his balance, climbed over the looper¡¯s torso, and began sprinting across its long, single-legged trunk. Finally reaching its head, he made a sharp stab with his sword into the head. The looper twisted its whole body and screamed in agony. The rebound knocked Jackal off, and he rolled violently on the ground. ¡°Jackal!¡± As Asha looked towards him in surprise, Dart urgently shouted. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous, Lady Vanessa!¡± Jackal raised his head from the ground in surprise. When Asha turned around, Dart used his ability to catch a scale insect that emerged from the soil behind her. It was an armored insect that was segmented like a crustacean. A green light emanated from Dart¡¯s hand and stems suddenly sprouted, immobilizing the scale insect. But in the blink of an eye, the moth that had been hovering in the sky whipped its tail at Dart. ¡°Dart¡­¡­!¡± Asha screamed in shock and ran to him. There was a deep wound that had dug into Dart¡¯s back as if he had been slashed diagonally by a sword. Smoke rose from the hot flesh, and blood flowed from the wound. Dart looked at Asha with his eyes dimly open, as if he were about to lose consciousness, and his breathing was faint. ¡°Run away, Lady Vanessa¡­¡­¡± He muttered weakly as if he was about to die. He had sacrificed himself to protect her. Asha looked at him with teary and trembling eyes. ¡°Why¡­why did you do that?¡± CH 102 ¡°Me¡­ meeting a butterfly was the dream of my life¡­ I am so glad¡­ that I can protect Lady Vanessa with my own hands.¡± Dart¡¯s eyes slowly closed. Asha¡¯s eyes glared at the moth, a few tears streaming down her face. The moth did not attack but instead watched them with its black eyes, which seemed like black holes. Then, arrows came flying from all directions. At some point, it appeared that the Cactus Knights had arrived at the temple. But ordinary arrows had no effect on the monstrous moth. As the moth flapped its wings, the arrows were deflected back toward the knights, who quickly raised their shields to block them. Meanwhile, Dart¡¯s power waned, and Asha realized that the scale insect was now heading toward her. Just as the scale insect was about to attack, someone swiftly decapitated it from behind. A blond man stood there, his hair swaying as the scale insect fell, blood spraying. It was Duran. ¡°¡­.Are you alright, Lady Vanessa?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine! But Priest Dart¡­!¡± He turned his gaze slightly and looked at Dart. Dart lay on the ground, clearly in poor condition. It was clear that they needed to end the battle quickly. Duran commanded the knights to subdue the monsters. The Cactus Knights were known for their exceptional combat abilities, unlike ordinary knights. As Asha watched the battle turn in their favor, she quickly got up and raised her bow once again. If ordinary arrows were useless against the moth hovering in the air, it seemed that she was the only one capable of defeating it. Her blonde hair was tousled, fluttering in the wind. Her purple eyes gleamed with fierce determination. ¡°Pests must be eradicated. For the sake of the flowers.¡± Her arrow once again flew to the same spot she had previously attacked. This time, the impact was severe, and the moth immediately fell to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust. One of its wings seemed to be paralyzed. It was a golden opportunity. Asha immediately reached for her arrow barrel, but to her disbelief, it was empty. Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Oh no¡­!¡± As Asha rushed to pick up the fallen arrows, the moth seized the opportunity and swung its tail. However, before it could strike Asha, a sharp sword sliced through the air and severed the tail. ¡°¡­¡­ I was waiting for the butterflies to come back after she had her fun, but this moth is getting in the way¡­ I¡¯m not pleased.¡± Asha was a little startled and looked at where the voice came from. Karaf was standing there. Then, when he saw Jackal in the distance, Karaf¡¯s face hardened. It appeared that ¡°moth¡± was not just a reference to the monsters. ¡°¡­¡­ What the hell is that bastard doing here?¡± Jackal spoke calmly, rising to his feet. ¡°Well, bugs are attracted to flowers. When I heard that monsters had appeared in the capital, I couldn¡¯t stay still because I was worried about Asha.¡± He had returned his words to him: ¡®If Asha is by your side, she will be in danger.¡¯ Karaf frowned and glanced at the moth, which was still flapping its wings on the ground. He thrust his sword into the moth¡¯s neck, causing the other monsters to vanish into black ash. It seemed that the moth was the host. On the chaotic ground, the people of the temple and the knights breathed heavily. Asha ran to the fallen Dart and hugged him. But as something electric surged from Dart¡¯s body, Asha was taken aback and pulled away. ¡°Vanessa!¡± ¡°Asha!¡± Thinking that something had happened to Asha, Karaf and Jackal quickly drew their swords and rushed toward her. Asha looked at Karaf helplessly. ¡°Priest Dart was injured trying to protect me.¡± Karaf observed the unconscious priest, noting his pale complexion and the amount of blood he had lost. ¡°I should give him an award upon our return.¡± ¡°By the way, Your Majesty¡­ Actually, this priest¡­¡± Karaf looked at her again. Realizing that many people were listening around her, Asha whispered into Karaf¡¯s ear a little embarrassed. Upon hearing Asha¡¯s words, Karaf froze in place with widened eyes. ¡°He¡¯s the second flower.¡± * * * * * On the day of the Month of Blossoms event, news of monsters appearing at the temple quickly spread throughout the empire. The High Priest, a man with the greatest divine power in the temple, was now too old and his body was failing. After preparing for the Month of Blossoms event for several days and worshiping all day long, they even subdued monsters, so it seemed that his weakened body could not withstand it. Now, everyone in the empire was murmuring that even the high priest collapsed after participating in the battle, and perhaps God was angry. Distrust of Karaf and Asha also grew increasingly, from saying that the two were not on good terms, to saying that the butterfly could not make flowers bloom. Moreover, some were anxious that the long prophecy that the Black Rose would bring about the destruction of the empire might really come true, and those who doubted whether the butterfly really had the power of prophecy. If she really could prophesize, why didn¡¯t she predict this situation earlier? Especially since the butterfly dance ceremony was held at the temple, their suspicions were strengthened by this incident. The rumors that they had heard countless times in the past were repeated in this lifetime like chains. In the imperial palace, where the atmosphere had calmed down, Jackal had a face-to-face meeting with the water spirit. Together, they headed to the outdoor bath where Nek was. Nek, who was casually enjoying a bath, not knowing what kind of commotion was going on outside, looked back at them. As soon as Jackal and Nek¡¯s eyes met, their eyes widened at the same time, as if they recognized each other, and both Karaf¡¯s and Asha¡¯s eyes widened at Nek¡¯s masculine appearance. ¡°Master is here¡­!¡± Karaf scowled and quickly covered Asha¡¯s eyes as Nek emerged from the water completely naked. ¡°¡­.. This spirit runs naked out of touch with reality. Just like someone I know.¡± Karaf gave Jackal a disapproving look, and Jackal glared back at him. ¡°Let me get dressed for a moment.¡± Nek, who noticed them, put on the clothes he had taken off outside and tied his mysterious blue hair up. He then cleared his throat and said solemnly. ¡°Are you the one who woke me up?¡± Now, at this point, Asha bit her lip and turned her head, feeling out of place. Jackal replied. ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t know the water spirit was the dagger I had until now¡­¡± Nek stood effortlessly on the water¡¯s surface, seemingly unaffected by gravity. He spoke leisurely to Jackal. ¡°If you wish to form a contract with me, Master must enter the water in your true form.¡± Jackal began to undress but suddenly became aware of Asha¡¯s presence. ¡°Could you turn around for a moment?¡± ¡°S-sure.¡± Asha¡¯s face flushed red, then she turned away as Jackal stripped off his clothes. Nek whistled to annoy them both, but Karaf glared at him to shut him up. Looking at Jackal¡¯s hunter clothes, Karaf twisted his lips and said. ¡°¡­¡­ This musty smell stings my nostrils. It¡¯s rude to see Vanessa smelling like that all the time. Are you such a savage that you don¡¯t even know it¡¯s rude?¡± Jackal looked at him and answered calmly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? Asha loves the way I smell.¡± At those words, Karaf and Asha flinched. Remembering that Asha had told him earlier that his body smelled strongly of roses, Karaf felt anger well up inside her. But he didn¡¯t have anything to say in response. CH 103 Cylon began pounding on Karaf¡¯s chest with his fists. Asha watched in a daze as the Cylon hit him so hard. After a moment, Karaf began to cough up water from his mouth. Cylon¡¯s expression brightened at the sight, but as soon as Karaf opened his eyes, his face turned contemplative. Karaf¡¯s eyelids slowly opened to reveal deep red eyes, darker than blood, a trait possessed only by those of royal blood in the Etzheim Empire. As soon as the blue and red eyes met, Karaf, who had been unconscious not long ago, quickly got up and brushed Cylon off of him. He immediately straddled him and put a dagger to his throat. It all happened in an instant. Cylon stared at him, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, unable to move. A teenage Karaf spoke with a terrifying face resembling a grim reaper. [Who sent you?] [¡­¡­] [If you tell me which noble ordered my death, I will spare your life.] Cylon was so flustered he couldn¡¯t answer, and Asha¡¯s heart sank at the realization of how many threats Karaf had faced since childhood. Only then did Karaf come to his senses to look around, and he carefully examined where he was and the boy¡¯s outfit in front of him. He was far from looking like a murderer, looking ragged and scruffy. He didn¡¯t even have a weapon attached to his body after removing his ridiculously thin clothes. It seemed he had jumped into the water to save him. However, he had moved too fast and the pain came too late. [Ugh¡­¡­.] Karaf frowned, bending over. [Ooh, you shouldn¡¯t move.] [What¡­?] [You¡¯ve lost a lot of blood and your heart was not beating until now.] Karaf¡¯s eyes widened, and he set down the dagger he had held against Cylon¡¯s neck. Cylon rose to his feet, fiddling with his neck before prostrating himself before Karaf. [I-I didn¡¯t recognize Your Highness the Crown Prince¡­ I dare to injure the Crown Prince¡¯s body¡­ I deserve to die¡­] Karaf looked down at his chest as he heard those words. Cylon hit his chest so hard to get his heart pumping that he had black bruises on his chest. [¡­ Did you do this?] Karaf asked, and Cylon trembled, unable to get up. But soon, a chuckle could be heard from above him. When Cylon looked up blankly, Karaf said with an arrogant smile. [I¡¯ll reward you for saving my life. What¡¯s your name?] Cylon replied with trembling eyes. [My name is Cylon Sothis.¡­] If he is a Sothis¡­ then he is a Myosotis¡­ T/N: Myosotis is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as forget-me-nots. With a surname that matched his appearance so well, Karaf chuckled and led Cylon back to the palace. On the way, Cylon took care of Karaf¡¯s wounds, helping him to heal a little. When the news reached the former emperor that the Crown Prince had been ambushed by countless assassins while hunting in the forest, he was furious. The father didn¡¯t care much about what his son was doing or where he was going, but he didn¡¯t know he was so angry that they insulted the Imperial Family by targeting the life of the only Crown Prince of the Empire. Despite Cylon being from a minority group, Karaf listened to his story of hardship and allowed him to work as a servant at the Imperial Palace. At first, Cylon was intimidated by Karaf¡¯s lofty position, but as he learned more about his situation and the challenges he faced at the palace, Cylon felt deep sympathy for him. One day, while cleaning the neglected rose garden under the orders of the chamberlain, Cylon accidentally stumbled upon Karaf hiding in the bushes. Even though Karaf took possession of the rose garden and made it his domain by cutting down all the roses as soon as he ascended the throne, the rose garden was not considered a particularly valuable space in the palace before that time. Rather, it was more like a neglected space in the palace. Karaf turned in surprise, wondering who could have come here. Cylon froze when he saw the tears in his eyes. It was the first time Cylon had seen him shed tears, he had always seemed cold and indifferent. Karaf, too, had never had anyone discover him hiding in the rose bushes before. That day, Karaf confided in Cylon for the first time and opened his heart to him. In return, Cylon offered him sincere words of comfort. After that, the two became very close, training together in swordsmanship in the rose garden where no one ever came. They even sneaked into the library to steal books and read them together in the garden while engaging in rich conversations. Despite their vastly different social statuses, Karaf gradually began to treat Cylon like his only friend. But soon after, tragedy struck¡­. When Cylon was granted a vacation after working for a long time, he excitedly returned to his minority village and told the village chief what had happened. However, the village chief¡¯s expression hardened, and he gave Cylon a mission: to assassinate Karaf. [You must kill the only Imperial Prince of the Empire to cut off the line of the Rose dynasty. That is the only way for minorities with noble lineages to revive. This is our last chance since the cursed black rose was born. The future of our people is in your hands.] [Chief, what the hell do you mean by that? How can killing him be the way to revive minorities?] [I cannot tell you the details.] Cylon realized the meaning behind the chief¡¯s words. He even had in mind the possibility of being tortured and confessing if he failed the assassination. The chief spoke with a meaningful expression. [As of now, what I can tell you is that our people were originally of a noble lineage equal to that of the Imperial Family. That¡¯s why the Rose Imperial Family started to see us as their enemies. Because we are the true nobility. The five petals next to the Emperor? That really should have been us. That is why our people are made up of five ethnic groups.] Cylon¡¯s eyes widened. [The Crown Prince is a black rose that will bring destruction to the empire. He is punished by the gods. No nobles supported him in becoming emperor anyway. The blood-stained rose, the history of the Imperial Family, must come to an end by our hands.] [I, I can¡¯t do that¡­I can¡¯t kill him..¡­ I don¡¯t want to¡­!] Cylon refused the mission, but the village chief imprisoned him. For several days, he remained locked in a dark warehouse, lying on the floor and shedding tears miserably. Moonlight seeped through the iron bars and shone on him, making it a quiet night. With tears in his eyes, Cylon raised his dagger, intending to stab his own throat. But at that moment, his tears and the tip of the sharp dagger glistened in the moonlight, and Nek turned to his human form and crashed into Cylon. [What are you doing? Are you crazy, master?] Cylon muttered faintly as he fell to the floor. [Then you¡­ Can you do it? Can you kill the flower spirit with your own hands¡­?] Nek kept his mouth shut, knowing that it was a great sin for spirits to kill each other. Nek only spoke a long time later [¡­If you really don¡¯t want to kill the spirit of the flower with your own hands¡­ There is only one way left.] Cylon raised his head in surprise. The next morning, the village chief came to see him, and Cylon was kneeling reverently by the door as if he had been waiting for him. The village chief asked while he looked at him. [Have you made a decision?] [¡­Yes, I¡¯ll do it.] The chief let him out with a satisfied smile. Before returning to the Imperial Palace, Cylon visited the shrine of the Ayla clan. As a clan that worshiped the moon, the shrine had an altar with a full moon directly in front of the entrance. Cylon knelt down politely in front of it and took out the clan¡¯s old treasure, ¡®Moon Powder¡¯, from under the altar. Only the Ayla clan chief knew that such a treasure was hidden there. However, as the heir who inherited the strongest bloodline, Cylon had come to the altar when he was very young and accidentally found the Moon Powder, angering his father. After that, he had to swear never to enter the altar again. Cylon took out moon powder from a full moon-shaped jewelry box, looked at it for a while, and then swallowed it in one bite. The Moon Powder melted in his mouth, and he rolled over in front of the altar, clutching his chest in pain. Nek murmured. [Do you really have to go that far? The Moon Powder is something that humans cannot handle¡­] Cylon laughed, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. [That¡¯s right, there¡¯s no other way¡­ Since I¡¯ve broken the rules of our clan and taken in the Moon Powder, I¡¯m not going to live long anyway. But Karaf will survive, I¡¯m sure of it¡­] Instead of taking the souls of the humans who stole the powder at the beginning of time, the moon gave them powerful desires before they died. Cylon returned to the Imperial Palace, and soon the day of the decisive battle approached. ¡¸¡°Cylon¡­¡­ please¡­ It¡¯s not too late¡­ Come back to me now¡­ Please don¡¯t do this to me¡­¡¹ Karaf looked at him with a look as if he was losing everything and begged him. Cylon bit his lip until it bled and spat out harsh words on purpose. And soon, he was hit by Karaf¡¯s sword that rushed toward him. Karaf¡¯s chest was carved with a crescent-shaped curse, and Cylon murmured for the last time. [Karaf¡­ I hope someday¡­ a miracle will happen to you too¡­ and break this cycle of misfortune¡­] Cylon slowly closed his eyes before he could finish his words. However, just before his last breath, his innermost thoughts were transmitted thanks to Jackal¡¯s telepathy ability. [Karaf¡­¡­ You were my sun. That¡¯s why I decided to become the moon. I will watch over the day when you become a great emperor¡­ from the darkest sky. Please unite all spirits¡­and the minorities¡­into one¡­¡­] When all the memories ended, the three of them returned to reality at the same time. But no one opened their mouths. Asha looked at Karaf, who was standing next to her, and her eyes widened slightly. He was in tears. He realized that Cylon had not betrayed him, that he had suffered alone without being able to say anything, that he had not intended to kill him, and that he had wished for him to become a great emperor. When he found out his true feelings, his heart ached as if it had been torn to pieces. Jackal remained silent as he watched Karaf clutch his chest with one hand as if he couldn¡¯t breathe properly. Then, Nek broke the silence and spoke first. [¡­Oh yes, now I remember.] Everyone looked at him. CH 104 [We must gather all the spirits in one place as Cylon wished. If all the spirit contractors come together, we can surely break the curse.] The curse would only end when the person who placed it had their wish fulfilled. Despite the cursed person reliving their pain every month on a moonless night, Cylon had made the best decision at the time. Cylon¡¯s family name meant ¡®don¡¯t forget me¡¯ and ¡®true love¡¯ in the language of flowers. Asha recalled a folk tale from a minority group. The story told of how the wind spirit brought a seed to the ground, but it took the touch of all the spirits to revive the flower spirit. Karaf muttered with his head down. ¡°¡­¡­ Damn that chief¡­¡± He then lifted his head, trembling with anger, ¡°I¡¯ve already lifted the order to eradicate minority groups, but I must catch that chief.¡± Asha agreed with a serious face. It seemed necessary to capture the chief to prevent any further innocent minorities from being sacrificed. They also had to find out why he had done such a thing. Jackal also murmured seriously. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to negotiate with the chief in the end¡­¡± Asha said. ¡°We¡¯ll have to find out where the earth spirit is, too, not just the chief.¡± As Asha mentioned, among the five elements, only the earth spirit¡¯s whereabouts remained unknown. The wind spirit that resided in Asha¡¯s chest did not confine itself to a form and, like the nature of the wind, remained invisible. Despite not being able to see the wind spirit, Asha could feel its energy, always by her side like the wind. The personality of the wind spirit was the complete opposite of the water spirit, who enjoyed showing off its existence by frequently changing shape. Asha had no idea about the earth spirit¡¯s temperament. However, Nek spoke confidently. [I¡¯ll help! Spirits can feel each other¡¯s energy. The earth spirit and I were close. If I contact him, he¡¯ll reveal himself quickly.] Nek transformed back into his human form and winked mischievously. ¡°But be careful with the fire spirit. Though it represents ¡®sunlight¡¯ for flowers, it has a hot temper and can quickly burn them if you¡¯re not careful.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened as she realized something. It¡¯s sunlight¡­¡­. Could Karaf have been wandering in the darkness because the fire spirit had been hostile and trying to harm him? For a flower to bloom, every spirit had to cooperate. However, because the village chief was a fire spirit contractor, a spy had already concluded that no one could break Karaf¡¯s curse. And that must be the secret that the village chief is currently hiding regarding Cylon¡¯s curse. Jackal nodded and turned to Karaf. ¡°Leave it to me. I am the only one who can deal with him. Now that I have also become a spirit contractor, my power will be no less than his.¡± Karaf looked him in the eye and replied seriously. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m counting on you.¡± * * * * * Not long after Jackal departed for the village, news spread that Dart had regained consciousness. Karaf made up his mind and decided to meet him. When Dart heard that the emperor had summoned him, he came to the audience room still not fully recovered and bowed politely on his knees at the foot of the stairs. ¡°I am Dart Lotus, a priest of Lotus Temple.¡± Karaf looked down at him from the throne. ¡°Raise your head. I want to take a good look at the face of the person who saved Vanessa.¡± Dart slowly raised his head, and his cold gray eyes met Karaf¡¯s red eyes. A hidden bloodline of the Imperial Family¡­ It was the first time the two flower spirit holders had met face to face properly. Asha, who was sitting next to Karaf, watched the two of them nervously. Karaf didn¡¯t like Dart¡¯s pure white appearance that looked holy unlike himself, but he spoke firmly without any change in expression. ¡°Thank you for saving Vanessa.¡± ¡°No need to thank me. As a priest, it¡¯s my duty to protect her. Protecting Lady Vanessa is also the temple¡¯s job.¡± Despite his courteous words, Karaf sensed a chilly atmosphere and felt uneasy about Dart¡¯s intentions. Asha was surprised and taken aback by Dart¡¯s cold attitude, which she had never seen before. He had always greeted her with a bright smile whenever she approached him. But now, his demeanor towards Karaf was completely different from how he treated her. Then Karaf sharply asked Dart with a face that showed no signs of welcoming. ¡°I heard that you used a special ability at the temple. What is that ability?¡± Asha gulped at that question. It was like asking Dart if he knew about his flower spirit. However, Dart answered without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what it is, but I discovered this ability shortly after becoming a priest. I believe it¡¯s a divine power bestowed upon me by God.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡­¡± Karaf spoke to Dart in a businesslike manner, considering the possibility that he might be lying. ¡°The Imperial Family will compensate for all damages to the temple caused by the recent monster incident. I hope the temple will regain stability as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I also hope that the palace will regain stability as soon as possible.¡± Karaf raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling irritated by Dart¡¯s words. Dart then glanced at him and said. ¡°Actually, there was something I wanted to ask Your Majesty for a favor regarding this incident.¡± ¡°You want to ask me for a favor¡­very well, speak up. I was already planning on rewarding you anyway.¡± ¡°The reward is unnecessary. However, since Your Majesty is going to help the temple, I would like to ask you a favor.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°After the event, the Lotus Temple was preparing to travel throughout the entire empire and perform a purification ritual. The High Priest said that the temple must also use its power to deal with the monster incidents and epidemics occurring throughout the empire.¡± Karaf¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Keep talking.¡± ¡°So originally, with the High Priest leading the way, the priests who were taking the High Priest Examination were to go to their designated areas and carry out the purification work, as well as baptize the people. However, as you know, the High Priest has fallen ill and cannot do that.¡± As Asha listened to him, she recalled what the High Priest had said in the past. She remembered how the gentle-tempered High Priest had truly loved Dart and considered him his successor. The High Priest had probably intended to appoint Dart as the new High Priest, who was no different from his disciple and son, but it was unfortunate that things had turned out this way. Dart paused for a moment and took a deep breath before continuing to speak. ¡°So, it would be a great honor if Your Majesty would join us on the pilgrimage and become our strength.¡± Asha was surprised by the unexpected proposal, while Karaf narrowed his eyes and asked. ¡°You mean that I should go on the pilgrimage to see for myself?¡± ¡°I believe that by simply visiting the affected areas, Your Majesty can give our people trust and stability and that the land will be blessed with flowers. Wouldn¡¯t Your Majesty, as the representative flower of the empire, put an end to all this unhappiness as soon as possible?¡± Dart emphasized his words as he looked at Karaf. His eyes contained a questioning gaze. He¡¯s the flower that represents the empire, so why isn¡¯t he doing something? Karaf looked back at him straight in the eyes and spoke. ¡°You are cheeky for a priest.¡± ¡°I apologize if my words came across that way, but my father, the high priest who is also my teacher, has collapsed. The main pillar of the temple has crumbled, and as a priest, I couldn¡¯t just sit idly by and watch.¡± The two men stared at each other, their auras prickling like thorns, as if preparing for a fight. Even Duran and the chamberlain could sense the tension in the air and tensed up themselves. Duran spoke up worriedly. ¡°But, Your Majesty¡­the New Moon is just around the corner.¡± Karaf¡¯s expression darkened. And then, it happened. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the pilgrimage.¡± After the two had a staring contest, their eyes widened slightly as their gazes turned to Asha. Asha said calmly. ¡°Your Majesty must protect the Imperial Family. Therefore, I will join the pilgrimage as the butterfly of the Empire on behalf of Your Majesty.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work.¡± Karaf cut in firmly. ¡°As I said before, the Imperial Family and the people of the Empire are important to me, but your safety is more important than anything else. I cannot send you alone to a dangerous place where I don¡¯t know what kind of risks might arise, especially after the monsters attacked the temple.¡± ¡°But Your Majesty¡­¡± ¡°Listen. The Empress is in danger, so you should stay here. If you¡¯re the Empress, you should protect the Imperial Palace instead of me. This is a burden I must bear.¡± Karaf spoke, staring into the distance with his dark red eyes. ¡°If you wait, that bastard horse will also complete his mission and return soon, so keep guarding the palace until then. I¡¯ll try to put out the urgent fire as quickly as possible and come back. While I¡¯m on the pilgrimage, I¡¯ll try to find the earth spirit.¡± Dart, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, spoke up. ¡°I know that Lady Vanessa treats the people with warmth and kindness, but please leave the issue of monsters and epidemics to His Majesty and me.¡± Asha couldn¡¯t bring herself to follow their request any longer, but strangely, she continued to feel uneasy and uncomfortable, as if something big was about to happen, just like the day when Jackal had gone out on a false commission from the Nasson Clan. * * * * * Back in the village, Jackal called the chief and officials down to the valley. As they arrived, their eyes widened in amazement. Jackal stood calmly in the middle of the water with his eyes closed, just as Nek had done before. The village chief let out a hearty laugh. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve truly succeeded in making a contract with the water spirit!¡± The fact that Jackal had become a spirit contractor so quickly made the officials feel a bit threatened and wary of him. They knew how powerful the Kelpie clan had been in the past. Jackal opened his eyes and looked at them. ¡°Let me show you what you want, chief.¡± As if anticipating, Nek spoke inside his mind. [Is it time to show my skills?] [Yes. How can I use your power?] [Water can change its form freely! Just imagine the weapon you want to use in your mind.] Jackal closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Then, a blue energy began to flow around his body, causing the water beneath his feet to sway. The village chief and officials watched nervously as the spectacle unfolded. When Jackal opened his eyes, they shone brightly with a brilliant blue light. CH 105 Jackal slowly lifted his hand from his thigh and the water followed suit, rising up as if pulled by a taut thread. He tightly grasped the edge of the water with his hand. At that moment, the water connected like a chain, forming a blue chain with a sickle-shaped hook at the end. Jackal began to wield the chain like a sword, swirling it over the water. Just then, thunder and lightning began to strike from the sky and a downpour started to fall. The heavy rain echoed through the valley. Jackal¡¯s head was drenched in the rain, and his blue eyes shone sharply through his wet hair. With the surroundings getting darker, his bright blue eyes looked even more threatening. Jackal became one with Nek and looked like a man possessed doing a sword dance in the water. Whenever Jackal imagined a weapon in his mind, Nek, connected to his thoughts, instantly transformed the water into the desired weapon. Amid the constantly changing weapons such as long swords, broadswords, daggers, spears, nunchucks, and more, Jackal handled them all with ease. He had been trained since he was young to handle any weapon he couldn¡¯t, so what he was doing now was a reflex action. His exceptional performance left the village chief and officials frozen in place, their eyes wide. Even Sosa looked at him in amazement. Despite the rain soaking them, they were so immersed in Jackal¡¯s sword dance that they did not even notice. He was inept at social dancing, but a master of the sword dance. The chief¡¯s eyes trembled in disbelief. A spirit contractor could not have mastered their abilities so flawlessly in such a short period. The previous contractor, Cylon, had also been unable to use the spirit¡¯s power with such ease. It was said that the more the spirit and the contractor became one, the more immense power they could unleash. Jackal was truly a natural-born ¡®genius¡¯. As he continued his sword dance, a slight smile curled on his lips. When he first met the spirit, he thought it was a bit less impressive, but after using its power, he thought it was quite useful. Nek surged with power, responding to Jackal¡¯s thoughts, and gave him even greater strength to display. Excitedly, Nek caused the ground beneath Jackal¡¯s feet to freeze, and he danced on the ice stage as the water quickly transformed into a sharp weapon before melting back into its original form and shattering like ice. Little did the village chief know that Jackal¡¯s ability to use the power of the spirit so freely was due to him being the clan¡¯s successor, with his will and the spirit¡¯s perfectly aligned. Cylon, on the other hand, was hesitant to use the power of the water spirit, even though he could. His unwillingness to kill Karaf had blocked the spirit¡¯s power. But Jackal and Nek¡¯s determination to save the flower spirit allowed them to exert even greater power. The power was granted to those who wished to use it in the right place and with sincere intentions. Nek became even more excited, meeting Jackal¡¯s expectations and causing unusual phenomena to occur throughout the valley, enticing the villagers to come and watch in amazement. The way people now looked at him was completely different. As a spirit contractor of that level, he seemed to have the right to become the next village chief. Everyone felt it unconsciously and trembled. As Jackal finished his sword dance, he raised his long sword one last time, and his face was reflected in the blade. Then, with a swift motion, the sword transformed into water. He brushed his hand and calmly began walking on the surface of the water. The village chief looked at him in shock. Glancing up at the sky, Jackal turned a few raindrops into ice beads and rolled them in his hands. ¡°Is this good enough?¡± ¡°¡­. It seems like the time has come. Follow me.¡± Without another word, the village chief turned around and Jackal calmly followed him with his hands behind his back. He already knew about Cylon¡¯s curse, so he had to extract other information from him. The two returned to the village chief¡¯s house together. It was an important conversation related to minorities, so Jackal decided to talk with him alone as the heir of the Kelpie Clan. The village chief spoke with a serious tone. ¡°¡­ Before we talk about the curse, you might be curious why we are trying so hard to kill the emperor.¡± Jackal looked at him and said calmly. ¡°For the survival of the ethnic minorities, right? Because the Imperial Family is persecuting minorities.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. But before that, there¡¯s something you should know. Why did we come to be called a ¡®minority¡¯ in this empire?¡± As Jackal looked at the village chief with curiosity, the chief asked him a serious question. ¡°Do you know what our origins are?¡± * * * * * An emergency noble meeting was called at the Imperial Palace, and not only the major nobles but also the lower-ranked nobles were invited to attend. Karaf and Asha entered together. Asha confidently entered the meeting room in an orange dress. The nobles were confused as they looked at Vanessa who had already taken her seat. ¡°Everyone, take your seats.