The Flower Dances and the Wind Sings

73.

Leory Cellon, Ercella’s teacher, was a unique person. She was the wife of a Cellonian on the outskirts of the countryside, but her old dress and curly hair tied loosely could never give her identity off as nobility. I’ve heard she has a weak background, but she isn’t even trying to put up appearances.

Noticing Ercella’s confusion, Leory expressed her displeasure, “I couldn’t pack any heavy luggage as I was in a hurry. I ended up appearing shabby in front of the Duchess. I’ll be careful next time.”

“It’s okay, Mrs. Cellon,” dissuaded Ercella. She was a little surprised but wasn’t offended by her shabby attire. And at least, it wasn’t like Ercella to say, ‘Yes. Be careful next time.’

“Thank you for your understanding,” Leory smiled calmly.

That was her first meeting with Leory Cellon.

“Oh dear. Your Grace, the origin of ‘Harat’ is ‘Haraz’, and you have to pronounce it ‘Haraj’ in this part.”

And a week had passed since that meeting.

Ercella focused her attention on Leory’s point.

“It’s similar but different. Likewise, ‘Mūiet’ is derived from ‘Mūiraz’ and means ‘fine morning’. It is used to invite someone for a meal.”

“I see.” Ercella followed the text in the book according to the instruction, albeit clumsily.

“Excellent!”

She was just repeating the phrases and felt shy when showered with praises.

“Splendid!”

Leory would shower Ercella with innocuous praise whenever she did something. Ercella’s body shrank. Why is she so generous with compliments? Because she was so generous, instead of becoming proud, Ercella’s embarrassment only grew more

“‘Sleah’ means ‘precious’, and ‘Sleah di Mūiraz’ is a more polite way of saying, ‘I’d like to invite my distinguished guests to the table.'”

“…”

“If you go further, there is ‘Sleti’, a modified form of ‘Sleah’. Sounds cute, right? When referring to objects, it means ‘precious’, and when referring to people, it is used to mean ‘to love’.”

At that moment, Ercella’s voice following her pronunciation died down.

‘I’ll always love you.’

Words she had heard from her father, mother, Eshahilde, and even Caron, unfamiliarly surrounded her ears.

Ercella put her hand on the back of her neck. She didn’t know why the familiar words felt so unfamiliar that day.

Seeing Ercella distracted with her lips pressed tightly, Leory asked, “Is it difficult?”

“No, I was distracted for a moment. Let’s…continue.” Admitting her distraction, Ercella tried to cool off her feverish neck. Come to think of it, of course I was. How can I not squirm when you say it with that face? It’s weird to stay still like a wooden board.

‘Right, right.’

Her heart felt lighter as she drew her conclusion. After getting refreshed from that conclusion, Ercella focused on the class again.

“That’s it for today,” Leory stretched and said cheerfully.

“Well done.”

She also didn’t forget her compliment which Ercella didn’t necessarily hate but wished she’d stop because it made her more embarrassed. So for the first time, she refused Leory’s words, “It’s nothing really. I’ve learned Lenartian but since it’s been a while I’ve forgotten it a bit.”

At that, Leory replied hesitantly, perhaps embarrassed, “Even so, you’re doing a great job.”

She couldn’t believe it, coming from the topper of the entire Gracivan. Ercella muttered sullenly, “But isn’t it useless?”

Juan said no knowledge was useless, but she thought Lenartian was really useless for her.

“Well, you’re right.”

Leory’s unhesitating agreement gave more certainty to the notion in Ercella’s mind. At the short answer, Ercella scratched her cheek awkwardly. “Isn’t it a waste of time to study Lenartian? Perhaps, it would be better for me to study something else.”

Leory was disconcerted by Ercella’s timid, muddled voice. Inwardly, she was blaming herself for appearing stern.

“Then what would you like to study?”

This time Ercella’s words stopped abruptly. Leory beckoned to Ercella, who was blankly staring at her.

“Tell me if there’s anything you want to learn, Your Grace. We’ll study it together. Oh, let me ask you a question before that. Do you think what you learn has to be useful?”

“N-no, but…” Ercella hesitated. To consider something worth learning only if it was useful was against her family’s policy. The process of learning itself was a meaningful act. But when did that belief become clouded?

