“I'm really sorry about what happened earlier.”

I spoke once everything calmed down and Lilly fixing her face with a cloth.

“And um... I only remember (Truth be told, I only saw a dream of it) the day you told me that riddle, and I can say you and me had a long history together.”

I tried form a smile just to compensate my awkward tone as she offered me to sit down.

“It's fine, really it's my fault, I still wanted you to win out of my selfishness and desire. Seeing how you lost to those adventures. It jeopardized my entire plan.”

She gave a sigh and then looking at me.

“Excuse me, my Lady,”

“Hiiigghh!”

My entire hair, from body to head, stood frozen.

When the hell did she enter!?

“I've brought some refreshments and pastry for you and your guest.”

In a very cordial tone she laid a silver tray in front of us and distributed elegant ceramic cups, first time for a long time I've seen some China and quite modern too, and then distributing us cakes; “Sent by the merchant girl.”

The maidservant said when Lilly asked about this.

“Then may I ask what is this?”

I pointed at the pair of sheers, rusting and aging, laid down right next to me.

“Nothing that concerns you, sir dense.”

She whispered close to me before picking up the tool bowing down and taking her leave.

Once she left, I took this opportunity to ask about the thing that has been bugging me in this tournament.

“The rose.”

I muttered as I look at my reflection on the tea as I began constructing words to start my question.

“Yes?”

She said.

“Why is it so valuable? I mean if adventurers went to this place and fight for it, the rose must have been important.”

Team Darkness on the team melee wanted it for an invincibility position while the last two adventurer were hell bent on getting it as a cure for Light Blight -- a cancer as the last adventurer explained.

“I wish they hadn't, but we have a treaty that mostly got them in this tournament to get the white rose...”

She sighed.

“Oh, and if a commoner like me gets a white rose do I get magical powers out of it?”

She gave a small giggle as I said that,

“That would be something but no. You see, the white rose is a gift from the goddess's garden when father defeated an army containing a large contingent of adventurers. She said that this rose will help us in combating against any grave sickness that the enemy has brought against us. Great care and work is given to these sensitive roses since it only buds and blooms once every cycle and, when it does, us caretakers must give some of it to the common folk in accordance to the goddess wishes.”

“So... Your father created this tournament to choose the right people?”

“Positively not, my father created this tournament out his own entertainment only adding the rose as to help the common folk to gain status. Not that it matters since most of the rose are given to the church and to the apothecaries. Where it will produced into an assortment of potions and antidotes that is given to villages and towns who has not yet received a priest or priestess for medical needs. Sometimes it's used for militaristic concoctions like super strength, super speed, and the such but my father frown upon these saying we're no better than those adventurers if we use the gift for wars.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

As she said that I then told her that I remember the rainbow hair coloured group we fought in the team melee said about something about an invincibility potion.

“Well, if they use manage to create a potion out of it and use it on their armour and armaments then it is possible they will gain invincibility, but its effectiveness would only last an hour or so.”

“Then about that marriage in exchanging for that rose then?”

In essence the rose is an effective tool to cure ailments, healing, and protection but how is that going to get her hand?

And as I said those words I could see her blush heavily and fidgety all of the sudden.

“W-what I said back then matters no more. I was a fool to think that the white rose can elevate you to noble hood. But clearly I was fool back then! And also...”

Suddenly playing with her hair she gave me a shy look and telling me:

“I-I want to remind you that you once said you were going to be my knight who would stand besides me no matter what.”

The hell!? Elfien said that?

“I-I don't remember anything like that, really, and if so I think I was just foolish back then.”

I said with a giggle as I tried to finish my cup of tea.

“Well, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't remember it,”

Smiling with a much more composed aura, fitting of a princess, than earlier. She then opened her hands in front me as if telling me to give out my hands also. As I laid my hands on her hands it was soft and gentle as the day I met her. She then held my hand and then the place grew silent and still, as if it was just the two of us in this world.

“Now that I've grown a bit smarter, maybe a bit taller, and a bit braver than before. While you were gone I learned how to more compassionate and thankful for the life I received everyday because of what you sacrificed for me, and you are here now. And even if it wasn't my prayer the reason the goddess gave you another life then let me have this chance to finally tell you how much you mean to me.”

Her grip tightens as she made a slight pause,

“I would wait tomorrow as Brother said but, I wish that you stand by me as a real knight by my side forever.”

“B-but I'm a commoner,”

As they say I am.

“It's fine! My father has made his mind that you will be taken in as a squire under my aunt. I promise to wait for a few more years until you are to knighted and become a noble. I-I'll become a nun if I have to wait it to happen!”

“I... appreciate your dedication but, May already choose a marriage partner for me.”

“S-She did!?”

Her whole face turned pale and eyes diluted as she saw a ghost.

“Yeah,” I scratched the back of my head and told her everything but the name of Wendy. I fear for her safety because, as I explained in detail, she was spewing out these kinds of murderous aura around her. I am not going to endanger a girl like Wendy when I am going leave this place sooner or later.

“I suppose your happy with this arrangement then?”

She said with a sunken expression.

“N-No! I don't like the idea of being married to someone I just met.” Technically, I just met Wendy, but I know that Elfien and Wendy were childhood friends.

“Even if when it's your parent who chose your partner, right?”

This time her face was painted with expectations; waiting for an answer for me.

“Of course, my parents can't decide who I can marry, they can decide what age I can marry but whom I marry is up to me.”

I didn't consider how blasphemous my words are to this society's day and age, but Lilly's expression became lighter and relaxed as I said that.

“All is not lost then.”

She gave a breath of relief as she took a sip from her cup.

I knew what she meant there but, I decided to don't question it further and instead curbed it about the hunt for tomorrow and such. Anything to avoid the talk of marriage.

After a long conversation and three more cups of tea, I learned many things about Elfien and his past. Not only was he a bright and stubborn boy who wants nothing but great food and fighting, I also learned that Elfien once was recruited by Lord Magnus to be a body guard for Lady Juliana, I mean Lilly. But most importantly, Elfien's death. Although she didn't state it explicitly, but she said it in a passing.

“You were always true to your words, you protected me until the end.”

That's the only info I got before taking my leave.

“Oh, and, can I ask something?”

Before I can say what's in my mind. She gave me a smile and said, “I promise to bring you a basket of Manchet.”

"How did you know that?"

I mean I promised John, Grayson, and Billy they will Manchet. But her mischievous giggle tells me she really knows more about Elfien more than me.

Thus, after leaving and Lilly telling me that she looks forward for tomorrow. I replied with the same enthusiasm as hers though, this enthusiasm is worthless if May will allow me to go. Seeing I have no white rose in my hand additionally, seeing how she was pushy and angry at me when I lost to that adventurer, Bolt, felt like she didn't care for me.