Chapter 70

Seeing that I wasn’t in the best mood, Anna naturally wheeled me toward the garden, knowing how much I liked it there. The garden had a way of calming the mind.

“Would you like some tea out here? It might lift your spirits.”

“You always say it’s too cold.“

“Just for a little while.”

I nodded with a smile, and Anna took me to the tea table before heading back inside the villa to fetch the tea.

While she was gone, the gardener came running over.

“My Lady! It’s chilly out here; are you alright?“

“It’s a bit cold, but this is the best place for tea.“

“You’re as robust as ever,“ the gardener chuckled warmly before suddenly clapping his hands and rushing off somewhere.

“Just wait a moment!”

I found myself waiting for Anna and the gardener, a luxury only afforded in this peaceful villa.

As I idly played with my hands, the gardener returned, holding a bouquet of deep purple flowers.

“What’s this?”

The gardener scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.

“Yesterday was my wife’s death anniversary. I was deeply moved when you sent a bouquet.“

“I just heard about it and thought I’d send something.“

“Well, you didn’t have to, but you did, and I’m grateful. I thought long and hard about what I could give you in return, but you already have everything, so I brought what I’m good at. This is a bouquet of ‘Yulia‘ flowers, which only bloom high up in the mountains.“

“Yulia?“

“Yes, no matter how cold it gets, these flowers always bloom around this time. They’re beautiful but hard to find because they grow so high up. I brought some for you to see.”

I accepted the bouquet from him. The name ‘Yulia‘ reminded me of someone. Smiling, I brought the flowers close to my nose. They had a rich, heavy scent.

“Thank you. These flowers are beautiful.“

“I’m glad you like them.”

The gardener smiled kindly. Despite his somewhat simple nature, he was a good person.

“Did you have a meaningful day yesterday?“

“Yes, thanks to you. My wife must have been surprised to see the bouquet you sent.”

I laughed at his exaggerated words.

“It sounds like you and your wife were very close.“

“Yes, even when I was sick, she cared for me well. It must have been hard on her with all the medicine costs.“

“Really? Were you seriously ill?”

The gardener nodded, the memory seeming distant.

“I was at death’s door. I thought I was really going to die back then. I felt lucky to survive, but now I wonder if I took away my wife’s chance at life, and I feel guilty about it.“

“Don’t say that. Your wife would be upset to hear it.“

“You’re right. But it was all so sudden. I feel so guilty for making her suffer. Ah, I’m talking too much, aren’t I?”

He seemed to regret his words, but I shook my head since I had nothing else to do.

“Not at all. Hearing these stories from you makes me happy. It reassures me that I’m not a bad mistress. Was your wife sick as well?“

“No, she was very healthy. It’s just… she was killed by a robber.“

“I shouldn’t have asked.”

I answered with sympathy. Judging by the gardener’s age, his wife would have been around the same age. If she died a few years ago, she left the world far too early. And to be killed by a robber—what a tragic and violent end. The gardener’s face showed his grief.

“No, it’s alright. I just regret not being there for her. That day, she seemed to have something on her mind, but I was too busy to listen. If I had known, I would have heard her out… It’s funny, but talking to you about it makes me feel better. Maybe my wife would have felt better having just discussed it.”

I gave a bitter smile. The gardener seemed ready to end the conversation, but something else occurred to him.

“I think she felt guilty about the late duchess’s death.“

“Really?“

“Yes, she probably felt bad for neglecting the duchess’sDuchess’s illness while caring for mine. She was such a kind person…”

As I listened, a chill ran through me. But I didn’t want to show my unease to the gardener, so I replied calmly.

“Your wife is surely resting peacefully in a better place now.“

“Thank you, My Lady.”

The gardener smiled and left. Not long after, Anna returned with the tea.

“Did the gardener share an interesting story? I heard the two of you chatting.“

“Not so much interesting, but he talked about his wife.“

“The wife who passed away?”

I nodded as Anna poured the tea. Holding the warm cup, I breathed in the mingling scents of tea and flowers, creating a serene atmosphere. But my mind was elsewhere.

