Chapter 53

Chapter 53

“The Mythical Flowers only bloom in one place. In the northern part of Viscount Riol’s territory, deep in the forest, there’s a hill in a cemetery that is only allowed to be visited by the nobles. In that exact spot, different flowers will always bloom in every season. But I know that if we don’t plant flowers in our garden within a week of blooming, it will be bad for the flowers’ vitality.”

At Daisy’s words, Carlyx tapped on his knees anxiously. He quickly browsed the documents and nodded as if he had understood.

“Carter doesn’t start as soon as the season begins, but usually he waits until a month has passed before he starts caring for the mythical flowers. Spring, summer, autumn, winter. All the flowers will be dead before that.”

“That’s right. It won’t be possible to cultivate it no matter how hard he works.”

“But are you really going to plant flowers that only grow in one place right here?”

“Yes. If you plant them here four times instead of once, we can create a new place where all four flowers bloom simultaneously. That way, the mythical flowers will bloom in the Marquisate of Jean starting next year. Of course, we have to negotiate first to bring them here.”

Carlyx looked at the table with his usual apathetic gaze and began to assemble the documents one by one. After organizing it, he rested his hands on top of his crossed legs.

Soon, he spoke quietly.

“In order to get the flowers, we need to determine what they want first. I’ll do more investigation, so you can focus on negotiating with Amelia. Seeing that there’s no news about her for a month, I suppose she returned to her home.”

Carlyx sounded reliable, though it didn’t seem to be intended.

“I’ll visit the family where Carter works. I’ll find out why there needs to be a one month gap for cultivating the mythical flowers.”

“Do you think you can visit them?”

In the past, he would have been very pessimistic, claiming that he’d be kicked out instantly. Daisy thought it was quite unusual of him and looked at him in astonishment.

Carlyx read her thoughts and shrugged casually. He put aside Daisy’s candle that had been burning for a long time, and said.

“….I’m definitely different from before.”

Carlyx’s gaze only contained Daisy. After mustering his courage, he finally spoke in a deep voice.

“Because of you, I had a match with Xandarvan in this mansion for the first time. Because of you, the Jean Marquisate and the servants were featured in the major newspapers and gossip tabloids for the first time. At that time, we were featured in the newspaper only briefly, but recently….”

Carlyx lowered his gaze and fiddled with the back of his hand.

“Recently, there has been a full coverage news about the Marquisate of Jean hiring three maids at Maid School in the capital city, and even hiring a senior maid who’s about to retire. Her name is Ava, right?”

“Yes. Her name is Ava. Well, it’s not bad publicity for us. This actually brings attention to the family behind the veil.”

Daisy muttered lightly, and Carlyx replied.

“I know. That’s why I will definitely meet them.”

The situation has changed. The end of Carlyx’s words was obvious.

Silence surrounded them once more. Daisy stood up with the candle and walked toward the bed. But his low voice rang once more.

“What kind of flowers do you like?”

Huh? Daisy blinked vacantly at the question that caught her off guard.

Looking at her expression, Carlyx raised one of his eyebrows as if he didn’t like her reaction.

“Because I will need a topic to talk about when I visit Carter.”

Ah. His attitude had definitely changed ever since they went to the Maid School. Daisy liked that Carlyx had taken more initiatives now.

Daisy smiled gently and said.

“I like gladiolus. It has a layer like leaves, and rather than love itself, it has a heart-fluttering meaning.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d like roses.”

“Rose isn’t bad. But don’t you think it’s a bit clichéd?”

“Hearing that from someone who believes in fated love is a bit odd, isn’t it?”

Daisy, who expected this question, laughed it off. She just climbed into the bed rather than answering.

Her eyelids lowered gently as she lay in bed.

“I believe in fated love. I often dream of meeting such a person someday.”

Everything she had said in the beginning was a lie. The only thing left was her sincerity.

“But I guess I am too complex to decide my preference based on love alone.”

Sometimes she thought about how long she had to maintain this lie, but it was something she could deal with later.

Daisy opened her eyes slowly and said.

“Ah. I like lobelia, too. Unlike its elegant appearance, it is said to be a traditional symbol of ‘evil’ as it is also a poisonous flower. Unexpected things are more interesting, you see.”

