The moment he came out from behind his gardenias, Sutton saw a well-dressed customer standing at the door with a blindfolded man behind him.
The youth's hair was neat and inky black, reminding him of raven feathers taking flight.
There was an expression of uncertainty on his face while he stared at Sutton, but it quickly receded into one of uncertainty when his gaze fell on the flowers in his arms.
Sutton smiled sheepishly.
"Please hold on. I just need to put these down first."
He gently laid down the flowers on a countertop and patted his hand on his apron, riding it of pollen.
"How can I help you?"
He turns back to the customer and finds himself meeting vermillion eyes shining prominently in the natural light of the store, akin to spider lilies.
The eyes creased and Sutton is stunned.
Like budding petals, the youth's face opens into a smile, the initial frost he sees on his neutral expression thawing like spring after the winter cold. Lips part to form words, but Sutton doesn't hear him, his mind lost in thought.
Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
The pumping of his blood thrums in his chest, weaving through his bloodstreams and spreading from his heart to his head. He finds himself falling into a state of calamity.
There was a strangeness to the customer.
His well-proportioned face could either repel or draw you in.
He wasn't devastatingly beautiful or handsome, but the ambiguity surrounding him when he smiled had Sutton's ear flushing red.
"Ehem."
Oh, yes. How could he forget the man standing behind the well-dressed customer?
He was an unusual sight, himself.
Blindfolded and perfectly postured.
They don't look like common folks.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Huh?"
The boy in front of him speaks again, and this time, Sutton is able to hear him. It takes him an embarrassingly long time to realize he had been spacing out.
"I'm so very sorry!" He quickly apologizes, bowing his head respectfully. "Can you repeat your words again?"
The customer looks like he comes from the nobility. He prays he hadn't offended him.
The boy shook his head gently and let loose another smile, this time politer.
"No worries. I can see that you're busy."
For a moment, Sutton couldn't breathe.
He hears the youth's voice clearly.
Too cute! Way too cute!
The customer sounded like an aristocrat, but his accent is so soft and airy. Sutton isn't familiar with this type of accent and he's had customers from the Hangul Kingdom. Perhaps he's a bourgeoisie?
Focus, Sutton! He's still a customer!
Wiping his hands on his apron nervously, he somehow finds a way to form words.
"I'm really sorry. That was rude of me. How can I help you today, Sir?"
The customer looks around for a moment and Sutton becomes anxious.
What if he doesn't like the plants in his shop?
Would he leave if doesn't think the flowers are up to par?
No! His pa's flowers have always placed in the annual Midsummer Pollen Competition. Their selections are both extensive and well-cared for. What is there not to like?
"I am visiting my mother. Do you have anything appropriate for a tombstone?"
That killed the mood in an instant.
Sutton is a romantic. That should have been made clear from his overly descriptive observation of his customer.
A tragic and good-looking youth from a noble house who's lost his mother is currently standing in front of him.
Sutton felt immense sympathy as he heard those words.
He can relate.
"We have a few varieties of flowers you can look at. I think they would look nice on the tombstones."
Sutton brings the boy over to the funeral flowers located behind the store.
Standing in front of the selection, he asks, "Where is your mother buried?"
"St. Achilles."
Ah. Then white will complement the scenery.
"It's beautiful there. I'm sure she is at peace."
The youth's smile grows wide. "I really hope she is."
Taking a pair of plant sheers, Sutton heads for the white flower section.
"White carnations are popular flowers for remembrance. Would you like an arrangement of those?"
He takes out the pot of white carnation and shows it to the customer.
The boy looks at it for a moment, looking contemplative.
"Can you also add white roses and larkspurs?" He suddenly asks.
Purity and Beautiful Spirit.
Sutton understood the language of flowers, and most likely, this boy knew them as well.
His mother must have been a wonderful woman.
"Of course!" He nods enthusiastically. "I'll get the bouquet ready for you right away."
He picks up a few of each of the boy's requested flowers and goes to arrange them behind the store counter.
