TGS - Chapter 105
Chapter 105: Flower Letter
Alyuin was already quite used to Lotus chatting with the messengers of various gods.
Even so, when she saw the fawn beside Lotus, she couldn't help but pause.
Because so little time had passed, the crimson blush on the shell of Lotus's ear had yet to fade, standing out starkly against her fair skin.
Alyuin's gaze swept over that touch of red, then moved to the young deer, which was in the classic kneeling posture of its kind.
What were they talking about?
The Princess wondered inwardly, sitting down beside the goddess with a composed expression.
"Have I interrupted your business?"
"No, just some trivial topics."
Lotus maintained a calm facade while speaking to the fawn in a way only a deity could hear: "It wasn't a fight, we were just... playing around. Don't think about it."
She didn't know if the Moon Goddess had mentioned her concerns to the other gods. Setting the others aside for now, Adia would definitely let her imagination run wild.
The mere thought of the Goddess of Love's meaningful smile made Lotus's entire divine being feel a little unwell.
The fawn believed this explanation. "Oh."
It raised its eyes, looking at the Princess with a hint of inquiry.
Just then, Alyuin also looked toward the fawn. Facing the Moon Goddess's messenger, her lips curved into a polite, deferential smile, but the depths of her golden eyes held no reverence—the kind of look one usually saw in those who did not believe in gods.
It was hard to imagine that such a human could be the devout believer of a goddess.
The fawn nodded at her.
The Princess was taken aback for a moment, then gave a slight bow in return.
"I should go."
"Farewell, Anmila."
Lotus watched as the fawn pushed itself up on its four slender legs, leaped lightly into a nearby flower bush, and vanished from sight.
She sincerely hoped Anmila would forget this matter as soon as possible.
The possibility was high; after all, the Moon Goddess's poor memory was a fact certified by all the gods.
Lotus thought from the bottom of her heart, feeling she had regained her composure. But when she turned her head slightly, she met Alyuin's gaze, which was brimming with a shimmering smile.
"I guess you and Her Excellency the Moon Goddess were talking about me."
"...Yes."
What had the Moon Goddess said? She had brought up the accident under the moonlight that night, worried that Lotus would abandon her charge and even do her harm.
However, the Princess didn't seem curious about the content of the gods' conversation.
Alyuin didn't press further. Instead, she lay back, stretching languidly on the grass. Her slightly tight leather attire outlined her fine curves, and her expression was leisurely and content, like a relaxed big cat.
"You're in a good mood. It seems things are finished over there."
"Yes, and I got a little revenge. No more insensible fools will bother you in the future." The Princess's eyes curved slightly, revealing a trace of cunning.
Lotus shook her head. "It hardly counted as a bother."
It was just that concealing the attacker's bizarre state of death was a bit of a headache.
Alyuin probably thought of this too. She suddenly turned on her side and asked thoughtfully, "If I attacked you, would I end up like that too?"
As she spoke, the Princess extended two slender fingers and tapped them on the grass, mimicking a sneaky attacker creeping toward Lotus.
Lotus replied calmly, "No. And for the record, this level of action doesn't constitute an attack."
Without even glancing down, she accurately grabbed Alyuin's wrist.
Her "attack" having failed, Alyuin instead let out a soft laugh, allowing her wrist to be held, looking even more pleased than before.
Lotus realized what she had just done and nonchalantly released her hand, turning her gaze straight ahead again.
Feeling that something was not quite right, Lotus paused for two seconds, then decided to pick up the scroll beside her and resume reading from the page she was on before her conversation with the Moon Goddess's messenger.
Naturally, she couldn't immerse herself in the text.
Lotus's temperament had always been cool and serene, with an added bonus from her divinity. Especially when she was still, she appeared as calm as still water, and no one could tell she was distracted.
Alyuin gazed at the goddess, then suddenly sighed with a smile.
"I can't, huh? It's a bit of a shame, now that I think about it."
"If it were possible, I would rather die at your hands."
Lotus's fingertips, resting on the edge of the page, pressed down slightly.
However, before she could say anything, the Princess continued, "Of course, that's impossible. I will never betray you."
"I know that." Lotus turned her head, her brows furrowed and her tone turning serious. "But don't say such things so casually."
"Casually pouring out my loyalty as a believer does seem a bit frivolous," Alyuin agreed.
"No, the sentence before that."
—I would rather die at your hands.
"Don't speak of death so lightly."
—You will not die, and I will never let you die.
Alyuin's expression softened.
"Yes, I won't say it again."
Silence fell between them. Lotus lowered her head and continued to stare at the page, not turning it for a long time.
This atmosphere, filled with an inexplicable air, lasted for a moment.
Lotus: "Is it almost time for dinner?"
Alyuin propped herself up and glanced at the large sundial in the center of the garden. "There's still over an hour to go," she said with a straight face.
"...I'd like to eat something. I'm going back to my room first."
Lotus stood up and walked toward the house at an unhurried pace.
