I didn't know I could be so unreasonable.
Ludia was having a hard time with her first feelings. To be precise, the realization of her original feelings made her more and more conscious of the gardener's apprentice boy, and more and more uncomfortable.
It's just heartbreaking and exhausting to be in front of him.
Then I should just not see him. The boy, an apprentice gardener, does not come into the house because the scope of his work is the garden. If I don't go to the garden myself, I can live in peace.
That's what he thinks in his head, but his feet keep going to the garden. I can't see straight and I'm using Emilia and her guards as walls.
I know I have a lot to think about, but first I need to be able to keep my composure when confronted by him. Then we'll talk.

We're in the situation you described, Master Roy.

What did I say?

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...... I've come to a decision that I can't discuss with Roy.

When we got engaged, we made sure that we would not have romantic feelings for each other. When we got engaged, we made sure that we would not have romantic feelings for each other and that we would tell each other if we found someone we liked. And we both consider each other as friends.
That said, I would not feel comfortable asking my fiancé, Roy, about his love life. I was very hesitant to ask such a question to a man, even to my fiancé. I was too embarrassed to talk to Tordeliese and my friends of the same s*x, but I was too embarrassed to talk to Roy of the opposite s*x.
He was embarrassed to talk to his friends of the same s*x as Tordeliese, but he was too shy to talk to Roy of the opposite s*x.

I see.

Roy smiled without the slightest hint of disappointment that he was not good enough after all. As a friend, he knew Lydia's character and could not believe that she would choose him as her advisor.

So, what shall we do?

About that: ......

When he suggested the topic of what to do, Lydia lowered her eyebrows apologetically.

I'm not sure if you can wait a while.　I'm not sure I'm ready for that .......

You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them. And then, he chuckles in a funny way. How adorable it is to be confused and overwhelmed with emotion.
Roy's smile doesn't quite subside, and Lydia winces. I'm sorry," Roy apologized, "I didn't mean to upset you.

I'm ready when you are.

Yes. I want to talk to you.

When Roy agreed, Lydia nodded with a straight look in her eyes. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that. I thought she just wanted to talk to me after she calmed down, but I could sense that she wanted to find a way to make things right with me.

"Miss Ludia is a bit of a loser, isn't she?

Roy smiled as his honey-colored eyes melted.
You should have given priority to your own desires at such times. At least Roy was aware that he had involved her in his own desires. She could have behaved more selfishly.
I was ready to accept it, and I was willing to make any arrangements. And yet, Lydia wanted to discuss it.
When Lydia tilted her head to see what the harm was, Roy narrowed his eyes.

You're not going to drown if you fall?

Even in a situation where she is in love with him, she does not forget her position as a duchess and does not despise her contract with him. Roy has seen a number of young ladies who were so consumed by their love for him that they were unable to control themselves. He was prepared to tolerate a certain degree of blindness, but his fiancée's eyes were unblinking.
A friend to be respected, Roy sensed.

I'll be waiting.

Smiling, Roy told her.
Roy was somewhat looking forward to the day when he could not only hear her answer, but also discuss it with her.


Later that day, Lydia went to the garden to make sure that she would not go back on her promise.
The summer sun was strong, so she walked there under a parasol and saw a young boy, an apprentice gardener, helping his father, a gardener, prune the trees by supporting a ladder. He had been warned before about falling branches, so I called out to him from a distance.

"Zak.

Miss.

The apprentice gardener turned around with a big smile on his face.
In the glare of the sun, Lydia tilted her parasol forward to block her vision.
The summer sun is inherently brighter, but his smile is more like a warm pool of sunshine. His smile is more like a warm puddle of sunshine, and his fiancée, Roy, is far more dazzling.
I know that, but I can't look directly at him because my heart is beating so hard and my body temperature is rising. So it's not an exaggeration to say that this is glaring.
The apprentice gardener, who seems to be unaware of the reason for changing the position of the parasol, calls out to Ludia, saying that he is almost finished with his work. Ludia nodded her approval to him with the parasol.
After a short wait, the apprentice gardener, who had finished collecting the fallen branches with his apprentice, said no to the fathers and came to the waiting Lydia.

What's wrong with you today?

"What?

"...... Master Lydia.

You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few things to do.
In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web. Emilia, who had never been in love before, could not understand why her master would be upset with such an ordinary man. It was all the more so because her master was resolute even in the face of the first prince, who upset most of the princesses.
Emilia can only wonder why she is so upset.


