Chapter Text
In the hectic empire of Kaizenix, a supposed romance story was immensely popular, passed down through generations.
Rumors say that if you find someone holding the same flower as you at a ball, that person is your fated one. As everyone seems to imply, certain people don't engage. They don't believe in the custom, let alone the idea that having the same flower you picked at a ball will lead you to your fated one, some seem to think it's stupid. Many people have various thoughts, and it is possible to have the same notion about the flower you will offer.
However, the majority of people do not appear to care, preferring to have a fantasy love story made for them.
Some people, however, were so desperate to be special that they brought deadly flowers to a ball in order to find another person who shared their thoughts. However, it does not always go smoothly.
Rumors say that some even go so far as to spy on the person they're admiring and imitate the flowers they were going to bring in order to deceive themselves into believing that this person was their fated one, but when things don't go as planned, it produces mayhem.
However, the tradition was maintained because it was too sweet and youthful, as they say, to be abandoned.
Yoo Joonghyuk was really appreciative for that.
Because of this foolish tradition of conveying stupid flowers to a ball, he met his magnificent, divinely ethereal wife, the son of Marquis Hades and Marquise Persephone—
Kim Dokja.
He was the underworld march's son and an extremely intelligent person.
If Yoo Joonghyuk is honest, his first impression of Kim Dokja was that he was terrible news. He was rumored to be harsh and selfish, so Yoo Joonghyuk avoided engaging with him further.
But when he found dokja sitting on a white bench outside, presumably attempting to escape the organized ball just like him, he was taken aback, to say the least. He had not expecting Kim dokja to be so gorgeous. his words cannot express or describe how beautiful the boy in front of him is. It was captivating.
The moonlight reflected Dokja's gorgeous face, adding to his ethereal appearance.
The flower he was holding, however, caught Yoo Joonghyuk off guard and attracted his attention.
"Oh?"
"Oh."
Kim Dokja was bewildered (amused), while Yoo Joonghyuk was astonished. He was surprised to see them both holding the same flower.
A Rosemary.
Kim dokja smiled and remarked, "That's a surprise."
"Who would've thought that the archduke and I would bring the same flower?" Dokja mocked Yoo Joonghyuk, then stood up and walked towards him, raising the rosemary and smelling it.
"Aren't you just copying me?" Kim dokja remarked in a humorous tone, mocking Yoo Joonghyuk yet more. Yoo Joonghyuk clinched his teeth. He moved backwards, clearly unwilling to confront Kim Dokja.
"Shut your mouth." Yoo Joonghyuk responded to Kim dokja's statements, which made Kim dokja smile.
Yoo Joonghyuk regrets having to bring a flower, his assistant, Lee Hyunsung, urged him to do so since he only wanted happiness for his boss, and now look what has occurred.
Yoo Joonghyuk assumed that no one seemed to bring rosemary, so he bought one and carried it, expecting to meet no one else who had brought the same flower, but he was proved wrong by a man named Kim dokja.
"Haha! I'm sorry for provoking you, Archduke Yoo Joonghyuk, I was just joking!" Kim dokja lifted both hands, declaring his surrender. Kim Dokja seemed to notice Yoo Joonghyuk's hostile glare and hastily apologized.
Following that encounter, the two never interacted again.
However, they always appear to bring the same flower to every ball they attend.
From chrysanthemums, carnations, daisies, daffodils, and so on.
Both planned to bring a venomous and poisonous flower to prevent the other from bringing the same bloom, but they were discovered and stopped.
However, as the two met, bringing the same flowers, meeting at the ball quickly turned into meeting alone, going on dates, and even sneaking out without anyone knowing to the night market.
The two got along well, even to the point that Yoo Joonghyuk would present Kim Dokja a bouquet of flowers every time they met. It was a great time, and Yoo Joonghyuk can't think of anything else other than Kim Dokja.
The archduke was constantly thinking about him.
So he decided to court Kim Dokja. Dokja was taken aback at first, but soon discovered his own feelings.
Courting Kim Dokja was not an easy task for Yoo Joonghyuk, several of his officials tried to stop him, and Kim Dokja's parents were also opposed to their son dating someone in a higher rank, believing it was too risky.
However, Yoo Joonghyuk persisted in his efforts, and everything eventually came together.
He got to date Kim Dokja.
And dating quickly led to marriage.
They got married, and Yoo Joonghyuk still can't believe it. Every time he glanced at his beloved, the ring on his middle finger caught him off surprise, it was divine. To perceive this ethereal man as his wife.
They've tried everything, including goofy dates, sneaking out, and chatting to each other. Everything's great.
Also, painting.
Yoo Joonghyuk had a talent for painting, but he soon abandoned it, finding no point in employing it until today.
He would paint Kim dokja a portrait whenever he had the opportunity, whether it was of him sleeping, smiling, or doing anything completely bizarre. Kim dokja would sometimes join him in painting while they talked and listened to each other.
