Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 20.5 Uncovering Secret Blossoms in the Dawn

The secretary handed him both letters. The Minister of Finance had recently offered him an advisory position related to the investment of ‘national funds’ in writing. It was known as a concept of truly ‘serving’ the nation, with no specific details, meager salary, and immense responsibility, so Kloff had intended to refuse. He could earn enough income by only dealing with nobles without doing such things, and it was merely an honorary position.

But not now. He needed to gain power to make the Duke kneel. Kloff personally drafted a polite letter of acceptance. And he ordered his secretary to send it to the official residence. He watched from the window as his secretary left the building.

“If my status is insufficient, I’ll compensate with power.”

He was confident. He decided to become a key economic official, a core of power, by managing national funds. And after receiving an honorary title, he vowed to proudly take Aeroc Teiwind as his spouse, both unofficially and officially.

As Kloff planned and steadily proceeded to achieve his goal, his surging anger and anxiety subsided. They hadn’t completely disappeared. They merely retreated beneath the surface, lying dormant like lava. At any rate, from the outside, he appeared to have returned to normal.

Lord Derbyshire, who had been silent, sensing Kloff’s fluctuating demeanor, finally meddled again after a long time. When Kloff visited the viscount’s residence for a regular report, he was told to come to the drawing-room instead of the study. Kloff, seeing the teacups set out, immediately sensed that the Viscount would have a lot to say and sighed inwardly as he sat on the sofa. Indeed, as soon as the young butler of the viscount’s house poured tea and left, Lord Derbyshire began to speak in a subtle voice.

“Well, you see. A friend of mine has a niece of marriageable age…”

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m fine.”

“Without even hearing about her?”

“I will not marry an Omega in the future.”

Lord Derbyshire frowned and put down his teacup.

“Isn’t it time to forget about the Westport affair?”

“I have forgotten. After much thought, I’ve come to realize that I don’t suit an ordinary, harmonious family. I’m always grateful for your concern. However, I have no intention of settling down with anyone in the future either.”

“Tsk, what’s so bad about a broken engagement that you’re like this?”

“It has nothing to do with the broken engagement.”

Kloff smiled sincerely, but Lord Derbyshire didn’t seem to believe him. The Viscount said no more, and the conversation soon shifted to investment. When Kloff expressed interest in becoming an economic official, the Viscount listened quietly and then encouraged him, saying that money was good, but a man should also have great ambition. Unexpectedly, he was well acquainted with the current Minister of Finance and even offered to write a letter of recommendation, for which Kloff expressed his gratitude with a joyful heart.

“Don’t pretend not to know me when you get a high position later.”

“Surely that won’t happen.”

“Ah, if only you were my son. It would be good if you were at least my son-in-law. Why did my wife only give birth to two Alphas?”

Derbyshire grumbled, but his two sons, a soldier and a scholar respectively, were highly reputable individuals. Kloff humbly dismissed his words as unnecessary. Derbyshire then complained about his sons, who were too busy to come home properly, eventually transitioning into boasting about them. This too was an extension of his work, so Kloff listened patiently until his tea grew cold.

Indeed, patience brought rewards. Impressed by Kloff’s patience, Lord Derbyshire immediately wrote a letter of recommendation and sent it via messenger. With it, Kloff met with the Minister of Finance and had an in-depth conversation, after which he was given a meaningful position, not just a simple service role. He was now able to autonomously manage a portion of the funds, albeit a small one. And it was in the field of international investment, not domestic. It was a starting point for a successful career, an opportunity difficult for someone from the countryside with nothing to immediately grasp.

Thinking about how to thank the Viscount, Kloff returned to his office and immediately started working. Since he would be even busier in the future, it was better to organize minor tasks and hand them over to others. Late in the evening, after his secretary had left, Kloff was engrossed in his work when someone else came to visit. Enduring the annoyance, he went out and found it was Hugo, the Duke’s butler.

“Good evening, Lord Bendyke.”

“…Not good.”

Despite the cold reply, the butler didn’t change his expression and asked, “May I come in?” Kloff wanted to slam the door in his face, just as the butler had done to him before, but fearing that such a childish act would mean he would never see Aeroc again, he stepped aside for now.

The butler surveyed the office once, then disapprovingly ran his finger along a bookshelf. Kloff wanted to protest that there was no dust, but since Martha had visited quite a while ago, the tip of the butler’s white glove quickly turned gray. The butler dusted his finger and turned to Kloff.

“It’s very… unclean. To think the Young Master came to such a place.”

“He won’t die from that.”

“He won’t die, but he might get lung disease.”

“Then leave.”

“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Despite Kloff’s cold command, the butler paid no attention and continued to wander around, complaining about how unclean and dirty it was. Kloff barely suppressed his boiling anger and demanded, “Why on earth did you come?” The butler replied, “Don’t you know how to offer a guest a cup of tea? No, never mind. If I drank here, I think I’d get gastritis, not lung disease,” and then even took out a handkerchief to cover his nose and mouth.

