Side Story 6
If you’re wondering how things got to this point, well, that’s life. Or, to be more precise, a series of misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and lack of communication.
This is what happened to Lucius that day:
Lucius, on his way to the flower shop, as usual, spotted a ribbon store. It was a shop he often glanced at, its high-quality ribbon crafts catching his eye, but today, there was another reason.
“That’s…”
That annoying pink hair, visible even from outside the shop. It was Llewellyn.
Llewellyn’s purpose was obvious. He was choosing a gift for Elonia. He might treat everyone else like insects, but he doted on his younger cousin. Lucius, seeing Llewellyn frozen in place, his face contorted in a mask of indecision, thought,
‘…I should avoid him. It’ll be troublesome if we run into each other.’
Hoping for Llewellyn to leave first would be wishful thinking. He was avoiding him not out of fear, but out of annoyance. Just as Lucius turned to leave,
“…?”
He saw a woman with red hair approach Llewellyn through the shop window.
He recognized her. Garnethia, Elonia’s chief assistant.
‘…Why are they together?’
As far as he remembered, they weren’t close. Were they both choosing a gift for Elonia?
‘That’s possible.’
They might have just run into each other.
But as they say, humans are often tested by the god of timing in unexpected situations. Lucius witnessed an unbelievable sight.
Llewellyn was holding a green ribbon against Garnethia’s hair, examining it closely.
“…!”
Lucius, stunned, covered his mouth with his hand.
‘Am I hallucinating from exhaustion?’
It was possible.
Elonia had been worried about his health, his constant volunteering at the temple despite their upcoming engagement. He should have listened to her.
His mind, seeking escape from reality, might be playing tricks on him, but his body, acting on its own, had already led him to the ribbon shop window, where he crouched, peering inside. And reality, in its cruel and unusual way, proved that he was perfectly healthy.
“Ugh.”
Llewellyn, holding the green ribbon against Garnethia’s hair, smiled gently.
Llewellyn wasn’t capable of gentleness. Lucius, witnessing his future brother-in-law’s disgusting display of affection, felt a wave of nausea wash over him. Just as he stood up, stumbling slightly,
He accidentally knocked over a display of vegetables outside a nearby shop, falling down along with the vegetables. The shopkeeper, rushing out, his face filled with anger, then stopped short, seeing Lucius sprawled among the scattered vegetables, his expression softening into one of concern.
“Young Master, are you alright?”
He looked like a noble, and his face was pale and drawn, as if he was about to collapse. Lucius, realizing he had caused a scene, quickly stood up and bowed his head.
“I-I apologize. I ruined your merchandise.”
“N-no, but your complexion…”
“I’ll compensate you. Will this be enough?”
“No, your health is more important than the money!”
“If it’s not enough, please contact the Luneus Dukal Estate.”
“Huh?”
The shopkeeper was stunned. The man who had just destroyed his vegetable stand was Young Master Luneus? Lucius, ignoring his shock, afraid the commotion might reach the ribbon shop, quickly fled the scene, like a guilty criminal.
He ran until he reached the city gates, where his carriage was waiting. The coachman, seeing him, rushed over, his eyes wide with alarm.
“Young Master! What happened to you?!”
“Gasp, gasp… I…”
“Are you hurt?”
Lucius, catching his breath, shook his head. He quickly regained his composure and said,
“I’m fine. …Ah.”
He stopped mid-sentence, about to board the carriage, and let out a soft groan. The coachman, flustered, asked,
“You are hurt! I’ll take you to a physician immediately!”
“N-no.”
Lucius shook his head. The reason he had stopped was simple.
“…I forgot to buy flowers.”
“…”
Was that his priority? The coachman’s expression spoke volumes.
Now, let’s see what happened from Llewellyn and Garnethia’s perspective.
Llewellyn, enjoying his vacation, went to the city to find a gift for Elonia. He stopped in front of a ribbon shop.
“Hmm, a ribbon shop…”
He pondered the options. Elonia didn’t usually wear hair accessories, not even during sparring. He was always worried she would accidentally cut her beautiful hair.
‘Elonia’s hair is precious.’
He decided to buy her some pretty ribbons. She would be so touched that she would call him “Brother” without him even asking. Llewellyn, despite being twenty-five, still hadn’t given up on being called “Brother.”
Ding-a-ling.
The bell above the door chimed as he entered.
“Welcome, sir. Are you looking for something in particular?”
“I’ll just browse for now.”
“Yes, please take your time. Let me know if you need any assistance.”
The clerk bowed politely, though inwardly, she was slightly apprehensive. He looked like a high-ranking noble, despite his rather casual and somewhat arrogant demeanor.
And there was another high-ranking noble already in the shop. She hoped there wouldn’t be any trouble. Just then,
“What? No purple ribbons? No pink ones either? What’s going on?”
The clerk felt slightly wronged. Their handmade ribbon crafts were limited in quantity, but she had never neglected her inventory management.
But it was true. They were out of stock. She bowed her head apologetically.
“I-I’m very sorry, sir, but those colors are currently sold out.”
“What? Sold out? Are you kidding me?”
The clerk wanted to cry.
Having two high-ranking nobles in the shop at the same time was always a recipe for disaster. They usually bought everything in their preferred colors, leaving nothing for the next customer.
