MSOW l CH 06

Chapter 6

Dolce glanced at me with a warm smile.

She stopped walking for a moment, bent down so our eyes met, and whispered gently,

“It’s all right. I already know how you feel. But look over here, my lady—if we go this way, you’ll see the Grand Duke’s garden. It’s something our estate is proud of. Very rare things bloom there.”

“Re-really?”

My guilt faded quickly, replaced with wonder.

But rare things… Was it really okay for me to go to such a place?

I tilted my head, curious, my eyes shining. Dolce chuckled and squeezed my hand a little tighter.

She rose and walked on. Even though I walked slowly, she never tugged me or grew impatient.

Thanks to her kindness, I got to see so many amazing things in the Grand Duke’s estate.

Knights stood guard at every doorway. They glanced at me curiously, but unlike the ones back at House Herelda, none of them pushed me aside.

They weren’t overly friendly, but some even smiled faintly. And whenever Dolce and I bowed and chirped, “Hello!” The knights tapped their chests with their fists and greeted me in return.

At the garden entrance, knights stood there as well.

“Look! More knights!” I whispered excitedly, tugging on Dolce’s hand.

“Yes. Shall we greet them?”

“Yes! Hello! I’m Veronica from House Herelda. Please take good care of me!”

Holding Dolce’s hand with one of mine and pinching my dress with the other, I bent in a proper curtsey. The knights beat their fists against their armor and saluted me.

The clanking armor, which once scared me, now sounded heroic.

We passed the knights and entered the garden. Sunshine poured down so warmly I forgot how cold the Grand Duchy usually was.

“Wowww!”

The flowers were dazzling—every color different, none the same.

It reminded me of the Herelda garden, the one I wasn’t allowed to enter.

Only sometimes, when my sister invited me, could I walk with her in silence or watch her sip tea among the roses.

I thought that was beautiful. But this… this was beyond comparison.

“Heeaaah—!”

I cupped my cheeks with both hands and bounced on my toes. Dolce laughed softly.

“Do you like it that much?”

“Yes! Can I look around more?”

“Of course.”

She smiled warmly and let go of my hand, giving me freedom to explore.

I skipped toward the flowers, when suddenly—

“Bel!”

My sister’s voice came from above.

I lifted my head and saw her standing on a balcony.

“Oh my, that’s the master’s office,” Dolce murmured to herself.

The master’s office…? She meant the Grand Duke’s, of course.

Wait—did that mean my sister was with the Grand Duke right now?

I gasped, clapping both hands over my mouth.

And just then, my sister leaned over the railing, waved, and called down,

“If you see a pretty flower, you may pick it. You can give it to me or to Noctis. But remember—give it to me first before him, all right?”

She said his name. Noctis.

She really did like the Grand Duke!

Were they really going to be engaged?

I nodded eagerly, promising her I would.

Then she stretched her hand farther out past the railing, her pinky finger sticking out.

I quickly raised mine, hooking it with hers in the air.

“Good. Now go on and have fun.”

She waved happily, and I beamed up at her.

“Yes!”

***

Half an hour later, my grand garden adventure had turned into a problem.

I was lost.

Dolce had said, “I’ll fetch some cookies for you. Don’t worry, there are plenty of people in the garden, so you’ll be safe.”

But no matter how far I walked, I saw no one.

Just butterflies fluttering and birds chirping.

Even the knights were gone.

They didn’t know I was lost.

Fine. Then I’d prove I could find my way back alone!

I clenched my fists and marched forward.

The path revealed all kinds of wonders—shrubs cut into animal shapes, round bushes like clustered marbles.

Then, a blackberry bush appeared, heavy with fruit.

“…Maybe just one?”

I looked around guiltily. No one was there.

Okay. Just one.

I reached out when—

Rustle!

“Ah! I—I was only going to take one—oh?”

Out popped a tiny white bird.

It had a round body, black-dotted eyes, and spindly legs.

“Hello?”

I reached my hand out carefully. The bird hopped forward and rubbed its little body against my palm.

“Wow…”

Its glossy dark-blue tail feathers swayed as it moved.

So small… so adorable!

What if I asked it to live with me? I could share my food. Surely the Grand Duke would allow it.

But I’d have to tell my sister too…

While I was fidgeting in thought, the bird chirped pirong! and fluttered out of the bush.

“Ah? Wait!”

It flapped its tiny wings, perched on a branch, and looked at me as if saying, Follow me.

“Do you want me to come?”

Pii!

“Okay!”

The little bird slipped easily through narrow gaps. I had to squeeze through brambles, snagging my hair and soiling my dress.

Still, the bird guided me, chirping encouragement whenever I hesitated.

Finally, after what felt like forever—

“Are we almost there? I don’t think I should go much farther…”

Piron!

It spread its wings proudly, as if to say, We’ve arrived.

There, inside a white stone pavilion, a boy lay as if asleep.

His black hair glistened, and somehow… he looked very much like the Grand Duke.

I crossed the little stream around the pavilion, nearly stumbling but managing to leap across.

The bird waited, calling to me.

“I’m coming, wait!”

As I tiptoed closer, I remembered—he needed a name.

“Hey, little bird. What about ‘Berry’? Since we met at the berry bush.”

Pirik?

It tilted its head.

“If you’re going to live with me, you need a name. Berry sounds nice, right?”

Pip.

The bird circled once in the air.

“Does that mean you like it?”

Pii, pik!

Its wings fluttered with joy.

“Great. You’re Berry now. And I’m Veronica.”