Zion hated the astrologer.

Though the astrologer was the one who had broken Zion’s curse and revealed all secrets to him, the actual emotions Zion felt towards him were nothing but discomfort and distaste.

“……Why are you here?”

Right after waking from the curse, a barely composed Zion asked the astrologer.

In fact, it was more of an interrogation than a question, and the astrologer responded with a faint smile to his fierce attitude.

It seemed quite like Zion Laurel to growl like a lion immediately upon regaining consciousness, even though the shock must have been enormous.

“I have a favor to ask of you. It’s surely an important matter for you as well.”

“A favor?”

“Protect Evie.”

Zion scowled at the unfamiliar name.

So the astrologer explained who Evie was, and Zion became even more disgusted with the situation.

“You came all this way just for that?”

Zion incredulously asked.

How would you feel if, in a crisis, the unexpected help the king received was merely to entrust him with a single cat?

Should he feel relieved for having somehow survived, or should he feel humiliated by the treatment he’d received?

This was exactly Zion’s perception of the situation. And, of course, he chose the latter.

“All for just one woman…….”

As Zion ground his teeth in anger, the astrologer grinned.

“Watch your words.”

Suddenly, an intangible pressure slammed Zion down.

“It’s not just one. Don’t speak that way.”

The astrologer’s warning was calm and gentle.

But in that brief moment, Zion clearly realized something.

Behind that shallow smile, the true nature of that man was as ferocious as a mad dragon.

And the fact that he felt fear towards it.

Fear, indeed. Zion didn’t want to admit that he was momentarily frightened. So, he deliberately ignored the astrologer’s warning.

“If it’s not just one, then what is it? Are there no women around?”

At Zion’s provocation, the astrologer laughed.

Then Zion was beaten like a dog.

The astrologer, who had previously appeared mildmannered in his plain robe, revealed his true nature without restraint and hit Zion as if beating a dog.

At that time, Zion was still a boy and an injured one, but he received no consideration for these facts, only a onesided beating.

Of course, he did not merely take the beating quietly.

However, Zion, who was still only nineteen years old, could not handle the astrologer who had lived at least 10 years longer.

“Is this your first time? Being put in your place?”

The astrologer looked down at Zion and asked with a gentle voice, then added with a laugh mixed in his tone.

“Actually, I’ve never been put in my place either.”

Zion, sprawled on the floor, felt a chill.

What was this calm lunatic talking about?

Seeing that Zion’s eyes were still fierce, the astrologer kicked him, causing Zion to tumble and cough dryly.

“You madman…….”

Zion spat, his saliva mixed with blood, grinding his teeth.

But the astrologer did not get angry, which only drove Zion further into fury.

Accepting insults to himself, but not even allowing the expression “just one” when referring to that woman.

Zion was overwhelmed by this blind devotion, reminiscent of a fanatic’s faith.

He did not want to be part of it.

So, when Zion looked at him disgustedly, the astrologer calmly said,

“If you can’t accept it, just think of it as a debt. If you really need a reason to move.”

Of course, the astrologer knew how to move Zion.

Sure enough, the dry expression of “debt” barely eased Zion’s resistance.

The astrologer approached the proud boy, crouching down, and once again recited what Zion needed to know.

“……So this time, please protect her to the end.”

The astrologer entrusted him one last time.

He interspersed important words here and there, but Zion, leaning on his elbow, treated them all as nonsense.

So, except for the reluctantly assumed debt, he completely cleared everything else from his mind.

.

.

.

Thus, about 6 years after that first beating, Zion Laurel, excellently twisted by that painful past, was coldly surveying his surroundings, quite contrary to his nature.

On a bright morning, the Garden of Flowers on the south side of Tienda Lake was bustling with the Lantern Flower Festival.
The garden managed by the Tuha family was famous for its beauty even in Tienda.

Especially in the center of that garden, next to the Tuha family’s villa, there was the largest wisteria tree in Tienda.

That tree would bloom in violet in spring, and the wisteria flowers scattered beneath the widely spread vines, like the ceiling of a palace, created a spectacular view as if clouds were covering the sky layer by layer.

The wisteria flowers were one of the scenic spots in Tienda that could be counted on one’s fingers.

So the nobles waited for the invitation from the Tuha family every spring, and finally, the longawaited wisteria festival was held today.

However, the nobles couldn’t enjoy the flower viewing at ease.

The reason was because of a certain great nobleman who occupied the center of this elegant social place.