The Song of Flowers - Chapter 1: The Girl Who Never Grew Up (1)

“…Come here.”

It was hard to hear.

“…Coming, be careful!”

What are they saying?

“…Be careful!”

Adele opened her eyes, scanning her familiar bedroom.

A strange dream.

All that lingered after waking was the echo of a voice ringing in her ears. It was a recurring dream—more than once, in fact. It wasn’t exactly a nightmare, but the persistent warnings at the end always unsettled her.

Adele tossed and turned a few times before sitting up in bed. The bed felt vast compared to her small frame.

“Unsettling.”

She always felt off after these dreams. It was as if something important had slipped from her memory, leaving her chest tight with frustration.

She frowned, looking outside through the balcony window.

“Oh… no.”

This was worse than the dream. It was raining.

Her bedroom was located in the southern tower of a massive castle. A door at the back of the tower led to a garden, a space that was inaccessible without passing through the tower.

At present, Adele was the only one living in the southern tower, effectively making the garden her private playground. She would have tea, sit beneath the trees reading books, or even take naps there. But on rainy days, she could do none of that.

Adele moved a table closer to the window and stared vacantly at the rain. Her days felt like they blurred together, one after the other. Life was monotonous, but she had grown accustomed to it.

“My lady, a guest has arrived.”

Her maid, Sonya, approached quietly and informed her.

“Madame Renezel?”

“Yes.”

The number of visitors Adele received was extremely limited.

 

***

 

“Have you been well, my lady?”

Madame Renezel always dressed in a way that accentuated her voluptuous figure, highlighting her chest and tightening her waist.

“You’re the only one who stares at my chest so blatantly, my lady,” Renezel said with a playful wink.

Adele, who had been unable to tear her gaze away from Renezel’s deep cleavage, blushed.

“Sorry, Madame.”

Adele found Renezel’s feminine figure both fascinating and enviable.

“It’s fine. You’re welcome to look as much as you want. But isn’t there anything else that catches your eye besides my chest?”

Adele shifted her gaze upward to Renezel’s head. She had already noticed the extravagant hat adorned with a large, pure white feather, big enough to sway as it covered the entire hat.

“Your hat is beautiful. Madame Renezel, you always dress so fashionably.”

“It takes me two hours every morning to get ready.”

“Two hours?”

“I can’t leave the house looking sloppy. Everyone is always watching what I wear with hawk-like eyes.”

Renezel was one of the most renowned fashion designers and tailors in the east.

“If I had even half of your beauty, I wouldn’t need to spend as much time on makeup.”

Renezel had a knack for offering compliments without making them sound insincere.

Adele smiled, though it was a smile too weary for a young girl.

“Beauty, you say? That’s a word meant for mature ladies.”

“What nonsense. You are my eternal muse, my lady.”

Renezel could flatter even the plainest woman as though she were the most beautiful in the world, but with Adele, her compliments were always genuine.

She placed a large box on the table.

“Spring is in full bloom, so I’ve made something that suits the season.”

Adele untied the ribbon sealing the box and opened it. Inside was a yellow dress, soft yet vibrant, radiating a subtle elegance. Renezel had an unmatched ability to blend colors harmoniously.

“Wow… it’s beautiful.”

“Shall we try it on?”

The yellow dress fit Adele’s small frame perfectly, like a freesia flower in full bloom. Renezel circled around her, pleased with the result.

Whenever Renezel designed dresses for Adele, she never made typical children’s clothes. The designs were always adult-like, tailored down to fit Adele’s petite body.

“As always, no artificial color can match the brilliance of your golden hair,” Renezel marveled, admiring the long, flowing golden locks that cascaded down Adele’s back. Despite having worked with countless noblewomen, she had never seen such vivid, lustrous blonde hair.

“I had your golden hair in mind when I designed this. It suits you perfectly. Would you like to see for yourself?”

Renezel glanced at the corner of the room where a massive, wheeled full-length mirror stood, covered in a white cloth, unused and neglected.

Adele shook her head.

“If you say it looks good, that’s enough for me. Thank you.”

Renezel found herself captivated by Adele’s faint smile.

‘What a waste.’

Such a beautiful young lady, hidden away like an unbloomed bud. She could only imagine the refined grace Adele would exude when she grew up. The thought made Renezel’s heart ache.

“I should be the one thanking you. I can’t tell you how much inspiration I draw from imagining designs that would suit you. Of course, I must thank your lord as well.”

After all, the person who paid for the extravagant dresses deserved the highest praise. Renezel winked, and Adele let out a soft chuckle.

“I should be going. I don’t want to take up any more of your time.”

“Madame, you don’t have to visit in person every time. I’d still be happy just receiving the dresses.”

