NIYTR 41

Chapter 41

Foolish Girl

The coming-of-age ceremony was just around the corner, which meant the wedding wasn’t far off either.

‘Soon, I’ll become Damian’s wife’.

Unless something drastic happened, they had both agreed not to divorce. That meant spending the rest of her life by his side, as Damian’s wife.

She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of life they would lead together.

“Edelweiss.”

“…Did you call me?”

“Edelweiss Oberlin Blossomweaver Lorendel.”

“Lorendel…?”

“That’ll be my surname after marriage. And you will become the Grand Duchess Lorendel.”

Typically, husbands didn’t like it when their wives continued using their maiden names. Most preferred them to be fully affiliated with their new family.

“Are you saying I can still use the names Oberlin and Blossomweaver even after we’re married?”

“You’re the only daughter of Blossomweaver. Of course you can.”

The way he said it—as if it didn’t even require his permission—made Edelweiss feel grateful.

Lorendel…

Lorendel meant “Shining Forest.”

As she turned the name over in her mind, Damian came to a stop in the hallway.

Following his heavy gaze, Edelweiss turned her head.

“I clearly told them to get rid of it. I didn’t expect them to just place it here.”

It appeared to be a portrait of Empress Anastasia and Damian.

The Empress looked heavily pregnant—likely when she was expecting Princess Charlotte.

Her appearance was quite different from how she looked now, her features not yet defined with sharp lines.

Aside from her broad shoulders and height, she was almost unrecognizable.

And yet… strangely familiar.

It felt like Edelweiss had seen her somewhere before.

It seemed Princess Charlotte had secretly taken what he had ordered to be discarded and brought it here.

When Edelweiss offered a brief bow, Damian’s stiff expression softened.

“It’s just a painting. There’s no need to be polite.” His voice held a trace of laughter.

Wait a moment.

A flash sparked in her mind, bringing back a memory.

The day of the debutante ball at the palace.

Duke Stern hadn’t attended, and Edelweiss, hurt by people’s whispers, had slipped out to the garden and cried alone—until she got lost.

To make matters worse, her shoe had broken. She couldn’t walk further, so she sat on a bench, buried her face in her knees, and stayed there.

When she didn’t know how to return, she met the boy from the portrait.

“Are you lost?”

“……Yes.”

“Don’t cry. Follow me.”

“But… my shoe’s broken. I can’t walk.”

“Get on. I’ll carry you.”

Without hesitation, the boy had offered his back. After carrying her, he had left without ever telling her his name.

He had looked so different then that she never imagined that boy could be Damian.

In fact, it was because he overlapped with that boy that she began to feel something for Adolf after he helped her with her injured foot.

To think that was Damian…

Edelweiss looked up at him.

“What is it?”

“Your Highness, do you happen to remember the day of the last debutante ball hosted by Her Majesty the Empress?”

“No.”

“……”

“I wasn’t the one having a debutante ball.”

Damian looked truly indifferent, as if he genuinely didn’t remember.

It made her feel a little awkward for even bringing it up.

Of course. It was special only to me. To him, it must’ve been just another ordinary day.

Edelweiss didn’t say anything more.

Even so, it was astonishing to realize that the boy who helped her that day had been Damian.

That boy, who had offered his back without question to a sniffling stranger, had carried her in silence.

How did he end up like this? His personality hadn’t just changed—it had twisted.

Still, the memory of leaning against his back as she sniffled, and the way he had walked quietly without reproach, was still vivid.

“Thank you.”

“……For what?”

Since it was a memory he didn’t recall, she chose to keep it to herself.

“You’re saying strange things.”

Damian raised one corner of his mouth in a crooked smile.

Edelweiss slowly walked beside Damian, touring the Ruer Palace.

By the time the sun had set and they arrived at the Blossomweaver estate, he hesitated briefly.

“I’ll see you at the coming-of-age ceremony. It’s not far off.”