"Other than bouquets, we also sell lots of other plant-related products. We have a nursery in the back if you want to grow anything in the future. And seeds, of course. My Pa worked hard on that nursery since he loves flowers so much. It brings him joy when people decide that they want to take home one of his baby flowers."
"Are all the flowers here grown by your father?"
"Each and every one of them. He's got a green thumb that would have made Ma jealous. A little late now, but he's working on making this shop her dream come true if she were still here." Sutton smiles, a fond look in his eyes appearing as he talked.
"Is it just you and your father, then?" The customer asked.
"Mm." Sutton nods, trying to focus on making the most beautiful bouquet in his life while chatting with an equally beautiful customer. And his servant, of course. Can't forget the blindfolded guy.
"Ma died back when I was a baby. Don't really remember her, but according to Pa, that winter was very harsh and she fell ill."
The boy gives a sad smile and looks down at the flowers. "I guess the two of us have something in common, then."
Sutton's hand freezes.
"I guess we do."
---
Neo watched Sutton wrap the bouquet together with a ribbon and some paper before finally handing it to him.
"That will be five coppers."
It took exactly five seconds for Neo to realize he hadn't brought any money with him.
How embarrassing!
But...
He looks at the bouquet in his arms.
He can't tell Sutton to return the flowers. The boy had already cut them off the stems!
Maybe Clark was right. He should have gone out and socialized more. Maybe then, he wouldn't find himself in such an embarrassing situation.
For a near forty-year-old man trapped inside his sixteen-year-old body, he finds himself a failure of an adult.
Who the hell would forget to bring money when out in public?
A silver coin was tossed onto the counter.
"Please keep the change,"
Behind him, Rainier stood with a small coin purse.
The emblem of the Odum Family was embroidered in the center.
Oh, thank the gods!
While Neo fought back the urge to sigh in relief, Sutton's eyes widened in astonishment.
"But this is too much!" He protested, trying to return the coin.
Neo instinctively steps back.
He underestimates how far Rainier is standing because he finds himself bumping into the servant.
The servant peers down at him, blindfold meeting his gaze inquisitively.
"Sorry..." He apologizes quickly, taking note of the servant side-stepping a few paces so that they were at a more appropriate distance.
Feeling like he's broken more than enough social taboos for the day, Neo turned to Sutton and offers an awkward smile.
"Think of the extra money as a tip. You were good company and helped me make a wonderful bouquet for my mother."
Sutton remains looking at him, uneasiness clear on his expression.
However, he gives up and puts the coin away.
"If you say so,"
Neo brought the flowers to his chest and gently held them like a precious treasure.
He bowed his head toward Sutton.
"Thank you very much for your service."
"Ah," Hastily, Sutton returned the gesture, "Yes, thank you for coming. I do hope you visit again Sir..."
Neo inclined his head. "You can call me Neo, Sir Graham,"
Sutton nodded, albeit with an obviously shy smile. "Sutton's fine. Sir Graham's my pa."
"Alright. Thank you, Sutton. I'll be sure to visit again."
Sutton watched as the boy left with his servant.
When it was clear to see that the customer was gone, he finally fell to his knees behind the counter, covering his face as he did so.
The flush he had tried hard to mask finally surfaced on his face.
He lit up like a tomato as he smiled helplessly.
---
Neo was back inside the carriage with the bouquet still in his arms. He gazed down at the arrangement of white roses, carnations, and larkspur, and let out a wry giggle at the irony.
Mummy may have been a whore, one of the best whores of the red light district, and in no way was she as pure as a virgin, but...
He cradled the flowers closer.
In spirit, she was the best mother anyone could possibly ask for. Her body was tarnished, but her heart was not. She was a wonderful existence and beloved by any.
Besides, he thinks indignantly, it's not like all she sold was sex. The brothel house she worked at catered to the nobility. You would have had to be very rich to even see a glimpse of skin.