¡± Karaf sat on the throne, and Asha sat on the empress¡¯s seat next to him, while the other nobles took their seats. ¡°I think everyone knows why we are having this emergency meeting. There is something we want to discuss with the Lords about the monsters appearing in the temple and throughout the empire.¡± With a slightly heavy expression, Karaf opened his mouth. ¡°In order to ensure the stability of the empire, I have decided to go on a pilgrimage with the priests of the temple.¡± Everyone was surprised. Karaf looked at them sharply and continued. ¡°Everyone is aware of the lack of manpower to deal with the monsters right now. The Cactus Knight and I are going to deal with the monsters during the pilgrimage, but it will be difficult to deal with the rest. So I hope the Lords will take this opportunity to participate in the subjugation. I think this is a great opportunity to earn the merit that all of you wanted so much.¡± Silence fell around him. Karaf had planned to dispatch the nobles to the monster subjugation team to distract them from focusing on his absence from the palace. However, it seemed that the nobles only saw this as an opportunity to discredit the emperor. Seeing that no one volunteered to subdue the monsters, Karaf felt a sour feeling in his stomach. Weren¡¯t there supposed to be five petals protecting the Imperial Family? It was a tragic fact that, despite their reputation, the Lycaons, whom he had persecuted, were far more trustworthy than those beside him now. But then, someone who raised his hand caught everyone¡¯s attention. It was Duke Sihan Blossom. ¡°I will volunteer. Lady Vanessa chose me during The Month of Blossoms event, and I must repay her expectations properly.¡± He smiled brightly. He appeared with a golden branch on his chest as if to show off to the nobles. ¡°No, Duke of Blossom. Please protect the Imperial Palace with me.¡± Asha said, and everyone¡¯s gaze turned to her. Asha spoke seriously. ¡°I want the Duke to defend the capital while His Majesty is away.¡± Sihan caught the double meaning of her words and chuckled. ¡°I understand. Then I¡¯ll stay here.¡± It was unclear what would happen while Karaf was away from the palace. Asha¡¯s words were meant to defend the capital from monsters, but they also had a hidden meaning of protecting the Imperial Family in case other nobles attacked them. It would be a great help if Duke Sihan remained in the palace. ¡°Another volunteer?¡± Karaf glanced at the nobles, but no one followed Sihan¡¯s lead when he volunteered. Feeling very uncomfortable, he called out to someone with a firm voice. ¡°Count Delphinium.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes? Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°The last time we met, I was so moved by the Count¡¯s consideration for me. I didn¡¯t know you thought so much about the Empire and me.¡± Karaf said, causing Kiam¡¯s face to flush. At the time, Kiam had suggested that he make his daughter, Nia, a concubine, but instead received humiliation. ¡°¡­Not at all, Your Majesty! However, if my words caused any discomfort during our last encounter, please accept my sincere apologies once again.¡± ¡°Then, may I ask you a favor?¡± When Kiam looked at him, Karaf smiled at him. ¡°I hope the Count can take responsibility for dealing with the monsters on the border area.¡± ¡°¡­ What?¡± Kiam¡¯s eyes widened. Karaf continued with a sly smile. ¡°If you can properly defend the borders during these times of monster attacks, you will become a great strength for the Imperial Family. Once the Empire is stabilized, I will make you a Marquis.¡± Karaf¡¯s words surprised the other nobles, but they understood the implied meaning behind them. Karaf intended to send Kiam, an unsightly man, to the farthest border area from the capital, where he would have to deal with attacks from monsters or invaders on his own. Although such a task should have been assigned to someone with the title of ¡®Marquis,¡¯ Karaf openly showed his intention to test Kiam. Knowing how much Kiam Delphinium desired power and a good reputation, the other nobles congratulated him while secretly mocking him. Red-faced, Kiam couldn¡¯t refuse and answered. ¡°¡­Yes, Your Majesty. I will accept the task.¡± * * * * * ¡°Shit! That damned tyrant dared to insult me¡­!¡± Returning to his state, Kiam was furious from the embarrassment he suffered and his face was red. His servants stood in a row, avoiding eye contact and remaining quiet, knowing how unpredictable he could be on days like this. After pacing back and forth for a while, he turned to his butler. ¡°Nia, has that child arrived?¡± ¡°Yes. She just came from the Imperial Palace. She will be here soon.¡± Nia rushed out of her room while Kiam was still angry. ¡°Father, did you call me?¡± Sensing danger like the servants, Nia greeted him politely without meeting his eyes, and he spoke as he walked towards her. ¡°So, have you been keeping a close eye on Vanessa?¡± ¡°Yes? Ah, yes¡­¡± ¡°Is there something that could be a weakness? Or something that could cause trouble for that tyrant?¡± Nia flinched at the mention of the emperor being called a ¡®tyrant.¡¯ ¡°¡­ There doesn¡¯t seem to be any issues.¡± ¡°Damn it¡­!¡± Kiam suddenly screamed violently, startling Nia to the point where she forgot to breathe. CH 106 Kiam harshly criticized his daughter, Nia. ¡°What the hell are you doing? I explicitly told you to defame Vanessa or find her weaknesses! The Imperial Family¡¯s power currently lies with Vanessa. Without her, the Emperor is nothing but a cursed tyrant! How many times have I emphasized that our family can only seize power when the Imperial Family¡¯s power crumbles?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Father.¡± Nia apologized like she always did, though she didn¡¯t know what she did wrong. ¡°You need to separate them. Spread rumors and create animosity between them.¡± Kiam gritted his teeth and shouted, causing Nia to lower her head. Then, a sudden idea hit him, and his eyes widened. ¡°¡­Yes! Let¡¯s create a scandal! I will spread rumors that even though they get along, there is a strange situation where the Emperor cannot flourish.¡± Nia looked at him shivering and said. ¡°But Father, if you¡¯re caught doing such a thing, we¡¯ll be accused of rebellion¡­¡± In fact, they didn¡¯t know it yet, but they had already spread bad rumors about the relationship between the Emperor and Vanessa in the past. But in this life, Nia could never do that to her benefactor, Vanessa. Kiam looked at her intensely. ¡°That won¡¯t happen. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re not caught.¡± At that moment, Nia realized. If she was accused of treason, it would not be her whole family, but her alone¡­ Nia now understood that her father would use her as a pawn until the very end and then discard her. Her face paled, and she trembled. Watching her reaction, Kiam clicked his tongue and spoke mockingly, thinking his daughter was weak and scared. ¡°Why do I have such a useless child¡­.? If I suffer such humiliation, don¡¯t you think you should seduce the emperor and make him make a mistake for just one night? He¡¯s right there, waiting for you!¡± Despite Kiam¡¯s continued mocking, Nia was even more shocked by his words and lowered her head, her eyes wide. ¡°Go back and find anything that could be Vanessa¡¯s weakness. If you can¡¯t be a butterfly, bring back something that can help the family!¡± Suddenly, someone interrupts when he was still yelling at Nia. The butler approached him cautiously. ¡°Master, someone wants to see you.¡± Kiam asked, frowning. ¡°Who? Is it Count Fresia?¡± He recalled the Count¡¯s humiliation at the hands of the Emperor and Vanessa over a perfume. But the butler replied with a puzzled face. ¡°It seems he¡¯s not a noble.¡± Kiam frowned. ¡°So someone who¡¯s not even a noble came to see me? Do you think I¡¯m the kind of person anyone can meet easily? You should send him away on your own!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I tried to send him away several times, but he kept insisting that he had important information to give to the Count¡­¡± ¡°Important information? Is it a secret scandal involving the Imperial Family?¡± ¡°He¡­says it¡¯s even better than that.¡± Kiam¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°I need to see what kind of big shot came to give me this information.¡± He walked in long strides. As the door to the manor opened, a man appeared in front of it. He was covered in a black robe from head to toe, and his demeanor was gloomy. Kiam felt slightly tense, wondering if the man might be a spy sent by the Imperial Family or another noble family. ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± ¡°¡­Yes. I have come to offer you a good proposal.¡± ¡°A good proposal, huh?¡± Kiam chuckled sarcastically. ¡°I wonder how amazing the information is that you came to offer it to someone like me. I sincerely hope it¡¯s not a waste of time.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The man looked around and rummaged through his pocket before taking out a piece of paper and handing it to Kiam. As Kiam received it and read the contents with wide eyes, he fiddled with his lips and skimmed through the paper several times. Then he asked in a trembling voice. ¡°Are all of these things written here true¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. The Delphinium Family will become the most powerful noble family in the country. We will give you power, so why don¡¯t you join hands with us?¡± The man grinned from under his hat. As the two conversed, Nia, who had been eavesdropping behind the wall, froze with widened eyes. * * * * * Jackal¡¯s heart raced as he heard all the secrets of the minorities from the village chief. I have to tell Asha about this quickly! He thought, knowing she could be in danger if he was too late. Just as he was about to rush back to the palace, Sosa shouted from outside. ¡°Chief! I just got a message from Lycaon! The hideout was attacked by monsters!¡± ¡°What?¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He opened the door to see Sosa holding Gabe¡¯s hawk with a shocked expression. Quickly, Jackal opened the note tied to the hawk¡¯s leg, and his expression hardened in an instant. Jackal turned to the village chief and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯ll have to postpone the mission. It looks like I should go back to Lycaon and deal with the monsters first.¡± ¡°Alright. Do what you have to do.¡± The village chief let him go without objection. Jackal quickly wrote a note for Asha, tied it to the hawk¡¯s leg, and sent it flying to the Imperial Palace. He hoped nothing would happen before he reached the palace, and that Asha would receive the note and prepare for the worst. He and Sosa quickly got ready and headed straight to Lycaon. * * * * * Before leaving for the pilgrimage, Dart went back to the temple for a moment. He knocked on the High Priest¡¯s room before entering. ¡°High Priest, it¡¯s me.¡± As he opened the door, he saw the High Priest lying weakly on the bed, but his face showed a happy expression. ¡°Ah, Dart, you¡¯ve come.¡± Dart greeted him politely and knelt beside the bed. ¡°I was very worried. How are you feeling now?¡± The High Priest looked at him with a face full of affection. ¡°I think I have gotten very old. In my younger days, even monsters were nothing¡­ *I miss the days when I used to eat dirt.¡± T/N: * It¡¯s a Korean expression that is often used to express nostalgia for a difficult but simpler time in the past. A small smile spread across Dart¡¯s face at his words. ¡°You¡¯re still healthy. You must continue to protect the temple for a long time.¡± ¡°Dart¡­ my son.¡± The sudden change in the High Priest¡¯s tone made Dart look at him with slightly widened eyes. The High Priest spoke with a gentle smile on his aged face. ¡°I heard you were injured while you were protecting Lady Vanessa.¡± Dart responded modestly, feeling a little embarrassed. ¡°I just did what I had to do.¡± ¡°Are your wounds all healed?¡± ¡°Yes. I washed my wounds with holy water every day and received the best medical care. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°I see¡­ That¡¯s good.¡± The High Priest continued with a sad expression. ¡°I am so proud and happy that you have grown up and become a respectable priest. Even if I have to leave now, I can trust you and leave in peace.¡± Dart¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Why are you suddenly saying that?¡± The High Priest spoke in slow, halting words. ¡°I¡¯ve come to realize my limits through this incident. My body is not what it used to be.¡± ¡°Father¡­¡± Dart approached the bed and took the High Priest¡¯s wrinkled and veined hand. Sunlight poured in through the window, illuminating the High Priest¡¯s face and giving him the appearance of a noble saint. Dart¡¯s gaze moved back and forth over the High Priest¡¯s white hair and wrinkled face. Perhaps it was because they both had silver hair, but they looked like father and son. The High Priest stroked Dart¡¯s head and said. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that I couldn¡¯t accompany you on the pilgrimage. I wanted to witness your recognition as a great High Priest with my own eyes.¡± ¡°High Priest¡­ I am not qualified for that yet.¡± The High Priest closed his wrinkled eyes and smiled. ¡°No, you will do well. You will probably exceed my accomplishments when I first took over the temple. I knew from the moment I first saw you that you were an exceptional child. A child sent by God¡­¡± Dart¡¯s eyes trembled with emotion. ¡°Please come back healthy. When you return, the world will be different.¡± The High Priest finished speaking and his eyes slowly closed. He intended to promote Dart as the next High Priest after this pilgrimage was complete, and he would retire. Dart opened his mouth a couple of times before muttering to himself. ¡°Yes¡­ when I return¡­. many things will be different.¡± He bowed respectfully and stood up. Before leaving the room, Dart stopped at the door. ¡°¡­Father.¡± The High Priest opened his eyes and gazed at Dart¡¯s back. ¡°Thank you for taking me in and raising me all this time, even though we are not related by blood. If it weren¡¯t for you, I would have withered alone in the snow that winter and never bloomed like a flower. I will appropriately express my gratitude¡­ when I return safely from the pilgrimage.¡± ¡°Yes¡­have a good trip, son.¡± Dart closed the door quietly, leaving behind the High Priest¡¯s slightly moist eyes. As he walked down the hallway, his expression was bitter. * * * * * Karaf had finished all preparations for the pilgrimage and was getting ready to leave the Palace with the priests. He wore a cloak over splendid armor and was quietly looking at the sky as the sun rose from his red horse. His standing figure, bathed in the pouring sunlight, was beautiful and majestic like a painting. Asha, who came out to see him off, imprinted the scene in her eyes with a slightly sentimental gaze. Suddenly, the image of Karaf¡¯s portrait when he first went to the battlefield came to Asha¡¯s mind. She glanced at Karaf, who had grown into a sturdy and dependable man. He felt her gaze and looked at her. ¡°Empress.¡± Asha walked up to him and said. ¡°Your Majesty, would you hold out your hand for a moment?¡± Karaf held out his hand with a slightly puzzled expression. After briefly looking at the scars and calluses deeply engraved on his palm, Asha tied a handkerchief around his wrist. Karaf¡¯s eyes grew slightly. CH 107 On the handkerchief was a small black rose that Asha had personally sewn on. She learned from Ella to embroider point-to-point with her own inexperienced hands. Asha then tied a knot around Karaf¡¯s wrist. ¡°Please come back safely.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. The palace was a place he didn¡¯t want to return to every time he went to war with Duran. He had always left without any regrets, prepared not to come back, thinking that no one was waiting for him. But now that there was someone waiting for him, he wanted to come back. He finally had a reason to return. Karaf grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve securely fastened the suncatcher you gave me under this armor.¡± Hearing that, Asha flinched. Karaf, upon seeing her reaction, burst into a small laugh. ¡°Okay then, be safe. I hope the empress enjoys a moment of peace in my absence.¡± Instead of answering, Asha slightly bowed her head. Despite their comfortable conversation, both carried heavy hearts as if they were carrying a burden. The instability in the empire was because of them, and it was painful to think that the emperor himself had to go on a pilgrimage to calm things down. Karaf silently captured Asha¡¯s appearance in his eyes, then shouted as he rode his horse. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± He set off on his horse and led the procession with dignity. Asha stood in front of the palace gate and watched the procession for a long time until Karaf was no longer visible. * * * * * Karaf and Dart arrived at a small village. The priests had bestowed their blessings mainly in places where the eyes of the Imperial Family and the Temple would not normally reach, not in cities with large downtown areas. The village they arrived at had recently suffered severe damage from monster attacks, but it was so small that it did not receive any support from the Imperial Family. From the entrance, Karaf could see tattered tents, broken bricks, and devastated lands with deep hollows here and there, all of which broke his heart. The harvest season was coming soon, but he could feel the villagers¡¯ despair in the ruins of their crops, which they had tended to all year round, now in disarray. When the colorful and long procession arrived at the village, everyone rushed to the entrance with wide eyes, not expecting the emperor to come to such a humble place. They stared at Karaf, who shone brightly at the front of the procession as if it were a dream. However, they soon remembered his nickname, ¡®Bloody Tyrant¡¯, and their faces turned pale as they belatedly fell to the ground. ¡°Your Majesty, the Flower of the Empire, we welcome you!¡± Karaf accepted their greetings with grace, but inside he was a little shaken. It was also the first time he had ever seen the people of the empire up close like this, except during his Coronation Ceremony or the Blooming Ceremony. ¡°Since Your Majesty has come to bless us personally, our village can now survive¡­!¡± The villagers exclaimed tearfully. But that was when a woman came out of the crowd with tears in her eyes and knelt before him. ¡°Your Majesty, please save my son¡­.!¡± ¡°Insolent!¡± The knights tried to block her, but Karaf raised his hand to stop them. The woman, dressed in shabby clothes and a headscarf, sobbed as she spoke. ¡°My son was injured by a monster and he won¡¯t heal¡­ Please, Your Majesty, help him so he doesn¡¯t suffer anymore¡­.¡± The knights tried to refuse her request, fearing that the Emperor might get sick. Karaf stood silently, without saying a word. The woman¡¯s cries became louder, and murmurs could be heard from the surrounding crowd. Dart watched Karaf from behind with cold eyes, as if he had expected this outcome. But then¡­ ¡°¡­Lead the way.¡± Everyone was surprised by these words, but Karaf remained composed as he waited for the woman to guide him. The woman, who seemed to have no idea that her request would be granted, quickly got up and bowed deeply. ¡°Th-thank you, Your Majesty!¡± The woman hurriedly led him to her house. They came to a house that was too dilapidated to be visited by the Emperor. As soon as they entered the house, they could feel the uncomfortable and stifling air of a sick person¡¯s dwelling. However, Karaf did not show any signs of discomfort and followed her inside. One of the knights called him with a worried look from behind. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I am the Flower of the Empire. If I fall sick, this empire will perish but remain.¡± Upon hearing those words, the knight¡¯s face turned pale, realizing he had unintentionally disregarded him. He bowed his head in shame. Indeed, there could be nothing more ridiculous and dishonorable than for the Flower of the Empire to be afflicted with a plague. As they arrived in a small room, they saw a young boy lying in bed, writhing in pain. Everyone who saw the boy¡¯s face involuntarily frowned. The boy¡¯s face was covered in black spots, like a diseased plant. The woman took the boy¡¯s hand and cried. ¡°Son, His Majesty the Emperor came to see you in person.¡± The boy breathed out a faint sigh and opened his eyes. When the boy met his red eyes, he was momentarily overwhelmed with fear, causing his eyes to widen. The boy tried to quickly sit up in bed, even though he was sick, but Karaf said calmly. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Just lie down.¡± The boy looked up at him with a pale face. Can you show me your wound?¡± The woman quickly removed the blanket and lifted her son¡¯s shirt to reveal the wound on his stomach. The flesh around the monster¡¯s teeth marks had rotted and was filled with blood and pus. It was a horrible sight. ¡°The monster sucked the blood from my son¡¯s belly¡­ and since then, the wound has not healed¡­.¡± The priests who stood behind them were silent. The child¡¯s condition was practically as good as death. If it was Asha¡­ would she have saved this boy? Karaf¡¯s face twisted with guilt as he remembered Asha when she had healed him from his pain on the day of the New Moon. The child, however, smiled at him, as if to say that everything was going to be okay. ¡°I am so happy that Your Majesty came¡­.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes grew slightly. The boy¡¯s eyes were dark under his eyes, and his lips were white, but he was trying to smile brightly. He felt a pang of guilt, realizing that he had been so consumed with his own curse that he had not thought about the pain of his people. It was as if the pain the boy was experiencing was suddenly transmitted directly to his heart. Karaf clenched his fists, feeling pathetic and ashamed that he could do nothing even after going on a pilgrimage. Everything felt like his fault ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s dirty!¡± Suddenly, Karaf began to wipe the boy¡¯s body with a towel soaked in holy water, and the mother next to him was startled and did not know what to do. Karaf asked the boy in a low voice. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± The child hesitated to answer but eventually nodded slightly. ¡°If you bear with it a little, it won¡¯t hurt anymore. I will bless you.¡± He placed his hand on the boy¡¯s forehead and sincerely prayed for the wound to heal. The tense boy eventually fell asleep, with Karaf¡¯s cold hand still on him, which helped to bring down his fever. Although Karaf¡¯s hand was cold, to the boy, his touch felt warmer than any other touch. Even after the child fell asleep, Karaf continued to care for him before finally standing up. ¡°I will provide the best medical supplies from the Imperial Palace.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you so much!¡± The woman bowed down several times to thank him. However, Karaf felt grateful to the boy instead. He realized that if he hadn¡¯t met this child, he would still be the selfish tyrant he had known himself to be. I¡¯m glad I came on this pilgrimage¡­ He had always hidden in the thorn bushes, but now he wanted to become an emperor who was no longer ashamed in front of Asha and his citizens. Dart was looking at him with a strange expression from the door. The priests purified the village all night long with holy water and prayer. Since it would take a long time to search every corner of the empire, they couldn¡¯t stay in one village for long. Karaf also stayed up all night and prepared to leave for the next village the next day. But then, someone called out to him. ¡°Your Majesty¡­.! Your Majesty¡­.!¡± It was the mother of the boy who had received his blessing the day before, running towards him with her eyes wide open. ¡°My son¡¯s wounds are healing¡­!¡± Everyone, including the priests and villagers, was surprised by her words. Karaf quickly followed her to her house instead of leaving. He saw the boy he had met yesterday waiting for him in front of the house. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The boy¡¯s face was visibly different from the day before. His face had regained its vitality and many of the scars on his body had disappeared. Karaf¡¯s eyes widened slightly, but he greeted the boy with a friendly smile. People around them were surprised and whispered among themselves when they saw the scene. They had thought of Karaf as a tyrant without any mercy, but seeing him like this made them realize that they had misunderstood him all this time. ¡°What would a commoner like us know? We just believe the rumors we hear.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right.¡± They murmured to each other. Their eyes were now full of respect, unlike before when they were terrified and wary at first. Karaf pretended to be calm, but he was actually quite surprised. He had nothing else he could do, he just cared for the boy with all his heart, but it really seemed to have worked. ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s power must have worked for the child.¡± Duran was deeply moved, his eyes slightly reddened. Duran had been saved by Karaf before and therefore he had absolute faith in Karaf¡¯s power. He was convinced that Karaf had worked another miracle this time too. The boy wanted to express his gratitude to Karaf and held out a basket of fruits and vegetables. ¡°These are the crops we grew at our house. The monsters destroyed all the fields, but this is what we harvested before the attack. Thank you for treating my injuries.¡± The basket showed evidence of an effort to include only the best and freshest fruits and vegetables. Karaf felt a lump in his throat as he looked at it, having already seen the fields and farms in complete disarray. He realized that the food he always ate in the palace was no less than a precious life to these people. Karaf looked away and said. ¡°¡­ put it away. You have to eat well to get healthier.¡± ¡°But¡­..¡± The boy looked around anxiously, unsure of what to do. He felt in debt, but he couldn¡¯t help but pay it off. ¡°Please wait a moment!¡± The boy hurriedly ran back into the house. CH 108 When the woman saw her son who had been lying on the bed unable to move until yesterday, now running with such energy and vitality, she took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away her tears once more. Soon after, the boy came out again, holding a clumsy necklace made of shells in his hand. Karaf¡¯s eyes widened slightly as the boy approached. ¡°I made it myself and I want to give it to Your Majesty.¡± The boy said, lowering his head and holding out the necklace with both hands. The woman¡¯s face turned pale and she shouted. ¡°His Majesty can¡¯t accept an ugly present¡­!¡± But her eyes soon widened as Karaf accepted the necklace and examined it carefully. ¡°I like it.¡± The boy¡¯s face lit up with joy. As the woman stood beside them, confused, Karaf took something from his bosom and lowered his head to the boy as if telling a secret. ¡°Actually, I really like this kind of thing.¡± In his hand was the suncatcher Asha had given him. The boy smiled so wide that his missing front tooth was visible. He was thrilled that the Emperor liked his gift. Karaf looked at the child¡¯s smiling face calmly, remembering his own childhood, which was a dark period he never wanted to recall. He had never smiled innocently like that boy, not even once. So he wanted to protect the child¡¯s smile. He put the necklace the child had given him around his neck. ¡°I promise you. I will make the empire safe from monsters and peaceful.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Karaf left for the next village, receiving everyone¡¯s enthusiastic farewell. The faces of the villagers behind the procession were brighter, filled with hope and trust in him. He and the priests headed for a village deeper in the forest this time, hurrying their steps as the day grew darker to save time. As the forest was completely shrouded in darkness, a loud noise suddenly echoed from the surroundings. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a monster!¡± The knights shouted, drawing their swords and blocking the front of the carriage. The procession came to a halt in the middle of the deep forest due to the sudden appearance of a monster. Karaf frowned and poked his head out of the carriage window. Suddenly, the ground vibrated, and something huge and long sprang out of the ground. It was an incredibly large and long looper. Everyone lost their balance and staggered in the high-intensity earthquake. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened slowly. Before the knights could even react, the looper snatched Karaf by the head and shoulders and dived back into the soil. * * * * * ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­.!¡± Sonya burst into the Emperor¡¯s office, where Asha was handling paperwork in Karaf¡¯s absence. Breathless and pale-faced, Sonya continued. Asha put down the documents and asked urgently. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°A¡­ a package came for you¡­!¡± Sonya struggled to speak, trembling. Asha suspected that something was wrong, and her expression hardened. As Asha hurriedly followed Sonya back to her room, she noticed a gift box lying loosely on the table. As she approached and saw what was inside, her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in shock. Inside the box was Gabe¡¯s hawk, dead¡­. The box¡¯s interior was coated in blood, and it appeared that Sonya had already inspected it to ensure Asha¡¯s safety, given the blood seeping out. However, a note was tied to the hawk¡¯s leg. It appeared that someone had attempted to communicate something to her but the hawk was attacked during the process. With trembling hands, Asha cautiously untied the blood-soaked note. However, the writing was too smudged with blood to read. The only legible characters were the final message and the initials. [¡­..I love you, Asha. -J-] The moment she saw it, Asha¡¯s legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground. ¡°Lady Vanessa!¡± Sonya and Ella hurriedly ran to Asha¡¯s side and supported her. Asha was drenched in a cold sweat, trembling all over as if she had just come out of a cold bath. Ella exclaimed urgently. ¡°Sonya, quickly get a warm towel!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Sonya rushed to get the towel while Ella made some warm tea. Asha lay on the floor, muttering as if she had lost her mind. ¡°Jackal is in danger¡­ It¡¯s clear that something happened when he returned to the village¡­¡± Despite the bloodstains making the note difficult to read, Asha recognized Jackal¡¯s handwriting immediately. Asha could tell right away. She had read every letter he had sent until they were worn out. ¡°Lady Vanessa, please pull yourself together. Take a sip of tea first. I must write a letter to His Majesty¡­. Lady Vanessa!¡± Ella shouted after Asha, who suddenly ran out of the room, but Asha didn¡¯t seem to hear them anymore. I have to save Jackal! Asha muttered to herself over and over again as she ran down the hallway like a crazy person. Could it be that the village chief had attacked Jackal in retaliation for becoming a spirit¡¯s contractor? Perhaps he had heard about Lycan being called from the palace and realized their plans. As the minorities were completely defeated by the Imperial Family, Jackal could not have avoided being treated as a traitor in the village. She was about to write to Karaf about this, but then a knight ran into the palace. ¡°Lady Vanessa! His Majesty¡­¡­! His Majesty was attacked by a monster¡­!¡± At those words, Asha completely lost her mind. The knight was quick to tell how, on the pilgrimage, Karaf was suddenly attacked in the forest, and the looper dragged Karaf underground. To think that both of them were attacked at the same time, it was hard for her to regain her senses because she was too confused. But then, at that moment¡­ ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­!¡± Asha looked back to see Nia in the distance running towards her with a pale face. Nia decided to go back to the Count¡¯s residence for a while, as Count Delphinium was leaving on a monster subjugation mission. But for some reason, Nia had run all the way from the palace without stopping. Nia, who had just overheard her father¡¯s conversation, said, holding Asha¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°I think it was my father¡¯s fault.¡± ¡°What? What do you mean¡­?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Nia¡¯s voice trembled as her face showed signs of distress. ¡°As you know, my father recently received orders from His Majesty and was preparing to go to guard the border. However, a stranger came to my father and made a strange proposal.¡± ¡°A strange proposal¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. The man held out a piece of paper to my father, but I couldn¡¯t see the contents. I hid and overheard their conversation.¡± Nia knelt before Asha and confessed the truth. ¡°He talked about this being an excellent opportunity to remove the Emperor from the throne, and I think they are plotting treason. Although the man was wearing a hooded robe, I believe he is from the minority.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened even further. ¡°Why did you think that?¡± ¡°When they were talking, the topic of ethnic minorities came up. They said they would handle the Emperor themselves, so they asked for my father¡¯s help. If the minorities and my family join forces, they will be able to drive out the Rose Family.¡± Asha trembled. This was different from the proposal the village chief had made to Jackal. The village chief had wanted to assassinate Karaf by making Jackal a spirit contractor. This was an obvious betrayal. Did he know that Jackal was colluding with the Imperial Family? Or did he not believe in Jackal from the beginning? Asha suddenly recalled the memory of the day when the minority village was in ruins. Looking back now, the day she was sold to the palace and the present were very similar in timing. It was a slightly different direction from the past, but perhaps it was an inevitable event. Even now, Jackal was tangled in that fate, trying to take away the new life he had just obtained, barely escaping the fate of death. Asha felt like crying. Nia continued to reveal all the instructions her father had given her until now. Unlike in the past, Nia had not followed everything her father had instructed her to do. But she confessed that her family was planning to commit treason, even though she didn¡¯t know what result she would get from it. Asha looked at Nia with trembling eyes. Originally, Karaf would kill all family members and the servants who work in the mansion if a family committed treason. As Karaf hated betrayal, it was a precedent to show that he would eliminate all the seeds of discord even in the far future. Nia trembled as she spoke, but she had a stern face and would say anything for Asha. Looking at her like that, Asha could barely hold herself together. Asha grabbed her shoulder and said. ¡°Thank you for being honest. After all this is over, I will do everything I can to save you, Nia. So please bear with me for a little while.¡± Nia silently shed tears and nodded her head. Asha looked back at the chamberlain, the ladies-in-waiting, and the knights. