Chapter 72
“Dad said so. He said I would definitely get better. That I’d get better and come back again. Holding hands with Rose, together.”
“…Ah.”
He remembered the words he had said. The words he spoke to the child on the day he had to send her to the annex. They were words he wanted to tell himself, words filled with a desperate hope. That was why he could recall them as soon as Flita spoke.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…And you made those words come true.”
Haven looked down at the child with a sense of pride. Flita smiled brightly, then reached out her other hand toward Rose.
“So, I want to hold Rose’s hand too. Hold my hand.”
Flita wiggled her small fingers. But Rose couldn’t immediately approach the child, because Haven was holding Flita’s other hand.
“Go ahead, Rose.”
“…But, I…”
Rose stammered as she watched Haven calmly agree to the child’s request. Haven raised one eyebrow and gave her a look as if to say, What’s the matter?
“Wouldn’t that… be a little strange?”
“Strange?”
“To others’ eyes, Your Highness. I’m afraid it might give the wrong impression…”
Rose’s voice trailed off, her cheeks flushed. A man and woman holding the child’s hands, one on each side, could easily look like a married couple. Including the child, they could look like a happy little family.
That was what she meant, though she phrased it vaguely because it was too embarrassing to say directly. She assumed he would understand.
“Wrong impression? What kind of wrong impression?”
Contrary to her expectation, Haven asked calmly. Rose flustered even more and opened her mouth again.
“W-well… that is… um…”
Heh.
It was at that moment—a low chuckle was heard. It was such a tiny, subtle laugh that one could easily miss it. But Rose, who was paying close attention to Haven, didn’t miss it.
“…Your Highness?”
She looked up at him in surprise. When Haven met her eyes, he looked away awkwardly, and in that instant, she caught the smile lingering on his lips—a trace of the laughter he hadn’t yet erased.
“…Could it be… he was teasing me?”
Rose’s green eyes blinked. She couldn’t believe that Haven had just acted as if he hadn’t understood her words, just to tease her. No, the Haven she knew might have done such a thing, but the man in front of her wasn’t the same as the one she had known.
“Hmm-hmm. Let’s go.”
Haven cleared his throat at Rose’s lingering gaze and subtly turned his body. Flita, urging them, repeatedly reached out her hand toward Rose. In a daze, Rose automatically took the child’s hand.
“Hehe.”
Flita laughed innocently and squeezed Rose’s hand. Now fully alert, Rose spoke again toward Haven.
“Oh! Your Highness, I need to bring the luggage. I’ll stay behind…”
“Tell the others to bring it.”
Haven cut off her words immediately. Flita nodded while holding Rose’s hand tightly, then looked up at Haven and said,
“Flita too.”
“…Flita?”
Haven frowned in confusion. Flita looked toward the window.
“This one. Flita. The potted plant Dad gave me as a gift. I have to take it too. I must tell the servants to make sure it comes along.”
“Ah… hmm… how did you know it was the one I gave?”
Haven looked at the pot on the windowsill and asked awkwardly. Flita nodded happily.
“Rose told me. Rose knows everything. She doesn’t miss a thing.”
“…I see.”
Haven’s blue eyes turned to Rose. She slightly lowered her head.
It was such a small thing, yet her face flushed for no reason. As if he remembered some past memory, and she recognized him in return…
…Just as if.
“Woof! Woof!”
The moment they entered the first-floor hall of the main building, a white puppy dashed over to greet its young mistress.
“Hayan!”
Flita, holding Haven and Rose’s hands, saw the dog and immediately let go, running toward it. But she stopped mid-step and glanced back, realizing she had acted impulsively.
“Go ahead and pet it. Seems like it missed you a lot.”
Instead of scolding her, he nodded toward the puppy—a puppy wagging its tail energetically, rolling over repeatedly, showing its belly to its young mistress.
“…Hayan.”
Flita looked at Haven for a moment, then relaxed and squatted in front of the dog.
“Woof! Woof!”
Haven watched the child and dog play for a while, then moved forward. Rose followed a few steps behind, her attention leaving Flita.
From the line of servants standing on both sides to welcome the princess who had miraculously recovered from illness, whispers could be heard. They were likely reacting to seeing her enter holding Flita’s hand with Haven.
“Ahem.”
The butler cleared his throat—a reprimanding gesture toward the whispering servants. The room fell silent. Except for the sound of the dog excitedly greeting Flita, there was no other noise.
“Your Highness, the Grand Princess, we sincerely congratulate you on your full recovery.”
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
After the butler’s greeting, the head maid stepped forward, bowing politely. The rest of the servants followed with their salutes.
Flita, stopping her play with the dog, stood and returned to Haven’s side. The puppy followed, tail wagging.
“It’s such a relief that the princess has returned safely.”
The butler bent his knees to meet Flita’s eye level and spoke sincerely. Flita looked at his aged face and nodded shyly.
“…Thank you, Butler.”
His eyes crinkled at her small words of thanks. Smiling, he continued:
“To celebrate the Grand Princess’s recovery, we’ve redecorated your bedroom.”
“…Eh?”
Flita, squirming to hold the dog, widened her eyes at the butler’s words. He glanced at Haven and smiled slightly.
“The Grand Duke personally ordered it, so we had to rush. It was quite the ordeal.”
Uncharacteristically, the butler added a joke. He was so pleased at the princess’s full recovery, though Flita’s reaction was even more intense.
The child blinked, realizing the meaning of his words, and looked up at her father.
“…It’s a gift for you. I hope you like it.”
“Wow! Thank you!”
Flita exclaimed, then placed her hands on her belly as if to apologize for forgetting her manners. Rose smiled at the sight of them.
She had no idea that Haven had redecorated the room for the child.
It made sense; from the annex, she couldn’t know what was going on in the main building. But it didn’t feel right to think she hadn’t known for that reason alone.
If he had wanted to show off, he could have done so in some way—like placing a flowerpot in front of the bedroom, he could have sent word.
Yet he said nothing. He didn’t even claim he had brought the plant. If the child hadn’t known first, perhaps he wouldn’t have mentioned it at all.
…That calm warmth was endearing. The way he seemed shy about his actions reminded her of the old him.
Rose’s nose tingled as she pressed her hand against it. Then, the sound of rushing footsteps reached her. She instinctively turned toward it.
“…!”
Rose’s eyes widened. At the same time, the bright smile on Flita’s face faltered.
“Y-Your Highness! Huff… Huff…”
The nanny arrived, her appearance disheveled. The woman who always insisted Flita act properly and ladylike looked entirely different now.
“Mrs. Miguel, your leave isn’t over yet, is it…”
At that moment, the head maid frowned and interjected. The nanny, panting, straightened her expression.
“How could I rest knowing the princess was ill? I had to take a few days of leave for personal reasons, but I was worried every night that she might get worse. You know, I’ve raised the princess since she was a baby. What mother could rest easy while her child is sick?”
The nanny mimed wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, then spun around to reach Flita. Flita flinched and stepped back toward Rose.
The nanny’s expression momentarily stiffened at the child’s reaction, but she forced a smile and reached out warmly.
“My princess, it’s such a relief you’ve recovered safely. I feared something bad might happen, or dreadful news might come every day. Are you alright now? Oh my, look at your gaunt face.”
