60. Sunflower

No real excuse for why I was late, I was just lazy because summer is approaching and I was taking the time to enjoy it haha. My bad, my bad, but hey, this is something I do on the side wahahaha.

But considering how Honkai Star Rail 2.3 is coming I will uh… totally not get delayed lmao.

Enjoy!

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TN: Toasty
ED: Toasty

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She had no idea it would be so uncontrollable.
Lydia was at a loss for words, feeling emotions she’d never experienced before. Or to be precise, now that she had realized the feelings she’d always had, she was so conscious of the boy who was a gardener’s apprentice that she found it increasingly difficult to calm her mind.
Being in front of him was just bad for her heart, and made her extremely tired.
In that case, she just shouldn’t meet him. The boy who was a gardener’s apprentice didn’t come into the mansion because his duties were in the garden. If she didn’t go to the garden itself, she’d be able to spend her time peacefully.
That’s what she thought in her head, but her feet headed towards the garden. She couldn’t look him in the eye, and ended up using Emilia and the other guards as a wall.
She knew there were things she needed to think about, but first she had to be able to stay calm when in front of him. That was all she could talk about.

「The situation has become something you said before, Roy-sama.」

「What did I say before?」

Roy tilted his head, smiling gently at Lydia’s words as she leaned on her elbows and rested her forehead on her folded hands, looking exhausted.
When she met with her fiancé, Roy hadn’t mentioned how exhausted she looked, so Lydia felt that he must have already guessed. While thinking this, she reported to Roy, who was leisurely drinking tea.

「I have something that I can’t talk about with you, Roy-sama.」

When they got engaged, they confirmed that they did not have romantic feelings for each other. They also promised to let each other know if they found someone they liked. And they both recognized each other as friends.
But that doesn’t mean she could casually ask Roy for love advice. Even before the matter of her fiancé, she was very hesitant to ask a man for advice. She was embarrassed to talk to her friends of the same sex, such as Tordelise, so there was no way she could talk to Roy, who was of the opposite sex, because it was too embarrassing.
Roy smiled as Lydia must be embarrassed, as she tried to hide her feelings as much as possible.

「I see.」

Roy smiled without any sign of disappointment. Knowing Lydia’s personality as a friend, he couldn’t imagine that she would choose him as a consultant.

「So, what should we do?」

「About that…」

When he brought up the topic of what to do next, Lydia lowered her eyebrows apolgetically.

「Could you please wait a moment? I mean…… I still can’t think calmly.」

Lydia’s voice became more and more quiet with embarrassment, and Roy burst out laughing. Then, he chuckled amusedly. It was cute to see her confused and overwhelmed with emotion.
Roy’s smile wouldn’t go away, so Lydia puffed up her cheeks. Roy apologized, saying sorry for making her angry.

「I’m ready anytime.」

「Yes. I want to talk to you about it properly, Roy-sama.」

When Roy agreed, Lydia nodded with a determined look. Seeing her gaze, Roy widely opened his honey-colored eyes. He thought she just wanted to talk after she’d calmed down, but he could sense her intention to find a way to be happy with him.

「Miss Lydia, you have a nature that’s unfavorable for this.」

Roy’s smile mixes with his honey-colored eyes.
At a time like this, she should prioritize her own desires. At the very least, Roy was aware that he had dragged her into it for his own desires. Surely she could be a bit more selfish.
He was prepared to accept it, and was willing to arrange as much as he could. But Lydia said she wanted to talk it over.
Roy narrowed his eyes at Lydia, who tilted her head in confusion, wondering what the loss was.

「You won’t lose your mind even if you fall in love?」

Even in a situation where she was in a bind because of her love, she didn’t forget her position as a duke’s daughter and didn’t scorn or neglect her contract with him. Roy had seen some young ladies who were so engrossed in their love for him that they didn’t care about the consequences. He was prepared to tolerate a certain degree of blindness, but his fiancée’s eyes were not clouded.
Roy was impressed that she was a friend worthy of respect.

「I’ll be waiting.」

Roy had said with a smile.
Roy was looking forward to the day when they could talk, not just to hear her answer.

---

After making a promise to talk with Roy, Lydia headed to the garden so as not to break the promise.
The summer sun was strong, so she put up a parasol and went to the garden. She saw the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice supporting a ladder and helping his father prune the trees. She had been warned before that branches would fall, so she called out from a distance.

