PLMYP 43

Chapter 43  —

“Yes, of course. I’ll help you,” Leonard replied.

Next to the worktable, a large shelf was lined with various vases of different shapes.

Out of the five vases Albert had picked, Leonard chose the long, slim one with a curved indent in the middle.

“Hmm… Is that too few flowers?”

“There’s a saying that too much is worse than too little. Since the blossoms are cute, I think just two or three is better.”

Albert then winked at Leonard.

“Of course, the Marchioness would be happy even if her future husband gave her just a single blade of grass.”

“Then, I guess we’ll finish it like this today.”

Ignoring Albert’s teasing, Leonard tied the three hyacinth stems in the vase with a thin ribbon.

It had been a week since he started arranging flowers for Irenea’s office desk.

Now he could name and recognize more than ten kinds of flowers, cut stems without damaging them, and even tie ribbons into butterfly shapes.

“There, done.”

“You’re getting more skilled every day. This old man can’t help but admire you.”

“Flattery won’t get you anything from me.”

“Flattery? Please don’t misunderstand my sincerity. I’m hurt.”

“Even as a joke, don’t say things like that…”

Leonard couldn’t stay mad at the sulking face of the white-haired old man.

When he frowned, Albert burst out laughing, and Leonard sighed, realizing he’d been caught off guard again.

“I don’t know how you had any fun before I came here.”

“My thoughts exactly. Maybe I’m already getting dementia—I can’t even remember. Seems like it’s time to retire.”

“If you’re going to retire, find a replacement first. It’d be a shame if this greenhouse lost its charm.”

“Haha. I don’t think there’s anyone unworthy enough to replace me, so I guess I’ll have to keep working harder.”

“That’s fine too.”

Albert felt warmth in his chest at Leonard’s easy nod.

Such a good man.

Albert had worked here for decades, even back when the former Marquis was still the heir. Naturally, he also knew a lot about Viscount Callio.

What is this garbage?

He could still clearly remember the disgust on Callio’s face when he saw flowers scattered on the floor. That’s why Albert liked the future Marquis Consort so much.

The Marchioness really chose her husband well.

He didn’t care about Leonard’s social background, though the man was well-known in society.

For Albert, who had spent his whole life tending flowers, it was enough to know that Leonard arranged flowers in the greenhouse every morning for his wife.

“Then…”

“Excuse me, future Marquis Consort.”

A servant near the greenhouse door cleared his throat to announce himself. Leonard, who had been thinking about retying the ribbon, looked up at him.

“What is it?”

“Your guest has just arrived.”

“My guest? At this hour?”

It was still before breakfast. This meant the person must have been waiting outside the castle gates since dawn and came in as soon as they opened.

“They say they are the head butler of the Earl of Elphius. They’ve brought urgent news from the Earl’s territory.”

Thompson, who had been hired with Leonard’s money, was supposed to finish organizing the manor and then come to the capital for the wedding.

But there had been no mention of “urgent news” in his letters, so this must have happened within the last few days.

“Where’s Thompson now?”

“I’ve shown him to the reception room. I asked if he wanted to rest, but he said he wanted to see you immediately.”

“It must be urgent then… Albert.”

Albert nodded as if he already knew what Leonard was going to say.

“I’ll take the vase to the Marchioness’s office for you.”

“Thanks.”

Normally, delivering the vase to Irenea’s office was part of Leonard’s morning routine.

But right now, he was more concerned about the urgent news and the fact that Thompson had likely come straight from outside the city at dawn.

Hurrying to the reception room, Leonard saw Thompson looking rather tired, and he was glad he had come quickly.

Thompson, on the other hand, couldn’t help smiling at Leonard, who looked even healthier than the last time they met.

“Haha, my lord, it’s been quite a while.”

“It hasn’t been that long, has it?”

Still, Leonard felt the same awkward familiarity.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, he touched his flushed cheeks and dropped sugar cubes into the coffee the maid had poured for him.

Thompson watched the scene with a warm smile until Leonard noticed and cleared his throat before asking:

“So, what’s this urgent news? Was there something worth rushing here for first thing in the morning?”

“First, please take this, my lord.”

Thompson pulled a letter from his coat and handed it to Leonard. Leonard automatically checked the sender on the envelope and frowned.

“Marquis Weindahl?”

“Yes. And, it’s addressed to ‘El.’”

Thompson added in a low voice:

“The messenger didn’t know who El was. He was just told by the Marquis that he could find El at the Elphius manor.”

Which meant the Marquis hadn’t even told his own people that the mercenary El was actually the Earl of Elphius.

Leonard felt strange.

He sure is thorough about keeping secrets in unnecessary places.

“At first, I thought about saying that person wasn’t here. But since the sender was the Marquis, I decided to deliver it. I was already on my way to see you, so I agreed to take the reply back. He followed me here, but he couldn’t get through the main gate and went to a hotel instead.”

With the wedding only a week away, security at the Marquis’s estate was tighter than usual to prevent any spies from sneaking in.

Since the letter wasn’t for the Marquis but for “El,” there was no way the messenger could have entered.

“And he insisted on getting a reply by noon. Do you have any idea what this is about?”

“Not at all.”

Leonard opened the letter, recalling the last time he’d seen Marquis Weindahl.

If you ever find yourself with nowhere to go, come back here. Weindahl will always welcome you.

The Marquis had been a good employer—generous with money, honest in contracts, and true to his promises.

When Leonard’s true identity had been discovered by accident, the Marquis had understood his reasons and promised to keep it a secret.

And there was one more person in Weindahl who knew the truth and had made the same promise.

Thanks for saving me. How old are you? You look about my age, but how are you so strong? When did you start working as a mercenary?

El! Get up! Let’s spar!

Come on, we’re comrades who survived together. No—how about we be friends? I don’t have any friends. Do you?

Let’s be friends!

What? You’re a noble? You said we couldn’t be friends because of class differences, and now you say this?

Well, I might have a loose tongue… but if it’s a friend’s secret, I’ll guard it with my life. So? Still won’t be my friend?

This slightly pushy person was Flint Weindahl, the Marquis’s only son and heir.

Their friendship turned out to be surprisingly good—especially since Leonard also had no friends.

The time they spent together in the Great Forest, sharing hardships, built a strong bond.

They cared for each other, looked out for one another, and sometimes shared their deepest thoughts.

Leonard had even told Flint about his debt and that he planned to return to mercenary work after giving his title to his younger brother.

That’s what friends are for. If you ever get into trouble, just contact me. I’ll help you.

Flint had said that just before Leonard left Weindahl territory to return home.

Leonard had thanked him but never thought he’d actually need to ask for help.

But soon after returning to Elphius, a letter arrived from Miles demanding immediate repayment—30 million Larc.

It was an overwhelming amount, so Leonard had reluctantly written to Flint, asking if he could truly help.

He expected a refusal, but instead of a reply from Flint, someone from the Imperial Palace arrived—saying the Second Prince wanted to see him.

The only ones who could have told the Second Prince my identity are the Marquis or Flint.

After all, they were the Second Prince’s uncle and cousin.

If they were going to break their promise, they shouldn’t have made it in the first place.

Leonard skimmed the letter with a bitter look. Thompson noticed his expression and asked cautiously:

“What does it say?”

Leonard gave a short laugh before answering.

“They say something’s happened in the Great Forest, and they want me to come to Weindahl to help.”