30. Matchmaker

Over a week passed since Frey's return to Selphia. The rest of the town was certainly overjoyed that she was back, and that Ventuswill was back to normal and at no risk of death whatsoever. Arganan resumed his usual work at Illuminata's florist shop along with Illuminata and Amber, Frey got back to doing her usual Princess duties, and all went surprisingly well, even with Leon being the newcomer out of everyone in Selphia, now.

Sir Therius returned to Lazulis Island, to both report to Calista about what happened in Selphia, as well as (Arganan suspected) more reports about the former Count himself and what he was up to. Arganan knew he hadn't received a letter from Calista in a while, but he hoped that would change soon. It would be nice to continue staying in contact with her, even if they still had their distant relations with each other.

Arganan was tending to the shop by himself when Frey came in, looking around. "Arganan? Is Vishnal here?"

Arganan blinked, putting down a bag of Greenifier on the shelf. "No, he isn't. Why do you ask?"

"Well…" Frey took a deep breath as she approached him, before sighing, "I really like Vishnal. And I want to tell him, but I don't know…how."

Margaret was right? Frey and Vishnal are actually in love… He vaguely remembered the conversation he had with Margaret a while ago, as he noticed Frey's panicked expression. He suppressed an audible groan, as he knew that 1. He wasn't a man that had any romantic experience whatsoever and yet 2. He was the one being run-to for advice, rather than Blossom, or maybe Porcoline, or Nancy and Jones.

If he had to play matchmaker for the sake of Frey, and try to offer the best advice he could, though, he would. "You don't know how to tell him that you love him?" He asked.

She shook her head, pushing a few green bangs out of her face. "Not really, no! I tried to tell him a few times, but he laughed it off and thought I was joking. Or just saying I love you in general like I do with almost everyone else in town."

The former Count couldn't help but sigh at the last statement. "You do say it a lot to almost everyone else in town." Arganan pointed out. She hadn't said it to him, and he guessed she hadn't likely due to him being from a different place than her and her not wanting to accidentally make things awkward, and he was fine with that. "Maybe you should mention to him, next time, that those sentiments are actually in a romantic context. Spell it out, if you must."

"Is it really that simple?" She stared up at him. "I've given him Fried Rice every other day, took him out for whatever adventures or small requests I could, and…"

He gave her a look. "Are you just taking advantage of the fact that you're Princess so you can spend more time with him, and then hope that he'll understand that you admire him, romantically? Not that it hurts to make the effort, but…if he's not getting it," He leaned back against the shelf, facing her entirely, "Then you have to actually tell him. Sometimes you have to talk things out, to resolve things."

He knew it from experience. Not in a romantic context, though, but rather a lesson he should've learned earlier, back when he was Count. Back when he and Calista were still in the same castle, on the same island, and struggling to keep everything together.

"Also," He managed, "Do you have any idea of Vishnal actually likes you back?"

"I…" She faltered, her head sinking, "I don't know. What if he says no?"

A soft hum left the former Count as he observed her position. Frey getting down about possible romance going sour, so early, would not help her. And he did want her to be happy. She deserved that, especially after all she did to help him adjust to the town, as well as help Ventuswill and Selphia as a whole.

Then again, she did have a point. If Vishnal hadn't understood that she might at least have an inkling of romantic interest in him, at this point, then the efforts already made might be all for naught. And that wasn't even taking into account that he was her butler, while she was a Princess, on top of that. Status always had an odd hand in these sorts of relationships. Arganan knew that well, from observing Zael and Calista in the past.

"That's a risk you have to take." He finally managed, after making eye contact with her. "I don't think it'll be easy. I doubt it is. But you have to tell him straight-up and let him know that you love him."

Frey took a deep breath, looking up at him. "Okay." She finally managed, nodding. Arganan noticed her hands curl into fists, before opening up again. "I'm going to confess my love to Vishnal and make sure he knows it!"

"That's the spirit." He offered her a reassuring smile. "Go get him, Princess."

"I will!" Cue Frey running out of the florist shop only seconds afterwards.

Arganan watched her go, before a heavy sigh left him as he leaned against the shelf. "What have I done?"

"Excuse me, Arganan?"

"Yes?" Arganan blinked, looking towards Forte. It was only half an hour, after Frey told Arganan about her romantic feelings for Vishnal, when the knight entered the shop. Forte didn't seem like her usual self, given the hesitant look in her eyes. "What is it, Forte? Are you okay?"

