Part 1: Saintess Candidate Arc

11. The Promised Flower Festival (1)

Translated by: S3

← Previous Chapter | Chapter Index | Next Chapter →

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

When he reached the front of the Crown Prince's office, Dylan took out his pocket watch and checked the time.

It was still a little early before the afternoon work began.

After idling by the door for a while, a familiar face appeared from the end of the corridor.

The man noticed Dylan, quickened his pace, and called out to him.

「It's been a while, Dylan-sama.」

「It has, Noah. How is your work as His Highness's aide? Have you gotten quite used to it?」

Noah, whom he hadn't seen in a while, smiled gently and softly—a smile that put anyone at ease.

「Yes. I am serving him with sincerity and devotion. I am doing my best so you won't have to be called in, Dylan-sama.」

「You had better. You are my successor, after all.」

There had been some trouble when Dylan resigned as Arthur's aide and they tried to select a replacement.

The chosen aides would be dismissed by Arthur in three days at the fastest, and a week at the longest.

Even those recommended by Dylan were all dismissed, which was a quandary. Then, Arthur himself unexpectedly installed Noah as his aide.

To be honest, Dylan bitterly wished Arthur had done that from the start if he already had someone in mind.

However, this was not limited to Arthur; all those with the Aurum Royal family bloodline were very selective about the people they chose.

Furthermore, the reason for the selection was never known, making it impossible to formulate a countermeasure.

「I have returned from the Eastern Fortress and wished to greet His Highness. Is he in his office?」

「Yes. He should be resting here after lunch.」

Noah knocked on the door, confirmed the reply, and opened the door.

「Your Highness. Dylan-sama has returned from the Eastern Fortress. He has come to pay his respects.」

「Dylan. It's been a while.」

「Your Highness, I have returned.」

「And what is your business, Dylan?」

Arthur, his childhood friend three years his junior, rarely changed his expression.

Despite this being a reunion after a long time, the way Arthur spoke made it sound like they had just spoken yesterday, and Dylan forced a wry smile, thinking, He hasn't changed.

「I only came to offer my greetings. Since the Eastern Fortress has stabilized, I was able to return. From now on, traveling back and forth once a month should suffice. I will submit the details in a document later.」

「Understood.」

「And I hear my sister, Olivia, is serving as a Saint Candidate. She can be overly eager, so she might get carried away, but please bear with her.」

「Yes. She performs her duties well.」

「Also, this. I will be holding a tea party for the Festival of Flowers again this year, so please come visit my house if your schedule permits.」

Major nobles celebrated the Festival of Flowers with tea parties held at their residences. Arthur had already received numerous similar invitations.

The Queen usually handled these festival-related tea parties, but for some reason, a large number of invitations had been sent directly to Arthur this year.

「Leave it there.」

The fact that the conversation didn't last long was typical for Arthur. He was a man who eliminated waste and did what needed to be done, so Dylan’s evaluation of him was high. Yet, in situations like this, he wished Arthur would relax and make small talk.

「Dylan-sama, would you care for some tea?」

「Ah, I would.」

Since Arthur didn't keep many people around him, his aide had to handle everything. Just like Dylan, Noah seemed to be maneuvering skillfully.

Noah placed the documents and the paper bag he carried on the desk and poured tea for Arthur and Dylan.

「Noah, the documents and the bag, over here.」

Arthur immediately reached for his work, paying no mind to Dylan.

While looking over the documents, he opened the paper bag, took out a candy, and put it in his mouth. The crunching sound of the candy being chewed echoed throughout the office as he absentmindedly went through the paperwork. His hand reached for the next candy as he turned the pages.

「Your Highness, if you'll excuse me, what are you eating?」

「Candy.」

「Where did you procure what you are consuming?」

Since Noah brought it, it was probably taste-tested for poison, but the appearance of the candy was shabby.

When Dylan questioned him, Arthur avoided the question and looked away.

「Is there something suspicious about mere candy?」

「It is something I procured personally. There is nothing suspicious about it.」

Saying that, he started eating a second one.

「Noah, how did you come to acquire this? I trust it was obtained through a formal channel from a purveyor to the Royal Household?」

「Well, it is difficult to say, but I am receiving it as a share from someone who makes it by hand.」

At that answer, a significant frown appeared on Dylan's brow.

