CH 48

Judging from the condition of the Grand Duke, it didn’t seem to be an illness caused by being sick for a day or two.

Elusiana, who had a serious face, smiled dejectedly. Why did it matter now whether the Grand Duke was sick or not? She had already become a maid of Grand Duke Sestein.

“…!”

Ah! That’s why it’s more of a problem! Now that she had become the maid of Sestein, the premise that she could avoid the eyes of the grand duke had disappeared.

Ugh, what to do now? I pretended to be smart and do it by myself, but how could it end up like this? A belated regret came over her.  

Elusiana should have left the grand duke immediately when she first felt suspicious. Before her eyes widened at the high salary and before she took the pouch the butler gave her. Of course, it was unknown if she could have escaped the labyrinth garden where traps were laid. Because they said some people really died from there.

Elusiana, who unknowingly moved her body, dropped her shoulder. “The moment I stepped into the Grand Duchy, I was already trapped.”

She thought she was free from the shackles, but it was like she had put on a dog collar with her own hands. Elusiana swept her frustrated neck for no reason and stared at the contract crumpled on the workbench.

“Okay. First of all, let’s check the contract details.”

At that time, she couldn’t even check the contract’s contents properly because Louis threatened her with a penalty fee.

Elusiana opened the envelope, disgruntled. Why am I so nervous? Her fingertips holding the envelope trembled slightly. There won’t be much. According to the butler, except for the salary, the rest was the same as the previous contract. But why did she feel so uncomfortable?

There were ominous feelings as if ferocious wolves were lurking beyond the tall grass, and the sneaky clauses she didn’t know about may be hidden here. She felt dizzy for no reason.

Elusiana opened the envelope and took out half of the contract. It was then the door opened, and someone shouted.

“Lusi!”

“Oh my goodness!”

Surprised, Elusiana reflexively stood up. She didn’t do anything wrong, but her heart was beating wildly.

“No-Noel?”

Noel, who came in with his golden hair as if he had bright sunlight, smiled broadly.

“I came here just in case, and as expected, you are here.”

“W-why did you come here at this hour?”

“Lusi, didn’t you say you were resting today?”

Noel smiled softly and approached the work table where Elusiana was. Elusiana, belatedly coming to her senses, slid the envelope in her hand under the work table.

“Didn’t you say you have an important party today?”

“Wow— Did I even say that to Lusi?”

“Why are you pretending not to know? In the subject of someone who tells me everything in detail.”

“Well, I don’t have secrets as much as Lusi does.

Shrugging his shoulders lightly, Noel glanced under the table and sat in front of it. He held his chin and stared at her.

“That’s why. Will you take my order?”

“Order?”

“I’m thinking of buying some flowers.”

“…Is it for a gift?”

Noel gently folded his eyes and nodded with a smile.

“Lusi, I hope it’s a flower that resembles you.”

Elusiana, who frowned slightly, sighed low and shook her head. “If you need someone to play with, could you please leave quietly?”

“I mean it, Lusi.”

Watching Noel answer with a grin, Elusiana clicked her tongue. Who else does he buy flowers to seduce? I thought he had grown up, but it looks like he’s still running wild. If he does that, he will get seriously hurt. Tsk, tsk. She hid her unwillingness and moved to a booth where flowers were displayed.

“Hm, hm. Good. Let me recommend a flower that suits Noel’s taste.”

“Please take care of me,” replied Noel with a soft smile on his lips.

Anyway, she’s a shrewd woman. It was interesting for him to see her trying to keep up with the flow even though she seemed annoyed.

Noel looked carefully at her back as she picked the flowers, then he slipped his hand under the table. If he wasn’t mistaken, the envelope she was carrying must have belonged to the Sestein family.

As expected. Just like he predicted, the envelope was stamped with the seal of Grand Duke Sestein.

Why does Lusi have this? Noel squinted his eyes, looked at Elusiana, then pulled out the half-exposed paper slightly. Employment contract?  Noel frowned and pushed the envelope back under the table.

The Grand Duke of Sestein was strictly wary of outsiders entering. In fact, it was very rare for them to hire new employees. However, to not hire a noble with a clear origin but a commoner as an employee?