It was a nice, calm life.
Dokja would sometimes return the favor by giving Yoo Joonghyuk a bracelet or a flower, which Yoo Joonghyuk would gladly accept.
However, one bracelet Kim Dokja handed him turned him off.
It was a simple bracelet with embroidery, but it was simply numbers. When Yoo Joonghyuk asked his captivating wife, Kim Dokja smiled and said nothing.
But it was well, at least he had him, his beautiful wife, and he was safe and sound.
Oh?
What is this?
Why do I have blood on my hands?
Yoo Joonghyuk was out of it, his mind spinning and his heart beating.
What's happening?
He turned around to find his wife, his gorgeous, exquisite wife, covered in blood.
A knife was thrust into Kim Dokja's chest, causing blood to gush out. His white polo was stained with crimson, and his eyes were lifeless.
Yoo Joonghyuk caresses Kim Dokja's face, looking into his eyes and crying.
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes streamed with tears.
"That eyes.." Yoo Joonghyuk murmured, his voice quivering and tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Once looked at me with such care, with such love." Yoo Joonghyuk continues, not caring a damn about the maids and knights barging into the room and the screams of others. He still caresses his wife's wonderful face, looking at it like it was the most beautiful portrait he'd ever seen.
"But now-"
Now it's lifeless.
Yoo Joonghyuk did not leave his room, their room. For weeks, he lingered inside, not wanting to go, remembering about the wonderful times he and his wife had spent in the room.
The only person to pay him a visit was his wife's mother, Marquise Persephone.
Every day, she'd assure him it wasn't his fault. he was simply too late. But every time she tells that, she bursts into tears.
Marquis Hades did not pay Yoo Joonghyuk a single visit, which is understandable given that he had sworn to protect and keep his son safe.
And now, where is he?
Dead.
Yoo Joonghyuk kicked the table where his wife's cabinet was, and the vase on top of the cabinet collided with the floor, causing a crash. The floral vase was now shattered into pieces, and the delphinium cluttered out in the vase, seemingly provoking Yoo Joonghyuk as he remembered one of his and his wife's conversations.
"Didn't you told me you hate delphinium flowers, love?"
"Yeah, I did! Why are you asking?" Kim Dokja asked, smiling.
"Then why are you keeping it?" Yoo Joonghyuk inquired, his gaze drawn to the floral vase filled with delphiniums that his wife was organizing.
"Well... it's because.." Kim Dokja paused repairing the vase and stared directly at Yoo Joonghyuk, smirking and snatching a quick peck on the cheek, surprising Yoo Joonghyuk.
"I never liked delphiniums, but after learning that they were your favorite, I bought them all the time, and they became one of the best flowers I've ever had, thanks to you." Kim dokja smiled one final time at Yoo Joonghyuk before returning to adjusting the floral vase.
Crash.
Yoo Joonghyuk grabbed up the cabinet and crushed it to the floor. Kim Dokja's belongings were disorganized as a result of the cabinet's destruction, but one piece of paper piqued Yoo Joonghyuk's interest. He picked it up and unfolded it fold by fold.
There was an odd combination of letters that Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't understand, but he recognized some of them. It was the numerals on his bracelet, which Kim Dokja handed him.
Yoo Joonghyuk, taken aback by the finding, sat on his bed and attempted to interpret the numbers on his bracelet.
The numerals on his bracelet were strange, to say the least.
"8:00:11:14:21:4:00:24:14:20"
Yoo Joonghyuk continues to write, trying to interpret what his wife wrote on his bracelet.
I
Yoo Joonghyuk wrote the letter "I" above and then searched for the next word.
Lo
Lo? Yoo Joonghyuk became increasingly bewildered as he deciphered the words.
Ve
Ve? Yoo Joonghyuk groaned.
You.
Me? Yoo Joonghyuk dropped the pencil as soon as he understood the message.
I love you.
Oh.
Yoo Joonghyuk stood there for a few minutes before ordering the knights to get out everyone from his estate. The officials, including Lee Hyunsung, were perplexed, but they did not want to defy their captain's orders, so everyone left the estate except Yoo Joonghyuk.
Yoo Joonghyuk cast a fire magic, which lit up the entire chamber, soon, the fire would spread across the mansion, the mansion where his wife had felt safe and where he and his wife enjoyed their moments.
And now the estate, and his memories, will burn down alongside him.
Oh my sweet dear wife, I hope you forgive me for all of my sins.
Yoo Joonghyuk sat in the corner of his chamber, quietly waiting for the fire to engulf him and pronounce his death. While he sat there, he gently held the rosemary his wife used to cherish.
Now this flower will burn, and the blossom he once cherished will go into the flames, as well as him.
Once upon a time, in the deepest pit of searing flames, there was an estate full of memories and love, filled with the pleasure of years spent.
Once upon a time, in the deepest pit of burning hell, a rosemary flower began to bloom.
And now it's all about to burn out.