The Reincarnated Villainess Whose Romantic Trauma From Her Past Life Is Too Strong Is Sweetly and Painfully Doted On by the Prince of the Neighboring Country - Chapter 34

—The role of the Celebrant in the Festival of the Tree-Flower Prayer.

It is to release a prayer-imbued Flower Lantern before the World Tree, signaling the commencement of the festival.

The Festival of the Tree-Flower Prayer begins at dusk as the sun sets and continues until the following night. Under a sky where the crimson sunset began to bleed into the indigo of twilight, Cherie fulfilled her duty magnificently before the World Tree.

Dressed in her exquisite ceremonial robes, Cherie channeled her floral power into the Flower Lantern in her hands. It floated softly into the air, eventually being drawn into the canopy of the World Tree.

Starting with that ceremony, where the Celebrant floats the first lantern, Flower Lanterns crafted by the citizens began to rise into the sky across the city, as if light were rippling outward from the World Tree itself.

The sight of the city adorned by the gentle glow of rising lanterns was so ethereal and beautiful that it had become a famous seasonal landmark for tourists.

“—Well done, Cherie.”

As Cherie prepared to return to the waiting room after successfully completing her role, Salute, who had been waiting right outside the door, offered her words of appreciation.

“Lord Salute. Were you waiting here for me?”

“No, I just arrived. I saw the ceremony, too.”

VIP seating is provided for the Festival of the Tree-Flower Prayer. Naturally, this included Salute, the Prince of Trigea. He had used that privilege to fully enjoy the sight of Cherie’s brave performance from the best seat in the house before heading to the waiting room.

“You were breathtakingly beautiful.”

“I’m glad to hear that. The lanterns in the city are lovely, but the ones floating before the World Tree are a rare sight indeed…”

“That’s true, but I was talking about you, Cherie.”

…Huh?

At Salute’s smiling remark, Cherie froze, her polite smile practically glued to her face.

“Those robes suit you perfectly. You’re always beautiful, but today, you’re exceptionally so.”

Salute delivered the dashing line without a hint of bashfulness, and Cherie couldn’t stop the heat from rushing to her face.

“…Thank you. Your attire today is very wonderful as well, Lord Salute.”

Cherie managed to fire back. In truth, since he had appeared today as the flamboyant Salute rather than the plain Salute, he was exposing his peerless looks and style in all their glory.

(From my perspective, Lord Salute is far more “exceptionally beautiful” than I could ever be…)

As Cherie gazed at him, dazzled, Salute maintained his pleasant smile and spoke.

“Hey, Cherie. Since we’re here, why don’t we go float a Flower Lantern together?”

“Wow…”

Stepping out onto the terrace of the Great Hall, they could see the Flower Lanterns being launched from all over the city into the night sky. The various flowers drifted upward, emitting a faint, soft light. People released different flowers because it was said that wishes were more likely to come true if the flower’s language matched the desire.

Thinking that every single light floating in the sky carried someone’s prayer made it look as though human wishes themselves were dancing in the air. Cherie looked up at the sky, feeling a mix of poignancy and affection she couldn’t quite describe.

“This is a good spot. No one else is here, so we can relax.”

Salute spoke quietly as he rested his elbows on the terrace railing, standing side-by-side with Cherie. It was then that she noticed a small wicker basket in his hand containing nine white flowers.

(White roses?)

“Is that your Flower Lantern, Lord Salute?”

“…Yes, it is.”

Salute answered, his cheeks tinting slightly pink.

“Actually, I wanted to prepare ninety-nine of them. But I thought that might be a bit of a nuisance.”

As Salute spoke with a bashful air, Cherie tilted her head.

(…Roses have different meanings depending on the number, don’t they? I remember the meanings for individual colors, but…)

The most common red rose means “I love you.” The cheerful yellow rose means “friendship” or “peace.” And the white roses Salute had prepared signify “purity” or “deep respect”—but…

Cherie regretted that she hadn’t researched what the specific count signified.

“What about you, Cherie? What are you releasing?”

“Ah… I…”

At Salute’s curious inquiry, Cherie produced a small white flower she had been hiding in her hand.

“…Jasmine?”

“…Yes.”

Cherie answered nervously. The language of Jasmine. It means “I will follow you” or “I want to be with you.” As for who that “you” referred to…

(Stupid, stupid, stupid me…! I should have prepared a different flower for a camouflage…!)

Since she hadn’t originally expected to release a lantern with Salute today, she deeply regretted her lack of foresight. If it were just a flower to show him, there were plenty of others—flowers representing “independence” or “growth.”

Because it was her true, heartfelt wish, she had intended to release it secretly by herself before heading home. And yet…

(Ugh… maybe I should have just said ‘I didn’t prepare one today’ earlier. But… I really did want to release a lantern with Lord Salute…)

Desperate, Cherie blurted out an alternative flower meaning as an excuse.

“Um… the language of jasmine also includes ‘loveliness’ and ‘amiability’…”

She left the implication hanging: I thought it was appropriate for me, since I’m often told I lack charm.

However, Salute merely responded with a thoughtful, “……I see.”

He reached out and lightly pinched a petal of the jasmine in Cherie’s hand.

“…From my perspective, I think you’re already plenty lovely and amiable, Cherie,” he whispered with a suspiciously bright smile and a very meaningful look.

(…Does he know? Does he already know…?!)

No, he almost certainly knew. Salute was a top-tier floral mage even back in Trigea. There was no way he wouldn’t know the language of a flower as popular as jasmine.

Realizing she had no escape, Cherie resolved to thicken her skin and push through by pretending she hadn’t noticed a thing.

Whether he realized her inner turmoil or not, Salute threw out one more proposal.

“—Then, how about this? I’ll release your Flower Lantern, and you release mine.”