Chapter 9 – Part 2

In the empire, the nobility who prepared the most flowers for tea parties was considered the wealthiest, so they were always busy ordering flowers.

Therefore, asking him to close the flower shop not just for a day, but for a full three days during the peak debutante season, was essentially an impolite request.

Kristin, aware of the gravity of her request, explained her reasons to Oliver.
“Elena and my mother will spread rumors about your flower shop during the debutante ball. They’re likely planning to order flowers just to find faults with them over these three days. So you must never forget what I’ve told you.”

She continued, “I’ll compensate for any losses incurred by not selling flowers through Lenci, so don’t worry.”

Oliver, after some initial shock, responded.

“It’s alright. I can’t bear to sell my beloved flowers to those who mistreat Lenci. The time lost over three days is worth it if it means following your advice. Sending Lenci to the academy is compensation enough.” He bowed to Kristin.

“My Lady, if I go back empty-handed after you asked me to buy flowers, those two won’t stay quiet. Will that be okay?”

As the carriage reached the mansion, Lenci asked Kristin with a worried expression.

Kristin reassured her, “Don’t worry. They didn’t need the flowers in the first place. My mother has a jeweled pin ready for Elena’s debutante ball.”

“But they didn’t prepare anything for your debutante ball,” Lenci protested, shocked by the blatant favoritism.

It was clear that in her previous life, Elena had also made her debut.

Rose had gifted her daughter Elena a pin with aquamarine stones using the dowry money she received from the Duke for Kristin.

In this life as well, Rose had likely bought the aquamarine pin with the dowry money she received from the Duke for Kristin.

“She must be trying to use her daughter somehow to get deeper into the world of nobility, for only by marrying into a good family will she be able to earn the title of countess herself,” Kristin said.

Lenci, still processing, asked, “Was all that money really for herself and not Elena?”

Kristin nodded. “Elena is just a means to an end for her. If she treats her daughter like this, imagine how she sees me.”

Lenci was taken aback by the harsh reality.

“From now on, I’ll handle things. Just tell them that your brother is unwell and had to take a break from the flower shop for a while. And most importantly…”

“The most important thing?”

“Say that your brother is very sorry, and he tried to recommend another flower shop instead.”

“But what if they ask for details?” Lenci worried.

“Don’t worry about that. They won’t be curious, since flowers are not what they’re interested in.”

“But still…”

As Lenci expressed her concern, Kristin said to her,

“Flowers weren’t needed. They were just a lure to trap you and your brother. We don’t need to fall for that bait, do we?”

—

“We’re back.”

As Kristin and Lenci entered the mansion, one of the servants named Chris approached them.

“My Lady, you’re back?”

“Yes. Chris, where are Mother and Elena?”

“Lady Elena is having a massage in her room in preparation for the ball. Madam Rose told me to wait here for the flowers you were bringing,” Chris replied.

“Oh dear, I didn’t bring any flowers,” Kristin said nonchalantly.

“My Lady, if the Madam finds out you didn’t bring any flowers, she’ll be very disappointed.”

Chris was a maid who constantly clung to Rose and Elena, praising Elena as the true heiress of the Edith family, and gossiping with Cindy behind Kristin’s back.

Kristin wanted to get rid of Cindy, but she also wanted to get rid of Chris, who was right in front of her.

But since she didn’t have a good excuse to kick them out right now, she decided to hold out a little longer, and Kristin decided to enjoy the situation.

“Wait a minute, Chris?”

“Yes?”

“Who do you think is the most important person in the Edith household?” she asked.

Chris’s face turned red, and she hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Kristin continued, “I asked you a question. Shouldn’t you answer?”

—

“Ah, the fact that you couldn’t readily answer shows that even though I’m the biological daughter, I must be quite lacking in your eyes. Do I appear that inadequate to you?”

“N-no, Lady Kristin, it’s not that…” Chris stammered, looking flustered.

Kristin smiled lightly at Chris’s discomfort and continued.

“Anyway, just let them know I couldn’t bring the flowers. That’s all you need to do.”

“My apologies, Lady Kristin.”

