The Book Of Flowers
Veskal Grandier
the next day, Thyme Castle----
"..."
"..."
"... I'll burn him"
Head Ivor immediately flicked slowly because of his words. He snorted in annoyance at my actions, to the point of holding his sick head
"I'm kidding you!!"
"If you want to joke, please don't be that cruel"
Put that aside...
What is this intruder kid doing here?
He fell asleep under a tree, right inside the castle area. And given that Luna didn't report anything suspicious last night, that means this kid arrived and slept recently here
I slowly leaned over nearby and squeezed her cheeks many times. But he did not respond at all and instead fell, overrunning the bush beside him
And even so, he still did not wake up. His face alone does not show that he is disturbed— has not changed from the beginning we found him in this place
...
"... Bring him inside" I gave the order
"No"
"Come on Ivor"
"I agree with Ivor. This child is still suspicious" Luxor interrupted
"... Whatever you say Luxor"
I put on my gloves and then I lifted the boy up slowly and took him in
Luxor and Ivor just stood still and sighed to look at me
...
--- After that, the dining room----
"That's great, Verdea!"
In the dining room right now, Verdea is studying manners with Ordelia. Ordelia had actually just learned the royal manners, but she who was polite could quickly learn and practice them for Verdea
Verdea diligently demonstrated proper manners on the dining table. Starting from the choice of knife, to how to chew the food
Such polite and elegant behavior did not match her true nature at all
I watched him busy eating beef with a proud-looking Ordelia beside him
"That's polite, like a princess in fairytale~" I commented
He turned his head towards me who was walking closer to him and immediately made an annoyed face
"Whisper!"
Look at him angry
"Come Vainzel. Do you encourage him a little?" Ordelia defends Verdea
"I've praised him, haven't I?"
"That's not a compliment! You compare me to a girl!" Verdea shouted while pointing at me with a fork in her hand
"I'm just saying what I saw"
"Parr....!"
I smiled so much just to make him angry
"duh... You are so nosy to Verdea..."
Ordelia opened the veil of my robe and held both of my cheeks
His body that was a little shorter than mine made me have to look him in the eye with a little head down from this close
I held her hand and lowered it from my cheek
"Waiting him is exciting you know?" I said
"But still not good, is it?" Ordelia replied, half a pout
"Alright, alright. Ordelia does know best"
I smile at Ordelia who is smiling warmly
"Ehem!"
We were both cut off by Verdea who felt neglected since earlier
Ordelia then flinched and released her hand from my grip. He moved away from me slowly and his face was clearly reddened
Unlike me, his human-like face revealed once his expression when embarrassed
I laughed when I saw that face. Mainly because he himself made himself feel ashamed this time
"Alright, you learn again the good. I want to see the lesson"
I put my veil up the way it was, and started sitting down to pay attention to it
"don't want. You will definitely mock me again" Verdea refused
"Come on. Give me a little entertainment"
"No way!"
"Galligator"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
...
Who was the one who shouted that...?
Sounds familiar, but not from my friends...
Out of curiosity, I left the two of them who were also wondering what was wrong
......................
"What's this?"
"Yes!! This kid won't be quiet!!"
It was seen that the boy who wanted to run was being forcibly detained by Ivor, as hard as he could afford not to hurt the child
"GET OFF!"
"SILENCE OR BURN YOU!"
"Stop you two!"
I had to take my gloves off again. I caught the boy with my tendril and I lifted him up into the air
I was involved in holding the boy back from escaping and separating him from Ivor, who was visibly upset
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!!!"
"Can you calm down?"
"THEN LET ME GO!!"
"You said that when you disrespectfully infiltrated again"
"That-that!"
He was silent. Looks like he just remembered himself sleeping in our castle area tree again
"... We need to talk" I said
"..."
Verdea and Ordelia were following me from behind so curious about the boy's whereabouts here
...
"Rosalia dumped you!?"
I've been expecting it... But it still surprises my ears
Also, Rosalia is cruel...
"It's all also your fault that keeps watching me know!" The boy grumbled
"Who tried first?"
He lowered his head and bit his lips in annoyance at my words
*hawk!*
...
"... You want to eat?" I asked quietly hearing that stomach voice
"... I beg..."
...
Huh... Yesterday I said I don't care about him. But, my pity once again overcame me
"Verdea I have bad news and good news. Want to hear which one?"
"Bad news..."
"This child will probably stay with us for a while"
"Good news...?"
