Chapter 24: 24 22． rose

I felt a chill run down my spine.

What is it?

I paused for a moment as I helped prune the roses. I looked around to find the cause, but all I could see was my father and the blooming roses.

As I tilted my head, my father warned me to be careful and cut carefully. If there are too many flowers in a rose, the nutrients are dispersed and the flowers do not grow. A rose with a single, dignified flower is preferred to a rose with many flowers. I think they are both beautiful.

Probably because of my way of thinking, it is hard to know and remember the standard of pruning. I check with my father to make sure I'm doing it right. I watch my father pruning before I do it, but when I point at it and ask if I can cut it, there's a 50/50 chance he'll tell me not to.

However, when I am in the rose garden during the blooming season, I feel out of place. Neither my father nor I are the kind of people who look good with flowers, but with roses, I feel it even more. Maybe it's because we have a strong image of aristocracy. Well, this is an aristocratic house, so it's only natural that there are roses.

The pruning work was finished before noon, and I was walking through the courtyard with a basket of cut roses. It was a shame that they had bloomed so much, so I took them to the maids to see if they could be used for something. I'm sure they can be used for potpourri or something. My father is going to the kitchen to see if they can be used for decoration. I'd also like you to take a share of the bribe.

I stop in my tracks.

The glass door of the corridor facing the courtyard is open, and there is a stranger.

It was an old man, or rather a brother, with eyes that looked as if he were not looking at the courtyard, even though he should be. I thought he was an old man, but he was shadowy or dark. Yeah, dark. It's a beautiful day in early summer, but he looks a little pale.

I didn't need to hide, so I tried to walk past him.

But he didn't respond to my footsteps. I tried to get closer, but again, no response.

Did I see a ghost?

It's been a year since I started working for the Ernst family, but I've never seen this brother before. And he's dressed like an aristocrat, but he has brown hair, not blond like the Ernsts.

I wonder if this brother is the cause of my chills. I wonder if this brother is the cause of the chills... But I don't know if ghosts can be seen so clearly. I don't remember being psychic in my past life.

"Is my brother alive?

"Yes, ......?

I asked him if he was a ghost. When I called out to him, he finally recognized me.

His eyes were the color of fresh green leaves, but I couldn't feel any life in them. I thought they looked like dead leaves.

He was looking at me, or rather at me, a little blankly, and then he slowly focused on me. Ah, our eyes finally met.

When he noticed my presence, his eyes widened in surprise, and then he smiled sadly. But there was a little bit of light in his eyes.

"Oh, ......, it's okay.

"You don't have to smile when you're not okay.

I can't help but feel like I'm forcing a smile. You don't even have to pay attention to a kid you don't know.

My brother seems to not know how to react and is frozen.

When I confirmed that we were able to have a conversation, I took a yellow rose from the basket and gave it to my brother.

Yes.

My brother took it reflexively and stared at the blooming yellow rose.

You can have it if you want. You can have it if you want. It will bloom when you put it in.

Yellow seems to be a cheerful color, and I think yellow roses smell the best.

Thank you.

My brother, who seemed to have been soothed by the flower, narrowed his young, leafy eyes. Yeah, he's smiling naturally now.

What should I do now? I wonder if I should just leave him alone, not knowing if he is a ghost or not. If he's a ghost, he's obviously not going to go away. In such a case, I wonder if I should ask him about his life.

"Why are you so cheerless?

If it's a ghost, the default answer is that it's lifeless, so it might be a strange question to ask. But it's the least of my worries.

"My wife's been sick for a long time. ......

Oh, he's talking. Maybe she's a ghost.

"A disease that can't be cured?

I said to myself, and for a moment I felt a sense of despair from my previous life. I was in an accident right after I was told I had no more time to live, but if I had lived until I had three months to live, would I have had this lifeless expression on my face?

That's right. It can't be cured ......, it's a disease of the mind.

His young, leafy eyes darkened. If it's mental, there's no medicine. Even in Japan, there were only medicines to alleviate it, with side effects.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you'll be fine. ......

Pfft!

You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few things to do.

"Brother, are you eating alone?

"...... Oh.

You're not eating right.

