It's that time of year when the trees are getting deeper and greener, and we feel a sense of calmness as we head into autumn.
However, in the garden, vivid flowers are in full bloom as if to tell the story of the summer heat in color.
In the circular flower bed, lycopods of various colors and shapes were in full bloom around the perimeter, yellow yomogi chrysanthemums in between, and tall, vivid hollyhocks in the center, forming a tower of flowers.

I heard that mugwort chrysanthemums are also used to repel insects. Zaku's family also hangs them in their windows.

"So you can watch the flowers in peace?

While looking at the tower of flowers through the glass door, Ludia and Roy talk peacefully. Roy smiles at Lydia's comment that she thought the flowers were just pretty to show off the turmeric and hollyhock.
Apparently, she was disappointed that she could only have an artistic point of view. Her explanation was probably triggered by Roy's question about how calm it was for a season with so many insects.
From what Ludia told him, Roy also learned that a gardener is a person who arranges plants not only visually but also functionally. It was fun to listen to her because the practical aspects were interesting to Roy. It's also good to see the castle garden from a different perspective.

I think it would be better if you could just enjoy it without worrying about it.

That may be so, but ......

Ludia, who wanted to broaden her own horizons, was envious of Roy's perspective. It's rare for the opposite s*x to regret such a point of view, so Roy is happy. Whenever he sees this reaction from her, he feels that he has gained a valuable friend.

By the way, I haven't changed the frequency of my visits to her since we got engaged, is that a problem?

'Is there a problem?　We've been meeting at tea parties and the like.

Yes. That's why you're Miss Lydia.

Roy smiled contentedly at Lydia's answer that a visit once every two weeks and a tea party accompanied by her fiancé would be enough.
Roy was pleased to see the difference between him and the other girls who had asked to see him more often even when they were potential fiancées, but Lydia didn't feel the need to increase the frequency because she knew he was already busy as a prince, and she didn't know what his smile meant.
Ludia tilted her head, but Roy seemed to be happy, so she didn't mention it and changed the subject to something else.

Jörg's attitude has softened lately.

That's good. All that's left is the girl on the other side of the door.

Yes, .......

Roy said that he would prefer to be alone with her, so Emilia, his bodyguard, is waiting outside the room with Matheus. Lydia clenched her fist into a small ball as she turned her honey-colored eyes in the direction of where she would be. It seems that the final barrier is proving difficult.
A girl with eyes like hard ore is Roy's impression of one of her guards. Her own guard, Matheus, smiles when he is with her, so she must be very noble and serious. She will be a difficult person to win over.

I'd like to talk to her properly like I did with Jörg, but I can't seem to get a handle on it. ......

She must have really tried to talk to her many times, Lydia seemed very frustrated. Emilia is the type of person who hates private conversations outside of work. There must be no time to talk.

I guess I'm the same way when it comes to .......

I'm not the only one who has a problem with this. It is quite unusual for him to show bitterness.

"Is someone giving you a hard time, Roy?

"To my shame, my brother.

Your Highness Klaus?

He reminded her of Klaus, Roy's brother, whom she had greeted several times as a fiancé. Ludia had only greeted him a few times, so she didn't know much about him.

He seems to be a difficult man.

That was her impression of him, since his expression was always stiff when they met. But Roy shook his head loosely.

No, Klaus' demeanor is half because he's nervous about the beautiful Master Ludia, and the other half because of me.

Roy smiled weakly, "I'm sorry," but the first half of his explanation made Lydia blush. I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

He stopped smiling in front of me. So I'm really sorry that I've been so bad to Miss Lydia.

I'm really sorry that I'm behaving so badly towards you.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

It seems so. I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that if I were you. He's really a kind and funny boy.

As part of her education, Ludia has been given the opportunity to hear from the First Queen. As part of her education, Ludia is given the opportunity to hear from the First Queen, and she also meets the Third Princess, Philine, who is happy to talk about her brothers. Roy and Klaus are not divided. Since the right of succession for women is low and she has no intention to do so, people around her do not say anything to her even if she is close to them.
However, this is not the case with Roy, the first prince, and Klaus, the second prince, as they are close in age and have different mothers. It would be difficult for them to talk to each other alone, even in the castle, their own home, with the eyes of the people around them.
Especially when Klaus' mother, the Second Queen, is within earshot. Lydia, the first prince's fiancée, always looked at him as if she was checking him out.

