The Book Of Flowers
Warmth
-- The Night of the Day --
"Verdea! Go to your bed, now!"
"Do I have to listen to you?"
"You have an important meeting tomorrow! Oberon won't be happy to see your eye bags if you don't go to bed early!"
...
Verdea was silent without answering any more, again busy sipping her tea and enjoying the night sky
Remina who had been completely ignored was resigned, glancing at an Elf official and a grandfather
"Mr Frank, Mrs Lyralia... Help me...!"
He had resignedly taken care of the child who was not much older than him but stubborn
However, Lyralia immediately threw away her face because she did not want to waste energy
Meanwhile, Frank seems to want to help, but does not know what to do...
...
"Son" Frank called Remina
"Yes, sir Frank?"
"Go to your room. Let me spend some time with my granddaughter. I guarantee he'll be asleep soon"
Immediately Remina heaved a sigh of relief hearing Frank's words. Then he turned back to Verdea and said, "Don't trouble your grandfather! Remember that he is old!", before he went out, he took Lyralia too
Making sure the two of them were gone, Frank took the initiative to sit next to Verdea
On the terrace, he could see how beautiful the spring night sky was, along with his grandson
"... The flower festival will be held in 3 days"
Verdea nodded slowly, before putting down her teacup
"... It's mom's favorite day" she said quietly, continuing to look up at the night sky
Frank raised his head in shock, when he heard Verdea
...
"That day was his birthday. I still remember it as if it had happened recently..."
When the sky shows darkness, the stars come there to witness a day. A day when a girl is born and brought into this world
A pain-filled shout, a life-suffering woman, an overwhelmed nurse, and a man who can only surrender to fate
They are close to each other, to bring a new life to this world
Then, a loud voice like a bell sounded. Over a pair of hands, a tiny baby cried as hard as he could, when he saw the light for the first time
Happiness appeared on the man's face, as he hugged the boy as tightly as he could
But his eyes were fixed on the woman lying limp. Lying down, like a rock on the side of the road
He barely moved. His face was completely pale, as he asked the man to come closer to his face, along with the tiny baby
He tried to speak, but not a word came out of his mouth
And one last word from him was something heartbreaking...
'Sorry'
...
His wife, who closed her eyes for the last time, was shaded by the tears of grief of the man, and his newborn child. It was cold, but beautiful
The stars shone there, as if welcoming the tiny baby, but fetching the woman away...
Looking up at that purplish sky, which was sprinkled with sparkling star powder, she cried
When the flowers began to bloom, spring had already arrived, the feeling in his heart still remained cold and frozen, upon the departure of someone he loved for the rest of his life
Then, his eyes fell on a flower in front of a window. A flower that is always watered every day, and slowly begins to bloom again
The man raised his son, and whispered into the little ear
'Your name is Marianne. Marianne Gold's. Because this flower is my mother's favorite, and so you'll always remember her'
...
...
"It's just a flower, but it reminds me of her..."
He then looked towards the garden, finding a healthy growing collection of Marigolds, located in the garden next to this castle
A collection of flowers that are very mismatched among the Hortensia flowers of various colors
He slowly got up from his seat, to take a closer look at the flower from above the terrace
A collection of beautiful flowers, but has a very deep meaning
"You know what the Marigold flower means?" Frank asked slowly
"... No" Verdea answered briefly
...
Time is finite, and love is full of sorrow..."
A deep meaning, behind a beautiful name. A dark meaning, behind a bright color
The name of a woman, who has only 'limited time' in a golden cage and lives in a love filled with grief
Marianne Gold, or the one closest to her called, Marigold. A woman who left a prince, due to the cruelty of the throne game in the country
"... I should have never given her a name that came close to that flower" Frank muttered, in a regretful tone
His head slowly bowed, while Verdea could only sit behind him with pity-eyed
...
He never felt the love of his mother. Maybe ever
But she could never remember it, even though she was very curious to know what it was like to have a mother
In the end, it can only be a dream. Because his mother had only one. A person who is described as being affectionate and warm, yet leaves so quickly
"... I don't even know why I grow that flower every year, even after his death-"
...
An attempt... In vain
That's how Frank feels, and Verdea knows it. Remembering, it will only hurt...
"... But forgetting is so much more painful than remembering" Verdea said
"... You may be right. Maybe that's why--- Grandpa always plants Marigold flowers, every time his birthday comes-so that grandpa never forget-with-His" Frank replies
The old man slowly turned his body around, staring at his downcast grandson
"Then you will be king... I know it has to, but when will this world give my family peace-!!"
...
"... Maybe never will. But, at least we are still lucky to be able to live to give warmth to many people"
Then the warmth will spread like an iron. That way, everyone will not forget the image of a person, judging from what he has spread to the world
Verdea still believes that humans need warmth for those who seek it. Because it's...
That's the reason why he can be friends with me and Veskal. On the day when he gets warmth from two friends who always help him wherever and whenever
Indirectly, the warmth spread to others
Luna, Ordelia, Ivor, Luxor, Lyralia, Zaphir, Remina, Cyth, Claudia, Fyon, Collin, everyone in the Black Hunt, and just about every fairy she knows. The warmth that he got, spread to everyone until later it will spread even further
Will it be able to cover the whole world? No
But at least many people can be saved by giving that warmth
And now...
He sat there, gaining the strength to do just that
He believed that he could save a lot of people by spreading warmth, and that was why he was so grateful to be able to continue living until now
"... Looks like I'm gonna have to sleep. The night was still long" He muttered to himself, leaving his seat and the teacup empty
Frank looked back, looking at his granddaughter who had started to climb into the bed to sleep
...
"Verdea"
"... Yea?"
"You're really sure everyone deserves some warmth?"
...
Verdea smiled at the question
"The question is not whether it is appropriate for all. But is it up to everyone?"
His right hand began to stretch upwards, so that his eyes could clearly see the image of his seal
"I just believe that I will save many people, which I can achieve. And that's it"
Had he not been able to reach that side of the world with his warmth...
He wanted at least me and Veskal to reach the other side. And that's it
"Good night, grandpa. Hopefully you can always be healthy and watch the golden period that pays off"
Frank sighed tired of Verdea's words
"... But I will always see my granddaughter. Do not increase the number of Marigold flowers that must be cutaneous"
Verdea simply closed her eyes in response to Frank
And to end the night, he fell asleep in a dream that he had always entered lately
'Regulus. Welcome back'
Verdea slowly smiled in her sleep, responding to the voice that was in her dream