“That’s right. Learning doesn’t necessarily have to be useful. Take alchemy for example. Countless people failed after working on it for centuries, and I’m sure everyone knows by now that alchemy is a worthless discipline. Nevertheless, some students want to learn alchemy in Gracivan, where the talented gather. They still put their effort in it, despite knowing it’s not substantial. And I don’t think those efforts were meaningless. Alchemy has developed algebra, as well as led to the discovery of various substances. Although they failed in converting non-metals into metals, they laid the foundation for chemistry.”

“…”

“Well, that’s a bit off-topic. I have a habit of saying what I think. So what I’m trying to say is…” Leony flipped the pen in her hand and looked Ercella in the eye. “Whether it’s useful or useless— if you put a limit on learning, Your Grace will never learn anything. Diplomacy, politics, economy, management, sociology, geography, language as well— these aren’t studies that will bhelpYour Grace.”

It wasn’t a tone meant to enlighten an ignorant. Leory’s voice even sounded dull at first glance, as if reciting something obvious.

“It’s presumptuous of me to judge a duchess, but allow me for this instance. The Duchess I’ve been watching for days is pretty smart. Perhaps because you’ve studied languages of many countries from a young age, you understand the transformation and flow of writing well. Proper early education has positively affected your skills. Your memorization skills are good, too. And you diligently work on the assignment I give you. But you lack confidence.”

“…”

“If I think you’re good enough, you’re good enough. You may not be a genius, but you’re an adequate student. So don’t underestimate yourself. If you don’t see a purpose in studying something, you can add your own meaning to it. Then it won’t seem as useless as it used to be.”

Leony, who had been constantly praising her, took a step back and gave an objective evaluation this time, “You can decide what to use your knowledge for. Think about it. There’s nothing that can’t be done if you put your mind to it, except for changing your gender or your identity.”

Leory closed the book and massaged her stiff shoulders. Ercella stared at her. It was the third time someone said that to her. Juan, the Baroness and Leory— all seemingly distant strangers.

* * *

As she walked through the corridor lined with candlesticks, Ercella was lost in thought.

‘Have I been living with my heart closed all this time? Not really…’

Ercella couldn’t forget Leory Cellon’s words that she was doing well enough. Ercella had already had that feeling three times. Coincidentally, they were all strangers. Everyone kept telling her to do what she wanted to do, even though she thought she didn’t deserve to. What she wanted to do now was related to Vicent— naturally— as the regrets of the past were so deep.

‘What I want to do…’

‘…No.’

Ercella shook off her thoughts. Even now, she was sufficiently enjoying herself. It was shameless to expect anything more to be done now.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.”

Upon seeing her, a maid stopped cleaning the window and greeted her. Who knew how many seconds had passed before Ercella accepted her greeting, feeling odd.

“Good afternoon, Anna.”

Then Anna’s shoulders twitched like a stream of current passed through them.

‘What’s wrong?’

“Are you having a hard time at work?”

“…What?”

“You look tired.”

“N-not at all.” Anna’s head shook violently in denial.

Ercella was puzzled by the unnecessarily intense movement. Instead of asking why, she praised Anna with some good words, “By the way, I liked the shoes you brought me last time. Good job. You can choose next time as well.”

Anna’s lips, which were initially shut like clams, fluttered open at the Duchess’s praise, “O-of course. If you’re fine with me…”

“…”

“But I…” Anna put forward her sentence and looked at Ercella’s face. It wasn’t rude, but Ercella tilted her head at the suspicious glance. The quiet maid was acting strange today. Her pale lips parted only after Ercella gestured for her to speak.

“Are you sick, Madam?”

“…”

“Should I call for a doctor?”

Ercella was speechless at the sudden mention of the doctor. Do I look pale?

“I’m fine… Why?”

“…Nothing. I was being presumptuous.”

Anna, however, only gave a vague answer and left. Ercella looked at the wide hallway, but Anna had already disappeared not to return.

Feeling her body drooping, Ercella suddenly heard a faint piano sound. A gentle melody like the waves of water glistening in the sun flew to her with the wind. Ercella strolled as if possessed by something.

Her enchanted steps stopped at the end of the hallway. The source of beautiful notes was behind the door she was standing at. Ercella turned the doorknob and pushed the door carefully.

Through the gap, a boy was seen playing with his back against the sun. Vicente, with his long fingers spread over the keyboard, looked as insensitive as a rock, but his performance did not stop.

‘He does seem to like his piano lessons.’

