The Flower Palace—Madam Kyra's domain—always looked peaceful from the outside.
But the moment Nox stepped inside the gate, he regretted breathing.
Celstia and Elsie walked ahead like close friends, arms linked and chatting nonstop.
Behind them, the guards staggered under a mountain of shopping bags.
Norax duskgale sighed inwardly.
"Celstia," he muttered, "did we really need to buy half the district?"
Both girls turned at the same time.
Celstia: "Men will never understand."
Elsie: "It's important!"
Norax clicked his tongue. "Waste of time arguing with women… let's just go."
The moment he stepped across the threshold—
—shhk!
A cold blade touched his neck.
Dozens more circled him in seconds, held by stern-faced women dressed in black.
Celstia and the guards instantly took fighting stance.
Norax raised his hands.
"I didn't come to fight. I'm here to meet Madam Kyra."
Then he grabbed Elsie's cloak and pulled it off her."I brought her as a gift."
The hall erupted in shock.
"YOU dare bring her here?! Do you even know who she is "
"Kyaah! How insolent—!"
Their fury rose, but Elsie's small voice barely reached them.
"P-Please don't attack… I just… want to meet Mama."
Footsteps echoed A calm voice cut through the tension like a knife.
"My, my. The nerve of the rising star of the underworld—Norax Duskgale, leader of the Blue Crescent—visiting my Flower Palace without notice."
A woman with long black hair and a face half-covered by a veil stepped forward.
Behind her stood an assistant with the posture of a lethal blade.
Madam Kyra.
The Queen of the Redlight District.
She approached slowly, gaze cold and unreadable.
"I understand why you've come,i forgive you." she said.
"But turn back. Now."
Her eyes shifted toward Elsie "And you— your punishment will be decided later."
Elsie's expression collapsed.
Norax simply folded his hands behind his back.
Madam Kyra finally faced him again.
" Norax Duskgale. Speak. Why have you entered my Flower Palace? with the girl of our district"
Her voice carried the weight of a monarch.
Every woman in the courtyard held their breath.
They moved inside the Flower Hall.
Norax placed the tea cup aside.
"sir Norax. You don't need to force yourself. Let's talk."she say
Norax gaze drifted to Elsie, who stood silently beside her mother.
Madam Kyra followed his eyes.
"Elsie, go outside."
"Celstia, you as well."Norax say
Celstia bowed and left with Elsie.
Silence filled the room.
Only the sound of tea being poured lingered.
Madam Kyra finally spoke.
"Let's skip unnecessary topics.
If you suspect I sent the assassins after you… then remove such foolish thoughts, Sir Norax "
As expected.
She knew about every attempt— even the hidden ones.
"Of course," Norax replied. "I know you wouldn't do something so pointless. I didn't come here for that."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Then?"
"I came for negotiation."
Madam Kyra froze.
"…Negotiation?"
Her lips curled into a mocking smile.
"That only happens between equals, Norax Duskgale—A twenty-year-old slum boy who built a small organization at sixteen…
daring to negotiate with me, who controls the Redlight District and stands as the First Underworld Powerhouse?"
Her voice was smooth… but sharp as a dagger.
"What," she whispered,
"makes you think you are my equal?"
The air grew colder.
And Norax simply smiled.
"I'm only twenty, yes. But age means nothing in the underworld.
And Madam… if you hear my proposal, you'll understand."
He leaned forward slightly and spoke in a quiet tone only she could hear.
"I will cure your terminal illness…
and protect your daughter from the Second Powerhouse."
Madam Kyra's entire body froze.
A murderous aura burst from her.
Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper.
"Norax Duskgale…
I don't know where you heard that.
But I should kill you here for speaking it."
"If you do," Norax replied calmly,
"you know very well what will happen next and Your condition doesn't allow you that luxury."
He met her gaze directly. "And that makes us equal."
Her smile wavered.
Slowly, she touched her veil and removed it.
Underneath—
a red rose-shaped mark bloomed across the left side of her face, like an infection spreading.