This old man has come to pick a fight. Kloff clenched his fists and trembled so much that he had to shove them into his pants pockets. If he did anything to the butler, Aeroc wouldn’t stand idly by.

“Stop wasting time and get to the point.”

“You are impatient, violent, and rude.”

“…Did you come to pick a fight?”

Even when Kloff asked that, the butler paid no attention and continued speaking.

“I truly don’t understand why others call such a foolish person, who is not only of insignificant status but also squanders his wealth through violent incidents, a promising young man, but if that’s what they say, I will accept it. What I absolutely cannot tolerate is why my Young Master, who possesses noble status, dignity, and refinement, and is respected by many, would take a liking to an Alpha, not an Omega. And he even explained the very intimate relationship between the two of you to this old butler.”

Kloff, who had been pondering how to shut the butler up, blinked blankly when he heard his last words.

“…Aeroc did?”

“I heard it last night. My Young Master, that is, disgracefully, with Lord Bendyke.”

The butler trembled with anger, unable to continue speaking. His sharp gaze seemed to burn Kloff. However, Kloff was unfazed. The fact that Aeroc had told the butler meant he had somewhat accepted their relationship. With this, it seemed Kloff had achieved a tie in his confrontation with the butler. Kloff barely suppressed an uncontrollable laugh and cleared his throat.

“Ah, hmm. That’s how it happened.”

“Perhaps, Lord Bendyke, you lured that innocent and gentle person and made him do such strange things, which caused his body to…”

“So you knew that much. But I know nothing about that either. I, too, am a victim who overlooked his secret.”

“A victim? How shameless.”

The butler’s veins bulged, and he trembled, but Kloff had nothing to say. It was the truth. He just averted his gaze and kept silent, trying not to say anything unnecessary lest the old man suddenly fall backward.

The butler, who had been glaring at Kloff for a long time as if he would kill him with his eyes, finally opened his slightly trembling lips.

“I have confirmed several times through a doctor that it is irreversible.”

“I was just about to do that myself, but I appreciate you doing it on my behalf.”

When Kloff brazenly expressed his gratitude, the butler gnashed his teeth, then raised his hand and brushed back his hair. His posture was very similar to Aeroc’s. The butler, whose silver hair, touched by time, was neatly combed back, took a small breath and returned to his polite, expressionless face. He was so identical to his master that Kloff frowned.

“His Grace, as an Alpha, has the duty to protect his family and succeed his lineage. It is my duty to assist such a person.”

“So?”

“If he had been an Omega from the start, it would be different, but now that his body has changed, it will only invite ridicule from society, and problems with succession rights will also arise. Although he is the only child of the deceased predecessor, the predecessor had siblings and several cousins, so messy lawsuits could ensue. That is what I least desire.”

Kloff had been so happy that Aeroc had changed into an Omega that he hadn’t thought about such things. He had only considered going through rut, impregnating him, and raising children. However, for the butler, who had dedicated his life to serving a noble family, the issue of family succession seemed to be a greater concern. As a lawyer, Kloff could not deny the problems he pointed out. He crossed his arms and leaned against the desk, waiting for him to finish speaking.

“I wish for this matter to be kept confidential.”

Kloff had been wondering when he would say that.

“I don’t want to.”

Kloff absolutely did not want to let this matter go. No matter what the butler did, or how Aeroc was persuaded to refuse, Kloff had no intention of giving up. As he stood up and glared with an aggressive posture, the butler merely snorted.

“I expected that.”

And with that, he stared at Kloff with an unyielding posture, not at all intimidated. His aged eyes still shone brightly.

“I also do not wish for the young master to live a lonely life, spending his entire life alone in his chambers. I also do not wish to widely publicize this matter, so there is only one choice left. It is something I absolutely do not like, but it is God’s will, so it cannot be helped.”

Kloff frowned, listening to what he was saying.

“Currently, I am certain that he does not suit the Teiwind Ducal House at all, and he will not suit it in the future either. However, since it is the Young Master’s will, there is no other option.”

“What are you talking about? What did Aeroc say?”

“Please come to the mansion tomorrow morning. I will clear my schedule.”

The invitation to the mansion was very welcome, but Kloff didn’t understand why the butler was clearing his schedule. The butler clicked his tongue, looking at Kloff, who still hadn’t fully understood.

“I thought the raw material wasn’t entirely bad, but I’ll have to reconsider if I can make a proper person out of him. I’ll take my leave now. Farewell.”

Leaving those words, the butler left the office. Until then, Kloff still didn’t quite understand. It felt like a major declaration of war had been issued, but he couldn’t grasp exactly what it was. He would find out by going to the mansion tomorrow. But a very strong sense of unease enveloped him, and even after the butler left, Kloff occasionally felt unnecessary chills down his spine.