Chapter 32
Along the Flower Tree Path
The carriage stopped at the entrance to the botanical garden.
Fortunately, the five adults didn’t have to squeeze into a small rental carriage together. Cedric had arranged for the ducal estate’s large carriage instead.
Since riding with Cedric, Daimond’s previously uncomfortable expression had completely vanished, replaced now by anticipation.
Daimond explained that the botanical garden was a place where plants from around the world were beautifully cultivated and displayed for visitors.
“There’s also a research purpose, Princess. Botany is closely related to pharmacology. They collect various plants in one place for study, and by opening the space to visitors, they cover part of the garden’s research maintenance costs. Of course, the botanical garden also manages specific plant species to prevent extinction. It’s more economical in the long run.”
“It’s a place essential to the country!”
Nanesha added this explanation with the professionalism of someone from the kingdom’s treasury department.
The escort knights were to wait outside. Daimond had insisted firmly that it was fine because Yuri was present. I had wondered why they had waited in the morning, but in the end, I left Daimond to do as he wished.
I worried that everyone else might feel hot inside the early summer indoor space, even with the aid of magic—but no one seemed affected. The heat seemed to be critically dangerous only to me.
At the entrance to the indoor botanical garden, I marveled. The outdoor space was spacious, but the interior was just as grand. Sunlight poured through the dome-shaped glass ceiling.
“It’s so beautiful!”
“I thought you’d like it here.”
Daimond answered with a proud smile.
A path wide enough for two or three people to walk side by side stretched from the entrance. On the right, low red flowers grew, and on the left, the same species in yellow. Behind the flower bushes were tall trees with broad trunks, their surfaces wrapped in silk-like fibers.
It was astonishing. It felt as if there was another country inside Owen. The path extended far, seemingly without end.
No matter which way you turned your head, it was green. Though it was summer, it felt like spring, and though it was spring, it felt like summer. The pristine grass and flowers filled the air with a fragrant scent.
We walked slowly along the path. After a long straight stretch, it split into two directions.
On the left, vines grew along supports. The ground was paved with stepping stones rather than dirt, and the lush vines cast shadows on the path, creating a cozy atmosphere.
On the right, large and small flowering trees were grouped by species. A small stream ran alongside the path, and a fence of the same material as the wooden path bordered it.
Daimond, with a lively step, led the way down the vine-covered path. Nanesha followed him, and Yuri brought up the rear.
I twisted to follow Daimond and the others but briefly looked toward the flower trees. Even indoors with no wind, it felt like the path carried the scent of flowers.
“Princess, do you want to go that way?”
Cedric, standing calmly beside me, asked in a gentle voice.
Noticing I wasn’t immediately following, Daimond, who had led down the vine path, returned.
“Daisy?”
I turned to face Daimond.
“Brother, I was just talking with the Duke.”
Daimond glanced at the other path beyond my shoulder.
“Daisy, do you want to go that way?”
Both Cedric and Daimond asked the same question.
I didn’t really want to go to the flower tree path—I was only a little curious about the flowers. No matter how vast it was, it was an indoor dome. Could the vine path and the flower path be so different?
A couple of months ago, I probably would have said I didn’t know and just followed my brother. But today, I said something different.
“Yes. I’m curious about the flower tree path.”
“Alright. Got it. The paths might meet at the end, but if not, let’s meet back at the entrance after checking both paths.”
Daimond turned around lightly.
I saw Nanesha and Yuri, who had been waiting for Daimond, talking quietly as he approached. Their voices were too soft for me to hear clearly from a distance.
Everyone briefly looked my way, so I waved lightly toward them. Nanesha said something to Yuri; he laughed, and Daimond laughed too. Finally, Nanesha laughed as well.
At the end of the vine path seemed to be a wide open space. Sunlight shone behind Daimond and the others as they laughed under the vines.
The scene reminded me of the sight of Daimond and his friends in Rundra a few years ago. I had watched them from roughly the same distance back then. The number of Daimond’s friends had changed slightly, but otherwise nothing was different.
Then as now, it was a pleasant sight. Seeing it made me happy.
What did I do next? Though I occasionally talked with Daimond’s friends, I never approached them first. I just stood there.
And yet, only one person came to me.
“Princess.”
Ah! It was Cedric who had broken my thoughts.
I heard Cedric’s voice from behind and turned around briskly, just like I had with my second brother.
Cedric extended his hand toward me. Behind him were flowering trees—pink, yellow, green, and light green. Even at the ducal estate, our surroundings always seemed to be these colors.
“Will the Duke accompany me down the flower tree path?”
“Of course.”
His words were at a proper pace and pleasant pitch. Somehow, my heart fluttered.
I placed my hand on his. Familiar warmth. I lowered my gaze slightly and looked at his hand lightly holding mine.
I noticed his hand again. The palm was calloused. But the back of the hand, unlike a typical knight’s, was delicate—a thought I had had before.
“The knights I know usually have very rough hands. Yet you, Duke, have none.”
I added hastily before Cedric could respond.
“Ah—of course, Duke, I’ve also heard that you’re an excellent knight.”
Complimenting the delicacy of a knight’s hand could be rude. Saying a man who wields weapons has unscarred hands could imply he doesn’t fulfill his duty as a knight.
“Have you heard such rumors?”
“I haven’t heard the details, only that you’re an exceptional knight. Did I say something rude?”
“Not at all. Few have seen me wield a sword, so I was curious where you might have heard such things.”
Cedric didn’t seem offended in the slightest. Fortunately, he never twisted words.
“Then perhaps someday, you could be one of the few to witness my swordsmanship.”
“I don’t participate in martial competitions, so I’m not sure I could show it safely.”
Every country had at least one martial competition. But since Duke Cedric didn’t participate, it seemed unlikely I would ever see his swordsmanship.
“And, if you don’t think it rude for me to say this…”
I had intended to say it anyway but pretended to hesitate, as a proper lady should. Cedric always let me speak.
“Please, say it.”
“Your hands are very beautiful.”
His eyes sparkled as they reflected sunlight streaming through the ceiling glass. Cedric replied:
“Your eyes are beautiful too, Princess. Like honey.”
He added the compliment quickly.
I thought Cedric spoke pretty words neatly. That made his words sound like a very polite compliment.
“They’ll look lovely among the flowers, won’t they?”
“Yes, very much so.”
“I’m glad we chose this path.”
I smiled widely, turning to look at the flowers. There might even be bees here.
“What if bees come to take the honey?”
Since Cedric didn’t simply say “yes,” I could playfully continue the conversation.
“I’ll drive them away. After all, I am your knight.”
Cedric replied playfully as well:
“So I have a reliable ally. I’m glad I’m safe from the bees.”
I felt very cheerful and laughed aloud. Cedric seemed to enjoy it too.
Cedric lowered his head, meeting my gaze directly. We began walking along the flower trees. On my right, a stream flowed, making a clear, soothing sound.
“Recently, I wondered if others think the same as I do,” Cedric said, unusually speaking his thoughts first.
“What do you mean?”
“That the honey flowing in your eyes looks sweet.”
Ah. Cedric was still talking about my eyes.
