The body was old, but the judgment was not clouded. The old woman knew who would not ruin this beautiful estate. She also knew who should never go to a higher position.

The reason she hesitated was that Jade Broen was intelligent enough, and her relationship with Felix was not good due to childhood resentment. It was clear as day what would happen later.

Mabel knew that she had not paid enough attention to Felix because of her love for Yannick, and she wanted to compensate for that. After all, Yannick was already dead.

However, the moment she met the greedy eyes in the gambling house, even that thought wavered.

How stupid can he be? I can’t believe he’s my flesh and blood.

To control Jade, a check was needed, but Felix happened to be in that state. Asela was too weak, so Mabel’s options had to be narrowed.

The heir standing in front, despite the mixed impure blood, was not bad. Yes, not bad. He has rarely broken my words so far and is looking for his fiancée as promised.

Even dirty blood will be diluted if it continues to mix with pure blood.

The old woman was weak. So, in the end, she nodded.

“…Okay. You will lead the preparations for the coming-of-age ceremony yourself. However, make sure the engagement ceremony and coming-of-age ceremony dates are not more than a month apart.”

“Yes, I will. It’s not bad to do it together.”

“I’ll say it one more time−”

“If the fiancée is not to my liking like my mother, you will claim to give the golden vault of Avens to a distant cousin, the three farms you own and the land of Diloa to Asela, and the position of heir to uncle? I know.”

It was a story he had heard disgustingly since childhood. Even though the child who used to be sad and frightened by the threatening words had grown up.

Jade smiled and got up. Mabel sighed as she looked at the suddenly raised face.

“Don’t resent me. This is all…”

“It’s all because of my father who broke grandmother’s words and my mother who was born with insufficient blood.”

“Yes.”

The hesitating old woman added unusually.

“It’s all for you. You know that too.”

It was clearly not because she suddenly came to love her granddaughter, but because of her weakened heart due to Felix. Jade nodded.

“I know, grandmother.”

She gave the most gentle and harmless smile.

Jade yawned invisibly after closing the door.

“It’s obvious.”

“Oh, is it? I always tell you it’s boring…”

After trying to shake off the sleep, she walked quickly and told Bernard.

“He has become very weak. Has Felix caused a lot of trouble? Well, anyway, I have to prepare for the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Oh my god, really! Finally, even Mabel…”

He had a face with a thick beard and looked like he was about to shed tears. Jade smiled slightly.

“You’ve worked hard. Let’s work a little harder. I’m not interested in something flashy, so let’s just be polite. Oh, right. I have to prepare for the engagement ceremony too…”

“The engagement ceremony too?”

Bernard blinked, pushing his thick eyelids up.

“Two things at the same time? No, but have you chosen a suitor? Wasn’t there no progress since the last conversation? It was too hectic with the subjugation squad and all…”

“Hmm, yes. That’s right.”

“It’s been at least two months, and you’re telling me to prepare for an engagement ceremony without even choosing a fiancé…?”

“Yeah.”

Jade scratched her cheek.

“And since I don’t know who it will be, well, do it appropriately. To suit anyone…”

Before the words were finished, Bernard turned his back and ran off with a thud. Jade, who was watching from behind, also walked down the stairs calmly and sighed deeply.

Even though she was granted the coming-of-age ceremony she had wanted so much, the joy she felt was very little.

As she realized every time, it might be because none of Jade’s family members were purely happy that Jade was becoming the head of the family.

Mabel always seemed to weigh with her slender eyes whether she could properly grasp Jade, and Felix naturally hated Jade, who interfered with his work at every turn. The distant cousins who were trying to settle in the castle made displeased faces at the strict rules Jade put forth.

Oh my god, there’s really no one. Pavel and Nina in the Atanase Forest might be happier for me. Ollie would smile brightly? Ah, I miss everyone.

If I comply like this, I’ll have to live like this for the rest of my life. A life without any vivid, bouncing emotions. Will I only be happy when I trample on Felix?

‘Don’t run away.’

Yes, so Axel. I have to choose now. Which side to choose.

It’s not easy to give up the land my father and mother loved or to give up on you. I just realized how greedy I am.

There was a lot to do to prepare for the coming-of-age ceremony, so she would be buried in a mountain of documents again. She decided to take a break in the garden before facing it.

Jade headed to a much more secluded spot than her usual place. It was because there was a small fountain in the usual place.

