I came to find flowers (2)
The Duke of Eldern and his party decided to stay at our house until their return.
The father treated them lavishly.
He rented out the entire annex and even opened up the Knights' training grounds, which were never open to the public.
My father was not the type of person to flatter the Duke's family, and this was proof of the strong bond between our family and Eldern.
Nadia, who had returned to the bedroom after a brief outing, clasped her hands together with a dreamy expression.
“Miss, I finally understand what it means to feel full just by looking at it. I’m really full.”
"...Suddenly?"
“I’ve never seen men look so good in a pure white uniform. I guess a man’s uniform is what makes him tick.”
Ah, you're talking about the Knights of Eldern. I continued with a faint smile.
“The knights of our family also wear uniforms.”
“It’s too dull. They’re not even children of darkness, but they’re just black. They don’t have any sparkling taste, no flavor.”
“Yes, let’s wipe our saliva and talk.”
“Use it-.”
Nadia wiped her mouth and smiled bashfully.
“It’s not just me. The other kids are more excited than I am. I think they’re dying for a position to clean the annex building.”
"I envy you."
“What is it?”
“Cleaning the annex.”
“Oh my, our young lady is saying something strange again.”
Nadia just joked about it, but it was a very serious matter to me.
I have been distinguishing people with other senses instead of just my eyes, which are there but not there.
First of all, body odor.
Hunters smell like game and medicine, and knights smell like sweat and iron.
People with a strong ink smell are usually office workers, and people with frequently changing perfume smells are mostly merchants.
Next is the feel.
Touching was a pretty surefire way.
Just looking at our hands, the length and thickness of our fingers, the degree to which our joints protrude, the size of our fingernails, the shape of our fingertips, etc. are all different for each person.
If there is a clear sign like a scar here, it becomes much easier to identify the opponent.
The problem was the location of the scar.
A flower-shaped scar on the benefactor's shoulder. It could not be felt through his clothes.
'I have to take it off.'
But there was no way.
Unless I'm lucky enough to see Ian's naked body while cleaning the annex.
“Miss, have you heard the news? There’s a welcome dinner being held in the central garden this evening.”
Nadia slowly brought up the main topic. Perhaps she had been taking so long to ask this question.
“Yeah, I heard.”
“I heard that not only the knights of our family but also all the knights of Eldern will attend. What are you going to do? Will you... attend?”
Although other nobles would not dine with knights, my father, who was of knightly origin, always had knights attend family events.
This is also the reason why the knights of our family are particularly loyal.
So even though Oslo ascended to the throne and the mansion was surrounded by his soldiers, Chevio and Kjer were able to come to my rescue.
Because the knights resisted until the end.
“I have to.”
“Really?!”
Nadia jumped up with a loud scream.
“Is it that surprising?”
“Of course it’s surprising! You don’t even drink tea with strangers other than Lady Sierra!”
In the past, I didn't attend any events, including parties, but things are different now.
Because I decided not to rely on Sierra and Oslo anymore.
Above all, there was no time to confirm whether Ian was my benefactor before returning to Eldern.
“I wonder why the pure white uniforms are so cool. Of course, the knights of our family are much cooler.”
“Young lady, you’ve finally developed an eye for men...! Cough, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult His Highness the Third Prince.”
“It’s okay. I indeed have low standards.”
“...Can I ask you something?”
"Ues."
“It’s been a bit like that since His Highness the Third Prince visited last time... Are you thinking of breaking up with him?”
"Yes."
"OMG!"
Nadia's eyes widened and she swallowed her breath.
“It's a secret.”
“Yes, yes, I will never tell anyone! No, since when did you start having such strange thoughts?”
“Since a while ago.”
“Oh my, you’re so great. You really thought it through!”
“You never showed it until now. I guess you didn’t like the idea of me meeting the Third Prince either.”
“If the young lady likes it, how could I object? I am on the young lady’s side unconditionally.”
Yes. You are always on my side. My heart warmed and I smiled.
“But is your timing okay? Aren’t there a lot of things to prepare before dinner?”
Nadia shook her head as if she had come to her senses.
“That’s right! This is not the time. What should we do first? This is the first time the young lady has attended an event, so I am very flustered.”
As she had said, this dinner was the first family event I had attended since coming back in time, and the first time I had eaten with my family since being chosen as a prophet.
My mouth felt bitter at the new realization.
'It was I who isolated myself.'
Nadia rolled up her sleeves with a determined look.
“First, let’s take a bath.”
After the bath, the elaborate makeup began.
