One Step Forward to the Flower Path - Chapter 3

“Where are Valerie and Ruan?”

“They haven’t returned yet, Master”

“As soon as they return, explain the situation in detail. They’re clever, so they’ll know to be careful with their every move.”

“Yes, I understand,” Den answered, respectfully.

The second question was directed at Cain.

“What about the escorts?”

“We’ve relocated them around her room and tripled the amount of people.”

“Focus on the escorts for the time being. Countess Irene infiltrated the Kingdom of Heideland and brought the child over after killing off the soldiers there. They must be eager to find the child.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t let the fact that we’ve hidden a child here leak out. I know we can’t keep it a secret forever, but we still need to be as careful as possible until the situation improves.”

“We will keep that in mind.”

Den and Cain bowed respectfully to their Lord.  Everyone’s eyes gleamed with a firm resolve.

“My lord, I’ve brought the meal.”

One by one, two maids appeared with trays. Dante had them prepared because Ivanna didn’t get to eat after the incident earlier.

Den promptly knocked on the door.

“How can I help-oh my gosh.”

After carefully opening the door, Alaine immediately burst into laughter the moment she saw the food trays carried by the maids.

One maid held a tray filled with all kinds of bread, while the other carried a tray full of colorful juices.

“She couldn’t possibly eat this much.”

Aside from the bread, she estimated that there were at least 10 different kinds of juices prepared on the tray. She could see just how much the Duke truly loved his daughter.

“The child needs to be slowly fed. We need to pay attention to her likes and dislikes as well.”

“My lord, the lady’s name is Ivanna.”

Dante had not even once called his daughter’s name, since he found out about her existence.

Ivanna. What a beautiful name.

Alaine felt a bit sorry because of that, so she decided to mention Ivanna’s name.

Luckily, Dante replied positively.

“I’ll call that name for the first time ever in front of my child.”

Unable to hide their surprise, Alaine and Cain widened their eyes when they heard the Duke’s words, which were filled with affection for his daughter.

Ten, the boldest out of them all, was the only one who dared to burst out into laughter.

The strong feelings that the Duke held for Ivanna was a good sign.

“Go in and take care of the child. Let me know If there are any problems as soon as possible.”

“Should I leave the door open?”

“Close it.”

For the child’s sake. Those unspoken words were heard loud and clear. Alaine smiled as she closed the door and turned around.

“Miss, your meal······.”

Her laughter stopped as her voice trailed off.

Ivanna, who had been sitting on a soft sofa, quickly fled to the darkest corner of the room. As if she was nothing more than a speck of dust.

Alaine closed her eyes.

Why do you do this when your father is treating you so well?

Ivanna’s mind was already so closed off. It hurt to see her like this, Alaine even felt guilty now for laughing about the good signs.

“Now, Miss. Please take a look at this.”

Alaine held back her tears and approached Ivanna, who, as she curled into herself, revealed her bandaged limbs.

In order to not spook Ivanna further, Alaine lowered her gaze and knelt from a distance away from her as she set the tray of food on the floor. Hopefully the table will be used in the future.

“Well, Miss. You have to eat. Aren’t you hungry?”

Ivanna’s stomach had been growling for quite some time. She sniffed the air and swallowed when her mouth watered at the scent of the food.

“Come, Miss. Come and eat. The food won’t taste good if it gets cold.”

Ivanna didn’t even move an inch. She continued to huddle into herself.

Seeing this, Alaine continued to speak carefully.

“I’ve put it on the floor, and nothing will break this time. It’s okay, Miss.”

Hearing that the bowl was sturdy enough to not break, Ivanna started to crawl and make her way to the food tray as she looked up at Alaine, who was still smiling kindly. She reached out and carefully took the bread.

As she quickly devoured the food, she started to choke and gag when it got stuck in her throat.

Even as she was wheezing and gasping for air, she still wouldn’t stop eating. It was like she was used to this.

Fucking bastards.

Alaine cursed at the men who had hurt Ivanna.

When the child coughed again, she immediately grabbed a glass of juice.

“Drink it slowly, Miss. No one is going to take it from you. It’s okay to drink it slowly.”

Ivanna placed the bread down and sipped her juice as she calmed down, before continuing to eat.

Alaine didn’t know when or if Ivanna’s wounds physically and mentally would ever get better, but she thought Ivanna would at least feel better if she did her best to care for her. She would give her as much love as possible.

Until then, she needed to do her best to show that everyone loved her. It might be hard. But it won’t be as difficult as what Ivanna had previously gone through.

So let’s do our best.

For now, I must tell the Duke that strawberry juice is your favorite.

✧────── ೋღ🌺ღೋ ──────✧

Alaine attempted to bathe Ivanna but failed. Ivanna was terrified of leaving the room. Even though the bathroom was attached to the room, she was still too afraid.

Ivanna was also frightened of any kind of skin contact. Alaine could not forcibly wash a child when she reacted so violently whenever a hand was reached out to her, so she had to give up on the bath.