“I sincerely apologize, sir. But they just sold out…”
Just then,
“Young Master Llewellyn?”
A woman, peeking out from behind a shelf, then, recognizing the source of the commotion, rushed towards him. Llewellyn’s eyes widened as he saw the familiar red hair and calm demeanor.
“Garnethia? What are you doing here at this hour?”
It was Garnethia. Llewellyn was surprised to see her here, when she should be working. Garnethia, glancing nervously around the shop, despite there being only three people present, smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.
“H-hehe… What about you, Young Master? Are you here to buy a gift for Her Highness?”
“Yes! I came all the way here, and they’re sold out of purple and pink ribbons!”
Llewellyn, fortunately easily distracted, turned his anger towards the clerk. Garnethia, looking apologetically at the clerk, stammered,
“Ah, w-well, about that…”
“?”
Llewellyn raised an eyebrow, and Garnethia and the clerk exchanged glances. Garnethia sighed and revealed the gift box she was holding.
“I just bought them all…”
“What?”
“I thought they would all look good on Her Highness… Hehe.”
Her smile was a mixture of apology and excitement.
Llewellyn, annoyed, redirected his anger towards Garnethia.
“What?! Why today, of all days?! Sell them to me! I need to buy a gift for Elonia too!”
“N-no! They’re for Her Highness!”
“What? How dare you! I’m Elonia’s older brother! Give them to me!”
“I-I’m her friend and subordinate!”
“I’m her older brother and senior at the academy! So sell them to me!”
“N-no!”
The clerk, watching their childish bickering, was speechless. Having two high-ranking nobles in the shop was always troublesome, but she had never witnessed such a petty argument.
And yet, these two adults, well past twenty, were fighting like children over a pile of ribbons.
“No, they’re for Her Highness! Find a different color!”
“No! Those colors suit Elonia best!”
“…Excuse me.”
“What?!”
The clerk, unable to bear it any longer, interjected, and Llewellyn roared at her. The clerk, no longer intimidated, simply smiled wearily and suggested,
“If Her Highness looks good in purple and pink, then she’ll also look good in light green or light yellow. Would you like to see them?”
“…”
“Or we have white as well. Shall I show you?”
Llewellyn’s expression was still filled with displeasure. Garnethia, not wanting to give up her ribbons, quickly supported the clerk’s suggestion.
“Y-yes! Her Highness must be tired of always wearing purple and pink! Try a different color!”
Llewellyn’s ears perked up. Elonia, being royalty and having purple eyes, always received purple gifts. And pink was a popular choice for those who found her adorable.
“And Her Highness is an adult now. She might want to move on from pink, even if she has to wear purple.”
“And if you’re the first to treat her like an adult, she’ll be eternally grateful! …Probably.”
The “probably” was barely audible, but Llewellyn’s ears, flapping eagerly, caught it, and his judgment, clouded by the thought of pleasing Elonia, wavered.
“…Should I?”
Phew. Both Garnethia and the clerk sighed in relief. Llewellyn, his earlier annoyance forgotten, his face beaming with anticipation, turned to the clerk and commanded,
“You, you seemed confident earlier. Show me what you’ve got.”
“Y-yes! For example, this one…”
Llewellyn followed the clerk, and Garnethia, clutching the gift box tightly, finally relaxed.
‘He’s so easily distracted.’
Just as she was about to sneak away, something caught her eye.
A green ribbon.
Not too bright, not too dark, a perfect match for her red hair. She pondered the question.
‘Should I buy one for myself?’
It would be a good idea, since she was already here.
‘It’s the same design as Elonia’s. Hehe.’
Matching friendship ribbons. Just as she smiled and was about to call out to the clerk,
“How tacky. That color doesn’t suit Elonia.”
“Eek!”
Llewellyn had returned. Garnethia, startled, quickly said,
“I-it’s for me!”
“Ah, it’s for you?”
Then it was fine. Llewellyn, with a shrug, then picked up the ribbon, held it against Garnethia’s hair, and suddenly grinned.
Garnethia had a bad feeling, and sadly, it was confirmed.
“Then I’ll buy this.”
Llewellyn, holding the green ribbon like a trophy, smirked. Garnethia was flustered.
“W-why?”
“Why? Because you stole my ribbons.”
Garnethia was speechless. Stole? They weren’t his to begin with, and she had paid for them!
She tried to snatch the ribbon from him, but he wouldn’t let go.
“G-give it back! Now!”
“No! Then give me your ribbons!”
“Y-you…!”
Damn it, he was still at it. Garnethia’s anger reached its boiling point, and she was about to unleash a torrent of curses when,
A commotion erupted outside. The clerk, as if eager to escape the escalating tension, quickly volunteered,
“I’ll go check what’s happening.”
Llewellyn and Garnethia continued their bickering even after the clerk left, and Garnethia finally managed to retrieve the green ribbon after giving up one of her purple ribbons.
The green ribbon now adorned Garnethia’s braided hair, its delicate sheen a stark contrast to her fiery red locks.
The room, which had been filled with the noise of their bickering just moments ago, was now eerily silent, all misunderstandings cleared.
The past two weeks, for these four, could be summarized as follows:
“We messed up.”
Elonia’s voice, flat and resigned, broke the silence.