"You have friends who eat the same way"
The two of them immediately looked at me in a stark manner. Exactly the same as each other
Wh why? I'm not wrong, and you're proving me wrong
The child did not even hold back and ate in a voracious manner. Maybe because he's hungry, but still...
To be honest, he was even more terrifying than Verdea in terms of how to eat
Verdea just stared at the boy with a flat gaze, while the other one kept busy scooping up all the meat on the table
"You're my brother's friend?" Verdea asked
The boy stopped eating for a moment. His face suddenly turned irritated, as he looked towards Verdea
"It's none of your business" He retorted later, before returning to eating but in a slower manner
"Hey. You should be a little polite. He's still the rightful owner of this castle" I interrupted
"It's none of my business!"
This kid's bigger than I thought...
"You just do what you want. But don't bother anyone and don't spoil anything" I warned
"Then it means nothing to me at all, right??"
"Listen to my words, boy!"
"Why do you call me a boy!? You just don't look older and taller than me"
"..."
"Pff!!" Verdea tried to hold back her laughter
He and I know exactly how old I really am, but letting this kid not know might be fun for later
"Why?" The boy looks confused
"It's okay. And also, please don't fight with Verdea" I plead once more
"Yes, yeah..."
Making sure that he agreed to my request, I sighed, before getting up and going out to do something else
I held onto Ivor's shoulder before going further and saying one thing in his ear
"Please keep an eye on them, Ivor"
"Why should I try?"
His face seemed to say that this would be troublesome. And that's why I want him to keep an eye on them
I pat her shoulders slowly, then continue my steps away without a word more. Ivor just turned his head on the spot in confusion without explanation, but did not know how to stop me
I have to tell your majesty about the child's situation here
.....................
-- A few moments later ----
"From you! I'll beat you to the ground!"
"You start first, you arrogant fellow!"
Once again, the boy was detained by Ivor so as not to act
Looks like Verdea got dragged into this. Ordelia even seemed to have trouble holding him back from hitting the boy
I only returned after an hour to leave them to write and deliver my report to the noble Artorius. Why could it be like this?
Ivor looks very tired with this. She did not even scream as usual and her eyes looked blank
I have to admit, these kids could be useful to tame Ivor
"Take me off Ordelia! I want to beat up that kid!"
"I'll make you pull those words back!"
*greb!*
I turned the heads of the two of them so that they immediately stared at me, indirectly making their bodies turn to face me
"Can you relax?" In a flat tone I speak
They were silent because they saw me
Noticing those who had calmed down, I took my hand off their heads
"... Please Vainzel... You take care of them..." Ivor who spoke
"okay"
Ivor took the boy off and left the room in a limp, non-upright fashion
"I also seem to have to go" Ordelia said
"Lyralia and Luxor may need you" I added, with a smile to drive her oergi
Ordelia then begged for her leave and left the room as well, following Ivor
"... Now..."
I looked back at the two kids
They were silent while throwing their faces away from each other, giving them some distance from each other
They were intent on beating each other, but it seemed like they had already done so. I could see clearly the bruises they both had from that fight
"Well... You guys can't get along with what...?"
I approached the two of them and cast a healing spell to treat their bruises
"He started first!" Verdea said in a tinge, pointing sharply at the boy
"But you who insulted me worse!" Reply to the boy who does not want to lose
"Explain what happened" I interrupted
Verdea then explains what happened in detail
So, the point is that they only played Verdea's wooden sword. The boy accidentally broke the sword he borrowed and did not want to apologize. Verdea then accuses him of "Unknowing themselves", which then causes them to fight
...
Little brat...! I think the problem is so big it's like this...
I also wonder why this foreigner kid is acting like he's not his age. I'm sure he's at least 13 or 14...
"... To be fair you have to apologize to each other"
I took my hand off after I finished healing them
"Why am I sorry? He was the most wrong" Verdea spoke in a taut tone
"Very..."
"Ehmm..."
"Do you think I'd like to apologize??" The boy spoke directly
"Unfortunately you have to"
"... Don't want to"
"Why?"
"I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T!"
He ran out somewhere. Lyralia who just wanted to enter was shocked to see her running out
"What is this Vainzel?" Lyralia asked confused
"... Take care of Verdea for a second"
I walked after the boy
"OKs... But what's up?"
Lyralia's answer was not answered at all. Not a single word came out of my mouth, even until I disappeared in an instant to search for the child
He looked at Verdea, where the boy was silent and threw away his face. Verdea did not want to explain this to him at all
......................
