003. Garden Party (3)
“The lake is quite vast.”
Owen remarked slowly, taking in the expanse of the lake.
Meeting Lucia was nice, but he hadn’t expected the atmosphere to be this awkward. Well, he could somewhat anticipate the situation, but he hadn’t thought about it in detail, especially the distance between him and Lucia.
The tension of the quiet atmosphere made it hard for Owen to endure, eventually prompting him to speak almost in a mutter.
Lucia then spoke up, “Are you enjoying the view?”
Before Bella appeared, Owen’s only interest was in work and wealth. This stemmed from the trauma he had from being abused by his parents when he was young. The fact that Owen was abused by his parents was known only to him, but Lucia, who had done her research on him, was well aware of his keen interest in work and wealth.
Perhaps that’s why Lucia deliberately brought up the topic related to him.
Owen nodded subtly as he listened to Lucia, not wanting to make Lucia uncomfortable.
Lucia, who couldn’t read Owen’s inner thoughts, assumed he simply liked the lake view. She continued the conversation related to it.
“The lake at the Edelt Manor’s estate is the second largest in the capital, just after the one in the Royal Palace.”
Maybe it was because she didn’t have many opportunities to converse easily with Owen that she tried so hard to keep the conversation going, especially in areas she knew he was interested in. Despite her seemingly calm demeanor, Lucia, who had been part of high society since she was young, was an expert in managing her expressions.
If the person she was talking to wasn’t particularly interested in her, they wouldn’t have noticed her slight anxiety.
Thankfully, Owen was very interested in her, almost to the point of overflowing. Understanding this, he could easily sense Lucia’s feelings and steer the conversation accordingly.
“I do. Especially the lakes in spring.”
Lucia answered the somewhat sudden question without a trace of doubt. Owen wasn’t one to divert a conversation to consider someone else’s feelings, so she assumed he was simply curious.
“The lakes with blooming flowers are beautiful.”
Lucia remarked, looking at the blossoming flowers on the large cherry tree by the lakeside. Following her gaze, Owen turned his head to see the pink cherry blossoms in full bloom.
“I seem to like flowers.”
Owen repeated his words as if contemplating.
He had read “Empire’s Flower” dozens of times, meticulously organized the settings, and memorized everything in it as if his life depended on it, but this was new information to him.
Once again, he reminded himself that this place was not just a novel but a whole world, and the figure in front of him was a real person.
“Because they are beautiful.”
Lucia replied as if it were obvious.
Her gaze shifted from the cherry blossoms to face him directly.
Inside her deep crimson eyes, only Owen was reflected.
“It’s natural to like beautiful things, isn’t it?”
She drew a splendid smile with delicately curved eyes and lips.
This was the Lucia that Owen was familiar with.
“…Indeed.”
Owen understood the meaning behind Lucia’s words, but he chose to agree.
No.
It was more like he agreed because he understood.
“I feel the same way.”
“You do too?”
Lucia questioned Owen with a look of confusion.
Her bewilderment was understandable.
Owen was consumed by work and interested in expanding his wealth, but that was all.
He did not seek to acquire or possess anything with the wealth he gained.
To claim that such a person merely liked beautiful things endlessly would raise suspicion from anyone.
“Is it strange?”
However, Owen shamelessly decided to proceed.
After a week, he had adapted to Owen’s mannerisms, possessions, and his position effortlessly.
If he did not think about it, he could easily imitate the manners of the nobles like flowing water.
But this was a story limited to what was visible externally.
Owen had not yet adapted to ‘his’ concept.
The ‘Owen’ before meeting Bella was merely a vessel, a person somewhat difficult for him to understand.
Living in accordance with such a person’s concept was an impossible task, so he boldly pretended to be that way.
“…No. Just a bit surprised.”
Lucia responded slowly to his reaction.
And then she added.
“There are few who share my thoughts.”
Lucia said with a pretty smile, looking as if she was about to steal one’s gaze.
Owen captured her smile with his eyes and spoke.
“Some people find it strange.”
“…That’s right.”
“It’s not a sin to like beautiful things.”
Owen whispered softly.
His low, pleasant voice drifted on the breeze.
Lucia etched his words in her mind and licked her lips.
“You are more like me than I thought.”
Her voice was as soft as a whisper, but Owen’s keen ears caught every word.
However, he chose not to respond to her words.
It seemed like Lucia had blurted it out unconsciously.
Perhaps because she was pleasantly surprised.
What I desire seems to be more appealing than expected.
So, it must be challenging to calm oneself.
