What Abyss Feels Like

CHAPTER 6: GARDEN

Two weeks quickly passed after their conversation. The duo mother and daughter bonded a lot with the change of Ara usually helping Thea in the Duchy's operations especially whenever she was away. The butlers and maids are a bit confused but let it be because they know how intelligent and good their young mistress is. She is capable, that's what they know.

Ara is currently sipping her tea in her greenhouse garden. It is one of the most famous gardens known not because it was personally maintained by the young lady but because of its beauty, grace, elegance but mystery. Only the people assigned for watering, and maintenance can enter it aside from the Duchy's butler, head maid, Thea and also, its owner, Ara.

The greenhouse consists of flowers, plants and even trees that can be put together in one place while it maintains the ideal temperature individually. For normal people, maintaining such a grand set up costs too much. But because Ara is an excellent genius when it comes to magic, alchemy and technology, she invented a device that can work on the temperature and even climate that is ideal with each plant in her greenhouse.

Such an invention made everyone have an unbelievable reaction. They also want to have it, especially the nobles. But what made them shocked is that, Ara only gave ten (10) same items to the farmers, not the nobles.

The nobles who refused to have it planned to exploit the poor farmers. But because of the protection suddenly given by the Emperor, the Grand Duchies and also the Luce Duchy, they kept their hands off of the item. And it actually benefited them. Because the harvests are richer and bountiful than the original before they get ahold of Ara's invention.

Ara was acknowledged to have contributed so much for the Sun Dragon Empire. But even though she was promised to be given lands and property, she politely rejected it with the reason that the farmers and the commoners needed more help than her. Everyone is touched by her kindness and regards her as a Saintess even though she is already one because of her limitless Holy Power.

Some may be jealous of her. But she didn't mind it though. She only pokes her nose on her business but not the others. Because for her, living with Thea is more than enough.

That is until she met ‘him’.

Ara sipped her tea and hummed with satisfaction while looking at her masterpiece of a greenhouse. She is really happy to be back and to be able to see her safe haven once again. And she swore that she will never ever go back to that hell of a life with ‘him’ once again.

She felt a presence whom entered her greenhouse. She identified it as the butler. She sipped and emptied her tea for the last time and then waited for him to arrive.

Not long after, the butler, whose name is Johan, finally arrived.

"Young mistress, the High Priest candidate named Seigi has arrived." He said with his sight stuck on the table instead of Ara.

"I told you already to call me Ara, right? So please, call me that. Anyways, please guide him to this place and call for Mathilde to prepare more snacks." She responded.

The butler was taken aback by both her request and order. No one actually was granted permission to enter the greenhouse. Though sometimes, Ara is too lazy to walk to receive guests, she always makes sure that no one will come into her garden. But now, the man known as Seigi is being given a pass? What's so special about him, he thought.

He bowed his head and then excused himself to execute his task with a thought that the young mistress had her reasons. And hummed with his pure faith for his young lady.

When he arrived, he met the platinum blonde male who was wearing his priestly robe. The difference is that, it's for high priest candidates that's why it was embroidered with gold threads here and there. Johan thought that this man seemed to have something his young lady could see.

He gave the young lad a small yet quick smile as he informed the young man to follow him to where his young lady currently is. Seigi followed him while reading the old man's thoughts. He cannot help it but to smile a little with a tint of red hue on his cheeks. But when they finally arrived, his breath hitched when he finally stepped foot inside the famous greenhouse and also because of the peaceful and ethereal scene in front of him.

In a fair distance, he can see the owner of this place. It's like the sky is singing its praises as the light from the shining sun hits the beautiful princess. She looks like an angel. No! She 'is' an angel. Not literally but, figuratively— unfortunately. She looks to have a halo of light shining just above the crown of her well-groomed hair, paired with the beautiful scenery and peaceful expression she's wearing currently. He didn't want to ruin such a scene but he had no time for it so, he reluctantly made his presence known.

"Oh!" She exclaimed and with a swift motion, she stood up from her seat and then curtly presented herself to the High Priest-in-training with a greeting.

"I apologize for the shameful display and also for not escorting you myself. I hope to be redeemed in any way you see fit.

"Anyways, I welcome you in my humble garden. I hope that this display of my and my people's hard work and dedication can be redeemed from my sin," she said with utmost sincerity that the High Priest-in-training was taken aback by the sudden greeting.

"H-huh? A-at ease! Please don't lower yourself to me with such words. Y-you're not sinned at all!" Seigi started to panic with his paleness and also the blush on his cheeks due to the beauty in front of him fighting for the dominance of display.

Ara looked up to the flustered priest and what welcomed her is the red face he is making with panic all over his face. She cannot help but smile a little at such a rare occurrence.

The Seigi she knows in her past life is someone who can make any woman and even man be a blushing mess and be swooned with one grin, or chuckle. He was someone who sought to be someone's husband. But because he was someone that can never be married so easily, he became someone who's a woman's ideal man that no one dared to touch and reach. Yet, he is here, in front of her, blushing and panicking at the same time. He is cute and adorable to look at now and she can see the heartthrob of a man he was, but still even though they are living their lives for the second time now and already adults, if their ages in both past and present time was added, they are currently young to think something in romantic way.

"Understood." She said afterwards and with her renowned grace she grew up with, she stood straight and then extended her right hand to the table for two that is placed not so far from her behind.

"Shall we?" She inquired.

Seigi nodded his head, "we shall.", and followed the young mistress to the table.

Finally alone, after exchanging some trivial talks, surprisingly the one who started to shift their conversation is none other than, Seigi.

"What do you plan from now on, your highness?" He asked and with that, their serious talks finally began.