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

Chapter 47 A letter left by Julia’s mother

This is a story from when Julia was seven years old.

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Despite that, in a foolish manner, Cindy declared to everyone that she would remain in the Woodcliff Earldom as the former lady. She claimed that they would be troubled without a mistress in the household. In response, Hardis told her that he already had a wife, so he wouldn’t be inconvenienced if she left. He earnestly requested her to return to her family’s home.

Upon hearing this, both Cindy and his father were astonished. Cindy had never been informed about Hardis and Margaret’s relationship, and his father had assumed they had long cut ties with Margaret.

“The marriage with a commoner is unacceptable. There’s no way this Woodcliff Earldom would be ruled by a woman who is not of noble birth.”

“No need to worry. My wife has received proper education at a certain marquis’s house and will be an excellent lady of the estate.”

Hardis face turned unusually cold as he glanced at his father and sister-in-law, causing both of them to gasp in surprise.

It was all because their father had broken the Woodcliff family’s traditions by marrying into the Hendricks Marquisate, that they found themselves in this situation. How much did his brother suffer because of it? If they truly believed that Cindy this woman could be a splendid countess in the household, then their father’s judgment must be flawed.

Then, a Marquis who was present came to their support.

“Yes, if she’s Lady Hardis wife, she will surely be able to manage the estate properly. I know her well as she served as a maid in our house. My grandmother educated her thoroughly. There’s no problem with her marrying into the Woodcliff family. You’re aware of our reputation, aren’t you?”

The Rudolph Marquisate was well-known for educating all their servants, including maids, to a high standard. They even ran schools under the guise of a bridal training and vocational training academy.

Having received the marquis’s assurance, it was evident that Margaret was indeed a reliable woman.

The Marquis and Hardis had been close friends since their academy days and maintained a friendship through their student years. It was during those visits to the marquis’s house that Hardis fell in love with Margaret, who was working there as a maid. That was how their relationship had started.

Although their father had stubbornly opposed the idea of Hardis marrying Margaret, he backed down without hesitation once he got the approval of the Rudolph Marquis.

Hardis believed in the Marquis’s words without a doubt. He also understood that his father’s heart had weakened due to the loss of his son. However, he regretted not seeking his friend’s help earlier. He struggled alone, thinking he had to manage everything on his own. He felt frustrated, thinking that his friend had always been there to support him, yet he had failed to reach out for help when he needed it the most.

* * *

Once, their father had broken the Woodcliff family’s traditions and married Cindy, the daughter of Maria, who was the second wife of the prestigious Hendricks Marquis at that time. Hans, the elder brother, vehemently opposed this, but their father was obsessed with increasing his power.

Ever since losing his beloved wife, their father had relentlessly pursued invisible positions and honors, becoming consumed by them. This was something that a spirit user should never seek.

As the “Green Spirit User,” he was occupied with the country’s defense measures and couldn’t even spare time for his family. He was unable to be by his wife’s side during her illness and couldn’t be present for her death. The regret and emptiness must have been overwhelming. It likely drove him to believe that after doing all this, he deserved a corresponding status and position.

However, such desires of their father ultimately led to the unhappiness of his two sons. Deep down, their father probably knew the kind of woman he had assigned as a bride to his sons. He must have harbored suspicions about her betraying his sons or even worse. Yet, he refused to acknowledge those doubts and probably tried to bury them deep down.

Fearing the consequences of acknowledging his mistakes, he couldn’t bear to face the truth.

After returning to the capital city, Hardis was burning with anger. However, upon seeing his father, whom he had always perceived as cold and ruthless, now reduced to a weak and feeble state, he couldn’t help but feel pity for him.

Moreover, they had finally overcome the greatest hurdle. They had managed to make Margaret’s relationship with Hardis widely known among the high-ranking nobility.

In the midst of this, Hardis let his guard down. Well, it might not be fair to say he let his guard down, considering he had barely slept for over a month.

However, he was too kind-hearted. Villains, even without knowledge and education, would find a way to scheme for their desires.

No matter how busy he was, Hardis should have prioritized eliminating all potential dangers first. Even if it meant becoming ruthless, he should have protected his most important loved ones.

Even if he was incredibly busy, just writing a single letter to his wife would have prevented him from losing his beloved family.

After completing various handovers, Hardis headed to the southern country where some final matters awaited him. He gave his subordinates comprehensive instructions and restrained his growing excitement as he returned to the port town where his wife and children lived after six long months.

However, to his dismay, his beloved family was nowhere to be found.

“I heard about your brother’s sudden passing. I can’t believe it myself; it’s truly shocking news. My heartfelt condolences. Losing your one and only dear brother must have left you in indescribable pain. I don’t know what I can say to console you.

Moreover, I’ve heard that you have taken on your brother’s position, making you busier than ever. I’m genuinely concerned that you might be pushing yourself too hard. You are an essential figure in this country. Please make sure to take care of yourself, prioritize meals and rest, and be mindful of your health.

As much as it saddens me that I can’t be of any help to you, I don’t want to become a burden. Therefore, Julia and I have decided to leave this place.

As you may know, I possess skills acquired during my student days, so we will manage just fine as a mother-daughter duo. Please don’t worry about us, and please, never try to find us.

We have been truly happy until now. Thank you so much.

Hardis, and everyone from the Woodcliff family, I pray for your health and happiness.

Margaret Lowry”

Although they hadn’t formally married, he had already registered Julia as his daughter. Thus, using official channels, Hardis launched a search for Julia, the daughter of the Minister of Defense. Ordinarily, it would be improper to use official resources for personal matters, but Hardis had no concern for shame or appearances anymore.

The high-ranking nobles, including his close friend, Marquis Rudolf, understood Hardis feelings well and silently cooperated with him.

However, the search began a month after they had left their home, putting them at a disadvantage from the start. After six months, the official search transitioned to a private search conducted by the Woodcliff family, which continued for nearly six years.

Margaret was an incredibly skilled woman, possessing various qualifications. Unfortunately, these skills hindered the investigation. The search efforts were focused on her professional connections, leading to a waste of time and ultimately failing to locate her.

In reality, Margaret had pursued a job she loved, completely unrelated to her qualifications. She enjoyed working with plants, particularly anything related to greenery, just like her daughter, who possessed the same abilities as her husband.

Originally from a farming background, Margaret had agricultural skills, although they were not listed on her resume. However, when they first met, Hardis could never have imagined her covered in dirt, working the soil.

In the small garden of their modest house in the port town, Margaret and her daughter had created a tiny flowerbed. It was always adorned with various plants and bloomed with beautiful flowers, intended to bring a moment of solace to her exhausted husband whenever he returned home.

However, Hardis rarely had the opportunity to come back to that home, and when he did, his attention was solely focused on his beloved wife and daughter. Unfortunately, this prevented him from fully grasping his wife’s feelings until the very end.