Beast’s Flower - Chapter 4

“I didn’t ask.”

 

Layla took some towels from the drawer and placed them on the table. Then she could be seen turning around and going to the kitchen.

 

Wiping his hair with the towel that Layla handed to him, Bioust leisurely watched her back as he inhaled her scent to his heart’s content.

 

A strong scent like crushed petals entered Bioust nostrils. And soon, it sent a signal to his brain.

 

Make her Bioust’s woman.

 

‘Wait.’

 

After gently persuading his instinct, Bioust leisurely admired Layla’s back.

 

She was small and skinny. Her breast and butt would certainly not fill Bioust’s palm, and rubbing them would not satisfy him.

 

But her sensual scent would surely make up for what she lacked.

 

And he could see Layla glancing back at him, as if his gaze were bothering her.

 

“What are you making?”

 

Bioust asked, ignoring the fact that it was bothering her. He was being kind and gentle in every aspect.

 

To figure out what Layla said earlier regarding her scent, trying to fish it out without her noticing, he spoke up.

 

“I wanted to say that it smells good, but I can’t really smell it.”

 

“You can’t smell it?”

 

He saw Layla’s shoulder’s visibly stiffened. And as she slowly turned her head, Layla’s expression hardened even more.

 

“Yes. I fell off a horse when I was young. After that, I couldn’t smell as much as other people.”

 

It wasn’t a lie.

 

Bioust really did fall off a horse. Of course, that horse that dropped him was immediately killed.

 

It was also true that he couldn’t smell like others. The strong scent that Layla was giving off right now was probably something that only Bioust could sense.

 

“So it’s a pity that I can’t smell the food that you made.”

 

This, too, was not a lie. Now, Bioust’s nose has been paralyzed by the strong scent of Layla, and he couldn’t smell anything else.

 

The smell of the burning wood or the fishy smell from the rain outside, has long been forgotten. They were indeed bright red truths.

 

“It’s just plain cabbage soup.”

 

“I see.”

 

Bioust was a little disappointed when Layla hurriedly looked away.

 

He thought it would be interesting to see the face that made him bare his feelings.

 

“Earlier, you said something about me putting up with it, what does that mean?”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

The sneaky cat ran away. Should he continue messing with her a little more? No. It would be good to give her a little more time to soothe her startled heart by gently licking the sole of her feet.

 

Looking at the watery soup that came out after a while, Bioust wondered if it was the cabbage soup mentioned earlier.

 

Perhaps the cabbage soup that he knows and what Layla knows must be completely different.

 

“It looks delicious.”

 

But Bioust spoke with a bright smile.

 

“The smell must be nice, it’s a pity that I can’t smell it.”

 

One corner of Layla’s lips twitched slightly at Bioust words that he threw at her with a smile.

 

What was he trying to do?

 

Bioust considered himself a genius at reading other people’s faces, but he couldn’t understand Layla’s expression just now.

 

Until now, he thought that she was much more transparent than normal people.

 

“I’ll bring… the tea.”

 

She rose from her seat as Bioust recalled her expression, trying to interpret it.

 

Her movement caused her scent to flutter again, and cling into the tip of Bioust’s nose.

 

Bioust closed his eyes and savored the scent. Again a ferocious instinct whispered in his ear.

 

‘Lay her down on the floor right now.’

 

As he imagined the scene his instincts were telling him, Bioust smiled.

 

Of course, it was only imagination. He still needs to do that.

 

***

 

Quite frankly, the cabbage soup was garbage.

 

It was cabbage soup, but there wasn’t much cabbage in it. He didn’t know what broth was made of, but using the word ‘cooking’ for it would be a waste.

 

Even more so compared to the great beef stew that Bioust was having now.

 

The broth was carefully made by removing the oil and the foam, there were plenty of ingredients, and even expensive spices. It’s a dish that was hard to find in a rural area.

 

He was either a vicious lord who would squeezed his people as he please, or a stupid nobleman who wastes his wealth, not knowing the concept of saving or investing.

 

Bioust guessed that the Baron Valencia in front of him would be one of the two.

 

“Your dishes are excellent, Baron Valencia.”

 

However, instead of saying those words, Bioust uttered words of praise.

 

“That’s too much praise, Your Highness.”

 

The Baron’s face brightened at the Crown Prince’s praise.

 

Or maybe he has been brightly smiling since before. From the moment Crown Prince Bioust got off his carriage and set foot into his territory, a smile never left his face.

 

When the dignified Crown Prince even spoke respectfully to him, he liked it enough that he felt like fainting.

