Don't Pick That Flower (2 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 12
Not long after Dus left, Carlos called for Dewey.
At his master’s summons, Dewey immediately dropped what he was doing and rushed over, bowing respectfully at the waist.
“You called for me?”
“Pigeons will be visiting here soon.”
“Pigeons” was a slang term for priests.
Just as pigeons symbolized peace yet dirtied the streets and spread all kinds of diseases, priests too had earned this nickname for loudly preaching peace while secretly committing every sort of wickedness.
It was common for the Temple to send priests to the Esper Territory under various pretexts—blessings, rituals, charity for the poor, and so on.
Once, they had even brazenly claimed they wanted to build a temple within the Esper Territory, which had sent Carlos into a furious rage.
Naturally, he had flatly refused every single request from the Temple to allow their priests into the Esper Territory.
Yet now priests were coming to the Esper Territory? Dewey wore a baffled expression.
“Did you grant them permission to visit?”
Carlos snorted.
“As if I’d ever do something like that.”
That was true. Dewey nodded in agreement.
“Then how do they plan to come here?”
No matter how powerful the Temple’s authority was, they couldn’t enter a territory without the lord’s explicit permission.
Of course, if they insisted it was the Pope’s will and forced their way in recklessly, it might be possible—but that wouldn’t work with the Esper family.
When Dewey asked in confusion, Carlos replied with even greater bewilderment.
“Don’t you know anything at all?”
“Huh?”
So he really didn’t know. If Dewey had heard the news, he would’ve immediately asked Carlos what they should do about it.
“Just now, Dus brought me a newspaper published by the Temple.”
“Dus… did?”
“Yes. The paper carried an article about Irene and me. The headline read, ‘The Victor of the North, Bewitched by a Witch.’”
From just the headline, Dewey instantly inferred the article’s content and let out a hollow laugh.
“The Temple must be going to great lengths to get into the Esper Territory. But what do they plan to do once their lies are exposed?”
“They’ll just cut off the tail. After all, the main temple didn’t publish that article.”
“But the priests coming here will still be from the main temple—more precisely, the Pope’s dogs pretending to belong to a branch temple.”
Carlos silently affirmed this with a nod.
“I don’t know their true reason for insisting on entering the Esper Territory, but their stated reason will likely be to verify whether Lady Irene is truly a witch or not… Ah.”
Suddenly imagining something dreadful, Dewey grimaced and spoke firmly.
“We must refuse them. You must prevent those pigeons from setting foot inside the Esper Territory and keep them from meeting the lady, my lord.”
“If I try to stop them, I can—but the backlash will be severe.”
Already, rumors were rampant throughout the Empire—that Grand Duke Esper delighted in slaughter, that he carried the blood of monsters, and so on.
If Carlos now tried to bury the witch accusation without resolving it, the Temple would surely seize the opportunity to incite the Empire’s citizens.
Once that happened, the Imperial Court could no longer remain neutral and would have to intervene—and Carlos, bound by his alliance with them, would have no choice but to comply with their requests.
“A small spark, if ignored, can grow into a fire that burns down the entire house. We must extinguish it at the outset.”
“That’s true, but… I’m worried they might treat the lady disrespectfully. They could tell her you’re a frightening man and urge her to run away, or even try some strange brainwashing.”
“We’ll just have to stop them from doing that.”
Unlike his calm words, Carlos’s fingers tapped the desk restlessly.
“For now, prepare to welcome the pigeons warmly. They’ll arrive within two weeks at the latest.”
“Understood.”
“Also, tell Dus to tighten security.”
“…”
At this added order, Dewey hesitated, and Carlos clicked his tongue.
“When will you two finally reconcile? A hundred years should be more than enough time.”
Dewey fiddled with the silver chain of his dangling monocle.
“I’d like to make peace already, but he simply won’t accept it. Well, I suppose it’s only natural—he sees me as the one who tried to kill him…”
“It wasn’t you who tried to kill him.”
“But because of me, he nearly died—and actually did die, in fact.”
Suddenly recalling that long-ago incident, Dewey sighed briefly and bowed his head lightly.
“So, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it if you assigned someone else to deliver messages to him.”
“No. You’ll do it.”
Carlos insisted.
“As you said yourself, frequent meetings are the quickest way to become close.”
Dewey gave an awkward smile.
“That only works when there’s no ill will between both sides. You, my lord, know better than anyone that in this situation, meeting often would only make things worse.”
“…”
Struck right at the heart, Carlos could only fall silent.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Even as Dewey repeated his request and left, Carlos couldn’t utter a word.
Long after Dewey had gone, Carlos remained seated in the same spot.
“It’s because of you.”
Old memories flashed by like a carousel. Tap-tap—the sound of his fingers drumming the desk grew faster.
“Because of you, that child…!”
Bang!
Carlos lightly struck the desk, rose abruptly, and walked to the window. By now, a black veil had draped over the sky.
Staring blankly at the dark, cloud-choked heavens—so thick that even the moon’s halo was invisible—Carlos suddenly sensed someone’s presence and lowered his gaze.
“…”
There stood Irene, strolling through the garden with Jesse. She’d said she always took a walk after dinner, and true to her word, she was doing just that.
