FMLDM 18

Chapter 18

Watching Kai roll his eyes for a long while, Macaron grew uneasy.

“Did Lady Calypso really say she no longer needs to prepare breakfast? She wouldn’t have said she’s leaving immediately, would she?”

Habitually, ever since that day, Macaron imagined the worst-case scenarios. His anxious mind, combined with his sensitive nature, gave birth to these uneasy thoughts. But when Kai suddenly lifted his head and spoke, the words were unexpected.

“Dad, did you do something wrong to Mom?”

How did Kai know that? Macaron frowned as he looked at him. Calypso wouldn’t have told him that… and his son wasn’t usually so perceptive. So it seemed that Lady Calypso’s cold attitude towards Macaron had been that obvious. Well, even if it were himself, Macaron thought he wouldn’t forgive anyone who treated him with such insult.

“Why did you do that?”

“Son, that’s not something you should be saying…”

The father and son’s breaths settled deeply in the quiet space, like a shared sigh.

“But why is Kai coming all the way here to say this?”

Kai looked painfully at his father, who frowned with a worn-out face he’d never seen before. Compared to a month ago, his father had grown thinner, and Kai’s eyes held sorrow. Having already gone through a difficult time once, Kai was somewhat more composed. He held something out to his father who was treading his same footsteps.

“I hope this helps.”

“…?”

Macaron looked dazed as he picked up the note Kai had placed on the table.

“Coral gave it to me.”

“…!”

Had Coral written a letter? After Kai left, Macaron casually unfolded the note. But once again, the contents went beyond his imagination, sending chills through his whole body.

<The man Mom likes>
Gentle and innocent, but seductive depending on the situation, with a nice face and figure.

<What Mom likes>
A sunflower who only looks at Mom (very important).

A smile crept across Macaron’s face.

“Son, thank you.”

After reading the note several times, Macaron suddenly stiffened his expression in seriousness.

“Yes, this will do.”

Immediately, Macaron pulled the summon cord, and Momont entered.

“Bring me a sunflower who only looks at Lady Calypso.”

Momont stared at his lord as if he were crazy.

“Where would such a thing even exist?”

“If it doesn’t, then make one.”

His lord had been skipping meals recently and was clearly losing his mind.

“Should I call a doctor?”

But Macaron’s face was more serious than ever.

“Plant sunflowers in the east annex without her knowing, by dawn.”

“…!”

The season in the Romantic Empire was bright and sunny, unaware of Macaron’s troubled heart. Opening the window, a sweet floral scent lightly tickled his nose like a feather.

“But where’s this flower scent coming from…?”

As he stepped outside to find the source of the scent, he immediately recognized the mysterious owner of the fragrance.

“Sunflowers…?”

It was obvious who would have done such a thing without even looking.

“But did they really plant all these overnight? Has Macaron now switched strategy from preparing meals to planting flowers?”

Looking at the sunflowers, Macaron’s heart wavered a little.

“But there are many pretty flowers. Why sunflowers?”

The sunflowers seemed to welcome him, opening their leaves wide toward him. As he looked at the flowers for a while and passed down the corridor, he noticed something strange.

“Wait, why are the flowers following me?”

He doubted it was possible, so he turned around, and the flowers turned their petals fully toward him again. There really was no sunflower that didn’t look only at him. No matter how many times he moved forward or backward, the petals followed him exactly.

“Wow, flowers that only look at me!”

He was so amazed and entertained that he ran around for a long time. Then, he suddenly felt someone’s gaze from behind. Turning his head, he saw no one in the garden.

“What? I definitely felt someone was there… Duke Schupen?”

Lately, Duke Schupen had often caught his eye at the window. But knowing his personality, he would have at least greeted him if he were there, not just disappeared.

“I must have imagined it.”

Putting aside his confusion, Macaron slowly headed down to the dining room, where a delicious aroma greeted him. Looking quietly at the lobster with mustard sauce, he made up his mind.

“Kai, bring Dad here.”

He wasn’t exactly being seduced by the lobster. So don’t think that way. Kai looked at him with wide eyes, then shifted his gaze to meet Coral’s wide eyes before nodding.

“…Yes, yes!”

He had said he was being careful not to trouble even the children… Seeing Kai and Coral’s actions made him feel sorry again. Not long after, Macaron shyly entered the dining room with Kai. Dressed sharply in a suit, he hardly looked like someone there to eat. Watching silently, Macaron stood awkwardly, wearing a puppy-like expression as if asking for permission.

