â¿
After the awkward meal time, we moved outside the mansion.
I was on my way to the gardenâs greenhouse. It feels familiar, but Iâd never been there.
âIâve been a little busy until now.â
When I came to the capital, there was a lot on my mind, so I couldnât afford to look around the mansion.
As I was walking worriedly looking behind the back of the person in front of me. Seanâs loosely tied, thin, milky hair gently followed his movement.
âI donât think Iâll ever forget about that foolish guy.â
âYour Highnessâ¦â
âIn the past, you used to chase me around like this.â
âYouâve grown old, too.â
Fortunately, Seian was talking to my father right now. From their blurry words, they seemed to be talking about the past.
To be honest, I knew from before that he wanted to talk to me.
Because Seian seemed like a person who didnât know how to hide his feelings.
Itâs obvious just by seeing his gaze at me.
But, even though I could, I couldnât talk to him at first.
This was because I didnât know how to deal with my uncle who was ten years older than me yet.
âI thought I could treat you well yesterday.â
When I woke up after sleeping overnight, all my confidence disappeared.
Not knowing how I felt, I quickly arrived at a transparent glass building
The angled-shaped greenhouse was larger than I thought when I stood in front of it.
âWow.â
The moment I opened the door, I forgot my worries for a while and exclaimed.
Even in winter, the warm interior, the smell of fragrant flowers, and colorful flowers, the owner of the scent, welcomed me.
I looked up at Aaron walking next to me. Just in time, he was staring at me, too.
âLike my brother and father said. Itâs so pretty when flowers are in full bloom in winter.â
Aaron often sent letters after heading to the capital.
Sometimes it was a short greeting, and sometimes a small gift and one or two letters came.
And one day, there was a letter with a few magically preserved flowers.
In his letter he mentioned that the greenhouse of the capital mansion blooms even in winter.
âYou must have been sad that there were no flowers in the north.â
Aaron smiled at me as I stared at the greenhouse excitedly.
Well, thatâs definitely true compared to here. In the north, more than half of the year was winter.
I have not been able to see the season of flowers.
âBut snowflakes bloom in the winter. There are also winter fruits that only grow in the north.â
But I didnât know that I shouldnât eat it. Aaron burst into a low laugh at what I added.
âYou didnât eat it, did you?â
âHey, brother! Who do you think I am? Of course not.â
Of course, I didnât eat it. I just almost ate it.
âWhatâs up with my curious little sister? The Erita that I know wasnât like that.â
But Aaron seemed to believe in my words.
This was because he knew me well, the little me who used to search through the forests in the Grand Palace when I was young.
I went around looking for something. To be exact, something that could be used as a magic material.
ââ¦I actually tried it, but Ellie and Betty told me not to eat the winter fruits. Didnât they say Iâd get a bad stomach ache?
With a subtle smile, I eventually confessed the embarrassing truth at Aaronâs gaze.
âOh, Ellie and Betty are maids in the northern castle.â
At what I added, Aaron still stroked my head with a smiling face.
âReally? Thatâs a relief. If you eat wrong, youâll get sick for two or three days.â
âI donât like it just thinking about it.â
I shuddered and grabbed Aaronâs arm and walked a little faster.
Looking around various flowers and plants, the distance between my father and Seian was a little wide.
âWhat are you two talking about excitedly?â
At my fatherâs words, I smiled awkwardly and rubbed my cheeks. It seemed that it was only two of us who talked to Aaron.
âAbout what happened in the North⦠My brother sent me a letter saying that the greenhouse here was pretty.â
I sat down briefly again, repeating what I had said earlier.
Then the waiting servants quickly prepared tea and refreshments and fell far away.
At the same time, I heard from my father.
âItâs amazing. Did he send you a letter, too?â
âWell, I send about two or three times a month, right?â
âItâs usually like that.â
At Aaronâs answer, I glanced at my father. My fatherâs expression was close to someone running away from home.
Father, who frowned, wrinkles his beautiful forehead, spoke toward Aaron.
âWhat did Aaron say when he asked you to send me a greeting letter?â
âI was busy thenâ¦â
Even with his fatherâs disapproval, Aaron responded calmly as if not knowing what was the problem.
