Chapter Seventeen: The Fruit Tree Blossoms
“The wheat ears sway in the evening glow…”
“The light that will never return… is your homecoming…”
The song, both near and far, seems elusive when heard from a distance, but as I approach the iron gate of the mansion, it starts to weave a captivating tale, like the gentle spring rain in March, quietly nurturing my soul.
Wow, she really can sing…
But she actually came back earlier than I expected; I thought I’d have to wait until evening.
I silently stood at the iron gate, closed my eyes, and listened for a bit. As the song wrapped up, I jumped over the tangled weeds of the fence, set foot on the lush green lawn, and headed toward the Honey Fruit Tree in the courtyard.
Queen Victoria was right under that tree.
At that moment, she had shed her armor, donned a beautiful, purple court gown that looked like hibiscus, and somehow managed to fetch two tea-colored wooden chairs. She was lounging comfortably in one, her satin-like golden hair cascading lazily down her back to touch the grass at her feet, blending seamlessly with the vibrant greenery.
Her figure was as unreachable and dreamlike as a mythical sprite, yet she was merely an arm’s length away from me.
I quietly tiptoed up behind her, and Victoria, hearing my footsteps, suddenly turned around.
“You’re back.”
“Yep.”
I nodded gently and lifted the paper bag containing food, shaking it in front of her.
“Are you hungry? I brought food.”
“Is it sweet?” Victoria asked.
“Nope.”
I plopped down on the other chair, wrapping the bag in my arms while rifling through it and said, “Got it from the disaster area. Sausages, jerky, toasted bread—everything you could want…”
In no time, I pulled out a greasy burlap bag, opened it, and retrieved two pieces of charred jerky. I popped one into my mouth and offered the other to Victoria.
“Here, give it a try.”
Chew… chew…
Mmm, aside from being a bit salty, it’s actually edible.
Victoria frowned slightly.
After a moment’s hesitation, she reached out and took it, sniffing it first before delicately nibbling on it.
A while later…
“This is awful.”
Yet, saying that, she reached back into the bag to dig out another piece of jerky, throwing me a bland glance.
“So, you went to the disaster area afterward?”
“Uh-huh.” I nodded initially, then quickly shook my head. “I didn’t go in, just… hung out in the square. I just missed your… big speech.”
“Oh.”
Victoria responded lightly and ceased to speak again.
After a brief silence, I swallowed a piece of the waxy jerky, hesitantly asking, “Did you finish up over there… everything?”
Honestly, I wanted to ask how things were with the Empress, but I couldn’t spit it out.
“There’s always more to do.”
Victoria lifted her gaze.
She stared up at the Honey Fruit Tree, its lush branches jostling gently in the breeze, and after a moment, closed her eyes.
“I just want to take a break.”
Her appearance seemed a bit different than usual. Her porcelain-perfect profile under the twilight glowed with a soft yellow hue, yet she maintained that composed demeanor.
But upon closer inspection, I could discern the deep fatigue and weariness hidden in her expression.
I knew that her emotions at this moment were anything but peaceful. She was suppressing her feelings, habitually burying her pain deep within, refusing to show weakness to anyone, not wanting anyone to witness her vulnerable side—a trait that had become her instinct.
Even when heartbroken, even when sad, she wouldn’t express it like other girls her age would. Instead, she would simply sit in silence, letting the sorrow stew in the darkness until it… transformed into strength.
Once dawn breaks, she would shoulder her burdens again and set off once more.
But…
I set down the jerky, tilted my head, and poked her soft cheek gently with my greasy finger. When she opened her eyes to look at me, I hooked my hands around my mouth, stretching my face, and stuck out my tongue.
“Pffbt—”
Making a funny face at her.
“Blah blah blah~”
Even if she had to set off again, that was a problem for after dawn. Until then, it was just the two of us here; it didn’t matter what we did, so Victoria, just smile!
But five seconds, ten seconds passed. I stretched my face until it hurt but still didn’t see Victoria smile.
She continued to gaze at me with that same blank expression, her eyes slowly growing curious.
“Uh…”
I got a bit awkward; my facial muscles were clearly beginning to stiffen.
Well, it makes sense… She’s clearly upset, and here I am, pulling these childish antics.
Feeling a bit deflated, I instinctively started to drop my goofy expression, but in the next moment, Victoria’s hand shot out like lightning.
“Ugh—”
She tightly pinched my tongue and yanked it forward.
“Ugh, ow!”
Victoria’s sharp nails pinched my tongue painfully, causing my bottom to instinctively lift off the chair, my head leaning in closer to hers, feeling her breath wafting on my face. I blinked and made eye contact with her.
“Uh… playing tongue tag…?”
“I used to think you were just a bit dim.”
Victoria held her gaze on me for a moment before releasing my tongue. She looked at her glistening fingertip, clearly disgusted, and wiped it on my skirt.
“Didn’t expect you to be such a fool.”
“Ugh! I’m not a fool!”
I just wanted to make you laugh, and now I’m getting scolded?
Glaring and turning my head away in annoyance.
In my line of sight, a white butterfly flitted gracefully overhead.
“Ah!”
I couldn’t resist, leaping up and bouncing after it, shouting, “Victoria, look, quick! It’s such a beautiful big butterfly!”
“Just a butterfly, haven’t you seen one before?”
“Never seen one this pretty!”
These otherworldly butterflies are truly stunning! Their snow-white wings adorned with dark golden patterns like the most exquisite embroidery on earth.
It seemed startled by my enthusiasm, hurriedly flapping its wings to soar upwards before landing gently on the blossoms of the Honey Fruit Tree.
“Eh?”
I paused for a moment, and when I realized it was indeed a blooming pink flower, I exclaimed with delight, “The Honey Fruit Tree is in bloom!”
Excited, I dashed back, grabbing Victoria by the wrist and pulling her forcefully from her chair. I scampered back under the flowering branches, pointing up.
“Look!”
The blossoms quietly opened at the tree’s top, the jade-like leaves swaying gracefully in the evening breeze.
I vaguely remembered that this courtyard was renovated by Victoria, made to resemble her childhood bedroom. Rect had mentioned that Victoria would come here whenever she was feeling down, under this Honey Fruit Tree… it must hold special significance for her.
Stealing a glance at her.
Victoria slightly parted her lips: “It really is… blooming.”
I noticed a subtle shift in her expression.
Victoria seemed to be smiling… I could’t quite tell if it was a real smile; perhaps it was just a slight curl of her lips, but her bright golden eyes sparkled with a soft, melancholy light.
“Soon, we’ll be able to eat the Honey Fruit,” I gently tugged at her hand. “You said it was super sweet.”
“It is sweet. If someone makes it into a pie, that would be even better…”
She murmured, her dazed gaze making her look as if she were mumbling in a dream.
“When I was little, there was also a Honey Fruit Tree in the palace courtyard. Every spring, I looked forward to its flowers and fruits, then I would fly up to the branches and pick a few sweet Honey Fruits to take home… I actually don’t like sweet things. Back then, I just wanted to nag my mother to make Honey Fruit pie for me. I loved watching her bustle around in the kitchen; it made me feel like I wasn’t a kid nobody cared about.”
“After my father was gone, it felt like everything changed, and the tree started to wilt.”
Victoria’s grip on my hand tightened a little.
“Peilo, why do you think… it withered?”
