Chapter 46
A Daisy Bouquet
Would it be impatient to call this time late summer? It was still unbearably hot.
At least, it was unbearably hot for me here at the Duke of Deirton’s residence.
That was why I still spent my days in the garden, enjoying tea and light snacks.
Today, Sir Diego was with me. He had brought a parcel that he and Sir Matis planned to send to the Kingdom of Lundra.
In a few days, it would be the wedding anniversary of the King and Queen of Lundra—and also a holiday in the kingdom.
The King’s birthday was a national holiday, but the wedding anniversary was not originally one. However, my father, Jonas II, had designated it as a holiday limited to the years of his reign.
For more than thirty years now, the people of Lundra had celebrated the royal couple’s wedding anniversary together. At first, it had merely been a day off work, but over time it became a day when the entire kingdom gathered to spend time with their families.
I was not the only one who had left my homeland of Lundra. Sir Matis and Sir Diego had left as well.
When I mentioned that I would be sending a gift home this time, I asked whether they might also like to send presents to their families. That was why Sir Diego had brought the wrapped parcel today.
I sat at an outdoor table draped with a soft cream-colored cloth, lost in thought.
For me, this day commemorated my parents’ marriage. It was also a day meant for spending time with family.
My parents would surely worry, having sent me to a distant foreign land on the very day that celebrated their wedding—the day on which I was said to have been conceived. They had given me a name born of their love, and I did not want them to spend that day burdened by concern.
“Princess, is something troubling you?”
Sir Diego asked. The knight of the kingdom had not left after placing down the parcel and remained by my side.
“I was thinking about the holiday.”
After a brief pause, Sir Diego asked again,
“May I ask what it is you’re considering, Princess?”
“Well…”
I turned to face him. Standing at a proper distance in his everyday clothes, the knight’s face was reassuring. Having someone from my homeland with me gave me comfort.
“I was told I was conceived on a holiday. Since I’m away now, I worry that my parents might spend their precious anniversary worrying about me instead.”
The matter of royal succession was never truly secret. When a child was conceived or born was something everyone watched closely and considered important. Sir Diego spoke at once.
“Your birthday falls in late winter, so I hadn’t realized.”
“I was born a little early and caused worry.”
Sir Diego looked slightly startled.
“I had no idea, Princess.”
“The fragility of royalty isn’t something to boast about.”
It wasn’t a secret, but unless one held a high position, it wasn’t widely known. Symbols of reverence should not appear weak.
At the very least, the royal family of Lundra had always strived to appear healthy throughout history. They avoided showing frailty from the moment of birth.
The knight of the kingdom would not turn what I told him into gossip. After a moment of silence, Sir Diego continued.
“I was born the same year as His Highness Crown Prince Shade. I was old enough then to understand the joy and happiness of Your Highness’s birth.”
“What was that day like?”
I already knew the story—I had heard it many times. Sir Diego likely knew that as well.
“Winter rain had fallen for days, making life difficult both inside and outside Lundra. It was early winter, yet the rain did not stop in the north, causing problems large and small.”
I took a sip of tea as I listened.
“Then, gradually, the rain ceased. Soon after, news of Your Highness’s birth spread throughout Lundra. People believed you were a blessing, and everyone loved you.”
I smiled. The palace maids, officials I occasionally spoke with, even Nanesha—everyone said the same thing. Nanesha once joked that if it weren’t for me, there would still be a massive block of ice in the Linzhug Count’s estate.
Thanks to the dragon’s tears, spring eventually came to Lundra. Even without me, the ice would have melted.
“I offered my greetings toward the royal palace.”
“Could a child really understand the birth of royalty?”
If he was born the same year as Shade, he would have been around ten at the time.
“My entire family loved Your Highness.”
Sir Diego said it plainly.
“Thank you for loving me.”
I pretended not to notice his sincerity.
The end of the rain and my birth were nothing more than coincidence. Before and after that time, Lundra often experienced long, cold rains.
The people of Lundra knew that as well. They had simply found one more reason to love me. I felt joy and gratitude for all of it.
“However, the fact that you were born early was not made known.”
“Thankfully, Mother wasn’t endangered. I was the one at risk.”
“That’s hardly something to be glad about.”
I was born far more than a month early, small and fragile. My parents do not know that I am aware of this story.
At birth, I could not breathe easily. Had I failed to breathe, I would never have grown beyond that tiny size.
Caution showed on Sir Diego’s face. He hesitated, then finally asked,
“Was your birth announced while Your Highness was still in danger?”
“No. I overcame the critical moment in less than half a day. I was welcomed only after that, so please don’t worry.”
“That is a relief, Princess.”
I smiled again and lifted my teacup.
After half a day, I was able to breathe properly on my own. Only then was my birth officially announced.
There were other issues afterward. My body was extremely cold, and I had trouble swallowing food. Those problems took more time to resolve.
I heard all of this from Daymond when I was young. He must have heard it from someone else.
Daymond remembered parts of it himself. He said he heard again and again that the baby princess was weak, so visitors should come another day.
When I first heard this story, I felt relief that my mother’s body had not been harmed—and sorrow that her heart must have been.
“Since then, I haven’t even suffered minor illnesses until recently. It seems that was the first and last time my life was fragile.”
I wanted to be a healthy, strong royal. A strong, quiet princess.
“Yes. I think so as well, Princess.”
“That’s why I’m troubled. I don’t want to burden them with worry on this holiday. What kind of gift would make it seem like it came from a healthy, happy daughter?”
“How about magical communication?”
“That’s a good idea.”
I thought it was a good idea, but it didn’t quite satisfy me.
Sir Diego, who had been standing beside me, stepped back a few paces and gave a brief salute. When I turned my head, I saw Cedric.
“What a splendid summer afternoon, Duke.”
At my unfamiliar greeting, Cedric delayed his reply and walked over. Standing right beside me, he spoke slowly.
“Good afternoon, Princess. May I join you?”
“Of course—if you’ve prepared an explanation for greeting me differently than usual.”
Cedric sat down. The two chairs in the garden were now both occupied.
“It seems I lack your spontaneous creativity, Princess.”
“Could you manage a varied greeting if you prepared in advance?”
“If you wish, I’ll allocate time in my work schedule to prepare greetings.”
I covered my mouth and laughed silently, imagining Cedric in his office, staring at a paper marked with time slots while pondering new greetings.
“I can’t make the Duke of Owen worry over greetings.”
“Thank you for your generosity.”
Cedric smiled as well, then continued.
“Were you enjoying tea time?”
“Yes. We were talking about the day I was born. Sir Diego says he’s loved me since then.”
“Is that so?”
Cedric’s gaze drifted briefly behind me, then returned. He instructed Sir Diego to tell the maids to bring another teacup. Soon, two maids arrived with a teapot of freshly brewed tea and Cedric’s cup, then left.
“The kingdom’s holiday is approaching. I was thinking about a gift to send my parents.”
“I’ve heard that in Lundra, Their Majesties’ wedding anniversary is observed as a major holiday.”
“Yes. It’s a day for families to spend time together.”
Cedric thought for a moment before saying,
“How about a bouquet of daisies?”
“That’s a wonderful idea! But there’s no way we could find daisies in the middle of summer.”
As I spoke, my gaze drifted unconsciously toward a cluster of daisies in the garden.
…There were daisies in summer?