Alyuin remained seated, watching the ends of Lotus's black hair sway gently with her steps, the smile on her lips widening.
All in all, it was a day worth being happy about.
The Princess turned her head to look at a crescent-shaped pool not far away, her objective clear.
Residences with large gardens usually had pools dug out to cultivate Snowtu flowers and other aquatic plants.
This was especially true for families with members who believed in the Goddess of the Yilu River; they would be too embarrassed to name the deity they worshipped if they didn't grow Snowtu flowers.
The height of summer had just passed, yet the Snowtu flowers were in full bloom. This aquatic flower, whose blooming season spanned both spring and summer, quietly emerged from the water's surface, displaying its beauty to the world.
Alyuin quietly looked back to confirm that Lotus had entered her room. Only then did she slowly stroll to the edge of the pool, examining the blooming Snowtu flowers with a critical eye.
After observing for a long time, her gaze locked onto one particular flower.
Its petals were full, lustrous, and white, with a beautiful shape. It was a size larger than most of its companions, and its edges had a faint light blue tinge, giving it a somewhat showy appearance.
That's the one.
Alyuin took off her tall boots, rolled up her trouser legs, and waded toward the Snowtu flower. She stood nearby, appraising it for a moment, then reached out and plucked it.
...The Snowtu flower that stood out from its peers met a cruel fate.
The Princess still felt it wasn't perfect. Twirling the stem between her fingers, she thought to herself that it would have to do, and brought it back to her room.
The Flower Letter was widely considered one of the most romantic ways for the young people of Solancia to convey their feelings.
In the restless seasons of spring and summer, young men and women would pick larger petals or leaves and write love letters on them with a brush dipped in pigment.
They could write on just one petal or many. After letting them dry, they would choose a night with brilliant stars and moon—preferably during a festival related to a deity or a large gathering—to give the Flower Letter, filled with their heartfelt words, to their beloved.
If the other person was also interested, they would accept the Flower Letter and give a gift in return. If the return gift was also a Flower Letter, it meant the affection was mutual, and they could proceed directly to discussing marriage with their parents.
Alyuin carefully plucked off the petals.
It wasn't that she wanted to declare her feelings right now; she just felt she could start preparing. Otherwise, when the perfect opportunity arose—the right time, place, and mood—it would be unacceptable to not have a Flower Letter on hand.
The next few days were calm and uneventful.
Horst had been waiting for the Stubborn Faction to teach the Princess a lesson. Who would have thought that he would instead receive a report about the Tribunal's enforcement team arresting their leaders.
Not only the old man in charge, but the other disappointing members had either ceased their activities and learned to behave, or had met with sudden misfortune.
Overnight, several families with considerable power had their authority usurped, and the new leaders were all members he had never paid any attention to before.
Without a doubt, Alyuin was involved in all of this.
Horst pushed the report aside, his mood indescribable.
As king, Horst was not without the power to interfere with the Tribunal, not to mention that half of the assessors in the Tribunal were his men.
As long as he temporarily disregarded his upright facade and gave the order, releasing the old men from the Stubborn Faction families would only be a little troublesome.
But what was the use of getting them out?
The evidence of their lawbreaking was conclusive; they had clearly been caught out by their own kin. Releasing them would inevitably raise questions.
Moreover, the power they held had already been scattered. Even if they regained their freedom, they would just be slightly wealthier old men. Why would Horst, with nothing better to do, rescue a few old geezers who had tried every trick in the book to cause him trouble in the past?
Although he understood all this, Horst just couldn't stomach it.
It wasn't that he hadn't noticed Alyuin secretly contacting members within the Stubborn Faction families—in fact, the Princess hadn't bothered to hide it much—but Horst hadn't taken these minor squabbles seriously. After all, the time frame was too short.
Who could have imagined—
How difficult the Stubborn Faction had been to deal with before! Relying on their age and influence, they had caused him so much trouble. How could they have fallen so quickly!
Below the throne, his trusted advisors argued back and forth.
Horst's head ached from listening. "Stop arguing for now."
Hearing this, the men immediately fell silent.
Horst looked at the commander of his personal guard behind him. Niwei's expression was blank.
Perhaps he should go get something from that madman's place... Horst quickly rejected the idea himself. It was too early. It wasn't that it was unnecessary, just that the time wasn't right.
"Get a few people and spread the word about the role Alyuin played in this matter." Horst waved his hand, muttering to himself, "Which family doesn't have some trouble they can't speak of?"
Alyuin was still too young. How could she do something like this with such fanfare?
As long as those aristocratic families knew what she had done, they would naturally become wary of the Princess. They would subconsciously lean toward his own gentle and magnanimous son, and know who was truly worthy of their loyalty.
Thinking of this, Horst felt a little more at ease.
The rumors spread silently among the powerful and wealthy.
Some gazes also gathered secretly on the Princess, weighing and pondering.
Meanwhile, Alyuin seemed completely unaware.
Not only did she not send anyone to suppress the rumors, she acted as if nothing was amiss, and was even leisurely writing a Flower Letter in private.
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