Flower in the Trap - Chapter 18

As the carriage rocked gently along the final stretch of the mountain path, the trees ahead began to thin, allowing sunlight to filter through the leaves. Shifting patches of light danced across the carriage interior, and the damp scent of the forest slowly gave way to the clear, crisp sound of water trickling nearby.

Kaellian stepped down from the carriage, his foot sinking slightly into a patch of grass warmed by the sun. Before him lay a vast valley. The mountains stood silent in the distance, and the spring water glistened with such clarity that every pebble and water plant at the bottom could be seen. Along the soft, damp banks, clusters of broomrapes with delicate purple petals bloomed in full.

Linaelina hopped down right after him. She lifted her skirt with both hands and bent down to untie her shoes and stockings. As her bare feet touched the water’s edge, a gentle splash echoed, and she looked up at Kaellian with a delighted smile. “It’s so cool~!”

Then, without warning, she cupped a handful of water and splashed it at him. Kaellian turned slightly to the side and, without missing a beat, grabbed the hat dangling from his hand, dipped it into the pond and swept the water back in her direction. A full splash landed on her shoulder, soaking it instantly.

Linaelina stood rooted to the spot, completely taken aback. Kaellian glanced at her with one brow slightly raised, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he asked, “Are you certain you want to challenge me?”

She was momentarily stunned to discover the prince’s fierce competitive spirit. With a helpless shake of her dripping hair, Linaelina turned and walked away. Kaellian did not follow. Instead, he remained rooted in place, quietly watching her retreating figure, his gaze softly tracing each step she took.

Not far away, Roan led the carriage under the shade of the trees. As he untied the ropes and unloaded the luggage, he skillfully took out dry branches and a firestone from a basket. The fire lit quickly and steadily rose.

With swift, precise movements, he soon set up a grill. Then he made his way to the pond and pulled up a fish trap. Carefully, he cleaned the fish caught in the net, skewering each one with wooden sticks and stuffing their bellies with herbs and minced garlic. Nearby, he dug small pits in the soil by the fire, placed potatoes inside, sprinkled them with coarse salt, and covered them with earth.

Linaelina walked toward the carriage and changed into dry clothes. As she stepped through the grass, the blades brushed against her damp ankles. She squatted beside the fire and leaned in for a closer look.

“Did you catch these this morning?” she asked, squinting at the fish. “I didn’t notice any fishy smell back in the carriage.”

“Caught them last night at the pond using traps,” Roan replied briefly, his eyes still fixed on the flames. “It’s warm here. I’ll let Your Highness know when it’s ready.”

Linaelina didn’t press further. She brushed the dust from her knees and stood, quietly turning away. Roan never glanced up again, while Kaellian observed the scene silently, his brows tightening just slightly in a barely noticeable motion.

The fish turned out crisp and fragrant. The potatoes, their skins roasted to a golden crackle, released a billow of steam as they were split open, carrying the earthy aroma of starch. Two pots of water simmered on the remaining embers, steeping mint leaves and dried fruit into a refreshing tea. Roan laid out the food neatly on a blanket, then stepped back in silence.

This unexpected gesture made Kaellian glance up. The young man didn’t sit down to eat, and Linaelina didn’t invite him either. At that moment, the once-blurred lines between master and servant became subtly defined again. Kaellian didn’t mind. He had never intended to share a meal with the young man, so he said nothing.

He and Linaelina sat together, using plain wooden forks to eat. The breeze rustled softly through the trees, carrying the scent of wildflowers and the faint call of birds. After the meal, Linaelina stretched out on the grass and closed her eyes, letting herself melt into the sunlight and the scent of grass.

Kaellian looked down at her, and his gaze unconsciously softened.

The mountain air was too fresh, the wind too gentle, the sun just warm enough, and the food unexpectedly satisfying. A life like this was dangerously comfortable, one that could make a person forget the sharpness and scheming of the mundane world.