Chapter 5 (Part 6)

With a pounding heart, Theodore grabbed the bouquet prepared by Venable and walked quickly to find Meia. She was right there within reach.

“Lady Meia!”

Meia turned around and smiled at his call, and Theodore approached her quickly with a bright smile.

“Grand Duke Theodore.”

To Meia, Theodore, approaching her quickly, looked like a large, cute black retriever wagging its tail vigorously.

“I could have come to you…”

“I came to escort you… Is that not okay?”

The sturdy black retriever had an expression as if holding its leash in its mouth, asking to go for a walk.

“No, thank you for being so considerate. Grand Duke Theodore, you seem very thoughtful.”

“Thank you for the compliment… Um, this…”

Theodore handed over the bouquet he was holding.

“Please… accept it.”

“A bouquet.”

“My father said that giving flowers when someone looks down… is a good thing. I thought you might not be feeling well because of the cherished maid at your duchy… So I prepared this. Do you dislike bouquets?”

Meia quietly examined the bouquet Theodore was holding.

Delphinium, rosemary, begonia… and even spirea flowers.

“I like flowers.”

Meia accepted the bouquet from Theodore.

“I’m asking sincerely. Do you know the meaning of giving these flowers?”

“Meaning?”

Theodore’s heart dropped heavily. 

Had my feelings been discovered?

Most of the flower meanings were related to unrequited love.

<Lady Meia might know the meaning of these flowers.>

<It’s okay, Venable.>

Theodore felt shy, thinking his feelings had been pointed out.

He wanted to step back and run away. But he couldn’t run away!

<If you feel shy, love will run away.>

Now that Theodore had received mental training from Aethon, Hemann, and Venable, he could endure it.

He held back his shyness and didn’t leave Meia’s side.

“The bouquet was prepared by Venable.”

Theodore explained to Meia, blushing, that he didn’t know.

“I hope the flowers give you strength.”

His thoughtful words of comfort from the morning filled Meia’s heart with joy.

“They are really beautiful.”

What bothered her a bit was that most of the flower meanings were related to unrequited love. 

Could this young and handsome man possibly like me?

Thump.

“Huh?”

“What is it, Lady Meia?”

Meia felt her heart pounding as she received the bouquet.

‘Is my arrhythmia starting again… I need to see a physician soon.’

It felt like she had put the key into the keyhole of Pandora’s box that shouldn’t be opened and left without turning it. The shock her heart received just now was significant.

“No, it’s nothing. Then, please escort me.”

Meia was scheduled to have a short meeting in the study to discuss the scrolls and artifacts to be made to resolve the pirate problem in Florence, as well as the material costs.

“The study might be a bit messy with documents, but please understand.”

“It’s okay.”

“Is it alright if I escort you like this every day?”

“No.”

At those words, Theodore’s eyes drooped endlessly. His eyes, looking troubled, showed a glimpse of despair.

Meia laughed and took Theodore’s outstretched hand.

“I’m joking. I quite enjoy being escorted by you, Grand Duke.”

“I will come to escort you tomorrow as well. And later, I will escort you back to your room.”

That night, Meia had a dream.

A large black retriever ran towards her with a bouquet in its mouth.

It barked cutely and circled around her, but if anyone approached her, it changed its expression and bit the person, causing them to bleed.

***

The surroundings were filled with red flower fields.

Theodore stood on the endless flower field, looking at the beautiful scenery.

‘I should have come to such a beautiful place with Lady Meia…’

While he was lost in thought, a strong wind blew, scattering the rose petals and creating an even more splendid view.

Theodore reached out to catch the rose petals, but they flew here and there in the strong wind, and he could only admire the beautiful scenery.

As the wind stopped, he lowered his head, following the falling petals.

Then he looked up and saw Meia standing there.

Theodore was so happy that he ran to her, calling her name loudly.

<Lady Meia!>

<Why are you here, Theo?>

Meia’s expression was not good when she saw Theodore.

<Is something wrong? Your face doesn’t look good.>

<Theo, I’m sorry.>

Theodore was puzzled to see Meia apologizing while calling him by his nickname.

Why is she apologizing when she did nothing wrong?

<Why are you apologizing all of a sudden? If I have to accept an apology without a reason, I will refuse.>

<I must apologize.>

<Please explain why you are apologizing.>

A sudden strong wind blew.