The industry may be looked down upon, but it was still considered a living. Mummy had been educated. She was intelligent and refine and a favorite of the Red Light District. No one was allowed to touch her unless they are willing to sell a limb or two.
It is obvious that you would have needed a lot of money to even have her sing.
Neo snorted at the thought.
Yeah. He was a son of a whore, alright.
But his mummy was beautiful and loved him and tried.
Not many people in this world can say the same.
"Young Master, we are here."
The carriage came to a stop in front of a gate. Beyond that was the burial grounds.
St. Achillas Cemetery is beautiful this time of year. The flower trees are blooming and many people can come to visit loved ones, admiring the scenery along with the spirits of the dead.
The area is private and gated shut. Only those with specific identifications can enter.
Neo hadn't brought along the necessary paperwork, but the Odum Emblem in the coin purse Rainier had brought should help him get inside.
Is he pulling a status move so soon after waking up in this world?
Perhaps.
Does he feel strange, knowing how well he is able to reintegrate into this lifetime so quickly?
Yes.
But Neo is done stalling. His mummy is just beyond the gate.
The carriage stopped on the side of the road, a few feet from the entrance.
The attendances guarding the cemetery take notice.
Neo ignored the bewildering stares and had Rainier help him out of the carriage.
The man smiles like the perfect servant and asks, "Would Young Master Nazareth prefer me to stay behind?"
Neo shook his head at Rainier's inquiry before he realized he couldn't see the head shake.
Or could he?
You know, he never figured out how that worked with Rainier. It's obvious that the blindfold isn't see-through...
"No. You can come with me. I need you to show them the coin purse."
Without pausing, Rainier obeys. "As you wish, Young Master."
The master and servant pair went over the entrance.
The attendance there looked at them with suspicion.
Neo doesn't really fault them for it.
Rainier is wearing a blindfold and he hasn't been to this place since he buried his mother.
Both of them are unfamiliar sights.
"Can we have your names?"
Rainier brings out the coin purse and shows the Odum symbol on it.
"Nazareth Everette Odum," Neo states his name. "I'm here to visit Alouysia Webbers. It should be listed that she's my mother."
The attendances checked the coin purse for authenticity.
They still looked skeptical. Finally, one of them asked, "Do you have anything more specific to prove your identity?"
Neo thought for a moment. How can he... Oh!
"Do you accept information of the cause of death and my mother's age? I can tell you about her profession. It's been documented when we performed the burial ceremony."
The attendances looked less suspicious and both nodded. One of them brings out Alouysia's information from the back of the gate.
Neo begins listing out the information. "Alouyisa Webber. The cause of death was an illness. I believe she had been twenty-seven at the time. She worked at the Lotus Garden Brothel House when she was still alive. She has a son out of wedlock with the Duke of Odum."
The attendant nods along as each piece of information were listed out.
And then immediately snapped her head up.
"Your... Your Grace!" She began to bow.
The other attendant also lowered their head.
What bad luck it is to encounter the infamous bastard son of the Odum Family!
Nazareth Everette Odum.
They had assumed it was a joke.
No one really recognizes the bastard since he is barely seen in public.
The rumors say he's made people who have offended him disappear.
And his mother is buried in St. Achilles?!
The two attendances wanted to resign on the spot!
Neo watched as the two gatekeepers trembled in front of him.
He finds himself at a loss.
"There's really no need for that. Can I go in now?"
The attendances looked like they wanted run away.
The moment Neo said those words, he watched as they hurriedly opened the gate and rushed him and Rainier inside.
---
Well, that was a very strange ordeal. Neo can't tell if it's the deja vu kicking in. Have people always been so frightened of him in the past?
He silently vows to make up for it. It is likely that his hands have already dipped themselves in blood at this age.
His memories can't be trusted, either. It's been decades, and there must be some things he's forcefully repressed and forgotten.
Standing on the footpath that would lead to through the cemetery, he and Rainier awkwardly began to trek through it.
Looking around at the rows of gravestones scattered through the burial site had him feeling lost. None of these belong to his mummy.
