Chapter 231: Blooming Lily

In the vast gardens of the palace of Evardin, on one afternoon, a young girl was running through the stone pathway between flower beds, giggling with a flower in her hand.

The girl of age five had her brown hair braided like a crown atop her head. She looked at the flower she held, still giggling, until she bumped into something that made her fall to her bottom.

"Aw," she muttered, wincing.

"Look at where you are walking."

The cool baritone voice had Lily looking up. When she recognized who it was, her eyes widened and her lips stretched into a big smile.

"Darius! You are back!"

"Why are you running around recklessly?" Darius raised his brow at the young girl. His face was stoic as he held out his hand.

Lily put her small hand on Darius’ big one. She kept smiling as he pulled her up gently. Darius was tasked by His Majesty to do something outside the town and it had been a week since he left the palace.

Lily was the girl raised by the palace head maid, Isobel. Despite being adopted by a maid, the girl led a comfortable life in the palace as she had the hearts of the king’s most trusted people. This was also the reason why she could freely roam around the palace as she pleased.

"Last time, you promised you would show me a magic trick! Will you do it now that you are back?"

If there was a child who did not fear Darius’ looks that screamed roughness and danger, it was Lily. Darius believed that it must be her innocence. She was sheltered in the palace and all she received from the people around her was kindness.

Darius sighed. A year ago, it was Julian who was always around Lily whenever he was in the palace. Julian loved playing with her and doing anything she wanted. But after Julian got married, he was only seen in the palace when he had some work to do. It was only then that Lily kept asking Darius to play with her or entertain her with his magic.

"There you are, you brat!"

Lily’s lips parted and she hurriedly hid the flower on her back. Isobel walked down the aisle between the flower beds with an impatient look. Lily went behind Darius like a puppy and tilted her head to peer at the approaching Isobel.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to pluck flowers in the garden!? Do you want His Majesty to get mad and chase you out?"

"But His Majesty does not care about the flowers," Lily muttered to herself.

Living in the palace made her aware of how nonchalant the king was. She seldomly saw him, and on those rare occasions that she did, the king seemed to not care about anything in the palace. He was silent, serious, and only talked when he was in the company of court officials or his trusted commandants. Lily was also warned by Isobel not to go anywhere near the king as she might misbehave and annoy him.

"I only plucked one, mother! Why are you so mad?" Lily was still hiding behind Darius.

"Because you kept doing it all the time!"

Lily pouted and showed herself to Isobel. "Here, you can take it!" she said, handing out the flower.

Isobel wiped the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand. She drew a deep breath. It was only then that she realized that Lily was bugging Darius again.

"Forgive my child for her unruly behavior, Sir Darius. She is just...too lively and playful."

"She is indeed a very lively child," Darius said bleakly, glancing down at Lily who was giving him puppy eyes. She had not yet given up the magic trick she kept bugging him about.

"His Majesty is waiting for my report. I’ll excuse myself."

"But, Darius!"

Lily tried to go after Darius but Isobel held her wrist.

"Watch your behavior, Lily!"

Lily sighed in disappointment. Isobel shook her head, sighing too. The young girl was spoiled by Julian and Edith back when they were still leaving the palace and everyone seemed to be pleased with her, so she must have thought she would get the same treatment from Darius.

Looking at the girl she raised, Isobel smiled. She could not help but remember the late queen who was once the unruly third princess of Evardin.

"Sir Darius is not someone you can just ask to play a magic trick for you, dear Lily. He is a busy man. Now, go back inside and don’t play too far."

"But he promised me, mother."

Isobel chuckled and patted Lily’s head. "Oh dearie, you must have bugged him so much, he had no choice but to give in."

Inside the palace, Darius made his way to the king’s office. He must admit that without the young Lily in the past five years, the palace would have been very gloomy. Passing by the balcony, his gaze caught a glimpse of the young girl running back to the palace. The little girl was lively and playful, just like the master he used to serve – the late Queen Lauren.

It had taken him a while to get used to Lauren’s absence. He was sure he would die along with her five years ago. She was the person who gave him a chance to redeem himself when the world had forsaken him, so he was very willing to accompany her till death.

But he did not die, and it was then that he realized Lauren had broken their master-servant contract even before she cast a poison spell on herself.

Darius partly blamed himself for her death. If only he had not freed her from the secret chamber where she was locked by Alec, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

That day, he was in the town leading his cavalrymen to help the royal army subdue the deranged humans and black mages attacking the town. But when he heard that the palace was under attack, he rushed to the palace and searched for Lauren.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read