Side Story 4
“Well, well, if it isn’t Lucius.”
Llewellyn, seeing Lucius standing there with a bouquet of flowers, frowned, ready to pick a fight. Lucius also greeted him reluctantly.
“Ah, yes… Y-Young Master.”
He almost called him “brat.” Lucius had been subjected to Llewellyn’s relentless teasing ever since their engagement was announced a year ago. It was natural for him to frown.
Llewellyn, fortunately, didn’t hear the almost-insult and, looking at the flowers in Lucius’s hand, chuckled.
“How tacky. Hyacinths?”
Dejected.
“Elonia sees flowers every day. Why bring her more flowers? How unoriginal.”
Even more dejected.
Harbeth, the owner of the flower shop, his shoulders slumping, looked like he was about to cry. Lucius, flustered, quickly tried to comfort him.
“No, Mr. Harbeth, your flowers are beautiful.”
“Ah, no, I wasn’t criticizing your flowers, Young Master.”
“Mr. Harbeth recommended the hyacinths.”
“…”
Llewellyn quickly covered his mouth. Even he, the disrespectful twenty-five-year-old, wouldn’t insult an elderly person, especially not at their place of business. He awkwardly bowed his head.
“S-sorry… They’re beautiful.”
Harbeth, somewhat mollified by their apologies, straightened up. Llewellyn, after wishing him a prosperous business, moved away and resumed his teasing.
“So, you have nothing better to do? Wandering around at this hour?”
“You as well, Young Master…”
Lucius stopped mid-sentence, and Llewellyn, curious about his unfinished words, demanded,
“Me, what?”
“…N-nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“Are you heading to the Imperial Palace? Let’s not go together. It would be unpleasant for both of us.”
“W-wait, why is he running away?”
Lucius, ignoring Llewellyn’s protests, quickly walked away. Llewellyn, left alone, was stunned.
“What was that about? Is he getting cocky now that he’s about to get married?”
Llewellyn scoffed, muttering to himself. Just then, he spotted Ricardo and Garnethia, who were trying to hide behind a lamppost.
“Whoa! You scared me!”
He looked at them, puzzled.
“What are you doing there?”
Garnethia and Ricardo, no longer needing to hide with Lucius gone, emerged from their hiding spot, waving awkwardly.
“Well, if it isn’t our esteemed diplomat. Leaving work early today?”
“What’s ‘leaving work early’?”
“It means finishing work early.”
“…”
Where did they even learn such strange phrases? Even Llewellyn, who was close to Ricardo, was momentarily speechless. He then asked,
“What are you two doing here? Dressed like that?”
“Ah, well…”
Garnethia glanced at the direction Lucius had gone.
He must be heading to the Imperial Palace. There was no point in following him anymore. They moved to a more private area, and Garnethia explained everything.
“Is that bastard cheating on Elonia?”
“Y-Young Master, your voice!”
Garnethia, relieved they were inside the carriage now, clutched her chest. Llewellyn, covering his mouth belatedly, slumped in his seat and grumbled,
“That ungrateful bastard…”
“But Young Master Lucius isn’t the type, is he? There must be another reason.”
Ricardo, wanting to go home, subtly hinted at the truth. But he was met with vehement denials.
“You never know!”
“Exactly! You never know!”
They were in perfect sync. Ricardo, looking at them with amusement, like an uncle watching his nieces and nephews, asked,
“Garnethia, are you going to continue following him?”
“Yes! I failed today, but I’ll catch him tomorrow!”
“Good. Then let’s meet here again tomorrow.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
Ricardo casually asked. It seemed like a trivial question, but it was an important one.
Garnethia might have been granted special permission by Elonia, but Llewellyn wasn’t Elonia’s subordinate. He was the Chief Diplomatic Envoy. He had graduated from Gaia Academy’s Department of Political Economics and even completed a teaching course, but his current profession had nothing to do with his academic background. He needed the Emperor’s approval for a vacation. Llewellyn shrugged.
“I’ve been on vacation since yesterday.”
“What?”
“Why?”
Both Garnethia and Ricardo were surprised. Elonia’s birthday, coming-of-age ceremony, and engagement ceremony were just a month away. And the Heilan delegation was also arriving. The Imperial Palace, and naturally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would be busy. How could he possibly get a vacation now?
Llewellyn, his hands clasped behind his head, replied nonchalantly,
“I finished all my work for the next month.”
“…Is that even possible?”
