The Dark Fairy King
Chapter 56: A Price on Petals

Chapter 56: A Price on Petals

We waited for Devran to continue. He had taken a step away from Scarlette, but his eyes hadn’t left her—not for a second. His breathing was just a little too slow, too deliberate, like someone trying to steady themselves.

The silence thickened around us.

Lumera inched forward, her hands clenched at her sides.

"Speak," I ordered, my voice firm, slicing through the tension.

Devran’s lips twitched, as though debating whether to give us the whole story or just enough to send us chasing shadows.

"A few years ago," he began, his gaze distant, "there was a sudden surge in demand for the Midnight Orchid on the black market. It happened out of nowhere."

His eyes flicked toward me.

"No one knew how it started... especially since you banned it."

"It was a dangerous plant. I had to ban it." My voice came out sharper than I expected.

The memories clawed their way back—of Love Fairies collapsing in the streets, their blood crystallizing unnaturally fast, of Light Fairies screaming as their veins turned black. It had been a necessary ban. One I didn’t regret.

Devran shrugged, unbothered by my interruption.

"Turns Light Fairies and Love Fairies into pools of blood after intoxication—I get it. But it fetched millions."

Lumera’s eyes widened.

"Millions?"

"Yes." Devran’s tone darkened, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Each Midnight Orchid was priced at five million, at least. You could retire, vanish, live three lifetimes off just one."

I frowned. "Why does it cost so much? Who would pay that price for something so deadly?"

"At first," he said, "I thought it was the stalk. Though poisonous, it seemed to cure any disease. Not that anyone ever lived long enough to test that theory properly." His lips quirked at the irony. "Besides, the toxins don’t affect me."

"Why not?" Lumera’s voice softened, but her curiosity burned. I could feel it. The way she always needed to know why.

"Because I’m a Dark Fairy," he said nonchalantly. "The Midnight Orchid doesn’t affect my kind."

But that still didn’t explain the source. Not yet.

Scarlette crossed her arms, her gaze drilling into him.

"That doesn’t tell us where you got them."

Devran smiled faintly, like he enjoyed the chase.

"Well, would you believe me if I said I stole them?"

I tilted my head, watching him carefully. Somehow, I wasn’t the least bit surprised.

"Years ago, when you implemented the ban, all of those Midnight Orchids were burned," Devran explained. "All but one."

We remained silent, focused, waiting for what he would say next.

"One of the extremists found a Midnight Orchid growing at the border of town," he continued. "A rare thing that requires very specific conditions to grow. But he cultivated them in one place, thinking he could control the supply."

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"Bad mistake."

"What happened?" Lumera pressed, leaning in.

"I stole them all."

"You were just going to sell them for money?" Scarlette’s voice held a sharp edge, but I sensed something else behind it. Caution. Memory.

Devran’s expression sobered. His pause dragged just a little too long.

"At first... yes." His voice dropped. "I sold a few. Pretended I got them through the black market."

The weight of his words settled on us, but he wasn’t finished.

"No one knew that I was the whole damn black market," he boasted, a trace of smugness creeping into his tone.

"Then I noticed something," he continued, slowly. "The Anti-Magic Mages—they weren’t just attacking anyone. They were hunting specific couples. Dark Fairy and Love Fairy pairings."

His jaw clenched.

"That’s when I changed my mind. I stopped selling. I started giving the flowers away... to couples who might need the protection."

Scarlette’s eyes flickered. It was so quick most would’ve missed it. But I didn’t. And I had a feeling Devran didn’t either.

"Did you bring all your supply to the palace?" she asked, her tone carefully measured.

"Yes," he said. "Whatever’s left, that is."

"And the rest? Are there any other Midnight Orchids out there we should worry about?" I asked, folding my arms.

"Other than the first one I sold, there were three I gave to Mixed Fairy couples. Besides that? No. Not that I’m aware of." His fingers drummed nervously against his sleeve. "But... two of the couples I gave them to are dead now."

Lumera inhaled sharply.

"That’s awful."

"That could be the two couples the Anti-Magic Mages killed," I said, piecing it together.

"Yes, it adds up," Scarlette murmured, her gaze distant as though chasing threads in her mind.

"Is that how Faragonda got the flower?" I asked.

"Likely," Devran said.

"Wait—" Lumera furrowed her brow. "Faragonda’s a Love Fairy. She should’ve been killed by the toxin, right? Why was she immune?"

Devran’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"Maybe she found a way to build immunity."

"Or maybe she wore gloves," Lumera suggested quickly. She pulled out a folded sketch from her tunic—one she’d drawn days ago. "Look. The gloves in this sketch... they could’ve been resistant to the toxins."

Scarlette’s posture stiffened. She didn’t even try to hide it. I wondered if she was thinking what I was. Maybe the toxin hadn’t worked on Faragonda because the flower had been given to her intentionally—to protect her.

But Devran corrected her.

"It seems like many of the more senior Anti-Magic Mages of influence seem to wear the same leather gloves," Devran continued. "Interesting detail."

"That’s a suspicious amount of information you know about the Anti-Magic Mages, huh?" I retorted.

"Of course," Devran replied smoothly. "They tried to recruit me many times, but I rejected them."

"But why you?" Scarlette asked, her voice tightening.

"Maybe it’s because of my supplies? My connections?" Devran shrugged. "I didn’t bother finding out. Thought they were just a cult at first."

"What stopped you?" Lumera asked.

"It wasn’t lucrative," Devran said smugly. "The profits wouldn’t add up. I’d make a loss." He sighed.

"Besides, I’m not the kind who would follow orders blindly." He scoffed.

If only he knew he was a henchman for Judorah in his past life. I almost laughed.

"So..." Lumera pressed, her voice urgent. "Who’s the last couple you gave the Midnight Orchid to? We need to find them before it’s too late."

Devran hesitated.

"Charlotte and Ravos," he finally said.

Silence fell like a hammer.

Scarlette and I stiffened, our hearts stopping in unison. Our eyes locked—wide, pale, breathless.

He kept going, oblivious.

"They were royal imposters. Comedians. They disappeared after a while."

"Charlotte and Ravos?" Lumera repeated, blinking in confusion. "I’ve... I’ve dreamed of them before."

Scarlette’s grip tightened around the edge of her sleeve. Her knuckles turned white.

"You mean... they’re here? They’re real?" Lumera’s voice was soft, tinged with wonder. "They... they always felt so real in my dreams."

"I have no idea if we’re talking about the same people," Devran said, waving a hand dismissively. "But you seem to have a knack for sketching. Why don’t you try drawing them?"

Crap.

They’re going to figure this out.

And when they do... all hell will break loose.

Can all secrets really be nipped in the bud?Or is Pandora’s box already starting to crack open?