-77-
“They say he can’t speak… is that true?”
I couldn’t hide my shock at Baron Evitt’s words. How did that happen? As I wrapped my cold fingertips, I kept repeating his words in my mind.
Seeing my confusion, he carefully continued.
“I don’t know the details myself, but an employee from the botanical garden who was there told me that ever since the accident, the child hasn’t been able to speak.”
“Ever since the accident…”
“Yes. As Your Highness said, it seems the shock of losing his younger sibling in that accident might have been the cause. Now that I think about it, the staff member said something along those lines too.”
“…I see…”
It had been just a short trip to begin with, and after the sudden accident, I had no choice but to return because I couldn’t spare more time. I had always regretted not being there until the children woke up.
Especially the child I had saved—I had always wondered how he was doing. I never imagined the one I worried about most would be left with such aftereffects.
With a heavy heart, I shifted my gaze away from the teacup. I felt bad toward Baron Evitt, but I didn’t think I could drink the pale blue floral tea in front of me.
I tried hard to manage my expression, but perhaps it still showed, because he asked,
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Just… a little shocked. I had heard about the child once before, but never that he had lost his voice, or that he was suffering aftereffects.”
“I see… I’m sorry. Perhaps I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
Seeing his face darken, I shook my head.
“No, I’m grateful you told me. If you hadn’t, I probably would’ve remained in the dark.”
“Forgive my boldness, but if you weren’t directly in contact with the child, how did you hear about him before?”
“Through His Grace, the Grand Duke. After the accident, he often went to Synadelli as the one overseeing the restoration work.”
“Ah, I heard he’s been visiting frequently. Then… did His Grace not tell you about the child’s condition?”
“No. I only ever heard brief updates, nothing detailed.”
As I spoke with Baron Evitt, something began to feel strange. The only news I’d ever received about the child through Lucius was once—on my last birthday. He had given me a bouquet along with a gift, and mentioned then that the child was doing well.
At the time, I’d been so busy preparing to return to society that I hadn’t thought deeply about it. I had simply felt relieved at the words “he’s doing well,” happy as I accepted the bouquet.
But… could it be that Lucius truly didn’t know the child couldn’t speak?
No, he must have known. Then why…
Why would he hide something that even Baron Evitt and the botanical staff were aware of?
As I pondered, Baron Evitt asked,
“Why do you look troubled, Your Highness?”
“It’s just… odd. It feels as though His Grace deliberately hid the fact that the child can no longer speak. But… why?”
“Perhaps because he feared the shock or worry it might cause Your Grace?”
“Still, some time has passed since the accident. It’s tragic news, but I don’t think it’s something to keep hidden indefinitely…”
“Maybe His Grace thought more deeply about your connection with the child. After all, Your Grace personally saved him, did you not? It seemed you cared for him greatly even afterward. Perhaps, when His Grace saw the child in Synadelli, his condition was far worse than he wanted you to know.”
“Do you really think so…?”
“Yes. Even to me, the child seemed outwardly cheerful, but there was a fragile air about him.”
“Really?”
Hearing his words, I thought perhaps that was true. If Baron Evitt had sensed that much from meeting him, then Lucius must have felt it even more.
Lucius saw the child more often than anyone else, so he surely knew his true state. If it was serious, perhaps he decided to hide it from me to spare me pain.
After all, no one cares for me more than Lucius. He must have known how much it would hurt me to hear such news. If the child’s condition was dire enough to give off such a precarious aura, then all the more so.
I appreciate his concern, and I understand… but if it really was that serious, I wish he had told me.
How serious must it be for Lucius to conceal it so thoroughly? I wanted to know the exact details. Treating aftereffects like that would never be simple. With a worried sigh, I murmured.
“I can’t help but worry about him…”
“Of course. Even if you learned it by chance, hearing his condition is serious must weigh heavily on Your Grace’s mind.”
“…Yes.”
“Then why not speak to His Grace about it directly?”
“To Lucius? Hm…”
I hesitated. Now that I knew, perhaps I should just ask. Lucius would surely question how I’d found out, but it was inevitable that I would learn eventually. Maybe if I asked casually, it would be fine.
I gave Baron Evitt a thankful glance.
“I’ll try. And don’t worry—I won’t say you told me.”
