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194. I Will Grant Anything You Desire
“Woah...!”
The moment they stepped into the conservatory, an exclamation of sheer awe slipped from Ortansia's lips.
It was hardly unusual for noble estates—including the Duke of VĂ©ritĂ©’s mansion, to feature their own glasshouses, but this was on a completely different scale. Sunlight poured down brilliantly through the towering glass roof, illuminating the surrounding flora in a breathtaking display. As the crown jewel of the Royal Botanical Gardens, its splendor was nothing short of a living work of art.
As Ortansia slowly swept her eyes around the grand space with sparkling excitement, she suddenly felt a piercing gaze fixed upon her and turned around.
“Huh?”
Standing beside her, GĂ©rard was staring at her with intense concentration. Calling it a simple glance would be a vast understatement—his gaze was heavy, burning with an unyielding intensity, as if he refused to miss even a single twitch of her expressions.
“B-Brother...? Is something wrong...?”
Had she committed some unknown mistake? As Ortansia questioned timidly, trembling slightly under his scrutiny, GĂ©rard answered without averting his eyes for even a fraction of a second.
“Nothing in particular.”
‘There is DE-FI-NITE-LY something!’
If nothing was wrong, why on earth was he staring at her so hard he might bore a hole through her face? Even as Ortansia awkwardly broke eye contact, she couldn't help but feel his sharp gaze prickling against her cheek.
“I-It’s such a gorgeous place, right?!”
Finding the silence unbearable, Ortansia forced an intentionally cheerful note into her voice.
“Ah. Yes, it is.”
Fortunately, GĂ©rard seemed willing to play along with the conversation.
“I-It’s my first time coming here. So, umm, well... I was really surprised.”
GĂ©rard offered no reply. An awkward, heavy silence settled over them once more.
‘Uwaaah, my desperate attempt at small talk totally backfired!’
Ortansia felt like throwing up her hands at her own dreadful conversational skills. What if she had put GĂ©rard in a foul mood? As she reflexively stole a quick glance at his face—
“...I see.”
‘Wait... does he look... slightly pleased?’
An outsider likely wouldn't have noticed the subtle shift. But Ortansia, having spent years watching him closely, could tell immediately. Far from being displeased, GĂ©rard’s mood had somehow taken a turn for the better. She could feel it in the air surrounding him, in the imperceptible softening of his demeanor.
‘Brother really is so hard to read…’
The realization hit her once again. The GĂ©rard in the world fabricated by the demon had been a little easier to understand, but the real GĂ©rard truly was in a league of his own.
Relieved just a fraction, Ortansia shifted her focus back to the plants filling the conservatory. True to its reputation as the Royal Botanical Gardens, the space was packed with rare and magnificent flora unseen anywhere else.
“Oh! I’ve seen that flower in a reference book before! I heard it’s a rare species brought all the way from the southern lands...”
Spotting flowers she had previously only seen in illustrated books, Ortansia's heart fluttered with delight.
“The color is so breathtaking...”
“Understood. I will have them brought to the ducal estate.”
“Uhhmm?!”
At GĂ©rard’s abrupt declaration, memories of an exchange from their childhood flashed through her mind.
GĂ©rard’s words were never mere jokes. After all, he was the man who had built an entire flowerbed of extraordinarily rare Shangri-La blossoms in the ducal gardens off a single casual remark she had dropped in the past. In other words, if Ortansia didn't stop him right here and now, an extravagantly expensive, luxury flowerbed requiring immense time and money might be born today...!
“N-No! It’s quite all right! That would be far too wasteful!”
Ortansia frantically waved her hands in defense. GĂ©rard was a man of action; if he set his mind to it, he might very well initiate the procurement process before the sun set.
“Why would it be wasteful?”
“Umm, well... because...”
At his direct question, Ortansia found herself thoroughly tongue-tied. To the House of VĂ©ritĂ©, such an expense wouldn't even dent their fortune. Yet, having an astronomical sum of money—enough to make commoners’ eyes pop out—spent over a casual comment did terrible things to Ortansia's nervous system.
So—
“If we plant these flowers at the estate, I won't have a reason to come here with you like this anymore, Brother... That’s why it would be wasteful.”
