Chapter 88: What Happened One Night VI (part 1)

It wasn’t something new…

In fact everyone knew that the Decaraznan family was truly wealthy—one of the top five on the entire continent. 

That meant they were rich enough to lavish money even on something as seemingly trivial as gardening.  

Of course, that didn’t mean the art of gardening itself wasn’t appreciated. 

A well-maintained garden was often seen as a reflection of a family’s prestige. However, very few noble houses could compare to the Decaraznan, who spared no expense in maintaining their gardens, pouring money into them as if it were nothing.  

The entire backyard behind the mansion was enchanted with magic that kept the temperature constant regardless of the season. Flowers bloomed year-round, unaffected by time or weather. 

It was similar to the place where Bianca had once kidnapped me—where flowers flourished outside their natural cycles—but the emotions I felt then and the ones I felt now as I admired this garden were vastly different.  

Bianca, like a mage with no sensitivity to aesthetics, had haphazardly raised flowers without consideration for harmony. 

In contrast, the Heir Estel’s family had carefully curated their garden, ensuring each flower bloomed in perfect accord with the others. Every detail was meticulously planned to create a seamless and beautiful landscape. The effort put into making the flower beds as harmonious as possible was evident in every corner.  

Because of that, I had developed a habit of taking a walk through this breathtaking garden after meals. 

I had wanted to walk here with Aria, but unfortunately, she was busy with a task I had entrusted to her. 

Left with no other choice, I strolled through the garden alone.  

“Ah, Heir Estel. I didn’t expect to see you here. What brings you to this place?” 

“…Lady Decaraznan?” 

As I wandered, I happened to run into Noel von Decaraznan in the middle of the flower garden. 

It wasn’t surprising, of course—what was strange about the owner of the estate walking through their own garden?  

The noble lady gave me a soft smile, then stepped closer and whispered in a quiet voice.  

“Heir Estel, if it’s not too rude, would you like to take a tour of the garden with me? The gardens of the Heir Estel of Decaraznan is renowned across the empire as a breathtaking sight.”  

“…Together?”  

I couldn’t help but answer hesitantly. I had already explored the garden, and I wasn’t particularly keen on spending an awkward amount of time with someone I wasn’t close to.  

“…Can’t I? Please?”  

Perhaps noticing my hesitation, the lady gently linked her arm with mine, her movements as smooth and deliberate as a serpent’s. …Honestly, I could have brushed her off if I wanted to, but the situation made it difficult. 

Rejecting her outright wouldn’t reflect well on me, especially when she had extended the offer so graciously.  

“…Alright.”  

In the end, I had no choice but to nod and accompany her on another walk through the garden. 

If there was one silver lining, it was that the lady kept the conversation flowing effortlessly. She chattered on about trivial matters, preventing any awkward silence between us—a relief, considering I had little to say to her.  

“Heir Estel, have you made any progress in your sword training?”  

“Yes, well. Thanks to your help, I’ve made some improvements.”  

“Heh, I’m glad I could be of assistance to you.”  

And so, we continued walking at a leisurely pace, chatting about small, inconsequential things. 

But then—  

Noel von Decaraznan suddenly glanced at my face before stepping subtly into my space.  

“…Lady Decaraznan…? What are you—”  

“Shh. Stay still, Heir Estel.”  

She whispered in my ear in a hushed voice, then, with slow and deliberate movements, draped her arm over my shoulder. It was a posture that, from afar, would easily be mistaken for an intimate moment between lovers.  

The distance between us shrank as she leaned closer, her soft body brushing against mine. 

I stiffened, unsure of how to react. 

The moment our faces were about to touch—  

Bang!

A sudden noise echoed from behind me, shattering the magical silence that had enveloped the garden.  

“…Ah.”  

My dazed mind snapped back to clarity. 

I blinked at the princess in surprise, only to see her smiling at me as she held something between her fingers.  

“…I apologize if I startled you, but I noticed something on your shoulder, and it was bothering me too much to ignore.”  

She held up a thin strand of spider web in her hand.  

Had she moved so stealthily just to remove a spider web from my shoulder?  

“…Princess.”  

“Yes, Heir Estel?”  

I met her still-smiling gaze and asked,  

“Didn’t I just hear something behind me?”  

The princess responded with nothing more than a coy smile.  

“Well, I’m not sure. Perhaps a large rat ran away?”  

***

[Sarah’s POV]  

‘…Why?’  

Why?  

Sarah couldn’t understand what she was doing.  

Why had she instinctively hidden behind a pillar the moment she saw Cain walking with Noel von Decaraznan?  

Even now, it wasn’t too late. 

She could just walk past them as if nothing had happened. 

She hadn’t done anything wrong. There was no reason for her to hide like a frightened mouse—  

‘…Ah.’