Ch.134134. Spring Outing (2)

Few people show consistent interest in the Count’s garden.

It’s a place frequented only by a few gardeners and servants. Since the Count’s family doesn’t pay much attention to garden management, the garden is maintained with a small budget and the gardeners’ dedicated work ethic, without much support from the family.

Therefore, the garden had no means to help delicate orchids survive the biting cold, making it desolate during winter.

After all, rather than purchasing expensive artifacts just to make flowers bloom year-round, it was far more beneficial to pay the salaries and equipment costs for several knights.

Inevitably, the garden of the Count’s residence, having endured the harsh winter, became empty where flowers once bloomed abundantly, leaving only a bleak landscape.

And such a barren state of the garden must have been an unwelcome sight for Sione, who quite likes flowers.

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t seen flowers all winter.

Sione was in an extremely excited state at the prospect of seeing flowers again after so long.

“Hmm~”

Starting with humming while pretending not to be excited. Her unusually bright mood clearly showed how much she had been looking forward to today.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen plum blossoms.”

“Indeed, there are no plum trees at the Count’s residence.”

Sione nodded gently.

“Since I was little, after seeing them once in spring while holding my sister’s hand, I’ve only seen plum blossoms in books.”

Sione smiled softly with a nostalgic expression. Her gaze soon shifted to the thick book on the table. It was a dictionary with illustrations and descriptions of various flowers.

A well-worn book. The object that helped her nurture her love for flowers while confined to her room.

Sione slowly picked up the book and skillfully turned the pages. Having read this dictionary thoroughly several times, she confidently opened to the page containing the content she wanted without hesitation.

She whispered while taking in the plum blossoms drawn in the book.

“…real plum blossoms.”

Hehe.

With a small, broad smile, Sione closed the book without hesitation and placed it back on the bookshelf.

“If it weren’t for you, I would probably be buried in snow… staring blankly at plum blossoms in a book, pretending spring had arrived again.”

I remained silent at Sione’s self-deprecating words.

“Everything changed because you stayed by my side. Being able to see magnolias again, being able to talk with my admired sister like in the old days.”

Sione slowly approached me.

“So—”

One step. Two steps. The distance gradually closing.

“I, Sione Sianella, will repay this debt for the rest of my life—”

Suddenly with a seductive smile.

Yet, proving she was indeed a woman of this gender-reversed world.

The sudden way she placed her hand on my collar and boldly tried to pull me in.

‘……’

As if a switch had suddenly flipped, that deep look in her eyes revealing somewhat lecherous intentions.

Before I could say anything, at the moment she suddenly tried to kiss me.

Knock knock.

“Sione, are you ready?”

“…Hiccup!”

Siabel knocked on the door with perfect timing.

“S-Sister? Huk…! Hiccup…!”

Sione, seemingly flustered by Siabel’s unexpected appearance, began hiccupping with a flushed face.

“Sigh……”

Thanks to Sione’s forceful grip on my collar, my neckline was quite disheveled.

With Sione’s reddened face and only my collar being wrinkled, anyone would think we had been fighting in the room.

I roughly patted Sione’s head, created some distance, and tidied up my clothes.

As Sione stood dazed in place, trying to cool her flushed face and calm her hiccups.

Naturally, I was the one to greet Siabel.

“Ah, Ray. Is Sione ready too?”

“Yes. We’ve finished all preparations to leave right away.”

Not only was Sione dressed in neat and pretty outdoor clothes, but she had also placed a hooded robe on the bed, saying she didn’t want to make the people of the territory uncomfortable because of her, like last time.

Even though I was also going out as Sione’s attendant and guard, with Siabel beside us who wouldn’t easily take a hit even if attacked with magic-infused sword strikes, I didn’t think there would be any danger. So I simply prepared by wearing a sword at my waist to fulfill the appearance of a guard.

“Well, since everyone seems ready, let’s head out now.”

