The Song of Flowers - Chapter 7: The Heiress Young Lady (1)

Madame Renézel Visits Adèle at Levas Castle

“Long time no see, my lady.”

“Yes, it has been a while.”

The two exchanged a few more customary greetings.

Indeed, it had been quite some time. After the heartbreaking news of Paul’s death, when Renézel last visited, Adèle had asked her not to come for a while. With her grandmother lying unconscious, Adèle felt that ordering extravagant clothing was inappropriate, and Renézel understood.

“You’re not going to send me away today, are you?”

“Of course not. If you hadn’t made me mourning clothes, I wouldn’t have dared to attend the funeral.”

Adèle had felt shameless when she wrote to Renézel, asking her not to visit but still requesting mourning attire. She had even mentioned that she couldn’t promise when or how she would pay for it. Yet, Renézel had readily agreed. Adèle had worried that the mourning dress might turn out as ornate as a gown, but that was a foolish concern. The dress Renézel sent was simple yet dignified.

“I’m sorry for the delay.”

It was only long after the funeral that Adèle remembered she still owed Renézel payment. Now that she had become a wealthy heiress, she could afford to settle her debt. So, she had sent a letter, and in response, Renézel had arranged today’s visit.

“You’ve been through a lot. I’m just grateful that you remembered.”

“How should I pay for the mourning dress? Now that I think about it, I’ve never actually purchased anything myself. I’ve only ever received things from others.”

“My lady, you don’t need to pay for it.”

“I can’t accept that.”

“Consider it my final gift to the late lord. He was such a valuable patron.”

Seeing that Renézel was sincere and not merely being polite, Adèle nodded.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll gladly accept your gift. But I actually have another request today. Thankfully, my grandmother left me an inheritance. Now, I would like to formally hire you, Renézel.”

Renézel clasped her hands together in delight.

“It would be an honor, my lady.”

“However… um… would it be possible to have a different kind of design?”

“Just tell me what you have in mind.”

“Something simpler would be nice. The dresses I’ve received so far… It’s not that I dislike your designs.”

Renézel let out a light laugh.

“I understand exactly what you mean.”

She opened the trunk she had brought and pulled out her design book. Just as a knight always carried his sword, Renézel never went anywhere without her design book. It was filled with sketches of the outfits she had created over the years.

Adèle had assumed Renézel only designed extravagant gowns for lavish parties, so she was surprised to see a good number of modest outfits in the book. Some of them even caught her eye.

The two leaned in and discussed the designs at length. The experience of simply receiving gifts was quite different from actively selecting and shopping for her own clothes. Adèle realized that choosing designs and browsing through fashion was surprisingly enjoyable.

“My lady, you should also buy a few parasols. You’ll want them to match your outfits. And hats—there are so many styles to choose from. A hat is an absolute must for outings.”

Renézel began recommending various accessories necessary for outings. Seeing Adèle hesitate, she smiled warmly.

“You Can’t Stay Inside the Castle Forever.”

Adèle’s eyes wavered. This was the first time Renézel had so openly interfered in her life.

“I apologize if that was out of line. But… you’ve changed, haven’t you?”

“…Why do you think that?”

“I noticed when I looked at the mirror. My intuition isn’t wrong, is it?”

Renézel had observed that the large mirror in the corner, once covered with a white cloth as if sealed away, was now uncovered.

“……”

Just as Renézel had pointed out, Adèle had been telling herself that she needed to change. Her grandmother, who had always protected her unconditionally, was gone now. She had to learn how to protect herself.

“Won’t people think I’m strange?”

“Not at all, my lady. Trust me—I’ve attended countless social gatherings. Of course, you do have a very rare appearance. But you’re so incredibly beautiful and charming that it won’t matter in the slightest.”

It was the same kind of praise Renézel always gave, yet this time, Adèle felt her cheeks flush.

“And besides, you’re a wealthy heiress. That alone makes you the kind of person high society would celebrate.”

“How… how did you know?”

Adèle was startled by how easily Renézel had learned this. Seeing her innocent reaction, Renézel chuckled.

“Gossip spreads incredibly fast in social circles.”

“But… I never told anyone.”

Even after the will was made public, Adèle’s life had remained the same. Everyone around her was a servant—there was no reason to boast to them. Among those present when the will was revealed, there had been no one who seemed likely to spread rumors. If anyone could be suspected, it was the Merlon family.

‘They didn’t approve of me inheriting everything… but why would they be the ones to talk about it?’

Unbeknownst to Adèle, the source of the rumors was Stella. Of course, Stella hadn’t spread them with good intentions. Feeling resentful about what she saw as an unfair inheritance, she had started a conversation with a close friend by saying, “This is a secret, but…”—and from there, the news had spread until it was common knowledge in high society. That was how rumors usually worked.

“I assure you, everyone will want to get close to you.”

Renézel was a good person. She was also an exceptional businesswoman. Following her recommendations, Adèle purchased several costly accessories, each worth as much as a dress. She also ordered a few sets of outing attire.

She wasn’t yet brave enough to step outside. These clothes might end up decorating her dressing room, just like her extravagant gowns.

But even so, this was an important first step for Adèle.