I've been trying to talk to her, but she seems to hate me. I've been trying to talk to him, but I don't think he likes me. I doubt he even thinks of me as his brother.

"Is that so? ......

I'm not sure if he thinks of me as his brother.

I'm not sure if he thinks of me as his brother or not." "You've been very supportive of Klaus for a while now, and Roy seems to care about him as much as Phil does. I think that's very brotherly of him.

When Lydia expressed her impressions as she felt them, Roy rolled his honey-colored eyes once and softly fell out of favor.

I hope you're right.

I'm glad to hear that. I'm not surprised.

Ludia smiled back. I'm glad to hear that," she said, "because I'm doing the same." There was a time when Ludia herself was troubled by the fact that her younger sister, Flora, was not able to act like an older sister, but the apprentice gardener told her that from the outside she was able to do so.


I'm sure you'll be able to understand what I'm talking about when I hear the examples you've given, but from a third person's point of view, I understand. His concern for his younger brother can be seen in every word he says, and to Ludia, Roy seems like a big brother. Even though he tends to avoid her, she feels that he repeatedly talks to her, which is something only a family member can do.
If she were to be treated like this by her younger sister Flora, she might feel frustrated, but she would continue to talk to her. Just thinking about it made Lydia feel sad and she almost cried.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Roy. ......

"Mistress Lydia ......, there is no need for you to be sad about me. And don't worry, there's no way Miss Flora will hate you.

Roy, realizing that he had been replaced, gently held out his handkerchief. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of this, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

In any case, we need to find a way to talk to each other, don't you think?

It may seem strange to equate the feud between the royal brothers with his own master-servant problem, but Rydia thought it would be better to speak with such lightness. Nodding at her words, Roy muttered, "Yes, that's true," and made a thoughtful gesture.
Then Roy, who seemed to have thought of something, gave Lydia a sparkling smile.

"Miss Lydia, please annoy me by being selfish.

"What ......?

The sudden request made her stop thinking for a moment. How much selfishness is enough to embarrass me? It's too embarrassing for Rydia to make her own requests without considering the other person's circumstances. Thinking back on what she did two years ago now, she almost feels ashamed of herself.
When Lydia wavered from the too difficult request, Roy smiled as if to reassure her.

I'm sure you'll do fine.

"Okay, sure.

I don't know what Roy is going to do, but it seems that it is better to assume that, so Lydia nodded, wanting to help reconcile even if only a little.
I'm not sure what he's going to do, but I think it's better to assume that.

But I don't think Isak would be too happy if he found out that I made you cry.

"Why Zaku?

Ludia tilted her head. There are a lot of people in this house who care about you, and not just because of your ego. The servants of the Ernst family alone, the maid Katrin and the guards, are likely to react to the slightest subtlety. So why did Roy mention the apprentice gardener's name first?
Roy simply smiled and did not answer. Instead, he turned back around.

"Excuse me. There's someone I mustn't forget.

Lydia followed Roy's gaze and saw a young man with loose, dark golden hair, who seemed to have just opened the door to the room. His eyes, the same color as Lydia's, widened in astonishment.

"Father?

Lydia wondered what her father Gerald was so surprised about, but when she noticed that he was holding the handkerchief Roy had offered her, she understood the misunderstanding she had given him and became impatient.

It's not the same ......!

"Miss Lydia, I'm afraid that would have the opposite effect.

"Your Highness, may I have a word with you at your leisure?

It took a lot of effort to clear up the misunderstanding from my father, who had a smile on his face but an air of uncertainty about it. I felt it was unfair that Lydia was the only one who had to suffer the pain, because Roy, the one who had been wrongly misunderstood, was smiling all the while.
According to him, it was interesting to see the love of a father for his daughter who never listened to his words. Lydia thought that Roy, who had been able to get away with his father's swordsmanship by saying, "That's amazing," was also amazing enough.


A few days later, the two brothers bumped into each other in the hallway of the castle in the kingdom of Arbentroth.

"Klaus, how are you?

When Roy greeted his brother with a smile, his brother Klaus quickly looked away and replied bluntly: "I saw you at practice yesterday.

I saw you at practice yesterday. How could you have changed so much?

That's true.

