Chapter 30 “ Outing or Capital” part 4
After a few hours, they arrived at a flower garden.
It wasn’t an ordinary garden—it was a vast green space filled with rare flowers that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
Black lilies, burnt-tangerine blossoms, teal flowers, and countless other vivid blooms swayed gently in the breeze.
The shopkeepers and employees wore bright, floral-themed outfits that perfectly matched the lively atmosphere.
A young lady approached Sisbell and Scarlet.
“Are you looking for something, ladies?” she asked politely.
Sisbell nodded.
“We’re looking for flowers to offer at the church.”
“My father always buys them from here, but I don’t remember the exact name.”
Scarlet added, her voice cool but clear,
“It’s for the Church of Love and Purity. We need flowers suitable for offerings.”
Meanwhile, Alber and Nox quietly wandered through the garden.
Alber leaned closer and whispered,
“It’s your first time in a place like this, isn’t it?”
Nox glanced around.
“Yeah… but I think they don't mind me because of the uniform if not I don’t think it's commoner like me enter”
Alber smirked.
“Well, they probably think you’re a noble. You are handsome, after all.”
Nox froze.
“…Handsome?me?”
Alber chuckled.
“I think you need to relearn the meaning of ‘handsome.’after all girls flirt with you not with me”
From a short distance away, Scarlet watched them.
The two laughed quietly, clearly enjoying the moment.
Sisbell and Scarlet turned back to the shop as the employee began showing them special flowers—rare varieties traditionally used for church offerings.
Scarlet’s eyes softened slightly as she examined the flowers, while Sisbell eagerly asked questions about their care and origins.
Nox and Alber stayed a step behind, watching the girls with faint smiles.
The garden felt peaceful—almost magical—as laughter and quiet chatter blended with the gentle rustling of petals.
Evening slowly settled in, painting the sky with shades of amber and violet.
Soon, everyone began making their way toward the church, flowers in hand.
Scarlet and Sisbell carried Blushing Tulenelight—soft pink tulips symbolizing gentle affection, commonly offered at the church.
Scarlet glanced at Nox and handed him a few blooms.
“Use these,” she said softly.
“It’s not right to go without offering in church.”
Nox looked at her, slightly caught off guard.
“But—”
Before he could finish, Scarlet waved her hand dismissively.
“You don’t need to say anything. It’s just… help, okay?”
She looked away.
Nox accepted the flowers and examined them quietly.
“I don’t really believe in any goddess, actually I'm not a religious kind person”
“What about you lady scarlet ”
Scarlet met his gaze, surprisingly gentle.
“That’s fine. I don’t believe in any particular goddess either.”
A brief pause followed, the faint sound of church bells echoing in the distance.
Then she added quietly, almost to herself,
“My mother… she was a follower of the Moon Church.”
Nox nodded, keeping his tone light.
“I see… actually, I’ve never been inside a church before. ”
“Thanks for explaining the offering if it was me Maybe I will go empty handed”
A hint of awkwardness settled between them.
Nox fidgeted, then changed the subject.
“By the way, Scarlet… do you remember when I visited your room?”
“You asked me about our first meeting. I… I still don’t understand what you meant. Can you explain?”
Nox look at her ‘did I ask something too much ’he thought
Scarlet froze mid-step, her fingers tightening around the flowers.
‘Oh no… he remembered. Did I reveal too much back then? What am I supposed to say now?’she thought looking at ground
Nox stopped as well, patiently giving her time.
The evening breeze brushed through the tulips.
The fading sunlight reflected off the petals, making the moment feel quietly tense—and uncomfortably intimate.
Nox looked at her steadily.
“You don’t have to explain if you don’t want to,”
he said.
“But… I’m sorry. I don’t remember anything if it's important to you.”
He took a step closer.
Scarlet immediately stepped back.
Her expression hardened like frost.
“That was just because I was sick,” she said flatly.
“You already guessed that, didn’t you? Why bring it up now? Stop asking baseless questions ”
She deliberately widened the distance between them.
