The Song of Flowers - Chapter 6: The Family’s Chamber (2)

The memory of being carried like this came back to her. Despite warnings from others about the strain on her knees, Shima had often carried Adele around. The girl may have looked small for her age, but even a child of six or seven was no lightweight. For an elderly woman like Shima, it was a burden, especially as she grew older and weaker.

At some point, Shima had stopped carrying Adele. Last year, it had even become difficult for her to have Adele sit on her lap.

‘There are times when having a child’s body isn’t so bad,’ Adele mused. Not having to climb the steep stairs was a relief, and being carried felt comforting.

When they reached the top, Ron set her down and closed the iron gate behind them.

“Grandmother hadn’t visited the family chambers in a long time, had she?” Adele asked.

“You’ve never heard of it?”

“No. Can I come see her portrait again sometime?”

“Anytime you want. Just let me know.”

“Okay.”

Ron gazed at Adele for a moment before reaching inside his shirt and unfastening the necklace he had been wearing. Except for the brief time when Alan had taken it, he had never been without it. He handed the black ring, strung on a golden chain, to Adele. She hesitantly opened her hand, and he placed the ring in her palm.

“What is this?” she asked.

“It’s the family heirloom, passed down from the previous lord to the eldest son,” Ron explained.

Adele examined the rough-looking ring, which didn’t seem like a precious treasure at all.

“It’s the only key that allows someone outside the bloodline to open the family chambers.”

“Oh, so that’s why…” Adele trailed off as the realization hit her. She understood why her grandmother had avoided the family chambers. The ring was deeply connected to the chambers, and seeing the ring would have reminded Shima of the son she had lost, causing her pain.

“Keep it. You’ll be able to enter the chambers with that,” Ron said.

“What about you?” she asked, concerned.

“I don’t need the ring.”

The family chambers were sealed with special magic, accessible only to blood relatives of the Levas family. The fact that Ron could open the doors without the ring no longer surprised him.

“Go see the portraits whenever you want,” he added.

“I can’t accept this.” Adele held the ring back out to him.

“You can’t just give such a precious thing to anyone.”

“You’re not just anyone,” Ron replied.

“But that’s supposed to be for Leon, right? What if I take some of the treasures in the chambers? How would you stop me?” Adele asked, half-joking but also serious.

Ron chuckled, amused by her concern.

“Did you see something you wanted?”

“…No,” she admitted, embarrassed.

“Well, if it bothers you so much, take something from the jewelry room next time.”

Adele frowned and scolded him, “That’s the family’s treasure! Even if you’re the lord, you can’t just give it away!”

Since inheriting Shima’s massive fortune, Adele had felt a sense of guilt toward Ron. Although he had told her not to feel sorry, the fact that he seemed so unaffected only made her feel worse.

After all, he was Shima’s grandson, the rightful heir to her love and fortune. That he never showed any greed or resentment left her feeling unsettled.

‘Why don’t you ever call her Grandmother?’ Adele wondered. He always referred to her as if she were a stranger, never using familial terms. He even called his father “the eldest son” instead of “Father.”

She understood that they hadn’t lived together, so perhaps he didn’t feel any attachment, but there wasn’t even a trace of affection toward his own bloodline. It made her feel sad and scared, as if her beloved grandmother had meant nothing to him.

‘It would be better if you hated her,’ she thought bitterly. Hatred would be easier to accept than indifference.

“The items in the jewelry room don’t matter. They’re things you can buy with money. Should we go back and take a look? Pick something if you want,” Ron offered.

Adele stared at him quietly for a moment before shaking her head.

He was kind, but she couldn’t understand him.

‘He says he’s my guardian because of Grandmother’s request…’

That only made things more confusing. If he truly didn’t care for Shima, why would he feel bound by her last request?

Adele looked at the ring, torn. Truthfully, she wanted to keep it. The idea of being able to visit her grandmother’s portrait whenever she wished was tempting.

Before she could decide, Ron took the ring from her hand and placed it around her neck, settling the matter.

“Leon—”

“It’s fine,” he interrupted.

“But what if I lose it? What if the chain breaks—”

“It won’t. It’s specially made. You won’t be able to break it, even if you try.”

Adele tucked the necklace under her clothes, hiding the thin gold chain against her skin. Despite its humble appearance, it carried immense significance.

“I’ll keep it safe. Thank you,” she said earnestly.

“Good.”

‘She would want you to have it,’ Ron thought.

For him, the ring was both a treasure filled with memories of his brother and a heavy burden. He could never bring himself to wear it on his finger. Even carrying it around his neck had always felt like wearing a chain of iron.

‘Pathetic,’ he scolded himself. Unable to handle even the weight of a simple ring, he had passed it on to Adele.

Ron lightly tapped Adele’s head.

Every time he discovered how weak he truly was, it brought him shame. And yet, when he looked at Adele, he felt comforted. She was like a chance—a final opportunity to avoid the regrets of his past.

An opportunity he was determined not to lose.

***

The Saul Kingdom.

A guest arrived at the palace of Prince Berto, the third prince and a strong contender for the throne. Many sought his favor, and his palace was a revolving door of influential visitors. However, the guest that night, arriving discreetly to avoid prying eyes, was no ordinary visitor.

