# Chapter 35
Edmund returned to his palace carrying the chocolate, and lost himself in thought for a moment.
It was the image of Olivia running toward him every day with cat-like speed. Small and fragile, but she packs nuts firmly, just like Olivia who gets her tasks done efficiently.
“Maybe next time I'll call her 'kitten' instead of 'kitty'.”
Edmund imagined Olivia shouting, “I'm not a cat!”, and he laughed softly.
“Yes, I should give her some medicine.”
Edmund loved medicinal herbs that were beneficial to the body and took them regularly. Although others believed that his body was strong enough, he preferred bitter herbs to harmful sweet foods.
Since he had recently hurt her shoulder, ankle, and forehead, it seemed to him that medicinal herbs would be better than chocolate as an apology.
“I will tell her to eat these herbs to recover.”
Edmund took out a generous supply of the precious herbs he had been keeping for himself, and smiled proudly.
If she sees this, she may confess her love immediately.
He muttered that it would be annoying, but the raised corner of his mouth did not go down.
***
"…What is this?"
As usual, Felix came before sunrise to accompany his master, and looked at Edmund in astonishment.
"What?"
“Yesterday, didn't you just buy chocolate?”
“That's right. This is just… an apology gift.”
“Medical herbs?”
"Isn't it more valuable than chocolate? It's much more expensive, and it's good for the body too."
Felix shook his head quietly. He felt that his master's romantic relationship was in danger if he continued like this.
“Hmm, I don’t think people give medicinal herbs as an apology gift...”
“Really? But I always offer such things to His Majesty the Emperor when he is sick.”
“That's completely different.”
Felix smirked, refraining from saying more.
“In my opinion, since Olivia is a girl, she might prefer flowers.”
“…Flowers?”
Edmund raised an eyebrow.
Flowers? Should he now ask him to carry a bouquet of flowers and give it to her? Surely, Olivia will open her eyes with surprise and joy.
Whatever the flower, you will smile happily.
“…Flowers.”
He doesn't like flowers, but that smile can be very pretty.
Edmund imagined that smile and his lips parted slightly.
“So, shall I pick one from the garden on my way?”
“Oh, great idea! The palace garden is full of beautiful roses these days!”
“Too many roses...but.”
“It sounds like a love confession.”
Edmund muttered.
"What? Why?"
Edmund ignored the surprised Felix and strode out.
The active gardener had been in the garden since early morning.
While he was choosing flowers to decorate the Emperor's room, he was surprised by the sudden appearance of Edmund, so he dropped all the flowers he was carrying.
“Your Highness Edmund?”
This man, who did not differentiate between weeds and flowers, did not usually come here. The gardener tensed, fearing that he would lose his job.
“Here, something... I mean...”
Edmund tried to explain something, but he looked at the flowers the gardener had dropped.
“That flower.”
“You mean this one?”
“Yes, that one. The blue flower.”
The gardener extended his trembling hands and handed Edmund a bouquet of delphiniums he had picked in the morning.
“This is a delphinium.”
“This is an occasion.”
She was small and delicate, just like Olivia.
“Is it enough?”
Felix sighed at Edmund's proud question.
He wanted to say that offering a flower that had fallen on the ground was inappropriate, but he considered it a great advance anyway.
***
“Where do I put this?”
When it came time to introduce her, Edmund suddenly felt shy. If he put it on the desk, Olivia would ask him as soon as she arrived what it was.
If that happens, he won't be able to say what he wants.
Edmund thought, then opened his desk drawer.
It was full of important documents, but that didn't matter to him now.
He took out the randomly arranged documents, and put inside the drawer the chocolate he had bought yesterday, the herbs he had chosen himself, and the flower he had brought this morning.
Now, when Olivia comes to work, he will give her these things and apologize.
“Where is the note you wrote yesterday?”
While Edmund was leaning on his chin, rehearsing the situation when Olivia came in, the door suddenly opened, and he froze.
Edmund swallowed his breath.
Olivia was always beautiful, but today she looked like she had gone the extra mile. She sat there and blinked her eyes.
'What is this? Why is she so beautiful?'
Edmund bit his lower lip hard. He wanted to say something to Olivia, who was casting frequent glances at him.
'You look beautiful today.'
Just three words.
But he couldn't say it, instead he said: “You came early.”
bunk.
Edmund saw Olivia, who usually chatted on sight, respond briefly and look at the documents. He wiped the sweat from his hands on his pants several times.
“…Is your forehead okay?”
Yes, he should apologize first.
Edmund thought as he uttered words of apology.
“I didn't know I would push you so hard...”
He looked at the note he wrote yesterday after thinking for a long time: [These are my precious herbs, good for restoring energy, so eat them regularly. You must be in good health.]
All he has to do is read it. Edmund swallowed.
“Hmm, this, I mean...”
As he was opening the drawer to take out the gift, he heard a voice: “Olivia! Why are you so beautiful today?”
The others started to enter.
Edmund regretted not speaking up sooner, but thought there was another chance. Close the drawer.
He felt remorse when he saw Olivia smiling happily at the compliment.
He should have been the one to say it first.
"You are very beautiful!"
While everyone was complimenting Olivia's appearance, Edmund's lips moved. Maybe he could say what he didn't say now, in a natural way like the rest of his subordinates.
You are beautiful today.
One simple word, naturally.
“I have a date!”
At that moment, when he heard the name she spoke, Edmund bit his lip until he almost bleed without realizing it.
'Her ankle hurts, and her shoulder still hurts.'
However, what date is this?
Edmund felt upset. He was looking at the documents, but his eyes were following Olivia.
It bothered him when she arranged the documents while touching her right shoulder with her left hand because of the pain.
‘Should I give her sick leave by force?’
But if he did, he wouldn't see her.
What if Galerheid visited her at her home under the pretext of treatment?
He never wanted to see that scene.
'an appointment? At a time like this?'
He tried to think of a way to postpone her appointment, but Olivia finished arranging the documents efficiently and left.
“Are you ignoring me now?!”
After Olivia ran outside, Edmund shouted into the office and threw a pile of papers.
Everyone shrank into their seats and quietly left the office.
“Is this reasonable? Didn’t she confess her love to me yesterday?”
"But you always ignore it. Since you're worried about the rumors, you wanted to get rid of them quickly, didn't you?"
Felix shrugged. He felt that his master deserved it.
“So they say be nice when you have the opportunity.”
"This is amazing. Were her words to me just words?"
Edmund tapped the desk lightly. The documents he had taken out in the morning collapsed on the floor.
"the curse!"
The drawer opened violently. The gift he couldn't give decorated one side of the drawer.
He threw the flower he had carefully chosen into the trash, as well as the chocolate he had waited in line to buy.
'Yes, I knew that.'
It was not plausible that the words of the girl who suddenly declared her love were sincere. That was expected. All she knew about him was his name and position, so how could her feelings be so deep?
'It was feelings that changed in one day.'
Despite this thought, his heart remained troubled.
“Felix.”
"Yes?"
“…Let’s catch up with her.”
"What?!"
Felix was startled, but Edmund had already gotten up from his seat.
"quickly!"
“Your Highness, clingy men are not attractive.”
“Who said I was clingy?!”
Edmund continued his denial as he quickened his steps.