The Book Of Flowers
The Prince and the Guards
-- Rose Castle, Hortensia City --
Verdea sat down leaning against me who was sitting next to her. He looked lethargic from earlier and whatever I did did did not comfort him at all
I understand why he is so. We were also brought here to the palace area. But inevitably, we still end up here
The black haired man was also very rude to me. It was as if he had tied my hand forcefully and separated Verdea from me
Verdea was clearly struggling not to get away from me, but instead they carried her forcibly and threw me into a captive carriage. Verdea even had to insist that I not be separated from him, and this is where we ended up
Also, the person seemed to be close to the king, but that did not give him the right to commit such violence. The treatment of that person alone had already made a bad picture of the palace residents in my mind
I want to run away with Verdea. I'm sure he wants the same thing. But I'm not sure he won't get hurt if we do
The soldiers guarding us also said that some of the royal family would meet us in person. So Verdea and I were forced to wait in a meeting room with a lot of people watching us
We just sat quietly, waiting for the royal families to come
Out of boredom, my eyes then headed all over the room we were in right now
For the meeting room, this place is huge. Teak wood tables are covered in thick paint and beautifully carved, stretched long in the middle of the room. Its very long size almost meets the length of this room
High ceilings, decorated by very large and shiny chandeliers. Coupled with the sunlight that hit him and made a blinding reflection
Bookshelves filled with books for entertainment neatly lined up at two ends of the room. I suspect the books were used for entertainment while waiting here, but it doesn't seem to be very used considering this room is just one of the other meeting rooms
But this place is quite diligently cleaned even though the effect is not too often used
My eyes kept going to and fro looking at what was around, as Verdea continued to lean on me and remained silent without opening her mouth
Suddenly a soldier uncovers the veil of my cloak. Out of shock, I reflexively slammed him against the table while putting my hood back on. The table certainly cracked a bit as a result of my actions, and the slamming sound the soldier made did not help the fact that I slammed it hard
All the soldiers who saw me were shocked and tried to remove my right hand grip from the soldier by threatening to use their weapons. But I still tighten my grip because my reflexes signal danger somehow
"A- oh, duh! Your highness-A-! It's arrived!"
Oho!
I spontaneously removed my grasp from the soldier and helped him get up. Just because I heard the word 'noble' coming out of his mouth
"M-sorry..."
"Sad. You bastard"
The soldier stepped into the corner of the room while continuing to give a wry look to me
I've apologized, haven't I...?
It was also his fault for exposing my veil without permission
A voice opened the door of the room and then sounded. Verdea and I stood side by side, facing the door
A thick blond man neatly combed in blue clothes that seemed majestic entered the room
He was followed by a woman and a few servants. The woman entered in an elegant manner in a dark red dress that matched perfectly with her blonde hair when I saw her
From their appearance, I could immediately catch that they were the king and the queen
"May the Hortensia blossom with you!" Excite all the soldiers there when the king and queen intend to sit down
Verdea and I sat down again when the king signaled. We were sitting close to them so it made me feel that using a formal room like this was not necessary at all
"May the Hortensia blossom with you" I gave her a greeting
"thank you. I hope we don't get here too long" Artorius replied, plus a smile
I actually want to complain that we've waited 3 hours without doing anything other than being watched closely here, but let it go. Primarily...
Seeing the king's expression on this cracked table, I'd better keep my mouth shut and follow the line...
"It's okay, your majesty. We're-"
"You're slow"
...
Veri...
This kid talks like he controls his entire family. I smiled awkwardly at the boy who was staring intently at his father, as if he wanted to pounce at the person before him
"Prince, I beg you..." I interrupted to lighten the mood
"Call my name why try?" He was protesting
Of course you can't! You want my head beheaded for what disrespect?
"It feels... You've been getting disrespectful since we last met. It makes me a little sad..." Artorius said
Verdea who heard his father's words suddenly looked furious
"We last met 6 months ago, father. I don't need that useless word of yours"
T-wait a minute
The atmosphere became heavy and cold. The king and Verdea looked very upset. The queen did not speak at all, but when I looked at her face, she was cursing Verdea inwardly
What the fuck is this family trying??
"Newly meet again and this is how you treat me?"
The king was starting to be unhappy. His calm and cold tone alone suddenly sounded up a little
The queen then interrupted between the two of them
"Just ignore that noble one, and get to the point. The boy did not know himself like his mother" the queen said
I hope I didn't have to hear that sentence just now...
