Not only Jeanne was bewildered by the current situation. Ashika had been trying hard not to show her rapidly beating heart.
The two people who usually bickered, growled at each other, fought, or engaged in tense power struggles, were now walking peacefully in the same direction for the first time in their lives. And they were doing so in the middle of a flower garden filled with couples whispering words of love.
‘Why is it so quiet? This is awkward.’
His usual mischievous attitude seemed to have disappeared completely. Since the man who always picked fights first was staying silent, she couldn’t think of what to say first.
“Have you been well lately?”
Ashika’s eyes widened at his politely asked question.
‘Did this man eat something wrong?’
Seeing her expression that transparently revealed her thoughts, Drushia’s brows furrowed.
“Is it that surprising that I’m asking how you are? No matter how bad-tempered I am, I’m not rude enough to mistreat someone who saved my life.”
“Ah, right.”
Life-saver. Words that should have made her happy instead pierced her heart like thorns. It felt like air was rapidly escaping from her previously inflated chest.
Even Talion, who despised Igraine the most, would have to put aside his grudges and welcome someone who had done him such a great favor. Especially since she hadn’t asked for any compensation.
‘What was I expecting?’
As her excited feelings subsided, disappointment turned into sharp sarcasm.
“How did you know I was here? Did you plant a spy in my house?”
“You’re one to talk. Do you think I don’t know about the eyes and ears in my house? Sister, was it?”
“Ah!”
“I didn’t send her away. Just moved her from the main house to the annex.”
His deep blue eyes pierced through her clearly. Eyes that seemed to say, ‘I know everything you’re doing.’
Ashika’s gaze subtly avoided his. It was true that they had been continuously monitoring and investigating each other.
Ashika found it difficult to speak up. She didn’t ask why he had come looking for her. She felt that once she knew the reason, their time together would be that much shorter. For some reason, Drushia also didn’t readily bring it up.
As a result, the two were awkwardly walking in silence. After an excruciatingly slow stroll, Ashika and Drushia had reached the outer edge of the circular garden.
Under brightly lit street lamps, a unique color caught their eye along the perimeter of the circular garden. Purple-blue flower clusters nodded gently on stems that had risen without a single leaf.
“It looks like a type of lily, but with an unusual color,” Ashika said, breaking the awkward silence.
“I heard it’s a flower bred by a famous gardener in the capital. The color is so unique that they make boutonnieres modeled after this flower to give as gifts.”
“The color is rather cool for a flower.”
The mysterious blue-purple hue seemed familiar somehow. As Ashika tilted her head, Drushia spoke first.
“That familiar color… Ah, that jewel.”
“What?”
“Are you still wearing it? That broken jewel pendant.”
Drushia shifted his gaze to the area around her neck. A thin platinum chain followed her white neckline, hidden in the front of her chest.
“That necklace, could I see it once more?”
“Why?”
When his gaze moved to her cleavage, Ashika instinctively raised her hand to cover her chest. Drushia’s gaze intensified at her reflexive action.
“You know, acting so defensively makes things even more strange.”
“What do you mean?”
The modest curves of her chest, covered by her white hands, were visible. Due to the summer dress with a deep neckline, her beautifully stretched collarbones and the white skin below were fully exposed. Just a little lower would be the soft breast flesh that once filled his hand.
“That…”
Damn it, he cursed silently. Drushia swallowed hard and barely managed to turn his gaze away.
“I’ve seen it before. The jewel in that necklace.”
“Really? Where?”
Her previously cautious attitude disappeared instantly. Ashika opened her eyes wide and took a step closer to him.
“Is that important to Lady Igraine?”
“Don’t keep me in suspense. Where did you see it? Is it among your possessions? Can you show it to me?”
She had searched all the jewelers in the capital trying to find the same jewel. But she couldn’t find even a similar raw stone.
Seeing her eager face, Drushia’s eyes sparkled.
“It seems important. It’s also quite important to me, so I’m reluctant to share freely.”
Though he couldn’t be certain without seeing the actual object, he had definitely seen it in his dream. If the dream was accurate, that jewel would be in Talion’s portrait somewhere in the imperial palace.
“Why? Is it in a dangerous place? Will someone get hurt if I know? Or…”
“If I give you the answer you want, what can Lady Igraine give me in return?”
“What…”
Ashika closed her mouth when she saw the smile on Drushia’s lips.
‘Again! He never makes anything easy!’
He was a man who always sought to maximize his own benefit at every moment. Despite knowing she shouldn’t let her guard down, her heart had melted the moment she saw Drushia’s face.
Drushia found such an Ashika fascinating.
‘She’s definitely become more careless.’
The attitude of wrapping herself up tightly and meticulously building walls had long disappeared.