Chris said hurriedly before rushing back to the sleeping quarters. Her quick steps suggested she was quite alarmed by Kristin’s words.

‘She seemed startled by what I said. So you’ve been looking down on me too, haven’t you, Chris?’ Kristin thought to herself.

Shortly after Chris reported back, Rose emerged from the bedroom, not even fully dressed in her gown, just wearing a robe, with her arms crossed.

She approached Kristin leisurely and said.

“Kristin, why didn’t you bring the flowers? I’m sure I told you to do so. Can’t you even do that much for your sister?”

Elena, also in a gown, followed her mother and added,

“Sister, don’t you care about me at all? I always think about you, but you couldn’t even do this for me? I was going to be nice to Lenci’s brother because of you, but now that’s ruined.”

Kristin looked directly at them, smiling confidently.

“Did you need the flowers? Or was it just an excuse? Elena, why don’t you tell me?”

Kristin’s expression was filled with composure.

“Go ahead, tell me. It seems the flowers weren’t necessary in the first place, were they, Elena?”

Elena’s smirk faded, replaced by a neutral expression. She frowned deeply and replied,

“What are you talking about? Mother specifically requested those flowers for my headpiece. Are you ignoring her?”

Despite Elena’s anger, Kristin remained calm. She knew the flowers were just a pretext to create trouble for Lenci.

But seeing that Kristin wasn’t easily falling for their scheme, they couldn’t help but get angry.

“Kristin, don’t be so harsh on your sister,” she said, her tone patronizing.

Rose uncrossed her arms and took a step towards Kristin.

Sensing the servants watching them, Rose turned her ire towards them.

“What, it’s not like I was even hitting Kristin. Why are you all staring? Should you be eavesdropping on your masters’ conversations? Do you have no sense?”

Turning to Lenci, Rose said,

“And you, Lenci, why don’t you tell us why you couldn’t bring the flowers?”

The servants, visibly frightened, scattered, leaving Lenci trembling under Rose’s gaze.

Kristin gave Lenci an encouraging nod.

“Go on, Lenci,” she said.

Lenci, though shaking, mustered the courage to speak.

“You see, Madam, my brother was quite ill today. That’s why I couldn’t bring the flowers.”

“What? Ill? Even if he’s ill, the shop should still have been open.” Rose scoffed.

“My brother couldn’t run the flower shop, that’s why I couldn’t bring the flowers. That’s the only reason.” Lenci said, her voice steady despite her fear.

Kristin felt pity for Lenci but admired her for handling the situation well.

“No matter how sick he was, the shop should have remained open. This is ridiculous!” Rose said dismissively.

Kristin was appalled by Rose’s insensitivity.

‘She’s even more disappointing than I expected. How low can she go?’

Lenci, still trying to appease Rose, offered.

“I was so shocked that I told him to go to the hospital. If you still need the flowers, I can get them from another shop.”

“Stupid girl! You couldn’t even complete a simple task. How could you come back empty-handed? You should have begged him to get the flowers,” Rose scolded, glaring at Lenci.

Kristin stepped in front of Lenci protectively.

“Mother, please calm down. There are plenty of flowers in the garden, aren’t there?”

“What? What did you say, Kristin?”

“Look out the window. There are so many flowers in the garden.”

“What on earth are you trying to say?”

Kristin had noticed the delivery wagons full of flowers when they returned to the mansion. It was clear Rose had ordered extravagant flowers for Elena’s debutante ball, probably spending a fortune equivalent to a month’s worth of groceries. The sight of the flowers in the garden was evidence enough.

Seeing her stepmother’s futile attempts to hide her plans made Kristin want to laugh.

“Did you order all those flowers from a known florist? And where did you get the money for that, since I know you didn’t have any? Did you perhaps embezzle my dowry?” Kristin asked, her tone calm yet pointed.

Rose’s face quickly turned red with anger. Before she could respond, Elena, who had been watching the scene unfold, burst out angrily.

“Did you just accuse Mother of embezzling money? Are you out of your mind? Or has your courage grown beyond your head?”

“What?”