Chapter 71: 72

Sonya’s face turned red with embarrassment.

She called him that because she didn’t know his name, but when she thought about it, she seemed rude.

Her face is now a hot sweet potato, especially with the memory of her nuzzling his nose and trying to bring her hand to his knuckles without knowing it was him

Sonya lowered her head and handed him a basket.

“I’m… I’m here to deliver this! It was sent by Lady Vanessa.”

Jackal took the basket and looked inside.

The basket was beautifully arranged with first aid supplies like ointments, powdered medicines, and bandages, as well as the best medicines used in the palace.

Jackal’s eyes deepened. 

Even when they first met in the snowy field or when they were in the stable of the imperial palace, it was Asha who put the things he needed in a basket.

Sonya raised her head and spoke resolutely.

“Lady Vanessa asked me to tell you that she will do well in the imperial palace, so stay healthy until the day she meets Sheppy again. Lady Vanessa also said don’t worry about her. I’ll take care of her.”

Sonya’s expression and eyes seemed to show a good heart for both of them.

He was a little relieved that Asha had a good maid by her side.

Jackal gently closed and opened his eyes and bowed slightly in gratitude. 

That was the greeting he gave her when he was Sheppy.

Sonya recognized it and burst out laughing innocently.

Jackal took something out and held it out to her.

“Give this to her.”

There was a blue bag in his hand.

“Yes, I will!”

Sonya gladly accepted the bag, took it in her arms, and returned with light steps.

Jackal, along with his comrades, resumed the same path.

Asha looked through the corridor window for a long time until they were completely out of sight.

She then looked up at the night sky and prayed with her hands together for him.

     Please protect Jackal.

On her way back, Sonya saw Asha standing in the corridor and rushed to her.

“Lady Vanessa! The boss asked me to give you this!”

Asha also laughed when Sonya called him the boss.

But the moment she opened the blue bag, her eyes went wide. Inside it was a small wooden doll.

It was a sculpture of Sheppy and her on his back. 

A bow was tied to Asha’s back, facing forward like a warrior with her hair flowing down.

Sheppy was looking at her with his front paws raised and his head turned. He had an arrow in his mouth.

How exquisite the sculpture was, it seemed as if they were moving dynamically.

A crown was worn over her head. 

Everything else was made of wood, but the crown was made of gold.

Asha, who recognized at a glance that it was Jackal’s work, was touched.

His woodcarving hobby had no meaning for him, but only after he met her.

Among the customs of minority peoples, there was a saying that objects made with strong wishes had magical powers. 

Jackal created this piece, only wishing for her safety. He wished with all his heart that this piece would protect her and bring her good luck even when he was not around her.

Asha kissed the wooden sculpture, then returned to her room and placed the wooden sculpture next to her bed.

Looking at this piece, she could feel that Sheppy was by her side anytime and anywhere.

After a few days, the second flowering ceremony came.

* * * * * 

Originally, the flowering ceremony was a big event on the last day of the Flower Festival, inviting all the people to the temple.

However, this time, in preparation for an attack that could occur anywhere and at any time, only members of the imperial family, nobles, and members of the temple could attend for the safety of the people of the empire, the emperor, and Vanessa as the top priority.

It was the first time that the flowering ceremony was held twice in one year.

Karaf inadvertently had many records that were the first in history in many ways……

Asha, who changed her clothes, did not ride a horse this time.

Karaf looked at Asha somewhat calmly, then held out his hand.

Asha looked up at him, placed her hand gently over his, and they walked towards the altar together.

It meant that the two of them would face the same direction and walk down the road together.

The other nobles who came out to watch had already heard numerous rumors and looked at them slightly puzzled.

Some of the nobles looked at them and whispered among themselves, but all the palace servants congratulated them with excited faces.

Sonya put her hands together and prayed to God Etzheim for Asha’s happiness.

As Asha approached the altar, she suddenly remembered what the ethnic minority spy had said earlier.

     ‘Go to the temple. Your butterfly intuition will recognize him immediately. He’s also the embodiment of a flower like the Emperor.’

Asha turned her gaze and slowly looked at all the nobles and priests who were there.

