When the Daffodil Blooms

CHAPTER 7

Charlotte doesn't need to stay longer in the banquet. She just needs to show up as Rovira for a while so the nobles and royal council will have nothing to say about her again. Dealing with them is more troublesome than the spies lingering around their empire. After she reported to Prince Marius the success of her mission, Charlotte just stayed in the banquet for fifteen minutes before she decided to take her to leave.

Charlotte had already told her knights to deal with the spies they captured earlier. They captured a total of six spies and all of them are still alive. Charlotte told the Nocturnus Knights not to be bored and forced those pests to play with them. Those words are her signal that tells them they can do anything as long as the pests will spill the information needed from them.

While walking in the empty corridors, Charlotte is adjusting her right glove that hides the ring in her forefinger. That ring is not just a piece of ordinary jewelry. To be exact, she is wearing a holy relic on her finger. This relic is responsible for changing her appearance.

ht after she fixes her glove, Charlotte suddenly turns right. When she did, a quiet footstep quickened and then moved to follow her. The moment that person turns right too, Charlotte pushes the person until his back hits the wall before she pulls the dagger from her waist and puts it on that person's neck.

"Why are you following me, General Commander Castella?" Charlotte asked in her deep voice.

Her appearance is not the only thing that the ring can change about her. The relic can also change the timbre and tone of her voice. With this, no one will easily suspect that she is Charlotte White, the eldest daughter of the White Family who was abducted fourteen years ago.

General Aster raises his hands and shows them to Charlotte to let her know that he doesn't want to cause her any harm. After a few seconds, the female General put a distance between them. She also returns to hide her dagger before fixing the black uniform she's wearing. When she looks at the newly appointed General Commander, Charlotte can see that he is quietly watching her every move.

"You haven't told me your reason for following me." Charlotte said.

Charlotte needs to return to their mansion before someone will notice her short absence. Although she trusts Annie to make an excuse for her, Charlotte still needs to return as soon as possible and avoid any risks of being discovered by her family. For the whole month she stays in their mansion, Charlotte builds an image and reputation for herself that shows how obsessed she is with books. She always stays in the library and refuses to see other people during the daytime with the pretense of being lost in the book she's reading.

That's why Countess Rosalyn is a little displeased with her while Count Byron is worried about her health. For young ladies, it is their duty to socialize and meet other people around their age. Ever since Charlotte returned to their mansion, she didn't join Roselyn for her daily afternoon tea in the garden even once and also refuses her invitations to play in the capital.

"If you have nothing to tell me, then I will—"

"You're that kid, right?"

Charlotte quietly looks at General Aster with cool eyes.

"Ten years ago, you are the little girl who saved us from the hands of—"

Before the new General can continue his words, he can feel his back hitting the wall once again. A hand is gripping his neck and he can feel its cold fingertips touching his skin. When he lifts his gaze, Aster can see the killing intent in Rovira's eyes.

"Say another word about it and I will not hesitate to kill you right this instant. Are we clear?"

Aster still has a lot of questions in his head. But he is not stupid to ask these questions right now. Aster nods his head in a response to Rovira's question. The female General did not let go of his neck immediately and observes the newly appointed General for a moment.

"You better keep your mouth shut and stop talking about it in public," Rovira warned him before letting go of his neck.

"I know."

The female General turns around and leaves. This time, Aster did not stop her. He knows approaching her and asking that question is a hasty decision on his part. But Aster simply cannot stop his excitement to meet the person he admires and respects the most.

It took him years before the empire acknowledged his skills. But it did not hinder him at all. Not when Aster has a clear goal from the very start. It is to be on the same level as the person he respects the most.

"General Rovira." Aster whispered to himself in a quiet voice.

There's still plenty of time for him to meet her again. He doesn't need to rush. After composing himself and fixing his uniform, Aster turns around to return to the banquet hall.