“I made it possible. It’s Elonia’s birthday next month. I can’t attend looking like a mess, can I? You have to start preparing at least a month in advance for important events.”
…Come to think of it, Llewellyn’s skin did look unusually radiant. This was bordering on obsession. Both Garnethia and Ricardo exchanged glances. Even Elonia wasn’t this meticulous.
“Anyway, let’s meet here again tomorrow.”
…Regardless, Lucius was acting suspiciously. And so, the Lucius Surveillance Committee was formed.
Meanwhile, Lucius thought,
‘He’s wandering around the city again…’
Didn’t that man have a job? He was the epitome of a tax thief.
No, there was something more pressing on his mind.
He glanced at the bouquet of flowers he had carefully placed beside him.
‘Should I tell Her Highness…?’
It would be better to tell her, wouldn’t it? He hesitated, then shook his head.
‘No, I shouldn’t. It’s not good news.’
And Elonia must be disappointed in him for running away yesterday. He wanted to see her, to hear her out, to apologize properly, with flowers in hand, his heart calmer now.
He hurried towards the Imperial Palace.
Elonia, who should have been enjoying a pleasant evening after a delicious meal with her family, waiting for Lucius’s arrival, was in a foul mood.
“Garnethia, where is he?”
Garnethia and Ricardo had disappeared without a word. It seemed like something unavoidable had come up, but they could have at least contacted her. Unless they had forgotten how to use magic. Elonia, tired of waiting, slumped onto the sofa, her body melting into the cushions like a slime.
“Ugh…”
“Your Highness, you’ll ruin your posture.”
Sarah, of course, stopped her. Lucius was late, and Elonia, feeling sleepy, was about to yawn when, knock, knock, a knock came from the door.
“Your Highness, Young Master Luneus is here.”
“…!”
Elonia jumped up, her earlier fatigue forgotten, and flung the door open, a bright smile on her face.
“Lucius, you’re here!”
“Your Highness, good evening.”
Lucius, dressed impeccably as always, presented her with a bouquet of flowers. Elonia took the flowers and smiled.
“Hyacinths?”
“Yes, do you like them?”
Elonia beamed, her eyes sparkling like a child’s. His cheeks flushed slightly at her reaction. Elonia, admiring the flowers, murmured,
“And pink ones as well? You always bring purple ones.”
Did he? Lucius touched the back of his neck awkwardly. But purple always reminded him of Elonia.
“You must be tired. Come in. Sarah, prepare some tea, please.”
“Yes, Your Highness. And a vase.”
“Okay.”
While Sarah went to retrieve the tea and vase, Elonia and Lucius sat down on the sofa. Elonia, still holding the flowers, admired each blossom.
“Where do you find such beautiful flowers?”
“There’s a shop with a talented florist.”
Lucius paused, remembering Llewellyn’s words earlier, and asked cautiously,
“Your Highness, do you… dislike receiving flowers?”
“Me? Why?”
Elonia blinked, surprised.
“Who wouldn’t like receiving beautiful things?”
“W-well, Your Highness has access to rarer and more exotic flowers in the palace garden… I was just wondering…”
Elonia was taken aback by his unexpected reason. The Imperial Palace was filled with rare and exotic flowers. Just as she was wondering how to reassure him,
“What are you talking about? Her Highness loves the flowers you bring.”
“Ah, Lady Sarah.”
“Tell me the name of the shop later.”
Sarah, bringing the tea, made the request casually. Sarah’s taste was impeccable. Lucius felt a surge of pride.
“Of course. And thank you for the tea.”
“You’re welcome. Your Highness, here’s the vase.”
“Thank you, Sarah.”
Sarah placed the vase, filled with fresh water, on the table, then excused herself.
“Call me if you need anything else.”
They were finally alone. Elonia, reluctant to put the flowers in the vase just yet, buried her face in the bouquet and murmured, the words she had been too embarrassed to say earlier,
“I like the flowers you bring, just like Sarah said.”
“…!”
“And even though the palace is filled with flowers, it’s different when they’re from someone I like.”
Lucius’s ears and cheeks turned bright red. Elonia chuckled.
‘He’s definitely not cheating on me.’
Garnethia worried too much. She would have to tell her tomorrow that it was a misunderstanding, to discard the investigation report.
‘Hmm, the flowers smell nice.’
Elonia, her feet tapping happily, enjoyed the fragrant scent of flowers and tea filling the room. It was a pleasant evening.