The Flower Dances And The Wind Sings - Chapter 5

Vicente couldn’t say anymore because the meal came out at the same time as Ercella finished her sentence.
On the table were cream lamb stew, Caesar salad, baguettes with butter, and baked potatoes with melted cheese.
Ercella looked at Vicente’s eyes on the all-white food. The food on the table was purely Ercella’s taste. She knew that her eating habits were unusual.
Even though Harsen adapted well now, initially even he had no idea why she liked such greasy food. Ercella smiled awkwardly as she forgot to tell Clifton to serve her food differently than usual.
“I’ll prepare something else…….”
“I’ll just eat it.”
Vicente picked up the spoon without hesitation. Ercella looked wistful at his resoluteness.
Ercella took a bite of the stew, thinking she should tell Clifton to prepare a regular meal tomorrow. The creamy soup was delicious as always.
Thinking so, Ercella carefully watched her son taste the stew. One may never know; he might like it himself.
However, Vicente had a regular taste so he tasted it several times before finally putting the spoon down. She felt guilty because he didn’t touch the other food either. Her guilt flashed on her face.
“Why is my taste like this..?”
She was disappointed for the first time by the diet she had never regretted in her life. Every new step with Vicente felt like a challenge.
“Can I know what you plan to do after breakfast?”
The authority she had previously imposed on him disappeared because of her guilt. Vicente also seemed to be thinking about what to do with the suddenly empty schedule. He stared at Ercella without opening his mouth.
“Well , if you don’t have anything to do, why don’t you join me in the garden?”
Ercella unintentionally said while looking into his stare.
It wasn’t planning this, but it would be nice to spend some time together.
“……Do you mean mother’s garden?”
Vicente’s answer came out a little slower. For example, what he called “mother’s garden” would probably mean “your garden!?”
There were not many gardens in the first place. Ercella nodded shamelessly, ignoring his reluctance.
“Yes, the roses must be in full bloom by now, so it will be really beautiful.”
It’s May now, so it must be full of bloomed roses.
Wouldn’t your ice cold relationship with Vicente melt a little if we enjoy the beautifully bloomed flowers together?
She thought that it was a really good idea.
Vicente looked at her without showing any positive or negative attitude. He never answered readily, and seemed to be trying to figure out what Ercella intended to do.
Is it impossible?
Ercella swallowed a bitter smile and shook her hand.
“I’m not forcing you.”
Unlike her cool words, her shoulders were drooping. Ercella didn’t know where the confidence that Vicente would accept her offer came from. Ercella pretended to naturally take a fork for the salad to hide her disappointment.
“No, I’ll go.”
She thought it was a rejection, but heard an unexpected answer. Her pupils grew round.

The garden was still beautiful. Starting with small grass flowers blooming everywhere, red roses were scattered over the greenery.
It was definitely May. Anyone who sees the joy that nature brings will rise the corners of his mouth. Ercella, who likes beautiful things, also smiled. She wanted to go down and walk through the garden.
Vicente, who finished preparing, approached after a while. He was dressed simply in plain clothes.
“Shall we go down?”
Having said that, an arm stretched to her. Ercella was staring blankly when she noticed that he was about to escort her.
It was a private outing, not a public one, so she was taken aback, but he reached out without hesitation. Ercella looked surprised at his unexpected gentlemanly manners. Come to think of it, Lianne said that he excelled in his lessons, but did that include this?
“Thank you.”
Ercella smiled and overlapped her hands over Vicente’s outstretched arm. Anyway, there was nothing wrong about receiving a favor he gave her. Vicente led her gracefully, gazing for a moment at the pale back of her hand.
The garden was beautifully decorated because of Ercella’s devotion. The ladies of other families would have been impressed, but Vicente was more insensitive than Ercella thought.
He was staring ahead if the splendor of the colors that met his eyes did not inspire him at all.
They barely had a conversation. He only shared the most formal words, ‘How is it?’ and ‘It’s okay.’ Ercella was too shy to praise herself for her garden, so she kept her mouth shut.
After walking for a long time, only looking at each other’s faces, she suddenly stared at his side profile.

It’s been years.

