Chapter 13
Just like the winding paths of the maze garden, Victor Regid’s words kept getting tangled.
“It’s really beautiful.”
Lilien said, tapping a low boxwood shrub with her fingertip.
“Uh? Oh, yes?”
Victor, looking a bit dazed, replied a beat too late.
“The garden is just lovely. And that quince tree over there is adorable, too.”
Nervous under his gaze, Lilien stumbled over her words a little.
“Uh… um…”
Sir Regid seemed uneasy, unable to focus on the conversation.
“If you’re feeling uncomfortable here, maybe we should head back to the banquet?”
She suggested, but he shook his head quickly, waving his hands.
“No, not at all. It’s just… the garden really is beautiful.”
He seemed to have made up his mind and cleared his throat.
“My father is very fond of trees, you see. He designed this maze garden himself and takes great pride in tending it.”
“Oh, so the Baron designed it? It’s amazing—it matches my tastes so well, I’d love to talk to him about landscaping someday.”
“I helped out a bit in making this garden, too. You can ask me anything.”
“Oh… you did, Sir Regid?”
That was unexpected. She couldn’t quite picture Victor Regid working in the garden. Imagining him giving rough instructions to gardeners made her stifle a laugh.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Sir Regid. It’s just… um…”
Lilien scratched her cheek with a finger.
“It’s just hard to picture you gardening… Sorry, I shouldn’t judge.”
But her apology didn’t erase the smile from her face.
“Feel free to laugh all you want.”
“…Sorry, really.”
“No, it’s alright. I just imagined myself working in the garden and got chills too.”
The more Lilien laughed, the redder Victor’s face became.
“But why did you plant these tall arborvitae trees?”
“This garden was made for my mother.”
“For Baroness Regid?”
“Yes, my father wanted to take walks with her in a cozy, private garden, so he planted tall trees to close it off on all sides.”
“It’s almost like a secret room. How interesting.”
“It’s actually become quite a popular spot for secret rendezvous between lovers.”
His words made Lilien a bit embarrassed.
“I didn’t realize this side of you, Miss de Bermore.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, you don’t usually attend social events, so we rarely get the chance to talk. And even when we do, you disappear quickly. You seem different today.”
“Ah… I’m not very good at talking in front of people. Honestly, even now I feel a little awkward.”
“I like that about you, Miss de Bermore.”
“Pardon?”
“I prefer quiet and gentle women.”
Lilien gripped the branch of boxwood in her hand more tightly.
“Some people might call you a colorless, scentless flower, but there are men who prefer just that.”
His words left her unsure if it was a compliment or not.
“Um… Sir Regid?”
“Yes?”
“What is your relationship with Sir Headington?”
She tilted her head, not grasping his meaning right away.
“I’m just curious. I know you two are close, but… is it perhaps something more?”
“You’re wondering if I’m dating Cairn?”
This was always a worry for Lilien—that their closeness would be misunderstood and ruin Cairn’s chances of a good marriage. She had promised herself that if someone asked directly, she’d clarify.
“We’re just good friends. Nothing more, nothing less.”
She didn’t have many friends in society, so she hadn’t said it before, but now that she’d told Victor, she knew the word would spread fast.
“I actually hope Cairn meets a wonderful match.”
“I see. That’s good to hear.”
Victor’s tense face softened into a relaxed smile.
“I have a question for you as well, Sir Regid.”
It took some courage, but she knew she might never get another chance.
“Of course, ask me anything.”
“Is it true you’ve dated more than a hundred women?”
“…What?”
“I heard you’ve courted all the most beautiful women in the Klatt Empire. Is it true?”
Victor’s jaw dropped at the innocent, but startling, question.
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