A dazzling chandelier sparkled above me, casting a warm glow over the grand ballroom. The scent of perfume, pastries, and nobility filled the air. Beautiful ladies twirled in elegant gowns, and gentlemen in crisp uniforms whispered among themselves.  

Huh? Wasn’t I just in the hospital?  

Before I could process my surroundings-  

"Hiro! How could you reject me in front of everyone?!"  

A high-pitched shriek made me flinch—except I couldn't flinch.  

I turned- wait. No, I didn't. I couldn't move. Instead, I could only see the scene unfold in front of me.  

A handsome young man with messy white hair and sharp purple eyes stood with his arms crossed, looking incredibly bored. In front of him, a furious girl with long, curly green hair and emerald eyes was glaring at him.  

Wait a minute… I knew them. My non-existent heart dropped...  

Hiro Von Astra-the male lead of my brother’s story! 

Vanilla Winstrel- the villainess!

I tried to move, but my body wouldn’t respond. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. Then... A cold realization crept over me.  

I wasn’t standing. I wasn’t sitting. I was planted in dirt. I forced myself to process it. Soil. A small ceramic pot. A stem.  

...  

...  

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Meanwhile, the ballroom drama continued without caring about my existential crisis.  

"Vanilla, I have told you before...I do not have feelings for you," Hiro said, his voice as cold as ever.  

Vanilla gasped like she had been stabbed. "B-But we’re childhood friends! Our families-!" 

"Our families have nothing to do with my heart," Hiro cut her off. "This conversation is over..."  

The crowd collectively went oOoOoH! like this was some soap opera.  

Vanilla turned red with anger. "This isn’t over, Hiro!" she hissed before storming off.  

The nobles immediately started whispering. The daughter of the Winstrel family… rejected in public? How humiliating!

But I barely heard them. Because I was still stuck on the fact that I was a flower bud...! Then-

THUMP...!!

Something slammed onto the table I was sitting on- wait, not sitting... Planted...

"So cool!", A boy with fluffy blue hair and bright purple eyes grinned down at me, his hands gripping the table’s edge. His expression sparkled with admiration- not for me, but for Hiro.  

I recognized him instantly. Noah Von Astra- Hiro’s little brother!

Noah practically bounced in place. "Brother, that was amazing!"

Hiro sighed. "It was nothing~" 

Noah, still buzing with excitement, finally noticed me...

His gaze landed on my tiny, delivate flower bud.  

He tilted his head. "Oh? What’s this?" 

I stiffened...at least, I imagined I stiffened.  

Then- HE POKED ME...!!  

A weird sensation rushed through my stem- ticklish, yet violating.  

Noah beamed. "Brother, look! This flower bud is adorable!"

Hiro barely glanced at me. "It’s just a flower, Noah" 

"No! It has personality!" Noah insisted, pointing dramatically at me.  

Noah’s grin widened. "I like it! I’m taking it home!"

I froze.  

Hiro pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine, Do what you want..."

DON’T JUST AGREE! 

But before I could mentally protest-  

Noah picked me up. He picked up my entire pot. I felt like a kidnapped pet.  

No...Worse....A kidnapped plant! 

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I had been taken, Stoleln, Forcefully relocated...!!

Noah had brought me to the Astra royal palace, a giant, majestic castle. He had placed me on the windowsill of his fancy bedroom. Outside the window, the view was beautiful- golden gardens, a grand fountain, and the warm hues of the setting sun.  

But I wasn’t enjoying the scenery. Because I was still trapped in a flower’s body.  

And Noah… Noah had been staring at me. For the past five minutes. Then, finally-  

He clapped his hands, "I’ll name you... Buddie!" 

...  

…  

Noah grinned, poking me again, "Welcome home, Buddie~!"  

I was doomed....For now... 

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To Be Continue