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

Chapter 20: The Fued Between the Withered Tree Lady and Her Sisters

When Julia returned to the mansion in the royal capital, she noticed that something was off. The butler immediately instructed her to come to the living room, where everyone had gathered.

“Julia, why did you keep the secret that the Baron of Flowers is actually the Baron Plant?” Linda spoke up as soon as Julia stepped into the living room, without a word of welcome.

Linda seemed quite furious.

However, Julia, who was questioned, appeared perplexed.

“I’m sorry. I only learned that the Baron is known as the ‘Baron of Flowers’ when I visited the estate. Since I don’t socialize with the nobility, I had no knowledge of such a title for the Baron.”

“…”

“But I had never heard a single word about the Baron of Plant being such a young man.”

“No one asked me.”

Julia tilted her head in response to Cathy’s question. Until now, they had only been speaking one-sidedly without listening to others. So, even if she was accused of not hearing, it wasn’t her fault.

“「Ah…!」”

Everyone fell silent for a moment, feeling the awkwardness. But Linda quickly composed herself and spoke.

“Anyway, you should break off the engagement with the Baron immediately.”

“Why? I don’t understand.”

Julia couldn’t grasp the meaning.

“A withered maiden like you doesn’t match with the renowned ‘Baron of Flowers,’ who is known for his beauty.”

Linda said this. However, before Julia could argue back, Cathy smiled faintly and taunted her.

“Oh, isn’t it the same for you, sister? Isn’t Sister older than the Baron? ”

“What! Just because I’m older by a mere year doesn’t make any difference. It’s not a problem.”

“Whether it’s one year or two, being older is being older. And Sister, you have already crossed the age of twenty. Even if you start dating immediately, it will be well past your twenties by the time you have a wedding ceremony. But I’m two years younger, so I think I would be a better match.”

Linda raised her eyebrows at Cathy’s words.

“Being younger doesn’t automatically make it a suitable match. Especially for a daughter born from a commoner’s mistress.”

“What did you say! Sister’s mother may have come from a Baron family, but she’s still a noble. And she wasn’t a shameful returnee who got divorced from a Viscount’s family! She wasn’t someone who was expelled for infidelity! What makes Sister, the daughter of such a person, suitable in any way!”

“What are you saying!”

Just as Linda and Cathy were about to start grappling with each other, the eldest son, Kirk, stepped in and stopped them.

“Enough already! This is disgraceful.”

Linda and Cathy seemed to have completely forgotten that they were the legitimate daughters of the head of this household and his lawful wife.

Kirk looked awkwardly at Julia. Although Julia had known about it for a long time, she pretended to be confused and turned her gaze towards her stepmother.

At that moment, it seemed that her stepmother had given up trying to hide the truth. Without any pretense, she calmly spoke up.

“Kirk is right. Both of you should stop this pitiful behavior. Is the Woodcliff Earl’s daughters lacking the pride to compete over a mere Baron? Besides, it was you who have been rejecting proposals from your grandfather and stepfather all this time. Why now?”

“It’s about time you reflect on yourselves and choose a realistic partner.”

Unusually, Julia’s stepmother reprimanded her step-sisters. Julia thought that if only she had spoken to her step-sisters with such sensible and righteous thoughts earlier…

However, she knew that her stepmother wasn’t saying it for her sake. She simply didn’t want her step-sisters to interfere with Julia’s engagement. She wanted to marry off the only daughter of the head of the family to secure her own son’s inheritance.

Actually, it seems that Julia’s stepmother sighed after hearing about Julia’s meeting with Baron Plant. She probably thought that with a daughter so thin and pitiful, she would refuse even a lower-ranking Baron.

She regretted not giving her more meals.

She apparently instructed to improve the meals, considering the future.

However, after the engagement of that “withered tree” daughter was decided, well, it seems that the Baron, being such an eccentric who likes skinny girls, said, “Let’s go back to the previous meals.”

Later, when Julia and Ruffie heard this from the maid, Viola, they were stunned. They couldn’t understand how such thoughts could arise.

