Chapter 59

Translator: wuttisyun

‘I’ll find out when I get there.’

Come to think of it, Fleon had been like this since long ago.

When Ashey was 9, Fleon had kicked out her maid because she had been shocked by her cheek and screamed in fear.

“I didn’t like the maid.”

Fleon had fired a little girl who was the daughter of an official of intermediate ranking, kicking her out of the palace by complaining that she could not do her work properly. The girl was never allowed to work as a maid ever again.

He had always been caring. Being caring seemed to be his innate characteristic. It was not until after some time did she find out why he was like this.

It would be funny sometimes how easily she could read him through him, though to him it could only be frustrating.

One time, when Ashley had accidentally broken one of Fleon’s cherished teacups, Fleon had gotten angry at the teacup and not at Ashley. He had gone livid, demanding to know why the teacup was in that position in the first place.

A few days later, he brought up an identical teacup and drank tea from it casually.

“I’m rich. Apologies when you’re sorry are the most annoying to hear. Don’t do it. Got it?”

Lies. He had been angry. He was as easy to see through as clear glass beads. He might have seemed like a self-centred person who liked to throw curve balls but he could only throw straight balls.

“How long are we walking for?”

“… Hang in there, stupid.”

“I’m not stupid.”

She followed Fleon as we walked along the long fence.

After getting used to his walking speed, she could then afford to look around them. She then noticed a wall with a blue anvil and a small hammer engraved on it.

This was clearly the Terrent Palace.

Fleon let go of her hand.

“Why are we here?”

Ashley stood at the gate leading to the garden overrun by vines. Fleon walked inside before Ashley followed closely behind.

“Come in.”

As soon as she entered, a sweet scent hit her first. It smelled familiar.

‘Oh my.’

She blinked and looked at the table. It looked splendid and luxurious. There were fruits that should not have been available at all this season, sherbet, cake and ‘Pora’ which was a snack that was a mix between a tart and a feuille. And in a steaming teapot was her favourite tea, chamomile.

After she slowly raised her head, she stared at something above her.

‘Lantern tree?’

A huge lantern tree which she had only seen in the summers of her previous life was lowering its branches into the banquet. The fluttering flower petals had settled atop the teacups.

She did not know why they were blooming this season but there were purple, pink and blue flowers. Flowers that resembled her, Dane and Fleon’s eyes were blossoming.

Ashley’s eyes and nose were being spoilt by the sights and sounds of such beautiful things in front of her.

“What are you doing, not sitting down?”

Fleon approached the table and pulled out a chair.

Ashley looked at Fleon and asked cheerfully.

“Didn’t you hate flowers?”

“Yeah, I hate them.”

He grumbled whilst biting his cheek.

“I don’t like the sight and smell of them.”

“Then, what’s this?”

He gazed at Ashley.

“You don’t know?”

“I’m asking because I don’t.”

No matter what he said, Ashley replied calmly. Fleon opened his mouth as if he was going to say something else but he soon closed it.

‘… Damn, this bratty chick.’

Not necessarily annoyed at anything, Fleon spoke with a sigh.

“This, with you, ha…. Do I have to say this out loud?”

“Yeah, you have to.”

Ashley blinked and tilted her head.

“I wouldn’t know anything if you don’t tell me.”

As the girl spoke, she held him in her clear gaze firmly.

‘Damn.’

Now, he was really annoyed. Because this was not the reaction he had been expecting.

‘I was pretty sure she’d like this though?’

Contrary to his expectations, his little sister was just standing there like a carp, opening and closing her mouth. Her expression made her look as if Fleon had dragged her to a birthday party she did not want to go to.

Thanks to her, his mood was now in a mess. Wrinkles began to form one by one as he furrowed his eyebrows before he erupted.

“Ah, really! I brought you here because I thought you’d like it! Happy?”

He exclaimed relentlessly.

“When you sprinkle something, you should sprinkle it quickly. I forced my palace’s chef to make whatever snacks you liked!”

Fleon really hated flowers. He really hated sweet things too. Everything considered to be conventionally soft, sweet, cute and pretty were not his cup of tea. When he wanted to make them himself, he had to shut his mouth and deal with the disadvantages that it brought him.

“Shit, this bratty shick! What are you doing over there just standing around? Just look and eat, okay? Does the reason matter that much? Sit down!”

He liked more elegant and refined things—like teas with deep fragrances, sculptures with lasting impressions and instead of flamboyant colours, he preferred more achromatic ones. Unlike his more unruly personality, his tastes were more refined and neat as that of a Templar.

“… Did you just laugh? You laughed? At me?”

“Ahah—Ow. It hurts, brother.”

Only this time, Ashley grabbed onto her brother’s hand.

Now, it did not hurt even when Fleon tried his best to pinch or hit her but when she showed it as it was, her two older brothers looked sad for some reason. Sometimes she would wonder why they look as if they were taking on the pile of emotions weighing on her. She wanted to ask.

After repeating her days so often, the girl found it hard to get back to her normal routine. So, she would sometimes do things that subtly went against her original character and was hence forced to take things slow as she reflected on her actions.

Only then did she realise that these were the things that were making her older brothers uncomfortable.

‘The 6th Prince hates flowers, especially roses because they were so flamboyant. When he was younger, he had trouble eating cake so all the snacks from Walter were packed away.’

She glanced at the table again. Under the huge lantern tree, there were snacks which sweet scent were intoxicating her nose. And the rest of the scenery was very elegant and beautiful.

“Pfft. Haha, hahahahaha. Brother. Brother. Did you like me that much, brother?”

