Facing Luke’s bright eye-smile, Eileen slightly turned her gaze to look at Cordelia, just in case. Cordelia’s face was flushed red.

The moment she confirmed this, her thought of “could it be” became a certainty. The situation flowing as smoothly as water was too sweet.

“Ah, by the way.”

Now would be the time to button up the first part of her plan. Eileen secretly curled up the corners of her lips, hidden from the two.

“Lady Cordelia, Count Luke. If you don’t mind, would you like to go to the Flower Show in Ritz together?”

* * *

On a day in May when a somewhat hot breeze tickled the cheeks, but the smiles spread across people’s faces shone brighter than ever.

Ritz in Bereut, where the Flower Show was being held, was adorned with colorful flowers.

“Beautiful.”

The green grass sparkled with morning dew, and bright yellow tulips bloomed among snow-white ones like daisies.

Eileen let out a small exclamation of admiration as she looked at the flowers that caught her attention from the entrance.

“Lady Eileen, you came early!”

A clear voice flowed into Eileen’s ears while she was looking at the flowers.

She knew who it was without having to check, so Eileen wore a gentle smile.

“Lady Cordelia.”

She raised her head and greeted Cordelia who approached her.

“Lady Cordelia, you look truly beautiful today.”

A wide-brimmed bonnet with a yellow ribbon, a dress with harmonious white and yellow colors reminiscent of the tulips she had just seen.

And even the fluffy brown hair slightly peeking out from between the bonnet.

Eileen clapped her hands softly at the adorable outfit.

“I’m sure Count Luke will say you look pretty too.”

“W-why, why, why are you s-suddenly mentioning C-Count Luke here…!”

Ah, just as expected.

She felt like she might burst into laughter at Cordelia’s reaction, which didn’t deviate even slightly from her expectations.

Eileen barely swallowed her laughter to avoid upsetting Cordelia, who was looking at her with reddened eyes.

Then she smiled mischievously and said,

“Lady Cordelia. You like Count Luke, don’t you?”

“Y-yes…?”

Cordelia’s face instantly turned red, as if a huge secret had been discovered.

Eileen didn’t bother to add anything more and just met her gaze with a smile.

“P-please keep it a secret from Count Luke…!”

“Of course!”

Eileen’s voice was full of playfulness, but her eyes were serious. Seeming reassured by this, Cordelia let out a deep sigh.

“Then I’ll help you a bit. Since Count Luke is also coming today, how about having a date with just the two of you here?”

“Huh…?”

“Lady Cordelia, we’re friends. Friends are supposed to help each other when they like someone!”

Is that not okay…?

Eileen looked at Cordelia with sorrowfully drooping eyes.

“But we came here together, and if you can’t enjoy the Flower Show because of me……”

“It’s fine! For my friend, Lady Cordelia, I’m perfectly okay with that!”

When Eileen particularly emphasized the word “friend,” Cordelia’s orange eyes began to waver slightly with concern.

“Then, though it’s shameless of me, I’ll ask for your help, Lady Eileen!”

After much deliberation, when Cordelia gave her answer, Eileen’s eyes curved more beautifully than a crescent moon.

Had the earthy scent mingling with the flower fragrance ever smelled this good before?

With everything going according to plan, Eileen smiled brightly.

Around the time Eileen and Cordelia were creating their own secret, Luke approached the two.

“I’ve arrived last and made the ladies wait. I apologize.”

“It’s okay! Count Luke!”

Cordelia answered with bright red cheeks when she heard his voice full of kindness.

Seeing this, Eileen smiled slightly and said,

“We arrived early, so please don’t worry too much. Let’s go in!”

At Eileen’s urging, the two nodded and moved toward the show garden.

“It’s truly a shame Duke Aaron couldn’t join us.”

“Right.”

When the topic of Aaron came up, Eileen secretly clicked her tongue behind the two.

‘Far from being nice to have him along, he would just irritate me.’

Well, she hadn’t invited him in the first place anyway.

Inwardly sarcastic, Eileen asked in a slightly exaggerated voice to change the subject.

“Duke Aaron is so busy…… Ah, besides that, what kind of flowers do you two like?”

When Eileen asked, Cordelia clapped her hands lightly and said,

“I like all of them, but among them, I love marigolds the most!”

Seemingly interested in her words, Luke also smiled slightly and answered.

“Marigolds are truly beautiful flowers. I like geraniums.”

“I like geraniums too! Count Luke, do you know a lot about flowers?”

Before long, just as Eileen had hoped, a light pink excitement began to bloom between Cordelia and Luke.

If things continue like this, there won’t be any problems.

Eileen hummed a tune. She felt her mood improving just from watching the two.

By now, as they approached the show garden filled with flower fragrances, the crowd gradually increased.

This would be the perfect timing to leave them alone.

Eileen looked around with satisfied eyes and gave Cordelia a subtle glance. Then she frowned and let out a short scream.