There, she would inevitably recall the night with Axel, and then…

“Ugh, ahhh. Ahhh!”

Your attitude was too! Too sloppy! Be more natural! Ahh, no. Don’t think about it!

The place she arrived at while pulling her hair was a very secluded place she used to go to when playing hide-and-seek as a child.

A place too far from the center that even the gardeners don’t cut the grass well. It was said to be for overall harmony, but it seemed to be because it was bothersome as there were few people.

And there, Jade encountered an unexpected sight.

“Your father…!”

“Please stop. Go back quickly! If you get caught, you might die.”

“That doesn’t matter. Asela, what the hell are these bruises on your wrist!”

Jade, who was about to sit on a wooden chair after pushing through the bushes next to the tree, paused. And she only poked her head out a little to assess the situation.

The two people fighting against the backdrop of the humble wildflowers on the other side were a man and a woman. The woman’s face was very familiar, but the man’s face was unfamiliar.

The man was tall but thin, with a long neck and delicate jawline, giving the impression of an artist. In other words, he was exactly Asela’s ideal type when she was young.

“Did your father hit you again?”

“H-he didn’t hit me. He just pulled… I have sensitive skin.”

The man looked at the skin under the lace gloves with painful eyes. And he brushed up the drooping hair to look at the nape of her neck. There was some mark there as well.

He spoke with a determined attitude.

“Let’s run away.”

Asela pulled her hand away and retorted in a sharp voice.

“Don’t say stupid things.”

“Why is it stupid? Is there any other answer? Your father won’t change. Are you going to live like this for the rest of your life? Shaken by oppressive hands?”

“Father is just… for a moment… paralyzed by some hope. He’ll be fine soon. Anyway, Jade will…”

“If that hope is taken away, he will become more violent. Blaming you! Let’s go to the coast. A wider and more open place. I will write there, and you can do whatever you want. I will support…”

Even though she could have been enchanted by the sweet words of the young man painting a beautiful future, Asela just let out a hollow laugh.

“We go? What can you, who used to write with sponsorship, and I, who used to get beaten but lived embroidering, do there?”

Jade, who was hiding in the bushes, frowned.

That man must be a poet. Aside from that, I didn’t know Felix Broen was even slapping. He seems to have really gone too far now.

Grandmother must be tired of his wickedness, but how can I kick him out quickly? Jade pondered this and that while watching their fight.

“If we do something…!”

“The emotions will fade and we will be unhappy. It’s better to stop here. Go, Elvin.”

Come to think of it, it’s Elvin. I’ve heard of it before. Where have I heard it? I really have no interest in poetry or novels…

Jade rolled her eyes and exclaimed silently with a round mouth.

Isn’t he the most famous poet and playwright these days? Elvin Mason. I definitely heard someone talking about a play script he wrote. Asela has always loved writing. She loved poetry so much that she even found that poet.

While she was thinking about it comfortably, the man and woman were finally embracing each other and shedding tears.

At that moment, a rustling sound was heard from afar. Asela, who was too busy concentrating on the touching moment, did not notice, but Jade recognized from the regular footsteps that it was a soldier’s.

This scene is very familiar from somewhere…

From the garden to someone approaching from afar. The situation was so similar that she couldn’t help but laugh.

By the time the soldier’s leather shoes were about to come out from behind the tree, Jade, who had been pondering, finally got up.

“Hello. Working hard today as well.”

“Ah, Lady Jade. I heard you had returned. Are you in good health?”

A soldier with straw-like hair greeted her shyly. Jade nodded with a smile.

“Yes. Are you getting along well with your younger sibling?”

“Of course! Thanks to your consideration, my sibling’s cough has improved a lot. Thank you.”

“What about your father?”

“He hasn’t been back for a long time! The whole family sleeps without worries now.”

“That’s a relief. It’s not good if the house is damp, so you should always ventilate well.”

“I understand. By the way, there are few people here… I will escort you to the center.”

It was funny to see him speaking vigorously with a young face, so Jade grinned.

“It’s okay. I have some things to think about alone.”

“Ah, then I will give you some space! Rest comfortably and come back.”

The young soldier bowed his head and quickly walked away.

When the small back was far away, Jade lifted the drooping tree branches and headed to where the man and woman had been standing earlier. Then Asela was standing there with steady eyes, waiting for Jade.