Chapter 5
“The two still have a brother-and-sister kind of closeness, don’t they?”
Mrs. Ashton, watching their retreating backs, was once again the first to speak.
“They grew up together, after all. And with the close relationship between their fathers— Count de Bermore and the Prince—oh, now Duke Headington.”
“When Sir Headington approached earlier, I thought the prince who was famed for his beauty had somehow been rejuvenated. Cairn Etienne Hedington is truly the spitting image of his father.”
“He’s eloquent, flawless in every way. If I had to find a flaw… perhaps his lack of interest in women?”
The admiring gazes of the ladies turned sharply toward Lilien de Bermore, walking with Cairn in the distance.
They felt compelled to say something about her.
Quickly, the ladies tried to find something to praise, but it wasn’t easy.
Though Lilien was beautiful, she carried a flaw so great it overshadowed her charms—her naturally shy nature meant she never drew much attention at social gatherings.
“Miss Lilien de Bermore is like a flower blossoming by the wall.”
Mrs. Ashton’s face, though praising, bore a deep concern difficult to ignore.
“Maybe it’s because she was raised under such a controlling father.”
In polite society, indirect speech was expected, but exceptions existed. Concern was a valid excuse for more straightforward remarks.
Moreover, Count de Bermore’s strict parenting was a well-known rumor, making such comments hardly rude.
“I truly don’t understand why the Count still covered his grown daughter in so much care.”
“I heard Miss Lilien even needs permission from her father to go to bed.”
The words showed genuine worry for the fragile wallflower, Lilien de Bermore.
* * *
Lilien stumbled on the lawn.
“Are you okay?”
Expecting her clumsiness, Cairn quickly caught her.
“Yes.”
“Clumsy as ever.”
He clicked his tongue sharply.
“Lilien.”
Cairn called softly.
Though childhood friends, since his voice had deepened, Lilien always found his low tone unfamiliar when he spoke her name.
“Hm?”
“I brought you out because you seemed troubled, but the garden party’s still going strong.”
Anticipating Cairn’s usual nagging, Lilien pouted.
“Won’t the other young ladies be looking for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you leave, there’ll be a big empty spot.”
Thinking he was teasing, Lilien frowned.
“Cairn, what on earth do you mean? I’m a wallflower anyway.”
“A wallflower? A flower? You’re saying you think you’re pretty?”
Cairn often threw such teasing, somewhat risque remarks her way.
“…Don’t you know what a wallflower means?”
It meant someone who sticks close to the wall at social events, unable to mingle.
“Hmm… Does it mean a modest flower blooming beautifully by the wall?”
Was he really that clueless?
Lilien stopped dead, narrowed her eyes, and glared at Cairn. He looked down at her with an innocent expression before bursting into laughter.
Judging by his reaction, he’d known the meaning all along and was just teasing her.
“A flower on the wall or a rose in a greenhouse—it’s all the same.”
Reaching the greenhouse, Cairn held open the heavy glass door and escorted Lilien inside.
Like an old habit from childhood, they ignored the proper benches and instead settled side by side on a flat stone.
To calm herself, Lilien breathed in the humid air of the greenhouse.
Cairn tilted his head to watch her expression as she stared thoughtfully at the floor, then suddenly leaned in.
“Ah! You startled me!”
“You’ve got something on your mind.”
“No, I don’t!”
She denied it fiercely but fooling Cairn was impossible.
“Just tell me straight.”
“Um… Cairn.”
Knowing Lilien struggled to express herself, Cairn patiently waited in silence while she gathered her thoughts.
True to form, Lilien tapped her foot a few times nervously, then finally spoke.
“What am I actually good at?”
“Hm?”
“You’re good at shooting, fencing, fluent in Sevre…”
“Is that all I’m good at?”
It was an irritating question, but she couldn’t deny he was skilled at everything.
“No, you’re good at everything.”
Lilien sighed deeply.
“Now that I think about it—something only I know—you’re also a great cook!”
“That’s right. How many meals have I made for you? I almost forgot to mention that.”
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