Axel grinned and put his arm around Patrick’s shoulder.
“What’s up?”
Patrick, whom Axel was embracing, made a show of glowering at him, then burst out laughing.
“Patrick, weren’t you interested in Luna? It’s a shame, isn’t it? Your engagement to Eloise has been broken off, and you’re free again, but it seems you were a step too late.”
“Not really. I mean, I thought she was quite cute.”
In the line of sight of Axel and Patrick exchanging banter were Luna Maria and Luciano, dancing happily together in the grand hall.
“So in the end, Luna, who said she didn’t have anyone she liked, was on the Luciano route.”
Luciano, who had noticed Luna’s struggles as she worked hard in her grief to restore her fallen baron family, had always protected her since then… It’s only natural that she fell in love.
As expected, Luna, the heroine, was popular, and despite many twists and turns, she managed to find love and reach a happy ending. Good for her.
“Now that you’re free, why don’t we seek a lover together? We could use the reward for helping Zinon and Richeli on a trip. How about going to Namibia to find a potential bride?”
“That sounds good. I might not want to come back for a while.”
Axel and Patrick chuckle in amusement with their arms around each other. It seems fun on this side, too, so it’s okay.
“Richeli.”
As I headed towards Zinon, who was motioning me over, Abby peeked out from behind him.
She was dressed in a cute, fluffy red dress. Flitting around her was Muguet.
“Eh? Abby, you were here too?”
“Y-Yes… um…”
“Abby, what’s wrong?”
Julian, who must have noticed Abby from a distance, rushed over and took her hand.
However, Abby turned red and looked down shyly.
“I’m about to give Abby a reward.”
At Zinon’s words, Abby smiled happily.
“A reward?”
“Yes. The credit for the initial discovery of the culprit goes to Abby. We knew that Eloise was the culprit, thanks to Abby’s nose.”
“What???”
I was surprised and looked at Julian, who shook his head. It seems Julian didn’t know either.
“About a year ago, during our usual teatime, Abby said, ‘I haven’t seen Uncle Reginald recently, I wonder what happened?'”
“Yes. I wondered why Uncle Reggie always smelled like Eloise whenever he came by. So when Uncle Reggie stopped coming, I casually told Julian it might have something to do with it. Your Highness overheard and was surprised. I had no idea that she was harming my sister.”
“I immediately had Reginald investigated. Until then, I thought all this happened because you seduced the gardener’s nephew. I never thought Eloise was involved. Abby remembered the scent of Eloise’s perfume because she’s sensitive to the smell of plants.”
“Wow, Abby, that’s amazing.”
I was surprised to learn there had been such an exchange between Zinon and Abby a year ago.
“Now that you mention it, Abby, you said I smelled like Zinon, didn’t you?”
“Yes, Lord Lent taught me that I can distinguish between the scent of the perfume someone is wearing and the scent of their magic. So I was going to the magic academy and the convent in the form of Muguet to check for Eloise’s scent, as the prince told me.”
“Ah! So that was Abby, not Muguet?”
Abby smiles shyly at my surprise. It makes sense why she was flitting around everywhere.
“Now, Abby. It’s time for your reward. Stand here.”
Zinon gently smiles and positions Abby on the red carpet. Everyone’s attention is drawn to Zinon and Abby. It’s like a red-carpet event.
“Abigail Fisher. In gratitude for your contributions to the future queen, I bestow upon you the title of Viscountess as a reward. And…”
At Zinon’s words, Abby leans forward in excitement, her grass-green eyes sparkling.
“I command you to become the royal palace’s exclusive court gardener.”
“Thank you! Your Highness!”
Abby, grinning like a blooming flower, rushes towards me. I see. She was waiting for these words.
“Sis! My dream came true!”
“Well done, Abby. Thank you, really.”
As Abby and I embrace each other, Julian and Zinon exchange gleeful glances. The path for Julian to marry Abby is being steadily laid out. I remember Julian’s bombshell announcement in the carriage, and despite my worries about Abby, who is still a young girl, Zinon continues and turns to me.
“Now that I’ve appointed Abby as the court gardener…”
Zinon pauses and grins mischievously. Huh?
“We need to hurry up and get married. Abby wants to be the court gardener for us.”
“Eh?”
“Our wedding. We’ll have it early next month.”
“…What?”
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