ISGJV 19

Chapter 19

The nanny beamed as she placed a splendid, dazzling bouquet into my arms.

I had no idea why she was so happy.

“After seeing you last time, he must have truly taken a liking to you, miss.”

“He’s just trying to keep an eye on me for the main house.”

“Would someone who’s only spying really send flowers this pretty and this carefully arranged?”

The nanny looked deeply satisfied.

There was also a sense of relief about her, somehow.

With Cassia’s memories, I knew the nanny well too.

She was the only person who cared about Cassia, who had been practically abandoned even by her maternal family.

She was also the one who had raised Cassia after she lost her biological mother at birth.

That’s why she volunteered to follow Cassia all the way here.

Thinking about how what she cherished so dearly wasn’t me, but the real “Cassia,” left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I deliberately shoved that thought into a corner because I didn’t have the leeway to dwell on it.

In any case, the nanny was genuinely worried about me.

And because of my position as Edmund’s wife, she had many concerns.

“The duke is clearly planning to use the little madam as a disposable card.”

But now that Patrick, the duke’s son, was showing interest in me, she was actually pleased.

Even if the duke were to kill Edmund, as long as Patrick protected me, my livelihood would be guaranteed.

That was exactly how it went in the original story.

Though Patrick was nothing more than a flirtatious villain who kept Cassia only as a lover.

Cassia had worked so desperately to become Patrick’s lawful wife.

I knew very well how futile and hopeless that effort was.

Before that, though— isn’t Edmund cuter than Patrick? He’s obviously going to grow up far more handsome.

In any case, Patrick was Patrick, and this bouquet was this bouquet.

I carefully examined the ostentatious bouquet adorned with silk lace and silver beads.

If I take off these beads and the silk lace and keep them, I could probably sell them later.

Despite such practical calculations, the bouquet made me uneasy.

That bastard Patrick really is trying to seduce me, just like in the original… though it’ll be a waste of effort.

I fell into deep thought about how to avoid Patrick’s clutches without provoking his temper.

Too much interest from him is bad, but I can’t openly offend him either.

It was troublesome in every way.

Beside me, the clueless nanny smiled and asked,

“What should we do with the flowers, miss?”

“…Put them away neatly. Separate and store the decorations carefully so they don’t get damaged, and put the flowers in a vase.”

The scent of roses was thick, like perfume.

So strong it felt as though it might interfere with sleep.

Still, the flowers themselves haven’t done anything wrong.

I might as well keep them beside me until they wilt.

Edmund stared blankly at the bouquet Patrick had already placed in Cassia’s arms.

Lush roses that looked as if they had been molded from gold, surrounded by delicate silk lace like spiderwebs, adorned with shining beads.

When he lowered his gaze, the daisy bouquet in his own arms came into view.

It’s pathetic…

Compared to that beautiful bouquet, this was nothing more than a bundle of withered weeds.

Even knowing that, Edmund had still hoped—just a little.

That Cassia would reject that bouquet.

Even though he knew it was an absurd wish.

“…Put them away neatly. Separate and store the decorations carefully so they don’t get damaged, and put the flowers in a vase.”

The boy was horrified to realize how disappointed he felt.

What he was holding now was absolutely not a bouquet worthy of being treasured so carefully, decorations and all.

The next moment, he was so embarrassed he wanted to die.

As he had plucked and woven the daisies himself just a moment ago—what kind of fantasy had he been indulging in?

“Thank you, Edmund!”

He had imagined the girl, holding the golden rose bouquet, saying that and smiling brightly at him.

Edmund carried the daisies to a corner of the garden.

Then he threw the most embarrassing bouquet in the world into the bushes.

He ran.

All the way to the far edge of the villa’s garden.

The boy was—

angry,

ashamed,

and wronged.

Wronged by what?

He didn’t even know.

Everything was just confusing.

“Ah, Edmund—”

“……”

The moment our eyes met, Edmund quickly turned around and ran off, disappearing in a flurry.

What was that? Déjà vu? I feel like this has happened before.

