Flower
When we sat at the dining table the next morning, Angelina looked upstairs and said, “She should be able to make it back tonight from the city. Until then, we can only wait here. If the three elves die before she returns, we can’t help it. We’ve done what we can.”
I gently raised Leah’s head up. She was still yawning. I replied, “Yeah, we can only do so much. I really want to go to the elven lands and see how exactly they’re doing now if possible. There’s a situation in both the elven and human lands, while we’re stuck in the middle of it all, so I feel frustrated.”
Puzzled, Veirya titled her head. She then picked up a big piece of bread: “Does it. Have to do. With us? The elves matter. Have nothing to do with us. You didn’t. Let me. Get involved. With the imperial capital. Didn’t you?”
“Yes, but it’s worrisome. We’re at the intersection of humanity and elves. Regardless of what happens on either side, we’re relegated to a passive position.”
Leah looked at me and, curious, inquired, “Papa, Papa, will the three elves be staying? Papa, they’re different to Sister Lucia. Leah thought all elves would be the same as Sister Lucia. How come the three elves are hurt?”
I didn’t think it was wise to tell Leah the elf she liked, Lucia, did that… I just nodded and tried to provide an appropriate answer. I suddenly realised something, so I asked Leah, “Leah, how do you see the three elves’ condition? You can sense a person’s condition, can’t you?”
“Leah can tell when it’s demons or humans, but Leah doesn’t quite understand what the scent of a normal elf is… In saying that, mm… those three elves are alive, except they are very weak. Leah almost can’t sense anything.”
Leah shook her head then fed herself a piece of bread. Veirya finished the milk in her bowl then poured herself another bowl. I didn’t have any appetite. I truly envied the two. I wanted to have a good appetite and not have to think about anything.
Veirya asked Angelina, “What. Next?”
Angelina chuckled: “What, you feeling annoyed already? All right. Want to give it a crack in the courtyard?”
“Sure.”
Veirya appeared to be in high spirits. Returning to the North was her own decision, but it was relatively boring in the North for her, as there was nothing to do. Normally, she just sat in the house. With Angelina around, she could play with Angelina. I didn’t know what they were playing, but as long as they weren’t bored, then I was fine with it.
“Leah, do you. Want to join us?” Veirya looked over to Leah.
Leah froze; she looked at Veirya with a vigilant gaze. Angelina glanced over to Leah and softly laughed: “How about it, Leah? Come with us. We plan to work on some swordplay. How about it. Are you interested in swordplay? A girl should be able to protect herself to some degree, right?”
Leah didn’t give an immediate reply; instead, she turned to seek my opinion. She appeared very keen to go. She wanted to be able to defend herself after what happened last time. She was totally helpless the two times she was kidnapped. She must’ve wanted to be able to defend herself so that she wouldn’t be kidnapped. Of course, I, personally, agreed with her thinking. Since my foot was gone, I was bound to never be able to learn swordplay. Without Veirya around, Leah would have to protect herself.
I caressed Leah’s small head: “All right. Papa thinks you can also go and practice. With that said, Veirya, Leah isn’t a soldier. Just teach her some skills; there’s no need to be particularly strict, and don’t let her get hurt. Angelina, watch over Veirya.”
Veirya didn’t sound too happy with what I said. She turned to me and said, “I know. What to do. I don’t need. Anyone to tell me.”
“Veirya… I genuinely don’t trust y-”
“I will. Prove it.”
Veirya turned away and didn’t look at me again as if to gesture she was grumbling. I laughed. I looked to Angelina: “Angelina, you still need to watch out for them. We’re not trying to transform Leah into a soldier as formidable as you two. She just needs to know how to defend herself. Try not to let her get hurt.”
“Uhm, I know where to draw the line.”
“I do, too!”
“Papa, are you not coming?” Leah looked up at me.
I lingered for a second before I responded, “I’ll go take a look, as well, if there’s no other work. I think the elves will come today. After all, there’s the flavouring trade down the road, and the flower I entrusted to Lucia. I need to find someone to fix the flower garden here. I promised Leah to fix it up. The weather is warming up, so we can get to work on it now.”
Breakfast soon ended; I cleared the table. Someone knocked on the door. Angelina went over to open it. Outside was an elf who froze upon seeing Angelina. He respectfully said, “Hello, Lord Veirya. I am here to send seeds under orders from Madam Lucilia.”
“Mm, I’m not Veirya; Veirya is back there.”
Angelina laughed as she pointed behind her. Veirya, who was sitting on a chair, pointed to me, “Talk to him. I’m not. Involved with it.”
“Wow!! Flowers? Papa, Papa! What sort of flowers are they?! What sort of flowers they?! Are they pretty? Leah has never seen many flowers. Can Leah have a look?!” Leah cheerfully ran up to me and hugged me around my waist as soon as she heard there were flowers.
I gently pinched Leah’s face and smiled: “Wait until Papa plants them for you. They’ll be pretty flowers. They are flowers from the elven lands, after all. Wait for Papa to plant them, Leah; there’s no rush.”
“Mm!! Thank you, Papa!”
Leah cheerfully pulled me down by my collar and kissed me on my cheek. I stood back up and went to the door. The male elf smiled: “I have someone who wants to discuss the flavouring export with you. He wants to discuss how many times we export annually, how much and prices. You need to talk to him. If you have time, please tell me where to plant the flowers for now. Rainbow flowers are not a particularly strong flower. It will be able to grow as long as the environment is not too harsh.”
“Mm, please come with me, then.”
Veirya stood up and grabbed her long sword to her left. Angelina took hold of Leah’s hand. The three were about to leave. I was only going to remain in the courtyard. We fundamentally couldn’t do anything for the three elves. To put it simply, their survival depended on their willpower. The earliest a doctor would arrive to help them would be in the evening. Until then, I couldn’t do anything for them.
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