shcC40__CHAPTER 40 A Flower is a Flower, a Person is a Person

 

Chapter 40: A Flower is a Flower, a Person is a Person

They say that the older you get, the faster the days seem to pass.

Apparently, it’s because as we grow older, we accumulate more experiences, and fewer things feel new or exciting. But honestly, even as a child, I feel like my days are flying by. I just have so much to do!

I help the head chef test new recipes so we can enjoy tastier meals. I remake old clothes with Elise. I watch Regulus’s sword lessons with Genzo-san. I mix soil in the vegetable garden. I collect eggs from the chickens with Josef. I take lessons from Romonov-sensei.

When you’re busy and fulfilled, time really does speed up.

Before I knew it, the day of our invitation to the National Theatre by Maria-san had arrived.

That said, the performance wasn’t until evening. Romonov-sensei would whisk us to Viktor-san’s estate in the capital with a bit of magic—zoom!

So, as always, we spent the morning visiting the Princess.

In my waist pouch, I packed some icy sorbet treats for Viktor-san and Maria-san, along with the hair ornament I made for the Princess. I’d made a matching smaller one for Maria-san, too.

The inner garden was quietly shifting with the season. The wild roses that had greeted us when we first met the Princess had already shed their blossoms. Now, vibrant purple bellflowers were in bloom, and golden osmanthus buds had begun to peek through.

...Wait, doesn’t our garden lack any kind of thematic unity?

Genzo-san doesn’t strike me as the type to plant things randomly…

“That’s because the flowers come here on their own, seeking audience with me. The gardener has nothing to do with it.”

Whoa! She scared me!

I barely held back a yelp. The Princess had appeared out of nowhere again.

Meanwhile, Regulus, who’d been giggling at the swaying red and yellow moss roses, quickly bowed his head.

“Good morning, Princess!”

“G-Good morning…!”

“Mm. Well done.”

Ah, I was late to greet her again.

And hold on—Regulus is sounding more and more mature when he speaks. I hope he’s not forcing himself. Maybe he really does need a playmate his own age…

As I pondered this, the Princess narrowed her eyes and pointed her fan at my waist pouch.

“You’ve brought an offering for me, haven’t you? Don’t be shy. Let me see it.”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

I pulled out the peony hair ornament I’d made, and at her gesture, handed it to Regulus. He received it with both hands, then stepped forward and respectfully presented it to her, wrapped in a silk cloth.

“A peony, is it?”

“Yes. I thought the peony suited you best, Princess.”

“You once called me the unrivaled flower, didn’t you? Am I still the best in the world?”

“To me, you are.”

I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than her. So, to me, she truly is unmatched.

The Princess’s lush, elegant lips curved into a soft smile.

She examined the ornament carefully, then slid it into her hair with a graceful motion, casting a sidelong glance my way.

“I like it. I shall grant you the honor of adorning my hair.”

“I’m truly honored.”

“However... there seems to be another, smaller ornament in your pouch, is there not?”

“Ah, that one’s for...”

And so, I explained. How I met Maria-san, how she invited me to the National Theatre, and why I made her a hair ornament as thanks.

“I see. So, this ornament is your gift of gratitude to this Maria.”

“Yes.”

I said it clearly, without hesitation. The Princess smirked mischievously, hiding her lips behind her fan.

Then she gave me a sidelong glance, as if amused by something.

“Do you... have feelings for this Maria? Want to marry her, perhaps?”

“…Huh?”

“Is she someone you’d take as a bride?”

“What?! No, not at all! Maria-san is a grown woman! She probably already has a fiancé. Even if she doesn’t, no parent in their right mind would pair a five-year-old with a woman of marrying age!”

And if they did, that’d be called a political marriage.

Even then, usually it’s the older man marrying the younger woman, not the other way around…

As I frowned, Regulus reached up to gently smooth the crease in my brow with his little fingers, trying to iron it out.

Still, what’s with this talk of romance? I’m five.

Isn’t being kind to women just common courtesy for any decent guy?

Besides—

“Princess, I do want to be kind to women, but it’s because I consider myself among your loyal retainers.”

“Oh? And what do you mean by that?”

“In the world I came from, there’s an old phrase: ‘Kaigo no Hana.’ It likens women to flowers—‘the flower that understands human speech.’ If women are flowers, then surely you, Princess, are the mistress of all the world’s blooms. And as one of your vassals, it is only natural I treat them with care.”

“…Humans... human women are my vassals?”

The Princess’s eyes widened, blinking once, twice.

Then she burst into laughter—bright and clear, like tinkling bells.

“Hahaha! Delightful! If all human women are flowers, and thus my vassals, then of course you would be kind to them!”

“There’s another saying too: ‘Man is a thinking reed.’”

“My, my… what a poetic world yours must have been. I like it. Very much.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

...Does she have a low bar for humor?

I didn’t think I’d said anything particularly funny, but she was giggling so hard tears welled up at the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away with delicate fingers.

“Well then. If humans are reeds and women are flowers, then yes—by your logic, they are indeed my vassals. Perhaps it’s time I showed humanity a little more leniency.”

“Ah—yes, we are truly grateful for your mercy.”

“’Truly gwatheful for your merthy.’”

…Oh no, Regulus’s speech has turned back into baby talk.

“The chick staggers one step forward, one step back,” the Princess mused.

Exactly.

I nodded in agreement as Regulus pouted with his lips puffed out.

Eun: 12th extra chapter!!! I'm soooo tired.......my back and neck hurts...my foot is cramping......I'm turning into a big baby.-OOOFFF

PREVIOUS

INDEX

NEXT