I was waiting for my daughter at the pavilion in the pond where the water lilies sleep.
They are having a birthday party for her again this year. The pavilion near the west side of the house is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the party that it's hard to tell if it's over just by the sound.
My dad and I have been checking the visitor's area for a few days now, and yesterday we cleaned the area from the main gate to the front entrance. Even though it's cold out, it's the gardener's job to landscape the areas where visitors pass by.
Perhaps it is because the butler Heinz, the master, and other people who manage the schedule are well organized, but there are no sudden parties at the Ernst house. They give the servants time to prepare, which is very helpful.
When I went to the gardener's guild to ask for help in cleaning up the fallen leaves, I saw a gardener who looked distressed because he was told that an unexpected party had been organized and that the trees in the garden were to be planted with whatever the guests wanted. It takes a lot of effort and manpower to replant a tree that has already taken root. I don't know what noble family he belonged to, but I thought he had a right to complain.
I don't remember being instructed about the garden in the Ernst family. My father planted trees and flowers in the beds according to the seasons, and the dukes would notice the changes and praise him for it. Every time I do this, I feel proud that my father is great. In my previous life, I died before I could find a job, but I wonder if this is what they call a white company.
Since Flora, the daughter's sister, can walk, Ok-sama often takes a walk in the garden. The maids told me that this was the case even before she became very sick. It's nice to have someone to look after you.
I think the Ernsts are really nice people. One day, I want to become a full-fledged gardener and create a garden that will delight the people of this house. Since I came to the Ernsts' house, my desire to become a gardener has become stronger.
I was just thinking about it and reaffirming my goal when I heard footsteps approaching from the corridor.
I smiled and greeted the young lady who had come running towards me.

"So why are you in such a hurry?

I don't want to keep you waiting in the cold.

I'm not waiting long.

I didn't wait long because she arrived just as I was thinking about it. I didn't wait long because she came when I was just thinking.

"It should be cold, even your hands .......

She grabbed my hand to check, but trailed off. That's right. I was wearing a pair of leather gloves that doubled as military gloves. I'm wearing them to protect me from the cold in the winter.
Still, the young lady seemed unconvinced and pouted. She looked up at me as if she was staring at me, and then her white hand touched my cheek.

Look, it's still cold!

A gardener works outside.

You've been tending the greenhouse all afternoon.

"You were tending the greenhouse this afternoon!" I was scolded for my quibbling. By the way, when I was cleaning the front door yesterday, a young lady came by and we were discussing about the meeting.
However, she seemed to have come straight from the party, and was not wearing a jacket or gloves. Her hands are warm now, but they'll get cold if she stays in this place too long.
I thought that she should be more worried about herself than me, but her kindness made the cold muscles in my face relax.

Thank you. But you're beautiful, young lady.

I smiled as I wrapped my gloved hand around her cheek to keep it cool.
Since she was the star of the party, I'm sure Master Ok had prepared a dress that would suit her. The necklace, with its thin silver chain and small transparent jewels at the top, and the dress, with its silver embroidery and the darker blue color towards the hem, made me think that there was a spirit of snow.
She is a beautiful girl to begin with, but I reconfirmed that she is beautiful again. I'm grateful that I'm not able to attend the party, but I can see her like this.
She froze for a moment, then her eyes widened, her face turned red, and she pulled her hand out and hid it behind her back with an almost squeaking speed.
I tilted my head, unsure of what was wrong. I waited a few seconds for a response, and then, with her head still down, she spoke up.

"I can't wait to see the rainbow before the sun goes down!

"Hmm?　Oh.

I checked the direction of the setting sun's light and borrowed some water from the pond to make the water particles float. When the rainbow appeared, the lady shone with seven colors of light in her eyes. I felt like she was angry, but I must have been imagining it.

"Don't you ever get bored?

Doesn't the girl get bored doing the same thing every year? I wonder if she doesn't get bored doing the same thing every year, and coming all the way to the pond in this cold season to make it easier for me.

"The rainbow is always beautiful.

I asked with concern, to which the lady replied, gazing at the rainbow with genuine happiness. I'm relieved. I'm glad you're happy with my little magic.

Zaku's magic is so wonderful that you can make rainbows all the time.

