Pruning the Unnecessary
“You did well.”
Lilliana chuckled softly right by my ear.
“Unnecessary things like this have to be cut away. That’s how flowers can bloom beautifully.”
Her words didn’t seem aimed solely at the flowers.
“You seem to have a lot of things that need tidying up around you too, Lady Elise.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Lilliana took my hand and moved to the next rosebush.
Her touch was soft, but resolute, like she’d never let go.
“Now, look here. Too many side branches, right?”
What she pointed to was a small, frail twig jutting out beside the main stem.
A delicate, slender thing that hadn’t even formed a bud yet.
“These steal nutrients from the main flower stem. For the flowers to bloom big and beautiful, you have to cut away these little twigs without mercy.”
Her voice was gentle, but the words sent a chill down my spine.
“You know it too, don’t you, Lady Elise? That you need to choose and focus.”
“Uh, y-yeah… right.”
“Then, cut it.”
Lilliana guided my hand, moving the scissors.
The cold blade aimed at the twig’s tender neck.
I hesitated.
‘Do I… really have to cut this?’
It seemed like it could grow just fine without being pruned.
How much nutrient could one little twig possibly take?
Maybe even a tiny flower could bloom from it.
Sensing my hesitation, Lilliana’s voice dropped low.
“Why? Are you hesitating?”
“No, it’s just… maybe it could still bloom.”
“If a flower blooms in a spot like that, it dies right away.”
She was firm.
“For the rose to be beautiful, everything has to be just for the rose. If you let your eyes wander to other distractions, the rose will wither in the end.”
Her fingers dug into the back of my hand.
“Come on now, Lady Elise.”
Her urging voice, her breath tickling my ear.
“You can do it for me, right?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and gripped the handles tight.
-Snip.
The stem, heavy with red sap, snapped off cleanly.
Red liquid beaded up on the cut surface and dripped down.
It looked just like blood.
Red spots splattered onto the white marble floor.
“You did well.”
Lilliana buried her face in the nape of my neck and whispered.
“You’re so kind, Lady Elise. Just do as I say, and I’ll handle everything—keep the bad influences away.”
“…”
“Answer me.”
Her hand clamped tight around my waist.
My breath caught in my throat.
“Uh, y-yeah… got it.”
“Good girl.”
Lilliana rubbed her hair against my cheek, satisfied.
And so the pruning session dragged on.
I moved like a machine.
Cutting where Lilliana pointed, then cutting again.
Soon the floor was piled high with severed branches and leaves.
The greenhouse reeked of the fishy sap oozing from the cut stems.
The stench was so thick it made my head spin.
“Almost done now.”
Lilliana took the scissors from my hand.
“Good work, Lady Elise.”
She tossed them into the basket and pulled a white handkerchief from her pocket.
“It’s splashed on your face.”
She grabbed my chin and tilted my head up.
The white cloth brushed my cheek.
Red sap stained it vividly.
“Stay still.”
I flinched, and her eyes narrowed.
“I’m making you pretty.”
She wiped my face meticulously, obsessively—from my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, around my lips.
“Your hands are a mess too.”
After my face, she took my hand.
Peeling off the gloves revealed fingers stained red with sap.
That’s when Lilliana’s gaze lingered on the cuff of my sleeve.
The glove removal had hiked it up just enough to reveal a crude black cord.
“Oh my.”
Her hand froze.
She released my hand and rolled up my sleeve instead.
It was the bracelet Charlotte had made.
“…”
Lilliana’s expression subtly hardened.
She tapped the rough knot with her fingertip.
“What’s this?”
Her voice stayed sweet, but an icy edge seeped through.
“Ah, this?”
I reflexively tried to pull my arm back.
But Lilliana gripped my wrist tight, refusing to let go.
“It’s a gift.”
“From whom?”
Her eyes bored into me, obsessive.
Lie, and she’d see right through it.
Tell the truth, and some inexplicable anxiety washed over me.
“From my little sister.”
I tried to sound casual.
“My sister back home made it. She gave it to me before I left, so I’ve been wearing it.”
“Your little sister…”
Lilliana rolled the word around in her mouth.
Her gaze fixed on the plain pebble embedded in the bracelet.
Clearly displeased, she furrowed her brow slightly—then relaxed her grip.
“Hmm.”
She made a nasal hum.
The sharp intensity from moments ago dulled a bit.
“I see. Since it’s your sister.”
Lilliana nodded, murmuring low.
“If it’s a gift from family, no helping it. Since it’s your sister. Yes.”
She wrapped her hand gently around my wrist again.
“I thought for a moment you’d made some other precious person while I wasn’t looking, Lady Elise.”
“N-No way. Haha…”
It was technically true in conclusion, but I didn’t have the courage to correct her.
“Good thing. Your little sister’s so thoughtful, caring for her big sister like that.”
Lilliana beamed and straightened the bracelet’s knot.
“But, Lady Elise.”
“Yeah?”
“Even if it’s family, don’t let them get too close.”
Lilliana looked up, staring straight into my eyes.
“You understand, right?”
“Y-Yeah. Got it.”
I nodded on reflex.
Arguing here? Those scissors behind her looked way too violent.
Felt like they’d fly at the bracelet—or me.
“You’re so good.”
Thankfully, Lilliana’s eyes crinkled in a wide smile, pleased.
But she still didn’t release my wrist.
Instead, her thumb pressed firmly on the crude black cord.
“Still… it bothers me.”
“Huh?”
“A rough cord like this could scratch your skin, Lady Elise. And the color’s so drab.”
She pulled something from her pocket.
A pink lace ribbon, the kind for tying bouquets.
“I’ll make it prettier for you.”
“L-Lilliana? Wait—”
“Stay still.”
Ignoring me, she started wrapping the pink ribbon around my wrist.
Over the black bracelet from Charlotte, covering it completely.
Tight.
She tied it firmly—the knot digging into my skin.
“Isn’t it… a bit too tight…?”
“Bear it. Can’t have it loose.”
She finished with a pretty bow.
“Now it’s presentable.”
Lilliana turned my wrist this way and that, admiring it.
The crude black cord vanished completely under the pink lace.
“Keep it on like this, got it?”
“…”
“Answer.”
Smiling eyes that weren’t smiling.
“Uh, yeah. Got it. I’ll wear it.”
I nodded as submissively as I could.
“Smart choice. This color suits you so much better than that dull black.”
She stroked the pink ribbon on my wrist fondly.
“Now, lunchtime’s almost here.”
Lilliana finally released my hand and stepped back.
“That’s it for today. Can’t overdo it on the first day.”
“Y-Yeah. Thanks.”
“Tomorrow’s your day with His Highness the Crown Prince, right?”
“Uh… yeah.”
“Too bad. I want to see you every day.”
Lilliana looked genuinely disappointed.
“But the day after tomorrow, we meet again, so I’ll endure. Oh, and—”
She tidied my clothes affectionately one last time and whispered.
“Don’t ever untie that ribbon. I’ll check next time.”
“…”
“If it’s untied or gone… I’d be so sad. Got it?”
Sad, she says.
I didn’t even want to imagine what disaster that’d bring down on me.
“Uh, yeah. I’ll keep it on even for bed.”
“Hehe, such a joker.”
Lilliana laughed merrily and saw me to the door.
Stepping out of the greenhouse, cool outside air flooded deep into my lungs.
“Haa…”
My legs nearly buckled.
A day that makes me miss Adrian…