Welcome to the Demon’s Cabin - Chapter 48

“Oh? There was a tulip here? I was certain I planted things like tulips in a different area.”

“Shall I pluck a different one?”

“Why would you say that? It is perfectly pretty, so what does it matter?”

Irene, putting on a mock-serious expression, practically snatched the pink tulip from him.

Hmm, this one seems like it will be difficult to weave in smoothly; I should pull in another stem to use. Thinking without another thought, Irene opened her mouth.

“Did you know? They say that flowers like tulips have different meanings in the language of flowers depending on their color.”

“I have heard of that. I believe I also heard that one should be careful when gifting roses or tulips.”

“Ahaha, that is right. But honestly, there are not many with bad meanings, so it will likely be fine for the most part.”

‘To be honest, I wonder why something like the language of flowers is so important.’

The meaning contained within changes anyway.

‘Take the black tulip, whose meaning was a curse; ever since the incident with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, it has been used in the complete opposite way.’

‘Come to think of it, this is a completely terrible gift.’

Irene stroked the petals of the pink tulip, which felt as if it were protruding uniquely even within the lush flower crown. A sweet-colored flower that likely contained no heart, perhaps only annoyance.

‘Could there be a curse contained on this side instead? Hmm…… I know it is only natural, but I dislike it a little.’

At the faint sense of unpleasantness, Irene laughed softly. It was a relief that she did not flare up in anger over a mere thing like this.

Her mood lately had been uncontrollably fluctuating to a frightening degree.

To Irene, who had been lost in her own world for a long while, Idris addressed a low question.

“Then, what is the flower meaning of that pink tulip?”

“Ah, it is a meaning that suits the color well. It is ‘the beginning of love,’ is it not truly lovely?”

Irene answered with a bright smile. Idris nodded without any particular word. His gaze remained fixed on the tulip for some time.

As always, it was a blunt expression that made it difficult to read what he was thinking.

* * *

“My goodness, it is already this late.”

Irene, who was taking off her shoes, lamented as she saw the clock hanging on the wall. They had merely chatted while making a single flower crown, yet the hour hand had moved several spaces.

Irene carefully placed the completed flower crown on top of the chest of drawers and called out to Idris, who was walking ahead.

“Mr. Idris, wait a moment. Before you wash up, would you like to try on this outer garment? I made it roughly, so I am not sure if it will fit your body.”

“Ah, is it a coat? It must have been troublesome enough with just the top and bottom. You did not have to go this far.”

At his expression of being burdened and apologetic, Irene laughed lightly.

“Making clothes is my hobby anyway, so do not mind it. And you seem to be very sensitive to the cold, so you ought to have at least one.”

“Did you perhaps make this intentionally because of those words?”

“Um…… yes. Most likely? Is there any other reason to make it?”

Irene, surprised by the suddenly deepened low voice, answered with a pause.

‘Why is he so surprised?’

She thought he would simply accept it with thanks as he always did. It was a reaction far more excessive than expected. Slightly flustered, Irene tapped the floorboards with the tip of her slipper.

Ah, this is not good. Since she herself had no inkling of what kind of thorn might pop out in response to a reaction outside her expected range, she felt tense.

“…….”

Exactly what could he be thinking?

Since even a long silence had made an appearance, she was deeply flustered. It felt as if a cramp might occur in the corners of her mouth, which she had raised to the limit.

Just as Irene was about to open her mouth again, Idris accepted the black coat and smiled.

“Once you said it was all the exaggeration of the Empire’s people, have you changed your mind?”

“……Pardon?”

Irene froze solid while still smiling. Her red eyes, truly flustered, shook hectically.

Seeing the frozen Irene, Idris burst into a great laughter. His cheerful laughter filled the cabin where only the two of them were.

“It is a joke. Please do not make such a surprised face.”

“Pardon?”

“Was my tone of voice too serious? I did not know you would freeze like that.”

“No, it is not quite that. Since it was the first time you made a joke…… I suppose I thought you were being serious.”

“I do not lack social skills to the point of expressing dissatisfaction with a gift made with such sincerity.”

Idris showed a smile once more. The playfully raised corners of his mouth and his shining eyes finally came into view.

Irene, only then putting her mind at ease at that lovely smile, responded by breaking into a bright laugh.

It was the first time she had seen a side of Idris that was so much like a young man of his age.

“I will wear the clothes well. Thank you.”

“Ah, do not fold it! You must try it on. It might be small.”

“Then could I not just stretch it out as I wear it?”

“What? If you do that, the clothes will be completely ruined.”

Irene scolded him diligently as he laughed pointlessly.

The numerous thoughts that had filled her head cleared away at once. The sensation of worries and reflections vanishing in an instant was addictive to the point of being a vice. There was nothing.

Seeing his face smiling comfortably, it seemed that anything was fine.

‘Ah, should I really just stop thinking? Is there a need for various calculations or goals?’

It is enough as long as it is fun, anyway.

The mind that had been complicated all day was eventually filled with the pleasant delusion that they had moved one step closer.