Chapter 254
They continued to exchange looks as if asking if anyone knew what was going on. Each silent inquiry returned with a nimble shake of head.
“Let Anika Flora come inside.”
“As you will, my lady.”
Eugene’s heart pounced with anticipation as she waited for the butler to welcome Anika Flora.
‘It’s Flora! The main character!’
Now that she realized that this world wasn’t only an imaginary world she created in the novel she wrote, she felt the need to investigate further. But no matter what, nothing changes the fact that this world had indeed been where she had always taken refuge, in times of trouble. Eugene remembered how overwhelmed she was with her own imagination when she wrote about Flora bravely confronting the swarming army of Larks with her great power.
‘How powerful Flora’s Ramita would be? I’m sure it would be more powerful than mine.’
Momentarily, Eugene couldn’t help but to gape as a woman of long jet-black hair, carrying an armful of flowers, appeared through the door behind the butler.
‘Wow. She’s so beautiful.’
Flora and Jin were indeed two beauties of different charms. Likened to an animal, Jin was a haughty feline while Flora was a docile puppy. Doubtless Flora would leave a favorable image to everyone she comes across.
However, Eugene was totally bewildered when a certain memory of Jin flashed across her mind.
[Flora. I think you really are brilliant. Despite being brought up by such parents, along with the brothers of yours, you turned out just fine.]
[No one could have turned out as fine as you, Jin]
Veiled hostility in their compliments….
[Ah, this room really is small. Can someone live in this kind of place?]
[Looks like I could.]
As well as the sense of superiority masked as sympathy. However, the most interesting fact was that Flora had given back as good as she got. According to their conversation, Jin and Flora wouldn’t have been on good terms as enmity runs deep on both sides.
Eugene couldn’t feel more devastated at this point. Before today, all she did was to click her tongue whenever Jin’s vile acts were revealed from her memories. But now, she was utterly outraged by Jin’s past behavior.
How outrageous of Jin to screw up all her relationships with people as if stealing her life weren’t enough! Eugene had no idea as to where she should begin to restore her life back.
“Welcome, Anika Flora.” Dana greeted Flora. Instantaneously, Flora masked her bewilderment and lowered her head.
“Lady Arse and Lord Arse. I hope you have been well.” Flora was taken by surprise as she had never expected to see the whole Arse family gathered around the table. Flora was even more surprised to see Jin being here as well. She had always thought that she would ask her to come along before she went back to her house.
Jin had always asked Flora to come along whenever she wanted to see her mother.
“My apologies for making an unannounced visit… but I just wanted to give these flowers to Lady Arse.”
“I’ll gratefully receive that.”
The butler then took the flowers from Flora and left the room. Flora looked away after watching wistfully as the flowers got carried away by the butler, instead of being handed over to Dana. She forced herself into a smile after she met eyes with Jin.
“Jin. It’s so nice to see you back.”
Jin smiled back in reply. Now was the time for all her efforts of practice to finally come to shine. As it seems like Jin’s relationship with Flora had been less than favorable, she needed to make Flora truly believe her as ‘Jin’, as there were high chances of everything Flora sees and hears to reach Sang-je’s ears.
“It’s so nice to see you too. I believe you have filled my part as a daughter by visiting my parents while I was away.” Eugene paused before she emphasized the following words. “Thankfully.”
***
Flora’s eyes quivered at Eugene’s remark. But without saying anything, she dropped her eyes to the ground in silence.
Eugene got flustered when the latter’s response differed entirely from what she had expected from Jin’s memory, where Flora had given a sharp retort at Jin in a somewhat unyielding manner.
‘I knew she wouldn’t be easy to deal with.’
Eugene was put in an awkward position as it now appears as if she had rebuked her old friend upon meeting after a long time. It wouldn’t have been better if only Flora had said anything, but instead, Flora hushed up plaintively, looking crestfallen like a sinner.
“It isn’t polite to keep the guest standing. Please take a seat, Anika Flora.” Enoch quickly interrupted. Eugene glimpsed at her brother. She couldn’t erase the feeling that he had cut in on their conversation on purpose, right before things could take a turn for the worse. This indicated that it was frequent for people to intervene whenever Jin was mean to Flora.
‘How foolish is Jin to behave with such unbelievable impertinence and irresponsibility? What would do good to her to have a bad reputation?’
However, Eugene couldn’t quite feel sympathy for Flora either. She was rather suspicious of Flora’s motives for feigning friendship at Jin’s side despite all the indignity she suffered.
