Stopping in front of a purple flower, Luis showed a melancholic expression inadvertently, but the next moment, he hid that expression perfectly under a smile.
Alicia seems to have caught the slight change in his expression. She curiously looked at the purple flower waiting for Luis to introduce it.
"That's Hyacinth." She continued looking into his eyes as if waiting for him to explain in flower language. "The purple hyacinth is a popular symbol of sorrow and regret."
Hearing this, Alicia seems to understand the reason behind his change of expression. But then she was puzzled, thinking what kind of sorrow and regret could he have?
Luis was thinking about his regrets in his past life. He regrets being a burden to his sister. Regretting that he died before he could repay her for all she had done for him.
But he knew there was no point thinking about that anymore because now he could only live with those regrets for the rest of his life. 'But if someday I get the chance to meet her again. I want to thank her for everything.'
Now that Luis suddenly stopped talking, the atmosphere turned a bit awkward because of the silence. 'I understand her reasons. But man, how long am I gonna talk alone?'
This time, Luis tried initiating a conversation with her directly. 'She doesn't seem as cold as before. Maybe she will reply.'
"By the way, Miss Alicia." Seeing that he suddenly called out to her, Alicia was a little surprised. "What kind of flower do you like?"
There was not much thought into it when he asked this question, but Alicia seems to have taken it seriously. After a long silence, she uttered.
"... A white rose."
Luis was surprised not because of her choice of flower but because she answered back. Suddenly he understood the feelings of parents who hear their child talk for the first time. Though the reference is odd, the feeling is similar.
If not for his Performer talent, he would have cried tears of joy.
"Why a white rose?" Luis decided to go along with the conversation. Because she seemed interested.
After hesitating for a while, Alicia said.
"... A friend of mine told me that a white rose is a symbol of sadness and sorrow. That's why I feel very attached to it." She said in a flat voice. But Luis seemed to have understood her feelings and what she wanted to express.
He was dumbstruck because he didn't expect the discussion about flowers to turn into something so extreme.
Alicia shook her head and her expression immediately turned cold and indifferent like before.
"Mr. Luis, I want you to give me a straight answer." Alicia's extremely cold tone seems to have taken Luis by surprise. 'Here I thought we were getting close.'
In her cold tone, she continued. "Are you not interested in this engagement?"
Luis seems to have realized something as he asked with an innocent smile, "Why do you say so?"
Alicia continued looking at him with her cold and indifferent expression. "Because the previous engagement was postponed, and Mr. Luis doesn't seem to have any interest in me. I have also heard of a rumour that Mr. Luis left his home because he is against the engagement, but I don't know if it is true."
Luis nodded his head with an 'as expected' expression on his face. He smiled slightly and said. "Who says I'm against the engagement?"
His words caught her by surprise, but she continued listening. "I do have an interest in you. But I don't like the idea of being too chummy with my fiancee whom I've never met in my whole life. So I want to get to know you first."
Alicia seems to have understood his reasoning and agreed with his idea. She also preferred it this way. Suddenly she seems to have a favorable opinion of him. But there was another question that troubled her.
"So, why did you cancel the previous appointment?" If there was no important matter, then there must be no reason to cancel such an important appointment.
Luis thought for a moment as he looked into her eyes, who were waiting for his answer. He knows if he decides to tell the truth or lie. His answer might change both of their fates.
"I was attacked by assassins."
But so what? His fate was already going in an unknown direction. Now maybe he could save her from her unfortunate ending.
Hearing Luis' answer. Alicia gave the strongest reaction since her arrival.
"Tell me everything." Her voice cracked, and her fingers trembled a little when she asked this.
Luis noticed everything, and he also knew the reason behind her strong reaction, but he ignored it for the time being and decided to answer her question.
He pointed at the sitting area near the artificial pond, which was at the center of the garden.
"Let's sit there. It will take some time."
Alicia didn't mind and sat there. Her entire focus was on Luis.
"Well, I was surprised to hear about the sudden engagement."
Luis continued telling her all about his experience four days ago. How he went to Lurandal city to how he was cornered and attacked by Assassin.
His voice was plain as if he had nothing to do with the experience. But Alicia felt it. She felt his despair, his anxiety, his pain.
Her cold and indifferent expression was already broken long ago as she silently listened to his story.
"I was saved from the river and drank a high-grade elixir, but the pain and exhaustion were too much for me. So I went unconscious for three days."
"..."
"Hence, the appointment was postponed," Luis answered and gave her a small smile.
No matter how good of a Performer Talent he had. At that moment, Alicia seemed to have seen through that fake smile of his as her heart trembled.
She clutched her skirt and asked.
"Did they find out who was behind this?" The 'they' mentioned here were Luis' parents. Alicia thought that with the Suarez family's influence, they might have already found the culprit.