Wildflowers Bloom on the Grand Duchy’s Wall - Chapter 62

Lilien was about to confess the secret she shared with Cairn, but the moment she heard someone approaching outside, she shot to her feet. The sudden movement knocked over her teacup, staining her skirt red with tea, but she didn’t care.

She dashed straight for the front door.

“Cairn!”

But when she flung the door open, disappointment flashed clearly across her face.

“Hello, miss.”

It was the head butler of the de Bermore family, who had come back to retrieve a pocket watch he’d left behind.

“Oh… Come in, please.”

* * *

Cairn had always understood Lilien—no matter what ridiculous things she did, he never scolded her. He was always close by, and even when he teased her a little too much, he never let go of her hand. If she hurt his feelings, he was honest about it, too.

“Lilien, you were supposed to come to Baltar Palace with the Count yesterday.”

“Sorry. I wasn’t feeling well. Didn’t Father tell you?”

“I wanted to hear it from you. What was wrong? Are you feeling better now?”

When she hesitated, too embarrassed to admit she had period cramps, the Grand Duchess would gently explain that women have days like that. Even if he didn’t fully understand, Cairn would instantly go back to fussing over her, as if he’d never been upset at all.

Lilien, who never let anyone else get close, couldn’t help but open her heart to Cairn. The certainty and reassurance he gave her sent ripples through her anxious heart, and the two of them grew close in a way that left nothing between them.

But lately, Cairn was acting strange.

Even when Lilien had brought pie to the palace to see him, he ignored her. Even after she told him she’d be leaving Baltan soon, he still hadn’t come to see her.

“Lilien, it’s hot out here. Come inside.”

Christian called, waving from the terrace where he was sorting through his papers. But Lilien just gave him an awkward smile and kept wandering the garden, her cheeks flushed pink from the heat and sun.

But even that couldn’t stop her.

To Lilien, Cairn had always been perfect—or at least, the Cairn she knew would never cut her off without a good reason. If he was keeping his distance, she must have done something truly wrong. The problem was, she couldn’t figure out what it was—she’d made so many mistakes that she didn’t even know where to start.

She considered going to see him herself, but when she remembered the cold reception she’d received at the palace the last time, she couldn’t summon the courage. He’d definitely seen her struggling to carry a box of pastries, but he never came out of his study.

“I really am running out of time…”

She found herself circling the pink dahlia flowerbeds, lost in thought.

Just then, she heard hoofbeats in the distance.

“Oh, that must be him.”

Misunderstanding, Lilien hurried to the main gate—only to feel another wave of disappointment.

A lawyer, Mr. Labouan, and an elderly man stepped down from a four-horse carriage. Christian, who had come up beside her, shook hands with them.

“Hello, I’m Christian Grenore, acting as Count de Bermore’s representative.”

Only then did Lilien remember that they were expecting their first visitors of the afternoon. Mr. Labouan introduced the older man as the bishop of the nearby parish. Soon to retire, he was looking to buy a nice house with his savings.

“I am Lilien de Bermore.”

Lilien introduced herself quietly, almost hiding behind Christian.

Deep down, she couldn’t shake her childish desire not to sell the house at all. Worried that her lingering attachment would show in her eyes, she lowered her gaze and left everything up to Christian.

The polite old man took his time looking over the house and didn’t forget to offer Lilien some kind words of sympathy.

It was painful to sell a place so full of memories, but at least she could be relieved it might go to such a respectable person.

“It’s a lovely home.”

The man looked clearly pleased that this had once been the residence of Count de Bermore.