I instantly took a breath. I hadn't expected this name to come out here and I started to listen to her with a serious expression.

"Flora, he killed your lover. What does that mean..."

I didn't know what to say. The unified empire. King of Atlan. I could guess that the name of the empire Zalmergus told me about was 'Atlan.'

"He killed his colleague and my lover."

Her tears made my heart sink. She closed her eyes and looked like she was reminiscing about the past. She continued speaking with a mixture of anger and self-scorn, "I was only 20 years old."

An image started to flash before my eyes. A man in a unique outfit and a young man with white hair could be seen entering a store with colorful flowers.

"This is the hidden restaurant of Anemos, right?"

"Yes! That's right. I'm Flora, the chef here!"

The owner of the store was Flora. Her youthful appearance was s.h.i.+ning white like a lily. My heart was pained as I remembered my youthful days.

"It is good we came. What is the best dish here?"

"Um, let's see? They're all delicious?"

"Haha. Then I'll have to eat something that the chef recommends. Give me anything."

They sat down in a corner of the store. Flora prepared the dishes right away, making wind flower soup and mixed wind flower salad. I admired her skillful cooking ability. By the way, who was that person...? The face of the man in the unique clothing was blurred. The white-haired handsome man had his face revealed but it was constantly cracking and turning invisible. I was curious about their ident.i.ties but the video continued.

"Now, eat up."

The finished dishes were placed on their table. I felt the smell piercing my nose. My tongue clicked at Union's technology. I never thought I could even smell it. I shook my head and focused on the video again.

The two people ate the food and nodded, declaring it was delicious. Flora smiled as she served them. Suddenly, there were sparks. A momentary panorama pa.s.sed and the screen showed the next day. It was Flora's house.

"That's enough for today."

She was stroking an Aiolia flower like it was a baby. Every time she stroked it, the Aiolia shook and moved with grat.i.tude. At this moment, someone knocked on the door.

Knock knock!

"Who is it?"

The door opened and the white-haired beauty who had just eaten Flora's dishes appeared. The word 'Aiolos' was clearing floating above him. It seemed to be his name.

"Excuse me, this..." He placed a rainbow flower in her hand. His face was red and his hands trembled shyly. I could see he was nervous.

"Why are you giving this to me...?"

"I have fallen for you."

"Oh my."

He was a bold guy. He just made a confession like this. The video that followed was Aiolos confessing to Flora every day. However, Flora continued to push him away. "I'm a high elf. It isn't my destiny to be with you."

I didn't know what a high elf was but it clearly wasn't human. Nevertheless, Aiolos didn't give up. His subsequent answer was worth seeing. "I'm also not human."

Huh? He also wasn't a human. Then the Flora in front of me wasn't human? A question mark floated over my head as time pa.s.sed on the screen and they became lovers. The lover she spoke about was Aiolos. They seemed happier than anyone else in the world. They loved each other. They weren't human but they were more human than humans. However, it was only a matter of time before the atmosphere reversed.

"I'm sorry, Flora. I have to leave now. This is my destiny. However, I promise you. I will definitely come back. Even if I die, I will be with you for the rest of your life."

Aiolos promised as he held her hand and Flora wiped away her tears as she handed him a heavy leather pouch. There was a question mark on his face.

"This is a wind flower seed. I named it after you. The flower is called Aiolia. Isn't it a great name? I'll wait. Whether it is 10 years or 100 years, I'll wait for you. So don't forget me."

Thus, Aiolos left. Flora cried and had to bury her longing for the other person in her heart.

The panorama appeared again along with the sparks. 10 years pa.s.sed...

Flora was still beautiful despite the changing mountains. She was doing her ch.o.r.es and her laundry when someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?"

The door opened and it was a man in a familiar outfit. His face was obscured and Flora made an uncertain look like she was searching through her memories.

"It has been a while, Flora.  Do you remember me?"

"Are you Alexus...?"

My eyes instantly widened. Flora said 'Alexus' toward the man with the blurry face. Flora's eyes grew wider and her expression was exactly the same as mine. "Where is Aiolos?"

Flora turned her head to look for Aiolos but she couldn't find him. The only thing she could see were the soldiers standing behind Alexus in an orderly fas.h.i.+on.

"That person... isn't here."

"Huh? What..."

A soldier approached her and held out a fluffy cus.h.i.+on to her. On top of it was a rough, brown egg. Flora's eyes shook ominously.

