His Reason

"You've come a little early."

"You've been waiting here in front."

Lucia was surprised to see Owen standing in front of the mansion. She didn't expect that Owen would personally greet her.

"I can't wait inside after inviting you myself."

He said, reaching out his hand to Lucia as she got off the carriage. Lucia gently placed her hand on his, clad in white gloves. The warmth between the pink lace gloves and the gloves was comforting.

"...It suits you well."

As Lucia stepped down from the carriage, Owen whispered.

"Lucky me."

Her heart raced at his words, but she tried to remain calm.

She was confident in admiring beautiful things with just one glance. But when Owen uttered the words "suits well," she felt tense for some reason.

"Do you like pink, Lady Edelt?"

She had chosen to wear a lovely pink dress. It was adorned elegantly with frills and lace, with small but precious jewels embedded.

Her accessories matched the dress in the same shade. The necklace and earrings, crafted with pink diamonds in droplet shapes, had an elegant design.

She usually preferred something more extravagant, but she restrained herself today, knowing some people disliked excessive pomp. Perhaps Owen was one of those who disliked extravagance.

"I do like it."

"...I thought you liked red."

Owen muttered softly, recalling the setting of the novel. To which Lucia quickly added, "I like red too."

"Is that so..."

"Yes. Today, I just wanted to match the spring flowers."

"Ah. You said you liked cherry blossoms."

Owen spat out, reminiscing about the lake near the Edelte Manor.

Lucia nodded slightly.

"Cherry blossoms are beautiful."

"Indeed."

"What about you? What kind of flowers do you like, Your Grace?"

Owen turned to her with her question, his obsidian-like eyes gazed straight at her.

"Personally, I like rose."

"...Rose?"

It was a somewhat unexpected answer. Any flower name from his lips would have been considered unexpected. He was a beautiful man, but the impression he gave seemed distant from those 'flowery' images.

Anyway, she couldn't afford to show any surprise in front of him.

"Roses come in various colors. Do you have a favorite color among them?"

As usual, Lucia smiled brightly as she spoke.

"Hm. Red seems to be the most captivating."

Owen looked at Lucia's red eyes as if to devour them, his lips twitching.

"...So you like red roses."

Lucia, meeting his persistent gaze, couldn't help but notice his intense look. She tried to figure out what was hidden in his black pupils as she responded.

"They're pretty, aren't they?"

"...Yes."

It felt like she was talking to herself, so Lucia looked away.

Even though she knew it couldn't be true, she couldn't help feeling that way.

"Here we are."

After a few more minutes of walking.

The two finally stopped their steps.

"Welcome to the Verdin's mansion, milady."

Spread out in front of the two was a very large garden.

A very large, grand, and beautiful garden.

Among the blooming flowers, Lucia opened her mouth in astonishment.

"Truly, it's a beautiful place."

"Is it?"

"Yes. I understand now why Your Grace wanted to show me this place."

Lucia spoke with her eyes sparkling.

She was always straightforward about her desires.

Things she liked, things she wanted.

She easily showed them and hold them in her hands.

And eventually possessed them.

Except for Owen.

"I didn't know that milady would like it this much."

"I love beautiful things."

"Is that so..."

"And this place is sufficiently, no, overflowing with beauty. To the point of wanting to possess it."

Lucia expressed her honest feelings.

The original Owen would probably have been disgusted by such things, but that Owen was no longer there.

"Do you want to possess this place?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Owen asked, seemingly just curious. There was no hint of sarcasm or reprimand in his words, he simply curious about her thoughts.

"Well, because it's beautiful. It's only natural to want to possess beautiful things, isn't it?"

With her dazzling smile, she said it as if it were obvious.

"...Indeed."

Hm.

Wanting to possess beautiful things is natural, indeed.

But for some reason he felt like he was veering off a dangerous path towards committing a crime. 

"Your Grace seems to understand."

"Naturally."

It was a warning not to be ignored, but he brushed it aside. It felt like he had crossed a dangerous river, but there was no turning back.

He liked her.

It meant he liked not just a part but all of her.

The concept of 'all' included even these unique aspects.

"Isn't it strange? It's instinctual."

"Yes, instinctual indeed."

As Owen spoke these words, Lucia was finally delighted to have found someone who understood her. With an excited expression, she asked Owen.

