Beast’s Flower - Chapter 21

As soon as Bioust left the forest, he took note of the carriage that Suli had fixed for them.

 

It was a very ordinary carriage. Compared to the imperial carriage, it had no significant impression and could pass as one that was barely protecting the dignity of a nobleman in terms of its appearance.

 

Even so, Layla still watched him on high alert.

 

“So, you really were a nobleman,” Layla said in a small voice and Bioust glanced down towards her.

 

“Oh, you’re here.”

 

Suli walked away from a second carriage and smiled brightly as he approached.

 

He had managed to change out of his imperial servant clothes into that of a modest servant to suit the carriage that was prepared.

 

He is indeed an astute and useful servant, Bioust thought to himself for a brief moment.

 

As if able to hear Bioust’s thoughts, Suli smiled even brighter.

 

“Hello, Layla. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

 

Layla glanced at Suli who seemed to be only breathing through his mouth and spoke in a rather nasally voice.

 

Instinctively, Layla stepped backwards a littleㅡ right into Bioust

 

“You’re as shy as I was told.”

 

Layla glanced at Suli again but said nothing. Bioust then proceeded to open the carriage’s open.

 

The interior of the carriage was just as ordinary as its outward appearance. The only good thing was that it was somewhat tidied up.

 

“Shall we get on?” Bioust said as he reached out a hand towards Layla.

 

Suli, who was watching from behind, frowned as Layla climbed into the carriage but smiled the instant his eyes met Bioust’s.

 

“Young master, I’ll take the carriage in the back.”

 

“Do proceed.”

 

Suli’s once smiling and calm expression was no more as he stared in stunned, open-mouthed silence upon the sudden respectful and formal manner in which the crown prince had spoken in.

 

Fortunately, the servant had his wits about him to turn away just before Layla caught a glimpse of his expression.

 

“Please have a good time.”

 

The carriage departed as soon as Bioust got into it.

 

As the carriage moved, Layla’s already raised shoulders stiffened further. With mouse-like eyes, she looked anxiously around the carriage before finally looking outwards.

 

Naturally, Bioust had been watching Layla as he sat opposite her.

 

The carriage rattled regularly and many sceneries passed quickly. As time went on, Layla’s initially stiff shoulders began to relax.

 

As she continued to look through the window, her eyes sparkled in wonder.

 

“Is this the first time you’ve travelled in a carriage?”

 

“Yes,” Laylas replied without looking away from the window as she bobbed up and down in her seat as the carriage went over bumps.

 

The green forest stretched endlessly. It was the same forest that Layla had lived most of her life in.

 

Little-by-little, Layla’s body moved closer to the window.

 

Bioust, who was faced towards the other window, pretended not to notice as Layla began to dangle out the window.

 

“The forest is immense,” Layla murmured as the wind blew at her golden hair.

 

Upon hearing that, Bioust thought back about his previous venture in the forest.

 

When I’d gotten lost due to the rain and stumbled upon Layla’s cabin, it had taken about three hours to traverse the forest. Since we’re using a carriage now, it should take a minimum of three hours seeing that we will have to navigate through the trees more so compared to traveling on foot. Moreover, the carriage only departed about less than 30 minutes ago. There is still much of the forest left.

 

“We will probably be seeing a lot of this forest for another three hours.”

 

“Three hours?” Layla’s eyes widened in surprise like a rabbit. Seeing this, Bioust chuckled without realizing it.

 

Sometimes a cat. Sometimes a mouse. Sometimes a rabbit… Why does this woman never remind me of a human?

 

“Why are you laughing?”

 

“Please don’t misunderstand. I was not laughing at you. It was simply because you were surprised that the ride would take at least three hours. Were you not aware that the forest was this vast?”

 

“No, I didn’t know.”

 

“Have you never been out of the forest?”

 

“…Never.”

 

Layla looked sad as she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. Then opening her eyes which glistened, she looked out the window again.

 

Catching a glimpse of her face, Bioust noticed that she looked both anxious and exhilaratedㅡ as if it was truly the first time she has ever gotten on a carriage.

 

Bioust could not help but secretly wonder about how much Layla would react if he were to give her another “first”.

 

Would her ears pricked like a mountain deer? I don’t even know if a person’s ears can even prick up.

 

“Would you like to have some packed lunch?”

 

“Packed lunch?”

 

“Yes, it’s lunch time now,” Bioust replied as he picked up a basket that was lying on the side of the carriage.

 

Although there was no explicit mention about packing food, it was still quite a distance away from the imperial palace. There was no way of stopping by a village to have lunch almost immediately upon departure.

 

However, if I know my quick-witted servant, I’m sure that he would have packed some food for Layla as well, Bioust thought to himself as he removed the cloth that covered the basket.

 

True enough, there were delicious looking sandwiches and bottles of milk in it.

 

“Are you not hungry?”

 

Only then did Layla realize how hungry she was. The only thing she had eaten the previous night was the poisonous mushroom.

 

Layla looked with suspicion from the sandwich handed to her, to Bioust who was opening a bottle of milk for her.

