The Archduke’s Flower is in Jeopardy - Chapter 150



Only Krnovel

Episode 150 Side story: Change after three years
2024.03.07.

　
As the child’s soft fingers dug between his fingers, he felt his heart tingle. It was a time when Rainion was overcome by an unknown feeling, with the scent of silver flowers coming from the child.

“Lillian!”

“Oh my! (Mom!)”

At the familiar voice calling out to her, Lillian’s face grew brighter than ever, and she let go of Rainion’s hand and ran toward him.

“I heard you were taking a walk with Vienne…” … “Are you visiting your mom?”

Without even having time to feel regretful at the momentary disappearance of the touch, Rainion came to his senses at the voice of the woman he missed and stood up.

When he slowly turned his head, he saw a woman holding her child in her arms, making eye contact with her and smiling warmly. As if the being in your arms is more important than anything else in the world.

Raynian’s pupils narrowed like the lens of a camera capturing the moment. It was unclear whether it was the sunlight shining directly in front of her that made it difficult for her to open her eyes, or whether it was because of the dazzling sight of her mother and child.

But what was certain was that, just like when he first made eye contact with her while holding onto her bonnet that had blown away in the wind, this image of her now would be clearly etched in his retina for the rest of his life.

The sight of the woman who became the mother of a child was more sublime and beautiful than he had imagined. Even if the child she held in her arms looked exactly like her other boy.

Very, what if… … . If only she had herself by her side, so if she had a child who looked like her in her arms… … .

‘under! Wake.’

Raynion was shocked by the delusion that passed through his mind in a split second, and scolded himself internally. Even though I wished her happiness, it seemed like the lingering regret that had been hidden tightly in one side of her heart leaked out for a moment.

It was when he shook his head, shaking away his vain thoughts. The sweet voice of a woman calling his name reached his ears.

“Rainion?”

“… … Eidel.”

“It was you, Raynion!”

It was only then that Idel realized who the man in front of Lillian was. After finishing her conversation with Professor Nitzen, she left the lounge and saw Lillian in the distance, bent on her knees, facing her man.

Judging from Vienne standing next to her, her man was probably not a dangerous person, but Idel was worried in her heart and hurriedly approached Lillian. It was only when the man who had only seen her back turned behind her that a happy smile appeared on Idel’s face when she realized that he was Laney.

“Oh my, Chinu? (Mom, are you a close friend?)”

“That’s right. “This is my mother’s precious friend, Rainion.”

After receiving confirmation from Eidel, Lillian’s eyes looking at Rainian became infinitely kinder. Even though it was their first time meeting, Lillian smiled brightly at him without any caution.

“Lord Rainier! (Rainian!)”

Lillian stretched out her hand toward Raynian and called his name. It was clear that he wanted to be hugged. Although Lillian was rarely picky, she only made physical contact with those who were allowed to.

When he took the initiative to shake hands and held Rainian’s arms, the eyes of Vienne and Idel, who were watching, widened.

Just like when he first held Lillian’s hand, Rainion walked as if he was fascinated, took Lillian’s small body and sat in her arms.

At that moment, the scent of lily of the valley flowers combined with the child’s unique flesh smell hit me. As the child’s warm body temperature touched the scent, Rainion’s heart pounded again.

“I think Lillian likes you, Raynion. “This is my first time trying to be hugged first.”

In a voice filled with laughter, Idel spoke his words while looking at Rainian, who was holding Lillian in his arms.

“… … Is that so.”

Rainion blushed slightly as if he was somewhat embarrassed. As he was still single, he was not used to this kind of skinship with a child. Moreover, looking at his appearance alone, he felt even more confused and confused when a child who closely resembled Caeron approached him in a friendly manner.

“old woman! Let’s go to the gourmet food! (High! I think I can reach the clouds!)”

Lillian, who was held in Rainian’s arms and instantly raised her gaze, stretched out her hand to the sky. The sound of a child’s laughter, like a clear sky filled with puffy clouds, echoed far away.

“The prince… … “The more I look at you, the more you resemble Idel.”

Caeron could no longer be seen in the prince’s face, smiling so brightly that his cheeks were watering. Rainion’s eyes could only see the good nature and sweet smile of the prince who resembled Idel.

She looked at Rainian smiling at Lillian as if disarmed, and Vienne, who was by her side, was confident that the number of the prince’s supporters had increased like this.

* * *

The first time Rainian met Lillian again was at the Parthen Theater, where her degree ceremony was held.

‘This place is still the same.’

As Raynion entered the theater and gazed upon the magnificent ceiling painting, he recalled how he felt at the entrance ceremony for the first time in a long time.

He was led to the head table and sat down, and soon the chatter of the people filling the theater stopped.

When I turned my head to the place where people’s gazes were gathered, the man who, without fail, overwhelmed everyone’s gaze, was entering the theater.

‘That guy is still the same.’

The man, who still possessed a great presence, leisurely climbed the stairs to the head of the table with perfectly restrained steps. The only difference from the entrance ceremony… … .
　

“Byapya! Chinu! (Dad! He’s a close friend!)”

The only thing that was there was the prince that Caeron was holding in his arms. Lillian, spotting Raynian sitting at the head table, exclaimed with joy.

“Friend?”

