The Flower Dances And The Wind Sings - Chapter 4

A silver-blue light began to pour into the dark room. A faint glow flashed through the woman’s eyes. The woman frowned and soon turned to the other side. She then unconsciously stretched out her arm and began to mumble next to him.
She looked at her hands for a long time, but when she couldn’t feel any warmth, her eyelids opened slowly.
“Oh, you’re here..?”
The side next to her was empty. Harsen didn’t come home yesterday until late, so she had to sleep alone and couldn’t even talk. Ercella still glanced at the side next to her with a hazy mind.
“You were sleeping.”
Luckily, Harsen stopped by for a while to close his eyes when he saw the bedding a little cluttered. She turned her head slightly toward the window. The color of the sky was gradually brightening, and the dawn was breaking. If so, Harsen returned home near dawn and left at dawn.
She knew he was busy with territorial issues with the neighboring Conrad Kingdom. But she didn’t expect him to be so busy that he would come so late at night and disappear again at dawn.
The man’s body was surely made of steel. He was never once late. Harsen always got up earlier than her, and set about at a fixed time. A question suddenly crossed Ercella’s mind.
“Is this how Harsen lived?”
She thought it might be the lifestyle of this family. If so, then that explains the things from yesterday. Having lived like that himself, he might be used to to this method of education….
Thinking that Harsen might have grown up just like Vicente, her overflowing anger disappeared and was replaced with compassion for him.
“Still, this isn’t right.”
But that’s that. No matter how harsh Harsen has been living, it was unacceptable to push his son through this. It was obvious that he didn’t know how wrong this was. Ercella and he definitely needed to discuss this matter.

Ercella got up and decided to prepare for the upcoming meal. Just in time, Lianne came in and announced the time. Lianne hurried to help her groom. The breakfast was earlier than usual, so she moved her hands quickly.
Lianne braided Ercella’s golden hair into one, curled it up, and fixed it neatly. The preparation simply ended by wearing the clothes that Lianne chose.
“All set, Madam.”
Now it was time to eat with Vicente.
He will come, right…?
Lianne smiled as if she noticed the concern on Ercella’s face.
“The Young Master is already waiting.”
Fortunately, what happened yesterday will not happen again. She exhaled a sigh of relief.
“Let’s go.”
As she entered the dining room, she noticed a boy sitting in a neat posture on the right side of the head seat. He was looking down slightly with his back straightened and his head facing forward.

He came.

Ercella’s lips naturally curled up.
“Are you here?”
At her appearance, Vicente rose from his seat and greeted her politely.
“Good to see you, mother.”
Even though it was said kindly, the answer was still awkward. But it didn’t hurt. She didn’t think that this kind of kindness would break down the walls of her heart that had been built up for years. She needed to be punished more. No matter how hurtful Vicente is, she must endure it.
But that doesn’t mean Vicente said something harsh. He was just as distant from her as he ever was. And wasn’t her sin far greater for her to give up just because he’s cold?
Ercella thought that it was natural and headed to the head seat. Clifton pulled out the chair gracefully. Ercella slightly smiled and sat down.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Yes, it’s been a long time since I had breakfast.”
It has been a long time since the two of them had not only met face to face in the same space but also share a meal together. There was a little tension in the unfamiliar situation.
Ercella began to watch Vicente carefully. Vicente was still looking down and avoiding her, so she could appreciate it more comfortably.
I’ve thought this before too, but he is very handsome.
While the overall impression was cold, each line that made up the face was surprisingly soft.
His features, which seemed to be drawn under his black hair darker than dawn, were perfect. The brightly shining pupils, and the noble atmosphere flowing from him gave off the appearance of a noble prince.
Ercella smiled silently. He grew up really well. Without her…
“Do you know why I called you…… wait-?”
“Do you know” almost habitually came out from her lips, but fortunately, her tone was soft. Vicente’s sunken eyes flowed towards her.
“I don’t know.”
A monotonous answer rang before her ears.
“Um… I…”
Ercella stuttered considerably in her conscious choice of words. If anyone sees her now, they’ll think she’s dumb. Ercella would also have felt shame before because she valued dignity. But she decided not to care about such small things anymore.
“From now on, you and…… with you.….”
Why am I hesitating? I have let go of this lofty pride if I’ll be getting something much more precious.
“I want us to have a meal together.”
Finally, the difficult sentence came out. Ercella knew for the first time that eating together were such a difficult words.
Vicente remained silent, seemingly unaware of what to say. Ercella wanted to know what Vicente was thinking now, but his eyes were still deep and dark, so she couldn’t read anything.
A little silence broke his lips. It was clear that he thought he should no longer delay answering.
“Please tell me why you made the decision.”
It was not a yes or no, but an overly business-like and stern reply. He could not understand the change in her attitude now.
Ercella was at a loss for words.
Why did I decide that? Can’t I just say that I want to eat with you?
She realized that she and Vicente needed a good reason for a meal.

