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159. The Original Distance.
“You are here.”
Indeed, GĂ©rard had been waiting for Ortansia, just as the head maid had said.
Arriving while half-doubting, half-believing, Ortansia was astonished to find GĂ©rard truly waiting for her.
“Um, Master GĂ©rard…”
“What is it?”
“Regarding accompanying you on your inspection... Am I truly suitable for the task...?”
In her previous world, she had studied diligently, hoping to be useful to her father and brother. Yet even then, she doubted she could contribute meaningfully to an inspection.
And now? She was merely a rookie servant from an orphanage.
Taking her along to an inspection wouldn't make her any more capable of offering constructive input.
GĂ©rard stared down at Ortansia as she murmured her doubts.
As Ortansia waited nervously for his answer, he spoke slowly.
“It's a good opportunity. There's no problem.”
‘…?’
She didn't understand what exactly was a “good opportunity”, but if he said there was no problem, then it must truly be fine.
‘Perhaps there's some sort of training programme I'm unaware of, where servants of the Ducal House of VĂ©ritĂ© ought to know the inner workings of the capital…’
That must be it.
Otherwise, there'd be no reason for GĂ©rard to bring Ortansia along on this inspection.
‘The House of VĂ©ritĂ©... they really do train their servants well…’
Ortansia found herself impressed once more by the principles of the household where she'd been raised.
“Let's go.”
“Yes, Sir!”
Hurrying to keep pace with GĂ©rard as he swiftly boarded the carriage, Ortansia followed in a flurry.
“…”
A heavy silence dominated the carriage interior.
It seemed Ortansia was the only person accompanying GĂ©rard this time, meaning naturally, only GĂ©rard and Ortansia occupied the carriage.
‘Ugh, this is awkward…’
GĂ©rard said nothing, seemingly fixed on the scenery outside the window.
Ortencia stole glances at him, shrinking into herself under the uncomfortable atmosphere.
The GĂ©rard from her original world wasn't exactly talkative either, but at least after they'd become close, she'd rarely felt this kind of awkwardness.
When they rode in the carriage together, she usually initiated the conversation, and he always responded.
But now…
‘I'm just a servant. I can't casually speak to him like I did in my original world…’
Even though he was so close, his presence felt distant.
It was like an invisible wall separated them.
‘But this is the proper distance between me and big brother…’
Born as the heir to the ducal house, everything about GĂ©rard was noble and exceptional.
Born the daughter of a tavern singer in the slums, raised in an orphanage, Ortansia was common.
In the former world, fate’s cruel twist allowed us to meet as siblings, but otherwise, this distance is right.
Yes, that was right. She knew it was, and yet... she couldn't ignore the loneliness welling up inside her..
The carriage made its way down the street, eventually arriving at what seemed to be their destination.
But the moment she stepped down, Ortansia's eyes widened in surprise.
“The Royal Botanic Gardens...?”
A vast natural park with an enormous glasshouse situated within it.
This was the Royal Botanical Gardens, constructed for the purpose of plant conservation and research.
‘What on earth is an inspection here? Could it be that suspicious research is actually being conducted here, or dangerous transactions taking place...?’
Unpleasant thoughts instantly raced through her mind, and Ortansia turned pale.
Ortansia was well aware that GĂ©rard's work was dangerous. In the original world, he'd infiltrated the Evil God cult, amongst other things.
But she couldn't understand why she had been brought here now.
Pathetically, the current Ortansia seemed utterly useless.
Perhaps because fate had changed and the fact that she had received the goddess's baptism had vanished, the present Ortansia could no longer use her divine protection at all.
She couldn't possibly imagine being of any use whatsoever to GĂ©rard on his dangerous mission.
‘Could it be that in dangerous situations, I'm meant to be a shield!? That must be it, surely. It's about the only thing I seem capable of…’
With such silent thoughts, Ortansia followed silently behind GĂ©rard as he walked on.
GĂ©rard seemed to be moving at a slightly slower pace than usual as he made his way along the garden paths.
Surprisingly, he wasn't heading straight for his destination. Instead, he was following a route where one could admire various flowers, just like any other visitor.
‘……? Is he checking if there are any suspicious plants among them?’
Hoping to be of some use, Ortansia too studied the beautifully blooming flowers intently.
But wherever she looked, nothing seemed amiss.
As she gazed at the flowers, wondering what on earth GĂ©rard was searching for, he suddenly spoke up, unexpectedly closer beside her.
“...You.”
"Y-yes!?”
Startled by the sudden address, Ortansia let out a startled cry and jumped.
But paying no heed to Ortansia's peculiar reaction, GĂ©rard continued.
“Do you like flowers?”
“…Eh?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Ortansia stared blankly.
‘Flowers? Do I like flowers... Are you asking me?’
Gerard's gaze was fixed squarely on Ortansia.
At the very least, there was no doubt he had directed that question at her.
But why would Gerard care whether Ortansia liked flowers?
As if sensing her confusion, Gerard added further explanation.
“You were crying by the flowerbed that night, right? If you merely wished to weep in private, choosing that spot seems rather unnatural.”
“Ah…”
Realising he was referring to the night she'd slipped out of her room, Ortansia's heart skipped a beat.
She tried desperately to come up with a plausible excuse, but nothing came to mind.
Cornered, Ortansia simply nodded vigorously for the time being.
“I see…”
GĂ©rard nodded, looking satisfied, then pressed her again.
“Which flowers do you like?”
Though flustered by this interrogation-like exchange, Ortansia felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
‘Now that I think about it, there was a similar incident just after I'd been brought into the duke's household’
Back then, not yet knowing how to interact with GĂ©rard, she had blurted out, “I found a beautiful flower in the garden!” Taking her words at face value, GĂ©rard had planted the rare Shangri-La flower throughout the entire flowerbed.
Recalling that time, Ortansia murmured the words unconsciously,
“Shangri-La flowers…”
Originally, she had thought of them as nothing more than expensive, rare blooms.
But after Gerard planted Shangri-La flowers for her sake, and she felt their hearts connect, they became special flowers to Ortansia.
“Shangri-La...? Have you ever had the chance to see one?”
Gerard's muttered question reached her ears, and Ortensia startled.
‘Oh dear! Right now, I'm just a commoner from the orphanage. It would be strange if I'd ever seen a Shangri-La flower...!’
After all, the Verité family, who privately owned Shangri-La flowers, were an exception among exceptions.
Even here in the capital, aside from the Verité family, they only existed in the royal palace and the special greenhouse of this botanical garden.
“I... I saw it in an illustrated book! I've never seen the real thing! But it's incredibly beautiful!!”
Ortansia desperately tried to cover it up.
Gerard stared down at her intently, then murmured quietly after a moment.
“…I see.”
Saying only that, Gerard began walking again.
Ortansia, unsure of the intent behind his question, hurried to keep up.
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