Dear Broom Knight.

Chapter 991 Partner Selection

There are many plants along the roadside, most of which are sun-loving types.

Besides the initial varieties, Antirochus was also familiar with jasmine and snow plum, verbena and sage, lavender and roses... These are all common plants in the castle gardens.

He had heard of another blue-purple plant, the agapanthus, though it was rare.

However, Antirochus found it somewhat difficult to understand the other things.

To avoid the Duke and Duchess discovering his secrets from his reading records, Antirochus generally only read books related to knightly and noble manners in the castle.

He hadn't even glanced at a plant encyclopedia or anything like that.

Knowing all this already involved taking a bit of a risk, using Euphemia's love of flowers as an excuse to research some plants that could be used for flower arranging.

After confirming that someone would investigate immediately after they borrowed the book, he and Euphemia did nothing more.

After all, Euphemia was still young, and she shouldn't have so many thoughts when no one was teaching her to appreciate the scenery of the wild... Fortunately, they only looked into it after Euphemia had taken a flower arranging class.

Of course, if other children in the Harvey family did this, there would be no problem... children are naturally intelligent.

But he and Euphemia absolutely cannot be that clever.

After all, children who are suppressed invisibly shouldn't have such active minds... Once it's determined that they are exceptionally gifted, the consequences are unimaginable.

The only reason the Duke of Harvey let them go was because they were of little use.

There's no need to waste your energy and resources on them.

But what if...

Antirochus raised his head, as if all the helplessness that had been lingering in his heart had dissipated in the music he had just heard.

It was like giving your soul a hot bath, washing away all the dirt and grime that had accidentally gotten there.

I wonder who brought out this singing... but it seems he owes someone a favor!

Gently placing his fingers on various plants, Antirochus recognized the verbena and nasturtium, silver chrysanthemum and torch lily, cactus and golden-edged snake plant, as well as the acacia and evergreen, though he introduced himself quite clearly despite some stumbling.

All the plants were very enthusiastic; they really enjoyed standing in the rising sun on Antirochus.

However, none of this could persuade Antirochus to hand over himself.

Even the maple tree under the sun, which he once admired, he always felt that something was wrong with it.

Perhaps he's been a loner since childhood!

Despite having so much passion, and the love he once longed for... he hesitated amidst all this abundant affection.

Antirochus reached out and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, his heart stirred.

He wasn't unaware of what was wrong with those sunflowers.

A plant that can only live for one year needs a stroke of luck and, more importantly, sufficient energy to evolve into a magical plant.

Although Antirochus might eat these sunflower seeds as snacks, if he were in a good mood and planted a few in his garden, leaving some of the energy to dissipate while providing energy to the powerful magical plants, these sunflowers might very well break through their limits and become magical plants that never need to return to the earth.

Although they themselves have reached a new stage thanks to the power of the sun god, their seeds do not have that possibility.

To cultivate a new magical plant, the mother plant must contribute at least half of its own power... and it is very likely that the entire plant will be involved if it is brought to this point by external forces.

Of all these magical plants, only the sunflower has a deeper affection for its offspring.

Others weren't even interested in the outcome.

For Antiochus, sunflowers could indeed stir his thoughts.

But he knew very well that it stemmed from his deepest longing for maternal love.

It wasn't that he truly wanted to walk into the future with Sunflower.

Antirochus touched the sunflower seeds that had just been on the flowerpot but were now dry enough to be planted directly, patted them off, and waved behind him: "I should have my own plantation."

The desires that had been suppressed due to some speculation were finally released in a normal way.

Antirochus took a few more steps and looked at Lantana.

This flower also has another name: the multicolored flower. Its main colors are red, yellow, orange-yellow, pink, and light purple, but it can also produce new colors depending on the environment.

When I introduced myself to Antiochus, Lantana presented him with a vibrant rainbow... a gradient one at that.

But this flower is not only brightly colored and has flowers that never fade, it also has a way of protecting itself.

Although it is only one to two meters tall, it can grow countless vines that are four meters long.

This is the limit for ordinary plants, not the limit for the magical Lantana.

Then, the stems and branches of the Lantana are quadrangular and have short, barbed thorns that can frighten most creatures.