My face was covered in powder and my eyes became clearer. Nadia even painted my lips a light red, making my usually pale and weak-looking face look much clearer.
The maids in charge of the room stepped away and Nadia approached holding the lace.
“I won’t wear a blindfold.”
“...Are you okay?”
“I think I need to learn how to take off my lace and act naturally without being caught. If I’m really anxious, I should just close my eyes.”
“Yes, it’s rude to look at others while eating, so if you’re careful, it’ll be fine. I’ll watch over you and tell you tactfully.”
Just as I was about to change into my shoes and go out, someone knocked on the bedroom door.
“Youngest.”
“Little brother?”
Chevio, fully dressed in his Imperial Knight uniform, strode into the bedroom.
His hair was cut short like a soldier's, and his face was tanned and unkempt, with only his teeth standing out as white.
The expression is so bright.
He kisses the back of my hand politely and smiles, looking more like a mischievous boy than the commander in charge of the Imperial Knights.
“Who is my younger sister? You are truly beautiful. Would you do me the honor of escorting you?”
“How did you get off work so early at the palace?”
“Our youngest is attending the dinner party, how can I stand it? I left it to the adjutant and ran away.”
“How did you know I was coming to the dinner?”
“This brother has a very capable informant.”
He heard from Nadia.
If even Chevio, who was in the palace, knew about it, then it must have been assumed that everyone in the mansion knew about it.
“I don’t know who your informant is, but he’s really quick.”
As I said that, I glanced at Nadia, and she slowly averted my gaze.
How good it must have been if they told everyone about it. Thinking about it made me laugh.
Chevio watched me quietly and opened his mouth.
“You’re so pretty, our youngest.”
Contrary to his light tone, the tip of his voice trembled slightly.
I held out my hand without saying a word, and Chevio put his arm around mine. We went out together in peace.
The banquet was prepared in the central garden.
Round tables were placed throughout the garden, with a variety of foods placed in the center.
If you wanted to eat food, you had to get it yourself rather than have it served to you.
What nobleman would host a banquet like this? It wasn't even military rations.
It was a dinner worthy of a father who was a soldier to the core.
As we entered the banquet hall, the knights who had been chatting comfortably all stood up and bowed.
It was truly an overwhelming sight.
Including my father, all of them were large, with an average height of close to 190cm, so just being watched was enough to make me feel intimidated.
“Huh, aren’t you speechless when you see my little sister? I know she’s pretty because her eyes are high and sharp. Oh, but that kid looks so sensitive? Should I just gouge out his eyes?”
“...Thank you, brother.”
“Yes? What?”
Thanks to my brother's advice, the tension disappeared.
As I was heading to the center of the banquet hall with a much more relaxed mind, I noticed a group occupying a table in the corner.
The only ones standing upright among the knights who rise from their seats and bow.
Judging from the attire, he doesn't seem to be a knight. Who is he?
“Brother, is there anyone you can introduce me to?”
“Don’t talk to knights like that. They’ve only ever held swords in their hands. If you even give them a slight smile, they’ll think you’re in love with them.”
“Is there anyone else in attendance besides the knights?”
“Some people from the imperial family attended because of Montpain... They weren’t people worth greeting.”
Only then could I realize their true identity.
'It's the Imperial Investigation Team.'
It was natural that the Imperial Investigative Corps would be responsible for supervising the management of prohibited items.
However, the problem is that they are in collusion with the Third Prince Oslo.
I pretended to brush my hair back and checked the number of the investigation team.
'Five people.'
There are a lot of people checking the quantity of Montpain.
The moment I thought that, Chevio stopped walking.
At the table in the center of the banquet hall, my father, Kjer, and Ian were waiting for me.
Ian's golden eyes lingered intently on my face.
I hesitated for a moment because my face was itchy, but Nadia explained the location of the people clearly.
“With the Marquis in the center, to the right sits the Great Lord, and to the left sits the Young Duke Ian Eldern.”
I bowed my head slightly toward the table.
“Sorry, I'm late.”
“You’re on time, so that won’t be the case.”
“Come on in, I’ve been waiting for you.”
Only after my father and Kjer had answered did Ian approach.
Should he kiss the back of my hand like a knight?
Contrary to my expectations, he took off his uniform jacket. A pure white jacket was quickly draped over my shoulders, which were previously exposed.
“It looks cold.”
It's July now...
Instead of returning the stiffly angled top, I gently smoothed the ends.
My heart raced at the faint scent of soap that drifted in.
“Youngest, sit down.”
As I sat down in the chair that Chevio had given me, my father raised his glass.
“For the friendship of Eldern and Astrod!”
