Let's go our separate ways

Part 23

"What are you doing?" the escort Knight asks curiously as he nods to the children to give them the courage so they dare to come by the rack of gardening tools to pick up the tools

"Work on eliminating the pests," Rhythm releases a sigh of pity as he stares at the state of the garden that is undergoing demolition, "A rarely attended garden will surely have pests. Although the garden still barely looks okay on the surface, we don't know what the horrors are under the bushes, right?"

In truth, the horrors can already be seen. The pests are building a small empire in the garden of the inner Castle. Who knows what other horrors can be seen from other places that are not attended at all?

To make giving orders easier, Rhythm takes a moment to learn the names of the children, as he asks them to introduce themselves to him instead of having the escort Knight introduce the children to Rhythm. Flos doesn't pay much attention to that side, seeing as she is directing Lashes to put the garden's decorations in order on the space around them.

Just standing in place, letting her companions do all the work, will people call Flos lazy again? Aside from being around as her companions work, there is nothing she can participate in though. Joining the fray to eliminate the pests? Eh, no thank you.

Rhythm sees Flos's struggle, seeing her peeking at them and the garden, and correctly reads her thoughts so he rolls his eyes, "You just do what you want to do,"

"I don't want to fight the pests," Flos says so honestly, not surprising Rhythm

"Then stay back," Rhythm looks around before giving something else for Flos to do, "Sort these decorations. If they are beyond repair, throw them out,"

"Her Majesty doesn't intend to change them all?" Flos is slightly surprised by how frugal the Royals are

"Change everything," Rhythm shakes his head, "But those that are still usable will be donated,"

"Very well," Flos takes a moment to admire Her Majesty, "Leave it to me,"

Just like that, as per Rhythm's arrangement, Flos turns to the place where Lashes puts the decorations and looks at the many benches, pots, bird cages, gazebos, etc. In the time when they are not taken care of, these things are surely weather-beaten.

Now that Flos takes a good look, these things are still usable, just need to be cleaned up a bit and repair some parts.

Lashes puts down the last thing to catch and curls back on Flos's left wrist. Not long after, May-Day also float back to Flos, still pristinely white as before. Flos welcomes them all with a sentence, "Thank you for your hard work,"

Lashes has arranged the decorations beforehand, so Flos only needs to check them 1 by 1 to judge their condition. As Flos slowly checks the decorations, May-Day, originally just attached to her hair before, move to braid her hair again.

The time Flos uses to check the decorations is shorter than the time Rhythm and his apprentices use to handle the pests. Flos looks at Rhythm who is still instructing the children to do this and that on the vast land that was once a garden, then sighs.

Flos misses her flower garden.

"Is something the matter?"

A voice she has heard before. A person she has just met yesterday. The King's aide is here, standing beside her. To Flos's surprise, the man is not wearing glasses today. His attire is also different from yesterday, a casual garb instead of a uniform.

Turning his head, seeing Flos looking at him, the King's aide shows a happy smile, "The King gives me today off!" as he most excitedly informs Flos

Oh. Flos nods as she casually replies, "Congratulations,"

"Thank you," the King's aide says graciously, "This is my 1st day off in my service for 2 years,"

Flos widens her eyes in surprise, "You are still okay after working for 2 years non-stop?"

"I am not actually," the King's aide replies cheerfully, "But I manage," blinking at Flos, the King's aide leans a little closer and whispers, "I heard you are a doctor?"

"Herbalist," Flos rectifies, "You need something from me?"

"I'd like something," the King's aide nods as he leans back, "Something that is not bitter but can keep me... Well, help me maintain healthy, at least,"

"I think you need a doctor," Flos examines the man's face: seems to be in his mid 20th, pale, surprisingly no dark circles, violet coloured eyes, turquoise coloured hair that is somewhat long and messy, and tall. After a good look, Flos asks him, "What are your symptoms?"

"Stomachache, mostly," the King's aide muses as he rubs his chin, "But that usually happens when I fail to eat for days,"

"Isn't it just your stomach protesting because of hunger?" Flos says what she thinks with a suggestion, "If you are too busy to eat proper meals, why not have snacks?"

"Well, I did try that," the King's aide sighs as he slumps his shoulders, "But, somehow, the snacks makes my throat dry and then I have to drink water which makes me take trips to the bathroom and cut off my working time thus I have to stay overtime to finish the quota for the day," summarising, "Not worth it, to be honest,"

"You are asking for too much," so many troubles, not even her troubles to solve, "How busy are you in 1 day? Usually,"

"I run the Kingdom," the King's aide says as he stares at the sky, eyes empty, with his hands folded on his back, "How busy do you think I would be?"

To be honest, Flos already has an inkling that the King is not as busy as he should be, "His Majesty?"

"His Majesty just needs to approve my works," blinking, the King's aide looks around them, making sure nobody is within hearing range, then leans slightly toward Flos to whisper, "What we just discussed, please keep it a secret. His Majesty does not tolerate this thing to be known by Her Majesty,"

Flos is not impressed, "That His Majesty makes you do all his works?"

"What can be done?" the King's aide shrugs, "He is my boss,"

"You can try filling a complaint to Her Majesty," Flos knows this King's aide must have thought of this, but she still says this sentence

"Gets fired means no job. No job means no money. No money means no food. No food means hunger. Hungry equals being miserable. I don't want to be miserable, that's why I get myself a job," sighing forlornly, the King's aide confides to Flos, "If it's not for the wage and the benefits that His Majesty keeps giving just to keep me, I would have resigned by myself,"

Is that bragging about his salary or lamenting about his life? Flos can understand and would have sympathised with this King's aide, if only he stopped at the story of being miserable. Since he has money, then just use that money!

"What if I use that money to hire you?" looking at Flos, meeting Flos's bright blue coloured eyes with his calm violet coloured eyes, "Be my physician,"

"I told you, I am a herbalist," Flos does not reject his proposal right away, but corrects him again, "Why me?"

"You are a daring girl," the King's aide grins widely, "With you around, life will be delightful,"

Flos rolls her eyes up, asking something she already knows, "In what way?"

"In the way that you can keep His Majesty on his toes!" the King's aide bursts into a fit of giggles

Looking at this man, Flos feels a touch of pity, "Regarding your health, I think your body is still okay. It's your mind that is problematic,"

"Don't I know it," the King's aide sighs in pity too, "In such a stressful job, my only respite is the gossip, and to see people making fun of His Majesty. Unfortunately, His Majesty always forbids me the joy of life by swarming me with his works,"

"It's not like you can't be daring. From your words, I understand His Majesty value you too much to just fire you from your job," Flos thinks back on their conversation and finds a clue to break this impasse

"But he can find even more work for me to do!" the King's aide covers his face, not sobbing but Flos thinks he comes close to it