「Zack!」

「Ojou.」

When she called out to him, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice turned around with a big smile.
His smile was so bright that Lydia instinctively tilted her parasol forward to block her view.
The summer sunlight is actually more dazzling, but his smile is warm and gentle, like a pool of sunshine. In terms of brightness alone, Roy’s fiancé is far superior.
She knows that, but her heart beats so hard and her body temperature rises that she can’t look directly at him. So it’s no exaggeration to say that it’s dazzling.
The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, who didn’t seem to realize why she’d moved the parasol, called out to Lydia that he would be finishing up his work soon. Lydia nodded with the parasol to convey her approval.
After waiting for a while, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, who had finished gathering fallen branches with his apprentice, excused himself from his father and came over to where Lydia was waiting.

「What’s the matter today?」

「Huh!?」

「……Lydia-sama?」

When he spoke to her, Lydia reflexively hid behind her guard, Emilia, who had followed her.
Emilia was forced to face the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice without any intention of speaking, and called out her master’s name in a confused manner. Emilia, who had no experience in love, could not understand why her master was upset by such an ordinary person. This was all the more surprising considering that her master was resolute and composed even when facing the first prince, who excites most ladies.
Emilia could only wonder why she was upset by this.
The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice accepted the situation as it was not the first time that Lydia had reacted in this way. Her sister was not with her today, so there was no one to deliver the message. He decided that he just needed to talk to her himself.

「Certainly, I’m sure it’s almost the off-season. Before then, could you please take a look at Yan’s garden?」

At the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice’s suggestion, Lydia nodded slightly, peeking out from behind the wall called Emilia.
He and his apprentice, Yan, took turns using the garden for self-study, so it was Yan’s turn to make it during this summer. That’s why Yan accompanied them to the sunlit garden.
The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice was humming as usual, and Lydia followed him as he led the way. Emilia, following her master, was at the rear.
The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice was humming as usual, so Yan mentioned it, revealing that he also used to sing while working on the farm at his parents’ house. The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice then decided to teach Yan the song he often hummed, and the two of them hummed happily together.
Watching the two of them, Lydia was secretly grateful that Yan had accompanied her. It would be too long until they arrived. It was difficult to look directly at Zack now, so it was just right to stare at him from behind as he laughed happily.
He doesn’t turn towards her, so Lydia gazes at the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice with relief.
His voice is a little low as he hums the song. Lydia wonders if it might get even lower. If that’s the case, won’t his voice sound like a different person from when she first met him? Even so, his gentle tone and relaxed way of speaking haven’t changed.
There are parts that are the same and parts that have changed, but he’s still the same old him.
He’s grown a lot taller, and his shoulders are broader thanks to the muscles he’s built up from working in the garden. She’s always looked up at him, but now that he’s almost the same height as Yang, who is one year older than her, she’ll probably be looking up at him for a long time to come.
When she notices his growth, such as his Adam’s apple, she becomes very conscious of him, and her heart starts to race.

「Ojou.」

「Hyah!? …… wh-what is it?」

He turned around suddenly, and Lydia, not prepared to face him, let out a strange cry. She quickly cleared her throat to cover it up, but the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice had a puzzled look on his face.

「We’ve arrived.」

Without not noticing that Lydia was blushing with embarrassment, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice explained the reason for his call.

「So, I’d like to show you what kind of garden Yan made.」

「Yes! Please treat me well, my lady!」

Yan straightened up and gave a cheerful smile. He was nervous about the garden he had made as practice being seen by the family he served, but he seemed genuinely happy that someone was looking at it. Lydia smiled, realizing that he too had the makings of a gardener.
As she ducked through the hedge of the practice garden, Lydia was at a loss for words.
There was a lot of sunshine before her eyes. No, a large flower that looked like it was modeled after the sun was blooming above Lydia’s viewpoint.
It was a sight that could be called overwhelming, but it wasn’t the way the flowers bloomed that left Lydia speechless. She could barely see the fountain.
From above, this place should be a small square with only the owl fountain carved in it, in a forest-like area. However, right now, the stone statue of the owl enshrined in the fountain could only be seen peeking out from between the yellow flowers.