"Meet..."
I went around one castle to look for this boy and finally found him lying on the roof
He lay down while looking up at the sky without caring for me who was climbing at all. Even until I sat by her side, I didn't even care about her at all
"Why did you run?"
"... Noisy. It's none of your business"
...
It's troublesome, but...
I can at least understand what's in this kid's head. He's upset about something
"... You still mad at Rosalia?" I said, moving my position closer to her
"... Noisy..." He tried to close his eyes, imagining that I had left him alone
But I didn't leave him alone
"Why did you take it out on us?"
"... Noisy...!"
"You hate Rosalia?"
My endless questioning infuriated him
He immediately pulled the collar of my robe and said loudly, "It's obvious isn't it!? He doesn't want me anymore!"
"..."
"I have always worked under his command, without pay, without end. I always do his orders without any protest..."
His grasp grew tighter, but his face looked increasingly limp the longer he spoke
I just kept quiet, looking at her annoyed yet gloomy face
"But he said he didn't want me again last night. I begged him not to do that. I don't even know why...
But he has made his decision. I was dragged out by force and thrown away like a useless piece of trash..."
His eyes shook as he looked at me directly. He then let out a question that tore my heart to pieces
"Hey--You know my fault what---?"
...
"..."
"Whatever it-- Please say-!"
His tone began to shake. His annoyed face slowly turned into the face of the one who wanted to cry
I who saw it like that immediately felt pity and also sad
"... You've been trying hard, yeah..."
"I don't need those words, Elf!"
He hit me on the shoulder hard. But I didn't lift a finger to stop him from doing that
"Tell me what's wrong! If my life is wrong, then there's no point in fighting a not-"
...
He gasped, noticing my hand touching his head. Slowly I stroked his head, while the boy was still silent not shaking
But as if he did not accept it, he brushed off my hand and tears finally fell on his cheek
"Enough...! I don't want any more false hopes...!!"
Breath sobbing. He immediately tried to wipe his tears down. But, they kept flooding her eyes and falling onto her cheeks, no matter how hard she tried
"I-just want-There are people who value me----
But why...!? L'm... It always ends this way...?"
She was crying harder. His moaning voice sounded exactly like someone in pain
He leaned in front of me and kept crying. Once again I put my hand on his head and slowly rubbed the surface
She kept crying. Go on and on. Although her crying started to slow down, she continued to sob
But, I couldn't linger with him. I left him alone there to take care of Verdea
I wanted to help her, but I didn't know what to do because I didn't know anything about her...
...
-- - The middle of the castle --
"Where's the kid?" Luxor asked who immediately saw his presence as I entered through the window
Verdea who is learning from Luxor now immediately stopped writing and listening to our conversation
"He's on the roof. Luna and Ordelia are taking care of it, so take it easy"
"You seriously want to let him stay here?"
He looked at me with a serious look
"Because of talking to him earlier, I'm getting serious"
To be honest, I still don't believe in that kid. But, if he really needs a place to stay, I won't forbid him from staying here
Verdea clenched her hands tightly. There was something he wanted to say daritadi, but it seemed that he couldn't be honest to say either
Just as Verdea wanted to talk, Ordelia and Luna followed the boy into the middle room of the castle from behind
His face is still slouching
Verdea was shocked by the boy's presence. He immediately got up and slowly walked in front of her
Luxor and I stared at each other and wondered why
The boy looked at Verdea blankly. Verdea just stood in front of him and looked hesitant to say anything
But, one of them should at least start talking
"... Ma-I'm sorry..." Verdea said softly
He threw away his face. The boy looked up to see Verdea
His face changed immediately. Seeing the innocent boy apologize to him, Veskal was immediately stunned
He started laughing. The little laugh that made me see him was shocked
Now the pensive Verdea saw the boy laughing
"I should be the one apologizing"
Verdea jerks. The child who had refused to apologize to him suddenly bowed before him. And that made him feel troubled, because he knew that a fight between them would not have happened had he not said what he had told him
"But I've gone too far too. I don't usually call people like that either"
He's looking embarrassed. His eyes were watering with regret for what he did. He clasped his pants tightly like a child when scolded
"... Sorry..." He said once again
...
