Chapter 44

“First, let me apologize.”

“Why?”

I grabbed Julian’s arm and shook it, urging him to speak. Julian wasn’t one to be overly talkative, but he rarely left sentences unfinished. What bothered him so much that he couldn’t even talk about it? I couldn’t just pretend not to notice.

“Come on.”

When I urged him again, Julian brushed his hair back. It was unfortunate that only half of his handsome forehead was visible. Without knowing what I was thinking, Julian replied earnestly.

“I wanted to confirm if the doctor’s diagnosis was correct. Despite promising not to ask you anything, I forgot about that promise. My fault.”

I placed my hand over his, deeply serious. Julian’s gaze turned towards me, his red eyes trembling slightly. I gently patted his hand, trying to reassure him.

“You did it out of concern for me.“

There’s no need for you to hesitate. The fault lies entirely with me.

My true feelings never reach him. I wanted to be forthright with Julian, but the uncertainty kept me holding back. I tightened my grip on his hand.

“Julian.“

Julian’s gaze never wavered from mine as if he was keenly listening.

“Is it alright if I take care of your villa?”

I couldn’t be honest with him, but I wanted to do my best. Julian nodded when I asked for his consent to give him a small gift. I beamed.

“Thank you. I promise not to ruin the former Grand Duchess’s garden.”

At that, Julian smiled and made a joke.

“No one could ruin that garden more than my mother.”

It was such a mischievous joke that I couldn’t help but laugh with him.

* * *

As the Grand Duke’s territory was in the north, warm days were rare. Even on warm days, the chill in the air would make one shiver.

However, people lived energetically despite the weather, and the flowers at their feet remained fresh.

This small garden was no different. Despite not being tended to, the flowers bloomed vibrantly.

I touched the petals of a pink flower in the garden. Its soft, moist texture spoke of its vibrant life.

As I moved, enjoying the fragrance of the flowers, I noticed a starkly empty flower bed contrasting with the lush blooms. It wasn’t visible from the garden entrance but clear from this angle.

“Why is this flower bed empty?”

I asked the gardener, who nodded nervously, his voice tense.

“The former Grand Duchess intended to plant something here, but she never mentioned what. She fell ill and passed away before she could do so.“

“I see.”

I smiled bitterly as I looked at the empty flowerbed. What had Julian’s mother intended to plant there?

Though I wanted to let the trembling gardener go, I needed advice on this garden.

“Is there anyone who might know what flower she intended?”

It seemed Julian would be happy if I planted those flowers. But the gardener looked disheartened.

“I’m sorry. Actually, my wife… My wife worked directly with the Grand Duchess in the garden.“

“I see. Could I meet your wife?”

The gardener looked flustered. I widened my eyes and asked,

“Why?“

“The truth is… my wife had an accident and is no longer with us.”

The gardener, having forgotten his earlier tension, spoke quietly. I nodded sympathetically.

“I’m sorry to hear that. You must have gone through a lot.”

Upon hearing my consolation, the gardener suddenly remembered he was speaking to the Grand Duchess and waved his hands in a flurry.

“No, no. What am I saying in front of you… I’m sorry.“

“It’s alright. You may go now. I might need your help again later.“

“Yes, please call me anytime.”

The gardener bowed deeply and left. I strolled through the garden with Anna, spending a rare, ladylike day.

“My Lady, how about planting cherry trees over there? They would look lovely when the wind blows.“

“That’s a great idea.”

Anna, clearly fond of the villa, eagerly offered her suggestions. I nodded or shook my head as I considered how to decorate the garden. The key was to preserve its original, modest charm.

“What if we painted the fence white?“

“I think that would be beautiful! It would match the building well, too.”

“Right?“

“Replacing it with a new one might be good too. Though the current one has its charm, it’s quite old and could be dangerous.”

Listening to Anna’s chatter, I enjoyed the breeze against my cheeks. Though I had to hold my wide-brimmed hat to keep it from flying off, even such small actions lifted my spirits.

As I looked at the sunlit mountains, thinking, ‘I should bring Julian next time,‘ I heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The sound of the horse-drawn carriage echoed noisily through the quiet villa. Still holding onto my hat, I looked up.

A lavish carriage stopped at the villa’s entrance, and a girl, clearly dressed in fine clothes, alighted. Wrapped in an adorable cape, she seemed to struggle with the cold, indicating she wasn’t from around here.

“Who is that?”

Anna asked, puzzled. It made sense for her to wonder. This place wasn’t secret, but it was still the Grand Duke’s villa. Ordinary people wouldn’t come near for their own safety.

“Go find out,”

I instructed Anna with a glance. Anna approached immediately, but the girl reached us before Anna could reach her.

“My Lady, please wait!”

Anna called, trying to stop her. The girl halted and stood in front of Anna. I couldn’t hear their conversation at this distance unless they raised their voices. However, I could see the girl’s face clearly.

With large eyes beneath a rounded forehead, she looked lovely, like she held a star within. Her bright red curly hair, tied in two pigtails, added to her charm.

Despite her slightly pouty expression—probably from being stopped—she exuded an endearing quality. It was clear she was a beloved young noblelady.

“Who could she be?”

I felt uneasy. She didn’t seem like a bad person, but I recalled how Abigail, who was around her age, had once attacked me. What if this girl also had a crush on Julian and came to claim him from me? How should I handle such a situation wisely? As I worried, our eyes met.

The girl smiled brightly, showing her white teeth, and waved.

“Laila, sister!”

Sister?

I widened my eyes in surprise and scrutinized her more closely. Was there a girl I knew of her age? Before I could think further, she dashed towards me.

“Sister! It’s me!”

Startled, I even pointed at myself. No one would call me “sister“ so familiarly. Yet, the girl seemed utterly confident.

Fortunately, before she could collide with me, her maid caught hold of her.

“Oh, My Lady! I told you to calm down!“

“But—!“

“No buts! It’s not ‘sister,‘ it’s ‘Grand Duchess.‘ You must be proper!”

The girl pouted, then lifted her skirt and greeted me politely.

“Greetings, Your Grace.”

I greeted her awkwardly.

“Nice to meet you. Who might you be?”

At my question, the girl’s face fell into despair, as if she had never anticipated this situation.

“Sister! Oh, Your Grace… don’t you remember me?“

She placed her hands over her heart, looking heartbroken. I felt terribly sorry but could only shake my head slowly.

“I’m sorry. Please tell me your name, and I won’t forget it.”

Even after my apology, she still looked downcast. However, she didn’t forget her noble manners and introduced herself again.

“Once again, I greet you, Your Grace. I am Nife Sasha.“

“Nife Sasha?”

I was so surprised I repeated it louder. Nife nodded vigorously.

“Yes! Nife! Do you remember now?”

At the mention of her name, a memory surfaced. First, Count Sasha, whom I had met at a recent party. Second, there was his young daughter, Nife.

In my childhood, the Count Sasha family and our Winsley family were close, so I interacted with Nife often. Back then, Nife was just a little girl, and even now, that little girl remains in my mind.

And now, that little girl had grown into a young lady standing before me.

I couldn’t decide whether to welcome her warmly or send her away coldly. Clearly, Count Sasha was now an enemy, but his daughter bore no blame.

“Your Grace, I wanted to see you after so long, so I came to visit. I hope I’m not imposing?”

How could I send away such a hopeful and smiling girl? Although the Sasha and Duke territories were adjacent, it was a long journey for a young lady to make alone in a carriage.

I had no choice but to smile and nod.

“Welcome, Lady Sasha.”

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.