The Book Of Flowers
Lessons
the next day, Thyme Castle----
"He'll serve me?"
"Yep. He'll help everyone here do their job"
I've given the message to Verdea. Veskal is now fully the one who will serve him, just like me
By the way... This shirt is also difficult to fit into the body of this child
And there... That one too...
Ready it!
Finally, his clothes are ready for today
"I don't care if he works here or not, but more is better" Verdea said in a pleased tone
Verdea turned her body and faced me while asking me to carry her
Though he said he did not like being told by children, but his behavior and words were the opposite
Huh... Its alright. He is 7 years old too
Or is it 8? I don't know anymore...
"I am also ready to send a letter to your Majesty to inform you of this information" I replied as I lifted it to my sling
"... Yeah..."
...
Huh...
I often offended Verdea with a letter I wrote to Artorius so that he also had the initiative to do correspondence with his father
But, she always avoids things related to her father whenever I discuss them. Although I don't blame him for that, it would be best if he was on good terms with his father often. Who knew he had a greater chance of surviving in this royal world, even though Artorius himself was a weak man
"Excuse me" Someone said, knocking on Verdea's bedroom door that caught our attention
That door is open too. Veskal came in neatly dressed as a servant who was worthy to present himself before the two of us. Although I have to admit, the waiter suit is a little unsuitable for her. On the other hand, he did look dignified in neat clothes
"Oh, you're late" I commented
"ah! You are too fast!" He replied with a grumble
Seeing her so upset made me change my mind about what I was thinking about her
"Then, please help Ordelia tidy up the garden"
"don't want. My new clothes get dirty later"
He's a waitress, isn't he? Why picky?
"Guild me learn" Sela Verdea
We both turned our attention to him when we listened to that
"The company I studied, Veskal" He repeated again
"learned? But, I'm just a waitress..."
"Guide I learned"
He repeated it again...
Realizing that Verdea was forcing her, Veskal then sighed softly and nodded. So did I, sighing and nodding as Verdea turned to me
Verdea immediately smiled widely knowing we did not reject her request
"All to watch over him..." I tried to convince myself
Veskal once nodded and followed behind as we walked out of the Verdea bedroom
"Ah, yes. Today's my lesson" I offended
Verdea's face immediately looked lethargic hearing that, making me smile a little at her reaction
......................
-- The central chamber of Thyme castle ---
"So, what you need to learn in terms of politics first is the composition of the government office"
I've actually been studying their posts all these past few days
The human kingdom is complicated...
But, they also have some similarities in terms of the power held by their respective offices
The Elf Kingdom consisted of Oberon as the title of a king, Titania as the title of a queen, the higher-ups who could be considered one level with the upper-class nobles in the human kingdom, and finally the Elves
All things except the higher-ups are equal in power
Our higher-ups generally only exist to protect the grand tree and govern the area of each Elf clan. Meanwhile, the human kingdom has many different positions and forms of power
Marquis, Duke, Count, Viscount, and more. I haven't even discussed all of their respective duties and powers and how they could play that role so well
I believe the field of human politics is not easy to learn, let alone teach. But, since it was time for my lesson to Verdea, I had to be ready with the material
A letter I took out of my pocket. I opened the letter which contained 3 pieces of writing, and I showed the contents to Verdea
"I ask your Majesty to record the names of all the royal officials in this letter. Then, I'll explain their respective roles"
Verdea kept silent while Veskal was busy reading the sheets of the letter one by one
"Wait a minute, this is a list of all the officials in the Hortensia Kingdom area, right?" Veskal asked
"Yes. His Majesty Artorius himself wrote the letter" I replied casually
If he forgets one of his officials, it's outrageous isn't it?
"I've met all these people first" I continued
"Then? Can you explain?" Veskal asked for an explanation
"They're just good up front, but they drop each other if there's a chance"
I'm not really surprised. The political system in this country is very vulnerable to threats from within. One wrong move would mean the fall of the crown from the head of the king. And even though he had enough power to fear though, a coup was not something planned without careful preparation
I looked towards Verdea who was still silent
"Why? Don't want to learn?"
