55. Colors

Sorry for being a day late, guys. Work was a slaughter this week.

---

TN: Toasty
ED: Toasty

---

「I’m relying on you!」

Just as the sun was beginning to set, a powerful voice echoed through the front door of Ernst’s mansion.
Lydia, who greeted the owner of the voice, twitched slightly but smiled with her back to the front door.

「…Jeremias-sama, even if you don’t raise your voice like that, it will reach me as I’m right in front of you.」

「I see. I’ve come to deliver a gift from His Highness!」

She thought she had warned him about his loud voice, but she didn’t seem to understand him and just nodded, tilting his head to the side. She had heard from her fiancé, Roy, the country’s first prince, that he was an honest man, but she wondered if he’s too unskilled at finding out the true intentions of nobles. He doesn’t even understand sarcasm.
True to his word, he held out the single autumn rose from Roy that he had entrusted to him to give to her. Autumn roses with a calm color similar to the setting sun are a variety that can only be found in the castle rose gardens in the royal capital. Even though it’s just a single rose, being gifted with such a precious rose allows her to maintain the appearance of being cherished as a fiancée.

「You haven’t scattered the petals today, have you?」

「Ahhh, I was careful not to shake it!」

With half-closed eyes, Lydia stared at the autumn rose held in Jeremias’ hand. Last time, by the time he got off the carriage and arrived at the front door, he had shaken the flower so vigorously that all the petals had fallen off. This time, there were no signs that the petals had fallen, and at first glance it seemed to be safe.
After receiving the autumn rose from Jeremias, Lydia gives a formal response.

「Since you took the trouble to come, please come and have some tea…」

「No, I can’t enter His Highness’ fiancée’s residence when I’m not following him. It’s enough if you show me a little bit of the garden.」

「Then, I’ll show you there.」

「I appreciate it!」

This is the standard question and answer. She knows that he will refuse, so she makes the proposal but is not prepared to actually treat him to tea.
Her fiancé Roy’s visits have dropped from once every two weeks to once a month. In return, Roy started sending flowers from the castle’s flower garden once a week, asking a reliable candidate as a direct vassal.
The two people Roy chooses as his direct vassal candidates and have close friendships with are Jeremias von Staden, the son of a knight commander, and Bernhard von Reckebusch, the son of a minister. The two of them purposely come to visit her in the evening on errands so that they don’t stay too long.
That is the official pretense and nothing more. Because of her high-ranking aristocratic status, Lydia is also beginning to acquire the ability to consider the opinions of those around her, but unlike Roy, she is not as concerned about using people to manipulate impressions. What Lydia is aware of is how her own behavior affects those around her.
Lydia, who knows their true purpose, is visited alternately by two of her candidates to become her direct vassal, and is impressed by Roy’s ability to think so quickly.
Lydia glances at Jeremias, who sometimes seems to be overtaking her as she guides him, forgetting the difference in her stride.
Jeremias’ straight, dark blue hair sways smoothly every time he walks, and his sky-blue eyes would normally look cool, but now a glimmer of desire is flickering deep within his appearance. It negates the impression. He is a boy with an appearance that comes across as intelligent when he is quiet. Then he realizes that when he opens his mouth, he is the exact opposite.
The arbor in the middle of the west corridor is normally a place where no one would pass, as there are no flowers to see at this time of year. That’s why it was the perfect place to fulfill their true purpose.
There was a customer in the pavilion, sitting on a bench inside and waiting for Lydia and the others.

「Zack, I’m sorry, you must be tired.」

「No, I’m just going home. Besides, it’s not something Ojou should apologize for.」

The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, laughed and made Lydia withdraw her apology. Lydia felt the muscles in her cheeks relax as she smiled. Apparently she was using her expressions to respond to Jeremias.

「What do you think? The pedals are not scattered today!」

「It’s a failure.」

Last time, Jeremias delivered the flower with the pedals completely scattered, so the boy who was an apprentice gardener didn’t talk to him about it. When Jeremias confirmed that it would be okay since he had maintained the flower’s condition this time, the boy, with his eyes half-closed, gave him an immediate, nonsensical answer.

「Why!?」

Jeremias, who had just thought that today he gained the notice of Isaac, was shocked.
Then, the boy who was an apprentice gardener took the autumn rose from Lydia and tore off the wrapping paper. The stem of the rose, which had exposed dew, had a darker color in the middle, making it easier to bend at that point.

