Episode 44
***
“Wow… There are tons of incredibly rare plants.”
We had flown straight to the Southtern shopping district and found a gardening store.
It was an enormous greenhouse, reminiscent of a grand botanical garden.
I crouched in front of it, admiring the plants lined up outside.
Theo was napping in a nearby carriage, and Grandpa had gone to buy seeds at my request.
“Gasp! Lord Blaine Wintervalt! W-what brings you all the way to the Southtern shopping district…?!”
“Mintmel.”
“Pardon?”
The Southtern shopping district was mainly filled with stores that did business with the southern Summerlane ducal household.
It was rare for someone from Wintervalt to visit, so Grandpa drew quite a few curious glances.
“Vint… Vintermel?”
“…”
Surprisingly, Grandpa was terrible at remembering plant names… Though he could recite embroidery patterns perfectly…
“Anyway… I came to buy that herb kids like these days.”
“Ah. Kids these days don’t really like herbs. But I suppose you mean the Mintmary herb. Right this way, please.”
“Mm.”
“We also have a premium fertilizer co-developed with the Mage Tower. Would you like to take a look?”
“If it doesn’t take too long.”
I told Grandpa I’d wait outside.
I didn’t want to go into the gardening shop and risk being asked about my identity—answering that would be difficult.
There were many southerners here, and if any rumors spread, it wouldn’t be good for Dad.
‘Still, there are so many plants I’ve never seen before.’
I studied a white flower with my gold-rimmed magnifying glass (NEW!) as I thought.
At the entrance, with a long awning, hanging plants dangled from above, making for quite a sight.
‘Didn’t they say the Florin Count’s family runs a gardening business in the south?’
I remembered hearing they mainly sold plants for landscaping royal or noble gardens and rare ornamental species.
Of course.
I know very well that the south is perfect for growing plants.
“But Grandpa’s taking kind of a long time…”
It was just one packet of seeds.
‘Wait. Could it be he’s short on pocket money? Did he spend it all at the toy store earlier?’
Just as I stood up, thinking it might finally be time to open my own pocket money stash—
Rattle.
Something rolled over and touched my toe.
“Huh? A fruit?”
It was a tiny red fruit, about the size of my fingernail.
‘Looks like it rolled here, carried by the wind from over there.’
Holding the fruit, I began to walk. My eyelids blinked slowly.
‘There’s… an alley here?’
Next to the fancy gardening store was a narrow alley that could easily be missed unless you looked carefully.
At the entrance stood a small tree. It bore the same kind of fruit that I held in my hand.
‘No way… Did that tree drop this fruit for me?’
I cautiously poked my head in and peeked into the dim alley.
I saw a small door that seemed to lead into the store building.
‘Maybe it leads to a storage room…?’
Well, the place was big enough that a back door wouldn’t be surprising.
“But why did you drop this for me, tree…?”
Just as I was about to reach toward the tree—
Whooosh—
A wind blew from somewhere.
Clang!
“…!”
A sharp crash made me snap my head around.
‘Gasp. That’s where I was just standing!’
My heart dropped at the sight of a shattered flowerpot.
It must’ve fallen from above when the knot holding it came loose.
‘D-did the tree save me?’
Swallowing hard, I turned to head back toward the shop.
“Little one.”
“…!”
Someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder.
“It’s dangerous to go any closer.”
“…Excuse me?”
It was a man cloaked in a robe pulled deep over his head.
He was very tall and broad-shouldered. His collar was pulled up to his nose, so I couldn’t see his face well…
“This fell, too.”
Then, a long fingered hand—wearing a ring on the index finger—held something out to me.
‘Ah! My magnifying glass!’
I must’ve dropped it when I was startled by the crash earlier.
“Thank y—”
And that was when it happened.
Our eyes met. From under the hood, I saw green eyes that looked much like mine.
That was all. Just meeting his eyes—yet it felt like the ground beneath me gave out.
‘Huh?’
My fingers froze. My heart pounded like mad.
Bzzzz—
A strange ringing echoed in my ears. What was this? What was happening?
“Little one? What’s wrong?”
I began to back away. Or tried to—I wasn’t even sure if my legs were moving properly.
‘S-scared…’
I was scared.
What was this sensation?
“Little one!”
Thud!
I stumbled and fell on my butt. A sharp pain pricked at my fingers.
“Oh no! You got cut on the flowerpot shards!”
The man rushed over, startled.
“Let me help you. Just come a little clos—”
“No…!”
In a sudden wave of unknown fear and helplessness, I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Excuse me.”
A refreshing breeze swept in from somewhere.
The edge of a worn robe fluttered and lightly brushed my cheek.
I dazedly looked up at the boy who had stepped between me and the man.
‘Prince Jelly…!’
His face, glancing back at me from under his hood, was rather expressionless.
“Do you have some business with my friend?”
Argen blocked the man’s view of me, then hesitated before reaching a hand behind him.
It looked like he was telling me to grab on and get up, but my body was too limp.
“No… I just thought she got hurt…”
“What’s going on here? Oh dear. Lirin!”
Just then, the coachman who had been waiting nearby came running over.
At the same time, my body was lifted into the air.
“My dear.”
“Gr-Grandpa…”
He must’ve rushed out upon hearing the crash. His face had gone pale.
Burying my face in his broad, solid chest, I finally felt like I could breathe again.
“What happened, huh? Who scared you like this?”
“A flowerpot… broke, and…”
As always, Grandpa comforted me, patting my back. My heart, which had felt like it might burst, quickly calmed down.
‘What was that just now?’
An unexplainable fear.
Terror that surged endlessly.
‘It’s not like that man even yelled at me.’
Why had I been so completely frozen?
“Lord Blaine!”
Hearing the commotion, the store clerks and a man who seemed to be Count Florin came rushing out.
“Count, it seems there’s been an incident.”
“Huh?”
“I apologize!”
The robed man bowed deeply. Upon checking his ID badge, it turned out he was a low-ranked mage from a nearby Mage Tower.
‘A-a mage? So I was overwhelmed by his magic.’
Apparently, that sometimes happened when meeting those who exude strong magic like mages do.
Maybe, ever since the procession, my own magical powers were blooming more and more, making me extra sensitive to a mage’s magic.
‘And the flowerpot crash might have startled me even more…’
“I’m truly sorry. I only meant to help the child when the flowerpot broke, but I must have frightened her instead. How can I make this right?”
The man scratched the back of his head as he spoke.
Glancing at Grandpa holding me tightly, Count Florin rebuked the man with a stern voice.
“There’s no need for compensation. Just leave. Why would you approach a child so carelessly and frighten her further?”
“My deepest apologies…”
“And what were you all doing? What kind of management is this? A child could’ve been seriously hurt!”
“We’ll clean it up right away, Count!”
“If this child was brought by Lord Blaine, she should’ve stayed inside the store! Didn’t I tell you to act with some flexibility?!”
“We’re sorry!”
The clerks scrambled to clean up as the Count scolded them harshly.
The mage apologized again and left in a hurry.
“Phew…”
At last, a deep breath escaped my lips.
‘Didn’t mean to cause such a scene…’
Have I gone weak from tending the garden lately?
‘Alright. Starting today, I’m eating one and a half portions.’
I shook my head to shake off the feeling.
“Grandpa. I’m okay now.”
As my scattered mind cleared, I remembered the boy who had stood in front of me.
With the crowd gathering, the boy had pulled his hood down and stepped aside.
“C-could you let me down now…?”
Just then, Grandpa clenched his jaw and slowly pressed his thick thumb against my palm.
“…You’re hurt.”
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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