Chapter 13: Flower Pot

"Are we still far away?"

Chel wiped away his sweat and asked. Despite the cool weather and not having walked for long, the child seemed to be struggling and kept falling behind.

On the other hand, Ian felt his heart lighten with the fresh outdoor air. The unfamiliar street scenery was quite pleasant to look at.

"We're almost there."

"If you're tired, Young Master Chel, would you like to turn back?"

At Mac's kind words, Chel shook his head.

If Deo were here, I wouldn't know. If I go back alone now, I won't be able to follow Father's instructions. I have to remember as much as possible of what they say to Ian.

"Oh, here we are."

"The landscaping in Portro is quite beautiful, and the lake is very clear. When the weather is good, the mountains are reflected on the water's surface."

Mollin's praise was not just empty words. It was so impressive that even Ian, who had seen the splendid gardens of the palace, found it excellent.

However, that was only for a moment. Ian looked around, trying to hide his troubled expression.

"How wide is it?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't seen it all."

"If we walk slowly, it will take about thirty minutes."

The park was larger than expected.

Since the exact location wasn't specified, the problem was whether they would be able to meet the child's mother. Even while talking to Mollin, Ian kept a sharp eye on every passerby.

'Ah.'

Then, in the distance, a vagrant with a cloth over their head caught his eye. It was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman, as not a single strand of hair was visible. But among the items spread on the ground, one was familiar.

'It's the same.'

A flower pot of the same type as the dried flowers his mother had given him was there. Ian stopped and turned to Chel. Very conveniently, Chel was drenched in sweat, his hair a mess.

"Since Young Master Chel is so tired, it would be good to rest here for a while."

"Should we?"

"If it's okay, could you ask for some drinks?"

"Just a moment. Lee!"

Mac called the servant walking behind them to bring some drinks, and the group sat down at a nearby table bench to catch their breath. Ian kept glancing at the stall, waiting for an opportunity.

"While the servant is getting the drinks, I'd like to take a look over there. Sir, would you like to come with me?"

"...No, I'm fine."

Ian held out his hand, panting. Ian stared intently at the three men, seeking silent agreement. He leaned close to the woman's ear.

"Please don't react too much and listen to what I have to say."

Ian's mother, Filia, was quite beautiful. It was understandable how she had caught Derga's eye.

Filia started to lift her head but stopped at Ian's words. With her vision obscured by the cloth, she could only see the child's chest.

"Ian. Ian…."

"Mother, I'm doing well. I received your letter. Don't worry about me."

Thud. Thud. Ian watched silently as his mother's tears fell. He was sorry, but there was no time. The men behind him wouldn't take their eyes off him.

"Please understand that we can no longer send messages through Hana. And I have a favor to ask."

Ian took out a gold coin from his pocket.

"Did Mother put this in?"

"What? The gold coin?"

Filia seemed to have no idea. As expected, it was as he had thought. The earl had subtly emphasized that he was taking care of his mother financially.

Ian smiled and placed the gold coin in the woman's hand.

"Prepare to hide using this money. I'll let you know the timing through Hana."

Whether she wanted to or not, Filia was currently an obstacle for Ian. To take down Derga, it was best to eliminate all predictable variables.

The woman held the coin and looked up, seemingly confused by what the child was saying.

"Ian, your eyes…."

"Promise me. Promise me you'll do it for me."

Ian's golden eyes, shining like a lion's, startled Filia. As she blinked, a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Ian, if you want to run, you can run."

"Mother, I'm sorry, but…."

"Ian-sama!"

The servant placed the drinks and snacks on the table. Mac called out to Ian, but the child couldn't turn his head. He couldn't show his golden eyes to them.

"I'm so sorry for sending you away. So if you want to, run without hesitation."

Mac approached slowly, his expression growing more puzzled. The woman seemed to have come to meet Ian to convey her resolve. She couldn't bring herself to grab the child's hand, only his sleeve.

"I won't run."

Ian said softly, as if making a resolution.

"Whenever you have the chance, gather Gul seeds. They will surely be of great help later. And forget the song you used to sing to me. The lyrics I'll send in my letters will be the code from now on."

Mac stood right behind him. Ian released his magic and smiled faintly. The golden eyes and the red brooch lost their glow in an instant.

"I'll take the flower pot. This price should be enough."