You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web. Both of them have metal-colored hair, but unlike Roy, who has straight hair with no habits, Klaus has hair that springs outward at the ends. Not only their expressions, but also their hair texture was in contrast. The two squires also had different moods, with Roy smiling a little timidly and Klaus with a stern look in his eyes.
Klaus, who wanted to leave as soon as possible, made a slight bow and tried to pass by. But before he could take a step forward, Roy called out to him again.

"Yes. I'm going to visit my fiancé now, would you like to come?

What?

Klaus couldn't help but be suspicious at the suddenness of the invitation. He looked at his brother's face in surprise, but all he saw was a bright smile.

"Why me, O ......?

"Miss Lydia would like to speak with Klaus. Would you be willing to help my brother out just to see him a little?

Roy cowered weakly. I don't know if Roy is that much into his fiancée or if his fiancée is being too generous to Roy the prince, but it's still a hassle for Klaus.

I'm sorry, but I'm busy today. ......

"Oh. None of your tutors are supposed to be here today, are they?

Klaus's face became bitter as he understood our schedule.

"My mother called me.

I believe that Master Simone is on her way to the tea party of the Marchioness of Leimbacher.

"My sister is at .......

I'm sure Phil is being squeezed by the Master of Manners right now.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you'll be able to do it. He finally realized that Roy had invited him, knowing that he had no plans.

I understand. ......

Thanks.

Roy smiled and thanked Klaus, who reluctantly agreed.
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Matheus was a knight of the Kingsguard personally appointed by the prince Roy, and he had played ten games against the existing knights of the Kingsguard to have them recognize his exceptionality, and had won all of them. Klaus' squire, a knight of the Kingsguard, was also one of the losers, so he could not pursue the matter any further.
Alone and helpless, Klaus rode in the carriage with Roy.
Klaus looks at his brother cautiously, but he is always smiling, and his intentions are hard to read. He senses that there is more to the story. Is he being played for a fool, trying to get his fiancée to meet someone who is fighting for the throne? At the age when my brother has a fiancée, I still don't have one, but that's only because my mother, the Second Queen, is looking for someone superior to my brother's fiancée.
Klaus clenched his fists tightly in his lap as the possibility of being underestimated crept into the shaking carriage.
When he arrived at the Duke of Ernst's residence, he was greeted by Lydia, Roy's fiancée, with a curtness that left no room for error. After greeting her, he led her to the garden where tea was prepared.

It's a pleasure to meet you today, by the way.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm a bit of an idiot or because I'm a bit of an idiot.

I am honored that you have invited me to tea.

I've always wanted to talk to His Highness more. I wanted to talk to His Highness Klaus more, and I was selfish enough to ask Roy.

She smiled at me, and I understood why my brother had listened to her request.
Even though I am a member of a duke's family with royal blood, it may be selfish of me to want to meet royalty so easily. But since she is the fiancée of Roy, the prince, I don't think it's that much of a selfishness. Her selfishness seemed to be caused by the fact that he had only greeted her minimally so far, and Klaus felt guilty.

"Miss Ludia is so beautiful that I didn't feel comfortable introducing her to another man, even my brother.

"You're joking, Master Roy.

I'm sure you're joking. His eyes, which were originally puffy, naturally fixed. The two of them seemed to be getting along well, and I couldn't understand why I needed to be here.
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You have a lot to discuss with your fiancé. I'm going to take a look at the garden.

I'm going to take a look at the garden. ......

I'm going to have a little look around the garden." "Oh, ," Klaus said as he walked away toward the promenade, ignoring Lydia's attempts to stop him.
I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

I was going to excuse myself from the table to prepare tea cakes. ......

"Did I act a little too much like a fiancée?

In the event that you've got any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, we'll be happy to assist you. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

"Master Roy, ......, why do you look so happy?

No, I'm happy to see that Klaus is responding in a surprising way.

"Really, ......?

Oh.

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It's not like you can run away, they'll be back when things settle down.

You can't be that carefree .......

You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what's going on in your life. Ludia was more worried about the situation.

If you chase them, they will run away. Let's wait for them to approach us.

"...... Your Highness Klaus is not a wild animal.

Roy smiled at Ludia's point of view, thinking that she had made a good point.
For Roy, it was enough to be with his brother for so long without the intervention of a second queen. He understands that Klaus's caution will not be easily broken, so he does not expect to be able to close the distance in one go. Originally, I had planned for a long battle.
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"Are you mocking me?

