PLMYP 37

 

Chapter 37 —

“You’re not saying…”

“If you’re not going to tell me, at least help me choose a flower. I can’t make up my mind.”

Janice stood up and pointed to several flower pots she had picked out earlier.

“I told them to bring everything with a silvery color, but honestly, they don’t really look silver, right? This one just looks too metallic.”

She gently tapped a flower with shiny leaves and sighed.

Leonard looked at her, seriously examining the flowers, and couldn’t help but feel shocked.

How long had it even been since she met that knight?

“Are you already at the stage of giving flowers to that guy?”

“That guy?”

Janice’s lovely face twisted into a frown. That look said more than any words could, and Leonard realized he had misunderstood something.

While he remained silent, Janice figured out who the man with silver hair he was referring to must be.

“Come on, Brother! Why would I give flowers to Sir Hawk?”

“Thompson told me. He said that knight helped you out.”

“I already thanked him properly. And besides, Sir Hawk said he was just doing what the marquis ordered, so if I wanted to thank someone, I should thank the marquis.”

“Ohh…”

Leonard nodded.

‘Come to think of it, Lin has silver hair too.’

Why had he immediately thought of Hawk when Janice mentioned giving flowers?

He clicked his tongue, blaming it on that weird dream where Hawk acted overly friendly, calling him ‘Brother.’

‘So it was for Lin, after all.’

He had almost misunderstood his innocent little sister. To clear things up, Janice explained properly.

“I’m giving flowers to the angel. So pick something cute and pretty that suits an angel, Brother.”

“Angel?”

“Oh, you don’t know?”

Janice was asking if he hadn’t been introduced to Charlotte Blair yet. But Leonard, who hadn’t met the girl, misunderstood.

“Of course I know. That person is as pretty as an angel.”

“Exactly! She’s the most beautiful and lovely person I’ve ever seen… I wish Mother had given me a little sister like her.”

Janice covered her face with both hands and sighed. Leonard frowned slightly.

“A little sister? Not an older one?”

“Uh? No matter how cute and lovely Charlotte is, she’s definitely not older than me.”

“Charlotte?”

“You don’t know who Charlotte is?”

He felt like asking “Who is that?” would get him in trouble.

Seeing Leonard’s suddenly confused expression, Janice covered her mouth—trying not to burst out laughing.

Other than Charlotte, only one person in the Blair family had silver hair.

“My goodness! You really think she’s angelic!”

“You’re the one who said that.”

“I never said she was pretty! That came out of your mouth!”

“……”

Did it really?

Yes. He had said she was pretty.

Well… she was pretty.

“Right?! The marquis is super pretty! Oh my gosh, you’ve fallen for her! That’s why you’re making moves on her!”

“Making—Janice, a proper lady shouldn’t talk like that. If Countess Sarah were here, she’d smack your hand with her fan…”

“Lady Sarah! Lady Sarah! Listen to this—Brother just said—”

Before Leonard could stop her, Janice darted off through the arched doorway. He could only bury his face in his hands.

What he didn’t realize was this:

Janice’s big mouth would not only reach Lady Sarah, but also the Blair knights who were with her… meaning by the time he got back to the mansion, Irenea would have heard it too.

---

---

“The marquis is waiting for you. Please, go in.”

Daimond politely pointed to the study door, but his lips twitched as if he were holding back laughter.

And it wasn’t just him. All the staff Leonard passed by in the hall and on the stairs looked at him the same way.

‘So you’ve fallen hard for our marquis, huh?’

Their eyes seemed to say exactly that.

That’s how Leonard realized the incident at the flower shop had already spread through the house like wildfire.

While he washed and changed his clothes back at the mansion, he kept wondering—just what had happened while he was gone?

Apparently, the staff here had a lot of interest in their master’s love life. Thinking that, Leonard finally entered the study.

“I’m coming in.”

Usually, a homeowner greets guests in the drawing room. Close guests are invited to the study, which is decorated according to the owner’s personal tastes.

In other words, a study reflects the true personality of the homeowner.

It was Leonard’s first time in Irenea’s study—as her fiancé. The first thing he noticed was a large, round lace rug on the floor.

There were children’s drawings on the walls, a neatly dried rose wreath, a flat music box, and a basket of yarn above the fireplace.

Irenea sat in a rocking chair by the fire. The armrests of the chair, which had probably once been white, were faded with time. It looked like an old, cherished item.

“Welcome back, Ray.”

Her warm smile made it feel like she was greeting someone who had just returned from a morning outing.