The apprentice gardener, who was not the first person to react this way to Lydia, accepted the situation. Her sister is not with her today, so there is no messenger. All I had to do was talk to her myself, I thought.

It's almost the end of the season, right? Can you take a look at Jan's garden before then?

At the apprentice gardener's suggestion, Lydia peeked out from behind the wall of Emilia and gave a small nod.
He and his younger apprentice, Jan, had taken turns using the garden for their own study, so it was Jan's turn to build the garden during the summer months. That's why Jan came with him to the sunken garden.
The apprentice gardener is leading the way, chatting with Jan, and Lydia is following. Emilia, who is following her master, is in a state of shock.
The gardener's apprentice hums a tune as usual, and Jan mentions it, revealing that he too used to sing while working on his family's farm. The apprentice gardener learns to sing the song that Yang used to sing, and the two of them happily sing it together.
Watching them together, Ludia is inwardly grateful for Jan's companionship. I won't have enough time to get there by myself. Now that it was difficult to look directly at him, it was just as well that she could watch him from behind, smiling happily.
Since he was not looking at her, she felt safe to stare at the apprentice gardener.
His voice is a little low as he hums a song. It's strange to Lydia that it could still be low. Wouldn't it be the voice of a different person from the one she had met? Still, the gentle sound of her voice and the way she speaks without tension are the same.
The same and different parts are crowded together, but he is still him.
He is much taller, and his shoulders are broader and more muscular from working in the garden. I've always looked up at him, but now that he's almost as tall as Jan, who's a year older, I'm sure I'll be looking up at him for a long time to come.
Recognizing his growth, including his larynx, made her very aware of him, and her heart became restless.

"Miss.

I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. This is a great way to get the most out of your business.

I'm here.

Without mentioning that Ludia's cheeks were dyed with shame, the gardener's apprentice told him why he had called out to her.

So, let's see what kind of garden Jan has created.

"Yes, sir! Yes, please. Miss.

Jan straightened up and smiled cheerfully. He was nervous about being seen by the people he served, but he seemed genuinely happy that someone would see the garden he had practiced in. Rydia smiled, feeling that he too had the qualities of a gardener.
As they stepped through the hedge of the practice garden, Lydia was speechless.
There were many suns in front of her. No, there were large flowers that seemed to resemble the sun, blooming higher than Lydia's perspective.
It was an impressive sight, but it wasn't the blooming of the flowers that made Lydia exclaim. She could hardly see the fountain.
This place was supposed to be a small square with only a hollowed-out owl fountain in a forest-like area full of trees. But now I could only see the stone statue of the owl sitting in the fountain through the yellow flowers.

What do you think?

When Jan asked Lydia what she thought of the scene before her, she finally opened her mouth.

...... This isn't a garden, is it?

It's not a garden, is it?

When Ludia told her what she had seen, Yang affirmed her mistake and smiled brightly.

I just did it like I was plowing a field.

Yes, this was a field of sunflowers, no matter how you looked at it. It is possible to go to the fountain through the intervening space, but the planting style does not take into account the space to walk and look at the flowers. Jan's family is a farmer, and they planted sunflowers at even intervals in the same way.

I chose the flowers to plant based on whether they were edible.

You eat them?

"Sunflower seeds are quite tasty.

I'll share them with you.

When Ludia was astonished at the idea of eating such a large flower, the apprentice gardener explained that the seeds that would be produced later would be edible. The gardener's apprentice explained that the seeds that would be produced later would be edible, and Jan promised to share them with the gardener's apprentice because they would be plentiful.

"Isn't it interesting that Jan made this?

The apprentice gardener laughed happily, saying that it had never occurred to him that he should be a gardener, as he had wanted to be one for as long as he could remember. The apprentice gardener laughed happily. He was happy to have a new perspective on how to show off flowers.

"Well, that's not so bad.

It's not often that you get the chance to look up at flowers that are taller than you are, so Lydia felt the summer glow of this scene. The umbrellas of the flowers were a welcome shelter from the sun in this hot season.
Jan smiled shyly as he thanked the apprentice gardener and Lydia for their positive feedback. He had not expected them to like it, as he had been prepared to receive a lot of criticism. Not only did he have something to reflect on for the future, but he also gained the pleasure of having people enjoy his creations.
Since it was not suitable for walking around, they decided to watch for a while and looked up at the sunflower field. The occasional breeze made the thick-stemmed sunflowers sway gently.
While looking at them, Ludia quietly looked at the profile of the apprentice gardener. He was standing next to her, but this time he was on the same side as she was watching, so she could see his happy expression without worrying about looking at her. Ludia felt that it would be nice to see a garden created by someone other than him.
After that, she unintentionally mumbled that it would be nice to have a bird's eye view of the blooms from above, and when the apprentice gardener offered to hold her up, Lydia firmly refused.