And not long ago, hadn’t I been the one avoiding Edmund out of consideration for him?

What was this—did Edmund and I secretly agree to take turns avoiding each other?

Anyway, Edmund continued to avoid me for several days.

At least it’s fortunate that the servants think Edmund and I just don’t get along.

Recently, I had avoided him.

Now it was Edmund avoiding me.

Since the nanny had quietly handled the incident of my collapse, it was only natural for the servants to think that way.

But still!

“Skipping even the lessons we agreed on is crossing the line!”

I shouted alone in the library.

I truly had no idea why Edmund was suddenly acting like this.

Teenagers are seriously impossible to understand!

Then, the next day—

While searching for Edmund, I found something strange in the garden.

“What is this?”

After picking it up and brushing off the dirt and dead leaves, I could tell what it was.

A crumpled daisy bouquet?

The clumsy, haphazard weaving somehow made it even cuter.

It must have been touched by dew, because the flowers were thankfully still fresh.

“Huh. Who would throw away something this pretty?”

I was used to things like this, and I felt attached to it.

The younger kids I had looked after at the orphanage used to make things like this with their tiny hands.

Small flower crowns, flower rings, pretty maple leaves, shiny pebbles.

Children with very little to their name, giving what they personally thought was pretty and precious.

For some reason, this misshapen bouquet reminded me of the things I had loved back then.

I buried my face in the flowers and took a deep breath.

Instead of a strong, perfume-like scent, a gentle, lovely fragrance tickled my nose.

For reasons I couldn’t explain, I couldn’t bring myself to throw away the small, ugly daisy bouquet.

I carried it back to my bedroom.

The cold war with Edmund ended after two or three days.

No matter how much a kid tried to run, there was only so much space in this small villa.

Once caught, the boy soon gave up running away.

We ate together again.

Though he did pick a fight, scowling the whole time.

“Are you actually eating properly?”

Even while provoking me, I could feel the concern beneath it.

How rewarding!

“I’m eating well. The nanny keeps an eye on me every time.”

Using my recent collapse as an excuse, I had increased my meal portions and snacks.

Thanks to that, even if I shared Edmund’s portion, it was no longer a problem.

Still, I was surprised when Edmund left a large scone untouched.

“Why didn’t you eat this?”

Edmund replied curtly, as usual.

“I’m full. Don’t want any more.”

“Hmm. But I already promised the duke you’d finish all your meals.”

This was absolutely necessary if I wanted to keep the duke’s trust.

“Then you eat it.”

“……”

Edmund grumbled, then slid into bed and lay down.

Turning his back, as if he absolutely refused to eat what he’d left.

Rebellious phase, huh. Picking fights over such pointless things.

In any case, it was better not to leave food uneaten.

And besides—

The new chef makes amazing scones.

Masha was decent at cooking despite her personality, but the new chef—promoted at a young age—was even better.

Especially at scones. I really liked them.

I quickly ate the scone Edmund had left, then left the room with the empty trolley.

That day, Edmund attended the lesson properly as well.

“……”

“……”

But he was hiding behind the curtain again.

I finally got him to come out and sit in front of me, and now we’re back to square one.

I really hate this stormy teenage phase!

Still, I couldn’t just cancel the lesson.

Fine. Let’s see who wins.

Pretending not to notice Edmund behind the curtain, I resumed the lesson, muttering to myself.

Then I brought out a topic Edmund could never resist.

“Today, we’ll be looking at a basic magic theory book I specially obtained.”

“……!”

It was the same book Moretti had almost taught Edmund with last time, thanks to my scheme.

Not black magic the duke wanted taught through Moretti, but white magic.

A foundational introductory text containing magic circles for elemental magic—the basis of all magic.

“Hmmm. Looks like we’ll have to draw these ourselves while reading the book.”

As I deliberately dragged out my words, the curtain fluttered violently.

“What should I dooo—”

“……”

Flutter, flutter.

In the silence, only the curtain made noise.

“If not today, we won’t study this at alllll—?”

Flap!

Finally, the curtain flipped open.

I smiled in victory.