Weed ~The One’s Gardener~ - Chapter 107

The food looked more like a spectacle meant to impress than a meal meant to be eaten. The dishes were dazzling, almost like a display of gold and jewels, so much so that it was blinding. The taste, no doubt, would be excellent.

As Weed and Hana took their seats, the banquet that had been prepared suddenly began. The atmosphere was lively and casual, much like the one they had held together before.

A cozy celebration nestled in the heart of the forest.

Hana casually glanced at Calden, who was nearby. As expected, his expression was slightly stiff.

“Weed, I’ll be right back.”

Hana noticed that Weed, who had been bringing the things she used to enjoy as a human, suddenly paused. He stopped what he was doing and looked at her with a puzzled expression. Without saying a word, she quietly climbed down from her high chair and walked over to Calden.

Since it was a rather informal gathering, no one, except for Weed, paid much attention to her.

“Calden, over here.”

She moved to a more secluded spot. Even though Weed wanted to follow, Hana kindly asked him to stay at a distance.

Calden had said before. Even if someone wished for the dead to return, no one would think it was normal. Everyone knew that it was against the natural order, yet it was still something people might wish for.

It seemed Calden had spent the morning with the priests, hearing all about everything. When she led him to a quiet spot and stopped, he lowered himself with a much more respectful attitude than before and looked up at her.

The forest was calm, with not a breeze in the air.

“You know it’s against the natural order, right?”

Hana said simply, cutting straight to the point, looking at the human king kneeling in front of her. Calden blinked twice and then answered.

“…Yes.”

It wasn’t the natural order. What did that mean? The quick-witted Calden knew exactly what she was trying to say with just those words. There was no need for a lengthy explanation.

Looking down at his trembling red eyes, she spoke again.

“However, I can guide her to be reborn beside you.”

Calden didn’t look up at her for long. Instead, he lowered his head and showed a respectful gesture.

His hair, now lacking the sheen it had during their first meeting, and the dark circles under his eyes made him look visibly exhausted despite the calm and composed demeanor he maintained.

For the first time, Hana, now with divine power, performed an act with a specific purpose. She gently placed her hand on his head, reaching out to read the threads of fate that bound him—his past, his future.

Calden, as the king of a nation, carried a labyrinthine web of connections.

“I’ll guide her to be reborn as close as possible, but in a way that you can easily distance yourself from it.”

She could have made her reborn into his family, but just being bound by the bloodline wasn’t meaningful. Instead, she subtly guided one of the connections he would make in the future toward a more positive path. That was all. She didn’t interfere much.

Ultimately, the decisions would be his to make.

“You won’t remember, but you will recognize her.”

One day, Innis would be reborn beside him. She could become his family or perhaps the child of one of his close friends, and he would surely recognize her.

It turned out emotions didn’t rely as much on memory as one might think.

Hana scratched her cheek awkwardly, noticing the overly formal atmosphere that Calden had around him. Then, as if she just remembered, she took out the jewel.

“Oh, and take this. I surprised you by calling you suddenly, right? Use it when you head back. The food was delicious.”

“…I’m truly honored.”

Having come this far, Hana felt like she didn’t want to burden him too much, so she thought this would be fine.

If it were another priest or even Weed, they might have responded with extreme courtesy to Calden’s shift in demeanor, but Hana didn’t know how to do that. So, she just casually handed him the enchanted jewel, almost as if tossing it.

‘It should be fine.’

Nodding, Hana withdrew her gaze from Calden.

Though they shared no memories, she could tell. Emotions remain. She had learned that more than anyone through Weed.

From a distance, Weed was watching her. He always did.

Again, their eyes met.

As she smiled lightly at him, he smiled back before his eyes suddenly widened. Just when Hana thought his surprised expression was cute, she felt something hot on the back of her hand.

“Ah.”

“May there be endless glory.”

“Ah, right…”

She quickly pulled her hand away from his. Although it was only a formal gesture of respect, she was surprised to receive it so suddenly. Maybe it was because she had only received that kind of greeting from Weed in this place.

“Shall we go back, Hana? The food will get cold.”

“Ah, yes. Let’s go.”

Weed had already come up beside her, and Hana took his hand, ready to leave.

She glanced back.

Calden hadn’t moved from his place, still staring down at the enchanted gem that she had given him. He seemed to need a moment.

“Am I paying too much attention to things outside?”

Hana asked Weed as they walked together.

She couldn’t be sure if what she had just done was the right thing. Since it was her first time using divine power, she wasn’t certain. Despite the rights she held, it still felt wrong to meddle with someone else’s fate, and that made her uneasy.

“Hmm… Hana. What are you worried about? Do whatever you want.”

“Then, was I okay just now?”

“…Yes.”

Weed answered slowly.

Hana kept looking up at him until they arrived at the banquet hall. While Weed kept opening his mouth as if he wanted to say something, in the end, he held back.

‘…Why is he acting like this?’

The question lingered for a moment, but as Hana sat back down and observed his behavior, she could make a rough guess.

It seemed like he was a little sulking.

For example, when Calden returned to the hall, Weed glanced at him before bringing food to Hana and feeding her. He was also pressing his lips to the back of her hand, which was where Calden’s lips touched.