Chapter 14: Garden Tour
As the dinner continued, there was a harmonious atmosphere in the dining hall. But none of them brought up the engagement. David felt something was off, but he didn't say anything and went with the flow.
After all, he was too familiar with his daughter's personality. The chances that the engagement will be canceled are too high. Though Luis is handsome and seems to have a good personality. It's difficult to enter into his daughter's eyes.
Maybe because of her mother, she might agree to the engagement. But he wanted her to be happy, so if she was dissatisfied with the engagement, he would cancel it.
David knew his friendship with Ronald and Lumine. Their bond wasn't so fragile that it would break over a canceled engagement. Maybe they might be a little angry but he can calm them down. It was, after all, for his daughter's happiness.
'If only you were here Maria.' Thinking of his late wife. He couldn't help but feel saddened and lonely.
After their first greeting, Luis and Alicia didn't have much of an interaction. Others seemed to have also noticed this. But they also understood it was their first meeting. So they must be rather awkward.
That was also why they didn't rush into things. But things can't be in a stalemate like this. 'I should create them an opportunity.'
Lumine smiled and expertly shifted the conversation about flowers that she was having with Alicia.
"Oh really, then you should also see our garden. You can find many beautiful flowers there. Some are extremely radiant under the moonlight."
Without waiting for her to respond. Lumine immediately looked at Luis.
"Luis, accompany Alicia on a tour around the garden. Your father and Uncle David have some matters to discuss."
Lumine gave a small glance to Ronald and David. With her eye gesture, they also understood and followed up.
"Yeah, you young people should go take a stroll and chat. Let us adult handle boring matters." David said, looking at Alicia.
Ronald also nodded, folding his hands.
How could Luis and Alicia not understand what these adults were scheming? But they didn't expose them and instead followed their wishes.
Luis stood up from his seat and moved towards Alicia. He didn't offer his hand or tried doing anything intimate. He politely smiled while maintaining some distance and said, "Let's go, Miss Alicia. I'll tour you around the garden."
Alicia nodded with her usual indifferent expression and went with him. Watching the two of them leave, the three couldn't help but sigh.
"What do you think?" Ronald asked.
"It's difficult," Lumine said while shaking her head.
"I thoughts so." Ronald sighed and agreed with her.
"I pretty much expected Alicia's reaction to be like this, but Luis' reaction also seemed pretty indifferent. Does he not think my daughter is beautiful?" David complained, thinking how Luis was unfazed by his daughter's beauty.
His thoughts were contrasting with each other. On the one hand, he was proud to have a son-in-law who wasn't fazed by his daughter's beauty. But on the other hand, he was annoyed thinking about whether Luis didn't find his daughter beautiful.
Lumine and Ronald looked at each then, and then at David, who seemed pretty annoyed.
"I don't think you have to worry about him," Lumine said while rolling her eyes.
"Yeah," Ronald also nodded, agreeing with Lumine.
"Eh really?" David didn't understand why they said so. Only they understood the reason.
Of course, that guy has an S-grade Performer talent, and they were 90% sure his previous calmness was all an act.
Thinking of this, Ronald found this situation quite funny. 'I wonder what Luis' real thoughts are?'
"Let's leave the children to talk this out amongst themselves," Lumine stated, to which both Ronald and David agreed.
"Anyway, you said you wanted to discuss that S-grade dungeon that your guild is going to raid." Ronald brought up the guild matters while having a dessert.
"Yeah." David's expression also turned serious as he ate the Ice cream.
***
Coming out of the Mansion, Luis guided Alicia to tour around the garden. As stated earlier, the Suarez family estate has a large garden separated by many blocks. Hundreds of varieties of flowers, plants, and herbs can be found here. Though normal plants and the ones used as ingredients for potion making, food, alchemy, etc. are planted separately.
The Suarez family has a few herbologists, alchemists, and potion makers who take care of the herbs and manage them inside the estate.
For other parts of the garden, a few gardeners are appointed to tend the flowers and take care of the garden.
Though it was night, the garden wasn't dark because the lights were spread across the whole garden. Even if the lights weren't on, under the moonlight and the crimson light from Velmaur, the garden would have been visible enough, as the flowers will look enchanted under the night's beauty.
Currently, only the two of them were in the garden. All the servants have vacated that place to give them some private space.
Luis was a very good guide. He introduced all the flowers they found on the way. Alicia wasn't giving any reply and just listened to him.
"This one is Candytuft." Luis pointed at the white flower near him. He smiled and continued. "They represent Indifference."
There was a small smile on his face, which could easily be misunderstood as a smirk. As if he was hinting at something.
'You get me, right? About whom I am talking?'
He felt a cold chill behind his back. So he decisively changed the focus to another flower.
"These are Bluebell. They are a symbol of Humility." As expected, he received no response.
Alicia glanced at the flower, then continued walking towards the next one and didn't show much of a reaction. He wasn't bothered by it because he knew Alicia's personality well.
'Alicia Raven, also known as the unfortunate heroine of The Holy Dragon Knight game.' Thinking of her fate in the game story. Luis couldn't help but sigh.
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