“Oh no, that was the last in stock.”

Having heard that retrieving the stolen item in Brandesk’s downtown was as difficult as finding a needle in a desert, Ania returned to the accessory shop only to hear shocking news and fell into despair.

“Even something similar….”
“I’m so sorry. That was a handcrafted item by a skilled artisan, so there won’t be anything similar. It was supposed to be a gift, yet you were pickpocketed…”
“Can you show me other items made by that artisan?”

The clerk nodded and brought other items, but Ania’s cherished brooch was not among them.

“That was just perfect….”

Just as it was when she met Edward again, seeing that brooch gave her the same feeling.

It had to be that way. That brooch was the perfect item for Edward.

“Then… please give me this one.”
“No need for payment. Just take it.”

Even though she got the new brooch for free, Ania wasn’t particularly happy.

Instead, it felt like her joy was sinking, and she felt like crying.

In the elegant and fancy restaurant, while planning to give a gift and enjoy delicious food, her plans were ruined.

Ania stared blankly at the butterfly-shaped brooch in her hand.

Then, fearing it might be snatched again, she quickly tucked it into her belongings and looked around.

She felt foolish.

A fool who couldn’t properly protect what she had in her hand…

Unable to live as she wished, the daughter of a noble family, bound by her lineage.

She wanted to escape.

She wanted freedom.

However, even after leaving her family and coming to Edward’s side, she was still a noblewoman who couldn’t do anything alone.

“Miss?”

Seeing Ania arrive with a gloomy face, the servant looked at her with a worried expression.

“What happened… Are you okay?”

Looking at Ania’s gloomy eyes, the driver became startled and gripped the steering wheel.

“I-I’ll start driving now.”

The car slowly left Brandesk. Ania looked out the window.

Just a while ago, she thought she had immersed herself in that lively world, but it was an illusion.

If they were flowing water, Ania was oil.

Even if she abandoned her family, Ania hadn’t changed,
She was still bound by the unbreakable chains of blood.

***

“My Lord, a greenhouse called Sharfren grows rare and beautiful flowers.”

Within less than ten minutes of arriving in Brandesk, Lorendel had obtained the information I wanted.

She handed me a piece of paper with a drawing of the flower.

It was indeed a beautiful flower.

Above the sparkling purple flower bud, delicate and slender branches and leaves gracefully extended their bodies.

“Get this immediately.”
“Yes! We’ll get it right away!”
“As much as possible, no matter the cost.”
“Yes!”

The servants hurriedly rushed off.

It shouldn’t take too long.

In the meantime, I decided to walk around the streets of Brandesk.

I hadn’t properly walked for a week.

Every day, I would ride in a car, arrive at the mansion, sit down for meetings or negotiations, and then get back in the car and leave…

“Even a dog raised at home would walk more than me.”

Just sitting down makes my joints ache.

As I was originally a knight, this happened if I didn’t exercise properly.

“I’ll be walking alone, so don’t follow me. You’ll get fired if you’re caught.”
“Um… yes… understood.”

And so, I enjoyed a rare stroll.

Brandesk lived up to its name as a commercial city bustling with energy.

From the city residents buying ingredients to the knights and mercenaries gearing up to the street vendors shouting loudly while wholesaling.

I felt a sense of freedom for the first time in a while.

“I might as well buy some other gifts while I’m at it.”

After leaving her family, Ania lived a surprisingly modest life.

Originally of a frugal disposition, she never sought luxury items.

Perhaps after leaving the family, she lacked money.

Even I, before becoming a viscount, lived without personal property.

“She’s oblivious.”

I wanted to give her something.

Practical yet beautiful, something that would appeal to her heart…

As I leisurely walked across the bridge for a moment, I arrived at a neatly arranged street.

On either side were shops selling clothing and accessories, mostly women’s clothing.

Because Brandesk was densely populated with noble families, noblewomen often went shopping.

That’s why there were so many active shops.