I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I've seen it before. Since there was no one around, he didn't mind swearing.
Roy, the first prince with a smile on his face, is a brilliant and flawless person. He is a man who goes above and beyond while others work hard.
His mother, Queen Simone, always told him to surpass Roy, and people always compared him to his brother. The sense of inferiority that has taken root in him has made him despicable to Roy.
I should have known about today's incident earlier. The tutor discussed the importance of gathering information and laying the groundwork before taking action, but I didn't expect him to use the same information that I had heard could be used in wartime in everyday life. It was as if he was asking me to show him the difference in our points of view and to be aware of the difference in our qualities.
For Klaus, the mansion of his brother's fiancée was nothing but enemy territory. The situation of being in such a place also added to his frustration.
Suddenly, Klaus stopped in his tracks.

"......, where are you?

Perhaps it was because of his frustration, but he was in a place where trees grew like a forest, and there was no road that looked like a road. The sun had eased and I looked up to see that it had clouded over, but the shade was over my head. If I were on the boardwalk, I could have followed the path back, but in this place surrounded by similar trees, the direction I took was doubtful.
I looked around, but since I wasn't sure which direction I had come from, I couldn't figure out the direction of the mansion.
After some hesitation, Klaus took a step forward to find his way back.
Immediately after that, a human head appeared in front of him from the nearby shrubbery.

"Whoa!

Suddenly, a figure jumped out from the trees, and Klaus thought his heart would jump out of his chest in surprise.

"Huh?　Who are you?

"Who the hell are you?

His copper eyes reflected Klaus and he asked curiously, "Who are you? I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

I'm an apprentice gardener in this house.



"Do you think it's okay for a gardener to surprise his customers?

"Well, people don't often come this far.

The visitor's area is all the way over there, said the boy, who seemed to be an apprentice gardener. He seems to know where the Ernsts are in the garden.

"No excuses, it's not enough to apologize for my rudeness!　Lead me to the manor!

What? Are you lost?

No!

After immediately saying no to being treated as a stray, Klaus realized that he hadn't thought of any excuse. He awkwardly averted his gaze.

...... I'm just having trouble orienting myself because I wasn't looking around.

"I see.

The apprentice gardener swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth and just nodded, not realizing that Klaus was not making any excuses.
The apprentice gardener swallowed his words and just nodded. Klaus pointed his forefinger at the apprentice gardener to divert the conversation and blamed him.

I'm the second prince of this country.　I am the second prince of this country, Klaus Wolfgang von Rosenhain.

"Leo, you have a brother too?

I was expecting him to immediately prostrate himself, but he just rolled his eyes in surprise, which upset Klaus. His reaction was so unexpected that I couldn't quite make out what he said.

"Can't you see my face?

"The common people don't know what royalty looks like.

Pictures, .......

There's nothing expensive like that on display at the local church.

Until now, it was taken for granted that the faces of the royal family were known without saying their names, and it was assumed that all the people knew what they looked like. He had believed that the prestige of the royal family was known even to the common people. He was astonished to find that there were people who did not recognize him as royalty.

...... At any rate, now that you know I'm a prince, change your attitude!

I am truly sorry. I hope you can forgive me for my rudeness thus far.

"Oh, ......, I just need to know.

As soon as he heard Klaus' words, the apprentice gardener's face became quiet as if he had changed, and then he bowed politely.
It was a polite gesture that was disproportionate to the clothes he wore to work in the garden, and it made him feel uncomfortable. There are gardeners in the royal castle, but he had only seen them working from a distance, so he could not judge whether his politeness was normal.
I'll show you to the mansion," he said, taking a few steps ahead, and after making sure that Klaus was following, he led the way, keeping pace with Klaus.
Klaus felt his presence fading as he watched him go quietly ahead, not wasting time talking. He was no different from the servants he had only seen in the castle. It was so different from the impression he had when he first met him that it was kind of boring.

"Hey.

Yes.

Don't be silent. Tell me something.

I'm sure you don't want to hear the muddy talk of a gardener.

Klaus frowned, the words coming back so easily and so typically.

"First of all, stop talking like that. It's disgusting.

Yes, disgusting. After knowing his original way of speaking, even for a short while, I only feel uncomfortable. Conversations with him in his current state are like talking to no one at all. I wondered if his words were only superficial and obvious.
The apprentice gardener did not immediately agree to the instruction to retract his previous statement.

"But ......

