CH309 Solanthera Flower - SunHeart Bloom
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Alex had displayed a form of trust by giving her the letter of recommendation before even saying a word. He could have used that letter to pressure her into compliance, but he didnāt. Instead, he placed it openly on the table, giving her the freedom to chooseāstay or walk away.
Considering how important the letter was, this was no small gesture. She could have taken it and left, and he would have handed over something priceless for nothing in return.
Likewise, information about oneās Class was usually a closely guarded secret. Yet Alex had revealed so much, trusting her not to speak of it. Once again, he had offered trust without receiving any assurance in return.
Now, it was up to Eleanor to decide whether that trust was misplacedāor deserved.
Eleanor quietly mused over these unspoken thoughts as she regarded the man sitting opposite her.
"So, let me get this straight," she began. "Youāre in need of an alchemist. And here I amāthe alchemist you need, conveniently already betrothed to you. Yet instead of capitalising on that, you choose to break the betrothal so you can forge a new relationship with meāone of my choosingāthat will then determine how much access you have to my skills."
She leaned slightly forward. "Did I leave anything out?"
"Thatās the gist of it, yes," Alex nodded.
"I thought you were strange for a noble, but I was wrong. Youāre just strange in general."
"I prefer enigmatic, but thanks," Alex replied lightly.
"I donāt think I meant that as a compliment," Eleanor said. Then, after a short pause, she frowned. "Actually, Iām not even sure anymore."
Alex chuckled.
"I know itās a lot to think about," he said as he stood. "So Iāll take my leave and give you time to ponder it. Personally, I think weād get along quite wellāand I still hope youāll choose the marriage option. But if not, Iām perfectly willing to settle for a business partnership."
"Then you shouldnāt have spoken about voiding the betrothal in the first place," she quipped.
"Yeah... Iām starting to regret that a little now," Alex admitted with a sheepish smile.
"So," Eleanor asked, eyes narrowing with curiosity, "why did you do it?"
"My principles," Alex replied simply. "I always trust the people I use, and I never use those I donāt trust.
"If weād gone ahead with the betrothal as it was, I wouldāve felt like I used your brother to force you into it. And if you were forced, you wouldnāt give your all to my cause. And if you didnāt give your all, then I couldnāt trust you. And if I canāt trust youā"
"āyou wonāt use me, thus defeating the purpose of marrying in the first place," Eleanor cut in smoothly.
Alex smiled faintly. "Exactly. So I decided to nip the problem in the bud. If you choose to partner with me of your own free will, neither of us will harbour doubts. And without doubts, trust can grow."
"And with trust comes understandingāand progress for both of us," Eleanor said, finishing his thought again.
"Precisely." Alex grinned. "See? Itās already working. Weāre building a healthy understanding of each other to the point weāre finishing each otherās sentences. Imagine what we could accomplish once we bring that rapport into our crafts."
Eleanor gave him a sidelong glance, but a small, reluctant smile touched her lips.
"Alright," she said at last. "Iāll take you up on your offer and think about it."
"Excellent." Alex rose from his seat. "Then Iāll be expecting a favourable response."
"Itāll be your fault if you donāt get one," Eleanor teased lightly.
"Maybe," Alex said with a smile, turning to leave.
He had almost reached the door when he suddenly stopped.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, spinning back around. "Iāve got it."
"Got what?" Eleanor asked, raising a brow.
"The flower that encapsulates your identity..." Alex declared. "A Heart of Sun Blossomāthe Solanthera."
"A Sunheart Blossom?" Eleanor echoed softly.
She fell silent for a moment, her mind flipping through half-remembered pages of botanical compendiums sheād studied.
The Solanthera, also known as the Heart of Sun Blossom, was an exceedingly rare flower. Its silken outer petals faded from creamy ivory to blush pink and lavender near the base, while faint violet-blue veins traced the undersides in intricate patterns. At its heart bloomed five luminous white, star-shaped florets with golden centres that glowed faintly at dusk. Its slender stem bore powdery blue, lance-shaped leaves that curled gracefully outward in quiet elegance.
The Solanthera flower symbolised quiet royalty ā grace, subtle elegance, and natural poise. It represented hidden opulence ā layers of refinement, deep emotional richness, and intellect. It also embodied understated kindness ā modesty, loyalty, and humility ā and a radiant spirit filled with healing, purity, and gentle light.
It was said to be a metaphysical bloom that only revealed itself under the light of the Providence of Kindness.
Just as Origin Flames were coveted by alchemists, forgesmiths, and craftsmen alike, the Solanthera was a mythical flora sought by healers. Once bound to a healer ā mage or warlock ā it was said to amplify their healing prowess to unprecedented levels.
The Solanthera was a flower one could easily overlook at first glance. It didnāt flaunt its beauty or demand attention. Yet, upon closer inspection, its soft, refined radiance and quiet elegance revealed a beauty far more enduring than any loud splendour. It was a flower that didnāt try to shine ā and yet did ā with a subtle regality that made its superiority self-evident.
Alex had chosen this flower because, to him, it reflected exactly what Eleanor was ā and what she strove to be.
With that, Alex left the collateral princess to her thoughts and walked out of the suite, making his way out of the clubhouse.
He didnāt say another word. He didnāt need to. His goals had already been achieved.
Every step of his approach ā from surrendering the letter to their exchange of ideals ā had been carefully orchestrated.
He had made sure to distinguish himself from any other suitor she might have met, elevating his worth by showcasing both his principles and his potential, all while subtly capturing her curiosity.
Eleanor might have assumed his actions were scattered, but in truth, they were deliberate ā each move crafted to guide her into making the decision he wanted, all while making her believe it was her own choice.
āIād make one scary villain,ā Alex mused with a faint smirk.
By the time he reached the entrance, a stable steward was already waiting for him, holding Dreadās reins.
The manās stiff posture and careful grip said it all ā the act of handling that beast was no small feat. Only sheer professionalism kept him from showing more than a flicker of unease.
Alex smiled, accepting the reins while slipping a few coins into the stewardās hand.
With a smooth vault, he mounted his trusty steed. The air stirred beneath Dreadās hooves as Alex rode off towards the Enclave Tower, a quiet smile tugging at his lips.
He was confident ā heād be receiving that favourable answer soon enough.
***