Forte fidgeted slightly, and she tried to take a deep breath to calm herself. "I was just wondering…How versed are you in matters of the heart?"

Oh no. Arganan stared at her, his good eye widening. "Wh-why are you asking me?"

"Well," Forte managed, "Frey told me that you gave her such good advice on her love life, so she told me to go ask you if I had any issues."

"I think someone like Margaret is better at it." Arganan managed sheepishly, frowning. "I have no romantic experience whatsoever."

"What!?" Forte stared at him. "Really?"

"Yes. I don't have any significant others." He doubted he would, anytime soon. Not right now, at least. "So, why not ask someone else?"

"Well, I can't ask Margaret, because…" Forte faltered, her gaze sinking to the floor mometarily, and then her gaze snapped up at Arganan. "I think I might have a crush. On Margaret, that is."

It took every bit of self-restraint for the former Count to not yell what he said aloud. "I was right."

"What?" Forte blinked, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Arganan swallowed, "I asked Margaret, several weeks ago, if she felt any romantic feelings for you."

"Really?" Forte's eyes widened. "How did she react?"

"She yelled about a Wooly doing a Leek-spin, and then ran out of the building while I was distracted." The former Count offered her a sheepish grin of his own. "Not my finest moment."

Forte nodded slowly. "That…definitely sounds like something Meg would do."

"I don't know if that confirms if she actually admires you. Also, that conversation took place several weeks ago. I don't know if her feelings changed, since then." However… Arganan pondered the concept of Forte telling Margaret about her romantic feelings. Would it lead to a closer bond between the two women, or make things awkward? Then again, both women had their awkward moments. They might just fit together, Arganan decided, before looking Forte in the eye and finishing, "I think you should take a chance and tell her."

"You think I should tell her?" Forte repeated. Arganan nodded. The knight smiled, before nodding. "I'll try. I just…hope it works out."

"I hope so, too." Arganan managed, swallowing. "Good luck."

Hopefully, he didn't just make things awkward between two close friends.

"Hey, Arganan?" Doug walked into the shop, taking a deep breath. "I need some help."

The former Count groaned, leaning against the back wall of the shop. "Please don't tell me you're in love with Dylas!"

"What!? No!" Doug glared at him. "How the hell did you get that idea!?"

"Apologies." Arganan offered him a soft grimace. "I've had two people walk in here asking for love advice. It's hard not to assume the next person that walks in will also request the same."

"Well, fair." Doug paused, before he frowned. "Don't tell me Dylas came in here earlier."

"He didn't." Arganan confirmed. "At least, not yet, if he ends up doing so in the near future."

"Good." Doug fidgeted on the spot where he stood, before a sigh left him. He shook his head, pushing a few bangs out of his face. "Honestly, uh…the reason I'm here is actually because of Dylas. I need a gift for him."

"He likes fishing." Arganan pointed out. "What about a rod?"

"I suck at crafting." Doug swallowed, making a swiping motion with his hand as he dismissed the idea. "Trust me, you don't want me to make anything for him."

"If that's the case…" Arganan looked down at the desk in front of him. He'd been making a few bouquets for customers when Doug had walked in, and there was already one made. "Maybe…he'd like flowers?"

Doug stared at him, brows furrowing. "You actually think he'd like some flowers?"

Arganan shrugged. "Maybe. It's either that, you take him out for lunch. And I know sashimi can be expensive."

"I can't take him out for lunch." Doug approached the table, examining the bouquet closely. Arganan watched the younger man frown. "The only place I could take him to is Porco's, and Dylas works for him. And I kinda want to avoid Porco, or else he's gonna assume things."

"Like what?" Arganan asked, looking up at him. "The fact that you might be in love with–"

"I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH HIM!"

Doug left the shop five minutes later, after paying for the bouquet. Arganan just hoped it worked out and that Doug wouldn't be mad at him, for eternity.

Dylas walked into the shop an hour later, a groan leaving him.

Arganan immediately held up a new bouquet he just made. "Do you need one?"

Dylas blinked, staring at the bouquet, then up at Arganan, frowning. "What for?"

"I don't know." The other admitted. "You just sounded so down, and flowers usually make people feel better, in my experience."

"Well…" Dylas looked around. "Doug isn't here, right?"

The former Count shook his head. "Uh, no. Why do you ask?"

"Did you tell him to give me this bouquet?" Dylas held up the bouquet Arganan had sold to Doug earlier.

