The Flower Dances and the Wind Sings

Chapter 4

Lianne couldn’t believe the duchess was planning on just shopping. “By shopping, I didn’t mean that you should go and shop for things you need. It’s supposed to be about picking out things for Lord Vicente and developing bonds,” Lianne said in frustration.

Ersella didn’t respond so Lianne continued.

“Like clothes or accessories that might fit him… I hear earrings are in fashion among men these days. But I can’t imagine that Lord Vicente would enjoy that, so we might leave that out. Anyway, you could buy him a pair of gloves or a handkerchief to wipe his brow with. Of course, it would be even better if you could embroider it yourself. Come to think of it, that’s a great idea! I know you seldom engage in embroidery, but I’m sure you could get a hang of it with a bit of practice. I suppose I should prepare a soft plain fabric and silk threads. Hmm, what else do we have? Hats, formal wear, daily wear, shoes… There are many things that you can buy him. I’d say clothes would be the best. You can admire his handsomeness while he tries various things on...” Lianne had begun to ramble.

Ersella still didn’t speak, which prompted Lianne to keep going.

“Also, do not observe passively. Make sure to praise him. That would make you two look like a loving mother and a son in anyone’s eyes.”

Having poured out her stream of consciousness, Lianne smiled cheerfully as she pictured what she just said. Ersella, on the other hand, had to force herself to smile as she faced the prospect of embroidering a handkerchief, buying hats, shoes, or clothes, and praising her son as he tried them on.

“That sounds… nice,” Ersella managed.

Lianne’s smile was still bright. “Right? Seeing you so passionate fires me up too! Oh, it might also be nice to go to a play or a concert together. Or you can go to a ballet. How about taking a trip? I suppose it might be too early for that. Hmm…” Lianne pondered aloud.

“Stop, stop!” cried Ersella, hastily holding her hands up to Lianne, who stared back at her questioningly, her expression showing that she clearly had more to say. “We should go slow, shouldn’t we? It’s not like we can do everything at once.”

Though Lianne seemed disappointed, she nodded obediently and said, “Then let’s start by having breakfast together tomorrow.”

“All right.”

Having reached a compromise, Ersella waited for the next day.

***

Waking up half an hour earlier than usual, Ersella sauntered into the dining hall. The long table with a red tablecloth that was embroidered in gold was meant for a large family. However, aside from rare occasions when they had visitors, the table only sat three people.

Often, she ate alone without Vicente. Occasionally, she ate with Harzen. The realization made Ersella feel somber.

“You’re here early, Your Grace. I’ll prepare breakfast right away,” greeted the butler.

“All right. What about Vicente?” Ersella asked.

“He has finished his meal and gone off to the training hall.” The butler looked curiously at Ersella as if surprised by her interest in her son.

Her face fell. “Let him know that I would like to eat together next time,” she said wistfully.

The butler was surprised. “But His Grace would not be happy about that. Any delay in Lord Vicente’s breakfast would interfere with his other schedules…” he explained.

“Then I shall eat earlier. Call me when Vicente is eating.”

“What about His Grace—”

“Let him do as he pleases, Clifton.”

She sometimes ate with Harzen, unless he was busy. At this point though, she could not afford to think about him. She had to do something to improve her relationship with her son. Also, she would dine with Harzen for dinner anyway, so it should not matter.

“Sorry…?” muttered Clifton. The duchess’s declaration must have been truly shocking because it seemed to have affected the man who was, otherwise, always composed. Ersella, however, did not care.

“From now on, I’m going to dine with my son.”

Beth, another maid, cleared her throat. “Um, did you have a fight with His Grace?” Please, Your Grace, don’t be too angry…” she pleaded.

Ersella had brought Beth from her family home. Grumbling silently that she must have indulged the maid too much, she smiled softly. “Do you wish to get fired?”

“My goodness, no!” cried Beth, clamping her mouth shut in fear.

Ersella thought that Beth’s reactions were as cute as ever. Chuckling, Ersella added kindly, “And no, we did not fight. Anyway, when does Vicente eat? Seven o’clock?”

“Five o’clock, Your Grace.”

“What…?”

“It’s not much of a meal either. He just has a piece of bread before heading to the training hall.”

Ersella fell silent at the news. She normally ate around eight o’clock, neither too early nor too late. So she had imagined seven o’clock would do it. The fact that the boy ate hastily at five in the morning before going to train shocked her.

“Bring Vicente here right now,” Ersella ordered coldly a moment later.

She could not believe Clifton. To imagine that the boy had lived that way all along and that she did not know it! Though she knew her husband was invested in Vicente’s education, she did not know it was this extreme. In her eyes, this was too cruel. If she could’ve, she would’ve gone over and protested right now.

However, did she have any right to criticize Harzen when she did not even know how Vicente lived until now, never even bothering to find out? No.

Much to her dismay, Ersella realized that she did not have such a right. Feeling ashamed about the fact that she did not know anything about her son and angry at how things were right now, Ersella bit her lips before she declared, “From now on, keep the training hall locked until eight in the morning.”

“Then Lord Vicente would not be able to train,” the butler replied.

“That’s exactly what I mean!”

The butler and the other servants watched with nervous expressions as Ersella fumed. Per her order, they had sent for Lord Vicente. However, they couldn’t imagine what might happen if the two met right now.

“Anyway, stop Vicente from entering the training hall before eight,” Ersella said.

“Did I do something wrong?” spoke Vicente’s cold voice as he walked in.

“Vicente?”

