5 Chapter 5: Sutton

The moment he came out from behind his gardenias, Sutton saw a boy with hair like a raven's feather and a fragile, glass-like expression. He stood in front of him with a tilt on his head, looking curiously at Sutton. Most likely because of the gardenias.

The boy was shorter, perhaps a year younger than him, and looked incredibly pale. Mournful eyes that were the color of ruby gems met his gaze and Sutton could only feel the pumping of his blood thrum in his chest.

He exhales and keeps in that niggling feeling buried deep inside him.

Of course, there's that brunette fellow behind the boy with the blindfold, but he was much more interested in this boy. He looks like a noble, all dressed in black, and immediately, Sutton understood.

"Ehem."

The blindfolded man coughed, bringing back Sutton's attention once more.

"Oh, yes. I'm so sorry." He quickly apologizes, wiping his hand nervously on his apron.

The boy shook his head gently and let loose a thin smile. It looked like he was trying to reassure him, despite the falsity of that smile.

"No worries. I can see that you're busy."

For a moment, Sutton couldn't breathe.

Ah, this voice is too soothing and tender! Too cute! Way too cute!

"Um," Sutton almost stammers out. "How can I help you today?"

The boy looks around for a moment. Sutton understand. The shop has a very wide selection of flowers.

"I am visiting my mother. Do you have anything appropriate for a tombstone?"

Sutton felt a bit of sympathy as he heard these words, and--kindly--he brought the boy over to the funeral flowers, which were located deeper inside the shop.

"White carnations are popular flowers for remembrance. Would you like an arrangement of those?"

He took one out of the vase and brought it to show the boy.

The boy looks at it for a moment, looking contemplative.

"Can you also add white roses and larkspurs?" He suddenly asks.

Purity and Beautiful Spirit.

Sutton understood the language of flowers, and most likely, this boy knew them as well.

His mother must have been a wonderful woman.

Sutton smiles. "Of course. I'll get the bouquet ready for you right away."

He picks up a few of each of the boy's requested flowers and goes to arrange them behind the store counter. As he does so, he chats with the boy.

"Other than bouquets, we also sell lots of other plant-related products. We have a nursery in the back if you want to grow anything in the future. And seeds, of course. My Pa worked hard on that nursery since he loves flowers so much. It brings him joy when people decide that they want to take home one of his baby flowers."

"Are all the flowers here grown by your father?"

"Each and every one of them. He's got a green thumb that would have made Ma jealous. A little late now, but he's working on making this shop her dream come true if she were still here." Sutton smiles, a fond look in his eyes appearing as he talked.

"Is it just you and your father, then?" Neo asked curiously.

"Mm." Sutton nods, trying to focus on making the most beautiful bouquet in his life while chatting with an equally beautiful customer. And his servant, judging by the blindfolded man's outfit.

"Ma died back when I was a baby. Don't really remember her, but according to Pa, that winter was very harsh and she fell ill."

Neo gives a sad smile and looks down at the flowers. "I guess the two of us have something in common, then."

"I guess we do."

Sutton wrapped the bouquet together with a ribbon and some paper before finally handing it to Neo.

"That will be five coppers."

Neo pulled out his coin purse and gave Sutton a silver.

"Keep the change."

Sutton's eyes widened when he saw the coin.

"But this is too much. Are you sure you wouldn't want-"

Neo shook his head.

"It is alright. You were good company and helped me make a wonderful bouquet for my mother."

At the boy's insistence, Sutton could do nothing but pocket the coin uneasily.

"If you say so."

Neo brought the flowers to his chest and gently held them like a precious treasure.

He bowed his head toward Sutton.

"Thank you very much for your service."

"Ah," Hastily, Sutton returned the gesture, "Yes, thank you for coming. I do hope you visit again."

"En."

Sutton watched as the boy left with his servant and finally fell to his knees behind the counter. He covered his face.

Interestingly enough, a flush that he had been keeping inside him finally surfaced.

"Ah, really too cute..."

He could only say, smiling helplessly.

Neo was back inside the carriage with the bouquet still in his arms. He gazed down at the arrangement of white roses, carnations, and larkspurs.

Alyoise may have been a whore, one of the best whores of the red light district, and in no way was she pure as a virgin, but...

In spirit, she was the best mother anyone could possibly ask for. Her body may have been tarnished, but her heart was not. She was a wonderful existence.

"Young Master, we are here."

The carriage came to a stop in front of a gate. Beyond that was the burial ground.

St. Achillas Cemetery is beautiful this time of year. The flower trees are blooming and many people have come to visit loved ones.

The carriage caught the attention of some people, but like before, Neo ignored the bewildering stares and had Rainier help him out.