Just put it back.

...... if you'll just bear in mind that it's only in this garden.

"All right. I forgive you.

When Klaus agreed to the terms, the apprentice gardener paused, looked back and smiled.

I'm not good with formalities, so that helps. I'm Isak.

I'm Isaac." He complimented Klaus, "You're a surprisingly articulate man. It tickled Klaus that it wasn't a prince's compliment. He had returned to his normal way of speaking, and his words were directed straight at him, so he did not feel bad.
At first, he resented the disrespect, but when he thought it was just for this occasion, it was easy to talk to him. As he followed the lead of the apprentice gardener, Klaus posed a question.

"You're quite articulate for someone who's not very good at it.

I've been practicing as a substitute for a short time.

"Substitute?

Your brother refused to go to dances with potential dates until he found a fiancée.

Come to think of it, to be fair, he didn't dance with any of the potential fiancées until his fiancée was officially chosen. My mother had accused him of arrogance for being in a position to choose, but Klaus hadn't taken into account the possibility that the princess might have trouble finding a partner.

"Does a gardener's job include dancing partners?

You sound like Leo.

Don't be like Leo." The apprentice gardener replied delicately, but he was the one who said that he substituted the dance partner. Klaus glared at his back, thinking that it was his fault for misleading him, since he didn't know what a gardener did.

"Isak, or whatever your name is, it's rude to call someone by their name, let alone disrespect them.

When he pointed out the point that had been bothering him, the apprentice gardener readily apologized.

"Sorry. I'm sorry. Let's see, ............, what's that?

But he couldn't remember the name properly. Klaus couldn't help but get angry.

"Klaus Wolfgang von Rosenhain.

"Klaus ......?　Why do nobles and royalty have such long names?



Are you dumb?

"Yes.

The apprentice gardener, who frankly admits to having a poor memory, makes Klaus feel weak. He is probably older than Klaus in age, but doesn't he regret being mocked? Or is this the way it is with commoners who are not as educated as the nobility? No, I think it's more likely that he just lacks a sense of pride.

If it's ......, I'll just leave Wolff alone.

It's only for this occasion anyway. If you let him call you by your name, you might be accused of disrespecting him and get in trouble if this dumb man accidentally calls you by your name later on. Thinking of this, Klaus gave him an abbreviation of his middle name, which was deceptive.
The apprentice gardener, not realizing that he was being worried about his stupidity, smiled and said that he could remember it.

The boy, who was an apprentice gardener, did not realize that he was worried about his stupidity. Do you work out?

I'm learning swordsmanship. I learn swordsmanship. I swing a lot, so this is nothing.

That's great.

I'm learning sword fighting. He didn't know any royalty, so it was natural that he didn't compare himself to his brother Roy, which was unusual and pleasing to Klaus.
Klaus raised an eyebrow as he recalled yesterday's incident with the swordplay.

But I'm still no match for you.

We had a brief exchange of blows, but all were dispatched and swept away. I'm disappointed that I didn't land a single blow.

How old is your brother?

"Only six months. We'll be in the same grade when we get to the academy.

We'll be in the same grade when we get to school, years from now, and we'll be compared even more. I felt a pang of bitterness in my heart.
For some reason, the apprentice gardener stopped and looked back at me.

"Hey, give me your hand.

As he held out his right hand, Klaus reflexively held out his left hand and brought it closer.

"See, I'm bigger than you, aren't I?

"So what?

So what?" His hand was at least one size larger than Klaus's when they were aligned at wrist height. Klaus wondered what he was taking for granted.

Isn't he taller than Worf's brother?

Yes, he is.

He would be taller than his brother because he has a higher vantage point. So, Klaus affirmed.

But that's because I'm older than Worf's brother. Six months now is a big deal, but in a few more years, Worf will be stronger than I am.

A year difference in age is a big deal when you're a kid. Does this mean that I should not worry about it because I have a physical advantage?
He had thought that the gap would only continue to widen, but he hadn't thought that a gap of half a year could be reduced. Klaus rolls his eyes at the unexpected.

"Well, I never learned to use a sword, so I'll probably lose to Worf now.

I'm not learning to use a sword.

I'll go easy on you when I go toe-to-toe with Isak.

"Well, thank you.

The gardener's apprentice laughed at the deliberate arrogance of the boy.
Klaus had never known himself to be able to talk lightly. He didn't know because he hadn't had anyone to talk to about it before. I guess it's only on this occasion that I can talk about an impossible premise.