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to go alone.¡± ¡°But Lady Vanessa¡­!¡± The knight was surprised and tried to stop her, but Asha spoke resolutely. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that His Majesty was kidnapped by monsters? I have a feeling that he might be in the minority village. This is my intuition as a butterfly.¡± Asha had a feeling that the village chief was waiting for her. She didn¡¯t even know if he was trying to negotiate with her. If Karaf and Jackal were really victimized by the village chief, she had to go. This tragedy had to end in her hands.. Asha immediately came out of the room, took her bow, and got on the horse. ¡°I¡¯ll contact you right away if anything happens.¡± She started running alone along the long way. * * * * * After running for a long time, Asha finally arrived in the northern part of Herta. ¡°¡­¡­ You¡¯re here, Lady Vanessa.¡± When she looked in the direction the voice came from, Kiam was standing there with his knights. As soon as she saw his face, Asha felt uneasy as old memories came back to her. The image of him from the past overlapped with his face, which was covered in desire and madness. In the past, he had been laughing heartily in the middle of the village turned into hell. ¡°Count Delphinium, are you trying to rebel against the Imperial Family?¡± ¡°Rebel? As you can see, I was just diligently protecting the border. His Majesty kindly gave me a mission, so I¡¯m just fulfilling my responsibility.¡± He replied, his eyes giving off a strange and chilling light. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for jokes right now!¡± As Asha yelled, Kiam asked calmly. ¡°Weren¡¯t you on the side of the minorities? I came here to protect the minorities, and I would be truly disappointed if you did this.¡± Asha glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t think about making excuses. I came here after hearing that you were planning to rebel.¡± At those words, Kiam¡¯s face twisted horribly. ¡°No way¡­ Nia told you that¡­?¡± CH 109 When Asha didn¡¯t answer, he clicked his tongue and muttered to himself. ¡°¡­¡­Useless bitch. I knew she was worthless, but I didn¡¯t expect her to be so stupid.¡± Asha frowned upon hearing him speak of his only daughter in such a way. ¡°Don¡¯t sacrifice the lives of innocent people for power! There¡¯s nothing more despicable than that.¡± He laughed at her words. ¡°Despicable¡­that¡¯s one way to put it. But who among us can really distinguish what is truly despicable?¡± Asha didn¡¯t quite understand his words and furrowed her brow slightly. Suddenly, an earthquake shook the ground, and various types of thrips and root maggots began to erupt from the ground like a volcanic eruption. Asha quickly aimed her bow, but the monsters crawled toward the villagers instead of her. Just as Asha thought the monsters were about to attack the people, they suddenly stood in a shield-like formation in front of them, facing her. It was an unbelievable sight. Asha¡¯s eyes trembled. How could monsters protect people instead of attacking them? Is there someone here controlling the monsters¡­? Could it be that the monsters¡¯ appearances were the work of the minorities? Everyone, including the monsters, looked at Asha with a puzzled expressions. As if she was the monster here, not them¡­ Asha felt like an outsider, alone. But then, someone walked out of the crowd. ¡°Asha Camelia.¡± The village chief looked at her intently and opened his mouth again. ¡°Vanessa.¡± Asha¡¯s expression hardened. The only person in this empire who could informally call the butterfly was Emperor Karaf. ¡°Are you an ally or an enemy of the Black Rose?¡± Only then did Asha realize that she had fallen into a trap. It seemed that killing Gabe¡¯s hawk and sending it to him was their doing as well. Even if Karaf had been attacked, there was a chance Asha might not have come. They wanted to hurt even Jackal, her true love, to ensure her presence here. The village chief spoke again. ¡°If you do not follow our will, we will have no choice but to kill you. That way, the wind spirit will be passed on to the next butterfly candidate.¡± Asha looked at them with trembling eyes. But minorities couldn¡¯t look her in the eye. Until she had come to the imperial palace, Asha had been close to them. She didn¡¯t expect to be betrayed by those she trusted, leaving her feeling shocked and overwhelmed. This was a complete 180-degree change from the past. Asha could understand Karaf¡¯s heart a little better now that she had been betrayed. ¡°Please make a wise choice.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Kiam¡¯s knights drew their swords and surrounded Asha. Asha looked at him with hurt eyes and spoke. ¡°¡­Let me ask you something. Please answer my question first.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What did you do to Jackal?¡± The village chief smiled lightly. ¡°Did you think we wouldn¡¯t find out? You and he tried to extract information from us by joining hands with the Emperor. He is now poisoned and is hovering between life and death. If you want to save him, do as we say.¡± Just as the village chief finished speaking, a great wind blew from behind, and Asha turned around. In the air, there was a giant queen wasp even bigger than the moth she had seen before. But when she saw someone riding on the big wasp, Asha¡¯s eyes gradually widened. Dart¡­. was standing on the giant wasp. He had a cold expression on his face that was 180 degrees different from the face she had seen so far. ¡°Why is he here¡­.?¡± As Asha muttered with a blank look, the village chief said. ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor.¡± The village chief knelt down and bowed his head, along with the rest of the people. Kiam, who was nearby, put down his sword and greeted him politely, a courtesy that had never been shown to Karaf. As the giant wasp landed on the ground with a blast of wind, Dart lightly jumped off it. The maggot monsters rushed towards him, and Dart stroked their heads slowly as if praising them. As she watched him control the monsters, Asha understood all the situations that had happened so far, as if lightning had struck her head. The ominous energy she felt from him when the monsters invaded the temple¡­ it was because he was the one controlling the monsters. Asha clenched her fists, realizing the full extent of Dart¡¯s plan only now. He had orchestrated the kidnapping of Karaf during the pilgrimage. How long has he been preparing this plan? Was it also part of his plan to get injured while protecting her from monsters? The thought that he had sacrificed himself as a springboard so that Karaf would agree to go on the pilgrimage gave her goosebumps. ¡°You¡­brainwashed the minorities from the beginning?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not brainwashing, Lady Vanessa.¡± Dart replied, looking around at those kneeling around him with a majestic presence like an emperor. ¡°They simply recognized who the ¡®real emperor¡¯ is¡­a long time ago.¡± Asha was speechless with shock, and her body became cold as she broke into a cold sweat. She couldn¡¯t move from her spot, trembling with the weight of betrayal. Dart looked at her apologetically. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sure I told you to treat Vanessa with respect, didn¡¯t I?¡± He said, turning around and glaring at the village chief. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty.¡± The village chief, who was so proud of himself, bowed his head, unable to move in front of him. Dart looked down on him with contempt. ¡°Now that there¡¯s not much time left, don¡¯t act rashly.¡± ¡°¡­. Yes.¡± Dart looked at Asha, who was standing still as if her soul had left her body. ¡°If you¡¯re concerned about that man¡¯s life, then come quietly with me.¡± He put Asha on the wasp¡¯s back and flew away somewhere. * * * * * ¡°To think that we¡¯re now hunting monsters¡­!¡± The Lycaons were in the middle of a fierce battle against monsters popping up all over the village. With Jackal absent, Gabe took over the command and ran around the village with his sword in hand, cursing every time he struck a monster. Following Gabe¡¯s instructions, the members surrounded the village and fired flaming arrows without hesitation. The best way to kill spider mite-like monsters was with holy water or fire. Yuri contentedly watched the man who shot the flaming arrows the fastest. ¡°He really is the man I fell for.¡± The women also joined in defending the village, lighting fires on sticks or sprinkling salt, while expressing their disgust for the monsters. ¡°¡­I¡¯m so sick of these spider mites!¡± The most troublesome pests in farming were spider mites and scale insects. The head cook, Wede, brought a bottle of alcohol from the kitchen, lit it on fire, and threw it like a bomb. ¡°Be careful not to burn down the houses!¡± ¡°Yes! Our precious village cannot burn down again!¡± The women quickly went into the kitchen and made a natural insecticide by mixing egg yolks, cooking oil, and water. ¡°Will this work?¡± ¡°Of course. No matter how big they are, they¡¯re still bugs!¡± As they put the mixture into buckets and threw it around, the monsters made painful sounds as their noses and mouths were clogged, struggling to breathe. The remaining Lycaons followed Gabe¡¯s instructions and divided themselves into teams to fight. Some shot flaming arrows, some used swords, and some stabbed monsters with spears as they emerged unexpectedly from the ground. However, perhaps due to the oil, the fire spread more easily on the monsters¡¯ bodies. As the monsters, whose entire bodies were engulfed in flames, ran around the village in agony, the houses also caught fire. ¡°Oh, my¡­¡± At that moment, when the Lycaons were in despair, an ice arrow flew from the opposite direction. They looked over and exclaimed in surprise. ¡°Chief!¡± ¡°Sosa!¡± Jackal and Sosa rode horses and decapitated monsters with terrifying speed. Especially, Jackal used the power of the water spirit to create a chain with a scythe and fought splendidly. Every time he passed by swinging his chain, a blue chill froze, and the monsters¡¯ bodies were neatly cut in half. When the monsters were almost gone and the terrible screams could no longer be heard, Jackal shouted. ¡°Is everyone okay!?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± All members gathered in one place and checked the number of people. There were injuries, but fortunately, there were no fatalities. Everyone calmed down and took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that we arrived on time.¡± Jackal ordered Nek to put out the fires that were spreading throughout the village. Nek sprang out of his chest like a geyser and transformed into a typhoon, running around and extinguishing the fire. The Lycaons watched in a daze as the water swirled and swept through the village. Gabe pushed through the crowd and ran straight to Jackal. Gabe¡¯s charismatic command and cursing from just moments ago had disappeared, and he spoke with a choked-up voice and teary eyes. ¡°Without you, Lycaon was really close to collapsing¡­¡± The Lycaons laughed openly, but Gabe must have felt a heavy burden. Jackal understood and comforted him. ¡°You handled the situation really well. I made the right decision to trust you. Even if I hadn¡¯t come, you would have done a great job of protecting the village. Well done.¡± Jackal patted him on the shoulder, and Gabe nodded, weeping even though he was glad of the compliment. Sosa shook his head behind them, but he was smiling too. The Lycaons¡¯ faces were filled with joy as they saw the two people they had not seen for a long time. But Jackal¡¯s expression turned serious and he quickly told them what had happened. Everyone¡¯s expressions turned to shock as they listened. ¡°I have declared to the village chief that I will return to the imperial palace and kill the emperor. However, we¡¯ll return to the minority village and capture the chief alive.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± But it was at that moment that they were preparing to leave. A group of men set foot in the Lycaon village. ¡°¡­¡­ Chief!¡± All the Lycaons¡¯ eyes widened as they saw a man running at the front of the group. They could never forget that face. ¡°You goddamn Nasson traitor¡­¡­!¡± Gabe rushed towards him with a murderous glare, and Ruan trembled with both hands up as if surrendering. ¡°W-we, the Nassons, have come to help Lycaon!¡± ¡°What?¡± Gabe asked, raising an eyebrow, and then countless members of the Nasson Clan followed. The Lycaons all looked at them with widened eyes. CH 110 Jackal stared at the man who was standing in the middle of the group. He was a middle-aged man, much older than Jackal, and he had a serious expression. ¡°I formally greet the heir of the Kelpie clan. My name is Rigel Zinnia, the chief of the Nasson clan.¡± Jackal greeted him in return, suppressing any signs of aggression. ¡°I am Jackal Hyacinth, the heir of the Kelpie clan. I greet the chief of the Nason tribe.¡± ¡°You really do look a lot like your father.¡± At the mention of the word ¡®father¡¯, which he hadn¡¯t heard in a long time, Jackal just bowed his head without saying a word. Rigel continued. ¡°Thank you for taking care of the orphans.¡± Jackal looked up in surprise. ¡°The children you took care of are the children of the Nassons.¡± Were they orphans of the Nasson clan? Jackal was impressed that Asha was taking care of children who had no connection to her first. ¡°I just did the right thing on her behalf.¡± Rigel fell silent for a moment, already knowing that Jackal was talking about Vanessa. He chose his words carefully before speaking seriously again. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here, to do the right thing. Let¡¯s stop the village chief together.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes widened, including Jackal¡¯s. Jackal asked a bit surprised. ¡°Did you know about our plan?¡± Rigel¡¯s face twisted in a grimace. ¡°Yes. And unfortunately, the chief has betrayed you. He recently heard from a man that you are cooperating with the emperor.¡± ¡°A man?¡± ¡°The second flower of the Empire, Dart Lotus.¡± Jackal¡¯s face was stained with shock. He had never thought that Dart would have a spy in the Palace. This put Asha in a dangerous situation for being close to him. Rigel said urgently. ¡°We have to go stop the village chief right now. The village chief is plotting with the second flower to overthrow this empire. We can no longer see him trying to revive minority groups in the wrong way.¡± Jackal asked, not letting his guard down. ¡°How can I trust you? Could this also be a trap?¡± Ruan, who had previously betrayed them, couldn¡¯t lift his head at those words. Rigel spoke awkwardly. ¡°I understand. It¡¯s not unreasonable to think that way. But I came here after receiving orders from the village chief to deal with Lycaon. The second flower is the one who summoned the monsters here.¡± Jackal and the others were at a loss for words. Seeing their indignation, Rigel bowed to Jackal. ¡°But as I said before, we want to help you. Thanks to you, there may be no more Nasson victims. So I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Rigel¡¯s face darkened. ¡°As you know, all the remaining minority groups in the village are being sacrificed under the pretext of seeking the rights of our people. The clans take turns training spies and performing secret missions. Last time, the spy who entered the palace was killed, so it was our Nasson clan¡¯s turn next. We also had to choose the next spy to be deployed from our clan.¡± Jackal turned his head and said. ¡°¡­¡­No need to thank me. I did it for my own benefit.¡± ¡°No. That doesn¡¯t change the fact that you saved innocent people.¡± Rigel sighed and said. ¡°The Kelpies and Nassons used to be as close as brothers¡­ I still regret not being able to help the Kelpies back then.¡± Jackal remained silent. The Nasson Clan couldn¡¯t fight alongside the Kelpie Clan when they were massacred. ¡°It has always been a burden in my heart. The Nassons owe the Kelpies, so we¡¯ve come to wash our dishonor and ask for forgiveness. Please allow the Nasson clan to fight alongside Lycaon.¡± He raised his head, looking determined. Jackal looked at each member of the Nasson Clan standing behind Rigel. They all looked determined and serious. Eventually, Jackal faced Rigel and extended his hand. ¡°I am counting on you.¡± Rigel smiled slightly and shook his hand. Gabe, who was watching from the side, shouted. ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s the Nasson clan! It seems like we¡¯re gaining humanity, no, national love!¡± The Lycaons burst out laughing at his change of attitude. Rigel said very seriously. ¡°Vanessa should have arrived at the Minority Village by now. You will never be able to defeat the chief and the second flower alone.¡± Jackal¡¯s face turned red with shock at the news that Asha had come alone. ¡°Is that true!?¡± ¡°Yes. We have to go quickly. If we¡¯re late, who knows what they might do.¡± Jackal shouted at everyone with a serious expression. ¡°Let¡¯s go save Asha right now!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± * * * * * Asha had been suffering for a day and a half. The shock of betrayal seemed to have drained her of vitality, and even the wind spirit within her seemed wounded. The relationship between a spirit and its contractor is so close that if one is hurt, the other is also affected. As the flower spirit she was close with had betrayed her, the impact seemed to be even greater. Asha had lost consciousness repeatedly, and in her hazy state, her vision was blurry, and her head was spinning. But suddenly, beyond her vision, she saw someone sitting next to her bed, wiping her body with a towel and taking care of her with gentle hands. As the scattered light merged into one and a white-haired person came into view, Asha¡¯s eyes widened, and she tried to stand up from the bed. But the cold touch of chains pulling her body stopped her, and she realized that her wrists and ankles were handcuffed to the bed. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Dart asked casually while washing the wet towel in a wooden basin. He looked calm and benevolent as if he were tenderly taking care of a sick patient. Asha asked sharply, wary of him. ¡°Where the hell am I?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a cave located a little off from a minority village. We¡¯ve prepared this place to talk to you.¡± ¡°Prepared this place? Didn¡¯t you kidnap me by force?¡± As Asha yelled, Dart smiled softly. ¡°That¡¯s true, but I¡¯d appreciate it if you thought of it as protecting you from getting caught up in a dangerous fight. There¡¯s going to be a big battle soon.¡± Asha looked at him with eyes full of betrayal and said. ¡°What the hell are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Please calm down and have something to eat first. You¡¯re not in good shape.¡± Dart said, holding up a bowl of porridge with a spoon and bringing it close to Asha¡¯s mouth. However, she turned her head away. Dart recommended that she eat again. ¡°Eat. You¡¯re very thin. I don¡¯t want to see the beautiful Vanessa get sick.¡± His words seemed sincere, and his face showed a hint of concern and sadness. Asha looked at him and asked ¡°What are you thinking? Will you coax or threaten me not to let Karaf bloom like the last spy did?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Flowers can only seduce butterflies with their fragrance.¡± Confused, Asha frowned. There was a dim lantern in the cave where they were, casting a dark shadow across Dart¡¯s white face. ¡°But that¡¯s not necessarily wrong, is it? It¡¯s just a matter of instinct.¡± ¡°What are you talking about¡­..?¡± ¡°You recognized at a glance on the day of the Flowering Ceremony that I am the second flower.¡± Asha was taken aback. Her reaction caused Dart to sneer. ¡°Of course, you couldn¡¯t help but notice. I blatantly let out my flower fragrance to you. After that, when you came to the temple to see me again, I was really happy. I thought that finally, a butterfly had flown to me to make me bloom.¡± Seeing that Dart had the same thoughts as Karaf, Asha¡¯s heart sank. It appeared that he knew from the beginning that he was the second flower. However, Dart¡¯s expression suddenly hardened. ¡°But that day, you ignored me and pretended not to know. You didn¡¯t disclose whether you knew that I held the flower spirit or whether I was a flower with a good fragrance. Instead, you wished for me to become a great priest, which was completely opposite to my goal.¡± ¡®I hope you become a great priest, following in the footsteps of the High Priest.¡¯ Asha remembered what she said to him back then. Dart¡¯s gray eyes were cold. ¡°But unfortunately, I don¡¯t think I can do what Vanessa wishes for me. I vowed to become an Emperor, not a High Priest. I will follow in the footsteps of my younger brother, Karaf.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened. Dart calmly spoke, as if he knew she would be surprised. ¡°Karaf and I are brothers who have the same mother. To be precise, I was born before Karaf, so I am the first flower. However, the difference was that Karaf¡¯s father was an emperor, and my father was a commoner.¡± Asha was at a loss for words. So Karaf was actually the second flower¡­but there was something she didn¡¯t understand before. In despair, Asha muttered to herself. ¡°But if you¡¯re not of royal blood, then how¡­¡± It was said that the previous emperor was a debauchee who kept several mistresses by his side. But Dart¡¯s father wasn¡¯t the emperor, how could he have a flower spirit? Dart sneered coldly. ¡°Do you really believe that only the emperor¡¯s lineage can bear the flower spirit? If so, you are greatly mistaken. Didn¡¯t you read the book I gave you? It must have given you a hint.¡± Asha stared at him in disbelief as Dart spoke seriously. ¡°It¡¯s not the bloodline of an emperor that holds the flower spirit. The bloodline of the man ¡®chosen by the butterfly¡¯ holds the flower spirit. This is the secret that the Rose Family has kept hidden for hundreds of years to maintain their power.¡± Asha had goosebumps all over her body. Dart looked at Asha, who was speechless and spoke slowly. ¡°My original name is Dart Chrysanthemum. A flower that has now disappeared from the Empire.¡± CH 111 It was only then that Asha realized why he didn¡¯t smell of roses, but of a scent she had never experienced before. She understood that the reason his eyes weren¡¯t red was that he was not from the Rose Family. Dart frowned and smiled, but his smile looked twisted and sad. ¡°It is said that all the flowers that disappear from the Empire are those who have committed treason. But did my father really commit treason? No. Would a commoner like him have had the power to rebel against the royal family all by himself? Ricardo Rode Etzheim, the former rose, had accused my father of treason. It was to welcome my mother as his Vanessa. The child born of a butterfly becomes the next emperor, so in order to maintain the Rose Family, the Imperial Flower must marry a butterfly and have children.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes trembled in shock. Dart spoke in a self-deprecating voice. ¡°My father must have been a thorn in their side, as they needed a pure butterfly to marry as a wife. Thanks to that, my father disappeared without a trace from this empire, and I was forced to abandon his last name without even knowing his face. I was just an illegitimate child they should have killed¡­ I really had nothing.¡± Dart¡¯s eyes were shadowed with deep sadness and anger. Asha couldn¡¯t find any words to say. ¡°Still, it seems that my mother tried to save me in some way. Considering that she left me at the temple, hiding me from the eyes of the Imperial Family.¡± Asha remembered a story the High Priest had told her before. A newborn baby, wrapped in a shabby basket, abandoned on the snowy ground in front of the temple entrance¡­ She felt her heart clench at the thought of how much his mother must have cried, her body shivering in the cold wind as she left the baby behind and walked away. Calendula, her surname, also had the flower language of ¡®sorrow of parting¡¯. Dart lowered his gaze and continued. ¡°When I was young, I met my mother when she visited the temple.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened. Dart spoke in a damp voice. ¡°She was the first Vanessa I met in my life, and she was really beautiful. In the all-white temple, her blonde hair was dazzling. I could see why people called Vanessa a saint the first time I saw her, even at a young age. Strangely enough, I felt like she kept looking at me. Wherever I went, her gaze always fell on me.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes trembled. Did she recognize her son? With his pure white appearance and unmistakable fragrance, she must have recognized him at a glance. ¡°She always had a sickly look on her face, but she always smiled at me. She said I was a really pretty boy. As someone who never had a mother figure, I loved the warmth and gentleness of her touch. Even though I couldn¡¯t see her often, she always gave me small gifts whenever we met and asked if I wanted anything. When I was young, I thought that all the butterflies in the Empire were kind and warmhearted like her.¡± Dart looked down. ¡°¡­¡­I unconsciously wished that she was my mother. Maybe it was my instinct as a flower. Whenever I saw her, I wanted to be loved, mischievous, and clingy. So, when she asked if I needed anything next time, I unknowingly spoke my mind.¡± Dart, who was young, blushed and looked around, then looked up at her and said. ¡®What I need is¡­ my mother.¡¯ ¡°As soon as I said those words, she was shocked as if waking up from a dream, and she never came to the temple again. Maybe she thought I had figured out her identity. However, I didn¡¯t know anything, so I blamed myself, thinking that I had said something wrong, that I had been too attached and caused her to leave, or that my real mother had abandoned me because of my mistakes. I cried for a week, confessing my sins to God and asking for forgiveness.¡± Asha was heartbroken and looked at him pitifully. His mother must have been terrified when she saw her son. She must have realized that she could never be a mother to him, that she had shown kindness to him for no reason, and that if he were to be exposed, he would be killed for no reason¡­ ¡°But I didn¡¯t find out that she was actually my mother until after she passed away from illness. As a priest belonging to the Lotus Temple, I forcibly erased the existence of my mother and followed the High Priest as my father. But sometimes, I was curious about the mother who left me and wondered who she was. Did she live happily in the Palace after she abandoned me and my father?¡± Dart tightly clenched his trembling hands. He then smiled with a sigh. ¡°But I heard that my mother lived a life as miserable as mine, just like the proverb ¡®the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree¡¯. As I listened to the story of my mother¡¯s miserable life and tragic end, tears flowed down my cheeks without my knowledge. Although I had resented my mother so much, I felt like I was vomiting blood upon hearing about her tragic life. To think that my mother was separated from me and that she died after being treated so poorly ¡­¡­¡± Asha felt so sorry for him and his mother¡¯s story that tears welled up in her eyes without her even realizing it. Noticing her tears, Dart lowered his head. ¡°¡­¡­ I thought that someday when I become a great person, I will meet my mother and make her regret abandoning me. I vowed revenge many times and practiced to the best of my ability under the High Priest.¡± Dart looked at the vase next to the bed and continued talking quietly. ¡°At the temple, I was an extremely good boy and a model student who never caused trouble. But no one knew that I actually harbored impure thoughts that I should never have as a priest. Perhaps the High Priest didn¡¯t know, but resentment, anger, and revenge were the only driving forces for me to live.¡± Dart slightly cut his finger with his own fingernail and let the blood drip onto the flower. It was his ¡°blood flower¡± which he grew in his cave. ¡°However, I felt very strange to see the object of my revenge that I resented so much disappear in an instant. I couldn¡¯t bear the tragic news of my mother¡¯s death. The hatred I felt towards her turned on me and I felt a stabbing pain in my heart.¡± Dart looked at Asha with a twisted smile and continued. ¡°But do you know what was even more unbearable for me? The fact that my mother, who I thought had abandoned me, had actually chosen me. I gained my powers when I was abandoned at the temple. My mother had bloomed me as a butterfly before abandoning me. I was already completed as a flower from birth. But I was only able to use that power once I knew everything.¡± Asha was taken aback. Could it be that his ability to summon and control monsters was his power after blooming? But she knew that flower spirits were sacred spirits, so it was hard to believe they had destructive abilities. Perhaps his desire for revenge had manifested his power in that way. ¡°¡­¡­ I felt sorry for my mother, and I was so miserable that I lost both of my parents to a man called the Flower of the Empire. I went to the chapel alone in the early morning and prayed to God with tears in my eyes. I asked why I was born into this world. Why did you give me the spirit of the flower, useless as I am?¡± Dart¡¯s eyes suddenly became meaningful. ¡°And then I finally realized. This was a trial and an opportunity given to me by God because he cared for me. Trials and opportunities always come together like the front and back of a coin. It was my fate to be born before the royal bloodline, like the cursed black rose that would swallow the empire. This was nothing but a prophecy for me to regain the lost throne and change the empire. I realized only yesterday that my target for revenge was not my mother, but the Rose Family itself.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened as she listened to Dart¡¯s explanation. It was not what she believed to be God¡¯s will, and she realized that Dart had completely misunderstood it. His unfortunate situation had made his thoughts flow in that direction, and now he stroked a bloodied white chrysanthemum with his gray eyes shining as if he were intoxicated. ¡°I started preparing step by step without anyone knowing. The first thing I had to do was regain the forces that would help me. People like me who have lost a place to live, have been persecuted by the Rose Family, and have had to hide and live in this empire as if they were dead. The minorities.¡± Surprised, Asha asked. ¡°Is that why you used the minorities¡­?¡± Dart looked at her and asked quietly. ¡°Do you still think that I brainwashed and used them? It seems that Lady Vanessa does not know the origin of the minorities.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Dart said with an expressionless face. His face, obscured by shadow, felt so cold and terrifying. ¡°The origin of the ethnic minorities is¡­just like me, children born from butterflies.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Children born from butterflies? Then¡­¡± ¡°Yes. Just like me, illegitimate children were not recognized by the Imperial Family because their parents were not from the Rose Family. Those children sacrificed by the Rose Empire to maintain its power are the origin of the ethnic minority.¡± Asha once again had goosebumps all over her body. Dart said with sad eyes. ¡°And that¡¯s why the current minorities are condemned as foreigners of the empire and forced to live in hiding.¡± Asha was speechless. Children born from butterflies, the origin of the minorities¡­ Suddenly, she recalled some passages from the book he had given her before. Karaf¡¯s mother had a condition for awakening, which was to find a romantic partner and there was also a butterfly from long ago who had a condition for awakening that was having their first sexual intercourse. It was an extremely rare condition for awakening that was mentioned in history, but now she realized why the last spy had said that this was Karaf¡¯s last chance. All the children born from other males except the Emperor were killed, but Dart survived. When two flower spirits appeared in one generation, it was their chance to change the regime. CH 112 Asha had a realization about why she and other members of minority groups were born with mysterious powers, leading to the creation of many spirit contract holders. They were descendants who had inherited the noblest blood of the empire, almost equal to the Imperial Family. From the perspective of the Imperial Family, the minorities not only possessed secrets that should never be revealed but also wielded extraordinary abilities, making them a potential threat. As a result, they were killed or persecuted to prevent them from endangering the Empire. In addition, they had physical appearances and eye colors different from those of the empire¡¯s citizens because they were not ordinary humans. This difference became another reason for discriminating against them as foreigners. ¡°God Etzheim originally ensured that all the flowers on this land could equally ascend to the throne. When a butterfly identifies the flower with the most potential and sweetness, it selects it to become the ruler. However, the rose dominated the selection process. I believe the birth of the black rose is also a punishment from God. Due to the corrupt Imperial Family¡¯s abominable monopoly of the throne, only a rotten rose could emerge. They simply followed the natural procedure and order.¡± Dart spoke resolutely now. ¡°I will change all of this. I will transform this empire into a place where everyone is equal. I will revolutionize the world so that the man chosen by the butterfly can become the true emperor, and any flower can ascend to the throne, not just the rose. I believe this is the last opportunity and legacy that my mother has bestowed upon me.¡± Asha could not find the words to dissuade Dart, let alone stop him. The Imperial Family had pushed him to the point of no return, leaving him with no choice but to take this drastic step¡­ She understood his resentment and anger, as well as his mother¡¯s feeling of facing a miserable end. Suddenly, she remembered the sight of Dart kneeling and crying in front of a statue of God in the chapel. She wondered if he had been crying and praying in front of the God statue countless times. His mother must have shed tears of blood over the fact that he could never become emperor. And his arrows of anger and resentment had been aimed at Karaf, an innocent child, shaking his life to the core. It triggered a chain reaction that reached even the minorities, and it killed Jackal¡¯s parents and wiped out the Kelpie clan. The tragedy that happened to Karaf, Dart, Jackal, and the minorities was so painful that Asha had difficulty breathing. Seeing that, Dart lowered his silver eyelashes and spoke calmly. ¡°¡­¡­ Dear Vanessa, with a generous and kind heart, please choose me as the next flower of the Empire. All you have to do is stand by my side and acknowledge me as Emperor. Now that I have bloomed, all I need is a reason, a pretext, such as ¡®the butterfly¡¯s choice,¡¯ to do so. Please join me in changing this decaying empire and saving the minorities.¡± He finished speaking and kneeled in front of Asha as if proposing. Asha lowered her head and quietly asked. ¡°¡­¡­Let me ask you one thing.