「It was long enough to grow easily, but you gripped it too tightly and you had to cut it short. If you hadn’t removed the splinter, your hand would have been injured.」

As he explained, the apprentice gardener took a pair of scissors from a pouch on his waist and cut the stem diagonally above the point where Jeremias had gripped it. Then, he rewrapped it in wrapping paper and returned it to Lydia. He told him that the idea is to cut back the stem little by little while it’s still alive to make it last longer.
Jeremias arched his mouth and visibly pouted. Although he has a face that doesn’t seem to make many expressions, he is very expressive and expresses his thoughts easily.

「Jeremias, it’s not enough to go full power.」

「What’s wrong with trying to do everything with all my might?」

「Two of the flowers are now damaged.」

Jeremias tries to make a case, but a boy who is a gardener’s apprentice gives him an example of failure, and Jeremias is at a loss for words.

「The flowers were so fragile!」

「So, can you say that about women, children, and the elderly? I’m sure you’re aiming to be a knight. Just because the person you’re protecting is fragile, is it okay to use the wrong amount of force and injure them?」

Helping the weak and standing up to the strong is the chivalry that Jeremias aims for. The boy who was an apprentice gardener was simply speaking out of the impression that he was a security guard, but he got to the heart of Jeremias. Jeremias didn’t reply, his mouth closed in a straight line.

「But, unlike before, you protected the flower part, so it grew.」

Jeremias, who was filled with dissatisfied feelings as his efforts were justly rejected, was patted on the head. Recognizing his progress, Jeremias rekindled the fire of motivation in his sky-blue eyes.

「I’ll win next time!」

With that declaration, Jeremias turned on his heel and departed, saying farewell. Lydia and the boy, who is an apprentice gardener, are taken aback by his closeness and see him off.

「What in the world is this contest??」

「Hmm?」

The boy who was a gardener’s apprentice had no intention of competing, and Lydia found Jeremias’ feelings, which were typical of boys, incomprehensible. They both tilt their heads.
The two people left behind in the gazebo look at each other. Lydia asks what was on her mind.

「Isn’t it a nuisance for Zack?」

Dealing with their weekly visits is outside of his job duties. If he seemed troubled, Lydia was thinking of objecting, even if it was a request from Roy.

「No, it’s like paying attention to the kids, which makes me feel a little nostalgic.」

「Nostalgic?」

She has heard that on his days off, he often takes care of younger children in the downtown area where he lives. However, Lydia wondered what it meant for him to feel nostalgic about it.

「Since the little ones have started helping each other with chores around the house, we don’t play together as much, although we see each other.」

It would be a shame to call them little kids now, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice said with a laugh.
Even though they are younger children, the eldest is 9 years old and the younger ones seem to be 7 years old as well. The younger children were said to be primarily taken care of by the children he himself took care of. It’s true that everyone is shorter than him, but it might be rude to treat someone who has just started working as an apprentice like a child.

「Also.」

As Lydia, who was not working, was wondering what the right thing to say in response was, there were more words to be said. Wondering, Lydia tilted her head, and for some reason, a happy smile turned toward her.

「I’m happy to see Ojou’s face after work.」

「What!?」

Lydia felt her cheeks heat up as she saw the most relaxed expression she had seen from him today. She had been feeling a little worried about the way he was responding to someone he didn’t get along with, but his opinion and smile made her change her mind and think that maybe the current situation wasn’t so bad.
It seems cowardly to her that he changes things so easily, and a feeling similar to anger rises to a boiling point.

「It’s always this about Zack…!」[T/N: This one is a little awkward to translate.]

The words of reprimand don’t last.
Lydia thinks that his attitude of not being pessimistic about the situation he was put in and finding positive points is a virtue. It’s just that she doesn’t like it when the positive side of things is easily directed at her. She becomes unable to agree.
Lydia’s desire to say something and her frustration at his own fault for not being able to agree with him were in conflict, and all she could do was make her lips and fists tremble. The eyebrows of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice lowered as if he felt that he would be scolded for looking at her. Lydia felt that even the look in her eyes as she waited for her reaction was unfair.
In the end, Lydia had no choice but to end the conversation and say that it was enough. The boy who is an apprentice gardener tells her that he’ll see her again and sets out on his way home. Lydia, who was secretly regretting that she had acted in such an uncharmful manner, quietly let out a sigh of relief when he heard him say, “See you again.” [T/N: I left these without 「」 since it’s an indirect quote.]