But Verdea bowed, as if she would reject me but could not
"Will not learn? Vainzel's making you sick, son?" A voice interrupts
Ivor suddenly entered the palace's living room carrying a tray of cookies and milk on a food trolley
"Wah, wah~ the lazy Ivor has begun to be diligent" I quipped
"Well! I have also been diligent since the first time. You just never saw it"
He arrogantly mocked me and placed the tray on the table in front of the three of us
"The others have breakfast, so there's no need to worry about them, Brother..."
"I knew. Please go, your mouth stinks"
"Alright, sister..."
She moved away while continuing to tease me with that nosy laugh, while I grumbled inwardly at her behavior just now
Verdea smiled slightly looking at the interaction between me and Ivor
"Why are you called Brother by Ivor?" He also asked
"Because I beat them to a somersault. Just continue with your lesson" I replied in an annoyed tone
"Alright, brother" Verdea chuckled at my annoyed face mixed with shock
Huh... He followed my taunting. The name of that big brother is not a problem, but I can't say that I'm not amused. It would be better if everyone just called me by my name
Just ignore Vainzel...
Verdea picked up the cookie on the table and started chewing it. His gaze suddenly turned towards Veskal who seemed to want to taste the cake
"Why? Just eat it" Verdea rebuked
Veskal regained his senses after Verdea rebuked him
"No. I have no right"
I also saw Veskal's behavior trying to restrain himself
The boy kept holding back. He seemed to have been warned about this since he was a child, and now he doesn't seem capable of doing anything that isn't a command
On the other side... Verdea then took another cookie. He put it in Veskal's hand, before he folded his friend's finger so he wouldn't turn the cake down again
"It's okay. As long as it is not spent..."
Me and Veskal were stunned. One was amazed, and the other was confused by Verdea
"Thank you, my lord"
Veskal immediately chewed the pastry in his hands with vigor
"It feels strange to be called 'my master'" Verdea replied, munching on another cookie
"But, it's a formality isn't it?"
"I'm just not used to being called that since I've lived here"
Veskal was stunned, before he took the cookies on the tray with Verdea
"... But it's okay if I call you my master isn't it?" He continued later
Veskal immediately seemed happy to hear that
But... I remember that they ignored my lesson...
"It has. Time to learn again"
Verdea took a glass of warm milk on the table and sipped it
After that, he said
"I wonder how you got close to my dad. He even bothered to write down this list himself"
"That's because he asked me to keep an eye on you"
She's quiet. His gaze looked as if he was uncomfortable with the thing he had just heard
"Then tell him that I don't need pity from him" Verdea said sluggishly
I silently heard Verdea
"... But, your highness at least cares, right?" Sela Veskal was busy chewing. "That's better than being thrown away completely" he continued
Verdea also put on a flat face while continuing to chew pastries after saying so. We both don't blame Veskal for saying that, because he doesn't know much about the royal family
The atmosphere immediately felt silent for a few moments. None of us knew what else to talk about, because they were unintentionally riled up by each other
...
"Hey. Let's just continue the lesson" I switched the conversation
I took all the sheets taken by Veskal earlier and tidied them up
"Oh. And also, I'll explain all the power they hold"
"... Don't want to"
"... Verdea..."
"Learning politics won't do me any good"
...
"Hey, Vainzel's. I got a letter from Artorius"
Right at that moment of uneasy atmosphere, Luna walked in and waved a letter that I received with pleasure
And somehow, there is something that makes Veskal a little distracted
"Your friend is disrespectful. Why are you casually calling out your noble name try?" He also said
Luna sharpened her gaze with her forehead furrowing towards Veskal hearing the utterance that came from where it was
"Only one king in this world I acknowledge and that is Vainzel" Luna replied
"Already, already"
I tried to mediate between the two of them. The situation will be even more complicated if there is a dispute right now
But, on the one hand, somehow Veskal dropped the pastry in his hand, while putting on a shocked face
"Wait on! This man is king!?" Reply to Veskal while pointing at me in shock
Huh huh? He just found out even though my friends sometimes call me Oberon? I explained what the title meant to them just now
"I am a fully-reigning king. It's just, I did go out of my kingdom to wander" I explained
"Huh!!? Then why do you want to be a waiter here!?" Veskal gets louder in asking
"I always thought you were weird, too, Vain" Sela Verdea
Though he knew that I was stuck here serving him because of his actions that forced that time...