"Zaku's magic is wonderful that you can make rainbows whenever you want," she says, turning around with a happy smile. I'm surprised because I didn't expect to be praised like that.
For a moment I didn't know how to react, and I choked on my words of thanks. What's the point of making me happy on my daughter's birthday? Then I remembered that there was something I hadn't given her yet.

"Thank you, Zak, for the beautiful birthday present.

"Thanks to you, too. And this.

The young lady tilted her head to the side as I thanked her, but before she could mention it, I pulled something out of my jacket pocket and handed it to her, which drew her attention.

This is ......?

I handed her a glass vial and she stared at it curiously, not knowing what was inside.

"Open it.

When I urged her to do so, she obediently opened the lid and was dazzled by the fragrance.

It's Chinese fragrant .......

You said it was your favorite scent.



But why ......, what is this?

Surprised by the scent of flowers that had already fallen, the young lady looked alternately at the bottle in her hand and at me.

"Salt.

When I told her what was in the bottle with the small orange flowers, she seemed to have not expected it.

The scent lasts longer when you do this.

"That's strange.

I didn't understand the reason either, so I explained it to her, and she stared at the salt in the bottle. It smells like gold mignonette, which she doesn't have at the moment, so she can't doubt its effectiveness. I guess that's why it's so strange.
At any rate, she seemed pleased, and I patted her on the chest.

"I'm glad ......

Last year, after I gave my daughter a birthday present, I realized that I had run out of gift ideas. I've never given anything to a girl in my life. I've only ever given gifts to family members, including in previous lives. The only gifts I've given to my friends in school have been sweets or a steamed bun at a convenience store. Moreover, since the person I wanted to give the gift to was a high-ranking aristocrat, it was obvious that I, as a commoner, would be stuck with no reference to my memories of previous lives.
That said, I don't want to force myself, but I want the girl to be happy if possible.
That's why I've been trying to think of something she would like, but I couldn't come up with a gift within the range of my ability.
When she told me that she liked the scent of fragrant osmanthus, I gave up on the idea of giving her a fragrance. I heard that it takes a lot of flowers to make perfume, and it was too difficult for me to enter a perfume shop because I don't like strong scents. Just to be sure, I asked Katrin, the maid, about the price of the perfume, but she said it was too much for me.
That's when it happened.
I went to the kitchen to share with them some rosemary and perfume, which I had planted to repel insects. Then I saw the head chef using herb salts.
When I asked him about the herb salt, he said it was made about six months ago. I asked him to tell me how he made it, because it smelled so good.
He told me that all I had to do was to remove the dust from the herbs I wanted to transfer the fragrance to, lightly dry them in the sun, and place them in a glass jar in alternating layers with rock salt.
As I was about to teach my mother, it occurred to me that I could do the same thing with flowers.
Using salt only to preserve the aroma of food is extravagant in my opinion, but much cheaper than perfume.
I talked to the head chef, and he gave me enough rock salt for my needs at a reasonable price. I gathered up some fragrant Chinese rhinoceros flowers up to the eighth bloom and made layers of Chinese rhinoceros and rock salt alternately, just as the old man had told me.
The bottle I made was too heavy for the girl to carry if I gave it to her as it was, so I bought a small bottle and transferred it to her. I wrapped a ribbon around it to make it look a little more like a present.
Anyway, I'm really glad that I decided on the present.
I scratched my head, feeling ashamed that I had spent almost a year worrying about what to give her.

I really don't know what to get you, so I thought I'd just get you a ticket that says whatever you want. ......

"...... What's that?

I'm not sure if it's because I'm not familiar with the word, but the young lady reacted with a twitch. I've never given my dad or mom a pat on the shoulder because paper is expensive. I'll have to think of something else to do next time to relieve my fatigue.
I'll have to think of something else to take the edge off.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will work for you.

Like a pledge the size of a theater ticket?

Something like that.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.
She seemed to understand the purpose and her eyes lit up for some reason.

I would like to have it next year.

What?

I rolled my eyes at her words.
After all, who gives a shit about my right to do what I say? I'm glad I don't have to worry about the gift, but I wonder if she's really okay with it.

Are you sure that's what you want ......?

I asked with great doubt, but she shook her head firmly. I don't know what she's going to say, but she's not going to do anything rash. She's a lady.
So I don't understand what is so attractive about her.

So, ......, that's it for next year.