“Please sit.”

Only then did Macaron smile, as if realizing why he was called.

“Is this alright?”

It was comical to see the host asking for permission. But he was very serious. The face Macaron showed after a month was much thinner — almost gaunt. According to Momont, skipping meals had become frequent. But he looked different than just thin. Looking closely… Macaron was wearing makeup?

Sitting down, his eyes no longer held their previous seductive look but a kind and gentle expression. If someone asked what Macaron looked like now, one might say, “He looks kind.”

“Wait, is this… the ‘Good Man’ version changer?”

Light eyeliner, clear skin as if freshly washed, lips naturally clear without effort… It was definitely the “Good Man” version changer recently put up for auction.

“But why use that…?”

It was like putting fresh makeup on a sexy person. His handsomeness wasn’t hidden, but it looked out of place. Of course, he wasn’t about to say that — he hadn’t asked, and if he was satisfied, that was enough. Still, during the meal, Macaron brought up the topic himself.

“I tried this ‘good man makeup’ that’s been popular in the empire lately.”

Pointing at his face, he looked confident. Was he sane? Did he really say that looking in a mirror? How should I respond? If I’m honest, he might get upset; if I lie, he’ll keep going around with that face… Lost in thought, I fell silent.

“…”

Macaron thought my silence meant I was admiring his face, so he asked again.

“Don’t I look more handsome like this?”

Looking at him, many words came to mind: good fool? Fool Ondal? Good citizen number one? Saying any of that would hurt him. I couldn’t bring myself to look into those kind eyes, so I looked down at my soup.

“That changer doesn’t suit Your Highness’ face.”

It was carefully chosen wording, with a cushion to soften it.

“But why does my head feel so cold?”

Raising my head, I saw his shocked face and Kai and Coral looking at me nervously one by one. They seemed pretty shocked by my words, which were meant for Macaron’s sake.

“The bad man version will come out soon. That will suit you better.”

The next new product was sincerely made with Macaron in mind. Looking at his face gave me a good inspiration… The good man version probably needs a warning label too.
Warning: Please test before purchase. May not suit you.

Just then, Coral looked at me with a flustered face.

“Mom, you said you liked the good man!”

Good man?

“When did I ever…?”

Wait, could it be…?

“So that was it? Hahaha!”

Then the sunflowers too…? I was so overwhelmed I felt like crying.

“How much did you all conspire?”

Was this happiness? My heart felt warm and soft. But the three of them were like criminals of the highest order, heads bowed and silent. Coral covering her mouth, Kai burying his face in his soup flushed red, and Macaron silently bowing his head. Seeing their expressions, I couldn’t stop laughing.

Even stiff-faced Macaron moved his muscles awkwardly at the table like a robot eating. He looked like he might faint if he stayed longer, so I broke the mood.

“The food is delicious. How did you know what I like?”

He lowered his head without eating a bite.

“I asked Coral.”

Coral smiled awkwardly when her name was mentioned. When I brushed her hair aside, she finally smiled brightly and began eating. Kai looked at his father, feeling almost guilty, and didn’t take a spoonful.

“Eat. The food will get cold.”

“Thank you… no, you should eat too.”

“Let’s have breakfast together from tomorrow.”

“…!”

Macaron looked so moved that he dropped his fork. When the meal was over, Macaron hurriedly took Kai and disappeared toward the west annex.

“Doesn’t suit me?”

That morning, Macaron looked resentfully at the ‘Good Man’ version changer that had arrived.

“I went through so much trouble to get it in just one day…”

That was the poison. He was unexpectedly invited to breakfast, and the changer arrived just before. Everything seemed so lucky, but it all felt like a joke played on him. Going alone without looking in the mirror was an even bigger mistake. When Kai asked why Dad’s face looked like that, I should have realized earlier… Staring at his reflection, Macaron was horrified to see the ‘good fool’ staring back.

Suddenly, Lady Calypso’s smiling face popped into his mind, and he grabbed his head. Just as he covered the mirror he hated to see, Momont came in. Momont first smiled seeing Macaron’s face, then wiped it off completely after seeing his fierce red eyes. Then, pinching his thigh as if holding back laughter, Momont began his briefing.

After reports on the estate and taxation, Momont finished quickly and stared at his ‘good fool’ lord.

“By the way, that sunflower isn’t really that sunflower.”