Chapter 27
“L-Lord Marquis!”
“This arrogant and ignorant old fool almost ruined everything by failing to recognize the insight of the future Duchess. Please, forgive me.”
“No, it’s fine. Your concern was understandable. I wasn’t completely sure myself.”
“You’re being modest. You were confident. You even told me to trust you and boasted loudly in front of me.”
“When did I ever say that, Your Grace?!”
Honestly, I never said anything like that to the Duke.
But it seemed Marquis Penian trusted the Duke’s words more than mine.
“Please don’t grant your mercy so easily, future Duchess. The sin of doubting one’s superior is grave, especially for a subordinate.”
“Please don’t say that. How could you be my subordinate, Marquis?”
“No.”
The Marquis raised her head and looked up at me, her eyes gleaming dangerously. They were almost mad with obsession.
“I, Ailes Penian, hereby pledge my unwavering loyalty to the future Duchess with my life.”
“P-Pardon? What did you say?”
“Until the day I die, I shall follow your will, for honor and conviction—”
“Wait, please! This feels way too impulsive. I think you should calm down first and reconsider later.”
When I suggested she take a deep breath, the Marquis actually did so.
But what she said next didn’t change.
“I am perfectly calm and rational. As proof, His Grace the Duke is already aware of this matter.”
I turned to the Duke with wide eyes.
“Is what she said true?”
“Yes, it’s true. I understand, Airi. That plum tree has a very special meaning to Marquis Penian. It carries the will of the late, late Duke.”
“The will of the late, late Duke…?”
Not only was it the spot where the sacred beast’s egg had been laid, and the guardian spirit of the Rudian family had taken root there, but even a rare elemental dwelled in it… and now it was tied to the will of the late patriarch?
He entrusted such an important tree to me?
‘What if I had let it die!?’
“Anyway, this worked out well. Marquis Penian manages the territory and also serves as the chief financial officer. When you start learning to manage the household, Airi, she’ll be a great help.”
“Yes. You can count on me, future Duchess.”
“Uh, I mean… well…”
I didn’t know what to say and just looked at the Duke with resentful eyes.
‘You know better than anyone that I have no intention of managing the ducal household!’
Loyalty? To someone who plans to leave as soon as she gets the money? If I leave the mansion, what happens to the Marquis’s vow?
“Future Duchess. Please accept my loyalty. Or do you not need the devotion of an old woman who may die at any moment…?”
“Why are you saying it like that again…”
“Just accept it, Airi. She’s offering her life’s loyalty. If you don’t accept it, she might end herself.”
“What kind of extreme loyalty is that…?”
I thought the Duke was exaggerating, but Marquis Penian looked at me with such resolute eyes that it seemed like she truly meant it.
In the end, I had no choice but to accept her pledge.
“Alright… I will gratefully accept.”
“Congratulations, both of you!”
No sooner had I nodded awkwardly than Alicia clapped her hands in celebration.
Then the crowd that had gathered to see the plum tree started clapping too, one by one. Before I knew it, the applause roared like thunder.
I swallowed my tears internally.
‘Will I… still be able to take the money and leave safely?’
Clang!
“What—what did you say? What happened?!”
“There are new buds on the plum tree. The gardeners all confirmed it. The tree has definitely revived.”
It was good news. As the matriarch of the family, she should have felt pure joy.
But her mind went blank.
“You’re telling me… that girl revived the plum tree?”
The servant nodded hesitantly.
“Considering the timing… it certainly looks that way.”
“This is absurd! You said they were pouring dozens of sacks of fertilizer every day! And now the tree’s come back to life?!”
It made no sense. The matriarch couldn’t believe what the servant said.
“This won’t do. I have to see it with my own eyes. Olbia!”
“Yes, Madam.”
Olbia, just as shocked as the matriarch, quickly composed herself and helped prepare for her mistress’s outing.
‘The plum tree came back to life?’
She had thought it impossible. She believed that as long as that girl clung on clumsily, nothing would change.
She thought it best to let the tree die while she had the chance.
‘Though this benefits me too… what happened to the gardener? I thought he said the job was done?’
The gardener, who had taken money from her, had resigned, citing health issues.
She assumed he fled because he couldn’t bear to witness the tree die in front of him.
But—
“My goodness… there really are fresh buds on the branches!”
There were so many people crowding to see the plum tree that she couldn’t get too close, but the pale green buds were so abundant, they could be seen even from afar.
Olbia, who supported the stunned matriarch whose face had gone pale, ground her teeth internally.
‘That bastard… did he scam me?!’
More than joy that the tree had revived, she felt humiliated at being tricked.
Olbia swore to punish that shameless man no matter what.
“Make way! Move aside, all of you!”
Just then, the belatedly arriving Marquis Penian pushed through the crowd.
Olbia glanced at the matriarch.
As expected, her face had gone ghostly pale.
“Wait. If that girl revived the tree… then Marquis Penian…”
The matriarch’s worst fears came true.
“I, Ailes Penian, hereby pledge my unwavering loyalty to the future Duchess with my life!”
“L-Loyalty? With her life?”
The matriarch nearly fainted.
She didn’t know whether the Marquis had made such a vow to the late patriarch whom she had served for decades.
But as the former Duchess and current matriarch, she had certainly never received such a vow.
Naturally, from now on, Marquis Penian would prioritize Airi, the one she swore loyalty to. If the matriarch tried to drive Airi out, Penian would stand in her way.
And even if she succeeded in getting Airi to leave the mansion, the Marquis would likely follow her.
To bring her back and make her Duchess.
“What do we do now? You promised that this would be enough to get rid of that sly girl!”
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would turn out like this. But more importantly, Madam, please lower your voice.”
“You…!”
The matriarch couldn’t explode in anger as she normally would.
People had clearly overheard what she just said—crowds gathered to see the plum tree were now staring at her.
“…Let’s go back!”
Staying any longer risked running into Elkius or Airi.
The matriarch hurried to leave—but what she feared most happened anyway.
“Madam!”
If there hadn’t been so many eyes on her, she would’ve ignored the voice. But too many people were watching.
With a clenched jaw and a forced calm expression, the matriarch turned around.
Airi, who had approached her, bowed gracefully—for a commoner.
“Greetings, Madam.”
“It’s been a while, Mother.”
Elkius smiled beside Airi, calling her “Mother” despite how little he meant it.
As if warning her: If you act harshly toward my beloved again, I won’t stand for it.