Walking along the street, I looked at the clothes and accessories displayed in the shop windows.

Pink dresses, diamond-studded rings, ruby necklaces, crystal earrings, and so on…

“These are all so… irresistible.”

Imagining Ania in the clothes and jewelry, they all seemed to suit her perfectly.

I thought about buying them all, but then I worried giving her too many gifts might be too burdensome.

Something that wouldn’t be burdensome and would suit Ania the most…

While turning down a narrow alley, a rather nice boutique caught my eye.

“Hmm….”

It was a butterfly-shaped brooch made of silver.

Without any other decorations or expensive jewels, its subtle beauty seemed to suit Ania perfectly.

Without hesitation, I bought it.

It was a luxury item costing around 500 leons, about the monthly salary of an average knight, but it was nothing to me.

As long as Ania was pleased with it, 50,000 leons were just a trivial amount.

Then, the gemstone on my ring flashed brightly.

– My Lord! I found it! Shall we return now?
“Let’s do that.”

Glancing at my wristwatch, it had only taken 10 minutes.

It was almost time to return to the mansion.

Ania Brontë.

The woman I had longed to see for a week.

As I was about to step forward, I stopped for a moment and infused magic into the gemstone.

“Lorendel.”
– Yes, my lord.
“Push back all the schedules for the next week.”
– Yes…?
“If it can be postponed, postpone it.”
– But… there might be some problems.
“I’ll handle it, so just do it.”
– My Lord…
“Do as I say. Don’t make it annoying.”
– Understood, My Lord.

Putting down the gemstone, I walked away satisfied.

I wondered how delighted Ania would be when we returned with the gifts securely in hand.

Just imagining her face made the week’s fatigue melt like snow in the sun.

My heart swelled.

If I lay down, it felt like my heavy body, which had felt like a burden, would immediately become a feather, and I would drift off to sleep.

It’s strange.

For two years, I felt as though there was a hole in my chest,
But after seeing Ania Bronte, that gap was seemingly filled.

Everything in the world felt insignificant.
Yet, everything related to Ania was more important than the world.

How did such a woman miraculously appear before me?

“……. ”

Then, in an instant, my heart raced.

If, just if, Ania were to disappear, what would become of my life?

I remembered the time two years ago when that lovely woman had to leave my side.

At that time, I considered it Ania’s betrayal, but by doing so, the situation only worsened.

Such a situation… could happen again.

‘If you don’t love me, I’d rather die.’

Will my heart fall as Ania did?

Was choosing death the better option?

I… pushed away such a woman with my own hands.

I labeled her as a traitor and cursed her for selling love like money.

‘I’mbeyond pathetic.’

Will I ever deserve to love her someday?

Will the day come when I can atone for all my sins and ask her to be by my side forever?

As I wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets of Brandesk, something suddenly caught my eye.

A small flower shop at the corner of a building.

There, blooming delicately at the entrance, was a pink flower.

Its precarious yet vivid pink hue reminded me of Ania.

So lovely, yet seemingly fragile, like a woman who would shatter if touched.

I grabbed the flower as if possessed and called out to the flower shop owner.

“Please give me this flower.”
“Oh my, you have a good eye, sir.”
“Is that so?”

The middle-aged woman with a warm demeanor smiled.

“Pink Paradise flowers don’t bloom easily. They’re delicate flowers, so it’s quite difficult to grow them.”
“I see.”
“Are you buying it as a gift?”
“Yes, I am.”

The woman smiled contentedly.

“You seem romantic.”
“That’s far from the truth.”
“It’s not common for men to give flowers as gifts nowadays.”
“You’re right.”
“Well then, be careful on your way.”

As I returned to the car, I smelled the flower’s fragrance.

It was sweet yet bitter.

The scent reminded me of Ania.

I wanted to see her as soon as possible.

Author’s Note:

Today, I went to my cousin’s baby’s first birthday party. It feels strange to become an uncle. The baby was adorable. Babies are the best!