「What do you think?」

When Lydia, overwhelmed by the sight in front of her, was asked by Yan for her opinion, she finally spoke up.

「……this isn’t a garden, isn’t it?」

「That’s right!」

When Lydia told him what she saw, Yan confirmed her criticism, but still smiled brightly.

「I did it just like I was plowing a field.」

Yes, this was clearly a sunflower field. It’s possible to sneak between the flowers and reach the fountain, but the planting method didn’t take into consideration the walking space to view the flowers. Yang’s family are farmers, and it seems that he planted the sunflowers at equal intervals in the same way.

「I chose the flowers to plant based on whether they could be eaten.」

「You’re going to eat them!?」

「Sunflower seeds are pretty tasty.」

「I’ll share some with you, too, Aniki.」

When Lydia was surprised that such a large flower could be eaten, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice explained that the seeds that would grow later were edible. And because there would be a lot of them, Yan promised to share them with the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice.

「It’s interesting that Yan made this, isn’t it?」

The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice laughed happily, saying that he would never have thought of it, as he had been aiming to be a gardener since he was old enough to understand. It seems that they are happy to have gained a new perspective on how to display flowers.

「Well, it isn’t bad.」

Lydia also felt the summer-like brightness of this sight, as it was rare to have the opportunity to look up at flowers taller than them. The flower umbrellas also acted as shade, which was convenient in this hot season.
Having received favorable feedback from the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice and Lydia, Yan smiled shyly as he expressed his gratitude. He had been prepared for criticism, so he hadn’t expected them to like it. Yan had not only learned something to reflect on in the future, but also gained the joy of seeing others enjoy what he had created.
It was not a good place to walk around, so they all looked up at the sunflower field for a while. The occasional breeze gently swayed the thick-stalked sunflowers.
While they were looking, Lydia quietly peeked at the profile of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice. Standing next to him, he was on the same side as Lydia, so she was able to see his happy expression without having to worry about him looking at her. Lydia felt that gardens made by other people were also good.
After that, Lydia carelessly muttered that it would be nice to be able to see the flowers blooming from above, and when the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice offered to pick her up, Lydia firmly refused.

---

When the off-season ended, Lydia remembered something that made her angry.
It was natural since he didn’t know how she felt, but the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice was the same as always. She began to feel that it was unfair that he was the only one putting a strain on her heart. She felt relieved when he smiled, but at the same time, she felt resentful of her racing heart.
She also became jealous of Bernhardt, who brought flowers on Roy’s behalf so that she could talk to him. Although it was supposed to be Roy’s fiancé who was giving her a gift, in reality, she was setting up a place for the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice to talk to the noble boy.
It wasn’t that Lydia didn’t like the flowers that Roy gave her, as they were in line with the season and her preferences. The fact that it was just one flower showed Roy’s consideration. She felt that she would be getting too many if she received large bouquets of flowers regularly. She was happy with his thoughtfulness.
Still, perhaps the reason she didn’t find it interesting to hear the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice and Bernhardt talk was because they were both water elements. Or is it because she can’t complain to him, like she did when Nicholas came to visit?
Nicholas came directly to see the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, and he made fun of her, so she was able to vent her frustrations on the spot. However, Bernhardt came purely out of interest in magic, so she couldn’t ignore him. This difference made Lydia realize that she might have been led to vent her frustrations to Nicholas.
She couldn’t just vent her frustrations to him, so as she watched the two of them talk in the gazebo, the copper-red eyes suddenly turned towards her.

「Is it boring?」

Lydia realizes that she has unconsciously muttered a complaint to his caring words.

「It isn’t boring, it’s…… you’re talking about things that only the two of you can understand.」

Lydia is unable to cover it up well and shows him a shred of dissatisfaction.
Then, as he apologizes, he strokes her hair. Unprepared for his touch, Lydia’s heart leaps and she becomes agitated. She can’t honestly complain that being touched at an inopportune time is bad for her heart, so she evades the urge by complaining that he treats her like a child. She has been dissatisfied with the way he treats her since she was a child, so it’s not a lie.
The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice begins to seriously worry at her desperate words. Lydia knows that he has never belittled her. He speaks bluntly, but he is sincere with her and he is the first to notice her small, trivial things. She knows he cares for her, but she feels guilty for being greedy and not wanting to be treated like a child.
Just as she was starting to get fed up with her own greed, a large yellow flower appeared in front of Lydia.

