Chapter Twenty-One
_ The Farewell Gift
* * *
The sun was hiding behind the clouds; it was early morning in the Eastern Province, and the voices of vendors echoed as the diverse aromas of food filled the streets. People's conversations were intense..
" I cannot believe our Duchess is getting married again.."
" I heard she will become the Duchess of the Estroine County.."
" I cannot imagine the Duchess abandoning us.."
" What will happen to Altan?"
" Why the selfishness? The Duchess is still young.."
When the blonde young man who arranges flowers spoke, everyone looked at each other with a sense of shame; they had forgotten that she had done so much for the province and that she has a life she must live as well..
" Today the wedding ceremony is scheduled to be held, so we must be happy for her.."
The young man spoke with a bright smile while distributing a flower to any passerby with a phrase written in elegant handwriting
« Let us celebrate for our Lady »
The sad faces in that area had regained some of their color because of the young man's words. A man patted him on the back with a smile
" You have a good way of changing the mood, Ted.."
" I am trying to be better, sir.."
" Well, the flowers you distributed, I will not ask you to pay for them from your salary; they are my gift as well to celebrate the Duchess's wedding.."
" But sir, I do not want to burden you with a new load "
" Oh boy, you have paid off the burden of years with your hard work.."
The man laughed and patted him firmly while laughing, while Ted felt embarrassed and was unable to respond..
"..."
" So, I am proud of you.."
Ted's heart beat fast; it was the second time he felt that he was not that child made of porcelain, but that he was a natural human being. He took a deep breath, pulled out a bouquet that was carefully hidden under the table, and rushed away..
" Hey Ted... where are you going?"
" I will try to return quickly, I have to deliver these flowers and come back.."
Ted's voice was getting further away little by little, but it sounded bright, so the man smiled and went to his place in the store..
" Who would have believed that spoiled one would produce this beauty.."
The man looked at the store, which looked dazzling for a moment; the flowers had been arranged in a beautiful way that made everyone who passed in front of the store enter it..
* * *
The large gate with the golden frame and heavy security was opening, to reveal a golden light behind it; what was behind this door did not appear. Two men came out of it, the first was speaking grumpily..
" Why am I always sent to perform these silly missions?"
" Master Rohan always acts childishly, but he is the most capable of performing the work.."
" I am the man of difficult missions, whom the Duchess trusts.."
Rohan scratched his cheek in embarrassment, as he is weak before words of praise. He looked at Guerin, who was smiling in his usual gentle way, and spoke seriously
" You are skillful, boy, at saying kind words.. you have raised my spirits "
Guerin's smile widened and he said, waving his hands in shyness
" Yah, no, no, the matter is simply that I only say the facts.."
Rohan patted Guerin on the back and grabbed him by the neck in a playful way and said
" Will you help me with Miss Neva's matter?!.."
"..."
Guerin frowned, so Rohan arched his eyes and lips to look pathetic and said
" She refuses to talk to me.."
" Because you act foolishly in front of her.."
" Me?!"
Rohan felt shocked and placed his hand on his heart with exaggerated drama, so Guerin sighed and said helplessly
" If you act like this in front of my sister, she will never talk to you.."
Guerin moved, ignoring Rohan, who followed him dramatically and said with a real pout
" When I see the Miss, I feel nervous and cannot find words to speak.."
" But you are fine in the presence of the Duchess.."
" Man, the Duchess has a majestic aura.. "
"..."
Guerin raised his eyebrow, so Rohan spoke in an attempt to gain his sympathy...
" I can barely compose myself in front of Miss Neva in the presence of Her Majesty "
" You are a good person, Mr. Nelson.. "
He was walking toward the main palace and passing through the front exit gate from the inside, but he cut off his speech when he heard some voices in front of the gate. He looked at Rohan and said seriously..
" Enter the palace, it is not good for someone to see you.."
" Fine.."
Rohan nodded and retreated toward the main palace, while Guerin moved toward the source of the sound..
" Please, I want to deliver this to Her Majesty.."
" No one is present in the palace, come back another day.."
" It will be too late.."
" Go before .."
" What is happening here?!.."
The guards present at the gate bowed at Guerin's words, while Guerin looked at the somewhat familiar young man..
" Master Count .. this young man .."
Guerin interrupted him with a gentle smile, directing his speech to the young man..
" Young sir, how may I serve you?!.."
" I am pleased to meet you, Count Neva .."
" Have we met before?!"
Guerin asked while looking intently at the young man; he seemed very familiar, but his behavior did not seem to match his memories of this young man, while the boy spoke politely
" Teddy Sorion, the third son of Count Sorion .. greets Count Guerin Neva .."
The guards looked at each other in astonishment; it was the young man who had annoyed them by challenging the nobles, and they had even acted rudely toward him. They were worried about the reaction, so one of them apologized..