The dinner has begun.
The Duke of Eldern and his party decided to stay at our house until their return.
The father treated them lavishly.
He rented out the entire annex and even opened up the Knights' training grounds, which were never open to the public.
My father was not the type of person to flatter the Duke's family, and this was proof of the strong bond between our family and Eldern.
Nadia, who had returned to the bedroom after a brief outing, clasped her hands together with a dreamy expression.
“Miss, I finally understand what it means to feel full just by looking at it. I’m really full.”
"...Suddenly?"
“I’ve never seen men look so good in a pure white uniform. I guess a man’s uniform is what makes him tick.”
Ah, you're talking about the Knights of Eldern. I continued with a faint smile.
“The knights of our family also wear uniforms.”
“It’s too dull. They’re not even children of darkness, but they’re just black. They don’t have any sparkling taste, no flavor.”
“Yes, let’s wipe our saliva and talk.”
“Use it-.”
Nadia wiped her mouth and smiled bashfully.
“It’s not just me. The other kids are more excited than I am. I think they’re dying for a position to clean the annex building.”
"I envy you."
“What is it?”
“Cleaning the annex.”
“Oh my, our young lady is saying something strange again.”
Nadia just joked about it, but it was a very serious matter to me.
I have been distinguishing people with other senses instead of just my eyes, which are there but not there.
First of all, body odor.
Hunters smell like game and medicine, and knights smell like sweat and iron.
People with a strong ink smell are usually office workers, and people with frequently changing perfume smells are mostly merchants.
Next is the feel.
Touching was a pretty surefire way.
Just looking at our hands, the length and thickness of our fingers, the degree to which our joints protrude, the size of our fingernails, the shape of our fingertips, etc. are all different for each person.
If there is a clear sign like a scar here, it becomes much easier to identify the opponent.
The problem was the location of the scar.
A flower-shaped scar on the benefactor's shoulder. It could not be felt through his clothes.
'I have to take it off.'
But there was no way.
Unless I'm lucky enough to see Ian's naked body while cleaning the annex.
“Miss, have you heard the news? There’s a welcome dinner being held in the central garden this evening.”
Nadia slowly brought up the main topic. Perhaps she had been taking so long to ask this question.
“Yeah, I heard.”
“I heard that not only the knights of our family but also all the knights of Eldern will attend. What are you going to do? Will you... attend?”
Although other nobles would not dine with knights, my father, who was of knightly origin, always had knights attend family events.
This is also the reason why the knights of our family are particularly loyal.
So even though Oslo ascended to the throne and the mansion was surrounded by his soldiers, Chevio and Kjer were able to come to my rescue.
Because the knights resisted until the end.
“I have to.”
“Really?!”
Nadia jumped up with a loud scream.
“Is it that surprising?”
“Of course it’s surprising! You don’t even drink tea with strangers other than Lady Sierra!”
In the past, I didn't attend any events, including parties, but things are different now.
Because I decided not to rely on Sierra and Oslo anymore.
Above all, there was no time to confirm whether Ian was my benefactor before returning to Eldern.
“I wonder why the pure white uniforms are so cool. Of course, the knights of our family are much cooler.”
“Young lady, you’ve finally developed an eye for men...! Cough, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult His Highness the Third Prince.”
“It’s okay. I indeed have low standards.”
“...Can I ask you something?”
"Ues."
“It’s been a bit like that since His Highness the Third Prince visited last time... Are you thinking of breaking up with him?”
"Yes."
"OMG!"
Nadia's eyes widened and she swallowed her breath.
“It's a secret.”
“Yes, yes, I will never tell anyone! No, since when did you start having such strange thoughts?”
“Since a while ago.”
“Oh my, you’re so great. You really thought it through!”
“You never showed it until now. I guess you didn’t like the idea of me meeting the Third Prince either.”
“If the young lady likes it, how could I object? I am on the young lady’s side unconditionally.”
Yes. You are always on my side. My heart warmed and I smiled.
“But is your timing okay? Aren’t there a lot of things to prepare before dinner?”
Nadia shook her head as if she had come to her senses.
“That’s right! This is not the time. What should we do first? This is the first time the young lady has attended an event, so I am very flustered.”
As she had said, this dinner was the first family event I had attended since coming back in time, and the first time I had eaten with my family since being chosen as a prophet.
My mouth felt bitter at the new realization.
'It was I who isolated myself.'
Nadia rolled up her sleeves with a determined look.
“First, let’s take a bath.”
***
After the bath, the elaborate makeup began.
My face was covered in powder and my eyes became clearer. Nadia even painted my lips a light red, making my usually pale and weak-looking face look much clearer.