That one line made Leonard feel like he’d lived in this house for years. Like they were already family.

Feeling his face heating up, he tensed up and answered stiffly.

“Yes. I’m back.”

“Then hurry and give me a reunion kiss. Why are you just standing there?”

Irenea tilted her head, smiling playfully.

“Are you too scared to touch me because I look like an angel?”

“…How fast do rumors spread in this house?”

Groaning, Leonard watched as Irenea burst into laughter.

“Oh my, so it wasn’t just a misunderstanding? Did you really call me cute and lovely too?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Right? I didn’t think so either. You know how rumors are.”

Her easy acceptance left Leonard speechless. But he had called her pretty. That was definitely from his mouth.

Before he could open his mouth to say it, Irenea pointed to the seat across from her.

“Anyway, what’s that behind your back?”

She glanced curiously past him. Leonard swallowed the words he hadn’t managed to say and walked closer.

“I don’t know if this is the right time to give this to you, but…”

He handed her a bouquet.

Lily of the Valley, tied with a pure white ribbon.

“You’ve taken care of Janice and looked after my people a lot. But I, as your fiancé, feel like I’ve done nothing for you.”

“Oh…”

Irenea looked down at the flowers with an unreadable expression. In her watery blue eyes, a storm of emotions seemed to be swirling.

Was she holding back her dislike?

‘I thought she’d like it…’

Leonard nervously touched the ribbon on the bouquet.

“If you tell me your preferences, I’ll try harder next time.”

“No…”

Her voice trembled slightly, like she was trying not to cry.

“This is my favorite flower.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Thank you. I’m really happy.”

She hugged the bouquet and smiled brightly—so brightly that it felt like the room lit up around her.

Relieved, Leonard let out a quiet sigh.

“But why did you choose this flower? Was there a reason?”

She sounded casual, but there was a faint hope in her voice. Leonard didn’t notice that as he tried to come up with a proper answer.

“It’s called Lily of the Valley, so I picked it.”

“Because of the name?”

“Because your hair…”

“Is silver?”

That… might be a bit of a stretch?

But Irenea laughed joyfully, and Leonard felt awkward.

“The flower shop staff told me the flower meaning too. I liked that.”

“Of course I know it. It means, ‘You will surely be happy.’”

She brought the flowers to her nose and sniffed the scent.

The small blossoms of the Lily of the Valley matched her innocent smile perfectly.

Leonard looked at her and remembered a scene from a dream.

---

‘…What is this?’

‘Can’t you tell? It’s a flower.’

‘I know that. I meant, why are you giving it to me?’

‘Does a man need a reason to give a woman flowers?’

She looked like she did need a reason.

So in the dream, he looked reluctant, but said one thing.

‘Just… because it’s pretty.’

---

Even now, Leonard wasn’t good with words. But dream-him had been even worse.

He still couldn’t tell whether that “pretty” referred to the flower—or the woman smiling softly while holding it.

“Are you ready for this?”

“Huh?”

“Knowing the flower’s meaning, are you ready to make me happy now that you’ve given it to me?”

Unlike the fleeting dream version of her who seemed like she’d disappear with the wind, the real Irenea was full of life and energy.

If she needed happiness, she’d find it herself.

‘Why me, though? Why…?’

Leonard couldn’t answer that question yet.

Why take risks, help Janice, and treat common mercenaries like noble guests—just to bring him here?

Like she had no other option.

“…How…”

“Yes?”

She tilted her head as if she hadn’t heard.

Leonard leaned forward.

Thinking he was going to whisper, Irenea turned slightly and revealed her ear.

But instead of her ear, his lips landed on her soft cheek.

He pressed a kiss firmly there, just to be sure she noticed.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

After all, she was the one who boldly asked for a reunion kiss.

Leonard chuckled.

“Maybe I should be the one asking. If I say I’ll make you happy, are you ready for that?”

“O-of course!”

“I don’t know…”

He tilted his head teasingly, and Irenea cleared her throat.

“No, I am ready. So do it again.”

She raised her head slightly and closed her eyes. Her face was still flushed, filled with anticipation and excitement.

Leonard looked at her for a moment, then slowly leaned in again.

‘How are you so sure I can make you happy?’

His broad shoulders curved toward her as he placed his hands on the armrests of her chair, caging her gently.

Her arms wrapped around his neck—tightly, as if she would never let go.

She always hugged him like that. Did it have a meaning too?

‘I want to know.’

Why she did all of this. Was it really him she wanted?

Would he ever find out?

He buried all those questions in his heart, and pressed his lips to hers.