‘She’s changed. Or rather, this must be her true self.’
His gaze toward Ashika grew tender. He smiled at her honest responses that came moment by moment. However, the better Drushia’s mood became, the worse Ashika’s plummeted.
“You called me your life-saver. How can you treat me so poorly?”
“I’ll repay the favor slowly over time. But this is a separate matter, isn’t it?”
“Oh, really.”
Every word he spoke was so irritating. Ashika bit her lip and glared at him.
“Then why did you chase me here? If you have something to say, say it without dragging it out.”
“Ah, well.”
Being so glad to see her, Drushia had forgotten why he had come to meet Ashika.
“You see, it’s not simple.”
“What’s not simple?”
Despite Ashika’s urging, Drushia couldn’t readily open his mouth. He had worried about it all week but couldn’t ask anyone.
‘Should I talk about this?’
Now that he was facing Ashika, it became even harder to speak. Drushia’s lips moved but ultimately failed to produce words.
‘I can hear your voice.’
Anyone who heard would think he was crazy. But it wasn’t a joke or metaphor—he truly remembered her voice that he had never heard before.
[Rushia, I love you.]
A familiar voice and an affectionate whisper that tickled his senses. He had suddenly woken up from sleep. The shock made his heart sink, and he couldn’t move for a while. After this absurd dream, only one person came to mind.
Drushia quietly gazed at Ashika’s clear face. With the same face and voice, she had spoken words that this woman could never possibly say.
“Just one thing…”
He began to speak but closed his mouth again. Even asking seemed nonsensical. They had only spent two nights together.
‘If I asked if she loves me, she would think I’m crazy.’
It might even blow away any hint of affection she showed him.
“That alchemist who made the medicine, are they trustworthy?”
That was the only thing he could doubt. His body had certainly recovered, but something in his mind seemed strange.
He had followed Nile when he left the Talion mansion, but lost him in less than an hour. He had heard that the man was so cunning even the knights were impressed.
“Why? Are there side effects? Are you in pain?”
The sharp look in her eyes softened. Concern filled Ashika’s face with worry.
“No, I’m not in pain, but I’m asking because I don’t know who the apothecary is.”
“If there are any strange symptoms, tell me right away. Even if the person who made the medicine is trustworthy, rare medicines can cause problems.”
She didn’t trust Iben. But she couldn’t honestly tell Drushia, so she gave a vague answer.
“So how is the investigation going? Have you found out who did it?”
“No, not yet.”
There were suspicious individuals, but motives and methods remained unclear. It wasn’t something he could speak freely about.
“By the way, some of the intruders who broke into the mansion were from the Grand Duke’s territory.”
“What?”
“They claim they didn’t know what they were doing, and it doesn’t seem like they’re lying. Has Duke Igraine mentioned anything about this issue to you?”
“Ah.”
Ashika shook her head. Regarding the Grand Duke’s territory, Weive didn’t tell Ashika anything beyond the authority granted to her. It was frustrating even for Drushia, who knew the approximate situation.
“We need a proper investigation into the Grand Duke’s territory. So I was thinking…”
Suddenly, they felt gazes focused on them.
Their awkwardly distanced posture and somewhat serious faces. The atmosphere didn’t match the lovers in the park, and passersby kept glancing at them.
Ashika belatedly realized that they were in the middle of a public park.
“This doesn’t seem like the place to talk about this.”
“It’s hard to make another appointment since you’ve repeatedly rejected my invitations.”
Ashika quickly surveyed the surroundings.
“Over there…”
“What?”
“Let’s go that way…”
From the middle of the park, it wasn’t clear where she wanted to go. Drushia couldn’t immediately understand her uncharacteristically hesitant attitude.
Ashika closed her eyes tightly, then opened them and approached Drushia with light steps. Her gently extended hand tugged at his rolled-up sleeve.
“I said let’s go over there.”
Drushia’s eyes widened. The hand dangling from his sleeve tapped and pulled with determination. Though the force was slight, it conveyed a clear intention.
He covered his mouth with his other hand to hide his emerging smile.
As Drushia took a big step forward, Ashika held the end of his sleeve and slowly led the way. Glancing around stealthily, they headed to the back of the botanical garden building.
“You’re not suggesting we go in there?”
“I heard no one visits in the evening because they close the doors.”
“Hmm.”
In front of the botanical garden was just a warning sign not to enter after sunset and a bolt on the door.
Although Ashika attracted less attention due to her small stature, Drushia stood out wherever he went because of his tall height, build, and striking appearance.
‘This is better, I suppose. She has an unexpectedly reckless side.’
Thinking this, Drushia casually lifted the bolt on the door.
