Chapter 32
Eliano shook her head.
“Even if someone has a little magic, how could they dye it such a deep black without a single strand off? That was perfect.”
“But… Lady Eliano’s hair is already black. Why did you use a magical item to change your hair color?”
Eliano smoothly told a lie.
“I was born with very little pigment. I wore that item until I was ten. It’s a symbol of our family.”
“Because of that symbol, there are many young ladies and lords who secretly dye their hair. Of course, there are also many who dye it just because they don’t like the color. One lord insists on having blond hair, even though it doesn’t suit him at all. His face looks sickly, but he doesn’t even realize it.”
The woman chuckled. Eliano calmly continued.
“Anyway, there’s a high chance it showed up as stolen goods. It’s hard to say when. It could’ve been ten years ago.”
The woman finally asked the question she was most curious about.
“Who dared to steal the Lady’s belonging? They must be dead by now, right?”
“Her name is Pamela. She’s an old woman who used to be the nanny of the Duke of Rosana’s family. She’s still alive and breathing just fine in the Rosana mansion.”
Eliano’s voice was full of regret. She slowly described Pamela’s appearance. The woman listened carefully and took notes. The guild member asked more questions, and Eliano answered them all faithfully.
“Here is the upfront payment.”
Eliano placed a heavy pouch of gold coins on the table. The guild member quickly counted the coins and returned some.
“This much is enough.”
It seemed the guild was honest.
“That shows how important the item is to me.”
“I wouldn’t want to overcharge you. The blue aster’s flower meaning is trust.”
“I need that item as soon as possible. You can consider the extra as paying for time.”
“Understood. I’ll make it a top priority.”
With a slightly excited movement, the guild member put the pouch away. Eliano carefully checked the contract and signed it with her younger sister’s name. She took a copy and stood up.
The two of them left the greenhouse-like reception room and entered the normal greenhouse they had passed earlier. The staff who had offered the gardening shears was visible. As the guild member tried to close the greenhouse door, Eliano stopped her.
“What’s your name? I should know the name of the guild member I’m hiring.”
“You saw it on the contract. It’s Kara.”
“But isn’t that the name of that staff member? Don’t tell me it’s just a coincidence.”
The guild member made a frustrated sound.
“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. But don’t lie.”
A guild wouldn’t commit fraud. And there was a contract, so it didn’t matter. As Eliano turned to leave, a husky voice called out behind her.
“Astine.”
Astine. Eliano’s green eyes widened slightly.
Astine was the name of the future head of the great guild Asta. Officially known as a man, but there were rumors she was a woman—an elusive figure shrouded in mystery.
Without thinking, Eliano turned to look, but the woman was already gone.
‘So she was a woman.’
For the head of a powerful guild spread across the continent to be female… considering the atmosphere of Zacador, it made sense she would disguise herself as a man. In Zacador, women had a hard time finding official positions and were constantly undervalued.
In her previous life, the head of Asta had been very close to the First Prince of Zacador. Asta supported him from the shadows, but the prince ultimately lost the fight for the throne and was purged. The emperor couldn’t overcome the fortune and luck that followed Eliano’s husband like destiny itself.
‘I hope this time, he suffers misfortune.’
As Eliano inwardly cursed, she suddenly sensed someone and turned around.
Surprisingly, it was Flint Howard, holding a pair of gardening shears.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Lady Eliano.”
Flint approached with long strides. His grey eyes held a faint warmth. Eliano was a little surprised but spoke without showing it.
“It’s a flower shop. I didn’t expect to see Your Grace here either.”
The shears in his hand looked small. Everything seemed to shrink in his hands.
“Do you enjoy flower arranging?”
“Well… I heard my mother enjoyed it when she was alive. Even while carrying me, she personally took care of the garden, making things hard for the gardener.”
Flint’s mother, Agnes Howard, was from a military family and known as Countess Russell before marriage. She was Maximilian Howard’s most trusted advisor and strategist. She had rushed to marry him just before he left for the war front in Ringsgen.