—//—//—

When Charlotte arrives at their mansion, Annie is already waiting for her arrival inside the library. The security in their mansion is a bit lax and Charlotte can easily come and go without anyone noticing her presence. She quickly changed her clothes and remove the ring on her finger. When she did, her original bluish-silver hair and blue eyes returned.

Right in time, someone knocks on the library before the old butler opens it and looks inside. When he sees Charlotte standing in front of the window, he bows his head a little to greet her. After that, Butler Mel informs that the count is asking for her presence in his office. Charlotte nods her head and follows the butler.

Count Byron's office is located on the third floor and the library where they come from is on the second floor. As they walk, they can hear two soft voices of women talking downstairs. When Charlotte checks it, she sees Countess Rosalyn and Roselyn talking closely with each other. They even have their arms linked as if they are best friends.

Without noticing her presence, the two of them leaves the mansion with a smile on their faces. It is obvious that they are going out together again. Charlotte knows this mother-and-daughter pair always spend their time with each other. In a week, they will go out twice or thrice to buy things in the capital.

When Charlotte returns her gaze to the front, she can see the old butler giving her a forlorn look.

"Lady Charlotte, the countess is just busy because Lady Roselyn will hold a tea party this weekend. She will be inviting—"

"Butler Mel." Charlotte gently cuts him off. "There's no need for you to explain everything to me."

"But my lady..."

"We should go now. My father is already waiting for us."

Seeing the calm and unchanging expression on Lady Charlotte's face, the butler can only let out a quiet sigh before he starts guiding her again.

-//-//-

"Lady Charlotte is here, Count."

"Let her in."

Butler Mel opens the door and lets Charlotte go inside. She sees her father sitting in front of an old piano that is placed near the window. It is really an unusual thing to put inside his office. But even if Charlotte wonders about the old piano, she never takes the initiative to ask the Count about it.

"Charlotte, you're here." The Count said with a smile.

"Hmm. Is there something wrong, father?" Charlotte asked.

"I just want to show this piano to you. Come here."

This is not the first time she saw that piano and her father knows that. Still, Charlotte obliges and walks towards the count. Then he gently taps the space beside the long chair where he's sitting. Charlotte looks at her father first before she slowly sits beside him and keeps a foot-inch distance between them.

"Are you not curious why I have a piano in a room that should be quiet all the time?" Count Byron gently asked her.

Charlotte quietly shakes her head in reply.

"Well, maybe you can no longer remember it. But when you were three years old, you showed an interest in piano. You kept on asking us to sit you on the chair so that her little fingers can touch and hit the piano keys."

Charlotte slowly blinks her eyes and says nothing. She indeed cannot remember that story. Maybe she was too young at that time to remember those things that happened in the past.

When the Count did not receive any response from his daughter, he did not get mad at her. He already expected that she will not remember those memories. Still, Count Byron smiles as he gently puts his fingers on the piano keys and plays a simple melody. Although Charlotte is not an expert when it comes to music, she can still tell that her father is now a seasoned pianist by just looking at the movements of his fingers, hands, arms, and upper body. After playing the song, Count Byron looks at Charlotte again.

"Do you like that song?"

His daughter simply nods her head.

"That's good to the heart. Actually, that's the song I wanted to teach you the day you showed interest in music."

Count Byron can still remember that day as if it just happened yesterday. The Count's hobby is playing different instruments. But he likes the piano the best. Even after he got married, the Count still sometimes plays the piano to release some stress or when he is in the mood to play an instrument.

At that time, Charlotte was a very curious child. At the age of three, she kept on walking around their mansion to touch the things that captured her attention. But after she discovered that a piano can create a sound by pressing its keys, her interest in it intensified every day. To make his daughter happy, Count Byron will play the piano for her once or twice a day.

The Count decided that he will personally teach his daughter the basics once she grows up a little more and can properly move her fingers. He wants to share his joy in music with his daughter and hopes it can be their bonding time together in the future. But an unpleasant situation happened and his daughter went missing for years.

"Do you know how to play the piano?" the Count suddenly asked.