---

A week later, it was Bernhard’s turn, so she was able to guide him to the west pavilion without any problems.
He has unruly long crimson hair reminiscent of a lion and sharp evergreen and amber eyes reminiscent of a wild beast, giving him a rough impression, but in reality, he is a calm and polite boy.
He obediently followed Lydia’s guidance, and after they arrived at the gazebo where the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice was waiting, they exchanged a simple greeting, and even had time to sit on the bench inside the gazebo. It’s a big difference from Jeremias’s time, which ended with a standing conversation.

「So, what’s your question today?」

A boy who is a gardener’s apprentice asks Bernhardt. He learned from their first meeting that Bernhard’s intellectual curiosity knew no bounds, so he limited himself to answering only one question at a time. He was using the little time he had between working and going home to meet Bernhard, so that was actually just about right. If he hadn’t suggested it, Lydia would have suggested a time limit.
Bernhard’s eyes sparkled with interest, so he must have thought about it beforehand as he asked the question without hesitation.

「Why did you decide to use magic without chanting?」

Lydia was also curious about Bernhard’s question, so she also waited for the answer. He takes it for granted to cast magic without chanting, but it is common for commoners with a small amount of magic to cast spells by chanting them. Why on earth did he insist on chantless activation even after discovering the technique of spirit assistance?

「I’m embarrassed to cast spells.」

It was an immediate answer. Both Bernhard and Lydia’s eyes widened at the answer.

「Embarrassed…?」

Bernhard, who doesn’t seem to understand, repeats it to confirm. Spell chanting is the most effective way to reduce the cost of activating magic power, and it is a very common method used even by nobles when using magic that requires high magic power consumption. Neither Bernhard nor Lydia could understand that one could feel shame for a mere means.
Perhaps sensing that he wasn’t conveying his feelings to them, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice didn’t blush even though he said he was embarrassed, and muttered with a slightly displeased expression on his face.

「There are a lot of words you don’t normally use when it comes to spells. It’s embarrassing to say something like that, whether you can say it or not.」

As he says, there are many classical and poetic expressions in spell chanting. Classical literature and poetry are part of the culture, so aristocrats have a strong affinity for them, but commoners certainly have the impression that words are only used when using magic.
Bernhard felt as though he understood the idea that it was embarrassing to say unfamiliar expressions. Bernhard found a sense of familiarity, wondering if it was like trying to sound as ferocious as Jeremias. He doesn’t want to imitate Jeremias’s way of speaking, so even if others around him imitate him, he would never do it himself. After thinking about it, Bernhard was generally satisfied.
Lydia was a little surprised by the unusual reaction of the boy who was a gardener’s apprentice. He doesn’t react in a way that she’s familiar with, but rather he definitely feels embarrassed and shy. Lydia couldn’t imagine him being shy, but she wondered if he could be this shy. Lydia had discovered something new about him.

「Fufu, so you’re worried about that.」

It was kind of funny to think that it was such a trivial thing that he felt ashamed of. Lydia couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

「There’s nothing particularly bad about it.」

「I’m not saying it’s bad.」

The boy who was a gardener’s apprentice frowns even more after being laughed at. Lydia knew that his reaction was embarrassment, and she couldn’t help the smile on her face. It was just a surprise to her and she didn’t mean it maliciously.
Lydia is secretly grateful for Bernhard’s visit, as he asks questions that she would not be able to ask now, even though she has been with him for a long time. Thanks to her, she got to know a surprising side of him today.
While Lydia and the boy who was a gardener’s apprentice were talking, Bernhardt seemed to be deep in thought as if he were reflecting on the answer, but he nodded in agreement.

「Hmm, that was helpful. Thank you. Oh, that’s right, I heard about making an offering the other day and when I did it, the burden of activating magic power was reduced a little! If I continue, I’lll be able to activate it without consuming magic power like Isaac. I’m looking forward to observing the progress! That way, I can try magic that I haven’t been able to try before…」

「Calm down.」

The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice placed his hand on Bernhard’s head as he began to speak without pausing. It was like flipping a switch. Bernhard is not a machine, but perhaps due to the physical impact, Bernhard quickly comes to his senses.
Bernhard, regaining his senses, apologized in a dejected voice.

「I-I’m sorry…」

「No, that’s fine Bell gets very passionate when it comes to magic.」

At the impressions of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, Bernhard looked down with an obviously upset expression and let out a self-deprecating sigh.

