n

n

nChapter 42

nFinally, finally.

nShe was able to see Sabina in person.

n‘How long have I been waiting’

nAria’s heart pounded at the thought of meeting her soon.

nWhat would be the best gift?

nShe held out her card, her cheeks dyed red like a watercolor painting.

nBetty’s hand tickled as she wanted to hug Aria tightly.

n“A flower?”

nWhat flower?

n“She tends to like all kinds of flowers, but she also likes the flowers that bloom on the trees the most.”

nA flower that blooms on a tree. Especially in the summer, it is rare.

n‘I think I saw it out the window yesterday.’

nAria immediately ran and looked up at the tree in which the buds were in full bloom.

nThe bright red flower buds on each branch looked like burning flames on top.

n‘Fire Tree!’

nThis fascinating and colorful flowering tree has a name just as it looks. But it was too high to pick the flowers, so she couldn’t reach them.

n‘Should I call the carrier pigeon?’

nThat was when she thought so.

nWith a rustling sound from above, the flower buds fell down. Aria widened her eyes and reflexively gathered her hands together to catch the falling flower buds.

nIt was as if a fire had erupted in Aria’s palm.

n“What, was it you?”

nAria slowly raised her head at the sound of the voice coming.

nIt was Lloyd.

nHe was standing on a tall tree, stepping on the branches, and climbing gently.

n“Hmm.”

nLloyd looked at the branches for a moment, pondering. Then, he clasped the most splendid and coveted buds of a branch in one fell swoop.

nIt’s like picking up some loot.

n“…..”

nIt sounded like the screams of the tree could be heard.

nThe boy jumped off the tree as if he had accomplished his goal. Aria was startled and made a strange gesture as if to accept him, then grabbed his wrist.

n“Hey, it’s dangerous.”

nPerhaps Lloyd was not a human, but a cat pretending to be human.

nHe had a surprisingly smooth landing.

n“Is your body okay now?”

nAria nodded her head and opened her mouth.

n– I heard that Lloyd was sick.

n“Me? Am I sick?”

nThen, the boy made a face as if he had never heard that before.

nWhat?

nWasn’t he so sick that he couldn’t get out of his room and he couldn’t deal with it directly when the gutter rats infiltrated?

n-Carlin said growing pains.

n“Growing pain… Ahh.”

nIt seemed to be late, but he realized what she was talking about.

n“Well, that’s not entirely wrong.”

nBut when she saw the reaction, it didn’t seem like he was talking about real growing pains. For some reason, Carlin’s reaction was also very questionable. It seemed he was lying.

nAria wished Silver had bitten the shaman’s butt properly.

n“Are you going now? I’ve got this, so you can go right away.”

nTo bring the branches.

n‘It’s a little.’

nIf Sabina cares about the fire tree, it doesn’t seem to be a very good choice. Aria was silent for a moment, and then she took the branches from Lloyd’s hand.

n– Take this.

nAnd she moved the flower buds she had kept in her hands into his palms.

nWhat looked full in both her hands was barely enough to fill the palm of his hand.

n“What?”

nLloyd frowned again.

nHowever, he did not criticize or rebel against her actions. Instead he grumbled a little.

n“Pruning branches is the surest way to prove to mother that flowers have bloomed.”

nBecause it’s not loot.

n“What are you trying to prove?’

nAria rummaged through her bag and pulled out a card.

nBecause the flowers are pretty.

n“Ha, that card again.”

nLloyd put a flower in his hand into Aria’s mouth.

n“…..”

nWith a flower in her mouth, she looked up at him with a questioning gaze. She couldn’t immediately figure out what he was doing.

n“Seeing you play with flowers like that, I wondered if you could even eat flowers.

nShe doesn’t like it because she wants to eat it.

n‘You don’t think I’m a real rabbit, do you.’

nAria was bewildered, then spit out the flower she had bitten. And she put the flower behind his ear while Lloyd looked away for a moment.

nFeeling her touch his ear, the boy glanced back.

n– Is there something?

nAria smacked her lips quickly. Then he seemed to ignore it.

nAs if he could never have imagined that she would dare to play a prank on him.

n‘If you’re used to pranks, you’ll know right away. Haven’t you ever played a prank before?’