Somehow she had the feeling that the man who was also a flower might have something to do with how to lift Karaf’s curse.

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If she really had a ‘butterfly intuition’, then she might even figure out who that man was.

Karaf also looked at Asha from the side with a bit of confusion, probably thinking about the spy’s words, and then began to look around.

He pretends to be calm, but he was rotting on the inside.

But he accepted Asha’s contract and trusted that she would make him flourish.

Arriving at the altar, the High Priest gave the two a long candle.

It was a rose-shaped candle.

“Please light the altar together to signify that you two have become one.”

Asha held the candle with Karaf. 

The moment their hands overlapped, Karaf looked at Asha with a slightly tearful look. 

Just the look in his eyes seemed desperate to see how long he had been waiting for this moment.

Asha gave him a vague look and nodded.

The two of them slowly tipped the candle and lit the altar.

As soon as the fire touched the altar, the fire grew in an instant, and several butterfly-shaped flames began to fly around the altar like firecrackers.

Asha blankly stared at the exultant scene.

The nobles and priests also watched the scene with wide eyes.

This is said to happen only when real flowers and butterflies meet.

This proves that Asha is the real Vanessa.

The people gathered in the temple cheered enthusiastically and blessed them.

It’s been more than 20 years since the previous emperor held the flowering ceremony, so it was an enchanting sight to see for the first time in a long time.

Karaf took a deep breath for a moment before taking something out of his pocket.

He seemed a little uneasy, and Asha looked at him curiously, then her eyes went wide.

Karaf dropped to one knee. His action left everyone present with their eyes wide open.

It was the first time that the so-called tyrant had bowed the knee to someone in front of everyone.

As Asha looked up in surprise she saw his red ears as he gently handed her the ornate ring case.

“My Vanessa is frugal, so you might not like this kind of fancy jewelry, but… I still wanted to give it to you. I promised to give you the most beautiful ring in the Empire. I really didn’t know that diamonds aren’t the problem…..”

He cleared his throat and looked at Asha.

“I have no other thoughts, so feel free to accept it as a commemoration of becoming empress.”

It was a rose-shaped ring made of platinum and black diamonds, which were truly precious in the Empire.

The contrast between black and white created extreme beauty, and a golden butterfly gently perched on the edge of the jewel.

It was the most beautiful ring in all of the empire.

Karaf felt a bit embarrassed because the ring seemed to contain his obsession that the butterfly should see only him.

If his memories of the past had come earlier, he would have made her a ring not in the shape of a rose, but in the shape of a camellia that resembled her.

However, it was already too late to regret it.

Asha stared at the ring with wide eyes.

Karaf waited for Asha to accept it, holding the ring case up, silent, as if he were going to propose.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on the two of them, and silence fell as if they had forgotten to even breathe.

Asha felt that the priceless ring was a great burden, but she was sure that if she refused, Karaf would lose face.

His imperial authority, as well as his image, which had already fallen, would decline.

Karaf was waiting in an unyielding position, but anyone could see that he was feeling nervous and restless.

Asha smiled and answered.

“What a beautiful ring……. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Only then did Karaf place the ring directly on Asha’s ring finger with a relieved expression. 

Asha caught her breath and saw that Karaf’s hand was trembling slightly.

He smiled slightly as he saw that the ring fit perfectly on her ring finger.

“Luckily, it fits perfectly.”

His smile was so dazzling that Asha looked at him with a slightly clouded expression.

She knew how long he had been waiting for the day he would give her this ring.

He had always liked to take from others, and this must have been the first time he was so eager to give something to others.

However, Karaf, who averted his gaze, noticed that some nobles were still looking at them in fear.

He was also well aware that bad rumors had spread throughout the empire.

If bad rumors spread early on, Asha would have a difficult life in the imperial palace, just like in her previous life.

So for her sake, he had to take this opportunity to completely dispel the rumors.

Karaf looked back at Asha and spoke quietly so only she could hear.

“…… Follow my lead.”

As he stood up and grabbed Asha around the waist and hugged her, Asha’s eyes widened slightly.

But then she realized what he was talking about, and as she looked down, she touched him lightly on the shoulder.

The nobles were truly surprised by the affectionate and romantic scene.

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