NIYTR 42

Chapter 42

Mother’s Letter

Time passed idly by, and the day of the coming-of-age ceremony finally arrived.

In the past few days, the snow had gently fallen but now melted completely, and the morning chill had noticeably eased.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Anna, thank you for your hard work yesterday.”

Anna, who came to Edelweiss’s room early in the morning, bowed deeply.

Madam Teresa had still not finished the dress by the day before, so Anna had gone late at night to wait at the Shubrets atelier.

Yet, she showed no signs of fatigue.

“Young Miss, may the fragrance of Blossomweaver’s roses be with you. Congratulations on your coming of age.”

Instead of showing weariness, Anna smiled and used the title “Young Miss,” a greeting reserved only for the heir of Blossomweaver.

“Young Miss?”

“The Marquis ordered that from today you are to be treated as the Young Miss. Though the succession ceremony hasn’t taken place yet, he said you’ve now earned the right to be recognized as the heir since you’ve come of age.”

A sudden curiosity arose.

Why was Anna so devoted to serving someone who had only recently come to live here?

In a short time, she had already grasped Edelweiss’s preferences and provided impeccable service.

She’s sharp, and not easily intimidated by Jane—there really isn’t a better maid to have by my side than Anna.

Even now, the way she carefully brushed each strand of Edelweiss’s hair was tender and attentive.

“Anna, is there something you want?”

Unfortunately, Edelweiss still couldn’t fully trust her.

Rather than be betrayed like she was with Jane, she asked with the intention of giving Anna what she wanted, to secure her loyalty.

“Please let me serve you for the rest of my life, Young Miss.”

Anna answered politely with her gaze lowered. She seemed to be holding back out of modesty—just like her.

“Speak freely. I only asked because I’m grateful everything went smoothly thanks to you.”

“Young Miss, my maternal grandmother and mother both served Blossomweaver, and I too had always hoped to serve here. But unfortunately, there were no vacancies for a personal maid position.”

Anna braided Edelweiss’s hair to one side and adorned it with a freesia.

The freesia, a flower used to celebrate noblewomen coming of age, beautifully complemented Anna’s delicate touch.

It felt especially meaningful since she hadn’t been able to wear one last time, thanks to Jane, who had said the flowers had spoiled.

“I used to only work in the kitchen, but when you arrived, Young Miss, I finally fulfilled my wish.”

“……”

“I am already content just serving you. My grandmother and mother’s Blossomweaver was the Marquis—”

Anna led Edelweiss to the full-length mirror, smiling.

“But my Blossomweaver is you, Young Miss.”

Her words, as if contentment alone was enough, struck Edelweiss deeply.

She began to look forward to this new chapter of adulthood beginning in Blossomweaver.

The gown, with a delicately exposed neckline, flowed gracefully along the curve of her body.

It looked even more perfect than when she last saw it—

now she understood why it had taken so long.

The embroidery Madam Teresa had painstakingly sewn shimmered brilliantly,

and with every step Edelweiss took, the hem rippled like gentle waves.

Just as Anna reached to place a necklace around her neck, she paused and set it down.

“It might be heavy, so I’ll put it on later.”

It did seem wiser to wear it just before the guests arrived.

“Young Miss, what if all the young lords fall in love with you and propose today?”

Anna, clearly excited, imagined something that would never happen.

“Everyone knows I’ve already accepted Prince Damian’s proposal. He’ll be at the ceremony—who would dare?”

It was etiquette not to propose to someone already engaged—especially to someone engaged to a high-ranking noble.

And even before that, such things never happened anyway.

Edelweiss gave a faint smile at Anna’s joke, fastened a poinsettia brooch to her chest, and went downstairs.

“There’s a stain on the curtain. Replace it before the guests arrive. You should’ve checked beforehand.”

“My apologies, Marquis.”

“And fix the chandelier in the lounge. I noticed it wobbling on the way in.”

The Marquis of Blossomweaver was bustling about, giving orders to the servants.

