The Book Of Flowers

Best Of The Best

-- The next day, Lavender House --

"Uh...?"

"Let me explain"

Yes, you should explain

I don't know why you've been here before us, William Lantana

I also asked all my friends to find another room first, while I, Verdea and Veskal settled in the reception room together with William Lantana

"A maid here said that there were guests, but who would have thought the Duke of the neighboring area would come to us" Verdea said

From his face alone it appears that he is very unhappy with the presence of William Lantana here. Even the interlocutor alone understood his mood without the need to think long

"I got your letter, prince. So, all of you to check out some of the state of my store in this city, I also hurry to carry out your request"

"More similar commands, but there's no harm either"

"Is this really how you talk to people, prince?"

"Only to those whom I dislike"

"Looked, but you're becoming exactly like your mother. It's just, Miss Marianne Hortensia never showed it to me"

And you are proud that only one of the millions of people in the world does not hate you...

I say one of the millions because I'm sure not even one of these royal citizens likes it except Artorius and Marianne

Also...

"Finally you know how to properly call my late mother" Verdea said

Yeah, I was just about to discuss that

William Lantana smiled happily, then began to arrange his sitting position

"How about we discuss all the things while playing cards?" He then offered

A complete card deck he took out from behind the suit he was wearing, to the amazement of us

This is not the time to play

Tch, whatever. He also said he would talk about it while playing

No need to discuss my card skills. I suck, and that's why I hate card games

"What game are we gonna play, Duke?" Veskal asked William

"Only a regular card game. I hope you don't mind my offer, Mr. Veskal" William replied

"Uh... I just mind you calling me master..."

William laughed a little before continuing to shuffle his cards. "I'm sorry" he also said

"I don't have a problem either. Just learn to play cards" Verdea interjected

"Forget about it. You've got something more important to do" I'm following

Verdea did not refuse and just put on a riled face to me

William began to distribute the card and divided equally to 4 people. For me, Verdea, Veskal, and himself

He placed an undivided deck of cards on the side of the table, before raising his back-to-face cards

We also did the same with him, trying to figure out the weaknesses of each of our decks

Ooh~ I've never played too many cards, but this deck looks good. There are 3 cards of equal value in this deck and 2 others as well although smaller in number

"So, I heard that there will be someone to replace your seat here while you work as an ambassador?" William began to ask

Hm... Started the question, huh...?

He has also started playing by laying down the cards he has. The card that is worth the least in the rules of this card game

So, the turn of this card game was from him, Veskal, Verdea, and lastly I followed the clockwise direction

"That's what I wrote. Just like my brother Rosalia, I also definitely need someone to fill my seat temporarily" Verdea said, as Vescal lowered his card to fight William's card

"And I'll choose my grandfather. I'm sure he's got enough expertise for it" Verdea said again, this time lowering his cards

"I have to admit that your choice is pretty good. Mr. Frank was one of the smartest men I've ever known, because he knew exactly how to organize and hide our troops in the mutiny" William praised

"That's new news for me. Perhaps also, since grandfather never told him anything about the rebellion" Verdea retorted with doubt

Well... I understand the reason

I lowered one of my cards so it didn't take long for William to take his

"Your brother also has a good view of someone. The person who replaced him was very competent, although he ended up dying recently from being attacked by monsters" William explained

"May he rest in peace..." I said

Ah, and about that too...

"I think the monster activity in Hortensia has been significantly suppressed? How could a noble be killed by them?" I asked

"That's because the news is just superstition. Although monsters have no sense, it does not mean they do not have intelligence in determining their hiding place"

So, the news about the suppression of monster activity was only done to minimize the unrest of the citizens huh...?

Wow Rosalie... One of your confidant nobles died by yourself...

"Rosalia Hortensia usually plants a large number of mercenaries to exterminate monsters in my Duchy area and this County, due to the large number of shopping malls and other economic resources of the country. So you could say, this area is one of the areas that are very safe" William explained again

"But it still means that he makes fake news that endangers unwary laypeople. I'm even sure that your Duchy has monster attack problems too" I said

William just smiled, confirming my guess

I realized that it was my turn to drop a card immediately. But William once again immediately lowered the other card

"Out of the discussion, coincidentally in the reception room of these two residences, the captain of the highest ship Hortensia was waiting. You'll probably need a boat to sail, so Rosalia has prepared everything" William said later

"We do not need a ship" Verdea replied

"Then what do you need?"

