章 17: [Ch. 17] A Deadly Proposal

I sipped on my tea feeling no particular emotion after realizing I had given Raylon a flower with such a serious meaning.

A white rose with thorns... Who could have guessed the meaning was more about obsession than it was about love?

But who even cared? It was just a stupid flower.

I swirled my tea and inhaled it silently. Its aroma was more similar to medicine than it was to tea. My eyes clung to the surface of that dreary, bitter black tea. Looking back at me was a beauty with a lifeless expression. I averted my eyes away already weary with the conversation, "Oh."

Hatsuyo gaped at me with a stupid expression. He couldn't believe how unconcerned I was that I had proposed to Raylon with a flower. Even when death was looking me in the face, I only blinked in boredom. He nearly choked on his tongue in surprise, "Oh?! Just oh?!"

I merely shrugged my shoulders.

I don't understand why he is making such a big deal about it. I doubt Raylon even cared when I threw that flower to him. He never paid attention to such frivolous matters in the past. Why would he start now?

Sylvia spoke on my behalf, "That seems like a serious proposal..."

His hands slammed on the table anxiously, "It's not just serious!!! It's deadly!"

Sylvia's expression couldn't be seen under her mask, but her voice was full of apprehension, "Deadly? How so?"

"If the recipient doesn't accept the rose, then they must kill the thrower. The flower means that they only want that one individual. If the individual doesn't feel the same, then the thrower desires them to commit an honor killing. They can't live without the other's love, so they would rather their love kill them."

I frowned and put down my teacup. I looked at the bottom of the empty cup with mixed emotions, "...I see."

An honor killing? Such a thing wasn't acceptable when I lived here. Even if the individual wanted another to kill them, it was still unacceptable.

Hatsuyo brushed back his hair and let out a panicked sigh, "Haah… You just had to give it to Raylon of all people… I'm surprised he didn't kill us then and there."

I eyed him carefully, "Would he do such a thing?"

The Raylon I knew would never kill someone over such a thing. He wouldn't do it even if they wanted him to.

Hatsuyo let out a defeated sigh, "Pah… He's killed for much less."

Sylvia's head lowered at this. This made me suspicious. To see her act such a way... Could there be truth to his words?

My interest was finally piqued, "Why do you say this?"

He looked at me cautiously, "Do you not know?"

I forced myself to smile, "I don't really pay attention to the happenings in the cities nor do I pay attention to the heroes."

He nodded in understanding, "Ah… I suppose it is hard surviving on the road. If you don't ask about it, then there is no way for you to know."

My fake smile twitched, "It's exactly as you say."

He attempted to explain with much difficulty, "Raylon isn't… Right in the head."

My eyebrows furrowed, "Oh?"

He scratched his head awkwardly, "He's technically my uncle, but he's a bit untethered. He has probably saved as many people as he has killed. If it wasn't for him being the highest-ranked Hero, then people would probably have tried to kill him for the sake of revenge."

I glanced at Sylvia who avoided my gaze.

He continued, "During the first year of the parade, he reluctantly agreed to attend. He was in a foul mood and no one dared to get near him in fear their heads would fall. However, who would have known that a stupid woman would throw out a flower to him! It was probably due to sympathy for him not receiving any. Or maybe the woman just wanted to climb the social ladder and thought that by gaining the affection of a disfigured man, she could easily do so."

I wrinkled my nose at this but didn't interrupt.

"Either way, Raylon flew into a rage. In the blink of an eye, he had jumped from the street to the rooftop where she was at. No one saw what happened, but her face and body suddenly started bleeding profusely as if thousands of knives had cut into her! She collapsed screaming and then had the audacity to curse him! Do you know what happened to her after that?"

I shook my head.

"She was burned to a crisp by him."

My eyes widened slightly.

There is no way that Raylon is capable of such a thing. He had never harmed innocents before. If he had ever attacked, he always tried to minimize the damage to those not involved. How could I believe that he would suddenly kill a woman for throwing a measly flower?

I couldn't believe it.

I won't.

I shook my head, "That must be an exaggeration. If he had done that, wouldn't they have punished him?"

He scoffed, "Punish him? I'd like to meet someone brave enough to try."

I lowered my eyes without emotion. When I was Moao, I was cursed and excommunicated for doing far less serious crimes. I was exiled for trying to help those more unfortunate than me. How could the world have changed to this degree?

Could it really have been my fault?

Sylvia spoke as if she could hear my thoughts, "After the death of Moao, the world turned vile. It became kill or be killed. Only the strong could survive so punishments for killing innocents weren't enforced. We no longer had the luxury to govern laws about such things."

Hatsuyo nodded, "Exactly. Since Raylon is extremely strong and has no equal, no one would dare challenge him. They merely pitied the girl, then looked the other way."

I spoke up, "Did you see anything like this first-hand?"

His expression turned gloomy, "I did. I was once walking with him in the Phoenix nation at the behest of my father. A drunken man accidentally stumbled in front of our path and then dared to curse Raylon. He didn't even finish his sentence before his head fell off."

Hatsuyo unconsciously touched his neck and whispered, "I never even saw Raylon move."

I quietly picked up the teapot to refill our cups as if I wasn't even moved by such a tale. He nodded in appreciation before quickly adding sugar to his own cup. I raised my cup to my lips and took another sip.

He flinched as soon as he noticed something, "Y-You… Don't you want any sugar? This tea is extremely bitter..."

"Sugar is a luxury. I do not wish to indulge in it." I added casually even though it wasn't the truth.

I just disliked sugary things.

His eyes narrowed, "...You're strange."

I met his eyes, "How so?"

"You haven't heard of such events even though everyone else has. You show no emotions and are so relaxed, you give off the impression that you are a god who is only observing. Easterners are greedy by nature. Since I am paying, you should jump at the opportunity to indulge in the rich delicacies. However, you eat meager helpings and don't even touch the meat! Your people are bloodthirsty carnivores! Why are you behaving so abnormally? Why aren't you-"

I interrupted harshly, "You talk a lot for someone who knows nothing."

His mouth shut instantly. He couldn't explain why he had the sudden rush of fear nor could he explain why his body was now frozen. I pulled my ruthless eyes off of him and looked back to the tea.

My voice returned to its normal, apathetic state. "Even though it is typical for Easterners to behave in such a way, there are always exceptions. You should learn to open your mind more."

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, "...Sorry."

"Mmn."

After our argument, the room grew so silent it was stifling. Hatsuyo fidgeted uncomfortably for a while before he stood up. He scratched his cheek while avoiding my gaze, "I think it's best for me to find Raylon and try to explain the situation. Although he won't listen to anyone, he might calm down if he learns it was a mistake. The last thing I need is for him to kill my only friends."

I raised my eyes, "...Friends?"

He grinned at me, "Is there anything else we could be?"