Arganan stared back at him. "Wait, he actually gave it to you?"

"Yes." Dylas raised a brow. "Did you set him up to do it?"

"He was just asking for a gift to give to you. I gave him an option, and he took it." Arganan pointed out. He frowned slightly, observing Dylas. "Honestly, I didn't know you and Doug got along so well."

"We don't." Dylas' blunt response made Arganan swallow.

"But if you don't, why would he send gifts to you on your birthday? Hold on," The former Count raised a brow, "How do you remember your birthday in the first place?"

"I don't know." Dylas shrugged, a slight frown appearing on the former Guardian's face. "I only remembered a few days ago. It just came out of nowhere, but I just…knew it."

Maybe some of the magic Ventuswill worked on Amber, Dylas and Dolce's memories is weakening. Arganan mused, as he processed that new information. Maybe it's an effect of all the Guardians no longer being Guardians as is, now that Leon is also free? Or perhaps it's something else…maybe their bodies subconsciously remember. The more they live out their lives, the more they remember.

What about Frey, then? Her own amnesia? She still doesn't remember a thing about herself. He decided to ask Frey if she remembered anything, later.

"Well," Arganan finally managed, offering Dylas a soft smile, "I'm glad you're starting to remember a few things about yourself. And whatever you have with Doug, I hope it works for the best."

"Uh…." Dylas looked at the bouquet in his hands, and then towards Arganan, nodding once. "Thanks. It's appreciated."

Arganan held up his own bouquet. "Do you want to give him one?"

"No!" Cue Dylas running out of the room as fast as he could. Arganan was pretty sure he saw a light blush on the younger man's face, regardless of the fast escape.

Margaret burst into the florist shop a half hour later. "Arganan!?"

Arganan jumped, nearly dropping the broom in his hands, as he was in the middle of sweeping up the shop. "Margaret?" He looked up at her, noticing her panting breath, reddened face, and wide eyes of either horror or shock. "Are you okay?"

"No! It's just…" A sigh escaped her as she closed the door behind her, looking up at him. "Forte confessed her feelings to me, earlier today."

"And?" Arganna pried. Please tell me I didn't just destroy their friendship, by accident.

"And I don't know what to do!"

"What?" Arganan burst out. Margaret blinked several times, staring back at him, and he quickly swallowed. "I mean, do you have any idea of what you should do?"

"I don't know." Margaret shook her head, approaching him with a sigh. "I mean, Forte and I are good friends…and…to be honest, I do feel similarly towards her. But I don't know if we should get into a romantic relationship."

"Why not?" The former Count frowned softly. "Is it because of feuding families? Political positions?"

"No, none of that." Margaret looked up at him, frowning softly. "You know that I'm an elf, right? If me and Forte were to be in a relationship, that means…" She took a deep breath, before finishing, "I'm going to outlive her. And I don't know if either her or me can be okay, knowing that."

That was an issue Arganan had not considered until now. A soft hum left him as he considered that. "How long are we talking here, in terms of you outliving Forte?"

"A very long time." Margaret managed, looking him in the eye. "We elves…we tend to have much longer lifespans than humans. Some of us still do court and eventually marry humans, but others might avoid it because of the inevitable heartbreak of their lover dying long before they do."

"That does ruin the concept of growing old together." Arganan mused. He had a feeling he could understand this situation a little better, now. He noticed Margaret on the edge of tears, and he quickly offered her a handkerchief. "Need one?"

"Thank you." Margaret quickly took it from him, dabbing at the corners of her eyes. "I just…I don't know."

The former Count watched her, unsure of what to say at first. How could one comfort someone who knew that anyone that they fell in love with (assuming they weren't elves) would end up dying before them, for sure?

He thought about Calista and how she fell in love with Zael. Sure, they had political differences at the time, and not lifespan differences, but he supposed any romantic relationship carried a certain amount of risk, if he could draw from that experience.

"Well…I suppose that's a risk you have to take." He finally managed, looking Margaret in the eye. "If you and Forte want to make this work, that's something you both will have to live with and understand together. Whether you pursue a romantic relationship with her, or not, she will die before you. And sometimes it's better to live knowing that you made risks for the better than none at all."

Of course, he personally wasn't happy with making the risk of him aggravating the Outsider back in Lazulis Island, but he had done it in an attempt to get rid of the Gurak. Sure, it didn't work, but he'd tried something. And that was better than nothing.