He then pointed at me with his thumb, and said, "My friend has a much better and faster transportation"

"Toh, the captain of the ship was also completely unfriendly to us" Veskal said, recalling what happened after the mission in Xiang

William was stunned for a moment, before smiling and nodding

"alright. I'll make an official newspaper to Rosalia" William relented without a debate

He began the next round by allowing Verdea to open as the first round winner, until Verdea responded by lowering the lowest card

"Talking about my temporary place, I hope you don't fight with my grandfather. He doesn't like you at all or the other people he's been involved with in the past"

Verdea's right. Even Frank shows a displeased face to Edwin, even though all the man does is smile

He was always wary and passive-aggressive to the nobles of the Hortensia kingdom and the other involved parties. Even so, he is the only person who is the most suitable among us now in replacing Verdea

I immediately pulled out the card with the greatest value until I closed the round with my victory. It certainly caught the attention of everyone, especially William

Incidentally, I have 2 things to say to him

Two questions I need to know the answer to

"Do you know who the real culprits are who launched Blood Sabbath?"

Willian flinched, inviting vigilance from the three of us. He knows something and we know it

...

"... Rosalia Hortensia" She replied slowly

...

"I expected it"

One thing I realized from Rosalia at the banquet on the day of Verdea's office was that she looked at William arguing with Verdea with a watchful face

I'm not sure if he faked that expression or not, but his face really illustrates that he's not happy with William. Not just in general

If I remember, Rosalia only showed that face when she was feeling alert. Just like when she put everyone to sleep at her debutants' party, before slandering us all for the crimes she committed

The position when he covered his face was not using a fan, but using his hands...

Then this guy...

"You must have known for a long time..." I said again, half angry

William quietly did not answer, without a smile and looks dead lowered his head in his seat

His silence was a positive answer for me

"Then, secondly, I want to ask you about your personal opinion

I don't care if you're talking sweetly or honestly in a sharp way, so give your opinion without a doubt"

He raised his head, while facing his interlocutor in the room, which was me

One question. I wonder if you are a friend, or an opponent...

"Do you think Verdea deserves to sit on the throne?"

The question left the room silent. Even Verdea and Veskal were stunned silent, looking at me anxiously

While I'm still waiting for William's answer. She must have understood that I was testing her, so I wanted to see her no doubt answer

Only one word came out of his mouth. A single word would suffice to describe what his plans were in the future by stating this answer

"... Yeah"

Short and simple answer. Nothing to go on after that

The person sitting in front of me wasn't as complicated as I thought. He is just a simple person and thinks about the present, hesitant to move forward because of mistakes that occur

He was worried about choosing, so he had to have someone to do it with. People who can control and rule well

"Are you really just going to leave your fate in our hands?" I asked for the last time

William raised his hand as if to ask me to pause, but he continued the conversation without a long time by saying, "I don't care, Oberon. I'm tired of challenging fire only to burn again after"

So anyway...

He even handed a nice metaphor before me

"Then our victory is decided"

I lowered the entire contents of my deck of cards, showing a series of 5 cards intertwined

Everyone gasped, because the series of 5 cards was the most powerful combination that can be had in this card game. The combination that immediately closed that game with my victory

They also realized that the cards they had absolutely could not beat what I had thrust into the table

Verdea just sighed, before throwing the entire contents of his deck containing 5 cards with a good combination but lower than mine, and also 3 cards that are of the greatest value

Then William smiled, showing that his card deck had a random combination and could not be related to each other, forcing him to play one card every round since

And lastly, Veskal just resigned, showing that he had 2 combinations consisting of each of 3 cards that are close to the highest value. He could not play that card since then because he did not have the largest number of cards to take over the round

Hmm~

I seem to be lucky enough, right?

"Then I'll ask you back, Oberon..."

I smiled in response to William, allowing him to continue that sentence

And happily, she responded to my smile back, starting to say

"Are you sure what you have right now is the best to beat Rosalia?"

That's a good question

The answer is also clear...

"I only have the best of the best"

That's why I feel lucky. Victory is totally on our side