Asters

Lucifer goes to the training ground. In his heart, he grumbled, 'How long do I have to act like the man who fell in love with you, Roxe?'

He knew that everything that woman was doing lately was a play that made people think the way she wanted. He had to maintain his role as a caring bodyguard who fell in love with his master. With a wooden sword in his hand, he slashed through the practice puppet, and instantly, it was cut cleanly into five pieces. It was possible because he is skilled enough to use invisible Aura.

'Oh. Master Lucius is upset?'

'Did something happen to Lady Roxus again?'

Meanwhile, Roxus, who had finished eating, walked away from the Mansion and entered the horse carriage. She had told the coachman to go to the flower shop. But on the way, she felt something familiar. Roxus's faint smile expanded along with her cold gaze.

Krak!

Immediately, the horse-drawn carriage stopped at the side of the road. The driver got off the car and checked the rear wheels. A fatal crack formed on the wooden wheel. He furrowed his brows, then approached the carriage door and opened it.

Roxus looked at the coachman in confusion. "My Lady, it looks like the rear wheel of the horse carriage got a sudden breakdown. I don't know what happened, but it looks like the Lady will have to wait here until I find a chartered car to continue the journey," said the driver in a voice full of regret.

"Oh... no, there's no need, Mister Driver. The shop is close by, about two blocks away. I can just walk," said Roxus.

"Lady! How can I let Lady—"

Roxus smiled softly. It was a famous smile that the maids and servants recognized as the meaningful; "Don't make me repeat what I said."

The capital is a safe place. But Roxus is the daughter of a Count with power beyond the Marquis. It seemed that fact alone was sufficient to illustrate that although she was safe as the Count's Princess, she also had many invisible enemies.

"Then, please pick me up at the flower shop after you get the car, Mister Driver," Roxus said in a sweet voice.

The driver bowed respectfully and just as Roxus was about to turn away, a young man appeared nearby. The man was wearing a pair of black gold-rimmed glasses with blonde hair and approached her. "Lady Croix...?"

"What are you doing here alone?" asked the man, who got off his horse.

Roxus bowed respectfully. "His Majesty the Crown Prince of Bertia."

"It's very long," grumbled Leonid. "Just call me Leonid. We are not in the palace," said the man dryly.

It was not in vain that Roxus broke the wooden wheel with her magic. This way, she could "accidentally" run into him.

"My Prince," she said softly.

"Leonid."

"...Lord," the two of them seemed like they were in a bargain.

Leonid looked away. "Where are you going? I will walk with you," he said later. The man looked around Roxus as if looking for someone. "And again your bodyguard is not here. What is he doing?"

"That's because Master Luc has to do something else. My Lord, you don't have to waste your time with me. Thank you, but, goodbye," said Roxus bowing respectfully again.

Leonid raised his hand as if he was going to restrain Roxus. "Tch," he clicked his tongue irritably. This woman always ran away before he could finish his words. He has no choice. He had to walk behind her at a distance.

Come to think of it, in this entire kingdom, Roxus was the only woman who would remain cold to him even though she already knew his identity. They had known each other since childhood thanks to Roxus's friendship with his damned sister, and because of that, they never had a good talk.

After several minutes of walking, Roxus arrived at the flower shop she was headed for. The employees quickly welcomed Roxus because she had subscribed to the store. Roxus saw the Cecilia Flower by the side of the window.

"Yesterday Lady was looking for Cecilia Flowers, so we prepare it for Lady if Lady needs it," said the shopkeeper kindly.

Roxus shook her head in disappointment. "This morning my Knight rode to Windcliff to pick fresh Cecilia for me. Too bad," Roxus smiled softly with a slightly flushed face.

The shopkeeper blushed in awe at Roxus's words. "Oh! Is he the skilful and charming bodyguard Milady brought with her several days ago?" asked the woman.

Roxus chuckled. "I'll just buy the asters, please," said the woman softly.

Leonid who heard that narrowed his eyes slightly. Roxus's words made it seem like she was about to buy flowers for the bodyguard.

The man entered the shop and approached Roxus. "Are you going to give that to Princess Cecilia?"

Roxus didn't turn around. She knew the man was following her, but she ignored him. Leonid became more and more annoyed every time Roxus ignored him, but he had no choice.

After finishing wrapping the flowers in wrapping paper and having finished paying, Roxus walked out of the shop. Leonid followed suit, but quickly, Roxus turned around. "Does My Lord need something from me?"

Leonid looked at Roxus coldly. He didn't want anything from Roxus or hope that she would answer his words and not ignore him. That's why he was slightly surprised.

Roxus sighed. "Please ignore me and don't waste your time on me, My Lord," said the woman.

Leonid blinked. The woman was not ignoring him, but she was in the mood to be ignored.

Horses on the road can be heard. A man slowed down his horse and stopped in front of the flower shop, then got out of the saddle and quickly approached Roxus. "Milady, why don't you call me..."

The man stopped talking as soon as he saw Leonid. "Your Majesty," he said respectfully and bowed.

"Luc..." Roxus's smile widened. "I don't need to call you. Before you were my bodyguard, I always went out alone. And I know you're busy," she said.

"Lord Croix will understand if I have to go escort you," the man spoke quickly to Roxus.

"Thank you for accompanying Milady on her afternoon walks, Your Majesty the Crown Prince," once again Lucifer put a hand to his chest and was grateful.

"Just like I thought, you met Father..." whispered Roxus.

Leonid observed the two humans arguing in front of him while trying not to ignore him, a Crown Prince. "Then, I'll be going now that Sir Lucius has arrived. See you again, Lady Croix."

The three of them exchanged greetings, and then parted ways. Until suddenly when Leonid was about to ride his horse, Roxus coughed, and her body tilted forward.

"Love!" Lucifer quickly restrained Roxus's body.

"Ugh!" Roxus, with her trembling hands, had now dropped the flowers she had bought and was trying to grab her handkerchief in her dress pocket.

Lucifer realizes Roxus's condition won't improve if they stay here. Meanwhile, Leonid quickly returned to Roxus' side and helped Lucifer to hold Roxus' body. "Lady Croix! What happened?!"

He saw the bloodstain on Roxus's handkerchief.

Roxus's hand pushed Leonid away, and with Lucifer's help, the woman straightened up. "Thank you for worrying, My Lord," she said, looking at the horse carriage that had come for Roxus.

"Open the door," Lucifer ordered, immediately carrying Roxus in his arms. The driver got down from his chair and opened the door for them. With care, Lucifer carried Roxus into the horse carriage, and the woman sat on one side of the carriage while leaning against Lucifer.

The charioteer tied the horse Lucifer was carrying with a rope long enough to the back of the carriage. Everyone knew a specially trained horse would return to its owner's residence if no one caught it or stole it. That's why he tied them with a long, loose rope. Then Leonid caught the presence of some dried Cecilias on the horse's saddle pocket.

It seems like it was true that the man himself was picking Cecilias this morning.

Leonid collected the fallen flowers and gave them to Lucifer. The man accepted it and bowed seriously. "Thank you, Your Majesty. We will withdraw," the carriage door closed.

The horse carriage moved away, and Crown Prince Leonid furrowed his brows. The bloodstain on Roxus's handkerchief made his heart feel like it was being squeezed by sandpaper. Leonid thought of his mother who had died of chronic disease. "Tch!" he clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Roxus Croix... I never thought at a time like this I..."