Chapter 19
The Next Day
After class the next day, I arrived with my fake uncle at a modest mansion.
The mansion, connected to the forest, had chimneys and exposed bricks sticking out here and there — it felt like the cozy workshop of a wealthy farmer.
“Daddy!”
He wasn’t exactly young, with plenty of gray hair, but he was tall and broad-shouldered, his muscles still firm as he swept the running Bianca up into his arms.
“Haha, Bianca. You brought a guest with you today.”
“Lord Waldorf, it’s been a while.”
“Indeed, it has. Two years, was it? I’m always sorry I can’t be of more help.”
The man’s gentle face broke into a sheepish smile as he shook hands with Secretary Logan.
But the secretary shook his head firmly.
“Not at all. You’ve already helped greatly just by taking care of this place. More importantly, allow me to introduce—this is the young lady.”
“Hoho, I recognized her at once! My daughter talks about you every day. It’s an honor to meet you, milady.”
“Dad! I don’t!”
“Haha, don’t be shy.”
Watching the father and daughter made me feel a sudden pang of envy.
A doting father and his spoiled daughter — that was exactly the kind of childhood I had always wanted.
I was staring blankly at them before realizing that everyone was now looking at me.
I quickly introduced myself.
“N–Nice to meet you, my lord! I’m Airi Everhart!”
“The young lady has such a lovely voice. May I ask what brings you to our humble home?”
Without hesitation, I answered his question.
“I wanted to see my grandfather’s greenhouse!”
According to the records, the previous duke had achieved great advancements in agriculture through his special druidic abilities.
He was known for his disciplined and sincere nature — right up until his death, when he was said to have locked himself away in the greenhouse to study plants.
If there was any plant he didn’t know, it would probably have to come from another dimension.
So rather than rare species, I thought something unique to him might be best for awakening his spirit.
That’s why I came here — to find the flower he named himself and even presented to the academic society he despised so much.
A calm smile spread across Lord Waldorf’s face as he looked at me, filled with enthusiasm.
“He’s already here.”
“Huh?”
Startled, I looked around quickly, and Bianca burst into giggles.
“See? It’s just a forest. I told you, there’s no greenhouse.”
“That can’t be! Even in the warm east, you can’t grow certain species without—”
Now both father and daughter were laughing together.
“Haha, what a delightful reaction. Milady, tell me—what’s the weather like right now?”
“Right! Look at me, milady. Am I hot?”
Now that I thought about it, Bianca had already taken off her coat, and I could feel a warm heat rising to my own cheeks.
“N–No way…”
I looked around the green forest again with new eyes.
Towering palms reaching for the sun, the sweet scent of tropical fruit, and birds I had never seen before.
Could it be… the entire forest is the greenhouse?
Everything the former duke left behind—this place—was a marvelously calculated, artificial forest, designed as a living ecosystem!
“…Amazing!”
“Haha. Then let’s take a look around. Bianca, make sure to guide her properly.”
Once the adults went inside the small mansion, I followed Bianca around, still dazed by the sights.
But soon Bianca spun around sharply, a mischievous look on her face.
“All right, let’s make a deal.”
Her hard tone snapped me out of my wonder.
Tch. I thought she’d forgotten about that after playing the doting daughter.
I had agreed to be friends with Bianca, but asking a daddy’s girl to show me her father had been a step too far.
So we’d have to make a deal that suited her level.
Future merchant in the making, huh.
“Wait just a sec. Ah, found it! Knew there’d be plenty!”
“Huh? That’s the flower that sells for good money in the capital? Let me see!”
Bianca examined it closely, then scrunched her face.
“What! You scammer! This is just a wildflower!”
Hey now, calling me a scammer?
I brushed off my hands and explained.
“Ah, you’re so suspicious! Look here, see? Same type of flower, but wild ones have red on the back of the leaves.”
“Huh? Oh, you’re right!”
“Yep. Let this one age for five years, then sell it to nobles in the capital who complain of stomach pain. Only cure there is.”
Bianca blinked her big eyes in surprise.
“Nobles in the capital? So you mean… we could sell this for a lot?”
