78 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
Flowers bloom well on Anchor Trees in Reine more than anywhere else, but the environment must be well-suited.
It was understandable that perfumers were not usually familiar with the scent of Arno Tautz Water.
Because this, even in Reine, was a fragrance for the Anchor Trees in the Brenel family's special garden.
Lord Brenel's Anchor Tree garden was uniquely abundant with flowers.
The Anchor Tree garden was the pride of Viscount Brenel and the only hope for continuing the family line.
A deathly silence filled the study.
"Thank you for Lord Albert's help."
"I hope it was helpful."
Albert looked at Alisha's pale face with concern.
"Please keep the samples confidential."
"I will. Please let me know if you need any further assistance. Nobles tend to overlook perfumes and fragrances. Perfumes are extracted liquids, concentrated, and can cause accidents or misfortunes. No matter how good a scent is, it can be dangerous if concentrated."
Albert also knew about the Brenel family.
He was flustered by Brenel's betrayal of Marquis Rein, his vassal, and rattled off what he knew to break the awkwardness.
Any mention related to Marquis Rein's accident could sound rude.
Moreover, he was an outsider.
But the silence was unbearable, and he spoke more than he usually would.
Albert regretted that he couldn't convey words of comfort as well as Harry, who had a more affable personality.
Alisha felt grateful for his consolation, however clumsy.
"I've recently purchased several perfumes. Unfortunately, I'm ignorant about fragrances and don't know much. Would you mind taking a look?"
Alisha offered a light remark to ease the overly frozen atmosphere.
But her mind was blank.
Her mind was numb from the shock.
"If you don't mind, I'd be happy to take a look."
Albert said kindly.
"I'll take my leave now."
Alisha bowed politely and stood up.
Albert only escorted her to the door.
He worried that his presence, knowing the uncomfortable truth, might make her uncomfortable.
He watched the departing faces and gestured to a maid standing at a distance to see the guests off.
Alisha gradually woke from her daze, feeling the cool breeze of the dark night.
Her complex thoughts moved quickly.
She made judgments and prioritized what needed to be done.
It had been a shocking night.
Returning to the Marquis residence, Alisha got out of the carriage and strolled around the mansion.
But she stopped after only a few steps.
Juan and Daisy were worried and glanced at Alisha, who was walking slowly and only visible as a shadow.
Alisha, who had been standing still in the darkness, soon moved again.
She slowly walked around the perimeter of the Marquis family's grand mansion, which had long guarded Reine, before finally entering.
Once inside the mansion, Alisha sought out the glass greenhouse in the Maze garden instead of her room.
She stayed there, unmoving.
Only silence accompanied Alisha.
As the sky brightened from darkness to dawn.
Knock, knock, the glass greenhouse wall echoed.
Alisha, who seemed frozen in time, slowly raised her gaze.
Judith, wrapped in a cloak, took out a palm-sized box from her arms.
When the box was opened, an ivory-colored cloth was revealed.
Alisha lifted the thin cloth and brought the box close to her face.
In the small box was a single Anchor Flower, a symbol of eternal life and miracles.
Soon after, Alisha opened a long box on the tea table.
The long box contained a slightly damaged rein.
Alisha was sensitive to scents but not adept at distinguishing between good and bad ones.
That was why she didn't have much interest in perfumes.
Even so, Alisha could tell that the two scents she had just checked were the same.
To be precise, the small box contained a faint scent of Anchor Flower and a strong scent of Arno Tautz Water.
Alisha nodded and asked for an opinion.
"What do you think?"
Judith compared the small box and the long box again, which she had already checked.
"They're the same."
Judith was watching Alisha's face, which was as usual.
"I've found it."
Alisha opened her lips, bathed in the bright light of the glass garden.
The words spoken by her expressionless face spread softly.
Her indifferent face neither smiled viciously nor twisted fiercely.
Her face, welcoming the dawn, was utterly serene.
Calm and composed, she was colder than ever.
The Anchor Tree garden was the most important place in Viscount Brenel's estate.
There was even a saying that even if the family's fortunes declined and Brenel Manor was sold, the Anchor Tree garden would not be.
"Oh, uh...?"
The Anchor Flower was a symbol of eternal life and miracles.
If the haughty red flower were a person, it would probably have a bad temper.
Beyond simply bad, it would be filthy.
The most finicky, arrogant, and ill-tempered flower in the world.
The reason why the Brenel family, located far from Imperial Capital Baden and only a viscount family, had contact with central nobles was all thanks to the Anchor Tree garden.
Therefore, successive Viscounts Brenel had forcibly delivered Anchor Flowers.
And after doing so, the probability of flowers blooming the following year was terribly low.
The previous viscount only delivered the fixed quantity and, no matter how much surplus there was, transferred the remaining flowers to artificial pollination for propagation in preparation for the future.
The rule had only been made by the previous viscount.
It was a fortunate and correct decision.
The Anchor Flower had such a bad temper that if only the branch with the flower was cut off, the flower would shrivel within an hour.
Therefore, when delivering Anchor Flowers, the tree with the flower had to be preserved to the roots and sent with soil full of nutrients.
