My Secret Flower - Episode 20

Neither Evelyn nor I spoke until we left the garden and re-entered the mansion. It was awkwardly silent until we sat side-by-side at the long dining table. Evelyn took a sip of the wine served as an aperitif, shrugged, and gently scratched her nose with her finger.

“I really can’t get used to it no matter how many times I see it. Our Lishua, so famous for being a stone-cold woman, begging a man to kiss her.”

“Um, where did you see us from?!”

“I didn’t know mistletoe had such a meaning for you two. By the way, that guy is so funny, isn’t he? Pretending not to know I and Vien were there.”

She’s already calling Pavilion by a nickname. That’s absurd, but I really didn’t imagine they were following us so early.

“Ash pretended not to know?”

“Vien said so. He said his brother is a very sensitive person, so he wouldn’t be so stupid as not to notice us following so closely. In other words, he knew we were secretly following him, but he kissed you anyway, right?”

As soon as I heard that, I burst out laughing. So that’s why Ash wasn’t flustered. Pretending not to know was probably to show Pavilion how strong our relationship is.

“Why are you laughing, Lishua? Is this funny?”

“Because he’s so cute.”

“Who’s cute?”

“Ash. He’s like a sly fox, but then he turns into a reliable wolf. Anyway, why is he so cute?”

Evelyn, who couldn’t relate to my words at all, clicked her tongue with a shocked expression and muttered to herself.

“Love is really scary. How much of a fox does the other person have to be to put such a blindfold on her eyes, especially hers?”

“Just keep those thoughts to yourself. I can hear you.”

Ignoring Evelyn’s constant grumbling, I savored the fragrant wine, wondering how I could successfully navigate the hot history I would have with him tonight.

The meal was just starting to come out when Ash and Pavilion entered together. Fortunately, they both came in unharmed, but Ash still had a dissatisfied expression.

“Please, sit down, you two.”

At my guidance, the two brothers sat side-by-side across from us. I’ve heard that brothers are rarely on good terms, but seeing it in person makes me feel a little sorry.

My eldest and second eldest sisters were also born close together, so they got along well, but they fought at the drop of a hat. I’m the youngest with a big age gap and I hate fighting, so I never did that.

Maybe the reason I’m such a pacifist is because of the shock of witnessing my two sisters fighting and pulling each other’s hair. Now that they’re both married, they rely on each other and get along well, so I guess blood is thicker than water.

“Let’s eat first. I asked them to pay special attention since we have a guest from afar, but I don’t know if the food will suit your taste.”

“Bringing an unknown outsider into the mansion and even taking care of their meals doesn’t seem like a good idea, but I’ll eat well for now.”

Now that I see it, he must have a personality of hitting the nail on the head while smiling. He doesn’t seem to have any malicious intent, but he doesn’t seem to be the type to speak nicely. No wonder he’s Ash’s brother, they’re both honest.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m treating you as a guest because you’re Ash’s younger brother. If that weren’t the case, your head would have been chopped off in our private property earlier.”

“Tch.”

Pavilion, with a pretty face and lips pouting like a duck’s beak, grumbled in a voice that couldn’t be heard, then started to devour the food in front of him as if taking out his anger on it. He was so focused that he looked like he hadn’t eaten in days, and Evelyn couldn’t take her eyes off him.

‘Is this the beginning of another sad unrequited love?’

I felt bitter because he happened to be a man who had feelings for me. If they get together, would Evelyn become my sister-in-law? That would be interesting in its own way.

“How old are you, Pavilion?”

“Twenty-four, ugh!”

Pavilion, who was eating mindlessly, suddenly lowered his head and trembled as he answered my question.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

He gritted his teeth and answered quietly, then glared at Ash, who was calmly continuing his meal.

By the way, twenty-four years old? Pavilion?

I’m sure Ash also said he was twenty-four years old. Then they’re the same age. Then are they twins? Or is it really that their mother or father is different?

‘No. Don’t jump to conclusions on your own.’

I decided not to think about it anymore because it was a plausible story. Someday, when the time comes, Ash will explain everything. I understand his desire to hide it because he has a dark family history.

It must have been a big decision for him to give up everything and start a new life with me.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

“My appetite has dropped because I was just kicked in the shin. But the chef at the Count of Mariel’s residence is quite skilled. I was eating quite deliciously.”

