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

Chapter 21 Confrontation Between the Withered Daughter and the Head Maid

The “Anbu” is a covert organization within the knights and patrol corps, carrying out secretive operations unnoticed by the public.

As for assassins, they refer to individuals who specialize in assassination. However, it is likely that they do not exist in this country. At least, there are no known training institutions for them.

The encounter with a terrifying figure, one that would not normally be seen, happened a few days before Julia and the others set off for the Plant Baron’s territory.

On their way to the morning market, slightly earlier than usual, the two of them witnessed the butler meeting an unfamiliar man near the Earl’s estate.

The moment Julia laid eyes on the man, dressed in a gray robe with a hood covering his entire body, her body tensed up. And the presence of Ruffie next to her instantly disappeared.

Shortly after, the man in the hood departed, and the butler returned towards the mansion.

Both of them remained hidden in the shadows, observing their surroundings without making any movements. Once they confirmed that there was no sign of the two individuals returning, they resumed walking towards the morning market.

“You’re quite something, Ruffie-san. Sneaking around and disappearing like that.”

“Well, you were the one who blended with the roadside osmanthus first. Don’t say things that could be taken the wrong way.”

“Oh, really? I’m sorry. It was unintentional. When I saw that hooded man, I got nervous and instinctively called upon the ‘Spirit of the Green’ for help.”

“No, that was the right call. That man is likely an assassin from the Western country. It would have been dangerous if he had noticed us.”

“An assassin? So, someone who specializes in assassination? And from the Western country, too? Why would such a person be a butler? It’s just…”

“Why do you think that man is from the Western country?”

“When I was a member of the Order of Knights, I traveled to many countries and interacted with people of various races. So, just by looking at someone, I can tell which country they’re from.”

“That’s amazing. Ruffie-san, you’re not only strong but also have that kind of skill.”

“I see. Now I understand why my father chose Ruffie-san as my escort,” Julia remarked, impressed once again.

And it’s likely that the earlier man being an assassin is correct. I’ve never felt such sharp aura before.

“By the way, why would the butler be associating with a suspicious person from the Western country? Could he be a spy?”

“I can’t say for sure, but considering that the butler has been serving the Earl’s family for a long time, I don’t think he infiltrated as a spy. I can’t imagine that he deceived the previous heads of the family. Besides…”

Ruffie paused mid-sentence, appearing lost in thought, before continuing.

“I don’t know the exact nature of their relationship, but I believe Lady Cindy has some mixed blood from the Western country.”

“What? Really? I had no idea.”

“While this is still uncertain, please inform your husband about this matter, just in case.”

“Understood.”

“Miss, it might be a good idea to conclude your investigation of the estate and gathering evidence soon.”

“You’re right. I’ll make the necessary preparations to leave promptly. Although, I don’t have much to take with me.”

Julia chuckled wryly.

Indeed, the only things Julia wished to bring were her mother’s letters buried in the garden and the air plants.

At that time, she hadn’t seriously considered leaving the house. However, it was because of that decision that Julia ended up losing the precious items her father had gifted her.

* * * * *

It was a Saturday afternoon, about half a month since Julia had returned from Baron Plant’s estate to the mansion in the capital city. Yes, it was the day before the debutante’s ball at the royal palace.

Kent, who had come home for a visit, accompanied by the escort Ruffie, was helping Julia with the flower care in the garden’s rose garden when suddenly they heard a woman’s scream. She broke free from Ruffie’s attempt to stop her and started running.

“Stop it, please, stop!”

The scream came from Viola. Julia and the others ran through the spacious garden, circled around to the back of the mansion, and burst inside through the back entrance.

As they approached Julia’s room, where they sensed people’s presence, they saw Viola crouching inside, surrounded by the maids.

“What’s going on?”

Viola seemed to have been attacked by her fellow maids. Her face bore multiple bruises, undoubtedly indicating that her body suffered the same.

“She did something outrageous, and when we tried to stop her, she resisted, so we had no choice but to restrain her with force,” explained the middle-aged maid in a firm and imposing figure.

“Something outrageous?”