Reason…

There was no great reason for Ercella to ask for a meal now.
I just wanted to have a meal with my son.
Ercella thought for a moment about making a reason for not having one.
But I didn’t want to lie. I wanted to express my feelings as they are. I didn’t want to experience the tragedy of leaving again without being able to say anything like in the past.
“There’s no special reason.”
“…….”
“I just want to eat with you.”
Ercella said, looking straight into Vicente’s eyes. Vicente was still staring at her with doubtful eyes.
“Huh.”
“Huh?”
“Are you lonely because father is busy?”
Is that what it looks like?
At the ridiculous remark, she narrowed her brows as if to frown. On second thought, yes, she was a heartless mother.
From Vicente’s point of view, it would be natural for him to not understand what she is doing now. Therefore, she should not have asked for a simple answer. Ercella fumbled into her mind a hundred and a thousand times, convincing herself.
“It’s not like that. Ah, son… Is it weird for you and I to eat together?”
“…….”
It must be strange. Vicente’s expression felt slightly stiff. Even now, she has to make up a plausible reason, but she came to a vivid impression of what the stiffened muscles around Vicente’s eyes mean. She was about to feel unfair.
“I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“……Ask.”
“I heard from Clifton that you cut down on my tutors. You also ordered them to keep the training field closed until 8 a.m. Why did you do that?”
Clifton was the butler of the mansion. Ercella ordered him through Lianne, and naturally Vicente heard those instructions from him.
Vicente’s eyes still had no warmth, but sadly, Ercella was used to them.
Maybe I will never see my son smile.
Ercella sighed and said.
“I thought you might be having a hard time.”
“I’m not having a hard time.”
Vicente replied sternly. But Ercella also had no intention of backing down on the issue.
“No. Apparently you sleep for only five hours a day. Training on the grounds is also for five hours. You spend six hours learning various lessons. Four hours to study them. Two hours to read the general knowledge. Also, I’ve heard that when you’re free, you process documents coming up from the estate.”
“That’s….”
“No ifs and buts. You are to take a break. The will to learn more is good and you have a good attitude too. But what if you don’t eat properly and faint while working too hard? Can’t you see the people who will worry about you if you faint? I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m worried about you. You’re my son, and I’m your mother.”
‘Mother’. It sounded so brazen even when you spit it out. Anyone would know that so far Ercella has not given the slightest bit of interest to her only son.
It’s ridiculous for the other side to put the word “mother” in front of him on a topic that she had neglected until now.
Her expression suddenly turned dark. Ercella’s heart was not good either. It’s like she’s pretending as if nothing had happened before.
I’m not trying to cover it up… How can I forget this guilt?
She said it herself, but it was also a word that stabbed her in the chest.
There was only one reason why she used the word “mother” even though she knew it hurt both of them.
Even if he doesn’t want to hear it, he indirectly expresses that he is still under Ercella’s protection as the heir of the family.
If she doesn’t do this, he won’t listen to her…….
“Does father know about this?”
“I’ll tell him today.”
He wasn’t buying any of it. He seemed to assume that what Ercella did was only based on an impulsive decision.
Fortunately, the Duke’s decisions override the Duchess’s decisions. But in fact, contrary to his expectations, Ercella was doing things arbitrarily without consulting Harsen.
Ercella also believed that her husband would not stop her. To others, Harsen seems to be quite cold on the outside, so he seems to be the patriarch, but surprisingly, he did everything Ercella asked him to do.
I’m not sure if he’ll refuse or not, but I won’t back down even if he says no. I’ll have to think about another plan then.
“And don’t do anything today, just rest. You’ve been overdoing it until now.”
“I have lessons.”
“I already told you to go rest.”
Vicente lifted his eyebrows slightly. He didn’t reveal much, but she felt that he wasn’t happy about the current situation.
It’s probably natural to instinctively reject a mother that never showed him any interest but suddenly began to interfere in his life.
This was new even for Ercella…… but to him this was just another act.
You may feel bad now, but it was the right thing to do when you think about it later.
I’m sorry I did it my way.
Her lips went up gently as if saying sorry, facing him without avoiding the cold shadow in his eyes.
I know you don’t like it, but please let it slide this time.
Her friendly voice echoed Vicente’s ears.
“Or should I cut down on all the tutors? That’s alright too.”

Ayo I thought we were gonna leave without breakfast.

*sigh* My neck hurts… Tension neck is a beach