Chapter 62
“Yes, a picnic. When we go to the annex, I’ll make some delicious treats for you, we’ll read books together, play with dolls, and at bedtime, I’ll sing you a lullaby and we’ll lie down on the same bed and hug each other while we sleep. Aren’t you excited? I was so excited thinking about spending the whole day with you, from morning till night, that I couldn’t sleep a wink last night.”
Rose spoke with an intentionally bright smile and a voice full of excitement. Plita, who had been burying her face in Heaven’s shoulder with tears brimming in her eyes, blinked and slowly nodded.
“I… I’m excited too.”
“See? Once we get into the annex, we’ll have fun together for a while.”
Rose chattered on in an even more cheerful tone, keeping the crying child engaged until she could forget her fears and respond with anticipation.
Heaven gently patted the small child, who was squirming with excitement in his arms as if she had forgotten all her pain. Then he turned his head to glance at Rose.
…She was a strong woman.
Although her body might be fragile, it was undeniable that her heart was stronger than anyone else’s.
No matter how dedicated a personal maid she was, no one would wish to be left alone with a child who was confirmed to have Dunfer’s disease, even if they had just returned from Middlefion and the risk of infection was high.
Even the nurse who had cared for the child since she was an infant had immediately requested leave to avoid leaving the Grand Duke’s side when it was a matter of saving her life.
He could see right through such a shallow ploy, but he could only give a wry smile because he understood the fear and terror behind it.
Everyone values their own life and their own body.
That’s why no one could be forced to enter the annex with the child or care for her until she was fully healed.
If it was impossible, Heaven thought that at least he himself should stay by the child’s side, and even if the attendants opposed it, it was the right thing to do. The moment the attending physician mentioned isolation, that instinctively came to mind.
But before he could act, this woman had stepped forward. Unlike him, who had only thought of it in passing, Rose immediately took action.
Even before the child’s father.
Perhaps that was why the emotions he felt toward her were so difficult to describe.
His gaze kept drifting toward her, his heart ached seeing her delicate shoulders, and he felt a stir in his chest when he looked into her green eyes…
“Your Highness.”
At that moment, the attending physician’s voice reached him. Heaven shifted his gaze from Rose toward the direction of the voice.
The physician, waiting in front of the annex, greeted Heaven formally. Rose immediately stopped her chattering with Plita, and Plita clung a little tighter to Heaven before slowly relaxing her grip.
He carefully set the child down. Rose quickly stepped to Plita’s side. The physician bowed politely toward the child.
“Good day, Princess. Are you feeling a little better today?”
“…Yes.”
Plita answered softly, then immediately grabbed Rose’s skirt and hid her face. The physician examined the child from head to toe and then spoke to Heaven.
“I will enter the annex once a day to check on the Princess and prepare medicine as needed.”
“Thank you.”
“And for everything else…”
“Do not worry, Doctor. Please inform me of anything I need to do. I will do my utmost to care for the Princess.”
Rose answered firmly when the physician turned his gaze toward her. The physician nodded and then looked toward the annex.
“Very well. Let’s go in. I will first check on the Princess, and then I have some instructions for Miss Rose.”
“Yes.”
Rose nodded to the physician, took Plita’s hand, and started toward the annex, then glanced back at Heaven. He had been watching the child, then shifted his gaze to her and said quietly:
“Rose… take care of her.”
There was a brief silence between those words. That pause spoke more than the words themselves. Rose looked at Heaven quietly and bowed her head in response. That gesture conveyed plenty in return.
Heaven watched Plita, Rose, and the physician enter the annex, and unconsciously clenched his fist.
Click.
The annex door closed firmly.
Until she was fully healed, the child would not leave through that door. Nor would Rose.
“Be as careful as possible. Living together will naturally increase the risk of infection, but you must still take all precautions.”
Once inside the annex, the physician first checked Plita’s condition, then came out to give Rose instructions.
He advised her to always cover her mouth and nose with a large handkerchief, wash all items used by the child in hot water, and wash the sheets and blankets daily in the sun if possible.
“…But can you do all of this with that arm?”
The physician pointed to Rose’s arm in a sling with concern. Rose had been hunched over her notebook writing down the instructions, then straightened and smiled.
“Yes. I can manage, Doctor.”
“Hmm… well, if Miss Rose says she can do it, there’s really no other option. Truly impressive. I am responsible for Your Highness and the Princess’s health, but Miss Rose…”
“I am serving the Princess, so it is naturally my duty.”
Rose shook her head, embarrassed by the praise. Now was not the time to feel proud; Plita’s recovery was the most important thing. The physician, knowing this, did not prolong the conversation.
“Anyway, I shall take my leave for today. I will come at this time every day. Oh, and if the Princess’s condition suddenly worsens, be sure to hang a red handkerchief outside her bedroom window. Of course, I hope that won’t happen…”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Rose bowed politely. She watched the physician leave the annex before turning her attention to Plita.
“Princess? What are you doing?”
Rose smiled as she approached Plita, who was sitting in front of a bag. Plita tilted her head curiously, inspecting the bag, then grinned at Rose.
“Just… looking at the bag.”
‘Looking at a bag that isn’t even open…’
Rose squatted in front of Plita, smiling with her eyes, and asked again:
“Why not open it?”
“It’s your bag, Rose. I shouldn’t open it carelessly.”
Plita shook her head. Rose noticed the child’s small hands fidgeting as if she wanted to open it.
“Others can’t open it, but you may anytime, Princess.”
“…Why?”
“Because you are the most precious person to me in the world.”
Plita clapped her hands and exclaimed “Wow!” then tilted her head again.
“What about Daddy?”
“…Huh?”
Rose flinched at the unexpected question. Plita tilted her head again and asked:
“Not Daddy? Isn’t he precious?”
“Th-That’s….”
Rose fell silent for a moment. Her green eyes glistened.
“Of course he’s precious. Just as much as you.”
Perhaps it was safe to speak honestly now; it was just her and the child, no one else would hear or spread rumors. For now…
“Both Your Highness and the Princess are equally precious to me… even more than my own life.”
“Heheh.”
Plita smiled happily, then peeked back into the bag and continued:
“Then let’s open the bag quickly, Rose. I’ve wanted to look inside since earlier.”
“There’s nothing much… alright. After that, will you lie down on the bed and rest?”
Although her symptoms were alleviated by medicine, she was not yet healed. Rose made sure the child would not overexert herself and, after getting a promise, opened her bag.
“Wow!”
Plita’s exclamation rang out. She opened the bag with wide eyes, examining each item as if she were on a treasure hunt.
“Wow! Pretty!”
Even pulling out worn clothes from the countryside, she admired them as if seeing the most beautiful dress in the world. Rose smiled awkwardly. Then Plita reached further into the bag, her eyes widening again.
“Huh?”
“What is it…?”
“What’s this, Rose?”
Rose smiled faintly but trailed off. Seeing what Plita had pulled from the bag made her heart tremble. Unaware, Plita shook the object in her hand and asked again:
“What is this? A doll?”
“Uh…”
Rose struggled to answer. Her nose tingled, making it hard to speak.
“Rose, isn’t this a doll? It looks like a rabbit doll… hmm… no? I see it only has one ear now?”
“…It is a doll. A rabbit doll.”
“Then why does it only have one ear?”
Plita tilted her head, holding the rag doll. Rose looked at it quietly, a sad smile on her face.
“I… never finished it.”
