Anna and Rublion went to the flower shop across from the office. The owner greeted the two warmly as they entered.

Anna told Rublion to wait a moment, then moved away to explain the situation to the owner.

Meanwhile, Rublion’s small mind whirled quickly. A man who looked like a bandit had proposed to Schmidt, and he came to hear her answer about it.

But for actions towards a loved one, it was barbaric.

“Noona, who is that man?”

Rublion asked as soon as Anna, who was allowed to stay for a moment, came to his side.

“Ah… Just someone I know.”

It felt like she was hiding something that was clearly there.

“I heard everything. About answering the proposal and eating only the gifts received.”

Anna’s expression changed instantly. Rublion didn’t miss the opportunity. Slightly pouting his lips and making a sulky expression, he said,

“I shouldn’t make a slip of the tongue in front of the auntie, right? So please tell me. Okay?”

At Rublion’s cute aegyo, Anna shook her head ever so slightly. Then, lowering her posture, she whispered softly.

“Actually, that man proposed to the young lady.”

“I know that.”

Anna started speaking secretively.

“As you know, the Baron Deli family isn’t very well-off. So Johnston proposed to support the Baron and the young lady so they could live comfortably for life, in exchange for handing over the baron title. Ah, Johnston is the man in the office now.”

“So he wants to marry the auntie to take over the title?”

“That’s right.”

Anna continued the story with her shoulders slumped.

“He sends proposal letters whenever the young lady is in trouble. As if he knows something.”

“…That’s a strange coincidence.”

“It might not be a coincidence. That person, he’s quite influential in the underground market.”

Anna let out a deep sigh.

“They say he’s ruthlessly cruel when it comes to money. Rumors also say his bedroom tastes are bizarre.”

“Bedroom?”

“Ah… I’m sorry. That’s still difficult for you to understand, young master.”

Anna tapped her lips lightly. Then, fidgeting with her fingers, she said,

“If it’s alright with you, would you stay here for a moment? I can’t leave the young lady alone in the office.”

“If I say I’ll go with you, you’ll dislike it, right?”

Anna nodded at Rublion’s question.

“Okay. I’ll come in after that man leaves later.”

“Thank you.”

Anna bowed deeply in gratitude. Then she hurriedly went out and entered Black Swan.

Rublion stood by the flower shop window, observing the office. Through the slightly opened curtains, he could see the back of the man.

‘At times like this, there’s something the Duke always says.’

Among the colorful flowers filling the flower shop, a pink flower particularly caught his eye.

Rublion, looking at the lone Saint Paulia pot, seemed to make a decision and went outside. He could hear the flower shop owner asking where he was going.

Rublion, who came outside, ran to the back of a building parked a block away from the flower shop. As soon as he entered the narrow alley where two people could barely walk side by side, he whispered softly.

“Ino.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a man in a black suit appeared.

“You called, sir.”

He knelt on one knee in front of Rublion, who was much smaller than him.

“From now on, monitor the man in Black Swan. Everything, including when, where, and what he ate.”

“Yes.”

“If the man tries to make any improper advances on the auntie, absolutely do not let it slide.”

“Understood.”

Rublion’s gaze moved upward. He could see something glinting from one of the windows on the buildings on either side. It was the method used by security personnel to indicate their position during guard duty.

“Continue to follow him until I give further instructions.”

Rublion, who finished giving orders, turned to leave but stopped.

“Ah! If the Duke asks for the reason for the order, answer like this.”

An enormous aura emanated from the ten-year-old child.

“Say that I intend to never let anyone who touches what’s mine go unpunished.”

* * *

Anna, who had somehow entered the office, approached closely, looking at Johnston who seemed to have no intention of leaving.

“No, if you’re not going to accept the proposal, give back the gifts, I said?”

Anna’s expression hardened rapidly.

“Does this mean the baron’s family is so poor they can’t return them?”

Johnston touched the leaves of a potted plant in one corner of the waiting room, smiling slyly.

“Someone who’s been returning proposal letters and gifts just fine suddenly accepted them, how can I not think otherwise?”

I couldn’t say anything. It was a choice made in a moment of wounded pride at the blatant proposal letter. This was the aftermath of a rash decision.

“Young lady, those gifts you told me to keep are still there. Only the tobacco leaves for the Baron are missing.”

Anna whispered as she came closer. I felt relieved and grateful that a way to defuse this situation had appeared.

I slowly opened my mouth, checking my noble posture.