She lifted her blue eyes to him.
This was the illness: Rose Bless.
A curse that grows like a flower… and devours its host.
Norax observed quietly.
The Flower Hall fell silent.
Madam Kyra, stripped of her veil, looked like a queen whose throne was slowly killing her.
Rose Bless.
A curse-like illness—one that only special alchemy could cure.
Not ordinary medicine.
A treatment that required three months just to cleanse the infection.
"It appears on newborns, or spreads from someone infected…" Norax explained calmly.
"In Madam Kyra's case… it should be congenital."
Madam Kyra exhaled softly.
"When I was a child, it wasn't on my face. It began on my body… spreading little by little."
She looked at him sharply.
"Sir Norax . Swear on your words. Can you truly treat this illness?"
Norax nodded.
"It isn't me who can create the medicine… but I know the alchemist who can. And the recipe of that medicine"
He kept his voice firm.
"I'll be honest, Madam. You remained neutral because you know your remaining time. You have only six months."
The hall fell silent.
Norax remembered the original novel.
She dies. War erupts. The Powerhouses tear the underworld apart.
Elsie dies. Her comrades die.
Only after a long, bloody war does the Blue Crescent win…
But that was the story he wrote.
This reality is different.
Every small butterfly effect can rewrite the future.
The illness—Rose Bless—belonged to the storyline of "Seven Curse Princesses", Plague Arc.
The only person capable of making the cure was a Blue Crescent commander…
someone Norax hadn't recruited yet.
But he knew the recipe.
After all, he wrote it.
Madam Kyra broke the silence first.
"Sir Norax. I understand your intentions. But if I choose to trust you…
what exactly do you want in return?
I cannot agree without hearing the price."
Norax didn't hesitate.
"I want your support. Soon, I will attack the Second Powerhouse.
In return, I will cure your illness."
Madam Kyra narrowed her eyes.
"The Second Powerhouse?
And why would you attack them?
Don't tell me you intend to break the peace agreement between us?"
Her voice sharpened.
"Surely you are not foolish enough to start a pointless war. I will be very disappointed if you are."
Norax met her cold gaze with unwavering confidence.
"Madam Kyra, you have six months left.
And you know very well—
you and the Second Powerhouse are not on good terms.
I don't like that man either.
We share a common enemy."
He leaned forward.
"I'm not asking you to join me.
Just give support until the Second Powerhouse falls.
You care most about the Redlight District… and your daughter."
His voice grew quiet.
"So stop making excuses to run away from your responsibility and madam kyra you know or i assume you know well what is thing leader need to do "
Madam Kyra fell silent.
"…You're right."
She looked away, anguish flickering in her eyes.
"If I die, many problems will arise.
No one will protect my home.but that doesn't mean i take help from outsider "
She hesitated.
"But—"
Before she could finish, Nox cut in gently.
"Let's say… after your death, they somehow survive.
Right now, I'm giving you the chance to protect everything.
And stay with your daughter longer."
His voice lowered further.
"I know you don't trust me.
But this is only a temporary alliance."
He paused.
"And if you refuse, I'll take your daughter into my care before you die.
You don't want to see her dead… do you?"
Madam Kyra's breath trembled.
"Sir Norax… can I believe your words?
Every doctor who came here said it was impossible…"
She whispered,
"Give me a reason to accept your proposal."
Nox slowly kneeled.
"I cannot promise the word. I will save your life "
She stared at him in surprise"You… are truly the same man they say, Sir—"
He looked up, voice firm.
"But— I will ensure you do not die from this illness.I will make sure you live long enough to show your face without fear.
That is all I offer, Madam."
Her eyes widened.
Confidence.
Determination.
Fearlessness.
His words carried all of it.
Madam Kyra slowly reached out…
fingers brushing the red rose-shaped mark on her face.
If it means protecting Elsie…and others let's just try that >
Her thoughts trembled like her fingertips.
The room was silent for minutes she was in deep thought to make descision