Flowers of Worship

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But Cili would be sorry. And I don’t want to see the only person who saved me feel guilty about me. So, I don’t want to talk about being sick.

“I need to take some medicine.”

“Anything is fine, whether it’s medicine or poison, just don’t tell Cili.”

No one answered my words. Because their owner is Cili, not me. I clicked my tongue and closed my eyes. As my irritation seemed to have reached the top of my head, the maid cautiously spoke to me.

“Your highness, would you like some hot soup?”

The maid Rosemary was the youngest among the maids, she was ten years old this year. She was a handmaiden brought in by Cili; she didn’t care about her age and said that she was a relative of a certain count. Although she did not have a title, she had white skin and an aristocratic accent, probably because she had noble blood in her. Rosemary was my own maid, and Cili and I shared the same maid. It’s because Cili cared she saw that I needed both a male and a female attendant, and had put two people about my age. I didn’t like that I was being treated like a child, but people praised her for her consideration had reached the heavens.

“Or do you want me to bring you some warm wine?” asked Thane, the servant.

A warm wine was more appealing. Ruthbert, Istrum’s housekeeper, made the hot wine wonderfully. The wine she made was sweet and cinnamon-scented. I always fell asleep after drinking it, and when I woke up, my body was relaxed. Above all.

“The lady loved it, too.”

“Lord. It should be the lord, Bert. Cili is the Duke of Hastred.”

“Yes, yes, she is the master, now. But I have seen her since she was born.”

With a gentle smile, Bert gave me the warm wine that Cili liked when she’s young. Although she became a holy knight, she was prone to colds and drank hot wine frequently, as Bert said. I liked her talking about the young Cili. The little Cili that I didn’t know. While listening about Cili, I thought I would grow like when I was her age. Even though I knew it was an illusion, I kept thinking about it, and made me feel better.

“Cili is healthy unlike me. A holy knight.”

“Of course, she is in good health like steel, but if you overdo it, it will hurt your highness.”

Is Cili overdoing it?

While sipping the warm wine that Bert had made, she let everyone out and thought to myself. Is it normal to not be able to return to the capital or Hastred even once in two years? What if she bought my uncle’s hatred while trying to save me? If that’s why she’s trapped…

I shouldn’t think like this.

What a useless thought. But what if she fell into a trap? Can I go and run to the rescue? All I can do is pray for her safety.

***

I had a dream. It was a dream that was a little different from reality.

A few days before she went, she took me to the most famous clothing store in Yenson. The name of the clothing store was Lartur, and it was also the name of the owner. As it is the most famous place in Yansen, it was huge. The three-story building was made of pure white marble, and it was huge; inside the first floor were the displayed products and was enclosed with glass instead of walls. The clothes on display were half women’s and half men’s, and they were all so glamorous. Moreover, the building had an elegant circular shape, that seemed to be clamored by guests. Some customers picked items from the display on the first floor, while others picked items from a separate room to an inner garden. The building was arranged as if enclosing the inner garden, and it was very beautiful when it formed a decorative circle like the shape of a card spade.

“Isn’t the building really pretty?” Sophie, who was accompanying me asked, while I nodded in return. Then, she put a hand to my ear and whispered,

“It used to be the residence of Countess Mo, but she lost the townhouse to Lartur after being too luxurious. So Lartur changed it a bit to suit his shop.”

Come to think of it. It occurred to me then that this gigantic clothing store resembled the Sarian family townhouse, Istrum, with the exception of the display windows and a few things. It was a townhouse as beautiful as Istrum. When I said it was like Istrum, Sophie laughed, saying, “You have good eyesight.”

“It was built by the same architect. After all, the nobles have the same preferred architects.”

“When it’s trendy, they all flock to it,” said Sophie. A clothing store employee came out to meet us, then clothing staff lined up in front of the carriage that I had to get off with Silli.

“Your excellency the grand duke.” A well-dressed middle-aged woman clapped her hands loudly.

.“I thought you have forgotten Larture.”

“It’s been a while, Mrs. Larture”

“Call me Tracy, not Larture.”

“Has it been 2 years?”

“It’s been 3 years and 8 months, unfortunately.”

