The meeting ended without another word.
One by one, the Seven Gardeners left the council chamber. No arguments followed the chairman's decision, nor did anyone attempt to convince the others to reconsider. Whatever authority each of them held within Wildflower, they respected the council enough to leave their opinions inside the room.
Only the old florist remained.
Kira stood where she was, watching the heavy doors close behind the last Gardener.
"So," the florist said quietly. "How does it feel?"
She looked at him.
"To meet the people who carried your dream."
Kira's gaze drifted toward the empty chairs surrounding the table.
"They've done well."
There was no jealousy in her voice.
Only quiet admiration.
The Wildflower she had once imagined had been nothing more than scattered sketches, unfinished plans, and impossible ambitions. She had dreamed of a network where every branch could survive without depending on another, where ordinary people could disappear into the crowd while quietly protecting one another from the shadows.
She had never lived long enough to build it. But now it felt more like coming back a year. She felt like decades had passed, and her dream was finally true.
Yet somehow...
Someone had.
The old florist smiled faintly. "They'll be pleased to hear you say that."
"They shouldn't."
He looked at her. "They've made mistakes."
The smile slowly faded from his face.
"They have."
Kira walked toward the large map resting on the table. Her fingertips brushed lightly across the countless routes stretching beneath the Empire.
"But that's not what concerns me."
The florist waited.
She looked at the chair Enforcement had occupied only moments ago.
"When I answered the last question..."
"The Winter Vault."
"...everyone was disappointed."
The florist nodded.
"They believed you had failed."
"Yes." She remained silent for several seconds.
"Everyone was disappointed."
Another pause.
"Except one."
The old florist frowned.
"Who?"
"I don't know his name."
She turned toward the empty chairs.
"But I know where he was sitting."
The florist followed her gaze.
"The man beside Information."
"Intelligence."
Kira slowly shook her head.
"No."
"It wasn't what he said."
"He barely spoke."
"Then what?" Kira closed her eyes, replaying the final moments of the meeting.
Trade had frowned. Medicine had lowered her head.
Transportation had sighed. The chairman had looked almost regretful.
Even Enforcement had seemed irritated.
Only one person... Had relaxed.
"The moment I said the Winter Vault was destroyed..."
"...his shoulders loosened."
The florist's expression changed.
"He stopped worrying." Kira nodded.
"Everyone else wanted the answer to be true."
"He wanted it to be false." Silence settled over the chamber.
The old florist looked back toward the empty seat.
"You think he's a traitor."
"I think..." Kira corrected herself.
"...he's hiding something."
"That's a dangerous accusation."
"I didn't accuse him." She looked toward the closed doors.
"Not yet." The florist remained thoughtful.
"What will you do?"
Kira walked toward the exit. "Nothing."
The old man blinked.
"Nothing?"
"If I expose him now..."
"He'll disappear." She opened the chamber door.
"I've learned almost nothing."
The florist quietly followed her into the corridor.
Outside, the underground city continued its endless rhythm. Merchants packed away their stalls for the evening while lanterns flickered to life along the stone streets. Children hurried home as workers changed shifts, and couriers disappeared into tunnels leading toward distant provinces.
Wildflower never slept.
Kira watched the city for several moments before speaking again.
"Tell the chairman I need one day."
The florist looked at her.
"One day?"
"Before the council reaches its decision."
"And if they refuse?"
"They won't."
She smiled faintly. "They're too curious."
The old florist chuckled. "That they are."
Night settled over the underground city.
The streets grew quieter as most of Wildflower retired to their homes, leaving only patrols and messengers moving through the tunnels.
From the small room prepared for her, Kira stood beside the narrow window overlooking one of the lower streets.
She hadn't lit the lamp.
Darkness made it easier to watch unnoticed.
It was well past midnight when movement finally caught her eye.
A lone figure slipped from one of the council buildings, his cloak pulled low over his face.
He paused only long enough to make sure no one had followed before disappearing into a side passage.
Moments later, another man emerged from the shadows.
A courier. No words were exchanged.
The cloaked figure handed him a tightly rolled message.
The courier tucked it inside his coat and immediately hurried toward one of the outer tunnels leading away from the underground city.
The florist stepped quietly into the room.
"I've already alerted our guards."
He moved beside her. "They can stop him before he reaches the surface."
Kira didn't take her eyes off the disappearing courier.
"No."
The florist looked at her in surprise.
"Let him go."
"He could be carrying information about Wildflower."
"He is."
"Then why—" Kira finally turned toward him.
"Because I don't care what the message says."
She looked back toward the tunnel where the courier had vanished.
"I want to know..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"...who's waiting to receive it."
The old florist followed her gaze into the darkness beyond the city.
For the first time since meeting her...
He understood exactly how dangerous Kira truly was.