Chapter 13
“Marry me. I want a real marriage with you—not a contract. If you can forgive me… I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life.”
“Marquis, I…”
The pink gem embedded in the ring on her ring finger sparkled.
In the end, tears poured out once again.
Her sobs kept breaking through, making it impossible for her to speak properly.
“I… I’m lacking in the qualities expected of a noble lady.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I always say foolish things, and because of that…”
“Yes. Sometimes you say rather cute things.”
“My status is low, and I don’t have much to my name…”
“Everything I have is yours now. What does that matter?”
“More than anything, I’m already addicted to the cursed fruit… I’m terminally ill and going to die soon…”
“…No matter what it takes, even if I have to go to the ends of the world.”
Tightening his hold around her waist, the Marquis spoke again.
“I’ll find any rare herb, any great physician, and cure you. I will never let you die.”
It was a firm vow, filled with determination.
In the end, Chelsea could do nothing but collapse into his arms and cry.
Leaning into his warm and solid embrace, she allowed herself to be comforted freely.
“…Ahem.”
As she cried in his arms for a long while, the sound of someone clearing their throat broke through her sobs.
“I don’t mean to interrupt such a touching moment.”
The woman who had been watching the couple from a distance spoke awkwardly.
The Marquis shot her an annoyed look.
“You’re still here?”
“Please don’t treat me like such an obvious nuisance…”
The woman glanced briefly at the empty air before continuing.
“It’s almost noon, Marchioness.”
“…Pardon?”
Chelsea, still wiping her tears, asked blankly. The woman smiled and pointed ahead.
“Why don’t you open the greenhouse door?”
* * *
You have entered the Marchioness’s greenhouse.
First entry bonus: 2000 Cash awarded.
Importance: S
Danger Level: D
Hidden Cash: 4000
You found 500 Cash among ‘the chrysanthemums meant for the late Marchioness’s grave.’
You found 400 Cash beneath ‘the shade of the tree where she used to come and cry.’
You found 500 Cash from ‘the flower he said resembled me.’
You found 600 Cash beneath ‘the bench where I gave my husband a lap pillow.’
As soon as I arrived at the greenhouse, I used the excuse of investigation to roam around and collect cash.
As expected of an S-rank location, the amounts were substantial.
Marchioness’s Greenhouse
Remaining Hidden Cash: 2000
No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find the remaining 2000 Cash.
‘There’s only one place in this greenhouse I haven’t investigated.’
Checking the system window, I spoke to Chelsea.
“There are only a few minutes left until noon. Would you open the door?”
At my suggestion, Chelsea hesitated as she checked the time.
Even as she grasped the doorknob, her face was filled with hesitation and doubt.
Probably because of all the failures she had experienced until now.
But after checking the time once more, she seemed to make up her mind and turned the handle.
As the door opened, a pitch-black space greeted us.
Standing by the curtain cord of the light-blocked window, Chelsea took a quiet breath.
‘Why did the former Marchioness leave behind the request to grow the Spirit Plant?’
It was a question that had come to mind while reading <계.후.이>.
Of course, the former Marchioness had tried hard to grow the Spirit Plant.
It took up a large portion of her gardening journal.
And the reason I expected Chelsea to return to the greenhouse was because of that very plant.
But I still couldn’t understand why it was important enough to be her final wish.
I had spent all my Cash at Laford Port, so I couldn’t even check the ending.
‘The former Marchioness truly cherished Chelsea. Even after such a major mistake, she didn’t get angry and instead comforted her.’
So why did she insist on the Spirit Plant until her final moment?
Why was there 2000 Cash hidden in this small space?
Swish—
At the exact moment, the curtain opened, and bright sunlight poured in.
“!”
Starting from the front where the light touched, the drooping buds began to lift their heads one by one.
The moment the flowers recognized Chelsea’s face, they bloomed fully.
Sunlight shining through their translucent petals created tiny rainbows.
The petals swayed gently, as if welcoming her.
It looked like countless rainbows moving like waves—an incredibly beautiful sight.
‘So she finally succeeded.’
I had expected it to some extent, but seeing it in person was even more moving.
For Chelsea, it must be even more overwhelming.
“…”
She stared blankly at the blooming flowers.
“If only… the former Marchioness had seen this…”
Chelsea finally managed to speak, still wide-eyed in shock.
“How happy she would have been. She wanted to see this so badly… enough to leave it as her final wish.”
Chelsea sat beside the flowers and carefully touched the moist petals.
The Spirit Plants fluttered happily, like small animals being petted.
Chelsea watched them with sorrowful eyes.
“If only I had succeeded sooner. Or… if I hadn’t done something so foolish and she had lived just a little longer…”
Seeing her downcast face made my heart heavy too.
Was the Spirit Plant nothing more than a difficult flower after all?
Just as I thought that—
‘The Spirit Plant that has finally bloomed’ grants you 2000 Cash.
Greenhouse cleared!
Inside the greenhouse, countless Spirit Plants bloomed, their petals like droplets of water.
The Spirit Plant requires strong desire and meticulous care to bloom.
In return, once it recognizes its owner, it offers ‘dew droplets’ every morning.
With the blooming of the Spirit Plants, the former Marchioness’s wish has been fulfilled.
-Job EXP has increased.
Dew Droplet Effect: Curse removal, toxin detoxification.
Requires consistent consumption.
As the system windows flooded in, I realized the truth.
This was why the Spirit Plant kept being mentioned in <계.후.이>.
It was both—
the lingering attachment that brought Chelsea back,
and the medicine that could save her.
And it was also the “wish” left behind by her mother-in-law.
“Marchioness, I don’t think the former Marchioness wanted to see a field of Spirit Plants.”
Chelsea, still in the Marquis’s arms, lifted her head.
“The dew droplets they produce have detoxifying and curse-lifting effects.”
Her tear-filled eyes widened.
The Marquis, supporting her, asked in shock,
“They have detoxifying effects? Then…”
“That’s right. If you consistently consume the dew droplets that form every morning, your poisoning can be cured.”
Chelsea trembled silently, clutching her hands tightly.
“The former Marchioness knew.”
I spoke softly.
“To heal a poison that has built up since childhood… it would require consistent care over time.”
Then I turned to look at the field of Spirit Plants.
“What she truly wanted to see… wasn’t the flowers, but you living a healthy and happy life here in the Marquisate.”
The Spirit Plants shimmered and fluttered in response.
A beautiful miracle created by countless small wonders.
Main quest complete!
You received 10,000 Cash as a reward!
Congratulations! Your job rank has increased.
Current Rank: D+
New systems have been unlocked.
Cash withdrawal system updated.
As I rode the carriage back home, I closed the noisy system windows.
‘I’ll think about it later. I’m too tired.’
I hadn’t slept because I stayed up all night reading <How to Turn an Obsessive Male Lead into a Runaway Male Lead>, and I was emotionally drained.
Resting my head against the cold carriage wall, I thought of the Marquis and Chelsea, who had seen me off until the very end.
