Flower in the Trap - Chapter 20 – Return Once the Rain has Passed

The rain hadn’t stopped. It fell in fine threads, dense as woven silk, the dampness clinging to the skin with a sticky heaviness.

By the time they reached the village’s bungalow, the sound of rain striking the eaves and window lattices created a constant, rhythmic tapping. Kaellian carried Linaelina down from the carriage. She leaned into his embrace, her face turned away and hidden from sight.

As the door swung open, Roan’s brow twitched ever so slightly. The lingering scent in the air, mingled with the warm, damp aroma of wood, carried a subtle, ambiguous note. He said nothing, merely bowed his head and stepped aside, his fingers tightening and relaxing once in quiet tension.

Knowing the rain and their day spent near the lake, the villagers had already prepared hot water for bathing. Kaellian did not push for further intimacy. He allowed Linaelina to soak in the warmth, washing away dirt and weariness, before stepping in himself for his own bath.

Dinner was a hearty soup and stew made from freshly picked vegetables, their rich aroma filling the room. Linaelina was too exhausted to eat at first, but the enticing scent coaxed her to take a sip, and soon she had slowly finished two bowls. Outside, the rain fell steadily, and through the wooden windowpanes, faint glimmers of light and droplets could be seen. Inside, the air was warm without being stifling, and now and then a gentle breeze drifted in, wrapping the room in a quiet, peaceful calm.

Later that evening, Linaelina brewed a pot of hot tea, grabbed a book, and went upstairs to rest. The second-floor bedroom was draped in a soft, thick blanket, and from the window, she could hear the wind mingling with the rain’s gentle rhythm. She curled beneath the covers, eyelids growing heavy. After scanning a few lines, she drifted off to sleep.

When Kaellian returned to the room, he found Linaelina asleep, her hand resting on the open page, her forehead leaning gently against the book’s edge.

His gaze softened.

He took the book away, climbed into bed, and held her in his arms as they slept.

On the third morning, the rain had stopped.

The stone path before the house was still slick with moisture, dew clinging to the leaves and the edges of the roof. The villagers had risen early, bustling about as they prepared their tribute for the farewell. The elderly man from the orchard directed a few sturdy men as they loaded crates of vegetables and fresh produce onto the cart, all bound for the palace along with the princess.

Everything appeared ordinary, yet Kaellian sensed something was off.

Roan, who had trailed them like a shadow for the past two days, was nowhere to be found. He was usually nearby even when unnecessary. So, his absence now, when help was actually needed, was unusual. He wasn’t in the crowd or anywhere near the carriage.

Kaellian scanned the surroundings before glancing at Linaelina. Her expression remained calm and unaffected. He didn’t press the matter. Having one less bothersome presence wasn’t exactly a loss. Once preparations were complete, he helped Linaelina into the carriage.

The wheels turned, rolling steadily over stone and muddy paths as the village slowly faded into the distance. The villagers waved and smiled in farewell, and Linaelina returned their gestures with a warm smile of her own, glancing back a few times before letting out a quiet sigh tinged with longing.

The carriage continued onward, growing smaller until its tracks disappeared into the rain-dampened road.

Back at the house, moments later, Roan appeared by the second-floor window. Two figures stood quietly behind him. The air outside was crisp and fresh after the rain, but within the house, a trace of dampness still lingered.

“How was the observation over the past two days?” The voice came from a woman, soft, yet unmistakably clear.

“Everything seemed to proceed smoothly,” Roan replied evenly, though a distant look lingered in his eyes.

The woman paused, exchanging a brief glance with the figure beside her before silently turning to descend the stairs.

Roan stayed by the window, his gaze fixed on the empty path beyond the forest and the winding mountain road. The carriage had long vanished from view, yet to him, it still felt as if it lingered just beyond the trees. Visible only to his quiet, unwavering watch.