Brenel put the most effort into selecting gardeners with deep knowledge of horticulture and florists who handled flowers well.
The florists created high-priced products to be delivered.
Because the Anchor Flower was so sensitive and precious, the florists during the delivery period looked like they could collapse at any moment.
The Anchor Tree garden gardeners were busy and anxious all year round.
Especially during the pollination season.
"Oh my..."
Lou, a florist from the Brenel family who had recently finished delivering and had some free time, was horrified when she looked around the garden.
Several flowers in not bad condition had fallen to the ground.
It hadn't rained yesterday, and the wind hadn't blown hard.
It wasn't common, but it wasn't unheard of for artificially pollinated flowers to fall for no reason.
Lou cautiously backed away from the danger zone, careful not to be seen by anyone.
The gardener in charge of the area would be wailing soon.
Florists also cried often because the Anchor Flower lost its vitality and withered like a sick person if handled carelessly.
The people of Viscount Brenel's estate did not greatly reprimand the florists or gardeners.
It was because they knew the characteristics of the flower.
"Oh, heck...! What is that..."
In Lou's gaze, pitying the poor person, she saw a handful of Anchor Flowers spilled over there as well.
It wasn't just there.
The garden wasn't completely devastated, but flowers were scattered here and there.
"I'm going crazy."
Lou ran to the mansion to report the emergency.
She could feel that next year's harvest wouldn't be ruined, but it could never be good.
The gardeners would be collectively weeping today.
Damn Anchor Flower.
The Anchor Tree had saved Viscount Brenel, but it was a fiend that plunged many people belonging to the viscount family into suffering.
Felix headed to the tea room.
Marinne, the Marchioness and Harry were already there.
The three were chatting lightly, waiting for Alisha, who had called them.
The door rang politely.
Felix, receiving a nod from the Marchioness, said to the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a warm voice was heard.
"I'll be waiting outside."
Alisha entered and dismissed the servant.
Her purple eyes met the eyes of the servant in the room.
"See you later."
Harry gently spoke, receiving the teapot from the butler.
The butler retreated with the other servants.
The tea time that lasted about an hour was peaceful.
No loud noises echoed in the tea room.
Quiet, everyday conversations echoed gently.
When all the teacups were empty, Alisha gently rose.
"Brenel and Miller have betrayed Reine."
The three gazes that had been following Alisha stopped abruptly.
Like the serene Alisha, their frozen faces were also silent.
"Please keep it confidential."
Alisha said with a face as deep and undisturbed as still water.
Felix nodded briefly.
Harry silently agreed, lost in thought.
"What would you like for dinner? Alisha."
The Marchioness approached Alisha and said softly.
Her voice, filled with the warmth of everyday life, showed no signs of scheming or danger.
"Something light would be nice."
"Let's do that."
Marinne showed that she agreed with Alisha's words.
"The gift I sent will arrive soon. It's polite to return a favor when you receive one. I'll take my leave now."
Alisha, having said polite words, left the tea room.
A long silence fell in the tea room.
The silence was not broken for a long time.
Although not comparable to powerful high nobles, the Baron Miller family was highly respected in the vicinity for its good reputation.
Although they had not advanced to Imperial Capital Baden, they were envied by others for their wise Heads of the family and excellent talents for generations.
The Baron Miller family's mansion was located in a good place.
The baron family boasted an eye-catching appearance.
It was not a huge mansion, but it had a building that the baron family could be proud of within their means.
A peaceful noon.
In front of the historic and elegant Baron Miller's mansion, a line of huge carriages stretched.
Men with impressive stiff collars and black banners got out of the stopped carriages.
The men exuded a stern and upright atmosphere.
"Surround it."
At the words of the Inquisitor at the front, the men who got out of the carriages surrounded the mansion.
The Inquisitors, holding short spears with sharp ends, had cold and expressionless faces.
"Open it!"
At the order of their superior, the advance party smashed the gate of the noble mansion without warning.
Bang!
A loud noise of metal clashing against metal echoed.
"What is this, who are you...!"
"Eek!"
"Where are you coming in!"
"Stop them!"
"You are..."
Confused and sharp screams stirred inside the mansion.
"Find them all!"
The Inquisitors poured into the mansion.
Feet in thick military boots trampled on the beautiful carpets.
Tables were overturned by strong hands, and bookshelves were all knocked down.
Every drawer was pulled out.
Armchairs and sofas were also thrown down, revealing their bare skeletons.
The Miller family's private spaces were opened with resolute hands.
The baron's vault.
The noblewoman's jewelry box.
The doors to the family room, tea room, and chapel, which only the baron's family frequented, were wide open, revealing their interiors.
"I found it!"
The shout that erupted from the family room was the beginning.
"I found it!"
The elegant tablecloth covering the tea room table was removed.
"I found it!"
"Ah! My necklace..."
On the back of the necklace torn off by a rough hand, there was an engraving of a shape with chains surrounding the heart.
"I found it!"
The Inquisitor who discovered a painting secretly hidden in the chapel ceiling made an unpleasant face.
The sounds erupting from all over the house continued for a while.