"DON'T TALK ABOUT MY MOM!"
And I hope Verdea didn't respond to that sentence just now... But yes already
Verdea even suddenly hit the table in front of us. He looked annoyed and his body trembled like he could cry at any moment. His eyes were fixed on the queen, where she also returned Verdea's gaze. They really want to kill each other
Alright. It's out of control very quickly
"Don't raise your voice at me!" The queen replied
"Your Majesty, please calm down" I tried to mediate but it didn't seem to work
"You stay out of our trouble. This kid's been disrespectful since childhood, what if it's big?"
And now he's angry with me...
"Celeste, already"
The queen calmed herself down after the king spoke. I just kept quiet and directed Verdea to sit back down. But his gaze continued to nailed towards the queen without even blinking an inch
"All right"
The king then turned his eyes towards me
"I heard from my right handman Edwin that you were found with the prince who had escaped from the palace"
"What does the noble black-haired man whose behavior is rude mean?"
The king nodded slowly in agreement, although he was a little hesitant about what I was talking about
Edwin, huh... I'll tag that person for later
"What he said has a point. Unfortunately, Prince Verdea did not run away, but was abducted by someone" I explained
The king was stunned as he rubbed his chin. He then asked me to explain all the events in detail
I said exactly what he wanted to hear. Starting from where I found her to the face of the man who kidnapped her. It just so happened that when I lifted the two men, their veils came down and showed their faces
I then told him about what happened after that. When we were chased all over the village by criminals and how we could be dragged here
As long as I told him all that, the king only showed a surprised face. While the queen and Verdea seemed not to care at all while looking the other way
"As it happens" I end my story with that sentence
King Artorius remained silent. But, then he let out a sigh of relief
His gaze became soft and a faint little smile was seen on his lips. But it wasn't long before he did, and he refocused on me with a cold look
"I'm grateful to you. I'm sorry I didn't know your name, so now I want to know you"
"Ah, my name is Vainzel"
Finally, the atmosphere is normal...
"Once again I thank you, sir Vainzel. I'll remember your services"
I feel relieved. It seems like my head will be nothing this time
But the king of Hortensia was not at all in accordance with what these royal people told him
Artorius, the 8th King of the kingdom whose territory covers the entire continent of Flos is known as a firm and unforgiving king. He is said to have often beheaded someone he deemed unworthy of life
There was one time someone stole bread to eat for not having any money. That person he cut off his hand without thinking twice. Or so the order I heard from the conversation in the surrounding village
He was also known to be cold and very cautious. I actually thought that he would not believe my words because of his nature. But he just immediately believed it without investigating further
I thought he was a terrible and mysterious person, but when talking directly to him today...
...
I just look at him like an ordinary guy who looks tired, for some reason
"It's okay, your honor"
"I'll give you a present, Sir Vainzel. And you can get in and out of this city without formal permission"
"..."
"I hope we can meet again in the future"
I was silent while smiling. But my smile felt heavy as if I was sticking a foreign object to my face so there was discomfort
I'm gonna go. Go leave Verdea, the first person who really wants to be my friend while I'm traveling
But on the bright side I can get in and out of this city freely, right? I can visit him often, right? Aren't you?
...
"Wait first! I haven't said anything daritadi"
Verdea stood up instantly and looked Artorius straight in the eye. I was shocked to see him suddenly standing next to me
Artorius and the queen, Celeste, immediately showed their concern for Verdea
"I want to go with him"
...
I immediately stood up and hit the table in front of me loudly while saying
"No! I refuse!" I also gave a reply
"HUH!? Why are you refusing to try?" Verdea protest
"Because I can't guarantee your safety!"
"Don't underestimate me! I can take care of myself even if you are!"
"Oh, you mean like when you were helpless that night!?"
Verdea and I clashed with each other and made the atmosphere of the room become chaotic. Artorius was visibly disturbed, as was the queen. The king then stood up to mediate this fight
"Calm down!"
We both kept fighting to ignore him. He then looked annoyed and clasped our heads together
"Can you relax?"
Her cold tone and gaze made me and Verdea feel frightened. The two of us then sat down slowly like frightened rabbits
He wasn't trying to scare us, but I realized I was overdoing it and chose to give up
"I will not let you go to dangerous places" Artorius said
"I don't care"
"Please listen to your majesty, prince Verdea" I interjected
"I don't care anyway! I have to go with you!"
