The Book Of Flowers
Understood
The night came after our long conversation. But, for the first time I felt a silent night after several years of biting despair
But...
God fucking. The air is still very cold in this country, just like I remember!
Though yesterday the temperature had started to rise a little, but somehow it was cold again. This place should have entered spring already, right?
Chilling...
I want to find fire now. Whether I'm going to burn or not, obviously I won't be able to sleep until the fire warms me up
The flames in my place ran out, so I had to pick them up in the kitchen room. I had to walk far enough from my room to the room. This castle is small compared to the castle in general, but the size can be said to be quite large
Damnit. I'm cold...!
I would rather die fighting than freeze to death right now...!
"COUNTERLY __________________________••• ••••• ••••• •••••?"
...?
There was a faint sound coming into my ear. It came from Verdea's room I just passed
But his voice did not sound like Verdea...
The curious me began to walk slowly to the door of his room, eavesdropping there
Let's hear it...
"Grandfather's only worried about you, Verdea. You've been through a lot. Just let Vainzel do this"
Oho! That's Frank's voice
He seems to be talking to Verdea. But why close the door?
"No grandpa. I have to come"
"Well..... You are a stubborn child. Just like your mother"
"Grandfather really need not worry. Me and Vainzel can definitely go through this again. Besides, I do have to do this, because my friend's life is on the edge right now"
...
...
"Then, after you leave, you'll lose your life like your mother"
...!
"Grandfather, why are you talking so?"
"Your word... It was exactly the same as your mother's, before she left. Then at the next moment, I saw him return, but in a lifeless form
You're exactly like your mother, Verdea. Neither your face, your nature, nor your actions. That's what scares me the only member of my family I love is leaving again"
"... Grandpa..."
...
I probably shouldn't have listened to this
I have to leave before what I hear gets deeper in Frank's grief
"Oberonian. Comein"
!!!
He realize?
"I can hear your footsteps and your breath. So no need to be surprised"
...
He's conscious...
I slowly opened the door and showed myself in front of the two
Verdea, sitting on the edge of her bed, was surprised that I was there, while Frank did not look at me in the slightest
"How did Grandpa know he was there...?"
"That's coincidental. He didn't carefully step in before eavesdropping on the door just now"
Who would have thought that Frank first knew of my whereabouts...
"Where have you heard, Oberon?"
"Uh... Only until Verdea is exactly like her mother"
"... Is correct. She looks exactly like her mother. But, I don't want her to be like her mother"
Don't want her to be like her mother...?
...
"Strank..."
"There's no need to calm me down Oberon. I'm tired of hearing the words 'Verdea will be safe', from you guys"
...
Frank sighed
He looked very lethargic, and I who had just noticed him knew right away that he had been sleep deprived all this time
"... You have to take care of your health, really"
"But how? All these things that burdened my grandson made me so tired that I couldn't blink"
"... Sorry"
"No need to apologize. I know you're doing all these things for my granddaughter too"
...
Verdea said nothing
He may not know what to say to follow us. That's why he just shut up and looked down. He didn't want to ruin the mood until it got worse
I don't expect him to talk either. It is something that someone should do in such a situation
...
I stepped up and sat down with the two men, then asked Verdea to come a little closer. He got off his pillow and sat down with us both
Frank was still down even though I was sitting next to him. He refused to look me in the eye when we were about to speak
"You really love your grandson, don't you...?"
"... That's normal, Oberon. My granddaughter is the only family I have left. And he reminds me so much of his mother who's gone"
"It's so obvious... I wonder why I asked..."
...
"I know very well that losing someone is very painful. I lost a lot of my people in this incident. Remembering how their corpses were lying around... It can make me cry blood
That's why, I can't imagine losing someone so precious and always being by my side all this time. I don't want to lose any of them"
"Well... You just want to convince me that you can-"
"Just like you Frank, I consider Verdea valuable. I consider all my friends worth more than my own life. Whatever it is, even if I have to dirty my hands, I'm willing to do it to protect them"
"... Even if your friend is a bad person?"
