Chapter 102
I took one lily and headed toward the back of the flower shop.
Just then, Karden was conversing with the shop owner.
The plump shop owner in his 50s kept bowing repeatedly, looking apologetic.
“Sir, this lily is really beautiful. Where is it grown?”
“Shuvelia, you seem to like that lily.”
Karden looked alternately at me and the lily with a faint smile.
Not at all. For a shapeshifter like me, this lily is no different from poison.
The flower shop owner narrowed his eyes and stared at the lily.
His expression suggested he was seeing this lily for the first time. He scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.
“Oh, I’m sorry. This is my first time seeing this lily, too. We purchase hundreds of different flowers from various regions daily, so I couldn’t check each one. One of my employees must have brought it in without my knowledge.”
“Then, could you call that employee?”
“Well, that employee is on sick leave. I’ll try to find out somehow.”
So it’s not easy to find out where the lilies came from.
I felt bitter. Whether the owner truly didn’t know or was just pretending not to know, I should ask Karden to investigate the owner’s background.
“How much would you like for this flower?”
At the owner’s question, I turned my gaze to Karden. And I smiled wickedly.
“Your Grace, I want this flower as a gift.”
“Whatever you wish.”
“Then, please give me all of those lilies. Every single one of them.”
The owner’s eyes widened at my words.
That’s understandable. There must be well over a hundred flowers.
“What? Ah, understood. Where should we deliver them?”
After Karden gave the owner the address of the villa, he gave me a surprised look.
“I thought you’d ask for a greenhouse or flower shop as a gift. Is this enough?”
“Ugh, I don’t need that much. I’d prefer food over flowers.”
Karden covered his mouth with his fist, suppressing a laugh.
“I’ll remember that.”
I carefully wrapped one lily in my handkerchief. The smell was still so strong that I had to cover it somehow.
“Your Grace, let’s go now. The flower scent in here is too overwhelming.”
The flower shop was still crowded with people. As I tried to avoid the crowd and go outside, I twisted my ankle because of my high heels.
“Careful.”
Suddenly, Karden wrapped his arm around my waist to prevent me from falling.
He naturally held me in his arms and walked out of the flower shop.
As I was looking for Jessie, Lady Cade was about to get into her carriage.
“You dim-witted fool, stop dawdling and get in.”
Jessie sat awkwardly on the coachman’s seat. She suddenly turned her gaze toward me in front of the flower shop.
When our eyes met, Jessie’s expression seemed dazed.
As she blinked slowly, her gaze had changed to be as cold as ice, like a completely different person.
What’s going on? Her eyes changed so suddenly.
But the carriage had already departed.
“Shuvelia, you don’t look well. What’s wrong?”
Karden, who had his arm around my shoulders, asked in a serious tone. Instead of answering, I looked toward the flower shop.
With the sound of a silver bell, the door opened and Yudis came out.
“I’ll tell you when we get to the villa. It’s not something to discuss on the street.”
“Alright.”
“Also, could you have your men watch the flower shop owner and employees?”
“I shall command it so.”
Karden said he would do as I asked without raising a single question. I was the one surprised by his ready compliance.
“Why don’t you ask me anything, Your Grace?”
“Why should I question? Whatever you want, whatever you wish to do, I’m willing to do it gladly.”
Karden twisted his red lips slightly and brought his face close to mine. He was so close I could feel his breath on my nose.
I pushed his rock-hard chest with my palm and turned my head away.
“Um, Your Grace, I understand your intention, but your face…”
“That’s right, Brother. What shameful behavior is this in broad daylight on the street? Please consider Shuvelia’s social reputation and dignity.”
Yudis intervened between me and Karden. She grabbed my shoulder and pulled me out of Karden’s embrace.
Karden glared at Yudis, perhaps angry that she had taken me away from him.
“Yudis, this is not your place to interfere.”
I feel like a small fox caught between two massive carnivores desperate to devour each other.
I secretly sighed.
Why do these siblings either stay silent or fight with each other?
Can’t they just get along?
I glared at the two people growling at each other in front of me with their arms crossed.
“Both of you, stop it, and let’s go to the villa right now. We need an emergency meeting.”
***
The firelight softly illuminated the drawing room. Karden, Yudis, and I sat together, staring at the table.
More precisely, at three lilies.
The wrapping had been removed, releasing an intensely strong scent. Strong enough that I had to cover my nose with a handkerchief.
Karden frowned as he glared at the lilies on the table.
“To summarize Shuvelia’s words, this lily emits a terrible scent, and when shapeshifters smell it, they have strange reactions.”
“Yes. I heard they distribute medicine containing this lily scent at the shapeshifter shelter. They say it works as a fatigue recovery or stimulant, but it seems dangerous.”
Yudis rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought for a moment.
“Now that I think about it, some shapeshifters working at the port said they felt energized after taking medicine from the shapeshifter shelter. I found it strange how shapeshifters who were weak suddenly worked hard after taking that medicine. I thought House Alred’s pharmaceuticals were just exceptionally effective.”
Yudis brought the lily close to her nose and sniffed it.
“A flower with no scent at all. It really seems artificially modified.”
“You mean the flower was engineered?”
“Yes. I’ve traveled throughout the continent, but I’ve never seen a flower without a scent. Moreover, the fact that only shapeshifters can smell it… that would be difficult to achieve naturally.”
“The only place capable of engineering such flowers would be…”
Karden frowned as he glared at the lily.
“Only House Alred. With their pharmaceutical manufacturing, alchemy, and excellent magicians, they could certainly modify plants.”
Karden’s guess is right. Given that they distribute mysterious medicine vials with a strong lily scent to shapeshifters, it’s highly likely that House Alred is behind modifying these flowers and manufacturing them into medicine.
Karden interlaced his fingers, deep in thought, then looked up.
“We cannot ignore dangerous substances being distributed to shapeshifters in the market. I will officially report this to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Yudis clenched her fist and spoke emphatically.
“That’s right. I was also uncomfortable with such medicines circulating among shapeshifters. Above all! It would be terrible if our precious Shushu were exposed to such medicine. We should burn down all the fields where these lilies grow!”
I’m honestly touched. These two are so dependable.
The time I spent worrying alone now seems foolish.
I should have shared my visit to the shapeshifter shelter and discussed it with them earlier.
Karden raised the corners of his lips as he looked at his sister, burning with enthusiasm.
I’ve seen that smile somewhere before.
He always had that eerie smile when assigning mountains of work to his assistant.
“Yudis, coordinate with Owen and investigate the source of this flower. We need evidence to prove the connection between House Alred and this flower.”
Yudis frowned at the mention of ‘Owen.’
“Why must I work with Lord Owen? My merchant guild subordinates are sufficient.”
“More people mean more leaks and more visibility. Owen is cautious and careful; he will assist you well.”
Hmm, a pleased smile involuntarily spread across my face.
The fiery, action-oriented Yudis and the calm, rational Owen actually make a surprisingly good couple.
“Lady Yudis, I’m counting on you and Lord Owen for the investigation. You two look good working together.”
I clasped my hands together in encouragement. Watching these two just makes me want to cheer them on and match them up.
Yudis shuddered, visibly getting goosebumps.
“Ugh, Shushu. Not you too. That man is so annoying with his nagging and meddling.”
Just then, there was a knock on the drawing room door. The villa’s head butler entered and bowed.
“Excuse the interruption, but a guest has arrived.”
Yudis asked with puzzlement.
“A guest? Who is it?”
“It’s Lord Doctor James. Shall I show him in?”
Wait, why is Uncle here?
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