Theodore instinctively closed his eyes, then opened them and looked at Meia again.

Beside her stood a beautiful man.

A beautiful man and woman. They looked perfect together.

Meia called the beautiful man’s name, and Theodore’s face turned pale upon hearing it.

<David.>

The beautiful man named David also called Meia by her nickname affectionately.

<Mei.>

Meia, in David’s arms, looked at Theodore with pity and spoke.

<I’m sorry, Theo. I will decline the contract engagement.>

<What do you mean?>

<I decided to get engaged to David.>

Theodore felt like collapsing at Meia’s words.

David hid Meia behind him and glared coldly at Theodore.

<I suggest you step back.>

Enraged, Theodore shouted.

All he could think about was getting rid of the man beside her.

<So you are David.>

Meia spread her arms to block Theodore, who was walking toward them angrily.

Seeing her blocking him was too shocking.

<Don’t come any closer to David.>

The pain of his heart splitting into thousands of pieces made Theodore clutch his left chest tightly.

If he didn’t hold it, it felt like his heart would fall to the ground.

With David, Meia, arm in arm, drifted further away from Theodore with the scattering rose petals in the wind.

<Mei! Mei!>

I’ll treat you better. Please don’t leave me.

Theodore shouted in sorrow and rose from his bed.

“Huff.”

His whole body was drenched in sweat. His eyes were stained with tears mixed with sweat.

He wiped his forehead with both hands and looked around. He was on his bed. And he realized that Meia leaving with David was a dream.

“It was a dream… Thank goodness.”

It was a terrifyingly vivid dream.

Who is this David?

Even if it was a dream, it left an unpleasant feeling.

In the dream, David had boldly taken Meia away right in front of him.

It was just a dream, but it felt so real. Theodore trembled with jealousy that surged up.

A dream is just a dream, but while his head understood, his heart refused to accept it.

Knock, knock.

“Master, did you wake up?”

“Come in, Venable.”

Venable opened the door and entered, first checking on Theodore. His eyes were dark, and his expression was not good.

“Did you not sleep well last night?”

At Venable’s question, Theodore nodded and briefly explained the nightmare he had.

“I had a terrible dream. A handsome man named David and Lady Meia… Ah… I don’t even want to talk about it. I never want to dream it again. By the way, where is Lady Meia?”

Venable took out a handkerchief and meticulously wiped the sweat from his face while comforting him.

“They say dreams are the opposite. Don’t worry about it.”

“Where is Lady Meia?”

At Theodore’s question, Venable answered immediately.

“Lady Meia went for a morning walk with Quini after waking up.”

“Where?”

“In the garden.”

“Then I’ll go to the garden too.”

“Understood. I will dress you in the best attire.”

Venable knew well that Theodore’s desire to always look good in front of Meia had grown significantly. So he always tried his best to dress him beautifully.

“I don’t know who this David is, but I’ll make sure what happened in the dream never happens.”

“I, Butler Venable, will serve you to the end.”

The desire that turned into obsession happened in an instant.

***

In the garden, Meia was walking and talking with Quini.

“Agnita is coming well, right?”

“She will come well.”

“Sigh…”

“What’s wrong, my lady?”

“Something happened recently.”

“What happened?”

“Grand Duke Theodore proposed a contract engagement.”

At those words, Quini’s steps halted.

“An engagement?”

No, if it’s an engagement, it’s an engagement. What’s with the sudden contract engagement?

“He said he could protect me from Prince Demian and that he would break off the engagement if I wanted.”

“Why would he do that? Haha.”

Quini knew Theodore’s feelings for Meia. But he didn’t tell her.

For Meia, getting confessed to was a common occurrence. There was no need to mention something she always experienced, and Quini wasn’t light-mouthed enough to say, ‘Haha, Grand Duke Theodore likes you.’ Besides, since he had to serve here for a year, it was best not to talk about related matters.

“Will you accept it, my lady?”

“I’m thinking about it.”

“If you’re thinking about it, it means you might accept it.”

“He’s not a bad match. Grand Duke Theodore said he’d give me plenty of time to think.”

“He seems very considerate.”

“Indeed. I asked him to wait, and he’s waiting quietly.”

Theodore was really waiting well, just because she told him to wait.

“He’s a cute person.”

“My lady, did you say Grand Duke Florence is cute?”

Meia smiled broadly and laughed joyfully.