" We apologize to the Lord for our rudeness .."
" No matter, you were performing your duty .."
It was a gentle smile, then Ted's gaze returned to Guerin, who seemed surprised but smiled and said
" I do not have the authority to bring you into the palace, but I would like to invite you to my residence .."
" A great honor for me .."
The knights stepped aside, and Guerin moved, followed by Ted, toward the annex that was and still is designated for the Neva family..
" Does the Count live in the Duchy?!"
" I used to live in it, but I now live in my private residence; however, Her Majesty gave us the right to return to this private annex.."
" That is wonderful .."
Guerin looked at Ted in disbelief; he wanted to know what had made him this way..
" Please, Master Sorion .."
" You can call me Ted, I have been abandoned .."
He spoke in a dramatic but seemingly sarcastic way. Guerin ignored the matter and asked him to sit in the drawing room in the annex. Ted noticed the luxury of the place and smiled at Guerin..
" The Count has not changed much .."
" It seems you remember me well?!"
" I wanted one day to meet you and truly apologize to you, but .."
" But, what?!"
" I feel that I was greatly arrogant; you were better than me and you did not mistreat me .."
" I also stole your identity; I also apologize .. but I am not regretful, so we are even .."
Ted laughed at Guerin's declaration and said with a deep sense of relief
" Well, no hard feelings .."
" No hard feelings .."
"..."
" Excuse me ... but, why did you come today?"
Ted showed the flowers to Guerin and said in embarrassment..
" I wanted someone to deliver them to Her Majesty before the wedding .."
" Flowers?!"
" Perhaps the Count does not understand, but in my family, giving the special bride a bouquet of flowers for the wedding was a tradition; even if she did not use them .. merely accepting them was a privilege .."
" Will they not spoil on the journey from here to the capital, even using the magic gate .."
" I have sprayed them with a magic powder to keep them blooming; they can stay like this for days ..."
" Good idea .."
Guerin carried the Calla lilies and saw the card on which was written in elegant handwriting
[ I am very grateful to you ]
Guerin set the flowers aside and said curiously..
" How did you change?!"
" I did not expect your question .."
Ted answered with an embarrassed laugh and scratched the back of his head; his features returned to seriousness at Guerin's persistent look. Ted sighed and said
" When my father learned what happened, he rebuked me severely and expelled me from the palace; I suffered after that, when I went to some comrades but they closed their doors in my face .."
" How did you endure it?"
" You could say, I felt that I deserved that, so I accepted my fate; when I reached rock bottom, I wandered through the town alleys, and I won't hide from you that I was afraid alongside the hunger and thirst .."
Guerin felt moved, as he and his siblings had experienced much of that..
" When I was on the verge of giving up completely, Mr. Butler, the owner of a small flower shop, helped me; he saved me from homelessness and hunger, but he asked me to pay the price of the food by working for him. At first, I thought he was trying to exploit me, but he wanted to help me without even knowing my family origin .."
Ted laughed in embarrassment as he remembered the matter
" I worked in growing and selling flowers with him, but he needed effort and time to train me; I won't hide from you, I destroyed the nursery several times ... but I truly loved working there .."
Guerin looked at the beautiful bouquet with its simple and elegant arrangement and said
" You seem to be enjoying the work .."
" Very much, I felt it was very suitable for me, and everyone praised my work .."
" And is the Count still angry with you?"
" My father is a good man; he gave me a six-month punishment, but I exceeded the period and forgot it in the midst of my work in the nursery. When I returned after a year of expulsion, he told me that I could return and work well, but I decided to bid them farewell and work with Mr. Butler .."
" So you are the one who gave up your title .."
" You can say that I live the life of a commoner; I have not completely abandoned my family, I visit my parents and siblings from time to time .."
" It is good that you found something you love doing .."
Ted smiled sincerely and said ...
" The credit goes to the Duchess; her words were correct .. I had to learn to respect others .."
" Her Majesty is a wise person .."
" Certainly ... I must leave now "
" Take care of yourself .."
Guerin saw him off to the palace gate, and when Ted stepped out and after two steps, Ted looked toward Guerin and said
" Tell Her Majesty that her people wish her happiness and thank her for all she has provided us; her people will support their master until the end .."
Guerin realized that his lady had truly done a lot, so he nodded to Ted and waved his hand in farewell
" I will deliver your words .."
Ted disappeared with a smile, and Guerin returned toward the main palace carrying the twelve Calla lilies. When Rohan saw him, he mocked
" Did you get a confession?!"
" They are Her Majesty's wedding flowers, provided by the residents of Altan .."
" Oh, are you going to deliver them now?!.."
" Let us first prepare what Her Majesty requested, and let us return to the capital .."
" Fine.."
...... To be continued ......