The Book Of Flowers
Regretting
--- Meanwhile, the Forest Gate----
...
...
"Cool..."
"Yes...? I'm still here..."
...
He can't move anymore huh...?
Even his eyes were starting to close now...
How much longer will you have to suffer, our guard for hundreds of years...?
"Your job is done, Seren. You don't have to worry about the future of the Elves anymore..."
I sound bad, but what else? I don't want him to force himself into this endless pain...
Even my friends understand me. None of us Elves wanted to see him suffer like this
"Don't be cruel, Oberon"
That familiar voice made me raise my head and turn from Seren. At the corner of the Forest Gate entrance, came out a figure that turned out to be Leshy
I immediately removed my nearly dripping tears, then greeted Leshy with a smile as he walked slowly with the Forest Spirits following him
"You came back sooner than we thought. You always come and go from Goeitias so quickly that we wonder if it really is you" He said again, before saluting me
"Evil. Though I was also working hard so that the Elves could live better" I replied
Leshy just laughed a little before I took it upon myself to raise his head back
"Tibor would be proud of you, really. He always wanted to do things your way, but that heinous war forced all of us to act ruthless"
Well... After all, Oberon Tibor was violent from the very beginning. Although the story about him also said that he was very happy to make jokes to lighten the atmosphere
Rather than doing something like my way, he probably wanted all the Elves to be able to continue laughing with him. While I only want what is best for the Elves even though they hate me and show me clearly about it
"Have you got your next goal, Oberon?" Leshy asked
"Hmmm... That's"
My goal is only one, but I need hundreds of goals to form a bridge to reach it
"Ah, you should all go in and finish everything you need" I said to the others
Luna nodded, and immediately led everyone to come with her into Miralius. They did not even forget to ask Seren for permission before entering after making Seren smile a little
Meanwhile, Veskal remained silent on the spot, along with Natasha. He's still waiting for my decision on whether Natasha can come in or not
And my answer has not changed
"No. My answer is no" I reaffirm
Veskal was clucking, while Natasha was just grumbling slowly
Natasha suddenly took out something from under her cloak, then handed it to me
It was just a piece of paper shaped like a hustle
WAIT UP!!
This paper is shaped and moves like a bird! What does this mean??
"Relax, this is just a little light magic from someone who wants to talk to you" Natasha said
Oh, that sentence explains why the paper looks alive
If so...
When I handed my hand to the paper bird, he immediately reached out to her and began to show signs that he was ready to make a sound
"This person must be a medium-level light mage to be able to chant a 'Mirage Letter'"
But, if he wanted to talk to me through that magic, why would he have to hand it over to Natasha?
I began to give the paper bird an order to talk, so Leshy and Veskal became curious about the contents of the message
And starting from the first sentence of that message alone, I was already taken aback
I was surprised by the voice of the ship that I knew well enough. So does Veskal who knows the man
'Oberon, how are you?'
...
That voice...
That's Darius Hortensia...
'I know you are surprised to hear my voice, but know one thing: I do not intend to seek trouble with you. Quite the contrary'
I almost answered the message, but then remembered that 'Mirage Letter' was recording magic with light elements
'... I want to work with you. If you ask me why, I don't know either. But I get the idea that I should be working with you when I came to Verdea's tea party yesterday with the other nobles' children'
That hasn't happened long ago. The point is the event where Verdea becomes upset with the young boy from the Grandier family
'... And just calm down. My mother or any other member of the Hortensia family didn't know I was planning this. Only Collin knows and intends to take it seriously'
"It's surprising..." Veskal commented before I told him to shut up immediately
'I know how to deal with Rosalia, and I know very well that my useless father is your spy. But I'm gonna unpack one little thing
Artorius my father didn't tell you all the things he saw. He spun every sentence of his, and he omitted the most important part'
...!
'You have to stop believing in my father. He has betrayed you and told Rosalia that you made him a spy'
Bastard-!!
Artorius!!!
"Vainzel, hold"
...
'... You may not believe it, but really. I will also hand over the recording stone of that which I put in this bird. And when the message is over, this bird will tear itself apart and will leave behind only that little rock'
Alright
'Regarding the cooperation, there are 2 more people who will also work with me and Collin. They are Duke Lantana and captain Flock. That's why I handed this bird over to both of them so that it could get to you without any excessive suspicion'
...
'I will also steal the seeds of communication you gave to my father. He will realize that someone has stolen it for a long time, so you should contact me before sunset when you arrive at Villa Lavender. I must have managed to steal that little seed the day I suggested
Collin and I wish you a lot, Oberon. So, please answer me Oberon. We were both desperate and couldn't count on our mothers anymore
See you at the end of time. I swear on my family's behalf that I'll help you
Because it's... I'm not a hypocritical coward like my father'
The message ended there, marked by the paper bird that began to act aggressively
And as he said, the paper bird tore itself apart until a shining recording stone fell into my hand
Without taking a long time, I immediately checked the contents. And once again, Darius was right
The recording stone shows Artorius and Rosalia talking to each other, as the rest of the Hortensia family sits a short distance away from them while enjoying tea
'Why do you admit that you are Oberon's spy, father?'
