The Book Of Flowers

Stay Longer

"So... We have to go back on foot again?"

Cyth immediately put on a limp face. His face clearly showed that he did not want to face the giant monsters anymore

So, he refused. However, he had to still brave himself because if he continued to be so, he would definitely not be able to return later

"I want us to stay here longer, Vain. I want this guy to teach me his shooting tricks first, all take a break from the journey" Luna said as she pointed at Cyth

"Just come we're hard, let alone go home later... Give us 1 week, Vain" Luxor said

Luna and Luxor also refused to go home

"There's an elf named Zaphir that I challenged to practice combat yesterday. I want to fight him before we go home"

Veskal Refuse? And I hope he's lucky enough to hold out against Luna's father for more than 10 seconds

Why would he try to challenge the strongest moon Elf?

Ivor and Lyralia just shook their heads. That means they also still want to stay here first

"I'm going to cook something. I miss cooking" Ivor said as he got out of his seat

Wait up! Why did he leave?

Ordelia then held my shoulder. I responded by moving his hand to my right cheek

"I want you to stay with your parents longer" he said

"And I want to surround this place first" Verdea added as she swung her legs

I immediately stroked his head that was sitting on my lap. The three of us then laughed a little with each other

"alright. We're not going back now" I said

Some of my friends immediately cheered happily at my decision. The others simply smiled as they patted their hands slowly

"But I'll only add 3 days. Only 3 days. Remember?" I said while pointing my 3 fingers at them

They all cheered in agreement

And with that, our meeting ended

Everyone is busy with each other again

Luna invites Cyth to a shooting practice and is approved by Cyth with a thumbs up

Veskal was busy eating almost all the fruit sweets my mother served while talking to Luxor

Lyralia moved out of her place and looked for Ivor in my kitchen

"Our house is crowded, yes..." My mother said

I just sighed with a small smile on my face

"... Speaking of Vain. When are you getting married to Ordelia?" Ask my mom

Everyone was silent. I, as well as Ordelia was shocked and started acting differently

"Don't talk about it now, mother..." I said softly with a face that blushed in shame

Ordelia instantly threw away her blushing face while glancing at me once in a while

Oh my...

"Ah yes! You've been engaged for 50 years" Luxor said

Luxor....!

"50 years!? They're that old!?" Veskal and Cyth cried, almost simultaneously

"They're over 150 years old. Ordelia was 2 years younger" Luxor said

Veskal and Cyth were instantly dumbfounded

"Then why did you get engaged for 50 years try!? Not too long, is it?" Veskal added

Verdea then glanced at my face and Ordelia who was getting flushed

"M- M-"

"M'S?"

"My mentality isn't ready to know!" I said

"I'm ready, but I don't want to force it!" Ordelia added

"And that's the story of lovers who will never get married on the grounds, 'Mental' those who are not ready" Luna said in a tone like a narrator

"50 years, and mentally they are never ready" Cyth said with a cold laugh

Following Cyth, everyone there laughed, except for Ordelia and I who appeared with faces flushed with embarrassment

Ah... I want to beat them one by one...

My mother chuckled watching and listening to the conversation that changed the topic to my marriage and Ordelia's

He said 'Ups' in his heart while patting my shoulder

"Eat him, get married immediately" My mother said in a soft tone

"Mother....!" I was complaining

Verdea immediately laughed at my mother when she saw my behavior

"Yes already. I'll go around alone later" I said while throwing my face away from Verdea

"Heeeh...! Not fair!" Verdea Protests

"I think it's worth it because you've been laughing at me"

My tongue poked at him, making his pouting face appear

I smiled a little at that face. His head was slowly caked and I lifted him from my lap

"You want to go for a walk now?" I asked

Verdea's face immediately looked delighted. He nodded steadily then held my hand, ready to leave

"We are also coming" Ordelia said, with Veskal following her from behind

"alright. Come"

We went out and began our journey around Miralius

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

"Sir Oberon. Welcome back"

"Sir. Welcome to"

"Welcome back, my lord"

The greetings were thrown the further we walked

The Fae and Elves swarmed over us and tried to give me their gifts

I could not refuse their gifts at all. I accepted everything and asked Veskal to help me carry it

On the other hand, Ordelia and Verdea were approached to be invited to play by the Fae. They flitted around them and sowed their Mana which made Verdea barely drift out of control

Fortunately I caught him. He'll probably fly all the way to the sun....

