[TKOSINM] 112 – Hometown of Flowers

The day after the meal, the Emperor’s reply arrived. They received approval to enter the palace the next day. Accordingly, Irene and Noel hurried to prepare. Since Irene was going to an audience with the Emperor, she meticulously checked a few more times when she was dressing.  Right on time, Noel’s voice was heard behind her door along with a knock. 

“Irene, can I come in?” 

“Yes.” she called. The door opened and Noel, dressed in a white uniform, came in. Irene got up from her seat and walked over to him. Today she was wearing a pale yellow dress. Noel looked at her for a moment and then quietly smiled at her.

“It suits you,” he said.

At his words, she flushed. 

“Thank you. Shall we go?” she replied cautiously.

“Yes.”  The pair left walking side by side.

The Grand Duke was standing in front of the carriage that was parked at the entrance of the mansion. Irene bowed her head to greet him. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to go with me?”

The Grand Duke looked at Irene with affectionate eyes and asked Noel.

“Yes. It’s merely a matter of getting approval, and while I’m visiting, I plan to tour the Imperial Palace with Irene.”

“Huh, I guess I’m in the way.”

“Sorry.” At Noel’s agreement, the Grand Duke laughed out loud. His mood was pleasant.

“Have a good time then.”

Irene blushed and hurriedly got into the carriage with Noel’s help at the urging of the Grand Duke. After bidding farewell, the carriage’s door closed and began its journey.

“Is it because you’re uncomfortable?”

“What do you mean?”

“What you just said. You’re going to visit the Imperial Palace with me…”

“Oh.”

Noel nodded as if he knew what she was talking about. He even replied sullenly.

“Of course, it’s true that I’m uncomfortable with my grandfather, but I didn’t make that as an excuse.”

“Oh? Then…”

“Have you been to the Imperial Palace, Irene?” At his sudden question, Irene shook her head even though she was bewildered. 

“No, I’ve never been.” 

“I see. I’ve only been there once. With my father when I entered the Kristen family. I was seven years old.”

Suddenly, what was he trying to say? Irene listened to Noel speak silently. Noel paused for a moment and smiled softly at Irene, who was giving him a blank stare.

“Since I was young, I don’t have much memory of the Imperial Palace. Irene, you also said that you’ve never been to the Imperial Palace, so how about touring the Imperial Palace in the meantime? There will be more things to see than you think.”

At his sudden suggestion, Irene widened her eyes and looked at Noel -- her heart pounding.

“Yes, I’d like that.” Irene answered cheerfully.

She turned her head and looked out of her window.

I’m looking forward to it.

Her excitement swelled. It was unclear whether this excitement was due to her first visit to the Imperial Palace, or whether it was because she was visiting the Imperial Palace with Noel.

♔♔♔

“We have arrived.”

At the coachman’s words, Irene and Noel alighted the carriage. Having set foot on the ground, Irene raised her head. She soon let out an exclamation of admiration.

“Wow! It’s enormous…”

When she first saw the Grand Duchy, she thought it was very big and spacious, but the Imperial palace was so much more than that. And every single building...

It rose sky high, and shone under the glittering sunlight.

“Hello, I am Akhel. I’ve been assigned to serve you two. His Majesty is waiting for you.” Whilst Irene was preoccupied with thoughts of touring the Imperial palace, the maid who quietly approached her, bowed her head and introduced herself. Hearing that the emperor was waiting, Irene came to her senses and looked in front of her. 

This is not the time to be distracted. 

She didn’t know if it was because she had gotten the Grand Duke’s approval, but she had put her guard down, even before she had officially received approval. She shook her head, admonishing herself.

“Shall we go?”

“Ah…”

Noel reached out his hand towards her as she turned to face him. It looked very natural, as if it were the most natural gesture. Irene paused briefly but soon she grasped his hand tightly. 

They followed after the maid, her hand in his. It was quite the distance from the carriage to the palace’s main building where the emperor had his audiences. There was a large intricate flower garden on the way to the main palace. The three walked slowly through, absorbing the fragrant aroma of the flowers. Roses, lavender, dendrobiums. The petals fluttered in the wind and colourful butterflies waltzed with the flowing petals, as if drunk on the enchanting fragrance. It was like stepping into a painting.

“This flower garden has a long history, and has been cultivated and cared for by a lineage of empresses. It is named ‘ The Road to Gold’, because it is the pathway to the main palace.”

The maid explained. “It is also called ‘The Hometown of Flowers’ because there are all kinds of flowers in the empire. Visitors to the Imperial Palace can enter at any time, so if you have the time, I recommend taking a look around.”

“Thank you for your explanation.”

Irene nodded, the garden was mesmerising. As she listened to the explanation, it made her feel it was even more mysterious. 

The Hometown of Flowers.

Such a pretty name. If it was a place managed by successive empresses, it must mean that they put a lot of time and effort into it.

I’d like to transform this into a painting, but that won’t do.

No matter how free access was, there was no way anyone who was not a member of the Imperial Family would be able to sit down and paint. 

You should keep it in your eyes as much as possible.

To remember the scenery as much as possible, Irene looked around and captured the garden into her memory. After observing the garden for a while, Irene turned her head to look at Noel. 

“Noel, you’re really pretty…”

But when she turned to him, any more words failed to come out of her mouth. With this garden so beautiful, it was obvious that anyone would be admiring it, Noel included, but he wasn’t. Noel was looking at Irene. She was holding the garden in her eyes, whilst he had her in his eyes. Irene’s eyes widened. Noel, too, had not expected her to turn around suddenly and seemed slightly surprised. Awkward eye contact followed. Neither willing to avert their gaze, holding onto the silence.

The maid who was a few steps ahead of them, looked back at the two and said.

“This is the main palace. His Majesty is waiting.”

“Ah…”

The two, startled by the maid’s urging voice, looked away from each other embarrassed and followed. Throughout the walk, Irene only looked at the ground, Noel, only looked ahead. Still, their hands were tightly entwined, neither letting go.

As she became conscious of his hand, which fit comfortably and naturally into the shape of hers, Irene looked at his large hand and grasped it even tighter. She did not want to be fooled by liking the temperature and feel of his hand.

♔♔♔

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