[CONTENTID1]Red Camellia[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]Chapter Thirty-Five[/CONTENTID2]

[CONTENTID3]

Taeseon’s actions sparked a necessary change in South Korea’s vampire society. Seeing the need for an adjustment, Kwon Boah personally introduced new laws in order to protect the lives of witches and wizards. Threatening or hurting them would be deemed a crime from now on, which could be punished severely. Her dedication to providing a safer environment for witches and wizards was welcomed by Yoonhee and her companions. It would make their lives easier moving forward.

In the following weeks, the witches and wizards began to rebuild their lives, contacting friends and family they had been separated from. Yoonhee witnessed many tearful reunions and got to know others of her kind—she no longer was a lonely witch. Yoonhee’s friends Chaewon and Mark, who had been worried about her, invited her and Baekhyun for coffee, curious about everything that had happened since Yoonhee’s sudden disappearance. They were relieved she was doing well now and promised to meet up again soon.

When Yoonhee wasn’t with Baekhyun or her friends, she spent most of her time at her flower shop. She was thriving, caring for her plants as if they were her own children. Bora and Siyeon—who had received a long explanation about the encounter with Haeil—still worked for her and lent her a helping hand whenever necessary.

Today, Yoonhee worked the early shift and left in the afternoon because she intended to visit her parents’ grave. She still missed them, but thankfully the excruciating pain their loss had caused was dimming. The young witch took the train to her former hometown and walked through the streets until she reached her destination—the old cemetery on the hill. She passed through the rusty iron gate and followed the gravel path, taking in the peaceful scenery. She hadn’t visited in a while and noticed a few small changes. Some graves had been decorated with flowers suiting the season of late summer, while others were plainer and covered in moss. The cemetery’s proximity to nature had always appealed to her. It was the main reason why her parents had been buried here. Yoonhee knew they would have liked this place.

Even though she enjoyed the cemetery’s calming atmosphere, she used to avoid it. In the past, every visit had roused a profound sadness in her; a heavy sensation of loss. However, Yoonhee’s feelings had changed over time. As she walked toward her parents’ grave, she no longer had tears burning in her eyes and didn’t constrict with sorrow. She felt lighter than before, knowing that the witch hunter who had killed them could no longer torment her.

When she reached the gravestone, she was surprised to find it enveloped by flowers just like last time, but they had changed with the seasons. Dahlias in different shades of red, burgundy, and pink had sprouted from the earth. Their blossoms were beautiful, each consisting of countless layers of petals. Despite their delicate exterior, these flowers were able to withstand harsh weather conditions—due to this, dahlias were often associated with inner strength.

Yoonhee knew all this because her mother had grown dahlias in their garden. Seeing them here sparked a wistful smile on Yoonhee’s lips. She kneeled and touched one of them, wondering how they had grown here. It was as if they were guarding her parents’ last resting place.

“Hi, mom and dad. I came here to tell you that everything’s fine now. I’m alright and… the people who threatened us no longer pose a danger. My clan and I took care of them, and the vampire council even supported us. The situation for us witches has improved a lot… I think you would have liked how it turned out,” she whispered and let go of the flower, brushing a lock of her hair behind her air when the wind picked up.

“I finally got to know other witches and wizards, and they’re so kind and funny! Maybe I will even learn a few new spells from them, who knows? Oh, and before I forget… Baekhyun has been acting suspicious lately. I think he’s planning something. Last week, I caught him looking at the rings in my jewelry box. It seemed like he was interested in the size I’m wearing. I wonder what he’s up to.” Her smile widened and turned into a sunny beam. “Hopefully, he’ll propose soon.”

She took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers. They were so pretty, she could have stayed and watched them all day, especially with today’s wonderful weather. It was windy, but the sun peeked through the clouds and warmed her face. Yoonhee’s phone began ringing suddenly, distracting her and prompting her to reach for her purse. When she checked the caller ID, her eyes lit up.

“Hi Baekhyun, what’s up?”

“I just wanted to know when you’ll be home,” his warm voice said. Did she hear other noises in the background, perhaps Chanyeol and Sehun? It sounded like he wasn’t alone.

“Oh, um, maybe in an hour? Why do you ask?”

“I was curious, that’s all. Get home safe, buttercup.”

“I will, see you later,” she replied and hung up after he said goodbye. Yoonhee pursed her lips and inclined her head. “Just curious, huh? If that isn’t suspicious, I don’t know what is…”

She got up and stretched her legs which were sore from kneeling for so long. “Well, looks like I should head home.” Yoonhee took one more glance at her parents’ grave before she left, walking with a skip in her step as she made her way to the train station.

The sun had already set when she entered the clan’s mansion. Yoonhee looked for Baekhyun, but he wasn’t in his room, so she headed back to the lobby where she ran into Yerin and Junmyeon.