“Ah!”

“Lady Eileen, what’s wrong?”

At the sudden scream, Luke looked at her with round eyes. Eileen then spoke with green eyes slightly filled with tears.

“Ugh, I’m sorry, Count Luke. Though I’ve removed the bandages, my leg still hurts a little……”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m truly sorry, but could I rest alone for a moment? Once my leg feels better, I’ll join you again, so please go ahead and enjoy the show garden first.”

“No, I can’t do that, Lady Eileen.”

Despite Eileen’s earnest request, Luke was firm.

‘What should I do……?’

Eileen slightly rolled her eyes to look around. Not far away, she saw a sign that read “infirmary.”

Eileen let out a sigh of relief, then pointed and said.

“Would you be less worried if I rest over there?”

“Hmm, if it’s an infirmary, there should be a doctor……”

Though he still found it improper as a gentleman to leave her alone, Luke reluctantly nodded at Eileen’s sorrowful gaze.

* * *

“Will you really be alright? I still think we should stay with you……”

Even after arriving at the infirmary, Luke asked again, seemingly not reassured.

Moreover, his worry seemed to have spread to Cordelia, whose face was gradually filling with guilt.

Even a kind personality isn’t helpful at times like this.

“There’s a doctor here, so please don’t worry about me and go enjoy yourselves first.”

After finishing her words, Eileen gave a look to the doctor. The doctor nodded slightly and said,

“Yes, we’re here, so don’t worry.”

“Then, we’ll be nearby, so please call us if anything happens.”

“Yes, thank you, Count Luke.”

Eileen sat on the chair and waved to the two as they walked away.

“Whew……”

When the two completely disappeared from view and the surroundings became quiet, Eileen let out a small sigh.

All she could do now was pray for things to go well between them.

‘But what should I do now……?’

Of course, the immediate concern was how to spend this boring time.

About 30 minutes after the two left, overcome with boredom, Eileen stared blankly at the street.

The street was now packed with people. There were now more people than flowers.

‘Ah!’

Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed through her mind. With this many people, she wouldn’t be easily spotted by Luke.

‘I’m bored, so should I go and take a look too?’

Since she was also curious about the Flower Show that had been described so magnificently in the novel, Eileen slowly got up from her seat.

“My lady, are you feeling unwell?”

The doctor asked in a concerned voice.

“No, I feel better now, so I’m going to follow those two.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yes, I’ll come back if it hurts again.”

Eileen smiled with curved eyes, then headed toward the show garden.

“The weather is nice.”

Thanks to the sunshine pouring down, the colorful flower petals sparkled even more. Eileen took in each flower with her eyes.

“What flower is this?”

Led by the sweet floral scent spreading on the spring breeze, she found a large tree standing.

The pale purple flower clusters gathered closely like snowflakes on the tree and the verdant leaves immediately captured Eileen’s attention.

“This is a lilac!”

—Are you perhaps visitors from Bereut? This is a lilac!

A strange voice but oddly familiar dialogue reached Eileen’s ears while she was busily admiring the flowers.

“Do you like the garden I created?”

—Ah! Are you here on your honeymoon? I’m so happy you like the garden I created.

No way. That can’t be.

“That person” meets Cordelia and Luke when they go on their honeymoon in the latter part of the novel. She couldn’t possibly be here.

But from the moment she heard the familiar dialogue, a strand of expectation began to bloom in Eileen’s heart.

“Lilacs have different flower meanings depending on their color. This pink lilac’s flower meaning is ‘memory.’ My sister loves lilacs, so I created this thinking of my memories with her.”

—Lilacs have different flower meanings depending on their color. This purple lilac’s flower meaning is ‘first love.’ Are you two perhaps each other’s first loves?

Fiery red hair that catches the eye at a glance.

Lovely freckles spread across her cheeks.

Golden eyes shining nobly in her slightly darkened skin from the sun.

Though the dialogue was a bit different from the novel, she was certain.

Dana Morgan.

She was definitely the lost sister of Guild Master Bella Morgan, known as the most feared existence in Bereut’s underworld, who had dedicated her life to finding her.

In the novel, Bella found Dana thanks to Cordelia and Luke.

To think she would be here now!

She couldn’t understand how Dana was here, but that wasn’t important right now.

What mattered was becoming friends with her.

So she could quickly make Bella, who had been a great help to Cordelia and Luke, her ally.

Eileen nodded with a bright smile and said,

“Yes, it’s truly beautiful!”

“I’m so glad you like it!”

“This work is so beautiful that I want to transplant it exactly as it is into our home garden!”

“Really?”

Dana asked again with brightened cheeks.

“Yes! Ah, I’m late with my introduction. I’m Eileen Lia de Ceres from the Ceres ducal family.”

Eileen continued with an excited voice.

“If it’s alright with you, could I have your contact information?”