8

“Today’s chicken is flavored with lemon and basil. No, a meal after physical labor truly is delicious.”

Noel, who was guilelessly biting into the lunchbox Rodney had brought, had returned to the face of a young man appropriate for his age and had regained a healthy appetite.

“There are seconds, Noel-sama.”

Since collapsing into this greenhouse one week ago, Noel had thought deeply about himself.

For the past several years, he had not even had the composure to think about himself. No, perhaps in truth, he had never once thought about himself since the day he was born.

(The Immortal Lily has bloomed, and the elixir has been completed. Princess Eugenia’s life is no longer in danger, and the royal family, my birth family, and the Temple all treat me with respect. This should have been what I sought.)

But Noel was not happy.

From the moment he completed the elixir, those people had changed their treatment of him as if turning over their hands, but in the end, just as before, they only thought of using Noel, and Noel had grown sick of them from the bottom of his heart.

(To think I suffered because I wanted to be acknowledged by people like this. What a fool I was.)

Now that everything he had yearned for had been fulfilled. And yet, why was he not happy?

Noel thought deeply, deeply. The conclusion he arrived at was only one thing.

(What I want is Beth. Beth, and the space Beth arranges for me.)

When Beth had been in the greenhouse, Noel, who had been on the verge of being crushed by the tremendous pressure of his work, had still been happy in this greenhouse.

This greenhouse, where Dora was there, violets were blooming, medicinal herbs were growing, and Nana-chan was wandering around, scattering precious berries as he ate them. Beth heard the small voices of every plant and granted their wishes.

This space where every life was treasured equally and allowed to stretch freely.

In the middle of it, in this space filled with light, Beth turned back to him with a smile.

—Everything had been fulfilled.—

Noel softly cast appraisal magic on a nearby medicinal herb.

“B-class.”

It was not in as good a condition as when it had been cared for by Ezra’s disciple, the grass-magic specialist.

But Noel had no intention of using grass magic, nor did he have any intention of calling Ezra’s disciple back.

(I will arrange the greenhouse with my own hands.)

For the first time since he was born, Noel was trying to obtain what he truly desired from his heart.

Even if it was something foolish in other people’s eyes, Noel would no longer waver.

“By the way, how long do you intend to keep doing this, Noel-sama?”

Rodney casually picked a flower from nearby and sucked its nectar the way a child would.

While caring for the plants, Noel answered bluntly.

“Forever. The princess who had been in mortal danger because of me has awakened. Beyond this, I no longer need to hurry after anything, nor do I need to desperately seek anything. I should already have served this country enough.”

“Are you planning to retire at that age?”

Rodney asked worriedly.

“I have been telling them to release me because I fulfilled my duty, but those people keep barging in, saying they will never let me quit. Apparently, they still intend to make me work.”

Noel had shut himself in this greenhouse for a while, and soon after, he had used paper magic and communication magic to send resignation letters to every direction.

The council, academic societies, the medical office, of course, a letter severing ties with the marquis family, and withdrawal from the Magicians’ Association.

He had given his household servants sufficient severance pay and letters of introduction and had them leave their jobs.

As he once again wrote resignation letters and withdrawal procedures like this and put his affairs in order, he let out a derisive laugh at how completely he had been bound hand and foot by worthless organizations and factions without even realizing it.

(When I think it was all because I wanted people like that to acknowledge me even a little, what a waste of time it was.)

Then came this commotion afterward.

Not a single person cared what Noel wanted. What could be wrung out of Noel? That was all.

Beth had not demanded anything of Noel. She had simply listened to what Noel’s heart and body wanted.

“…What do you intend to do about this Magic Institute?”

The only position for which Noel had not submitted a request to resign was his position as the person in charge of this Magic Institute.

The existence of this precious Magic Institute, which was like a child made from Noel’s own flesh and blood. And the members of the Magic Institute.

Everyone at the Magic Institute said nothing to Noel.

They had watched closely from beside him as Noel endured such harsh years alone.

They simply came like this to bring offerings to Noel, who had shut himself in the greenhouse, one after another from time to time.

Noel sighed.

“…This place alone is hard to part with, but I will give it to Naranda or someone. He should certainly not treat you badly.”

“After letting go of everything up to now, what will you do from now on, Noel-sama? What about Princess Eugenia, and what about Beth?”

Rodney asked with a serious expression.

“My connection with the princess was originally formed by the convenience of our families. Now that she has awakened, she will have no choice but to forgive me for becoming a commoner. Besides, someone other than the princess has come to live in my heart. Marrying a man that insincere would be misfortune for her as well.”

A reddish-brown braid shone dazzlingly in Noel’s heart.

“Noel-sama…”

“I truly did something terrible to Beth. Because of my hasty assumption, I put her through something awful, and because my heart was weak, I hurt Beth. If I am allowed, I want to arrange this greenhouse with my own hands and have Beth see it. And I want Beth to accept the real me.”

Noel carefully caught the ladybug that had been on the medicinal herb.

“Rodney. I understood. I understood why Beth’s greenhouse was so comfortable and so splendid. Beth has a Green Thumb. Beth’s greenhouse is the expression of Beth’s heart and soul. That is exactly why it is so beautiful and so comfortable. I do not have a Green Thumb, but I will try arranging this greenhouse with all the sincerity my heart can offer. And I want Beth to see my heart.”

“If Beth can love the greenhouse I arrange, there is something I want to tell Beth.”

Suddenly, the two of them sensed part of the sturdily constructed barrier breaking.

Noel and Rodney entered attack stances.

The barrier Noel had constructed was as sturdy as the kind used at national borders.

The number of people who could break even part of it was limited.

(Royalty…)

Noel bit his lip.

“You two wait there.”

Leaving two maids waiting outside the barrier, a young woman entered the barrier Noel had constructed, as sturdy as a national border, as if nothing were wrong.

“Princess Eugenia.”

The third princess, Eugenia. Noel’s fiancée.

Noel and Rodney gave the deepest bow of respect used by magicians.