‘Flora… The heroine of my novel…’
The Flora she met was nothing like the heroine she had described in the novel she wrote.
Despite her disappointment, Eugene flashed a smile on her proud face at Flora.
“I finally got the proper chance to tell you that I’ve got married. Flora, allow me to introduce you to the King of Hashi Kingdom, who’s also my lord husband whom I married three years ago.”
With that said, Eugene turned to Kasser and flashed him a smile while curving her eyes into a crescent. It was Jin’s signature smile.
“Your Majesty. This is Anika Flora, an old friend of mine.”
Eugene saw him body flinch, just for a second. Stealthily, he averted his gaze and stared rigidly ahead. His face then took on a set uneasy expression. Eugene thought to herself that he was acting all weird again—his response reminded her of the night where he had taken a step back away from her.
Kasser and Flora then exchanged silent bows with each other out of courtesy. After that, Flora took the liberty of interpreting that brief moment of awkwardness in her own way. ‘I can tell right away that you’re only feigning happiness in my presence. Small wonder with such a disposition of yours.’
“By the way, what’s with all those flowers? Did you just come back from a celebration?” Eugene asked her.
“Ah… I’ve just attended a tea party.” Flora replied demurely.
“That’s it!” All eyes were turned to Dana when she let out an exclamation all suddenly.
“We must hold a banquet. A grand welcome banquet to celebrate my daughter’s return after a long time. I guess the manor would need a little touch up for the first time in a while.”
Eugene asked with a hint of excitement on her face. “In the manor?”
“A banquet in our manor is more likely to catch people’s attention than to just hold it in a banquet hall.”
“But… wouldn’t it be cumbersome with all the people coming and going? Not to mention all the preparation work needed as well.”
“The greater the crowd, the better the celebration will be. Now that the subject has been brought up, we must set a date.” With clear excitement on her face, Dana got started on planning right away. She asked a maid to bring her pen and paper and started to write down her rough idea on the scale as well as the entertainment for the banquet.
‘…A banquet? Here in the Arse manor?’ Flora took alternative glances at Jin and Dana in disbelief. The deep affinity between mother and daughter radiated in the way they smiled at each other. Lady Arse, who had always avoided Jin with cold indifference, has taken a complete change in her attitude towards her daughter.
Flora felt queasy suddenly. She felt like she was alienated when it dawned on her that she was nothing but an uninvited guest who made an abrupt appearance in the middle of the family gathering.
She also felt a sense of crisis growing as she realized that Jin lacked nothing now that she has both Sang-je and her family’s support behind her. Once the word of a banquet being held at the Arse manor gets out to people, Jin will become the talk of the town in no time while Flora’s effort for the last three years will fall apart like the way waves washes away the sandcastle without leaving a trace.
Flora rose from her seat and gave a nod as everyone turned to her. “I’m very sorry to interrupt but I’ve only come to give my present to the lady today. I’m afraid I must take leave now as I have some other business to attend to.”
“I’ll look forward to my present on your next visit, Flora.” Eugene cut in, knowing full well how spiteful she might sound.
Flora bit her lips for a moment before she flashed her innocent smile at Eugene.
“Alright. I’ll bring Sir Pides with me the next time I come to visit.”
Eugene felt her face hardened instantaneously at Flora’s remark. She then stole a quick glimpse at Kasser and was relieved to see there was nothing registered on his face.
However, it wasn’t only Eugene who was caught off guard by Flora’s bold remark as it was no secret to the family that Jin had used to admire Sir Pides. Though it shouldn’t matter much as it was all before her marriage, it was still very inappropriate of Flora to mention it, especially in the presence of Jin’s husband.
Enoch regarded Flora with a degree of surprise in his eyes. ‘Have I been wrong about Flora all this time?’
He’d always thought that Flora was a faint-hearted girl who often got pushed around by his mean sister. But after his mother told him that he must learn to have better judgment of people, he couldn’t help but to feel uneasy by Flora’s remark.
After Flora took her leave, the butler came back with an announcement in a moment. “There’s an urgent message to the Desert King.”
The chamberlain who followed in the wake of the butler, trotted close to Kasser at once. He spoke in such undertone that it was inaudible even to Eugene who was sitting right next to Kasser. All she could make out was that someone had come to visit at their royal manor.
‘Could it be a woman? I think I heard him mentioning a lady’s name.’
