Birthday Party 2
Thank you very much for staying with me until the end!
I completely thought we were going to dance another song, but Ashren-sama
led me by the hand to a greenhouse at the edge of the medicinal herb garden.
There, flowers that also served as the basis for medicines were blooming in
full glory, as if now were their peak.
Orange flowers on the trees, and at the tips of long stems stretching
at our feet, white flowers closely resembling lily of the valley swayed gently.
「I hadn't been here recently, but were there this many flowers blooming?」
「Right now is when they're the most beautiful. But, what I wanted to
show you isn't this...」
Saying so, Ashren-sama walked further into the back, where a
single unfamiliar potted plant was placed.
「What is this?」
「When I went to the Tarteria Kingdom, I bought it as a souvenir
for you, Layla.」
On a long, straight stem, a single large silvery-white bud was just
about to open.
「It is a plant I am seeing for the first time.」
「It is a rare one native to the Tarteria Kingdom. My apologies,
but it cannot be used as an ingredient for medicine.」
I tilted my head at those words. Since he went out of his way to buy
it, I completely thought it was a rare medicinal herb.
「Then why this?」
「Because I remembered that I had never once given flowers to my fiancée.」
Saying so, Ashren-sama crouched down to align his eye level with
the flower. I was wondering what to do in my dress, but he beckoned me to come
next to him, so I crouched down in the same way.
「Apparently, this flower only blooms once every ten years.」
「The bud looks swollen. Could it be that it will bloom tonight?」
「Probably. Ah, Layla, look. The petals have started to open.」
As if prompted by the moonlight, petals closely resembling the color of
Ashren-sama's hair slowly moved. At the same time, there was a faintly
sweet scent.
「In the Tarteria Kingdom, it is said that lovers who see this
flower together can be together forever.」
Involuntarily blinking and looking up at Ashren-sama, I just
stared and observed his handsome profile. Noticing my gaze, Ashren-sama
furrowed his brow as if embarrassed and turned his face toward me.
「What is with that reaction. I thought you would be more moved.」
「Because I never thought such romantic words would come out of your
mouth, Ashren-sama.」
「I have been wondering for a while, but what do you think I am, Layla?」
What do I think? Two-faced, of course.
I haven't forgotten about the Blake incident, you know. I
mistook Princess Stira's partner for a married man and panicked so much.
When I complained that he could have told me, Ashren-sama raised one
eyebrow and said, "It's your fault for keeping quiet about seeing the
secret meeting, Layla." That is certainly true, but I still can't
accept it.
Ashren-sama's finger poked my slightly pouting
cheek.
「Fix your mood. It's just that your reactions were amusing, Layla.」
「I cannot accept that.」
「Haha, then what should I do for you to forgive me? Princess.」
That tone, you haven't reflected on it at all, have you. Thinking 'Whatever,'
I looked at the flower while sulking, and the petals opened further, taking the
shape of an inverted bell.
「Layla, can you see inside the flower?」
「Inside?」
I changed my posture from crouching to half-standing and peered at the
flower from directly above, but it was too dark inside the greenhouse to see.
Ashren-sama also looked at the flower in the
same way and said, "I suppose it's impossible in the dark
greenhouse," and then lifted the potted plant with unusual caution and
headed outside. He placed the flower on a small bench near the greenhouse, and
we sat down flanking it.
「Yeah, the moon is bright tonight, so it's perfect for looking at this
flower.」
Ashren-sama pointed to the inside of the
flower, so I leaned forward and peered in; inside the bell-shaped flower, about
a third of it was filled with a trembling liquid, and the golden moon was
reflected in it. As the flower swayed in the wind, the moon also wavered
gently, and the silvery-white petals shone even more.
「This is incredibly fantastical.」
「Apparently, another name for this flower is Moon's Drop. It seems to
have been called that due to the flower's shape and silvery-white glow.」
Ashren-sama took out something like a silver
plate from his breast pocket. It was even smaller than the palm of a hand, and
it looked like just two plates stacked together, but... 「It is made from a metal Blake created. So look, if I do this...」
As he said that, Ashren-sama inserted his fingers between the
plates and spread them apart, forming a slightly misshapen cup of about five
centimeters. Amazing!
「It is made of metal mixed with tin, isn't it.」
「Right. Layla, could you hold this for a moment?」
The cup handed to me was faintly warm. Come to think of it, I've heard
that tin conducts heat well. Which means, is this Ashren-sama's warmth?
With one hand, Ashren-sama pinched the edge of the pot and tilted it,
and with the other hand, he pulled the petals downward.
