The Book Of Flowers

Departure

--- The next morning----

So then...

Why is this guy still here? He should be prepared, right?

"Sorry interfering. I just happened to want to come here"

We are still stunned by his presence. The presence of Edwin, the black swordsman

"Edwin, you-"

"I want to train the sword-wielding prince Verdea. Is that too hard to give?"

Ah... He started again...

I thought Verdea changed her mind...

"Please go. We're busy"

"Busy fighting with each other in this small forest?"

Is that your business? This kid made fun of me last night, you know?

"Sorry Vainzel... Really we... Already tried to stall her without hurting her..." Luna said with a breath of breath and almost fell to the floor

And I shouldn't have forced them to do something like this. I thought Rosalia was coming, but I didn't expect this guy anymore

Luna and Luxor were sweating. I'm sure most of it wasn't because of fatigue, but because they held back their irritation as much as possible

"Where are the other three?"

"They replaced us doing work in the castle"

Just deserve. Why would they exchange tasks even if I had justly distributed them?

"Ehem" Edwin tried to attract attention

"Go. We have business" I threw him out for a moment

"No, until I heard the prince's answer. You have no right to answer"

Hmh! I hate it when he uses that phrase

We all looked towards Verdea. And...

He just silently looked at Edwin, as if he was analyzing the person

All of a sudden, he approached, still with a gaze full of judgment. I don't know what he was thinking about looking at Edwin like that

"Show me your sword technique"

...

Heh?

"That means you agree, young master?"

"I just want to see your technique again, that's all. Show me now"

Oh thank goodness...

I think Verdea will take it...

He looked lethargic because he had hoped too high

"Then I have to refuse"

"Why?"

"Because all I can do in this place is a tree. But you know very well what happened when I did that before"

Ordelia cursed Edwin during his stay at Thyme castle at the time, even advising me to hang him upside down next time. I'm even sure he's being aggressive to Edwin right now

Wise choice. At least you realize that I'm not the scariest creature in this castle

"Then, we'll just go in. The mood of my heart to fight is gone" Verdea said

Heh?

"Heh-? Wait-wait!"

"Then let's get into Edwin"

"HEY!! Our business is not finished!"

"ah! Not listening! Ah!!"

This kid has started to defy me...!

"alright. But you'll see!"

"See what later huh?!"

"Look at me, look at it!"

"You're not so clear!"

"Then why? Any problem!?"

We kept doing that while walking into the castle

"... Why do they want to fight?"

"I heard because Vainzel was ridiculed by Verdea. So this is the result" Luna whispered faintly, probably because she wanted to come along too

"Ah, how childish..."

Edwin just shook his head looking at us, while entering the castle

......................

"I'm curious, really"

"What's the matter, Oberon?"

"Why are you so loyal to the one who sits on the throne of Hortensia, how bad is that person?"

Edwin stopped blowing his hot tea, then put it on the table in front of us all

"There's a lot of things. Mainly because his majesty Artorius saved me from poverty and made me swear on the throne of the kingdom as a knight after the rebellion he led

I'm not sorry, really. Although I was disappointed with the person sitting on the throne all this time, I was impressed with the people around him. Including the princess and prince of Verdea"

Ah, like that...

Wait for...

"You joined the rebellion of his father Verdea? How old are you now?"

"34"

...

Heh?

Waitie?

That means he followed the war when he was 12...?

Wh-is?

This guy's a monster! Really am!

What kind of 12-year-old has been involved in the war?

And I heard that he was the one who brought victory in that war to the stronghold of Artorius. That is why he was appointed as a knight of the king's right hand after that until now

It was amazing to know his young age at the time

But unlike me who was surprised, Verdea actually looked amazed

"How did you win the war at such a young age?"

"Young age? I'm 12 years old, your age, even if I'm a little younger"

He could not determine what it was young and old...

"You knew? Not all 12-year-olds can win the war" I interrupted

"Ah, I'm lucky too. Had the noble fourth wife not helped me that day, I would have died today"

...

"Fourth wife...?"

Edwin gasped when he realized what he had just thrown in front of me and Verdea

"Oh sorry. I just remembered that she was your mother, the prince of Verdea" She said, with an awkward smile

"Keep that aside, you know about my mother?"

