—Few hours later—
I ask Rey to help me with the gifts. He's the best older brother you can rely on.
He has been helping me for almost everything, including this.
I take a seat.
Rey raises his hand and pointing to the boxes, He told me.
"Keep what you want to keep, the rest we can discard."
'Huh just like that?'
"Can't we just give it away?"
"You can't they'll know eventually."
"Sell it?"
Rey shock by my answer and hold me in both shoulders, trapping me on my chair.
"Velly?! Don't tell me you're running out of money?"
'Huh? What?'
"Did our older brother reduce your budget?! How dare he! I'll have Lu raise it."
"I'm joking, I'm joking hahaha."
'This siscon, I almost forgot cause of how cool he is...'
"Don't joke like that! I'll really do it, since you're my little sister!"
I stare at him, reminiscing what he looks before.
'Makes me wanna wear—..'
"Men's clothes..."
"Huh? Velly did someone sent you men's clothes!?!"
Rey furious and looks for it.
I snap out of my thoughts, not knowing what was happening.
"Huh what?"
'Did I blurt it out?'
"N-no, I just thought you were so cool!"
"Huh? I am cool?"
Rey's face sounds like 'you're just noticing now?'
'This cocky son of a...'
"Yeah, yeah you're cool."
"Iam?"
"Yes, yes, the coolest brother in the world!"
Rey smiles happily, still trapping me in the corner, leaving me unable to stand from my chair.
I look at the dress I'm wearing, the delicate hands showing no sign of masculinity.
'It really does feel like I'm having identity crisis, if only I can play sports or something.'
Then something struck in my mind as I remember that I can wear pants.
Suddenly a thought came up as Rey finally let's go.
I stand up from my chair, clenching my hand into a fist in the air.
'Horse-riding! Swordsmanship!'
These are the only categories I thought of that will make me wear pants without looking weird.
"REY!"
Rey shock at me screaming as I stand up at my chair, instantly.
"What?"
"Teach me sword fight!"
"No." Rey bluntly says no, staring at me.
"Why?"
"I can't let you get in harm." Rey crosses his arms and turns away,
"Horse riding?"
"Why? You can just ask for a carriage."
'this... Siscon... Should I punch him?' I clench my hand, harboring ill thoughts toward Rey.
I force a few fake tears.
"I don't like being cooped up..."
—sniff—
Rey panics.
"Why? Do you want to do something else?"
"Do you want to go out? Maybe explore?"
"Horse-riding?"
"No."
"Tsk."
I avert Rey and close my eyes.
Rey keeps talking nonstop, clearly panicking, trying to lift my mood.
I scoff.
'I'm bored...'
'Ah now that got me thinking, what did Lady Elie and Marigold gift me?'
I reach out my hand calling for Kel while Rey yaps in the background.
"Kel, can you find from Lady Elie and from Lady Marigold Edelweiss."
"Yes, my lady."
'...'
'When will he shut up?'
I fix Rey with a cold, unblinking stare.
"Reynard shut up."
Rey freezes, his shoulders stiffen, he brings his hand onto his chest.
His voice cracks, wounded, like I've just pierced his heart, he starts to tear up a little.
"V-Velly... Don't be mad."
—Few minutes later—
In the end, I wasn't able to do any of the things I wanted, no matter how much I tried.
Kel finally finds what I was looking for beneath the mountain of gifts.
"Here, my lady."
I open Elie's gift.
'A necklace…? Oh it opens.'
A necklace meant to hold a picture inside.
'Why did she give this to me?'
I notice a letter tucked beneath the box.
'Oh… it comes with a letter.'
I pick it up and unfold it.
"To place someone you love close to you."
Rey suddenly gets close.
"That came from Elie? Aww put my picture there." Rey points at himself, smirking.
'This siscon…' I make a face of disgust.
'I'll keep it for now.'
Next is Marigold's—
"A soil?"
Rey observes the gift.
"That's nice."
'What the—... is this common to receive as gifts?'
"The soil seems to be fertilized and an expensive too. Hmm"
"It should be perfect for the flower bed just outside your room in the garden."
"Huh? I have my own flower bed?"
"Of course everyone in our family has one. How can we feed our fairies? Fairies do have their own flower they like."
"Flowers they like..." I mumble.
