The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady.

Chapter 10 The Source of the Withered Lady’s Vitality

The maid, Viola, who had been feeling unwell, gradually regained her energy after becoming close with Julia.

It was thanks to her visits to the morning market, the mysterious plant she received from Lady Julia, and the warmth of her smile…

Julia wanted to share cut flowers with Viola, but she decided against it, fearing that it would draw attention from others. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to be singled out.

Viola’s newfound energy had a synergistic effect on Julia, revitalizing her as well.

Having someone she could connect with, aside from Rufie, within the long-standing isolation of the mansion, especially another woman, brought a sense of tranquility and reassurance to Julia’s spirit.

And, of course, above all, her fiancé, Romand, who cherished her, and his close friend, Robert, became her greatest pillars of support.

Perhaps influenced by Romand’s advice, Julia’s father suggested in a letter that she should have a personal maid, but she declined the offer.

After all, it wouldn’t be long before she married into the Plant Baron’s family. She saw no need to stir up trouble within the mansion at this point.

Her father’s letter mentioned that they couldn’t leave the Woodcruise family unattended.

In that case, Julia decided it would be easier to administer punishment if she let them lower their guard. And with that mindset, she no longer cared about the unchanging attitudes of her family and the other servants, brushing it off as if it were of no consequence.

Julia’s excessively thin body had gained a bit of weight, and her complexion had improved considerably.

Of course, this was not only due to her mental state but also thanks to the nutritious meals she enjoyed on weekends and the food that Ruffie would bring for her almost every day.

Before she knew it, the food Ruffie brought had evolved from portable snacks to something more substantial.

It could be fresh fruits, snacks sold at street stalls, or even desserts…

For Julia, they had become a daily source of joy.

And, of course, the biggest source of her vitality was the bouquet of flowers the Baron would send her every day, along with the green plants she nurtured herself.

On their first date, as they were heading back, Romand asked Julia what her favorite flower was.

He wanted to gift her the flower she desired the most…

“I love all flowers and plants. But if I may be a bit selfish, I would be thrilled to receive an ‘air plant,'” she said.

Upon hearing this, Romand and Robert were taken aback.

An ‘air plant’ is a unique plant that grows without soil and requires very little water, almost like it’s from another world.

“Um… If you prefer indoor plants or cacti, I can prepare them for you right away.”

As Robert said this, Julia hesitated a bit and explained with a slightly uneasy tone.

“Um… In the Woodcliff Earl’s mansion, I can’t place potted plants.

They consider soil to be dirty and dislike having it inside the building.

It’s truly ridiculous to think that soil is dirty when everything we consume comes from the earth.

Moreover, they only value trees, especially roses.

They look down upon other flowers and plants.

It seems like they create a hierarchy not only among humans but also among all living beings, including plants and animals.”

Romand and the others frowned.

The Plant Baron family, including dairy farming, is primarily engaged in agriculture.

And they don’t create hierarchies among the things they handle. It’s only natural for them to earnestly care for and nurture every living being.

“I apologize for the unpleasant conversation.”

“No, you are different from those people.”

“So, you would like an ‘air plant,’ correct?”

“Yes. An air plant doesn’t require soil and only needs occasional misting for water. It can even thrive in low light conditions. Additionally, it’s easy to propagate through division, and many of them have vibrant flowers that brighten the mood.

When I was young, I used to grow them at a friend’s house, and her mother taught me all about them.”

Romand smiled as Julia happily spoke about the benefits of air plants.

“When you say that, it sounds like a truly wonderful plant. Although we don’t have them in my estate, we have trade relations with a desert country in the west, so let’s arrange to have them imported.”

“I apologize for the trouble. However, I believe there is demand for them in this country as well. Currently, there are many places where greenery cannot be enjoyed due to hygiene or sunlight issues. Moreover, I think they would make stylish interior decorations, so they might become popular even in ordinary households.”

After expressing her gratitude, Julia casually added those words, causing Romand and Robert to exchange surprised glances.

And half a month later, Robert delivered several types of “air plants”.

Julia arranged them in small vials she had collected, incorporated them into wooden frames made of twigs, and adorned wreaths woven with vines. She displayed them on window sills and leaned them against walls.

These greens and bouquets brought joy to Julia and, in turn, her newfound vitality further invigorated the plants.

Despite gently declining and mentioning that the flowers now lasted longer, the Baron continued to send flowers every day.

As the Baron, he wanted Robert to monitor Julia’s well-being daily, so he couldn’t stop the flower deliveries.

As a result, Julia started sharing those cut flowers with her neighbors and the church.

Moreover, she began making pressed flowers, natural dyes from leftover flowers, and flower candles from the ones she couldn’t display.

This reminded her of the enjoyable activities she used to do with her mother and the other women while working on the farm during their leisure time.

When Julia offered those items to Ruffie, who had been complaining about not having anything for the church bazaar, they were an instant hit and sold out quickly.

Julia received numerous expressions of joy and gratitude from everyone, and she repeatedly thanked Ruffie for the idea.

Upon hearing this story, Robert expressed his desire to display them at the café called “Julia’s Garden,” where they were treated to breakfast every week.

Julia handed him some botanical-dyed placemats and flower candles that seemed suitable for the shop.

They were highly acclaimed at the store, and as a result, a regular customer requested to purchase them. Despite feeling apologetic, Robert ended up giving them away.

However, upon hearing this, Julia didn’t get angry but instead felt delighted. She had been feeling guilty for constantly receiving favors from the Baron and not being able to give anything in return.

Julia handed over all the items she had on hand to Robert.

Then, she showed him a paper with instructions on how to make them and suggested, “If there is high demand, why not consider producing them commercially and selling them?”

“Except for the candle wax, all of them can be made using unsold or slightly withered flowers, so the cost won’t be too high. However, it does require a sense of aesthetics.

Moreover, when we import ‘air plants’ from the desert country in the west, wouldn’t it be a good idea for us to wholesale flower candles as well? Flowers must be precious there, right? And since they are more practical than preserved flowers, wouldn’t they be well-received in his country?”

Upon hearing that, Robert realized that Julia had inherited not only her appearance and special abilities but also business acumen from her father, Count Woodcliff.

“Lady Julia possesses not only the ‘Green Thumb’ to nurture plants but also extraordinary abilities and business acumen. I’m glad that our engagement was settled before the former Count became aware of this,” Robert thought, feeling a deep sense of relief.

Julia’s grandfather, the former Count Woodcliff, strongly opposed his son’s marriage to a commoner’s daughter and refused to acknowledge them even after their granddaughter was born.

Ironically, it was only to that granddaughter that the Woodcliff family’s abilities were passed down.

Moreover, if he were to learn that she was not only gifted with those special abilities but also surpassing her other grandchildren in every aspect, one can only wonder what he would think…

It is too late now to consider making her the heir. The granddaughter has already been decided to be married off to another family, even though it is a politically motivated arrangement…

No matter how desperately one tries to interfere, the engagement between the Lord and Lady Julia has already been approved by the royal family.

Robert imagined the stunned former Count Woodcliff and couldn’t help but smirk to himself.