Cecilia held out a flower, its petals a creamy white tinged with the faintest blush of pink at the edges. Each layer of petals curved gracefully, creating a soft, almost ethereal bloom that seemed to glow faintly in the light. It perfectly complemented Luzia's dress, a pale rose gown with intricate embroidery that shimmered subtly.
Cecilia smiled. "This is a camellia," she said, her tone light, as though the flower were a treasure. "It's said to symbolize admiration and perfection. I thought it suited you perfectly, my lady."
She gently reached out, her fingers deftly tucking the flower into Luzia's soft brown hair. It rested just above her ear, the pale hues of the camellia standing out beautifully against the deep chestnut strands.
"The camellia thrives in the cold," Cecilia continued, smoothing a strand of Luzia's hair. "It's resilient, delicate yet strong. I think it's quite fitting for someone like you—graceful and composed, but with a strength that lies beneath the surface."
Luzia tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp despite the compliment. "Resilient, you say?" she murmured, her tone quiet but pointed.
Cecilia chuckled nervously, brushing her hands against her skirt. "Oh, yes, my lady. And in full bloom, it's the star of any garden. Just like you are of this household."
Luzia didn't respond immediately, her fingers grazing the petals of the camellia. Its softness belied the strength Cecilia had described. "It is a lovely flower," she said finally, her tone measured, though her sharp eyes studied Cecilia's expression carefully.
Cecilia clasped her hands together, clearly pleased. "I'm so glad you like it, my lady. It truly suits you."
Luzia smiled faintly, "Thank you, Cecilia," she said. "It's perfect."
Cecilia straightened, smoothing her skirt. "Well then, I'll go check if breakfast is ready, my lady," she said, her voice lilting with a practiced sweetness.
As Cecilia walked away, Luzia's fingers brushed the camellia in her hair, her thoughts lingering on the words Cecilia had spoken.
'Perhaps I've misjudged her...'
Later that afternoon, Ivan accompanied Luzia down the winding path leading to the gazebo. The garden was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. Luzia walked leisurely, hands clasped behind her back, a slight frown tugging at her lips.
'I've been walking around this garden for too long. I'm bored,' she thought, letting out a soft sigh.
Her gaze flickered toward Ivan, trailing a step behind her with his usual composed demeanor. 'Why don't I play with him a little...'
She stopped abruptly in front of the gazebo, turning on her heel to face him. "Sir Ivan," she began, her tone sweet but laced with something Ivan couldn't quite place. "Do you know why I chose you as my guard?"
Ivan blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He straightened, his face carefully neutral. "Why, my lady?"
Luzia tilted her head, studying him with an innocent smile. "Because you're handsome and have such a good physique," she said matter-of-factly. "I thought, 'Oh, with a physique like that, surely he'd be able to protect me.'"
Ivan's stoic mask cracked just slightly, his brow twitching as if unsure whether to take the statement as a compliment or a jest. "I appreciate the compliment, my lady, but I assure you, protection is more about skill than appearance. Though I suppose looking the part doesn't hurt." he said carefully.
She hummed thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her chin. "Yes, I suppose that's true. But tell me, Ivan... with such formidable looks, wouldn't it be easy for a spy to sneak in, pretending to be someone like you?"
He tensed just slightly, though his voice remained steady. "A spy might impersonate a guard, but they'd have to be excellent at deception... and unfortunately for them, they'd never pass for someone as talented as me."
'Not bad... He's clever,' she thought.
Luzia's lips curved into a faint smile. "Oh, I'm sure. But I suppose you'd know all about spies, wouldn't you?"
Ivan's eyes narrowed subtly, "I can't say I do, my lady. If I did, I'd be too good at my job to let anyone get close enough to ask."
Luzia turned away and stepped into the gazebo, settling onto a bench with a satisfied sigh. "Ah, it's so nice to have a reliable guard, isn't it?" she mused aloud, watching him out of the corner of her eye.
Ivan gave a short nod, but Luzia could see the gears turning in his head. 'Poor Ivan,' she thought with amusement. 'He doesn't even realize I'm testing him.'
She leaned back, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Well, don't just stand there, Ivan. Keep watch. "
Ivan straightened his stance, scanning the garden dutifully, unaware that the greatest threat in his presence was Luzia.
'I should play with him some more.' Luzia watched him out of the corner of her eye, swinging her legs lazily over the side of the bench. Ivan stood stiffly nearby, his eyes scanning the garden.
After a moment of silence, she tilted her head and sighed dramatically. "Ivan, do you ever get tired of standing around like that all day? It must be so boring."
Ivan glanced at her briefly, his expression neutral. "It is my duty, my lady. Protecting you is never boring."
Luzia smiled, propping her chin on her hand. "Mm. That's very knightly of you. But... you know, if I were a spy"—she leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering conspiratorially—"I'd definitely pretend to be the perfect, boringly loyal guard. That way no one would suspect me."
'Why is the young lady suddenly talking about spies?' Ivan's posture tensed just a fraction, but he masked it well. "I'm sure you'd be excellent at it, my lady. But you'd have to work a little harder to fool someone who knows you best."
Luzia's eyes sparkled with mischief. "True. But father told me spies are very good at hiding their true intentions. Some might even dedicate years to earning trust." She paused, letting her words sink in before adding casually, "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"
'I see, so she's heard about spies from his lordship.' Ivan didn't miss a beat. "I wouldn't, my lady. Loyalty is earned, not fabricated, and I can assure you, mine is genuine."
Luzia hummed thoughtfully, her fingers idly playing with the hem of her dress. "I suppose... but isn't it funny how trust works? You can never be completely sure, can you?"
Ivan's jaw tightened, but his voice remained smooth.
She nodded slowly, her gaze sharp despite the innocent smile on her lips. "Yes... But you know, Sir Ivan, if I ever did suspect you of being a spy, I wouldn't tell you right away." She twirled a loose strand of hair between her fingers. "I'd watch... carefully... until I had all the proof I needed."
For the briefest moment, Ivan's hand twitched by his side. Luzia caught it. Got you.
"I would expect nothing less, my lady." Ivan finally spoke.
Before the silence could stretch too long, she clapped her hands together with a bright smile. "But of course, that's all nonsense, isn't it? You're far too handsome to be a spy."
Ivan blinked, caught off guard once again. "...I—thank you, my lady."
Luzia leaned back against the bench, thoroughly entertained. 'This is so fun...' she thought with amusement. 'He's going to have to try harder if he wants to fool me.'
"Well, I think I've had enough fresh air," she said, hopping to her feet. "Let's head back before Cecilia starts worrying again. You wouldn't want her thinking you've failed in your duties, would you?"
Ivan inclined his head respectfully, falling into step behind her as they made their way back.
'If he's really that clever, he would have known by now that I was testing him,' Luzia thought.
As they walked back toward the estate, Ivan's mind buzzed with her words, each one a subtle thread tugging at his composure. 'She was testing me. I thought she was naive, but she isn't. What a strange child... A growing unease settled within him. I'll have to be more careful around her.'