"Would Young Master Nazareth prefer me to stay here?"

Neo shook his head at Rainier's question before he realized he couldn't see the head shake.

"No. You can come with me."

"As you wish, Young Master."

Leaving the carriage driver to look after the carriage, the master and servant pair went inside the cemetery.

Neo looked around at the rows of gravestones scattered around the burial site. None of these belongs to Alyoise.

Where are you, mother?

"Is that her, Young Master?"

He turned to Rainier and saw that he was pointing at a small hill that was a short distance away. He has no idea how Rainier was able to pinpoint the hill, given that he was blindfolded, but he knows that the man is a very capable servant, blind or not, so he lets it be.

Atop that hill, a small, decorative gravestone sat in the center of a dandelion field.

He was only seven when he visited her for the first and final time. He didn't know how to plant flowers for her, so he scattered dandelion puffs around her for hours on end until Gareth came to bring him back to the household.

Tightening his hold on the bouquet, Neo felt tears welling up in his eyes. He pursed his lips to stop himself from making any noises that might alert Rainier to the teary state he was in.

"Yeah..."

His mouth trembles a little, and he feels himself flush.

"That's her."

"Should we go a little closer, Young Master?"

"En."

Neo approaches his mother's grave and gently lays the bouquet on top of the headstone.

"Rainier, can you give us a moment?"

"Of course, Young Master."

The servant retreats to the very edge of the dandelion, leaving Neo alone with Alyoise grave.

Neo crouches down and smiles.

"Hello, Mummy."

He wipes his tears away with his thumb, but his smile is bright.

"You won't believe the adventure I just had." He sighs. "Last time I saw you I was seven, but you know, Mummy, I didn't visit you anymore after that."

He never visited her after she was buried.

"I died before I graduated from Noble Academy. If you were watching over me those last few years, then I guess you must be disappointed. But don't worry. I became Neo."

He became Neo Overland, adopted son of an elderly couple and a well-known medical researcher in the field of medicine and science.

"I'm sorry, Mummy. I know it took you time to think of my name, but your naming senses have always been atrocious." Neo admitted with a helpless smile. "I came back after working myself too hard. Who knew I could be so careless? I'm sure you would have beaten me with a slipper." He laughs a little, wiping another stray tear away.

"Ah, Mummy, I really miss you. I promise, to do better this time around. I'll repent for my crimes and make sure not to hurt anyone anymore. I will help as many people as I can so I won't disappoint you, okay?"

Reassuring her of this, Neo stood up and gave a gentlemanly bow before beaming a bright smile.

"Good bye, Mummy. I'll see you next time."

Unbeknownst to him, a faint silhouette of a beautiful woman with blonde hair and vermillion eyes sat upon the gravestone with an equally charming smile on her face. She chuckles a little, amused at the antics of her son.

Neo walks down the hill to meet Rainier again.

"Are you finished, Young Master."

He hums out an answer and bends down to pick up a dandelion puff.

"Rainier, can you take off your blindfold for a moment?"

A distinctive pause. But then...

"As you wish, Young Master."

Rainier unties the blindfold. His eyes open up and he gazes down at the youth before him.

He sees the boy smile at him, very subtle and demure, and then the yellow flowers surrounding them. Miss Ayloise's burial ground was quite nice.

He noticed that the Young Master held a dandelion puff in his hand and was looking at him intently.

Was he going to blow it at him?

"This is..." He wasn't sure what to make of it.

The Young Master shakes his head at him, looking a little amused, but Rainier didn't understand what was so funny.

"I'm going to remove those marks."

The Young Master declares with a look of determination in his vermillion eyes.

This time, it was Rainier's turn to be amused.

What is this scummy trouble maker up to now?

He delivers a dazzling smile on cue. "Then, I shall wait for the day that Young Master fulfills his promise."

"Un."

The youth nods, almost childishly, and turns away from him.

Rainier wondered what he was doing.

But then, he raises the dandelion puff and blows.

A multitude of dandelion seeds fly into the air and disappear amongst the sea of yellow flowers.

The Young Master turns around with the brightest smile he has ever seen.

"Never hurts to have more."

This Young Master of his was becoming more and more interesting.

"Let's go back, Rainier."

The ride back home was silent, but not uncomfortable.

A pair of vermillion eyes stared as the carriage went past the town and into the open road.

Last time was horrible. He had hurt so many people. This time, he'll step back. He won't fight anymore, or scheme. All Neo wants is to help.

Hmm, perhaps he'll go back into medicine again, maybe grow his own herbal garden and do some research. Perhaps even build a greenhouse, because God knows what kind of medical treatments are being practiced in this world.

He sighs, smiling to himself.

This time, he'll find his happiness.