“Of course. Wild ones like this are hard to find.”
“I see! Then triple? No, quadruple the price? …But milady, wait. How did you even know that?”
“Uh… well, I…”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Tch, I thought she’d just thank me and move on—she’s sharper than I thought.
What excuse should I use this time? Maybe say I read it in the newspaper?
But before I could, Bianca stomped her foot hard on the ground.
“Tch! I knew it!”
“Huh?”
“You read it in the records, didn’t you?”
“Uh… m–maybe?”
“See? That’s why nobles make so much money—it’s unfair! Come on! I’ll take you to where the experimental breeds are!”
“…”
She stomped ahead indignantly, and I followed with a silent sigh of relief.
At least she was a conspiracy theorist, not actually angry at me.
“Phew.”
As I followed her, I recalled the flower described in the records.
Scientific name: Spero Lideat Nocte. White, but with gray-tinted edges that make it look silver…
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single white flower in sight.
The sun was setting, and the curfew set by the duke was approaching.
If I miss today, it’ll be hard to get another chance. Ugh, Juno’s going to scold me so much.
She was already mad I’d skipped meals—and if she heard I’d delayed another month because of the emperor’s audience, I’d never hear the end of it.
Always “instinct this, instinct that”… sigh.
When the sky turned orange, Lord Waldorf came to fetch me, just as I expected.
“Milady, it’s about time to head back. The secretary is waiting below.”
“Oh no, wait! Please, just a minute! The truth is, I came here to see the species my grandfather presented to the academic society…”
Flustered, I answered while still rummaging through the flowers.
Then Lord Waldorf approached and asked,
“Do you mean registered specimen number 15342 — Spero Lideat Nocte?”
“Oh? Yes! That’s the one!”
Perfect! He knew exactly which flower I was talking about.
But his next words crushed my hopes.
“I’m afraid it’s not here, milady.”
“Huh? No! It has to be here…!”
Seeing my distress, his wrinkled eyes softened.
“You must really want to see it. Don’t worry—it should be in the office.”
“The office… you mean…”
“The duke’s office, of course. It belongs there. It’s the only place that flower truly has meaning.”
“…”
I wanted to ask why, but his lonely smile made it hard to say anything.
* * *
The duke’s curfew for me was before dinner.
Thankfully, I wasn’t late on my way back to the estate—but the moment I stepped through the gate, Secretary Logan’s eyes flared.
Huh? What’s with that look?
Following his burning gaze, I saw the duke walking in the garden with Lady Diana.
I couldn’t hear their conversation, but her smile in the lush garden was more radiant than any flower.
Was he only angry at me then?
At dinner too, he’d ignored me completely, and even in class, he’d been cold. But now, walking with her, he looked perfectly content—almost happy. Ugh!
Apparently, the secretary was equally irritated, muttering under his breath.
“She tattled to His Majesty about being treated like an uninvited guest—unbelievable. And His Grace went so far as to open her garden to her? Damn it.”
From his grumbling, I gathered that she’d used her connections to corner the duke completely.
Ugh, I should’ve just kept quiet back then…
Feeling like I’d stirred up a hornet’s nest, I decided I absolutely had to behave properly at dinner tonight.
But when dinner came, the dining hall was empty.
Neither the duke nor Lady Diana was there.
“His Grace has gone out with a guest,” a servant told the secretary, whose expression immediately twisted again.
No way… If this keeps up, she’ll really become the mistress of the house!
The imperial family seemed to be backing her, which made me even more anxious.
I barely finished my meal, lost in thought, and returned to my room.
But my worries wouldn’t fade.
I really don’t have the power to stop Lady Diana myself. That means there’s only one thing I can do.
Awaken the spirit of the elemental master and find the duchess—no matter what!
I had planned to visit the duke’s office tomorrow, but even that seemed too long to wait.
The moment the maids left after tucking me in, I kicked off my blanket and sat up.
[Huh? Where are you going?]
“To the office! To do what Juno wants most!”
Still in my pajamas, I darted down the empty hallway like a mouse, silent and quick.
