Chapter 50
The Language of Sunflowers and Baby’s Breath
Shortly after, Amy returned and set up teacups and saucers for two. With that, the three of them began their small tea time together.
It was more enjoyable than expected. Ryan drank his tea and nibbled on dessert while exclaiming in delight, sharing various stories—mostly about the flowers and plants he tended to.
Apparently, Amy had heard them all before because she grumbled for him to stop. Liena, however, simply smiled, enjoying the peaceful moment.
“Ryan, you really seem like a good person.”
Liena praised him sincerely while listening, and Ryan burst out laughing. Amy, meanwhile, frowned deeply.
“That’s a compliment, right? You’re not teasing him for being talkative?”
Liena quickly shook her head.
“Of course it’s a compliment. I really think Ryan is a kind person. And I like listening to him talk. I’ve learned a lot I didn’t know before.”
Ryan scratched the back of his head, looking bashful.
“Thank you for the compliment, miss. You know, people who love plants can’t be bad. I think the more I love plants, the more laid-back I’ve become.”
“Really? I guess that’s true.”
Amy, who had been listening in a grumpy tone, interjected.
“Miss, don’t be fooled. That’s all an act. He acts like this in front of you, but he’s completely different when we’re alone.”
Ryan rested his chin on both hands.
“Oh yeah? How exactly am I different?”
“You tease me and call me ‘carrot girl’ and pull pranks and—!”
Liena watched the two with interest.
She hadn’t noticed it before, but now it was clear—the way Ryan looked at Amy wasn’t ordinary. There was a smile in his eyes, yes, but beneath that, unmistakable affection.
She’d thought he was just friendly to everyone, but this was something else entirely.
‘Ryan must like Amy.’
Unfortunately, Amy didn’t seem to have realized it yet.
As Liena quietly observed them, her thoughts suddenly turned to Kassel.
Watching Ryan’s gaze reminded her of how Kassel looked at her. It was a look like this… wasn’t it? Or was she just imagining things?
Her expression darkened slightly, and Ryan, who had been watching Amy with amusement, turned to Liena with a suggestion.
“Miss, if you’ve enjoyed your tea and dessert, would you like to go look at the flowers now?”
Amy quickly chimed in, sensing Ryan’s intent.
“Yes! The scent of flowers will lift your spirits. You could even pick some yourself for your room.”
“That’s a good idea, Miss Carrot.”
“I told you not to call me that!”
Liena stood up readily.
“Sure. Let’s go, then.”
Amy stayed behind to clear the table, so Liena ended up walking through the garden alone with Ryan. Thanks to his endless chatter about the flowers, she didn’t feel bored at all. She didn’t even have time to let her thoughts wander or feel gloomy.
While walking, a particular flower caught Liena’s eye.
Unconsciously, she stopped in front of it.
“A sunflower.”
It was a small sunflower, similar to the one Kassel had given her. Its golden head tilted proudly toward the sky, basking in the sunlight.
“Do you like sunflowers?”
“Rather than like… well…”
She hesitated before speaking.
“Cass— I mean, the Duke gave me a sunflower bouquet once.”
“A sunflower bouquet? That’s not a very common choice. But I bet it was beautiful.”
“Yeah. He decorated it with white baby’s breath. It was quite pretty.”
Ryan pulled out a pair of gardening shears from the bag at his waist.
“Then let’s make your bouquet a sunflower one today, in memory of that. There should be some baby’s breath in the greenhouse too.”
“That’s really not necessary.”
“Since I’m giving you flowers anyway, I’d rather they have some meaning. Which sunflower do you like?”
Liena pointed to the roundest one, and Ryan snipped it with the shears.
“Watching it get cut like that makes me feel oddly guilty. Maybe it’s better to just enjoy them in the garden.”
“This sunflower will be happy to bring you joy too. Besides, if left here, it’ll just wilt eventually.”
He spoke casually as he cut a few more sunflowers.
Soon, he guided her toward where the baby’s breath was. As he snipped them as well, he added,
“Come to think of it, I didn’t realize until now, but the Duke is surprisingly romantic.”
“Romantic? But bouquets are pretty common gifts.”
“I don’t mean just the bouquet—it’s about the flower meanings.”
“Flower meanings?”
“Yes.”
Ryan smiled.
“Do you know what sunflowers symbolize?”
Liena shook her head.
“No, I’ve never heard.”
“Sunflowers represent unwavering devotion. Loving only one person. There’s even a myth about it.”
He shared the story:
One day, a fairy fell in love with the sun god. She longed for nothing more than for him to look her way, so she kept watching him. But the sun god never noticed her.
Days passed, then weeks. Eventually, the fairy, who remained rooted in place, was transformed into a yellow flower.
That flower was the sunflower, which forever gazes at the sun.
“Hearing just the meaning, it sounds romantic. But the story’s kind of sad. It’s unrequited love, after all.”
“True,” Ryan nodded, then continued.
“There’s also a fun detail—depending on how many sunflowers are in the bouquet, the meaning changes. Four sunflowers mean ‘I’ll look only at you, always and everywhere.’ And 999 mean ‘Even if I’m reborn countless times, I’ll always love you.’ Isn’t that incredibly romantic?”
Come to think of it… how many sunflowers had been in her bouquet? Three? Four? She couldn’t remember exactly.
“Still, I doubt the Duke knew all that. He probably just thought they were pretty.”
Ryan shrugged.
“That’s possible. Sunflowers are common in late summer and early autumn, so they’re easier to get than other flowers.”
Even while trimming the flowers, Ryan kept chatting.
“Baby’s breath has a flower meaning too—do you know it?”
“Nope. What is it?”
“Well, it depends on the color. Do you remember what color yours was?”
“I think it was white. Like the ones you’re holding.”
“In that case… hmm…”
Ryan thought for a moment.
“White baby’s breath usually means pure heart, promise, or the fruit of love. There are other meanings too, but those are the common ones.”
“What are the other meanings?”
He hesitated briefly.
“Things like death and sorrow. It’s a bit eerie that pure love and death are both meanings, but I personally find that kind of romantic.”
“…Romantic?”
Liena asked doubtfully, and Ryan smiled sheepishly.
“Well, this is just my personal take, but… doesn’t it sound like loving someone so much you’d even die for them?”
His expression as he explained was unusually solemn.
Liena chuckled.
“When you put it that way, I guess it does. Still, I doubt the Duke thought that deeply about it.”
“Then maybe you can tell him later.”
“Hmm.”
But at the mention of Kassel, Liena’s face dimmed again.
Realizing his slip, Ryan quickly changed the subject.
“Speaking of which, I wonder if young master Noah likes flowers too? Since we’re here, maybe we should prepare a bouquet for him as well. Would you help me pick one?”
Grateful for his consideration, Liena forced a smile.
“Sure, I’ll help.”
Together, they carefully chose flowers for Noah. Ryan suggested several with meaningful symbolism, but it wasn’t easy.
After circling the garden again, Liena finally decided to give Noah a sunflower too.
Her reason, silly as it was, was that the bright yellow color reminded her of Noah’s hair.
With practiced hands, Ryan trimmed the flower and wrapped it in white paper, forming a neat bouquet.
When Noah received the sunflower bouquet, he jumped up and down with joy.
He was delighted first when she said, “I picked it because it looks like your hair,” and then even more so when she added, “I have the same flower in my room too.”