It’s strange. Noel’s expression, completely unaware that Elusiana was a noble, was colored with doubt.

Elusiana, who picked out some flowers, turned around from the booth and asked. “Noel, what color do you want?”

“…Color?”

“I think it would be good if you could decide on the main color.”

“Hmm.”

Noel smiled and looked at Elusiana. He was just trying to make her comfortable and said with a smile, “I’d like a scarlet one.”

“Scarlet?”

“I think it would be prettier if it was a color that looks exactly like Lusi’s eyes.”

Elusiana furrowed her brows and made an expression as if she was going to vomit.

“What’s with that disrespectful look, Lusi?”

“Oh my, was it obvious? I tried to hide it. Please forgive me if I offended you.”

“I mean it. Why don’t you believe me?”

“Yes, yes, I understand. I will actively listen to our Customer’s opinions and find the same one as much as possible.”

Elusiana, who answered meekly, picked out some flowers again. Then, holding the basket she had picked out, she moved to Noel’s side.

“Now, look. This is ornithogalum. It’s a flower of the lily family and comes in three colors: white, orange, and yellow. The meaning of this flower is innocence and single love.”

Noel, who secretly moved to Elusiana’s side, sighed briefly. “Lusi, do you even know the language of flowers?”

Elusiana’s fingertips paused for a moment as she checked there were more scarlet flowers. When did he come next to me again?

Elusiana replied, shaking her head inwardly, “This is basic. And from a commercial point of view, it’s more useful to know the language of flowers.”

“I see. But, hmm, single love… It has a sad meaning.”

With Noel’s sudden subdued mood, Elusiana wondered what was wrong with him again.

“Sad?”

“Literally, it means to love only one person. For the rest of their life. So it’s sad.”

“Why do you feel sad about that?”

Most of the young ladies who grew up watching male nobles with multiple wives, dream of a sweet confession. Even if it was a promise they couldn’t keep. In that sense, ornithogalum, which was the flower language of ‘single heart,’ could be said to be a romantic medium in conveying love. But what makes it so sad?

Elusiana tilted her head as she handed Noel an orange ornithogalum.

“I guess Lusi doesn’t quite understand what I’m saying.”

“Honestly, it’s true.”

Noel accepted ornithogalum and recited it low as if whispering. “Have you never thought about this? What will happen to those who remain if one of them… dies?”

“…?”

“Those who remain have to live longing for the dead for the rest of their lives. Even though their heart is still beating, isn’t it the same as if their heart died?”

“…Ah!”

Noel smiled dimly and faced Elusiana. His smile somehow looked so painful that Elusiana couldn’t say anything for a moment.

“Uh, um… I didn’t expect anyone to think so.”

“Because these are the perfect flowers for confession?”

“That’s right. Normally… like that.”

“Is that why you recommended it to me?”

Noel inhaled the scent of ornithogalum she was holding. Flustered, Elusiana flinched and pulled her upper body to the back.

“W-what do you mean?”

“I thought Lusi wanted me to confess to you.”

“Don’t be like that, Lord!”

“Whoa. Don’t be angry, Lusi. You know it’s a joke. It’s really scary when you raise your eyes like that.”

Elusiana mercilessly crumpled her forehead at Noel’s refreshing eye smile.

“Lord, frogs are sometimes killed by stones thrown for fun. Isn’t it about time to figure out how the other person will feel after hearing that light joke from Lord?”

“And Lusi… why did you recommend ornithogalum to me?”

Noel tilted his head at an angle and looked at Elusiana’s sharp eyes.

“Single love. It’s a flower that doesn’t suit me at all. Aren’t you warning me not to play with people’s hearts?”

“W-Warning? How could I warn the Lord?”

Her scarlet eyes with light brown eyelashes shook as if embarrassed. Her face, which would soften when touched slightly with his fingertips, seemed to tremble in protest, saying, ‘No!’.

What if I really touch her? What would happen if he just lightly touched her eyes…?

A sudden thought flashed through Noel, making her strengthen his grip that held the ornithogalum.