It's November, autumn has come to an end and winter is in the air. Lately I've been mostly collecting leaves.
Not much has changed between us since I heard about the girl's engagement. She came to me a little less often. It seems that the prince comes to see the daughter about once every half a month. It seems that the prince has to meet with some of the candidates periodically during the vetting period.
Both the daughter and the prince are younger than me, but I think it's hard to talk about marriage before love. However, they seem to get along well and seem to enjoy meeting each other, so that's good.
I don't understand the sense of aristocracy where political marriage is normal. In my previous life in Japan, and in my current life in downtown Tokyo, love marriage is the norm. It's a matter of different values, so I shouldn't interfere.

But I really want the girl to marry someone she loves.

I just couldn't stop thinking that.
I was really surprised when I saw her cry. It's different from the little ones crying. When I heard the story, I understood in my head that those were tears that should have been cried, but I didn't want her to cry.
Political marriage doesn't sound like fun. You'd be happier marrying someone you like than someone you don't like.
I want the daughter to keep smiling.
I don't know what I can do, but I will support her to choose her own happiness.

Or rather, that's all I can do. ......

As I sweep up the fallen leaves with my broom, a sigh escapes me. Even the fallen leaves I'm collecting now can be used as fertilizer to help the trees grow, but I'm useless and pathetic.

"You guys are really amazing.

I look at my garden and envy it. Deciduous trees are beautiful in their autumn colors, and their falling leaves are quaint, while evergreen trees give a sense of solidity and security. Evergreen trees give a sense of security. Greenery is respected because it helps people just by looking at it.

"Zaku, who are you talking to at ......?

I turned around at the sound of the voice and saw a young lady with suspicious eyes.

"The garden.

"That's where you'd at least say birds or spirits, .......

Hearing the subject of the conversation, the young lady has a subtle expression on her face. I can't see birds, but I can't see spirits, so I can't talk to them.

So, what's up?

"Well, ......, um...

When I saw that the young lady hesitated to say anything, I smiled, knowing what to expect. You don't have to be shy with me.

Was it yesterday, when the prince came?

"Oh, really? You look great in a cochineal jasmine coat with a calm autumnal look. ......!

"Yes.

It's a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your vacation. Apparently, the young lady thinks it's a shame to get excited about a handsome prince, and she can't tell her mother, Oku-sama, or her maid, Katrin, everything. So he has no one to talk to but me. From what I hear, she's half friend braggart, half idol fan. Unlike the girls in my previous life, they don't suddenly scream yellow, so they are easy on the ears. I wonder why girls who are excited are so aggressive. I wonder why excited girls are so aggressive. I'm surprised when they suddenly echo through the classroom.
In a previous life, my sister excitedly talked to me about her favorite characters, saying that she was going to war with her friends because they had different opinions. I didn't understand why she described a mere fight as a noisy war.
Compared to my sister's fervor, the young lady's fan stories were pretty cute. For some reason, when she talks about the prince, she always hesitates once, but when she starts talking about him, she looks really happy. It's good to be able to say you like something.

I heard that Roy has a younger sister, Princess ......, who has the same golden hair as Roy and is very pretty. She loves her sister, so I told her about Flora and ......

"Yes.

I sweep up the leaves, looking at her as much as I can. The prince must be a very nice guy if he's so happy to see you. It's perfect that he's both good looking and good inside.
The young lady smiles honestly as she talks about the prince. That's a trick I can't pull off.

She's really cute when she talks about the prince.

"What?

When I was listening to her with a sinking feeling that it was better for her to be smiling, she suddenly became silent and her face turned red.

"Miss, what's wrong?

"...... What's the matter?" This is my line!　What are you saying out of the blue?

"What? What did I say?

I was just making small talk, but I wonder if I misspoke somewhere. I was laughing, but now I've offended him again. What a waste.

That's enough. ......!

I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll listen to you. Okay?

I'm done for the day.

I'm sorry if I spoke out of turn.

She turns away, and I lower my eyebrows and apologize. I want to watch her smile and listen to her as much as possible because I know now is important. I want to see her laugh and listen to her as much as possible.


In the end, the lady did not talk to me any more that day and left.
After I finished collecting the fallen leaves in the designated area, I put them in a hole near the hut to make fertilizer, and talked to my father about it.

Dad, I think it's time to let the young lady come back to the house.

The weather has been getting colder lately. The area around King's Landing gets a lot of snow, but not a lot. I can't have the girl standing around talking in the cold.

"Greenhouse.

Yes.

Work on that. The leaves are gone.

Thanks, Dad.

He gave me permission to work on the greenhouse when she came. Some of the flowers in the greenhouse were delicate, so she didn't even let me do the chores. I know it's partly for her sake, but I'm genuinely happy that I can do more work.

"Will you let me work on the cold room sometime?

"...... is a while away.

Hey.

