Flowers of Worship

Chapter 7

My uncle is not Eden. I have legitimacy, the divine blood, noble name, and God’s blessing, it’s all mine. I’ve forgotten most of those things, but I’ve never forgotten my legitimacy. My father taught me over and over again why I’m special, the authentic one, and it has become the core of my very existence.

Originally I had to have a glittering crown along with my throne, but I fell apart from my throne, and it was my fault, so now I’m the crown prince that has been sealed away. Nonetheless, I am the crown prince, I’ll never sell myself for something cheap.

I firmly clenched my fist.

Father, please give me strength.

Mother, please protect me.

“It may be too redundant, but still thank you,” the woman said. This woman is my stepping stone, and I will step on her. I didn’t want to smile at all, but I still had to smile. I forced myself to smile. Once again, little by little I could feel my laughter becoming more natural.

When she looked up at me, I revealed my beautiful natural smile.

“Thank you, Lord Hastread, for being in the same boat as me.”

She’s the only straw I can hold on to, as of now anyway.

I won’t miss my chance.

***

The second chance for an 11-year-old who had lost everything.

“Wow, I’ve never seen such an ambitious 11-year-old with such eyes.”

Ugh, gross, Chris shuddered as if he was horrified.

They casually called him Eden since he had little chance of reinstating himself as crown prince. However, by the time Eden had been in her castle for a few days, people’s evaluations were divided. In general, good reviews such as thoughtful, quiet, and hard-working were the mainstream, but there were quite a few people who commented like Chris.

“Home-based teachers are very popular. He’s going to learn fast, especially since, he’s very passionate about studying.”

Sophia followed up on my words, “He’s a good person; he’s calm, passionate, and kind to everyone.”

“If his ambition is so strong, he should study hard. He looks pretty, but only because now he doesn’t look like a dirty old bird, and it’s natural to be kind. You were a slave until a few days ago, and now you’re a guest of the lord, so you get arrogant then you’re back to your old self, what are you going to do if that happens?” Chris grumbled, Chris, the second son of a count, seems to dislike the prince.

I was lost in thought for a moment before realizing. Oh, the count is now a close associate of the current king. He was recently appointed as the minister of the palace. The fact that the king appointed the count as the head of the main palace means that he is close to the king, and is comfortable with him.

As for the count’s second son, Chris, the beloved son, he had no choice but to react sensitively. Of course, the County will go to his eldest brother, but if the Count gets another title, the share belongs to Chris. If he gets it, the land will be handed over to the descendants of Chris for the rest of his life, which is a sensitive issue for him.

“You’re originally a bad guy,” Sofia muttered with an uncomfortable look. Chris only snorted at her words, which were said to be more unlucky today.

“Fortunately, the Baron, who was given a land and a title, knows the agony of this humble knight or a bum,” retorted Chris.

“You must want to get married because you’re having another seizure. Just get married, please.”

“You can’t imagine how miserable a child is born as the second son of a noble without any title to pride themselves in.”

“You can be a knight.”

“What if I don’t have talent? And who’s going to give me knighthood? Even without I would still be a son of a Count. My son is a knight, but by no means should my father be knighted.”

Because he didn’t want to pass down his misery, Chris said he wouldn’t get married. Even though he is handsome, he refused all proposals. Chris’s will power is so strong that even his father, the Count, could not order him to marry anyone, this is because it looked like Chris would abandon his father if he forced him to marry.

“Whoa. Chris, you are the noblest of all of us.”

Sophia is free-spirited because she was raised as a commoner. She’s overwhelmed by the aristocracy’s etiquette, and absolutely can’t stand dresses. While I am good at etiquette and not uncomfortable with dresses, in the end, I am an emerging aristocrat. Before my father was knighted, becoming a lord, my family was also a commoner. Although he is a little famous for being treated as a commoner and actively engaged in high society, he is not a blue blood at all.

Chris is an elegant and perfect aristocrat, coming from a long family of meritorious retainers of the royal family. In fact, I think Chris is more aristocratic than his brother, in a good and a bad way.

Chris smiled faintly when he heard is the most aristocratic out of us and crossed his legs while maintaining flawless posture as we sat. He had a bitter smile. He smiled for a moment, bowed his head, then looked up again to make eye contact with me.