But, again I say, I'm happy to spend time with this kid. The five friends might agree
"Can we continue the lesson now?" I clap my hand to divert the conversation
"can't. I want to hear more" Vescal exclaimed
Veskal...!
"Me too" Verdea continued
"The lesson..."
"Later" Veskal interrupted without a second thought
Verdea nodded steadily in support of that, making me even more lethargic as they completely ignored my wishes
Well, the lesson shouldn't be forced either, if I think back. But they'll pay for this
I'll think of a way for them to learn later
Why should I learn lessons they don't like. My friends didn't even have the slightest problem teaching Verdea
I spent my lesson telling me when I was still living in the Elf— kingdom before I went wandering to see every corner of Vitario
After my lesson time ran out, Lyralia came into the room and continued her study hours with Luxor. General knowledge such as reading, counting and writing
They look a little disappointed because I haven't finished telling the whole story. Well, at most they would ask Lyralia too if curious
I just hope Lyralia doesn't insult me when she tells me a version of hers...
......................
a few months later ---
Not much has happened after a few months since Veskal arrived here
During the fighting lesson, Veskal's ability to use a dagger when dealing with Luna began to be seen. He moved with agility, both when dodging and launching attacks
Although very good, Luna is still better than Veskal
Also, Veskal was very diligent in teaching Verdea to use small arms with Luna. I could see firsthand the child's development in fighting. And seeing that, I discovered Veskal's natural talent as a fighter
He's also willing to take a political lesson I taught with Verdea. The two children began to recognize many things, and I had a trick for them to listen to my lesson, which was to slip a story or two about my life as a king, he said, and also the stories of the kings before me that I knew
I've always felt the need for Verdea to learn this. Although he did not want to be king, he had to at least know a way so that he would not be cruelly eliminated from the palace
And once again, I saw Veskal diligently helping him learn. Looking at the relationship between the two children, I was delighted
The arrival of Veskal in this place is like fate. He was meant to be next to Verdea. Verdea himself was happy when Veskal accompanied him
So, when I have to go later, I don't have to be afraid she'll be alone
...
I sat in a chair close to the window and looked through the outside courtyard through the window
It's already starting the winter. A small white gem descended from the sky and stuck to the glass, so the view out looked blurry. The temperature has gotten colder as the seconds go by. Soon the new year will be celebrated to mark the change of the year on the freedom calendar
I want to go back to the forest of the elves to celebrate after 5 years. But, I still have a responsibility to take care of that child which makes me doubtful
What should I do, huh...?
*tock! poke!*
Someone knocked on my bedroom door, making my mind crumble for a moment
"Come in" I'll let that guy in
My door opened and Luna came in and handed me a letter
"From Artorius" Luna said
The letter I was waiting for was just so I could get back. I received the letter and immediately opened it for reading
'To Sir Vainzel
It will be a new year on the freedom calendar. I hope you can bring my son and your friends to the new year's event held at Lily's castle'
In short, that is the content of this letter
"..."
"You're going to the show?" Ask Luna
I was silent not answering. I have not decided on this at all, because my mind is still worried and focused on my hometown
But...
"I'll talk to Verdea first"
It would be better if the boy and Veskal also gave opinions
Hearing my short answer, Luna just nodded slowly
"Do you think I should go?" I also asked her for her opinion, before she could move on
And he certainly shook his head
"Your parents want you to visit for this year's celebration" he replied
Huh... I'm getting worried
...
I hope Verdea can give you a good answer later
Back to the Elf forest huh...?
5 Years of not being there has made me want to go home soon
The forest of the elves, Miralius