But Eugene didn’t manage to catch it as the name was unfamiliar to her. Kasser gave a short nod before he turned back to the lord and the lady of the house. “I beg your pardons but I’m afraid I must be leaving now.”
Then he turned to face Eugene as he went on. “As for you my queen, you may stay and spend more time with your parents as you haven’t seen them for such a long time. Please excuse my going first.”
Dana had almost come to dread when she thought she must see her daughter go while she still had plenty left to say. But her clouded face was soon brightened at Kasser’s kind consideration.
Eugene turned and said when everyone followed suit as Kasser rose from his seat. “I’ll go see him off.”
Dana resumed her seat after boring holes at the back of her daughter and son-in-law as they left the room.
“What do you think of him, dear? Your son-in-law.”
“I think they look good together.”
“Do you really think so?”
Patrick, who had just given his honest opinion, turned to his wife as she sounded rather skeptical. “Do you think there’s something wrong with the two of them?”
The Desert King had already come into Patrick’s favor since their earlier conversation. He was even feeling grateful to his son-in-law for treasuring his daughter, who was notorious for her mean temper.
Dana asked the same to her two sons. “What about you two?”
Both her sons seemed startled as they obviously never expected their mother asking for their opinion with such keen interest.
“They seem to get along and they look good together.” Enoch gave his answer while keeping his honest opinion just to himself. ‘Shouldn’t it be us who have to be thankful to the Desert King for sustaining a smooth marriage with Jin?’
Arthur gave a nod in silence as he agreed with Enoch. He felt like Jin had gotten meek in temper and that it was her marriage that brought positive changes to her life.
Dana’s face registered disapproval as she rose to her feet. However, she couldn’t quite contradict their opinion either as it was clear in the atmosphere that there was mutual affection between her daughter and her son-in-law.
Nevertheless, Dana couldn’t shake off the fact that their marriage was wrong from the start as the Jin who married the Desert King three years ago, wasn’t actually her daughter. It disgusted her to think that her precious daughter got stuck with the man who was married to the cunning imposter.
“My dear. Enoch and Arthur too. I would like you all to listen to the end of my unfinished story from before. As for you butler, make sure we wouldn’t be interrupted in the middle of our family conversation. And tell Jin to attend to me in my chamber as soon as she comes back.”
“As you say, my lady.”
Chapter 254
They continued to exchange looks as if asking if anyone knew what was going on. Each silent inquiry returned with a nimble shake of head.
“Let Anika Flora come inside.”
“As you will, my lady.”
Eugene’s heart pounced with anticipation as she waited for the butler to welcome Anika Flora.
‘It’s Flora! The main character!’
Now that she realized that this world wasn’t only an imaginary world she created in the novel she wrote, she felt the need to investigate further. But no matter what, nothing changes the fact that this world had indeed been where she had always taken refuge, in times of trouble. Eugene remembered how overwhelmed she was with her own imagination when she wrote about Flora bravely confronting the swarming army of Larks with her great power.
‘How powerful Flora’s Ramita would be? I’m sure it would be more powerful than mine.’
Momentarily, Eugene couldn’t help but to gape as a woman of long jet-black hair, carrying an armful of flowers, appeared through the door behind the butler.
‘Wow. She’s so beautiful.’
Flora and Jin were indeed two beauties of different charms. Likened to an animal, Jin was a haughty feline while Flora was a docile puppy. Doubtless Flora would leave a favorable image to everyone she comes across.
However, Eugene was totally bewildered when a certain memory of Jin flashed across her mind.
[Flora. I think you really are brilliant. Despite being brought up by such parents, along with the brothers of yours, you turned out just fine.]
[No one could have turned out as fine as you, Jin]
Veiled hostility in their compliments….
[Ah, this room really is small. Can someone live in this kind of place?]
[Looks like I could.]
As well as the sense of superiority masked as sympathy. However, the most interesting fact was that Flora had given back as good as she got. According to their conversation, Jin and Flora wouldn’t have been on good terms as enmity runs deep on both sides.
Eugene couldn’t feel more devastated at this point. Before today, all she did was to click her tongue whenever Jin’s vile acts were revealed from her memories. But now, she was utterly outraged by Jin’s past behavior.
How outrageous of Jin to screw up all her relationships with people as if stealing her life weren’t enough! Eugene had no idea as to where she should begin to restore her life back.
“Welcome, Anika Flora.” Dana greeted Flora. Instantaneously, Flora masked her bewilderment and lowered her head.
