The Book Of Flowers

Artorius's Regret

- - - - Rose Castle

"So so. They're moving"

"Yes. I've confirmed it"

"good job. Now rest"

"Thank you for your kindness, princess. May flowers always bloom with you"

The man stepped out from in front of Rosalia. By the time she was far enough away from Damien's study, Rosalia immediately glanced at a corner of the room in the shadows

Damien who was daryitadi sitting frozen in his chair was instantly sweating coldly as a black-robed figure emerged from within the shadow

"R- Rosalia. B- Can't call... That guy is now i-this?"

"Oh?! Your Majesty Damien is afraid of me?"

"Already Jael. Take my seat"

Yael, who was trying to seduce Damien, moves to Rosalia's side and sits on the same chair as her

Artorius, who was standing near Damien, could only put on an agitated face to see how his family members interacted with each other

"You heard, didn't you?"

"Yes. But, I wonder why you didn't stop them from going to Xiang"

Rosalia smiled, while sipping her still warm tea slowly

"I want to hear from my brother first. Why do you think I didn't stop Verdea and Oberon from going to Xiang to save Veskal?"

"A-I... I-"

"Answer. No need to strain"

Although they did not intend to be aggressive, Damien still trembled as if he was being held by a knife in his face

"... Apparently there's no answer..."

"Look at him shaking like a dog that just got beaten~"

"Your makeup is so sad, Jael"

"But it's true, isn't it? I wonder why this cowardly man could be a king who should be gallant"

Rosalia could not deny the truth of the words

"He's just my mask. I can destroy it at any time, but I prefer to carry out all my plans by not relying too much on your strength alone"

"Wah~ My lord be nice to me~!"

"Shall I have tea for you?"

"Can!"

Damien was still sitting still, frozen. I don't know why he is. He was a king, but somehow he was submissive to a man who had no high position in the public eye

'Why', was the question ringing in his head. Being a king was his target all along. But when he was already sitting on the throne, he became a puppet in the hands of his own sister

He wanted to do something, but I don't know what he could do when that guy was always around Rosalia

The black witch Yael, who has nowhere to come from. He's always following Rosalia, wherever it is

Artorius continued to observe all that, but his head and heart ached when he saw it

"... Present it to your brother as well, I beg you" Artorius said, looking at the still stiff Damien

"Can. I'm feeling really good today, so I'll do it"

Rosalia handed over Yael's cup first, then started making one for her brother

"Happy?" Artorius asked

Something he rarely heard from Rosalia. According to him, the words 'happy' and 'Rosalia' had never fused at all during this time

"Yes, I'm happy. Walter's dead, Veskal's been lured, and my two enemies walked straight into the trap I set"

"Traps?"

"Rubber, right. A trap for both of my enemies. And I'm not just talking about Verdea and Vainzel"

...

"No way..."

Rosalia doesn't need to explain anymore. Artorius already knew the meaning of the word

"How can you regard noble Shen as your enemy? You're allies, aren't you?" Artorius asked in surprise

"I don't have to explain. You're smart, aren't you? So, use that head of yours"

...

But...

"Then, what does that have to do with your friend Walter's death? Why are you happy with his death?"

...

Rosalia wanted to laugh again, but she just put her cup on the table

"Friends? That's the funniest phrase I've ever heard from anyone

I never had any friends. Just a co-worker"

"You're kidding..."

"Of course not, Dad. I never joke, not like my stupid brother"

Damien who had just been insinuated was not at all wrinkled. He was completely submissive under Rosalia's words, even to the point of raising his head did not dare

"Oh my lord, I also heard from one of the Vampire squad members that Collin is currently in Xiang. They held her there because she was caught as a stranger traveling around the Xiang area" Yael said

But, compared to being happy to have found her sister, Rosalia only let out a long sigh

"Why should he try to be captured by Shen? I have to get my subordinates to work a little harder..." He complained then, sipping his tea

Rosalia thought about what she should do about it

"Tell Darwin to come there at night. We just make him as a mediator between our camp and them, by sending him to protect Xiang. I want to get rid of that useless Vampire next"

Artorius and Damien gasped at Rosalia's response. What they had just heard was so absurd that they had to process the truth

"Wait, you'll kill Darwin using Xiang too? Not creative once~" Yael commented

"The most important thing is how effective this plan can be. If Darwin and Walter were killed, we wouldn't have any rebels to worry about. Practical right?"