Verdea's face changed from awe to curiosity, in a dark and unpleasant sense at heart

...

Wait for. Don't tell me Artorius didn't tell him anything about Marianne

Couldn't it be, Artorius didn't tell Verdea anything about his mother?

Gee whiz...

"I... You could say you know enough. I was made a bodyguard for him for a few months. And you could say, she was a brilliant woman, especially after knowing she saved my life in the war"

Hm so...

Given that Artorius does have a history in the city of Calendula, it is natural that he went there because there were many wounded troops

Calendula is a city of medicine and healing. And that's where he met Marianne. His troops must have gone there because it had been pushed back by his brother's stronghold at that time

"But it is a pity that the queen's majesty knew the order of king Artorius that made me the bodyguard. I was forced to withdraw from guard duty, leaving Miss Marianne alone to hear of her dying of illness"

A disease?

"He didn't die of illness" Frank interjected

...

What does Frank mean?

...

Wait for. Forget

"We save that topic for another day. I beg you not to discuss it now" I interrupted

I don't want to ruin Frank's mood after last night. Poor him

And I know too much about this too. Better not again

But honestly, I was curious

I'd better swallow this curiosity...

"Oh right. All departure arrangements will be completed tomorrow. You're ready, aren't you?"

"Oh, so-"

...

Wait

"Huh?! Isn't it faster than it says?"

"The problem is, all these preparations have been made since we wanted to attack Miralius at that time. But because of everything that had happened, then this and that, all the preparations were in vain

That's why Mrs Rosalia gave you those preparations. We just had you wait a few days because you wanted to mentally prepare the soldiers when you're with you"

Ah... Make sense

Well, faster is better

But...

"Why did Rosalia give us that army? Wouldn't it not be nice to remember that they were originally intent on attacking Miralius?"

Even though their mentality has been prepared, I doubt they will be easily given an understanding by our side, because their initial goals are gathered. It destroyed Miralius

"Just take the exam from Mrs Rosalia. He didn't tell me the details either"

Well, I guess

There is no way the woman will hand over information carelessly, even to her trusted person

"By the way, doesn't that mean we have to be escorted to the port right now?" Verdea interrupted

...

"Quiet prince. Everything is arranged by the members of the kingdom"

Oh thank goodness. I think they forgot about that part

Imagine the preparations are done tomorrow and we are not there yet. Not ethical at all, right?

"When's the train gonna take us?"

"Wait a while la-"

"Oh?"

Ordelia reacted, glaring towards the front gate of the castle. We were all interested in why he suddenly did that

"Are those people ahead going to take us, Edwin?" Ordelia asked

That's fast. We recently sat down...

"Ah, it seems like they have arrived. We're leaving"

He looks enthusiastic to the person whose impression is stiff. Is it because he's going to be assigned to the war again?

...

Put that aside first. Verdea looks weird right now

"Why Verdea?"

"... A-I haven't... Tidy up some things I want to bring..."

...

I would guess the three things he wanted to bring were now, other than the clothes he had prepared

"Example?"

"Book"

One is right

"Switchments"

Two right

"P-My wooden sword"

Three is right

Little brat...!

He can leave those things here and nothing will change...! There's really no point in carrying all that stuff you know...?

"K-Why are you clenching your hands in such an annoyance?" He asked nervously

"Try to find out for yourself. You're smart, aren't you...?"

"Vivacious... You're insinuating..."

You realize, don't you...?

Ah, nevermind. Whatever I say too, this boy will grumble if I don't obey his will

"Then let's go"

Ordelia got up first, then grabbed my hand and took me away first

"Come" Ordelia invited once more to all our friends

I am pleased with his enthusiasm

We left the room completely, holding hands properly. Without pulling or forcing each other

All my friends who saw us were gone then looked at each other, ending their gazes all at Verdea

Verdea just shrugged her shoulders, then got up and immediately ran out following us

"Will! Ordelia! Wait for me!"

Remina was indirectly forced to follow Verdea who had run out of it

Luxor finally woke up, looked at Luna, then vaguely asked her to take her away

"Basic big baby"

"Come Luna. I hate that word"

Luxor pouted, until Ivor stroked his head while laughing

"It's okay. You're still the baby in this group, so you'll still be the one we love the most"

"Want me to hit?"

