Hellbound Heart

This chapter is dedicated to @Sacogun! Thank you so much for the supergift!

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The couples then separated and went their own way as the gardeners brought them to different areas according to the flower they were looking for.

Because Elle's outfit was blue, the gardener brought them to the area where the blue flowers were at.

"You can sit here and wait, ma'am, as we cannot risk your dress getting caught onto something sharp or pointy. It would be a shame if such an exquisite dress get ruined." The gardener politely told her. "It'll be enough for Sir here to go pick the flowers by himself while you watch over him."

After Elle nodded, the gardener then left them.

She smiled at Sebastian and he quietly moved to carry out his task that had been assigned to him. She really wished she could see his face and observe what kind of expression he was wearing right now behind his mask. Could he be annoyed, expressionless, bored, or just grumpy like his mask?

Elle could only sit there and secretly lift the camera that had been lent to get by Abi, once Sebastian was far enough. When he started bending over slightly to pick the flowers, she took a shot of him, a bright smile flashing across her face.

The sky was so blue and clear that if one looked straight up, their eyes would water and they would be forced to squint. She could smell the scent of the flowers lightly perfuming the air, hear the gentle chirp and melody of the birds from afar and feel the soothing, mind-calming ambience of the surroundings. Everything right now was just pure perfection.

Soon, she watched him return to her with a bouquet of blue flowers in his hand. She could not help but beam at him, even if she knew that the gesture was due to the requirement of the festival needing the males to perform this way. It was still somewhat unbelievable to her… all these… him with her and they being in a field of flowers, with him picking those blue little pretty things for her to wear.

He sat next to her before showing her the flowers in his hands. "I'm not sure which one you'd like most, so I had just picked all the types of blue flowers I could find. Is this enough?"

Elle was so tempted to reach out and lift his mask. But she curbed her desires and just smiled as she looked at the flowers. She felt really relaxed that her body, mind and heart seemed so light and carefree that she could almost float away. Perhaps, his mask that concealed his face helped for her to not overthink if she saw an expression from him that could throw her off from this bliss.

"Hmm… let's see. I think so. These are all so beautiful, Sebastian." Elle just had to gush over the flowers as they were all so pretty!

He fell silent so Elle lifted her head to look at him when he suddenly averted his gaze. "Take this. I'll go get more, just in case it's not enough."

When the two couples finally met up, Alexander laughed out loud.

"What the hell, Sebby!? Did you plan on picking all the flowers available? What are you going to do with those? Make a whole bed of blue flowers?" Alex teased. "No wonder you both took so long!"

Sebastian looked at Elle and she just innocently giggled, not bothering to give any excuse. She did not stop Sebastian when he insisted to go pick more because she wanted to watch him for a bit longer. It was so rare that she could just spend some quiet time, watching his handsome figure bending over and doing such a simple yet meaningful action as plucking flowers for her. She did not know when this would happen again - if ever - thus the reason why she did not stop him.

They waited for the gardeners to make the crown and once it had arrived, the gardeners asked the men to put the crowns over their partner's head.

"I'll take a photo of you both." Abi offered and Alex quickly understood the assignment and began to become the assistant to the photographer.

"Sebby, don't just stand there, put your hand around her waist, man!" Alex said rather aggrievedly, wondering why he was such a block of wood.

Sebastian glanced at him but he eventually did as Alex suggested.

"No, not enough. You both should face each other and hold onto each other. Yes, just like that! Sebby, lower your head! Closer, boy! What the hell's wrong with you, Sebastian?!"

Elle could not help but chuckle softly while Sebastian whipped his head around and glared at Alex.

"I should be the one asking you that, Alexander. What the hell's wrong with you, suddenly yelling all crazy and testy in the middle of a flower field like that?" Sebastian finally retorted.

"It's because you're just so annoying, you little devil. You can't even pose properly. I told you to hold your wife closer! Position yourselves like you both are about to kiss, damn it!" Alex was literally roaring at this point.

Alexander's last line had both Elle and Sebastian stilled as their eyes met. Elle's smile slowly faded and all of a sudden, the air between them seemed to change from light to something sparkling. Kiss… the word echoed in her mind. Will Sebastian… ever kiss her?

She did not know how many seconds or even minutes had passed until they both snapped out of their daze and looked at the now suddenly quiet assistant photographer. Only to see the couple grinning at them and giving them a thumbs up.

"Perfect!" Abi told them and Elle rushed over to Abi to grab the camera from her hands.

"Your turn now." Elle beamed and Alex excitedly grabbed Abi for the photoshoot.

"Watch me, boy." He told Sebastian before he lifted Abi in his arms like a princess and then twirled her around before he lifted his mask right above his nose and kissed her smack on the lips right before them.

Alex smugly glanced at Sebastian after that before they all finally headed out of the garden. It was time for them to go to the heart of the town to enjoy the main courses of the festival.

But on their way to the entrance, other people started to arrive and it did not escape Sebastian's notice how the men all stared at Izabelle's bare back and his face darkened beneath his mask.

He threw the men a deadly glare before he took his robe off and draped it over Elle's shoulders, effectively covering the view of her tantalizing back.

When she looked up at him, he immediately uttered, "You might catch a cold."

Elle blinked but she eventually smiled. "I actually have a robe. I'll wear it once we're in town. My dress looks pretty eye-catching so I need to tone it down so as not to draw too much attention. Abi and I also have our sneakers to put on." She explained and he nodded in approval before helping her inside the car. It was time for them to go to town.