Chapter 39

Thinking about it, it all seems so strange.

In my past life, I was just an ordinary employee in the general affairs department of a trading company. And now, here I am, walking through a beautiful rose garden, escorted by an elderly gentleman with silver-gray hair. Moreover, in this world of swords and magic, where handsome men abound and even cute princesses exist, I, who used to dream of castles and found overseas travel scary and troublesome, have been reborn and now work in a place that feels like my workplace.

"Is something the matter, Miss Yulia?"

"No, nothing. I was just moved by the magnificent roses. I thought the rose garden in the castle was impressive, but the garden of the Nashanda Marquis is truly spectacular."

"Hehe, those are kind words."

No, no, I'm not just flattering you. I think the castle's garden is beautiful in every corner. Different flowers are planted for each season, and each garden has its own theme and purpose. Some are for guests, some for the people who live there, some to comfort those who are busy, and some for defense. I've heard that they are formed in various ways like that. Living and working in the castle, the blooming flowers have often soothed my heart and provided healing. I've even taken a break in the shade of the trees.

But, the garden of the Nashanda Marquis is all roses. You might think it's just roses, but I've never seen such a gradient of roses! From deep red to bright red, then to light pink and deep pink... I've never seen a garden with such a continuous gradient. I can feel the effort of the gardeners. The scent of the roses changes with each variety, and even though I've smelled so many, I'm starting to get a bit confused... It's really overwhelming.

"Ah, this flower is the most fragrant variety I know. The petals are thin, and I think it will meet your requirements... It's in full bloom right now. You can easily get it from the town's florist, but if you need a large quantity, it might be a bit difficult."

"Well... it does have a sweet, rich fragrance... It's a typical rose, I suppose, though that might be a strange way to put it..."

"No, I think that's a precise description. Miss Yulia, you might already know that the Nashanda Marquisate is suitable for growing roses. The people of this land have loved and cultivated them, and the Nashanda family was influenced by this. Under the protection of the Nashanda family, roses spread widely. This rose is one of the varieties that have been blooming since then. It's a beloved 'rose' for us."

"The color is so vivid... deep pink, but not overwhelming. It's beautiful..."

"This rose is perfect for whispering love to ladies. For passionate love, I would recommend red roses, but... right, Miss Yulia, you have met the Dowager Queen, haven't you? Do you know that there are roses blooming in her summer palace?"

"Yes, when I was serving the princess, I saw roses that were presented by the Nashanda Marquisate. They were not in the garden but displayed in a vase... one single rose."

That's when I first learned about the Nashanda Marquis. Honestly, there are so many nobles that it's hard to remember them all! But the rose I saw was incredibly red... a deep red, with petals like velvet, dignified and elegant... it was a single rose that made me truly appreciate the beauty of roses. Even though it was just one, it was incredibly beautiful and left a vivid impression on me.

"That was the love the late king gave to the Dowager Queen. He asked my father to create it... It would make him very happy to know that she still loves it."

"I see... I have never seen such a beautiful rose."

"My father would cry with joy if he heard that. I'm still researching, but I haven't created anything that surpasses it yet."

The Marquis laughed proudly and picked a pale yellow rose from nearby, placing it in my hair. Wow... it looks so elegant, and it suits the Marquis so well! The only downside is that it's me who's wearing it!

"The hair ornament you're wearing now is nice, but adding a flower like this isn't bad, is it?"

"Yes... but I think the beauty of the rose outshines it, so it's a bit of a waste, I think."

The Marquis chuckled, and I laughed along. After all, not many people have the confidence to match the beauty of a rose. In my past life, I enjoyed looking at them, but I never thought about buying them to decorate my home! It would be so out of place to have luxurious roses in a cheap apartment with game consoles and snack bags on the kotatsu... It's the same here.

"Is that so? I think when women smile, they each have a different kind of beauty, like flowers. ...That small building is my laboratory. There, we grow edible roses."

The Marquis called it a small building, but it looked like a greenhouse. It's about the size of a single-family home with a greenhouse. It's truly impressive... it must be incredibly expensive. In this world, greenhouses are made of glass, and considering the size, strength, and transparency required, they are very expensive. Even in ordinary homes, the glass used is small, and just having glass is a sign of wealth. With the technology available, the price might come down in the future, but for now, it's like that. The Marquis opened the door of the house and let me in.

"This is where we conduct breeding and compile data. It's a bit messy... there aren't many edible roses, but we have a lot of dried petals here that can be mixed into salads. If you want, you can take some."

"Really! Thank you so much!"

I got some dried edible rose petals! They look great. I want to try them in various ways. Maybe I'll start with a small jelly. They would look beautiful scattered on a decoration cake. I'd like to use rose jam on the sponge cake as well. The possibilities are endless!

"I'm sorry I couldn't meet your expectations. If you want fresh roses, I can grow them and send them to the head of the Jenda Trading Company."

"Would it be alright to ask for that? ...I don't have much money, as it's a personal request..."

"No, it's fine. If possible, I would like to taste the rose jam or any confections you create. If I find them suitable, I would like to make them a specialty of this domain with your permission."

"Really! Of course, I'd be happy to!"

I'm so happy!! The supply of roses is guaranteed!! I can enjoy rose jam and other things without worrying about the cost, and the Marquis can create a new specialty. It's a win-win situation. Whether it becomes popular or not is another matter... but I hope the merchants in the Marquis's domain will work hard!

"Understood, I'm glad you see it that way. From now on, we are business partners, Miss Fandied. If you have any problems, please come to me. I may be just a marquis, but I have some life experience and can be a good advisor."

"Oh... business partners, that's a big deal! I just love roses, so that's enough, isn't it?"

"Hehe, you're a kind lady, Miss Yulia. The person who gave you that hair ornament must have cherished you deeply."

"Eh? No, this is a gift from a friend as a token of appreciation..."

"Oh, I see..."

The Marquis chuckled again and said nothing more, so I couldn't say anything either. It was just a token of appreciation, so it shouldn't have any deeper meaning. After all, it's from Aldar Saul. People like him are popular because they can handle small things well.

But, is it really just a friend? ...An acquaintance? That might create some distance. But it's not as casual as a friend either.

Still, I got such a nice gift, so I should prepare something to return to Aldar Saul... I should go back to Primera soon!

I need to do my job as a maid properly!!