There’s No Divorce For You

“Madam, I like red flowers!”

Liza barged in on the conversation. Theodore stiffened his face and looked at her, but when I didn’t stop her, he soon closed his eyes. Liza was smiling brightly, not knowing what she had done wrong. 

‘The timing of the interference is good.’

Her ignorance evoked loveliness and disgust at the same time.

“Really? What kind of flower do you mean by red flowers?” 

“U, uh… I don’t know. I think it’ll be pretty if it’s just a red flower.”

Liza waved her hand, saying she didn’t know much about flowers. I would plant flowers that come to mind when I see her anyway. Of course, it wasn’t a rose. I responded as if I were accepting her childishness.

“Hmm, then get a gardener.” 

“Yes!”

Liza thought I was listening to her and left excitedly. Theodore asked.

“Are you going to plant roses?”

“Why do you think so?”

I smiled lightly. It was because most of the flowers men usually think of were roses, so I guessed quickly that he would too. However, Theodore brought up something completely different from what I thought.  

“I asked because you talked about rose jam.”

“That’s right. I can plant roses. But…”

I looked at Bell. She lowered her head and lowered her eyes. No matter how faithful she was to me, I was sure she wouldn’t reveal my plans to Count.  

“Because I don’t need elegant flowers to appreciate it now.” 

I smiled at Theodore. His blue eyes contained Carla’s black eyes. Can he fully understand my anger? 

Is this man who praises me as purely beautiful ready to see the bottom of the mud? For a moment, I thought it would be nice to get inside his head. 

In the distance, I could see Liza bringing the gardener. The sweetness of sugar lingered on the tip of my tongue. I swallowed away the sweetness left in my mouth. 

“Did you call, Madam?”

The unwiped dirt was caught between the nails of the gardener, who bowed his head, and the leaves had scratched his clothes.

Just by looking at that, I could tell at a glance what a dedicated servant he was. The eyes of the gardener, who has been working in the mansion for generations, were sparkling. 

I spoke bluntly.

“I want to plant flowers.”

The gardener answered with a smile.

“Do you have any flowers you want, Madam? If you tell me anything, I’ll get it.”

He didn’t seem to know how well the noble wives use force. Judging from the fact that he speaks confidently, he may have the ability to respond to a certain degree of desire. 

I described the appearance of the flower I wanted.

“It’s a red flower. It was a little dark red in the center. The edges were sawlike in a jagged shape.”

Then I added. 

“I saw it somewhere and it was pretty. You know, we don’t have flowers in our garden. I want to plant it now, because I want to plant something beautiful.”

“Are you talking about Opion? You must have seen it at the ranch.”

The gardener wasn’t surprised. He didn’t even doubt it. I tilted my head and said, hoping to sound innocent.

“On the ranch? Do horses eat it?”

The gardener burst into laughter. It was a familiarity with the immature hostess, who had no knowledge of flowers. It was rude, but there was no reason to get angry with him and be on guard. He waved his hand. 

“Ah, horses don’t eat it. They will eat it if they don’t have money at home like salad but they can’t eat them all because it’s bitter and tasteless. They’re for ornamental purposes. They look good on the ranch, ao they don’t pick it on purpose.”

I gulped down my dry saliva. Is the flower that I want right? As I agonized, the gardener quickly added.

“There must be some flowers growing in the back door. Should I pick one?”

“Yeah.”

He ran quickly. As a gardener, it must have been an opportunity not to be missed. He seemed excited to be able to show off his skills. The gardener soon returned with a few red flowers in his hand.

“Is this the flower?”

It was the flower I wanted. But I pretended to think for a moment and looked through the flowers. The red flowers were beautiful.

A flower named after a woman who said that 3,000 people’s love given to one person is not excessive. A flower that can ruin your life as soon as you’re possessed. 

I was going to cover this garden with poppies. 

*****

The unripe poppy was pretty. The coveted, rich petals were soft. Whether it was time to bear fruit, they had stopped in the shape of buds that had just burst. There was a mixture of poppies, but the three were definitely Opion poppies.

“Hmm, I think this flower is right—”

I had to burn the gardener’s child. Don’t let him grasp my intentions. Just whether to plant flowers or not should be his concern. 

I shouldn’t have been able to think that poppies could be used for other purposes at all, and I shouldn’t have doubted the flowers. I acted as if I was thinking about it in moderation, and then I nodded. 

“You know where to plant it, so I won’t get involved. Still, don’t be too vulgar, plant it like it’s not for decoration. Ask the butler for what you need tomorrow.” 

I guess in my head, the budget to decorate the garden. It’s a common flower so it won’t take much money.

It was sudden, but I didn’t think the Count would notice my thoughts. I raised my chin stiffly and gave a stern command as if I had finished everything I wanted to say.

“The flowers I picked at the most are a waste, so please decorate them in my room.”

Liza said innocently. She went straight up to the gardener and murmured as if she were happy to hear me say. The gardener arranged the roots and leaves for Liza to take.

She took the flowers with delight. Although it was arranged, it was still innocent to receive flowers with dirt on them. 

“Ah, it’s pretty!”

Liza disappeared into the mansion with flowers in her arms.

I looked back at Theodore. He lowered his gaze in surprise when his eyes met mine.

I tried to ask what he was looking at, but I just closed my mouth. After a very short silence, he opened his mouth carefully. 

“If you are exposed to cold winds for a long time, you will get sick.”

“This is fine.”

Theodore fumbled at the edge of the bowl containing flowers with his fingertips. Like finding a flaw in the smooth bowl. 

“I’ve often seen poor people chewing Opion fruit to forget the tough reality.”

He tried not to look at me but continued in a polite manner.

“I haven’t seen Lady Carla for a long time, but someone who doesn’t enjoy flowers must have a reason to plant them— may a Great one protect Lady Carla.”

He put his hand on his chest and made some unusual hand gestures. I didn’t know all the hand gestures in this world, but his actions were obvious. It’s a sign.

There was a smirk coming out of him. It seems that poppies, or opion, are also used for various purposes here. But contrary to my expectations, it was not for me to use. 

“I’m not sure, how about that?” 

When I answered vaguely, Theodore looked up. I made eye contact with him. He drew up his lips and smiled. Carla’s face was hardened but I pulled my cheeks. 

Still, after a few months, I was able to smile like a noblewoman, which made me look better to other people.

Then Theodore blushed. Such an easy and cute knight. 

“It’s nothing to worry about, Sir.”

“I went over the topic. I apologize.”

Sir’s apologies are so cheap, I shut my mouth for fear of being sarcastic. I kept trying to be a naughty woman when I was with him. I acted like I was desperate to hurt and bully him.

But as if he had already been hurt, he lowered his eyes and waited for my forgiveness. It was surprising that he genuinely cared for my well-being.

I felt like I shook the child’s outstretched hand coldly. Did I have a conscience? My chest ached. Eventually, I raised the white flag.

“It doesn’t hurt. I have it just in case. Where to use— later, I’ll tell you later.”

I tried to speak as softly as I could. I didn’t know if it sounded like that, but at least Theodore’s head didn’t go down further.

I didn’t think he could stop me just because he knew the plan.

“Will you listen to it then?”

Theodore replied vigorously.

“Of course.”

I raised my mouth again when I saw him. But somehow, I couldn’t help myself and soon lowered the corners of my mouth. At first glance, I saw Theodore trying to say something, but I got up from my seat without waiting.