Flower of Steel - Chapter 99

I have to act like I’m not tired and frightened even though I was. Government officials have to maintain that calmness even when blood and iron flow around. That’s why I tried my best to ignore my weak mind.

After I was able to calm myself, I returned to my seat. Rave, who had been waiting for me, came to me and asked, “Marina, are you alright?”

“Yes,” I replied.

I found it uncomfortable and annoying for him to keep asking me if I am okay. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. So I covered my face with a fake smiling mask made up with lies.

“Really. It was just a prank earlier,” said I.

“Hah… let’s talk later,” said Rave.

Rave seemed like he had a lot to say, but he couldn’t say as we were at work. I then stopped thinking about him and returned to work. It’s good when I dive into work like this as I can push all these regrets and hatred away and think about nothing else.

***

“Goodbye, everyone.”

I hurriedly left the office as soon as it was time to go home. From behind, I heard someone calling me, but I ignored them. It must have been Rave. I didn’t want to go through the unpleasantness of being around him again. I trusted that if I stood alone strong, I could push those unpleasant feelings back down as I always did.

I fastened my pace as I pushed down my frustration, and soon I was by the main gate. Was it because I gave Rey a vacation when he would have come to pick me up? I felt empty. I would have talked to him to ease myself if he was here.

I sighed by myself at the carriage waiting area by the main gate. Then, someone called me.

“Excuse me, beautiful lady?”

I turned my head toward the voice, even though I was sure it wasn’t calling me. There was a poorly clothed girl looking at me. She had a basket of flowers in her arms, so she must be selling flowers. There was no one around me. Did she just call…

“Did you call me?” I asked her.

“Of course!” she answered.

She sure had the skills of a salesperson. Well, I suppose you should have that kind of skill to sell flowers on the street! People buy flowers to feel better after all.

“Someone told me to give this to you,” said the energetic girl.

I took the envelope she handed to me and asked, “Who gave this to you?”

I felt something was off but acted calmly. The girl shook her head with a stern expression and answered, “I’m not sure, but I think he was also running an errand for someone. Anyway, my job is done, so I’ll be off beautiful lady.”

The girl left as I watched her, then I looked around. It was the same outside of the Royal Palace. The ever-peaceful capital. I could see nothing off about it at all.

‘Who could it be? This envelope could be…’ I certainly didn’t feel good. I decided to take a look at it after I got home.

***

I left my cousins, who greeted me cheerfully, behind and entered my room. I locked the door, took a deep breath as I was now alone, and began opening the envelope. What came out of it was a letter. I opened it with a puzzled look on my face. As soon as I read it, I felt my disgust shoot up from within me.

You dirty b**ch. How do you live while ruining another person’s life? You better live quietly if you don’t want any trouble.