The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady. - Chapter 14
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- Chapter 14 - The Tale of the Lady of the Withered Tree
The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady.
Chapter 14: The Tale of the Lady of the Withered Tree
Julia looked at Kent with a gentle smile. And then she began to speak about the origins of this kingdom.
“It’s no wonder you’re amazed. Even I learned after my engagement to the Baron that our family, the Counts of Woodcliff, has been producing many ‘Green Spirit Masters’ for generations…”
Long ago, this kingdom was covered in a vast forest. It was the brave ancestor of the current royal family who cleared the forest and built the nation.
However, the descendants of the hero recklessly cut down the trees of the forest and settled many people without discretion. As a result, they incurred the wrath of the forest spirits.
The air and water became polluted, crops failed to grow, animals disappeared, diseases spread, and many people perished.
Eventually, the people were taught by a wise sage that the cause of this predicament was the wrath of the Green Spirits.
Desperately, they pleaded for forgiveness from the forest spirits, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
At the brink of the hero’s clan’s destruction, a wandering saint happened to pass through this land.
This saint possessed the ability to communicate with the forest spirits. Moved by pity for the heroes, the saint acted as an intermediary between them and the forest spirits.
Upon learning of their sins from the saint, the heroes humbled themselves, bowing low and fervently seeking forgiveness for days on end.
As a result, they were finally granted forgiveness by the forest spirits.
However, the heroes were unable to communicate directly with the forest spirits, and they feared provoking their anger once again, not knowing when it might happen.
Therefore, they pleaded with the saint to stay in this land together with them and help protect it.
After careful consideration, the saint finally accepted the heroes’ plea, granting their wish.
In other words, as mentioned before, the descendants of those heroes became the royal family of this kingdom, while the descendants of the saint became the Woodcliff Counts.
The royal family desired to grant the Woodcliff family an equal status.
However, in order to establish a genuine connection with the spirits, one must always possess a pure heart.
Therefore, they wished to avoid positions that easily drive individuals towards self-interest and ambition. They aspired for a noble title that would not entangle them in political strife.
However, in this kingdom, it has been a tradition for successive heirs of the royal family, ducal houses, and marquess houses to learn about the foundation of the country and instill a deep appreciation for the esteemed and precious nature of the Woodcliff Counts.
They are strictly instructed never to underestimate or disrespect them and to refrain from any disrespectful behavior.
If the Woodcliff family were to abandon this country, it would lead to the collapse of its defenses from within.
However, it seems that not everyone in the Woodcliff family is automatically revered, as it is a matter reserved for the head of the household.
This becomes evident when one observes the siblings who have yet to secure a marriage proposal.
Furthermore, inheriting the Woodcliff Counts title is not solely limited to the eldest son.
This is because the power of the “Green Spirit Masters” does not necessarily manifest exclusively in the direct line of descent.
However, this fact is not widely known.
The “Green Spirit Masters” engage in the defense of the country using their powers, and fearing exploitation, they rarely reveal their true identities even to their own families unless they have utmost trust.
Due to the fortunate lineage of the former Count, the previous Count, and the current Count, the family members assume that Kirk is the rightful successor of the Woodcliff Counts.
However, the esteemed leaders of the high-ranking nobility do not consider Kirk, who does not outwardly resemble a “Green Spirit Master,” as a suitable heir.
Consequently, when news spreads that Kirk has invited a daughter to accompany him, the leaders oppose their involvement, resulting in the young lady being avoided.
The grandfather and father were aware that Kirk and his siblings received no attention from the high-ranking nobility.
That’s why they brought forth matchmaking proposals of lower-ranking titles.
It was quickly evident that not only Kirk but also the elder daughters would not boast an impressive lineage if investigated.
If they were from a lower-ranking noble family, they wouldn’t have known the secret of the Woodcliff Counts in the first place. So, it wouldn’t be a problem if they weren’t “Forest Spirit Masters.” They believed that as children of an ordinary count’s family, they would receive adequate treatment.
Thus, they approached families that prioritized character over social status, disregarding position and background.
Despite this, the three eldest children rejected these proposals without even meeting the prospective suitors.
Well, since part of the responsibility for this situation lies with their grandfather, the former Count Gordon Woodcliff, he has an obligation to make efforts until the end.
However, it seems that even he, in his old age, has grown tired and become somewhat negligent.
Meanwhile, the current Count, Hardis, despite being incredibly busy, diligently wrote letters describing the positive qualities of potential suitors and passionately emphasized that these were good matches.
However, it appears that their words never truly reached the hearts of Kirk and his siblings.
After experiencing this repeated rejection numerous times, it seems that the Count has finally given up on them and decided to leave them to their own devices.
Furthermore, the current head, Hardis, noticed the treatment they had subjected Julia to through their correspondence.
Even though they were children at the time, he learned of their unforgivable actions towards his beloved wife and completely disowned them.
“I had no idea that both my grandfather and father were ‘Green Spirit Masters.’ I didn’t know.”
“I thought they were always away due to their involvement in world-spanning trade.”
“But to think they were also working as ‘Green Spirit Masters,’ they must have been so busy…”
Kent murmured, and then slowly asked the following question.
“Do the ‘Green Spirit Masters’ protect the Royal Capital’s forest?”
“Yes, they do. We take turns among ourselves. Each ‘Green Spirit Master’ takes half a month of duty during a six-month period, and this rotation happens twice a year.”
“The forest isn’t limited to just the Royal Capital, so there are many ‘Green Spirit Masters’ protecting various locations.”
“And if you trace their origins, all the ‘Green Spirit Masters’ ultimately come from the Woodcliff family, including myself, of course.”
“The head of the Woodcrliff Earldom has the responsibility of defending the country throughout generations and overseeing the ‘Green Spirit Masters’.”
“They also have the task of finding and identifying individuals with Woodcliff lineage who possess the ability to become ‘Green Spirit Masters’ spread across the entire country.”
After receiving an explanation from the baron following his sister, Kent let out a deep sigh upon understanding the importance and harshness of being the head of the Woodcroft family. And he thought to himself:
“A man who bullies or envies his own cousin wouldn’t be fit to be the head of the family. Although my brother isn’t a ‘Green Spirit Master,’ so he couldn’t become the successor in the first place…”
“Thank you for sharing such a significant secret with me. I will never speak of it to anyone else.”
“I trust you. You’re my beloved fiancé’s cherished younger brother, and you also share a love for nature.”
“By the way, your sister is also a ‘Green Spirit Master.'”
“Whaaat!”
Kent exclaimed in astonishment, letting out a scream-like voice.
Today had been a series of surprises, but his sister’s secret was the biggest revelation of all.
After the excitement finally subsided, he gathered himself and asked:
“Um, forgive me for being impolite, but is it alright for my sister, who possesses the power of the ‘Green Spirit Master,’ to marry the baron?”
“I intend to assist the earl in his duties. The earl probably doesn’t want to burden Julia with such a demanding role like his own. Moreover, Julia has the ability to use her powers for the benefit of others, even without being a public figure. I believe the earl wants her to thrive in a different sphere.”
The baron’s response surprised not only Kent but also Julia. They both felt genuinely happy, understanding their father’s intentions.