Book 12.1: Chapter 2


    The front of the Imperial Pce was awn that was neatly trimmed and maintained. The nning was neat, and the design was perfect. Behind it was a flower garden. Aforementioned flower garden was Vyvyans personal flower garden. It was situated between the imperial guards and Shadow Squads camps. Although she wasnt against outsiders entering it, everybody respected her; nobody dared to enter on their own ord unless she explicitly said they could.


    Lucia admired the various flowers in the garden. She cheerfully walked around on the lush grass and shrubs. The air in the garden was very fragrant. Her eyes took in an assortment of flowers. It was as if all of the unique and precious nts in the elvennds were there in the flower garden. The fragrance in the flower garden rxed ones entire body. Lucia really liked flowers and nts, so the garden was essentially heaven to her.


    Lucia continued walking forward. Behind the long corridor built from trees was a softwn. In the centre of thewn was a huge flower. Lucia had never seen such a pretty flower. The flower petals were as colourful as a rainbow. It had seven flower petals that were all different colours. The flower was pretty and seemed to emit a crystal light underneath the sunlight, too.


    Wouldnt this be amp at night? thought Lucia.


    Lucia looked at the flower and ran over. The closer she got, the more prominent the scent of the flower grew. While the scent was very prominent, it didnt cause one to suffer nasal irritation. It was as if it turned the air close by into the scent. Every breath intoxicated her. Lucia couldnt resist the urge to approach the flower and stroke the petals.


    The flower petal jolted. It seemed as though the crystal light shinned onto her face. She could see this world at this close range. Lucia couldnt resist the urge to take in deep breaths, taking in the fragrance of the flower. The flower seduced her to touch it and smell it. Lucia couldnt hold herself back from reaching out and grabbing the stem. She then yanked it out.


    Just as Lucia went to smell the flower, a despairing cry came from ahead: What are you doing?!


    Lucia jolted back to reality. She panicked in her mind: What am I doing? I just plucked a flower from Her Highnesss garden out. How could I do that? This is basically an offence. What on earth am I doing?!


    I I stammered Lucia.


    Lucia was so frightened that she almost dropped to her knees. She instinctively threw the flower away without a thought. The young boy in front of her reached out to catch the flower she threw away. The young boy with a childish face wept as he looked at the flower in his hands.


    It took months for me to grow this flower! I took care of this flower for many months! Why did you pull it out?! Why did you do that?!


    Lucia looked at the young boy in front of her, who was crying. She had no idea what to do. In a shaky voice that was on the brink of crying, she apologised, Sorry. Sorry Sorry It was my fault I am sorry I I


    Lucia wanted to say, Illpensate you, but her words were stuck in her throat. She looked at the flower in front of her with a stupefied look. She knew she couldntpensate him. The growth of nts had to follow a certain process even in the elvennds. She couldnt re-nt the flower, or make a flower instantly sprout from a seed. She had no means of making up for her mistake.


    The young boy tightly gripped the flower. What he said waspletely unlike somebody of his age. He ran off while crying: Im going to tell my mom! Im going to tell my mom!


    Lucia nkly watched his silhouette from the rear. The young girl could no longer control her tears due to fear. She couldnt imagine what would happen to her next. She knew that she had topensate the boy, but she didnt know how to. Such a pretty flower mustve been very expensive.


    What are mom and dad going to say? pondered Lucia, worried. The young girls bliss and excitement turned into fear within an instant.


    Lucia sat down onto thewn in a daze. She buried her head in her knees and wept. The flower stem without petals next to her swayed in the wind as though it was teasing her. Lucia didnt know what to do; but nheless, she couldnt run. She knew it was her mistake. She had to bear the consequences except she didnt know what the consequence would be.


    The young boys crying and shouting could be heard: Mom! She plucked my flower! I took care of this flower for a long, long time! This was the seed you gave me, Mom!! My flower! My flower!


    Lucia raised her head. Her heart virtually stopped. She could see the bright blonde hair and white and emerald dress despite her watery eyes. She looked in Vyvyans direction with a nk look. She didnt freeze up. Nevertheless, her legs had gone so weak that she couldnt stand up.