「It doesn’t suit me, does it?」

Bernhard himself was also aware of this. The impression his appearance gives to those around him doesn’t match his inner self. Because of his wild, animal-like appearance, on days when he was sleep deprived, he was often involved with other people who were belligerent, even though they only made eye contact. Although he seems calm and easy to talk to, he is misunderstood as the type of person he doesn’t like and ends up being kept away from people similar to him.

「Even though I’m a water attribute, I don’t have any elements that make blue suitable for me. It’s not that I hate my mother, but this look I inherited is just inconvenient.」

Marquis Reckebusch’s family, where water attributes tend to be born, has many people with blue or black hair, perhaps influenced by their magical power, and Bernhard is the only one with red hair. The color of the magic stones is blue for the water attribute and red for the fire attribute, so Bernhardt is a unique being, as despite his large amount of magical power, his physical characteristics do not show any colors of his attribute.

「It doesn’t have to be blue.」

The boy who was an apprentice gardener muttered.

「Blue symbolizes the water attribute.」

Even though Bernhard knew that the boy who was a gardener’s apprentice didn’t know that, he couldn’t help but frown at him.
Bernhard boasts the greatest amount of magical power in Marquis Reckebusch’s family. In other words, he is one of the best water attribute magic wielders among the nobles. The fact that he did not have the appropriate color for his magical power made Bernhard feel a strong sense of inferiority.

「Well, I have an image of the color from hydrangeas. Right now, there’s no blue anywhere here.」

Prompted by his words, Bernhard looked around. Surrounding the pond is greenery that borders it, except for the sky spreading above. It is a space filled with water both above and below. However, it is evening now, and the world is bathed in sunset light.

「They’re all the same color as Bell.」

Bernhard was astonished by the words of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice.
Water is colorless and transparent. The color changes depending on the reflection of the light it receives. Why did he overlook the knowledge that he should have known? Humans cannot be as transparent as water, so it doesn’t matter what color they are.

「…I… I see? That’s right, isn’t it?」

That’s right, Bernhard said as he laughed out loud. He now thought it was foolish of him to even be concerned about it.

「Besides, they say a man will be happy if he looks like his mother, so Bell is lucky.」

「Is that the case?」

It’s probably just a commoner’s superstition, and there’s no basis for it, but it’s the first time Bernhard has been affirmed by saying that he looks like his mother. Even he thought of it negatively. Bernhard nodded, thinking of thanking his mother when he returned.

「When I first saw Bell and the others, I thought they had swapped insides, but I think it’s interesting that you look like a poinsettia.」 [T/N: You have no idea how annoying it is to hunt down plant names when it’s Japanese kanji for a flower name, as I only had “猩々木” and ended up stumbling on a Japanese flower forum that linked to poinsettias.]

「Is that a red flower?」

Bernhard tilts his head, comparing it to the large red flowers that bloom at this time of year as winter approaches.

「Those red portions are not petals, but leaves called bracts.The flowers are small and yellow in the center.」 [T/N: This is what let me confirm he is in fact talking about poinsettias.]

「Is that so?」

Bernhard is a little surprised by this unexpected fact. Lydia didn’t seem to know either, and she was whispering that she should take a closer look next time.

「Most people don’t notice the cute flowers because the leaves are so showy. However, those who know them look in to see the flowers. People who are misunderstood by their appearance only approach people who want to understand them, so for Bell there are only good guys around you, right?」

After having it pointed out, Bernhard confirms his own situation. It is true that his parents love him without worrying about his appearance. Jeremias, who became his childhood friend, is also likely not thinking about it now, but he gets himself involved in every situation to the point of being annoying.
He finally realized that he was the only one who cared about what others thought about his appearance, and that those closest to him were not concerned about his appearance.
It was a day that Bernhardt often realized things too late, which made him laugh.

「That’s right. This appearance might be just right for someone like me who doesn’t have much social skills.」

I thought it was okay to have a small amount of friendships. His appearance, which only made him feel inferior, is highly useful to that policy. Even if he doesn’t pay attention, the other person will automatically sift through the sieves.

「Today was really helpful. Thank you.」

Bernhard smiled with satisfaction as he gained a new perspective. Then, saying “See you soon”, he left, his expression bright.

「The opinions of commoners aren’t that helpful.」

In the arbor where Bernhard had left, the boy who was a gardener’s apprentice murmured mysteriously. From his point of view, he thought that Bernhard’s interest in him would soon fade away. He thought he would soon realize that he wasn’t worth coming over and over again.
Lydia’s eyes widen as she sees the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice.

