Chapter — 47
My Flower Path Is You
When Violet lifted her head to look at him, she saw Winston’s lips twisted into a cold, crooked smile. A low growl followed.
“Did you think my warning was a joke?”
“……Pardon?”
“I’m sure I said it clearly back then.”
“…….”
“If you ever catch my eye again, it won’t end with something cute like expulsion.”
After finishing his icy words, Winston stood up. Violet’s voice, now frantic, was filled with resentment.
“Y-Your Highness, this is a misunderstanding!”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes, it really is! I was a victim too!”
It was Adeline’s fault for falling off the horse. Why am I the only one being blamed?
Violet believed she had been expelled from the Central Academy entirely because of Adeline. It was true that she and her friends had staged the riding accident back then, but they only meant to scare her. The one who stupidly fell was Adeline.
“As you know, I’m usually kind—”
“If that day were erased from existence, I might reconsider.”
“Your Grace, Grand Duke Blackwood!”
As Winston coldly turned and walked away, Violet’s tears finally fell. Julia, who had been sitting on the sofa, shook her head.
Honestly, how could she mess up something so simple?
Julia hadn’t expected Winston to show up at the Blueciel Atelier that day either. Recently, she’d heard he was often busy with knights and hunting grounds.
She walked over to Violet, who was bent over, crying.
“Miss Violet.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Our Winston is more delicate than he looks. He was probably startled by what happened that day.”
“…….”
“So don’t take it too hard. He’s simple-minded. He’ll forget.”
“D-Do you really think so?”
“Of course. He pretends to be strong, but he’s soft inside. And don’t worry about losing the necklace I gave you. A friendship wouldn’t break over something like that.”
“Th-Thank you.”
At first, Julia had only wanted to tease that rude Adeline, who dared not even greet her. The necklace was meant to show that Violet had come as her representative.
She planned to buy a mountain of goods and show off her influence. She wanted to see Adeline bow on her own.
I didn’t expect Winston to step in. The fact that he destroyed the necklace outright means he must’ve been really angry.
Unfortunately, things had grown bigger than expected. To clean it up, she needed a scapegoat. Calling Violet was meant to end this as nothing more than a childish power struggle between women.
Winston would never think that she, an imperial princess, would deliberately harass a shop owner. Why would someone so noble do something so petty to someone so lowly? As long as they bowed their heads, she would favor them anyway.
“Come now, Miss Violet. Sit and have some tea first. You need to calm down so we can plan our next appointment.”
“Sob… Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. We’re friends, after all. By the way, tell me in detail what happened at the Central Academy. I hate it when my friends are treated unfairly.”
Thinking the worst was over, Julia patted Violet’s shoulder. At that moment, she didn’t yet know what a real crisis was.
Adeline wandered around the banquet hall. But Julia, her precious prospective client, was nowhere to be seen.
Why is everyone doing whatever they want?
In the garden, Drake had vanished with the chocolate cake he’d been slowly saving, annoyingly enough. But that was fine. They weren’t close to begin with.
The only person she’d run into after entering the hall was Theodore. He pretended not to see her and disappeared. That was fine too. He’d ordered five thousand candles, after all—it was easy to overlook that.
The real problem was Winston. He’d brought her here, yet she couldn’t see him anywhere.
Everyone else aside, Winston can’t just disappear like this. Then why did he even bring me?
She told herself she was looking for Julia, but her eyes were naturally searching for Winston instead. Her irritated, hurried steps stopped in front of a portrait of the former emperor and empress.
The former emperor Heinrich’s jet-black hair and deep blue eyes looked almost identical to Winston’s. Her feet stopped without her meaning to.
Of course the male lead—or the male lead’s father—is handsome. It’s not just me thinking that.
Someday, Winston too would meet the woman he truly loved and leave memories together with that same gentle expression. Just then, a low voice came from behind her.
“I’m here.”
Winston was sitting casually on a marble railing. He, too, had been looking at his parents’ portrait. Startled, Adeline quickly changed the subject.
“Where is Princess Julia?”
“I thought you were looking for me.”
“Why would I be?”
“Because you secretly met another man behind my back.”
“W-What are you talking about?”
Her flustered voice cracked. Her heart pounded as if she’d been caught cheating. Winston grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him.
“You were with that pirate in the garden.”
It seemed he had seen her with Drake. She answered calmly.
“He’s a client.”
“You have too many clients.”
“That’s a good thing. I hope I get even more.”
The annoyed grand duke’s gaze dropped to her slender hand. She was holding a large paper shopping bag, complete with a ribbon.
“What’s that? From the look of it, it’s a gift.”
“It’s a present for Princess Julia.”
“Another attempt to attract a client?”
“Yes. The hunting festival is coming up soon.”
“It’s still far away.”
Autumn was still a long way off. Unless it was a light hunt, Winston found it strange.
“I always prepare handkerchiefs or gifts early for that day. Since I had the chance, I wanted to show Her Highness some of our products.”
“You’re working too hard.”
“Of course I have to. I wanted to bring up the birthday banquet, but that felt too obvious.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I can’t let my employees starve, so I have to put in the effort.”
“How about putting half of that effort into me instead?”
“No. I’m going to make my own flower path.”
Winston gently lifted their joined hands. His soft lips touched the back of her hand.
“Every step I take toward you is already a flower path.”
Her heart crashed like waves against her chest. His moonlit black hair, those deep blue eyes, his low, resonant voice—everything was a dangerous tide. One that could sweep her away and drown her in the sea called Winston.
Adeline pulled her hand back and stepped away. His low voice followed.
“Is it not the same for you?”
Her mind went blank. To her, a “flower path” had always meant making a lot of money. She didn’t want to starve to death, and she didn’t want a life sold away because of money.
She wanted to earn a fortune and live happily. With money, what was there to fear? That’s what she’d always believed.
She’d never imagined that simply going to meet someone could itself be a flower path. She’d never imagined hearing such words.
If he treats me like this, he’ll treat Layla Fenercia even better when he meets her, right? And someday, I’ll have to watch that happen…
The man reflected in her eyes felt familiar, yet strangely distant. The moment a small hope or joy took root in this nameless feeling, the one who would collapse was always her.
Adeline raised her lowered gaze and looked at him, lips pressed tight.
“Go. The Julia you’re looking for is over there.”
Winston turned away with a sulky expression. His back looked like that of a big child. It felt as though something had dropped out of her chest with a dull thud.
As soon as she turned the corner of the corridor, she spotted Julia. She wasn’t alone. Adeline hid behind the wall. Soon, a familiar voice reached her ears, but her mind was still full of Winston.
The novel will start soon. Then everything will return to where it belongs.
When she had calmed down a bit, a cool, autumn-like voice sounded. Adeline peeked past the wall again. Red hair caught her eye. It was Theodore.
“You must keep a proper line.”
“Trust me and leave it to me.”
“I don’t trust anyone stupider than myself.”
“That’s a relief. I’m not stupid.”
What are they even talking about?
She couldn’t tell, but both of them looked serious.
“I have nothing more to say. I’ll be leaving now.”
After speaking coldly, Theodore disappeared down the opposite corridor. Adeline forced herself to think about when to approach Julia. When nothing came to mind, she sat down on the floor and lightly knocked her head against the wall.
Not long after, someone tapped her shoulder.