Nox stopped. His gaze lingered, but she refused to meet his eyes.
‘Why won’t she look at me? If those are baseless ’he thought
That small detail bothered him more than he expected.
He smiled faintly.
“I see. So it was just a fever and i thought it was something serious”
He stepped past her.
“Then there’s nothing for me to overthink now for baseless things”
His voice sounded normal. His expression looked normal.
Yet something felt wrong.
“Let’s go. Sisbell, Alber—wait for us,” Nox called as he walked ahead, leaving Scarlet behind.
“Liar. Big fat liar,” nox whispers bitterly.
“It’s not like I care…”
He clenched her fingers.
‘And she is a noble I shouldn’t forget that even though she is annoying and friendly in the end she was marquis el valorios daughter and villainess of society’he thought
Nox slipped one hand into his pocket, his pace steady.
“Did he believe me? Or did he just choose not to care?”
Her hands trembled slightly. She stood alone.
‘Why does it hurt this much?
I only pushed him away because I was scared.’
‘If he knew the truth… would he look at me differently?’
‘No. Don’t be stupid. You don’t get to want that.’
‘You drew the line yourself.
So why does my chest feel so tight?’
This kind of terrible thought start running in his mind She lifted her head.
Nox was still there—standing just ahead. He didn’t turn back, but he didn’t leave her behind either.
He waited in silence.
That distance made her heart sink even deeper.
“I’m just a burden now.
Someone troublesome,Some painful things for him”
They reached the church gate.
Sisbell dropped onto the steps with a sigh.
“You two are so slow! For the first time, Alber was actually useful,” she teased.
Alber raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean? I’m always useful! Did you forget our childhood? I carry you”
Sisbell covered her face, annoyed.
“That’s because you were always climbing trees and causing trouble! And i hurt myself on that tree”
They both looked away, trying not to laugh, while Scarlet stepped in to stop their bickering.
After a while, the noise faded, and a quiet calm settled over them.
Sisbell glanced around.
“Looks like someone’s coming to guide us for the evening prayer ”
A young woman in modest clerical robes approached—the junior clergy, or novice. She bowed politely.
“Welcome. I’ll guide you through the area for evening prayer,” she said softly.
Scarlet and Sisbell stood and followed her, chatting quietly as they were introduced to the church.
They entered together.
The interior was calm and beautiful, decorated with flowers and warm candlelight. A large hall stretched ahead.
Alber whispered to Nox,
“Looks like we might meet a saint.”
The novice replied gently,
“If we’re lucky. But the saints usually reside in the Holy City but you can see other items come from holy City.”
As nobles, Scarlet, Sisbell, and Alber walked at the front.
Nox stayed slightly behind, observing quietly.
They were led to the center of the hall.
Nox stopped near a statue carved into a pillar.
It depicted Celestara, seated gracefully on a crescent-moon pedestal.
A golden harp rested across her lap, her fingers poised over the strings. One foot touched a floating lotus—symbol of serenity and devotion.
‘The main statue is in the Holy City, So they use replicas here for worship and those items covered in clothes are also from holy City’Nox thought.
They soon took their seats. The hall is filled with the scent of flowers and the low murmur of prayers.
Nox sat at the back, hands clasped, eyes closed. His expression was calm—almost distant.
At the front, Sisbell, Alber and Scarlet prayed earnestly.
Time passed.
Nearly forty minutes later, a bell rang softly. One by one, eyes opened.
Scarlet stood. Instinctively, she turned toward the seat where Nox had been.
It was empty.
Her brows furrowed. She scanned the hall, then the entrance.
Unease crept in.
She approached the junior clergy.
“Excuse me… the boy who was sitting at the back. Where did he go?”
The novice paused, then answered casually,
“Ah, him? While we were moving Moon Church items, we saw him run outside suddenly”
“ It seemed urgent, so we didn’t stop him lady”
They returned to his duties.
Scarlet remained still.
“Running away?”
“Why so suddenly?”
Her fingers tightened around her dress.
“ …Did he not enjoy being with us? Or because what I say was to rude”
