Don't Pick That Flower (2 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 9
Irene jumped back in alarm. In contrast, Jesse let out a soft laugh and stroked the creature that had licked Irene’s cheek.
“Yomi. You mustn’t startle the lady.”
Yomi? Irene touched her damp cheek and stared at the creature called Yomi.
It was a young deer with two small horns. Unlike ordinary deer, its fur was pitch black, as if draped in black cloth.
“I’m sorry.”
Jesse apologized on behalf of the mute creature.
“It’s still young, and unlike most monsters, it’s unusually fond of people—hence the rudeness.”
“Monster… you say?”
The monsters Irene knew were ferocious, terrifying, and fearsome in appearance.
Yet the deer before her was utterly adorable and endearing. It looked nothing like a monster, no matter how she viewed it.
“Not all monsters are frightening in appearance.”
Jesse spoke as if she knew exactly what Irene was thinking.
“There are many monsters as cute as this one—though admittedly, they’re only cute when young. Once they mature, they become fearsome.”
Thump-thump. As if understanding Jesse’s words, Yomi stamped the ground with its front hooves to express displeasure. Jesse chuckled softly and patted Yomi’s back.
“Alright, alright. I’ll say you’re majestic.”
Satisfied at last, Yomi ceased its antics and turned its innocent, wide eyes toward Irene.
“Oh dear. It seems you’ve quite captured the little one’s heart.”
“Perhaps it’s just fond of people in general?”
“Even so, it doesn’t usually cling like this. Then again… you must radiate something special.”
Murmuring almost to herself, Jesse handed Irene a handkerchief.
“Wipe your face, my lady.”
“Thank you.”
Irene dabbed away Yomi’s saliva from her cheek with the handkerchief. Fortunately, it wasn’t sticky at all. Jesse continued.
“I apologize, but I must take this little one to the monster pen. Would you mind waiting here just a moment?”
“Of course.”
Jesse retracted her promise to return quickly and hastily dragged Yomi—who still couldn’t tear its gaze from Irene—away from the spot.
Left alone, Irene approached the castle wall. Up close, it felt even taller.
“Climbing over this is clearly impossible.”
That meant she’d have to leave through the main gate…
Ah—surely there must be a separate servants’ entrance? They wouldn’t lower the drawbridge every single time servants came and went…
Deciding to search for it, Irene turned around—and spotted someone walking toward her along the wall.
“Dewey?”
The man was indeed Dewey. At the sound of his name, he stopped abruptly, his crimson eyes locking onto Irene.
Meeting his gaze—sharp and cold as a honed blade—Irene stiffened involuntarily.
That man… isn’t Dewey.
Though identical in appearance to Dewey, his presence felt entirely different. If Dewey gave off a soft, golden warmth, this man exuded a piercing, icy blue chill.
Who could this man be, looking exactly like Dewey?
As Irene studied him curiously, she noticed a thin trickle of blood running down his cheek.
‘He must be injured.’
Feeling compelled to wipe the blood away, Irene stepped closer. As the distance between them narrowed, the man’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Here…”
Just as Irene reached out with the handkerchief Jesse had given her—close enough for her fingertips to brush his skin—
Clang.
A sharp metallic sound rang out, followed by a cold sensation against Irene’s throat.
The man had drawn the sword at his waist and pressed its blade to her neck.
Plop. The handkerchief slipped from Irene’s trembling fingers and fell to the floor.
“Don’t come any closer.”
He crushed the handkerchief underfoot and spoke in a chilling voice.
“Don’t you dare approach me, filthy human.”
Raw, terrifying hostility radiated from him, enough to make one’s skin crawl.
Irene was both startled and frightened—this was the first person she’d met today, and yet he treated her this way.
Especially unnerving was the sharp blade at her throat, which felt as if it might pierce her neck at any moment.
The fear of death, momentarily forgotten, rose like heat haze before her eyes. As Irene trembled visibly with terror, the man’s eyes narrowed further.
“You scoundrel!”
At that instant, a booming voice rang out from behind Irene.
It was Jesse. Upon seeing her, the man frowned as if annoyed and lowered his sword.
Jesse stormed over like a charging bull, shoved Irene behind her, and glared fiercely at the man.
“How dare you raise your sword to the lady! Have you lost your mind?”
“She approached me first.”
“She’s not ‘that woman’—she’s the lady!”
“Fine, that woman.”
“Ugh…!”
Frustrated that the man ignored her completely, Jesse stomped her foot—much like Yomi when angered.
“You don’t seriously not know who the lady is, do you?”
“I know.”
“Then why act like this?”
“Is there a rule against it?”
The man tilted his head quizzically.
“Either way, that woman will soon disappear.”
Disappear? Bewildered by his cryptic words, Irene peeked out from behind Jesse.
Jesse, however, seemed to grasp his meaning and shouted back instantly.
“No! This time, she won’t disappear!”
“We’ll see about that.”