"Do you have something you want to possess as well, Your Grace?"

At Lucia's question, Owen fell into deep thought.

Something he wanted.

'Owen' and himself.

They weren't the kind of people who particularly wanted something.

Oh, no.

'Owen' wants to have Bella.

But that was after Bella appeared.

It was a future that would no longer exist.

Then, not Owen's desire.

'What do I desire?'

Lost in thought, Owen shifted his gaze.

Her chestnut hair fluttered in the breeze.

Her deep red pupils looked at me greedily. 

Her crimson lips curved into a smile.

"..."

He liked Lucia.

Whether it was infatuation or whatever, he liked her.

But he didn't want to possess her.

Rather than possessing her-

He wanted to give her what she desired in her hands.

"Hm. Your Grace seemed to have everything already."

With an unassuming look, Lucia drew her own conclusion. She nodded as if understanding.

As she said, Owen was a man who lacked nothing. The number of businesses he was running was in the hundreds, and the money he made from those ventures exceeded the level where he could indulge endlessly.

There was nothing he couldn't obtain.

"...That's true."

Since there was no lie, Owen nodded.

"Lady Edelt too. You're someone who always get what you want, aren't you?"

With that, he quickly changed the subject. As if trying to get away from this conversation.

"...Mostly."

Lucia replied honestly.

"Except for one thing."

Owen immediately caught on to what that one thing was that she mentioned. It was something that anyone who had read <Flower of the Empire> at least once would know.

"Was there something you couldn't have?"

Nevertheless, Owen pretended not to know. The original Owen was not someone who knew Lucia well, let alone someone who would welcome her obsession. In such a situation, he couldn't show familiarity or a favorable response to her obsession. Just accepting her invitation was enough to raise suspicions.

"I'm still working on getting it."

"You seem determined to get it."

"I wanted it so badly. I was determined to get it no matter what, and it seems like the opportunity has presented itself."

Owen understood what Lucia was trying to say. Probably because he was showing some vulnerability to her lately.

After a moment of thought, Owen decided.

He needed to meet her more.

He still didn't fully understand the emotions he had, so he wanted to meet her more to figure it out.

No.

Actually, it was an excuse.

He just wanted to see Lucia more.

He wanted to get closer to her.

It was his greed.

But at the same time, it was his honest feeling.

"Lady Edelt, you have to seize every opportunities. If you let them slip away, you'll regret it forever."

Owen casually fueled her possessiveness.

The fire that was already burning fiercely only grew stronger upon meeting the fuel.

"...Yes, I must seize it."

Lucia replied with possessive eyes fixed on Owen. She stared at him for a while, then licked her lips.

"Your Grace. If it's not too much trouble, may I make one request?"

Owen calmly nodded in response to Lucia's question.

And then Lucia began to speak, "I heard there will be a hunting competition in a month."

"...Right."

In response to Lucia's words, Owen slowly formed his reply. It was sudden, catching him off guard.

A hunting competition.

Although it was a setting that was clearly present in the original work, he had overlooked it.

"Then, Your Grace, can you tie the ribbon I give you to the sword?"

Owen couldn't easily answer.

In the hunting competition, there was a special meaning to a knight tying a ribbon to their sword. It was often done between lovers, married couples, family members, or close friends.

If Lucia's ribbon were to be tied to Owen's sword-

It would undoubtedly spread the perception of intimacy between them.

Of course, Owen had no intention of caring about such things.

He even thought it wouldn't be bad for rumors to spread.

And if that was what Lucia desired.

But...

'The issue is whether I can hunt well or not.'

While Owen had become somewhat accustomed to wielding a sword during his training, that was the extent of it. He had never actually used it as a weapon to attack something. He couldn't just go straight into real combat.

'...I guess I need to practice.'

As Owen let his mind wandering and let out a faint sigh, Lucia nibbled on her lower lip.

She was worried that she might be pushing him too hard.

She feared he might misunderstand her willingness as a rudeness.

She worried that she might go crazy if he distanced himself from her again just because of this issue.

"If it's too much for you, it's okay to refuse. I might have been too... presumptuous."

As Lucia began to step back, Owen hastily grabbed her hand. It was an unconscious act, and he didn't even consider that she might be taken aback by it.

"That's not it."

