Chapter 15

The midday sun gleamed on the leaves, casting soft shadows across the earth.

It was the only vegetable patch in this vast garden.

“This soil is like a treasure,” Melissa murmured with a smile as she bent down and scooped a handful of dirt.

The soil was warm and loose, crumbling softly between her fingers.

It was the most fertile and sunlit land in the entire castle grounds.

Why had it been left untouched for twenty years?

* * *

‘I’m not sure, Madam.’

That had been the answer from Mona, the veteran gardener.

When Melissa asked again in surprise, Mona gave an apologetic smile and explained,

‘Well, you see, my predecessor never said much about it. I don’t know why, but everyone here avoided mentioning this area. So I never asked either.’

‘Oh, I see.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

Mona had furrowed her brows as she recalled the old days.

‘Back then, I was working at another estate, but I came here on my predecessor’s request. He retired not long after I arrived, so I never learned much about this plot of land.’

That had been about eighteen years ago.

Mona had completely forgotten about the spot until Melissa rediscovered it.

After hearing the story, Melissa fell into thought.

How could such fertile land go unused? It was such a waste.

Back in her hometown, the “Village at the Edge,” even a handful of earth was precious.

She fidgeted with her fingers for a while before finally clenching her fist with resolve.

‘Would it be alright if I tended this garden myself?’

‘I suppose so, Madam.’

Mona’s tone sounded uncertain as she raised her brows slightly.

‘After all, you are the Grand Duke’s daughter-in-law.’

That’s right.

Melissa quickly understood what she meant.

She could simply ask her mother-in-law for permission.

Determined, Melissa rushed to Seres’s office.

Unfortunately, Seres was away, and Demius was temporarily handling her duties in her place.

When Melissa asked him if she could cultivate that plot of land, his answer came instantly.

‘There’s nothing in this estate that my wife cannot do.’

He bit his lower lip for a moment, then added softly,

‘…Since you are my wife, after all.’

I see.

Melissa clenched her fists and shouted with bright determination.

‘Then I’ll make this the best garden you’ve ever seen!’

It was an honor to be allowed to use such a valuable piece of land, reserved for the Grand Duke’s family.

That only strengthened her resolve to make it flourish.

Demius had rubbed at the corner of his eyes after hearing her words. It must have been dust.

Either way, after weeks of effort, Melissa’s hard work finally bore fruit.

Shaaa—

Under the blazing sun, the garden now bloomed with vibrant flowers, herbs, and fruits of every shape and color.

Big and small, soft and rough, all the plants swayed in harmony as Melissa looked on with pride.

“Alright, let’s finish this up!”

Rolling up her sleeves, she dashed back into the patch.

With each strike of her hoe, the soil loosened and weeds came up easily.

Even those weeds would soon become compost.

To her, using every bit of what the earth offered was the highest form of respect one could give to nature.

“Heave-ho!”

When she finally straightened her back, a cool breeze brushed past her bangs.

She closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the sky.

A flock of birds soared in the distance, and suddenly she thought of the place they might be flying toward. Home.

The Village at the Edge.

How were her parents doing now?

By this time of year…

Melissa raised her hand to block the sun, gauging the hour by its height.

Mother Lunen was probably lying on a tree branch, lazily swinging her legs, while Father Milon was likely pulling a cart full of harvested crops, pointing at her and shouting that she was the laziest woman alive. And then there were her other parents…

Her voice softened as nostalgia filled her chest.

“I wonder if they’ve seen my note.”

Before leaving the village with Demius, she had left a letter behind at her old home.

It said, “I’ll return in one year, after helping Demius find his brother.”

“They must have read it by now.”

Of course they had.

Her parents adored her deeply.

Especially after Demius had fallen from that cliff and ended up staying in their village, they had started visiting her even more often.

Eventually, Mother Lunen had scolded them for following her around too much, and their visits had become less frequent. Still, they were warm-hearted people who cared deeply for both her and Demius. They would have found that letter in no time.

“Maybe they’re worried…”

Melissa frowned slightly, then shook her head.

It’s fine.

“I’ll be back soon.”

One year.

Once her promise with Demius was fulfilled, she would return home right away.

Until then, she planned to experience as much of the world as she could.

Every moment would become a memory to cherish forever.

She drew in a deep breath, her chest expanding.

The cool air carried the scent of herbs and filled her lungs.

“Ha…”

Melissa exhaled contentedly.

“So warm…”

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but this part of the garden always felt especially warm.

When she had gone shopping with Seres in the city, she had realized how cold this northern duchy could be.

Even in summer, the winds blowing from the great northern mountains could turn icy.

But here, within this garden and these castle walls, the air always felt gentle and warm.

‘Why is that, I wonder?’

She tilted her head, thinking, but her thoughts broke off as she spotted a small figure approaching.

A boy with soft, fluffy hair that swayed in the breeze. It reminded her of a kitten’s tail.

“Welcome, Shilen!”

Melissa beamed, holding out her hands.

Shilen walked up hesitantly, staring curiously at the tool she was holding.

“Looks interesting, doesn’t it?”

Melissa crouched to meet his eye level.

“This is a homi. I made it by reshaping a small trowel into the kind we use back in my village.”

Unlike ordinary garden spades, the homi had a long, narrow neck and a sharp vertical blade that made digging easier.

She had asked Mona to have it custom-made when she started the garden.

Shilen peered at it with wide eyes, fascinated. Melissa grinned.

“Shall we play gardener today?”

“…!”

His eyes sparkled brightly.

“Great!”

Rolling up her sleeves, Melissa pulled another homi from her bag.

Shilen’s small fingers twitched as he eagerly reached out to take it.

The moment he did, his arm dropped like a stone.

“Oh my!”

Melissa quickly caught the tool before it hit the ground.

Shilen looked at his hands in shock.

A faint red mark had already appeared across his palm, stinging sharply.

Seeing his expression, Melissa apologized right away.

“I’m sorry. I made it lighter than the usual ones, but I’ll make an even lighter one next time.”

“…!”

Shilen’s eyes widened.

Lighter than usual?

He remembered once sneaking a peek at the gardener’s tools before. They hadn’t felt nearly that heavy.

His gaze rose to her arms.

Her slender arms suddenly looked firm and strong, the faint outline of muscle visible beneath her skin.

He instinctively took a few steps back as Melissa straightened up with a cheerful smile.

“Then I’ll just show you how it’s done today!”

“Hiya!”

Melissa shouted with spirit.

It was Shilen’s first lesson, so how could she fail to give a good demonstration?

Taking a deep breath, she began to dig with quick, precise movements.

Whack, whack, whack!

In the span of a few breaths, she had already turned up the earth several times.

Even Shilen, who had backed away, stood frozen in awe at her skill.

Then—

Clack.

The tip of her homi struck something hard.

Melissa’s expression grew serious.

“Shilen,” she said quietly, her voice low and calm.

“Please step back as far as you can. About ten meters if possible. Hide behind a tree or a rock.”