The feeling of dread builds up in his stomach.
What if he remembered wrong and his mummy was actually buried somewhere else? Or did he bury her at all? Why is it suddenly so hard to remember? He had seen her casket be lowered. Right?
"Is that her, Young Master?"
Before the anxiety can overtake him, Rainier's voice shakes him from his fears.
He turned to the servant and saw that he was pointing at a small hill that was a short distance away. He has no idea how Rainier was able to pinpoint the hill, given that he was blindfolded, but he knows that the man is a very capable servant, blind or not, so he lets it be.
Atop that hill, a marble tombstone sat in the center of a dandelion field.
And just like that, the memory he had placed in a neat little box spring out like a waterfall.
He was only seven when he visited her for the first and final time. The ceremony was short. His father had bought the hill since it had one of the best views and commissioned a tombstone to be made, personalized with some kind of quote, proclaiming her to be a loving mother.
The hill had been an empty thing. There were flower trees and green grass, but no flowers grew from the ground.
He had snuck in several dandelion puffs growing from a filthy crack on the ground and scattered them around the tombstone for hours on end, planting them in neat little rows until Gareth came to bring him back to the manor.
He hadn't visited after the funeral. In that lifetime, he refused to see her, too busy struggling to make his mark in Noble Society. He didn't know the dandelions would bloom; wasn't aware that his childish whims would bore any fruit.
Now, they cover the hill in yellow.
As he stepped closer to the hill, Neo noticed the obvious attempts at weeding the dandelions. In some areas, you can clearly see that the soil has been uprooted.
This isn't surprising, seeing as dandelions are considered weeds. Ironically, they are quite resilient.
However, regardless of this fact, Neo is proud to see that his mummy has one of the nicest looking hills in the cemetery, special and filled with sunny yellow flowers.
Is she... is she at peace?
Tightening his hold on the bouquet, Neo hadn't noticed tears welling up in his eyes. He pursed his lips to stop himself from making any noises that might alert Rainier to the teary state he was in.
He was a blubbering mess when he cried.
"That's her,"
He tells Rainier, feeling a little lightheaded.
Rainier remains quiet for a few seconds.
Neo can't help but think that the two of them are strangely awkward.
"Should we go a little closer, Young Master?"
"En."
Neo climbs the hill and stands before the headstone. He lays down the bouquet and kneels.
The incense pot in front of the headstone lights up, seemingly becoming aware of a visitor's presence.
Neo puts a hand on his chest and bows his head.
"Rainier, can you give us a moment?"
"Of course, Young Master."
He watches the servant retreat to the very edge of the dandelion hill, leaving Neo alone with Alouysia's grave.
He smiles.
"Hello, mummy,"
The flame in the incense pot licks the edge.
It might be a sign she's listening.
Plop.
The first drop of tear falls from his face.
Like a cycle, the child returns to the parent after a long and haggard journey home. At long last, they meet again.
He wipes his tears away with his thumb, but his smile is bright.
"You wouldn't believe the adventure I just had," He sighs. "Last time I saw you I was seven, but you know, mummy, I didn't visit you anymore after that."
He wished he had, but knowing himself in the past, it was unlikely that he would lower his pride to visit his mother.
He had been self-conscious of his bastard-hood, paranoid that someone would use his mother's identity against him.
"I died before I graduated from school. If you were watching over me those last few years, then I guess you must be disappointed. I died and was reborn in a different world and I learned so much, mummy. There is so much more out there than this life,"
He became Neo Overland, adopted son of an elderly couple, and a well-known medical researcher in the field of medicine and science.
"I'm sorry, Mummy. I know it took you time to think of my name, but your naming senses have always been atrocious," Neo admitted with a helpless smile. "I came back after working myself too hard. Who knew I could be so careless? I'm sure you would have beaten me with a slipper,"
He laughs a little and wipes some more tears away.
He imagines he's a bit flushed from crying, his eyes likely an awful sight with the way it swells when he cries. Snot pours out of his nose like a dribbling mess.