The calm attitude made my fatherâs eyebrows rise.
âEven if youâre busy, are you busier than your father? Anyway, you look like an unlovable man. When I was young, I had a cute face.â
Aaron also responded without losing.
âIf you say so, itâs unfair for me. Iâve sent you letters of regards.â
âOkay. You mean the two-line letter. Seian, donât you think heâs cold-hearted?â
When asked close to his fatherâs coercion, Seian smiled awkwardly.
â¦.It has also started. I wanted this to end soon.
That childish confrontation between father and Aaron was not a day or two.
Both of them are indifferent, but I think my father sometimes feels sad because Aaron was more indifferent.
Should I say that Aaron wasnât interested in everyone fairly?
Of course, I didnât think that was the only reason today.
âThe letters sent by my Father were three lines.â
I sighed at the pointless debate that resulted in a mellow conversation.
As soon as I took a glance at the side, I could see Seian looking restless.
âFather was also the same. But he has a guest⦠â
I saw my father and Aaron again, but the two seemed to have no time to care about it.
After hesitating for a while, I eventually opened my heavy lips.
âAlrightâ¦â
The voice that came out sounded a little awkward.
âHuh? Do you mean me?â
It seemed that Seian feels more sharp than me. I nodded slowly to his question, which expressed embarrassment.
âYes, would you walk with me for a while?â
Then, he slightly looked towards father and Aaron and turned.
However, Seian didnât answer easily and just bit his lips.
âDo you not like it?â
Youâre right. If I suddenly ask you if you want to walk with me, you may be reluctant.
I hurriedly spoke to him, thinking that my proposal might not be pleasant.
âOf course, if you want to, you could..â
âNo, itâs not! Letâs go together.â
Seian, who had hesitated to answer added words so far, he replied quickly as if he had done so. His voice, who came to hang up, didnât feel urgent.
Surprised by him, I soon got up with a big smile.
âShall we go now?â
At my recommendation, Seian nodded gently like a puppy following his owner and removed himself from the chair.
Despite his age and size being much more delegated than me, he made me feel like I wanted to embrace him somewhere.
The loosely tied hair probably plays a part in his smooth drooping eyes.
When Seian and I walked at the same time, Father and Aaronâs eyes touched turned to us.
âIâll walk with him for a moment.â
Strange expressions appeared on their faces.
I felt embarrassed for no reason, so I turned my eyes slightly.
âDo you mean Seian?â
I looked sideways at my fatherâs question and nodded.
âYes, Iâm going to look around the greenhouse with him. Itâs been a while since the two of you talked.â
My fatherâs gaze passed by me and turned to Seian.
ââ¦Okay. You could show him around.â
Surprisingly, my fatherâs answer came out gladly.
I tried to press down on the laughter that was about to leak out of my lips, I swallowed it, and turned around gently waving my hand.
ââ¦Iâll be alright, Allan.â
Seian followed next to me. He shared the direction with me at a distance of about two or three steps away.
The sound of the two shoes rang neatly.
How far did we walk? Even the faintly heard voices of father and Aaron disappeared.
I carefully chose the words to say to Seian, who walked silently next to me without saying anything.
âI was flustered because I didnât even think of it. Itâs not that I hate Seian.â
I received all the love of my family, but I was still thoughtless. I sighed unconsciously at my patheticness.
Itâs not that I havenât thought about talking about flowers as if I were explaining them.
If I do that, Iâd be able to bring it up naturally. But I didnât want to.
Itâs because I thought I had to apologize first.
I wasnât happy with the attitude I had toward Seian today as I could feel it clearly.
âErita.â
However, Seian opened his mouth before I could.
My name he spoke, seems pretty uncomfortable.
After being absent-minded for a while at the strange thoughts, I suddenly came to my senses.
âYes?â
As I turned toward him with a little surprise, I saw Seian stopping a step or two.
Having met eyes with him, he bit his lips as if to say something.
I waited calmly for his words.
First, you can listen to what Seian says, and then apologize.
ââ¦Iâm sorry.â
However, Seianâs words that followed were completely unexpected.