He was acting like a child who was being annoyed right now while whining incoherently incessantly...
I no longer knew how to take care of such an annoying creature and just sat down while covering my ears from the whining noises
"Then I have a proposal"
The two of us who were still holding his head turned towards Artorius. But from his gaze that led to me, I already felt a suggestion that I did not want to hear but could not about
"I can make you Verdea's bodyguard"
......................
What happened to me...?
Why did I end up like this...?
Why should the king propose this...?
I sat down weakly while sticking my face to the table. We are still in the same room with the same people in the same position
This time, we waited in this room to make me sign a letter of agreement that would be sent here in a moment
I turned my face around at the table and looked at Verdea. He was busy reading a book in his seat
But, a satisfied smile was implied on his face. The smile of a million colors was like the moment he got the most incredible gift in this world
The opposite of Verdea, I was worried and anxious. There's a reason why I feel that way
When I sign the treaty, I will automatically be involved with the affairs of this kingdom. Engaging in royal affairs is not at all pleasant based on what I have experienced all my life
Then what about my kingdom, the Elf kingdom try...? What would they say if they heard that I became the bodyguard of a prince from a foreign kingdom...?
Being involved with the affairs of the Elf kingdom alone was already infuriating for me, let alone the affairs of the human kingdom...
I probably won't hold it...
"Why is lethargic so try?"
Verdea closed her book and looked at me with her bulging cheeks
"Thinking of a shitty thing..."
"You should feel pleased and honored to have been raised by me directly"
"Please say that if you're already king"
"I, who am not yet king, can be your master"
He crossed his hands across his chest while smiling arrogantly
This brat...
"Why? Don't want to be with me...?" A question he suddenly asked
A question that jolted me and stunned me for a moment, so that he got my full attention
"Not so"
"So you want to take it!?"
"......"
I wanted to say no. But...
I'd obviously lied if I said I didn't want to or could refuse...
"Either... Being my fellow adventure subordinate might be exciting too"
He looked over with very bright eyes. His face that looked so happy to the top it made me laugh and stroked his head
Artorius who noticed us from there even smiled looking at it without us noticing
*Tok!*
"Excuse me, your majesty, I have brought you what your majesty wants"
The waiter came in and then handed me the official documents to sign
I looked carefully at the letter. The oath desired to make this covenant is that I may always be faithful to a lord and to the king to the end of their lives
So this is to be signed by all the private soldiers of the Hortensia kingdom hm...? This is a written oath that is usually handed over to a royal guard
I'm just making sure all these things are just so I can find a safe way out when needed
I, as an Elf when I swear, will make the oath absolute and binding. And when I made sure the agreement in the letter was safe for me, I crossed out a piece of paper with my signature
"Well! Your autograph is ugly!" Verdea Chirps
And so, I ended the day by being escorted directly to Thyme Castle, the castle of Verdea
I find it a little strange that a child as small as him was given a private castle by Artorius. I asked him why he did it knowing this brat like Verdea couldn't take care of the castle without his supervision
But I was very disappointed with the answer I found
We made a long journey from Rose castle to Thyme— castle where Verdea lived and his private castle. Thyme Castle is apparently the farthest castle and is located at the corner of the castle compared to other castles in the palace area
This castle looks very old. Almost all the walls are broken. Its size alone was not comparable to the size of the Rose castle I saw earlier. In fact, this castle looks like a Villa rather than a castle
There were so many dead plants in his yard, it made my eyes and heart ache. They die not just left unattended. These poor plants must have suffered greatly at the hands of those who ignored them...
When we entered the castle, there were several maids who were busy walking in the hallways. They don't even care about Verdea's presence or mine
They see us sometimes, judge us. But it was only temporary and also, they used a gaze that signified they did not care about us
What the fuck is this place? I never even imagined a place like this was real
My question as to why Artorius gave this castle to Verdea, turns into how can he let his son in this unworthy place
Unworthy homes in distant places, sights and ambiance that do not refresh the eye at all, and unreliable people employed here
I can't possibly allow this. I can't possibly let this cruel thing go on any longer
L'm... Got to do something. Besides, it's also for my master and my friend, Verdea
As her bodyguard and her friend, I will make sure at least this place is suitable for her to live in
The next three days I went through by paying attention to the circumstances around this castle
and plan some things
And when the time was right and my plan was all ready, I immediately launched it with the approval of Verdea