「…Zack, haven’t you noticed?」

「What?」

「Bernhard-sama seemed happy.」

「Ah. He really likes magic, doesn’t he?」

「You don’t understand…」

Even though Lydia had mentioned the change in Bernhard’s behavior, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice seemed to have misunderstood the reason why Bernhard had returned home with a beaming expression on his face.
Is this the second time she’s seen him influence someone other than himself? Previously with Nicholas, it had been intended to defuse the situation, but this time, just like with him, he was simply expressing his thoughts.
He just says what he feels is right. That’s all, but it’s rare for someone else to affirm something that you’ve denied yourself, other than to offer comfort. Therefore, it is a big shock.
He doesn’t seem to understand that.
That’s why Lydia, who knew firsthand how his words could reach her, couldn’t help but sigh, thinking about how that nature of his was really unpleasant.

---

A week later, Roy visited again, for the first time in a month.
Lydia invites him to a room with a view of the garden and welcomes him with hot tea. From the moment she met Roy, he was smiling happily.

「It’s been a while, Miss Lydia.」

「Yes, I couldn’t wait to meet Roy-sama. They’re both so lively that I can’t calm down.」

She said this in a sarcastic way, but she really meant it. Having a peaceful cup of tea with Roy in this way puts her mind at ease. The reason she was being sarcastic was probably because she could tell from Roy’s smile that he was making fun of the situation.
Hearing Lydia’s words, Roy cleared his throat and apologized.

「I’m sorry about that. I’ll do whatever I can.」

「Just receiving a precious rose is enough for me. Also, even though we are friends, this is something a man cannot heal.」

Normally, until you become a debutante, you don’t have many opportunities to come into contact with aristocratic men of the same generation. Lydia had no idea that dealing with noblemen close to her age could be so exhausting. There are too many unknowns.
Lydia realized once again that her fiancé was quite calm considering his age.

「I see.Then, I would like you to heal with the daughter of Marquis Augusto and the others.」

「That’s what I intend to do.」

She’s not going to complain to them. However, as long as they can talk about trivial things and laugh together, that’s fine. She has already made plans to have a tea party with Tordelise and the others, and Lydia is looking forward to it.

「It’s great that Miss Lydia is close friends with another girl.」

「What are you saying all of a sudden…!?」

Roy smiles at her, filled with her relief and happiness, and Lydia can’t bear to stay like that. It seems like she can’t even see what she’s looking forward to, which makes her feel embarrassed.

「It’s not all of a sudden. I just hear that jealousy in women is scary.」

With Roy’s words, Lydia understood his concerns.
Lydia, the fiancée of Roy, the country’s first prince, is the object of envy and jealousy among women of her generation. Although she is the first in line to inherit the throne, Roy himself attracts the favor of women with his angelic appearance, with his golden hair and honey-colored eyes. There are many young ladies who are in love with Roy.
It’s almost a miracle that his fiancée, Lydia, has a friend with whom she has a comfortable relationship with. Due to Roy’s popularity and her position, she was surrounded by jealousy from those outside of the ones who flattered her in order to receive her favor, and there was a possibility that she would become a lonely existence.
For example, what would have happened if she had continued to admire Roy? Even when she was in the midst of jealousy, she did not complain to anyone, and as a duke’s daughter, she may have continued to put up a front, trying to be noble.
When she thought about it, Lydia felt that she was very lucky to be able to seek comfort from her friend. She felt grateful to them, and her desire to meet them increased.

「Don’t worry.」

When Lydia smiled fearlessly, Roy softened his honey-colored eyes.

「I see. I hear that the daughter of Count Witting and the daughter of Baron Fite have a higher level of education than their family rank. Miss Lydia is truly cherished.」

「Oh, that’s the result of Fanny-sama’s efforts! I didn’t do anything.」

「I guess it’s because they want to be on par with you. You’re loved, after all.”

Lydia insists that her increased education as a young lady is the result of Stephanie and the others, but Roy’s smile makes Lydia lose any further objections. Stephanie is trying to repay the favor of the count who accepted her as his adopted daughter, and Zaskia is trying to match her fiancé, the son of a marquis. However, she has been told that she is the goal that the two of them are aiming for, and so Roy’s opinion is not entirely wrong.
She felt that she would be a little happy if Roy was right, so Lydia had no choice but to keep silent.
A few days after Roy’s visit, the tea party she had been looking forward to with Tordelise and the others was held at the Ernst house. Lydia invited Zaskia and the others to Lydia’s room and while they were chatting with her, the autumn roses arranged in a vase caught Zaskia’s eye.