    Lucia nkly watched Vyvyan walk over. Vyvyan stroked the young boys head with a smile and walked up to Lucia. She bent over looked at the young girl, whose face was covered in tears and unable to stand. She smiled and stroked Lucias head. Voice soft, she said, Its all right. Its all right. Troy didnt ask me to punish you. He just wanted to restore the flower. You didnt do it on purpose. This flower is indeed very attractive to elves. However mm it seems your mana level isnt very high. Elves with high mana purity wont be attracted to it, but its all right.


    Vyvyan ced the flower onto the stem. After she let go, the flower appeared on the stem once again and emitted its faint light once again. Lucia looked nkly at the revived flower in front of her. She was so astonished that she was lost for words. She knew magic, but it was the first time shed seen revival magic. After all, her parents didnt often use magic.


    Okay, okay now, Son. Its okay now. Its okay now. The flower has been restored.


    The young boy in front wiped his tears, and then looked at the flower. A cheerful look appeared in his bright ck eyes again. He looked toward Lucia, and then said to Vyvyan, Its all right, Mom. I dont me her. Im happy as long as the flower is okay.


    But even so, Lucia, you still must be punished.


    Vyvyan extended her hand out with a smile. She was smiling, but Lucia could see intense anger in Vyvyans eyes. It was such a frightening sensation that Lucia almost dropped to the ground again. Vyvyan took out a few new seeds from her pocket and handed them to Lucia: Aspensation, nt a flower for my son.


    Yes Yes. Yes, Your Highness


    Lucia epted the seeds as though she was spared from death. She slowly went down on her knees, and then dug up the mud. A shadow was suddenly cast over her. A gentle pair of hands grabbed hold of Lucias hands. Shocked, Lucia looked up to see the young boy. The young boy gave her a smile: Let me help you. Youre a girl. Though Im a little upset The flower has been restored, so I dont mind now.


    Ah, oh, Mm


    Lucia shyly lowered her head, not daring to make eye contact with the Queens son.


    Im Troy, Troy Gdriel.


    Lucia looked at the hands in front of her. She then raised her head to meet with a cheerful smile, gentle pair of eyes and a face covered with mud. Despite that, his pair of hands was warm. Lucia nkly held his hands. It was the first time she experienced how it felt to have a racing heart


    Lucia Lucia Echte


    A clear and refreshing breeze gently carried the fragrance of the flowers and grass over, blowing the young girls hair and line of sight toward the side of the face of the young boy. The young boy was still a child; he still had the smile of a child. The two kids fingers hooked onto each other by ident when they were digging the dirt up. The young boy paused for a moment then looked up at her with a smile.


    Lucia looked at the young boys smile and spaced out. Shy, she lowered her head. Despite being shy, Lucia didnt move her finger Troy was holding onto


    The young girl obtained her most cherished birthday present that day.


    See you again, Lucia. Remember toe see me often from now on. Come y with me often!


    After that, the young girl dropped her habit ofzing around in bed.


    ========


    Ten yearster at Duargana.


    Your Highness, those two flowers growing on thewn do not seem to like it too much. How about we move them and grow them somewhere else.


    I nced over to the two lonely flowers in the ground at the flower garden. I ced my cup of tea down and nodded: Do as you please. Youre the gardeners. Do as you judge would be best.


    We will start, then.


    I nodded. The ce the two flowers were nted was very strange. I wondered, Why nt two flowers on thewn? And why has nobody dug them up after so many years?


    I silently sat in my chair and drank my tea. I felt the clear, refreshing and fragrant breeze from the flower garden blow onto my face


    The two flowers were soon dug up and taken elsewhere. All of a sudden, I heard hasty footsteps behind me. As soon as I turned my head, I saw Lucias stunned and sad expression. She panted and pointed at the gardener. She blustered, Your Highness! Why did you dig the flowers up?! Why?!!


    Because its not suitable


    Have you forgotten? Those were the flowers we nted together when we first met!! eximed Lucia. Her entire body quivered. Her tears poured down her face. She looked at me and cried, Have you forgotten?! Have you forgotten?!! Those were the flowers we nted together when we first met! Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten?!! Thats when I fell for you! Have you forgotten?!


    I immediately froze in ce


    In my mind, I answered, I didnt forget I didnt know


    Dumbstruck, Lucia sat down to one side and sadly cried. I stood up and stroked her head. I grabbed her hands and, in a soft voice, said, Sorry Sorry Lets nt them again. Lucia, lets go. Lets go right now. Lets nt them again!