 

It seems that the rumor that the Crown Prince would always use honorifics to respect the nobles who were loyal to the country had not yet reached such a rural area.

 

The Baron could not even guess that compared to the cunning high-ranking nobles, the naive low-ranking nobles were tricked by Bioust into being loyal enough that they would even take off their liver, gallbladder, and everything by pretending to show them a little respect as a Crown Prince.

 

“Having a good chef is also one of a master’s abilities. I think I’ve seen the Baron’s outstanding ability with this one dish.”

 

“Ha! Really! Don’t flatter me so much.”

 

Seeing the Baron happy, Bioust held up a glass of wine. It was blood red colored wine.

 

He could see the Baron’s face through the sparkling wine. And the Baron’s esteemed daugther shyly sat next to him.

 

Was it Ariadne? She has lovely blonde hair and blue eyes.

 

She pretends to be shy and eats like a hamster by slicing her food into a size of fingernails, but Bioust knew, as her eyes would gleamed with greed whenever she made eye contact with him.

 

Oddly enough, he could see such things. The other people’s eyes would show him what they wanted, and whether they were telling the truth or not.

 

‘What a very similar family.’

 

Bioust burst into a laughter at the same blue of the father and daughter stained with greed. Of course, he only laughed inside.

 

On the outside, he was a kind Crown Prince with a smile as bright as the sun, when he came down to territory in the countryside at the invitation of the Baron.

 

“Ah, Baron. When I got lost in the forest yesterday, I found a small cabin there. Is there someone living in it?”

 

The happy expression of the Baron stiffened for a moment. He soon smiled again, but Bioust noticed it. And it was then that he knew that whatever the baron would say would be a lie.

 

“I don’t know. Was there anything like that in the forest?”

 

“Yes. It was very old, but there was one cabin. Isn’t it a forest owned by the Baron?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. You’re right. It’s our family’s forest. However, since it’s such a wide forest, it’s difficult for me to know the details inside.”

 

“I see. It was a really wide forest. I think I started in the north side of the forest, but when I came out, I came out from the south side of the mansion, did I not?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. Yes.”

 

A drop of sweat could be seen on the Baron’s forehead as he responded to Bioust’s words.

 

“That cabin, apparently, someone was living in it.”

 

The Baron’s esteemed daugther, who was eating like a hamster, seemed to be better at lying than her father.

 

Anxiety could be seen in her eyes, but she showed a timely sweet smile when her eyes met Bioust’s. Of course, Bioust responded with a kind smile.

 

Looking at her, Bioust started to think about Layla again. Even her mouse-like eyes, filled with suspicions

.

She blurted out curses, but she did not lie.

 

And the secret behind the twitching of the corner of her lips, was yet to be revealed.

 

And that scent.

 

As he thought about Layla’s intoxicating scent, Bioust’s desire began to burn fiercely. He wanted to push down Layla immediately and release his desire to his heart’s content.

 

“Come to think of it, I think I gave permission to the old man, who makes charcoal, to live there the other day.”

 

“Ah, is that so?”

 

Bioust, who had just put his teeth into Layla’s nape in his imagination, quickly returned to reality with the Baron’s words.

 

Unfortunately.

 

“Yes, yes. It’s been a long time so I forgot about it.”

 

“You are truly a baron that loves his people. Even though it’s a family forest, you willingly opened it to the people.”

 

“Y-yes.”

 

Lies.

 

Bioust thought that what he said was a blatant lie, but he did not show it that much. Is there someone who would only lie for a day or two?

 

“Indeed, when I return to the Imperial Palace, I will tell my father that the Baron Valencia’s territory is very peaceful and well-governed.”

 

“Is that true? Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

“Don’t mention it.”

 

Lies.

 

The Emperor’s face was also hard to see. Besides, it was a face that he didn’t want to see very much. Why would he see the Emperor to have a conversation that was neither fruitful nor truthful?

 

Bioust brazenly lied and just smiled.

 

And the moment he smiled, his eyes met with Baron’s esteemed daughter’s again. When she made eye contact with Bioust, she sent him a subtle seductive gaze.

 

She had the same blonde hair and blue eyes as Layla, but her smooth shoulder line and voluminous breasts were nothing like her.

 

Not to mention her glossy skin and well-trimmed nails.

 

So Bioust was disappointed. It would be nice if it was Layla who was sitting there.

 

If Layla would send him an alluring gaze like that, he would’ve taken her right away and hugged her to her heart’s content.

 

At the thought of Layla, Bioust felt something below his waist ache again.

 

Bioust can’t wait for the day his imagination becomes a reality.

 

***

Uhm… so what do u guys think bout our ml?