Epilogue (Part 3)

When she had spent her entire savings of 300 million Er at an auction to build a greenhouse for cultivating magical plants after graduation, she hadn’t imagined that her goal would be achieved so quickly.  

But recently, she had come into an even larger sum of money.  

This was thanks to the magical plant growth accelerator she had created, which turned out to be far more valuable than expected. Her father, the head of the Onyx Trading Company, who was known for his sharp calculations and refusal to let emotions interfere in business, had rushed over barefoot, insisting on an exclusive contract and even appealing to familial ties to persuade her.  

In the end, it worked out well for everyone. Sienna was happy that her magical potion could benefit the family business, and her family was thrilled that her potion would bring in even more wealth.  

With a generous advance payment that was enough to build two or three greenhouses, Sienna became financially secure and purchased a small house with a spacious yard. Having grown accustomed to living alone while staying at the Academy, she needed a space to live on her own.  

It also bothered her that every time she visited the Onyx estate, her parents would subtly inquire about her relationship with Duke Felice, exchanging worried glances.  

She was well aware that her family was secretly concerned about whether she might get hurt because of the difference in their social status. Even though she had received a noble title and became a Baroness, it would still be difficult for her to fully integrate into the aristocratic world, where the walls of status and inheritance were firmly entrenched, and where silent wars raged constantly.  

Even Montague, whenever he met Sienna, would occasionally ask questions like, “Is His Grace treating you well?” subtly expressing his concern. While Sienna was grateful to know that all these worries stemmed from how much people cared about her, she sometimes wondered if they were worrying too much.  

Just as the saying goes, “Don’t count the monsters before the hunt,” wasn’t it unnecessary to worry about things that hadn’t even happened yet? If a man and a woman were meeting with good intentions, wasn’t it only natural to eventually plan for the future?  

Moreover, both Eden and Sienna were at the right age for marriage, so she understood how others might perceive their relationship.  

‘But still… it’s too soon.’  

It had only been a little over half a year since they had started seeing each other.  

Sienna’s feelings for Eden were deepening with time, and it wasn’t as though she hadn’t imagined a future with him. However, she knew there was no need to rush. She didn’t want to waste the precious time she had by his side, consumed by vague anxieties.  

Sienna was content and happy with things as they were now. Even if the reality of their circumstances eventually prevented her from staying by Eden’s side, she was prepared to find solace in the home and laboratory she had worked so hard to build, as well as the magical plant greenhouse that held her dreams. She was ready to shed tears in that space when the time came.  

She might cry for a long time… Maybe her tears would form a river so vast that the greenhouse would never need watering again….  

Then, she thought, she would have to plant even more magical plants. Enough to spend half a day tending to the greenhouse and still feel like it wasn’t enough. When one is sad, it’s easier to fall asleep if the body is exhausted.  

She mentally listed the seeds of rare magical plants and added three or four more varieties of particularly difficult ones to care for. As Sienna slowly returned from her world of thoughts to reality, she began explaining the structure of the greenhouse to Eden.  

“To the east, I’ll plant Sisturina herbs. They grow better when they receive the morning sunlight. Over there, where the water is pooled, I’ll plant plenty of aquatic magical plants. And since Mandrago’s sighs are so noisy, I’ll place them in the farthest corner to the north….”  

“And that structure being installed in the center?”  

“Oh, that’s where I’m building a space that doubles as a laboratory and a resting area.”  

She thought it was a good decision to create a room that could serve as both a place to rest and a laboratory she could use while moving around. After all, when she was exhausted from research, even walking back to the house felt like a chore.  

Should I place a sunbed by the water as well? Lying down while looking at the lush magical plants would surely feel like heaven.  

Sienna’s dark green eyes sparkled with life as she smiled brightly. Eden gazed at her in awe as she held his hand, completely engrossed in her explanation. He loved how her eyes sparkled when she was doing something she enjoyed.  

At the same time, he was calculating whether it would be possible to move the entire greenhouse to the rear garden of the Duke’s estate. Once he married Sienna, it would be more efficient to have the greenhouse at home rather than traveling back and forth to this place.  

Her house could be relocated to the middle of the forest that connected to the Duke’s estate and used as a small villa for picnics.  

He knew he was rushing things. It hadn’t even been a full year since he’d fallen in love with her, and he was well aware that if he pushed his feelings too hard, Sienna might feel burdened.  

For Sienna, just continuing to do what she loved and taking small steps toward her dreams might already be overwhelming and difficult. He understood this well, and yet, he couldn’t figure out why he felt such impatience in his heart.  

Perhaps it was because the more Sienna stepped out into the world, the further she seemed to drift away from him. In the world, there would be many who recognized her loveliness and value, and among them, someone might covet his lover. 

Beautiful, lovely, intelligent, and warm-hearted—Sienna, the genius researcher. Even with just a moment of thought, there were so many adjectives that could be attached to her. That’s why he couldn’t help but feel anxious. Even though the whole world knew that Sienna was his lover, he wanted even greater assurance as time went on.  

He wanted to fall asleep with her every night, wake up with her every morning, and whisper words of love. He wanted to be the person she relied on the most, and he wanted her to be the person he trusted the most.  

If Sienna ever found out about these feelings, she might wonder what it meant that they had been practically living together in his villa all this time. Eden smirked faintly and pressed his lips to the back of her hand.  

What kind of expression would she make if I told her I wanted to be bound and devoted to her, while at the same time admitting that I wanted to enclose her in my fence and make her mine? Would she smile shyly, responding that her feelings were the same, or would she hesitate, apologizing that such emotions were still too early for her?  

It was a conversation he wanted to confirm hundreds of times but hesitated to bring up. Seeing Sienna’s greenhouse only heightened his hesitation. He also understood well the weight of the title of Duchess Felice.  

Perhaps she simply wanted to live here, in this space she had built for herself, without any burdens. If that were the case, he was prepared to remain her lover and visit this place for the rest of his life.  

As always, he suppressed his uncontrollable feelings with patience, repeatedly kissing the back of Sienna’s hand. Soon, he led a blushing Sienna down the path toward the house and spoke softly.  

“I’d like to take a tour of the house now.”  

“Oh, right.”  

She had been so engrossed in showing off the greenhouse that she had forgotten the original purpose of their visit—a housewarming. While the greenhouse was still under construction, the interior of the house had been completed just recently.  

Sienna refused Eden’s offer to help and instead carried and arranged the furniture and household items herself, decorating the interior to her taste. She wanted to show Eden the completed house only after it was finished.  

In truth, calling it a mansion was an overstatement—it was a modest two-story house, just the right size for one or two people to live in. Anything larger would have been too difficult for her to manage alone.  

She led Eden into the building, which had an eye-catching red roof. Passing through the porch with pillars engraved with gentle wave patterns and pushing open the intricately carved large wooden door, they found a central space that was more spacious and pleasant than expected.  

Above the high ceiling, a silver chandelier with a clean design sparkled as it reflected sunlight. Depending on the angle, it gave off a bluish hue, reminiscent of her hair color. It was a charming space that resembled Sienna herself.