Instead, Alaine tucked Ivanna into bed and let the child be. She thought Ivanna would feel better afterwards and proceeded to clear out the ashes from the fireplace. After she was done, Alaine soon had no choice but to leave the child alone in the room.

Ivanna was finally alone now. No matter how much her ears strained to listen, she couldn’t hear any approaching footsteps coming back to the room she’s in. Ivanna slowly crept under the fluffy bed, afraid that it would make a loud noise. She has never slept in a bed ever since her mother left the world, nor had she ever used such a fluffy bed even when she lived with her mother.

That’s why she felt uneasy.

Ivanna scurried back to the corner of the room. She was accustomed to lying on the floor.

“The floor isn’t hard here.”

The prison’s floor was hard, damp, and cold, making it sticky to the touch. But that was not the case here because there was soft carpeting underneath her feet, which meant that it didn’t hurt for her to walk around.

“Am I going to stay here?”

Alaine said that I could stay here, but maybe I’ll be locked up later.

“She gave me delicious bread too.”

There was brown bread, sweet and sour juices, and the most delicious of them all was the red juice.

Ivanna licked her lips.

“If I get to keep living like this, wouldn’t it be okay if they took my power?”

Being thrown to the altar was a painful experience. Her body throbbed, and it felt like blood may spill out of her at any moment.

It was truly one of the scariest and most painful moments she’d ever experienced in her life, whether it was her first one or this one. But it might be tolerable if she was able to sleep on this warm floor, eat bread, and drink tasty juices. Ivanna curled up at the thought of having to move elsewhere in a year from now.

She just wanted to stay here. The cold prison was such a frightening place. In comparison, this place was wonderful.

The door opened.

Ivanna rose up immediately, as she became alarmed.

Was he going to take my power now?

She had thought that she’d be okay, but her body trembled. Her body still instinctively feared the altar, and the pain it brought.

The man entering the room was large in stature. The candle that Alaine had left lit flared before gradually dying down.

With the way her heart pounded, Ivanna felt as if it was going to burst.

Oh, right. This is what he brought me here for.

The man focused on lvanna, noting the way she was curled into the corner of the room instead of laying on the bed.

Ivanna felt startled at his presence.

His eyes were a vivid yellow, with dark pupils slashing through the bright color.

They were just like cat’s eyes.

“······.”

Dante stared at her as she sat on the floor curled into herself. Ivanna stiffened with fear and was unable to move.

He approached her soundlessly.

“Are you······ going to take me away······?”

His footsteps paused.

“Are you going to draw out my powers now?”

He remained silent. Ivanna looked at him, then lightly ran her hand across the carpet, she had never felt this before in prison.

Her eyes closed.

It’s all right, it’s all right. You’re in this warm room, not a cold prison. If you make a mistake, you may be locked up again.

Ivanna took a breath.

Then she threw herself on the floor before Dante, pressing her head down on the ground.

“I’ll follow you and do anything you ask of me, so please let me stay here, and please don’t imprison me. I’ll do anything you want. Please.”

She hates prisons. She’s afraid of the cold, damp, and scary places. She wants to stop eating moldy bread and water with lumps in it.

Ivanna would do anything if she could just stay here.

“I won’t run away. I’ll stay here for the rest of my life, so please-“

“Ivanna.”

Her eyes widened as she felt completely speechless. This was the first time she’d ever heard her father say her name.

Ivanna glanced up, and before she had realized it, Dante was already kneeling before her.

His cat-like eyes were clearly visible when he lowered his gaze to match hers.

“I will not hurt you. I will not take your power, nor will I ever let anyone hurt you again, so you don’t have to beg. I’ll never lock you up. This is your room now.”

Ivanna was confused. Her own room. Why? Why isn’t he taking her power? Everybody did. It was normal to do so.

This man was so strange.

“Are you uncomfortable with the bed?”

She nodded faintly.

“You don’t have to adjust yourself right away, you can slowly get used to it. I can wait.”

Adjust? Get used to it? Wait for what?

Ivanna couldn’t understand any of Dante’s words. However, nobody ever listened to her, so she decided to just nod and remain silent.

Dante laughed.

Oh, thank Goodness. He didn’t get angry because she pretended to understand. That’s good. She’ll just have to do this in the future from now on.

“Ivanna. This is your home now. You will never be in any pain again, because this will be a safe place for you, a home filled with happiness.”

Home. This is my home?

For Ivanna, her only home was the little hut that she lived in with her mother. There was not a single place she could call home aside from there.

Other than that, I’ve only ever lived in the places for about a year or so. So won’t she leave this house after a year? How absurd······.

“Ivanna, you may not believe me, but I love you.”

Love? She doesn’t understand.

Ivanna felt bewildered and confused.

Love, it’s weird for him to love her.

Wasn’t her mother the only one who ever loved her?