“Oh, my dear. Meeting you is as much of a joy and a break for me as anything else.”

With a promise to return next month, Renezel left. Alone once more, Adele’s carefully maintained smile faded. It was not the face of a lively young girl.

“Help me take this off, Sonya.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Just like Adele, Sonya, the maid attending to her, showed little emotion. Though the scene seemed bleak, neither of them seemed to mind.

The dress was carefully placed back in the box. Adele followed Sonya, who was carrying the box, into the dressing room. The former bedroom had been converted into a large space for her wardrobe, but it was packed to the brim with clothes. With no more room, they had resorted to stacking the boxes.

To any woman interested in fashion, it was a room that would evoke gasps of admiration. Yet, it would also prompt sighs of disappointment—all the dresses were tailored to the size of a young girl.

The owner of this impressive collection, however, remained indifferent. Even though Adele could wear a different dress every day of the year without repeating one, she found no joy in it.

No matter how pretty or luxurious the dresses were, they were useless to her. There was nowhere for her to go and show them off. They were too extravagant to wear for everyday activities, so they remained stored away in the dressing room.

‘What a waste.’

Adele had been thinking the same thing every time Renezel brought her a new dress. Yet, she couldn’t refuse. She understood the kind intention behind the gifts, much like a grandmother doting on her granddaughter with beautiful presents.

 

***

 

Stella glared at the maids standing in front of her, each holding dresses of different styles and colors, and bit her lip nervously.

“Something else!”

One of the maids hesitated.

“This is the last one, miss.”

“What? Is this it?”

She finally had them bring out all the dresses they had. Rejected dresses were piled up on the table, forming a mountain. The maids were utterly exhausted from carrying heavy dresses back and forth for hours.

“This is ridiculous! I have nothing to wear today!”

Stella picked up her teacup and brought it to her lips, but it was empty.

“Bring me tea! What are you doing? Can’t you even do this right?”

The scene she had witnessed a few days ago still fueled her anger. On the road leading to the castle, she had seen a carriage leaving. It was unmistakably Madame Renézel’s carriage. Renézel was an incredibly expensive designer, one Stella could only afford to commission one or two dresses from on rare occasions.

She knew that Renézel’s frequent visits were because of Adele. But knowing and confirming it with her own eyes felt entirely different.

Now, she was furious, envious, and with no dress she liked. Stella’s frustration exploded.

The maid hastily poured more tea into her cup. But as soon as Stella brought it to her lips, she frowned. Without a second thought, she flung the contents of the cup into the maid’s face.

“Ahhh!”

The maid screamed, stumbling and falling to the floor. As another maid hurried over to help, Stella coldly sneered.

“It’s cold! Honestly, what kind of maids has the butler assigned to me? Bring Matilda, the head maid!”

“You’re being loud, so uncouth.”

A haughty-looking lady entered the room, her back straight. With a pointed chin and gaunt cheeks, her severe expression made her already stern features look even harsher.

Stella jumped up and ran over to cling to the lady’s arm. The lady didn’t even glance at the fallen maid.

“Mother, just one dress, please. I have nothing fashionable to wear! If I go to the party like this, I’ll be humiliated.”

Natalie clucked her tongue at her daughter’s whining but smiled slightly with her eyes.

“Ask your father to buy it for you.”

“I haven’t even seen him lately.”

“You’ve already ordered a dress for your 20th birthday party. Do you know how much that cost?”

“But that’s months away! I need something to wear today.”

“I’ll choose for you. It’s not like we can conjure up a new dress by this evening. Hold up the ones you have.”

Natalie gestured to the maids. The maid who had been doused with tea had already been helped out of the room. The remaining maids’ faces were rigid, expressionless.

The maids began their work again, holding up each dress carefully to avoid wrinkles, despite the strain on their arms from hours of labor. Their foreheads were damp with cold sweat.

“That one’s the best,” Natalie finally decided. It was the same dress Stella had criticized earlier.

“Am I just supposed to wear the dress by itself? There are no accessories to go with it.”

Stella pouted.

“Wear the pearl necklace.”

“There’s a scratch on it.”

“How about the ruby tiara?”

“That’s so old! I got that for my fifteenth birthday.”

Natalie’s patience was starting to wear thin as her daughter continued to whine.

“Then put a flower in your hair or something. Fresh flowers are in season, and many people are wearing them.”

“The problem is, my face can’t be salvaged with flowers.”

A mocking voice accompanied by stifled laughter came from the doorway. Stella’s eyes narrowed as she saw the young man leaning against the open door.

“What now?” she snapped.

It was her twin brother, Chase.

