The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 80

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 80

3. Germination

May 1st, 1770, evening.

Lindsey Dyce, who was sitting across from Lillieta, pointed out the carriage window and spoke.

“Master, that’s Beacon Garden.”

Under the sky turning orange, a massive glass structure was visible beyond the colorful stone rooftops.

Transparent glass filled densely between white frames made of steel. At the end of the long, rounded roof stood a pure white tower like a lighthouse.

Thanks to that tower and the elongated dome-shaped glass building extending from it, Beacon Garden looked like a glass-scaled beast stretching out its long white neck.

“That lighthouse-like tower is the symbol of Beacon Garden. The fact that it’s not an imperial botanical garden but a privately operated flower shop is one of the mysteries of the imperial capital Lambard that connoisseurs point out.”

Lindsey explained like a guide. Rita stared blankly out the window before responding.

“If it’s that big, isn’t it just a botanical garden?”

“Botanical gardens charge admission fees and don’t sell the plants on display, but Beacon Garden doesn’t charge admission and does sell the plants on display. There’s a huge difference.”

“Ah.”

“The owner of Beacon Garden is Isaiah Kortvan, son of the Kortvan Trading Company of the Lumen Kingdom, famous as the continent’s largest trading company, but he’s an eccentric who gave up his heir position to his younger sister, left the company, and opened such an outrageous flower shop. The reason a foreign citizen can build and operate such a large building in Lambard is—”

“Because Viscountess Blen invested in Beacon Garden and guaranteed it, right?”

“Oh, you know about it.”

“I heard about it when I was invited to the salon.”

“That’s right, you said you’re friends with Viscountess Blen. To think you’re acquainted with Olivia den Luna Blen, heir of the magically blessed Blen family, youngest registered mage of the Magic Tower, and niece of Her Majesty the Empress… It’s amazing, Master.”

“Stop with the strange flattery. When you think about it, she’s just my dad’s friend’s daughter.”

“Ah, from your perspective, that would be true. But saying it’s amazing isn’t flattery—it’s sincere. Viscountess Blen doesn’t easily let people close and is quite particular. All the young ladies who tried to befriend her were completely rejected, and now they don’t even dare approach her.”

“Oli is particular?”

“She’s already famous in social circles. For example… she hates the title ‘Young Marchioness’ so everyone just calls her Viscountess, but the reason she dislikes it is simply because she doesn’t like how it sounds. There’s a young nobleman who called her Young Marchioness to her face a few times, and Viscountess Blen asked if his ears were full of wax and couldn’t understand words, calling him ‘Earwax Cork,’ and that’s still his nickname.”

“That’s just like Oli.”

Rita smiled softly.

Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at Beacon Garden and came to a stop.

Lillieta received Lindsey’s escort as she got out of the carriage, then entered a garden surrounded by white iron fencing that seemed twice the height of a person. A business closure sign hung on the fence gate.

“The flower shop seems to be closed, but there are quite a few carriages. Are they all salon guests?”

“The Garden Salon is quite open for a salon. They accept anyone’s first visit without invitation or introduction. If you don’t make an impression on your first visit and receive a formal invitation, they’re merciless from the second time onward.”

She could understand why there was a rule accepting first visits without conditions. They probably kept the possibility open in case a returnee might come looking for the name Beacon.

While crossing the garden and conversing with Lindsey, Lillieta felt countless gazes. The guests getting out of carriages and heading to the salon all seemed to be staring only at her.

‘It’s bearable now.’

After passing a large flower clock planted according to different blooming seasons and arriving at the entrance, a man in employee attire was recording the names of those entering.

Rita showed him her invitation. After confirming the Tritoma mark stamped on the invitation, he looked up with a surprised face, then became dumbfounded upon seeing Lillieta’s face.

“Ahem, hmm.”

“Huh. W-welcome, guest.”

The man belatedly came to his senses at Lindsey’s coughing sound and hurriedly bowed his head while returning the invitation.

“If you follow the white brick path in the center straight inward, you’ll come to an iron gate with white torches hanging on both sides. Show the Tritoma mark on your invitation to the gatekeeper. Please note that only one person with a Tritoma invitation can enter the inner room.”

“Then I’ll wait in the carriage, Master. Have a pleasant time.”

Lindsey greeted and withdrew. Rita took back her invitation and stepped inside alone.

‘Wow.’

The interior, where magical lights floated around, was on a scale that couldn’t possibly be called a flower shop.

Small paths branched out like branches from the central path paved with white bricks, leading between flower beds on both sides. Under the glass ceiling that seemed several stories high, all kinds of trees grew tall, and the flower beds between the paths were planted with bizarre plants and various flowers.

The central brick path was covered tunnel-like with arches where various climbing plants grew.

Rita walked along the white bricks, admiring those fresh and colorful arches and the plant classification signs attached to the paths branching from the center.

‘To think this is Senior Is’s flower shop… It’s enormous. He must have fulfilled all the desires he couldn’t satisfy in the Ashen World, where even growing potted plants was difficult.’

As she was looking around in fascination, she suddenly became alert. Someone was stealthily approaching from her blind spot.

‘It’s not a trained gait. A civilian.’

Rita suppressed the urge to draw Silvergrass and turned around. The man who had been trying to approach secretly startled, then looked her up and down with an unpleasant smile.

“What an enchantingly captivating lady. Is this your first time at the Garden Salon?”

“…Yes.”

She wanted to point a gun at his face and tell him to get lost because he was disgusting.

‘No, endure it, Lillieta. You’re a noblewoman of Raskail. A noble lady.’

Lillieta barely suppressed that urge by reminding herself of her status and etiquette.

The man slyly approached her side, never imagining that a gun barrel pattern had almost appeared on his forehead.

“This is my third time. Beacon Garden is a wonderful place. Shall I give you a tour? Or I could introduce you to people with strong influence in this salon. It’s important to greet such people if you want to attend again.”

The man added with a wink.

“Getting a formal invitation to the Garden Salon isn’t easy, but with my eloquent introduction and your beautiful smile, it would be simple.”

Should she just shoot him? Even if killing was too much, wouldn’t it be okay to let a bullet graze past his ear?

Lillieta suppressed her Rita Pascal-like impulses with her desperately gathered patience and spoke briefly.

“I’m fine.”

She turned around and walked quickly, but the man hurriedly followed.

“No, miss, you’re about to miss a good opportunity. You don’t seem to know what kind of place this salon is, but while once is easy, twice is—”

“I already have an invitation, so don’t worry about it.”

Rita slightly lifted the reticule hanging from her wrist as she spoke. The man’s eyebrows twitched.

“You have… an invitation?”

“Yes.”

“Garden Salon invitations are very precious. Might you be mistaken about something, miss?”

The man reached for her reticule as he spoke. Rita naturally turned her body to avoid him and replied.

“That doesn’t seem to be your concern.”

It seemed this man didn’t know she was a noblewoman of Raskail. Conversely, that meant he was either a noble of a rank not invited to the Creme Dome debutante ball, or not a noble at all.

‘Is this the kind of problem that arises from letting any first-time guest enter?’

As she inwardly clicked her tongue, the man followed even closer and tried to grab her arm.

“No, I’m trying to help you out of goodwill, but if you reject me so coldly—”

Just as Rita, unable to endure any longer, was about to draw Silvergrass, someone who had quickly approached twisted and grabbed the man’s wrist.

“Aaaaah!”

“Sir.”

It was a tall man with auburn hair wearing a gentle smile. Despite his curved lips, he looked down at the man he had caught with teal eyes that held no trace of laughter.

“Being rude to other guests at the Garden Salon is not permitted. Please leave.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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