“I am happy with what I got. It’s funny, isn’t it? The only saddening part is that I couldn’t touch flowers anymore, but I’m still content with my life.”
Oh, of course, the flowers would wither instantly when she touches them.
Suddenly, Ekaterina had an epiphany.
“I’m sorry. Please wait for a moment.”
I hurried back to the tent, opened Mina’s toolbox and searched around, and there it was!
A blue rose hair ornament.
I’m sorry, Rev, for taking the liberty of giving away something you so kindly offered me.
“Selene-sama, here. It’s a flower that will never wither.”
“My!”
Selene gawked at the crystal clear blue rose, which was made of frol glass. Ekaterina held it up. The elegant looking rose was shimmering in the moonlight.
Selene asked Ekaterina to place it on the ground, and when Ekaterina did so, Selene fearfully picked it up.
Her face lit up in a smile as she gazed at the flower, which didn’t wither, and its beauty remained unchanged in her hands.
“It doesn’t wither… a flower that will never wither. How beautiful…”
Then, looking up at the God of Death, Selene held out the rose in her hand.
“Do you remember? When I was alive, I used to pick flowers every day and throw them into the mausoleum where you were sealed up. I thought you might miss it.”
“I will never forget anything related to you.”
The God of Death gently took the blue rose from Selene’s hand.
He then placed it in her long blonde hair.
Selene looked at the God of Death and gave a lovely smile.
“Ekaterina, thank you so much.”
“Yurinova’s daughter, today you did a very big favor to us. I, the God of Death, promise you to return this favor when the time comes.”
At both of their words, Ekaterina smiled and shook her head.
“Please don’t mind it. I’m already very happy since I was able to please both of you.”
The God of Death’s extremely beautiful face bloomed into a breathtaking smile.
“You do not understand. It is no small thing for a God to grant a favor to a human. In the future, the Creator may wave his wand at you. When He does, remember this favor.”
***
That night, Alexei went to bed later than usual.
The reason he was late was because he had to work. No, it was not specifically because of work itself, but because of the people who came to see him in the hours he usually worked.
It became known that he had captured Novadine and others who had been wrongdoers in his father Alexander’s time. It was easy to predict that their titles and property would be confiscated and distributed accordingly.
And many people were already flocking to join the cause.
Petitioners were asking for titles and property to be given to them. The grounds for their claims varied. The credit of a distant ancestor, the present poverty, or the unreasonableness experienced during the former duke’s reign.
Whatever the reason expressed by the person in question, the real reason still stayed the greed.
They did not contribute to Alexei’s administration in any way. And yet, they were quick to make demands. No wonder Alexei was disgusted by their brazenness.
However, Novak advised not to turn down the people who have come to his door.
“Lord Sergei would have listened to them. It would be a good opportunity to get a grip on the situation that each of them is in.”
Grandfather Sergei was a man of high character, but he was also very crafty. Integrity was not enough to be a ruler.
Alexei nodded.
“I’m sure Grandfather would have bailed them out if it had been for the right reasons. Even if not, if there may be some use for them, we could use them in the right place.”
Novak smiled with satisfaction at his comment.