Feeling the warmth that was enveloping her heart, Ashley asked cheerfully.

Fleon stared at her coldly before whipping his head around.

“I’m right. You did something that was not like you because you were worried about me.”

“Who said that it’s for you?!”

“Then, who’s it for?”

“…..”

Ashley let out a small laugh before lowering her gaze for a moment.

Ashley lifted her hand and removed the petals off Fleon’s head. Even when she was on tiptoes, it was barely within her reach. He frowned slightly.

“Thank you.”

Instead of replying her, Fleon just shoved strawberries in her mouth.

“Just eat.”

Then, he lowered his head and carefully examined Ashley’s face. The corners of his eyes slanted diagonally. His dark blue eyes were rolling left and right, calmly gazing at the girl.

“Is it not tasty?”

Ashley smiled as she gasped for air after she chewed on the strawberries.

“It’s tasty.”

“… Then? Try not to leave anything behind.”

“Then, I’ll have a stomachache.”

Ashley raised her finger and poked the back of his neck.

“Did you just say stomachache? Just get sick then.”

Fleon replied her as if he was growling as he lowered his voice.

‘What do you want me to do?’

Then, what was he going to do?

When she finished eating, Fleon approached her and disheveled her hair without saying a word. Then, he stretched out his neck to look at her. Ashley’s ash blonde hair fell on her shoulders.

Ashley, who had widened her eyes for a moment, giggled before laughing.

“Fleon, can I tell you a secret?”

“… I’m not curious.”

“Don’t be like that. Look at me.”

Then, she felt Fleon who had been holding his chin turn this way.

“I’m older than I look.”

“… I know how old you are even without you telling me.”

He replied sternly.

Was she joking?

“I was being serious.”

She smiled widely as she placed her outstretched hand on her brother’s head. For some reason, she felt more comfortable smiling.

“Thank you. I had forgotten for the first time.”

The nightmare of the day when she first died.

At night, the sky was clear just like the skies people see from the countryside where it was pollution-free.

Ashley leaned against her headboard for a while as she laid on her bed. She folded her arms and looked out the window. Then, she lowered her head and buried it in her knees.

It was 12 again. Another day had passed. Ashley could feel the fatigue coming over her like waves.

‘Today’s the day I’m going to be assassinated.’

She might be killed by an uninvited guest at night but her body was urging her to sleep.

She rubbed her eyes and recalled what she did that day.

‘The diary did not say anything about Fleon bringing me to the garden.’

Then, could this count as a variable and change the outcome?

‘No.’

So far, she had only managed to stop her deaths as they came or just died. In other words, her death would always come though it may change forms. But why would I be quietly assassinated?

‘I didn’t do anything.’

She would have to stay up all night to keep watch.

In the diary entries that reappeared, there were a lot of pages depicting her assassinations and her poisonings. Perhaps what had happened between her and Castor had fallen into the ears of enemies. Or maybe the fact that she was now under Granius’ guidance had spread.

What the hell was going to happen? For how much longer do I have to keep dying?

She felt faint just thinking about it.

She was resentful that the contents of the novel were so miniscule.

‘Why did the novel not cover all of Castor’s life?’

Would her life have been any different if it had? She knew it was a situation she should not feel resent for but she kept holding onto it.

With a head filled with complaints, Ashley repeatedly rubbed her eyes while trying to keep her heavy head up.

‘Why’s my body so uncomfortable?’

She could not overcome her exhausted and overworked body and fell asleep.

***

Thump.

A man dressed in all black, entered through the window. Without disrupting the silence, the intruder entered quietly. Dark clouds were floating in the sky and the blue moon could be seen through the clouds. Without moving, the man scanned the room. Soon, his gaze stopped at the bed.

There was a bulge in the white blanket. The man heard footsteps in the hallway and he waited for the sound to pass.

A gust of wind blew and the moon was revealed from behind the clouds. Under the moonlight, the man’s eyes were only staring at one place. The sharp dagger glinted coldly.

The man moved his left foot forward lightly.

“Huh?”

At that moment, a strange feeling crept up in the man and he instinctively froze. But since his body was already in the air, it was difficult to move it fully but he could still take care of whatever came after. His body crashed onto the floor.

The pain came late.

“Urgh…”

“Quiet.”

Ray stomped onto the man’s neck and placed his sword along his collarbone. The man flinched without screaming since Ray was applying pressure on his vocal cords.

“This rat will have to pay for entering without permission. Don’t you think so?”

Ray gripped the sword a little tighter. Until now, the man who was being held by Ray’s sword was thrashing and swinging his dagger around which led to his pain.

“Oh my, how could you enter the chambers of a cherished one whilst holding something so dangerous?”

Someone then kicked the sword away with their feet. The sword spun and flew under the bed.

“My Prince.”

Ray raised his head and called out for him. Dane grinned before whispering back and placing an index finger on his lips.

“We can’t wake the Princess, Ray.”

“Once the Princess is asleep, she wouldn’t even notice if you start carrying her.”

Dane shook his head gently.

“But there’s still a possibility.”

“I’ll retrieve what fell under the bed.”

Ray replied bluntly before stomping his foot on the man who was still wriggling.

“Cough!”

The pain that he felt when Ray accurately stepped on an acupuncture point paralysed the man. Since he was experienced, he did not lose his mind from the pain but his mind did have to distance from this situation to escape from the ensuing pain.

“Who sent it this time?”

“How would I know?”

With his hazy vision, the man saw a boy he had never seen before in his life squatting down in front of him.

‘… An angel?’

T/N:

uwu fleon best boi