Chapter 3.2

“…”

“Is that person coming here?” 

Marianne asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

“I hope I haven’t caused too much trouble just because I wanted to see a flower…”

Sylvester, startled by Marianne’s flustered expression, quickly interrupted her.

“No, not at all! The person is already here in front of you. I’m that mage.”

Sylvester’s urgent voice echoed through his office.

“…What?”

“…I meant that I can create a Seluvia.”

A silence fell over the room. The crimson light of the setting sun streaming through the window bathed Sylvester’s left cheek, as if to conceal his reddened face.

“I am a mage who controls wind and water.”

Marianne thought to herself that there probably wasn’t anyone in the country who didn’t know that.

“But in truth… there’s one more ability I can use. I can make flowers bloom. It was the first magic I ever showed talent for.”

Sylvester hesitated before continuing.

“No one besides my family knows about it.”

“…”

“I’m only telling you, Miss Marianne.”

An awkward smile appeared on Sylvester’s lips.

“Is making flowers bloom… something that has to be kept a secret?” 

Marianne asked after a moment of thought.

“That’s what I was taught. If I didn’t want to be treated like those mages who aren’t even recognized, I had to hide it.”

“…Who taught you that?”

“My father.”

Sylvester replied with a calm expression.

Marianne felt strange. She had learned another of Sylvester’s secrets—a secret shared hesitantly, like one shared by someone who knows they will soon lose their memory and wants to confide in the person they love. Moreover…

“Do you hate failing?”

“…Yes. It’s childish, isn’t it?”

Marianne suddenly recalled their conversation in the park. She felt she might understand, at least a little, why Sylvester feared failure.

“…I’ll keep your secret.”

She said sincerely. 

Even after the magic cast on Sylvester disappears, I’ll make sure to keep this secret.

“Though it’s a shame that the Empire’s strongest mage has to keep his ability to make flowers bloom a secret.” 

Marianne said in a deliberately light tone. She didn’t want Sylvester to feel embarrassed or regret sharing his secret.

Sylvester’s face lit up warmly at Marianne’s words. His expression, a mix of relief, embarrassment, and affection for her, flushed endearingly.

“Although I can’t replicate the scent exactly, I can at least recreate the appearance.” 

Sylvester said, lifting his right hand slightly. A soft white light began to gather around his hand, much like when he used healing magic.

Oh my. 

Marianne’s mouth opened involuntarily. Pure curiosity and joy filled her heart.

“…You’re the first person I’ve seen who looks at magic with such shining eyes.”

“Did I do something wrong? I was so amazed that I… I opened my mouth without realizing it.”

“No, not at all. It’s just making me nervous that you’re watching so intently.”

Sylvester averted his gaze slightly, his lips curling into a shy smile. The tenderness in his expression, which softened his sharp features, made Marianne’s cheeks flush as well.

Both of their gazes turned to Sylvester’s hand, surrounded by light. Before their cheeks could turn any redder, they avoided each other’s eyes.

Soon, a dazzling white light filled Marianne’s vision. Reflexively closing her eyes, she felt a sweet, cool scent brush past her nose.

“…You can open your eyes now.”

Marianne slowly opened her eyes at his voice. The source of the sweet fragrance came into view. Her mouth fell open again as she silently stared at the flower in Sylvester’s hand. The fluffy, bubble-like white petals, the faint pink tint at the edges, and the stem—it was Seluvia.

“…It looks exactly like the Seluvia in the book. No, it’s even more beautiful than the illustration. It feels silly to say this after calling the picture so pretty, but… it really can’t compare to the real thing.”

The Seluvia Sylvester had created with magic was far more lovely and beautiful than what Marianne had seen in the book.

‘Perhaps it’s because the person who made it is filled with love.’

Though under a spell, Sylvester had made the flower his beloved wanted to see. Out of love, he had revealed his secret and brought to life a flower that no longer existed.

“It’s truly an incredible magic, Sir Sylvester.”

Marianne said, her voice filled with excitement. Sylvester smiled awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed by her enthusiastic reaction.

“I mean it.”

Marianne added quickly, meeting his eyes. She wanted him to know her sincerity.

“…It’s nothing much, but I hope you’ll accept it.” 

Sylvester said, carefully extending the flower toward Marianne, just like the first time they had spoken. Her gaze fell on the Seluvia in his hand. The petals seemed to tremble slightly, as if reflecting Sylvester’s tension.

Like the flower’s symbolic meaning, Sylvester was offering Marianne words of love.

‘He’s not just giving me a flower… he’s giving me his love.’

She knew she wasn’t worthy of accepting Sylvester’s love. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to reject the message he was conveying through the flower.

The one and only Seluvia in the world passed from Sylvester’s hand to Marianne’s. The sweet fragrance climbed from her hand to her nose, enveloping her in its scent.

“Thank you, Marquis. No… Sir Sylvester.” 

Marianne said, looking into his eyes with a bright smile—a genuine smile that made her eyes curve into crescents.

Sylvester stared blankly at Marianne for a while. Marianne’s words of gratitude and her smile rendered him silent. After a moment, Sylvester finally gathered himself and responded to Marianne.

“It’s just a single flower.”

“But it’s the only flower of its kind in the world. By the way, the bouquet you gave me last time… did you make it yourself?”

Recalling that Peter had mentioned the bouquet was enchanted, Marianne asked Sylvester lightly. But Sylvester’s eyes widened at the casual question.

“…No.”

“Really?”

Seeing Sylvester’s eyes waver uneasily, Marianne asked again. Sylvester answered with a “Yes,” but he surrendered after precisely ten seconds. Sylvester wasn’t good at lying.

“…I did make it.”

With an embarrassed expression, Sylvester confessed the truth.

“You have truly amazing hands.”

“Pardon?”

“Your hands, Marquis. They have the power to bring life. It’s as if… you’re a kind god.”

The silence filled Sylvester’s office. A strange light appeared on Sylvester’s face after hearing Marianne’s words. He looked like someone who had heard something they shouldn’t have. However, he didn’t seem displeased, just a bit confused.

‘Did I perhaps say something I shouldn’t have…?’

Marianne wondered as she gauged Sylvester’s reaction. Her smile was becoming increasingly awkward. Fortunately, before Marianne lost her smile completely, Sylvester spoke up.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard such words, so I was a bit surprised.”

His pleasant voice carried a hint of hesitation.

“When I discovered this talent… I was told to forget and hide it, as it was a useless and ridiculous ability. I was even forbidden from gaining any related knowledge.”

Sylvester continued slowly.

“But hearing such words from you, Miss Marianne, makes me feel strange. Especially when you say I brought life.”

“You saw me laughing earlier, right?”

In response to Marianne’s question, Sylvester nodded.

“I think it’s harder to make someone laugh than to make them cry.”

Marianne raised the hand holding the Seluvia flower slightly and added another word.

“But Sylvester, you managed to do that difficult thing. With your wonderful and amazing power, you made me laugh.”

“…”

“So I think you should be prouder of your ability to make others laugh than you are now.”

Marianne finished speaking with a gentle smile.

“…I made you laugh.”

“Yes. You made me laugh, Sylvester.”

Gradually, a smile appeared on Sylvester’s lips as well. His initially awkward and bewildered smile soon transformed into a bright laugh that beautifully illuminated his entire face. To Marianne, Sylvester’s expression looked like a flower blooming from a bud. It was a serene yet brilliant sight.

‘…If the mages ask what happened tomorrow, I’ll tell them something wonderful happened.’

Smiling along with Sylvester, Marianne thought. The sky beyond the office window was turning a beautiful shade of purple.