The Archduke’s Flower Is in Danger - Chapter 18

A reward. Idel Fleure fell into a moment of contemplation at the man’s sudden request.

“What kind of reward do you want? Actually, I was planning to issue a special bonus.”

The man gently released her hand and straightened his posture.

“Well. Rather than money, I would prefer something else.”

“Tell me. If it is possible, I will give you what you want.”

The man stroked his chin for a moment, then wore a meaningful smile as if something had occurred to him.

“Then, would you brew a cup of tea for me? With those very hands.”

“Tea?”

“In this world, nothing is as precious as tea brewed by a beautiful lady.”

Idel slowly nodded with a curious expression. To value a cup of tea more than money. Taking his request to be served tea literally, she found the man quite fascinating.

On the other hand, the man disguised as a gardener, Shade, felt the smile on his lips momentarily stiffen at her unexpected reaction.

Usually, women find these words heart-fluttering.

Whenever he mentioned wanting tea as a reward, most women would blush and respond shyly, having understood the hidden meaning of a request for a private tea time for 두. However, the prospective Grand Duchess’s face showed only a distinct sense of wonder. None of the emotions Shade expected were present.

She is a woman with many unexpected sides.

Recalling Kaeron Roman de Helios’s words, Shade let out a chuckle. The prospective Grand Duchess was indeed as interesting as he had hoped.

“Follow me. It happens to be afternoon, so let us have tea together.”

Idel gestured and walked toward the residence. Shade, having gathered the clothes he had set aside, stepped up beside her, holding her parasol in her stead.

“I shall hold the parasol.”

His gallant, gentlemanly manner seemed remarkably practiced. Even in his gait, as he adjusted his pace to hers, a natural dignity was palpable. Struck by a sudden sense of discordance, Idel looked closely at the hand holding the parasol handle.

This is strange.

His hands were pristine, without a single grain of dirt or dust. Finally, she asked with doubt in her voice.

“Are you truly a gardener?”

“I have a great deal of experience tending to various flowers. Recently, I even went to see the flowers of the Lysandro Empire.”

Shade replied nonchalantly with a playful voice, his eyebrows twitching.

He even went abroad to study?

Idel’s brow furrowed, feeling increasingly confused by the mysterious identity of this gardener.

“Could you explain what that white flower blooming over there is?”

Shade grinned at the sudden test. He found her cute as she questioned him with suspicious eyes.

I suppose I must satisfy the prospective Grand Duchess’s expectations.

Shade fully utilized the knowledge he had accumulated while gifting flowers to countless women.

“You mean the flower over there with the deep stamens and rounded, serrated petals? That is the Anemone.”

Idel’s eyes widened as the unexpected answer flowed smoothly from the man’s lips.

“However, if you ever intend to give someone a gift, it is best not to choose that one. Its language is rather sad.”

“What is its meaning?”

“Forsaken love. It carries the meaning that even if you do not love me, I still love you.”

To think it carries such a meaning. Knowing the significance of the flower she had noticed during her walk made it somehow look sorrowful. Seeing her face cloud over, Shade pointed to the flowers in the next section to shift the mood.

“If you are giving a gift, I recommend this pink flower here. It is a Lisianthus, which signifies unchanging love. The Hyacinth next to it has a similar meaning.”

“You know a great deal about flowers.”

At Idel’s surprised remark, Shade whispered in a low, ambiguous tone.

“I certainly hope the Grand Duke knows a great deal about flowers as well.”

“His Grace?”

“Because he has obtained such a beautiful flower.”

Shade’s glowing violet eyes turned toward Idel.

“Particularly, he must know well the way to make a flower bloom at night. I am a bit concerned.”

“Blooming at night?”

Idel tilted her head at his riddling words. Shade curled his red lips into a seductive smile. His voice dropped lower, becoming secretive.

“Of course. Flowers that bloom at night are especially beautiful and fragrant. The sight of a closed bud gently opening to a tender touch is truly fantastic.”

At his words, Idel imagined the Grand Duke coming out to the garden in the dead of night to stroke the flowers. The image was so incongruous that she burst out laughing.

“Pfft. I cannot imagine such a sight.”

“I cannot quite imagine it myself, to be honest.”

The two of them, painting completely different pictures in their minds, laughed as they looked at each other. Just then, someone called out to her urgently.

“Lady Idel!”

It was the maid who had been sent by Marlene to announce the guest’s arrival. She had found Idel just as she was rushing toward the gardens.

“Oh? Young Duke Shade?”