Ordelia herself was already proficient in using the Mana of the fairies to fly. Although it did not have wings, anyone could fly easily as long as the Mana was attached to their bodies

Flying with the Fae's our game since childhood

He flew there and led Verdea to learn how to fly. The Fae also helped him learn to fly by balancing Verdea's body in the right position

"You want to fly Veskal?" I asked

Veskal shook his head while trying to balance all the gifts he brought

He even barely slipped and looked distracted as we walked through the bushes

"Why are the streets in this place so hard to get through?" He asked in a annoyed tone

"Because this place is Elf Forest, Veskal. Not a city of men" I replied

Veskal continued to grumble as we followed Ordelia and Verdea who continued to fly here and there

"Yes!!!"

Verdea waved her hand at me. And what surprised me was that he was able to fly without help

I waved my hand back at him

He then focused on flying back and leaving us. Ordelia alone seemed overwhelmed chasing him here and there

His laughter echoed throughout the forest followed by the clattering of Fae's wings

"... How can I fly like that try?" Ask Veskal

His face looked curious and wanted to try it

I smiled a little, then stopped and put all the presents in my hands

I asked an elf to come closer and guard our goods for a while. And not just the elves. I also asked the Fae to come closer and sprinkle their Mana onto us

"T-wait! I didn't say I was-"

"Unfortunately your face says you want to" I cut off his words

He said he didn't want to, but his face showed he really wanted to

...

He might still think that he just had to do something he was told to do

His face immediately flushed red as his intention was discovered by me. Slowly his legs started to float off the ground and he lost control as he felt his floating body

The tendrils in my hand began to lengthen. The tendrils are softened in some parts of his body so that he knows how to balance it while flying

His face still looks confused. Every now and then he would even lose his balance, then his body would be overturned in the air

"Hm... Have you ever swam?" I asked

"certain"

"Then let's just say flying is like swimming"

"... Then, how do I move my body forward?"

I shook my head

"Leave to think. If you want to move forward, think ahead"

"Easy then?"

I nodded to respond

"Who shall I take off?"

"... All right, I'll try"

"Remember. Don't fly too high and make sure there's at least a Fae by your side"

He nodded

Alright. He's ready

Slowly I took my hand off her body. Not long after, his body began to float

Breathing sounds from him. Slowly but surely, he moved forward

"good. Now, try moving up slowly"

He followed according to what I said. When his body was already at a higher place than the trees, his smiling face was instantly visible, illuminated by the sunlight that struck his face

The Fae instantly flew around him while dancing to signify a delighted expression

I laughed and approached him

"Let's go after them"

"... Don't be so fast, huh?"

"Eh..."

My right eye flickered towards the Fae who were following me

Before long, I darted straight towards Verdea and Ordelia, opposite to what Veskal wanted

"HEY!" Veskal yelled

I who was already far away from him only laughed a little when I saw him flying slowly

"Hey! I'm coming!" I said to Ordelia

Ordelia who saw me instantly looked like she was panicking playfully. He then took Verdea flying away from me

"We're playing chases?" Ask Ordelia from a distance

"Haha! Can do!" I retaliated

"Woah...! Go Ordelia! Faster!" Verdea exclaimed, followed by the sound of her laughter

Tracing the forest, mountains and more, I chased Ordelia and Verdea throughout Miralius

When we passed through some certain elven settlements, we did not forget to greet them as they passed by quickly

There are some mythical creatures that we pass by, and they sometimes throw something as a gift for us

Every now and then, I almost caught them, but I failed because of Ordelia's agile movements. Verdea would then stick her tongue out at me and continue her pursuit

Veskal was also eventually able to fly quickly. However, he sometimes hit the bushes and trees, causing them to fall to the ground

We laughed at her while helping her wake up. After that, he would laugh even if his clothes were dirty filled with leaves and snow

We then lay down on a large snowfield enjoying the cold breeze after our game

I was so happy then. But what made me happiest at that moment was hearing the laughter of all those who echoed all over the place

I can't describe my happiness right now

I was happy when I saw Ordelia dare to do something with so many people. She who was originally embarrassed and only showed me her cheerful side, started to open herself up to these two children

I was happy when I saw Veskal who was not afraid to have fun with us. He had already begun to realize that his position was not only as a servant, but also as a close friend of ours

And also, I was glad to hear Verdea's loudest laughter among the laughter she had ever let out. A laugh I can't forget every time I see her happy face. A pure and pleasant laughter from my heart

L'm...

I don't want my happiness to be lost

I just don't want to go back to Hortensia Palace. Given that the place hardly ever made Verdea happy like this, I thought of keeping her in Miralius

But I promised the king to be true to his words, as long as they did not compel

Huh...

I want to break that promise...

I want to stay longer than the 3 days I said...