“Lady Arse and Lord Arse. I hope you have been well.” Flora was taken by surprise as she had never expected to see the whole Arse family gathered around the table. Flora was even more surprised to see Jin being here as well. She had always thought that she would ask her to come along before she went back to her house.
Jin had always asked Flora to come along whenever she wanted to see her mother.
“My apologies for making an unannounced visit… but I just wanted to give these flowers to Lady Arse.”
“I’ll gratefully receive that.”
The butler then took the flowers from Flora and left the room. Flora looked away after watching wistfully as the flowers got carried away by the butler, instead of being handed over to Dana. She forced herself into a smile after she met eyes with Jin.
“Jin. It’s so nice to see you back.”
Jin smiled back in reply. Now was the time for all her efforts of practice to finally come to shine. As it seems like Jin’s relationship with Flora had been less than favorable, she needed to make Flora truly believe her as ‘Jin’, as there were high chances of everything Flora sees and hears to reach Sang-je’s ears.
“It’s so nice to see you too. I believe you have filled my part as a daughter by visiting my parents while I was away.” Eugene paused before she emphasized the following words. “Thankfully.”
***
Flora’s eyes quivered at Eugene’s remark. But without saying anything, she dropped her eyes to the ground in silence.
Eugene got flustered when the latter’s response differed entirely from what she had expected from Jin’s memory, where Flora had given a sharp retort at Jin in a somewhat unyielding manner.
‘I knew she wouldn’t be easy to deal with.’
Eugene was put in an awkward position as it now appears as if she had rebuked her old friend upon meeting after a long time. It wouldn’t have been better if only Flora had said anything, but instead, Flora hushed up plaintively, looking crestfallen like a sinner.
“It isn’t polite to keep the guest standing. Please take a seat, Anika Flora.” Enoch quickly interrupted. Eugene glimpsed at her brother. She couldn’t erase the feeling that he had cut in on their conversation on purpose, right before things could take a turn for the worse. This indicated that it was frequent for people to intervene whenever Jin was mean to Flora.
‘How foolish is Jin to behave with such unbelievable impertinence and irresponsibility? What would do good to her to have a bad reputation?’
However, Eugene couldn’t quite feel sympathy for Flora either. She was rather suspicious of Flora’s motives for feigning friendship at Jin’s side despite all the indignity she suffered.
‘Flora… The heroine of my novel…’
The Flora she met was nothing like the heroine she had described in the novel she wrote.
Despite her disappointment, Eugene flashed a smile on her proud face at Flora.
“I finally got the proper chance to tell you that I’ve got married. Flora, allow me to introduce you to the King of Hashi Kingdom, who’s also my lord husband whom I married three years ago.”
With that said, Eugene turned to Kasser and flashed him a smile while curving her eyes into a crescent. It was Jin’s signature smile.
“Your Majesty. This is Anika Flora, an old friend of mine.”
Eugene saw him body flinch, just for a second. Stealthily, he averted his gaze and stared rigidly ahead. His face then took on a set uneasy expression. Eugene thought to herself that he was acting all weird again—his response reminded her of the night where he had taken a step back away from her.
Kasser and Flora then exchanged silent bows with each other out of courtesy. After that, Flora took the liberty of interpreting that brief moment of awkwardness in her own way. ‘I can tell right away that you’re only feigning happiness in my presence. Small wonder with such a disposition of yours.’
“By the way, what’s with all those flowers? Did you just come back from a celebration?” Eugene asked her.
“Ah… I’ve just attended a tea party.” Flora replied demurely.
“That’s it!” All eyes were turned to Dana when she let out an exclamation all suddenly.
“We must hold a banquet. A grand welcome banquet to celebrate my daughter’s return after a long time. I guess the manor would need a little touch up for the first time in a while.”
Eugene asked with a hint of excitement on her face. “In the manor?”
“A banquet in our manor is more likely to catch people’s attention than to just hold it in a banquet hall.”
“But… wouldn’t it be cumbersome with all the people coming and going? Not to mention all the preparation work needed as well.”
“The greater the crowd, the better the celebration will be. Now that the subject has been brought up, we must set a date.” With clear excitement on her face, Dana got started on planning right away. She asked a maid to bring her pen and paper and started to write down her rough idea on the scale as well as the entertainment for the banquet.
‘…A banquet? Here in the Arse manor?’ Flora took alternative glances at Jin and Dana in disbelief. The deep affinity between mother and daughter radiated in the way they smiled at each other. Lady Arse, who had always avoided Jin with cold indifference, has taken a complete change in her attitude towards her daughter.