"Ian-sama? Is something wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Sir Mac. I took a while because I was thinking about whether to buy it or not."

Ian smiled as he picked up the flower pot. Mac scrutinized the child's expression but could detect no emotion other than calmness. He glanced at the vagrant and guided the child.

"Young Master Chel is much weaker than expected."

Then, in a whisper, he mocked Chel's weakness. Ian also smiled and glanced back. Filia, still covered in the cloth, was lying on the ground, silently crying.

"Ian-sama."

"What kind of plant is it?"

Dego's question made Ian laugh. What did he care? He wasn't an expert on plants, and from the letter, he knew it was just a plant the child had grown.

"I'm not sure. I bought it because the flowers were so beautiful."

"Never seen it before…. Mac! Don't you know?"

"How would I?"

"Flowers are your specialty, aren't they?"

"Dego! Really!"

Strangely, it seemed that none of the people present knew the identity of the plant. The red petals, like watercolor, were so striking that they would be unforgettable once seen.

Ian carefully hugged the flower pot and looked back. The woman was already gone.

* * *

Click.

"We've arrived."

The coachman opened the door, and Deo stumbled out, clearly still drunk. At the gate, servants with lanterns were waiting for them.

"Young Master, you've arrived."

"You must be tired. Please come inside quickly."

"Young Master Ian, please go to the study first."

The servants took his coat and handed him a damp towel in unison. Ian handed the flower pot to a servant and headed straight upstairs.

Knock knock.

"Come in."

The permission came almost immediately after the knock. He must have been waiting. As Ian entered, Derga stopped moving his quill.

"Brooch."

Checking the brooch was more important than greetings. Ian went close to the desk and placed the brooch on his chest.

"What did you talk about?"

"Nothing special. The luncheon was held in the reception room of the government office, and we mainly talked about the capital. After the meal, we went to a nearby park and continued our academic discussion."

"Is that all?"

Derga picked up the brooch, brushing his mustache, and next to him was a glass container filled with a transparent liquid, a potion to activate the magic stone.

Plunk.

The magic stone submerged in the liquid glowed. It reacted the same way when Ian had infused it with magic. After a while, a voice, like a slowly spreading wave, echoed.

[...Is this the government office?]

[It's where officials... are dispatched... from the capital. It's clean and... like home.]

"What did you mean by 'like home'?"

"It seems he said it feels like home."

The voice was not clear, probably due to the low-grade magic stone. Ian had to suppress a sigh.

'So he's going to scrutinize every detail that's not accurate.'

Tired as he was, should he just pour out his magic and destroy it? Just as Ian was seriously considering it, he heard someone approaching from outside. It was the countess, Mary.

"Wait, look at me."

"What is it?"

Her tight lips were filled with anger. The count picked up the brooch, frowning, and the countess approached, glaring at Ian. She clearly didn't like the situation.

"Are you going to attach that lowly person to Chel every time he goes out? And to have him follow and monitor just for a class!"

"Where did you get that idea!"

"Are you not going to do it?"

Chel's condition when he arrived at the mansion was terrible. He was drenched in sweat like a drowned pig and could barely walk.

Mary declared she would never send the child to monitor again, and Derga raised his voice. The tension between them was palpable.

"Excuse me."

Ian watched the two silently and then interjected. There was no reason to listen to their argument any longer.

"I'll take my leave first. Father, I'll see you tomorrow."

And he slipped out of the study like a shadow. The servants, who seemed used to this, were huddled in the corridor, quickly clearing the way. Ian, who had come down the stairs, met Hana.

"Hana."

"Ian-sama, I've placed the flower pot in your room."

"Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to complete my task."

He meant he had met his mother. Hana chattered as she followed him.

"When I told them, I realized the park was quite large. So I suggested the entrance closest to the guests' residence in Portro's 3rd district."

Ian turned to the child as he opened the door. As expected. He had met her easily because Hana had handled the arrangements well. She was a smart and helpful child.

"Thanks. If you want something to eat, just let me know."

"Yes, Young Master. Thank you!"

Hana tidied up the lantern and bowed before leaving.

Though not as exhausted as Chel, Ian's legs were also sore. He collapsed onto the bed and muttered.

"This is a problem... Maybe I should take Chel to the training ground?"

It was time to start moving, and he could also use the opportunity to build up his strength. The turbulent times were surely coming.

For the first time, Ian fell asleep face down.