Chapter 63
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 63
Translation: godsn
Yurien's gaze followed that single tear as it traced down her cheek. Echinacea, unaware of it, asked again.
"If you already knew, then why were you so surprised earlier?"
His calm expression completely shattered. He opened his mouth to answer but then startled, quickly withdrawing his hands from her shoulders as if only just realizing he'd been gripping them.
Yurien stepped back two paces from her. Echinacea waited quietly for his response. He hesitated before finally speaking.
"You..."
He began but couldn't continue. As he fumbled for words, she gradually composed herself.
He hadn't recognized her as the Demon of the Magic Sword—he'd seen her talent and taken interest in it. While bewildering, this was also somewhat reassuring. Thinking calmly, the current situation wasn't the worst possible. She'd need to fabricate some excuse about how she became a Master, but this was better than having the magic sword discovered.
If he'd already suspected she was a Master, making excuses would be easier. If others found out, they'd dig into her past and suspicions would be unavoidable, but with just Yurien, she could reasonably claim she'd picked up the sword long ago and naturally progressed to Master.
Surely he wouldn't investigate her childhood, nor would he promise to keep her secret only to spread it around. Since he'd noticed her talent long ago, he probably wouldn't connect her being an unknown Master to the Demon of the Magic Sword.
The more she thought, the more her mind settled. She wiped away the remaining tear tracks with her gloved right hand. Finally, Yurien answered in an exceedingly quiet voice.
"You... it was the first time I heard you call my name."
"...What?"
This was an answer she hadn't anticipated at all. He'd been that startled just because she'd said his name? Now that she thought about it, in her panic earlier, she'd blurted out his name as she'd always imagined doing.
Echinacea noticed his ears turning red beneath his downcast gaze. What's this? Why is he blushing? Instead of scolding his squire for addressing her lord so casually, he almost seems... pleased? Staring dumbfounded at this, she suddenly thought of another question.
"Earlier, you said you'd help me hide that I'm a Master if I wanted. My lord, do you know why I'd want to hide it?"
"...If you tell me."
'If you tell me, I'll know' means he doesn't know now. Echinacea's expression grew peculiar. She stepped slightly closer. He flinched but didn't retreat. She stared directly up at him.
"So, without even knowing why I'd want to hide it, you're saying you'll help me if I ask?"
"......"
"Moreover, it sounds like you won't even ask for the reason unless I offer it—is that how you mean it?"
"......"
"...Why are you treating me with such consideration?"
"......"
As she pressed and he remained silent, the redness from his ears gradually spread, warming his eyes and flushing his cheeks. Yurien looked utterly lost, avoiding her gaze. When she simply watched without speaking, his face turned completely crimson.
Seeing him like this, only one explanation came to mind. Every interaction and exchanged word between them so far rose in her memory, supporting this hypothesis:
The cloak, the ginger tea, his wish that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable, that unguarded smile, his reaction when she emerged from the Node, that abrupt question during the appointment ceremony, their conversation before this mission, the Amethyst sword, his apparent delight when she spoke to him.
All the expressions she'd seen from him until now—cautious, blushing, nervous in her presence, laughing at her trivial remarks, observing her with careful attention.
These were reactions that couldn't possibly stem from mere interest in her talents alone. Of course, thick questions still lingered—why, and since when—but...
"Lord... by any chance..."
No, are you insane, what are you trying to ask right now? What kind of delusion is this? Her thoughts spiraled chaotically, causing her to pause mid-sentence, but ultimately, she couldn't stop the question from bursting past her lips.
"Do you... like me?"
Eki's words were a stone cast into still water. Ripples spread. For him. For her.
She was shocked by her own words. The possibility that he might like her. Between 'Yurien with his memories' and 'the Demon of the Magic Sword,' such a thing would be impossible—but between 'Yurien de Harden Kyrie' and 'Echinacea Roaz,' however improbable, it wasn't entirely out of the question.
At first, there had been no connection whatsoever between the lofty Master of the Azure Sky Knights and an ordinary noble daughter, but after she came to Agenka, points of contact had formed, eventually developing into the close relationship of Lord and Squire. Even if she still couldn't quite comprehend it.
Yurien couldn't answer immediately. His face flushed red to the point where it couldn't possibly grow any hotter. Beneath his trembling lashes, his blue eyes darted helplessly before finally managing to turn toward Eki.
"Th—"
After barely managing that single syllable, he covered his mouth with one hand. His gaze dropped, then rose to meet hers, then wandered aimlessly through empty air.
Unless one were a fool, his answer was obvious from how utterly flustered he was. In the end, his eyes even grew slightly moist. Eki watched this series of reactions as if seeing a mirage. She almost felt guilty, as though she were tormenting him.