Lucia stiffened in place again at the warmth that touched her. As she absentmindedly looked down at the hand he held, he spoke.

"Do as you wish. At the hunting competition, tie the ribbon to my sword yourself."

At his words, Lucia's ears turned pink for a moment.

Whether Owen noticed her reaction or not, he simply adjusted their intertwined hands naturally so they could walk hand in hand.

"More importantly, there's still much to see. Are you tired?"

At Owen's question, Lucia shook her head faintly.

Confirming her response, Owen soon changed their pace. Lucia followed suit.

"Let's walk a bit more. There's still much I want to show you."

***

Throughout the stroll, Lucia racked her brain.

Every word that came out of Owen's mouth, every action he took, making her confused.

'...Why?'

Why was Owen showing such inexplicable kindness?

She had been by his side for almost three years.

He, who had shown no interest and seemed to dismiss her as bothersome, why was he suddenly seizing these opportunities?

Why was he acting so capriciously, doing things out of character?

While not every human action can be logically explained, at least Owen was someone who could explain everything with logic. A person for whom everything could be logically explained.

So, why this capriciousness?

This exceptional behavior?

"Milady?"

Caught in her thoughts, Lucia was walking absentmindedly. And sensing that, Owen abruptly stopped walking and turned to face her.

"...Did I push yourself too hard?"

With that, he approached her and placed the back of his hand on her cheek.

"Oh, I'm fine."

Though surprised by Owen's hand on her cheek, Lucia thought she was perfectly fine.

"No. You need to rest."

Owen let out a brief breath while looking at Lucia.

He knew well how this could be seen as a great opportunity not to be missed.

But...

"With such a pale face, how can you be okay?"

"Oh..."

It was only after Owen spoke that Lucia became aware of her physical state. Her legs felt heavy, and she lacked strength. She had neglected her own stamina, solely focusing on Owen's actions and words, mindlessly walking.

"Excuse me."

As Lucia staggered for a moment, Owen quickly approached and lifted her in his arms. Supporting her back and legs with his arms, he briskly continued walking.

"It's okay, you can put me down."

Startled by being suddenly held in Owen's arms, Lucia was taken aback. She had never danced with him, let alone been held like this. 

"If you're worried about falling, wrap your arms around my neck."

Whether he understood her feelings or not, Owen only whispered those words into her ear.

Amidst the confusion, not wanting to fall, Lucia willingly wrapped her arms around his neck as advised. In that position, leaning on him, she tensed her body while feeling the scent emanating from him.

'...Smells like the forest.'

Being this close to him was a first.

Likewise, catching his scent was a first as well.

Whether it was the scent of cologne or his natural scent, she couldn't tell, but his embrace carried the deep fragrance of a dense, sturdy forest.

"Your Grace."

How long had it been since she was embraced by Owen?

The voice of a servant calling out to Owen interrupted the moment.

"Logan. Prepare the carriage."

"Yes, understood."

Judging the situation, it seemed they would be parting ways here today.

Feeling the urgency, Lucia spoke quickly.

"Your Excellency, taking a short break will make me feel better."

"No. You've walked enough today."

However, her plea was not accepted.

At that moment, when it seemed like today was turning into a failure, Lucia locked eyes with Owen. In his black eyes, the emotion of concern was vividly readable.

"So, it's best to return and rest now. I apologize for pushing you too far."

It was an emotion she had never seen before.

Something she had never witnessed from Owen until now.

Finally, Lucia realized.

The trigger, the reason.

Nothing else mattered.

There was no need to consider.

Owen was already showing her an opening.

And what she desired was to seize that opening and completely take him into her hands.

Whatever his reasons for approaching her.

None of that was of any importance anymore.

"The carriage is ready, Your Grace."

The butler returned and reported to Owen.

Upon hearing this, Owen took long strides back towards the mansion's main entrance. The grand doors swung open, revealing a carriage adorned with the emblem of the Duke Verdin, a black wolf.

"Remember to send me a word within a few days."

Owen, who personally helped her out of the carriage, made that request.

Lucia nodded as she watched him.

"Yes and thank you for today."

It was a sudden opportunity that had come her way, and she had no intention of letting it slip by.

She was someone who would do anything if it meant getting what she wanted.

Especially when she might catch a glimpse of his emotions, which she had never seen before.