Rosalia chuckled, hearing Yael, whose tone resembled that of a child

"You should already know that the person is completely unexpected and serious when doing something. We have to play like that too

After all, we might be able to get a thing or two about the power they still hide~" He added

Yael nodded in understanding while smiling cynically

"You are right, my lord. They'll think we're losing, but we're winning in more than one thing~"

Their beaming faces appeared as they discussed the details of Rosalia's plan again

...

The thought of his son made Artorius creep. The emotions he was feeling right now to his son...

Frightened...

How could he smile like that after saying such an inhumane thing? He knew that Darwin was a monster, but getting rid of the fellow who had helped him was wrong from any point of view

Artorius didn't even know that his son was human or not

"Why...? Why are you doing that to another human being...?" Artorius interrupted the conversation between the two of them, so Rosalia was forced to turn around after sighing

"You talking to yourself or something?" Rosalia retaliated

Artorius is flinched

The words that had just been turned towards him made him feel shocked, as he did not expect it at all

"... Rosalia I beg you. Stop this madness. For your own sake, don't hurt yourself"

...

"This is the eleventh time I've heard you say that. I'm tired of hearing it"

"But you must hear my warning! Oberon won't forgive you if you keep going!"

"Keep doing something right?"

...

"Something is true...?"

What is true of his actions?

"The value of what I do is different as everyone sees it. But, I see it as a good act, and that's all I'll say for now

I know very well that you were spying on me for Oberon, right when you were sent here by him"

...

Artorius already knew full well that his intentions were exposed from the beginning, along with Rosalia. Right now, he was more worried about what Rosalia meant by that good thing

"... You-you can't be serious. Something good?"

"... Why are you shaking too now, Dad?"

"Because what you said makes no sense at all"

"Oh. You mean just because I exterminated a portion of the humans in Vitario with Blood Sabbath, then created a new system of government using brother as a puppet, then dragged innocent Elves into this matter, and then..."

"Enough Rosalia"

His casual attitude when explaining all the crimes he committed made Artorius creeps. Thinking that Rosalia was the daughter she loved...

"... How quaint. I think my crime is nothing like what I did before"

"... Don't talk about it now"

...

Artorius who looked submissive began to make Rosalia smile broadly at him

"If that's your favorite story, Dad! You like mystery stories the most, especially when at that time, somehow a 5-year-old boy poisoned your beloved wife to her"

"Rossalia!!"

Artorius shouted so loudly that Damien just raised his head in shock

"A-Haw..." Damien quivered in fear

"... Why angry, hm? Aren't you glad to accuse me of eliminating Marianne all this time?"

Noticing his impromptu reaction, Artorius instantly trembled. A spontaneous reaction he elicits because of a memory he does not want to recall

"... I-I didn't say that. I-"

...

"-- I wanted to apologize all this time. I was furious that day when I found out that the cup of tea that you served him contained poison and-"

But...

He could not continue speaking anymore after his eyes were glued to Rosalia

Artorius looked up and saw Rosalia raise one of her hands to stop the useless words. His left hand held the top of his nose because he looked dizzy, making Artorius increasingly lose hope because he realized his son would no longer listen to him

It's late...

"Save your apology. You were late saying it for a dozen years since you had the chance" Rosalia said, furious

A dozen years Rosalia suffered an accusation. The case was closed tightly thanks to Yuriel who saved her grandson, arguing that Marianne died of the disease, because it just so happened that the poison used to make symptoms to someone so they look sick with fever

But he still suffers. Nothing could replace that pain in his heart after Marianne. Artorius knew that well

"My son"

"Since when have you considered me a child, father?"

He can't answer. There was nothing more he could say to convince Rosalia and change her goal

All he could do was accept the fact that he had been left far away by his son Rosalia

"My tea is over. May add?" Yael interrupted selflessly, while thrusting his tea glass towards Rosalia

"Make yourself. Basic greedy"

"Heh~? Come on my lord~"

The fact that he's closer to something... Malicious... Compared to his own family...

Artorius was only sorry to see all that. But, there was nothing else he could do to change and retract his son

He had already drowned too far in the pit of misery. Everything he did was a form of his revenge on the world