"Isak is a strange guy.

"Is he?

He tilted his head in disbelief, but even after he had learned that Klaus was a prince, no one had ever treated him as a prince without telling him.

You're a member of the Ernst family and you never asked me about your brother.

Why would I ask you that?

"Why should I ask you such a question?" He replied, sounding deeply uninterested.
Is he not interested in the fiancé of the daughter of the family he serves? I would think that a servant would be more than a little interested, since the other party's family status would have an impact on the family.
Klaus laughed a little, amused by the lack of interest.

I feel like an idiot for being so defensive.

I thought being in the mansion of my brother Roy's fiancée meant that I was in a group that approved of my brother.

I don't know, but what were you going to do if he asked?

I was going to tell him who I really was.

Klaus was determined not to say anything in praise of his brother that his brother might not believe because of his outward appearance, but would want to hear.
The apprentice gardener nodded his head curiously.

"Is it true?

"Yes. You're arrogant and mean.

Well, ......, he's got a good nature.

Klaus took the apprentice gardener's murmur as agreement and became more eloquent.

I know. He's the kind of person who's cunning and doesn't mind kicking people's asses!

Heh.

He's a cunning man who doesn't mind kicking people down!

And yet, people who don't know this are calling for my brother to be the next king, when I'm more qualified to be king!

"Worf, are you going to be king?

Of course.

Why do you want to be king?

Because my mother wants me to be king.



My mother told me over and over again that you would be king and that you must not lose to your brother. You have to be what she wants you to be.
The gardener's apprentice turns pale and stares at Klaus.

"I asked you what you want to be, why are we talking about your mother?

What do you mean, "why?" ......

I couldn't continue to say anything else.
It touched the root of the question I had never asked myself before. A warning bell was ringing in a corner of my head that I should not think about it. But I can't stop thinking, because there are copper eyes in front of me, waiting for my words.

I am .......

Why do I want to be a king?
Do I really want to be a king?
The questions confuse me and I can't figure it out. Klaus clenched his fists to withstand the whirlpool of questions.

You're not a gardener because that's the family business, are you?

No?　Because I want to be one. Neither my father nor my mother ever asked me to become a gardener.

When I asked him the same question in anguish, he answered immediately. He also had a clear idea of what he wanted to be, which Klaus could not answer.
I envied him for that.
Klaus bit his lip tightly. Seeing this, the apprentice gardener asked cryptically.

What's with all the fluff around your brother's complaint? Is that what Wolff thinks he's saying?

"But Mother's .......

Klaus stuttered as he realized that he was about to say his mother's words again. He can't even remember his own name properly, but he's willing to listen to his own opinion. That's why he's so deceptive.
I understand that he's waiting for his own words, the words that Klaus himself thinks. But as soon as he tries to speak his own words, he gets tangled up.
I wonder if I feel so uncomfortable when I try to speak without borrowing words from my mother or others.

"Worf.

He called me the name I had taught him, and when I looked up, he patted me on the head.

"My mother told me. My mother told me that you can love her like she's a part of you because she gave birth to you, but you can't forget that she's a different person.

The boy in front of me says matter-of-factly that he agrees with his mother because he's never been able to read her thoughts. The boy in front of him says matter-of-factly that he agrees with his mother because he's never been able to read her thoughts.
Klaus' eyes widen and he freezes.
It was the first time he had ever been told he could have a different opinion from his mother. It was a shock, therefore.
Those around him nodded at her words and asked her to do the same. Therefore, I thought I had to act as my mother wanted. I had been so conscious of our blood relationship that I had forgotten that we were different people.
When I became aware of this, the tangled web of words began to unravel little by little.

...... I don't like Imperialism because it's too difficult. It's frustrating not to be able to beat your brother, but it's more fun to practice swordsmanship. Phil ...... likes to play the violin because it makes his sister happy.

Although he was talking to himself as he searched his own mind, the apprentice gardener was certainly listening to Klaus' words.
When he listed the things he liked and disliked, his undefined thoughts took shape. I've been working hard to get praise from my mother, but the best thing that has ever made me happy is the innocent smile on my sister's face when I perform a poorly written verse that I've just learned.

My father seems to be the king even in front of me, so I'm a little afraid of him.

