The West Wind's Destination - Side Story 3
The spring sunlight pouring down was delightful. Sitting in the garden, watching the flowers, and listening to the birdsong, time flew by swiftly.
When living alone, there was always a need to be on guard, as if being chased, but here, even the breeze felt as soft as down feathers, leaving no room for tension to enter the body. It was so relaxing that it was so easy to drift off to sleep.
The face that used to be constantly tense now relaxed, significantly changing her appearance. Those who knew Bea from before would find it hard to believe this was the same person.
“Lately, I’m worried. Is there something troubling you?”
But it seemed Aseph Vilkanos was worried about even that.
You’re eating too little. You seem to lack energy… and the usual nagging began again. His deep, resonant voice was more pleasant to hear than the spring breeze.
Whenever Bea would just listen to his voice without saying anything back often led Aseph to worry that she was zoning out again.
It wasn’t that. Recently, Bea found there was so much to see and feel that just that was enough to fill her time. Aseph always brought different kinds of flowers, and the sound of birds changed with the seasons.
Even after explaining this, Aseph would briefly be happy, then seriously ask again.
“Still, if you think of something you need, please tell me. I always want to do more for you, but it seems insufficient.”
“Then you first tell me.”
“Hmm, well…”
Aseph thought for a moment then shyly said.
“I wish you would think of, well, these small things for me.”
“Flowers?”
“Yes, I don’t ask for much. You’ve already done so much, and that alone would make me very happy.”
It seemed that Aseph felt more burdened by the tasks that would benefit Vilkanos, preferring to be engaged in love for frivolous reasons instead.
“Understood.”
“Really?”
Just that short response made Aseph smile happily, and watching him silently, Bea got up.
“Follow me.”
❖
Bea led Aseph to the laboratory that he had once made for her in the mansion but had cleared out completely.
When Bea was ill, Aseph decided it was necessary to clear out the laboratory forcibly. Having been used as a bedroom for a while, the room had become redundant now that a different bedroom was in use.
Using the few remaining small materials, Bea started to create something with the flower Aseph had just given her.
At first, it looked like she was making a nutrient solution to put the flowers in, but after immersing the flowers in the solution, she began doing something else.
After a bit of waiting, a more vibrant-looking botanical specimen was created than when Aseph had given her the flowers.
Aseph expected Bea to hand him the created botanical specimen at that point.
However, Bea took it and bypassed Aseph, heading towards the storeroom.
It was the place where Bea had barricaded herself on the first night Aseph had forced her to stay in the mansion. Though Aseph had forcibly removed her from there before, he now wasn’t interfering with whatever Bea was doing, so he didn’t know what was inside.
Click.
With the opening of the door, it felt as if a spring breeze was leaking out from inside. A fragrant spring scent wafted out from there. Visual sensation came last.
And what he saw next made his heart pound wildly.
Aseph barely suppressed a sigh that was about to escape.
“Ah, what is this…”
Initially, he thought she had taken up gardening as a new hobby. But upon closer inspection, all the botanical specimens there were the ones Aseph had given to Bea with a light heart. All the flowers he thought were discarded were there.
Seeing the pile of plants, vividly preserved without a single petal damaged, it seemed as if a small garden had unfolded inside the storeroom.
Bea put down the specimen she had just made and fetched something else from inside.
“This was the first trial. Take it.”
It was a rose Bea had planted when she first came to the mansion. Perhaps because it was older or because it was a trial, it was less fragrant, but Aseph felt intoxicated by it alone.
However, separate from his joy and excitement, curiosity compelled him to ask a question.
“Why did you sigh yesterday, if you like this so much?”
He had been so worried about it. Bea was not expressive with her emotions, making him overreact to even minor responses. Especially to negative reactions like sighs, he couldn’t help but feel alarmed.
“If it goes on like this, it will soon be full and there’ll be no place to put anything.”
“Ah…”
Aseph, who had inadvertently looked around this small patch of spring in the storeroom, struggled to suppress the swelling in his chest and said,
“Well, it’s not… full yet. If this space isn’t enough for you, we can expand the storeroom, no, the display cases.”
Bea scowled.
“Don’t be silly. If you calculate the frequency and amount of flowers you bring, soon…”
“Hahaha!”
Eventually, Aseph couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.
Looking at Bea’s face, wondering why he was laughing, he felt even happier and laughed out louder.
Eventually, Aseph picked up Bea and kissed her all over her face.
“I love you, Bea.”
He couldn’t resist saying these words as he nuzzled his forehead against her neck like a puppy.
“I never knew you liked flowers this much. How about we create a large garden? I think you could make one filled with all four seasons.”
He expected her to agree, but surprisingly, Bea shook her head.
“I don’t… seem to easily like anything.”
“You don’t like flowers?”
“Not really.”
Bea said this lightly, but in this situation, it was hard to believe her words.
For her to have preserved every flower Aseph casually gave her so they would never wilt was beyond a common act of affection.
