Chapter 30: The Unyielding Punishment
Lilia's eyes widened in shock, her pulse racing as she stared at Zethan. She hadn't expected things to spiral this way. The day had already been stressful enough, and now this.
Just when she thought all she needed to do was apologize and express her gratitude, the situation had taken an entirely unexpected turn.
Luck had never been on her side.
Her fingers clenched the hem of her dress as she tried to decipher the meaning behind his words. What kind of punishment is he talking about?
Zethan studied her intently, his piercing gaze unwavering. "Do you have any suggestions?" he asked, his tone mild, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
Lilia froze, her thoughts a tangled mess. What does he know? Her mind raced, desperately trying to piece together his intentions. What if he wasn't even referring to the black flower she had accidentally stepped on? Could someone else have damaged another one?
But no. That didn't make sense. He wouldn't bring it up unless he knew.
She forced a nervous laugh, though it came out shaky and unconvincing. "Suggestions? I... well, if it were up to me, I'd say the person should pay for the flower. Maybe a punishment isn't really necessary—after all, they're no child," she said, her laugh faltering.
The corners of Zethan's lips twitched upward, but it wasn't a smile. Instead, he grinned. It sent an icy chill down her spine. Her face fell as she realized how serious the situation was becoming.
He knows. He must know.
Zethan leaned forward, the humor fading from his expression. His tone turned mocking, and his words cut through the air like a blade. "Buy the flower?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "Loris, this flower only blooms once a year. Do you even understand how much it's worth?"