「Is this…… a rose?」

When Lydia couldn’t help but ask, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice revealed that it was an artificial flower made from a ginkgo tree. With the expectation of how long it would last due to the preparation of a flower with autumn-like colors, it seemed Lydia hesitated to receive it.
The petals of the flower were like leaves, and each one seemed to be proof of his feelings for her, and Lydia’s heart was filled with joy. When she asked why he wanted to give it to her, he replied that he made the artificial flower because it was his favorite flower. It meant that he had no other choice, and Lydia was incredibly happy about that fact.
After that, when she told him that she would treasure it, he praised her in a way that made her feel unsatisfied. However, when the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice said that he would fulfill his promise of a rainbow at night, her feelings immediately came back.

---

That day, Lydia was having tea in the garden at the invitation of her mother Octavia, who told her to come before the leaves finished turning red. Her younger sister Flora is walking around on the fallen leaves, enjoying the sound they make when she steps on them. She seems to be having a lot of fun, stopping for a moment or walking lightly.
Lydia and Octavia look at Lydia’s younger sister with a smile.

「She seems to have asked Isaac and the others not to sweep that area.」

She’s very lively, Octavia says calmly, narrowing her pink eyes. Lydia’s heart skips a beat at the unexpected mention of the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice’s name, but there is no sign of Octavia specifically mentioning him.

「……why isn’t Mother saying anything?」

Suddenly, Lydia is puzzled and mutters a question.
She only recently became aware of her feelings, but it seems like her mother has been seeing through her for quite some time. And yet, even if she teases him, she never brings it up directly, nor does she point out that she is engaged to Roy under those circumstances.
Octavia let out a sigh and smiled.

「It’s the opposite.」

「Huh?」

「Dia isn’t saying anything.」

Lydia freezes, unable to respond to her mother’s adorable gesture of puffing out her cheeks, saying that she could have asked for advice a little. She certainly hasn’t revealed anything herself, so there’s no way she can mention it. Lydia realizes that she has left it up to her mother to open her up, expecting her mother, Octavia, to get to the heart of the matter in her usual teasing tone.
From Octavia’s point of view, she knows that there was no need for that. There’s no way that the clever first prince wouldn’t notice her daughter’s feelings, and Lydia doesn’t have the skill to hide them. That means that they’re probably engaged with mutual consent. Also, Lydia is blessed with friends. If she wanted to ask for love advice, she’d go to a friend of her own age. Her daughter is so mature that as a parent, she feels lonely, but she shouldn’t blame her.
Still, Octavia laughs, finding it amusing that her daughter is worried about whether she should apologize.

「Fufu, it’s true that children grow up on their own.」

Seeing her mother having fun, Lydia realized that there was no need to apologize, and was even more puzzled.

「Mother, you don’t blame me……?」

Even though it was mutual consent, in the eyes of the world, it was like neglecting the first prince. If it was revealed that an aristocrat was in love with a commoner, it would be quite bad for the public’s reputation as a duke.
Lydia thought that she would be warned about such deviations from the bounds of common sense.

「Emotions can’t be killed.」

But Octavia simply stated that common sense was useless.
Lydia had never been told by Octavia to suppress her emotions. Rather, she was taught to acknowledge her emotions, even if they were jealous. Her mother taught her how to be prepared to face emotions.

「Whether you submerge them or make it come true, it’s up to you to choose.」

Octavia tells her that it’s up to her to decide what to do with her feelings. She understands that either is a decision that requires resolve. Her mother’s words urging her to think realistically may seem cruel, but they were the best encouragement she could get.

「Yes.」

So, Lydia nodded.
Octavia, satisfied with her daughter’s answer, tilted her head and smiled.

「So, will you consult with me?」

「No. There is someone I need to confide in before you, Mother.」

「Ara, what a shame.」

Octavia’s eyes, filled with resolve, didn’t look particularly disappointed. The way she stuck to her feelings reminded her of her husband, Gerald, and Octavia smiled at the similarities between father and daughter.
When they returned to the peaceful tea party, Flora, who had enjoyed the carpet of fallen leaves, was coming back to the table.

