Chapter 10: The Marquess of Blossomweaver

[To my dear aunt,

Auntie, it’s been a while.

The weather is getting colder—how have you been?

As I was applying the ointment you sent me, I found myself thinking of you.

Actually, I’ve awakened the ability to bloom blue roses.

I can now create blue roses without strain and command green butterflies as well.

There’s much I’d like to ask you about this—if it’s alright, may I visit the Marquess of Blossomweaver’s estate?

I’ll be waiting for your reply.

—With longing, from Edelweiss.]

It had been a long time since she last requested a meeting. She thought her aunt might refuse.

But—

If she learns my ability has awakened, her curiosity will be piqued.

This ability had always manifested only in women of the Blossomweaver line.

At present, only the Marquess and Edelweiss possessed the power to produce blue roses.

Even so, the Marquess, due to her declining health, could no longer bloom them.

She dried the ink and sealed the letter with her personal crest—not the Stern emblem.

She had no desire to send a letter bearing the name of Stern to someone who had renounced it.

She didn’t trust Jane to deliver it—she might intentionally lose it or hand it over to Rosemary.

So Edelweiss instructed the butler to send it directly on the spot.

The reply arrived in less than a day.

[To Edelweiss,

Your visit is permitted. Come at first light.

-Violet Blossomweaver.]

A concise permission with no embellishment.

Edelweiss prepared a gift: an iris-scented candle that the Marquess liked.

…Mother’s name was Iris, too.

Now that she thought of it, she’d once heard that her mother and the Marquess had known each other since childhood.

The first and only time she saw the Marquess of Blossomweaver cry was also at her mother’s funeral.

“Is the reason Aunt likes this candle because of Mother?”

***

Edelweiss woke early in the morning and slowly sat up.

Tear stains marked the corners of her eyes—she must’ve cried in her sleep.

“…Why was I crying in my sleep?” She couldn’t remember the dream.

She washed her face and finished preparing for her outing.

Wasting no time, she got into the carriage and soon left the Stern estate, arriving at the Blossomweaver domain.

The carriage came to a slow halt in front of a grand, imposing mansion of old-world elegance.

“Young Lady Edelweiss, we’ve arrived at the Marquess’s estate.”

The coachman opened the door and informed her.

Edelweiss stepped out, taking the coachman’s hand.

“When shall I return to pick you up?”

“I’ll take a different carriage home, so there’s no need to come for me.”

“Understood, my lady.”

There was too much to discuss regarding her abilities, and she couldn’t predict how long it would take.

“Edel?”

Just as she was dismissing the coachman, the front gate opened and someone stepped out.

A man with light brown hair tied neatly to one side, wearing a monocle over his long hair.

“Come in, Violet has been waiting for you.”

It was Cesare Oberlin Blossomweaver, the Marquise’s husband.

Uncle came out to greet me himself…?

Edelweiss hadn’t expected it and was briefly flustered, but quickly composed herself and handed over the iris candle.

“This is an iris candle Aunt likes.”

“You’re still as kind and thoughtful as ever, Edel. Violet will love it.”

The last memory she had of the Marquise’s husband was—

At Mother’s funeral, when he lifted me high to comfort me while I sobbed, and Aunt scolded him for it.

More than a decade had passed, yet the Marquise’s husband still looked as young and graceful as she remembered.

Though their reunion brought a hint of awkwardness, it didn’t feel unpleasant.

“…Uncle, I hope my sudden visit isn’t an imposition.”

“You’re always welcome here. The only unwelcome guest is someone else entirely.”

He replied gently, his voice warm.

“An unwelcome guest…?”

“It’s nothing. Come in. We baked peach tarts because we heard you were coming. You still like them, don’t you?”

He mentioned how he used to bake them often when she was little.

I haven’t had peach tarts since Mother passed, because of Rosemary’s peach allergy.

Rosemary would complain that even seeing them made her break out in hives, so they’d all but disappeared from the kitchen.

“…Thank you.”

“Your coming-of-age ceremony is soon, isn’t it? It’s strange… You still seem like the tiny girl who couldn’t even reach my waist.”

It felt strange being treated like a child again.

Uncle still sees me as that four-year-old.

Edelweiss responded with an awkward smile and followed him into the mansion.

One thing caught her eye as she passed by—

A line drawn on the wall.

It was the mark the Marquise’s husband had made when he measured Edelweiss’s height.

And just above it—

He teased me for being too short, and when I cried, he gave me a piggyback ride and bent down to redraw the line.

There was another line, much higher up—around her current height.

“Satisfied now, you little troublemaker? You’ve got a voice like Violet, too. Nearly lost my hearing.”

“G…!”

“When are you going to grow this much?”

“I’ll grow taller than you one day and give you a piggyback ride instead!”

Edelweiss had unknowingly stopped walking and stared at the wall.

The Marquess stood beside her and gently asked,

“When did you grow this much, Edel?”

“…I know, right.”

“Still shorter than me though, so I guess you won’t be giving me that piggyback ride.”

He said it with a chuckle, almost relieved.

“But I can always carry you whenever your legs get tired—then and now.”

Edelweiss suddenly remembered.

The Marquess had respected the Marchioness’s decision not to have children, but he had always wanted one.

That’s why he especially cherished Edelweiss—treated her like his own daughter.

Back then, on the day of her mother’s funeral,

If she had taken the Marquess’s hand when he said he wanted to become her father instead of just her uncle…

If she hadn’t turned him down and gone with him to live here…

She could be certain of one thing—

She would’ve been able to act like a child, free to whine and eat peach tarts as much as she wanted.

In the Marquess’s vivid crimson eyes, there was nothing but warm affection.

“When will you finally take my hand, little troublemaker?”

Just as he playfully pinched her nose—gently this time—

“Lady Edelweiss?”

Damian appeared, walking toward them with a single blue rose in hand.

She didn’t expect to see him again so soon after yesterday.

Is he… the unwelcome guest Uncle mentioned?

“Why are you here… Ah, right—Marquise Blossomweaver is your aunt.”

Damian tilted his head in thought, then seemed to recall the connection.

“Did you finally manage to extort a blue rose from Violet?”

The Marquise’s husband, who had been so kind just moments ago, twisted his expression in anger.

Without thinking, he moved Edelweiss behind him, one arm outstretched as if shielding her.

As if telling Damian not to come any closer.

“Extort? That’s a harsh word. I paid a fair price.”

“Hah!”

“If anything, I should be saying that. Have you forgotten the benefits you took from the Blossomweaver family in exchange for that rose?”

Damian blinked slowly, then shrugged.

“You knew full well it was dangerous for Violet to bloom the blue rose. How could you do that to her?”

“Marquess.”

“……”

“Stop yelling about a deal both sides agreed to. You’re being too loud.”

Edelweiss grew nervous as the argument escalated.

He must know how much Uncle cares for Aunt—so why speak so harshly?

She understood it was about Princess Charlotte,

but still—Damian’s words were far too blunt.

‘Yesterday, I gave him one flower, but if he came here to get another from Aunt…’

Then Princess Charlotte’s condition must have worsened.

“Lady Edelweiss. I’ll see you next time, then.”

“And why would His Highness have any further business with this child? Leave this place at once!”

“Wow, so noisy. And your memory’s that poor too?”

“If it’s so noisy, why don’t you cut off my tongue!”

“Shall I?”

As the tension between them rapidly escalated, Edelweiss hurriedly stepped in.

“Your Highness. Please lower your voice and return for now.”

At her words, Damian slowly blinked his eyes.