The coming-of-age celebration he had prepared over the past month bloomed with radiant elegance.

Every decoration was a rare treasure, and the floor sparkled spotlessly.

“Congratulations on your coming of age, Young Miss.”

“May the glory of Blossomweaver be with you, Young Miss.”

Every passing servant called her “Young Miss” with joy.

Even with so much work to do, smiles never left their faces.

“Why is everyone so excited?”

“Well, it’s the first time we’ve seen Blossomweaver’s coming-of-age ceremony with our own eyes. Jeanne and Lizzie even gave up their vacation days. They said they had to see it for themselves.”

At the Stern Ducal Estate, most servants were transactional—

they didn’t serve with loyalty but rather came and went hoping for recommendation letters.

Few stayed long under the house’s strict discipline that tolerated no mistakes.

“Have Jeanne and Lizzie worked here long, like you?”

“Yes, both of them well over ten years.”

Anna’s pride in serving Blossomweaver was evident.

“When the Marquis is ready, he asked you to come to the study.”

“All right. Anna, things look busy—go lend a hand.”

“Yes, Young Miss.”

After sending Anna off, Edelweiss visited the study of the Marquis of Blossomweaver.

“Come in.”

With his permission, she entered and saw the marquis adorned more elegantly than usual.

His normally simple appearance was now vibrant.

“How lovely you are, Edelweiss. You remind me so much of Iris.”

He looked at her with eyes full of memory, as if seeing her mother again.

“I asked you to come because I have something to give you. Come closer.”

He opened a drawer and pulled out a velvet case.

Inside was an antique necklace, adorned with delicately cut white topaz.

She clasped the necklace around Edelweiss’s neck herself.

The clear, transparent topaz caught the light and sparkled—

it matched her dress perfectly.

So that’s why Anna said she’d put the necklace on later.

Edelweiss gently brushed the glass-like topaz and lowered her head.

“I’ll treasure it. Thank you.”

“It’s not from me. It’s from Iris.”

“…From Mother?”

The Marquis of Blossomweaver handed her a letter from the table.

“She asked me to give this to you when you came of age.

She wore that necklace at her own coming-of-age ceremony.”

“…”

“There’s a tradition of passing down what a mother wore at her daughter’s coming of age.

Someday, if you have a daughter, pass it on to her.

Now, I’ll leave you alone for a moment. Take your time and come out when you’re ready.”

He gently patted her shoulder twice and left the study.

Edelweiss steadied her trembling hands and carefully opened the letter with a paper knife.

The page was filled with neat, close handwriting.

[To Edel, my little baby,

Happy twentieth birthday.

Are you as tall as me now?

What do you look like, all grown up?

You probably don’t like stories about princes rescuing princesses in towers anymore.

Is Tessen still playing with you?

Do you still wait for spring?

I’ll never forget how you used to smile at blooming flowers and say so with those tiny lips.

I’m scared of having to leave you.

I worry that you’ll try to wake me when I can no longer open my eyes.

What if the day comes when I can’t comfort you, even if you cry?

My baby.

If it’s okay… would you give me just one more chance?

Then, I promise—I’ll stay by your side for a long, long time.

I’ll be a better mother, I swear.

My baby.

I’ll come to you as a firefly you love so much,

so please know I wanted to be with you, even like that.

Please remember—

I never left you alone.

Even on days I couldn’t hold you, I loved you.

There was never a single day I didn’t love you.

If someday, far in the future, we meet again,

I’ll be there waiting.

Tell me how you lived.

And let me hold you tight—just once, with all my strength.

—From your mother, watching you as you sleep.]

Though more than a decade had passed, the faint scent of her mother’s perfume still lingered in the letter.

Edelweiss pressed her nose to the paper and gently closed her eyes.

It felt as if she were standing in the middle of a vast forest.

In the distance, her mother appeared, arms full of freesia.

Her mother ran barefoot toward her, set down the flowers, and embraced her tightly.

Strangely, Edelweiss had to look up to finally meet her eyes—

before her mother, she became a small child again.