Just because the relationship has become a bit more intimate, I’m not so lacking in self-awareness as to mistake his feelings for anything more than goodwill.

‘So I shouldn’t have vain hopes.’

I was startled for a moment. What was I just thinking? Hopes? What hopes?

“When you two appear in the Grand Temple’s garden together, everyone will be busy watching.”

I came to my senses at Karla’s voice.

“Won’t they be busy looking at the camellias?”

“Of course the flower viewing is a nice sight. Alisa won’t be able to enjoy it comfortably until the mass. I wanted to go together, what a shame.”

Her words were right.

I soon became very busy with all sorts of preparations, starting with the thank-you letter paper. Even then, it would have taken much longer if Karla hadn’t helped with the selection.

‘Since it’s something the Duchess of Penvernon has to do, I have no choice.’

If I’m going to do it, I should do it well.

After various efforts, the Great Blooming mass ended successfully.

According to the bishop, it would be good for both Rashid and me to show our faces at the Grand Temple occasionally until the Great Blooming ends.

「That way, the Duke and Duchess won’t be doubted about their devotion to God Morea.」

I read the sentence that popped into my head. In a world where the imperial family and temple maintain a precarious balance, there were too many things to be mindful of.

‘Since Rashid is busy, he probably can’t stay long. I should just think of it as flower viewing.’

Thinking that way made me feel a bit better.

After the mass, I stood beside Rashid in specially chosen attire to enter the garden. When I placed my hand on his arm, Rashid escorted me gracefully.

In the divine garden, thousands of camellias bloomed magnificently, waiting for their master.

“They’re incredibly beautiful. I wish these colored camellias existed for real. Should we take one as a memento?”

I said, pointing to a light purple flower.

“This one too. And this one is pretty too.”

“You’re quite greedy.”

“Since we can only see them now, I feel regretful.”

Then Rashid snapped off the light purple camellia.

“Ah!”

A small scream escaped me without realizing. Rashid smiled faintly and tucked that flower behind my ear.

“You told me not to act close outside, but you’re not saying anything now?”

“Huh? Ah, well. This is our duty, right?”

“Are you enduring it because it’s a duty?”

“Rather than enduring……”

It’s because I no longer try so hard to get divorced like before, but I didn’t say that. Or rather, I couldn’t.

“Well, it’s good for me anyway.”

“Yes……”

I trailed off while looking at my shoe tips.

Every time he spoke casually like this, I felt like I was riding a wave. My heart swayed up and down with the sea’s movement regardless of my will.

‘You probably don’t know I feel this way.’

Maybe even if you knew, you wouldn’t care……

I stared up at Rashid. I wanted to look into his heart. I wish a nice sentence would work at times like this.

‘Come to think of it, the frequency has decreased lately.’

I hadn’t noticed because I was so busy, but thinking about it now, that’s true.

I absently touched my ear where the flower was tucked. As I turned my head this way and that, I saw a blue camellia. I reached out my arm to tuck it behind Rashid’s ear.

Rashid smoothly avoided my hand.

“Ah, what’s with you…!”

When I burst out in complaint, he laughed as if amused. It’s already hard enough to reach because he’s so tall, and now he finds it funny. Having always lived being tall, he probably doesn’t understand this feeling. I felt slightly resentful.

“Come here.”

I tried again to stand on tiptoe to tuck the flower behind his ear.

* * *

This time, Rashid obediently lowered his head.

Rashid with the blue camellia decorating his ear was beautiful like a painting. A handsome man and flowers—truly a perfect harmony.

While I was admiring proudly, I could feel others glancing at Rashid too. Well, he’s originally someone who draws others’ attention. Plus with such a nice sight to see, how could they not look?

“Do you know?”

Rashid said while lightly touching the flower at his ear. I thought he might be a bit embarrassed, but there was no sign of that at all.

“They say giving the Great Blooming’s flowers to someone is a ritual wishing for their prosperity and happiness.”

“So everyone gives camellia flowers to wish for each other’s happiness. That’s nice.”

Hmm, my mood improved.

“They also say if couples or lovers exchange them, their love will be eternal.”

“Huh? Really?”

I looked at him with suspicious eyes. Is he lying because I seem not to know well, or is it true?

