Chapter 3.1 – The Language of Love

The library where Marianne worked as a trainee librarian was no ordinary library. Its scale, name, location, and even its patrons were all connected to the Emperor of the Empire. Naturally, such an important library regularly received new books. Every two or three days, nearly a hundred books would arrive. 

The types of books were diverse: books requested by scholars, mages, or occasionally students from the academy; ancient texts acquired through auctions; newspapers; promotional books sent by publishers across the nation; and new releases by popular authors. 

At this moment, Marianne was examining a freshly arrived book in the archives, tucked away in a corner of the library. The book, which had arrived that morning, was a kind of botanical encyclopedia focusing on rare herbs and flowers representing the western continent where the Empire resided—plants that could no longer be found today. 

Unlike ordinary botanical encyclopedias, this book heavily emphasized illustrations. Among the numerous illustrations, one of a white flower on a middle page captured Marianne’s attention. The fluffy, bubble-like white petals, the faint pink tint at the edges, and the delicately drawn stem were so vivid it felt as if she were looking at a real flower. 

Marianne, who had been checking the condition of the new book, found herself captivated by the beautiful yet charming flower illustration. 

“…It’s lovely.”

Her gaze shifted to the text beside the large, detailed illustration that filled the page. The next page contained the flower’s name, scientific classification, meaning, hidden stories, and symbolic language, all written in simple sentences. 

“Seluvia.”

Marianne murmured the flower’s name. Next to the name “Seluvia” was a note explaining that it was named in a now-extinct language of a fallen kingdom. 

“It means ‘words of love.’”

What a perfectly fitting name for such a flower, Marianne thought to herself in admiration. 

“But now… it’s a flower that no longer exists.”

As Marianne read the last paragraph of the text, her voice trailed off with a hint of regret. 

‘Well, it’s not like I wouldn’t have noticed if such a beautiful flower still existed.’

In the Arvid Empire, especially in the capital city where the Imperial Palace was located, people adored flowers. Every street had at least one flower shop, welcoming the high demand for flowers. It was even joked that one could find every flower in the world in the capital. 

Marianne had learned the names of many flowers thanks to those flower shops she passed on her way to and from work. 

“Are you interested in herbal studies?”

A pleasant voice softly resonated above Marianne’s head. Startled, she almost dropped the book she was holding but quickly tightened her grip. Taking a short breath, she turned around to face the familiar voice’s owner. 

“…Did I frighten you, Miss Marianne?”

Sylvester, with wide eyes, hurriedly spoke. Suddenly, Marianne recalled her earlier conversation with Peter. 

“No matter how much the Marquis likes you right now, he won’t be able to visit often. He’s incredibly busy.”

Marianne had agreed with Peter’s words. Yet, of the “three or four more times” Peter had mentioned, one encounter had already occurred. 

…Surely he wouldn’t come every day, would he?

“Oh, no, it’s fine.”

“You seem quite startled, though I’m not sure why.”

Sylvester, with a serious expression, studied Marianne’s face closely. 

“Could it be because of this book…”

Narrowing his eyes, Sylvester glanced at the book in Marianne’s hands. His gaze was so intense it seemed as though he might set the book on fire… No, surely she was imagining things. 

“I was just so focused that I didn’t notice someone approaching. I’m fine, really.”

Marianne subtly lifted the book to show Sylvester. She continued speaking. 

“I’m not particularly interested in herbal studies. I was just checking the condition of this new book when I got captivated by this flower illustration. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Yes. It looks very beautiful to me as well.”

Sylvester replied, meeting Marianne’s gaze with a smile that seemed to dismiss any notion that he had been glaring at the book earlier. His platinum hair shifted slightly as he tilted his head. For a moment, it felt as though an indoor breeze had brushed past both of them. 

Unintentionally mesmerized, Marianne found herself staring at Sylvester. She quickly snapped out of it and spoke again, this time with an awkward smile. 

“This flower is called Seluvia. It’s said to mean ‘words of love,’ though the language is no longer used. Doesn’t it suit its appearance perfectly?”

