Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 23 – Blooming (5)

“What?”

Unsurprisingly, the lips that were thick enough to look good were gradually distorted.

— Master!

— Shushu, I’ll be back soon. Just play with him for a bit.

Siena waved her hand toward Shushu and looked at the two of them.

“Boom.”

It was a sight she had never seen in my life.

Jad… How that Jad Valencia is holding a pink rabbit doll in his arms. After a moment of bewilderment on his face, he stood up with a blush to his neck at the sound of Sienna’s laughter.

“Why the hell do I have to hold this ugly thing?”

— Who said I am ugly! Master, I hate him, too!

She was sorry to Shu Shu, but she had no intention of canceling her words. Sienna has been too generous with Jad.

“Ha.”

As she had learned long ago, she strengthened her stomach and called to him in a dignified voice.

“Jad.”

He flinched at the low-pitched voice.

“I think you keep forgetting.”

Sienna stretched her words, and she pressed him on the shoulder and sat him down, making eye contact with him.

The green eyes fluttered dizzyingly.

“I’m Stern. Sienna Stern.”

“….”

“You probably don’t know what that name means.”

“….”

“This is not a request, it’s an order.”

“….”

“You’ll have to follow, right?”

“You…”

The bewildered expression on his face was worth seeing. It was to the extent that Jad looked rather cute. It was pretty fun to tease him, though unfortunately, she didn’t have time.

Sienna smiled again and spoke to him.

“You didn’t like dancing because it was boring anyway.”

He was the one who complained if he had to do such a shameful thing since childhood.

‘He looked like he had a lot of fun when he danced with Eleanor yesterday.

Also, the opponent seemed to be important.

When she was drenched in old memories that weren’t hers, Jad asked like a tantrum. “What does that have to do with this rabbit?”

The cheeky tone was still there.

“Well, if you take care of it well, good things will happen.”

Anyway, the true identity of Shushu is Stern’s Bell.

But, Jad, who was not aware of such circumstances, stared at Shushu. The forehead, which was exposed coolly, was wrinkled wildly.

Calling Arthur with her eyes, Sienna gave her old friend some heartfelt advice one last time before she left.

“Ah, Jad. If you can, don’t frown.”

He already has a rebellious face, but his personality looks even worse, and above all else…

“You’ll get wrinkles.”

His brow wrinkled again.

***

In the place where Sienna disappeared, only Jad and Shushu remained.

He sat down and got up several times. Even though he wanted to throw this rabbit away according to his personality, somehow, it felt like it couldn’t be done.

…Is this just bullying?

It felt unfamiliar to him, who had no one above him.

He voluntarily bowed his head to the scariest father in the world, Theo and the King.

Meanwhile, Sienna had always wanted to be treated like a friend, above all else, and this was the first time she had given such an order. He always sarcastically says ‘Princess,’ but Sienna was really a princess.

She is also the only one in Stern.

In fact, it was a privilege to call her name recklessly without a title. He was so used to it that he forgot.

Jad was confused. Everything that was natural was creaking a little…

Why? What’s wrong and how?

“Ha.”

—Ha.

The two fateful companions breathed a sigh at the same time.

“Shit.”

— Master, I hate you.

“When is she coming?”

— Hurry up to pick up Shushu!

He tried to pretend he didn’t know, but he could feel the glances around him.

Jad was, after all, the hottest man in the social world after Pierre. Even if it wasn’t because of his family, there were surprisingly many ladies who admired his rough and rude appearance.

When he raises his sword, the hearts of those around him beat like a wild horse.

Thanks to this, his private training ground was so heavily guarded by young ladies spying on him. Stern’s sexiest wild horse, the only son of the family with a fighter physique, was sitting with a rabbit in his arms today.

All the young ladies who were standing around Jad talked and exchanged words one by one.

“Nonsense!”

“Why is our Sir Jad having such a doll?”

“Pft! But, isn’t it a little cute?”

“I can’t believe he has that side?”

Jad was accustomed to seeing young ladies’ eyes, but now his face seemed to burst. He took a deep breath, calming his agitated hips.

Sienna!

“Just come…”

Of course, he wasn’t really thinking about what he said. He was well aware that he, too, was guilty of his own sins.

Fortunately, the next song started, and the attention was distracted.

Without doing anything, he pulled Shu Shu’s ear.

— Hey!

“Is your name Toto?”

— Shushu! Earlier, my master said it was Shushu, didn’t she? Huh?

Shushu burst into anger, but it was a silent cry.

Jad continued talking to himself. “Hmm, the small and ugly thing…”

He then extended his words and pressed Shushu’s cheek.

“…It looks like Sienna.”

***

Eleanor turned down the influx of dance requests, claiming that her leg hurts.

She sat in a chair to rest for a while, then crept into the break room when the music started.

There were several common rooms for those invited inside the castle, but she could tell at a glance where the Princess was. Eleanor bowed lightly to the knight guarding the door and stepped inside.