I stare at the soil deeply.
—Next day morning, outside, beneath Velora's window, garden bed—
'I don't know why I'm here but I'm quite bored...'
'Since my tutors will be coming by tomorrow, I have free time to do something else.'
'At the same time I sent a letter to Marigold for an invitation of her soon tea party and an apology too but she hasn't replied.'
'hmm.'
I crouch down.
Gloves on.
Straw hat pulled up.
A shovel in hand.
All while still wearing a dress.
'…This feels weird.'
'I'm gardening in a dress?'
I glance down at it, slightly kicking the soil with my shoe.
'At least it's not one of those puffy ones since I can see my shoes now.'
I press my lips together, slightly annoyed.
"I didn't know I have these type of dresses."
I start digging the shovel into the earth, turning the soil with a bit more effort as I mix the soil given by Lady Marigold to me.
'Hmm… what flowers should I even pick?'
'They didn't say anything about what dark-element fairies like…'
I pause, resting the shovel against my shoulder.
'…Should I just ask Lu?'
"Hmm..."
"Lady Velora?"
I look around, its Ethan.
Our words overlap.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why are you crouching?"
"A."
I start to speak and we overlap again.
"Ah I was jus—."
"Ah, yes!—"
Both of us went silent.
I avert my gaze.
'...'
'Now this is awkward, why is it awkward?'
I look at Ethan again.
'He made it awkward!'
Ethan blush.
'Why're you blushing again? Why're you blushing!?!'
I crack a smile as my eyebrow twitches.
"Do you need something?"
"Ah no, lady Velora—,"
Ethan slowly avert his gaze, slightly scratching his cheek.
"I was asking if you need some help."
'Why in crap are you acting like some romcom.'
I flush, frustration bubbling up alongside the embarrassment.
"Nope! I don't need" I avert my gaze, Ethan suddenly notice I was fixing my flower bed.
"Ah! Are you finally thinking of planting a seed?"
'You just notice now!?'
I let out a sigh.
'Why am I getting hype up, I'm literally older than him.'
"Yes."
Ethan crouch closer to me.
"Have you thought of what flower to put in your bed? Oh you mixed it with a high-end soil."
"For this, you'll eventually plant any flower at this point, lady Velora!"
He gestures lightly toward the garden.
"Like marigolds—"
I stare at him, a little surprised., only to realize the reason why marigold gave me this rich soil is because that's what marigold usually plants.
"They're resilient, easy to grow, and they prefer well-drained soil."
He pauses, thinking.
"Hmm... Ah and zinnias! They bloom beautifully under full sun and can handle the heat quite well."
"Cosmos too, they don't need much, even poor soil works for them so I feel like even Lady Velora's first time will make this flower bloom lovely."
Ethan talks happily, From what flower, health, temperature, season. I stare at him curiously.
"How come you know so much about it?"
Ethan looks down, put his hand against his neck.
"Ah... Well when you suspend me, I was still your personal knight nonetheless."
"After training, I have more free time than before so I lent a hand around the duchy like cleaning, carrying things until the gardener asked for my help. He said I had a green thumb."
Ethan feels reluctant.
"To be honest I thought I might be an earth element since most of those abilities is mostly about nature but it turns out I'm a water element instead."
"Ehh. Don't feel dejected. Even with or without element, I'm sure you still be able to make the flowers bloom."
'Since my world has no powers, so this shouldn't feel something to be indifferent about.'
"Abilities don't shape who you are."
Since then, Ethan remains quiet
—Few minutes later—
Rey joins in, walks by Ethan hissing and crouch beside me.
I told Rey, I want to get some seeds and he suddenly grabs my arm.
"Let's go."
Ethan remains still, crouching.
I turn around while Rey tugs me, confused.
'Is he not coming?'
—Few hours later, carriage—
'He really didn't came.'
"Why didn't you bring Ethan?"
"He's still being punished."
"Also stop talking about him! He failed to protect you and he lost you... Twice!"
'What?'
As I recall running away after the event.
"Oh."
'I'll give him some sweets as an apology...'
—Few minutes later—
'Why is it taking so long to get flower seeds.'
I sigh and look at the window.
Suddenly, as if time slow itself. A girl with brown and green eyes passed by.
"FL?"
Left stunned.