In my case, the conversation should go smoothly. I nodded with an awkward smile.
“I don’t socialize at all, but I know that I’m currently a topic for a lot of people.”
“It’s said that Lady Chamberlain picked flowers for Lady Amber.”
At that moment, Erica brought up the subject that had been left in the dust<sup> by me after listening to my words.
“I’m not going to be swayed by my father’s greed. I’m going to follow my heart.”
“I know one thing for sure. Your choice will only be worthless, and only pain will follow.”
“How so?”
“Someday, you will be abandoned by the Chamberlains and left alone.”
Erica stated. It was because of the endless brainwashing from her family.
The family’s will was always the right way as it would allow you to gain everything. In contrast, to follow one’s own will was considered wrong and would only be met with miserable results.
“Do you really think so?”
I was convinced then.
She didn’t love the prince, but she couldn’t survive unless she had a relationship.
In a situation where she could never escape from the shadows of her family, she had tried to deceive her own heart.
Of course, it may have led to her heartfelt love for Lucas later on.
I already knew what the end would be if Erica fell in love with Lucas while being stuck in the shadows of her family.
I wonder if that was what a miserable ending meant for Erica. She would have done terrible things to Claudia, things that she wouldn’t have been proud of.
Like the heroes, it wasn’t a personality disorder that they didn’t feel anything while wielding, using, and killing others with power.
It was the fate of being used by the Crown Prince for the rest of their life.
When dying at the hands of the Crown Prince, wouldn’t you think about the word ‘regret’?
Would you be confident that you wouldn’t be unhappy even if you died without knowing your heart and not being able to lead your own life?
“Even if it’s something that I want to push away because I don’t want it in the first place?”
“Yes. No one cares about the scent of ornamental roses.”
Ornamental flowers could only be improved, trimmed, and bloomed as humans wanted.
But you know what.
“Then it would just fall into the hands of humans and slowly wither and die.”
Erica was different from the flowers. She had the free will to run out of the greenhouse on her own.
It was her family that kept her in the greenhouse. But it was herself who tied her own ankles.
“What’s really worthless and painful is not looking into your heart. If you ask yourself what you want to do and you don’t admit it, you’ll be unhappy.”
It was like crossing the vast ocean without a compass. Who knew where the boat would reach while it was swept back and forth by the current without any indicators.
“Once you have a direction and take the first steps, it’s easier than you think to move forward. I call it a choice that you won’t regret whatever the outcome.”
And that was something you couldn’t achieve ever unless you made up your mind.
I declared as I put an end to all the questions.
“If you help me, I’ll show you what kind of scent the will of flowers bear.”
And there was no doubt that my words aroused Erica’s curiosity.