---

Lydia’s birthday party was held in the afternoon.
It was not a good season to hold a party in the garden, so the minimum number of people was invited to the hall in the mansion. Even though it was the minimum, it was a lively number of people because she is engaged to the highest rank of royalty.
After the greetings were finished, Lydia’s fiance Roy came to visit her.

「Happy birthday, Miss Lydia.」

「Thank you, Roy-sama.」

It was an exchange that had been repeated many times throughout the day, but Lydia smiled naturally at Roy’s heartfelt congratulations.

「You must be tired. Why don’t you take it easy over there?」

「Not as tired as Roy-sama.」

It was much better than the birthday party of Prince Roy. Roy showed up after the greetings were finished, probably because people knew that if he was nearby, more people would gather.
And then, Lydia decided to take advantage of his consideration. It was true that she was tired of dealing with guests. It would be helpful if they could keep people away under the pretext of talking with their fiancée.
After taking their seats, Roy and his attendant looked to Emilia, who was guarding Lydia, and asked them to keep watch so that no one could hear what they were saying.

「I’m glad I became your fiance, Roy-sama.」

「That’s an honor. I don’t think there’s a more troublesome fiance than me.」

When Lydia told him her honest thoughts, Roy dismissed the pressure of being the next heir to the throne with just the word 「troublesome」, which made Lydia laugh. As he said, there were certainly many restrictions and challenges, but Lydia, who had no desire for fame, also had her own advantages.

“Because of our engagement, I can talk to you at length like this.”

Hearing about the advantages for Lydia, Roy opened his honey-colored eyes once, then smiled sweetly.

「I’m also happy to be able to talk to you like this, Lady Lydia.」

Lydia closed her eyes, then gently opened them. Then, she looked back at Roy.

「Roy-sama.」

「What is it?」

「I… I’ve found someone I like.」

Although she had made up her mind and opened her mouth, Lydia was embarrassed to speak, and she was quite stumped. Embarrassed at both the words she had spoken and the fact that she had not been able to confess them well, Lydia blushed and looked down.
Roy almost smiled at his fiancée’s adorable reaction, but somehow managed to hold it in, knowing that it would be a shame for him to laugh.

「I guess Miss Lydia was first after all.」

Roy spoke as if he had lost a game.

「Then, as promised, I will break off the engagement.」

「About that… what will you do, Roy-sama?」

If she finds someone to pursue, he will break off the engagement. That was the condition Roy presented for the engagement. Lydia realized that it was probably for her own sake.
So that it would not be to her disadvantage. Lydia had always wondered what would happen to Roy.

「It’s almost time… well, it’s going to be a pain to keep refusing the urging for the engagement.」

「Are you preparing something?」

If he said it was almost time, he must have done something up until now. Lydia tilted her head, wondering what he was preparing for.

「I’m gathering evidence to convince my father and my subjects. If possible, I want to resolve this by proving that Miss Lydia is not at fault. And……」

「And what?」

「So that I won’t lose my mind if I fall, I guess.」 [T/N: This sentence was weird, but I guessed it was a callback to their conversation earlier in the chapter.]

Roy gave a bitter smile, as if he felt it was uncool to insure himself. However, Lydia found it admirable that Roy accepted the restrictions of royalty and tried to enjoy his freedom to the fullest within them.
And while he said he was preparing for himself, he seemed to be making some kind of plan that took Lydia into consideration.

「Are you trying to do it all by yourself, Roy-sama?」

「No, I’m relying on everyone around me. Of course, this includes Miss Lydia, too.」

「Even me??」

When Lydia worried that he was carrying it all on his own, Roy smiled and gave an unexpected answer. Lydia hadn’t done anything. In the first place, she had no idea what Roy was planning, so there was no way she could have helped him. So what does it mean that he helped him?

「Just by being Miss Lydia, you are helping me enough.」

「Is that so……?」

「Yes.」

Roy nodded firmly as Lydia tilted her head repeatedly. From the looks of it, it seemed like he was deliberately not letting her know the details. It was very strange that she was being helpful even though she had no recollection of it, but seeing Roy’s smile, Lydia agreed that it was fine if he was helping his friend.
Recovering, Lydia returned to the main topic.