"... Its alright. Me too"
The boy then leaned over and opened his arms like he wanted to be hugged
Verdea immediately came forward and hugged him tightly, making the child a little jolted but immediately replied to him with a tight hug as well
The sight of them hugging each other made our hearts warm when we saw it. In the end, the two children were able to correct each other's mistakes, ending the matter on a good note
Haaah...
Children are still children. But, when I saw the two of them embracing each other like this...
It struck me that these two poor children never got that warmth at all. At least until we were mediators
It's cruel, isn't it...? Destiny is really weird...
...
"Hi! I missed what!?"
...
...
...
By the great tree, Lyralia...
He pretently looked into the room and just showed his head
"I'm also done with the break..."
Ivor also shows his head from outside the room
The appearance of the two of them completely ruined the heartwarming moment
The two children were only dumbstruck to see Ivor and Lyralia appear
Ordelia and Luxor just patted their foreheads looking at the two fools. Luna shook her head and I was obviously very upset
"You're noisy! Why not show up later try!?"
"Huh!? We tried wrong!?"
"We just showed up, Vainzel..."
"Then go there again!!"
"HUH!!??"
The situation of the room instantly became murky due to my debate and those two
Verdea and the boy just looked at each other, then they laughed at our behavior
"What are you laughing at!?" Ivor scowled them
"You just looked stupid" Ejek Verdea
Then, we spent the day laughing at Ivor who targeted us one by one with his anger
Well... At least he lightened the mood, didn't he? Even now I have to deal with this one man's actions so he doesn't destroy anything in the castle
......................
-- - Night day ---
Verdea finally fell asleep in her bed. I put a blanket on his leg and stroked his head before turning to the boy standing beside me
He's been following me ever since he made up with Verdea. And now look at him. He looked at Verdea as if he did not want to let any flies up to his tiny sleeping face
"Have you felt better?" I asked the boy
He nodded and continued to look towards Verdea
...
"Hey, I'm curious" The boy tried to open the conversation
"Why?"
"Why does he live in such a distant place? The other prince and princess lived in Lily's castle, didn't they?"
"... You didn't know he was removed?"
He looked shocked listening to my words. Then, he shook his head with pity smeared all over his face
I took a short breath before continuing further
"His father put him in this castle so that his other family wouldn't try to hurt him again"
I also only learned about it after the correspondence with Artorius yesterday
Curious about the behavior of all of them, I asked him that. He only replied that other members of his family often hurt Verdea, both physically and verbally. It is natural, considering that the head of their family is very weak in dealing with the wrong actions done by his family
So I came to the conclusion that he was deliberately put here so as not to be hurt again
To those who know this, Artorius must have loved Verdea. It may have something to do with Verdea's birth mother, but she still tries her best for Verdea regardless of that
Too bad I thought otherwise. I did not like the king at all, mainly because of the way he treated Verdea like this. If he really wanted the best for Verdea, he would devote every ounce of his energy to looking after this boy
It's just, in the end, too...
Verdea was not Artorius' only son. What makes this worse is that the mother of the children of the Hortensia family is a different woman...
...
"But, doesn't his father have great power? Why didn't he teach the people who hurt him?"
"... When it comes to politics, it's hard"
All Artorius' wives were married to him for political reasons. If he made just one wrong move to deal with those women, the other kingdoms could directly besiege this place
He might be able to win, but the order of this kingdom would not improve back to how it was. Chaos would spread everywhere and that was the reason why Artorius had to be careful about treating his family
He just wanted no chaos between kingdoms in this world. But, that indirectly makes me sure, if the head of the king that one is only filled with thoughts to keep the throne alone
"..."
The boy just kept quiet. He was silent a thousand languages hearing my short answer
But his face also described something else. A light that says, if he is determined in choosing something the way he wants to go. And he also expressed that determination
"... I want to serve him"
That statement surprised me a little. For obvious reasons
"Hm? Why?"
"The two of us could be best friends. But I want to serve him"
...
I smile. Good friend, he said. I'm sure it would have been, had you not fought like that again...
"Are you sure you can handle it?" I challenged him too
He nodded hard. I just laughed a little at the response
"Then good luck" I said to him
Oh yeah, and one more thing
"By the way, I don't know your name" I said
He then seemed to think for a moment. And somehow, he also just realized
"Ah, right too..."
I chuckled looking at her confused gawking face
"Then, what's your name?" I asked again
He smiled for the umpteenth time I saw him in this castle, and then he started saying his name frankly
"Vescals. Veskal Grandier"
"Good name, like a brave knight" I responded softly to him, coupled with a smile