I feel like I'm the only one who would enjoy it, but if I can give her what she wants, so much the better. I was a little hesitant, but when I agreed, my daughter's face was filled with joy.

I'll get it for you.

"What?

What?" The lady suddenly heads towards the corridor. There was a maid at the entrance of the corridor, who seemed to have just brought some warm clothes, and she seemed to have asked her to do something.
She seemed to have asked her to do something for her. The maid disappeared for a moment, but came back as the young lady was putting on her cape and gloves. After receiving something from her, the young lady returned to the pavilion with it in both hands.
When she came back, she had a fountain pen in one hand and a message card in the other. She holds it out to me.

"Before I forget, please write me a pledge.

That's a bit ostentatious. It's not that big of a deal.
I took them with an expectant look in my eyes. I don't have any writing utensils at home, so it's nice of you to provide them, but I can't shake the feeling that I don't have to go that far.
Feeling somewhat confused, I use the bench inside the pavilion as a desk and make a "I'll do anything you say" ticket. The lady says it's a pledge, so I guess I should write it like that.

"Let's see, ......, 'Isak Baumgartner, next year today,' what's your full name, miss?

"Ludia von Ernst.

Oh, ......?

That's how it's written.

"That's how it's spelled," she said, moving her finger next to me to show me how to spell it. I wrote her name as she told me. But what is that phon between the names of the nobles? Is it a mark to distinguish noblemen?



"I'll do you one favor. Is that okay?

At the end, I handed the young lady a message card with today's date and my name on it, which turned into a "I'll do anything you want" card. I also returned the fountain pen I borrowed from her.
The young lady hugged the glass vial and the "I'll do anything you want" ticket to her chest.

"Hmmm, I made a reservation.

As she smiled, I wondered if this was a good idea, but then I thought, "Oh well. Next year, I'll try my best to do something, even if it's just a one-shot performance.

"Oh. Miss.

I remembered something that I had forgotten and raised my voice, and the lady tilted her head.

"I didn't say it right. Happy birthday.

"Thank you.

She puzzled for a moment and then smiled. I'm glad to see her smile on this day again this year. I felt my expression relax.
Suddenly, the lady's gaze shifted to a higher position than mine.

"It's snowing.

Really.

Little white ice crystals fluttered down from the sky. It looked like a rainbow that had just started to disappear, melted away by the snow.
I was a little surprised, because I thought it would be just a light rain. I can vaguely read the presence of rain, or more accurately, water spirits, but I can't tell if it will turn into rain or snow.
My rain sensor is particularly sensitive this time of year. These days, I only report to my father whether it will rain or not, and I prepare for both rain and snow.
Regardless of that, I simply look forward to snow.

"I wonder if we'll get enough snow to make a snowman this year.

...... You can't build one on the front side.

I know.

"I know," I was nailed by a young lady with half-lidded eyes. I'm not going to make one in the visitor's area either, no matter how easy it is to collect snow from the main gate to the front door.

When the snow piles up, I'll make one with Nico.

If it takes two of us, we should be able to make a pretty big one. That thought made me even more excited.

"Why can't I join you in your garden, ......?

The young lady muttered in a slightly sulky tone. I don't mean to leave you out. I'm just saying that it takes a lot of strength to build a snowman, so I thought I'd ask Nico to help.

Can you help me make the last chao?　It might be too weird for me.

"Well, I guess I don't have a choice.

When she realized that she had a part to play, she said proudly, "I'll take care of it. If you're going to make a big snowman, it's better to have someone who can see the whole thing.

You might like this, Master Roy. I should ask him, ......, but he might be surprised to see Nikolaus.

No, ...... is fine, isn't it?　Yes, surprisingly.

So, the lady doesn't know that Leo is acquainted with Nico in the onna mode. I want to tell her that her fears are unfounded, but I can't, because she might find out that the prince Leo cured Nico's sister's illness. She nodded her head in response to my vague answer.

We should get back.

Yes.

It was starting to snow, so I urged her to go back before she got too cold, and she nodded.
As I walked her down the corridor to the entrance of the main building, she looked up at the sky again.

I hope it piles up.

Oh.

I nodded at her murmur.
Today's snow will melt and disappear, but winter has just begun. There will be plenty of opportunities.
I looked up at the sky as the snow fell, hoping for the best.