...... I don't have much of an appetite.

Brother, if you're a nobleman, you must have a lot of friends.

The aristocracy has socializing as part of their job, so they should have good communication skills. You probably have lots of acquaintances.

I don't know if it's a lot, but ......

"Well, why don't you eat with your friends sometimes?

My brother, who answered my question honestly, was puzzled by my suggestion.

I don't like to eat alone. And if your wife is sick, it means you don't have any family to worry about you. Then you need to take care of yourself.

People who take care of their family alone tend to push themselves too hard. Because they forget the option to rely on someone else. No matter how much you tell people around you to rely on someone who has forgotten, you don't know if they will listen. So, it's good just to notice that someone is nearby. Also, it would be better if you could make room for yourself.

Well, you probably won't believe what a stranger says to you, but it's good if it makes you aware.

If you were looking at the garden and the greenery, you must be feeling a need to be healed.

No matter how much you try to cheer him up or cheer him up in the abstract, it's you who has to take care of your wife. If you don't build up your own mental stamina, there's no way you can do it.

He blinked and looked at the rose in his hand again. Then he brought it close to his face and smelled it. The way he looks at it makes me realize that he is a nobleman.

I guess I ...... forgot how to love flowers.

I'm forgetting to love flowers. I'm sure he's a living person, though he's saying he's going to die. His eyes are alive now.

Hmm?　So that means ......

"Daniel, I thought you weren't following me, but you wandered in here?

The duke called out his name in a slightly impatient voice. When he recognized his brother, he sounded relieved.

"Gerald.

I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I've seen it before. The duke tilts his head at the sudden stare.

"What is it?

"Well, .......

I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that.

So that's why you invited me to your mansion?

It's a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your time and money.

"...... Isak, did you break the news?

"Heh. What are you talking about?

What the hell are you talking about? I didn't know that the duke and this brother knew each other, and I didn't tell him about the duke, so I can't tell him anything. Oh, I gave him the rose.

I tilted my head as hard as I could, but the Duke smiled as if he couldn't help it, and then introduced me.

You are reading story Otome Game no Mobu desura naindaga at novel35.com

"Daniel, this is Isak. He is my apprentice gardener. Isak, this is my friend Daniel.

The Duke's friend means he's a highborn nobleman. Oh no, he's talking to me like I'm his friend. I immediately bowed and apologized.

"My name is Isak Baumgartner. I'm sorry for being so rude to you earlier!　You were standing there so still, I thought you were a ghost.

I heard a gushing sound above my lowered head. You'll be able to see the duke holding his mouth in his fist and chuckling, and the brother, Daniel, smiling.

It's quite a feat to be mistaken for a ghost by a stranger. Daniel.

I'm aware of that. ......

The duke's eyes widened slightly at Daniel's answer and he smiled softly. I'm sure you're not the only one. I'm not sure what's going on, but if the Duke is relieved, then he's probably feeling a little better.

Suddenly, my stomach growled. After delivering the rose to the maid, it was time for lunch. Come to think of it, the only reason I could think of anything else was because I was hungry.

Daniel smiled.

That's a nice sound. I'm getting hungry too.

"Um, well, ......

I think he was on his way to work. You should get back and have lunch soon.

Yes, sir.

The duke, my boss, has given me permission to leave, so I take my basket back and bail.

"Isak.

You will find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier. The yellow rose I gave him was blooming on his chest. Pointing to it, Daniel said.

Thank you. I'll show it to my wife when it blooms nicely.

I'm glad you said you would take good care of the flowers. I returned the smile and left.

After delivering the roses to the maids and eating lunch, we went to work on the pond and pavilion in the corridor leading to the detached house. I pruned the miniature roses surrounding the pavilion, while my father tended to the water lilies and water.

I don't have to cut too many miniature roses because they can bloom in clusters, which makes me feel better. Maybe it's because I'm poor that I feel it's a waste to cut them. I put the pruned miniature roses in the basket at my waist.

"Hold on, Miss Ella!

Miss?

I heard a very urgent voice of a young lady. As I turned toward the voice, wondering why it was coming from her, I saw her coming out of the entrance on the main building side of the corridor. She was desperately chasing someone. The person is walking ahead of her at a race pace. Because of the difference in stride length, she can't catch up at all.