"There's no way I'd want to be friends with a bad guy. I didn't say that before, did I?"
Frank sighed. But...
His face slowly smiled
"I'm so grateful my granddaughter has a friend like you"
"Ew"
I immediately pouted hearing Verdea's response. Only 1 small sentence, but it felt very piercing coupled with his folded face and his mocking smile
"Well, where do you say it from?"
"From before"
I stuck my tongue out at Verdea who folded her face like that
"You guys, you're really like kids. How old are you guys trying?"
"14"
"156.... Maybe?"
I forget. I haven't celebrated my birthday since the disaster
If it's not wrong... It is true 156 years
"How much is my own grandfather?"
"25"
...
We were both surprised. We knew it was a joke, but we weren't prepared to put it in our heads
"Aahaha! Kidding, kidding! I love your reaction!"
"Ah, you're laughing!" Verdea exclaims
Verdea's right...
He looks fresh, not like that
"Come on, I'm just following the mood. Wh why? You guys wanna joke around without me?"
"No, no. Please, please"
"That's enough, go back to the previous topic"
Well...
He wanted to joke with us...
And I'm sure my thoughts with Verdea are exactly the same now when I'm facing Frank
"I'm really happy to see kids like you guys joking with each other. Just looking at it makes me feel more cheerful"
I'm not a kid...
"That's why I'm sober now...
I don't want any kids to spend time with their friends. A time they can cherish throughout their lives"
...!
Frank...
"I'll try not to think about it. So, save Veskal from Xiang. Prove to me Oberon, if you can protect Verdea as far as you can save Veskal"
...
...
I smiled, and then nodded to respond
"I will definitely take care of them both as best as I can. I promise"
Verdea looks happy because we've got Frank's full clearance. He immediately hugged his grandfather and was reciprocated as well until they embraced each other
"I promise I'll bring Veskal home. After that, we can all joke around together again"
"Yes, yeah. Save your friend first, little whiz"
"I'm not grandpa's little boy"
"We're still kids"
"Vain's. Want me to corner?"
"Please. I guarantee you'll be slammed first"
He was attacking to threaten me who was sticking out my tongue at him
"Already, already. You guys better rest and prepare as best you can. You're leaving this week, aren't you?"
Ah, right too
"Then sleep there, boy"
"Shut up, green face"
...
Okay. Now I'm upset
His new reproach was piercing
"Tomorrow morning. 7 Hours. The forest behind. If you dare a boy"
"Challenge accepted, green face"
We shook hands, making the Frank who was among us look lethargic because of our behavior
"Have you? Can you sleep now?"
"Ready grandpa"
"Ah, I can't sleep now. I'm freezing to death"
"You're suffering once"
"Buck, shut up"
"It has. Just do my orders and sleep"
Verdea stuck out her tongue for the last time, then covered her face with a blanket
I exchanged glances with Frank, then the two of us simultaneously shook our heads and moved out
...
It looks like it's safe from Verdea. The two of us had already walked quite a distance in the hallway of this place, so he would not hear this talk
"I understand you're worried about Frank"
"... Well, that's. I'm not worried, am I?"
Thats why...
"If I have to, I swear to you. If there is a day when you hear or see Verdea gone, I will come to you, and you may cut off my head"
At least that's what I can promise you
"You are so strong-minded Oberon. I'm even more grateful that you're on that poor boy's side, accompanying him on this cruel journey"
"I followed him because I wanted to prepare him so he could be independent. Who would have thought that I should accompany her so far even though she had done so much on her own"
"... At least now, I can calmly leave her under your protection right now"
"He's my friend. So it's only natural that we should protect each other"
So too with Veskal. That's why we'll do anything to save him
We've been approved by Frank to go to Xiang. Our mental preparation is all ready. All that remains is waiting
Again and again...
I wish time could go a little faster if this kind of problem happened...