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Did you intend to send assassins to Karaf until now? Did you give orders to the minorities behind the scenes?¡± Dart was silent for a moment, then spoke calmly without changing his expression. ¡°Yes. But I had no choice. Until now, minorities have only made sacrifices throughout their long history. To break this chain, a final sacrifice was necessary.¡± ¡°A final sacrifice¡­ So, how many people have you sacrificed until now? Have you ever thought about how many people you have sacrificed?¡± Asha raised her head and spoke fiercely. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s natural for other people to sacrifice themselves for you to become emperor¡­?¡± ¡°Of course, I will spend my life repenting for those who have been sacrificed because of me. In exchange for their lives, I will make the empire a better place. Lady Vanessa, please make the right choice for the empire. I know that every time you saw me at the temple, you felt sympathy for me in your heart, just like my mother did. I also feel deep sympathy for you for having unfortunate experiences. We are people with similar destinies and pains, and we can comfort each other¡¯s pain. That is reason enough for us to be together.¡± Asha murmured bitterly. ¡°Did you say it was the right choice¡­? I understand your feelings, but I don¡¯t think what you¡¯re doing is right. I indeed felt sympathy for you, but sympathy is different from love. Your love is wrong, and it will only leave behind great sacrifices for the Empire.¡± In response, Dart smirked slightly. ¡°I never thought of you as someone who relies on that romantic emotion called love. The Vanessa I saw was a righteous and rational person. So, I want to ask you.¡± He asked seriously with a cold face. ¡°Do you really believe that making Karaf blossom is the right thing to do? Do you really believe that you can make him blossom despite his roots being completely rotten?¡± Asha just glared at him without answering. Dart approached her and leaned close to her face. When Asha flinched and moved her body back, Dart¡¯s eyelids lowered slightly and he whispered softly in her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m different from the rotten rose. I don¡¯t force myself on a butterfly¡¯s body to make myself blossom like Karaf.¡± As Asha looked at him, hearing vulgar words in a refined tone, she raised one hand and slapped his cheek hard. The sound of chains clanking echoed sharply in the cave as the ¡®smack¡¯ sound reverberated. Dart¡¯s head twisted to the side, his cheeks red and swollen. ¡°The flower that has withered is you!¡± Dart turned his head back and looked at her with a blank expression before saying. ¡°Maybe¡­ Even if I live my whole life in patience and suffering, how can my heart be okay? If poison is the only way to protect me, I will gladly drink it. It doesn¡¯t matter if my heart rots away. I will succeed in my revenge and die, even if I have to.¡± Asha felt an indescribable sense of misery as she saw him blinded by revenge. Dart took a step back and continued. ¡°Eventually, Karaf¡¯s thorns will pierce you and the Empire. But as you can see, I am not a rose with thorns. Just like how a butterfly gives the opportunity for procreation instead of taking honey from a flower, I will give my honey to you.¡± Asha frowned at what he was saying. ¡°If you choose me, I will help you achieve true love. I will not restrain you as Karaf did, but I will set you free to leave with that man from the Kelpie clan. The corrupt system that binds butterflies to only one flower must disappear. By that time, the minorities will surely have a better life in the Empire.¡± His expression was firm. When he mentioned Jackal, Asha¡¯s eyes shook. Dart spoke forcefully. ¡°Lady Vanessa must have also wanted peace and prosperity for the minorities all this time. If you make a contract with me, there will be no reason for minorities to be persecuted on this land anymore. Just by choosing me, you can save the lives of countless innocent people. But if you do not choose me, then the lives of those who have been sacrificed so far will be in vain.¡± Asha looked at him with eyes filled with bloodshot anger. Dart grabbed the back of Asha¡¯s hand, and as blood flowed from his wounded hand, it stained Asha¡¯s hand. He spoke with a face full of madness. ¡°I don¡¯t want to harm the butterfly with my own hands. I¡¯ve been waiting for too long for this. So I can¡¯t wait any longer for the next butterfly to appear. Time is not on our side, so please make a wise decision. I will wait.¡± After finishing his speech, he closed his eyes reverently and kissed the back of Asha¡¯s hand. But Asha disliked it and removed her hand. However, he didn¡¯t care and calmly locked the grate, disregarding her disgust, and left. * * * * * At that moment, a calm breeze was blowing through the palace. Suddenly, an armed Duke of Lilac arrived at the palace, leading a group of knights. They had come to attack the palace while the Emperor, Vanessa, and the Cactus Knights were away. As the feared event occurred, the palace guards and servants moved vigorously to defend the palace. ¡°We must stop them before the Emperor and Lady Vanessa return!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± While they were taking a defensive posture, the chamberlain jumped out and shouted. ¡°Duke of Lilac, what the hell are you doing!¡± ¡°Get out of the way, old man. I¡¯ve come to give this decaying palace a new look.¡± ¡°This¡­this scoundrel¡­¡­!¡± The chamberlain¡¯s face twisted with anger as he drew his sword from his waist. Duke of Lilac sneered, watching him. ¡°You should appreciate the loyalty of the Lilac family. But does that old body of yours have the strength to wield a sword?¡± However, at that moment, a voice interrupted them. ¡°¡­¡­ What are you doing here, Duke of Lilac?¡± Bloom Lilac frowned as he heard a sound and looked in the direction it came from. A pink-haired man stood there, arms crossed and a single smile on his face as he gazed at him. Sihan leisurely glanced up at the gray sky, full of dark clouds, and said. ¡°It¡¯s a great day to start a rebellion, right?¡± ¡°Duke Sihan¡­¡­.¡± When the Duke of Lilac looked at him, Sihan walked towards him with his arms crossed. Then, the Duke of Lilac spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s team up and drive out the Rose Family. This is our chance!¡± ¡°What chance are you talking about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The Roses have been ruling the empire alone for a long time. It¡¯s time for a new emperor to take over!¡± ¡°But why do we need to team up?¡± ¡°What?¡± Sihan smiled. ¡°If we drive out the emperor, only one person can rise up to that position. Won¡¯t you cut me off too when that happens?¡± The Duke of Lilac was speechless and frozen. ¡°But, you know, I¡¯m not a big fan of thieves.¡± Sihan finished his sentence, looking at Bloom Lilac sharply as if he had never done that before. He became cold in an instant like the last cold snap of a spring day. CH 113 In fact, in the past, Sihan had been tricked by the Duke of Lilac, just like now, seeing that in the past Karaf couldn¡¯t flourish, having a very bad relationship with Vanessa. The Duke of Lilac had suggested that they join forces to correct the declining Rose Dynasty, but in return, he received betrayal. When Sihan was assassinated by the assassin he sent, he became the only one who could remember his past life after Vanessa jumped off the cliff. He didn¡¯t know how it was possible, but he accepted it as fate to correct the wrongs, especially after witnessing Vanessa¡¯s drastic change. In this life, Sihan wanted to trust Vanessa and the Emperor. The two kept their distance and looked at each other tensely. The Duke of Lilac spoke in a low voice. ¡°Do we really have to shed blood between us? Our enemies are different.¡± ¡°Well, it seems you have been mistaken from the beginning. Your enemy is standing right in front of you, Duke of Lilac.¡± Sihan replied as he examined the fancy golden branch attached to his chest. ¡°I made a pledge to Lady Vanessa. I support the Imperial Family, that¡¯s what I mean.¡± The Duke of Lilac¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Still, your ambition is better than that of Count Delphinium. He lusts for power and couldn¡¯t even stand up for himself. You look better than that clingy parasite, hahaha!¡± Sihan burst into laughter. ¡°Are you insulting me now?!¡± The Duke of Lilac grew angry, but Sihan couldn¡¯t wipe the smile off his face. ¡°Now it¡¯s time for me to fulfill my duty as Vanessa¡¯s chosen side flower.¡± Sihan drew his sword and pointed it at the Duke of Lilac, calling out to his knights. ¡°¡­¡­ Tempest Knights!¡± At his silent command, his knights appeared from behind and surrounded the Duke of Lilac¡¯s knights. Sihan smirked. ¡°Just stay there like that. I think I¡¯ll be the only duke in this empire.¡± ¡°These cherry blossoms have such a short lifespan¡­.!¡± T/N: The sentence expresses frustration or disappointment at the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms, which are often seen as a symbol of the transience of life in Korean culture. It suggests that the speaker is irritated or annoyed by the topic of cherry blossoms and their short lifespan, perhaps because they are reminded of the impermanence of life or their own mortality. The Duke of Lilac burst into a fit of anger. Sihan surveyed the knights around him and spoke coldly. ¡°Attack him.¡± The ¡®Tempest Knights¡¯, whom he had summoned, were known for surrounding and attacking their enemies in one swift and deadly blow, without being noticed. They were like a sandstorm that swept away the enemy without warning. The sound of horses and swords clashing echoed fiercely in the palace courtyard. * * * * * Karaf woke up in a dim underground cave, his whole body bound to thick roots protruding from the walls. As he blinked his blurred eyes, he heard a familiar voice right in front of him. ¡°¡­¡­ You¡¯re awake, little brother.¡± He looked up and saw a white-haired man standing in front of him. Karaf frowned, his mouth curling up in confusion. ¡°¡­Who the hell are you calling little brother? I¡¯ve never had a brother like you. Are you insane? Do you want to die?¡± Dart chuckled at Karaf¡¯s words. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be treated like a brother, but I thought you¡¯d show some courtesy. As expected, you¡¯re a flower that has grown to resemble your father in every way.¡± ¡°What?¡± Karaf frowned. Dart spoke calmly. ¡°It¡¯s such a shame that you were born a rotten flower, just like your filthy father. It¡¯s too pathetic. I¡¯ll break you so that the name ¡®Rose¡¯ never appears in this empire again.¡± ¡°I guess all of this was your plan, huh?¡± Karaf snorted. ¡°I¡¯m a rotten flower? You¡¯re no better, playing the role of an innocent priest.¡± Dart¡¯s smile faded at his sarcasm. ¡°¡­..You¡¯re audacious for a sinner. Your father killed my mother, but you just stood by and did nothing like a bystander. After all, you also wanted her death.¡± Karaf frowned slightly. ¡°Your mother?¡± ¡°Yes. Your mother is my mother. To be exact, I was born before you, so I am the first flower. If only you hadn¡¯t been born, Mother would have been happy.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Shut up!¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes trembled with anger. ¡®If only you weren¡¯t born¡­¡¯ Those were the words his mother had always said to him. ¡°I have also heard stories about your childhood. I thought you grew up loved and noble in the palace, but your parents didn¡¯t love you. Of course, Mother couldn¡¯t love you. Because of your father, she abandoned the son born to a man she truly loved. But you, born of that terrible man, do you think that she would really love you?¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he learned about Dart¡¯s true identity. ¡°Of course, if you were a red rose, things might have been a little different. She might have raised you as an emperor and treated you like a puppet. Perhaps she could have used you to bring me back to the Imperial Family.¡± Karaf couldn¡¯t say anything because it might be true. His mother always looked at him coldly and blamed him for no reason¡­¡­. He didn¡¯t even know that whenever she looked at him, she thought of another son whom she had abandoned with her own hands. Dart continued. ¡°My mother, as an imperial butterfly, was forced to choose a man she did not love. Because it was the only way she could live. It¡¯s the same thing you¡¯re doing to Vanessa now.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes trembled uncontrollably. He recalled forcibly taking Asha to the palace and making her his butterfly. Not just once, but twice. He felt unbearably grotesque, trying to forcibly separate Asha from the man she truly loved. He had hated and resented his father all his life, but unknowingly, he was becoming more and more like him¡­.. Dart said casually. ¡°As a result, you were born. The black rose that brings destruction to the empire.¡± Kara remembered his mother muttering to herself locked in her room when he was young. ¡®I deserve this punishment¡­ for leaving him and abandoning my son¡­.¡¯ At the time, he thought it was a statement of regret and self-blame made by his mother when she hurt him physically and emotionally. He had no idea that it didn¡¯t refer to him or his father¡­.. Karaf was deeply shocked when he learned the truth, and his face became grim. Dart held a rose in his hand and examined it leisurely. ¡°Your very existence is a sin. The harvest season is coming soon. The summer flower, the rose, withers away and the season of autumn flowers, the chrysanthemum, comes.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the rose in his hand withered instantly. Dart glanced at Karaf. ¡°Honestly, it was unexpected for you to save a boy who fell into the devil¡¯s hands. I wanted to show you your helplessness through the pilgrimage.¡± He had always thought of Karaf as a terribly selfish bastard who only thinks of himself. But when he saw how Karaf cared for the boy, he realized that Asha had changed him to this extent. It shocked him. Dart smiled calmly and said. ¡°Seeing that makes me curious about your strength.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the roots that had been wrapping around Karaf¡¯s body disappeared, freeing him from his bonds. Dart then inflicted a wound on himself, letting the blood drip onto the ground. At that moment, monsters started emerging from the ground and walls, which made Karaf¡¯s eyes widen in shock. ¡°You¡­¡­ you¡¯ve been controlling the demons all along?¡± ¡°Yes. Maybe it¡¯s because they¡¯re aphids that suck the sap from plants, these creatures are especially fond of my blood. And as long as I give them blood, I can rule over them like a queen bee.¡± Karaf glared at the monsters with burning eyes and growled. ¡°I heard there are no roses in the rose garden. So, I¡¯ll tell you this just in case you didn¡¯t know, roses are especially vulnerable to aphids, to the point where their thorns are almost useless. I¡¯ll leave you to die here alone. That¡¯ll be your ending.¡± Dart left the underground cave. Karaf, with his injured body, drew his sword and charged toward the monsters. * * * * * Asha heard the sound of iron bars opening and recognized the scent of Dart¡¯s presence. She didn¡¯t bother to look up. Dart spoke in a calm voice. ¡°Have you sorted out your thoughts?¡± ¡°¡­.I¡¯m sorry, but my decision hasn¡¯t changed. I won¡¯t choose you.¡± Dart fell silent at her response. Asha slowly raised her head and met his gaze with her purple eyes. ¡°God Etzheim cares for every flower, no matter how small or insignificant they are. However, priests like you are willing to sacrifice a fragile flower on the pretext of serving a greater cause. As a butterfly of the empire, I cannot entrust the throne to such a person.¡± Dart¡¯s expression showed a hint of hurt as he responded. ¡°If God Etzheim cares equally for every flower in the empire, then he must be a formidable bystander. He watched what I and the minorities went through, but he never thought of stepping in and correcting them. Is the bystander innocent? No. The fact that he turned a blind eye to sin itself is a sin.¡± ¡°So, do you hate God?¡± Dart did not answer her question. Asha continued calmly. ¡°What you¡¯re doing now is the same as what the Imperial Family did to the minorities in the past. In the end, aren¡¯t you trying to make this empire dominated by minorities?¡± ¡°Is that wrong? The true noble blood in this empire belongs to the minorities, and the spirit¡¯s contractors should have the power to rule the empire.¡± ¡°You were never a good flower.¡± Dart sighed in response to Asha¡¯s words. ¡°¡­.So, in the end, you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll choose a different path from mine. That¡¯s very disappointing. I believed that you would have a better vision for the future¡­ and yet, you¡¯re choosing death.¡± Dart said, looking at Asha with his cold, gray eyes. Asha gave a slightly twisted smile. ¡°You already know that my ability is prophecy, right? Then do you know why I chose Karaf instead of you?¡± Dart¡¯s expression suddenly hardened. Asha stared into his gray eyes and spoke firmly. ¡°Karaf will bloom beautifully, and he will achieve the world you speak of without sacrificing anyone. Change your mind right now. If you continue with your plan, you will be the one to die. Even though I was trapped here for a short time, I watched you die.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lie. It can¡¯t be.¡± Dart said, but his voice trembled a little, probably because he was agitated in his heart. What he did not know was that Asha¡¯s ability was not prophecy, but regression. CH 114 Asha, Karaf, and Sihan had all returned to make amends for their past mistakes, and Asha was becoming increasingly certain of Dart¡¯s attitude. Without backing down, Asha firmly stated. ¡°Priest, stop now. Your life can still be saved. I will do my best to persuade Karaf and the citizens. I intend to keep my promise, and I swear it by my name as the butterfly.¡± Dart lowered his head, realizing that Asha still referred to him as a ¡®priest¡¯. ¡°¡­¡­ Let¡¯s see if Vanessa¡¯s prophecy holds true. One side will undoubtedly perish in this battle.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes twitched slightly as she realized Dart was referring to Karaf as the other side. Remaining composed, Dart stated. ¡°If your decision remains the same even then¡­ I¡¯ll kill you too and welcome a new butterfly. As my wife and companion.¡± With a cold expression, Dart exited the prison, trudging away. * * * * * Jackal and the others arrived at the minority village. However, he saw numerous knights blocking the entrance. Rigel, looking straight ahead, spoke from the side. ¡°We¡¯ll hold them off here. You go find Vanessa. She¡¯s likely trapped in a cave somewhere in the forest.¡± Jackal nodded gravely, immediately transforming into a horse. It was far more advantageous to search for Asha with the body of a horse than as a human. As Jackal galloped towards the forest, the knights aimed their arrows at him. However, Gabe quickly cut down the arrows mid-air with his sword. ¡°Where¡­¡­!¡± Knowing that the hawk he raised had died, Gabe was already in a state of great anger. His yellow eyes burned as he said. ¡°Even without the chief, I will defend Lycaon.¡± Gabe remembered the time when Jackal had saved him by throwing himself in front of an incoming arrow. Now, he had the opportunity to repay the favor. The Lycaons smiled in admiration at Gabe¡¯s trustworthiness, but suddenly, the ground began to shake again, and they heard a menacing monster growling. The faces of Lycaons and Nassons hardened. They drew their swords and took up a fighting stance. Gabe, who had been pretending to be cool, yelled in frustration. ¡°Come out already, you monsters¡­..!¡± In his rage, he stabbed the ground with his sword, causing the floor to shake violently. Suddenly, an orange light spread out from under his feet, resembling molten lava. ¡°What, what is this?¡± Gabe, feeling flustered, began to awkwardly move his feet as if trying to avoid the orange light emanating from the ground. But then, Rigel quickly noticed his appearance and his eyes widened as he shouted. ¡°This is¡­ the earth spirit¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ What?¡± It was only then that Gabe realized that a pumpkin-colored energy was flowing from his chest and being transmitted to his sword. The moment the power of the Earth Spirit surged through him, the monsters underground screamed and perished without even emerging from the ground. Gabe blinked foolishly, looking at his own hand and muttering in disbelief. ¡°I¡­the Earth Spirit¡­?¡± His comrades around him covered their mouths and laughed. Gabe was the contractor for the Earth Spirit. Everyone found this situation unbelievable and funny. Rigel murmured. ¡°The Earth Spirit tends to have a dull temperament and likes to hide¡­..¡± In fact, the reason Gabe had started an argument with Asha when they first met was due to the different attributes between Earth and Wind. Those two spirits were the furthest apart, and the Earth Spirit harbored jealousy and envy towards the Wind, just like in fairy tales. Jackal was overjoyed to have found the last spirit whose whereabouts were unknown. He neighed, lifting his foreleg in excitement. It was a somewhat comical sight, but Gabe felt embarrassed yet filled with great pride, believing that he had received praise. Jackal recalled what the village chief had told him. ¡®Do you know why minorities are composed of five clans? Five petals that protect the Imperial Family. In fact, it was because we were supposed to be them. That¡¯s why we can wield the power of the spirits. We are the true knights of the flower.¡¯ Knights of the Flower¡­.. Jackal turned and looked at the trusty Lycaons and the Nasson clan. With his mane fluttering, he vigorously ran in pursuit of Asha¡¯s scent. * * * * * ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± Karaf put his sword on the ground and took a deep breath. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. Dying monsters filled his surroundings, oozing all sorts of foul-smelling fluids. Despite his efforts to kill them one after another, they seemed endless, as if there would be no end to it. ¡°¡­¡­ Are you still alive?¡± At the voice from above, Karaf looked up with a hazy gaze, cold sweat forming on his forehead. Looking at the cold gray eyes and the expressionless face that arrogantly looked down from above, Karaf was suddenly reminded of an old memory. Back then, Cylon had also looked down at him from atop a hill like this¡­ The sky, visible through the hole, was covered with dark clouds just like that day, and the wind blew strongly. In contrast to Karaf¡¯s black hair, Dart¡¯s silver hair swayed in the cold wind. ¡°How does it feel? Looking at someone from below for the first time?¡± Karaf trembled as he gritted his teeth, unable to overcome Dart¡¯s power. However, Dart hadn¡¯t expected him to withstand this far on his own either. Due to using more energy than he had thought, Dart¡¯s face also showed signs of fatigue. ¡°Give up now, Karaf. You were never meant to be the emperor from the beginning. I¡¯ll become the next emperor in your place.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Don¡¯t you dare call me by that name so casually! It¡¯s disgraceful that you, who carry the spirit of the flower like me, even exist!¡± Dart fell silent for a moment, then lifted a hand. But in that brief moment of carelessness, monsters emerged from the ground and entangled him with their repulsive legs. ¡°Ugh¡­¡­!¡± Karaf writhed with wide eyes, his hands bound and unable to free himself. A centipede pulled him up from the ground, while Dart advanced slowly towards him, holding Karaf¡¯s stolen sword in his hand. ¡°Looks like this is as far as you can go.¡± Karaf stared at him, gritting his teeth. ¡°This is your limit, little brother. You should have withered away long ago.¡± Dart raised the sword and pressed it lightly against Karaf¡¯s jaw. A drop of blood trickled from his jaw onto the sharpened blade. Karaf couldn¡¯t even swallow his saliva as he looked up sharply at Dart. With a little more pressure, the blade seemed like it would pierce his throat. Seeing this, Dart chuckled and smiled. ¡°Before you go, let me tell you the truth. It¡¯s about Vanessa. You must be curious too, right?¡± Karaf¡¯s red eyes flickered slightly. Dart lowered his eyelids slightly, as if in pity, and continued. ¡°Poor guy. Don¡¯t tell me you still believe Vanessa will choose you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Snap out of it, silly brother. Because you¡¯re so lacking, you¡¯ll spend your whole life being betrayed.¡± Dart said, leaning closer and tilting his head while opening his gray eyes wide. ¡°What will happen if I just let that man go? Leaving you to die and run away with the butterfly.¡± Dart said, causing Karaf¡¯s eyes to widen. Did he know that Jackal came to the palace to cooperate with him? Karaf muttered, trying to gather himself. ¡°Where did you overhear our conversation, you little rat? You¡¯re wrong. I made a deal with them. I made a contract with Vanessa and that big-headed bastard.¡± Dart scoffed. ¡°A contract? Did they promise to break your curse? What are the conditions of that contract? Giving freedom to the Butterfly? Which is the easier way to get freedom: helping you fight or abandoning you to die?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! I trust them!¡± ¡°More than your own life?¡± Karaf was unable to answer. Dart looked genuinely pitiful, and perhaps because he was the embodiment of a flower, even his expression was painfully beautiful to behold. ¡°You¡¯re still living in a fairy tale world and haven¡¯t faced reality. Vanessa has already betrayed you. She chose me, not you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lie! Shut up!¡± Karaf shouted, but Dart remained calm. ¡°She promised to grant me full bloom and choose me as the next emperor if I would release that man and let her go with him. Thanks to her, I was finally able to fully blossom.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You¡­bloom¡­.?¡± ¡°By now, she must already be fleeing the empire with that man.¡± Karaf didn¡¯t know that Dart had already undergone full bloom from the beginning. Because he trusted Asha, he dared not believe that she had betrayed him. However, seeing the blossomed Dart, his mind became confused. What on earth had happened? Why didn¡¯t Jackal or Asha show up? He didn¡¯t want to suspect, but he couldn¡¯t help but feel afraid. Dart drew upon the power of the flower within his body, causing intense green light to swirl around him. He then placed one hand on Karaf¡¯s chest, and at that moment, the green power entered Karaf¡¯s chest, causing terrible agony to engulf him. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡­!¡± Karaf¡¯s face contorted as he let out a scream. Watching him, unable to even catch his breath from the pain, Dart spoke. ¡°To me, who has fully blossomed, killing you is nothing. If I want, I can save or kill every living being on this land. That¡¯s the power of a flower. Feel the overwhelming difference of this power.¡± Karaf¡¯s eyes trembled uncontrollably, and he began to see illusions. Behind Dart, a gigantic shadow of thorns writhed, as if it would swallow him whole. Suddenly, thorny vines started popping out of Karaf¡¯s chest, stretching out in all directions like red spider webs and creating eerie patterns. Karaf¡¯s head dropped, his bound arms caught in the spider¡¯s web. Eventually, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness. At the same time, the handkerchief that Asha had tied around his wrist slipped off lifelessly and fell to the ground. The black rose she had embroidered was now soaked in blood.¡­.. * * * Jackal ran fiercely and relentlessly, driven by a cold determination, as he chased Asha¡¯s scent. As a horse with a keen sense of smell, he could never forget the captivating fragrance of her body. The seductive fragrance he smelled every time Asha climbed on his back and hugged him vividly came to mind. In the forest, far away from the village, he caught a faint whiff of her scent. Jackal ran as if possessed, eventually reaching a cave where Asha¡¯s scent grew stronger. He transformed back into his human form, cautiously surveying his surroundings before stepping into the cave. Soon, in the cave¡¯s depths, his eyes fell upon Asha, trapped behind iron bars. ¡°¡­¡­ Asha!¡± Startled by Jackal¡¯s voice, Asha, who had been crouched like a worm, suddenly lifted her head. ¡°Jackal¡­¡­!¡± CH 115 ¡°Hang in there. I¡¯ll get you out of here soon.¡± Jackal cut through the chains with a dagger that Nek transformed into but was unable to pierce through the thick iron bars. He inserted Nek into the keyhole and reverted to his wild horse form. With his entire body, he relentlessly pounded on the door. After a tremendous noise as if the iron bars were breaking, he finally broke open the door and entered. Asha sprang up abruptly and dashed toward him. As soon as Jackal saw Asha¡¯s face, he transformed back into his human form and grabbed her by the shoulders. With a distorted face, he yelled. ¡°What the hell are you doing? Coming to the village alone, why the hell are you so reckless?! Do you think you¡¯re some kind of immortal?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡­ I thought something happened to you¡­¡­ that¡¯s why¡­¡± Asha spoke in a choked voice, but her eyes widened at that moment, and she couldn¡¯t find the words to continue. Shameless, Jackal hugged Asha tightly with his naked body, making it hard for her to breathe. Holding her tightly in his arms, he closed his eyes and barely managed to speak. ¡°I almost died for real¡­¡± Feeling his big strong body tremble slightly, Asha, with a sad expression, pressed her face against his chest and closed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­..¡± Jackal gently patted her back, offering reassurance with his large hand. ¡°¡­¡­There¡¯s no way I¡¯d die easily and leave you behind.¡± Upon hearing those words, hot tears welled up in Asha¡¯s eyes. Jackal wiped her tears away with his thick thumb. Asha held onto him tightly and whispered. ¡°Now, I think I finally understand¡­ Why, among countless days of the past, I returned to the moment I met you¡­.¡± When Jackal released the embrace and looked at her, Asha gazed at him intently with her teary eyes. ¡°That was the moment I regretted the most among all the choices I made in my previous life. No, it could have been the most significant moment fate gave me that I didn¡¯t even know I missed it. In order to meet you, I blossomed as a winter flower in the snowy field that day.¡± Asha closed her eyes and kissed Jackal first. The sudden surprise kiss caused Jackal¡¯s eyes to widen for a moment, but he soon closed his eyes and kissed Asha passionately in return. On the cave wall, their silhouettes melded into one, casting a unified shadow. After a brief yet intense kiss, the two finally parted their lips. Asha looked at him with determination. In the torchlight, her eyes blazed with purpose. ¡°I believe all of this is fate. Even my encounter with you, Jackal, and becoming a hunter may be a sign to protect the empire from the monsters.¡± Her ability to regress could not only mean going back in time, but also restoring back in time when the five spirits were in harmony. And perhaps, the birth of the Black Rose was also a divine proclamation to unify the divided nobility and the discriminated minorities. Jackal nodded in agreement. ¡°By now, the first flower must be fighting the second flower.¡± ¡°We should go and help.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Together, they exited the cave. Their clasped hands felt warm and solid as if they would never be apart. * * * * * Meanwhile, there was a clash with the knights in the village. The Lycaons and the Nasson clan fought valiantly against Count Delphinium¡¯s knights, but the battle became even more challenging due to the assistance of the monsters fighting alongside the knights. Gabe shouted as he severed the tentacle-like legs of the monsters. ¡°These damn monsters¡­! It¡¯s unfair¡ªthey outnumber us!¡± Observing their struggle, Delphinium just laughed. ¡°If only you had chosen a better battleground, perhaps this dire situation could have been avoided. If you had peacefully coexisted with minorities, you would not have faced such a tragic fate¡­..¡± ¡°¡­¡­ You¡¯d better keep your mouth shut, Count.¡± Suddenly, everyone halted their fighting and turned their gaze in a particular direction upon hearing a deep voice. There stood a formidable group of armed knights. They were the Cactus Knights. At the forefront, Duran stood tall, his blond hair fluttering, and he spoke with an icy glare. ¡°Watching all of you fight like this is akin to seeing fledgling bats flapping about aimlessly.¡± ¡°What¡­what did you say!¡± Kiam and his knights confronted them, bewildered. He pretended to laugh as if the situation was already over. ¡°It¡¯s useless! Even if the Cactus Knights came, they wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat him!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Him, you say.¡± Duran muttered, appearing somewhat perplexed, before briefly shifting his gaze towards the knights. ¡°There¡¯s no mercy for traitors. Let¡¯s finish them off.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Duran¡¯s green eyes blazed fiercely like never before. Kiam frowned and shouted at his knights. ¡°Stop them!¡± As the Count¡¯s knights advanced, the Cactus Knights, led by Duran, brandished their swords menacingly and charged forward. No matter what, they were no match for the Elite Imperial Knights, the Cactus Knights. The Lycaons watched in a daze as the knights engulfed them like a tidal wave, but quickly regained their composure and turned their focus towards the monsters. Gabe shouted with excitement. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it! This is the correct number! Let the knights fight amongst themselves while we hunt like true hunters!¡± ¡°Yeahhh!¡± The Lycaons moved swiftly, resembling wild dogs as they cut down the monsters. With the arrival of the Cactus Knights, the battle became considerably more manageable. * * * * * At that moment, Karaf, who had regained consciousness, coughed as he struggled to open his eyes. As he breathed heavily, he found Dart still standing in front of him. Dart clicked his tongue and sprinkled holy water on Karaf¡¯s face once again. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you are a rotten flower, are you thirsty for water?¡± Feeling the water trickle down his face, Karaf trembled with shame. Even in his weakened state, Dart found it amusing and grabbed Karaf¡¯s chin. Karaf, his black bangs plastered to his face, stared at him. Dart spoke cruelly, his gaze fixed on Karaf. ¡°You have been abandoned by two butterflies. For Mother, and now for Vanessa. Look around. Look who else is by your side.