Flora felt queasy suddenly. She felt like she was alienated when it dawned on her that she was nothing but an uninvited guest who made an abrupt appearance in the middle of the family gathering.
She also felt a sense of crisis growing as she realized that Jin lacked nothing now that she has both Sang-je and her family’s support behind her. Once the word of a banquet being held at the Arse manor gets out to people, Jin will become the talk of the town in no time while Flora’s effort for the last three years will fall apart like the way waves washes away the sandcastle without leaving a trace.
Flora rose from her seat and gave a nod as everyone turned to her. “I’m very sorry to interrupt but I’ve only come to give my present to the lady today. I’m afraid I must take leave now as I have some other business to attend to.”
“I’ll look forward to my present on your next visit, Flora.” Eugene cut in, knowing full well how spiteful she might sound.
Flora bit her lips for a moment before she flashed her innocent smile at Eugene.
“Alright. I’ll bring Sir Pides with me the next time I come to visit.”
Eugene felt her face hardened instantaneously at Flora’s remark. She then stole a quick glimpse at Kasser and was relieved to see there was nothing registered on his face.
However, it wasn’t only Eugene who was caught off guard by Flora’s bold remark as it was no secret to the family that Jin had used to admire Sir Pides. Though it shouldn’t matter much as it was all before her marriage, it was still very inappropriate of Flora to mention it, especially in the presence of Jin’s husband.
Enoch regarded Flora with a degree of surprise in his eyes. ‘Have I been wrong about Flora all this time?’
He’d always thought that Flora was a faint-hearted girl who often got pushed around by his mean sister. But after his mother told him that he must learn to have better judgment of people, he couldn’t help but to feel uneasy by Flora’s remark.
After Flora took her leave, the butler came back with an announcement in a moment. “There’s an urgent message to the Desert King.”
The chamberlain who followed in the wake of the butler, trotted close to Kasser at once. He spoke in such undertone that it was inaudible even to Eugene who was sitting right next to Kasser. All she could make out was that someone had come to visit at their royal manor.
‘Could it be a woman? I think I heard him mentioning a lady’s name.’
But Eugene didn’t manage to catch it as the name was unfamiliar to her. Kasser gave a short nod before he turned back to the lord and the lady of the house. “I beg your pardons but I’m afraid I must be leaving now.”
Then he turned to face Eugene as he went on. “As for you my queen, you may stay and spend more time with your parents as you haven’t seen them for such a long time. Please excuse my going first.”
Dana had almost come to dread when she thought she must see her daughter go while she still had plenty left to say. But her clouded face was soon brightened at Kasser’s kind consideration.
Eugene turned and said when everyone followed suit as Kasser rose from his seat. “I’ll go see him off.”
Dana resumed her seat after boring holes at the back of her daughter and son-in-law as they left the room.
“What do you think of him, dear? Your son-in-law.”
“I think they look good together.”
“Do you really think so?”
Patrick, who had just given his honest opinion, turned to his wife as she sounded rather skeptical. “Do you think there’s something wrong with the two of them?”
The Desert King had already come into Patrick’s favor since their earlier conversation. He was even feeling grateful to his son-in-law for treasuring his daughter, who was notorious for her mean temper.
Dana asked the same to her two sons. “What about you two?”
Both her sons seemed startled as they obviously never expected their mother asking for their opinion with such keen interest.
“They seem to get along and they look good together.” Enoch gave his answer while keeping his honest opinion just to himself. ‘Shouldn’t it be us who have to be thankful to the Desert King for sustaining a smooth marriage with Jin?’
Arthur gave a nod in silence as he agreed with Enoch. He felt like Jin had gotten meek in temper and that it was her marriage that brought positive changes to her life.
Dana’s face registered disapproval as she rose to her feet. However, she couldn’t quite contradict their opinion either as it was clear in the atmosphere that there was mutual affection between her daughter and her son-in-law.
Nevertheless, Dana couldn’t shake off the fact that their marriage was wrong from the start as the Jin who married the Desert King three years ago, wasn’t actually her daughter. It disgusted her to think that her precious daughter got stuck with the man who was married to the cunning imposter.
“My dear. Enoch and Arthur too. I would like you all to listen to the end of my unfinished story from before. As for you butler, make sure we wouldn’t be interrupted in the middle of our family conversation. And tell Jin to attend to me in my chamber as soon as she comes back.”
“As you say, my lady.”
