Flower in the Trap - Chapter 13

Those rows of pink blossomed trees were plants brought from the East. When they were delivered, a rumor of unknown origin spread that bodies buried beneath the trees would make them bloom more beautifully.

With such a sinister and ominous reputation, the mysterious trees were not well liked. After much discussion, they were planted in a secluded corner of the palace gardens.

One day, after being scolded, Linaelina wandered the vast garden with tears in her eyes, looking for a hidden spot to cry. She stumbled upon the grove just as the flowers were in full bloom. The breathtaking sight momentarily made her forget everything. From then on, this became one of her safe havens for peace and rest.

Kaellian gently straightened Linaelina’s tousled hemline and sat her down under a tree.

The warm spring sun was setting, and the wind stirred through the treetops, carrying the scent of flowers. Her half-lidded eyes were unfocused, her eyelids growing heavier with each passing moment, and she drifted off to sleep in the quiet and slightly intoxicating atmosphere.

Once Kaellian was sure she had fallen asleep, he climbed to the higher part of the flowering tree, hiding among the pink blossoms and gazing down at the garden and the narrow path leading to the palace.

A cold light glinted in his eyes.

In the past, he had lived in a damp and shadowed wing of the palace, a harsh environment that nonetheless provided good cover for discreet contact with hidden allies.

After moving into Linaelina’s palace, he had worried that his network would be restricted. But today, he had unexpectedly discovered this secluded place in the garden. It was quiet and rarely visited, and the scattered trees offered excellent cover.

God had not truly abandoned him.

Even as a hostage in this foreign land, he was still working for his distant homeland, planning in secret, step by step, beneath the surface.

Kaellian looked toward the direction of his faraway homeland.

All these years, he had waited, endured, feigned loyalty, and wrapped his ambitions in silence. Quietly, he had studied and recorded everything from the administrative system of Sovaine to the arrangement of its military forces, analyzing the lifeblood and weaknesses of this powerful empire as it continued to flourish.

Kaellian quietly leapt down from the tree, landing softly without a sound. He walked to Linaelina’s side and crouched beside her. She was fast asleep, her pale cheeks tinged with a faint blush, her breathing slow and steady.

He watched her in silence for a while. She was his most valuable pawn, and he would guard her well. Yet in his eyes, there was a trace of something that looked almost like tenderness.

Kaellian sat beside her and leaned against the tree himself. He gently shifted her upper body so that her head rested on his lap.

In her sleep, Linaelina instinctively nestled closer, finding a comfortable spot. With a soft breath, she slipped back into peaceful slumber.

Kaellian used the pad of his finger to carefully brush away the strands of hair from her forehead, as if handling delicate porcelain.

One day, he would return to Tanova. He would carry the knowledge and experience gained in Sovaine and use it to reverse his homeland’s decline.

“What’s the next move, Princess?” Kaellian lowered his gaze to the girl sleeping beneath the tree. The breeze lifted strands of her fine hair, making her look serene and fragile.

He curled his lips into a faint smile, his eyes as dark and lightless as a moonless night.