¡± On the hill where they stood, only a desolate wind blew. There were no Cactus Knights, no other nobles, no Jackal, no Lycaons, no Asha. Karaf was completely alone. Unconsciously, a single tear rolled down Karaf¡¯s cheek. Although he didn¡¯t want to believe that they had betrayed him, the deep wounds of betrayal had already pierced his heart, brainwashing him in the cruelest manner. Especially since Karaf, unaware that Dart had already blossomed by his mother¡¯s choice, could only think that Asha was truly responsible for his blooming. Whether of her own free will or the influence of others, she may have been forced to make an unavoidable decision, possibly to protect Jackal¡¯s life. Just like my mother¡­.. Not knowing that Asha had come to the village alone to save him, he had no choice but to believe it. Dart had developed an uncanny talent for manipulation during his time as a priest. It was easier to brainwash those with desperate hearts. Manipulating and persuading the numerous people who visited the temple with sweet words, playing on their emotions, was an easy task for him. Even the ambitious Count Delphinium and the village chief had succumbed to his charm and eloquence. The integrity and sanctity of the priesthood made the work even more effective. Dart gently wiped away Karaf¡¯s cold tears with his finger and spoke in a soothing tone. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t cry yet. It¡¯s not over. Do you have any idea how much pain I¡¯ve endured up until now? You shouldn¡¯t be easily hurt and die so fast. Then I¡¯d feel so empty.¡± A twisted smile adorned Dart¡¯s lips. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one will search for the grave of a black rose, but I will.¡± But then, something unexpected happened. A surge of dark energy began to emanate from Karaf¡¯s body. Dart frowned. All the legs of the centipede monster that had restrained Karaf¡¯s body were severed. Karaf, white-eyed, screamed like a monster and fiercely struggled. Countless black thorny bushes encircled Karaf¡¯s body, seemingly protecting him. Dart muttered, clicking his tongue. ¡°Has he finally gone berserk¡­?¡± He had heard tales that when a spirit reaches the brink of death, it spirals into a self-destructive frenzy before perishing. Dart burst into laughter, reveling in the knowledge that Karaf had reached his breaking point and was destined for self-destruction. ¡°This is perfectly suited to your demise!¡± As Karaf¡¯s power surged uncontrollably, the surroundings gradually transformed into a desolate scene reminiscent of hell itself. With each surge of black energy emanating from Karaf¡¯s body, green leaves withered and decayed, water evaporated into thin air, and the ground turned as black as night. ¡°A cursed flower¡­ Can it still be considered a flower¡­?¡± Dart muttered as he witnessed Karaf¡¯s power, but he casually watched the spectacle without much concern. Watching the unfolding destruction a little longer didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea to Dart. After all, it aligned perfectly with the ancient prophecy, the black rose bringing about the collapse of the world, and a new flower reviving it. In Dart¡¯s eyes, there was no other plan as flawless as this one. But then, something unexpected occurred. ¡°¡­¡­ Stop!¡± When Dart turned his head, he saw Asha riding a blue-gray horse in the distance. With an expressionless face, Dart spoke. ¡°So, you¡¯ve come all this way to stop me, Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha¡¯s gaze widened as she looked at Karaf, who was caught in huge thorny vines. Suddenly, she felt as if she could hear a young Karaf¡¯s voice echoing in her ears, pleading, ¡®Save me¡¯. Asha bit her lower lip. He had embarked on the pilgrimage with good intentions. She felt immense sorrow knowing he had been betrayed once again by someone she knew. But this time, she wasn¡¯t going to let him fight alone. She fervently wished that she hadn¡¯t arrived too late. Then, someone appeared behind Dart. Emitting a fiery aura from his hand, it was none other than the village chief. ¡°Your Majesty, please allow me to kill the butterfly. There is no hope left. This butterfly will not join us.¡± For a brief moment, Dart¡¯s face darkened, but then he nodded in agreement. ¡°I grant permission. It would be more fitting to await the arrival of the next butterfly, even if it takes a little longer. They will be remembered as a withered flower and an inept butterfly incapable of making him bloom in the history books.¡± Upon hearing Dart¡¯s words, Asha prepared to aim her bow at them, but Jackal, now in his human form, immediately halted her. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the village chief. You awaken the flower. Now is not the time to be sleeping peacefully.¡± Although his words were laced with humor, Jackal had a serious expression as he looked at the village chief. The village chief smiled calmly. ¡°So, it has come to this?¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes glinted like blue flames as he responded. ¡°Let¡¯s put an end to this horrible relationship.¡± CH 116 The moment Jackal finished speaking, a blue energy emanated from his body, while a red energy radiated from the village chief. Jackal¡¯s eyes flashed with a blue light as he effortlessly formed an ice sword in his hand. Similarly, the village chief conjured a long spear engulfed in fiery flames and held it firmly. As the sword and spear clashed, a sharp sound reverberated through the air, marking the beginning of the fight. Meanwhile, Asha swiftly made her way towards the thorn bush where Karaf was. However, her path was suddenly blocked by a large icicle-shaped bee sting that was firmly embedded in the ground. ¡°I can¡¯t let you do that.¡± Asha stopped and looked up at the sky. Dart, seated atop a colossal wasp, observed her intently from above. He looked at Asha as he once again inflicted wounds on his arm, sprinkling blood on the ground. His action attracted numerous monsters once more. This time, they were thrips that had transformed from larvae, accompanied by root flies. Those monsters seemed to be harder to deal with because they had wings. Jackal paused his fight with the chief and turned his attention towards Asha, his eyes widening in alarm. ¡°Asha¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t afford to lose focus.¡± The chief immediately swung his spear, breaking Jackal¡¯s weapon. ¡°Damn¡­¡­¡± Jackal muttered, furrowing his brows before creating the weapon once again. ¡°Jackal, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Asha calmly raised her hand and began to gather the power of the wind. The air around her started swirling fiercely, creating a barrier that prevented the winged monsters from approaching Karaf. Dart sneered and taunted. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can hold on.¡± Following his command, the mite-like creatures unleashed transparent, sticky spider webs towards Asha, aiming to restrain her. Using the power of the wind, Asha blew away the spider webs, but it required considerable effort since they formed a massive net with a wide range. She couldn¡¯t guarantee how long she could hold on, just as Dart had said. At that moment, as Asha took a breath and narrowed her gaze, a familiar voice called out from behind. ¡°Unnie¡­!¡± Asha shouted, her expression filled with joy as she spotted someone at the forefront of a group. ¡°Gabe!¡± Gabe was followed by the Lycaons, the Nasson clan, and even the Cactus Knights. They were shocked to see Karaf and the scene of the confrontation between the four of them. Duran quickly came to his senses and addressed the knights. ¡°We must protect His Majesty and Lady Vanessa!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The Cactus Knights encircled Asha and the thorn bush where Karaf lay asleep. Dart observed them with a smirk. ¡°Duran Dandelion, right? They say you¡¯ve died once and come back to life. Well, this should be interesting. Try to cut the thorns where that guy is so we can witness his pathetic state.¡± Duran furrowed his brow, drew his sword, and assumed an offensive stance. As Dart¡¯s silver eyes flashed, loopers suddenly emerged from the ground, launching a swift attack on Duran. He rolled to the ground to evade the attack, but just like Karaf, who had been kidnapped the other day, the looper bit him in the arm and lifted him into the air. ¡°Ugh¡­¡­!¡± Duran winced in intense pain as if his left arm were being severed. Nevertheless, he managed to thrust his sword into the looper¡¯s body using his right hand. The looper shrieked and released its grip on Duran, causing him to helplessly plummet from the great height. ¡°¡­¡­ Sir Duran!¡± Asha swiftly used the power of the wind to prevent Duran from crashing to the ground. ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­..¡± Duran gazed at Asha with a self-disgusted expression, and she spoke with determination. ¡°I will handle him. Only spirit contractors can deal with other spirit contractors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Suddenly, Gabe appeared and stood next to her. As Asha looked at him with grateful eyes, Gabe chuckled. ¡°I have to make Sister owe me this time. I can¡¯t live with debts hanging over me.¡± Despite the gravity of the situation, Asha couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Gabe¡¯s voice thundered as he glared at Dart. ¡°Go ahead and try! No matter how many monsters you summon, I¡¯ll send them all back to their graves!¡± The Lycaons swiftly formed a tactical formation and began hunting down the monsters. The head chef swung a giant kitchen knife and mercilessly sliced through the monsters as if he was chopping wood. However, a thrip creature flew towards him. The head chef attempted to retrieve the kitchen knife embedded in one of the monster¡¯s bodies, but it was deeply stuck and wouldn¡¯t come out. ¡°Damn it¡­¡­!¡± The chef¡¯s eyes widened as the trip got closer to him. Suddenly, a bottle soared through the air, smashing into the thrip¡¯s face and shattering on impact. The yellow liquid inside splattered across its face, causing the thrip to writhe in pain. When the head chef followed the trajectory of the thrown bottle, he saw Nagy. Nagy smirked and picked up another bottle. ¡°Just in case, I brought this from the kitchen.¡± It was the mixture they had prepared when their hideout was previously attacked by monsters. ¡°Nagy, you little rascal¡­!¡± Once again, Nagy had secretly stolen items from the kitchen. However, this time, instead of scolding him, the head chef could only burst into laughter. Nagy hurled the mixture at a monster and swiftly severed its leg. But as he lifted the monster¡¯s leg, he muttered with a slightly pouty expression. ¡°I don¡¯t like monster meat¡­¡­¡± Nagy, currently in his growing stage and feeling hungry, looked up and briefly imagined a dish resembling a wolf spider tempura. However, the large legs with sharp claws, hard as armor, appeared repulsive even at first glance. ¡°Kid, when we get back, I¡¯ll treat you to a hearty meat feast!¡± At his words, Nagy took out a bunch of glass bottles of the mixture and smiled mischievously. It seemed as if he had a bomb in his hand. Meanwhile, Jackal was involved in a fierce battle with the village chief. Jackal relentlessly attacked the village chief with various transformed weapons, while the village chief used fire to defend himself and focused his efforts on melting Jackal¡¯s ice weapons. As water and fire clashed, their forces collided and dissipated, shrouding the area in thick smoke. ¡°¡­¡­Quite impressive.¡± The village chief¡¯s expression was now completely devoid of composure. Jackal smirked and retorted. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was about to say, old man.¡± However, despite his casual demeanor, the village chief was not an opponent to be taken lightly. Having been a spirit contract for a long time, he was far more skilled at manipulating spirit power compared to Jackal. The village chief relentlessly struck out with his whip-like fire tail, leaving searing whip marks on Jackal¡¯s clothes. The scorched marks burned and oozed, causing Jackal¡¯s body to become increasingly scarred. Jackal tried to catch his breath and glared at him. The village chief said. ¡°¡­It¡¯s a shame. There¡¯s no lake nearby. It seems you¡¯re almost out of water. You can¡¯t defeat me. There¡¯s nothing but things that will burn.¡± The village chief was also panting heavily, probably because he had exhausted a significant amount of energy from melting all the ice weapons. He silently acknowledged that it would have been truly perilous if it had rained that day. Jackal gathered the last traces of water in the vicinity, shaping it into a sharp-tipped ice chain, and hurled it towards the chief with all his might. At the moment the chief swung his fiery whip to block the attack, Jackal pierced through the billowing smoke and closed in on him. Despite his burned arms and shielding his face with crossed arms, Jackal maintained an unwavering gaze filled with fierce determination. In that instant, the chief coughed up black blood. Suddenly, a crimson dagger pierced his chest. His eyes widened, gasping for air, the chief uttered. ¡°How¡­¡­¡± Jackal, with a forced smile, gripped the dagger tightly in both hands and plunged it deep into his heart. ¡°If there¡¯s no water, I¡¯ll use my own blood.¡± The village chief¡¯s eyes widened even further as he trembled, looking at the dagger pierced through his chest. It was a dagger made from Jackal¡¯s blood. The blood spilled from his attack turned to solid ice, piercing his heart once more. The village chief narrowed his eyes at Jackal, who had a stream of blood running down his eye. Jackal stared at him as he gasped. ¡°I¡­ I have lived my whole life for the revival of our people¡­ If the minorities can reclaim noble honor and freedom, I was prepared to sacrifice my life willingly¡­.¡± Upon discovering the secret of the minorities and the Rose Family, the village chief was initially shocked, isolating himself in his house for several days. The revelation of his noble position in the empire, rather than being regarded as the lowest class and a foreigner, filled him with both dread and fury. The fire spirit, symbolizing the Eshe Clan, had bestowed its power upon him. From that moment onward, he fought relentlessly, consumed by the fall of the Imperial Family. All for the prosperity and freedom of the minorities¡­¡­. However, in his pursuit of power, he failed to see that it would become his own prison and hell. ¡°Death does not scare me¡­ But you, as the successor of the Kelpie Clan¡­ You will surely pay the price for choosing the wrong king¡­ You will¡­¡± Jackal gazed at him intently, offering his response. ¡°As you can see, you are paying that price now. And you seem to be mistaken. My king is not those two big-headed flowers over there. It¡¯s Asha.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡­¡± The village chief smiled slightly, then his eyes closed. Jackal watched his final moments unfold, witnessing his last breath escape. Despite once being the most respected elder in the village, the lifeless body of the village chief appeared pitiful, resembling nothing more than a withered branch. The desire and passion to revive minorities had consumed him to the point of devouring himself. Maybe he was another victim too¡­.. However, soon after, the Fire Spirit revealed itself, emerging from the chief¡¯s chest in the form of a fox wreathed in flames. Jackal looked at the Fire Spirit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for everything. Let¡¯s reconcile now.¡± Among all the spirits, the Fire Spirit held the most pride. Yet, upon witnessing Jackal¡¯s gesture of apology and reconciliation, the fiery fox simply blinked its eyes before making its way towards Karaf. It seemed to have accepted the offer of reconciliation. Jackal followed the spirit¡¯s lead, swiftly running towards Asha¡¯s location. Although the village chief, who had made a contract with the Fire Spirit, had died, it seemed that they would be able to defeat the blooming Dart if all the spirits fought together. Asha, displaying unwavering determination, continued to aim arrows at Dart, refusing to give up. However, the wasp intercepted her arrows without fail. ¡°No matter how many times you try, it¡¯s useless.¡± The wasp sent numerous poisonous stingers flying towards Asha. Instinctively, she raised her arm to protect herself, but a stinger managed to break through the wind¡¯s defenses and pierce close to her chest. Asha¡¯s eyes widened as her face paled. ¡°Asha¡­¡­!¡± Jackal screamed and frantically ran towards her. He held her in her arms as if he had lost his mind. CH 117 Asha clung to him, gasping for breath, but at that moment, she sensed something peculiar. Her eyes widened as she glanced down at her chest. A gentle blue light emanated from within, enveloping her in a protective aura. Unbuttoning her clothes, she discovered that the blue crystal necklace gifted by Jackal was radiating a luminous glow. Even a single sting from an ordinary wasp could prove fatal, but the collar seemed to prevent the spread of the venom. Jackal slowly removed the poisonous sting from Asha¡¯s chest. Suddenly, he remembered when Asha had pulled an arrow out of his side, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. As soon as the venomous stinger was removed, the wound miraculously healed in an instant. ¡®This necklace will protect you.¡¯ Asha was deeply moved by the protective power of Jackal¡¯s necklace. The two hugged each other in their disheveled state. Asha noticed numerous scars and burns on Jackal¡¯s body and her eyes widened. ¡°Jackal, are you alright?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. But we have to deal with that damn wasp as soon as possible.¡± Clutching the poisonous stinger in his hand, Jackal looked at the wasp that was hovering in the sky. * * * * * At that moment, Karaf was trapped in a thorny bush, caught between the realms of life and death. Amid the chaos, the voices of Asha, Dart, the monsters¡¯ screams, and Duran¡¯s and the knights¡¯ shouts echoed in his ears, blurring the lines between dreams and reality. When he opened his eyes, he discovered himself in an unfamiliar place. The cracked ground looked like a drought-stricken landscape, full of withered flowers. The sky was cloudy, and a freezing wind blew menacingly like a typhoon. ¡®Where am I¡­?¡¯ While Karaf was alone on a cliff, someone spoke to him from behind. [¡­¡­.You¡¯ve finally arrived.] When he turned around, Karaf saw a man with unbound turquoise hair, dressed in an ivory-colored robe. It was God Etzheim. Although they had never met before, Karaf immediately recognized him, his eyes widening in astonishment. Trembling, Karaf managed to muster a question. ¡°Where is this place?¡± [This is the inner world of the Etzheim Empire.] Karaf muttered the words ¡®inner world¡¯ as he looked at the desolate surroundings once more. Suddenly, when he realized something, he asked with a miserable face. ¡°Did I¡­ create all of this?¡± God remained silent. His silence served as a clear answer, and Karaf felt a surge of intense emotion rise inside him. Unable to bear the pain, he sought refuge from reality, escaping to this place. However, the place where he was standing was no different from reality. No, it seemed even closer to the depths of hell. Could it be that I led to everyone¡¯s death¡­? Karaf¡¯s voice choked as he spoke. ¡°I never¡­ I never intended for the empire to be built like this¡­.¡± God responded calmly. [I know.] Karaf, with bloodshot eyes fixed on God, asked. ¡°If I die, will the empire be able to find peace again?¡± [You¡¯re trying to escape again.] God abruptly opened his eyes, and reproached Karaf, causing him to flinch. [Then who will take responsibility for your death?] Karaf did not understand for a moment what that meant. But soon, thoughts of Asha, Duran, and countless others left behind in the real world flooded his mind. [Now, you don¡¯t have long to live. But you as the flower of the empire, the power you possess can save yourself or you can save others. You must make a choice here.] Suddenly, Karaf recalled Asha¡¯s words from the past. ¡®Your Majesty, it seems this place is another cliff for me.¡¯ Before he knew it, he was standing on a cliff too. Karaf lowered his head with a troubled expression, and then his eyes widened as he noticed something on the ground. Right next to where he was standing, there was a camellia flower that had not yet bloomed. At the sight of it, Karaf¡¯s face crumpled. Asha remained by his side until the very end on this cliff. The camellia flower was followed by a dandelion symbolizing Duran, a hyacinth symbolizing Jackal, a lilac symbolizing the Chamberlain, a cherry blossom symbolizing Duke Sihan, a carnation symbolizing Sonya, and many other flowers. They were standing in a single line as if they were holding a rope to prevent him from falling off the cliff. Unbeknownst to him, tears streamed down Karaf¡¯s face. He was no longer alone¡­.. Karaf collapsed before God, fell to his knees, and then prostrated himself. ¡°I¡¯ve been in the wrong¡­ Please, take my life and save Vanessa. Please, save all the people who followed me¡­.¡± God Etzheim looked at Karaf in surprise. The black rose he had known until now had been authoritarian, selfish, and indifferent to the lives of others. But now, Karaf had cast aside his pride and was sincerely pleading for forgiveness, his desperation etched on his face. Karaf couldn¡¯t bear to witness Asha wither away because of his actions and be abandoned once again. In this life, he yearned for her to blossom beautifully. He couldn¡¯t simply abandon her¡­ She was so beautiful. Witnessing Karaf¡¯s heartfelt tears, God finally spoke. [I understand. I will transfer the essence of your life to her¡­] After God finished speaking, his form slowly disappeared. At the same time, Karaf looked in resignation at the thorny bushes that stretched from his chest to his entire body. If he could save Asha, enduring this level of pain one last time was acceptable. Karaf closed his eyes and slowly accepted his own death¡­.. * * * * * At the time, Asha was engaged in a fierce battle against Dart with Gabe and Jackal by her side. As Gabe picked up a sharp stone from the ground, Asha used the power of the wind to hurl it toward Dart like an arrow. Jackal also created icy arrows and attempted to attack alongside Asha. But each time, their attacks were blocked by the monsters. To land a single blow, they had to defeat many monsters, so they consumed a lot of physical strength. Exhausted from fighting the monsters, Asha momentarily lost her strength and sank to the ground. ¡°¡­¡­ Asha!¡± Jackal rushed to her side, gripping her shoulder firmly. Dart spoke in a cold, taunting tone. ¡°It¡¯s useless. No matter how hard you fight, Karaf will soon die. If you swear allegiance to me, I won¡¯t kill you all in vain.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Gabe created a dagger made of ore that was hidden underground and pointed the tip at Dart. But then, an unexpected surge of power coursed through Asha¡¯s body, causing her eyes to widen. Instinctively sensing Karaf¡¯s energy, her eyes flickered. She could feel him giving her strength, even though she was trapped in the thorny bush, unable to move. Asha calmly picked up an arrow from the ground for the last time and placed it on her bow. Dart sneered at her. ¡°Still not giving up? I¡¯ve told you, it¡¯s useless no matter how many times.¡± Around her were countless arrows broken and stuck into the ground. All of them shattered before they could reach him. Asha brushed off her torn skirt and stood tall. Her purple eyes shone with determination through her sweat-dampened golden hair. ¡°No, this time will be different.¡± With one final arrow, Asha took aim at Dart. Harnessing the combined power of the flower, the necklace gifted by Jackal, and her own command over the wind, a tremendous whirlwind encircled them. The wind grew stronger the closer it got to Dart. The scene unfolded like a tale from a forgotten folklore, where the spirit of the wind carried a flower seed. The wasp was hovering in the air but was unable to escape from Asha¡¯s attack. Dart¡¯s eyes widened. In an instant, the swirling wind formed a colossal hand that grabbed the wasp, while Asha¡¯s arrow pierced Dart¡¯s right shoulder. Dart fell to the ground. The wasp desperately struggled, attempting to fly back to Dart, but at that moment, the fire spirit emerged from the ground, engulfing the creature in blazing flames. All the spirits fought as one. With a harrowing scream, the wasp disintegrated into ashes. Asha, momentarily dazed, quickly regained her senses and hurriedly made her way toward the massive thorny bush. ¡°Karaf¡­¡­!¡± Within the thorny bush, covered in several layers of thick thorns, Karaf¡¯s pale face appeared. There were drops of blood on his pale face, which seemed to have drained all the blood. He appeared to be badly injured. But the thorny bush was growing even larger, threatening to swallow his face whole. Asha was taken aback, yet she extended her hand towards him. In an instant, the thorns sprouted and hurt her hand, but seeing Karaf¡¯s face about to be swallowed whole by the thorny bush, Asha did not dare to withdraw her hand. As Asha was wounded by the thorns and blood trickling from her, she persisted in reaching out to him. ¡°Asha¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­¡­!¡± Jackal, Duran, and others cried out in surprise at the sight, but Asha frowned in pain and made an even greater effort to move closer to Karaf. She felt that if she gave up on him, there would be no one able to really stop his rampage. Asha¡¯s clothes were pierced here and there and her hair was also cut by the sharp thorns coming out of Karaf. But as she extended her other hand towards him, something extraordinary unfolded. A radiant white light emanated from her ring finger, connecting with a mysterious presence within the thorn bush. Asha gazed at her hand, her eyes widening in awe. Adorning her ring finger was the black diamond ring that Karaf had given her during the Flowering Ceremony. And where the luminosity of the ring converged¡­ there hung the suncatcher she had given him. Their heartfelt gift exchanges allowed them to touch each other. As the thorny bush quivered in the white light, Asha was finally able to reach Karaf¡¯s face. Asha¡¯s warm warmth touched her cold, pale face. Radiant golden light streamed through the cracks in the bush, reducing the thorns to ashes in an instant. Having regained her composure, Asha took Karaf into her arms, who was lying motionless on the ground. However, at that moment, Asha¡¯s eyes widened as she noticed something on his chest. In no time, the curse mark that was on his chest had disappeared, and a healthy green glow swirled as if a new bud was blooming. As the five spirits united in heart, it seemed that Karaf¡¯s curse had finally been broken. The people who approached Asha were speechless and amazed at the sight. Asha, wearing a dazed expression, placed her hand on his chest. In that very instant, akin to a blossoming flower, the green hue transformed into a delicate shade of pink, enveloping Karaf¡¯s body. Duran muttered absentmindedly as he witnessed the scene. ¡°A true blossoming¡­.¡± Then, Karaf opened his eyes. CH 118 ¡°Your Majesty, are you awake?¡± When Asha asked, he opened his mouth. ¡°Asha¡­¡­.¡± Karaf looked at her face with a weak gaze as he spoke weakly. ¡°Can I¡­ can I truly become a good emperor?¡± Asha observed hesitation, earnestness, and guilt in his eyes, causing her to fall silent momentarily. But then, she smiled softly at him and spoke. ¡°Your Majesty, you are already a good emperor.¡± Upon hearing those words, Karaf¡¯s face softened a bit, then he looked around. The aftermath of the battle had everyone in a mess. Noticing Duran standing a little apart, Karaf called out to him. ¡°Duran.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Duran hurried over to him. He was a loyal subject who never left his side and protected him¡­.. Karaf said while looking at him affectionately. ¡°I have some instructions for you.¡± Motioning for Duran to come closer, he moved closer, leaning in to listen. Karaf raised his hand to make sure only Duran could hear and whispered something. Duran remained silent for a moment, then bowed his head. ¡°I will carry out your command, Your Majesty.¡± Karaf¡¯s expression grew serious and resolute as he surveyed the desolate surroundings. Then he turned his head and looked at Asha again. His gaze scanned her face meticulously as if trying to engrave it in his mind. Asha suddenly became uneasy by his behavior. He looked like a man who was about to embark on a long journey. ¡°Asha Camelia.¡± Karaf finally called her name. ¡°I shall grant you freedom.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened when she looked up at him. ¡°You made me blossom, just as you promised, and now it is my turn to repay you. Henceforth, I intend to employ my power for the betterment of the empire. I no longer wish to remain a shameful tyrant. But to be honest, I¡¯m a little worried. Will I be able to awaken again¡­?¡± Asha looked at him slightly surprised. Suddenly, a memory flashed through her mind, the story of how he saved Duran. During that time, Karaf lay in bed, unable to wake up for several months. Just as he had said, if he were to lose consciousness again while using great power, no one would be able to tell when he would wake up. But Karaf had already made up his mind. He had no intention of repeating the terrible acts that his father had done to his mother. He intended to reunite her with the one she loved. ¡°When I awaken¡­ will you come to visit me again?¡± Asha felt tears welling up in response to his cautious question. However, she soon smiled with teary eyes. ¡°Of course, Your Majesty. It¡¯s natural to visit a beautiful flower that has bloomed.¡± Karaf, too, smiled upon hearing those words. ¡°Yes¡­ Come and steal the honey from this beautiful flower. I shall prepare an abundance of honey and await your arrival.¡± Finally, Karaf turned to face Jackal. ¡°¡­¡­You blockhead. Take Asha with you. This time, I will forego the opportunity to accompany her. Make her happy.¡± Jackal remained silent for a moment. It signified that he entrusted Asha entirely to Jackal¡¯s care, placing full trust in him. ¡°¡­¡­ Alright. Understood.¡± Karaf stared into Asha¡¯s eyes as if conveying his last goodbye. Asha reciprocated his gaze. ¡°You must return safely. Many people are eagerly awaiting your return, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes. I have only lingered briefly in that enchanting flower garden¡­¡± Upon hearing those words, Asha realized that Karaf had also encountered God Etzheim. Soon, Karaf began channeling power into one hand, emanating an entirely different energy. The fragrance of roses permeated the air uncontrollably, and a vibrant life force expanded infinitely. Instinctively, like a blooming flower, Karaf wielded his power, without needing anyone to teach him. As he reached his hand towards the sky, a pure white light spread across the world, bestowing blessings upon it. That white light permeated the earth, the forests, and the seas like falling snowflakes. As if the cold grip of winter had been lifted, spring arrived, and the illuminated land sprouted with seedlings, blooming flowers that bore fruit. The ¡®harvest season¡¯ had come. The citizens of the Empire looked up at the fantastic and marvelous sight from where they were standing. However, Karaf¡¯s body began to convulse, a consequence of exerting an excessive amount of power. Asha held him tightly, and Jackal also supported his trembling arms with added strength. Observing the scene, Gabe quickly walked over and held his legs. Lastly, the fire spirit approached and transmitted warm energy to him. As the spirits¡¯ power intensified, the flower¡¯s power within Karaf surged even stronger. A whirlwind of light materialized around the four individuals, growing in intensity and expanding with explosive force. Amid the dazzling light, everyone temporarily lost their vision, finding themselves enveloped in a pure white world. As the light gradually faded away, people cautiously opened their eyes. However, they widened in astonishment at the transformed scenery that now surrounded them. The once-battlefield now bloomed with vibrant flowers and lush grass, while the sky stretched out a clear, intensely blue, not a cloud in sight. It was a magnificent and potent ¡°purification¡± that surpassed the abilities of any priest. Even the wounds inflicted during the battle had been completely healed. Asha cried out upon discovering Karaf lying unconscious on the ground. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Even when she smacked him across the face with the palm of her hand, he remained unconscious, refusing to wake up. Duran silently paid his respect and took care of Karaf. Tears of gratitude welled up in his eyes. Karaf¡¯s departure brilliantly adorned the final phase of the pilgrimage¡­.. * * * * * The extraordinary events of that day were the talk of the town, constantly on the lips of the citizens. The news of Karaf¡¯s blossoming and his bestowed blessings upon the empire, followed by his subsequent slumber, moved the hearts of many. Tears were shed by those who listened to the story. In particular, the villagers who had witnessed Karaf¡¯s pilgrimage spoke with even greater enthusiasm about his noble character. As stories of Karaf¡¯s troubled childhood and past spread, topics that were almost considered taboo within the Imperial Palace, the number of people who sympathized with and admired him grew exponentially, along with those who envied him. The mythical scene of Karaf¡¯s blossoming and achievements became more and more exaggerated, akin to a legend, perpetuated through the hands of countless artists. Asha¡¯s heart swelled with emotion. Although no one knew when Karaf would awaken, it seemed that this fervor would not diminish until he did. Asha remained in the palace with Jackal, taking care of administrative matters in Karaf¡¯s absence. As she sat at Karaf¡¯s desk, poring over the papers, Jackal observed her with a slightly curious gaze. Her focused expression, serious demeanor, and graceful handling of the quill pen suited her impeccably, exuding an air of dignity and elegance. Jackal couldn¡¯t help but think that if Asha had been born with a flower spirit, she would have made an exceptional and wonderful emperor. Lost in her concentration on the documents, Asha suddenly sneezed as a chilly breeze slipped in through the open window. It was autumn in full swing now. At that moment, a coat was draped over her shoulders. Asha looked up to find Jackal standing there, removing his own coat and placing it around her. ¡°You¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you¡­ I kept dozing off, so I opened the window¡­..¡± Jackal securely covered Asha¡¯s shoulders with his coat and offered her a cup. It was a teacup filled with fragrant floral tea. ¡°Drink it slowly while it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Asha expressed her gratitude, accepting the cup and taking a sip, only to cough it out. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it too hot?¡± Jackal, not knowing what to do, offered a handkerchief, and Asha smiled and asked with a slightly strange expression. ¡°Where did this tea come from?¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at her question. ¡°Why? Does it taste bad?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not quite sure how it tastes. It seems like a blend of various flowers¡­.¡± Hearing her words, Jackal confessed with a slightly defeated look. ¡°I don¡¯t actually know which flowers taste good¡­ I simply added different flowers that looked beautiful to me.