“Yes. Please travel safely.”

“Earlier, when you wore that dress…”

It seemed like he had something to say, so she didn’t go inside and waited.

But in the end, he didn’t finish.

“…It’s late. You should go in.”

With a tilt of his head that seemed to urge her along, Damian dismissed her.

Edelweiss finally stepped forward.

She stood by the window and watched Damian’s carriage depart.

“You’re back, Edel? I’m sorry about earlier. I showed you an unpleasant side. Please forget it.”

The Marquis of Blossomweaver seemed reluctant to bring up what had happened.

He likely thought he had shown a shameful side of himself.

Fortunately, it seemed the Marquis of Blossomweaver had calmed down after their conversation.

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. I was waiting for you. Come down to the dining room in a bit.”

The Marquis replied with a warm smile.

A green butterfly fluttered toward her, brushing against her movement. Edelweiss held out her index finger, and the butterfly perched on it.

It appeared the butterfly had returned with news of where Duke Stern had gone.

Edelweiss gently closed her eyes.

What the green butterfly showed her was Duke Stern standing in front of her mother’s grave, unable to step away for quite some time.

She immediately opened her eyes in disgust.

So he was at Mother’s grave all this time.

And yet, shamelessly tried to make Rosemary her mother’s adoptive daughter and register her under the Stern family.

“Good job…”

She was glad that plan had collapsed.

By now, Rosemary must’ve heard the news—

That she would not become “Rosemary Stern.”

Stern Ducal Estate.

“Father, what are you saying? You promised me you’d make me the Lady of Stern…”

Rosemary had just received the devastating news in the Duke’s office.

She had believed wholeheartedly that he would make her the Lady of Stern.

“Rosemary. I told you. The vassals opposed it during the meeting—I had no choice.”

Now he said it wasn’t possible? How could he say that now?

“But still, Rosemary, you are the eldest daughter of Stern and my firstborn. You will continue to receive Stern’s protection.”

She felt wronged and furious.

It was humiliating to realize how giddy she’d been over his words.

‘Edelweiss… That wretched girl must’ve been laughing at me inside.’

More than the failure to become the Lady of Stern, it was Edelweiss that irritated her most.

But she couldn’t push the Duke any further.

He hadn’t looked pleased since Edelweiss had left.

Above all, Rosemary was currently under suspicion for having anonymously tipped off the Boniel newspaper.

She needed to know when to back off.

The Boniel newspaper staff swore to keep it confidential—where did the leak come from?

Forcing herself to keep calm, Rosemary put on a pitiful expression—

One that would make the Duke feel sorry for her.

“……Okay. I understand. I’m tired, Father. I’ll go rest in my room.”

Rosemary then called for Jane, who was waiting outside.

“I’m sorry, Rosemary.”

“It’s okay. As long as you still think of me that way, it doesn’t matter what others say.”

Even if she couldn’t become a Stern, she…

She was still the Duke of Stern’s eldest daughter.

As Jane pushed her reclining chair, Rosemary motioned with a slight flick of her hand and lowered her voice.

“…Did you bring the lily tea? No one saw you, right?”

She had told Jane earlier to go fetch the lily tea.

As annoying as Jane was lately, she couldn’t be dismissed—not when she knew about the tea.

Even if she disliked her, she had to tolerate her.

“Of course. I went quietly. I didn’t meet anyone.”

“Go to the Blossomweaver estate and give it to Edelweiss. She’s drinking it regularly, right?”

“Of course. They said there were no tea leaves left because she drank it all each time.”

“Ugh, I’m tired. Jane, I’m going to wash up. Go prepare the bath.”

“Yes, Lady Rosemary.”

Most importantly, Edelweiss was no longer part of the Stern family.

Stupid girl. Giving up the Stern name and leaving. As if sticking with Blossomweaver would make her an heir.

The infertility-inducing lily tea—

Edelweiss was still drinking it faithfully.