Nevertheless, Julia sighed, thinking how foolish her stepmother was, even though there was no point in marrying off a stepdaughter.

Father must have clearly told my stepbrother Kirk. As a stepbrother, he cannot inherit the Woodcruise Earldom. It’s because inheriting the earldom requires a specific and essential ability.

However, it doesn’t mean that his worth as a person was denied just because he lacks that ability. In the letter from our father, it was written that if he has the motivation, even if he doesn’t become the head of the family, he can be entrusted with the trade business, so he should focus on his studies.

Our father also said this. Inheriting the Woodcruise family means taking on important national responsibilities and leading a life where the family is not the priority.

Can’t he understand that just by looking at himself?

I didn’t choose to inherit the position willingly either. If I could choose my own path, I would prefer a life where I can be with my beloved family. That’s why I want you to think about how you want to live.

However, it seems that my stepbrother didn’t consider it himself and left his future in the hands of his mother.

After my stepmother managed to settle the situation, Julia decided to return to her room. However, Linda followed her and whispered in her ear.

“Why don’t you break up with Lord Romand? I will become his fiancée, without a doubt.”

Julia couldn’t understand why Linda was so obsessed with Baron Plant. Just a while ago, she was fixated on marrying into a high-ranking noble family.

However, Julia came to understand the reason after hearing the information brought by Viola.

Apparently, Linda’s own brother has been clinging to her for some time now. He is the legitimate son born to Linda’s mother and a viscount, but he was disinherited due to his misconduct and has been living in the commoners’ world. Whenever he runs out of money, it seems he comes to his sister to beg for it.

Most likely, the belongings taken from Julia ended up in the hands of that brother, the three of them understood.

And it was said that he had been coming even while Julia and the others were away, visiting Baron Plant’s territory.

That man said the following to his sister.

“Your sister is engaged to Baron Plant, huh? Why didn’t you get engaged to that baron? Did you look down on him? What a foolish person. Just because he’s not a high-ranking noble doesn’t mean he’s not wealthy, you know. Wealth is more important than titles.

Oh! Just being engaged doesn’t mean they’re married yet. Take that man away from your sister. Then make that Baron Plant shower you with as much money as possible.

A beautiful and voluptuous woman like you is definitely better than a skinny kid like that wilted twig, because a real man would choose someone like you.

By the way, if you don’t start making money, I’ll expose that you’re not the daughter of the former Earl but a child born between you and that old hag’s gigolo, just like me, to the current Marquis!”

And…

Upon hearing Viola’s account, Rufie and I exchanged a stunned look. We had only recently learned that Linda was not our stepsister but a mere cousin, and now it turned out she was just a stranger to us…

However, Rufie quickly regained his composure and said:

“Do you think Master is aware of this?”

“I’m not sure. But I believe he already knows about Linda’s older brother. Robert mentioned finding my stolen necklace, so that means they were able to identify the person who sold the stolen goods. And it seems Romand immediately reported it to my father.”

“Lately, I’ve had this feeling of being watched when I go to the morning market. I thought it might be that suspicious assassin again, but could it be that Master hired other bodyguards besides me?”

“Amazing, Rufie-san! You can even sense the presence of the Dark Division!”

Julia exclaimed with wide eyes, but it was Rufie who was more astonished.

“Are you talking about the Dark Division that protects the royal family?”

“Yes. When my father expressed concern for my safety and consulted with His Majesty the King, they dispatched the Dark Division to protect me. You see, my father is an important figure for national defense, so he probably didn’t want me to be taken hostage or used for any ulterior motives.”

“Well, that could be one reason, but it’s also possible that Baron Plant requested it from the Crown Prince…”

“Ah, that’s true…”

The names of the King and the Crown Prince, high above in the clouds, casually came up, and Viola became frightened. However, unable to inquire further, she decided to ask about the words she had just heard for the first time.

“What are assassins and the Dark Division?”

And so, as Rufie explained it to her, she sat down on the floor feeling weak and helpless.