At the end of the off-season, Lydia learned to be angry.
It is natural that he does not know how he feels, but the apprentice gardener is the same as always. She began to feel unreasonable about the situation that was straining her heart. I feel relief at his smile, but at the same time, I feel resentment at his racing heart.
In addition, she became jealous of Bernhard who brought flowers on Roy's errand to talk to him. In the name of Roy, her fiancé, she is giving him a gift, but in reality, she is arranging a meeting between a young apprentice gardener and a nobleman.


It's not that I'm not happy with the flowers that Roy sends, as they are appropriate for the season and for Ludia's taste. The fact that Roy sends only one flower is also a sign of his concern. If she receives large bouquets of flowers on a regular basis, Lydia would feel overwhelmed. She feels happy about his thoughtfulness.
Still, she finds the conversation between the gardener's apprentice and Bernhard uninteresting, perhaps because they share the same water attribute. Or is it because he can't complain to Nikolaus, as he did when he visited him?
Nikolaus came directly for the apprentice gardener and made fun of me, so I was able to vent my frustration there and then. However, Bernhard came to her purely for her interest in magic, and she could not ignore him. Because of this difference, Lydia realizes that Nikolaus may have been leading her to vent her frustrations.
As she watched them talking in the pavilion, her copper eyes suddenly turned to look at her.

Didn't you find it boring?

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

Boring is ......, because we talk about things that only the two of us understand .......

She couldn't make it up and showed him a piece of her frustration.
Then, with an apology, his palm stroked her hair. Lydia's heart jumps and she is upset because he touched her when she was not ready. She can't honestly complain that it's bad for her heart to be touched when she's unprepared, so she covers it up by complaining that he treats her like a child. This is not a lie, as I have been complaining about his treatment of me since I was a child.
The apprentice gardener is seriously troubled by his own distressing words. Lydia knows that he has never treated her with disdain. His words are blunt, but he is sincere, and he is the first one to notice the little things about himself. I feel sorry for being so greedy that I don't want to be treated like a child, even though I know he cares for me.
When she was almost fed up with her own greediness, a large yellow flower appeared in front of her.

"Is this a ...... rose?

In response to her unintentional question, the gardener's apprentice revealed that it was an artificial flower made from ginkgo biloba. He was hesitant to give it to her because it was made from freshly fallen leaves and would not last long.
Each leaf resembling a petal seemed to be a sign that he was thinking of her, and it filled her with joy. When she asked him why he had chosen her to give the flower to, he replied that it was his favorite flower and why he had made it. This meant that there was no other choice, and Ludia was inexplicably happy about that fact.
After that, he told her that he would take good care of it, and for some reason, he received a heroic compliment, which made him feel uncomfortable. However, when the apprentice gardener said that he would fulfill his promise of a rainbow in the night, she immediately felt better.


That day, her mother, Octavia, invited her to have tea in the garden before the leaves finished changing. Her sister, Flora, was walking around on the fallen leaves, enjoying the sound they made when she stepped on them. She seemed to be having a lot of fun, stopping briefly and walking lightly as if taking steps.
Lydia and Octavia watched her with a smile on their faces.

I heard that he asked Isak and his friends not to sweep that area.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it'll be fine. In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find out more about it on the web.

"...... Your mother doesn't say anything, does she?

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.
You will find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier. I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I'm so interested in you.
Octavia smiled as she exhaled.

"It's the other way around.

What?

Dear doesn't say anything.

In the event that you've got any questions, you'll be able to contact us at our own web site. It is true that she has not revealed it herself, but there is no way to mention it. Lydia realizes that she has left it up to her mother to make a confession, thinking that Octavia, her mother, would get to the heart of the matter in her usual mocking tone.
From Octavia's point of view, she knows she didn't need to do that. There is no way that the First Prince, who is so intelligent, would not be aware of his daughter's feelings, and Lydia, his daughter, is not dexterous enough to hide them. This means that both parties must have agreed to the betrothal. Also, Lydia is blessed with friends. If she wants to ask for advice about love, she should first ask a friend of her own age. As a parent, I feel lonely because my daughter is so strong, but I don't blame her for that.
Octavia laughs at her daughter who is still wondering if she should apologize.

