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

Chapter 9 – The Withered Tree Lady and the Botanical Garden Date

I cannot forgive.

Julia felt hatred towards someone for the first time in her life. She had never experienced such emotions, no matter how much she had been abused before.

Julia covered her mouth with both hands and tears streamed down her face.

Romand and Robert looked at her with pained eyes.

And they couldn’t leave them like this, absolutely not.

Of course, since this involves the Count Woodcliff’s family, they couldn’t act on their own.

Nevertheless, they renewed their determination to prepare themselves so they could cooperate when the Count passes judgment.

Soon, the carriage entered a road within the forest. Julia leaned out of the window to peer outside.

“Baron, we’re… in a forest. Why is there a forest in the middle of the city like this?”

“Do you know that this country was once entirely covered in forests?”

“Yes. I learned that it was protected by the spirits of the forest.”

“That’s right. It hasn’t changed. The royal castle and the main lands in the regions are still covered by forests.”

“But the royal castle stands tall on a hill that can be seen from the city center, right?”

Julia turned to Romand and asked.

He chuckled and replied, “Well…”

“You might not know this yet since you’re still new to society, but the building everyone refers to as the castle is actually a reception hall.”

“A reception hall? Is it where they welcome guests from other countries?”

“That’s right. The actual residence of the royal family and the central offices of the government are located within this forest.”

“But in front of the gate of that building on the hill, there are always guards from the royal guard stationed there, wearing bright red knight uniforms…”

“The uniforms of the royal guard in this country are actually moss green in color. Those red knights are civilian mercenaries, performing for the purpose of tourism.”

Robert’s explanation left Julia dumbfounded. She had been living in the capital for two years, yet she had misunderstood her own country’s castle. It was truly embarrassing.

However, since I’ve only been shuttling between the mansion and the market, I have no way of understanding the true situation of the capital or the country.

But why do the people in the city (those I’ve met at the market) all refer to that building on the hill as the “castle”…?

“There’s no need to feel embarrassed. Not only in the rural areas but also in most of the capital, people genuinely consider that reception hall as a castle. It serves as camouflage to protect the real castle and government institutions from enemies. Only a select few individuals with magical registration are allowed inside the actual castle.”

“Is that so?”

Eventually, the carriage stopped deep within the forest. As Julia disembarked, hand in hand with Rufie, she found herself in an enclosed space surrounded by a fence, nestled amidst the trees.

There, numerous glass greenhouses and wooden buildings with large windows stood in rows.

A large wooden signboard with the words “Royal Botanical Garden” hung on the oak gate.

* * * * *

In the carriage on the way back from the botanical garden, Julia was filled with vitality and joy.

She had been deeply saddened by family matters on the way there.

“Baron, thank you so much for today. I’m truly grateful. It’s been a dream come true to visit a place I’ve admired for so long. I feel like I’ve gained a lot of energy from being here.”

“That’s great to hear. You can go there as many times as you want from now on.”

“Yes, thank you very much. But I would also like to visit your estate, Baron.”

“Oh, absolutely. And also, please accept this. It’s a letter addressed to you from the Earl. Since it would be futile to send it to your home, I believe it was sent to our house. It was enclosed with the engagement contract.”

Romand handed Julia the letter that Robert had passed to him. Julia received it with trembling hands and immediately opened the envelope to read the letter. And as she finished reading it…

“Oh, Father…”

She murmured and tears started to flow down her cheeks.

* * * * *

A month had passed since Julia and Romand officially got engaged.

At first glance, the Woodcliff Earl’s household appeared unchanged, but in reality, it had gradually begun to transform.

Firstly, Julia’s visits to the morning market shifted from six days a week to five.

Originally, Fridays were Rufie’s day off, so he would have been available to accompany Julia. However, due to the reluctance of her stepmother and sisters to lend their own escorts to Julia, someone else was sent to the morning market in their place.

In truth, they wanted Julia to go to the market without an escort, but the Count had strictly instructed them never to let her go outside alone. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her.

And since becoming engaged to Baron Plant, Julia started going on dates from Sunday mornings, making it impossible for her to go to the morning market. Consequently, a maid was naturally assigned to go in her place, as there was no way to complain about it to the Baron.

At first, Julia was wary that the maid who was sent in her place to the early morning market might retaliate against her in some way. After all, that maid had already been going to the market on Fridays, so why couldn’t they have chosen someone else?

However, as Julia observed the maid named Viola, she realized that although she wasn’t subjected to outright bullying like some of the malicious servants, Viola did indeed engage in subtle acts of harassment.

Despite always wearing a sour expression and being difficult to approach, Julia couldn’t recall Viola ever treating her poorly.

One day, mustering up her courage, Julia decided to approach Viola and speak to her.

“Viola-san, I apologize for making you wake up early and go to the morning market twice a week because of me. And I’m sorry for making you push the cart alone as a woman.”

In response, Viola, who always wore an expressionless face, looked at Julia with a surprised expression. She then spoke hesitantly.

“Not at all. It is the maid’s responsibility to do the shopping at the morning market.

Originally, it was my job before Miss came along. So, I’ve been feeling sorry about it all along.”

…Feeling sorry…

Julia was the one who was truly surprised by Viola’s words.

If only she had paid more attention to her and recognized that there was no ill intent, she would have realized it sooner.

“And also, I’m happy that I can go to the morning market again.

Since I stopped going to the market, my health hasn’t been good.

I couldn’t sleep well at night, felt irritable, and my mood was low.

It was tough for me all this time.

But about two weeks ago, when I started coming back from the morning market, I noticed that I started feeling more energetic for some reason.”

Viola smiled, a smile that Julia had never seen before.

“Come to think of it, I’ve been feeling down for nearly two years now. But Julia remembered that going to the morning market always brought a little bit of cheer to her spirits.

And now, thanks to Baron and Robert, as well as Ruffie, Julia had transformed into a completely different person, full of energy.

“Hey, Viola, would you like to become my friend from now on? Of course, it can be our little secret. If they find out that we’ve grown close, the others, including my companions and my mother-in-law, will start paying attention…”

The maid, who was asked by the young lady of the mansion to become her friend, blinked her eyes in surprise.

However, Viola, who was often exhausted by the presence of malicious individuals, had always held a favorable impression of Julia, who was inherently pure and sincere.

Surrounded by this mire-filled mansion, Viola, who felt suffocated, gratefully clasped Julia’s hand, understanding that it would become a saving grace for her in the future.