The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady. - Chapter 19
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- Chapter 19 - The Withered Tree Lady and the Enigma Solving
The Engagement of the Baron of Flowers and the Withered Tree Lady.
Chapter 19: The Withered Tree Lady and the Enigma Solving
Julia and Kent were warmly welcomed by the workers at the Baron’s estate.
They had been informed by the current Baron, Romand, and the former Baroness that Julia was the benefactor who saved the Baron’s household and the estate.
Moreover, everyone knew that she was the object of affection and long-time love interest of the young Baron.
Therefore, the fact that they were finally engaged brought immense joy and celebration.
The workers had been preparing for the party since yesterday, eager to join in the festivities.
The staff and workers of the Plant Baron’s estate were all friendly, cheerful, and kind-hearted, allowing Julia and Kent to quickly bond with them.
And they were able to greet the former Baron and Baroness successfully.
Julia was weary of the former Baron’s obsequious attitude, but the Baroness was incredibly kind, treating her with a loving and compassionate demeanor, which truly relieved Julia.
Furthermore, the Baroness turned to Kent and said, “Whenever the academy is on break, feel free to come and visit us.” She expressed this before Julia even had the chance to ask. It brought tears of joy to Julia’s eyes. She thought to herself that she could live harmoniously with this woman as part of their family.
Nine years ago, after Julia had made a request to the “Green Spirit” and purified the contaminated land, it was Lord who activated his “Green Thumb” and revitalized it into farmland and pasture once again.
Upon learning of Lord’s power, the former Baron attempted to adopt Lord as his heir in place of his runaway legitimate son. He tried to burden Lord, who was just ten years old at the time, with the burden of his bad debts.
However, the Baroness did not allow it. She encouraged Lord to pursue his education at the Academy in the capital using a scholarship program. She did not want to restrict his future.
She knew that nobles’ children were not eligible for scholarships. That’s precisely why she opposed adopting him at that time. The Baron’s family, still in the process of recovery, could not afford to pay for his education.
At that time, while the Plant Baron’s estate had not fully recovered, the Baroness assured Lord that the rest would be handled by the adults.
And so, when Lord turned thirteen, he set off for the capital with Robert, a senior servant, and his mother, to pursue his education.
By the way, Robert also received a scholarship to attend a vocational school to study business management and secretarial work.
In hindsight, the Baroness’s decision can be considered a wise one for the Plant Baron’s family.
This is because as a result of living in the sacred forest of the capital, the most revered place in the country, Lord’s abilities as a “Green Spirit User” awakened in full force.
Coincidentally, he became classmates with Crown Prince Stuart and formed close relationships with him and many other friends, inadvertently deepening his ties with high-ranking nobility.
After the welcome party, Julia and Lord strolled hand in hand through the vast estate, reminiscing about old memories. When they reached the front of the goat farm where they used to play together nine years ago, they settled on a simple bench.
“Hey, why didn’t you tell me the truth from the beginning?” Julia asked, looking into Lord’s eyes, naturally seeking an explanation. Lord seemed slightly troubled and replied with a hesitant expression.
“Julia, it’s been nine years since we parted ways, right? So I thought maybe you had already forgotten about me… That’s what I believed. But if you had clearly said you didn’t remember, it would have been a shock I couldn’t recover from. I thought it would be better for you to like the person I am now, even if it meant considering me as someone else.”
“But for me, it was a bit complicated,” Julia said.
“Complicated? Why?” Lord inquired.
“I’ve always loved you, Lord. I had convinced myself that I would never fall for anyone else. So I thought, for this arranged engagement, anyone other than someone rude or a creepy old man would do. That’s what I believed my duty as a noblewoman entailed.
But then, as time went on, I became more and more attached to Lord, the Baron of Flowers. I was constantly tormented, wondering if I was being unfaithful,” she confessed.
“Really? You liked me?” Lord asked in surprise.
“Well, of course! It would make anyone happy to hear someone say, ‘I like you so much!’ Besides, receiving flowers from you every day made me feel incredibly happy… But…” Julia paused.