'...'
'It's okay if you don't answer'
'My family...'
'...'
'... I want my family not to get hurt again
I don't want to... You're hurt again, Rosalia. Marianne's enough'
'Your word is dad's free, even though I'm glad you're honest'
'That's why I beg you to stop! We can fix-!'
*SNAKE!!*
...
Unfinished the recording stone shows the contents, I've crushed the thing into pieces. Veskal and Natasha were even surprised, while Leshy looked cold sweat either out of anger or nervousness
...
I can't believe what I'm hearing...
The man I've given you trust can...
...
Huh... I am so angry right now...
I really want to strangle that guy right now...
"V-Vaine...!" Veskal tried to wake me up
I must have made a face that made them tremble in fear while in Xiang prison that time
But I can't be arrested right now...
"Let me alone son"
...
"Go around with Natasha and leave me here with Leshy"
...
With no sound at all, Natasha immediately held back Veskal's hand and shook her head. He also slowly pulled Veskal to leave, until the resigned Veskal was only obedient
While Leshy is still with me with Seren still lying down. Even the Gnomes who had been escorting us were feeling expelled and immediately entered into Miralius
"Oberonian... Why...?" Seren asked me
...
...
...
"Only a small matter should I clear up immediately"
My head's spinning. Not only because I could not take the information well, but also tried to think about what I should do in the future
I will make Artorius regret his betrayal. But I'd be happier if I played him first
...
I will not grant her request at all. And it won't be able to
Rosalia is not only a delay, but she also refuses to change. Artorius should have understood that from the beginning
But the fucking hypocrite was just thinking about what he thought was okay...
The game is too dangerous to go back to the starting point. There are only 2 ways to get out of it
Win, or die
Of course none of us want to die. None of us just want to give up
That weak man should be slapped for once in a while. How dare he throw us into the fire
I wonder how her kids have mental steel while she-!!
AGRGHH!!!
As my frustration peaked, I hit the ground where I was standing until it shattered and made a big hole
The forest spirits were certainly immediately frightened and hid in Leshy's body which let out a tired breath
"Oberonian. You need to stop that anger right now huh" He warned me
But I just kept quiet and didn't answer. Even when she saw my upset face she immediately took a step back
Leshy knew that if he tried to take another step forward, I would beat him up to soar into the air without any distress at all
I might hold back when I wake up, but he's not sure if I'm going to do it when I'm angry like this. He knew very well the limits of my strength, and did not dare to challenge him because he would definitely lose
He just hung his head nervously
"Our king..." He muttered, before examining myself from behind once more. "... I think you're starting to be a good leader. But who would have thought that you would be better than our expectations huh" He said later
He lowered his head a little more, before walking and sitting near Seren, waiting for the moment when I would calm down so he could start a light conversation
"You've seen it, haven't you...?" He asked Seren
"Enough... For me to tell... To Aestas..."
Seren tried to laugh in satisfaction, but was soon made to cough due to his extremely weak body condition
"He won't... Disappointing to the Elves...
Aestas... Tibors... Another king... They could... Relax..."
...
"What about you, my niece...?"
"Huhahah's... I would never... Called you uncle..."
"I know that. But your father thinks of me as his own brother huh"
...
"I'll calm down..."
...
"I'll be able to... Meet with dad... And my king again..."
"You really distinguish the name for him and Aestas huh...?"
"They stick... Equivalent to me..."
...
"Want to sleep...?"
"Yes... I'm tired..."
"... Give my regards to Fafnir, will you...? If only that place existed for monsters like us"
"If any... Then I must have... Will do..."
"... Then sigil it..."
"You can... Retrieving it... Don't let... That witch... Can move..."
"I understand ya"
...
"I... Already no... Afraid of again... Deaths..."
...
...
...
Two hours have just passed. Seren already looked helpless at all, and I still did not move
Therefore, I also did not pay attention to the last sentence he uttered...
"Aestasu... My king..."
...
His breath began to weaken...
"... Thank ye... I'm already welcoming you... For the second time.....
Haah.........."
Waiting for that since then, Leshy also watched for himself the last blow came out of Seren's mouth
One last gust that immediately extinguished the wind around them, until it became not felt at all
And after she watched the surroundings, Leshy once again stared at Seren's face. The face was cold, but still showed a satisfied smile
A very warm smile, so Leshy had hesitated and refused that he was gone
...
"I'm sorry..."
Then for the first time she shed tears after a long time
He can't remember when. Might as well... When Tibor was not in front of him...
But Leshy was crying out of power. He couldn't contain it anymore, especially seeing that what he was supposed to protect was now no longer in the world
"My regret is really just one yes..." He said slowly. "I could never protect anyone. Fifth brother and my king..."
His chin he placed on Seren's head slowly as the tears continued to descend silently. The last hug from him also made Seren feel that he had been delivered properly
He left, once again flying into the air. But he was free
He doesn't have to come back
And I'm aware of that too
