Chapter 56

“You’re scolding me, yet you’re dressed more lightly than I am.”

His mother looked him up and down. Chase was in his school uniform without even a jacket, wearing nothing but a white shirt.

Chase frowned and replied,

“I’m fine with this weather. I’m much sturdier than you, so don’t worry.”

His mother laughed brightly like a young girl and took his hand, leading him inside the wall.

“Come on, let’s go inside and talk. I have so many questions for you.”

Instead of entering the mansion, they headed to the glass greenhouse that his father had given to his mother.

Inside the greenhouse, there was a warm atmosphere. As if waiting for Chase, tea was prepared on the tea table.

The greenhouse, with its perfectly controlled temperature and humidity, had a dome-shaped roof. Unlike the midnight outside, it was as bright as midday inside.

It had been a while since he visited the mansion, and thus the greenhouse as well. Yet this place was exactly as he remembered.

The scenery of the greenhouse remained unchanged throughout the seasons. Yellow and red flowers were always in bloom, and it was always fragrant.

Unchanging beauty.

It was a space that seemed to embody his mother’s ideal world.

“You still love flowers, don’t you?”

“Of course. Do you think my tastes would change with age? To me, nameless wildflowers look prettier than expensive jewels.”

Chase naturally agreed while pulling out a chair for his mother to sit.

“But you’re the most beautiful, Mother.”

His mother widened her eyes in surprise for a moment and then laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Oh my, you sweet talker.”

His mother was wearing gloves with delicate lace at the wrist.

These were the gloves Chase had given her as a birthday present last year, bought with the prize money from a martial arts competition.

Was my efforts in choosing them not in vain?

Every time his mother laughed, the lace on the gloves fluttered as if laughing along.

Just as Chase was about to smile at the sight, his mother suddenly showed a bittersweet smile.

“But I am not true to my name. I withered long ago.”

At her self-deprecating words, Chase froze with an expression that was neither smiling nor serious.

His mother loved flowers. To be precise, ‘unwilted’ flowers.

Chase stared intently at his mother.

She had elegantly pinned up her silver hair, free of any impurities like his own, revealing her graceful neck.

In her ears shone sapphires the same blue as her eyes.

Under the greenhouse lights, the jewels shone even more brilliantly, but her beauty was not overshadowed by their splendor.

That’s why Chase thought there was no difference between the mother he saw as a child and the one he saw now.

Like the ever-blooming flowers in the greenhouse, she was still beautiful.

But it seemed his mother didn’t think so, as she was looking somewhere far away.

Soon, Chase’s gaze followed his mother’s.

A yellow butterfly was leisurely fluttering among the flowers. It landed softly on a flower.

His mother suddenly spoke.

“Do you know why a butterfly leaves a flower?”

As she finished speaking, the butterfly on the petal fluttered away, its wings undulating as if dancing.

Chase, who knew little about flowers and butterflies, didn’t know how to answer his mother’s question.

But just as he was about to say something, his mother provided the answer.

“A butterfly doesn’t need a grand reason to leave a flower. It’s simply because the flower has served its purpose, because it’s full. That’s all.”

A depthless loneliness settled in her blue eyes. Chase realized that what his mother was saying was a metaphor.

The flower was his mother, and the butterfly was his father.

Chase quietly lowered his gaze and clenched his fist under the tea table.

“Since it was beauty that attracted them, it’s not surprising they turn away when that beauty fades.”

Her voice, sweet like a song, was filled with resignation.

But her eyes were still tracing the butterfly that had left the flower.

Chase’s father, Earl Cardandy, had a hobby of hunting. In his youth, he often traveled to distant provinces from the capital for hunting.

And one day, he met his mother by chance in a rural village, like fate.

His mother was the daughter of a humble viscount family. But his father was captivated by her beauty and promised eternal love, bringing her with him.

When Chase was just toddling around, his father cherished his mother in his own way.

But their happiness didn’t last long.

Even though it wasn’t illegal to take a mistress, Madame Cardandy’s gaze towards his mother was never kind.

His mother always had to bow her head like a sinner in front of Madame Cardandy, yet she never regretted her choice.

Because she believed in his father’s love.

But happiness was short-lived.

When did it start? The moment his father’s gaze left his mother.

It was hard to pinpoint exactly when. His father’s gaze gradually drifted away from his mother to somewhere else.

Chase became more accustomed to seeing his mother watch his father from afar than seeing them smile together.

His father’s gaze no longer turned to his mother. But his mother’s gaze was always on his father.

Holding onto the vain hope that he might turn back to her.

While reminiscing about the past, Chase heard a high, thin voice.

“Chase, do you know why I’m suddenly telling you this story?”

Chase looked up.

“Because I’m worried about you.”

Their eyes met, filled with concern and watery blue.

“Your brother, jealous of your excellent sword skills, forced you into an engagement with a commoner girl.”

Forced.

It was indeed the right word to describe Chase’s situation, yet he felt an urge to refute it.

“With someone you barely know the face or name of. How dreadful it is to be forced to live your whole life with a stranger.”

Chase opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish. He had so much to say, but didn’t know where to start.

His mother was right.

Chase wasn’t pleased with the engagement. In fact, it was just bothersome and annoying.

He thought his fiancée would be like the students who clung to him during training, only interested in his appearance.

He thought she’d approach him, entranced by the impressive exterior, without caring who he really was.

But his actual fiancée, Judith, was…

“I’m worried. You’re a sensitive child despite appearances, so I’m afraid you might fall for your fiancée. It wouldn’t make sense to fall in love with someone your brother might have influenced.”

“I would never do that!”

Chase stood up abruptly, startled. He only cleared his throat and sat back down after seeing his mother’s wide eyes.

“I just had a cramp in my leg.”

Adding an excuse that wouldn’t work was just extra.

His mother looked at her son, who was telling an obvious lie, with an affectionate gaze.

Naturally, Chase’s face flushed even more under that gaze.

“Hmm, they say strong denial is strong affirmation.”

His mother’s murmur made Chase’s ears burn.

“Absolutely not. I couldn’t possibly love Judith…”

He stopped mid-sentence. Suddenly, Judith’s image came to mind, vividly as if she were right in front of him.

Her bold declaration in front of Professor Karel that she would take responsibility for his graduation.

The way she lent him her notebook and pen without hesitation on the first day of accounting class.

And in the dusty alchemy lab, holding a broom as big as her, staring at him intently.

‘Let’s finish cleaning quickly and go to class together.’

Her voice, always considerate, came to mind, saying it as if it were nothing special.

And finally—

‘You really are capable, being the head of the swordsmanship club.’

Her bright smile directed at him made Chase’s face turn red as if it would burst with a touch.

Why am I like this all of a sudden?

Confused by his own reaction, Chase buried his face in his hands. If he could, he wanted to run away somewhere.

His mother called out in confusion.

“Chase?”

“……Yes.”

“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

“I’m just feeling hot.”

Chase, lifting his face from his palms, grabbed his shirt collar and shook it as if he were hot.