“Ask your friend.”

“You mean Karla? Karla might know.”

Since Karla likes such stories. Though she’d probably think more about how to use it for business strategy.

But it’s strange that Rashid knows such things.

“Hey, Rashid. I thought about this before too, but you know all these cute superstitions, huh? How do you know all that?”

It was quite different from my vague imagined image of Rashid, so I was curious.

Of course, the Rashid I’ve seen so far is a bit different from what I read in books, and different from what people commonly know too……

“I learned them to tell you.”

Rashid answered my question very calmly without changing his expression.

“Really?”

You have that side to you? You have some surprisingly cute aspects.

“What do you think? Does it seem true?”

“Hmm……”

Rashid learning such stories deliberately because of me… that feels a bit unfamiliar too.

But still.

“I’ll believe it’s true.”

“It could be a lie, though?”

“If it’s a lie, nothing I can do. If it’s true, that’s good. Either way, it’s true that you’re cuter than I thought.”

Rashid raised his eyebrow as if he’d heard something outrageous.

「Cute? Me?」

The sentences that bloomed right on time were full of question marks as if reading my thoughts. Finding his confusion amusing, I smiled softly.

‘Probably no one thinks Rashid would know such trivial things.’

That was a new and unexpected side of Rashid not explained in the books.

Then that means it’s an aspect only I know, which is good.

My steps were fresh and light. While holding back the urge to jump up and down, I walked gracefully. Colorful flower petals brushed past me riding the summer-announcing wind.

* * *

One day during the height of the Great Blooming, in a private room at the Grand Temple. Looking at the garden full of blooming camellias through the window, Castor frowned.

I hate these flowers.

His head throbbed at the heavily spreading fragrance.

He had no ill feelings toward other flowers. The docile flowers that were easy to control looked beautiful beneath his feet.

But camellias bothered him. The current Duke of Penvernon, unnecessarily strongly born with Dragon’s Strength, was a headache for him.

His father, Helios, couldn’t let go of his greed for Rashid Penvernon and kept his leash tight, but well. Is that necessary? It might be better to dispose of a difficult-to-control dog quickly. Of course, the problem is that disposal wouldn’t be easy……

Lost in thought with his chin propped up, a woman walking in the garden entered Castor’s view. It was a familiar face.

“Your Highness, are you leaving?”

The priest asked, seeing Castor rise from his seat.

Today he visited the Grand Temple to attend regular mass. The priests praised the Crown Prince who visited the temple each time to show reverence to the divine, and the people also found his deep faith beautiful.

“I think it would be nice to walk in the garden too. Since it’s a rare Great Blooming.”

Despite being Crown Prince, he used honorifics with the bishop and priests to show respect. Many people found this attitude beautiful, which was also what Castor had in mind.

“Then I shall escort you.”

“Please do.”

As the Crown Prince entered the garden followed by the escorting priest, several nobles approached to greet him. After a while of appropriate smiles and dry pleasantries, the person he was waiting for came.

“Glory to the rose. I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

It was Alisa Penvernon.

Castor greeted her with a smile.

“Duchess, have you been well?”

“Yes. I hope Your Highness has been well too?”

“Of course, as you can see.”

He raised his arm to her. It was a signal to walk together.

Alisa hesitated for a moment, then lightly placed her hand on it.

“Are you alone? Where is Duke Penvernon?”

“Today I came with someone else.”

“Oh my. Who is your companion? I was just worried seeing you alone.”

“Countess Spendal. She stepped away for a moment……”

“So I’ve stolen the Duchess. I apologize.”

“What? Oh, no. She’ll think it’s only natural.”

Alisa answered quickly in a startled voice at his casually thrown words.

Afterwards, they exchanged normal greetings. After talking about how they’ve been lately and congratulating the Great Blooming, Castor brought up one name.

“About Jeanne.”

“Ah, yes.”

When he started talking about the Princess, life returned to Alisa’s eyes. It showed that this was a topic of interest.

“She’s been avoiding social activities lately.”

“Yes, I tried contacting her several times but heard she was busy.”

“I hear she’s in close contact with the Magic Tower, seems absorbed in that.”

“The Magic Tower……”

“Yes.”