“Please have a look inside her room.”

Upon the maid’s suggestion, Julia entered her own room and was left speechless as her eyes fell upon the torn dresses hanging on the dresser, which had been left wide open.

“Who is responsible for such a cruel act?”

Kent couldn’t help but shout. The maid chief responded calmly.

“It was Viola, sir.”

Viola, with tears seemingly choking her voice, struggled to deny it as she shook her head vigorously.

“Why would Viola need to resort to such behavior?”

“You see, young master Kent, Viola has harbored a deep resentment towards Miss Julia for quite some time. She already resented being sent to the Friday morning market, but since Miss Julia’s engagement, she has had to go until Sunday,” explained the maid chief with a composed expression.

Viola shook her head again. Julia rushed to her side, embracing her gently, and whispered in a soft voice.

“It’s alright, I understand,” she said…

“That doesn’t make sense. If Viola harbored resentment regarding the market, shouldn’t it be directed towards me or all of you, rather than me?” Julia’s words surprised the maids, who wore puzzled expressions, leaving Julia exasperated.

“But that’s true, isn’t it? Why was Viola the only one sent to the market in my place? I didn’t command Viola to go. Couldn’t someone else have gone on Sunday instead? Who ordered Viola to go both days?”

The maid chief’s eyes widened.

“Moreover, it’s absurd to make a woman pull the cart without any male assistance. Who made such arrangements?”

The maid chief gritted her teeth, avoiding answering Julia’s question.

Without waiting for the answer, Julia continued with more questions.

“Whose orders did you receive to mistreat Viola? Even if Viola did something wrong, you don’t have the authority to punish her, do you? Especially without properly investigating first.”

Julia, who had always obediently followed without questioning, now posed her questions with an air of superiority, which infuriated the maid chief.

“I have the mistress’s permission to discipline the maids. Any maid who causes such a mess will be immediately dismissed,” the maid chief retorted, snorting with arrogance.

“I can’t believe they entrusted the power of personnel decisions to a mere maid chief. Maybe if it were the butler, but this is disgraceful for the Woodcliff Earl’s household as nobility. Is it true? If it is, then the Woodcliff Earl’s family should be ashamed.”

Julia stood tall, placing her hands on her hips, and stared down at the maid chief from below.

Provoked by being belittled by a young girl she had always looked down upon, the maid chief lost her temper and raised her hand towards Julia. However, her hand was swiftly caught and tightly gripped by Ruffie. She let out a scream as he twisted her hand.

“Let go!”

“Please! Let go of me!”

“Please! Please, let go!”

The maid chief, with a contorted face of pain, pleaded desperately, and Ruffie released his grip. However, before letting go, he squeezed tightly, resulting in a dull thud.

The maid chief crouched down, sweating profusely, and spitefully shouted in anger.

“Ruffie, I’ll make sure to tell the mistress to fire you too.”

At that moment, Julia spoke up.

“That’s impossible. After all, it’s not the mistress who hired Ruffie, but the master of this house. Besides, that mistress is just a lodger here and doesn’t have the authority to make personnel decisions.”

The maid chief widened her eyes at those words, finally understanding. Julia had realized the secret of this house.

“My father told me. It seems the mansion’s staff have been behaving recklessly. He instructed to fire any problematic staff members and hire new ones he approves of. He said I am the only legitimate person in the Woodcliff family.”

Not only the maid chief, but also the surrounding maids turned pale. They must have been aware of how they treated the sole heiress of this house.

They had underestimated the relationship between the head of the household and the heiress. However, they never expected that the two of them would be in contact with each other. They had crushed every means of communication, such as letters…

“I apologize, Miss. We were only following the orders of the maid chief. We had no choice but to comply, as she would resort to violence if we resisted.”

“That’s right. The maid chief is truly frightening.”

“We were ordered to punish Viola, so we reluctantly did it.”

“What are you all saying?”

The maid chief, seemingly stunned by the betrayal of her trusted maids, muttered in disbelief.

Julia, towering over them, stared them down and asked, “So, who exactly tore my dress?”

And…