My father is still a king even in front of his children. The face of a ruler makes me nervous, but I don't know if it's respect. Rather, I respected my sister's bravery in protesting to my father that she wanted to have dinner with the whole family.

"So, I don't know if I want to be a king.

I have no desire to be like my father. I don't know if I want to be like my father. If being king means being fair and not showing my emotions to my family, then I don't want to be like him.
After finally saying the feelings he had found, Klaus realized. The person in front of him has already found what he wants to be. Isn't it ridiculous that he doesn't know what he wants to be?

"Isn't it nice?

"Yes.

Klaus, who was about to blush with shame, was taken aback by the fact that he was nodded at without being denied.

Not many people our age have found their dream. I just happen to be lucky.

He affirms that Klaus is more normal, and I don't know how to respond to him.
It's been a long time since I've spoken my mind. I wondered when I had given up on expressing my feelings. At first, all I wanted was to make my mother happy.
It was scary to speak out my feelings for the first time in a long time, but I was so happy to be accepted that I felt like crying. But I tried to hold it in. It's not cool for a man to cry.

"I see.

Klaus just nodded. I noticed that his mouth was naturally smiling.

"Oh, we're almost to the promenade.

He looked in the direction the apprentice gardener was pointing and saw a familiar flowerbed beyond the break in the shade.
Following him out of the trees and onto the boardwalk, Klaus felt the sunlight so strongly that he couldn't help but close his eyes.
He waited for his eyelids to adjust to the light, and when he opened his eyes, he could see the vivid flowers in the flowerbeds that decorated the sides of the boardwalk. I don't think they looked this vivid earlier.


Beautiful, Klaus muttered soundlessly.
When he noticed the silence next to him, he looked over at the apprentice gardener and saw him looking at him with a dazed look on his face.

"...... what?

When I asked suspiciously, his coppery eyes shone in the sunlight.

"Your eyes are glowing gold, Worf!　And his hair is white.

"Gold ......?　Gold ......? Silver is .......

Klaus was taken aback by the unexpected words.
My brother Roy is often called the Prince of Gold, and Klaus the Prince of Silver.
This is because of the blond-haired brother and the silver-haired Klaus, but it is also used as a metaphor and a derogatory term to imply that Klaus is inferior to his brother. Klaus also had green eyes, and nowhere did he have the golden color that was synonymous with royalty.
Even though he knew in his head that royalty did not always have gold, he was always worried that he was a degraded product.
And yet, the boy, an apprentice gardener, says he has gold. It was the first time he had been compared to platinum, though he had been told that his hair was silver.
In response to Klaus' question, the apprentice gardener tilted his head in wonder.

If it were silver, it would reflect more like a mirror. It's platinum that glows so softly.

It was strange that he, a commoner, had seen the rare platinum, but he certainly seemed to be able to distinguish between metals.

Worf's gold is a nice, soft color.

For some reason, the apprentice gardener smiled happily.

I'm not sure what you're talking about.

I'm not sure what you're talking about.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. The apprentice gardener did not understand his intentions and protested only verbally, as his fist was moderated so that he did not feel any pain. Klaus's expression seemed to relax when he didn't take it out on him with his fists.

"Thanks for the tour.

"Yes.

The apprentice gardener nodded and turned on his heel to get back to work.
The apprentice gardener nodded and turned on his heel to go back to his work. Klaus also started to go back the way he came on the boardwalk, but he turned around and called to his back to go back to the shade.

"See you later, Isak.

Don't get lost next time.

The apprentice gardener, who only looked back at her, let out a small smile and waved his hand behind his back. I'm not sure what I meant when I said "again". I said, "See you later," only vaguely.
The promenade was filled with the colorful blooms of the oiranso and niwa nazuna. Klaus thought that his sister would be delighted to see the pretty blooms. Klaus felt funny when he realized that, unlike in the past, he had more time to look at the flowers.
After a short walk, his brother Roy and his fiancée Lydia came towards him from the other side. When Ludia saw Klaus, she smiled as if relieved and quickened her pace to come to him.

'Thank God, Your Highness. I was worried when you didn't come back.

I told you I was fine.

I told you I was fine," Roy cheerfully pointed out, to which Lydia replied that Roy was just too carefree. What had been an irritating exchange earlier could now be seen as just being friendly.
Klaus chuckles at his own change of heart. Cash.