Carlos perched on the windowsill, watching Irene as she walked.
Unaware she was being observed, Irene strolled leisurely until she suddenly crouched down beneath the castle wall. Pointing at something with her slender fingers, she smiled toward Jesse.
“…”
At the sight, Carlos recalled her bright smile in the dining hall as she clutched a book to her chest.
If he gave her another book, she’d probably smile just as brightly again.
“…I’m mad.”
What was the point of watching her smile like that?
Feeling foolish for even having such thoughts, Carlos stood up with a hollow chuckle.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on Irene as she chatted and laughed with Jesse.
By then, moonlight had peeked out from behind the clouds, scattering brilliantly over her head.
*
“Thank you for lending me the book.”
Irene returned the etiquette book Carlos had given her on the second day after receiving it.
“Did you only read the dining etiquette section?”
“No, I read it all.”
“You’ve already finished it?”
The book Carlos had given Irene was extremely thick, detailing not just dining etiquette but also social graces and all the manners expected of nobles.
Incredulous that she’d finished it in just two days, he asked again, and Irene gave an embarrassed smile.
“Yes. I had plenty of time, so I finished it quickly. That’s why… um…”
Glancing cautiously at Carlos, Irene continued carefully.
“May I read another book?”
Just how afraid of me must she be to check my reaction even when asking something like this?
Carlos sighed inwardly, newly aware of how far he still had to go.
“Sure. What book would you like to read?”
Before Irene could answer, Carlos spoke again.
“Actually, never mind. I’ll just give you the library key—go pick whatever books you like and read them freely.”
Stunned by this unexpected offer, Irene’s eyes widened.
“Is that really okay?”
When Carlos nodded, Irene’s face instantly brightened. Her flushed cheeks resembled ripe peaches.
“Thank you!”
She really must love books.
Carlos felt a quiet pride, as if he’d managed to pry open just a sliver of Irene’s tightly closed heart—but at the same time, something prickled uncomfortably in his throat, making him frown.
He couldn’t quite tell what was bothering him.
*
Since arriving at Esper Castle, Irene’s daily routine had been extremely simple.
She’d wake up, eat breakfast, take a walk, eat lunch, take another walk, and then have dinner.
At first, she’d walked often to learn the castle’s layout and secretly search for an escape route—but now, there was no need for that.
She’d realized it was impossible to slip out unnoticed from Esper Castle, which was as impenetrable as a fortress.
Yet she kept walking simply because she had nothing else to do. Honestly, it was even more boring than being locked up at home.
So when Carlos gave her a book, Irene was overjoyed—finally, she had something to occupy her time.
After finishing it, she’d felt a little sad, thinking she’d be idle again—never imagining she’d receive the library key.
Irene tucked the key deep into her drawer as if it were a precious treasure.
Before bed, she checked several times to make sure it was still safely there, and upon waking, the first thing she did was open the drawer to confirm the key’s presence.
“…”
The corners of her eyes crinkled. Her lips curved into a gentle smile.
“Are you really that happy about getting the library key?”
Irene nodded eagerly, and Jesse shrugged as if she couldn’t help it.
“You’re probably the only person who gets this excited over a library key.”
“Is that strange?”
“Not strange, just unusual.”
Jesse combed Irene’s long hair with a paddle brush.
“You’re also the first person to ever ask the master for the library key. Usually, when he asks what someone wants, they request money or jewels.”
“He didn’t ask what I wanted.”
Carlos had merely asked if she liked books and offered to let her read others.
Then he’d handed her the library key, telling her to read as much as she liked.
“So if the master asked you what you wanted, would you ask for money or jewels?”
“…”
That wasn’t the case at all, so Irene fell silent. Jesse smiled knowingly and began braiding the neatly combed hair.
“The weather will get colder soon—why not ask the master for some new winter clothes?”
“No, what I’ve received already is more than enough.”
Irene’s dressing room adjoining her bedroom was filled with clothes and accessories.
She still vividly remembered her astonishment when Jesse told her everything was hers.
Asking Carlos for even more clothes felt utterly shameless.
“But the dresses in your room are for spring and autumn—they’ll be too thin for winter.”
“I can layer them to stay warm.”
For commoners barely scraping by, thick padded or fur-lined clothes were a luxury, so Irene had always survived cold winters by wearing multiple layers.
“That may be true, but you’ll look ridiculous.”
“Will I?”
“Of course! So you really should ask the master.”
Of course, Irene’s winter clothes didn’t actually require Carlos’s permission—they’d already been approved.
But Jesse said this because she believed it would help Irene grow closer to Carlos.
The sooner they became close and Irene opened her heart, the sooner the flower would bloom—and then…
Her deft fingers, tying a ribbon at the end of the braid, suddenly stilled. The corners of her lips turned down slightly, and her reddish eyes trembled faintly.
“Jesse?”
Noticing Jesse’s odd behavior in the vanity mirror, Irene called out to her curiously.
“Oh, sorry! I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
Jesse smiled as if nothing had happened and resumed her movements. She tied the ribbon neatly and draped a cashmere shawl over Irene’s small shoulders.
“Now that you’re ready, shall we head to the library?”
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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