「Wow, each flower is so big and beautiful. The colors are so elegant, too. Are they blooming in Diar-sama’s garden?」

「Ah…this was a gift from Roy-sama.」

When Zaskia heard that this rare variety of rose only blooms in the royal gardens in the Kingdom of Abendrot, her eyes lit up even more at its preciousness. When Lydia explained that the gift was given to her by a senior vassal candidate in exchange for a reduction in the frequency of her visits, Tordelise tilted her head in confusion.

「Jeremias-sama delivered the flowers well and safely?」

At Tordelise’s accurate impressions as if she knew his behavior, when Lydia was asked, she wryly smiled.

「Torde-sama, do you know Jeremias-sama?」

「Yes. Sometimes he comes to challenge my father, but he always is completely beaten」

Stephanie and Zaskia’s eyes widen at the outrageous story. Lydia gently averted her gaze, thinking that she seemed possible.
According to her, when Jeremias thinks he has become stronger, he will come to challenge Twinbark, Tordelise’s father, who is the vice-commander of the knights. And each time, he is said to have vowed revenge. Since he was about five years old, he had challenged Tordelise about once every six months, so it seemed like Tordelise was familiar with him.

「Maybe it’s because we’re the same age, but before I knew it he was my brother’s friend.」

Shrugging her shoulders reluctantly, Tordelise took a bite of the cake that was served with the tea. She had previously complained that Marquis Augustus’ family was famous for their military exploits, and that the male family members were all rugged people who lacked sensitivity. Judging from the fact that he and Jeremias hit it off, her brother is probably of the same type.

「Um, the Knight Commander is an old man with red hair, right? So, is the red-haired boy who often is with His Highness the prince is Jeremias-sama?」

Stephanie says while tracing her memory. Her words were unstable because she was thinking, but Lydia and the others didn’t point it out. She is very careful in public, and she knows that when she relaxes her speech, it’s because all of them have let their guard down.
It has been several years since Stephanie became the daughter of an earl, and the only time Stephanie has seen Roy and the others is at her royal birthday party, which she only sees from a distance. She probably remembers it well.

「It’s the other way around. The one with blue hair is Jeremias-sama.」

Zaskia corrected Stephanie’s understanding.

「Eh, but…」

「The daughters of the martial House Staden and wise House Reckebusch married into the other house in order to deepen their friendship by order of the king. Therefore, Jeremias-sama’s mother is a member of the Reckebusch family, and Bernhard-sama’s mother is from the Staden family.」

「Even though each of them had their family’s aptitude attributes, it was even rumored as a joke that they were swapped children because they both looked like their mother.」

「Swapped child??」

Stephanie tilts her head at the unfamiliar word. When asked, Tordelise added to her explanation.

「It’s a fairy tale often told to the children of aristocratic families. When a girl becomes a debutante, it’s discovered that the princess of a certain country was actually replaced by a poor commoner’s child by a spirit when she was born. It is said that the princess will be reduced to poverty…」

「Hey, that seems like a prank by a spirit.」

Stephanie’s eyes lit up with interest as she recalled a similar story. This time, Lydia tilts her head at the unfamiliar word.

「What kind of prank is that spirit playing?」

「It’s a story that commoners often tell in bedtime stories. On her 15th birthday, a girl from a poor family discovers that she was actually a princess who was replaced by a prank by a spirit, and lives happily ever after in a castle. It’s a story that every girl dreams of.」

「Well, it’s a story that is used as a lesson for us not to be proud of our status, but the commoners have a very different opinion.」

Although they are probably based on the same story since the facts are the same, the stories told to the aristocrats are frightening while to the commoners it’s an impossible dream. How can the atmosphere change so much just by having a different main character?

「I used to long for it a long time ago, but now I don’t want to be a princess.」

「Why?」

Lydia wonders as Stefanie lets out a wry smile. Lydia understands her admiration for the story of her transformation into a princess. A few years ago, she admired the story of falling in love with a prince and becoming a princess in a picture book. The admiration that Lydia had at that time and the admiration that Stefanie had for her were probably similar.