Owen simply gazed at Lucia quietly, then shifted his gaze to the cherry blossoms.
‘I like flowers because they are beautiful.’
He recalled the sponsorship of Duke Verdin.
While the Edelt mansion had a lake, the Verdin mansion did not.
Instead, the Verdin mansion had a very spacious garden.
It was about five times larger than those of other noble families and twice the size of the Edelt mansion.
Naturally, it was well-maintained.
“…Lady.”
Having that in mind, Owen slowly addressed Lucia with her title.
Lucia’s gaze, which had been lost in thought, turned towards Owen.
“I have something I want to show you.”
Owen met Lucia’s gaze directed at him and spoke.
“You like flowers, don’t you? The Duke of Verdun’s sponsorship is filled with them.”
Flowers, the Duke of Verdun, and sponsorship.
Their meanings were clear.
Lucia, suppressing her surprised expression, replied.
“The Duke of Verdun’s sponsorship is known for being vast and splendid.”
“Yes. It may not have a lake as wide as Edelt’s, but there are plenty of beautiful things. I would like to invite you.”
“…It would be an honor.”
Lucia replied politely, her smile radiant.
Her crimson pupils reflected emotions so vivid that it was difficult to miss.
Emotions like greed, possessiveness, and obsession.
Owen, facing those intense emotions, found himself lost in thought.
Until I became Owen, I thought of liking her as a fan.
He was sure of that.
And rightly so, until then, Lucia had been nothing more than a character in a novel.
The emotions one could have towards a character were naturally limited to fandom.
Within the bounds of reason.
But now.
There was no certainty.
To simply call it fandom seemed inadequate…
Something was off.
It seemed like what he once called admiration was similar.
What I had was emotions far removed from admiration.
She looked cool, dazzling.
That remained, but somehow.
That alone couldn’t fully explain what was inside me.
Her gaze, which I couldn’t even momentarily detach from, warm with those deep emotions directed at me.
Was it admiration to fulfill everything she desired?
Asking himself didn’t provide an easy answer.
His mind buzzed with complex thoughts.
Owen sighed, clearing his mind of the clutter.
Regardless, one thing was certain; he still wanted to see her.
One meeting was not enough.
No.
After meeting once, it was even more so.
This one meeting wouldn’t satisfy me.
So, he promised her a next time.
The complicated thoughts from earlier wouldn’t be too late to reconsider next time.
Owen concluded decisively, clearing his mind.
“We have arrived.”
As Owen cleared his thoughts and the two were about to continue their conversation.
A rowboat settled on the lake shore.
Owen rose from his seat first and stepped onto the shore.
Naturally, he extended his hand towards Lucia.
Lucia placed her hand on his, her lips parting.
“Your Highness.”
At her address, Owen’s gaze turned to her.
In that meeting of gazes, Lucia spoke.
“If it’s not impolite, may I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
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As Owen agreed, Lucia, with a graceful demeanor, asked.
“How did you come to my party today?”
It was a sharp question.
At the same time, it was a question so very Lucia.
It was a bit of a delight that someone who usually sought after this had come on their own.
She had a personality that tolerated no small gaps or errors.
That was one of the reasons he had come to like her.
“Well.”
Owen mumbled briefly as he held Lucia’s hand.
Sensing his attempt to avoid answering, Lucia didn’t press him further.
Simply following his lead, she held Owen’s hand and stepped off the boat.
“So, do you not like it?”
Owen subtly evaded the question.
It was unavoidable.
He couldn’t honestly say, “I came to see Lucia,” because she wouldn’t believe him.
Owen wasn’t the type to make such a statement.
Moreover, Owen had already seen Lucia several times at official events.
So, any reason he gave wouldn’t be a very good one.
He had no choice but to subtly dodge the question.
As Owen responded, Lucia pursed her lips slowly.
“…No, that can’t be true.”
Lucia had already decided what she would say in response to Owen’s question.
She was someone who wanted Owen.
Would anyone refuse someone who had appeared before them willingly?
Although the reason for his sudden appearance at the party was still unclear, one thing was certain.
This was an opportunity.
The chance she had longed for, to have Owen in her hands.
“Well, that’s fortunate.”
Owen smirked.
Lucia, too, smiled subtly in response to him.
“Since he doesn’t seem willing to tell me, I’ll have to find out for myself.”
Since it seemed unlikely that Owen would offer an explanation, she would have to investigate to find out.
After all, he had provided her with an opportunity.
Until receiving an invitation as a sponsor, it was necessary to find out the reason.