“If it’s His Grace, I doubt it will matter even if you do. But I leave it to your discretion, Your Highness.”
“Alright. Oh, and I don’t think I can drink the tea today. You went to the trouble of brewing it, but… I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. There’s still plenty of time. Once you’ve confirmed the child’s state and your heart feels lighter, please try it again. I’ll be waiting.”
“…Thank you.”
His gentle smile made me return one of my own. As I watched him put the glass jar of dried petals back into its box, I asked,
“May I keep that? I can’t drink it yet, but… I’d like to have it near me.”
“Of course. Though it’s just a prototype. I had planned to give you the finished blend as a gift.”
“This is fine.”
“Very well.”
I stopped him from closing the lid and took the jar as it was. The unfaded petals, and the faint fragrance lingering in the drawing room, reminded me of the blue rose the child had once given me.
After Baron Evitt left, I spent the time finishing up my remaining work in the study. As the sun set outside the window, I gathered the papers I’d completed.
Stretching out my stiff body, my gaze fell again on the glass jar on my desk. Because of it, I hadn’t been able to focus all day. No matter how much I tried to ignore it, it was impossible.
“To think Baron Evitt would use that child’s flower to make a prototype…”
And of all flowers, a blue rose. Was this really coincidence? At this point, it felt like fate.
From the very beginning, that child and his sibling had lingered in my thoughts. One way or another, our ties ran deeper than I’d expected—even though I didn’t even know his name properly.
Sighing softly, I fiddled with the jar. The layered petals inside filled me with memories. Then came a knock at the door.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
At my reply, the door opened and Warren entered. His voice was soft.
“My lady, His Grace has returned.”
“Has he? Alright, I’ll come out.”
I set the jar down and left the study. Going downstairs with Warren, I saw Lucius handing his cloak to a maid. When our eyes met, he smiled and approached, wrapping me gently in his arms.
“Lucius, welcome home.”
“I’m back, Tiana.”
We exchanged greetings as always and headed to the dining room. Naturally, he pulled out my chair for me before sitting opposite.
Soon, the table filled with a delicious meal. Though my mind still lingered on what I’d heard earlier, I forced myself to enjoy the dinner, sipping wine Warren poured.
Afterward, as we went up to our room, he moved toward me with intent—only to stop suddenly and pull back.
“Ah, forgive me, Tiana. I forgot I’m covered in dust.”
“Dust? Where did you go? Weren’t you supposed to be working at the Imperial Palace today?”
“There was an urgent matter at the Synadelli restoration site. I came straight from there, and the dust clung to me.”
“Is that so? Then you should bathe quickly.”
I brushed some dust from his shoulder, but he only looked at me deeply, pulling me close.
“Or… shall we bathe together?”
His eyes, smoldering with heat, reflected my face. Bathing with him… On any other night, it would have been a welcome temptation. But tonight, with my thoughts elsewhere, it was better to refuse. A bath would never end with just bathing, and I still needed to confirm the child’s state.
As much as I regretted turning away from his teasing, I gently pushed him back with a smile.
“As much as I’d love to, tonight I’ll go alone. I have things on my mind… and questions I need to ask you.”
“Questions for me?”
“Yes. But first, wash up. I’ll take my bath too and gather my thoughts.”
“…Understood.”
Though puzzled, he didn’t press further and went straight to the bathroom. I called a maid to prepare mine as well.
“My lady, the bath is ready.”
“Thank you.”
Once inside, I rinsed lightly before sinking into the warm water. My body relaxed as I closed my eyes, sorting my thoughts.
There’s really not much to sort through…
I already knew what I had to confirm with Lucius: the child’s true condition, and why he tried to hide it.
If it was only because he feared I’d worry, I could understand—but to such an extent? Just how serious was it?
And if Lucius truly wanted to hide it from me, he wouldn’t have overlooked Baron Evitt. He knew the man was often in Synadelli.
If he truly meant to conceal it, he would have cut off every possible source of information.
If it were truly for my sake, he would’ve made sure I never found out. But he hadn’t. Even today, I ended up learning from Baron Evitt, almost by accident.
Lucius was a meticulous man. If he wanted to hide something, he’d have silenced even Baron Evitt. That he didn’t meant there had to be another reason.
Some reason he was hesitating—leaving just enough of a gap for me to discover the truth.
