On one side, the adults gathered and blossomed into conversation, while on the other, their children did the same. Alex, after briefly observing them, walked nonchalantly elsewhere.

He gradually moved to a more secluded area, stopping in front of a large tree. Apart from being the largest in the garden, it was an ordinary tree.

“Everyone but the Supraher family has arrived.”

“How’s the mood?”

“Very good.”

Alex added indifferently to the voice echoing from the tree.

“On the surface, that is.”

Instead of a reply, laughter sounded. Alex sighed. Laughing now…

“The tension is palpable in both groups. It’s expected of adults, but I don’t understand why the children are involved.”

“It’s probably because they emulate their parents. They’ll inherit their titles someday.”

“That makes sense. They definitely resemble their parents.”

Alex nodded, matching parents with their children.

“Who resembles whom?”

“Count Josh and Duke Clare’s families.”

“Is that so?”

Lehart responded flatly, prompting Alex to elaborate.

“Yes, Count Josh is quite fox-like, in a good way. He adapts well to situations. On the contrary, Duke Clare is genuinely kind.”

Lehart, hearing this, paused, then asked.

“Do you think Etienne is genuinely kind?”

“He seems to be at the receiving end.”

“I see.”

Lehart chuckled.

“I worry about unifying them, as His Highness commands. Will it be alright?”

“We’ll see.”

“Shouldn’t you show yourself soon? The longer you delay, the more awkward it becomes.”

“Maybe…”

Lehart, perched in the tree, remained still, a contrast to his earlier determination.

“Why are you just sitting up there?”

“I’m waiting.”

“For what?”

Alex asked, then shook his head, unable to fathom the whimsical prince’s desires.

“Who will come for me.”

‘I’m curious.’

Lehart leaned his head on his arms and closed his eyes, contemplating a nap if no one sought him.

“I’ll wait for the remaining family.”

“Suit yourself.”

Alex walked away nonchalantly, but Lehart stayed in the tree. He then sensed someone approaching and half-opened his eyes.

“I know you’re here.”

Pleased by the familiar voice, Lehart’s smile deepened before closing his eyes again.

“Why are you doing this?”

“What?”

“Why aren’t you joining everyone, knowing they’re waiting for you?”

“It seems no one is really waiting for me.”

Etienne swallowed his retort. Everyone was enduring the atmosphere centered around Hana, waiting for the prince.

“I waited for you. I…”

No one, not Fernando nor the prince, had appeared to shift the Hana-focused atmosphere.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Alex is obviously present, how could I not?”

“Right?”

“Uh?”

Confused by Lehart’s question, Etienne responded.

“Why didn’t anyone ask where I was, knowing Alex is here?”

“Because…”

They thought he would come if they waited.

Realizing too late, Etienne questioned himself.

‘Did I do the same?’

Instead of seeking the prince upon arrival, he had surveyed who was present and mingled. The prince was, after all, the main character of this gathering…
Then Etienne realized the absurdity of the situation.

“Did you wait for someone to come looking for you?”

“Yes.”

“No, what do you mean by that…”

‘What happens if both sides just wait?’

Why engage in such a time-wasting game?

‘Truly a strange personality.’

“Do you think I have a strange personality?”

Startled, Etienne twitched his shoulders and looked away. He felt guilty even though he wasn’t directly speaking to Lehart.

“I’m trying to bridge future relations.”

“A bridge?”

“Yes. Someone who belongs to them yet comes to me could be a bridge to smooth our relations.”

“You don’t mean me, do you?”

Etienne pointed to himself, expecting a denial.

However, Lehart ignored his words and descended from the tree he had been hiding in, standing before her.

“Please help.”

“Why are you doing this, really?”

Etienne groaned. If the situation hadn’t been uncomfortable, the prince wouldn’t have come looking for him.

“Can I ask you one more thing?”

Etienne almost refused but held back.

“Among them, could I immediately spot the person I’m looking for?”

“I doubt it.”

“Then, any idea to narrow it down?”

“Is that a question, or an order to come up with something?”

“Alex would’ve instantly known what I meant.”

Lehart smiled slightly, causing Etienne to hold his forehead.

‘I shouldn’t have offered to help.’

His head ached from his own issues, let alone helping others.

“Perhaps mention a future event.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know.”

Etienne quickly drew a line, not having thought of an excuse.

“Ah…”

Then he remembered something.

“Any ideas?”

“The reason Fernando is late.”

Etienne turned towards the entrance, followed by Lehart. Hidden by the tree, it was hard to see, but it was clear no one had arrived yet.

“There must be a reason for Duke Supraher’s delay.”

‘Mitril.’

The discovery of a silver tree. Lehart, who had received a separate report from Duke Supraher, fell into thought, then smiled at Etienne.

Not a bad idea, it seemed.

Prince Lehart was flanked by Hana and a lady from another family. Occupying the best seats, they kept laughing.

Etienne sat opposite the prince. Fernando, arriving late, unexpectedly didn’t approach Etienne but joined other young nobles.

It wasn’t really surprising. As soon as Fernando appeared, the men acknowledged him, circling nearby.

Being a flower arrangement gathering, they each tended to their flowers. Etienne trimmed the thorns off a rose with scissors.

‘It’s been a while.’

The flower arranging gathering, started in support of the prince, continued even after his death. The reason was simple: to survive by sticking together, out of the second prince’s favor.

Etienne found joy in flower arranging.

‘It felt better because it was the day to meet Fernando.’

Hoping to catch Fernando’s eye with a beautiful basket, it was a futile expectation in hindsight.

No matter how splendid his basket, it couldn’t compare to a single flower carelessly placed by Hana.
Remembering that time brought a bitter smile to Etienne’s face, but his mood didn’t sink. He had become more composed in handling his feelings for Fernando.

‘I mustn’t waver now.’

In this life, he was getting along better with Fernando than in his past life. Had he wavered, he would have made several mistakes by now. This realization made him feel like he was living quite well since his regression.

“Etienne.”

Lost in his thoughts while handling the rose, Etienne lifted his head. The one who called him was Hana.

“Have you done flower arranging a lot? You handle the flowers well.”

“Oh… just a few times.”

“Just a few times and already so good? I’ve been getting pricked by thorns since a while ago.”

Hana showed a sad face and her finger. Though there wasn’t a single scratch on her white finger, Etienne passed it off with an awkward smile.

“It would have been better if the flowers were thornless since it’s everyone’s first time. Be careful, Your Highness. Rose thorns are sharper than they seem.”

Etienne flinched at Hana’s words, holding a red rose.

“Just a slight touch can cut you. So, it might be good to push the flowers far away to avoid dropping them.”

Listening to Hana, Etienne looked at the rose.

The memory of getting his finger hurt by its sharpness surfaced. He had gone home, received treatment from the butler, and then the royal knight burst in…

“Etienne?”

Startled from his deep thoughts, Etienne looked up.

‘Who called me?’

For a moment, he was so engrossed in thought that it was hard to discern where the sound had come from.