Published

at 27th of May 2020 07:53:48 AM

Chapter 5

The moment he came out from behind his gardenias, Sutton saw a boy with hair like a raven's feather and a fragile, gla.s.s-like expression . He stood in front of him with a tilt on his head, looking curiously at Sutton . Most likely because of the gardenias .

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The boy was shorter, perhaps a year younger than him, and looked incredibly pale . Mournful eyes that were the color of ruby gems met his gaze and Sutton could only feel the pumping of his blood thrum in his chest .

He exhales and keeps in that niggling feeling buried deep inside him .

Of course, there's that brunette fellow behind the boy with the blindfold, but he was much more interested in this boy . He looks like a n.o.ble, all dressed in black, and immediately, Sutton understood .

"Ehem . "

The blindfolded man coughed, bringing back Sutton's attention once more .

"Oh, yes . I'm so sorry . " He quickly apologizes, wiping his hand nervously on his ap.r.o.n .

The boy shook his head gently and let loose a thin smile . It looked like he was trying to rea.s.sure him, despite the falsity of that smile .

"No worries . I can see that you're busy . "

For a moment, Sutton couldn't breathe .

Ah, this voice is too soothing and tender! Too cute! Way too cute!

"Um," Sutton almost stammers out . "How can I help you today?"

The boy looks around for a moment . Sutton understand . The shop has a very wide selection of flowers .

"I am visiting my mother . Do you have anything appropriate for a tombstone?"

Sutton felt a bit of sympathy as he heard these words, and--kindly--he brought the boy over to the funeral flowers, which were located deeper inside the shop .

"White carnations are popular flowers for remembrance . Would you like an arrangement of those?"

He took one out of the vase and brought it to show the boy .

The boy looks at it for a moment, looking contemplative .

"Can you also add white roses and larkspurs?" He suddenly asks .

Purity and Beautiful Spirit .

Sutton understood the language of flowers, and most likely, this boy knew them as well .

His mother must have been a wonderful woman .

Sutton smiles . "Of course . I'll get the bouquet ready for you right away . "

He picks up a few of each of the boy's requested flowers and goes to arrange them behind the store counter . As he does so, he chats with the boy .

"Other than bouquets, we also sell lots of other plant-related products . We have a nursery in the back if you want to grow anything in the future . And seeds, of course . My Pa worked hard on that nursery since he loves flowers so much . It brings him joy when people decide that they want to take home one of his baby flowers . "

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Remove Ads?"Are all the flowers here grown by your father?"

"Each and every one of them . He's got a green thumb that would have made Ma jealous . A little late now, but he's working on making this shop her dream come true if she were still here . " Sutton smiles, a fond look in his eyes appearing as he talked .

"Is it just you and your father, then?" Neo asked curiously .

"Mm . " Sutton nods, trying to focus on making the most beautiful bouquet in his life while chatting with an equally beautiful customer . And his servant, judging by the blindfolded man's outfit .

"Ma died back when I was a baby . Don't really remember her, but according to Pa, that winter was very harsh and she fell ill . "

Neo gives a sad smile and looks down at the flowers . "I guess the two of us have something in common, then . "

"I guess we do . "

Sutton wrapped the bouquet together with a ribbon and some paper before finally handing it to Neo .

"That will be five coppers . "

Neo pulled out his coin purse and gave Sutton a silver .

"Keep the change . "

Sutton's eyes widened when he saw the coin .

"But this is too much . Are you sure you wouldn't want-"

Neo shook his head .

"It is alright . You were good company and helped me make a wonderful bouquet for my mother . "

At the boy's insistence, Sutton could do nothing but pocket the coin uneasily .

"If you say so . "

Neo brought the flowers to his chest and gently held them like a precious treasure .

He bowed his head toward Sutton .

"Thank you very much for your service . "

"Ah," Hastily, Sutton returned the gesture, "Yes, thank you for coming . I do hope you visit again . "

"En . "

Sutton watched as the boy left with his servant and finally fell to his knees behind the counter . He covered his face .

Interestingly enough, a flush that he had been keeping inside him finally surfaced .

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Remove Ads?"Ah, really too cute . . . "

He could only say, smiling helplessly .

Neo was back inside the carriage with the bouquet still in his arms . He gazed down at the arrangement of white roses, carnations, and larkspurs .

Alyoise may have been a wh.o.r.e, one of the best wh.o.r.es of the red light district, and in no way was she pure as a virgin, but . . .

In spirit, she was the best mother anyone could possibly ask for . Her body may have been tarnished, but her heart was not . She was a wonderful existence .

"Young Master, we are here . "

The carriage came to a stop in front of a gate . Beyond that was the burial ground .

St . Achillas Cemetery is beautiful this time of year . The flower trees are blooming and many people have come to visit loved ones .

The carriage caught the attention of some people, but like before, Neo ignored the bewildering stares and had Rainier help him out .