I wonder who that woman is. She has her hair tied back in a ponytail, and she looks very determined.

She stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned around to look at the pavilion where I was. I felt as if her eyes met mine, and I cowered involuntarily.

The lady who was coming straight toward the pavilion was not just my imagination, but she was coming toward me. When she reached my front door, she looked down at me as if she was staring at me.

It's really scary to suddenly be stared at by a stranger.

"You must be the young lady's shadow.

"What?

I don't understand the meaning of her definitive words. I'm not a shadow, I'm a human.

"Miss Ella!

The lady called her aunt in a panic and tried to interrupt her. But the lady who called me Dr. Ella didn't care about the lady, she just looked at me and said what she wanted to say.

She said, "Your low quality is having a negative impact on your daughter. If you're her shadow, you'll have to reach the level she deserves!

Before I could say anything else, Dr. Ella grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and kidnapped me.

"What?

I had no idea what was going on, but he took me away. As I was leaving, I saw my father in a daze, though his expression didn't change much, and a young lady desperately chasing after me.

They took me to a room that was quite large, but had almost no furniture. On the way, I was forced to change my clothes. I didn't want anyone to help me change, so I did it myself. However, I didn't understand the necessity of wearing a scarf, so I didn't. The maid put it on and combed my hair as well.

"What do you do here?

I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about the outfit. I can imagine, but I refuse to think about it, so I'll ask the person who took me here.

"It's the dance practice room.

Ms. Ella said casually. Really?

"So. Whose clothes are these?

The fabric is really nice. It's different and comfortable, but it's weird. Also, I feel like I'm being dressed by it.

It's from my childhood.

I looked towards the door of the practice room and saw the Duke smiling happily. Wow, the Duke was wearing surprisingly simple clothes. I had the image that he was dressed in lace and flouncy clothes. No, maybe he didn't need to dress so flamboyantly because he was good-looking.

No, it's nice to have your clothes on your kids. How about you, Isak? Would you like to be my son?

Please don't joke.

Even if it is a joke, it's absurd. You'll never be on par with the good-looking ones.

That's too bad.

The duke shrugs his shoulders lightly. And next to her, the young lady is standing there. She's been unresponsive since we entered the practice room, but I wonder what's wrong.

"Are you tired of running, young lady?

When I looked into her face, the startled girl turned her head away from me. I didn't do anything to startle her that much.

The young lady fidgeted, swept her gaze, and then turned away.

"Well, ......, it's better now, isn't it?

What?　Thank you.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that. I thought it was her way of following up, so I thanked her.

You can have it if you like.

I was surprised when the duke said it so casually.

"No, you can't have it!

I don't want it. I don't have a chance to wear such an expensive dress. No, I'm wearing it now for some reason.

How about we call it a birthday present, then? It'll be here soon.

Yeah. ......

How does your father know when Zaku's birthday is?

Because he's a servant in our family.

I don't even know the date." The Duke smiles back at the frustrated young lady. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

I'm sure you'll agree that it's a great idea. Why is the boss and his daughter arguing over a servant's birthday?

That's enough of this nonsense, please.

The sound of my heels clicking on the floor made my back straighten. She's right in front of me again, looking down at me. Please don't do that, it scares me.

"Isak, you say? From now on, you are to be present at all of your daughter's dances.

"Ha, ......

What other answer could I give under that kind of pressure? Even the young lady is shaking her head in fright, even though it's not being said to her.

The cause of the chill finally dawned on me.

"Mrs. Kuehnert is a very educated woman. Now, can I have it?　Isak.

"At least a rental, please.

The duke is smiling all the while, while the lady and I are freaking out. I really respect you.

You can find story with these keywords: Otome Game no Mobu desura naindaga, Read Otome Game no Mobu desura naindaga, Otome Game no Mobu desura naindaga novel, Otome Game no Mobu desura naindaga book, Otome Game no Mobu desura naindaga story, Otome Game no Mobu desura naindaga full, Otome Game no Mobu desura naindaga Latest Chapter