 

“Take a bite of yours first,” Layla said as she handed her sandwich back to Bioust.

 

“Why?”

 

When Layla remained silent, Bioust shrugged his shoulders, unwrapped the parchment from the sandwich and took a big bite out of it.

 

The crunchy vegetables and thinly sliced pork went well with the bread. Layla watched Bioust with a narrowed gaze. Bioust nodded as if to gesture that the sandwich was delicious.

 

Bioust then offered a new sandwich to Layla to eat which she finally accepted.

 

Mimicking Bioust, Layla unwrapped the parchment and took a huge bite of her sandwich. Her eyes widened.

 

“What’s wrong?” Bioust asked.

 

Layla chewed quickly at the huge bite she took and swallowed quickly.

 

“What is this?”

 

“I think you’re referring to the sandwich.”

 

“Sandwich? So, this is called a sandwich…” Layla said in a serious tone as she nodded and looked at the sandwich in her hand.

 

“Is that your first as well?”

 

“Huh? Oh… I’ve never tasted something as delicious as this before.”

 

It was not exactly the answer Bioust was looking for since he meant if it was the first time Layla had ever eaten a sandwich.

 

Bioust took another bite of the sandwich he was holding. There was nothing special about the sandwich. Aside from the fresh vegetables, it was no more than an ordinary sandwich.

 

Layla, on the other hand, nodded her head and occasionally hummed in appreciation as she continued to eat the sandwich.

 

“Eat slowly. Here, have some milk.”

 

Layla nodded and ate a little slower, but still took huge bites of the sandwich.

 

“Oh!” Layla suddenly exclaimed.

 

“What is it?” but as soon as Bioust asked, he noticed the temple which stood in the  distance.

 

Turning back to look at Layla, Bioust saw that her eyes were closed with her head lowered. Placing her sandwich aside and her small, skinny hands were clasped together tightly.

 

“What did you pray for?” Bioust asked when her trembling lashes opened again.

 

“I don’t want to say,” Layla said and turned to face the temple again, as if praying for her wish over and over again.

 

“I didn’t know that you believed in God.”

 

“Why, because I’m a witch?”

 

“No, because you were trying to commit suicide.”

 

Layla’s hands which were clasped together flinched.

 

“Did you know what mushroom that was?” Bioust probed but was met with silence.

 

“It’s one of the common poisonous plants that one is to know of when going into the forest to hunt,” Bioust continued as if it was not of much significance.

 

Layla bit on her lower lip in embarrassment and soon brought a finger to her mouth to bite on. It was a habit she had whenever she was anxious.

 

“Are you going to bite your nails again?” Bioust asked as he grabbed onto her hand.

 

“What if you injured your pretty hand again?” A warm and friendly smile spread across Bioust’s youthful face.

 

Layla just stared at him.

 

“Why… do you always say that?”

 

“Say what?”

 

“About how pretty or cute I am.”

 

“That’s because you are pretty and cute.”

 

Layla stared at Bioust with great suspicion. She wanted to see a break in his facade. An indication that he was hiding something. However, as far as she could tell, his smile was genuine and not disappearing anytime soon.

 

“You’re up to something.”

 

Despite her words, Biousts smile did not falter.

 

“You must be up to something. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so nice to me,” Layla said as she pulled away and hid her hands behind her bodyㅡ as if believing that she could protect her hands from him.

 

However, what Layla failed to think of is the fact that by doing so, she had defenselessly arched her body forward and towards Bioust.

 

She’s like a cat that believes that I can’t do anything if she hides away, Bioust mused.

 

“What do you think I’m up to?”

 

Layla narrowed her gaze at Bioust’s slow and gentle voice.

 

“You’re going to sell me. It can’t be a brothel because I’m ugly and skinny. Besides, I stink. So, it must be some lab, right? If not, it could be to use me for a dark ritual. You must have been told that a liver from a living witch will be essential for the ritual. Am I right? Yes, you want to use my liver to summon the Devil. Maybe with some sort of mystifying summoning circle and a ritual. All for the foolish wish of conquering the world.”

 

“Hm…” Bioust nodded at Layla’s far-fetched imagination.

 

“That is a very interesting set of theories.”

 

“I knew it!”

 

Layla immediately moved away from Bioust and crouched in a corner of the carriage. Her eyes were on full alert.

 

“Unfortunately, my wish is not to conquer the world,” Bioust smiled broadly.

 

“Liar!”

 

“Why would I want to conquer the world? I have a headache just managing the large piece of land I have.”

 

“B-butㅡ!”

 

“Trust me, Layla.”

 

Bioust steadily moved closely to Layla. Little-by-little and ever-so-slowly, he approached so that she would not notice his movement.

 

“You’re beautiful.”

 

Bioust gently reached out a hand towards her. Layla flinched but did to avoid him.

 

“At least in my eyes.”

 

Bioust then offered his hand towards her. Without much of a resistance, Layla put her hand in his.

 

“You’re beautiful, Layla.”

 

Bioust leaned in and kissed the back of her hand tenderly.