When I ask with expectation, I get only a glance and a curt reply. I thought there was a good chance he would refuse, but I was still disappointed.
In the garden of the Ernst family, there is a hemispherical greenhouse and a triangular pyramid-shaped cold room next to it. The greenhouse is used mainly for plants from warmer regions, and the cold room is used mainly for plants from colder regions. The two rooms are equipped with magic stone machines and are connected to each other by two thick pipes. They are connected to each other by two thick pipes, one letting in cold air and the other letting in hot air.
The cold room is difficult to manage because it dulls the senses of the hands. Aside from chores, it may be impossible to have her manage the room completely until she is recognized as a full-fledged employee.
I announced to the young lady that I would become a full-fledged gardener as soon as possible, but since gardening is a steady process, it's impossible to skip a grade. If you are a full-time gardener, you need to experience the yearly changes of the garden for many years to understand the garden of the house. The earlier you become an apprentice, the sooner you can start a few years earlier. My father was born the year I was, what, three years early, 16?　No, seventeen at best. I wonder if I'll make it in time. ......
I don't know if I'll make it in time. Maybe I'll just help him. I'll be happy if he lets me take care of some part of it.
In the end, I came to the conclusion that I should do what I can do now. No matter how impatient I am to predict the future, it's just a delusion now that I have no ability.

"Dad, what should I do next?

When I asked him what he wanted to do for the next half-day, he looked at me in silence. He doesn't talk much, so his default is to keep quiet, but when I ask him for instructions, he reacts in some way, even if he doesn't talk.
I wondered and waited for his reaction, and then his big hand reached out and grabbed my head. He stroked my head.

"Here we go.

After stroking my head, he started to walk away. I guess he wanted me to follow him to the next work site. I tilted my head at the series of actions that preceded it, but followed him.
A few days later, I went to the Ernst's yard early in the morning to do the necessary work before it started to snow.
I like mornings in the cold season because the sound and the air are quiet, and it gives me a sense of tightness. My head feels clearer. In my previous life, it was the time when I was wrapped in a futon, maybe I was wasting my time. Maybe I was wasting my time in my previous life, or maybe I felt differently because my life was different.
I've been keeping garden plants such as nijana and sakura-so near Ok-sama's room, but they are sensitive to snow, so I have to move them to the greenhouse. I wonder if this was the reason why my father kept them in pots.
As I waited for my father to bring the cart to carry the potted plants, I could hear the sound of grass being stepped on. It was probably a rabbit or a cat, though I was trying to avoid animals. Either way, it would be messing with the grass in my yard, so I'd have to capture it and send it to the mountains or find its owner.
When I turned my eyes toward the sound, I saw something too unexpected.

"Miss ......!

She was running fast, her hair down and wearing a dress that looked like pajamas. She's clearly awake.

"Zak.

You'll catch a cold!

I run up to her and yell at her, interrupting what she says. Immediately, I put on my winter jacket and stop the front. The sleeves are a little too long, but they'll work as gloves.

"This is not good for the Zaku .......

It's okay, I'm working on it.

Silence the young lady's protests with a convincing reason.

"So?　Why did you come?

You'll sound accusatory. She's a girl. What is she thinking, going out in light clothes this early in the morning? Probably out of character even for a lady.

"I woke up early ...... and looked out the window and saw Zaku .......

I'm pissed, so I drop my gaze absentmindedly and mutter in a small voice. But it was quiet enough that I could hear the lady's voice.
I looked into her eyes as she knelt down and turned her head. Her pale blue eyes were slightly moistened.

You don't have to rush out just because I'm here, do you?

"But ......

"But?

I couldn't ...... see you today. ......



I couldn't understand what she meant and tilted my head. She has her own things to do, like practice and family time, so it's natural that there are days when you don't see her. Originally, I saw her only every few days.

I was supposed to be free this afternoon,......, but I'm having a tea party at the mansion for my birthday with a lady that your mother knows,......, so...

"Miss, is it your birthday today?

I ask, picking up the words at the end of the sentence. She gave a small nod.
Oh no, I haven't prepared anything. I don't know what to do. And I'm about to make her cry. No, but I don't want to catch a cold.
I thought in circles, somehow managed to sort out my priorities, and let out a long sigh. Then, the young lady misunderstood that I was going to scold her and freaked out, so I laughed.

You can always meet me at .......

But .......

But ." She's probably in a hurry because she's just realized that "anytime" isn't going to last forever. But she needs to put herself first, not me.

"You were worried about me catching a cold earlier, weren't you?

She gave another small nod.

"Then you know why I'm worried about you, right?

Her lips pursed tightly together, and she nodded.

"...... won't happen again.

"Very well.

He smiled and patted her on the head. She smiles, relieved that I'm not mad at her anymore, and I'm relieved for her. I'm glad she smiled.

I'll drop you off and come back before the maid comes to wake you up.

I wanted to bring her back to the warmth of the mansion before she got cold, but she looked lonely. That's not the look I want her to give.

I want her to smile.

I pondered for a while what to do and looked up at the sky. The pale light of the rising white sun illuminates the entire garden. I looked at the light and thought.

"Miss.

I called out the name of the young lady who was looking down and made her look up.

"Here, birthday present!

I gathered the magic of water in my hands, turned it into particles, and scattered them in the sky. Then, a small rainbow appears near us in the sunlight.
The young lady opens her pale blue eyes and looks up at the rainbow. Her eyes reflected the seven colors of light, and it was beautiful and sparkling.

"Beautiful ......

I guess that's not what I thought was beautiful.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart.

When I smiled and said the words, she smiled like a flower breaking.

"Thank you, Zak.

I love your smile.
I love her smile. It's like seeing a flower bloom, and it makes me feel like I've been given something. I wanted to give her something, but this is the opposite.

Will you show me next year?

Yeah, sure.

That's the least I can do. I'll put as many rainbows on you as it takes to make you smile.
I asked her if she wanted to go back, and she said yes, just for a little while, so we watched the rainbow in the morning sun for a while.