-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Spirits and Flower Words
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Akid grabbed my hand, his face stiffening as the swing rocked on its own. I held him back when he bolted upright as if to shield me.
"It's fine."
"What is this...?"
Akid's pale blue-gray eyes brimmed with confusion. No wonder—he'd be startled by a swing moving by itself.
I grinned ear to ear, delighted at catching him off guard.
"You can come out now."
And right then, the spirits that had been pushing the swing materialized, gathering around us.
Akid stared in bewilderment as the white butterflies swirled about, sparkling brightly.
"Butterflies?"
"Say hi. They're spirits."
"Spirits?"
Akid was too stunned to speak, so the spirits chimed in.
― Nice to meet you, blackie. How come your hair's black but your eyes are gray?
― Do you know how much Roena's been fangirling over you? Oh, fangirling means...
― Hey, you! Watch out for that red-haired girl with blue eyes. She might try to eat you alive soon.
Honestly, only I could hear them, so Akid remained oblivious.
I shot the spirits a glare as they seized the moment to tattle on all my sneaky behavior.
I'd never hidden my fangirling from them, of all beings—how dare they out me now!
Infuriated, I swatted at them playfully. They shrieked "Kyaa—" and scattered behind Akid in unison.
A clever move, knowing I wouldn't hit him to get to them.
"The spirits say hi."
"These butterflies... from the mine that time...?"
"Yeah. Exactly."
Akid's eyes were sharp as ever. He'd remembered those butterflies we'd spotted.
They did shimmer with an otherworldly iridescence, not like ordinary ones.
"Truth is, there was something I couldn't tell you back at Evies Mine. That day, when I vanished right in front of you... I actually met the spirits. And as you can see, now I can command them."
"...I see."
Akid nodded slowly, as if the odd events of that day finally clicked.
He hadn't grilled me back then, even after seeing me disappear. He'd simply been relieved I returned alive.
Recalling the desperation in his eyes still tugged at my heart.
Akid spoke up. "I thought it was strange. I saw you vanish right before my eyes."
"Then why didn't you ask what happened?"
There'd been plenty of chances.
To my tentative question, he replied, "Because you coming back safe was enough."
"..."
"It was the first time I'd ever run like that. My heart nearly stopped."
Akid chuckled wryly under his breath, his face saying he'd rather not relive it.
Imagining him desperately searching for me filled me with unwarranted guilt.
"You never said much about that day, so..."
"You seemed like you didn't want to talk about it, so I didn't push. Thanks for telling me now. Must've been a shock."
"Yeah. Truth is, I fell into the Delrus flower field and thought I was done for..."
Disarmed by his warm words, I started recounting the panic—until Akid's eyes widened. He shot to his feet and cupped my cheeks.
"Delrus flowers? Are you okay? Why didn't you say so sooner!"
He scanned me frantically while I stared back and mumbled, "You just said you didn't ask because I seemed unwilling..."
Akid frowned slightly. "Anything about your well-being—tell me."
At his gentle scolding, I nodded eagerly, making excuses.
"I'm really fine. You've seen me these past days—you know that. Actually, ever since meeting the spirits, Delrus flowers don't hurt me anymore."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. So now you can shower me with them all you want."
I beamed, cheeks still in his grasp. Truth be told, if they were from him, I'd keep them even if I were allergic.
Akid let out a hollow laugh at my nonchalance. The sunset painted his black hair with red hues.
His pale blue-gray eyes fixed on me intently. Then, softly, he asked, "Roena, do you know the language of the Delrus flower?"
"Flower language?"
"Yes."
I blinked at him.
I knew it from the novel, of course—the flowers he'd given Mabel during his confession.
As I gazed silently, he leaned in and pressed a light kiss to my forehead.
It happened so fast, it felt unreal. Time seemed to slow.
His eyes curved like crescent moons as he murmured, "'Dazzling person.' 'I see no one but you.'"
"..."
"I thought it suited you perfectly."
"Ah."
His words sounded like a confession, drawing a soft gasp from me.
He'd only shared the flower language, yet my heart raced uncontrollably.
― Kyaa, look at him! Thought he was all prim and proper under that black hair!
― Roena's face is turning tomato red!
The spirits' giggles echoed distantly, muffled like underwater sounds.
In that moment, it felt like time had stopped—no noise, just Akid and me.
I couldn't help it. His words to me mirrored what he'd said to Mabel.
I should've been thrilled, but a sharp pang pricked my chest. Greed bubbled up unbidden.
I wished he wouldn't give those flowers to Mabel.
When I'd first woken in this world, doomed to a short life, just being near Akid had been enough. As a superfan, I'd planned to fangirl freely.
But strangely, picturing him handing Delrus flowers to Mabel soured my mood.
So, on impulse, I took his hand—fidgeting shyly with his earlobe—and said, "Akid."
"Yes?"
"Don't give those flowers to anyone else."
Especially not Mabel.
I swallowed the rest, staring intently. Akid blinked. The brief silence made my heart shrink.
Was I overstepping? They weren't even mine to claim. As my mind raced, he grinned.
"Alright, as you wish. But in return..."
He touched his forehead to mine with a soft tap. Startled by the closeness, I froze as he continued, "You only give those flowers to me, Roena. I don't like the idea of you giving them to anyone else."
His firm tone turned my face scarlet again. It felt like he was demanding I look only at him.
Of course, I knew it was just my fangirl delusions.
Even so, I'd never forget this moment.
In Grand Duke Hadellus's study. Having heard Elena's report of Roena's secret, the Grand Duke asked gravely, "Is that true?"
"Yes. I confirmed it with her directly."
"This is serious. Of all times, for Roena to awaken as a spirit summoner now."
The Grand Duke pressed his temples, looking troubled. Elena wore a similar expression.
Neither could hide their darkened moods at the news of Roena becoming a spirit summoner.
Truth be told, Duke Essel's visit with the imperial delegation wasn't just about Evies Mine.
He'd come as a proxy for a confidential imperial matter.
Demian rested his interlaced hands on his forehead and asked, "When did she say it started?"
"When she got lost in Evies Mine. The timing lines up. But since Stig Island's contamination came first, I don't think there's a connection."
Elena stated firmly, and Demian sighed deeply.
Recently, contamination had erupted on Stig Island in the continent's waters.
Being a remote island village, it spread unchecked until discovered, prompting a secret imperial investigation.
With rifts spawning monsters alongside the corruption, the empire hastily ordered evacuations.
Priests had since contained the spread with holy power, but it was a temporary fix.
Even sealing the island wouldn't stop the corruption from leaping elsewhere.
Without pinpointing the cause, the entire continent could fall in an instant.
At a time when a spirit summoner was needed more than ever, Roena had manifested as one.
The Grand Duke agonized over whether to inform the imperial family. It was too much for Roena to handle.
They'd surely whisk her away if they knew.
Demian frowned, recalling Roena flitting about innocently.
The sole spirit summoner, no less—in an era post-cataclysm when spirits had vanished. Her presence would stand out inescapably.
Imagining her dragged everywhere, overexerting her power, made his fists clench.
She was far too young for such burdens. He decided to convince Elena first.
"For now, let's keep it from the imperial family. I know you're connected to them, Grand Duchess, and might want to report it, but..."
"Who said that?"
Elena crossed her legs, scowling. As Demian blinked, she added, "I'm not sending my girl into danger. I figured you felt the same, Grand Duke."