¡± As Jackal had a pollen allergy, he had never consumed floral tea before and was unfamiliar with the concept of tea blending. Asha expressed her gratitude with a smile on her lips. ¡°Thank you for bringing me this floral tea.¡± In response, Jackal gazed at her with a mixture of gratitude and apology. ¡°If you teach me how to blend tea, I¡¯ll make it for you every day from now on.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Absolutely. I promise you.¡± Excited by his words, Asha took out a new sheet of paper and showed him which types of tea leaves matched each other with the written recommended ratio. Reading it, Jackal nodded solemnly and muttered. ¡°Between Rooibos Peppermint Tea and Lemon Balm Hibiscus Tea, which one do you prefer?¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m feeling a bit drowsy right now, so I¡¯m more inclined towards the latter.¡± ¡°Good. Hang on, I¡¯ll prepare it for you in a moment.¡± Determined, Jackal took the teapot and left the office. Catching a glimpse inside the kettle he held, Asha restrained her laughter. Countless petals were mixed together, resembling splashes of paint. Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart warmed by his thoughtfulness. While awaiting Jackal¡¯s return, Asha leaned back comfortably in her chair and did some stretching. And then, it happened. ¡°Lady Vanessa, the High Priest is currently in the audience room.¡± ¡°The High Priest?¡± Asha¡¯s surprise was evident as she turned to the chamberlain. After the final battle, Dart had been imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the palace, receiving treatment for his wounds. Asha had chosen not to kill him, but instead saved him when he was unconscious and bleeding. If the High Priest had come to the palace in person, it was undoubtedly to discuss something related to him. Asha made up her mind and went to the audience room. However, as soon as she opened the door, she was taken aback and froze. The High Priest was there as if he had been waiting, kneeling on the floor with his head bowed deeply. ¡°Please rise, High Priest.¡± ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­ Please punish this unworthy father¡­ I have raised my son improperly¡­¡­¡± The High Priest spoke with a pained expression on his face. His hot tears ran down his face to the ground. It was evident that he had been greatly shaken upon learning of Dart¡¯s misdeeds, as his face appeared even more worn and haggard compared to their last encounter. Asha quickly tried to help him up, but the High Priest remained in his bowed position, his voice filled with deep remorse. ¡°I am aware that I am unworthy of my position as the High Priest representing the Lotus Temple, but I implore you shamelessly. Please, Lady Vanessa, save my wretched son¡­¡­¡± His tear-filled eyes were no longer able to remain open, and he let out a heart-wrenching cry. Asha looked at him with a heavy, broken heart. At that moment, he was not the High Priest but a pitiful father whose son had committed a grave act of treason. CH 119 Jackal, who had learned late that Asha had gone to the audience room, also followed them with a teapot in hand and watched them from the doorway. Dart committed an unforgivable act of treason. For the time being, since Karaf was asleep, they had kept Dart alive and imprisoned him, although it was unlikely he would leave the prison alive. His pursuit of the throne had endangered the empire, so it seemed fitting that he would meet his end in the square. However, Asha knew that it was Karaf¡¯s prerogative to deal with Dart, so she refrained from making rash decisions. ¡°For now, please calm down and have a cup of tea.¡± As Asha looked towards the door, Jackal hurried back with the tea. After taking a sip, Asha smiled and remarked. ¡°This one is really delicious.¡± Jackal¡¯s face brightened up. The High Priest also picked up a cup of tea with trembling hands, but his haggard face did not easily relax. Asha spoke to him and kept him company until he calmed down, then she sent him away. The High Priest left with little strength, yet even after his departure, Asha remained seated on the sofa, lost in deep thought for a while. But then, at that moment. ¡°¡­¡­ Lady Vanessa, I entrust his fate to you.¡± Asha¡¯s surprise was evident as she looked at the door. Standing there was Duran, who spoke with a serious tone. ¡°Lady Vanessa is the Empire¡¯s butterfly. I believe only you can determine the fate of the flowers.¡± ¡°But His Majesty might oppose my decision¡­¡­¡± ¡°His Majesty will respect any decision you make.¡± Duran replied without hesitation. Asha fell silent for a moment before expressing her own thoughts. ¡°I want to meet him face to face.¡± Accompanied by Duran, Asha made her way to the underground dungeon where Jackal had been held before. At the end of the dark and damp corridor, it was Dart who was now imprisoned. He sat weakly against the wall, his body wrapped tightly in bandages, and shackles bound his arms and legs. His hair was disheveled, but amid the darkness, his silver hair did not lose its shine and gave off a strange glow. Asha approached him, making no attempt to conceal her presence. As her footsteps echoed, he turned his head slightly to look in her direction. Asha stood before the iron bars, meeting his gray eyes. He no longer hid his true form, allowing his hostility and rebellion to be fully visible as he stared back at her. ¡°Dart Chrysanthemum.¡± When Asha called out his true name in a majestic voice, Dart responded with a mocking smile on his lips. ¡°Have you come to kill me, Vanessa?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then are you here to witness my pathetic state? Did you want to feel the joy of seeing what a traitor is going through?¡± Asha calmly responded to his deliberate provocation. ¡°No. I came to see that the one and only chrysanthemum of the empire is doing well.¡± Dart¡¯s rebellious gaze wavered slightly. After a while, he asked in a low voice. ¡°¡­¡­Why did you spare my life?¡± ¡°A long time ago, God Etzheim said the same to me. To care for and cherish all flowers without discrimination. That was the oracle I received.¡± Dart¡¯s expression revealed disbelief. Asha recalled the words that God had spoken to her in the past. [Sometimes there are flowers that break everyone¡¯s expectations and show surprising appearances. For example, a flower can bloom alone between the cracks in the marble, although no one believed that it could bloom.] Asha believed that Dart was that flower. Asha said softly. ¡°I will follow the will of God, Priest Dart.¡± Asha reached out a hand towards him. Extending her hand towards him, as soon as their hands touched, both of them were transported to God Etzheim¡¯s flower garden. Dart¡¯s eyes widened. It was the first time for him that he visits this place, but soon his expression turned sorrowful as he noticed something. Amid the cracks on a marble slab in front of him, a white chrysanthemum resembling him bloomed. However, the flower was infested with spider mites, mealybugs, and various aphids, and was rotting. Dart looked down as he instinctively recognized that the flower represented him. It was the sole remaining chrysanthemum in this garden, a flower that blossomed where it should not have. He reached out to pluck the dying flower with his own hand, yearning to cease to exist in this world. But then, from behind him, Asha¡¯s hand emerged and gently caressed the flower. As her touch made contact, astonishingly, the white chrysanthemum instantly regained vibrancy and began to bloom beautifully. Dart watched in awe, his eyes trembling, then slowly turned to face Asha. Asha met his gaze calmly and stated. ¡°The High Priest came to see me earlier.¡± Dart¡¯s face immediately darkened, filled with sorrow. ¡°Even though you committed a crime, the High Priest still considers you his son. He asked me to save you and apologized on your behalf with tears in his eyes.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Dart didn¡¯t answer, but his eyes were red, he looked like he was going to burst into tears at any moment. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a home and a family you want to protect? Will you give up so easily on those precious people who extend their hands to help you?¡± Dart envisioned the temple where he had grown up and the gentle smile of the High Priest. Asha pressed on further. ¡°Is power more important to you than all those things?¡± He looked down. ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s not like that.¡± Asha¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°I hope you will serve the Empire in the temple, dedicating your life to repentance. That¡¯s why I saved you, and it is the judgment I bestow upon you. Your surname, ¡®Chrysanthemum,¡¯ will be revived. If your father is guilty of anything, it is only for loving a butterfly. And that is by no means a sin.¡± Asha finished speaking and began to walk away. But then, at that moment. ¡°¡­¡­ Why?¡± Asha stopped walking. ¡°Why me¡­¡­?¡± Dart¡¯s face showed real bewilderment as he looked down at his trembling hands. Although his words trailed off, Asha understood what he meant and responded calmly. ¡°Just as I was given a chance to live again, I believe you deserve a second chance at life as well. Everyone I have known has changed after receiving a second chance. I believe you can change too.¡± ¡°What are you talking about¡­?¡± Dart asked, his eyes widened in astonishment. Asha responded with a slightly mischievous smile. ¡°Ah, I haven¡¯t told you yet. My true ability is not prophecy, but regression. I came back from the past to make amends.¡± Dart could only stammer, unable to find the words to express his disbelief. ¡°Darkness allows the light to shine even brighter. I believe that darkness is necessary too. Just as plants require photosynthesis to grow, they also need time to rest.¡± As Asha finished speaking, she looked somewhere. Her gaze fell on a cliff where Karaf¡¯s flower was blooming. There, the once bud-like black rose had grown into an enormous and beautiful blossom, radiating splendor. It was a breathtaking sight that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine just by looking at it. However, Asha noticed something and stifled a laugh. Resting on top of the black roses, not as a boy but as a grown-up Karaf, lay comfortably on his side, sound asleep. It seemed he had fallen asleep after exerting all his strength to bloom the flowers. For some reason, his appearance was cute, like a little fairy. Asha contemplated approaching him for a closer look but decided to let him continue his peaceful sleep. The two of them snapped back to reality as if they were sucked into a black hole. Now that Asha had conveyed everything she wished to say, she began walking down the dark corridor once again. Dart hurriedly approached the iron bars, watching her retreating figure, but he himself didn¡¯t know what to say, only able to gaze silently at her. Asha¡¯s blonde hair glowed in the dark as if a halo was shining behind her. Dart couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her back until she was gone. Tears welled up in his eyes. Suddenly, Dart noticed a dim white light emanating from his hands as he gripped the iron bars. Absentmindedly, he lifted his hand and touched his injured arm, and to his astonishment, the wound had completely healed. This was his true power, the power he had possessed all along. Dart¡¯s eyes widened in realization. The ability he had always believed in, the ¡®ability to control monsters¡¯, was nothing but a facade, a counterfeit power born from his inner desires, borrowed from the monsters who craved the blossoming of flowers. Gazing at the gentle silver-white light softly illuminating the confines of his enclosure, Dart made a firm decision. Instead of returning to the temple, he resolved to wander the world, utilizing his power for the greater good in unseen places. Even if he embarked on a pilgrimage to heal the afflicted, it could never fully erase the sins he had committed. However, he still yearned to wield the power bestowed upon him by the butterfly, to use it for good. He no longer wanted to remain as the shameful son who could no longer face his father, the one who had raised him. Like the lotus flower that blooms amid the mud, he would cultivate his own flower, blossoming as both a lotus and a chrysanthemum. * * * * * Asha diligently attended to various tasks concerning the restoration of the temple and the villages damaged by monsters. Working alongside Jackal day and night, they made significant progress on urgent matters. Late at night, Jackal sneaked up on Asha silently as she sat at her desk. He put his hand on her shoulder and asked quietly. ¡°Do you still have more to do?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m almost done.¡± Asha replied, setting aside the final document she had just stamped. Assuming the workload was finally coming to an end, she stretched her arms and let out a yawn. However, at that moment, Jackal began massaging her shoulders. ¡°What are you doing, Jackal?¡± ¡°Just stay still. I¡¯ll help you relax.¡± With his large hands, he massages her tight shoulders, neck, and arms. Having personally treated the members of Lycaon, Jackal possessed a knack for massage as well. Feeling the comforting warmth of his hands, Asha involuntarily closed her eyes, surrendering to the soothing sensations. His hands were quite warm and it felt like she was getting a real hot stone massage. ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better now. You must be tired too.¡± As Asha turned her body to face him and looked at him, Jackal leaned closer, bringing his face closer to hers. ¡°I can go for four days without sleep.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Really¡­¡­ ?¡± ¡°Yeah. Underestimating the stamina of a wild horse is a big mistake.¡± Somehow his words sounded odd to her. Unbeknownst to Asha, she gulped nervously. An unusual tension filled the air as their faces came closer, their eyes resting momentarily on each other¡¯s lips. CH 120 At that moment, as their lips were slowly drawing closer, the study room was interrupted by an unexpected visitor. ¡°I have handled the rebellion of the nobles¡­. My apologies for intruding while you¡¯re occupied.¡± As Sihan said with a mischievous smile, Asha and Jackal, who had been very close, quickly parted ways, surprised by the interruption. Sihan playfully inquired, a smile playing on his lips. ¡°Should I return later?¡± ¡°No, no. Please proceed with your report.¡± Asha hastily replied, shaking her head as she accepted the report from him. Jackal let out a quiet sigh, ensuring he went unnoticed, and left the room to avoid disturbing their work. However, he accidentally bumped into Duran, who was standing by the door. As Jackal glanced at him, Duran spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What are you apologizing for?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Duran didn¡¯t seem ashamed to express it for some reason, but he was sorry for allowing Asha to continue handling His Majesty¡¯s affairs, thus taking away their time together. It wasn¡¯t until dawn that Asha finally completed everything. Watching the sunrise through the window, Asha decided to pay a visit to the sleeping Karaf, despite her busy schedule. No matter how occupied she was, she always found time to tend to Karaf and ensure his well-being. Adorned in a robe of pristine white silk, Karaf lay there, his face peaceful and serene like a saint¡¯s, bathed in the warm sunlight. Somehow, it seemed like his and Dart¡¯s appearance had been reversed. Asha gently wiped his face with a towel and stroked his head. Perhaps due to his poor health, his dark hair felt stiff as grass. ¡°¡­¡­ Lady Vanessa.¡± Asha turned to the voice that came from the door. Duran, who had been standing there for some time, came closer to her. ¡°I will take care of His Majesty. Lady Vanessa can now leave this place with the leader of Lycaon.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Duran responded calmly. ¡°This is His Majesty¡¯s final command.¡± Asha¡¯s mouth dropped open in disbelief. ¡°His Majesty instructed me that upon returning to the palace, I should first proceed to the study and examine the butterfly specimen on the shelf. There, I would find an attached document and a letter.¡± Asha was listening with trembling eyes. He smiled sadly. ¡°His Majesty asked me to let you go, so you can find happiness with the leader of Lycaon.¡± Duran handed the document to Asha. As she opened the paper and read its contents, Asha stood in silence for a moment. The document turned out to be a ¡®land deed¡¯. Duran smiled gently. ¡°There was a time when His Majesty noticed your indifference towards jewelry and dresses. He asked me sincerely if you liked more lands.¡± Asha couldn¡¯t help but burst into a small laugh at the absurdity of it all. ¡°His Majesty genuinely wanted to gift you with some land. He hopes that you will live happily with all the minority groups in that land. It¡¯s not only His Majesty¡¯s will but also my heartfelt wish. Thank you for your hard work.¡± Duran finished speaking and placed one hand over his chest, bowing respectfully. Asha was so overwhelmed that she couldn¡¯t say anything. Although Karaf was sleeping, he was smiling. It became evident that he had been preparing to let her go long before this turn of events. He, who had once suffered from loneliness and torment, was now blossoming like a beautiful flower, standing tall in his own right. Witnessing his growth and maturity, Asha felt deeply moved. Then Duran added. ¡°Also¡­ His Majesty said it was a secret, but I wanted to tell you. It should remain a secret even from His Majesty himself.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Asha asked, her eyes fixed on him. Duran scratched his ear, appearing slightly embarrassed. ¡°This happened on the day of the last festival when His Majesty and Lady Vanessa threw a lantern into the river, while I was escorting His Majesty back to the palace, I couldn¡¯t resist asking him what he had written in the wish paper.¡± Asha¡¯s face lit up with curiosity as she recalled that moment. Unlike her, Karaf had written a short wish on the paper without hesitation. Noticing Asha¡¯s curious gaze, Duran continued. ¡°His Majesty smiled gently and replied that he wrote -Please, let Asha be happy.-¡± Upon hearing those words, an indescribable wave of emotion washed over Asha¡¯s heart. She had thought he would write something about not leaving his side on the wish paper. Yet, Karaf¡¯s sole wish had been for her happiness. He really had changed a lot from the past. ¡°I will protect His Majesty, so Lady Vanessa, please don¡¯t worry. It is best if you return now. His Majesty wouldn¡¯t want to reveal his vulnerable side to you. He has a deep fear of appearing weak.¡± Asha laughed at his words, but deep down in her heart she felt a bit of bitterness because she knew better than anyone what led him to make such a decision. ¡°When His Majesty wakes up, you must contact me first.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± Asha gazed at Duran for a moment, then bid him farewell. ¡°Thank you so much. Please take good care of His Majesty.¡± Duran responded with a subtle smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Before leaving the palace, Asha returned to her room to gather her belongings and say her goodbyes to the people she had grown close to. Ella and Sonya were already in tears upon hearing the news of her departure from the Imperial Palace. With red eyes, Sonya looked at Asha and took her hand. ¡°I am very happy that you and boss are in love..¡­¡± Even though the title still made her cough, Asha was deeply moved to see Sonya so genuinely joyful, as if it were her own personal affair. ¡°Thank you, Sonya.¡± ¡°Lady Vanessa, may I make one final request?¡± ¡°Of course. I will listen to all your requests.¡± With a heartfelt expression, Sonya continued. ¡°Please take me with you. My job is not merely to clean the palace; it¡¯s to serve you. I am Lady Vanessa¡¯s number one maid.¡± Sonya looked like she was about to burst into tears again. Seeing Sonya¡¯s resolute expression, Asha felt her own tears welling up, and she paused for a moment before asking. ¡°But Sonya, working here would be better for you. There is no other place with better benefits and welfare than the Imperial Palace.¡± ¡°No, the Imperial Palace without Lady Vanessa holds no meaning for me.¡± Asha hesitated for a moment before asking. ¡°¡­¡­Do you really want to come with me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°You might regret it.¡± ¡°That will not happen! I have never regretted any of my choices.¡± Those words touched Asha deeply. Also, Sonya¡¯s past self sacrificed her life for her, she probably didn¡¯t regret it¡­.. She had to repay her without fail. Just as she had promised during the festival, it was her duty to take full responsibility for her. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go together. It will be a freer life than at the Imperial Palace.¡± Sonya let out a scream of joy resembling the sound of a dolphin, jumping up and down in place. ¡°I¡¯m so happy! I¡¯ll quickly pack my things, so please wait for me!¡± Sonya hurriedly ran to her quarters. Asha was also happy that she could continue to be with Sonya. Meanwhile, Ella approached cautiously. ¡°Lady Vanessa, even though I can¡¯t accompany you, please take care of yourself and stay healthy. It was a true honor to be in charge of your dresses.¡± Ella said, elegantly bowing while holding the edge of her dress. The memory of their first meeting in that room overlapped in Asha¡¯s mind, filling her with nostalgia. ¡°It was an honor for me to wear your beautiful dresses, Ella.¡± ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­..¡± Ella¡¯s eyes filled with tears, and she spoke with determination. ¡°Just as Sonya will continue to be Vanessa¡¯s exclusive maid, I will forever be Vanessa¡¯s exclusive dress designer. While you are away, I will constantly create dresses and send them to you.¡± Having a career as Vanessa¡¯s exclusive dress designer, Ella would undoubtedly find great success with her own business when she returned to her territory. Orders were already pouring in from nobles who had heard rumors or witnessed Asha¡¯s exquisite gowns. During this time, Ella had declined all those proposals, as she was serving as Asha¡¯s lady-in-waiting. But now that she would go back to creating dresses, she would be so busy that one day would not be enough. ¡°It¡¯s alright if you don¡¯t.¡± Asha said, bewildered by Ella¡¯s request. However, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse when she saw the disappointment in Ella¡¯s eyes. Asha let out a slight sigh. ¡°¡­¡­ Alright, I understand. Just please make sure they aren¡¯t too extravagant or uncomfortable.¡± Ella¡¯s face instantly brightened. ¡°Just leave it to me!¡± With Ella¡¯s help, Asha began to pack her belongings. Initially, she had intended to pack modestly, much like when she first arrived at the palace. However, with the numerous items gifted by Karaf and the many things she wished to bring along, it became impossible for her to do so alone. Fortunately, the chamberlain took pride in his responsibility and assured Asha that he would take charge of packing and delivering everything. He was well aware of all the gifts that Karaf had given her. Asha bid farewell to the chamberlain and made her way to the prison to visit Nia, who had been detained. Currently, Count Delphinium was captured by Duran, leading the Cactus Knights. Nia, being the first to confess her crimes, was held in a relatively decent cell compared to the others. As Karaf was still asleep, Asha decided to postpone the decision regarding Nia¡¯s punishment and left her in prison for the time being. When Asha entered, Nia was startled and quickly lifted her head. Her face appeared gaunt and worn. ¡°Lady Vanessa¡­..¡± ¡°I apologize for being late, Nia.¡± Asha opened the iron bars and reached out to hold Nia¡¯s hand. ¡°His Majesty is asleep, so I came to release you myself.¡± Tears welled up in Nia¡¯s eyes. ¡°The Delphinium family has been stripped of its title, and its name can no longer be used in the Empire. However, due to Miss Nia¡¯s contribution in capturing the rebels, it has been decided not to punish you. You are now free to live a new life with a new last name.¡± Nia trembled, her expression blank, struggling to believe the turn of events. ¡°A new life¡­..¡± Asha understood the constraints Nia had faced throughout her life and looked at her with sympathetic eyes. She had always been like a flower unable to bloom fully, overshadowed by the shadow of Count Delphinium. ¡°I have found a beautiful flower that could be used as your new last name. Would you like to hear about it?¡± Nia asked, her eyes filled with anticipation. ¡°What is it? Any last name given to me by Lady Vanessa is fine.¡± Asha looked at her and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s Chamomile. The flower language of chamomile represents ¡®resilience in adversity.¡¯ I believe it suits you perfectly, Nia.¡± Upon hearing the chosen name, Nia couldn¡¯t hold back her emotions any longer and burst into tears. Chamomile is a flower that blooms in spring after being planted in the fall. It was known for its strength, capable of withstanding extreme winter temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. Asha comforted Nia, gently patting her shoulder as she buried her face in her hands, sobbing. CH 121 ¡°That¡¯s the only thing I can offer you given the limits of my position. But since autumn has just arrived, I hope you¡¯ll start preparing step by step from now on. Each flower has a different blooming time, and when that time comes, it blossoms with all its might. Now, we are both free.¡± Nia asked in surprise, raising her watery eyes. ¡°Is Lady Vanessa leaving the palace too?¡± Asha smiled. ¡°Yes, I want to spend some time away from the palace with the person I love. However, it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m abandoning my role as Vanessa.¡± Nia held Asha¡¯s hand and said. ¡°Wherever you are, I hope you find true happiness.¡± The two embraced tightly and exchanged farewell greetings. Having completed all the preparations, Asha returned to Jackal. He had arrived at the drawing-room first and was waiting for her. When he sensed Asha¡¯s presence keenly, he immediately jumped up. Perhaps the chamberlain had taken care of it, but Jackal had his hair neatly combed back and wore a nice black uniform. With a luxurious sword hanging from his waist, he truly looked like a hero. Asha paused for a moment, admiring his appearance. Sensing her awkwardness, Jackal scratched his head and asked. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Asha replied with a relieved expression. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jackal, trying to contain his excitement, linked arms with Asha and they walked out of the room together. Asha couldn¡¯t help but suppress a laugh as she noticed how he pressed her arms gently as if to protect her hands. Duran, who had been waiting outside the door, personally escorted the two of them to the entrance. As Duran looked at Asha, memories of the day they first met at a campsite in the woods flooded his mind, filling him with emotions. This time, unlike before, all the Cactus Knights came out to greet them in a remarkably polite and formal manner. Asha stood on the sides of the road, her eyes widening as she watched the knights escort them. Finally, Duran addressed both of them. ¡°Then, I wish you all the best.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Duran looked back slightly and shouted out loudly. ¡°Attention, salute to Lady Vanessa.¡± The knights greeted them at the same time as if they were one. Asha gazed at them with gratitude, then mounted her horse and headed toward their new home. * * * * * The land bestowed by Karaf was spacious and fertile, making it ideal for crop cultivation. Its proximity to a river gave the impression of safety, protecting it from potential bandit attacks. Now, the various ethnic minorities, including the Lycaons, lived together on this land. As Asha and Jackal arrived at the village, they were greeted by the minorities who had been waiting at the entrance. The villagers bowed on one knee, showing their respect to the new leaders. ¡°We greet the new leaders.¡± Both Asha and Jackal¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Rigel, the leader of the Nasson clan, addressed them, directing his gaze towards Jackal. ¡°Since Chief Horak has passed away, we need a new leader to represent the ethnic minorities. After discussions among the five clans, it has been decided that one of you will be chosen as the new chief.¡± Jackal and Asha looked at each other. Asha smiled and spoke up. ¡°Very well. Jackal, please stand tall as the village chief. As the heir of the Kelpie clan and a spirit contractor, you possess more than enough qualifications for this role.¡± Moreover, he was the one who stood against Chief Horak and put an end to his tyranny. Jackal had initially thought of giving the position to Asha, but he suddenly realized the weight of responsibility she already carried as the Butterfly of the Empire. He didn¡¯t want to burden her with the role of being the chief. ¡°¡­I understand. I will do my best to revive the ethnic minorities.¡± The villagers erupted in cheers at Jackal¡¯s response. Asha smiled and nodded in agreement. ¡°You will do great.¡± ¡°But as I said before, you will forever be my only king.¡± Then, Jackal gracefully bent one knee to Asha, lightly kissing the back of her hand. The sight of this romantic gesture made Sonya¡¯s face turn red, and she couldn¡¯t help but cover her cheeks with both hands, letting out a delighted squeal from behind. The surrounding minorities were also smiling and looking at them warmly. Jackal looked up at Asha and continued. ¡°It was you who united the minorities, brought prosperity to the empire, and granted freedom and new lands to our people. Now, it is time for us to set aside all burdens and embrace true freedom. That is my humble request.¡± Asha, deeply moved by his words, responded. ¡°Yes¡­ I will, without a doubt.¡± As the atmosphere softened, the Lycaons raised their hands and playfully shouted. ¡°Get married! Get married!¡± Asha blushed at their mischievous prank. Jackal hesitated for a moment before speaking again. ¡°I was planning to do it when we were alone later¡­ but I can¡¯t resist anymore.¡± He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ring case. Asha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Inside the case was a platinum ring adorned with a sapphire-like blue gemstone. The silver and blue colors symbolized the Kelpie Clan. ¡°¡­I said it before. When everything is safely over, I will propose to you properly.¡± Jackal said, his gaze unwavering as he looked into Asha¡¯s eyes. ¡°Will you marry me?¡± Both the Lycaons and the villagers cheered enthusiastically. Sonya, now even teary-eyed, patted the shoulder of someone next to her, letting out a heartfelt sniffle. Sosa, caught off guard by the sudden gesture, looked at her in astonishment, his face turning red with a blush. Asha responded, extending her trembling hand. ¡°Yes, I will.¡± The cheers grew even louder. Jackal, brimming with joy, gently slid the ring onto her finger. In the Kelpie Clan, it was a tradition to present this ring to their partner during a proposal. Sosa, with a mischievous smile, playfully remarked ¡°Isn¡¯t there another tradition?¡± Jackal glanced at Sosa briefly before looking back at Asha. Seeing her tilt her head in curiosity, he explained. ¡°In the Kelpie Clan, we also have a tradition of carrying our beloved partners on our backs from the village entrance to their new homes.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± Suddenly, memories from the past flashed through Asha¡¯s mind, causing her eyes to widen and her face to blush. She couldn¡¯t help but recall the times when Sheppy had carried her on his back, from the moment they first met to when she arrived in Lycaon. In reality, she had practically been his partner ever since¡­.. The realization dawned on her that her previous statement of falling in love with him, at first sight, had been a lie. That¡¯s why Jackal had worn such a bitter expression back then. She felt a pang of regret, realizing she had made a significant mistake. But Jackal pretended not to know. ¡°Do you prefer this appearance or Sheppy¡¯s?¡± Blushing, Asha replied. ¡°I like both¡­¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jackal¡¯s lips curled into a confident smile. Sosa looked at them with cold eyes, but he was smiling. Jackal briefly contemplated carrying Asha in a princess-style embrace, but instead, he transformed into Sheppy. Since Asha was not just a princess but a queen, it seemed more fitting for her to ride on a horse and return home in a grand manner. Sheppy turned to face Asha, his charismatic face exuding confidence and he playfully made a purr. Feeling both shy and familiar with being on his back, Asha climbed up. Jackal confidently led the way through the crowd, adopting a dignified and majestic appearance. The people on both sides were in awe of the transformation of a Kelpie they had never seen before, but soon they were showered with flowers and cheered enthusiastically. ¡°¡­Sister! We¡¯re here, over here!¡± When Asha looked around, she saw the orphans excitedly spreading flowers along the path they would pass, creating a beautiful path of flowers. When Asha caught sight of the children, her face bloomed like a radiant flower. They soon arrived at the newlyweds¡¯ house. The newly-built house of the newlyweds was huge and magnificent. Clearly, Karaf, considering Asha¡¯s position as Vanessa, had deemed the simple huts unsuitable for her. The house was filled with items sent from the Imperial Palace. As the smell of the palace wafted to their home, Jackal¡¯s expression turned a little uncomfortable. However, he decided not to get rid of those items as he wanted Asha to enjoy all the luxurious things without feeling uncomfortable. Asha looked around the spacious house, her eyes brimming with dreams. Sonya, who had followed her, eagerly inquired about how to decorate the house and where to place the items from the palace. Turning to Jackal with a bright and hopeful smile, Asha expressed her desire. ¡°I want a big flower garden in the backyard.¡± ¡°Sure, do as you wish.¡± Jackal responded with a smile. Asha adored flowers and had a desire to transform the entire house into a flower garden. However, she remembered that Jackal had an allergy to pollen, so she chose to plant flowers in the backyard. ¡°We can place a lovely tablecloth on the dining table and an ethnic-style carpet on the floor. And as for the baby¡¯s room¡­ Oh¡­¡± As Asha casually mentioned the baby, she abruptly closed her mouth, her face turning red. But Jackal, attentive to the conversation, stood frozen in place. Sensing the subtle tension between them, Sonya quickly left the room. Asha stammered, her face still flushed, as if making excuses. ¡°Well, you see¡­ One day, we might have a baby, so it would be good to prepare in advance¡­¡± She looked around, uncertain of what to do, until her eyes widened upon seeing Jackal¡¯s expression. He had a very contemplative expression. Asha asked in a puzzled tone. ¡°Jackal¡­¡­?¡± Jackal was so overwhelmed with emotion that he asked directly. ¡°Do you want to have a baby with me?