Right after saying that, she lay comfortably in bed. Soon, the fire in the room was completely extinguished.

***

Documents, documents, and documents.

She was motivated just by thinking about what this place will grow into, but her physical strength did not support her at all. She had a hard time finishing her tasks quickly.

“It’s not that I don’t exercise, but I can’t help feeling tired.”

She was always glued to the sofa even though she took an occasional walk, so her body ached all over.

Daisy put down the documents she was reading with a sigh. She lowered her eyelids and rolled her lips inward.

“But if I manage to hire Carter and Amelia, I can make so much change here.”

Daisy already had so many ideas even before she entered the family. And those ideas required a gardener and a chef.

‘…Let’s not get my hopes up yet.’

Anyways, this was much harder than she initially thought.

Suddenly, a cold glass touched Daisy’s cheek. The papers that occupied her vision went up and disappeared. In front of her was Carlyx with his usual dull expression.

He held a beer in his unbandaged right arm.

A beer, huh? That didn’t suit him for some reason.

“I brought a drink for you.”

As the beer was placed lightly at the desk, Daisy sat up and shook her hand.

What time is it to have alcohol?

It was still bright outside and there was no sign of sunset yet.

“I don’t know if it’s for dinner or late-night refreshment, but I don’t drink at lunch. Let’s do it next time.”

When she said that, Carlyx went somewhere and returned. This time, he held a teacup in his hand.

Tak.

What he put down was her favorite oolong tea.

“This isn’t beer. Drink this.”

“What’s gotten into you? Did something good happen today? Or was there something that I did well today?”

“There’s nothing of the sort. I just heard that you slept late last night. I don’t want you to get sick.”

He said ‘don’t get sick’ with the dullest voice ever. It felt like he just said it out of consideration. Still, she appreciated the gesture very much.

Daisy, holding the oolong tea with a smile on her face, pushed it to Carlyx to make a toast. He didn’t just stay still and clinked his glass with hers.

‘Maybe it’s because he didn’t train much due to his broken arm, but he looks a little different than usual.’

Perhaps people who had a lot of free time were more likely to do good deeds, after all.

Daisy took a sip of oolong tea and glanced at Carlyx.

“Drink it. We made a toast, so why don’t you drink.”

“I’m slowing down a bit.”

“I know, right. Why did you bring beer? Don’t you like wine more than beer?”

It’s better to drink wine. It had a more definite composition than beer. And Carlyx hated ambiguity.

“I never said I dislike beer.”

Even under Daisy’s doubtful gaze, Carlyx took a sip of beer. He twitched his lips a couple of times before fully closing it.

“It’s not bad. I think I could get used to it if I keep drinking.”

“I think so, too. At first, I thought it wasn’t good, but I kept drinking it until I came to like it. The bitter and savory flavors go well together.”

Daisy nodded before taking a sip of the oolong tea one more time. The warm liquid flowed down her throat.

When she finally relaxed her mind because of the warm feeling the tea gave her, there was a light drumming sound ringing in her ears.

“….It’s pouring all of sudden.”

Just as he said, the rain was pouring outside. At that moment Daisy looked out the window as if mesmerized.

One drop, two drops, and raindrops knocking on the window were seen.

Carlyx suddenly got up from his seat and walked to the window to draw the curtain open.

“You seem to like rain. You keep staring at it.”

“Ah, yes. When I listen to the raindrops knocking on the window, it feels like it washes away my fatigue.”

“Maybe that’s why you ran around the water back then.”

She didn’t like how he poked fun at what happened a while ago.

When Daisy was about to refute him, an unfamiliar appearance stunned her.

“Are you smiling?”

She only ever saw him lift one corner of his mouth into a smirk. But she never saw him actually raise both ends of his mouth into an actual smile.

More importantly, there was nothing funny nor interesting. It seemed like he did that while remembering something pleasant.

“What are you talking about?”

Carlyx immediately returned to his stoic face as if he never smiled.

Daisy scowled at him but didn’t bother to prolong the matter. She thought it might have been just her illusion because she got way too comfortable around him.

‘He seems to hate playing in the water. So there’s no way he smiled.’

Upon arriving at her own conclusion, she turned around and sat completely facing Carlyx.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

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