Chapter 96: Chapter 48.2

“but i think it’s better not to dispose of them… not unless it’s quite urgent,” she mumbled.

as aven pointed out, their numbers seemed to be increasing rapidly. if they got lucky, perhaps they could even get an expensive crystal.

‘besides, maybe they have the ability to purify the land.’

to test her theory, seira put around five to six balls of fur in a cage and moved them into another empty greenhouse.

“what do you plan to do?” aven asked as he followed her and looked down at the ancoras.

“well… i think i should give at least one to louis for now,” she said in a glum tone, “they already know we captured them anyways.”

seira gently picked up one of the furs hovering around. the ancora drooped in her hand and looked at her.

“hey, what do you want to eat to spit out crystals? talk to your siblings. i’ll bring what you want when i come back.”

of course, there was no way that the ancora could answer her. in the end, it just scratched its nose and licked her palm. seira transferred the tiny creature into a cage as it continued to stare at her.

the ones that surrounded her as she came in didn’t follow seira as she opened the door and exited the greenhouse. as aven came out and closed the door, he heard thumping sounds coming closer. curiously, there were no birds around the greenhouse.

and then he realized. parked a distance away, franto’s carriage stood waiting for seira.

“you’re going straight to franto,” aven mused.

“yes. i’m going to meet louis today and sign a contract.”

“the contract to be his lover?”

“yes.”

aven, who was staring at seira, took the cage from her.

“i will see you off then.”

seira nodded and took a step first.

by the time he could see who was standing next to the carriage, aven opened his mouth.

“duchess… this land will recover over time, but your life cannot be reversed no matter how much you regret it in the future.”

aven looked at seira straight in the eyes as if looking deep inside her and added, “i wish you all the best. may you be happy with your choices.”

seira’s wide eyes soon closed with the sound of desperation in his voice, “thank you, aven.”

she didn’t answer him because she didn’t want to make a false promise.

seira already used up all the happiness she had to enjoy. or so she thought. didn’t she have a rich childhood in a sweet house built with the sacrifices of nathan askan and many others?

she didn’t want to refuse what was given, but she couldn’t help being pushed back from her priorities.

“i’m so lucky to have you,” she told him.

without aven, who put seira above all else and treated her well, her life would have been ruined way back.

“duchess…”

aven’s lips were pressed together in a thin line. a man that came with strong strides found them.

“seira.”

“good morning, louis,” she replied, immediately adjusting the expressions of her face once she faced him.

like a peacock showing off his beauty, louis franto looked bright today. seira looked at him with a smile plastered on her face as he kissed the back of her hand in a gentlemanly manner.

“why did you have to come here in person? you only had to send the carriage,” she tutted.

“i missed you,” came louis’ simple reply.

“…?”

seira looked puzzled. what did he mean that he missed her?

“the duchess must have never thought of me. still, we kissed and hugged each other then.”

for a moment, seira giggled at his remarks and returned the favor, “i did. why wouldn’t i?”

it wasn’t a lie. of course, she didn’t particularly miss louis. rather, her mind was full of questions and speculations of what he really wanted from her.

“i probably only thought about you all night long.”

there was no way he believed seira, but louis smiled brightly still.

“wow…… i didn’t expect to feel this good. thank you,” he said.

“what?”

if a few words could change the mood of her trading partner, seira could be as brazen as she could.

while they were greeting each other, aven, who went to the carriage and arranged her luggage, asked seira, “do you mind if i don’t accompany you?”

“it’s okay. i’m fine even if i go alone.”

it would’ve been a lot easier if aven went with her, but it would probably cause trouble during their discussion of the contract between her and louis. his and her priorities were clearly different as what the conversation veered to a while ago.

“all right,” aven accepted her refusal. “then i’ll see you in the ecliptic.”

“yes, i’ll be back.”

seira looked at aven’s eyes for a moment and turned around.

it was extremely difficult not to look at him, who stood there and watched her until the moment she climbed into the carriage. it was common for her to leave aven behind once in a while, but this time around her heart felt heavier than usual.

even as she smiled at louis who climbed after her and sat in front of her, seira couldn’t free her mind of thoughts of aven.

maybe it’s because she knew today’s contract with louis would change a lot of things for the two of them.