Before leaving, Renézel spoke once more.

“I was worried you might still be overwhelmed with grief. But I see now that I had nothing to worry about. You look much better.”

Adèle had thought she always smiled when she met Renézel. But someone like Renézel, who had met countless people and could read emotions with ease, wouldn’t be fooled by a forced smile.

The subtle shadow of sorrow that had always lingered over Adèle’s face had weighed on her mind. Renézel had been deeply concerned about how devastated the girl must have been after losing the lord she had depended on.

Yet, seeing her now… Adèle had learned to smile more naturally. It was clear she was growing—moving past her grief.

Perhaps…

Perhaps, before long, she would see Adèle at a social gathering.

* * *

The Blade’s Descent.

Each downward swing of the sword sliced through the air with a sharp sound. With every steady breath, white clouds of mist escaped from his lips, dispersing into the cold air.

Though it was a simple fundamental drill, Calvin remained serious. He didn’t lower his sword until he had completed his intended number of repetitions. His back was soaked with sweat, heat radiating from his entire body. From the day he first held a sword, he had never skipped a single day of basic training.

A soft whistle interrupted his focus, making him turn his head. A young man with an easygoing expression was leaning against the fence, waving casually.

“You’ve got some serious concentration. Didn’t even glance around once.”

“What brings you here?”

Calvin sheathed his sword and approached Martin.

“Just passing by.”

Knowing how impossibly busy his friend was, Calvin looked skeptical. Martin was a socialite through and through. People called him a prominent figure in high society, but to Calvin, he was just a carefree idler.

Martin, however, considered his social skills a talent. Calvin didn’t entirely disagree—after all, he himself could never spend every day meeting people, laughing, and making conversation like Martin did. It was a skill he simply couldn’t imitate.

“You could’ve called me over.”

Judging by the redness of Martin’s nose, he had been standing in the cold for quite a while.

“I didn’t want to interrupt. Why so serious? This should be your golden age of leisure—after all, you’ve completed all your training and are just waiting for your knighthood ceremony.”

“I am taking it easy. But if I stop entirely, I’ll get dull.”

“You’re relentless.”

“I’m nothing compared to my father and brother.”

“A family of swordsmanship prodigies,” people often murmured about the House of Kow.

But Martin had a different thought.

“If you ask me, the real talent of the Kow family isn’t swordsmanship—it’s diligence.”

Calvin’s struggle wasn’t due to a lack of talent. He was more than exceptional. The problem was that his father and brother were once-in-a-generation geniuses. Next to them, even remarkable ability felt like a mere flicker of candlelight against the sun. Calvin didn’t even realize that he, too, was shining.

“If it were me, I’d have gone completely astray by now.”

Perhaps unwavering discipline was another inherited trait of the Kow bloodline.

“You’re not busy, are you?”

“You’re the one who’s always busy.”

“Well, that’s my own doing. Come have a drink with me.”

Calvin glanced at the blue sky, then back at Martin. Before he could speak, Martin beat him to it.

“There’s no law saying you have to wait until sundown to drink. Besides, I snuck out something amazing from my father’s stash. That old man was hoarding the good stuff all for himself—this is betrayal.”

Martin’s father, the head of House Lux, was a devoted lover of fine liquor. Calvin still remembered the shock he felt upon seeing the massive underground cellar filled with endless barrels and bottles of alcohol.

“If he finds out, you won’t be setting foot in that house for a while.”

“Then I’ll just crash here.”

At this rate, his friend would surely be thrown out barefoot before long.

I should probably prepare a guest room.

The two made their way inside the mansion, and Martin wasted no time opening the bottle he had brought. Once the alcohol started warming them from within, he launched into an endless stream of chatter—mostly about the latest gossip from high society. Thanks to Martin, even Calvin, who avoided socializing, was always up to date with the latest happenings.

“There’s an interesting rumor going around about Levas lately. Word is, the late lord left his enormous fortune to a young lady he had been supporting. You know anything about that?”

“…No.”

“The curiosity about this ‘mystery heiress’ is about to explode.”

Calvin stared down at his glass before shifting his gaze to Martin. Now he understood why his friend had suddenly shown up with a rare bottle of liquor. Catching the accusatory glint in Calvin’s eyes, Martin scratched his head sheepishly.

“You know I can’t stand not knowing things. If you’ve got any info, spill it. I swear, I won’t tell anyone. My lips are sealed.”

“I told you—I don’t know.”

“Didn’t you say that when you were a kid, you were called to be a playmate for the young lady the lord was looking after?”

Calvin let out a small, incredulous laugh.

“You actually remember that?”

It had been a passing comment from long ago. Martin had no head for studying, yet he had an uncanny ability to recall the most random details.

No one had ever known that Calvin used to visit the castle and meet Adèle. He had been careful not to mention it, knowing about her past wounds. Now, he was more certain than ever that keeping it from Martin had been the right choice.

“That was ages ago.”

“A childhood connection is still a connection. Haven’t you heard anything from your brother?”

“Do you think my brother is the type to talk about that? Why are you so caught up in this rumor anyway? Most of the gossip about Levas is baseless nonsense.”

“The source of the rumor is Stella Brody.”