The Eldest Daughter Walks Down The Flower Path - Chapter 178

※ Regarding the length of the chapters, you may refer to the translator's note at chapter 1.

Chapter 178

Translator: Yonnee

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The residence of Olivier Arpend, the empire’s third prince, was one of the most heavily guarded places in the whole imperial palace.

This was all due to the frequent assassination attempts launched against him.

Therefore, not only visitors, but even as small as a letter arriving through a carrier bird was thoroughly scrutinized and investigated.

Just like now.

“……”

It was just standard protocol.

However, as Olivier realized that the envelope in his hands right now had already been torn open with a letter opener by another person, his beautiful purple eyes flashed with a rare glow of shock.

Carefully tracing the torn side of the envelope with one finger as though he was very cautiously probing the outline of an open wound, Olivier opened his lips to speak.

“Joel, from now on… As long as it’s a letter that she has sent to me, you may bring it to me as is.”

Joel, Olivier’s aide, was an exceedingly disciplined soldier.

But even someone like him could not help but be surprised to hear Olivier say that.

Joel answered carefully.

“But Your Highness, you’ve never made an exception like this before,” said the man who was stretching out on the long sofa as though he had passed out.

“Joel, you idiot.”

The man raised his head to look at the woman who said that. She had dark brown hair and cool blue eyes just like Joel. In fact, they had an uncanny resemblance to each other, like two sides of a mirror.

“You’re seriously so tactless.”

Joel scowled at her.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Yael? I’m tactless?”

Yael wordlessly made a heart shape with her fingers and showed it to Joel.

Then, Joel’s pupils shook.

Olivier let out a light sigh as he opened the envelope that Joel had opened prior to this.

The stationary paper was not of a beautifully embellished kind, nor was it given a spritz of perfume. It’s just like her to be more straightforward with an ordinary piece of paper.

Olivier could feel her presence vividly in her intense handwriting.

In the meantime, Joel could be heard making excuses behind him.

“I mean, if it looked like a love letter, I would’ve been more careful, y’know. That letter over there doesn’t look like it, not one bit.”

“This is why men are so hopeless. Women know how to be discreet. How else do you think a love letter can reach the palace?”

With Joel making more excuses in the background, Olivier smiled faintly as he read through the letter.

[ Your Highness Olivier, how have you been? I’ve been doing fine these days.

I’ve taken up a new subject to study, but there’s a certain part that I can’t quite understand. It’s giving me a huge headache.

Then I thought, maybe Your Highness knows the answer.

When you pinched my cheek back when we were together in the carriage, you showed me the answer, too.

I’ve written the problem below.

When inserted, mud or even stones become animated as though alive.

However, special letters or characters are needed.

What do you think are those letters or characters?

It’s alright even if Your Highness doesn’t know the answer. This is a letter I’ve written due to this headache that’s been terrorizing me for a while now.

Your Highness, I wish you happiness, always. ]

Furtively peeking over Olivier’s shoulder to read the letter, Yael asked.

“Your Highness, what… does that even mean?”

“See? You’re dumbfounded too, aren’t you?”

Joel gave Yael a slightly smug look, but his expression soon changed.

It was because of the pleasant smile on Olivier’s lips.

Not seeing the smile because he was behind Olivier, Yael just kept prying.

“What’s the answer to that problem, Your Highness? Is it a worm? Fertilizer? Yeah, I think it’s fertilizer. Is she asking you to put fertilizer into soil or something?”

Joel simply shut Yael up and dragged her away.

Left alone, Olivier read through the enigmatic letter over and over again.

His fingertips touched the surface of the paper that she would have touched before.

And as the paper was smooth, it felt as if he was caressing the back of her hand.

Closing his eyes, Olivier recalled the time when he had kissed the back of her hand.

When he had taken her hand in his, it’s as if he had grasped the wing of a large bird.

She never failed to give him the impression that she was a free bird, ready to shake him off her wings to leave at any given moment. He had grasped her hand more tightly than necessary.

“Radis…”

Her skin, which he could feel through the lace glove covering her hand, felt warm, soft and sweet.

He could not let go of her easily.

He was a honeybee that had perched upon a flower that was in full bloom, leaving him with pollen all over his body. It was as if there was honey upon her skin, waiting for him to devour it all.

Olivier’s lips touched the letter.

“……”

The texture of the lukewarm paper and the smell of ink made him feel lonely.

Setting down the letter, Olivier returned to his original self.

What Radis was asking was not about fertilizer, as Yael might have thought.

She was talking about magic.

“Magic that makes mud and stones move…”

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