He is well aware that he's an ugly crier, which is why he had brought a handkerchief to wipe up the tears and snot.
"Ah, mummy, I really miss you," He croaked out, voice cracking when he called her.
"I promise I'll do better this time. I'll repent for my crimes and make sure not to hurt anyone anymore. I will help as many people as I can so I won't disappoint you again, okay?"
The flames whicker.
Neo wiped his face, cleaning it as best as he can, and stands up.
He puts his hand on his chest once more and performs a low bow, trying to smile past the rising tears in his eyes.
"Take care, mummy. I'll see you next time."
He turns away and begins walking down the hill.
The fire in the incense pot remains alight.
Between the lines of life and death, in a realm only few can see, a faint silhouette of a beautiful blonde woman with vermillion eyes sat upon the gravestone with a charming smile on her face.
Her eyes crinkle into crescents as she watches her son leave.
At last, her son has come home.
---
Rainier senses the Young Master approaching.
"Are you finished, Young Master?"
He hears him hum out an answer.
Neo bends down to pick up a dandelion puff.
"Rainier, can you take off your blindfold for a moment?"
There is a distinctive pause between them. The atmosphere shifts.
But...
"As you wish, Young Master."
Rainier unties the blindfold. His eyes open up and he gazes down at the youth before him.
The Young Master looks like a mess.
He sees the boy smile at him, very subtle and demure, and then the yellow flowers surrounding them. Miss Alouysia's burial ground is quite nice.
He sees that the Young Master held a dandelion puff in his hand and was looking at him intently.
The servant raises a well-groomed brow.
"This is..." He wasn't sure what to make of it.
The Young Master's next words, however, cement him to the ground.
"I'm going to remove those marks."
The declaration has him feeling sorts of things.
Anger, at first, but it gradually turns to scorn. In the end, he chooses to be amused because what else can he do?
To this Scummy Troublemaker, he is nothing but a mere servant.
Thus, Rainier delivers a dazzling smile on cue. "Then, I shall wait for the day that Young Master fulfills his promise."
"Yes. Please wait for me."
The youth nods, almost childishly, and turns away. He holds up the dandelion puff.
A multitude of dandelion seeds fly into the air and disappear amongst the sea of yellow flowers.
Rainier watches as they scatter, unburdened by the world and carefree.
The Young Master turns around with the brightest smile he has ever seen on his face.
"Let's go back, Rainier."
Rainier can only conclude one thing during this venture.
This Young Master of his is starting to become more and more interesting.
---
The ride back home was silent, but not uncomfortable.
Neo sighs, closing his eyes.
It hasn't even been twenty-four hours since he died.
He has forgotten how stressful it is to live in his world.
His sins continued to grow and fester. At age sixteen, his actions turned for the worse, but it doesn't mean he hasn't already accumulated a body count.
Whether it was inadvertently or accidentally, Nazareth had killed people who gotten in the way of his schemes long before Sutton entered the Academy.
It was all to compete with that little brother of his.
But the way to happiness is no longer a title or status to him.
He doesn't find them to be appealing anymore after two lifetimes.
Happiness can only be gained through trial and error, and he's learned that in his last life. Enjoying life as it is with those he has chosen to love may be the epitome of what happiness is and that's what he desires most.
His faze fell to the window where the sun shined bright.
It is spring, he reminds himself.
This time, he'll take a step back. He won't fight anymore or scheme or kill. He won't allow the blood of innocence to stain the ground of the Noble Academy.
He will live for himself and do what he wants.
Perhaps he'll go back into medicine again, maybe grow his own herbal garden and do some research. Possibly build a greenhouse since pharmaceutical science is so lacking in this world.
He is no longer restrained by expectations.
The world isn't limited to the aristocracy.
He's tasted freedom and happiness once.
This time, he'll find his happiness again.
---
Step 5. Meet the love of your younger brother's life in another lifetime at his flower shop. After that, let's go visit mummy!