My expression immediately twists into visible disgust.
Cassien suddenly lifts one hand and gently covers my eyes just enough to block my expression from the child's view.
Cassien calmly keeps his hand there while smiling peacefully toward the child.
"My only devotion belongs to the Church."
Then he gently lowers his hand slightly before continuing.
"This young lady is Lady Velora Rosetherone, the daughter of the Rosethorne family."
The mother immediately becomes flustered and bows repeatedly.
"I apologize for my child."
Then they quickly leave.
I suddenly hear Cassien quietly giggling beside me.
"Pfft."
'Now I'm even more annoyed.'
I immediately glare at Cassien.
"Oh, my apologies, Lady Velora."
"It is simply rare for me to see a noble unable to hide their emotions so openly."
"You may end up being labeled a demon later on with that kind of expression."
I let out a scoff.
"Heh."
"Now then, Lady Velora."
"I shall continue showing you around."
—Few minutes later—
I quietly walk beside Cassien while holding a small paper bag filled with pastries from people giving it to him as we pass by.
Apparently, the High Priest was surprisingly familiar with nearly every shop within the city circle.
"This bakery sells the best lemon cakes."
"This café serves the best tea."
"…Why do you know so much?"
"Well, people reveal many things during confession."
Cassien suddenly notices something.
"Oh?"
"That bookstore over there sells children's books."
"You must be interested in those."
"You are treating me like a child."
Then suddenly, I remember something.
'Ah, I forgot I am a kid.'
I glance at the High Priest in worry.
Cassien smiles at me.
"I see, I see."
"It appears I forgot that Lady Velora is already a refined young lady."
Cassien says sarcastically.
For some reason, it makes me laugh quietly.
—Few minutes later—
We continue walking around the city together.
Laughter quietly escapes me as we wander through the city circle.
For someone carrying the title of High Priest, Cassien was unexpectedly easy to talk to.
He casually points out strange little details throughout the city.
I suddenly nudge him lightly at the side.
Cassien briefly startles before letting out a small laugh.
'I feel like I finally have a guy friend for the first time.'
A small smile slowly forms on my face, then suddenly reminds myself at the back of my mind.
'He's still suspicious though.'
Not long after, we stop near a small flower stall.
The old florist immediately brightens upon seeing Cassien.
"High Priest!"
The old woman warmly smiles before suddenly handing him a small flower crown.
"For the young lady beside you."
"…Eh? Ah, I-I don't—"
Before I can react, Cassien suddenly places the flower crown on top of my head.
I start to get scared and almost flinch that the flowers might suddenly turn poisonous but Cassien unexpectedly lets out a small laugh, interrupting my thoughts.
"It suits you."
I blink in confusion before slowly realizing the flowers resting on my head had not turned poisonous.
'So hair is okay too.'
I abruptly let out a small laugh of relief.
"What kind of terrifying sentence was that?"
Cassien simply continues smiling peacefully afterward.
The afternoon breeze gently passes around us as the lively noise of the city continues nearby.
Somewhere nearby, the scent of warm bread drifts through the air.
For reasons I still could not understand the atmosphere felt strangely comfortable.
—Few hours later—
The day slowly comes to an end as the sky begins turning dark.
My carriage soon comes into view.
Just as I am about to wait for the carriage door to open, an unfamiliar maid suddenly steps out first.
"I greet Lady Velora."
The maid bows politely.
"…Who?"
"I am Vi, Lord Reynard's personal maid."
She carefully hands me a sealed letter.
"Lord Reynard requested that I deliver this to you personally."
Then suddenly, she steps closer before lowering her voice into a whisper.
"Please destroy it afterward."
"…Oh."
"O-Okay?"
Confused, I slowly prepare to enter the carriage.
While Vi remains standing outside.
'Aren't maids supposed to ride beside me?'
A moment later, I watch her quietly climb onto the front seat beside the coachman instead.
I look at her confusingly.
—Carriage—
I curiously open the letter.
Only a few words are written across the paper.
"Our father is coming back, soon."
My eyes immediately widen.
The former Duke.
The man who trapped Velora alone inside a manor, far away from flowers and to everyone else.
Alone.
A cold shiver suddenly runs down my spine.
—throb—
'What the...'
I immediately clutch my chest while tightly gripping my clothes.
—badump—
The flower crown resting on my head slowly begins unraveling.
