wildflower chapter 22

“Lilian, are you seeing anyone at the moment?”

Grand Duke Parve Headington inquired kindly. The Grand Duke, known for his austere nature, was always gentle with Cairn and Lilian.

“No, Your Grace. I’m not.”

“Is that so? Marquis Partman inquired about you.”

“Doesn’t the Marquis have a grown son?”

The Duchess’s words made Lilian tense.

“I believe he’s twenty-eight now. A bit of an age gap with Lilian, but not a bad match.”

The peaceful atmosphere of the dinner shifted abruptly. Even if the Marquis did have a grown son, Lilian doubted she could manage to secure him as a husband. She’d be lucky if she didn’t accidentally stomp on his foot during a dance or stammer awkwardly through every conversation.

Count de Vermore, after dabbing his mouth with his napkin, joined the conversation.

“I intend to have her married within the year.”

Cairn’s hand, which had been placing a ginger snap topped with Lilian’s favorite Brita cheese on her plate, paused.

“I’m actively searching for a suitable match for my daughter.”

“The young lady’s opinion is important as well. Lilian, do you wish to marry soon?”

She didn’t want to marry right now. She had too many other things on her mind. Marriage was something to consider when life became less complicated.

“Well… I haven’t really given marriage much thought yet.”

“You’re a good girl; you’ll do as I say. Won’t you, my dear?”

Even now that she was grown, the Count would occasionally call her “my dear” in informal settings. It made her feel like a small child again, incapable of making her own decisions.

She didn’t want to agree, but she also didn’t want to spoil the atmosphere by arguing with her father.

“Yes… I’ll do whatever you wish, Father.”

As long as she was a de Vermore, she was Salman de Vermore’s daughter, obligated to obey and follow him without question. She was afraid that if she refused, her father would stop loving her.

She felt suffocated. She suddenly remembered the first time she’d picked up a pen and started writing her risqué stories. It was the day her father had first mentioned marriage.

She wanted to grab a random passerby and scream, “Lilian isn’t just a good girl! I don’t want to be married off like some commodity!”

Her tangled desires had transformed into a curiosity about the physical intimacy between men and women. Yes, Lilian wanted to experience love.

Lilian’s appetite vanished. As she set down her fork, Cairn covered her hand with his and urged her to pick it up again.

“Eat more.”

Unlike her father’s love, she felt secure in her friendship with Cairn. He cherished every aspect of her. Even when she’d abruptly asked for a kiss, even when she’d meekly submitted to her father, Cairn hadn’t judged or belittled her.

“Thank you.”

Cairn tapped the side of her plate with his index finger. Lilian glanced at him, and he slowly closed and opened his eyes, nodding twice.

‘It’s okay.’

Lilian understood what he meant.

‘Everything’s okay, Lilli.’

***

Grand Duke Headington had long ago promised Lilian access to his collection of ancient books. Today must be the day, as the Grand Duke called her aside to his study. The other three had gone ahead to the glass conservatory for tea.

“Lilli, is this the book you were looking for?”

“Yes, this is it! Thank you so much.”

“I see you’ve mastered the Sevrian language.”

“No, not exactly… I’m hoping to relearn it with this.”

The Sevrian Kingdom, with its long history and traditions, was immensely proud of its language, and translations were rare. Fluent Sevrian speakers were uncommon among the Clat, which made Sevrian books difficult to acquire. Consequently, the literary worlds of the two nations had long been isolated from each other.

“Let’s go now.”

“Um… Your Grace.”

She stopped Grand Duke Headington as he was about to leave the study.

“I’m not ready yet.”

“Ready for what?”

“…For marriage. I apologize to Marquis Partman, but I don’t want to meet anyone with marriage as a precondition.”

“Hmm… I understand. You’re still young. However, that’s beyond my control. Even if I don’t intervene, your father will eventually introduce you to the Marquis’s eldest son. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes…”

“So, Lilian, I intend to connect your father with the Marquis.”

“But if Your Grace were to help me, couldn’t that uncomfortable meeting be postponed?”

Duke Headington sighed softly, turned back from the study door, and sat down in the main seat on the sofa. She sat beside him.

“I’ve known you since you were a child, and I’ve always thought of you as a niece. However, I’m only human, and I can’t help but be selfish. I intend to do this for my son.”

“What do you…?”

Lilian didn’t understand what the Grand Duke meant.

“Cairn needs to learn how to let go. Even a Headington can’t have everything he desires.”

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Seeing your reaction today makes Cairn’s wish seem even more distant.”

He smiled kindly.

“Cairn’s wish?”

“It seems he’s grown fond of a wildflower that has finally bloomed beautifully and wishes to keep it for himself.”

If it was just a common wildflower, why not just pluck it and be done with it?

She knew it was a metaphor, but without knowing who it referred to, it was difficult to interpret. The Grand Duke, reading her transparent confusion, offered one last clue.

“He can’t bring himself to pluck something so precious, so he’s agonizing over it.”