Olivia Who Hates Planting Flowers
Sunny Desmont Mansion. Darbav, who had planted flowers of all colors in the courtyard, wore a satisfied smile. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a hoe in hand. It wasn't a tool befitting the head of a prestigious family, but Darbav felt good about decorating the mansion with his own hands. Maybe it's because I'm getting old. Lately, he had taken a liking to beautiful things.
"Splendid."
"..."
"Nothing beats doing it yourself."
"..."
"Even though I planted them myself, the way I matched the colors so vibrantly makes it look fantastic."
The courtyard, filled with roses, lilies, forget-me-nots, and more, suited Darbav perfectly. Smiling, he looked at Olivia, who had plopped down in the dirt, and asked, "What do you think? Like it?"
Olivia, hoe in hand and wearing a sullen expression, stared at Darbav and said, "No."
"...!?"
The ground where Olivia sat was churned up everywhere. Darbav smiled contentedly at the sight of her, who had turned herself into a plow when told to plant flowers. She didn't break any flowers... Excellent.
Olivia irritably tossed the hoe to the ground and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Boring."
As she threw a tantrum and declared a strike, Darbav asked, "Why's that?"
"Working under this blazing sun is hard and hot."
"Didn't you ask for an allowance?"
"Isn't an allowance free money?"
"No."
"Dad's so stingy."
"Can't be helped."
Olivia scrunched up her face, pulling a long expression at Darbav, who had come right up to her nose, to show her boredom. "Eeeek..."
Olivia was bored. Playing with Dad was fun, but lately the butler hadn't been playing with her, so she'd been bored. Throwing a tantrum, she confided her true feelings to Darbav. That the butler seemed to be neglecting his duties these days.
"Dad."
"What's up?"
"Ricardo won't play with me."
"I see."
"He says he's busy lately and won't play with me."
"That has nothing to do with the flowers, does it?"
"This is more important than flowers."
Darbav nodded glumly at Olivia's words. "To me, this is more important."
Olivia shook her head. "To me, this is more important."
Darbav, who knew he couldn't break his daughter's stubbornness, squatted down beside her and listened to her worries. As the head of the Desmont family, sitting on the dirt floor was unthinkable, but what could he do? She wanted it that way. He waved off the flustered servants, signaling it was fine, and opened his ears to Olivia's words.
"Can't be helped. He's always so busy, I can understand that."
"What if you understand? I need to understand."
"Don't you understand too?"
At Darbav's question, Olivia nodded and buried her face in his shoulder. "Yeah. I just wanted to throw a little tantrum."
Darbav was moved by his daughter's maturity. In the old days, she would have thrown a fit yelling, "I'm bored!" But seeing her understand Ricardo's situation filled him with paternal pride. I've raised my daughter well.
Olivia mumbled in a glum voice, "Ricardo must be really busy. I told him to work less, but he won't listen."
"Aren't you worried about Dad? You're working a lot too."
"You work less too, Dad. Health comes before money."
"..."
Darbav's eyes reddened a little. Getting old, huh? My emotions are getting richer. He felt no envy for the world, proud of raising such a filial daughter. Rumors said the Histania family had raised poor children. Darbav shook his head, recalling his stubborn academy classmate.
I exist for the family. He'd thought that guy's marriage meant his family line was doomed, and sure enough, weird rumors were circulating. Darbav could only nod. Look at his own daughter. Sure, her personality was a bit flawed, but she worried about her dad, didn't she? He figured she qualified as filial. Mentally scoring a victory over his rival Histania in their duel—kids, status, even his wife's looks—he was still winning.
"Heh heh."
"Dad, you seem like one of those people who does mental victories."
"No."
"Then why are you laughing?"
"Just feels good that you're worrying about me."
"Am I nice?"
"..."
Darbav couldn't answer. He had a conscience, after all.
"Why no answer?"
"My daughter is the prettiest in the world, sure."
"I know."
"Her heart is sharp and straightforward, wonder who she takes after."
"Mom."