As soon as she opened the door, a faint scent of flowers wafted in.

The rumored red-haired princess greeted her with a bright smile.

Eleanor looked at her for a moment as if possessed by the red hair, then bowed her head belatedly.

“Greetings, Princess. I’m Eleanor, Duke Watson’s daughter.”

“Miss Watson, thank you for accepting the rude invitation.”

“No. It’s an honor to be called like this.”

“Would you like to sit down?”

Sienna suggested a seat to Eleanor, who stood at a distance.

‘It’s dangerous.’

Sienna saw Eleanor in the sunshine and felt a threat. She was pretty even from a distance, but when added with natural light up close like this…

‘My heart is in danger…’

She used to shiver because of Pierre, but she was so beautiful.

She felt like she could smell lemon, so she wanted to get closer.

Sienna, who was staring blankly at Eleanor without noticing that her lips were open, realized that she was staring at her too suddenly, and she lowered her gaze.

She had been instructed to fill the table with Eleanor’s favorite flower tea in advance. It was because she was very important to her right now.

When warm water was poured, marigolds bloomed brightly.

A faint smile appeared on Eleanor’s face at that beauty.

“May I ask why you called me separately?”

Sienna took a sip of the tea, delaying her answer. How she should start, she was still contemplating.

In the end, she brought out the most gentle sincerity.

“I’ve always wanted to meet you once. Rumors have spread that you are very good at swordsmanship. It’s comparable to competing with any number of royal knights.”

“The rumors are so inflated. I don’t have the skills to show off anywhere.”

“It’s okay not to be so humble. I’d like to see the Lady use a sword sometimes.”

“It’s a great honor for me. Anytime the Princess asks.”

“I’ll take that promise well.”

Eleanor, taking a sip of properly cooled flower tea, threw a fastball first. “To be honest, I thought you would bring up Sir Valencia.”

As Sienna knew, she had a cool personality.

Growing up in a harsh world, she was different from the noble girls, who had a habit of talking back and forth in their way of speaking.

“If you’re concerned about the relationship between Sir Valencia and me…”

Sienna smiled and shook her head.

“I know. Miss Watson has no rational interest in Jad.”

“….”

“Besides, a man who leaves his betrothed and asks another woman to dance is unattractive.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s not something you’re sorry about.”

It was Jad who asked to dance.

It was Jad who was in love on his own will.

Eleanor takes it in moderation and only uses it slightly.

Sienna somehow had a feeling that Eleanor would fit in well. She was the type of person who didn’t like to beat around the bush either.

“Do you happen to know…?”

Sienna raised the teacup and pointed to the blooming marigolds.

“You must be happy. That’s the flower language of this flower.”

“Oh. I didn’t know what it meant even though I drank it so often, but it has a lovely meaning as much as its appearance.”

Eleanor looked carefully at the flowers in the teacup while muttering what Sienna told her.

Meanwhile, Sienna felt it was the moment right now.

“Today, I’m going to make a suggestion for Miss Watson’s happy future.”

“My future?”

Eleanor put down the teacup and straightened her posture.

“I heard that you were close with my brother.”

When Sienna started her words, Eleanor’s eyes twinkled with interest. She had never imagined that Pierre’s name would appear here. Naturally, she thought that she had been summoned for Jad’s, and she was prepared to be slapped on the face if ever.

But, Eleanor was even more surprised by Sienna’s next move.

“Princess?”

Sienna abruptly got up and sat down next to Eleanor.

She then turned her head over to show the scar on her forehead.

“This is a wound that Pierre left on purpose when I was nine years old. By the way, it was a gravel field.”

“…Oh my God. How could he do that…”

Sienna continued her speech calmly, without giving Eleanor a chance to be startled. “I was strangled a while ago. The bruises are gone, but if you look closely, you’ll see a scratch or two from my resistance.”

Eleanor looked at the scars carefully, astonished.

“I can’t believe it.”

“I understand. You won’t believe it.”

“His Highness really…”

“Whether you believe what I say or not, it’s up to Miss Watson. However, I wanted to tell you in advance. That person is the one who does this to his sister casually.”

“….”“I don’t know what kind of person you see my brother as, but he’s like that to me.”

“….”

“No family or anything. He’s just a villain.”

And, the villain shouldn’t have a happy ending.

“He’s a bad guy for everyone, but he’s kind to you, and that’s only in my imagination, isn’t it?”

Sienna swallowed and gazed at her expression. If Eleanor really needed to meet him even though she knew everything, she would turn around without any regrets.

Turning a blind eye, just for the sake of one’s purpose, then she’ll have to decline.

‘However…’

If Eleanor’s heart was moved, Sienna was going to completely ruin this kind of story.

“Miss Watson.”

“….”

“Get away from my brother. Instead…”

“….”

The blue eyes that did not waver quietly like in the deep sea, shook. Sienna spoke her words with a fresh face, holding Eleanor’s hand without averting her eyes.

“Meet me.”

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