“Hi, have you seen Baekhyun? Isn’t he home?” Yoonhee asked them, earning a giggle from her friend and a choked laugh from Junmyeon. Weird. The witch raised her eyebrows and put her hands on her hips.

“Okay, what’s going on?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Yerin waved her hand and grinned. “Maybe Baekhyun isn’t in the house, you should take a look in the garden instead.”

“Huh, but it’s already dark outside. Why would he be in the garden?”

Yerin shrugged.

“I suggest taking a look. It might be worth it,” Junmyeon winked conspiratorially and received a warning glance from his soulmate.

“Shh!” she hissed. “Myeon, be careful! You at keeping secrets.”

The couple started bickering with each other, so Yoonhee decided to give them space and left the house in order to find Baekhyun. Her curiosity had increased and reached an enormous level—Baekhyun was definitely up to something and the other clan members seemed to be aware of it. If her nagging suspicion turned out to be true, she might not be Baekhyun’s girlfriend for much longer…

She nervously rubbed her palms and trudged through the gate that served as the entrance to her flower garden, an area that was beautifully overgrown with plants. Someone—presumably Baekhyun—had the small lamps that lined the cobblestone path, so Yoonhee easily found her way.

“Baekhyun, are you here?” she called. “Baekhyun?”

If he was there, he would sense her even without her calling out to him, but the garden remained silent. Yoonhee’s confusion grew. She stopped when she heard a sudden noise. The sound of a piano—in the middle of her flower garden? How could this be? The melody captivated her since it was tied to countless beautiful memories she shared with her soulmate. Baekhyun had played this song for her many times when they had sat in front of his piano together since he knew she enjoyed this one the most.

Listening to the cheerful musical notes gave life to a smile that conquered her entire face. She soon discovered the origin of the music. In the very back of her flower garden, where the cobblestone path ended and formed a circle, she found her soulmate. He was ethereal, a picture of grace. Silky black hair framed his face, lips forming a confident smile as he noticed her eyes on him. The dark fabric of his satin shirt shimmered with every motion, catching the light of the lamps nearby. Yoonhee’s steps slowed and came to a halt as she watched his charming performance, engrossed in the upbeat melody he created. When the song reached its end, Baekhyun’s fingers rested motionlessly on the keys. He closed his eyes and listened to the fading sounds.

Spellbound by the atmosphere surrounding him, Yoonhee couldn’t take her eyes off him. It didn’t even cross her mind how and why he had moved his piano into her flower garden—a rather unusual choice. Her thoughts revolved solely around him. She simply forgot about everything else. The flowers, the moon, the stars—they moved into the background as her soulmate took their spotlight. An enamored smile decorated her lips when she raised her hands in front of her chest and clapped.

“What a wonderful surprise,” she said, prompting him to open his eyes and look at her. He held out his hand, wordlessly beckoning her to come closer, and she took his invitation. Yoonhee sat next to him on the small bench and grasped his hand, gently guiding it to her lips and kissing his knuckles. “You’re so talented, Baekhyun, I could listen to you play all the time.”

He cocked his head and grinned at her, his teeth playing with his lip piercing. “Then, should I play another song for you, petal? Do you want to join me?”

“Oh, but I’m not as experienced as you,” she replied sheepishly.

“You’ve improved a lot since we first practiced together. Don’t be shy,” he coaxed, eyes twinkling with devotion— became dry at the sight. He was stunning. “I know you can do it. Why don’t we play Clair de Lune from Debussy?”

“I remember this piece well.” She skimmed her fingertips over the keys, inhaling softly in order to calm her heartbeat. Baekhyun’s presence still had that kind of effect on her. She was hyperaware of his thigh pressing up against hers, and of his gaze searching for eye contact with her. Would she be able to concentrate on the song when her soulmate’s presence demanded all of her attention?

“Will you play the right hand?” he asked. “Then I will play the left.”

“Yes.” Yoonhee focused her thoughts on the keys and put her right hand on them, ready to begin. He gave her a cue and they played the first musical notes together. Her fingers flowed over the keys and kept up with him, recreating the familiar melody of Clair de Lune. Their hands elegantly danced back and forth until the song crescendoed and reached its end.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, eyes softening when they met hers. He leaned in, diminishing what little distance separated them, and locked their lips. They tenderly melded together, her soft skin cushioning his lip ring. Baekhyun’s hand came to rest on her waist, drawing her closer. She enjoyed his affectionate kiss, enveloped by the natural magic of their soulmate bond. It veiled them in warmth. This pure feeling of security and love was unique and reserved only for her soulmate. Baekhyun’s hand gently took her hand and held it as their lips parted. Silver moonlight was reflected in his eyes. Her breath hitched at his beauty.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day, sweet pea,” he whispered, “And I wanted to surprise you when you get home.”

“You