Luna just shook her head looking at the behavior of the two people. He nodded towards Lyralia and took everyone with him to go ahead and take us away

...

Frank just stayed in his chair for a moment, smiling to see all of us one by one go out

"I'm glad Verdea knows you" she muttered

Alf who was sitting next to her then patted her on the shoulder until she regained her senses. They both went out to follow us, after agreeing with each other

......................

All right, and it's done

I handed a small seed into Edwin's hands, and he accepted it with pleasure

"In that case, I got on the carriage first" He said, pointing to a horse carriage at the very back

"Yes already. Wait for us"

Verdea still had to strengthen Frank's heart first. The others were waiting with me, except Edwin

"And one more thing. Don't be reckless and follow Oberon's words"

"Yes grandpa. You're too worried"

Verdea smiled broadly to ease her grandfather's worries

He's been talking to Verdea since then, so we'll have to wait a while for Verdea to leave with us. Well, even though it's been 10 minutes

Three horse carriages were already waiting in front. Each for 2 pairs of us six are going away

I'd better put Remina near Ordelia, because she's the only one I can trust to keep Remina undisturbed. I'll be with Verdea

And I have to apologize to Luxor later for putting him with Edwin...

"My son"

Hm?

Oh, Daddy called me. He also bothered to walk here

"Yahujana? Why here?"

I crouched onto the ground to look straight into Ayahanda's eyes

"I just want to tell you, be careful"

"You sound like Frank..."

"Because I'm worried like that too"

...

He's worried about me. Well, that certainly happened

The ability to look at his future is indeed accurate, but what he can see is ambiguous if it will still happen for a long time. It's natural he's worried

Especially since the incident of Oberon's death before me, I don't doubt his concern at all. Arguably, she felt the trauma of losing Mr. Aestas before my birth

"No problem. When we get home, things are gonna be better than they ever were"

My father smiled at my words. His eyes looked a little sad, as his hands began to stretch out and stroke my head

"Be careful, son. Don't be rash"

I just gave him a nod to calm him down. That's all I can do for him right now

"Relax Ayahanda. We will not let our brother die" Luxor said

Oh, come on

"You can stop teasing me like that?"

"Did? It is true that you are like a brother to us..." Ordelia followed

They're happy to bother me...

"Yahanda. Instead of these 2 boys getting noisy, it was better for us to just get on the train"

Alf also laughed at their temptation

"alright. Again, be careful. Don't get hurt too badly"

I immediately told the two men to get on their carriage. And as I thought, Luxor grumbled because I put him with Edwin. Even if he went in without any more fuss...

Coincidentally, Verdea had already finished talking to Frank, and Remina followed him from behind

Time to go

...

Farewell to them. Those of us who had driven on the horse-drawn carriage could only wave us from the window to reply to the call of a good-bye from those in the castle

But I'm satisfied. I don't intend to look out the window anymore. All I have to do now is wait for us to get to Goeitias safely

I've contacted Cyrus to secure the forest area where we're meeting with the Black Hunt and Orion's forces later. They should have reached Miralius by now and rested for a while

But yeah... I'm sure they're around the Forest Gate and camping there. The Elves would not like the human presence inside Miralius

"Well, once again you're lost in your thoughts"

"Ah, Verdea"

She seemed to realize my face had changed expression while pensively just now

He chuckled looking at my nervous face from getting caught

"How about we go over all those plans again?"

"No problem. Also, you should remember important details in case there is a battle. ALWAYS position yourself near me"

"But, I want to try to combine my powers with others..."

"Very..."

"I know, I know. It's serious so I can't mess around..."

I know you want to experiment. But we must guarantee the success of this mission. Our target is their king, but one country will be our enemy because of it. You have to be very serious and strong enough to be able to handle such an opponent, especially if their kingdom is very big

Maybe I'll get you to practice fighting with a giant later after we save Veskal. The giants will be happy too, although I'm sure they will really intend to kill us when the combat training takes place...

"So no?"

"OK, okay. Don't be impatient like that..."

I was just pensive for a moment

This plan should go well. Must

Veskal is waiting for us. May God always protect her