So that was a kick in the shin earlier. I almost burst out laughing at the sight of them bickering like real brothers. Pavilion, who seemed used to it as if it happened often, started eating again, and after that, we were able to finish without any problems.

“You should leave before it gets darker to reach the next town. Would you like to take a carriage if you’re okay with it?”

“Are you talking to me?”

Pavilion, who was tasting the cold pudding that came out for dessert, looked around and answered belatedly.

“Who else is a guest here besides you?”

“I don’t plan to leave today. No, I can’t. I still have things to resolve with my brother.”

Until then, it sounded like I heard the sound of a crack forming on Ash’s face, which had been maintaining its composure. Would pouring oil back on the dying fireplace feel like this?

I got goosebumps when I faced Ash’s chilling gaze right across from me. It’s interesting to see Ash’s various hidden sides today, but I didn’t like that scary expression. Because he was a man who always smiled so kindly at me.

While I was wondering how to persuade Pavilion, who said he would stay here longer, Evelyn, who didn’t know my heart, clapped her hands and chimed in without any tact.

“Then we can give him the guest room! I live with you in your room anyway, so if I empty that room, it’ll be fine. I’ll tell the butler to move my luggage myself!”

“Eh? Bring! Wait a minute…!”

Before I could even grab her, Evelyn jumped up and left the dining room. This isn’t it. The problem isn’t that a guest is staying, but who that guest is!

This is truly a difficult situation. Even Evelyn isn’t helping me.

Ash glared at the half-eaten pudding, then stabbed it mercilessly with a fork, making a mess of it. He must have been so annoyed that he even showed behavior he wouldn’t normally do.

“Did you still have something to say to me? I think I’ve conveyed everything I wanted to say.”

“That’s what you think. You didn’t even listen to my story and unilaterally notified me, right? Why don’t you relearn the meaning of the word ‘conversation’?”

“Pavilion.”

“I haven’t given up yet. And that position you handed over, it doesn’t suit me. I don’t want to do it either.”

Saying he hasn’t given up probably means me, right? Ash handed over the ranch he was in charge of to Pavilion, but he’s refusing it. Then the ranch is probably being neglected again. Ash doesn’t seem to have any intention of going back.

I think I know why Ash is racking his brains. How frustrating would it be to have a younger brother who came all the way here to complain without any plans?

On the other hand, I understood Pavilion too. He must be frustrated that he was forced to take on a job he didn’t like, and even had his crush stolen from him. I can never say these words in front of Ash though.

I put down the fork, wiped my mouth with a napkin, and calmly mediated between the two.

“Okay. I’ll allow the guest to stay. But if you leave the ranch empty for too long, something big might happen again. Let’s send someone to take over the important work of feeding and caring for the animals.”

“You think that ranch is a place to raise animals, ack! Ouch!!”

I definitely heard it. The sound of something heavy being stomped on! Ash stomped on Pavilion’s instep with something, and Pavilion’s resentful cry, who was unexpectedly attacked again, echoed in the room. This time, he seemed to be in real pain, with tears welling up in his eyes, so I felt a little sorry for him.

But why does he keep stopping Pavilion from speaking? It makes me curious.

“Sigh, damn it! It hurts so much. Instead of comforting his younger brother, my brother always torments me like this!”

“Don’t you think you’re the problem for not coming to your senses even after getting hit like that? Anyway, you immature brat.”

Ash, who muttered quietly as if chewing on his words, got up from his seat first and approached me. And as if nothing had happened, he smiled kindly again, took my hand, and stood me up.

“You don’t have to worry about the ranch. There’s a manager. Since you allowed that guy to stay, I won’t kick him out.”

“Are you really okay with this, Ash?”

“I don’t have any problems as long as I have you. It seems like we’ve finished eating, so how about continuing our tea time from earlier? I want to drink that tea you gave me again.”

“Shall we?”

One thing is for sure, I shouldn’t leave these two men together. It’s very interesting to see Ash’s new side, but I didn’t feel good because he seemed to be getting hurt.

‘I should have a serious conversation with Pavilion later when Ash goes out.’

It would be a wise choice to separate them at this point before the emotional rift deepens. So I left the dining room with Ash first, and called the butler, who was busily moving around, and asked.

“Where’s Bring?”

“I heard you decided to empty the guest room. I heard that the man who came today will be staying there, is that true?”

“Yeah. He’s Ash’s younger brother. Take good care of him without any shortages. Assign a personal servant too.”

“Ah, I see. I will take good care of him as he is a precious guest.”

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