The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady. - Chapter 15
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- Chapter 15 - The Parents of the Withered Tree Lady
The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady.
Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Parents of the Withered Tree Lady
“Nevertheless, even with the responsibilities of serving the country alone keeping him so busy, why does father engage in trade as well… I worry about his well-being.”
Julia murmured her concerns, prompting the baron to take his fiancée’s hand and speak reassuringly.
“I, too, once asked the earl about that matter.
At that time, the earl said,
‘I am entrusted with the defense of the nation, but that goes beyond mere external affairs. The true mission lies in safeguarding the sacred power of the forest, a responsibility known to only a select few within the country.
The defense with other nations, as everyone is aware, is primarily handled by the military.’
However, protecting the country from external threats isn’t solely about wielding weapons. It also entails leveraging each nation’s unique strengths, facilitating the circulation of necessary goods, and recognizing the importance of mutual cooperation and prosperity.
In other words, the work of trade is about connecting nations, fostering peace, and promoting the understanding of coexistence and mutual benefit.’
That’s what he conveyed to me.
Thus, the earl’s dedication extends not only to his public duties but also to my own endeavors. He tirelessly serves the cause of peace and the defense of our nation.”
“And besides, it was also for Lady Margaret, his wife.
It seems Lady Margaret had a great fondness for hearing tales from foreign lands.
So the earl would diligently write letters to her, sharing stories from distant places,”
The baron’s words struck a chord with Julia. Her mother always seemed delighted when reading her father’s letters.
“When I read Father’s letters, it feels like Mother and Father are traveling the world together. It’s incredibly exciting,”
Mother would say, carefully storing those letters inside a square tin can that held Father’s souvenir cookies.
Currently, that tin can is buried in layers of oil paper in the mansion’s garden.
Julia’s belongings are often rummaged through by her sisters.
Well, it’s not something of great value, so it’s unlikely to be stolen, but she dislikes the idea of it being read or discarded without permission.
Julia herself has never read her mother’s letters without permission.
However, those letters were truly passionate love letters from father to mother, in a sense. This realization struck her once again.
Even after leaving home, my mother cherished the letters from my father and would occasionally reread them.
It seems that my mother had been thinking about my father all along.
Perhaps, deep down, my mother knew that Lady Cindy’s words were lies, yet she chose to step back out of consideration for the Earl…
It could be true…
My father was the second son of the Earl’s family and had no plans to inherit. He once mentioned that once his older brother had children and the need for a spare was no longer necessary, his grandfather would grant him permission (or so it seemed).
Until that day when my aunt-by-marriage and the others arrived, my mother was unaware that my uncle had passed away and my father had succeeded as the head of the Woodcliff family.
In hindsight, the succession of the Woodcliff family head was undoubtedly a matter of utmost importance for the country, so my father must have been incredibly busy.
He probably didn’t have any spare time to contact my mother.
Well, understanding this, my aunt-by-marriage must have taken swift action.
Upon hearing that her husband had inherited the title of Earl, it’s possible that my mother thought she wouldn’t be of any use to him as a commoner.
She always seemed apologetic for not being able to contribute anything to my busy father.
However, my father should have been satisfied just by seeing my mother’s smile.
Julia felt a pang of sadness for her mother’s thoughts. While looking at her melancholic expression, the baron spoke these words:
“If you understand your father’s feelings, Julia, please don’t run away or disappear from me anymore.”
Baron Romand-Plant had experienced painful separations from Julia twice in the past, which had become a traumatic experience for him.
That’s why he repeatedly expressed it to her.
Julia occasionally felt something unsettling in Romand’s words, but for some reason, she missed the timing to inquire about it.
The carriage continued smoothly, and the four of them happily chatted inside the carriage. They enjoyed their packed lunches and snacks provided by Viola, and engaged in card games to pass the time.
However, as the sun began to set, they encountered a traffic jam, and the carriage came to a halt. After about fifteen minutes of remaining still, Rufie said he would go and check the situation and stepped away from the carriage.
Julia anxiously waited for Rufie’s return, but he came back rather quickly, without much delay.
“Apparently, there was an accident between carriages, which caused the road to become impassable. However, it seems that the carriage has been repaired, and the traffic congestion is likely to be resolved soon,” Rufie reported, bringing relief to everyone.
True to Rufie’s words, after about five minutes, the carriage began to move slowly.
A little while later, the carriage passed by the spot where the accident had occurred.
As to how they knew it was the scene of an accident, it was because there were deep gouge marks on the edge of the road, presumably caused by the wheels. It appeared that the carriage had overturned there, as the flowers along the roadside were flattened as if crushed over a wide area.
“Please stop the carriage!” Julia exclaimed, unable to contain herself. In response, the carriage came to a quiet halt at the side of the road.
Before Julia could say anything, Kent had already jumped out of the carriage.
Julia stopped the Baron, who was about to say something, and whispered in his ear, asking him to observe what her brother was about to do…
Kent settled himself at the edge of the road and gently placed his hands on the fallen and wilted flowers.
In an instant, a dazzling light burst forth, causing the withered blooms to spring up and sway lightly, defying the stillness of the air.
“Kent, are you also a bearer of the ‘Green thumb?” Julia asked.
“I believe so. Given our similar sensitivity towards plants, I had a suspicion,” Kent replied.
“However, it seems he is unaware, as if it happens unconsciously… Could he also be a ‘Green Spirit User’?”
Baron pondered Julia’s question, twisting his head in thought.
“I cannot say with certainty, but it is said that ‘Green Spirit Users’ manifest their abilities around the age of ten,” he explained. “Kent, you are twelve now, right? Since the Earl did not notice until now, the possibility may be low. However, the power of the ‘Green Hand’ is quite potent, and if he interacts with others who possess such abilities, there is a chance that his own powers may surface.”
Upon hearing this, Julia gathered her resolve and asked the following question.
“Baron, I apologize for my audacious request, but if I were to marry into the Plant family in the future, would it be possible for you to look after that child during Kent’s long school breaks?
I don’t want to send him back to the Woodcliff Estate alone.
The Lady of the house doesn’t recognize the importance of plants. In fact, it almost feels like she denies their significance.
Being in that household brings me down, and I believe it could have a negative impact on young Kent.
Of course, I will take care of that child myself and try not to inconvenience you as much as possible.”
Upon hearing this, the Baron’s face lit up with delight. It was the first time she had made such a request in their three months of engagement.
“Of course, I don’t mind at all. Kent will become like a brother to me.
Moreover, even before our marriage, I would love for you to accompany me during his breaks. If he wishes to enhance his ‘Green Thumb’ ability, spending time in a natural environment is truly beneficial.”
“Thank you so much!”
Julia’s face lit up with a beaming smile.
As the Baron felt joy seeing her smile, there was something that concerned him. It was the remark she made about Lady Woodcliff, saying she seemed to deny the importance of plants.