CH 18

Chapter - 18 || The Lily Bloomed In This Country

The news that the Maiden Lily had bloomed was immediately announced to all the appropriate people.

Rudolf, the Empress, and even the Emperor visited the greenhouse.

"So this is the ...Maiden Lily."

"How beautiful... it is."

Everyone stared at the Maiden Lilies in amazement.

The Maiden Lily had petals that were more than two times larger than those of a normal lily, and in the center of the petals were strange blue pollens that seems to be drawn in.

There were three flowers this time, but there were still buds here and there that were about to open.

The Empress and the Emperor nodded at each other.

"I'd heard they had white petals, but they're not just white. They're so bright, it's like they're glowing."

"Mmm, the pollen is really blue, I've never seen anything like it."

Rudolf-sama turned and said to me,

"Thank you, Elvira!"

"It is I who should thank you. For letting me use your greenhouse and..."

I was about to say that the knights on guard duty must have had a hard time.

"What are you talking about, Elvira?"

"Yes, Elvira-san."

His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress said, closer than before.

"Well..."

"You've worked really hard."

"No, it's... natural."

"You're so humble!"

"Yes."

She said every word so urgently that I almost backed away from her.

"Elvira-san."

The Empress held my hand,

"You're a saint, that much is clear. Thank you for proving it to me."

His Majesty the Emperor said next to me,

"I thank you, too. Thank you for making it bloom."

"What a waste of words."

I said that from the bottom of my heart. Originally, I had asked to grow these lilies myself.

I didn't expect them to bloom in such numbers, though.

"From now on, you can call me Claudia."

"You're the empress..."

"It's okay."

"Yes, it's more familiar."

"Both of you, especially you, Mother, are too close to my fiancée."

Rudolf-sama intervened and we managed to stop them.

Even though they are my father and mother-in-law, they are the Emperor and Empress who have carried the Empire on their shoulders. I couldn't help but feel nervous when they approached me.

The former king and queen of the Kingdom of Turku were not the kind of people to have such a frank relationship with, so perhaps it was too much for me.

"Thank you very much. I am honored."

It was all I could say.

"You're beautiful, but you're so humble. It's amazing."

"Don't be so impressed, you're scaring Elvira."

I quickly put on a smile, but Empress Claudia saw right through it.

"Elvira, you're looking a little down, aren't you? The Maiden's Lily has just bloomed."

"What?"

The emperor raised his eyebrows as I searched for the right words.

But Rudolf-sama intervened first,

"Enough, father and mother. Elvira is tired from being cooped up in the greenhouse day after day growing lilies."

"Yes, that's true."

The emperor nodded.

"Yes?"

Empress Claudia gave me a sharp look.

It was the kind of look that made me stiffen up.

"Elvira-san, could it be that you—"

If I were to be intimidated by that, I would not be able to hold up as the Crown Princess, so I answered with the same attitude as always,

"Yes."

But.

"I thought you didn't want to be married to Rudolf."

Empress Claudia's question was unexpected.

"Mother?!"

"It's all right. Just be honest with me."

"What are you talking about, Mother? We're about to get married!"

Empress Claudia tilted her head,

"Because she's so beautiful, pretty, and has a good personality, and she's also a saint. You don't have to go to the trouble of marrying Rudolf."

"Please don't say that! What if Elvira thinks that's true too?"

"—Well, is that all you've got?"

"No, it's not! I've searched across the continent and no one thinks more of Elvira than I do!"

What are you talking about?

I tried my best to suppress the reddening of my skin, but I had reached my limit and felt my ears getting hot.

"Oh my."

And it was Empress Claudia who was the first to notice it.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be mean. I was just wondering."

"Elvira, I'm sorry, don't worry about it. My mother can be like this sometimes."

"Claudia, don't make too much fun of the two young people."

Even the Emperor's voice had a hint of laughter in it.

I slowly searched for the right words,

"I am very grateful to you, Rudolf-sama."

I looked at the lilies and Rudolf-sama in turn.

"At that time, in the temple, Rudolf-sama was the only one outside of my family who raised his voice."

It was when Alexander broke off our engagement.

There were many people who looked at me with concern, but only Rudolf-sama was on my side.

"I will never forget my gratitude."

Rudolf-sama's eyes lit up.

Claudia reminded him,

"So you don't mind getting married?"

"Of course I don't."

"Then why do you look so glum?"

I couldn't help but look down.

"I'm not blaming you. The lilies have bloomed, but something is burdening your mind, isn't it? What is it?"

There must have been some hesitation in my eyes, sine Rudolf-sama quickly stood in front of me.

"Enough, Mother. It is time for Elvira to recover from her fatigue. We'll talk about it later, the rest is between me and Elvira."

"Elvira-san, if there is anything I can do to help, I will. I just want you to remember that you are a saint and an essential part of this empire.

As a saint, you are irreplaceable to this empire."

I responded to Empress Claudia's words in a straightforward manner.

"I know."

The lilies bloomed in this country. I thought I knew that better than anyone else.