The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady. - Chapter 17
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- Chapter 17 - Reunion of the Withered Tree Lady and Her First Love
The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady.
Chapter 17 Reunion of the Withered Tree Lady and Her First Love
“Julia!”
Suddenly, a voice called out to Julia from right behind her, causing her to startle and turn around.
There stood Baron Romand, the Flower Baron, with his usual cheerful smile.
At that moment, the sun emerged, casting a dazzling light directly on Romand’s face.
His vibrant red hair seemed to ignite like flames, and Julia instinctively crouched down, closing her eyes.
Something doesn’t feel right. How could such a beautiful person possibly have feelings for someone as withered as me? There must be some ulterior motive behind it.
Even if this engagement cannot be broken off, I want to hear the exact reason why they want to marry me.
Even if it turns out to be an irrational reason from my perspective…
Even if it means being disliked after hearing it…
It’s okay. I am an imposter, a noble lady in disguise, and I can certainly live on my own.
The baron, taken aback by his fiancée suddenly crouching down, hastily reached out his hand to help her, only to have it immediately brushed aside by his beloved.
The baron’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Julia, is something the matter? Did something displease you? Or perhaps you’re not feeling well?”
“…”
Julia stood up in silence, narrowing her eyes as she gazed at Romand’s face, then gently averted her gaze.
Upon seeing his fiancée’s cold expression for the first time, Romand’s heart skipped a beat.
What have I done wrong?
Finally, I managed to bring her to this place.
Was I too caught up in my excitement and unknowingly did something that offended her?
“Can I go inside this greenhouse?”
“Huh? Yes, of course. This is your greenhouse.”
“What do you mean by ‘your greenhouse’? Isn’t it a greenhouse for the Countess?”
Romand’s eyes widened once again, and then a broad smile appeared on his face.
“You remembered, didn’t you? I’m glad.
Initially, this greenhouse was indeed built for the Countess’s birthday flowers.
But now, we cherish it with everyone in the estate as a way to express gratitude to Julia, who revitalized the farm.
That’s why I’ve always wanted to show you this place first when I brought you to the estate.
Hey, when did you start noticing my feelings? I’ve been anxious about when I should reveal my true self… and when you would find out…”
Suddenly, Romand’s tone became casual, leaving Julia with a surprised expression on her face as she looked at him.
“Romand-sama?”
“That formal way of addressing me is no longer necessary. Just like in the past, call me by my name without honorifics.
Call me ‘Lord’ again.”
“Eh?!”
In response to the unexpected truth, Julia let out a loud exclamation that didn’t fit her ladylike demeanor.
* * * * *
“I’m sorry, Julia. It’s not like I suddenly realized I’m Lord…”
Seated on the bench in the greenhouse, Romand, also known as Lord, knelt down and murmured while peering into her face.
In response, Julia raised her head sharply.
“There’s no way you could have noticed.
With such a drastic change in name and appearance…”
“Well, maybe the name, but do I look that different?”
“A completely different person.
The cute Lord I loved, with freckles all over and eyes that turned into crescents when he smiled, where has he gone?”
Julia let out a sigh, but upon hearing her use the word “loved,” Lord reacted, breaking into a wide grin, followed by a chuckle.
“You’re the only one who said that being Lord was better than the current me as Romand.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Well, back then, I was overweight, sluggish in my movements, and covered in freckles, remember?”
“Well, it’s true that being overly overweight isn’t good for your health, but you were still in your growth phase, so I didn’t mind. And besides, the freckles were charming. But above all, Lord was kind. He helped us, strangers on the verge of collapse.”
That’s right. Ever since they left the port town, Julia and her mother Margaret had been traveling without a destination in mind.
Margaret, Julia’s mother, was the daughter of a large plantation owner.
However, a year before Julia’s father entered the picture, a typhoon devastated their crops, causing the plantation to go bankrupt and the family to scatter.
That’s why her mother didn’t have any family to rely on.
Still, they didn’t want to live in the city. For months, they continued their aimless journey, taking temporary jobs while longing to settle in some countryside.
Then, one fateful day, Julia’s mother Margaret fell ill inside a horse-drawn carriage.
Coincidentally, it was a time when an epidemic was rampant. Out of fear of contagion, the coachman and other passengers heartlessly forced Julia and her mother out of the carriage.
They were left stranded in the middle of a vast, barren grassland, with nothing in sight.
In the face of such a situation, seven-year-old Julia was struck dumb, unable to even shed tears.
However, witnessing her mother writhing in agony amidst the grass, she snapped back to reality.
And though she knew it was futile, she cried out with all her might:
“Help! Someone, please help! My mother is going to die. Help us!”
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, despite there being no breeze before.
Then, a gentle and tender breeze began to rustle.
The grassland undulated like ripples on a distant sea. As the gentle wind brushed against Julia’s cheeks, it whispered softly in her ear:
“I assure you… I shall grant your wish…”
It was a mysterious voice.
Having grown up in a port town, Julia had heard various languages from different countries.
Yet, she had never heard these words before.
No, it didn’t even seem like human language. It had a transparent and refreshing resonance.
And somehow, she understood… No, she felt the meaning behind that voice…
Shortly after, Lord and his mother passed by in a cart loaded with straw.
“No, it was my mother and I who were helped.
My mother had various conversations with your mother and received assistance with work. She was delighted to learn proper ladylike manners as well.
Moreover… we were given skills to sustain our livelihood.”
“Really?”
“In addition, you asked the ‘Spirit of Green’ to purify this contaminated land. And you made the ‘Lady’s Tears’ flowers bloom.
Thanks to those flowers, the Count extended the deadline for debt repayment. That’s how the estate survived.
After Julia was gone, there was a bountiful harvest, and we were able to repay all the debts.”
“That’s wonderful…”
“My father deeply regretted driving you away. But that’s how he always is. He regrets, yet fails to learn from it.
Two years ago, when I expressed my desire to marry you, my father began making excuses.
Even though he no longer had the position to complain, still being the nominal head, I tried to convince him. It was a failure.
While I wasted time on unnecessary things, you disappeared again.
Can you understand how I felt at that time?
I thought I would never forgive my father for the rest of my life.”
Lord spoke with bitterness.
Julia, until now, hadn’t quite understood the meaning behind his words.
However, she finally grasped the meaning of his previous words: “Don’t run away or disappear again.”
Perhaps, two years ago, before being taken in by the Earl’s family, Lord had found his own place in the world.