The Song of Flowers - Chapter 4: The Succession Ceremony (1)

Why is time crawling by so slowly? Merlon thought to himself. Lately, each day felt agonizingly long. But at the same time, he had never felt more alive.

He opened the calendar, and he checked it multiple times a day.

“Just a few more days until the deputy authority expires.”

In times of emergency, the acting lord could only exercise authority for a limited period. For the acting lord to extend their term, all seven of the family heads with voting rights had to approve unanimously. Merlon had spent a lot of time winning over Kailey, one of the family heads, to secure a dissenting vote.

At first, Kailey had been cautious, dipping one foot into the situation while waiting to see how things would unfold. But after the Lord had been unconscious for four months, Kailey finally concluded that the Lord was beyond recovery. That was when Kailey sat down for a long conversation with Merlon, and now, they were both in the same boat. In fact, Kailey had become even more proactive than Merlon, working behind the scenes to sway another family head.

If the Lord passed away or remained incapacitated without naming a successor, and if the acting lord’s authority expired, the council of elders could convene an interim assembly to select a new heir. Merlon, as the current and only member of the council, would become the chair of this interim assembly.

Merlon couldn’t become the Lord himself, as only blood relatives of the Levass family could claim the title. However, the interim assembly could remain active for up to five years.

“Five years should be plenty.”

With the excuse of “finding a successor,” the interim assembly would have broad powers, and Merlon intended to use that time to figure out how to siphon off as much of the Levass family’s wealth as possible.

Even though he would have to share some of it with Kailey, the thought already made him feel resentful.

“I’ll keep her around as long as she’s useful, but I’ll find a way to cut her loose when the time is right.”

Merlon dreamed of establishing his own house, using the wealth of the Levass family as a foundation.

“House Brody… yes, that sounds good. Maybe one day, it’ll be one of the great houses.”

The Levass family had ruled over the East for countless years. If they suddenly collapsed, it would plunge the region into chaos, but that didn’t matter to Merlon.

The Levass family was finished, after all. Their only heir, Paul, was dead. Once his ailing widow passed away, there would be no bloodline left to inherit the title. Merlon planned to take what was left before anyone else could.

“It would be wonderful if my dear sister-in-law could pass away today. If she holds on for a few more months, that’s even better.”

Merlon, deep in his daydreams, hummed to himself as he carefully prepared the documents to convene the interim assembly.

“Lord Brody, Basil has sent word,” announced an aide who entered, face flushed with excitement. Merlon, typically oblivious to his subordinates’ emotions, didn’t notice the difference in demeanor.

“What word?”

“You’re to go to the central tower immediately.”

“Hmm?”

Merlon sprang up from his seat.

“Has something happened? Could it be… my sister-in-law has passed?”

Trying to hide his excitement, Merlon put on a somber expression.

“No, my lord… the Lord has regained consciousness. She has awakened.”

“What?!”

For the first time, Merlon was genuinely alarmed. He rushed over to the aide, leaning in close.

“What did you just say? Damn it!” he cursed, unable to hide his shock. It was as if ashes had been thrown into his meal just as he was about to eat it. Forgetting to mask his feelings, he bolted out of the room, heading for the central tower.

“It can’t be. She must have just opened her eyes briefly.”

The door to the tower, which had always been closed, was now wide open. The receiving room leading to the Lord’s chambers was already packed with people. Most of the seven family heads had already gathered, and more people were arriving by the minute.

The room and the hallway outside were quickly filling with people, each standing in positions that reflected their status. Those inside the room were the heads of the seven families and other prominent lords of significant power.

While many faces were lit with joy, others were not. The common expression among them was one of confusion.

“What’s going on?”

“I have no idea.”

Merlon and Kailey exchanged silent words through their expressions. Judging by the number of people gathered, it was clear that something monumental was about to be announced. However, neither of them had any prior knowledge of the situation.

The door to the Lord’s chamber remained firmly closed, guarded by knights. Standing directly in front of the door, fully armored, was Marcus Coe. No one dared to challenge his presence or try to enter.

“Lord Coe, I came running upon hearing the joyous news that my sister-in-law has recovered. Why are you blocking the door?” Merlon questioned, stepping forward. Over the past few months, he had grown more confident, no longer hesitant to assert himself in front of others. Even those who once sneered at him now regarded him with something approaching respect.

“Wait. She will come soon,” Marcus responded.

“Wait for who?” Merlon pressed.

Marcus remained silent, his gaze fixed straight ahead. Merlon’s face turned red with frustration. Being ignored like this was something he was no longer accustomed to.

Suddenly, a loud murmur erupted from the hallway. Everyone in the reception room turned toward the door.

The commotion grew, then gradually faded into an expectant hush.

The people in the room exchanged uneasy glances, itching to step outside and see what was happening.

Finally, the door opened, and Luther Basil entered first. He stepped aside, making way for someone to follow, his demeanor akin to that of a mere attendant. This behavior was strange, as the only person Luther would lower himself for was the Lord.

Moments later, a young man stepped into the room, causing the gathered crowd to stir in confusion. Behind him followed Alan and several knights. The young man carried himself with a commanding presence, as if it were only natural for him to lead the knights.

His short, neatly kept blue hair brushed the tops of his ears, and he wore a black jacket lined with gold trim, perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders and tall frame. There was no mistaking that he belonged in this room, even though he was a stranger to most.