Everyone believed that Countess Russell had proposed out of loyalty. Worried that her lord would be alone in enemy territory, she gave up her inheritance and followed him as his wife.
“I heard the former Grand Duchess was from a military family. She must’ve had delicate hands.”
“She was very skillful, too. I heard she made a lot of things for my father. I didn’t inherit any of that talent, though.”
Flint boldly started pruning. But the blade seemed dull—he had to use force and was cutting without care. The staff standing nearby screamed silently. Not that one! Don’t cut that—it’s still alive! The leaves were already damaged.
Eliano took the gardening shears from Flint’s hands. As soon as her fingers touched his, he let go without resistance.
Holding the shears easily, Eliano began picking out parts to trim with skilled hands. She cut the thin branches and flower stems precisely. Her touch was neat and practiced. She also trimmed the leaves that Flint had damaged. Then she picked a good flower and cut the stem.
Flint was fascinated watching her slender fingers cut the stems so easily. He had just told Kara the blade was dull, but seeing Eliano cut so effortlessly, he realized it wasn’t the tool’s fault. He felt a bit awkward.
Then a soft pink flower was suddenly held out in front of him. Flint blinked.
“This size is quite rare. You’re lucky today, Your Grace.”
Eliano smiled gently. Flint blankly took the flower. Even though she had picked one with large petals, it still looked small in his hands. Eliano stifled a laugh and turned to the staff.
“I want to order a gift for the designer from Brillante. Just pick some nice flowers and wrap them well. Prepare three sets. Also, ask my maids and prepare a bouquet for each of them too.”
“Understood.”
The staff moved quickly. Eliano said goodbye to Flint.
“Then I’ll take my leave, Your Grace. I have other plans today.”
As she left the greenhouse, Flint’s voice reached her back.
“I sent you an invitation… Did you receive it?”
Eliano slowly turned to face him. Her face showed awkwardness.
“Perhaps my staff made a mistake. I’m sorry.”
A mistake by the staff of the Rosana family? If they mishandled their lady’s mail, there would be harsh consequences. It must’ve been his side’s mistake. Thinking to scold his butler, Flint replied,
“No, it must’ve been our error. I’ll send it again.”
“No… to be honest, because of the matter with Viscount Albiche, my father… he’s not in a good mood right now. And my mail tends to arrive late…”
Ah… A sound of realization escaped Flint’s lips. The Duke of Rosana’s overprotectiveness of his daughter was well known. Flint had heard of it many times.
“I made things difficult for the young Lady. I’m sorry.”
Flint lowered his voice. For a man to get close to a daughter so dear her father even rejected the Crown Prince—it wasn’t easy. No father would want to send his daughter to the cold, rough North. If he had a daughter, he’d want to keep her near the capital too.
He thought of the Howard estate in the capital. It was a bit too simple for a great noble, even if the Emperor had granted it. The estate in the North was better… but it was too cold.
Just then, Eliano’s clear voice pierced his confused thoughts.
“Are you afraid of my father, Your Grace?”
The Duke of Rosana was the head of a founding noble house, a huge figure with deep-rooted power. Many men desired Eliano, trying to court her, but the moment they met her father’s eyes, they shrank back. That’s why no foolish little fly dared to even offer their name.
Eliano continued without giving him a chance to reply. Her green eyes glinted with cold light.
“I want a man who can stand tall even in front of the Duke of Rosana and kiss his daughter without hesitation.”
Without that kind of boldness, even if she fell into his arms, he wouldn’t be able to take her away from her father.
“If the gentleman before me doesn’t even have that courage… then I’ll take back this flower.”
“…”
“Please answer me now. Courage that comes after hesitation can’t be trusted.”
Her pressing voice was sharp. Flint took a step closer to Eliano and spoke. His voice was calm—just as it always was.