Without even knowing what she was trying to say, her lips had moved on their own, blurting out those exact words before she could stop them. By the time she realized what she had said, the damage was already done.
‘Aaah! I know I had to stop him, but what on earth did I just say?!’
How could she have let something so utterly embarrassing slip out? ...Had the deep, suppressed desire in her heart—the truth she had tried so hard to ignore—leaked out through her lips?
‘If I say something like that, Brother is going to think I’m so weird…’
It might have been acceptable when she was a little girl, but Ortansia was now a full-fledged young lady who had made her debut in society. Brother and sister or not, clinging to him endlessly would surely become suffocating to him.
To make matters worse, she harbored a secret, romantic affection for him. The mere thought of GĂ©rard finding out... terrified her beyond measure.
Yet, as she hung her head and trembled in flustered embarrassment, what met her was GĂ©rard’s voice—sounding unexpectedly tender.
“...I see.”
Laced with an unusually soft resonance, his voice prompted Ortansia to reflexively look up.
As always, GĂ©rard was staring down at her fixedly. But the look in his eyes... was not a cold one.
‘Huh? Is Brother... happy...?’
He wasn't angry, nor was he exasperated. For reasons unknown to her, GĂ©rard was wearing a look of genuine satisfaction.
“If you ever wish to see these flowers again, simply tell me. I will bring you here every single day if you desire.”
“B-But wouldn't that be far too difficult for someone as busy as you, Brother...?”
“I will make time, so it poses no issue. Even if it is the middle of the night, I will have them open the doors for us.”
‘That’s a blatant abuse of authority!’
The thought crossed her mind, yet an unmistakable wave of pure joy welled up from the bottom of her heart regardless.
‘Brother really is as soft on me as ever.’
Of course, she understood that this special treatment was directed at his "little sister." To GĂ©rard, Ortansia was family—his younger sister, nothing more. ...The romantic love she tried so desperately to push down into the depths of her soul would never be requited.
And yet... she couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly happy that he treated her as someone so precious.
“Hehe, thank you so much, Brother.”
As a soft giggle escaped her, GĂ©rard placed his palm gently on top of Ortansia's head.
“...Remember this. So long as you desire it, I will grant anything for you.”
At his words—at the profound, unwavering sincerity in his voice—Ortansia's heart gave a violent thud against her ribs. She knew these words stemmed from his utmost care and devotion to his little sister.
Yet, when he said things like that—
‘What would you do if I told you... that I'm in love with you...?’
He would surely never imagine that the little sister he had watched over since childhood harbored romantic feelings for him. That was precisely why he had been able to dismiss the actions of the GĂ©rard in the demon's illusionary world as an absolute absurdity.
...Even though she knew it was natural, even though she knew it couldn't be helped... it was so hard to compartmentalize. She felt as though the vast chasm between his perception of her and hers of him had been laid brutally bare.
To ensure he wouldn't perceive the bitter sorrow in her heart, Ortansia forced the brightest smile she could muster onto her face.
GĂ©rard gazed intently at her smiling face before speaking in a low, deliberate tone.
“We are entering the Special Conservatory now.”
“Eh?! But isn't the Special Conservatory closed to the general public—?”
The Special Conservatory was a dedicated research facility housed within the massive glasshouse. Even among the rare plants collected in this grand garden, this particular section housed only the most priceless and exceptional specimens—a truly special place, just as its name implied.
Only researchers or high-ranking individuals of considerable stature were granted entry. While it was certainly not surprising that someone of GĂ©rard’s status could gain access—
“Let’s go.”
Dropping those brief words, GĂ©rard took Ortansia's hand into his own as naturally as breathing.
At the sudden, suave escort, Ortansia felt her heart leap straight into her throat.
‘This is terrible for my heart, Brother...!’
Perhaps entering this Special Conservatory had been his goal all along. She still had no idea why he had brought her along, though...
‘Is it because he couldn't enter without a female companion? No, that can't be right…’
With somewhat stiff, uneven steps, Ortansia allowed GĂ©rard to lead her forward toward the doors of the Special Conservatory.
T/N: Hello guys! A very big thanks to everyone who is still here. The novel release is slow because the author has not finished writing or release the chapters. right now, i have translated up to the last page she posted and will keep you guys updated. Shalomđź’ś
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