Walking side by side with my son. It’s been years since we’ve been together for no reason.
Vicente was way over her height before she knew it. He will be an official knight soon. It was hard to become knight at a young age, but as the heir of a family of soldiers, her son was ordained as a knight at only 15.
“I’ll be on my way then.”
His low voice awakened her from her imagination.
I don’t think it’s been even 30 minutes. I can’t believe we’re leaving this early.
It was a pity, but Ercella decided to be satisfied with this.
It was a great achievement to walk through the garden like today. Vicente also gave way a lot. Ercella recalled Lianne’s words to take everything slowly.
“Alright, go ahead.”
“Goodbye.”
“Oh, why don’t we go out together tomorrow?”
Oops. Sweetly, sweetly.
It’s not easy to fix old habits.
Ercella waited for Vicente’s answer while trying to recognize that she had to change.
“I have a political science class.”
A firm refusal. With Vicente’s schedule on hand, the answer wasn’t unexpected. But she also knew that there was no schedule after the political science class because she cut down on a large number of his tutors.
“How about going after class?”
“I’m going to practice swordsmanship.”
The answer was clear…
No, more than that, I can’t believe you’re going to train again in your free time.
Then what she did was meaningless!
“I rest in my spare time, so…”
“I have a knight’s exam soon, so I can’t neglect my training.”
She knew there is quite a long time to call it “soon”, but her son doesn’t slack at all.
Ercella suddenly became curious.
I wonder if you really want to be a knight or if you’re forcing yourself to do something you don’t want to do because of your family.
“You don’t have to be a knight.”
“What’s that-”
“If there is anything you want to do, you can do it.”
I didn’t intend to make you a knight. And whatever is a knight? Don’t they receive honor by dying on the battlefield?
Oh my God, come to think of it, this is a big deal.
Now, Ercella has reached a point where Vicente may stop pursuing knighthood. In addition to the possibility of danger, Vicente now had to find his life.
I wish I could live doing what I want to do. No, it was good enough to stay at home doing nothing. There no shortage of money anyway!
Ercella’s head was full of thoughts when the cold reaction came back.
“What’s wrong with you since last time?”
“……Vicente?”
“Do you realize what you’re saying? I am the only child of my father, the patriarch of the family, and I have to walk through Bernhardt’s path of succession. Are you telling me to not be a knight just like that?”
“I’m just….”
“Does father know that mother is doing this? I hope he doesn’t find out about this. He would be very angry if he finds out. Please, be mindful of your words.”
“You…”
Tears seemed to flow from his disdainful gaze. There was no political calculation. It was strictly for Vicente’s sake.
It was for Vicente. I didn’t want you to do any hard work. I just wanted to live a peaceful life…
“I just didn’t want you to live your life for the sake of the family. Is that wrong?”
“Mother.”
His mouth shut and fell.
“You’re not that kind of person.”
“…….”
“And you don’t have to do that either.”
A voice that defines her coldly. That unkind voice defined her as a person that lived strictly for the sake of her family.… that was the kind of person Ercella was.
For the sake of her family… Yes, I lived for my family……. Married for the sake of the family.… gave birth to you for the sake of the family…….
Ercella’s eyes began to blur. She looked up at Vicente with lost eyes and asked.
“I’ll ask you, who am I then?”
She wanted to know who Ercella was to him.
I don’t know what I mean to you. I’m your mother… But I don’t know what you think of me.
Dry eyes stayed on her and a drier voice flowed into her ears.
“You are the person of honour in Visaride and the wife of the Duke of Bernhardt, the sword of the King. Aren’t you the most noble woman in the country?”
Her heart began to thump and squirm. His gaze didn’t have any compassion for his mother. It was a gaze that looked through others thoroughly. Vicente doesn’t see her as a mother…
After finishing, Vicente turned his back on her and began to walk back. There was no hesitation in his steps.
Soon after, when even Vicente’s shadow had completely disappeared, a clear stream of water flowed down Ercella’s cheek.

Every scene is a stab on my kokoro. I have dreams about this one now. The manhwa wasn’t enough and now the novel is slowly killing me.
But *sigh* I’m a sucker for tragedies >.< I released two chapters today. I shall die for some time… Pray for my health… and sanity…. Let me know my mistakes. I’m sure there are a lot since my brain is working on it’s last juice.