Of course, this only protects against the weak; the lantana's true trump card is that the entire plant is poisonous. Every plant has a weakness, but the magical lantana is a rare plant that is not afraid of fire.

Its vines were coated with a fire-resistant layer made of venom.

Unless it's a special magical flame, it's completely ineffective against.

Ordinary lantana are already highly resistant to pests, not to mention magical lantana.

This plant can even grow rapidly into shrublands in the most barren places... Other plants would simply be killed by its potent toxicity.

Even though this place is full of magical plants with combat capabilities, none of them are willing to get too close to him.

What truly terrifies the magical lantana is its natural enemy, which it has had since it was an ordinary plant... the lace bug.

This is a pest, but it is the only insect that can suck the sap from lantana leaves without dying.

But this also gave rise to a special ability in Lantana: to emit foul odors.

Although lace bugs are not afraid of poison, they are repelled by this stench.

Of course, if you encounter an enemy that can command insects, the stench won't be very effective.

Even if the magic lantana has pushed this ability to its limit, it is still difficult.

Most importantly, if the magical lantana so desires, its branches and leaves can reduce fever, stop bleeding, relieve itching, detoxify, and relieve pain... and most importantly, can suppress certain 'diseases'.

Antirochus knew that he was still influenced by the past... his somewhat crazy mother, whose hands weren't exactly clean either.

However, her movements are difficult for others to notice.

Even Antiochus took ten years to understand how those she wanted to get rid of disappeared... It wasn't poison, it was just an illness.

The maids at Harvey Castle were not physically strong and were unable to resist the invasion of the virus.

Duke Harvey, too, would not hire a professional to treat his illness just because these maids could be replenished at any time.

They could only try to save themselves with various herbs... Some succeeded, but others never made it out of those convalescent huts behind the castle.

Because there are so many, nobody cares.

Even if the people inside are acting on Duke Harvey's orders, it doesn't matter.

He can always find people willing to do things for him; he doesn't need those unlucky guys he doesn't even know what they look like.

After discovering the woman's secret, Antirochus's greatest fear was that one day, despite being a professional, he would inexplicably fall ill and die.

That's so pathetic, it's terrifying to even think about.

Therefore, Lantana is the most suitable magical plant for him.

Antirochus extended his hand and spoke softly: "I am Antirochus, and I am walking a path I never imagined. Every day from now on will be a new exploration for me."

Would you like to walk this path with me?
I promise I'll always be with you and I'll never abandon you for anything.

"Even if I occasionally release a stench that can make everyone faint?" Lantana asked somewhat uneasily, "I don't have a fragrance, and I will poison all the bees, butterflies, and birds that dare to land on me."

Even if they help me pollinate, my poison will seep into their legs if they stay there too long.

"So what?" Antirochus laughed. "Do I love you for such unnecessary things?"
Compassion... I still eat meat! Lantana.

If what you're saying is true, am I supposed to apologize to the animals that died because of my appetite?

Or should I feel sad because of an ant I accidentally stepped on?

That's not important, my friend.

You shouldn't feel sad because of your talent.

Moreover, I can tell that those are your innate attributes before you awakened them. Once you have wisdom, you will drive away those butterflies before that time comes, right?
Why are you still so bothered by the fact that you haven't seen a butterfly land on the soil around you for so long?
I chose you because you're the best for me!

Lantana's memories are filled with colorful butterflies and several special kinds of bees.

Birds only land on him to peck at his fruit.

However, this lantana plant has actually not borne fruit for a long time... It has been blooming so brightly all this time, but it has suppressed its desire to bear fruit.

Furthermore, birds' claws and feathers have a natural defense against poison. If someone were poisoned by a bird landing on him, it would only be because the bird had been injured before and had wounds on its body.

The vibrant color of the lantana is itself a poisonous omen... Even birds with low intelligence have a similar tradition.

If you fall into the lantana while you are injured, it only proves what it means to die for food.

Lantana pondered for a moment, then slowly extended a slender vine... Although there was only one cluster of flowers on the vine, each flower was a different color, extremely beautiful and radiant... and it rested on Antirochus's hand.

(End of this chapter)