He figured some things were just inevitable regardless of the risk. Margaret might as well try, right?

"Well, when you put it like that…" Margaret took a deep breath, and offered Arganan a smile. "Thanks, Arganan. I really appreciate your advice."

"You're welcome." He managed, offering her a soft smile in return. "I hope things work with you both."

Margaret left with a pep in her step and the determination to tell Forte that she, indeed, felt the same way about her. Arganan hoped, regardless of lifespan differences, that they both worked things out.

Only an hour later, Vishnal walked into the florist shop. The butler looked confused, and anxious, given how he paced about on the spot for a moment before looking up at Arganan. "Hello."

"Vishnal." Arganan just finished reshelving a few items when he looked towards him. "Is there anything you need?"

"Yeah. I need some advice." The former butler took a deep breath, taking a few paces towards Arganan to get a bit closer. He swallowed, before lowering his voice. "Um…Frey confessed her feelings for me, earlier today."

"What?" Arganan did his best not to let his jaw hang open at that. "Frey…she confessed to you?" She professed her love to him? She actually did it?

Vishnal nodded quickly. "Yes! And I don't know what to do!"

Arganan stared right back at him. "What do you mean, you don't know what to do?"

"I really don't know!" Vishnal shook his head, before he buried his face in his hand. "I'm more than aware that she and I are…of different social status. And I'm happy to serve her as her loyal butler. Frey's a fantastic person – she literally saved Lady Ventuswill and she's been so good to everyone in town. But I'm a horrible cook."

The former Count swallowed. "That's what you're worried about?" Isn't this just easily resolved by not giving her anything that you cook yourself? Accidental food poisoning would not be good for romance, after all.

"It's not just that." Vishnal quickly interjected, eyes widening. "I'm clumsy, and disorganized, and I'm not…perfect." His gaze sunk to the floor, as he shook his head. "Am I really the one for her?"

A sigh left Arganan at hearing that. "I don't think Frey expects perfection out of you. None of us are perfect, Vishnal." I certainly am not, for instance. "If she did not love you for who you are, I don't think she would have told you that she loves you."

"Really?" Vishnal's gaze snapped up at Arganan. "Do you mean that?"

"Yes." Arganan managed. How else could his own niece fall in love with a mercenary, and Frey fall for Vishnal? "I mean it. The question is…do you love her?"

"Yes!" Vishnal's gaze turned almost fiery at that question. "I do!"

"And you'll be loyal to her?" Arganan continued, looking him in the eye.

"Of course!"

"And you'll be good to her?"

"Absolutely!"

Arganan gestured towards him with a free hand. "Then you have nothing to worry about. Go tell her that you love her, then."

"What!? Now?" Vishnal swallowed as he looked towards the clock, then Arganan. "But…I already told her that I'd tell her tomorrow at ten a.m…"

"Then tell her at ten a.m. tomorrow, as promised." Arganan finally managed, a chuckle leaving him at that. "I think you and her will be happy together."

"Thank you." Vishnal lightly bowed, before he noticed a bouquet of flowers. "And, um…can I buy that bouquet? Maybe I can give it to her."

Arganan nodded. "Sounds good to me."

Vishnal left with a determined look in his eyes, clutching a bouquet of flowers as if it were a lifeline. Arganan just hoped the butler's confession of love ended well.

"You mean I missed you trying to give love advice for three couples!?" Illuminata stared at Arganan. She and Amber just returned right as Arganan was closing the florist shop for the day.

Arganan could only nod. "Yes. I did."

"Whoaaa." Amber's eyes widened, and the former Count was pretty sure her jaw threatened to fully drop. "How was that?"

"It was pure chaos." Arganan looked the younger woman in the eye. "Whatever you do, do not go into matchmaking and giving love advice."

"For someone who doesn't have any romantic experience," Illuminata pointed out, "You did a pretty good job."

He blinked, looking up at the detective. "Thank…you?"

"I think it's adorable, honestly." A chuckle escaped her, and Arganan thought he saw a mischievous sparkle in Illuminata's gaze. "You know what? How about a bonus? I think you deserve it after all you went through, today."

"I would love that." Anything to pay down my debt sooner! "Thank you."

"No," Illuminata quipped back, grinning ear to ear, "Thank you. Now we've got three couples to track here in town!"

Arganan could only sigh and wonder if he just made things a lot more complicated. Then again, at least it was something interesting, and not life-threatening, for once, so he was fine with that.