It's true that children grow up on their own.

Octavia laughs at her daughter's wondering if she should apologize.

"Your mother doesn't blame you, does she ......?

Even though it was mutually agreed upon, in the eyes of the world, it was like disrespecting the first prince. If the nobleman falls in love with a commoner, and it is exposed, it will be very bad for the public because of the high status of the duke's family.
You can't kill emotions.

You can't kill your emotions.

But Octavia simply said that common sense was useless.
Octavia had never asked her to suppress her emotions before. Rather, she was taught to recognize emotions, even jealousy. What my mother taught me was how to be prepared to hold onto emotions.

"From now on, whether you sublimate them or fulfill them, the choice is yours.

Octavia tells me that I have to choose what to do with my feelings. Octavia tells me that I have to choose what to do with my feelings. Her mother's words, urging her to think realistically, seemed cruel, but they were the best encouragement she could give.

Yes.

So, Lydia nodded her head.
Octavia, satisfied with her daughter's reply, tilted her head and smiled.

"So, are you going to talk to me about it?

"No. There's someone I need to tell you about before your mother does.

Oh, that's too bad.

Octavia's eyes are filled with determination, and she accepts them without the slightest hint of regret. The way she carried out her feelings reminded her of her husband Gerald, and Octavia smiled at the similarities between father and daughter.
We returned to the peaceful tea party just as Flora was coming back to us after enjoying the carpet of fallen leaves.




Ludia's birthday party was held in the late afternoon.
Since it was not the best time of year to hold a party in the garden, the party was held in the hall of the mansion with as few people as possible. Even though it was a minimum number, it was a large number because she was the highest-ranking duchess and was engaged to a member of the royal family.
After the greetings, Roy, her fiancé, came to see her.

"Happy birthday, Miss Lydia.

"Thank you, Mr. Roy. "Thank you, Roy.

It was an exchange that had been repeated many times throughout the day, but Lydia naturally smiled at Roy's sincere words of congratulations.

You must be tired. Why don't you take it easy over there?

I'm not as tired as you, Roy.

"Not as much as Roy." This was much better than the birthday party for Roy, the prince. The fact that Roy showed up after the greeting was probably because he knew that he would attract more people if he stayed.
He invited her to join him at the table, and Lydia took advantage of his concern. It was true that she was tired of dealing with guests. It would be nice if she could get rid of people in the name of talking with her fiancé.
As soon as they were seated, Roy looked to his attendants, and Lydia to Emilia and her guards, asking them to keep an eye out so that no one would overhear their conversation.

I'm glad to be your fiancée, Roy.

"It's an honor. I don't think I've ever had a more troublesome fiancé.

Lydia laughed when Roy used the word "troublesome" to describe the pressure of being the next heir to the throne. He was right, there were many restrictions and challenges, but there was also an advantage for Lydia, who had no desire for fame.

"Now that we are engaged, I can talk to Master Roy at leisure.

Hearing the benefits for Lydia, Roy's honey-colored eyes widened once and he smiled sweetly, as if the honey were melting.

I'm happy to talk to you too, Miss Lydia.

Lydia closed her eyes once and opened them gently. Then she looked back at Roy.

"Mr. Roy.

"Yes?

I've found someone I like .............

You can find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the most out of their life. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for, but it's not always easy.
Roy almost smiled at his fiancée's adorable reaction, but managed to hold it back, feeling sorry for her if he laughed now.

I guess Miss Lydia came first.

Roy felt as if he had lost a game.

I guess we'll have to call off our engagement as promised.

What are you going to do about it, Master Roy?

I'll break off the engagement when I have someone to beg for. Those are the terms of engagement Roy offered. Lydia realizes that it's probably for her.
It's not for her own good. What will happen to Roy, Lydia kept wondering.

It's almost ...... too late. Well, the bone of contention is to keep refusing the engagement urges.

What are you doing to prepare?

I'm sure you've done something to prepare for this, since you say you're almost there. Lydia tilted her head, wondering what he was preparing.

I'm getting the ingredients to convince my father and his subjects. If possible, I'd like to resolve this matter with proof that Miss Lydia is not at fault. And .......

And?

To avoid drowning in the event of a fall.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. But to Lydia, Roy's acceptance of the shackles of royalty and his desire to enjoy his freedom to the fullest seemed noble.
And while he said he was making preparations for himself, he seemed to be making some sort of plan that took Lydia into account.