「Something like that? Who eats a snack immediately after lunch, anyway! Hand it over. I will dispose of it.」

When he reached out to take it, Arthur quickly hid the bag of candy behind his back.

「Dylan. If your business is done, go back to your own work. I am busy. You are busy, too, aren't you?」

「What fool would overlook the Crown Prince eating strange things?」

「It is not strange. My uncle has performed a component analysis. It is something I choose to eat.」

「~~It is not poison, is it?」

He asked the most important thing one more time. He knew from their many years of acquaintance that Arthur would absolutely, definitely not hand it over.

「No. It is just 'candy-chan.'」

「'Candy-chan?'」

Restraining the impulse to ask where he picked up that phrase, Dylan stood up.

「Your Highness, I shall take my leave. May the Holy Aurum Kingdom be blessed.」

He bowed, and Dylan departed from the office.

Noah, who had silently watched the exchange, was curious and cautiously probed Arthur.

「Your Highness, is Lily’s 'candy-chan' delicious?」

Noah had tasted it, but since it had a mix of herbal flavors, he didn't care for it. He thought the pure candy sold in the royal capital was many times better.

「Yes. It tastes sweet.」

As the Crown Prince, his palate should be refined. Noah tilted his head, wondering if the taste simply suited Arthur's preference.

「Noah, do you have any plans for tomorrow's day off?」

「I plan to take Lily to the Festival of Flowers tomorrow. Do you have a job coming up?」

「No.」

「…」

The Festival of Flowers lasted for about five days. If Arthur had said it was work, Noah would have explained the situation to Lily and asked her to reschedule. But Arthur seemed hesitant, so Noah waited for his answer.

「Noah, what is your relationship with Lily?」

「Lily is my cousin, the daughter of my father's older sister.」

They looked at each other. The intent of the Crown Prince he served was often difficult to read.

Noah was completely clueless about what Arthur was concerned about now. Incidentally, Arthur already knew that Lily was his cousin.

「No, never mind. Have fun.」

The conversation ended, and Arthur returned to his paperwork. And he reached for the third candy.

***

—The Festival of Flowers is a celebration of the season of flowers and an appreciation of their beauty, held over five days starting on the night of the full moon in spring.

Shops throughout the royal capital stay open late, and stalls line the squares and open spaces.

There are countless shops that only appear during the Festival of Flowers, and it is one of the major festivals that draws tourists from both within and outside the Holy Aurum Kingdom.

Lily meticulously checked her outfit in the full-length mirror in her room.

The dress she wore for the first time was a spring-like, cream-colored dress sprinkled with small flowers, bought for her by Adam and Emma in the royal capital.

Her hair, usually covered by a bandana, was tied in a half-up braided style, adorned with the hair accessory Noah gifted her. She wore low-heeled short boots for easy walking, completing a lovely look.

She then packed a large amount of an item she had prepared to give to a certain person into her shoulder bag.

「I’m sure Cousin Noah will be flexible if I explain it to him, right?」

It was the night of the spring full moon, thick with the scent of flowers. Humans were not the only ones who enjoyed the festival. Lily pumped herself up, determined to achieve a successful reunion.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Poppy made an unannounced ambush, intending to invite Arthur to the Festival of Flowers.

She had sent numerous letters, but all the replies were rejections, so she reluctantly came to invite him in person.

Poppy asked a maid to announce her, but Arthur was already absent, having gone out earlier.

「Arthur-denka left this morning. We do not know when he will return.」

「No way…」

Poppy’s shoulders slumped in disappointment, but she was persistent.

Not many nobles in the royal capital hosted tea parties to celebrate the Festival of Flowers.

Moreover, Poppy had been invited by several sons of noble houses she was friendly with. She had been vague in her replies until the day before, saying she wasn't sure if she could make it, but everyone had told her to please come if she could make it, even on the day itself.

「If I visit all of them, I might have a chance to meet Arthur-sama!」

Of course, there were some tea parties she wasn't invited to, but in that case, she just needed to find someone at the tea parties she did attend and ask them to take her there.

Poppy quickly regained her spirits and hurried away from the castle.

*****

Thank you for reading. If you want to help my hobby please download and install LDP9 with my link down below. Just Click the small yellow LDPlayer Banner.