Demon Flowers

"I understand that you have bad feeling about demon race. But C didn't do anything bad to you, at least respect him as a person. C is my friend, and the bee tribe too. If C does anything bad to the bee tribe, I will be the first to scold him. C is half human, and even if he's a full demon, he's still my friend." I looked at them, full of fire in my stomach.

"I'm sorry, Sally. I... and please pardon our rudeness, Mr. C." Clare curtsied respectfully.

"It's okay, your highness. Just... for your information, demon race never have any power to create miasma. I witnessed myself, even in royal family, there were people who had been affected by miasma. Including myself."

"I'm sorry but, may I ask you personal question?" (Clare)

"What is it? As long as I can, I will give you an answer." (C)

"Are your mother a demon, or are your mother a human?" (Clare)

"My mother was a human." C smiled reassuringly, seemingly understood what was Clare concern about.

"His body is surrounded by demonic aura, so I thought... I'm sorry, I misunderstood you," Dace bowed with guilt.

"Demonic aura? Oh... sorry, it's not mine, it's my master's. But you could discern it, as expected from bee tribe of Binyan forest."

I didn't get it, but I was glad that they didn't fight.

"This is right. You can hate a person for the bad things they did to you, it's your freedom. But, don't hate their people. Racism is a No-No. We should make the world more peaceful instead complicate things." I sighed in relief.

"By the way, I heard you gave a bucket of honey in exchange for her blood. Is that true?" (C)

"Of course it's true! What? Did you think I rob them or something?" I smacked his back furiously.

C frowned in pain, "If not for your ears, I would think you're a beastman."

"I knew this was not something we could get from other people. And... with this, Sally trusted us with her life. If we could, we would like to give more. But... as you heard, many of my people had died because of miasma." (Clare)

No, no, I didn't. I knew about this blood things after I met them.

"I wish to trade with you. Not honey of bee tribe, I want ordinary honey." (C)

"Trade?" (Clare)

C nodded, "Yup. I'll give you 5 seeds of demon flowers."

There's gasping all around, again. This time the heavy air changed to excited one.

"Are you serious?" Clare stared at C with hopeful gaze.

"One thing I proud about my demon blood, is that demon never break their oaths. I swear on my life, I won't cheat you about this." (C)

"Okay... what do you want to trade it for?" (Clare)

"Like I said. Honey from ordinary bees. One seed for one year. Once a week, maximal three buckets, minimal two buckets, no less. How about it?" C talked smoothly like an experience merchant.

What kind of flower... a year honey for merely one seed?

"Okay, I'll take this deal. But... I want all the seeds now. Do you have it with you now?"

C flicked his hand, and five black pearl popped up from nowhere.

"I'm a merchant, so... I trust a contract more than promise." C brought out a blank paper this time.

In front of all people, he wrote a contract and stamped on it with blood. Magically, the paper absorbed the blood. Clare did the same.

"Ciel... bring honey for Sally, and for Mr. C," she ordered.

"Right away, your highness." Ciel dragged Dace with him.

"Now these... are yours." C put the pearls in a blue handkerchief in front of Clare.

"Thank you very much...," Clare nearly choked up in tears.

"So... what's so special about this flower?" I couldn't help my curiosity.

Grandpa bee patted Clare head softly. Then said, "This flower... can absorb the miasma. It grows randomly on demon lands. Even if one go to demon land, it's still depended on luck."

"Now you have 4 chances to fail. But, even if not you yourself, I believe you know someone who can grow it successfully." (C)

Why did it feel like... he's cheat on them?

"At least you should give them hints as bonus?" I protested.

C chuckled, "My lady... I'm a merchant. You're an elf, why don't you give them some helps?"

"Ehh...? Sor... sorry, I'm not sure myself. This is the first time I know this kind of flower exists. Sorry, I can't help you."

"It's okay, Sally. There's no demon flowers in elven lands, so it's understandable if you don't know." Clare smiled.