NIYTR 18

Chapter 18

Lily of the Valley Emblem

There was still a delusion Duke Stern clung to.

That she was still the duke’s daughter.

But Edelweiss was no longer the Lady of Stern, nor his child—he had no right to say anything about her marriage.

“I’m not a Stern anymore, so you have no right to tell me not to get married, Your Grace.”

“……”

“Please remove me from the Stern family register right away.”

Duke Stern lightly brushed off Rosemary’s arm and returned to his office, drained.

As she watched him walk away and turned her head, Rosemary said in a disapproving tone:

“Edel. No matter how upset you are with Father, you can’t make such a sudden decision. Asking to be removed from the family? Don’t you care what he feels? He must be so devastated. You’re almost of age—why are you being so childish?”

“…”

“Edel, you should reject the proposal while you still can. Apologize to Father and come home.”

Rosemary scolded her urgently.

“If you sincerely apologize, Father will come around.”

‘She must hate the idea that once I marry Prince Damian and become a Grand Duchess, she’ll have to address me as ‘Your Highness.’’

Rosemary, who always looked down on her, would be forced to show respect.

‘In the past, I would’ve panicked and assumed I was in the wrong.’

Edelweiss bit her lip, feigning sorrow.

“I thought you, of all people, would support me and be on my side. You’re the one who knows best how I’ve lived in this house…”

As if Rosemary were the cruel sister.

“H-How… could you say… something like that? T-Tell you to apologize…?”

Edelweiss deliberately trembled and stammered.

“N-No, I didn’t mean it like that. Edel—”

“I never imagined you would say something like that…”

A nearby butler who had been lingering hesitantly approached Edelweiss, carrying a box adorned with gold embellishments.

“Lady Edelweiss, this was sent by Madam Lurte. She received the commission from the Marchioness of Riche.”

Madam Lurte was a boutique owner who wouldn’t accept commissions from even the wealthiest nobles unless they met her high standards.

“Did you say Madam Lurte sent it?”

Rosemary reacted sharply—she had once been rejected by the same boutique despite her request.

Edelweiss opened the box the butler handed over. Inside was a luxurious green fountain pen, engraved with the emblem of lily of the valley.

Lily of the valley.

It was the personal emblem granted exclusively to Damian within the House of Rejenoel—no one could use it without his permission.

A short note was enclosed: a congratulatory message from the Marchioness of Riche’s daughter, saying she had heard the news and was looking forward to welcoming her as family.

Rosemary, who had once tried to threaten the Marchioness of Riche, couldn’t hide the hostility in her eyes at the sight of the gift.

Though it was technically from the Marchioness’s daughter, it was practically a gift from Damian himself—it bore his personal seal, after all.

Rosemary surely understood that.

“You may go now,” Edelweiss said.

“…It has been an honor to serve Lady Edelweiss. May you live in peace at Blossomweaver.”

The butler, who had neither helped nor defended her during her time in the Stern estate, bowed deeply and retreated.

The open hostility of the staff. The discrimination of Duke Stern.

Now he bowed, pretending dignity.

“Isn’t it funny, Sister?”

“…What is?”

“How people only change their attitude after you leave them behind. Now that I’m the Blossomweaver heir, are they all hoping for scraps to fall their way?”

“The butler’s just naturally attentive. You’re reading too much into it, Edel. And…”

What now?

“With your Blossomweaver ability still dormant, how could you possibly be the heir? Don’t get your hopes up too much—it’ll only lead to disappointment.”

Ah. So that was it.

Rosemary still believed Edelweiss hadn’t awakened the ability to bloom the blue rose.

‘Well, she can’t see the green butterfly following me everywhere, so of course she’d assume that.’

To her, it was certain that Edelweiss might be adopted, but she’d never be the true heir.

Edelweiss didn’t bother correcting her.

Let her stew in ignorance. Tonight, Rosemary would look in the mirror—not as a Stern or a Blossomweaver—and blame her real father, Count Sandor.

“By the way… why is there nothing good about marrying His Highness Damian?”

“…Edel, have you even been listening to me at all?”

Edelweiss blinked, feigning confusion.

“If I marry Prince Damian, I can escape from here. You know this house has always been hell for me…”

She leaned in and whispered by Rosemary’s ear.

“I have to marry him.”

“……”

“You’ll celebrate for me, won’t you? I’d be so happy if you were my bridesmaid.”

Bridesmaid.

At that word, Rosemary’s eyes darkened. The role of one who stands beside the couple, blessing them more than anyone.

“Yes? You’ll do it, right? Even if I become a Blossomweaver, you’ll still be my one and only sister.”

A shadow, always trailing behind the couple who walks ahead.

“We argued for a bit, but that doesn’t matter. Even the scratch on my cheek is nearly healed.”

Rosemary clenched her fists, then smiled brightly.

“Of course, Edel. No matter where you go, I’ll always support and bless you. Let’s meet often and spend time together.

And don’t worry about the Stern family. I’ll take care of it as the eldest daughter.”

“Thank you, Sister.”

“I’ll pack some lily tea for you, so make sure to drink it regularly. Oh, and you should bring Jane with you too.”

Even though Edelweiss was now living at the Blossomweaver estate, it seemed Rosemary still intended to use Jane as a means of keeping tabs on her.

“I’ll take the tea. But I don’t think I can bring Jane.”

“…Why not?”

“Uncle assigned me a new maid. It’s not possible right now. I’ll call for Jane when the time is right.”

“What? Jane’s been your personal maid since you were little. Are you saying the Marquis is breathing down your neck so hard you can’t even bring her?”

Rosemary drew in a dramatic breath.

“I knew it. You saw how irritatingly he spoke earlier, didn’t you? Just a second son of a count, and he’s acting like a Marquis makes him royalty or something.”

“……”

“Edel, I feel bad for you. Aunt isn’t exactly the warmest person either. Do you really think you’ll be able to live comfortably there?”

Though her tone feigned concern, the corners of Rosemary’s lips, hidden behind her hand, had lifted ever so slightly.

She really thinks I made a foolish choice.

The satisfaction she couldn’t quite contain was leaking through in her expression.

Say what you want about me—but I won’t let you talk like that about Aunt and Uncle.

“Don’t talk about Aunt and Uncle like that, Sister.”

“…Edel?”

“They’re good people.”

“Oh, this is rich. You’re taking his side? You saw with your own eyes how the Marquis looked down on me, and you’re still defending him? I’m your sister.”

“……”

“Unbelievable… I’m hurt, Edel. After all those years, are they more important to you than me now? My sweet little sister, what’s gotten into you?”

“……”

“You’ve changed. You were never like this before. You must’ve been influenced over there. Think it over again. If you stay with them, people will talk behind your back.”

She lowered her gaze, as if adding a heartfelt warning.

“Aren’t you afraid people will start saying you’ve become selfish like the Marquis?”

“…”

Edelweiss barely managed to hold back the bitter laugh forming in her throat.

If anyone’s going to talk behind my back and start those rumors, it’s you, Rosemary.

Why had she ever thought words like these were out of genuine concern?

“Anyway, Edel—”

“Sister.”

Edelweiss cut her off without hesitation.

“The Marquis didn’t sleep well last night, so he might’ve been a little irritable. I’ll speak to him and try to clear up any misunderstandings he may have about you.”

“…Misunderstandings?”

“You should stop too. After all, the Marquis is my father now. It hurts and makes me uncomfortable when you say things like that.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re not the kind of person who would just badmouth someone I care about, right? Right?”

Edelweiss drooped her shoulders, her voice soft with hurt.