¡± Asha¡¯s face immediately flushed bright red, as if a balloon had burst. If Sosa had been nearby, she would have let out a scream and hastily covered his mouth to prevent him from speaking so directly. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened, realizing too late that his words were too direct, and he quickly turned away. Placing a hand on his chest, he pressed against his racing heart, muttering an excuse. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t expect you to think that way¡­¡± As a member of the Kelpie clan, he still held certain prejudices. He believed that a woman would never want to have a child with a man who could transform into a horse. So when Asha brought up the subject of a baby for the first time, he couldn¡¯t control his heart racing with joy. He felt immense gratitude towards her for discussing it without any biases. However, feeling embarrassed, Asha extended both hands forward and exclaimed. ¡°No! I misspoke¡­! It¡¯s just that living with just the two of us in this house feels too empty¡­! That¡¯s why those words slipped out¡­!¡± Upon hearing her words, Jackal, who had turned away, flinched. When Asha anxiously glanced at him, he eventually turned back around. Yet Asha was taken aback once again. The excited expression Jackal had previously worn had suddenly transformed into a sad one. He was so overwhelmed with happiness that tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°Jackal¡­¡­?¡± CH 122 Jackal turned his head and said. ¡°¡­¡­. No, it¡¯s alright. I was rude. Don¡¯t worry about it and rest. You couldn¡¯t even sleep last night.¡± After finishing his words, he stepped outside alone to get some fresh air. As he left abruptly, Asha didn¡¯t realize the impact of her words and sat on the bed in a daze. ¡®Was it because I said that without thinking?¡¯ Lost in deep thought, Asha pondered the situation while Jackal took deep breaths outside, trying to calm his racing heart. However, the chiefs of each clan approached him. ¡°Chief, we need to discuss matters regarding the village¡¯s management. Can we have a brief meeting?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jackal followed them but looked toward his house with a slightly uneasy expression. He wanted to be with Asha, but as soon as he got back to the village, there were a lot of tasks waiting for him. He requested Sonya to ensure Asha could rest in peace, then proceeded to handle the village affairs. Both Jackal and Asha were overwhelmed with their respective work. Sonya took it upon herself to make all the necessary arrangements for the wedding on behalf of the couple. However, she expressed her disagreement, finding the traditional and outdated wedding customs difficult to tolerate. According to her, if it were a wedding held at the palace, they wouldn¡¯t celebrate it in the same manner. In reality, apart from the tradition of the entire village gathering for the wedding ceremony to offer their blessings, there were no other special events for the minorities. Sonya, sensing the opportunity, began giving instructions one by one, following the same preparations she had been making at the palace for various events. While scratching their heads, the villagers followed her instructions considering her as a trustworthy and sophisticated person, who had come from the palace. Sosa was no exception to this. Observing Sonya moving from one place to another, kindly providing instructions to the people, he found himself involuntarily blushing. Their eyes unexpectedly met, prompting Sosa to quickly change his expression, clear his throat, and approach her with a beaming smile. ¡°I¡¯ve spent a long time familiarizing myself with the traditions and culture of the Kelpie Clan to ensure a successful welcome for the leader¡¯s companion. How about the two of us work together to prepare for this wedding ceremony?¡± Sonya let out an ¡°Ah!¡± of realization. ¡°The boss¡­ I mean, the chief is the last heir of the Kelpie Clan, so it¡¯s important to uphold the traditions! I didn¡¯t consider that earlier.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! It could be because you were an excellent assistant to Lady Asha that we communicate so well.¡± ¡°Oh, my goodness.¡± As Sonya blushed, Sosa also felt a hint of embarrassment, but he was also pleased. As the only other member of the Kelpie Clan aside from Jackal, he took it upon himself to diligently prepare for the wedding. Sonya followed Sosa¡¯s lead in organizing a grand wedding, but as they spent more time together, a peculiar atmosphere began to develop between the two. Sosa was deeply moved to see Sonya¡¯s lack of aversion or prejudice towards his clan. It was evident that Sonya had seen and experienced many things during her time with Asha. In Sosa¡¯s heart, emotions like ¡®Maybe I¡­?¡¯ began to surface. Emotions blossomed within him. Since then, Sosa found it difficult to look directly at Sonya¡¯s face. As a member of the Kelpie Clan, he feared losing control over his feelings if he gazed into her eyes. However, Sonya felt the same way. When she first saw Sosa, with his hair as white as snow, she was very curious about how he looked when he transformed into a horse. She imagined his fur would be incredibly beautiful. The moment she thought she wanted to touch her silky-smooth hair, Sonya turned red and ran off at high speed. Both of them pretend not to know, but Gabe, who happened to witness the scene while passing by, shook his head ¡®This is quite interesting¡­¡¯ Sonya was thinking about what Asha would wear on her wedding day and contacted Ella urgently. She was totally focused on making dresses in the capital. However, as soon as she received Sonya¡¯s letter, she put all orders aside and wholeheartedly devoted herself to Asha¡¯s wedding dress. ¡°As expected, creating Lady Vanessa¡¯s dresses is the most exhilarating¡­¡± Motivated by Sonya¡¯s urgent request, Ella worked tirelessly day and night, neglecting meals and sleep, completely immersed in making Asha¡¯s wedding dress. She seemed truly consumed by madness. No one could stop her. She had perfectly memorized Asha¡¯s body measurements and was so skilled that she could imagine how the fabric would wrap her without even touching her body. However, it was her first time designing a men¡¯s wedding suit and lacking any information about Jackal¡¯s preferences, she meticulously worked based on the measurements she had received. As Ella cut the fabric to fit his body size, her eyes widened slightly. ¡°¡­¡­Indeed, Lady Vanessa has excellent taste. The man must be incredibly strong.¡± She covered her mouth with a fan as she chuckled. Just looking at the size of the clothes that were twice the size of Asha¡¯s body, Ella could imagine how strong and handsome Jackal¡¯s body must be. Thus, everyone spent busy days preparing for the wedding, and the long-awaited wedding day finally arrived. * * * * * As the sun began to set, a grand feast unfolded in the village, commemorating the birth of the new leadership couple. Concerned about the shortage of food, the Lycaons brought forth all the provisions they had stockpiled in their hideout. Additionally, they gathered the meat they had hunted during that time. Thanks to their efforts, the village was overflowing with all kinds of food. At home, Asha freshened up before changing into her wedding dress with Sonya¡¯s help. The dress she wore was a stunning blend of white and sky blue. Being a clan symbolizing water, the wedding dress seemed to embody ice and water in its very design. Once again, Ella poured her heart and soul into creating the dress. She spared no aquamarine jewels, delicately embedding them into the white fabric. The sleeves were adorned with shimmering sky-blue chiffon, resembling wings. The dress perfectly complemented Asha¡¯s platinum blond hair, enveloping her in an aura of mystery and innocence. As Asha turned before the full-length mirror, wearing the wedding dress, Sonya couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth in awe. ¡°You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen¡­¡­.¡± Sonya continued, her expression dazed. ¡°I always believed Lady Ella¡¯s talent was exceptional. However, now I realize it¡¯s not the clothes that made Lady Vanessa look beautiful; it was you wearing them¡­The dresses were merely a vessel. You look beautiful no matter what you wear¡­..¡± Asha blushed at the excessive praise. ¡°Thank you, Sonya. The only person who sees me as the most beautiful in the world is you.¡± ¡°What? What are you talking about!? The person who sees you as the most beautiful is the chief!¡± Asha blushed even more, and Sonya continued. ¡°Do you know the kind of look the chief has when he looks at you? It¡¯s a look of pure ecstasy and sweetness as if he were looking at an angel descended from heaven!¡± ¡°Really¡­?¡± ¡°Yes! Today, he¡¯ll probably look at you even more intensely, and Lady Vanessa will definitely feel it. Keep an eye out.¡± Sonya nodded confidently, playfully winking. Asha was touched and eagerly anticipated the moment when Jackal would look at her in her wedding dress. When the time for the ceremony came, Asha came out of the house. According to custom, the bride and groom had to cover their faces with a white cloth until they met at the wedding hall. With Sonya¡¯s assistance, Asha arrived at the ceremony, while Jackal arrived at the same time with Sosa¡¯s help. With the river in front of them, the two faced each other and took off the white cloth at the same time. As the fabrics were unveiled, their eyes widened. Jackal¡¯s sideburns were styled loosely, while his long hair at the back was neatly gathered and tied up. He wore a wedding attire with a black base, adorned with sky-blue cloth that matched Asha¡¯s outfit. Ella spared no expense in embellishing his attire with jewels, yet she ensured it remained simple yet elegant, allowing the bride to shine even more. Jackal, with the blue cloth tied around his waist resembling crashing waves in a nighttime sea, exuded an air of an untouchable groom, akin to a solitary bodyguard. Asha looked at his face with a mesmerized expression, she had never seen him like this before. The same could be said for Jackal. As Asha, with her hair beautifully braided and styled like an elf, looked up and met his gaze, his heart pounded uncontrollably. Asha looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress. It seemed that not even a water nymph could surpass her beauty. Jackal¡¯s gaze wandered over her figure and, oddly enough, wherever his eyes lingered, she felt as if heat emanated from those spots. Asha felt shy and lowered her gaze. Remembering what Sonya had said earlier, her face flushed slightly. Indeed, Jackal¡¯s gaze upon her was so intense that it felt like sweet honey would trickle down. Perhaps he had taken a bath before the wedding, as a refreshing and pleasant fragrance emanated from his body. Asha¡¯s shy demeanor exuded innocence and naivety, making it difficult for Jackal to contain his strong desire to hold her tight. Nek, who had transformed into a human, whistled and exclaimed as if he could read Jackal¡¯s thoughts and feelings. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, so beautiful¡­!¡± As Nek began to move his hips and waist, attempting a mysterious and frivolous dance, Sosa quickly jumped up, ran towards him, and urgently grabbed his clothes, pulling him away. This sacred wedding ceremony couldn¡¯t be disrupted by the antics of a grotesque water spirit. Now, the couple gazed deeply into each other¡¯s eyes. Sosa, having returned after dealing with Nek, proceeded with the officiating duties. ¡°Do the groom and bride swear to love each other until the day this river runs dry?¡± The Kelpies always made their vows by the river, and they had chosen a vast river that would never cease flowing for their wedding ceremony. The land provided by Karaf served as the perfect space for this momentous occasion. Jackal and Asha looked into each other¡¯s eyes and responded at the same time. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°With this, both of you are now bound in the sacred union of marriage. Now, let us proceed to receive the blessings of the river.¡± Sonya brought a beautifully decorated bottle filled with river water, but Jackal said suddenly. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jackal smiled, taking Asha¡¯s hand, and suddenly they started running towards the river. The guests were taken aback by this unexpected action. Asha¡¯s eyes widened as she ran after him, stealing glances in his direction. Jackal said with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s run together on the water.¡± ¡°What?¡± Before Asha could even respond, they were already leaping over the water¡¯s surface. Jackal, who had made a contract with the water spirit, effortlessly ran on the water, while Asha, bound by a contract with the wind spirit, gracefully floated above the water¡¯s surface with the aid of the wind. It was a magnificent wedding spectacle that only the two of them could perform in this world. Asha, both startled and elated, burst into laughter and gathered her dress, splashing and running alongside Jackal on the water. Each step they took created small waves that merged, forming a larger circle. Finally, Asha and Jackal reached the middle of the river, standing facing each other, bathed in the soft glow of the moon. CH 123 Because of the moonlight reflecting on the lake, it seemed as if the soft glow was spreading beneath their feet. Jackal gazed at Asha calmly, his eyes as blue as the river. Asha, who had a smile on her lips, also looked seriously at Jackal. Finally, Jackal slightly lowered his eyelids as he spoke. ¡°¡­¡­Thank you for giving me a second life. And thank you for choosing me as your partner. I will dedicate my life to make you happy.¡± Hearing those words, Asha also smiled slightly. ¡°I love you, Jackal.¡± Her sudden declaration of love caused Jackal¡¯s eyes to widen. Asha felt more embarrassed after confessing her feelings and avoided his gaze. But at that moment¡­ ¡°¡­¡­ I love you too, Asha.¡± Jackal leaned closer, lowering his head. Asha¡¯s eyes widened. Closing his eyes, Jackal kissed her lips gently, touching her face with his large hands. Asha reciprocated, closing her eyes as well. The waves began to ripple around the two of them. It was as if the wind and the water had finally become one. Under the moonlit sky, the romantic and beautiful scene caused the villagers to cheer and applaud with enthusiasm. ¡°It¡¯s love, it¡¯s true love!¡± Suddenly, Nek, who had been pushed aside, reappeared and started dancing. The surrounding area came to life as the water joyfully swayed and danced. Sonya watched the two of them, tears streaming down her face. Although they couldn¡¯t execute the planned event, this was a more memorable and splendid wedding than anything else. Sonya wiped her tears with her sleeves, and at that moment, a handkerchief quietly appeared beside her. ¡°Thank you.¡± Sonya casually took the handkerchief, blowing her nose and wiping away her tears. As she looked to her side, her eyes widened. There, Sosa looked at her with an intense gaze. A faint blush appeared on both of their faces. Thanks to Asha and Jackal, a new love was born. * * * * * After the wedding, Jackal and Asha were enjoying a festive party in the village. Nagy, along with the orphaned children, had an ¡°eating contest¡± and won against everyone, quickly becoming the leader among the children. Although they couldn¡¯t understand why being a big eater made someone a leader, there seemed to be a connection among them. ¡°Eat in moderation, or you¡¯ll get sick again.¡± Gabe chuckled, tousling Nagy¡¯s hair as he passed by. It was the first time that the whole village had a large-scale party, so Asha also drank more than usual and mixed with the people while being joyfully intoxicated. As the former empress without hesitation treated them comfortably, laughed with them, and had fun, people were completely captivated by her charm. Those who had known Asha in the past approached her, striking up conversations and sharing nostalgic stories. Just hearing the stories of their lives brought immense joy to Asha, filling her with a warm feeling of truly being back home. Meanwhile, Jackal was also surrounded by the chiefs of each clan, politely accepting drinks. Asha discreetly observed his dignified appearance for a moment. As she watched him, she once again realized what an impressive man he was. ¡®If he is the successor of the Kelpie clan, isn¡¯t he more like a prince¡­? Jackal, you were a prince.¡¯ While engaged in a conversation, Jackal suddenly felt her gaze and glanced briefly in her direction. Asha stared at him intently, supporting her intoxicated face with both hands. He clicked his tongue and murmured. ¡°You¡¯re drunk again¡­..¡± Jackal excused himself to each clan¡¯s chiefs and walked over to Asha. He wrapped her tightly in a large blanket. ¡°Be careful not to catch a cold. You tend to get cold easily.¡± Asha leaned her face against his shoulder as if she had been waiting. ¡°Why did you drink so much? You¡¯re not a strong drinker.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that weak with alcohol. I can still have another drink with you.¡± Taken aback by Asha¡¯s sudden seriousness, Jackal asked earnestly. ¡°Then¡­ Shall we have a drink together?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The two of them stood up in silence, holding hands, and making their way back home. Jackal carefully scanned the surroundings, checking to see if anyone was watching, but several Lycaons pretended to be drunk and ignored them, secretly laughing among themselves. Arriving home, Jackal first lit a lamp, illuminating the dark corners of the house. ¡°I¡¯ll get the drinks, go rest in the room.¡± He carefully selected the drinks from the cellar with a slightly nervous expression. ¡®Come to think of it, Asha likes warm drinks.¡¯ He remembered the time Asha had enjoyed the special drink Gabe had given her. ¡®I¡¯ll take this one.¡¯ When he got back to the room, Asha was already lying on the bed dressed in different clothes, sound asleep. He stood at the door for a moment, holding the bottle and glasses in his hands. However, he soon nodded to himself, placed the drinks on the table, and approached Asha cautiously. ¡°You must have been very tired¡­..¡± He gently brushed her hair away and pulled the blanket up to cover her body. The large bed appeared spacious enough for the two of them to lie down comfortably. As he stared at the bed, he realized that from tonight on, he would share it with Asha. An inexplicable excitement bubbled within him as he eagerly sipped his drink, quenching his thirst. Suddenly, a worry crept into his mind, he worried that his body might give off an animal odor. It had become a habit for him to remove his shirt before sleeping. When Asha had slept in the same bed the other day, he had been fortunate to have bandages wrapped around his body. However, now he found himself worrying about things he wouldn¡¯t normally fret over. Contemplating with a serious expression, he pondered whether he should wear clothes, fearing that Asha might be taken aback to find him lying undressed next to her. Yet, he soon shook his head and made a firm decision. ¡®As a married couple, I shouldn¡¯t be ashamed of this.¡¯ Although he had already taken a bath before the wedding, Jackal wiped his body once again with the utmost care, paying attention to every nook and cranny. Then, he returned to bed and lay down beside Asha. Asha remained deeply asleep, oblivious to the world around her. Jackal couldn¡¯t help but smile. This beautiful woman is my bride¡­.. The more he thought about it, the more skeptical he seemed, making his heart tremble. He lay down next to Asha, as if he were dead, and closed his eyes with an excited expression on his face. And in that way, time passed. Asha, restless and tossing and turning in bed due to thirst, woke up when she abruptly felt the presence of someone lying next to her. ¡°Jackal¡­¡­?¡± Her gaze fell upon the well-defined muscles of his back, divided into two strong lines. Asha finally remembered that she had agreed to share a drink with him and had fallen asleep before they could. A pleasant scent of soap wafted from Jackal¡¯s body. She must have disappointed him after he had looked forward to it, and she felt guilty. Leaning her face against his broad back and gently placing her hand on his stomach, she softly whispered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for falling asleep first. We were supposed to drink together¡­..¡± But at that moment, she felt Jackal¡¯s body stiffen. Asha realized that he was awake. Perhaps he couldn¡¯t sleep, likely due to it being their first night together. Asha¡¯s mischievous side kicked in, and playfully, she cautiously poked his back muscles with her finger and murmured. ¡°You truly have an amazing body, no matter how much I look at it¡­.¡± But then, it happened. Suddenly, a surge of blue energy began to circulate within Jackal¡¯s body, as if by magic, and before she knew it, a large bluish-gray horse stood before her eyes. Asha blinked in surprise and inquired. ¡°Sheppy¡­?¡± Sheppy was lying on his side on the bed, just like Jackal. When she sat up to get a better look at Sheppy¡¯s face, she was taken aback. Sheepy had his eyes closed with a blush on his cheeks as if he was embarrassed. Asha was confused by this situation. ¡°Jackal, I¡¯m asking because I genuinely don¡¯t know¡­ Do you have the ability to transform freely while you sleep? Is that why you always sleep alone, even back at the hideout?¡± As she posed the question, Asha nodded with almost total confidence. It seemed that he liked being alone, and the reason he was careful not to get drunk was also because of this. After a while, Jackal returned to his original form. But instead of answering her question, he covered himself with the blanket, trying to hide, while his ears turned red. Asha got even more confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you suddenly avoiding me¡­?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± At that moment, a realization dawned upon Asha, causing her eyes to widen. With a face like struck by lightning, she muttered. ¡°Are you disappointed because I fell asleep first? To the point of not wanting to answer me and not even looking at me¡­?¡± ¡°¡­.No!¡± Startled by her words, Jackal jumped up and kicked off the blanket, and got up. However, at that moment, Asha¡¯s gaze shifted somewhere. Her eyes widened even more. Jackal quickly grabbed the blanket and covered the lower part of his body. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Silence reigned in the room. They said that kelpies were magnificent in some parts, and it seemed to be true¡­. Not knowing what to say, Asha looked around as Jackal, red to the neck, lowered his head and spoke. ¡°Kelpies are actually¡­ obligated to briefly reveal their true form to their lover on the first night.¡± ¡°What? But we were just lying in bed together¡­ We fell asleep together last time as well..¡± ¡°¡­¡­ ¡± As Jackal grew even more embarrassed and found himself at a loss for words, Asha suddenly realized something, her expression dumbfounded. ¡°Ah!¡± she exclaimed before her face flushed bright red. She had just seen ¡®there¡¯, so she knew for sure. Merely lying in bed together wasn¡¯t the sole condition for the transformation on the first night¡­.. Jackal was wide awake because his heart was pounding at the thought of Asha sleeping next to him. However, when Asha leaned against his bare back and touched his body, he involuntarily and sensitively reacted. Asha turned her flushed face and spoke up. ¡°Since we¡¯re both awake now, should we have a drink together¡­?¡± ¡°¡­..Yes.¡± He lit the lamp and calmly poured drinks into their glasses. As the soft glow illuminated the room, the atmosphere became incredibly romantic and warm. The two of them clinked their glasses without uttering a word, then brought them to their lips. Their actions were solemn, resembling the gestures of worshippers offering prayers. Yet, they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to meet each other¡¯s eyes, continuously evading each other¡¯s gaze. After a while, Asha spoke in a soft voice. ¡°Jackal¡­ I have something to tell you.¡± Seeing Asha suddenly turn serious, Jackal asked nervously. ¡°What is it?¡± Asha hesitated for a long moment, her cheeks turning rosy as she spoke, avoiding his gaze. ¡°In this life¡­ You¡¯re my first.¡± At those words, Jackal¡¯s eyes widened. The realization that he was Asha¡¯s first man struck him like a lightning bolt, causing him to momentarily forget to breathe. A surge of intoxication from the alcohol coursed through his veins, and heat spread throughout his entire body. Unconsciously, Jackal leaned over, gently laying Asha on the bed, and positioned himself on top of her. Asha was taken aback and looked at him. It was a situation reminiscent of when Asha had first been in Jackal¡¯s hut. Unlike then, however, Jackal¡¯s eyes burned with a passionate intensity. CH 124 Asha¡¯s disheveled blonde hair lay over the white pillow, a sight so beautiful that Jackal couldn¡¯t help but admire her in silence. As he remained silent, his intense glances caused Asha¡¯s heart to race. Jackal¡¯s broad, muscular shoulders and well-built body stood before her, exuding strength and sexiness. Even his tense muscles and taut veins seemed to be filled with anger. His heart was beating fast. His heartbeat sounded passionate and vigorous, like that of a wild horse. Maybe he was nervous because it was his first time. Asha was nervous on the first night as much as Jackal, but she decided to approach him first, knowing that he was feeling quite shy. She was no longer the passive woman of the past; now she desired to boldly claim the man she had chosen. Her body and mind both yearned for him, leaving no room for hesitation or regret. As if driven by instinct, Asha gently placed her hand on the back of Jackal¡¯s head, her face flushed, and spoke. ¡°I¡¯m the one who made you like this, so I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± She playfully messed up his mane-like hair and raised her head to meet his lips. At that moment, Jackal transformed into a beast. He kissed not only her lips but also explored other parts of her body without hesitation. Everywhere his lips touched, fiery sensations bloomed. Although Asha intended to take responsibility, the sudden change in the situation caused her to give up and surrendered herself to him. The two shadows cast by the flickering lamp merged instantly into one, and the candlelight continued to flicker throughout the night, never extinguishing. * * * * * The next morning, Asha woke up with a groggy face after a passionate night. Sunlight streamed through the partially opened curtains, casting a straight beam onto the bed. Lying on his stomach right beside her, Jackal was still fast asleep. Bathed in the sunlight, his bronzed, muscular body appeared dynamic and beautiful, resembling a sculpture. As Asha gently stroked his hair, Jackal¡¯s eyes slowly opened. ¡°¡­Are you awake?¡± Seeing Asha by his side, Jackal¡¯s excitement resurfaced. Even in his eyes, Asha¡¯s figure illuminated by the sunlight seemed enchanting, as though he were beholding a goddess. ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡± Jackal sat up quickly and he checked Asha¡¯s body. ¡°I¡¯m a little sore, but¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± Asha shyly looked away. There were traces of Jackal¡¯s actions from the night before. He gazed at them with widened eyes, studying those marks in silence. Then, he tenderly kissed her forehead. ¡°¡­¡­Stay put. I¡¯ll bring you breakfast right away.¡± Jackal jumped out of bed, wore a robe, and left the room. Asha is the noblest woman in the world. From then on, he was determined to treat her with the utmost respect and courtesy, befitting a lady. Asha lay on her side, gently closing her eyes. ¡®It seems I underestimated the wild horse a lot¡­¡¯ Jackal had truly been like an unstoppable racehorse the previous night. Asha felt as though she had soared through the sky, trying to keep up with him. Although she had some unpleasant memories and was as nervous as Jackal, their first night together was a feeling of ecstasy, unlike anything she had known before. She felt that every part of her was being loved by him. ¡®Sheppy is a great horse¡­..¡¯ Asha thought silently to herself. A satisfied smile lingered on her lips. * * * * * On the sunlit second-floor terrace, Asha and Jackal enjoyed breakfast together as a couple for the first time. The morning brought a flutter of excitement to Asha¡¯s heart. It was the same with Jackal. ¡°How is it? Does it taste good?¡± Jackal, who personally cooked for Asha, looked at her with expectant eyes. He had always promised himself that if he spent the first night with his wife, he would make breakfast for her the following morning. Asha eagerly scooped up the vegetable soup Jackal had prepared and took a large bite of the freshly baked bread topped with bacon, beans, tomatoes, and scrambled eggs mixed with salmon. Her eyes lit up with delight. ¡°Jackal! Since when did you get so good at cooking?¡± ¡°Well¡­ maybe since I became the leader of the Lycaons?¡± Jackal replied, finally relaxing and smiling at Asha¡¯s enthusiastic response. ¡°Does Mr. Wede know about it?¡± Asha asked with a serious expression, to which Jackal chuckled in response. ¡°No matter what, I can¡¯t win against Wede.¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m sorry to Wede, but your food tastes better to me!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes! It suits my taste perfectly.¡± Jackal felt a surge of happiness, and he brought out freshly squeezed fruit juice as a dessert. Having observed Asha closely, he had come to understand her preferences and tastes quite well. His keen sense of smell, inherited from his wild horse nature, played a part in it too. Asha closed her eyes, basking in the morning sunlight, and enjoyed the sumptuous meal in the company of her lover. It was a blissful beginning to their newlywed lives. Her radiant beauty captivated Jackal to the point where he forgot to eat, simply admiring her. After finishing their meal, Jackal prepared himself for work. Starting that day, he would fulfill his duties as the village chief and priest. Despite having disliked the ethnic minority in the past, now, as the village chief, Jackal felt a strong desire to preserve the unique culture of the minorities. Witnessing Dart¡¯s case made him realize the importance of safeguarding their history and culture from vanishing. Asha stood in the doorway, her face brimming with excitement, as she watched Jackal change into the village chief¡¯s attire. Jackal donned a black robe, with a blue cloth draped over his shoulders like a muffler. He raised the cumbersome, long sleeves and muttered disapprovingly. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why the village chiefs wear these clothes.¡± ¡°It suits you well, though.¡± At her words, Jackal¡¯s face flushed slightly as he turned to look at her. ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Yes. You look like a very dependable and charismatic village chief.¡± Asha¡¯s smile in response made Jackal feel embarrassed, causing him to rub the back of his head. ¡°Calling me a village chief makes me feel old¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. In my eyes, you look like a prince.¡± Jackal¡¯s expression changed upon hearing Asha¡¯s words. He had never been addressed as a ¡®prince¡¯ before in his entire life. Jackal moved closer to her and looked into her face. ¡°This prince is still inexperienced.¡± He finished speaking before leaning in to kiss Asha. Despite his intention to slack off from the very first day, Asha happily laughed and embraced his shoulders. Honey dripped from their eyes as they looked at each other. The two held each other tightly, swaying in place as if they were dancing. * * * * * Jackal, accompanied by the chiefs of each clan, dedicated their efforts to rebuilding the village. The representatives of each clan exchanged meaningful glances, nodding in agreement as Jackal carefully planned and provided instructions. Jackal possessed the qualities of an exceptional leader. Despite being young, he was quick and efficient at his job. Instead of rigidly adhering to strict principles, he handled tasks flexibly. Asha also went around the village identifying areas that needed repairs and organizing them. In her spare time, she beautifully decorated the house. While the two were establishing order in the village, an invitation flew to her house. It had been sent by Duran from the palace. Asha used a knife to open the golden invitation and immediately exclaimed, her eyes widening. ¡°Jackal!¡± Startled, Jackal paused his work in the workshop, his hands still clutching the tools as he hurried over upon hearing her urgent call. ¡°¡­..What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jackal approached Asha from behind and enveloped her in a gentle back hug, finding her standing there in a daze, holding the letter. As his broad and sturdy chest pressed against her back, Asha¡¯s face turned slightly red. Jackal, too, had wide eyes like Asha and fell into sudden silence. The letter revealed the news of Karaf¡¯s awakening. ¡°That flower guy¡­ Has he finally awakened?¡± The two of them hastily prepared to make their way to the palace. As always, Sonya quickly arranged everything to help Asha. The Imperial Palace personally sent a carriage for them. When a luxurious golden carriage, adorned with intricate designs, appeared at the entrance of the village, the eyes of the people grew wide and they gathered around it, filled with curiosity. Asha turned to Gabe and spoke. ¡°Gabe, would you like to come along as well?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Gabe blinked. ¡°Yes. Karaf may regain more energy if there is another spirit contractor present.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to suck up to that guy¡­¡± Gabe grumbled, yet he still climbed aboard the carriage. In truth, it was his first time riding in such a carriage, so he felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness, displaying signs of anticipation. Jackal stared at him intently and muttered. ¡°This guy sometimes says one thing and does another.¡± Asha covered her mouth and secretly chuckled. Jackal took the lead and stepped onto the carriage, extending his hand towards Asha. Seeing him hanging from the carriage, he looked cool once again, so Asha stood still and looked at him while her face turned red. Even though she could easily board the carriage on her own, as she was accustomed to doing so, the fact that Jackal was escorting her filled her with excitement. She gently placed her hand in his and boarded the carriage. The onlookers gazed in awe as they departed for the palace as if the couple were making their way to their own home. Then, Sonya cautiously inquired. ¡°By the way, Lady Vanessa, will the person who assists the village chief not be joining us?¡± ¡°Hmm? Are you referring to Sosa?¡± Asha asked, noticing the slight blush on Sonya¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Yes¡­..¡± Asha, Jackal, and Gabe exchanged glances, sharing the same thought. Jackal cleared his throat and spoke up. ¡°Now that I think about it, we should bring Sosa along. If we leave him behind, he¡¯ll surely complain¡­¡± Upon hearing Jackal¡¯s words, Asha swiftly nudged his foot, signaling him to stop. Jackal let out an ¡°ah¡± and corrected himself. ¡°¡­Well, I mean, he¡¯s my right-hand man, so it¡¯s only natural that we bring him..¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Sosa is a reliable aide, isn¡¯t he?¡± When Asha replied with a smile, Sonya¡¯s face lit up. As Sosa stepped onto the carriage and discovered Sonya inside, his body stiffened involuntarily. At that moment, Jackal, Asha, and Gabe exchanged glances without saying anything. Sosa¡¯s face flushed, and he placed a hand on his chest, speaking with solemnity. ¡°Did you call me, Chief?¡± Gabe and Asha fought hard to suppress their laughter, struggling to contain their amusement at Sosa¡¯s uncharacteristically serious and polite demeanor. The two of them looked like they were about to explode. CH 125 However, Jackal, who was still inexperienced in love, cautiously said, testing the waters. ¡°While we go to the Imperial Palace, Sosa, you¡¯ll stay here and guard the village in my place. You¡¯re my right-hand man.¡± Hearing those words, Sosa¡¯s face darkened noticeably. Also Sonya¡¯s. Seeing their expressions, they were completely convinced. ¡°Yes¡­ then please have a safe trip¡­¡± As Sosa weakly attempted to step down from the carriage, Jackal grabbed his arm. When he glanced back, Jackal said nonchalantly. ¡°Just kidding. Let¡¯s go to the palace for a change.¡± Sosa asked with widened eyes. ¡°Can I come too¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, last time I went alone during the festival, you seemed disappointed.¡± ¡°Disappointed? I¡¯ve never felt that way. I was simply concerned about your safety as your aide.¡± While Sosa pretended to maintain his composure in front of Sonya, Gabe turned his face towards the window and silently expressed his disgust. Asha and Jackal sat together, while Gabe took the seat by the window, naturally causing Sosa and Sonya to sit side by side next to Gabe. ¡°Then, excuse me¡­..¡± ¡°Sure¡­..It¡¯s fine.¡± Throughout the journey to the palace, the two of them were too shy to make eye contact. Jackal shook his head. Despite Sosa giving him advice on love as if he were an expert, he seemed quite weak when it came to putting it into practice. * * * * * After traveling for a while, they finally reached the Imperial Palace in the capital. Asha felt a sense of nostalgia as she returned with Jackal this time. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Lady Vanessa.¡± Duran came out to welcome them at the palace entrance with a smile. As they walked down the hall, Asha couldn¡¯t shake a feeling of tension and quickened her pace, concentrating only on what lay ahead. With Karaf awakening, her mind became filled with thoughts of what to say first, complicating her emotions. As they approached his room, Asha¡¯s footsteps quickened even more. Soon after, the door opened and Asha saw him sitting up in bed. Her eyes slowly widened. The room was flooded with sunlight from all directions, shining so brightly it made my eyes squint. Karaf sat there, dressed in a white nightgown, in the same place where he was asleep. Karaf, who had been staring expressionlessly at the sunlit window, turned his head slightly to glance at them. Among the people who had entered the room, his gaze immediately fell on her. His red eyes widened slightly. Asha said with a joyous smile. ¡°Your Majesty, you¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ They said I slept for several months, but it seems you haven¡¯t changed much since the last time I saw you.¡± Karaf replied softly. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± The moment Asha placed her hand on the back of his hand, a golden energy flowed from her hand and spread throughout his entire body. Asha and the people behind her watched in awe at the sight. It was like a vibrant scene where a flower meets a butterfly and blooms once more. Karaf briefly closed his eyes, feeling the overflowing vitality from his heart, and then looked at Jackal, who had closely followed. Jackal spoke up. ¡°You¡¯ve been asleep for a long time. I never knew flowers hibernated too.¡± ¡°I knew you would come as well. I could smell the stench of horses all the way from the corridor.¡± As soon as they met, they began to argue. Jackal, engaged in a staring contest with Karaf, averted his gaze first and spoke. ¡°¡­..Thank you. Thanks to you, the minorities can now lead prosperous and peaceful lives.¡± ¡°I suppose I¡¯m a generous person. Fortunately, it seems even beasts recognize gratitude.¡± Jackal snorted, but Karaf smiled mischievously. However, despite having regained consciousness not long ago, Karaf¡¯s face still appeared weak and pale, and his lips remained pale as well. Asha said softly. ¡°The minorities have regained some stability now and have settled on new lands. That is why we plan to assist you once more, Your Majesty.¡± Karaf¡¯s face revealed a glimmer of joy at her words. ¡°I¡¯m just grateful that you¡¯ve come to see my face again¡­ And you want to help me?¡± ¡°Yes. We have to see the flowers bloom beautifully until the end. From the moment Your Majesty awakened, that¡¯s when the true journey begins.¡± As Asha spoke with a radiant smile, Karaf¡¯s eyes reddened with emotion, and they trembled. Asha gazed at him with a compassionate expression. ¡°Rest assured. I have completely forgiven you now, Your Majesty. And you are no longer a tyrant.¡± Karaf opened his mouth and asked. ¡°Did you like my gifts?¡± As Asha blinked, he asked again. ¡°Are you happy?¡± His face was full of guilt as he asked. Although several months had passed for Asha and Jackal, for Karaf, that day¡¯s battle felt as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. Asha understood his emotions and responded warmly. ¡°Yes. Among all the gifts you¡¯ve given me, this is my favorite. Those were truly joyful days.¡± Karaf¡¯s face also displayed a sense of relief upon hearing her words. ¡°Good¡­ then it¡¯s settled. If you still didn¡¯t find happiness until the end because of me, I would never have been able to wake up from the punishment given by God¡­¡± Karaf grew nostalgic as he recalled his encounter with God Etzheim. ¡°Thank you for giving me a gift more precious than anything in this world.¡± ¡°What gift?¡± ¡°You gave me ¡®today¡¯ as a gift. You allowed me to discover a future I didn¡¯t know before. You made me realize that the end of my story was actually a new beginning.¡± Asha¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°Get well soon. Many things have changed since the past.¡± Karaf nodded. With care and assistance from Duran and Sihan, he gradually resumed his duties. However, as news of his awakening spread among the citizens, they flocked to him, offering praise and celebration at the top of the castle, leaving Karaf blinking in disbelief. ¡°Am I dreaming right now¡­¡­?¡± Upon hearing his words, those around him stifled their laughter. Having been unconscious for several months, waking up to find the very people who had once pointed fingers at him now shedding tears and singing his praises was an unbelievable situation. The chamberlain took out his handkerchief, wiping away his tears, and explained everything that had occurred. Not yet accustomed to the fact that he had truly become a ruler beloved by everyone, Karaf stood motionless on the castle walls for a while. Watching him from behind, Asha couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of melancholy. He blushed. The passionate fans seemed exceptionally excited. ¡°For the sake of the empire, I must work even harder in the future.¡± Upon hearing those words, the chamberlain was even more moved while Duran smiled. Listening to the cheers of the people, Karaf walked confidently inside, his cloak fluttering. Adorned with roses, his black cloak exuded dignity from his back. Asha and Jackal stayed in the Imperial Palace for a while, frequently visiting the temple. According to rumors, Count Fresia had developed an insect repellent. Unexpectedly, they discovered that the perfume they had developed had an effect on monsters, prompting them to shift their focus from the fragrance business to the insecticide business. It seemed that the potent scent was perfect for repelling insects. Upon hearing this story, Asha and Sonya burst into laughter. Meanwhile, Nia received the title of Camomile surname from Asha and rose to a higher rank among the Five Great Nobles. Despite having been manipulated all her life, she handled her work with sharpness, which seemed to have won Karaf¡¯s approval. He despised everything related to Delphinium, but based solely on her abilities, he elevated her to the position of Countess. It marked the first time in history that a woman was given the title of a countess among the Five Great Families. Asha felt proud, and her heart swelled with joy. The Duke of Lilac was defeated by Duke Sihan and had his head cut off. Duran, taking the remaining position, became the Dandelion family. He now held the rank of a count instead of a baron. It was the first time in history that a commoner had risen to the rank of count. Asha felt proud to see everyone around her finding their rightful places. Karaf had initially intended to offer Duran the position of Marquis, but Duran declined, expressing his desire to continue assisting Karaf by his side. If Duran were to become a Marquis, he would have to leave the capital and travel far away to defend the borders. As a result, the Marquis de Iris decided to assume that role while Duran remained in the palace as Karaf¡¯s knight commander. Now, it was the ¡®five petals¡¯ that truly guarded the Imperial Family. The five clans from the minority emerged as the five petals supporting the flower, creating perfect harmony. It was the birth of a perfect flower in harmony. To fulfill her duties as Vanessa, Asha took part in the blessing ceremony at the temple. The High Priest greeted her with deep respect upon discovering her. Vanessa¡¯s status soared to great heights due to her role in blooming the emperor and saving the empire from danger. However, the High Priest was especially grateful to her for forgiving Dart. Asha asked him. ¡°Is Priest Dart doing well?¡± ¡°Ah, Lady Vanessa¡­ He has left the temple¡­¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The High Priest, unable to meet her gaze, spoke with regret. ¡°He felt that he could no longer stay in this sacred temple and chose to depart on his own¡­¡± As Asha¡¯s expression darkened, he added. ¡°But even now, he must be wandering alone somewhere in the empire, bestowing blessings upon the sick. He said that he had healing powers. It¡¯s probably thanks to you, Lady Vanessa.¡± His eyes welled up with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m just thankful he¡¯s alive¡­ As his father, I will watch over him, seeking redemption for his sins. And I, too, will live in repentance for his sins until the day I die.¡± The High Priest concluded, bowing his head in respect to Asha once more. Asha stood at the altar and prayed to God to guide Dart on the right path. Having completed all her tasks, Asha returned home, eager to soothe her weary body with a refreshing shower. While Jackal went to take his own shower, Asha took the opportunity to tidy up the bed. She knew it wouldn¡¯t be right to meet Karaf, since he was no different than an ex-husband, but she was grateful that Jackal understood and held back. In return, she contemplated the idea of rewarding him in some way. Well, perhaps not a traditional reward, but still¡­ Asha made up her mind and swallowed nervously, preparing something special. Meanwhile, Jackal came out of the shower with a white towel around his waist while he roughly dried his hair with another towel. Wrapped in a white towel, his tanned and muscular body stood out even more. Asha pretended not to notice, lying on the bed with the covers pulled up. Jackal approached her and asked. ¡°Are you already asleep? You must be tired. That flower boy must have drained all your energy.¡± Asha turned to him with a slightly bewildered expression on her face. ¡°Drained my energy?¡± ¡°Yeah. It is said that when flowers attract butterflies, they drain their energy¡­¡± Jackal couldn¡¯t continue speaking, his eyes widening as he stared at Asha. Asha, with a hint of mischief, proudly lifted the blanket. ¡°¡­Who drained my energy?¡± The seductive pose she struck while lying on the bed was undeniably alluring. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened, his gaze fixated on Asha, who wore a red, see-through slip. His intense stare seemed capable of piercing through the fabric if anyone were to witness it. CH 126 Asha gently pushed Jackal¡¯s chest, guiding him to lie down on the bed. As he obediently followed her lead and looked up at her with wide eyes, Asha positioned herself on top of him and spoke softly. ¡°I didn¡¯t succeed last time, but today I¡¯ll take the lead. Don¡¯t resist.¡± Asha lowered her head and ran her fingers through the hair of the gentle wild horse. Jackal swallowed nervously. While Asha was picturing herself soaring through the sky on a horse, Jackal suddenly flipped their positions. In an instant, Asha found herself taken aback by the unexpected change. Jackal stared at her intensely, as if asserting that he too had a voice in this moment. Without hesitation, Asha joined him, riding together like two horses through the vast sky¡­.. * * * * * Asha and Jackal spent every day together, enjoying a happy and passionate life as newlyweds. At breakfast, Asha said, blushing slightly in embarrassment. ¡°Since being with you, I feel like I¡¯m gradually turning into a horse.¡± Jackal responded with a chuckle and a smile. ¡°And I feel like I¡¯m transforming into a butterfly. Every day with you feels like soaring through the sky.¡± They exchanged shy glances and shared a heartfelt laugh. Suddenly, Asha¡¯s face paled, and she instinctively covered her mouth. Jackal¡¯s eyes widened. He asked worriedly. ¡°Are you alright? Do you feel unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just felt a bit queasy¡­ Urgh.¡± Asha experienced another wave of nausea, and suddenly she had a premonition and her eyes went wide. At that very moment, Jackal felt the same thing and quickly stood up, immediately calling the village doctor. The doctor arrived promptly and cautiously examined Asha¡¯s pulse. Jackal was standing behind him anxiously, visibly restless. Finally, the doctor turned around with a bright smile and delivered the news. ¡°Congratulations! You¡¯re pregnant!¡± Hearing those words, both Jackal and Asha, as well as Sonya, who was standing by the door, widened their eyes at the same time. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ pregnant¡­¡± As Asha touched her stomach with joy, a very excited Jackal hugged her. ¡°Asha¡­..¡± His happiness was so overwhelming that his entire body trembled with excitement. As Asha noticed tears welling up in his eyes, her own eyes glistened with moisture. She wrapped her arms around his masculine frame and gently patted his back. She did a rough calculation of the date, and it seemed like she became pregnant on the day she took the lead. It truly seemed as if she had poured all the power of a butterfly into him¡­ Sonya was shedding tears behind them as well. She ran out of the house to announce the happy news. Sosa, upon finding out about the pregnancy, felt as happy as if it were his own matter. And just like Sonya, tears ran down his cheeks as he sobbed with happiness. This child would be the first to carry on the lineage of the esteemed Kelpie Clan, a precious treasure that must be safeguarded at all costs. Asha leaned against the window, observing the two spirited horses, unable to contain their excitement, as they galloped through the village. Seeing their joyous expressions, she couldn¡¯t help but yearn for the baby¡¯s arrival as soon as possible. However, at that moment, Sonya dropped her basket in surprise upon catching sight of Sosa, who had transformed into a horse. Sosa too, with his eyes wide open, didn¡¯t know what to do, so he desperately searched for a place to hide. And then it happened. ¡°¡­I always knew you would be beautiful.¡± ¡®What?¡¯ Sosa¡¯s eyes widened, resembling those of a startled bull, as he gazed at the excited Sonya. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± He didn¡¯t know how much she wanted to see him transformed into a horse. Even Jackal, unaware of the situation, closed his eyes and graciously stepped aside, giving them space. Sosa quickly regained his composure and quickly transformed back into his human form behind a tree, hastily dressing. He came out scratching his head like he was embarrassed. ¡°Um¡­ Were you frightened? I¡­ couldn¡¯t control my excitement and¡­¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I understand. You were simply overjoyed upon hearing that Lady Vanessa and the chief are expecting a baby.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s right.¡± Sosa continued to scratch his head, still feeling a touch embarrassed, while Sonya¡¯s eyes gleamed as she spoke. ¡°By the way, I couldn¡¯t help but notice earlier that your fur is incredibly soft, like cotton. Would it be okay if I collect your fur and made clothes?¡± ¡°What? Th-that¡¯s¡­¡± Sosa became flustered and stumbled over his words in embarrassment, his face turning completely red. Sosa¡¯s surname was ¡®Cotton¡¯, a truly fitting name. After clearing his throat, he asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it repulsive that I can transform into a horse¡­?¡± ¡°Not at all!¡± Sonya¡¯s response made Sosa¡¯s eyes widen and then soften. With the chief finding his love and now there was another woman who didn¡¯t shy away from the Kelpies. Even that, the chance of him falling in love with a woman, was really a very small chance. It was destiny, Sosa thought. Overwhelmed, Sosa unexpectedly burst into tears, catching Sonya off guard. ¡°Why, why are you crying? Did I say something disrespectful just now? Did I touch upon a painful memory, Sosa¡­?¡± ¡°Sonya.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Marry me.¡± Despite the boldness of his words, Sosa¡¯s face turned as red as a persimmon. Sonya stood frozen, her eyes wide with surprise. Just like a true member of the Kelpie Clan, a direct confession was something only Jackal or someone like him would do¡­ Sonya blushed and shyly nodded. ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Unbeknownst to Sosa, Sonya had always been the type to fall in love easily. Filled with excitement, Sosa transformed into a horse and proudly carried Sonya on his back. Sonya felt a mix of fear and exhilaration, trying her best to maintain her balance while her face was flushed with emotion. From a distance, Jackal watched the scene unfold, shaking his head with a smile before making his way back home. Since then, Asha had been lying in bed due to severe morning sickness. With a concerned gaze, Jackal diligently attended to her every need, but Asha¡¯s condition showed no signs of improvement. As her complexion grew paler and she struggled to eat, Jackal made a significant decision. He entrusted Asha¡¯s care to Sonya and set off into the mountains late at night to search for medicinal herbs known for their effectiveness against morning sickness. Using his keen senses of sight, hearing, and smell, he diligently sniffed and sniffed, finally finding the herbs in the middle of the mountain. With the medicinal herbs clutched gently in his mouth, Jackal began his journey back home. Meanwhile, Asha got worried when he didn¡¯t come home until late. She was waiting for him outside the house. But then, in the distance, Asha spotted a blue-gray horse galloping towards her. Asha¡¯s eyes widened, and she hurriedly approached him. ¡°Jackal, where have you been? I was so worried¡­¡± With a proud expression on his face, Jackal let out a snort before transforming back into his human form. ¡°The wind is chilly. Why are you outside? Come inside quickly. I¡¯ll make you some porridge.¡± Asha stared at him as he strode into the house with herbs in one hand. She thought it was lucky that Sonya went back home, avoiding any potential awkward encounters. But that sight¡­ How could she describe it? It was so captivating, almost fatal. Asha discreetly followed behind to take a look. However, when she saw him in the kitchen, her eyes widened in surprise. For some reason, Jackal was in such a rush to cook the porridge that he only had an apron wrapped around his body. His front was modestly covered, but his back was fully exposed¡­ Asha turned to the wall in surprise. Her heart raced at the sight of his muscular buttocks and thighs, but she decided to calmly return to her room to wait. She didn¡¯t know if she was waiting for the porridge or if she was waiting for him¡­ After a while, Jackal returned to the room with the porridge, still naked. Asha blushed as she stole a glance at him. Truly, he was the epitome of the best service a husband could provide to his wife. Asha¡¯s unusual reaction made Jackal suddenly aware of his own appearance, and his eyes widened in realization. He hadn¡¯t even realized he was naked with a single apron covering him, but he was so intent on making sure Asha was well-fed. Blushing, Jackal cleared his throat and moved closer to Asha. ¡°This natural herb is known to relieve morning sickness. I confirmed with a doctor that it has no side effects. Try it.¡± He scooped up the porridge and gently blew on it before offering it to Asha. Asha was deeply touched and eagerly opened her mouth to eat the porridge. A smile formed on her hesitant lips. Jackal asked cautiously. ¡°How is it? Does it taste okay?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s really delicious! Our baby thinks it¡¯s delicious too.¡± Seeing that she didn¡¯t feel nauseated when she ate something for the first time, she was amazed at how the herb could be so tasty without being bitter. Relieved, Jackal let out a sigh. Suddenly, Asha realized that he had gone out to fetch the herbs without having his own dinner. ¡°Jackal, you should hurry and have your meal too. You couldn¡¯t eat because of me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. If my wife can¡¯t eat, then as your husband, I won¡¯t eat either.¡± Upon hearing his words, Asha¡¯s eyes widened even further. Jackal had a sincere and serious expression on his face. ¡°I wish I could carry our baby in your place. How troublesome the foals are. I¡¯d prefer our baby to be the one bothering me¡­¡± As he murmured those words, Asha gently placed her soft hand on his face. Her eyes were already brimming with emotion. He always wanted to shield her from pain whenever she was hurt. He would reassure her that he would quickly recover because he was a wild horse¡­ Every time he did, Asha felt fortunate to have met such a good-hearted man. Such a man seemed to be a rarity in the world. ¡°¡­But I don¡¯t want you to go hungry because of me.¡± Upon hearing Asha¡¯s concern, Jackal smiled slightly and leaned in, gently pressing his lips against hers. ¡°Okay, I understand. I¡¯ll make sure to prepare something for myself too. Since the herbs are precious, you can have them all, I¡¯ll add some carrots to my porridge instead of the herbs.¡± At Jackal¡¯s words, Asha laughed happily. ¡°This can¡¯t go on. Since you love carrots so much, I should plant a carrot garden behind the house.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a great idea. Our child will probably love carrots the most.¡± As they exchanged jokes, Asha continued to laugh happily. She eagerly anticipated the arrival of their baby and imagined the little one happily munching on carrots. * * * * * A few days later, Sosa and Sonya¡¯s wedding took place. The wedding proceeded smoothly, as they had meticulously prepared everything in advance. Sosa and Sonya exchanged shy kisses, while Jackal and Asha cheered and offered heartfelt congratulations. Jackal, in his role as the village chief and representative of the Kelpie Clan, personally bestowed his blessings upon the couple. With the increase in the number of kelpies, the villagers organized another festive celebration. The village had reached a point where they would joyfully proclaim ¡®celebration!¡¯ whenever something happy occurred. It may be because they were minorities they could not enjoy the festivities. They built a big bonfire in the town square, played music, and danced traditional dances with their partners. Although Jackal excelled in martial arts, he appeared tense and awkward during the dance. As Asha looked at him, she whispered. ¡°Just follow my lead.¡± Jackal¡¯s heart raced at her reassuring and steady presence. CH 127 Asha graciously taught him how to dance. As Jackal moved his feet awkwardly, he looked at Asha as if there were only the two of them in this space. Then, Asha spun around him, laughing joyfully. She took his hands, and they twirled together in delight, swirling with happiness. A smile spread across his lips in an instant. Excited, Sosa plunged into playing the flute passionately, and everyone laughed except Sonya, who was deeply absorbed in it. Asha¡¯s heart filled with joy as she saw that the Kelpie Clan, which was on the brink of extinction, was gradually reviving. With the village restoring its perfect harmony, Asha¡¯s belly grew round like a mountain. She sat down in a comfortable chair, basking in the sun, and started knitting. Although her appearance seemed serene and divine, the knitting in her hands had holes here and there, showing her clumsy skill. ¡°Are you knitting baby clothes?¡± ¡°No. This is a hat.¡± Reminded of the story shared by the Nasson orphans, Jackal burst into laughter. Although it didn¡¯t look like a hat no matter how you looked at it, he found it adorable and moved closer to her. He knelt beside her and gently placed his ear against Asha¡¯s belly. Their unborn baby kicked vigorously. ¡°It looks like our baby is going to be a great horse. The leg strength is already impressive.¡± At that, Asha laughed. ¡°But kicking hurts Mommy, so let¡¯s be patient. When you come into the world, Daddy will play with you all day.¡± Jackal slowly turned into Sheppy and licked Asha¡¯s belly. Asha laughed as her body wiggled, tickled by the sensation. He vowed that once the baby arrived, he would cradle the child in his arms and shower him with affectionate licks. That was the Kelpie clan¡¯s parenting method, known for boosting the baby¡¯s immune system. Although he doesn¡¯t remember it, he heard from his mother that even his father did the same for him when he was a newborn. Jackal¡¯s eyes softened at the thought. His father, who had always been busy protecting the village, had managed to find time to take care of him when he was born, leaving everything else behind. Now that he had become a father himself, he felt that he understood his father¡¯s heart a little. Little did he know that his father had always carried a sense of guilt for not being able to spend enough time with him. Seeing Sheepy¡¯s eyes turn wistful, Asha placed her hand on his head and gently stroked his mane to comfort him. Running her fingers through his mane and caressing his fur always brought a soothing sense to her heart. Jackal knew that Asha liked to stroke his mane, so he grew his hair out and now he had a full, flowing mane, looking like a beautiful horse. ¡°How happy will our baby be to have such a trustworthy horse daddy by our side?¡± Jackal closed his eyes and emitted a soft purr in response to her words. His bestial figure made Asha laugh again, so she covered her mouth as she laughed. In front of Asha, he became like a gentle and docile pet, always willing to be cuddled. In fact, he didn¡¯t like transforming into a horse until he met Asha. He didn¡¯t even like being a kelpie, so he didn¡¯t spend much time in his horse¡¯s form. She was the only person in the world who would accept him no matter what form he took. In front of her, he could be himself without wearing a mask and feel comfortable. And it was the same with Asha. Then, Jackal suddenly returned to his human form and raised his head to ask. ¡°¡­..But what shall we name our baby?¡± ¡°Oh my!¡± Asha should be familiar with his nakedness by now, but she blushed nonetheless and covered her eyes with both hands. Jackal chuckled as his naked body glowed. ¡°So, our baby¡¯s name will be ¡®Oh my¡¯?¡± ¡°No! Absolutely not.¡± When Asha said it sternly, Jackal laughed. ¡°I¡¯m kidding. Once again, I entrust the naming of our baby to you. Your talent for naming is unmatched.¡± ¡°Well then, I guess a meaningful name like Sheppy would be nice, right¡­?¡± As Jackal observed Asha seriously contemplating, her index finger resting on her chin, a hint of anxiety flickered across his expression. ¡°It¡¯s okay as long as it¡¯s not too¡­ unusual.¡± He added a few more words, but he couldn¡¯t help but worry that Asha might give their child another peculiar name like Sheppy. Asha stared out the window, lost in thought, but her eyes went wide when something came to mind. ¡°If it¡¯s a boy, how about Aphis, and if it¡¯s a girl, how about Melissa?¡± Impressed by the names, Jackal inquired. ¡°They are beautiful names, but what do they mean?¡± ¡°Both names mean honeybee.¡± ¡°Honeybee¡­?¡± Jackal blinked, realizing that Asha was thinking of a bee because she was a butterfly. When he burst out laughing, Asha¡¯s face flushed red and she pouted. ¡°Why, why are you laughing? Is it that bad?¡± ¡°No, not at all. I actually love it. I¡¯m curious whether our honeybee will be a girl or a boy.¡± Jackal was already deeply infatuated with the honeybee and kept talking to Asha¡¯s belly endlessly. Unbeknownst to them, the nickname for the baby had naturally become Honeybee. A horse, a butterfly, and a bee. It was a bit of a bewildering combination, but they liked it. Even though it was her first time, Asha calmly prepared herself for the birth, and as Jackal watched her, he made up his mind and confined himself to the workshop. As Asha knitted baby clothes, he diligently crafted a baby crib in the workshop. But it didn¡¯t stop there. He also assembled baby toys, and a rocking chair, and even adorned the birthing room. Asha happened to pass by the room and stopped at the door, curious. ¡°Jackal, what are you doing here¡­¡­?¡± Jackal, who was creating a cozy and dimly lit room, was opening the curtains, and when he heard Asha he turned around and answered. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m preparing for the birth of our baby.¡± ¡°Preparing for childbirth¡­¡­?¡± Asha¡¯s wide eyes made Jackal feel a little embarrassed as he looked away. ¡°They say that a dark and cozy space is good during childbirth¡­¡± He had secretly studied about childbirth on his own, without Asha¡¯s knowledge. Alongside the curtains, he adorned the room with elements and colors that would bring a sense of calm to the mother¡¯s mind. Above the crib in the baby¡¯s room hung mobiles in the shape of horses, butterflies, and bees. What Jackal was doing reminded Asha of a scene in which a horse carefully lays down straws to create a nest for a newborn, preparing to give birth. She couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth, attempting to suppress her laughter. However, Jackal once again misinterpreted her reaction as morning sickness and raised his eyebrows as he inquired. ¡°Is it tough? If you need anything, just tell me. I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± ¡°Thank you. I feel incredibly safe and secure with you.¡± Asha approached him and embraced him tightly. ¡°To be honest, as the day of childbirth approaches, I¡¯ve been feeling a bit scared. But with you by my side, I believe I can do it.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry. You are the strongest and most amazing woman I have ever seen in my life. You will definitely be able to do it.¡± Jackal encouraged her and hugged her from behind, gently caressing her belly. As his warm touch reached her, her pain and discomfort seemed to melt away. With Jackal by her side, she felt that she could overcome anything. A few days later, the day of the baby¡¯s birth finally arrived. * * * * * Asha¡¯s piercing screams echoed throughout the room that Jackal had prepared. He didn¡¯t know what to do and nervously paced back and forth in front of the room, clutching his bangs. Every time she screamed, his body shuddered involuntarily. Jackal began to tremble as his face turned pale. He hadn¡¯t felt this terrified since the incident when Asha was injured by a wasp sting in her chest. He was so afraid that she might die¡­.. But then, Asha¡¯s cries resounded from the room once more. Jackal couldn¡¯t contain himself and was about to enter the room, but Sonya rushed out and stopped him. ¡°No! The midwife said that if you enter now, she might pull out all your hair!¡± Inside the room, the village¡¯s most experienced midwife was assisting Asha through the birthing process. ¡°It¡¯s alright. If it means my wife will experience a little less pain, I don¡¯t mind losing my hair.¡± Having said that, Jackal immediately transformed into Sheppy and burst into the room. When a large horse entered the room, the midwife screamed in fright. ¡°Oh my goodness!¡± Jackal¡¯s eyes narrowed when he saw Asha on the bed, drenched in a cold sweat and wearing a pained expression. He approached her cautiously, kneeling beside the bed. ¡°¡­¡­ Purung.¡± Asha weakly opened her eyes and turned her gaze towards the side. In front of her, was the face of a bluish-gray horse, with tears in its eyes and a very sad expression. ¡°Jackal¡­..Aghh!¡± Asha tightly closed her eyes, letting out screams and unknowingly gripping Sheppy¡¯s mane. Tears welled in Jackal¡¯s eyes as he endured the pain of having his hair pulled, but he did not flinch and stood his ground by her side. Observing this, the midwife was deeply moved. In the village, most men were prohibited from entering the birthing room. Occasionally, some husbands would enter out of concern for their wives, but they would quickly flee after experiencing their hair being pulled. Ever since she witnessed such scenes, the midwife has never let the husbands into the room. That was because there were so many couples who fought and broke up after what happened during the birth. But Jackal offered his head silently, as if to tell her to hold on to his mane, and made not a sound for fear of scaring Asha. ¡®Truly, the village chief¡­ is a great lover.¡¯ The midwife did her best to help with the delivery, determined to end their pain as quickly as possible. Sonya helped Asha by wiping her face and body with a damp towel. Time passed, and with the passionate encouragement of the midwife, Asha gathered her last strength, and finally, the sound of a baby¡¯s cry filled the room. At the same time, Asha and Jackal relaxed, releasing the tension that had gripped their bodies. The midwife cut the umbilical cord and held the baby in her arms. ¡°Congratulations! You have a beautiful princess!¡± Upon hearing those words, Asha and Jackal shed tears at the same time. The baby¡¯s name was ¡®Melissa¡¯. The midwife securely wrapped the newborn and gently placed her into Asha¡¯s arms. The baby, a lovely blonde girl, bore a striking resemblance to Asha. ¡°Purung, purung¡­¡­¡± Jackal, appearing excited, shed a few tears and twitched his nose as he hovered beside them before transforming back into his human form. Startled by Jackal¡¯s sudden transformation, the midwife once again screamed and covered her eyes. Jackal quickly wrapped a towel around his lower body and stood next to Asha, looking at the baby together. His hair, ripped out by Asha, was disheveled in all directions. Witnessing this, Asha laughed with tears in her eyes.