[IFITAOAMV] Chapter 19

"I like them, though. You asked what I like." 

With a heavy heart, I hung my head, and then I heard Edwin sigh. 

"I didn't expect my bride's taste to be so cheap. Are you upset?" 

His comment, masked as consolation but really a jab, made my blood boil, but for the sake of survival, I held it in. Instead, a different kind of determination ignited within me. 

‘I’ll definitely make you fall for the charm of scones.’ 

"It's because you're only eating it plain. You have to spread it with strawberry jam and cream to enjoy it properly." 

Muttering softly, I took a new scone and liberally applied strawberry jam and clotted cream. 

"Here, try this." 

Edwin frowned as he eyed the scone in my hand. Anxious that he might command to remove this 'ridiculous food,' I watched nervously as he slowly opened his mouth and bit into the scone. 

'How about it? Not good? Not this either?' 

His brow remained furrowed, so I anxiously watched his chewing mouth. 

"Ugh." 

But then, with a face mixed with annoyance, Edwin suddenly chuckled. 

‘Oh, has he finally discovered the taste of scones?’ 

Hopeful, I looked at him as he started to shake with laughter. 

‘Was there something in the scones? They were fine when I ate them.’ 

Baffled, I looked at the scone in my hand as Edwin lightly tapped my nose. 

"You're cute." 

Startled by his sly smile, I jerked back, but of course, he caught me right away. 

‘If I spin any more from here, what becomes of my future?’ 

The possibility of my survival plummeted, and I was left feeling utterly dismayed.

“I never realised how thrilling it would be to have my bride’s full attention,” Edwin said, his eyes gleaming with amusement. Even the scone, which he had previously found tasteless, suddenly seemed delicious to him.

It felt like I had only succeeded in fueling the madman’s twisted tastes rather than showing him the joys of a simple treat, and I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Meanwhile, Edwin popped the remaining scone from my hand into his mouth and, with a playful smile, rested his face in his hands like a flower, as if asking for my admiration.

I wanted to tell him to get that face out of my sight, but I forced myself to smile, thinking of the slim chance of survival I still had. Even though my lips quivered with the effort, I managed to keep the smile on my face.

“But what’s this?” Edwin asked, noticing the basket off to the side. He pulled it toward him.

“I asked the gardener for some marigolds because they were pretty, and he gave me a lot.”

“I didn’t know you liked marigolds. Should I plant them throughout the entire garden?”

The thought of him tearing up the garden made me quickly shake my head.

“But you said you liked them,” he persisted, tilting his head with a slight frown, clearly displeased by my refusal.

“I like marigolds, but I also like other flowers,” I explained, trying to placate him.

“Hmm, is that so?”

Despite my explanation, his expression remained unsatisfied. *He seems upset—what could I do to distract him?* I remembered Jenny’s suggestion about making a flower crown or bouquet.

“Do you like flower crowns?” I asked.

“Flower crowns?” he echoed, glancing at the flowers in the basket.

When I nodded, he looked back at me, his eyes gleaming with interest. “Why? Are you going to make one for me?”

Though his smile was sweet, his eyes seemed to say, *You’d better not refuse if you know what’s good for you.*

I had planned on making him one anyway, but the intensity of his gaze made my heart tighten with anxiety.

“Yes. I think a flower crown would suit you,” I said, trying to sound confident.

“Is that so? Then go ahead.”

“This position is a bit uncomfortable,” I ventured, hoping to shift out of his grasp.

“If my bride gets down, it’ll be uncomfortable for me, so no.”

His sharp smile cut off any further protest, so I resigned myself to pulling out the marigolds and placing them on my lap. Fortunately, I had made flower crowns before during high school festivals, so I was able to complete one fairly quickly.

The problem, however, was that the person who would be wearing it was none other than Edwin, the notorious mad dragon.

*This one looks a bit crooked. The petals on this one are squashed.* 

In my obsessive attempt to make the crown as perfect as possible, I lost track of time and ended up with a small pile of flower crowns at my feet.

“How long do I have to wait? I’m getting really bored,” Edwin sighed, startling me into stopping.

“It’s… it’s done,” I stammered, carefully pushing the crowns toward him.

“Which one is mine?” His eyes were sharp as he scanned the ten or so crowns I had made.

“Actually, I made them all for you. I wanted to give you the prettiest one, but I wasn’t sure which one you’d like best,” I confessed, hesitantly.

His sharp gaze softened immediately.

“They’re all mine?” he asked, his voice tinged with surprise.

When I nodded, his hand slowly reached out to stroke my hair. “Anything my bride chooses for me is perfect.”

He lowered his head slightly, signalling for me to place one on him. After much deliberation, I picked the one that looked the best and carefully placed it on his head.

“How do I look? Does it suit me?” he asked, his smile so radiant that it made my heart skip a beat.

I nodded, almost in a trance, and Edwin’s smile grew even brighter.

“Now, the bride should match her groom,” he said, his gaze settling on one of the crowns before he picked it up and gently placed it on my head. 

“Beautiful,” he murmured, clearly pleased.