New Friend
2266 Words
He changed the topic immediately, not giving her a chance to think something creepy.
“As for you, what are you doing here?”
Setting the matter of the lost Gerald with stomach ache aside, shouldn’t it be bad for the daughter of the party organizer to be here?
“...I’m, not, too good with really lively places….”
Elise said so with a quiet voice like when she greeted him and her head down. Even though she’s such a beautiful girl, it’s such a waste when she has her head down like that.
Is she bullied in some way? He can just tell her that he will not bully her but it’s quite likely that he’ll scare this pitiful young lady even more. For the time being, he got to let her know that he meant her no harm!
“This garden is quite something. All these flowers are really beautiful like Catarina’s backyard.”
For the time being, he’ll talk to her while trying his best to smile without giving into hostility
However, what instantly came out of his mouth was his true feelings.
This garden is really beautiful, it is amazing and can be compared to Catarina’s backyard. The flowers were all gorgeous in their full bloom. The gardener here must be doing a very good job.
His curiosity as to who took care of this garden deserves praise. If he were to meet him personally he could get an idea on how to groom flowers and plants in the royal palace garden, But they have a gardener so it's pointless.
“I wonder who took care of these plants. Even I was amazed by the way they are organized and cut flamboyantly.”
Such praise coming from the royal prince made her heart at ease at least. He didn’t even know that it was the lady who was spacing in this garden who groomed it.
Will she tell her everything?
“.....Um...I’m the one...who take care of this place”
She said so in a soft voice that could barely even be heard.
“Huh? What is it?”
Gerald moved his head near to her mouth so that he could hear her soft words but Elise was startled. Realizing his mistake he retreated his head.
“I’m sorry for doing that all of a sudden, it's just that I can’t hear your soft voice.”
“No, I-I should… be the one to say...sorry…”
She was bowing in sadness and Gerald couldn't help but sigh. Maybe she is experiencing something?
Finally, at this point, Elise gathered all her strength to talk to him.
“...I’m the one who takes care of this garden…”
She released all of her strength to say it fluidly. But, Gerald was bewildered at her statement claiming that she’s the one who is taking care of it. No, maybe it is the truth. There’s no way for this ignorant child to lie anyway.
“How much do you know about plants?” He asked.
“....Eh?....”
Elise was bewildered at the question. Is this some sort of a test?
“....Um I don’t know much but I liked them very much…” She replied.
He looked at the pocket watch and saw that it was not that late yet. Then he sat beside Mary that made her cheek turn red.
“Do you want some facts about plants?” He offered.
“Facts? Do you perhaps know about plants?” Now she’s saying it fluidly.
This sort of natural friendliness made her feel comfortable towards him. But Gerald plucked a flower and showed it to her but before he did that he asked for permission which was granted by her.
The flowers in front of her held by George are different. Then Gerald began the lesson.
“Did you know that there are two kinds of flowers? A flower that has both male and female parts is called a Perfect Flower. And the flower which has either male or female parts is called an Imperfect Flower.”
When he started giving information regarding flowers, the bewildered Elise can’t help but ask about something.
“...Uhm… What are the male and female parts of flowers?”
“Oh, is that it? The male parts of the flowers are called anther and filament which can be seen here” He pointed at the tiny fiber sticking out of the flower, “Jointly, they are called the stamen. While for the female parts they have a stigma, style, ovary, and ovules. And together they are called pistils”
She then exclaimed at the new knowledge she got from Gerald. Even though this is the first time she heard those names when he started pointing out the parts, he made it look easy.
Gerald continued.
“The filament is a long tube that supports the anther. They contain tiny particles called pollen grains which are produced by Anther and you might be wondering what do the pollen grains do? Well, the pollen grains help these flowers to reproduce and give birth to baby plants! Many times, insects sit on these flowers like bees and carry out pollen grains to the stigma, which is the sticky surface at the top of the pistil, which helps in tapping and holding the pollen grains. Sometimes these pollen grains are also carried by the wind. The pollen grains land on the stigma, germinate and forms pollen tubes that grow through the spaces inside the style. The style is the tube-like structure that holds up the stigma. At the end of the pollen tube is the pollen tip, which reaches the ovary and fertilizes the egg. When these pollen grains fuse with the ovules of the flower, a seed is formed, which later grows up to become a handsome or beautiful plant.”
Gerald was explaining how they were reproduced simply. Of course, there is a complicated one but a child-like her won’t understand so he remedies that by drawing the parts and draws another along with his explanation so she can keep up.
Elise was amazed by his teaching style, she thought that it was complicated but when Gerald explained it. It becomes very easy specifically to the drawing part.
“Oops, I forgot to tell you about the petals and sepals, A petal is what you see around the flowers, it is a protective layer for the style and stigma. It’s also the most attractive part of the flower. It attracts insects and is usually the reason why we love flowers. The sepals are here, it's a base like structure, part of the base of the flower, which protects the developing bud of a plant.”