“Lord.” He used a low serious tone, which is rare considering his nature.

“Yes.”

“He’ll be angry later.”

That kid.

Chris deliberately played Eden down knowing that he is the crown prince, he seems to deny his legitimacy for the throne. Considering the situation and Chris’ position, it is something to be fully understood. Most of all, he doesn’t know the promise between me and Eden. It is a secret between him and me that he would support my inheritance in exchange for helping Eden win the lottery.

“Let’s say you don’t remember who he really is, but one day, he might remember it. Then it’ll become infinitely more complicated. Even if he tries to stay still, he’ll never let it go.”

Even Chris, who commented that he had ambitious eyes, did not seem to think Eden remembered who he was. Of course, Eden lacked table manners and was not graceful in his actions. If he was a child of nobility, he didn’t show it, even nobles don’t have etiquette from the moment they’re born.

Etiquette needs training. It should be repeated sufficiently to be an ingrained habit. Eden’s life is enough to destroy that kind of habit, but Eden is a prince, he was born with a sense of politics thus succeeded in persuading me.

“Lord, make up your decision.” Sophia frowned at Chris’ comment.

“Are you going to kill a poor kid? He’s the rightful successor. Even if we can’t get the throne back, we should let him return to where he rightfully belongs.”

Once Sofia said poor kid Chris launched into his argument, “Poor child?” Sophie, wake up! The really poor thing is that if such a child suddenly appears publicly our lives will be shaken, lost, and destroyed. You think he’s not gonna kill a couple of people?”

“Just because there’s a possibility, does that make it the right decision to kill a child who’s been taken away from his home? Is that even moral?”

“Who says it’s moral? That it’s right?! It’s simply because that way is the most reasonable and fewer people will get hurt. You don’t have to ask for a troublesome job!”

Sophia and Chris began yelling at each other and would continue until I tried to stop them.

“Stop.” Leon, the deputy chief of the Knights, properly stopped them. Sophia and Chris stared at each other coldly and bit each other with discontent.

“It’s the first time I’ve known the Lord that you’re capable of playing Gatabuta.”

When Leon, who was just entering the room, poured out criticism, Sophia and Chris both lowered their eyes. Recognizing that they crossed the line, I didn’t know whether I should be angry or forgive them. I wasn’t angry, but I am also not pleased. Because I was born with a low temper, I was forced to raise my anger when I had to be angry. That’s why it’s always been a little difficult to know if I should be angry or not.

When I glanced at Leon, he looked angry at Sophia and Chris. If I now lacked the feeling of anger that I was born with, Leon is cold and doesn’t often get angry. However, in the past, once I got angry I would be angry like fire, Leon is much the same. Wouldn’t it be better to get up now? Leon will definitely be mad at me if he gets angry.

‘Don’t let him climb!’ The nagging discipline, warning me against letting him get his way, will start immediately, and it’s unlikely that I will ever get used to it.

“Oh, it’s time to go see him.”

I have to run.

I quickly got up from my seat before Leon’s anger turned on me. Sophia and Chris looked at me with their eyes wide open. They seemed to say, ‘Are you going to leave us?!’ Of course, I am, if it’s an enemy I can fight and kill, but if it’s Leon, there’s no other way but to run away.

“Where are you going?” Leon asked before I left the room. He seemed to be curious about where I was headed, it looked like he knew that I was running away. Either way, it didn’t matter, I’m done with my business once I leave this place.

“I have an appointment.” I didn’t mention where I was going.

Eden’s favorite place was the lake. He is known to have drowned in the lake, but he was apparently kidnapped during a night swim. Anyway, he still liked the lake and swimming. In recent years, he has not been able to swim leisurely, so nowadays he has been floating in the lake whenever he has time.

“It’s weird….”

I caught a glimpse of Eden taking the towel I gave him and drying himself off. Although he is petite and short for an 11-year-old, his speech is no different from that of an adult. However, the flaw remains that his body is too small. Those who were named Eden, or the kings, were all knights of great caliber.

Will he get better when he grows up?

While I was thinking, he continued, “I went through so much, all caused by one night swimming in a lake, but I still love swimming.”