Chapter 6
****
The degree ceremony was held in a solemn atmosphere.
"The graduates of Borden should never lose faith and pride under any circumstances."
As the dean's speech droned on, Lynette leaned against the railing and stared down at the auditorium.
Crown Prince Finberg and Argos stood side by side just below the podium as valedictorians.
She couldn't see their faces, but she knew what Argos must be thinking.
His brow furrowed in disillusionment, his eyes filled with distrust, and he glared at the dean as he spoke. He must hate standing next to Finberg.
Lynette had fallen in love with this rebellious side of Argos.
She wanted to comfort his immature soul.
She didn't realize how dangerous an immature man could be.
It was the sound of thunderous applause that broke her reverie.
"Lynette, follow me."
At the sound of Hyperion's low voice, Lynette's stiff expression relaxed.
"Are we going to see the princes now?"
"Yes."
"Grandfather."
Lynette asked, looking up at her grandfather, Mersamu, instead of her father.
"Do you mind if I give them the flowers? I think it would be better for me to do it.”
"That's a good idea."
He warned his young granddaughter so she wouldn't make a mistake.
"The dark-haired, tall man is Crown Prince Finberg."
In her last life, he died of an unexplained disease caused by a curse placed on him by Argos.
Lynette was responsible for Finberg's death.
She was the one who secretly cut off Finnberg's hair while he slept.
"Yes, that's the crown prince."
He was being showered with congratulations from all sides. Finberg looked polished and refined, but there was a certain weariness in Lynette's eyes.
"And the other on is Prince Argos."
"The two are brothers, and they don't look a bit alike."
Mersamu laughed and patted Lynette on the head.
"Do you see that."
"Not just the color of their hair, but their aura was well."
There was even talk that Argos's father might not be Enrique III either, since they had different mothers.
"The crown prince is like a calm night sea because of the color of his black hair, and the prince."
Lynette looked at Argos, who bared his teeth coolly and smiled.
"Like a midday shower."
She swallowed hard at the word fickle.
"I think he’s bright and cool."
"Hahaha, I'm sure he’ll get a kick out of that when I tell him."
"No, Grandpa."
As Lynette argued like a child, Hyperion reprimanded his daughter for not letting up.
"After you've offered the flowers, be quiet. It’s best not to tell them they are like night and rain.”
"Don't worry."
Lynette smiled as she hugged the bouquet the size of her torso. The crown prince was already surrounded by people, congratulating and cheering.
"Congratulations, my prince. May you be a light to the kingdom with your intellect."
"Blessings on your future, two princes."
They all seemed to be eyeing the crown prince to invite him to their castle or manor.
‘This is not a good situation for conversation.’
But she had a plan.
‘I have to make the most of being a kid.’
Lynette raised the bouquet above her head and waved it vigorously. The crowd parted on either side, following Finberg's gaze as he watched the bouquet sway in the distance.
Without hesitation, Lynette walked forward and offered the bouquet to the Crown Prince. Then she spoke her carefully rehearsed words.
"Crown prince, the brilliance and intellect of the great Canturnis, I congratulate you on your loyalty to the kingdom and your sole faithfulness."
"...."
Finberg stared down at Lynette in bewilderment for a moment.
The silence was momentary. Then, in an unchildlike toast, he burst out laughing.
"Thank you."
He acknowledged the greetings of Mersamu and Hyperion, who followed, and looked down at Lynette again.
"What's your name?"
"Lynette Dikla Hilt."
Finberg smiled gently at Mersamu.
"I see that the two of you have recommended an excessive toast for a child so young."
Then Lynette spoke up again.
"It was my own idea of a toast, not what my father and grandfather told me."
"..."
"It's something I've been thinking about a lot because I can't express my feelings in simple words, and I apologize if it's too much."
Finberg could not hide his embarrassment as Lynette bent down to her knees with a sullen face.
"That's not what I meant-"
"Forgive me, my lord."
"No. It was a wonderful, wonderful congratulatory speech that I've never heard before, so I didn't think it was prepared by a child."
"..."
"I know it must have been hard to memorize, and I'm sorry."
"I'll be more careful next time."
Lynette drummed her fingers.
"Ha, you're not very forgiving."
Finberg shook his head and turned to the adults standing on either side of him.
"I didn't realize the Hilt family had such strict manners."
Mersamu stifled a laugh and stopped Hyperion from stepping forward.
He seemed to have decided to leave the situation to his granddaughter for now.
Meanwhile, Finberg bent down and locked eyes with Lynette.
"Lynette."
"...."
"What should I do to loosen my heart?"
Lynette slowly raised her head, then murmured in a low voice, like a young bird chirping.
"If the lord is sure that you have forgiven the girl."
Finberg Pad Pero.
Crown prince of the kingdom of Canturnis and favorite son of Enrique III.
And the man who must be king in this life.
For the painting of Lynette to be complete, this man must be present.
"Your Highness, please accept my invitation."
"I will."
At that moment, Lynette saw a faint glimmer of life in Finberg's otherwise somber face.
Mersamu, who had been standing still until then, placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Well, we'd better hurry up and get ready. It's an honor to serve you, my lord."
"I've relied on Hilt's help throughout my studies in Borden, and I'm indebted to your family to the very end."
"Serving you is an infinite honor, my lord."
Lynette took a couple steps back as Mersamu coordinated his time with Finberg.
To dispose of the remaining flowers.
Luckily, Argos was not far away.
"Congratulations, my prince."
Lynette handed over the bouquet with terse words.
"And this, I assume, is plucked from the most beautiful flowers in your garden?"
He glanced at the many bouquets on the floor and muttered. It was a line she’d heard dozens of times before.
"No, I bought them."
Lynette responded with an innocent smile.
"Lynette, there you are."
At that, Hyperion, who had been hobbling along, turned to face Argos and bowed.
"Your Highness."
Argos returned the greeting lightly, then dismissed Hyperion before he could open his mouth.
"Enough with the congratulations. If I hear it one more time, my head is going to spin."
"Ah."
Hyperion swallowed dryly and forced a smile.
Then Argos shook the bouquet he was holding a couple of times.
"The flowers you roughly bought on the way were well received.”
"......?"
For a moment, Hyperion's face went white.
He wondered if his young daughter had said something unnecessary.
No, he didn’t wonder, he was completely convinced.
"My daughter must have made a mistake. She is still young, and it is my fault, so please forgive her-"
"Alas, the Baron has misunderstood something very badly."
Argos grinned, baring his teeth.
"This is what happens when I say something, I can't even joke with you."
Lynette lifted her head and looked at Argos.
His eyelids were lowered, one corner of his mouth tugged up. She winced at the familiarity of that expression.
"I apologize, Your Highness."
"Never mind, Baron, the child is about to cry."
Flustered, Hyperion patted Lynette on the back.
"I'm not crying, Your Highness, thank you for speaking up for me."
Lynette wanted to get away as quickly as possible.
She would see him again someday, but he was not her purpose today.
Sh would find him when she needed him, so wait until then.
At that, Argos bent down and locked eyes with Lynette.
"You don't look grateful, you look pensive."
"...."
"What are you thinking about?"
At first, Lynette almost avoided his gaze. But then she flashed her age-appropriate, natural eyes at him, and a gentle voice crept up behind her.
"I see the lady is here."
It was Finberg.
Argos's right eyebrow quirked.
Quickly composing himself, Argos laughed softly.
"I see a child, and you see a lady?”
***
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Write a comment
Krimshaw (Friday, 05 January 2024 18:33)
She’s already so ruthless! I love to see it. Thank you for your translation!