Sylvester’s gaze moved to the detailed illustration in the book. Just as Marianne had done earlier, he stared intently at the page before meeting her eyes again, his expression serious. 

“It seems to have a meaning as beautiful as its appearance.”

Sylvester nodded fervently, showing enthusiastic agreement with Marianne’s words. His behavior seemed out of place for someone of his rank, title, and appearance, but setting all that aside… 

‘Like a puppy.’

Looking at Sylvester, Marianne briefly recalled the large, handsome white dog she had raised back in her hometown. Just for a moment, though. 

“But it’s a flower that no longer blooms.”

Marianne hastily spoke, as if to conceal her thoughts. 

“A flower with a name in a language no longer spoken, a flower that no longer blooms… How unfortunate.”

Sylvester’s straight eyebrows drooped slightly as he listened to Marianne, making him look like someone deep in thought. 

“It’s so beautiful in the illustration; imagine how wonderful it would be to see it in real life. I feel like it would truly live up to its name, whispering words of love the moment you saw it.”

As Marianne spoke brightly to Sylvester, she suddenly fell silent. 

‘Did I speak too casually?’

Even though she had been swept up in Sylvester’s charm and had started calling him by name, he was still someone who lived in a completely different world from hers. Yet here she was, speaking to him as if he were a close friend or colleague. 

‘What am I doing, getting caught up in someone under a spell, feeling a sense of closeness, and closing the distance between us?’

Feeling awkward, Marianne closed the book. 

“I hope that one day we’ll be able to see a Seluvia in person.”

Hugging the book tightly to her chest, Marianne spoke, intending to end their conversation. Sylvester still wore a peculiar expression, as though lost in thought. But soon, with a resolute look, he opened his mouth to speak. 

“I believe… I can show it to you.”

What? 

Marianne blinked in surprise, and a brief silence passed between them. 

“…The flower?”

“Yes. Seluvia.”

“…Isn’t it a flower that no longer exists?”

Marianne asked Sylvester. 

“Just give me a little time. That’s all I need.”

Sylvester’s words left Marianne with no choice but to nod. Though the library was an enclosed space, she felt as if sunlight were pouring down on her, warming her scalp in an inexplicably strange moment. 

The scent of spring tickled her nose, just like the wind she had felt earlier, which shouldn’t have been there. 

***

‘How did I end up here?’ 

Marianne thought as she sat on a soft, plush red velvet chair in Sylvester’s office. It felt as though she were dreaming—a dream unfolding regardless of her own will.

Sylvester had returned to the library to meet Marianne at her usual finishing time, and she had followed him. This had forced Peter and Erina, who had come to meet Marianne, to hurriedly hide behind the Statue of the God of Love.

“I thought of a quiet place where no one’s eyes would reach. But… no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t think of anywhere other than my office.” 

Sylvester said, his tone slower than usual as he sat across from Marianne.

‘What does a quiet place have to do with a flower that no longer blooms?’ 

Marianne wondered but kept her thoughts to herself. She simply nodded slowly, meeting the gaze of Sylvester, who seemed strangely tense.

Although she had visited the Second Knight Order’s fortress for errands a few times, this was her first time entering the Knight Commander’s office. Upon entering, the first thought that struck her was how well the Imperial eagle emblem behind Sylvester matched him in his uniform, almost like a painting. It was an idle thought, but one she couldn’t ignore.

“Occasionally, there are mages who possess the ability to make flowers bloom.” 

Sylvester said after a brief silence.

“So there’s magic to make flowers bloom?” 

Marianne exclaimed in amazement. Most mages served the Emperor, but none were known to specialize in making flowers bloom. Few even knew such abilities existed. Marianne was no exception—she would have remained unaware had Sylvester not mentioned it.

“Usually, instead of joining the Knight Order, those mages run flower farms or shops. The Knight Order doesn’t accept them because their abilities are considered insignificant.” 

Sylvester said with a small smile.

“While mages with flower-related abilities are rare, not all of them can make every flower bloom. Like other mages, there are differences in their abilities. A mage capable of reviving an extinct flower like Seluvia… there might only be one in this country.”

“Then… could it be…?”