The people who had been suspicious of the newcomer quickly widened their eyes in shock when they noticed his violet eyes—eyes unmistakably belonging to the bloodline of the Levass family.

Marcus, who had been guarding the door like a mountain, stepped aside with a bow.

“Please, go in,” he said.

Luther spoke calmly as the young man entered the room, and the door closed behind him.

The gathered nobles turned to Luther, who scanned the room with his usual faint smile, though today it carried the air of a victor’s smirk.

“The Lord will have a private audience with the young master. Afterward, we will await the Lord’s call and follow her wishes.”

“Who is this ‘young master’?” someone in the crowd asked, breaking the tense silence, which quickly turned into a murmur of whispers.

“Keep your voices down. We are standing before the Lord’s chambers,” Luther said, his tone measured. “That man is the son of the Lord’s eldest son, Ethan.”

A ripple of realization passed through the crowd.

“Oh, the blessings of the Levass family! I knew it wouldn’t end like this,” someone exclaimed.

“The Lord has found an heir!” another added, his voice filled with awe.

While many seemed overjoyed by the news, a few others were visibly shaken, their faces pale. Luther’s gaze swept over them, and his confident smile lingered. Among those whose expressions darkened was Merlon, who stood clenching his fists, trembling with barely concealed rage.

Luther’s calm confidence, which had gone unnoticed before, now felt like a crushing weight to those who had been plotting against the Levass family. The power struggle they had hoped to capitalize on was slipping through their fingers.

***

The elderly woman sat on the bed, exuding a dignified yet gentle presence. Even in old age, with deep lines etched into her face, it was clear that she had once been a great beauty. Her violet eyes, a signature of the Levass bloodline, locked with Ron’s. Despite her inviting smile, Ron hesitated to approach.

Shima, the Lady of Levass, gestured softly, her voice warm. “Come closer, dear.”

Like a soldier obeying an order, Ron stiffened and stepped closer to the bed, then stood awkwardly beside her.

“Sit down,” Shima instructed, still smiling.

Ron, who had been staring blankly at her, quickly took a seat in the chair beside the bed. He watched as her wrinkled hand reached out and gently clasped his.

He had expected a cold, formidable ruler. But the kind and graceful lady before him was far from the powerful and intimidating figure he had imagined.

Shima gazed at her grandson’s large, rough hands, her eyes lingering on the black ring he wore. Emotion welled up within her, and tears pricked the corners of her eyes. How much time had passed, and how much had she missed? His hands had grown so large that she could no longer hold them as she once might have. The sadness of having missed so much in his life ached within her.

“Leon,” she said softly.

Ron’s eyes blinked slowly, his inner conflict barely concealed. In that brief moment, Shima couldn’t know the storm of emotions raging inside him. His throat burned as he tried to speak.

“…Yes,” he answered.

With that single word, Ron put an end to his internal struggle.

I’m sorry. I’m not your grandson, he apologized silently.

I’m standing here only to deceive you. Your grandson was a brilliant, shining person, and I regret that I can’t tell you the truth.

“Thank you for growing up so well,” Shima said, her voice full of warmth. “I wasn’t able to look after you properly, but you’ve become such a fine man.”

On the other hand, Ron felt a surge of resentment toward her.

Why don’t you see the truth? Can’t you tell I’m not your real grandson?

“I’ve heard you’ve been very ill,” Ron said stiffly.

“Yes, I don’t have much time left with you. Come closer, I want to see your face more clearly.”

Ron moved the chair nearer to the bed. Shima raised her hand and gently brushed her fingers across his cheek. The sight of his violet eyes, the mark of their lineage, pained her deeply.

He’s been through so much, she thought.

From his eyes alone, she could tell that life hadn’t been kind to him. Those were the eyes of someone who had been worn down, smoothed into hardness by struggle.

If only I had found you sooner. If only we had more time.

There were so many things she wanted to hear from him, so much she wanted to teach him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Ron remained silent.

“I’m placing a great burden on you.”

She squeezed his hands tightly with both of hers.

“I only want one thing from you, Leon,” she continued. “I want you to be happy.”

“…I don’t deserve it,” Ron replied.

“No,” Shima said, shaking her head gently. “No one is undeserving of happiness. No matter what has happened, it’s not your fault.”

Ron stared at her, stunned.

It’s not your fault.

The words echoed in his mind, the very same ones that had once saved him long ago. Hearing them again now, from this woman, he couldn’t help but think: Was this what Leon inherited from you?

An overwhelming wave of emotion rose within him, blurring his vision with tears.

“If I make certain choices…” he began, his voice shaking, “will you still forgive me?”

“Of course.”

Ron took a deep breath. He was gaining forgiveness through deception, a pardon for the sins he hadn’t yet committed. He steeled himself, pushing the guilt further away. He would be shameless. He would steal what should have belonged to his brother and use it to settle the debt of Leon’s death. And when it was all over…

I’ll give up everything I took under false pretenses and beg for forgiveness—from you and from Leon.

“There’s no need to rush,” Shima said softly. “Take your time to find your own path forward.”

She had been strict with her sons, but she didn’t want to be like that with her grandson. She had lived her entire life for the family, forgetting herself in the process. But she didn’t want that life for Leon.

“There is one thing I’d like to ask of you,” she said, her voice hesitant.

“Anything,” Ron replied, his tone respectful.