I'm sorry. The colors change as you walk, so I walked deeper into the garden. It's a nice garden, I'd like to show it to my sister.

"Yes, isn't it lovely? I'm glad you like it because it's my pride and joy.

Klaus smiled a little in response to the happy expression on Lydia's face. Her cute response made me smile.
When he felt her eyes on him, he saw his brother Roy looking at him with honey-colored eyes. Klaus was surprised to see such an expression on his face.

What is it?

No, ......, I saw something that I thought would take a year to see.

Roy grinned happily, "I'm just surprised. Klaus was surprised to see his brother smiling, not his usual unpredictable smile, but a smile that showed clear emotion. Then he realized the cause of his brother's smile and became annoyed.

"That's rude. I laugh too.

I know.

Klaus, who had never smiled in front of his brother before, tilted his head to see how he knew.
I've only ever laughed in front of my sister. So it could only be that time. From his brother's words, Klaus is embarrassed to learn that he was being watched without his knowledge. He had thought that he was just jealous and that his brother didn't care about him.
Klaus was at a loss for words and turned his head away from his brother.
Even when he looked away, he could still feel his brother's happiness, and he wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of anything to complain about, so he cleared his throat and asked.

"Do you want to be a king, brother?

I knew it was sudden, but I wanted to take this opportunity to confirm it. When I returned to the castle, my mother would be there. Klaus wasn't sure if he would be able to speak at that moment.
Roy looked at him blindingly for a moment, then looked back into Klaus' eyes and smiled softly.

"Yeah. I love this country.

When Klaus heard that his brother wanted to become king, he knew he was right. Klaus thought that his brother wanted to be king, and he knew that his attitude toward his studies was different from his own, more than his talent.

So your brother was lucky, too.



You're right. I'm lucky.

The way Klaus said it made Lydia uncomfortable, but Roy only smiled deeper.

I'm going to ...... work on my swordsmanship, because it's frustrating to lose to my brother.

I'm not sure if I want to take the throne or not, but I'll try my best with the education I have.

Then I'll have to work hard too. I can't let my brother see me looking bad.

Do you really care about that ......?

"What do you mean?

What does that mean?" Roy replied with a serious face, and Klaus was taken aback. I thought my brother was good at everything.

"It wouldn't look good if I told you that you have to work hard to win.

Klaus couldn't help but chuckle. His tone unconsciously cracked as he realized that his brother wasn't perfect.

'Mistress Ludia, we did it!　Klaus' guard is down!

"......?

"Good for you, Master Roy.

Roy smiled his brightest smile of the day, which must have made him very happy, and Lydia kept quiet about the fact that he was being treated like a wild animal again. Lydia realized that Roy's expected target value this time was much lower. It's no wonder he's been avoiding her.
Klaus is embarrassed by her reaction to every little thing he does. It's even more embarrassing when he takes the trouble to report it to his fiancée.

"You're overreacting.

"It's a big deal to me.

There's no way to change the language now, so Klaus protests in his natural tone, but Roy doesn't seem to be able to suppress his happy expression.

"Your Highness, if you would like to come with me this time, Phil.

No, thank you. You're going to be my sister-in-law.

Not only Lydia but also Roy rolled their eyes at Klaus' words. Then they looked at each other as if they remembered something.
Klaus tilts his head at the two of them. I'm sure I didn't say anything strange.

"So, Klaus-sama, is that correct?

"Yes.

When Klaus nodded at the name, which was called with some hesitation, Lydia smiled with relief.
Roy was happy to talk to Klaus.

The three of us should come back while the flowers are in bloom.

"Tower of flowers?

I'll tell you next time.

No, I'll go to ...... with Phil.

It's my fiancée's house, and you're cutting me off.

I'll ...... think about it.

I'll think about it." Lydia smiled as she watched the two siblings interact with each other. At first she wondered what would happen, but she was glad that Klaus would listen to her.
It was strange, however, that Klaus, who had been so stubborn, seemed to have lost his sense of humor when he came back from a walk around the promenade. Perhaps he was softened by seeing the flowers in the garden. If so, he should thank Dennis, the gardener, for creating such a beautiful garden.

I'd like to be able to look at flowers with Emilia too.

How nice it would be to spend time in the garden with Katrin and Petra in peace. The way she looked at Roy and his brothers was laced with envy.
In the back of her mind, Lydia encouraged herself to follow Roy's example and do her best.