They didn’t look alike at all. While Stella’s features were small and sharp, taking after their mother, Chase had inherited their father’s round face and strong nose, giving him a more rugged appearance.

“Do you always have to turn your room upside down?”

Chase wrinkled his brow as he took in the chaotic scene—dresses piled high and shoes scattered everywhere.

“Mind your own business.”

Stella retorted sharply. The siblings had a strained relationship. When they crossed paths, they barely acknowledged each other, and whenever they spoke, it always ended in an argument.

Chase despised Stella’s constant defiance and refusal to back down, while Stella couldn’t stand how her brother would seize any opportunity to mock her rather than behave like a supportive older brother.

“Why don’t you just wear anything and go? Do you think dressing up will suddenly make you the queen of the social scene, you pink pig?”

Stella’s face flushed bright red. When she was younger, she had been quite chubby—more than just plump.

It was when she was ten years old. She had begged her father for a pink dress, even though it was obviously too small for her. Insisting on wearing it, she squeezed into it stubbornly.

She had stood proudly in front of the mirror, but the dress looked terrible on her. The fabric strained over her bulging figure. Then came a ripping sound, and the waistband split open. Chase had fallen to the floor, laughing uncontrollably.

Even now, Stella sometimes cringed in bed, recalling that moment. Worse still, Chase had given her the nickname “pink pig” and teased her about it endlessly.

“Do you want to die?!”

“What did you just say? You never even call me ‘brother’.”

“I would if you acted like one!”

“Enough!”

Natalie’s voice rang out irritably. The siblings glared at each other but kept their mouths shut.

“Why can’t you two stop fighting for just one moment? You act like you want to tear each other apart every time you meet.”

Natalie pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to maintain the dignity of a noblewoman, but her face showed signs of growing hysteria.

“I’ve told you not to bicker like commoners in front of the servants. When will you ever grow up?!”

She had tried to speak calmly, but her words ended in a near-shout. The twins averted their eyes. Their mother’s temper was not something to trifle with.

“Where is Father anyway?” Stella grumbled quietly. She preferred dealing with her father, who was less prone to emotional outbursts.

“How should I know? Maybe he’s out looking at houses.”

“Houses?”

“What else? A house for us to live in.”

“But we live here.”

“Is he planning to buy a villa?”

The twins’ innocent questions made Natalie’s blood pressure rise.

“I’ve told you both very clearly. Once you reach your coming-of-age, we’ll have to leave the castle.”

The twins’ faces grew serious as they remembered. Several years ago, their parents had told them that after they came of age, they would no longer be able to stay at the castle. But at the time, the idea had seemed distant and unreal. Now, their twentieth birthday was only a few months away.

“Do we really have to leave Levast Castle?”

Stella’s face turned pale. The reason she could hold her head high in high society was mainly because of her connection to the castle. This was a crisis.

“What does Father say about it?”

Chase was also concerned. The status of “the young master of Levast Castle” was his most powerful and only title among his peers, who all came from prominent families in the East.

“I don’t know. He’ll handle it, I suppose.”

Natalie’s own feelings were conflicted. Being forced to leave the castle would be a great embarrassment. The gossipy noblewomen would wave their fans delicately while asking, “So, you’ve moved, haven’t you?”—pretending to be curious about what grand new mansion they were moving into, but actually reveling in their downfall.

“If someone has to leave, it should be that girl, not us!”

Stella burst out angrily. Having stewed over thoughts of Adele for days, she quickly shifted the blame.

“Aunt is so unfair! We’re her relatives!”

Their father was the younger brother of the lord of Levast Castle, though they weren’t directly related by blood.

The only reason the Marlon family had been allowed to live at the castle for so long was due to the lord’s generosity. They had even been given quarters in the east tower, traditionally reserved for the lord’s immediate family.

When they were younger, their parents had been grateful for this arrangement. But over time, they had come to view it as a right rather than a privilege.

Natalie should have scolded her daughter for her outburst, but instead, she remained silent, her expression sour.

“Exactly. The old man’s gone senile, doting on that girl who has no real standing.”

Naturally, the children had absorbed their parents’ attitudes. Both twins now felt they were being unfairly forced out of the castle.

“Aunt always looks at us so harshly, while she spoils that girl.”

“Well, it’s your fault.”

Chase scolded his sister.

“What did I do?”

Stella’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“If you hadn’t been so nasty, things wouldn’t be like this.”

“Yeah, right. Why don’t you go beg Aunt yourself, then?”

Stella sneered, eyeing her brother up and down.

“Not that you could. You can’t even speak properly in front of her.”

Chase’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“You—! I swear—!”

“Enough!” Natalie’s sharp voice cut through the tension. The elegant demeanor she worked so hard to maintain was completely gone.

 

***