He then concluded the lesson. It was a rather brief one but thankfully he shared some knowledge with her. All he can see that Elise was delighted at the lesson. Which was contradicting the face she wore before.
“Where did you learn all of this?” She curiously asked him.
“It’s a book called ‘Biology’”
“What’s biology? A study of flowers?”
“Nope, although it is part of it, the larger point of biology is to study all living things. I think you’ll learn it at school next year since it is part of the curriculum.” He answered flamboyantly.
Elise only replied with a cute, gentle chuckle. Seeing her being happy made him feel accomplished. Like creating a friend. Wait, they are not friends.
“Uhm, Lady Elise,” He softly said.
“Yes?”
“Can we be friends?”
“Of Course! I would love to.”
She replied without hesitation, she is open to the idea of friendship. Except for Catarina, Mary is the second girl he made friends with. Speaking of Catarina, she must have been waiting so long for him. That made him realize that he invested so much time to teach Elise.
“Uhm, Elise. Where is the mansion? I got lost and lady Catarina is probably waiting for me.”
He said in a worried tone but Elise immediately led the way.
Returning to the mansion. Catarina is looking at him as a jerk since beside her was Elise who was clinging to his arms. That gaze is so scary. He understood that she was waiting for so long but to return with a girl, not just a girl but a beautiful girl. He explained.
“Uhm, this is Elise, my new friend that I made at the tea party. I hope we can get along.”
And then Catarina glanced at Elise, it was so scary that Elise hid behind his back cutely.
“....I’m Elise...It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
But Catarina is a smart person, so she’ll understand it.
“I see you made a friend huh?”
What? That kind of tone is not friendly. He just made a friend of the same age as me. But...
“Oi! Look at Mary! Clinging to the prince, how awful.”
“Know your place brat!”
“Why are you touching his royal highness?”
“Hahahahah”
A condescending tone was thrown at her left and right. The words continue piercing her left and right. Elise pinched his sleeves and saw her face welling up in tears. She is hurt by the words thrown at her and yet where are the sisters? Aren’t they the one who is supposed to protect her?
No one was standing up for her but rather they formed jointly and bullied her. Why is Elise suffering from this kind of bullying? It is because of her social interactions? To think of it she’s the only one who looks so bashful at the greetings. But this is too much for her to handle especially at her age. It will have a huge impact on her development.
“Why are you clinging to his royal highness? Pretending to be a friend, look he’s not even looking at you. Hahahaha”
A noisy brat claimed but he was wrong.
“Will you shut up!”
He shouted at them making the venue turn into a moment of silence. The prince is angry. Elise who was about to break out in tears was suddenly given hope when Gerald yelled at the guy who said painful words. Catarina was also shocked.
“How dare you speak to my friend like that? HUH!” He approached the spoiled man menacingly, his quivering in fear as he slowly made his way to him.
As for his past life he was bullied by his brother. He can’t let Elise feel the same way as him.
“You wanna go huh?” He challenged the brat but was unable to speak back. He soiled his pants just by looking at his menacing face.
“I’m sorry! I’m very sorry!”
“Good. Now to those who said the words that I didn’t like to hear. Apologize! She’s my friend and she is under my protection. Those who lay more painful words to her shall bear the punishment. Am I understood?”
“Yes! I’m very sorry Elise!” They said in unison.
“What’s happening.”
At last, her sister showed up, but Gerald was still angry that her sisters were not there for her.
“You, why are you leaving your younger sister alone by herself? Are you even aware that she is bullied?”
“Bullied?”
But she was not surprised when he said “bullied” instead it was an anticipated response. Is her sister perhaps bullying her?
“Shame on you. Listen, everyone, as the royal prince of the Empire of Brittia and also in the line of succession I cannot tolerate this behavior.”
Then she beckoned the elder sister to move closer to him. Then Gerald whispered.
“Don’t even think about scolding her later, if I found out even the slightest hint of scolding. I’ll make sure that you will suffer.”
When she heard the threat, Lilia trembled.
Gerald approached Elise who was bowing in sadness. Gerald cheered her up by grabbing her hand and promised that he’ll never let anything happen to her. She’s a friend.
And that time, for the first time in Elise's life, someone stood up for her.
“I’m also by your side Lady Elise,” Catarina said.
Gerald didn’t notice that she was there.
And the tea party ended and Gerald went back to the Royal Palace only to meet his brother who was waiting for his arrival.
He was standing there menacingly.
“Gerald del Stuart, I Roland del Stuart challenged you in mathematics, sciences, musical instruments, and chess.”
It was the murderer or perhaps his brother. Ever since he defeated him in a math challenge he changed completely. His fiery red eyes are coldly gazing at him filled with revenge. But unfortunately for him. Gerald is also filled with revenge in his eyes.
“Bring it on!”
- Writer