"...Please accept this."

"Aiolos...?"

"I'm sorry. He has become an egg."

s.h.i.+t... I couldn't help closing my eyes.  

Flora slumped down in her chair. She was crying and wailing like her world had collapsed and I bit my lips.

"I'm sorry. Aiolos tried to save me and..." Alexus' fists swelled like they would burst. His voice was full of regret and sorrow like he couldn't believe the current situation. "He spoke to me. 'I want to be by your side...if I die, know that I want to be with you. I'm sorry for being late... I will protect you by your side even if I die... I love you.' He asked me to tell you that."

Alexus carefully laid down Aiolos' egg. Flora kept wailing. Alexus continued speaking, "There will be a big war soon but I won't let them come here and trample on your love. I will do so by any means. This is my atonement for you and him."

The video disappeared and I thought of my wife with closed eyes. My current heart was no different from Aiolos. If my wife hadn't died first, I would've acted the same way. I understood Aiolos' heart.

Ttiring~

[The Love Between Flora and Aiolos]

[The secret history of the wind flower Aiolia! 

If you tell this to a bard who likes sad love stories, they will reward you.]

"I didn't expect this to be the story. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."

"No, I'm fine. By the way, he is still by my side." Her gaze s.h.i.+fted in the direction of the fireplace.

"This...?"

"That's right. It is Aiolos' egg."

It was a dark brown egg that looked like a large ostrich egg. From a distance, it might just seem like a round stone. However, this was Flora's treasure and her reason for living. Her eyes were misted over.

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is looking at the egg with pitying eyes.]

Her eyes were full of love and hate. Longing, sadness, and love were all mixed together and I didn't know how to comfort her or what words I should say. How would she react if she found out I was his successor? She might be angry and kick me out. However, I wanted to tell her. This was an important matter for me from the moment I decided to walk on Alexus' path. "Flora."

"Yes."

"In fact, I'm actually the successor of Chef Alexus."

There was silence in the air. Flora's shoulders shook for a while but she seemed calm. Was it due to all the years that pa.s.sed? Or was it because of Aiolos' egg? I didn't know the reason.

"I was able to learn his cooking method through his diary. As his successor, I deeply apologize. I'm sorry." I bowed toward her. It was undeniable that Alexus that inflicted indelible wounds on her, despite all the years that pa.s.sed. Maybe it was fate that I met her.

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is looking at you with surprise.]

Flora closed her eyes and remained silent. She seemed to be thinking of someone. After a short time, I could hear her voice. "I can't forgive Alexus for taking him away."

"......"

"However, I don't think that is your fault."

"...!"

"It is late at night. The room on the right is the one my son used. Stay there for today."

After speaking these final words, Flora went straight to her room and closed the door. I turned my head and found her son's room.

-Kerenos' Room.

I entered it silently. The aloof moonlight came in through the window and the gentle melody was calm and comforting. I looked up at the moonlight and muttered, "This is the karma I have to bear..."

The next day...

Morning arrived and the world was bright. Flora greeted me when I opened the door. "You woke up."

"Ah... did you sleep well?"

I sat on a nearby chair with an awkward expression. She was sitting in a rocking chair and knitting like yesterday. The moment I sat down, Flora spoke, "I haven't given you anything for bringing back Elizabeth yesterday. Please receive this."

[Lost Puppy has been completed.]

[$200 have been acquired.]

I couldn't help laughing. I hadn't done it because I wanted something. Cer, no, Elizabeth, licked my hand. "I slept well. This girl."

Elizabeth gazed at me as her head was stroked. I saw her satisfied expression and involuntarily laughed. Pretending she didn't know me now that she met her master?

"Kwal!"

...Cute. I wanted to raise her.

At this moment, Flora spoke, "I have a request."

"...?"

I looked back at her when I heard she had a request.

"Did you say that you are Alexus' successor?"

"That's right."

"In fact, I have not eaten a dish made of wind flowers since Aiolos died."

I could vaguely guess why. Perhaps...

"I thought I would be reminded of him if I ate a dish made with Aiolia. I never made that dish again to forget the grief of losing a loved one."

...It was truly like this.

"Now Jackson came here. Perhaps it was Aiolos' intention to make this happen."

She looked at Aiolos' egg and suggested, "Can you make a dish out of the wind flower for me?"