The melody flowing smoothly like water was beautiful. Ercella closed her eyes and appreciated the pleasant sound. However, at some point the sound stopped; flustered, Ercella opened her eyes. Vicente was looking straight at her.

Ercella staggered back. Vicente was approaching her at an unhurried pace. Of course, but he didn’t seem too happy with her.

“Now you’re stealing glances at me?” His sharply raised eyebrows threatened as if he didn’t like her.

Ercella did steal a glance at him, however, she felt falsely accused, yet she couldn’t refute it.

Obviously, it wasn’t intentional, but she was caught peeking at him. Ercella, who had somehow become a stalker, instead of clarifying said what she always had on her mind, “Should I hire a piano teacher again?”

“It’s fine.” His refusal was as swift as an arrow.

Embarrassed, Ercella began fiddling with her ear.

Glancing at her, Vicente said, “Don’t do anything for me.”

Finishing his sentence, he passed by Ercella. Ercella looked sullenly at the distant boy’s back. Don’t do anything for me, huh?

‘I haven’t done anything for you.’

Not having done much for you is the problem. Her confidence crumbled in the cold wind. But I can’t just stand still anymore. Ercella was determined.

Her determination was revealed at dinner.

“You eat well. Is it delicious? Well, you’re still growing after all.”

Vicente’s knife slicing the lamb scratched the plate and made an abrupt noise. As Harsen’s gaze lingered there for a moment, Vicente immediately admitted his mistake, “Sorry.”

However, he resented her even as he apologized because the mistake just now was not entirely his fault.

In the meantime, the woman who shared half of the responsibility smiled cheekily, “It’s nothing to be sorry about. I’d do more than that when I was your age.”

Vicente narrowed his eyes. What is this about now? Even if he quietly glared at her, he didn’t think he could break her iron mask. She was alone in another world of cheerfulness that raked Vicente’s insides and turned it into a world of chaos.

“Harsen, did you hear the teachers say that our Vicente is so incredibly talented that he could be called a genius.”

“…I didn’t know the teachers were making such a fuss.”

Of course. It was Ercella who was being fussy, not the staid Academy teachers.

“But I will never send him to Gracivan or to study abroad.”

Seeing her act so friendly, Vicente thought Ercella was a bit out of it. But there were things he could not do in front of his father.

“Now that I think about it, I think you’ve grown taller. I don’t think the clothes we bought last time would fit you anymore. Let’s buy you some new—”

“Clifton.”

Vicente called Clifton, interrupting Ercella. It felt natural yet subtly intentional.

“Did you call me, Young Master?”

“Mother seems to be bored with her mouth. Serve her more food.”

“Huh?…Ye-yes.” Clifton’s eyes were wide in vivid embarrassment.

Ercella was just as surprised. She looked down at her portion on the plate. She still had a few slices of lamb leftover. Ercella looked at Vicente in bewilderment.

Vicente twisted his lips into a smile, “You must be hungry. Please wait a little bit.”

Ercella forced her lips up. Of course she knew he meant for her to shut up.

But Ercella couldn’t give up. I can match his pace at any time. On the contrary, she got more aggressive.

“Yes, bring some. It tastes good.”

Her lively voice sounded contrived to anyone, but Clifton timidly complied.

“Yes, Madam. Please…wait a moment.”

After Clifton left the dining room, Ercella picked up a knife and fork. She looked at Vicente sitting across from her, but he didn’t spare a single glance for Ercella.

Looking sullen, Ercella began to poke the lamb on the plate. She did the same with the second plate. Her eating speed slowed down noticeably, but Ercella stuffed it all. Lianne and Beth’s faces grew pale with each piece she ate. They signaled to each other, but Ercella emptied her plates.

She thanked Vicente in an elated voice, “Thanks to you, I got to taste this delicacy for a long time.”

“Then you can have some more.”

“…S-sure. Give me one more,” Ercella ordered Clifton, determined to see who would win this. Clifton was about to hurry into the kitchen.

“That’s enough.” Harsen, who was watching the situation quietly, gently rejected Ercella’s demand.

“Yes, Master.”

Ercella’s eyebrows rose with discontentment. “Why? It’s good, though? I’ll eat—”

“If you can’t eat, just stop.”

Her stubbornness was turned to nothing at Harsen’s dismissal. Ercella reluctantly looked down at her belly. She accidentally overate. I feel nauseous…

When Harsen saw Ercella’s dark complexion, he beckoned Vicente, “You take your leave.”

She sighed.