“I will return the gifts Lord Johnston gave. So please stop disturbing us and leave.”

“Return them… By the way, I don’t intend to accept anything other than exactly what I sent being returned.”

The tobacco leaves instantly came to mind. But explaining the situation to him would only give him a new weakness to exploit.

“I’ll send them within three days. So please leave now.”

“You seem confident.”

Johnston stepped up close. Then, blowing cigarette-scented breath into my ear, he said,

“Aren’t you curious? Whether I’ll call you Lady or Mrs. on that day.”

He stepped back. His gaze, openly looking me up and down, was terribly disgusting.

“I look forward to three days later.”

* * *

Rublion, who returned to the flower shop, saw Johnston coming out and quickly ran out. Entering the office, he found Schmidt sitting blankly on the waiting room sofa.

His eyes met Anna’s, who was sitting nearby. She nodded to indicate everything was fine, but judging from the atmosphere inside and Schmidt’s mood, it didn’t seem fine at all.

Rublion’s heart became complicated. Schmidt, who had always shown strength in any situation, looked tired.

He wanted to embrace her. He wanted to step forward and comfort her.

He wanted to remove everything that was troubling Schmidt.

Rublion quietly left the office. And he went to the flower shop across the street.

“Oh? You came back.”

The flower shop owner brought out the chair she had put away. But Rublion shook his head and said,

“I’d like to buy that potted plant.”

What the child pointed to was a Saint Paulia pot sitting alone amidst a colorful colony of flowers.

* * *

I can’t keep despairing like this. I made the choice, so I have to take responsibility.

“Anna, could you go to the mansion and check if the gifts from Johnston are still there? And also ask how much tobacco my father has used.”

“Yes, I’ll go right away.”

I was thinking of exchanging the gifts for cash to use for mansion repairs.

Then suddenly, various things came rushing in and I forgot about it.

‘…The tobacco leaves must be expensive, right?’

It was a precious thing that could only be obtained through trade.

‘Why did I make such a choice then!’

I felt self-loathing. I was pathetic for not being able to calculate even one step ahead and losing to my pride.

While I was lost in various thoughts, Anna left the office saying she would be back. She also added that the little one was waiting at the flower shop across the street.

I got up to go fetch the little one. And just as I was about to open the door.

“Where are you going?”

The little one was standing in front of the door.

“Don’t tell me you were waiting here?”

Surprised, I brought the little one back into the office.

“No. I was at the flower shop the whole time and came when I saw the man leave.”

I felt sorry for the child too. So I smiled even more brightly.

“I see. Were you very bored?”

“I wasn’t bored at all looking at the flowers. And please accept this.”

The little one held out a potted plant. It was a flower with several deep pink petals supporting a bright yellow pistil.

“Oh, it’s pretty. What is this?”

Even I, who didn’t know much about flowers, could see it was pretty. My sunken mood was gradually improving. Worries and anxieties also faded.

“This flower is called Saint Paulia. Looking at it reminded me of you, auntie. It’s my gift.”

The little one smiled awkwardly. Seeing his suddenly mature appearance made me chuckle.

“Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”

* * *

Anna, who arrived at the mansion, hurried towards the Baron’s room. As she entered, the Baron was sprawled in the rocking chair, looking the same as when she had seen him in the morning.

“My Lord, I have an urgent question.”

“What is it.”

Anna explained the situation and asked how much of the tobacco leaves had been used. The Baron, who had been in a daze, jumped up in anger.

“Even if I have to cut off my arms and legs, I will absolutely not allow that Johnston!”

The Baron, who had sprung up, gestured for her to follow while breathing heavily.

The Baron went down to the first-floor warehouse and took out a tobacco tin he had kept in a large box.

“My Lord, this is?”

“Tobacco leaves. I didn’t smoke even a single one, so return them as they are.”

Anna couldn’t close her mouth in surprise. She had thought they might all be used up, so this was unexpected.

“It’s not just anyone, but a gift from that Johnston. When Schmidt said to keep the gifts as they were, I was so worried that I gathered everything here.”

Anna bit her lip, overwhelmed with emotion. And she checked inside the large box, keeping her head down so her expression wouldn’t show.

“I absolutely won’t allow a marriage that’s like being sold for money. My daughter is already suffering under an incompetent father… So I will find the best groom and let her live boasting loudly.”

The Baron rolled up his sleeves and approached Anna. Then he said seriously,

“What should I do?”

Anna, still with her head down, answered in a choked voice,

“Please help me move these.”