Charlotte gently shakes her head in reply.

"I see."

Charlotte stares at her father's profile. She can guess what he is feeling right now. Knowing that his intentions are pure and simply wished to spend time with her, then Charlotte will not become harsh with him. Although she doesn't like approaching other people, maybe she can make an exemption for the Count.

"The song you played just now sounds pleasant to my ears. Can you teach me how to play it?" Charlotte asked in a steady voice.

The Count looks at his daughter with a little surprise in his eyes. But soon, a gentle smile appears on his face. He is not really expecting her to become interested in music now that she's an adult. Although he feels a lot of regret for not being on her side for the past years, the Count comforted himself that he can still do his duty as her father now that he finally found her.

"Of course, Charlotte. Come here and I will teach you the basics."

Charlotte moves closer to the Count and placed her fingers on the piano keys. Count Byron quickly noticed her hands and fingers have calluses on them. Then he remembered that his daughter worked for years to earn money for her needs. Charlotte noticed where the Count is looking but she did not pay attention to it and waited for his instruction.

When the Count finally realizes that he is staring too much with Charlotte's fingers, he fakes a cough first before starting his lessons. He teaches her the basics like proper posture, the placement of her fingers on the piano keys, and how to move her fingers from one key to another. When she learned all of it, the Count starts teaching her how to make the song he played earlier step by step. After two hours, Charlotte learned how to play the first stanza of that song.

Although the movements of her fingers on the piano keys are a bit awkward and rusty, Charlotte is still deserving to be praised because she is a fast learner. The Count promised to teach her how to play the rest of the song tomorrow. He also asked Charlotte if she felt tired from sitting and playing the piano for two hours. But the young lady denies it and even says she enjoys their time together.

That makes the Count happy since he also feels the same way. If not for the chime that comes from his grandfather clock, the Count will not notice the time and continued teaching and playing the piano with Charlotte. He soon asks her to rest first before they eat their dinner later. Charlotte thanked him first before leaving his office quietly.

When his daughter leaves, the Count stays in his office to do his responsibilities. He still has a few documents to check on his desk. While he is working on it, Butler Mel knocks on his door again and informs him that the Countess and the second young lady have returned. Count Byron thanked the butler before he temporarily set the documents aside.

When he reached the living room, Count Byron could see several servants bringing a lot of boxes in their hands. Most of its contents are shoes, dresses, accessories, and jewelry. The two women did not notice him yet and are still happily talking about their trip on the sofa. Countess Rosalyn just noticed her husband when she heard his footsteps approaching them.

"Bryon, there you are." The Countess said with a smile. "I bought you a new pair of gloves and several cufflinks."

"Hmm. Thank you." the Count said.

"Father, look at this pair of shoes." Roselyn happily said while showing him a pair of white shoes with pearls on them. "The shop owner complimented me earlier and said this pair of shoes looks really good on me."

"I see. I also think it will look good on you."

The two women continued talking with him until Butler Mel reminded them that the dinner will be served in just a few minutes. With that, Roselyn excused herself first and said she will change her clothes first before they eat their dinner. When she is no longer in their sight, Count Byron turns her attention to his wife as she busies herself assembling all the things they bought today.

"Is that all for Roselyn?" Count Byron suddenly asked.

"Hmm. Roselyn will have a tea party this weekend so I bought her new dresses and shoes that she can wear on that day." Countess Rosalyn replied without looking at her husband.

"I see. Then what did you buy for Charlotte?"

The Countess who is busy putting back the jewelry in its box stopped moving when she heard that question. Her silence alone is enough to answer the Count's question. Count Byron estimated that there are at least forty boxes in the living room right now. But none of it belongs to Charlotte.

"I...I just didn't know if she would like the things I will choose for her or not." Countess Rosalyn soon replied in a soft voice.

"I already heard that excuse from you four times already." Count Bryon quickly said.

Without waiting for his wife's reply, Count Byron turns around and leaves the living room with a frown on his face.