He bowed as Ersella turned toward the door. Though he was as flawlessly respectful as ever, his expression seemed colder than usual. “I came upon your calling. But may I ask what you meant just now?” he asked.

“I meant what I said. Waking up at dawn to train? That’s ridiculous…”

“It’s not your business, Mother,” Vicente said flatly, cutting off Ersella’s impassioned words as if demanding to know why she was meddling.

Hurt by the nonchalance, Ersella found herself ranting, forgetting what she promised about changing her tone. “What are you talking about, Vicente? Nobody—not even His Majesty—spends their day like you.”

Vicente cut across her. “I’m doing what I must do as the one who should serve as the kingdom’s blade. There’s nothing strange about this. Mother, why are you—”

“Vicente!” she cried angrily. The atmosphere fell. Realizing that she had gotten too ahead of herself, she collected her breath. Using a softer voice, she said, “Don’t you realize how ridiculous this is? This is… an abuse. You’re still a growing child, are you not?”

Vicente’s face contorted slightly. Looking colder than ever, he said, “What you said would bring dishonor to our family if anyone else hears it. My father would be infuriated.”

Tension filled the air. “Dishonor to the family…?” Ersella muttered at the icy response.

While it was true that the interaction might shame the family name to others, did that really matter at this point? Vicente’s lips twisted as if he read Ersella’s thoughts.

“Wasn’t that what you cared about the most?” Though it was slight and almost unnoticeable, his gesture was mocking. “I will ignore what happened today.”

Turning away from Ersella as if he would never talk to her again, Vicente stalked out.

***

“Your Grace, do not be so disheartened. I’m sure Lord Vicente also regrets what he said,” Lianne consoled her.

Unable to find any appetite after what happened, Ersella returned to her room without having breakfast. Despite Lianne’s comforting words, she could not hide her disappointment.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you beforehand, but it slipped from my mind…” Lianne continued, expressing regret at having forgotten her duty.

However, Ersella could not blame her. Lianne was her maid. Since Ersella normally did not interact with her son, there was no way the maid would have remembered Vicente’s schedule. She had no wish to blame her. Recalling what she had just learned, Ersella spoke, “I can’t believe Harzen did that.”

Vicente was still a growing boy. Yet, he was training without having a proper breakfast. She couldn’t imagine that he slept well either. Did he even have any friends? This was when he should be running around outside with friends. Vicente being the heir to the house did not change the fact that he was being denied what a boy his age should have. Wondering how she could have realized this so late, Ersella blamed herself.

Soon, her resentment reached Harzen even though she knew he did not deserve it. Though she knew he must be focused on his only son, she couldn’t help but begrudge her husband for not giving his son some room to breathe.

“Lord Vicente always pursues perfection,” Lianne said.

But Ersella could not believe how cruel her husband was being to their son. Though she knew Vicente’s schedule was tight before, she did not know it was this bad. “How many tutors does he have?” she asked.

“Geography, history, social studies, diplomacy, economics, law, politics, philosophy, literature, piano… I’d say at least more than ten,” Lianne replied.

“That many?”

“Yes. His Grace always looks for the best in the field. Usually, they’re the professors from the academy.”

“And Vicente understands all of that?”

“Lord Vicente is doing a stellar job.”

“My…” Ersella sighed. So the boy was able to go through the ridiculous schedule. Admiration for his intelligence aside, she felt stifled by the physically and mentally draining schedule. “To imagine…” she muttered.

“Your Grace.”

Trying to stifle her anger, Ersella sucked in a breath. “To imagine that we were abusing our child.”

Lianne anxiously watched Ersella as she calmly uttered the words. Abuse? The rather abrasive choice of words made her worry that someone might be listening. At the same time, however, she pitied the duchess who seemed very upset.

“Lianne,” Ersella called.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Tell the butler to let go of all tutors except four.”

Instead of asking Only four? she asked, “What subjects should we keep?”

“Let’s just keep geography, history, social studies, and politics for now. We can start the other subjects after he’s done with those. Also, he has no need for piano or philosophy. Philosophy only asks you foolish questions about why you live, where you come from, or how you should live!”

“Yes, yes… You’re right. Those are useless.”

Telling herself that Her Grace must have had a hard time with philosophy, Lianne did not complain and did as she was told. Though His Grace was sure to take an issue with this, it was Her Grace who would take the ire. She then vowed to lay low as she saw the storm brewing in the mansion.

“Also, tell him to make sure that he keeps the training hall locked until eight. If I hear that Vicente was in the training hall before eight, there will be consequences.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Tell Vicente that we will eat together at seven-thirty. He must be there.”

Lianne tilted her head. “Wouldn’t he resent you if you ordered him so?”

“Would he listen if I don’t?”

Well, that was true. If the duchess just suggested it, Lord Vicente would likely ignore her. Lianne had to admit that while it may be a bit authoritarian, Her Grace’s way was right. Also, as upset as Her Grace was, she had to placate her as best as she could.

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll go and tell him right away. But since both of you seem upset at each other, how about you eat lunch and dinner separately and try to spend quality time tomorrow morning?”

“You’re right… I got a bit… hotheaded today.” A silence followed. She thought for a while before nodding. “Right. That’s what I should do,” she muttered.

Instead of improving their relationship, she made it worse. Though she wished she could have held back her anger, she couldn’t help but be furious at realizing how she did not know what kind of life Vicente had. She was not going to ignore what happened.

“When is Harzen getting home tonight?” she asked, determined to resolve this issue even if it meant making an ultimatum with her husband.