The maid covered her mouth with her hand, startled to see the man walking beside Idel. She had been searching for the prospective Grand Duchess to announce Shade’s visit, only to find the two already together. At the maid’s exclamation, Idel turned to look at the man beside her in shock.

“Young Duke Shade?”

A Young Duke meant the eldest son and future successor of a Ducal house.

“Ah. Sadly, it seems the play must come to an end.”

Shade lowered the parasol he had been holding, his gardener’s mask, and closed it. Placing one hand over his chest, he bowed slightly.

“My name is Shade Hillborn, prospective Grand Duchess.”

The House of Hillborn.

Idel’s eyes widened. Hillborn was a family that had led the Empire’s foreign policy since its founding. They had produced more brilliant Chancellors than any other house and were considered a prestigious family on par with the House of Roman.

Though she had suspected the gardener’s identity was strange, she never imagined he was the Young Duke of Hillborn. Idel’s pupils trembled with shock.

Inside the silent drawing room, the sound of tea being brewed seemed exceptionally loud. The movement of pouring tea with an impeccable posture was infinitely elegant, but Shade wore a troubled smile as he watched.

“Lady Idel, are you perhaps angry?”

“I wonder.”

She is definitely angry. Shade sighed quietly, seeing that Idel had not softened her heart toward his mischievous prank. The woman, who had brewed the tea with an expressionless face and tightly closed lips, set the cup before him.

“This is the reward you wanted so much. Please, enjoy it.”

“Mmm. Haha. Thank you.”

Shade laughed awkwardly, a rare thing for him, as he looked at the woman serving the reward with an expression that felt like a punishment. He had countless ways to handle a woman who was offended or pouting, but none were suitable for his lord’s woman. If he tried those methods.

Kaeron Roman de Helios would eliminate me without a trace.

The man was certainly capable of it. Shade shook his head, rubbing his arm. He had risked a great deal by sneaking in to see the prospective Grand Duchess alone. By now, the trial would be over, and word of his visit would have reached the Grand Duke. Shade began to think hard on how to appease her before Kaeron returned to the residence.

“Ah! I must give you this.”

His fingers, which had been tapping the table, stopped. He summoned his attendant waiting in the corner and whispered quietly.

“Bring the box at the very top of what we prepared.”

“Yes, Young Duke.”

The attendant stepped outside for a moment and returned with something in a luxurious box. Idel looked at Shade with wondering eyes.

“This is a wedding gift from me.”

Shade crinkled his eyes and opened the box. He pulled out several items.

“This is!”

Idel gasped. Had the items in the box been porcelain, dinnerware, ornaments, or jewelry, she would not have been this shocked.

“Is this by any chance the original?”

“It is. It is the first manuscript kept in our house.”

He knew she would recognize it at a glance. Shade internally praised the prospective Grand Duchess’s discernment. Idel’s hand trembled as she carefully touched the ancient book he offered.

“To think I would see the first edition in person.”

It was a historical record of the founding of the Jupiter Empire. The book itself was a cultural treasure. Since such a book could not be bought with money, she was simply stunned to receive it as a wedding gift.

“And this is the work of Lord Hoffman, which became the foundation of the Empire’s administrative system. This is also an original recorded in the first printing.”

Idel’s face flushed as a smile she could not hide spread across her face. Looking at her sparkling eyes as she gazed at the books, Shade smiled with satisfaction.

As he thought, she preferred this over jewelry or accessories. Given that she had decided to enter the university, and at the top of her class, her deep appreciation for academic learning was evident. Books are the greatest treasure for scholars, and Shade knew that the rarer the book, the higher its value. To that end, he had practically raided the Hillborn Ducal library for wedding gifts.

“In addition, I have brought about ten more boxes filled with leather-bound volumes.”

With ten to fifteen books per box, he had brought well over a hundred volumes. Idel let out a deep sigh, her face filled with happiness at the unexpected and generous gift. She offered her thanks in a voice that had softened considerably.

“This is the most wonderful gift. Truly, thank you.”

“I am beyond delighted to see you so pleased, Lady Idel.”

Having restored his relationship with the prospective Grand Duchess, Shade smiled brightly.

Lord Shade is truly incredible.

Watching the two, Gregory and Marlene nodded in unison. The atmosphere they had encountered in the drawing room earlier was cold. Idel had seemed angry, and Shade had looked at a loss. Yet, Shade’s social finesse in not only appeasing her anger with a perfectly chosen gift but also winning her trust was admirable.

Just as they were marveling at the future head of the House of Hillborn and his diplomatic skills, a footman approached to deliver news.

“His Grace the Grand Duke has just arrived at the main gate.”

At those words, the ease that had briefly returned to Shade’s face vanished instantly.