Moreover, the longer she looked, the more her own cheeks began burning—there was no doubt her face was turning just as red as his. Flustered, she opened her mouth.
"L-Lord, I've asked an improper que—"
"I do like you."
He cut her off abruptly. Eki looked up at him in surprise. Yurien, still crimson-faced, with slightly damp eyes and a trembling voice, nevertheless spoke firmly.
"No—more than simply liking you. I... cherish you."
It felt as if not just her mind but her entire vision had gone white. Her heart pounded madly, heat rushing through her entire body. Something ticklish and soft seemed to wriggle through her veins, sweetening her mouth. He likes me. He does. It's impossible. Am I dreaming?
Yet at the same time, an uncontrollable terror welled up inside her. Dark, red, viscous things. Unshakable realities.
'He doesn't know. That I was the demon who destroyed him.'
The one he said he liked must be Echinacea Roaz of the distinguished Roaz Count family—the eccentric officer cadet who wandered around in dresses, his squire who hid the secret of being a Master.
Even if he didn't possess memories from before the regression, she couldn't simply rejoice in his feelings. She wasn't brazen enough to just happily accept his affection while carrying the memories of having killed him and tarnished his name. Nor was she shameless enough to feign ignorance of that truth and focus only on love.
The thought became even more unbearable when reversed. If someone who had slaughtered every person precious to her—and ultimately killed her too—claimed that since everything had been undone, it was as if it never happened, and now they loved her...
'Wouldn't I be furious enough to want to kill them?'
That was the undeniable truth between her and Yurien. Even if Yurien didn't know that truth, accepting his feelings would be difficult enough—but he undoubtedly remembered.
If he were to realize belatedly who she truly was. If he were to discover that the woman he had confessed his love to was the very demon who had killed him. Just entertaining that possibility made her breath catch in her throat.
'This is deceit.'
To accept him while hiding that truth would be deception. But should she confess everything? Even if she ignored the repercussions of revealing herself as the Owner of the Magic Sword, even if she considered only Yurien—she couldn't do it.
She had felt it when she tried to spar with him. She couldn't even raise her sword against him. In a situation where he might glare at her with hatred, swearing vengeance—what would become of her? Would she want to let him kill her? Would she even be able to keep her sanity in that moment?
And if she lost her reason—what of the accumulated bloodlust within Valdergiosa? She might drown in slaughter again, driven to madness. Kairos Giosa had said there would be no second chance.
'No... I can't accept this. It's deceit toward him, and I... I can't bear it.'
Like bare skin pressed against frozen steel—a cold, painful realization. The heat that had surged through her body cooled. The heart drunk on first love froze over. She turned deathly pale. She couldn't accept it. Absolutely not.
Yurien watched as Echinacea's face flushed crimson, then drained of color. And finally, he saw clearly as she staggered back, her complexion ghostly pale.
He suppressed the heat within him. Instead of reaching for her as she retreated, he turned away. After steadying his breath, inhaling deeply, and pressing his trembling lips together, he managed to speak in a composed voice.
"You don't have to answer, Echinacea. I merely wished to tell you how I feel."
With those words, Yurien gripped Langiosa and walked toward the remains of the Black Giant. She didn't stop him. She couldn't answer. Even at this close distance, she couldn't reach out—terrified that the future would shatter if she did.
Flickering flames spread between them.
Eki stood blankly, watching his retreating figure. Crimson blood dripped steadily from his arm, staining his sleeve. The wound from earlier. In their distraction, neither of them had paid it any mind.
The moment she saw that injury, she moved without thinking. Her frozen body acted on its own. Eki stepped over the flames and caught his arm. Yurien flinched in surprise, turning to look at her.
"Your arm—you're hurt. You haven't even stopped the bleeding."
She lifted his arm and drew Amethyst. Without hesitation, she cut a strip from the petticoat beneath her dress, then tore it into a long bandage. Pressing it firmly against his wound, she bound it tight. The whole time, she felt Yurien's gaze on her. She couldn't bring herself to look up.
"Shai—I mean, the Owner of Elgiosa and the villagers—I left them elsewhere. I'll bring them here."
As she finished tying the knot, Eki spoke. Without looking at his face, she bowed her head slightly and turned to leave, heading toward where Shai was. Half of it was an attempt to flee.
Even after she left, Yurien held his arm aloft for a while. His fingers traced the knot she had tied.
Eki had bound the wound skillfully, even with just a strip of petticoat. But despite her deft movements, her hands had trembled the entire time. Her voice had shaken too. Beneath the cascade of pink hair, her downcast eyes had glistened. She had looked like she wanted to cry.