「Layla, bring the cup close.」
「Yes.」
The liquid flowing from between the petals was translucent like syrup
and thicker than I expected. Ashren-sama carefully tilted the flower and
transferred all of it into the cup.
「Yeah, I guess this is all of it.」
「About one gulp, no, maybe two gulps' worth?」
From it, which was by no means a lot, the same sweet scent as the
flower faintly drifted.
「Is it delicious?」
「Isn't that where you should first ask if it's safe to drink?」
An exasperated Ashren-sama. But if it was something we shouldn't
drink, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to pour it into a cup, right?
「Earlier, I said that lovers who saw this flower together would be
together forever, but accurately, it's lovers who drink this nectar. ...Hey,
stop looking at me with such a surprised face.」
「Ah, no. I am happy.」
From his usual words and actions, I know Ashren-sama cherishes
me. But because Ashren-sama, who is also a researcher, is always
pragmatic, it was a little unexpected.
「Are we going to drink it together?」
「Yeah. Well then, I'll go first.」
Even though he said that, Ashren-sama took all of it into his
mouth. Eh, what about my share? Are you going to be mean to me even now?
To me, who was taken aback, Ashren-sama narrowed his light-blue eyes and
placed his hand not holding the cup on the nape of my neck. His face
approaching just like that blocked the moonlight and touched my lips. The
liquid flowing into my mouth was sweet, and as my throat was stroked with his
thumb as if prompting me to swallow,
Gulp.
As if invited by the movement of his fingertip, my throat made a sound.
The lips slowly pulling away were curving like a child whose prank had
succeeded. Naturally, my face was bright red.
「Is it good?」
「...Honestly, it is not as sweet as I thought. A little bitter?」
「I agree. Well, it probably means that life isn't always just sweet.」
Ashren-sama placed the potted plant on the
ground and sat back down next to me.
「There will surely be various things from here on out. But I hope that
in every one of those moments, you will be by my side, Layla.」
「Yes. I promise. The ten days I was apart from you, Ashren-sama,
were lonely. Because I was always alone in the Jilgista Kingdom, I
thought I was an independent person. But not having you next to me was
disheartening and sad. Before I knew it, your existence had become very large
within me.」
「I wanted to see you too. Honestly, when Prince Elliot said he
would make you his concubine, my mind went completely blank. Precisely because
I know the state of our nation, I also knew the Kanista Kingdom didn't
have the power to reject it.」
Those were unexpected words. To think that Ashren-sama, who
seemed calm without changing his expression, was actually panicking.
「I did not know you thought that way, Ashren-sama.」
「Maybe because of that, I wanted to rely on something that smacks of
superstition.」
「...Will this flower wither tonight?」
「Yeah. However, the bulb remains. The next time it blooms will be in
another ten years.」
「Then, will you watch it with me at that time as well?」
「Of course; in ten years, we might even have children.」
I was pulled into a hug along with a melting smile. As I surrendered my
body to the completely familiar warmth and scent and looked up, his silver hair
shining under the moonlight fluttered in the night breeze. When I unconsciously
reached my hand to his hair and stroked it, he narrowed his slit eyes as if it
tickled.
As I smoothly touched his hair for a while, Ashren-sama grabbed
that hand and pressed it against his cheek. Rubbing his cheek against it as if
to transfer his warmth, the sound of a kiss being dropped, chu, could be
heard. At that sound, my face flushed bright red, and this time he kissed my
fingertips.
「Layla. Could you get used to this already?」
「...I will do my best.」
Saying that, I lowered my gaze out of embarrassment, and the
silvery-white petals had opened wider than before, the entire flower receiving
the moonlight. The sweet scent grew even stronger, and a little bitterness
remained in my throat. The night breeze scattered my hair, and Ashren-sama
tucked it behind my ear. From now on, I will walk a long life together with
this person. That will surely be very reassuring and enjoyable. At times I
might feel bitterness, but including all of that, I want to stay by this
person's side.
「Ashren-sama, I love you.」
His slit eyes opened wide and round, and then a smile that looked truly
happy from the bottom of his heart returned.
「I will never let you go no matter what happens, so prepare yourself.」
The umpteenth kiss deepened, changing angles, and I wrapped my arms
around his neck so as not to drown in the depth of his love.
★ Author’s Notice ★
A comic adaptation of the abused young lady has been decided! I hope to
tell you the details eventually. This is all thanks to the readers who have
read this story. Thank you!
To those who became interested, please by all means bookmark this! I was encouraged every time the ☆ and likes increased. Thank you very much for reading until the end.
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