NovelEnglish
Chapter 81: Can You Do Me a Favor?
I did everything I could to be cooperative with what Magnolia wanted me to do. Once everything was
done, I was finally able to leave my room and get some fresh air.
Getting Luther's fur. That was the task Theo, who still wanted to be called Tallis, had given me. I don't
know where his confidence in me came from, but I guess neither of us had another option.
Tallis wouldn't reappear until the set time we'd agreed to meet. And I better have what we needed by
then...
I needed to think about how to get close enough to Luther to get his wolf's fur. Heading out into the
gardens, I wandered through the little pathways looking at the flowers.
In the entrance to the garden, there were beautiful tulips and irises poking up through green ground
cover that had small blue flowers on it. The gardens were well cared for and so vibrant and colorful.
Walking deeper into the garden, I passed by an old fountain that wasn't in use. The basin was empty
and the statue at the center was faded. It looked like the fountain hadn't had any water in it for years.
On the opposite side of the fountain the garden changed.
There were rose bushes that were thick with thorns and vines and hardly any flowers. The smaller
plants that grew around the base of the rose bushes were wilted. Their stems arched over, the petals of
the flowers curling at the tips and turning brown.
The soil was so dry on top that it was blowing around in the wind.
This part of the garden hadn't been taken care of in a long time.
I looked around and saw a few gardeners in other parts of the garden. They were working hard and I
could see how healthy those areas were. Why did no one come and take care of these flower beds?
It was strange that Luther kept most of the mansion in good order while intentionally leaving some parts
in their dilapidated state. Maybe like the left wing of his mansion, there was some sentimental meaning
of these flower beds as well.
I knelt down beside one of the rose bushes and pulled some fallen leaves away. Underneath was a
small sprout, struggling to get free. I helped the little sprout angle toward the sunlight.
Poor thing wouldn't last long without water and proper care.
The same weedy vines that choked the rose bushes would take over this little plant, too.
Feeling bad for the garden, I went to the nearest tool shed.
There was a watering can and a hose and a bunch of little rakes and trowels. I even found a pair of
pruning shears. I gathered it all together and went back to the neglected flower beds.
On hands and knees, I worked to cut the vines off at their base and dig up the roots. These weeds
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtwould strangle the entire garden, eventually. With each plant I freed from the vines, I raked the topsoil,
turning the cooler soil from underneath, then I watered the plants.
When I was done weeding, I moved on to pruning the rose bushes, cutting the vines off them and
trimming back the leaves and branches.
"What are you doing?" Luther's voice came from behind me.
I whipped around and tucked my free hand into my pocket. There were leaves and brambles all around
my feet.
"I could tell this area used to be beautiful. It's a shame to leave it like this. I love flowers, and since I've
got some time, it's a good way to spend my afternoon."
Sighing, Luther shook his head and walked around me. He stroked his chin and looked at the rose
bushes.
I Can You Do Me a Favor
"These were my mother's favorite flower beds," he explained. "Sebastian killed her, and all of my pack.
Since then, I haven't let anyone touch her prized flowers."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be intruding," I whispered, "I didn't know."
"How could you? I doubt Sabestian is so forthcoming with the skeletons in his closet. Even with
someone he wanted to see end up with the Dark Prince," Luther said, giving me a wry smile.
"He just needs someone to be with Prince Theo, anyone" I explained quickly and redirected the topic
back to him. "Do you know if there are any other survivors?"
I wondered if he knew about Theo's mother, Lady Nita.
"He killed everyone! I buried their bodies with my own hands! The only one I couldn't find was my aunt.
I hope she was able to escape. I've been looking for her for years, but I couldn't find her."
"Your aunt?" I asked.
Luther had been able to manipulate the Moonlit Crystal. So had Theo's mother, Nita. Theo and Jake
had said she was from the same pack and could also manipulate the Moonlit Crystal.
Was it possible that Nita was Luther's aunt? If she was, that meant Luther and Theo were...cousins?
I was stunned by my guess and I had to try to confirm it.
"Looking at you, I could imagine that your mother and your aunt were beautiful women." I gently
caressed the leaf of one of the plants next to me and smiled. "They must both have had beautiful
names, didn't they?"
Luther nodded, "Rita and Nita. I'd always loved my mother's brunette, wavy hair and beautiful green
eyes. As for my aunt, they said that she was the most beautiful woman of her time."