Darbav sighed in relief. "And Dad too."
Darbav sucked the sigh back in. "Doesn't her personality take after Mom more?"
"No, after Dad too."
"Think again."
"Why?"
"..."
Darbav had a conscience.
Time passed, and as the afternoon sun began to swallow the darkness.
"Huh?"
In the distance, a familiar man approached with a pleased smile. Carrying shopping bags in both hands. Olivia reacted faster than Darbav. Like a dog smelling tasty food, she lifted her head from his back, where she'd been dozing piggyback, spotted the red-haired young man walking over, and shouted.
"Dad, Ricardo's coming!"
"I see."
"Dad, depart!"
"..."
Darbav felt a pang. "Depart!"
But it was fine. "Eeeek! Depart!"
His daughter was alive and well. And with a sturdy ally by her side, Darbav felt reassured.
Another peaceful day at the Desmont Mansion. Sitting on the bed with the young lady after a long time, I listened to her day's events with a satisfied smile.
"So I asked Dad for free allowance money, but he said he could only give a little."
"I see."
"Yeah. He said he has to pay Ricardo's salary. Since he's already got a thick face, might as well thicken it a bit more..."
"Oh... Truly fitting of the young lady's father."
"Right? I think so too."
"Not a compliment."
"It's not?"
"No."
The young lady beamed at me as she chatted. Today, she'd planted flowers in the courtyard. It was tough, but once done, they looked pretty and made her happy—she huffed proudly about her day, and I couldn't stop smiling at her.
The young lady spoke frankly to me.
"I've been upset because Ricardo hasn't been playing with me lately."
"But I understand Ricardo. He's busy too. Just like me. So I get it."
"I'll make lots of money later and take care of Ricardo. Hang in there a bit longer."
"It's not about making money."
"Then?"
"Went for a friend."
"Ricardo has friends?"
"That hurts."
Her innocent jab stung a bit, but I was moved by her maturing broad-mindedness. She even knew understanding now... Far grown from her villainess days. As her longtime butler, I was pleased to see it.
I liked how she openly shared her feelings. Not bottling up grudges inside. Her straightforwardness in voicing what upset her—I loved that. Her jealousy over less playtime was cute too. And just talking while gazing at her face was nice.
I smiled at her. Lying on the bed, big bright eyes fixed on me, I focused on her story.
"Ricardo."
"Yes."
"Not busy anymore?"
"Hmm... Probably. Got the overdue academy money, solved my friend's issue."
"Then..."
The young lady eyed me cautiously. "What're you doing tomorrow?"
She pulled the blanket up to her lips, shyly asking. I smiled and answered. "Thinking of going to the city tomorrow."
"The city?"
"Yes."
"With who?"
She avoided my eyes, clutching the blanket tight. Her honest hurt if it wasn't her was plain. Holding back laughter, I teased her. "Dunno. Probably with someone super pretty."
"...Pretty person?"
"Yes."
"Prettier than me?"
"Come on, who's prettier than you in the world?"
"Hee hee... True."
She grinned happily, staring at me. "So who?"
I looked at her. "Can't say yet. Haven't gotten permission."
"Hmm..."
"What about you tomorrow?"
"Was gonna eat chocolate with Ricardo."
"I see."
I told her, "Then, you free tomorrow?"
"Huh?"
"Was planning to shop with you. Buy pajamas, chocolate..."
"The super pretty one's me?"
"Yes."
She yanked the blanket over her head and punched it.
-Thud.
After a while punching the blanket, she peeked out with a happy, shy smile. "I knew."
I asked, gazing at her, "So, your answer?"
"Hmm..."
She pouted, deep in thought. "I'm expensive, so gotta check my schedule..." She hummed "hmm" forever, then finally nodded heavily. "Okay."
"Honored."
"I'm going special for you."
I smiled faintly and thanked her. "Thank you, young lady."
The next day arrived like that. The young lady had caught a cold.
"Hic... Hiiiik! Achoo!"
A vicious flu, no less.