NIYTR 19

Chapter 19

The Poinsettia Brooch

At Edelweiss’s firm response, Rosemary looked momentarily displeased, but she didn’t bring up the Marquis of Blossomweaver again.

“Of course, I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just worried about you, Edel. Don’t take it too seriously. Oh, right—can I come to your coming-of-age ceremony?”

“…Of course. I really want you to come. I’ll be waiting.”

Rosemary,

Be sure to come and watch me officially announce my engagement to Damian and become the rightful heir of Blossomweaver.

You, who aren’t even acknowledged as a true lady of House Stern, won’t even be allowed to gaze up at the position I’ll rise to.

“That’s right. You don’t really have any close noble friends, do you? You’d be lonely without me there.”

“Mm, you really are the only one who thinks of me.”

“Hehe, what do you want as a gift for your coming-of-age? You gave me that bracelet with the opal stones, remember? I’ve been using it well.”

Buoyed by Edelweiss’s flattery, Rosemary asked sweetly.

It suddenly came back to her—

Back then, she had refused at first, saying it was too much.

Since Rosemary couldn’t hold her own coming-of-age ceremony as a lady of Stern, Edelweiss had felt sorry and given her the bracelet, her most expensive and treasured piece.

“Should I give you the brooch I got from Father? You’d probably find it too much and turn it down, right?”

The brooch she mentioned was shaped like two poinsettia blossoms adorned with pink diamonds.

Poinsettias—the symbol of House Stern.

They were traditionally worn only by legitimate daughters of the Stern line, and over time, had come to represent that status.

But the Duke of Stern had given it to Rosemary without ever asking Edelweiss’s consent.

He probably never thought I’d want it. She just brought it up to show off.

There was a reason she suddenly mentioned the Duke of Stern.

If I abandon the Stern name and hold my ceremony at the Marquisate, nobles will start whispering.

That’s why she needed a symbol to show she had abandoned the name—without actually declaring hostility toward it.

There was nothing more fitting than that brooch.

“I really wanted that brooch, so I’m so happy you’re giving it to me first.”

“……Huh?”

“Thank you. You really are generous and considerate. Giving me back what was originally mine in a way that doesn’t make it awkward—you’re truly clever, Sister.”

Rosemary’s face gradually hardened with coldness.

“I don’t think I could ever be as smart as you. Some people are just born with that kind of brain, you know?” Edelweiss pressed on without giving Rosemary the chance to take back her words.

“You’re saying that so sincerely… how embarrassing, Edel.”

In the end, Rosemary couldn’t take it back and just laughed awkwardly.

Saying it didn’t happen would be a blow to her pride in this situation.

Edelweiss smiled inwardly in triumph.

“Since we’re already on the subject, could you give me the lily tea and the brooch now?”

If she didn’t take them now, Rosemary would definitely try to give her fakes later.

And if trouble came of it, Edelweiss would be the one ridiculed.

Rosemary bit her lip until it bled and called for her waiting personal maid.

“…Go to my room and bring the lily tea and the brooch.”

“Yes, Lady Rosemary.”

Rosemary’s personal maid quickly ran off and soon returned with the lily tea and the poinsettia-shaped brooch.

“Sister, I’ll wear this to the coming-of-age ceremony and show it off to the guests, so make sure you wear the opal bracelet I gave you, okay?”

“…Of course.”

Rosemary seemed to be holding back her erupting anger by handing over the lily tea.

‘She thinks I’ll become infertile by drinking this.’

It was laughable that she was enduring for that day’s outcome.

“Edel, make sure you drink the lily tea regularly. Don’t skip it because it’s a hassle. You have to drink it daily for it to work.”

But this time, what Rosemary hoped for would never come to pass.

“By the way, Sister, I’ve always been curious—does it have any effects besides warming the body?”

“…Huh?”

“You keep insisting I drink it, and making the tea leaves one by one is a lot of effort, right? Isn’t that troublesome?”

“How could it be troublesome when it’s for you… it makes me happy instead.”