I tried my best to maintain a casual smile, but deep inside me, I was shocked! Luther's aunt didn't just
vanish, instead, she was taken by King Sebastian as a trophy because of her beauty. Not only that, she
was still alive, and gave birth to Theo!
Did Theo know? Did Nita know? Theo obviously knew his mother and Luther were from the same pack,
but did he know he was related to Luther?
After all, other than her name, not a lot was known about Nita
in the palace. She was basically a hermit and the king didn't like when others talked about her.
Probably because he didn't want them talking about how he practically wiped out her entire pack.
I wondered if Luther knew the truth, would he be so quick to attack Theo and try to destroy him? Family
had to account for something, right?
"But that is all history now," Luther sighed and shook his head, bowing it heavily as he stood before the
rose bushes. "When I see these flowers, I think of my mother and I don't want to be reminded of her,"
Luther said somberly, pulling me from my thoughts.
"I'm sorry that your pack suffered, that your family suffered, at the hands of the king," I said gently. I
came up beside Luther and gave him a friendly, understanding smile.
This seemed like my chance to get closer to him. He'd opened up to me, and if I played my cards right,
I'd be able to get the wolf fur from him.
Luther scoffed. "You don't have to pretend to be nice over it. I know where your loyalties lie."
"Before now, I didn't know what King Sebastian was truly capable of,” I said, keeping my voice soft and
gentle.
There was a part of me that wanted to tell him Theo was his cousin and that his aunt was alive. Given
what he'd just told me, the news of his aunt might upset him more. He'd probably never accept that
Theo was his cousin and it could shut him down completely.
It was better to keep the focus on him and his family.
"You know, I think that we should restore these rose bushes and flower beds," I said, pulling out the
pruning shears and smiling at Luther.
He arched an eyebrow at me. "Why? They are an unpleasant reminder."
“That's a dark way of looking at it. These were your mother's favorite flowers. Taking care of them
would honor her memory. Besides, it is a reminder that she existed, a reminder of the time you did
have with her," I answered, smiling to keep things light.
Luther shook his head, unconvinced. When he went to turn away, I grabbed his arm. He gave me a
look and I quickly released his arm.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Look, your mother planted these flowers and made them beautiful. In honor of her, they should keep
on being beautiful. It is the mark she left on this world, the legacy she left for you. If she was still alive,
what do you think she would want for these flower beds?"
Luther's eyes widened and he stepped back from me. For a moment, I thought I'd crossed a line with
him, but his scowl softened and he nodded once.
"Why did you say those things? Don't you hate me?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.
"I don't hate you, Luther. I understand you. King Sebastian destroyed your pack and you seek revenge.
Believe it or not, I think I have some personal insight into that," I explained.
My mind instantly wandered to Raymond and Hawke and all the damage they'd done to my own pack.
Luther was a part of that, but maybe, by establishing common ground, I could convince him not to
support Raymond.
"I'm not saying we're going to be friends, but we don't have to be enemies," I suggested, giving him a
hopeful look.
Luther stroked his chin in deep contemplation, his eyes unfocused and distant. After a long, long
moment, he raised his eyes to mine.
We stared at each other while he thought things over.
"Well, Miss Ciana, you've won me over. I'd like to see my mother's flower beds restored. If you'd like,
you can help," he offered.
"I'd like that. I like to work in the gardens." I nodded happily. I was so close now to being able to get
what I needed from him.
Luther and I got to work preening and watering the flowers. He even found some fertilizer in one of the
garden sheds and we added it to the soil so they'd have plenty of nutrients. By the time we were done,
the flowers were already perking up and they looked so much nicer and cleaner without any weeds.
We stepped back to examine our work. My hands were covered in dirt and I had dirt smudges on my
knees. Luther had a smear of dirt on his cheek.
There were still some flower beds that had flowers that were beyond repair. They were dead and
brown, all dried out. I felt sorry for the plants. They'd never recover, but they could still be replaced.
He chuckled and rubbed the dirt off his face. "I must admit, you are a lot more interesting than I
expected."
I laughed and tossed my hair over my shoulder. "A lot of people tell me that."
Luther grinned back at me. I hadn't seen him this relaxed or this open since I'd met him. He wasn't
thinking only of revenge. I realized, this would be the best chance I'd have to do what I needed to do.
Suddenly, I had an idea on how to get Luther's fur.
"Luther, could you do me a favor?" I asked softly.
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