「Because it’s difficult for me to even become the daughter of an earl now, so if you suddenly asked me to become a princess when I turned fifteen, it would be impossible…」

Stefanie came to the world of aristocrats, and she seemed to have become much more realistic. No, maybe it’s just that her thinking has matured faster. She shouldn’t live forever clinging to a vague dream-like story.

「I’m sure it must be tough to adjust to the culture.」

Having considered her reality, Lydia agrees with her opinion. There is a huge difference between becoming a princess when she originally has the minimum level of education as a noble, and becoming a princess without any knowledge. It is realistic for an aristocratic girl to aspire to be a princess, but it is unrealistic for a commoner girl to aspire to be a princess. The size of the gap to be closed is different.

「I used to think it was nice to be able to eat delicious food and wear beautiful clothes, but managing a territory seems like a lot of work.」

「Doesn’t it mean that a young lady doesn’t have to manage the territory…?」

「Dia-sama said that she was learning about territory management through correspondence with her grandfather. He told her about the territory, saying that if she studied too, she might be able to help a little.」

「Well, it’s not such a big deal…」

Lydia can’t bear to look at Stefanie’s motivated gaze.

It’s not something that inspires her. She visited her territory during the off-season, and she just wanted to know more about her other homeland. When she was asking about the kind of people living there and what their specialties were, her grandfather, Oswin, thought she had become interested in territory management, and he even began to teach her about the business of a feudal lord.

「…I think I’ll learn from Lord Cesar as well.」

「Are you talking about Marquis Gellerman?」

Zaskia, who was listening to the exchange between Lydia and Stefanie, suddenly muttered. When Tordelise confirmed that she was referring to her fiancée’s territory, Zaskia blushed and covered the red spots on her face with her hands. Not only Tordelise, but also Lydia and the others, felt a smile on their faces.
Zaskia was too embarrassed to mention it any further, and Stefanie returned to the original topic.

「Thanks to everyone, I found out that the blue haired one is Jeremias-sama, and the red haired one is Bernhard-sama. Thank you.」

Stefanie said it seriously, so that this way she wouldn’t have to make mistakes when greeting each other, and Lydia and the others laughed and said they were glad to be of help.
While exchanging smiles with her friends, Lydia remembered the story of the poinsettia. Lydia felt proud that her friends were probably the ones who looked into the flowers and noticed them.

---

「I’m relying on you!」

And then, many days later, a challenging voice rang out again at the entrance of Ernst’s mansion.
Lydia received the autumn rose, exchanged greetings as usual, and guided him to the gazebo. The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, who was sitting on a bench in the arbor, stood up after seeing Lydia and the others.

「How about this time!?」

Jeremias, who was nervous until he arrived at the gazebo, asked before he could say a greeting.
The gaze of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice shifts to the autumn rose that Lydia is holding. It wasn’t withered, the petals had a muted color and there were no scratches, and the stems didn’t seem to be broken either. He smiles softly at how carefully it was treated.

「Yep, you passed.」

Jeremias’ eyes widened at the words of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice.

「Then it’s time for the battle!」

「I will not.」

The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice immediately refused Jeremias’ challenge while his fists clenched.

「I passed though, right!?」

「No, I didn’t say that I would accept the challenge if I passed.」

In the first place, it’s strange that he wasn’t passing the exam. He is not fulfilling his role by scattering the petals of the flowers he was told to give by his boss. Lydia nodded as if to show her agreement with the boy who was a gardener’s apprentice, and Jeremias grunted in frustration when he pointed out that she had given an interpretation that suited him.

「Isaac is probably training, why isn’t he fighting!?」

「Remias. Why am I training?」

When Jeremias was asked, unconvinced, he was asked back. Jeremias answers without hesitation.

「To become stronger and protect others!」

「To escape.」

「Ha?」

「I train to run away from danger. That’s why I don’t fight.」

The reason for training is different, says the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice. Jeremias paused in his thoughts, unable to grasp the idea of trying to get stronger to avoid danger instead of getting stronger to face the threat. As a result, his movements stiffen.
After a few seconds, Jeremias somehow understood the words of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice and felt a boiling anger. Was he trying to challenge someone with such weak ideas?

「Are you a coward?!」

「Whatever.」

「I won’t ignore this!」

Much to Jeremias’s rage, Lydia stood in front of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice and stared straight into him with her sky blue eyes.