The man replied indifferently, sheathed his sword, and looked directly at Irene.
After staring for a moment at her clear, sparkling blue eyes—so full of innocent ignorance—he clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned away.
Jesse watched his retreating back and raised both middle fingers.
“What an insufferable wretch.”
Her scrunched-up face instantly smoothed out the moment she turned to Irene, her eyes softening with sorrow.
“I’m so sorry, my lady. That mongrel must have frightened you terribly.”
Irene shook her head. Though startled, she didn’t feel the need to cling to Jesse and complain.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. But who was that man? He looked just like Mr. Dewey…”
“Of course he does. They’re twins.”
“Twins?”
Surprised, Irene repeated the word, prompting Jesse to let out a short gasp.
“Oh right—the Luman Empire considers twins unholy.”
As Jesse explained, twins were deemed unhallowed by the gods; only the firstborn was allowed to live, while the younger was killed by custom.
If anyone, swayed by misplaced affection, dared to spare both, the temple would rage that this defied divine will—and execute them all.
That was why Irene was so shocked to learn Dewey and that man were twins.
It also struck her as odd that Jesse only realized this now—it sounded as if she weren’t even an imperial citizen.
“Aren’t you from the Empire?”
“For now, yes—since I live in the Esper Territory.”
“What do you mean by ‘for now’?”
“Hmm… how should I explain this…”
Jesse scratched her head, thought for a moment, then added,
“Put simply, I’m originally from another country, but became an imperial citizen after pledging myself to my master. Does that make sense?”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Good.”
Jesse smiled gently and linked arms with Irene.
“Then let’s head to the knights’ training grounds, my lady.”
*
After finishing her tour of the knights’ grounds, Irene bathed and headed to the dining hall. She’d eaten breakfast and lunch simply in her room, but dined in the hall for dinner.
According to Jesse, eating in one’s room made it hard to sample all the dishes properly.
Indeed, dining in the hall allowed her to enjoy a wide variety of foods—but there was simply too much. At a glance, there were over ten different dishes, each served in enormous portions.
When Irene first saw the laden table, she’d even asked Jesse if others would be joining her.
But everything was prepared solely for her. Unaccustomed to such luxury, Irene felt both bewildered and burdened.
The unnecessarily vast dining hall and table made dining alone uncomfortable too.
But what troubled her most were the utensils. At home, she’d used just one fork, one knife, and one spoon.
Here, there were three forks and three knives. Multiple wine glasses. And plates changed with each course.
So this is how nobles dine. Having never witnessed it, she couldn’t possibly know.
If someone else had been dining with her, she could have discreetly mimicked them—but alone, she simply picked up the one fork and one knife she felt most familiar with.
She glanced quickly at Jesse and the servants waiting discreetly at a distance, checking if she’d done it right.
Seeing her uncertainty, Jesse reassured her to eat comfortably and led the servants out of the hall.
With no one left to watch her, Irene used the utensils however she pleased.
That evening was no different. Alone in the grand dining hall, she was halfway through dinner when the firmly shut door opened.
Was it time for dessert already?
“Hrk!”
Irene turned absentmindedly—and choked in surprise upon seeing Carlos entering through the door. Luckily, she hadn’t yet put the neatly cut steak into her mouth; otherwise, she would have spat it out.
Carlos, whom she hadn’t seen in nearly two days, looked utterly exhausted. Normally, that would make someone look unattractive—but not Carlos. Instead, he exuded a decadent allure that made Irene momentarily lose herself staring at him.
Carlos fixed his gaze on Irene and strode toward her. The strong scent of blood emanating from him at close range snapped her back to her senses.
“The smell of blood…”
Irene murmured unconsciously, causing Carlos to halt abruptly.
She fell silent and stared back at him. Though the metallic scent was overpowering, she couldn’t spot a single bloodstain on him. Perhaps his black clothes concealed it?
No—she needed to stand. It was improper to remain seated when a noble entered.
Just as Irene rose from her seat, Carlos spoke.
“…Sorry.”
His uncharacteristic apology made Irene pause mid-motion and look up at him again.
“I should’ve washed first, but I was in a hurry.”
“…”
“And I’m short on time.”
After offering this inexplicable excuse, Carlos extended his hand toward her.
“Will you hold my hand for a moment?”
Irene’s eyes dropped naturally to his outstretched hand.
“You probably don’t want to hold a blood-scented hand during dinner… but I’m asking you.”
The word “asking” also felt wrong coming from him.
Had he commanded her instead, she would have taken his hand without a second thought—but phrased as a request, her mind filled with hesitation.
“Do you dislike it?”
“…No.”
She meant it sincerely. Truly, she didn’t feel outright aversion or reluctance toward holding Carlos’s hand.
Yet she remained still, neither eager nor refusing—until Carlos spoke again.
“I’m asking you.”
His earnest tone suppressed the flicker of hesitation in her heart.
Irene gave a small nod and took his hand.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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