「So then, it would be more helpful to you, Roy-sama, if you didn’t break off our engagement at this stage?」

「That’s true….. but, I can’t drag Miss Lydia into my selfishness any more.」

Roy was a little confused by Lydia’s confirmation. Given her personality, he thought that the moment she realized her feelings, the engagement would be fruitless.

「Actually, I want some time to relax. I’m not ready yet……」

It’s a pathetic thing to say, but she just realized it, so she needed time to be ready.

「Ready?」

When asked what she was readying for, Lydia clenched her hands on her knees.

「I’m ready to get him involved.」

Lydia’s choice is to either abandon or involve him. Lydia can’t abandon being a duke’s daughter, especially now that he has encouraged her. But knowing his dreams, she hesitates to involve him. His dreams are important to her, too.

「……I think it’s arrogant to think it will all come true.」

「What a coincidence. So do I.」

In contrast to Lydia’s self-deprecating reaction, Roy smiled. He seemed to have already made up his mind.
Lydia realized that he was preparing for everything. What could she do to make everything come true?
They realized that they were similar, and they both laughed. After laughing for a while, Roy asked.

「So, you’ll be willing to be caught up in my selfishness for a little longer?」

「You’ll owe me a great debt.」

「I’ll do my best.」

Lydia acted arrogant on purpose, and Roy nodded, amused.

---

After the party, Lydia put on a coat to keep warm and headed to the west pavilion. Her guardian Emilia followed her with a lamp, making it easy to walk along the corridor leading to the pavilion.
At this time of year, winter is just around the corner, and even though it’s still evening, it’s already dark. The sun was setting much earlier.
When they arrived at the gazebo, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice was sitting on a bench inside without a lamp. When Emilia held up the lamp, he looked amused, so she couldn’t help but ask. He only answered that they were friends, so Lydia could tell that he was a stranger.
After talking about how many friends he had, he decided to show her the promised rainbow. Apparently, rainbows cannot be seen at night if there is a light. Since he said he didn’t need a lamp, she had Emilia move to a place where the light could not reach the gazebo.
As her eyes got used to the darkness, Lydia found that the moonlight was surprisingly dazzling. The light of the stars reflected off the dark water, making her feel as if she was in a sea of ​​stars.
This sight alone was fantastic, but the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice said he would create an even bigger rainbow. Naturally, her expectations grew.
While watching the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice manipulate the water, Lydia is prompted to look up at the moon, and she follows his instructions. Then, for some reason, he stands behind her, bows his head slightly, and moves his face closer.

「W-why are you bringing your face so close!?」

「Well, if Ojou can’t see it, there’s no point.」

He told her the reason, that he needed to adjust it so that she could see it from her own perspective, and Lydia couldn’t refuse.
His face was right next to hers, and she couldn’t help but look down in embarrassment, as she was about to stare closely at his copper-colored eyes and his protruding Adam’s apple. She was worried that he would notice how fast her heart was beating.
She didn’t know how long she could bear that condition, but the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice called out to her that he was ready.
Relieved that he had left her presence for a bit, Lydia looked up at the moon again and saw a rainbow ring.
A rainbow ring, slightly larger than a round moon, covered the moon all around. Could such a sight be seen just by the thin clouds he had made sparkling in the moonlight?
Unknowingly, she let out an exclamation of admiration.

「Happy birthday, Ojou.」

「Thank you, Zack! It’s really wonderful……!」

Lydia was overwhelmed by the moon-rainbow and received his congratulations, so she was able to express her gratitude sincerely. It was the most wonderful congratulations she had ever received at the end of her birthday.

「I see……」

The boy who is a gardener’s apprentice stared at him for a moment, then he smiled warmly and looked more cheerful than ever.
Even in the moonlight, he gave her a warm, warm smile, and Lydia’s heart was shocked.
Not knowing what he was surprised about, Lydia asked in a daze.
Then, with a smile she had never seen before, he spoke his own thoughts rather than an answer to her question.

「As expected, I really like when Ojou smiles.」

Lydia could only fall silent.
Feeling her whole body, not just her face, getting hot, Lydia was at a loss as to how to stop him from talking.

---

Honestly I like these pairs of chapters where we get something from Zack’s perspective and then we get it from Ojou’s. They’re always super cute to see.

Not a whole lot to say about this chapter other than wow it felt really long to translate. See you guys next time! Next chapter is the finale of this volume, too!

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