Multiple layers of protection were set up to ensure caution. Officially, the visitor was said to be arriving at the quarters of Berto’s mother, the queen consort. The queen consort was known to be deeply immersed in fortune-telling, frequently summoning famous seers. While superstition was generally frowned upon, her favor with the king allowed such activities to go unnoticed.

As the seer entered, a servant quietly approached the supposed assistant who had accompanied him. Both the servant and the assistant disappeared into the corridors, eventually emerging in Prince Berto’s quarters.

In truth, the queen consort’s involvement in fortune-telling was a smokescreen. Whenever Prince Berto needed to meet someone in secret, he would use his mother’s influence.

“Greetings, Your Highness,” the guest bowed.

“Welcome. A distinguished guest indeed, making such a difficult journey,” Berto greeted with a sly smile. Though the guest had disguised himself as a seer’s assistant in worn-out clothes, he was far from ordinary.

“Thank you for your gracious reception,” replied the middle-aged man, bowing respectfully.

It was none other than Malcolm Grant, the famed merchant lord of the continent.

Berto had crossed paths with Malcolm through a dramatic event.

Not long ago, a secret slave auction, tied to a human trafficking ring, had been exposed. The scandal shook the entire continent, as it implicated numerous members of royalty and high-ranking nobility. To protect their reputations, many powerful figures worked to annihilate the criminal organization and cover up their involvement. However, those whose names were revealed still faced consequences, no matter how minor.

Berto was one such individual. He had no twisted desires but had involved himself in the filthy dealings for a simple reason: money. In his fierce battle for the throne against his half-brother, the crown prince, wealth was his most essential weapon.

Had his half-brother been involved, they might have agreed to cover for each other. But Berto had moved alone, reaping all the benefits for himself. Though he had profited greatly, the cost of his actions was now catching up with him.

The crown prince, Berto’s half-brother, suspected Berto’s involvement and had launched an investigation. Berto’s downfall seemed imminent. Exposure could strip him not only of his claim to the throne but also his royal status.

It was Malcolm who had saved him in that dire moment. Somehow, despite the crown prince’s relentless pursuit, Berto’s name never surfaced. Instead, one of the crown prince’s own associates was implicated, derailing the investigation.

Berto owed Malcolm a debt, though he believed he had already repaid it. He had granted Malcolm the right to use his uncle’s estate and never inquired about what transpired there. He had also relinquished a lucrative tea trade agreement. In Berto’s eyes, he had made substantial sacrifices.

Tonight’s meeting was not to reminisce about the past but to discuss a new deal Malcolm had discreetly proposed.

“I didn’t expect the head of the Grant Trading Company to come in person.”

“The nature of the goods required it. I couldn’t entrust this to just anyone.”

“Such an extraordinary item? My curiosity is piqued.”

Since the secret auctions had been shut down, Berto had suffered a significant loss. His main source of income had vanished. Unlike the crown prince, Berto lacked powerful support from his maternal family.

When Malcolm hinted that this deal could yield profits beyond what he had lost, Berto couldn’t resist.

Malcolm took a small pouch from his coat and placed it on the table. Berto couldn’t guess what might be inside the modest pouch.

“This is the item we’re discussing? What on earth is it?” Berto asked.

“Why not see for yourself?” Malcolm replied.

Berto untied the pouch and looked inside. It contained fine purple powder that shimmered under the light, shifting in color depending on the angle.

Berto frowned as he studied the mysterious substance.

“Surely… this is not some kind of drug?”

Malcolm remained silent, which was answer enough.

Berto slammed his fist onto the table with a loud thud.

“Are you out of your mind?” The hospitality in his eyes had quickly turned to icy contempt.

“You’ve misjudged me,” Berto growled, tossing the pouch back. The powder spilled onto the table.

Berto knew that drugs could be incredibly profitable. But they were also a blight on society, turning people into hollow shells. No matter how much he desired wealth, he had no intention of turning his kingdom into a den of addicts.

Berto wanted to become king. He believed he could rule far more wisely than his half-brother. What he desired was a prosperous, unified kingdom, not one rotting from the inside due to drugs.

“Out of respect for our past, I won’t hold this against you. But take this filth and leave. If you ever think of spreading drugs in my kingdom, I won’t stand idly by.”

Despite Berto’s cold dismissal, Malcolm’s expression remained calm, almost leisurely. Those familiar with Malcolm described him as a man who could stab you in the back while smiling. He was known for maintaining his composure and never raising his voice, no matter the situation.

“Please, hear me out. Do you think I’d bring something that would harm Your Highness?”

“So, you’re telling me this isn’t a drug?”

“It’s exactly what you think it is.”

Berto’s anger flared again.

“There may be a market for such things elsewhere, but I have no use for it. I need clean, risk-free wealth.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Malcolm said smoothly.

Most nobles considered it beneath them to openly discuss money. But Berto, unlike many, understood the power of wealth and wasn’t shy about acknowledging it.

Malcolm had dealt with countless royals and nobles across the continent, but only a select few had earned his special attention. Berto was one of them.

“You’re simply thinking of the wrong market for this product. What if I told you there are no side effects?”

“No side effects…?” Berto’s eyes gleamed with interest.

The biggest issue with drugs was their addictive nature, which destroyed lives in an instant.

“This product is called ‘Euphoris.'”

“Euphoris…?”

“It delivers the highest pleasure with none of the harmful side effects.”

“Is that even possible?”