“I changed everything just in case unpleasant memories came back when you returned here. But I don’t really know how to decorate it to your liking… It’s funny. I’ve been married once, but I know nothing about the Empress’s taste.”

He let out a self-deprecating laugh.

While preparing for Aisha’s return, he had instructed the servants to redecorate the Empress’s Palace. However, when asked how to decorate it, he had no answer. He had always given her everything she wanted without asking, presenting everything according to his taste.

Did she really need what he presented, or was it something she would be pleased to receive? He didn’t know.

Aisha looked back at him, and her eyes slightly widened when she saw the vase of flowers in his hand. Karaf, passing her by, stepped into the room and carefully placed the vase of flowers in a sunny spot near the bed.

The flower in the mysterious violet color was none other than a “columbine.”

Realizing why he had brought that flower, Aisha’s eyes became slightly teary without her realizing it.

Karaf, not daring to look at her, spoke while only looking down at the floor.

“All I know is that when I gave this flower to Violet Marquis, the Empress was pleased… I only knew how to offer my garden for the woman I love. I was a pathetic man who didn’t know how to pick a flower with my own hands.”

Karaf raised his head, discovering Aisha, who seemed like she might cry again. Somehow, then and now, he felt like he was always making her cry.

Karaf couldn’t bring himself to comfort her by placing his hand on her shoulder and, looking embarrassed, avoided eye contact, saying, “If you don’t like this room, please tell me anytime, Your Majesty.”

Seeing him suddenly being respectful, Aisha was stunned. Karaf’s eyelids drooped down further, as if in remorse.

The one and only woman for him, the only butterfly in the empire, was not treated properly as Empress just because she belonged to a minority ethnicity.
Even he realized it after the memories returned. The fact that even the emperor wouldn’t treat the empress properly, and foolishly, now he understood that others wouldn’t treat her properly either.

“The value of a person changes depending on the position they stand in.”

Even though he had said such things before, he realized he hadn’t kept those words. He truly felt like a wretched man.

Karaf, clenching his fist as if his chest felt tight, said, “I… strangely, once I get angry, I can’t help but tremble and lose control. But for the empress, I will change. So, please, give me one more chance? This time, I will definitely, definitely make the empress happy without causing her pain.”

“Your Majesty.”

At Aisha’s call, Karaf lifted his head with a slightly uneasy expression and looked at her.

However, Aisha, whose expression had softened, spoke gently.

“I’m fine, so please treat me as you did before. Suddenly being respectful makes Your Majesty feel distant.”

“But…”

“Really, I’m fine. I think I didn’t understand Your Majesty’s feelings well until now. But now… I understand. Don’t push yourself. If a person tries to change everything at once, they get tired quickly. Let’s walk slowly. I’ll be by Your Majesty’s side, walking together.”

Aisha walked softly to his side, took a sniff of the flower fragrance, and smiled.

“The fragrance is really nice. Thank you for the flowers.”

Karaf looked at her with trembling eyes.

And soon, his earlobes turned red, and the corners of his mouth seemed to rise.

It was the look of someone pleased to death.

Aisha pretended not to notice, but she couldn’t help but suppress a laugh at his appearance, like a child receiving praise.

With a thoughtful face, Karaf said, “If you keep seeing the same flowers, you might get tired. So, I’ll come to the empress’s room every day with different flowers. I want to show only fresh and lively flowers to the empress. And if the empress wants… I’ll even take her to see the rose garden.”

Although he had gifted the entire rose garden to Aisha, he didn’t like the garden himself, so he left it untouched and didn’t visit.

It was at that moment when he was repenting with a recalling face.

“Your Majesty, actually, I liked black roses too.”

At those words, Karaf’s eyes widened slightly, and he raised his head.

Aisha smiled and said, “I know that Your Majesty instructed the servants to change the black roses every day. They told me.”

Karaf felt uneasy at her words and avoided eye contact.

In his past life, he had an overwhelming obsession, hoping that she would only look at him, and because he didn’t want to show withered roses, he made sure to change them every day.

He muttered to himself, feeling irritated.
“Black roses are not beautiful at all…”

“All flowers have their own beauty and fragrance. Some of the black roses Your Majesty gave me were dried and placed in books. I wish I could show you, but it’s a bit regrettable…”

Aisha said awkwardly, with a hesitant smile.

Karaf was surprised to learn that she kept the flowers he gave her.

Although he longed to see the dried flowers, unfortunately, that part of the past had also disappeared.

Yet, even without seeing them, Karaf felt a warmth in his heart.

It was a short conversation about flowers, but through this dialogue, some of the deep emotions between the two were loosened.

After the long monsoon season, everyone seemed to have matured a bit more.

However, at that moment, the court official announced from outside, “Your Majesty, it’s time for lunch.”