"Master Roy, are you trying to do this alone?

No, I rely on everyone around me. Of course I rely on Miss Lydia.

Me too?

When Lydia worried that he was not taking care of himself, Roy smiled and gave a surprising answer. Lydia did not do anything. In the first place, she had no idea what Roy was up to, so she couldn't help him. So how could she have helped him?

The fact that you are Miss Lydia is enough to help me.

Is that right, ......?

"Yes.

I'm sure you're not the only one. It seems that he did not dare to inform himself of the details. It's very strange to be useful when you don't know what you're doing, but seeing Roy's smile, Lydia agreed that it would be nice if she could help her friend.
After regaining her composure, Lydia returned to the subject at hand.

So you think it would help Roy if you didn't break off the engagement at this point?

"Yes, but ......, I can't involve Miss Lydia in any more of my selfishness.

Roy was somewhat puzzled by Ludia's confirmation. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.

In fact, I'd like to have some time to think about it. I'm not sure I'm ready yet. ......

It was a shameful thing to say, but I had just become aware of it, and I needed time to prepare myself.

"Ready?

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

I'm ready to get involved.

Lydia's choice was between abandonment and involvement. She can't give up being a duchess, even more so now that he has encouraged her. On the other hand, knowing his dream, she hesitates to involve him. His dream is also important to me.



...... It's arrogant to think that if you could have it all, you would.

That's strange. I'm with you.

In contrast to Lydia's self-mockery, Roy smiles at her. He's already made up his mind.
He's preparing for everything, Lydia realized. What can I do to make it all happen?
They both laughed as they realized that they were just like each other. After a few moments of laughter, Roy asked.

"So, are you going to be a part of this for a while longer?

You'll owe me a lot of money.

I'll do my best.

Roy nodded his head in amusement as Lydia tried to act proud.


After the party, Lydia put on her coat to keep warm and went to the west pavilion. Her guard, Emilia, followed her with a lamp, making it easy to walk along the corridor leading to the pavilion.
It was already dark, even though it was still early in the evening. The sun sets much earlier now.
When we arrived at the pavilion, the apprentice gardener was sitting on a bench inside without a lamp. When Emilia held up the lamp, he looked so funny that she couldn't help but ask him about it. She answered only that she was a friend, so I could tell that she was a stranger to me.
After talking about how many friends he had, he decided to show her the rainbow he had promised. Apparently, the rainbow is invisible at night if there is a light. She said she did not need a lamp, so I sent Emilia to a place in the pavilion where the light could not reach her.
As her eyes become accustomed to the darkness, Ludia finds that the moonlight is quite dazzling. The starlight reflected off the dark surface of the water, and she felt as if she were in a sea of stars.
This scene alone is fantastic, but the apprentice gardener is going to make a rainbow. My expectations naturally grew.
As she watched the apprentice gardener manipulate the water, he asked her to look up at the moon, and she did so. Then, for some reason, he stood behind her, his head slightly bowed, and his face close to hers.

"What, what, why do you want to get close to me?

But what's the point if I can't see you?

He told her that she needed to adjust the view so that she could see from her own perspective, and she couldn't reject him.
He was right next to her, and she could almost see his coppery eyes and the way his larynx rose up, and she turned her head in embarrassment. She turned her head in embarrassment, fearing that he would notice how fast her heart was beating.
After a few minutes of this, the gardener's apprentice called out that he was ready.
Relieved to see that his attention has left him, Lydia looks up at the moon again and sees a rainbow circle.
A circle of seven colors, one larger than the round moon, covered the moon. He wondered if the thin clouds he had created would be able to create such a spectacle just by shimmering in the light of the moon.
I couldn't help but marvel.

"Happy birthday. Miss.

"Thank you, Zak. It's really beautiful. ......!

The moonbeams were so impressive, and then he congratulated her, and she was able to express her gratitude honestly. It was the best gift she could have received at the end of her birthday.

I see.

The gardener's apprentice was blindingly obvious for a moment, but then he broke down more than ever and smiled warmly.
Lydia's heart skipped a beat as he smiled warmly, even in the moonlight.
Not knowing what he was surprised about, Lydia asked him in a whisper.
Then, with a smile he had never seen before, he revealed his thoughts rather than answering the question.

I like it when you smile, don't you?

Ludia couldn't help but close her eyes.
She felt her whole body heat up, not just her face, and she was at a loss as to how to stop him from talking.