CPSMBD Chapter 12

Chapter 12

The Plant Serial K!ller

Finally, after what felt like a war of a day, I managed to leave work on time.

It was thanks to Fairdale Boutique, who had originally crafted the Crown Prince's ceremonial attire, agreeing to make alterations. Finding a spare ceremonial outfit had proven impossible - most tailors were swamped preparing pre-ordered outfits for the upcoming banquet. Creating an elaborate ceremonial outfit from scratch in just five days would have been unreasonable anyway.

'Nothing to be done about it. I'll just have to pray nothing happens to dirt His Highness's attire during the banquet.'

I quickly tidied my desk and headed to the greenhouse for a long-awaited meeting of my palace social club. The noble employees of the palace often joined various social clubs to socialize - typically engaging in aristocratic pursuits like shooting, horseback riding, or polo. But as a pacifist, such competitive activities held little appeal for me.

That's why I chose the gardening club instead. It offered a rare moment of tranquility amid the palace's relentless pace.

As I entered the greenhouse, May, our club president, greeted me while carrying a potted plant.

"Violetta! Long time no see. Why are you not visiting us lately?"

"Sorry. I've been barely surviving while preparing for His Majesty's 20th anniversary celebration."

"Ah right! The ceremony is coming up soon. Are things less hectic now?"

"Yes, I don't expect to be too busy until the actual ceremony. Though there's still plenty to do..."

"You really have it rough, ending up in one of the palace's most demanding departments."

"I actually enjoy the work though. Except for the overtime."

May shook her head disapprovingly at my response.

"Enjoying work? You're something else."

I just shrugged slightly - I wasn't looking for sympathy anyway.

Besides May, another member, Ayla, was tending to plants in the club room. Her long ebony hair cascaded down as she worked, her face looking even paler than usual today. As always, she wore a somber dress buttoned up to her neck, her entire demeanor radiating an aura that screamed 'keep away.'

'But I'm not one to be intimidated by such things.'

"Hi Ayla!" I called out cheerfully.

"...Hello." She responded coldly, not even looking up from her plants.

I felt somewhat awkward, but I knew that despite her frosty exterior, Ayla wasn't a bad person. Her current gentle treatment of the plants was proof enough of that.

'How could someone who's willing to kneel on the ground and care for plants, regardless of dirtying their dress, be a bad person?'

Thanks to her crouched position, Ayla's skirt was completely soiled with dirt and dust. In my experience, people who truly care for plants can't be bad people. Period.

Still, lacking the courage to continue making conversation, I moved toward my own plants. That's when I discovered my precious babies were half-dead.

"No! My dear Cho-cho and Nok-nok!"

My plants, which had been gleaming green under the sunlight not long ago, were now yellowed and withered.

Hearing my cry, May came over to examine them.

"Oh my! All of Violetta's plants are dead. These are supposed to be really easy to grow. How did you manage to k!ll them?"

I felt indignant. "But I put so much effort into them this time! No matter how busy I was, I always came to water them!"

Truth be told, this wasn't my first time k!lling plants. I had already earned quite a reputation as a plant serial k!ller within the club.

My commotion must have disturbed Ayla, who came over to inspect my half-d3ad plants.

"...They're not d3ad yet."

She retrieved scissors and began cutting away all the withered leaves. My heart ached watching them fall to the ground. After removing the dead parts, only the stems remained.

"Is it really okay to cut off all the leaves like that?"

"If you don't remove the d3ad parts, you can't revive them."

Ayla brushed the dirt off her hands after finishing.

"Too much water can kill plants too. Only water them when the soil is dry. If you put them outside the greenhouse when it rains, they'll recover quickly."

Watching her save the plants I had nearly k!lled, I could almost see a halo of light behind her.

"Thanks, Ayla. How do you know so much about plants?"

"All the answers are in books."

She gestured with her chin toward a book at her seat.

Aha, of course! One must study to learn. I was curious about what she was reading.

"May I take a look at the book?"

"Do as you please."

I approached Ayla's seat and picked up the book.

'How Even Black Thumbs Can Become Druids'

The book contained various plant illustrations along with characteristics and growing methods.

'With this one book, I could become a plant expert too!'

I made a mental note to borrow some plant-related books next time I visited the library.

As I was returning the book to its place, I accidentally knocked over Ayla's bag that was sitting nearby.

"Oh no!"

The bag tumbled to the floor, spilling its contents everywhere.

Ayla let out a sharp cry.

"What are you doing!"

"Ah, sorry. It was an accident."

Ayla quickly began gathering the scattered items back into her bag.

I helped her pick up the items from the floor, among them an old, worn book titled 'The Ecology and Habits of the Fairy Folk.'

Fairy Folk... Ayla seemed to have more diverse interests than I'd thought.

As I was dusting off the dirt from the book, a piece of paper suddenly slipped out and fell to the floor.

'What's this?'

It was a portrait of the Crown Prince.

Why would Ayla have the Crown Prince's portrait?

'Could she have feelings for His Highness?'

At that moment, Ayla snatched both the book and portrait from my hands, glaring at me. Her usually lifeless, indifferent eyes now sparked with hostility.

"Why are you going through other people's belongings?"

"Ah, um... I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to snoop..."

After stuffing everything back into her bag, Ayla stormed out of the greenhouse.

May came over and patted my shoulder consolingly.

"May, I really messed up, didn't I?"

"You know how Ayla is. She hates having her personal space invaded. Don't beat yourself up too much."

"Yeah."

Still, since I was in the wrong, I decided I should offer a sincere apology next time we met.

***

The Emperor's 20th Anniversary Celebration had begun.

Though I would have preferred to lounge at home enjoying good food rather than attend the ceremony, as the Crown Prince's aide, my presence was mandatory.

Moreover, Lord Dale, whom I'd met for matchmaking recently, might attend today's banquet.

Unfortunately, there had been no contact from Lord Dale since our meeting.

'But that time, His Highness's interference was too severe. If I run into Lord Dale at today's ceremony, I'll try to appeal to him once more!'

I clenched my fist with determination as I entered the banquet hall.

Looking around, the beauty of the noble ladies attending today's event was particularly dazzling.

The jewels adorning their hair and ears sparkled so brilliantly I could barely keep my eyes open.

Then, in the distance, I spotted him.

Failum Dale.

My recent matchmaking partner.

Standing beneath the magnificent chandelier, his appearance seemed even more radiant.

Lord Dale was engaged in conversation with fellow magicians.

As I stood there, mesmerized by his appearance, he happened to turn his head in my direction.

Just as I raised my hand to greet him with a bright smile, something suddenly blocked my view.