When I first heard about the robbery, I felt sorry for him. The mention of her troubles saddened me, too.

But another thought struck me when he said her worries were connected to the late Duchess.

‘What could the gardener’s wife and a maid separated from the duchess possibly have that a thief would want to steal?’

A robber so ruthless they’d kill—yet they targeted a mere maid? Even a carriage passing through the villa would have offered more spoils.

If the robbery was just a cover, and the real intention was to kill the maid?

The maid had been troubled by something regarding the late Duchess, and the timing was suspiciously close to her death. Coincidentally, the maid needed a large sum of money around that time due to the gardener’s illness.

Could all of this really be a coincidence? A sense of unease began to grow within me.

“Anna, I’m sorry, but I need to go upstairs.“

“Yes, My Lady. I’ll call for the others.”

While Anna called for help, I wheeled myself to the staircase. Before long, the caretaker and the servants arrived to safely carry me up. Usually, I would exchange a few jokes, but this time, I was in a hurry.

“Thank you. I’ll need your help again tomorrow.”

With that, I headed straight to my bedroom. Anna quickly followed behind me.

“My Lady, is there something urgent?“

“Anna, could you close the door?“

“Yes, of course!”

Once Anna had closed the door, I moved toward the jewelry box on my desk. Next to the box was a neatly polished silver key. I hesitated for a moment before inserting the key into the lock.

“My Lady, I thought you would look at that with His Grace.“

“I was, but I need to check something first.”

If it was just jewelry inside, I planned to close it immediately. But if there was something like a notebook… something that could confirm my suspicions.

At first, I only saw the jewelry. I thought that was it, but then I noticed that the fabric lining at the bottom of the box was slightly raised, almost as if it was hiding something underneath—perhaps a notebook.

I carefully felt the bottom of the jewelry box, sure there was something hidden there. Examining it closely, I noticed a small seam in the box. I slid my fingernail into the seam and applied pressure.

Click.

The bottom of the box separated, revealing a hidden compartment containing a small notebook.

“My Lady, I’ll step out. Please call me if you need anything.”

Anna quickly excused herself.

“Thank you.”

I waited until Anna left, then opened the notebook. The elegant handwriting filling the pages was unmistakably that of a noble. And the only noble who would hide such a notebook in this villa was the late Duchess.

「XX Month XX Day

I came to the villa with Julian. The garden is empty, and the house is rustic. The servants seem to dislike Julian, and it doesn’t feel right. But I can manage. I will find happiness here with my lovely son. As for my husband, he can go to hell! He can die for all I care!」

I was taken aback by the harsh words written in such a refined script. The late Duchess seemed to have been more spirited than I had imagined.

「XX Month XX Day

Julian and I planted Yulia’s seeds in the garden. It seems Julian is better at it than I am. Though I bore him, our son can do anything. I’ll have to make sure he grows up to be a gentleman, or he’ll break hearts.」

Your Grace, Julian did grow up to be a good man. I chuckled to myself, feeling as though I were conversing with the late Duchess. But this wasn’t what I was searching for. I quickly flipped through the pages.

「XX Month XX Day

Julian asked when we could go home. He seems to miss his father. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that his father was a worthless scoundrel. I had no choice but to lie and hope time would heal the wound. It pains me.」

The short entry conveyed the Duchess’s troubled heart. I flipped further ahead in the journal.

「XX Month XX Day

Haery’s husband fell gravely ill, so I gave her a few jewels. I hope it will be enough to help. Haery, unlike me, has a good relationship with her husband. I wish her happiness.」

I placed my hand on the date. If my suspicion was correct, Haery must have been the gardener’s wife. I turned the page again.

「XX Month XX Day

Haery betrayed me. She confessed to me herself. She had been poisoning my tea, so I wasn’t getting better… What should I do now? Punishing Haery won’t change anything, but nothing will matter if I don’t stop my brother. What should I do about Julian? How can I protect him?」

Her brother? Did that mean the person who ordered Haery to poison the Duchess was the Emperor? My hands trembled as I turned the page.

「XX Month XX Day

I found a way..」

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