Siabel looked around the room and finally noticed Sione’s condition.

“Huk…! Ugh…hiccup! Ugh…!”

Sione struggling with hiccups that kept coming out despite trying to hold them in by tightly closing her mouth.

Siabel chuckled at her sister.

“Ray, why is Sione like that?”

“Well……”

I pointed to the plate on the table with only cookie crumbs remaining.

“It seems she had some trouble while hastily eating cookies.”

“Ah—”

Siabel nodded in understanding at my words.

* * *

The cold wind from the north had subsided, leaving a warm breeze that melted the snow covering the ground.

Life was stirring, the season of new beginnings.

The territory, now in spring, was gradually regaining its former vitality.

Although the aftermath of war remained deep in people’s hearts, they still carried on with their duties to survive. Merchants displayed their goods and called for customers. Mercenaries and laborers searched for suitable jobs to make a living.

For Sione, simply walking these peaceful streets with her loved ones was enough to make her happy.

Chatting side by side with her admired sister, and Ray’s presence—sometimes behind her, sometimes beside her—silently watching over her. The situation itself contained something that made her heart flutter.

‘In the past, surely…’

She and her sister had walked around the territory like this, chatting warmly.

She remembered trying all sorts of street foods together, talking and laughing.

Now, time had passed, and the little girls they once were had grown up…

Unlike her mature body, Sione’s mind, until meeting Ray, had been frozen in time, repeatedly reminiscing and recalling the same day, same place, same situation.

One of the girl’s wishes was naturally from one of the happiest times in her life.

Those days when she roamed the streets with her sister and younger brother, intoxicated with adventure. She wished for cozy times with her sister or brother, like in those memories.

‘I thought it was an impossible dream.’

Yet it came true like this. Intense happiness swept through her mind.

After spending some time being occasionally patted by her sister, playing small pranks with Ray while sightseeing in town, filling their stomachs at a restaurant her sister recommended, and playing more—

“Sione, let’s go see the plum blossoms now.”

“Plum blossoms…!”

Finally, they were going to see the plum blossoms she had been looking forward to.

Though the distance was quite far, Sione showed no signs of fatigue and steadily kept walking until they could finally see the plum blossoms.

Along a long, uneven, colorful path with occasional protruding stones, plum trees stood. The branches were already adorned with abundantly blooming plum blossoms shining brightly.

It was beautiful. Certainly a sight one would regret missing if the timing was off.

Perhaps because of this, the rough path was bustling with people, and Sione naturally stayed close to the reliable Ray.

Siabel was standing a bit apart, arms crossed, appreciating the plum blossoms.

After checking on her sister, Sione glanced at Ray.

‘…The flower language of plum blossoms.’

Noble heart, faithfulness, patience, pure mind.

Could there be anyone more suited to plum blossoms?

At least for her, Ray was the person who resembled plum blossoms more than anyone else, which made Sione appreciate them even more.

To her, plum blossoms weren’t just flowers. They were her most cherished memory and the pure love that had budded since last spring and finally bloomed fully.

That’s why Sione took one step closer to Ray.

Sione had no doubt that today would be the most satisfying day in recent times.

“Lady Sione?”

“Shh….”

She simply held Ray’s hand tightly, secretly from Siabel.

* * *

After viewing the plum blossoms, we decided to head to the largest church in the County.

There was no special reason. It was simply the destination decided upon after Siabel suggested seeing Sion Sianella’s face once before returning to the Count’s residence.

We arrived at the front of the church, walking slowly and taking breaks along the way.

“Huh…?”

Sione let out a small voice.

Looking at what caught her attention, I could see someone who had no reason to be there standing in front of the church.

“It’s been a while, Young Lady. And……”

Long ears. Teal eyes. And golden hair that held sunlight.

“The Spirit Apostle of Sianella.”

The great forest that exists on the eastern border of the Kingdom.

The pointy-eared Friel Arielt, who should have been in that great forest, was smiling at me.