“But… what?” Lord inquired.
“I think you’re sneaky,” Julia confessed.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I deceived you,” Lord apologized.
“It’s not just about deception. On the day of our first meeting, I confessed that I was a ‘Fake Countess,’ but you never mentioned that you were a ‘Fake Baron.’ That’s unfair. And I heard that you’re called the ‘Baron of Flowers’ and are quite popular among high-ranking noble ladies in the social circles.”
“Who told you that?” Lord asked.
“My sisters,” Julia replied.
“They mentioned there’s a man known as the ‘Baron of Flowers’ who is incredibly popular and charming,” she explained.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met your sisters,” Lord replied.
“Exactly. Despite attending various parties with esteemed nobles, my sisters were frustrated about not being able to meet the ‘Baron of Flowers.’ If only we hadn’t refused the initial introduction, I would have met the ‘Baron of Flowers’ a long time ago,” Julia expressed her jealousy and resentment towards her sisters and unknown noble ladies.
Curiously, Lord looked at Julia with a happy expression and began to explain.
“To begin with, I’ve never attended any parties organized by high-ranking nobles. After all, I hold the lowest rank as a baron, so it’s unlikely that I would be invited.
So, how did I come to know the high-ranking nobility? Well, I believe it’s because I’m often invited to parties and events hosted by the royal family.”
“Huh? The royal family?” Julia exclaimed.
“Remember when I mentioned being friends with the crown prince? It’s through that connection that I get invited to His Highness’ private gatherings. And then there’s my professional involvement as well. I’m entrusted with the care of the royal family’s flowers. Additionally, as a ‘Green Spirit User,’ responsible for preserving the forest, I often visit the castle for gatherings related to that. So, naturally, I’ve become acquainted with high-ranking nobles,” Lord explained.
“I see.”
“Besides, everyone knows that I’m an ‘Ese Baron.’ I became Romand Plant only a year ago. So, until then, I had been interacting with the Crown Prince and other high-ranking nobles as Lord Karler, a commoner.”
As Lord spoke, Julia nodded in understanding. She had been wondering about something important and decided to inquire about it now.
“Hey, why did you change your name? I didn’t even notice because your name was different in the first place. Even if you were adopted, usually the first name doesn’t change, right?”
“Well, normally that’s true. But when a commoner enters noble status, it’s customary to change the first name as well. It’s a way of discarding the identity of being a commoner and embracing the realization of being a noble… or so they say. It’s absurd, really. They’re asking you to abandon your own identity. As for the surname, it was originally my father’s surname, so it didn’t feel out of place. But I actually wanted to continue living as Lord with my original name. However, it couldn’t be helped when it came to protecting my subjects, right? They are my family and colleagues in the work we do.”
As Lord’s face filled with melancholy, Julia couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness as well. He had to give up the precious gift of the name bestowed upon him by his parents, all for the sake of everyone else.
“Lord, you must have gone through a lot.
But then, why didn’t I have to change my name too?
Or perhaps, without my knowledge, has my name also changed?”
Julia’s doubts only grew stronger. However, Lord quickly resolved her concerns.
“Julia, you don’t need to change your name because you’re not a commoner transitioning into nobility like I was. You were born into a noble family, and your name carries the lineage and heritage. It’s a symbol of your esteemed background. So, rest assured, your name remains unchanged and reflects your true identity.”
With Lord’s explanation, Julia’s worries were alleviated. She realized that her name, representing her noble lineage, was not subject to the same conventions as his.
“You haven’t changed at all.
You have always been Julia Woodcliff since the day you were born.
In fact, it was my surname that changed until two years ago. The Count had you registered as his own child from the moment you were born. You were born as a noble’s daughter.
Unfortunately, your mother passed away suddenly before she could tell you about it.”
Julia blinked her eyes rapidly.
I was born as a noble’s daughter?
Father had acknowledged me from the beginning. He didn’t take me in for his own benefit.
Oh, come to think of it, I’m his only biological child…
Julia finally realized the obvious truth.