Ah.

Cili groaned in a hoarse voice. Larture was acting cute that seemed to melt, so I was a little embarrassed. Do women have such cutesy towards women?

“I’ll introduce his highness, Grand Duke Irsias.”

Cilli introduced me in a polite manner. Larture said, “Oh!” as she was very happy and bowed down to me gracefully. I was staring at her. Then Cili whispered, “Your highness, do tell her to get up.” Then I remembered the etiquette I had learned. In the royal palace, they guarded it like a sword, but it was in front of a clothing store, so I didn’t think it was a place to keep the etiquette.

“You may rise, Larture.”

“I obliged, your highness.”

Realizing my embarrassment, Cili stepped forward appropriately. She reached out to Larture and escorted the owner of the clothing store, saying, “His highness came to see your clothes, so I brought him here.”

And then we wandered through Larture’s clothing store. I never picked out clothes. For the first time in my life, it was unfamiliar to me. Cili seemed unfamiliar with it too. When asked what to buy, she said with a bewildered look, “Just whatever you like… .” she muttered. Eventually, Sophie came out and picked up a few sets of clothes.

“I don’t need it.”

“There is no need. Since you came to the capital, there are a few families that need faces to show.”

“How many?” When Cili asked, Sophie, puffed like a goldfish. Cili looked at her quietly and said,

“Are you just following what Leon says without knowing it?”

“Is it obvious?”

“Very.”

Cili laughed at Sophie who lowered her head. “Anyway, there are a few parties that require a face stamp,” she reassured Sophie. Then an employee came and bowed softly to Cili and said, “Your grace.” and smiled softly. Back then, we hadn’t expected what would happen next.

“His highness the Grand Duke is truly beautiful in appearance.”

“Oh, what.”

Seeley shuddered at her exaggerated praise for my appearance. I think it was too much to say it was heaven and earth. If it were me, I could not hide the expression, ‘What are you talking about?’

“Your highness. Would it be ok if I introduce our Larture costumes to his highness?”

At that time, she had asked me because Cili was my guardian, and I think Cili probably thought so too. So she mumbled, “Yeah, well,” from then I was kidnapped.

In that state, I had to wander all over the place in Larture, trying on clothes for my age and even the clothes for older people. Even I want to get mad at what she’s doing.

“Oh, how beautiful you are.”

“I think I made this dress to see what it looked like.”

“Ah, thank God. Thank you for giving me an eye.”

Watching them exclaim the same nonsensical exclamation and admiration, I couldn’t help but get angry. Some covered their mouths with both hands and some slid to the floor while holding a curtain. Everyone was so theatrical, but the truth was scary.

“Lee, I’m having a hard time.”

While changing into a dozen or hundreds of clothes, I called her. Cili’s ‘Cil’ was so hard that I couldn’t even get it out of my mouth. Even though I only called Lee, she turned to me. Looking at my complexion and said, “Ah,” then smiled.

“Forgive me, your highness. You are so beautiful that I just stared at you.” Sophie who was next to her gasped, coming to her senses.

“Oh my, you are really, really handsome.”

“Don’t talk like you’re seeing my face for the first time, Sophie.”

“No, no, of course, I know your highness’s face. Certainly. By chance, ah, because you dress properly here… Wow…How elegant… Wow…Oh, is it because it’s Larture?” I glanced at Sophie who said it wasn’t my appearance but because it was Larture’s hand. She then waved her hands in an exaggerated manner.

“Oh, your highness. Of course, your highness’s face is beautiful and wonderful… .”

“Stop it.”

You don’t mean it anyway.

“Shall we?”

Sophie smiled broadly as she picked up Cili’s clothes. I picked out a few, then she let me sat down on the long, comfy sofa and looked at my complexion to see if I was okay. In the blink of an eye, Sophie showed up with a couple of dresses draped over her arms and asked her to try them on. Cili showed a sign of worry and annoyance, but I was concerned about Cili, who had not worn a single outfit while I had been changing for over half a day. She is about to go on an expedition, so would it be okay to waste time looking at me in a place like this?

Reading my discomfort, she said, “Yeah, well, I have to go to the party,” she said and stood up.