“Should I have the apothecary make it from now on? Maybe they can check if it has any other effects too.”

Rosemary immediately stiffened at the idea that its infertility effects might be revealed.

“There’s nothing like that. Lily tea just smells nice and helps you sleep. That’s why I told you to drink it. Edel, you have trouble sleeping at night, right?”

“Yeah. I’ve been struggling with insomnia.”

“Right! If you run out of lily tea, make sure to tell me. We can’t live together anymore, so I want to do at least this for you.”

“Thanks, Sister. Since you know it well, I don’t need to ask the apothecary.”

“Y-Yeah. By the way, are you leaving without telling Brother Tessen?”

Tessen von Stern.

The young Duke of Stern and Edelweiss’s older brother.

He was currently staying at their maternal grandfather’s estate, the Count of Redian.

‘Our grandfather doesn’t like me much, but he really cherishes my brother who looks just like Mother.’

Tessen was probably too busy caring for the ailing Count of Redian to visit the Stern estate.

“Yeah. I doubt he’ll miss me. If anything, he might be glad to see a thorn in his side finally gone.”

“Edel…”

“You’re the only one here who cares about me.”

Rosemary hugged Edelweiss tightly with even more excitement.

The moment their bodies touched, nausea surged, but Edelweiss bit her tongue to endure it.

“Edelweiss. You know I’m the only one who cares for you and thinks of you, right? Don’t forget that even after you go to the marquisate.”

“…Sister. I think His Highness Prince Damian has been waiting quite a while, so I should go now.”

“Alright. Go on, then.”

Edelweiss pulled away from Rosemary and turned around immediately.

Damian, lounging lazily against the carriage, broke into a bright smile when he saw her.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Your face looks like you just drank poison. Did something upsetting happen in there? And why are you holding so much stuff? I’m sure I only gave you a necklace and a pen.”

Pearl necklace, fountain pen, lily tea, and a poinsettia-shaped brooch—

Seeing the tower of boxes in Edelweiss’s arms, Damian gave a nod to the coachman.

The coachman took the items from her and loaded them into the carriage trunk.

“Come on, get in. Your overly dramatic father talked my ears off and wore me out.”

The marquisate’s carriage was already gone, it seemed.

“Your proposal was quite the spectacle. So, Uncle must’ve—”

“Wasn’t that exactly what my future wife wanted?”

Damian leaned forward until he was right in front of Edelweiss’s nose.

‘…The scent of the sea?’

That cool, salty smell unique to the ocean filled her senses.

From up close, his sharply defined features made his good looks even more striking.

‘If only his personality weren’t so… No—’

If Damian had been as warm and kind as Adolf, she might have wavered, let her guard down—so she firmly pressed those feelings down.

‘Anyway, I’ll have to live with him as my husband for five years.’

She was glad she hadn’t gotten attached.

“Your Highness, may I ask why you invited me to the palace?”

It didn’t seem like this was a casual visit or a conversation about the wedding plans.

Even if it was to draw up a prenuptial agreement, someone like Damian wouldn’t have bothered to come in person unless there was something else.

He was agreeing to marriage because she requested it—surely he had his own reasons.

And to come directly to the Duke of Stern’s residence at that.

There must be a reason why he had timed the gifts—a pearl necklace and a pen sent via Lady Riche—so precisely.

“It’s amazing how quick-witted you are, with that tiny head of yours.”

“You came to the Duke’s estate even though we met at the marquisate just yesterday.”

Right now, Damian’s actions looked exactly like someone trying to win favor for a specific purpose.

“You know the Marquise of Blossomweaver gave me a blue rose yesterday, right? She said she’s almost lost her ability now. The blue roses she produces won’t be able to heal Charlotte anymore.”

“…Is Princess Charlotte in critical condition?”

“Yeah. Normally, one flower would last her six months. But now, the frequency of her seizures is shortening. She’s even coughing up blood.”

Now, Edelweiss could guess the real reason Damian came in person to propose.

“I’m sorry, but… I’d like you to bloom one more rose. Of course, I’ll pay a fair price. What do you want?”