The petals gently brush against my skin before gradually turning poisonous.
My entire body starts trembling.
Memories suddenly begin flashing through my mind.
—Slap—
A stinging pain lingers against my cheek.
A scream so silent somehow feels deafening inside my ears.
'What is happening…?'
'Is this what Velora felt?'
I can no longer tell whether these fragmented scenes belong to the original story or Velora's own memories.
But one thing becomes painfully clear.
'Velora's father... The former Duke is someone I should avoid in the future...'
I tightly grip my hand as tears slowly fall down my face or perhaps it was sweat.
I could no longer tell the difference.
I slowly begin tearing the letter apart piece by piece.
The torn pieces of the letter remain scattered across the floor.
I quietly sit at the edge of my bed while staring blankly at my trembling hands.
'Is it by anger? Fear? Or simple because I was told to?'
—Next day, Rosethorne Estate—
—knock, knock ,knock—
A gentle knock on the door suddenly breaks the silence within the room.
A butler quietly steps inside.
"The former Duke will be returning soon."
The moment he mentions it.
The entire atmosphere suddenly changes.
Silence fills the room.
I quietly remain seated in confusion before slowly turning toward Kel and Erisa.
'Ah I forgot to tell them.'
Kel's expression visibly stiffens.
Meanwhile, Erisa quietly lowers her gaze.
The butler bows once more before immediately leaving the room afterward.
The moment the door closes, Kel suddenly begins panicking.
Then Erisa turns toward me and bows politely.
"Lady Velora, it seems your father, the former Duke, will be visiting you soon."
She subtly forces Kel to bow down properly as well.
"If you allow us, we shall excuse ourselves for now to begin preparations."
"S-Sure…"
The two quickly leave the room afterward.
Silence remains once again.
'What in the world was that!?!'
I slowly gulp.
'Is it really that bad?'
Cold sweat slowly runs down my neck as uneasiness quietly settles inside my chest.
I still had no idea what exactly was about to happen.
—Several days later, Rosethorne main manor, Hallway—
The entire estate had gradually become quieter.
Servants walked faster.
Conversations end quicker.
Even the atmosphere somehow felt heavier.
Steps echoes through the hallway.
—step, step, step—
"…Why does this feel like a horror movie?"
I quietly mumble while watching several maids nervously rearrange the hallway flowers for the third time today.
One servant accidentally drops a tray.
The loud crash immediately echoes throughout the hallway.
Everyone freezes.
The servant hurriedly lowers their head while trembling.
Nobody even scolded them.
Which somehow made it worse..
I quietly look around the hallway once more.
The hallway felt so empty.
'Is Velora's father some kind of final boss or something?'
—Few days later, Velora's room—
At some point, I slowly begin forgetting that the former Duke is even supposed to return.
'After all, it had already been several days.'
I let out a sigh while putting my arm against the table while reading letters from Cassien.
'So he'll be busy now huh? He should be!'
I let out a scoff and cross my arms.
I suddenly take a glance at Kel cleaning the shelf.
Kel also gradually returns to her usual cheerful self.
For the past few days, she had been walking around as though stepping on eggshells.
One time, she nearly started brushing the flowers instead of my hair.
"Kel... I'm right here..."
—poof—
'Maybe he is the type of person who never actually comes home.'
'Up until now, I'm uncertain what the duke is like.'
'Everytime I bring it up, they either avoid me or change the subject.'
I let out a long sigh.
I quietly begin changing my clothes, preparing to head outside and check on my flowers once again.
—Few minutes later, Garden—
My eyes widen while my mouth slowly falls open in pure happiness.
A tiny crack finally appears within the soil.
A small green sprout slowly pushes its way upward beneath the sunlight.
"…It sprouted."
For a brief moment, I simply stare blankly at it in disbelief.
Then excitement immediately bursts through me.
"IT FINALLY SPROUTED!!!"
A bright smile instantly spreads across my face.
"I better tell Rey and Ethan about this!"
Without even thinking properly, I immediately rush out of the garden.
—Hallway—
My footsteps echo loudly throughout the corridor as I hurriedly run through the estate.
Bits of soil still cling to my sleeves and hands after digging around the flower beds all morning.
I quickly turn the corner.
—bump—
My body suddenly collides against someone solid.
The impact immediately forces me to stagger backward.