"Would Young Master Nazareth prefer me to stay here?"

Neo shook his head at Rainier's question before he realized he couldn't see the head shake .

"No . You can come with me . "

"As you wish, Young Master . "

Leaving the carriage driver to look after the carriage, the master and servant pair went inside the cemetery .

Neo looked around at the rows of gravestones scattered around the burial site . None of these belongs to Alyoise .

Where are you, mother?

"Is that her, Young Master?"

He turned to Rainier and saw that he was pointing at a small hill that was a short distance away . He has no idea how Rainier was able to pinpoint the hill, given that he was blindfolded, but he knows that the man is a very capable servant, blind or not, so he lets it be .

Atop that hill, a small, decorative gravestone sat in the center of a dandelion field .

He was only seven when he visited her for the first and final time . He didn't know how to plant flowers for her, so he scattered dandelion puffs around her for hours on end until Gareth came to bring him back to the household .

Tightening his hold on the bouquet, Neo felt tears welling up in his eyes . He pursed his lips to stop himself from making any noises that might alert Rainier to the teary state he was in .

"Yeah . . . "

His mouth trembles a little, and he feels himself flush .

"That's her . "

"Should we go a little closer, Young Master?"

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"En . "

Neo approaches his mother's grave and gently lays the bouquet on top of the headstone .

"Rainier, can you give us a moment?"

"Of course, Young Master . "

The servant retreats to the very edge of the dandelion, leaving Neo alone with Alyoise grave .

Neo crouches down and smiles .

"h.e.l.lo, Mummy . "

He wipes his tears away with his thumb, but his smile is bright .

"You won't believe the adventure I just had . " He sighs . "Last time I saw you I was seven, but you know, Mummy, I didn't visit you anymore after that . "

He never visited her after she was buried .

"I died before I graduated from n.o.ble Academy . If you were watching over me those last few years, then I guess you must be disappointed . But don't worry . I became Neo . "

He became Neo Overland, adopted son of an elderly couple and a well-known medical researcher in the field of medicine and science .

"I'm sorry, Mummy . I know it took you time to think of my name, but your naming senses have always been atrocious . " Neo admitted with a helpless smile . "I came back after working myself too hard . Who knew I could be so careless? I'm sure you would have beaten me with a slipper . " He laughs a little, wiping another stray tear away .

"Ah, Mummy, I really miss you . I promise, to do better this time around . I'll repent for my crimes and make sure not to hurt anyone anymore . I will help as many people as I can so I won't disappoint you, okay?"

Rea.s.suring her of this, Neo stood up and gave a gentlemanly bow before beaming a bright smile .

"Good bye, Mummy . I'll see you next time . "

Unbeknownst to him, a faint silhouette of a beautiful woman with blonde hair and vermillion eyes sat upon the gravestone with an equally charming smile on her face . She chuckles a little, amused at the antics of her son .

Neo walks down the hill to meet Rainier again .

"Are you finished, Young Master . "

He hums out an answer and bends down to pick up a dandelion puff .

"Rainier, can you take off your blindfold for a moment?"

A distinctive pause . But then . . .

"As you wish, Young Master . "

Rainier unties the blindfold . His eyes open up and he gazes down at the youth before him .

He sees the boy smile at him, very subtle and demure, and then the yellow flowers surrounding them . Miss Ayloise's burial ground was quite nice .

He noticed that the Young Master held a dandelion puff in his hand and was looking at him intently .

Was he going to blow it at him?

"This is . . . " He wasn't sure what to make of it .

The Young Master shakes his head at him, looking a little amused, but Rainier didn't understand what was so funny .

"I'm going to remove those marks . "

The Young Master declares with a look of determination in his vermillion eyes .

This time, it was Rainier's turn to be amused .

What is this sc.u.mmy trouble maker up to now?

He delivers a dazzling smile on cue . "Then, I shall wait for the day that Young Master fulfills his promise . "

"Un . "

The youth nods, almost childishly, and turns away from him .

Rainier wondered what he was doing .

But then, he raises the dandelion puff and blows .

A mult.i.tude of dandelion seeds fly into the air and disappear amongst the sea of yellow flowers .

The Young Master turns around with the brightest smile he has ever seen .

"Never hurts to have more . "

This Young Master of his was becoming more and more interesting .

"Let's go back, Rainier . "

The ride back home was silent, but not uncomfortable .

A pair of vermillion eyes stared as the carriage went past the town and into the open road .

Last time was horrible . He had hurt so many people . This time, he'll step back . He won't fight anymore, or scheme . All Neo wants is to help .

Hmm, perhaps he'll go back into medicine again, maybe grow his own herbal garden and do some research . Perhaps even build a greenhouse, because G.o.d knows what kind of medical treatments are being practiced in this world .

He sighs, smiling to himself .

This time, he'll find his happiness .

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