The maids in charge of the room stepped away and Nadia approached holding the lace.
“I won’t wear a blindfold.”
“...Are you okay?”
“I think I need to learn how to take off my lace and act naturally without being caught. If I’m really anxious, I should just close my eyes.”
“Yes, it’s rude to look at others while eating, so if you’re careful, it’ll be fine. I’ll watch over you and tell you tactfully.”
Just as I was about to change into my shoes and go out, someone knocked on the bedroom door.
“Youngest.”
“Little brother?”
Chevio, fully dressed in his Imperial Knight uniform, strode into the bedroom.
His hair was cut short like a soldier's, and his face was tanned and unkempt, with only his teeth standing out as white.
The expression is so bright.
He kisses the back of my hand politely and smiles, looking more like a mischievous boy than the commander in charge of the Imperial Knights.
“Who is my younger sister? You are truly beautiful. Would you do me the honor of escorting you?”
“How did you get off work so early at the palace?”
“Our youngest is attending the dinner party, how can I stand it? I left it to the adjutant and ran away.”
“How did you know I was coming to the dinner?”
“This brother has a very capable informant.”
He heard from Nadia.
If even Chevio, who was in the palace, knew about it, then it must have been assumed that everyone in the mansion knew about it.
“I don’t know who your informant is, but he’s really quick.”
As I said that, I glanced at Nadia, and she slowly averted my gaze.
How good it must have been if they told everyone about it. Thinking about it made me laugh.
Chevio watched me quietly and opened his mouth.
“You’re so pretty, our youngest.”
Contrary to his light tone, the tip of his voice trembled slightly.
I held out my hand without saying a word, and Chevio put his arm around mine. We went out together in peace.
The banquet was prepared in the central garden.
Round tables were placed throughout the garden, with a variety of foods placed in the center.
If you wanted to eat food, you had to get it yourself rather than have it served to you.
What nobleman would host a banquet like this? It wasn't even military rations.
It was a dinner worthy of a father who was a soldier to the core.
As we entered the banquet hall, the knights who had been chatting comfortably all stood up and bowed.
It was truly an overwhelming sight.
Including my father, all of them were large, with an average height of close to 190cm, so just being watched was enough to make me feel intimidated.
“Huh, aren’t you speechless when you see my little sister? I know she’s pretty because her eyes are high and sharp. Oh, but that kid looks so sensitive? Should I just gouge out his eyes?”
“...Thank you, brother.”
“Yes? What?”
Thanks to my brother's advice, the tension disappeared.
As I was heading to the center of the banquet hall with a much more relaxed mind, I noticed a group occupying a table in the corner.
The only ones standing upright among the knights who rise from their seats and bow.
Judging from the attire, he doesn't seem to be a knight. Who is he?
“Brother, is there anyone you can introduce me to?”
“Don’t talk to knights like that. They’ve only ever held swords in their hands. If you even give them a slight smile, they’ll think you’re in love with them.”
“Is there anyone else in attendance besides the knights?”
“Some people from the imperial family attended because of Montpain... They weren’t people worth greeting.”
Only then could I realize their true identity.
'It's the Imperial Investigation Team.'
It was natural that the Imperial Investigative Corps would be responsible for supervising the management of prohibited items.
However, the problem is that they are in collusion with the Third Prince Oslo.
I pretended to brush my hair back and checked the number of the investigation team.
'Five people.'
There are a lot of people checking the quantity of Montpain.
The moment I thought that, Chevio stopped walking.
At the table in the center of the banquet hall, my father, Kjer, and Ian were waiting for me.
Ian's golden eyes lingered intently on my face.
I hesitated for a moment because my face was itchy, but Nadia explained the location of the people clearly.
“With the Marquis in the center, to the right sits the Great Lord, and to the left sits the Young Duke Ian Eldern.”
I bowed my head slightly toward the table.
“Sorry, I'm late.”
“You’re on time, so that won’t be the case.”
“Come on in, I’ve been waiting for you.”
Only after my father and Kjer had answered did Ian approach.
Should he kiss the back of my hand like a knight?
Contrary to my expectations, he took off his uniform jacket. A pure white jacket was quickly draped over my shoulders, which were previously exposed.
“It looks cold.”
It's July now...
Instead of returning the stiffly angled top, I gently smoothed the ends.
My heart raced at the faint scent of soap that drifted in.
“Youngest, sit down.”
As I sat down in the chair that Chevio had given me, my father raised his glass.
“For the friendship of Eldern and Astrod!”
The dinner has begun.
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