「The duty of a knight, Jeremias-sama, is to protect the kingdom and ultimately the people.」

「That’s right!」

「You can’t protect the people just by challenging the enemy. Depending on the war situation, retreating may be a strategy, right? Isn’t it courageous to decide to flee when your ability is no match for a threat?」

「Uh…」

Jeremias flinches as his father, the leader of the knights, had said something similar to when he was scolded. He wondered how many times he got punched in the face, being told that it wasn’t enough to rush into things blindly.

「You know, Ojou, there’s no need to make it such a difficult topic…」

「Zack, be silent.」

「Okay……」

「Listen, Jeremias-sama. It is the legitimate right of the people to defend themselves. The knights are there to prevent the situation from forcing the people to fight, aren’t they?!」

「That’s right…!」

At Lydia’s scolding, Jeremias fell to his knees and thrust his hands into the stone pavement of the pavilion. Only the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice was unable to keep up with the current atmosphere and stood by blankly.

「What did I do to the people I was supposed to protect… I won’t say anything about challenging Isaac again!」

「I’m happy you understand.」

Seeing that he accepted it, the boy who was a gardener’s apprentice was convinced that this was what he wanted to do. It’s true that Lydia was angry, but it was intentional that she persuaded Jeremias with difficult expressions that he was not good at. She guided the situation so that he, who had already refused, would not be involved any further. The boy who was a gardener’s apprentice was so impressed that he seriously debated whether or not he should applaud.

「Ah. Remias, why do you want to become so strong?」

The boy who was a gardener’s apprentice asked Jeremias a question that suddenly came to mind as he stood up while thinking deeply.

「That is, it’s for the sake of becoming a knight…」 [T/N: I think it’s Ojou talking here?]

「No, it’s simpler.」

It’s not a lie that it’s for a goal, but Jeremias’ enthusiasm is quite strong. The boy who was a gardener’s apprentice felt that he had a very emotional reason for this, other than just a good cause.
Jeremias couldn’t hide the reason why he was obsessed with his strength, so he answered by clenching his fist tightly.

「It’s because I look weak!」

「Eh?」

「I don’t look strong, unlike my father. Even if I have muscles, people will look at me as weak when I put on clothes, and even if I emit flames, people will rather tell me it doesn’t suit me before being feared. That’s why I want to have strength that overwhelms everything!」

The straight hair inherited from his mother is comfortable for Jeremias, who is not good at styling his hair. However, unlike his father, he can’t be intimidating with his appearance, and he can’t stand being treated as weak by others. It’s very frustrating.
It was also a very serious matter for Jeremias, who hates losing.
However, the boy who was a gardener’s apprentice muttered with a shocked expression.

「Then, wouldn’t it be nice if you could produce a blue flame that suits you? Blue is stronger than red.」 [T/N: If you’re familiar with Sentai you’ll understand why I burst out laughing when I read this line.]

「Really!?」

Jeremias accepted the fact that the blue one was stronger without hesitation. The boy who was a gardener’s apprentice was slightly thrown back by the force.

「If I remember correctly, the temperature of blue is much higher than that of red… right? Remias, if you have magical powers, you’ll be able to use it, right?」

Jeremias is elated by the fact that the fire is more powerful in colors that match his appearance. Jeremias doesn’t know of anyone with the fire attribute that emits blue flames. If he was able to do that, he was filled with hope that it would not be proof of weakness, but proof of power.
It took only a moment for Jeremias to make up his mind.

「Okay, I’ll be able to emit blue flames!」

His new goal set, Jeremias turned on his heel, unable to stand still.

「When it turns blue, I’ll show it to Isaac. Well then, goodbye!」

「Wait!」

Jeremias was about to walk away when he heard the sound of footsteps on the cobblestone pavement, causing him to straighten up and stop. When Jeremias turned around, Lydia was standing there with no expression on her face. Jeremias froze, sensing a trembling anger as if he was going to be struck by lightning.
Her lips parted gently to form her words.

「You are welcome to leave, but could you do so after you retract your remarks about Zack being a coward?」

「Yes!」

That day, Jeremias learned firsthand that it is scary when a beautiful woman gets really angry.

---

Whoops, sorry again for the delay. Work was so rough and I just had to phone it in on Friday. But I managed to almost keep to my promise to get this guy out within a week, haha.

I liked this chapter, even if it was painfully long from what I remember translating. Also Jeremias being like “Oh shit” at the end when Ojou was about ready to explode was pretty funny.

Other than that, not a whole lot else to say. See you all next time.

---