nHe was surprisingly naive

n‘The first kiss, the first joke.’

nAs Aria was admiring him inside.

n“Pfft.”

nSuddenly, she heard a suppressed laugh and turned her head.

nThe red-haired boy who had been silently following Lloyd’s back was desperately covering his mouth.

nHis shoulders tremble.

n‘The name, was it Cloud?’

nHe was never introduced, but Aria had seen him occasionally. He was presumed to be Lloyd’s aide and escort.

nAlthough too young to escort the Grand Duke’s successor, seeing him with a sword around his waist, he must be a knight.

n‘He looked the same age as Lloyd, or at most one or two years older.’

nAt that age, if he was in a position to assist the Young Master, he would surely be a great man.

n‘But it’s the first name I’ve seen him since coming here.’

nThat meant that he was one of those who died in the incident. It felt as if she had guessed the tragedy of another genius boy in advance.

nWhen Aria stared blankly, he coughed and lifted his head.

n“Are you crazy?”

nLloyd asked sarcastically.

n“You seem to know how to laugh.”

n“I’m sorry.”

nThe knight clenched his teeth and answered. He couldn’t even make eye contact with Lloyd, who had a flower on his head, and was puzzled.

nCloud was in trouble and asked Aria for help.

nLloyd noticed that gaze and looked at Aria and Cloud alternately, his expression got even worse.

n“Your eyes are unpleasant. Turn around.”

n“Yes? But I haven’t gotten to the point where I can turn around and escort……….”

nAs the atmosphere became more reddish, Cloud neatly resigned.

n“Well, it’s kind of training. I’ll do my best.”

nAnd he really turned his back on the command and started walking.

nEven when obstacles appeared in front of him, he dodged it very skillfully.

n‘What kind of skill is that.’

nAria couldn’t help but glance at Cloud.

nAnyone would.

nBut Lloyd didn’t like the fact that her gaze was fixed on Cloud.

nLloyd grabbed Aria’s wrist as he had always done it, and dragged her, but then stopped.

nBecause Lloyd is kind.

nIt was because that word came to mind.

nSince birth, Lloyd never once looked back on his actions.

nHe knew that he was far from sociable, but he wasn’t particularly conscious of it, and he didn’t correct it. If necessary, he puts it aside and puts it away if it bothers him.

nHe ran towards his goal, looking ahead. Because he was in a place to do that.

n“…..”

nBut why…….

nWhy was he being swayed by such nonsense?

n‘It seems that all the kind people are dead.’

nLloyd looked down at his own palm, and thought.

n‘What are you doing?’

nAria stopped abruptly and tilted her head to see the boy staring at her as if she was an enemy.

n‘I have to go quickly.’

nShe has to go and see Sabina.

nLike Lloyd, she stood.

nAria grabbed Lloyd’s hand. She squeezed it between her fingers, lest he shove it away, and grabbed it tightly.

nBefore when her fever had risen, he felt as cold as an ice cube. It was neither cold nor hot now.

nTheir body temperature was similar.

n‘It feels good to hold hands.

nLike an unripe early summer day.

nAs Aria had expected, Lloyd tried to shake her hand away. But it was so tight that he couldn’t shake it off.

n“Me. It hurts.”

nAria looked up at him half-heartedly without answering.

n“I think it’s going to crush.”

nBut she grabbed his hand tightly and spoke with the shape of her mouth.

n-Then it’s okay to crush it.

n“Ha, how could you say something like that? You know how many times I told you to take care of your body…”

n– Because it’s Lloyd.

n“…..”

nLloyd was speechless and couldn’t say anything for a moment. His eyes swayed vigorously in agitation. It was as if his throat was strangled by the gaze of a calm lake that came upon him.

n– So, can I hold your hand now?

nAria was not a weird person enjoying the pain. Since she returned, she never put up with anyone who touched her.

nBut Lloyd was fine.

nBecause it’s Lloyd.

n‘Is there any other reason?

nAria took the lead and walked first.

nAs she pulled Lloyd’s arm, he was dragged by her hand.

n“Ha…….”

nA deep sigh was heard behind her back.

nHe said he was going to crush her hand as he was going to shake her off.

nLloyd followed Aria’s narrow stride silently.

n