When Lillian waved her hand at someone happily, Caeron’s head naturally turned in that direction. At the same time, his eyebrows narrowed and his face became stiff.

Rainian, who was waving his hand towards Lillian, met Caeron’s disapproving gaze and stopped shaking his hand awkwardly.

“Are you here? “Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“It was a long and difficult walk. “It wouldn’t have been necessary for the busy crown prince to come all the way to Jupiter in person to receive the honorary degree.”

I didn’t expect Caeron to welcome me, but as expected, his expression when he looked at Rainion was sour. At first glance, it seemed like he was worried about Raynian who had made a long journey, but in reality, he was probably in Lisandro, so the sarcasm of why he came was evident in his harsh eyes.

“You don’t have to worry. “I came to see ‘the person I wanted to see.’”

Rainion’s response was also challenging. He smiled proudly at Caeron’s words and put emphasis on the words ‘the person I wanted to see’.

– Are you looking for anyone?

– ah… … Actually, there is someone I wanted to see. I thought he would come to the entrance ceremony today because he is a new student, but he didn’t show up.

Caeron recalled the conversation he had with Rainion, who was desperately looking for someone at the last entrance ceremony. How enraged he was then when he later found out that the ‘person he wanted to see’ that Rainian had mentioned was Idel.

A cool anger appeared between Caeron’s eyebrows as he realized the hidden meaning of Rainion’s words.

“Chinu! What a friend! (A close friend! My mother’s close friend!)”

Lillian’s clear voice was heard, penetrating into the sharp current of the two people. Caeron, whose expression finally relaxed at the sight of his son, smiled and lightly stroked Lillian’s head as if he was delighted.

“okay. Your mother’s chin, woo, easy.”

When Caeron sneered at him as if he could never be anything more or less than a close friend, Rainian wrinkled his face, uncharacteristically putting pressure on the front of his eyebrows. As expected, it was clear that Caeron and himself could not become closer.

Just when Caeron and Raynian’s gaze towards each other was about to become increasingly harsh, the commencement ceremony began with the appearance of Jefferson, and the interior of the theater became dark.

“We sincerely congratulate you on your graduation, and thank you to the distinguished guests who came here to congratulate us. Finally, there will be a congratulatory speech from the graduate representative.”

After Dean Jefferson’s welcoming speech, anticipation filled the eyes of people, including graduates, as they saw the silhouette walking from behind the stage.

“Nice to meet you. “This is Idel, the valedictorian.”

Caeron and Rainian, who were continuing their war of nerves with each other, also turned their attention only to her.

The lighting on the platform illuminated the delicate and beautiful features, like porcelain. The woman in the tailored suit was still as beautiful as she was three years ago, but her more mature aura made her even more eye-catching.

“Three years ago, I swore an oath in front of you here and made a promise. “As students and intellectuals who seek the truth, and as citizens of the empire devoted to Jupiter, let us become one and achieve our will regardless of age, gender, or status.”

Those who heard Idel’s entrance ceremony speech at the time nodded, recalling that moment.

“I have always remembered the oath I made back then. “I sincerely hoped that Jupiter’s future, the Jupiter Empire, would become an empire where young children could receive education on time, socially active women could be properly evaluated for the value of their labor, and everyone, regardless of social status, could express their political opinions and participate.”

Her vow was never in vain. From her days as Grand Duchess to her hard-fought efforts to protect children and promote women’s rights, to the establishment of her Imperial Parliament… … Idel’s constant efforts to lead Jupiter’s change bore fruit.

“I feel that I have also changed in the process. In fact, until three years ago, I was just a helpless woman who wanted to escape from my family, enter college, and stand on my own.”

The inside of the theater became solemn as Idel’s autobiographical confession was heard. Her calm and calm voice touched people’s hearts.

“But now, three years later, it’s different. My world, which was all about facing it alone and enduring it, has changed. Because I met people who believed in my existence and supported me. Thanks to them, I changed and gained the power to change the world.”

The faces of Marlene, Vienne, Gregory, Shade, and Pierre, who had been by her side and supporting her since she was in the Grand Duke’s house, came to mind one after another. Even the faces of her close friends, Ophelia and Rainian, who support her so strongly.

“More than anything, I now have a precious family by my side. “I would like to express my gratitude to her beloved husband and child for providing a perfect foundation for me to take root.”

Eidel’s eyes turned to a certain direction. Although her audience was dark because of the lighting that only illuminated her, she seemed to feel the eyes of Caeron and Lillian who were looking at her and cheering her on more passionately than anyone else.

“Finally, I would like to thank all of you who have pursued the truth together and achieved your goals. Now, as we go out into society, we are at the starting line again. Let us walk tirelessly together, embodying the truth we have found here. thank you.”

When Eidel’s speech ended, thunderous applause and cheers poured out as if they would pierce the high ceiling of the theater.

At the same time, Caeron, who had been sitting, hurriedly stood up, holding Lillian, who was clapping her hands excitedly.

“I will wake up first.”

Caeron, who left a short greeting to Rainion, quickly left the theater looking very different from when he entered.

She said, ‘I thought it was still the same…’ … ‘You’ve changed.’

The back of the man, heading towards someone without hesitation, was clearly in love. Looking at that scene, Rainian shook his head with a smile on his face.