Chapter 78
“Shall we go shopping together?”
Haven’s lips curved slightly as he watched Roze look bewildered. When he casually spoke the words, Roze blinked and tilted her head, as if wondering whether she had misheard him.
He literally meant together, but she didn’t seem to understand. Or rather, since she couldn’t imagine doing anything together with him, she seemed certain she must have heard wrong.
Haven gave a slightly awkward smile at her reaction, scratched his forehead with his index finger, and then, for some reason, began speaking at length.
“Well… I thought I might give a gift to celebrate Plita’s recovery. Of course, I’ve already redecorated the child’s room, but, hmm… how should I put it… I just… separately, I want to personally give something to the child.”
“……”
“But I wasn’t sure what a young child would like, or even where to buy a gift for a child. And there was no one else to ask. I thought about asking Pedwin, but I figured he’d probably know even less than I do…”
The longer he spoke, the redder his face became, as though he were rambling excuses to her. It was unlike him.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was fabricating empty words. The truth was, he genuinely wanted to do everything he could for Plita once she recovered. And he sincerely wanted to personally give her a gift.
But he knew well that wasn’t the whole reason. That was why he felt embarrassed.
“I really wonder what kind of woman makes the Duke so restless and constantly checking the time,” he recalled Count D’velon jokingly saying once. If she were seeing him like this now, she might have burst out laughing at the sight.
Haven fell silent mid-sentence. He felt pathetic, even to himself. And to Roze… he shuddered to think how ridiculous he must look.
‘I could have just told her to come along.’
All he had to do was give an order. There was no need to ramble excuses to justify himself. Just as he was sighing at his own pathetic display, Roze spoke.
“If that’s the case, I should help, of course.”
“…?”
Haven looked up at her, surprised by the calmness in her voice. Roze nodded with a relaxed expression.
“You should have said from the start that it was about choosing a gift for the princess.”
Roze’s cheeks turned red, embarrassed that she had misunderstood his invitation to shop as something else. But she couldn’t stay embarrassed forever.
“Shall we go look for the princess’s gift, Your Highness? Um… have you thought of what kind of gift you want?”
“Oh, no. I just… well, I’m not sure what would be good.”
At her question, Haven frowned and hesitated. Watching him seriously consider a child’s gift was oddly endearing. Her eyes softened and curved gently as she looked at him.
“Then why don’t we just look around and decide as we go, Your Highness? If you see many things, I’m sure you’ll find something you’d like to give the princess.”
“Hmm, let’s do that, then.”
Haven nodded at her words and looked at her with a curious expression. Among all the expressions he’d seen from her, this one seemed the most lively.
‘Is choosing Plita’s gift really that exciting?’
He watched Roze walk ahead, her eyes sparkling, and let out a small chuckle. She was a strange woman. He hadn’t even offered to buy himself a gift, yet she looked so happy.
Anyway, he felt like it was a success that they weren’t returning to the mansion immediately. His gaze softened slightly as he watched her, though he quickly frowned again.
‘Why did I even try to persuade her?’
The time he had promised Roze was nearly up, so after finishing tea with Count D’velon, he had hurriedly come out and got into the carriage. Approaching the area where he had dropped her off, he impulsively stopped the carriage.
He just didn’t want to return her to the mansion yet. No, being alone with her in the carriage with these confusing feelings was uncomfortable.
He needed time. Time to be alone with her and sort through his thoughts. Time to at least slightly understand the nature of his confusion.
But perhaps it wasn’t such a bad decision. He got to see Roze’s radiant expression, and…
Just as he was about to step toward her with a relaxed expression, she stopped and looked back.
“…Your Highness?”
Roze had walked ahead and suddenly stopped, noticing a few steps of distance between them. Excited by the idea of buying Plita a gift, she had walked too far without matching his pace.
Feeling awkward, she adjusted the small packet in her hand and waited for him to approach. Haven smiled and glanced at the packet in her hands. Since her arm was still weak, carrying the packet looked somewhat uncomfortable.
“Give me that. I’ll carry it.”
“No, Your Highness, it’s fine. It’s not heavy.”
Roze was startled by his gesture and shook her head. She gripped the packet tighter as if refusing to let him take it.
But Haven, ignoring her resistance, easily took the packet from her.
“I…”
“I don’t want to be a pathetic man who makes a woman carry things.”
He cut her off and shrugged. Roze’s lips moved slightly before she quickly lowered her head.
…Woman. Man.
The words had no hidden meaning—just a simple distinction of gender. It was strange that she reacted so strongly to them.
Yet knowing this, her face still flushed. While she struggled to compose herself, Haven peeked into the packet and frowned.
“You get medicine quite often. Looks like you’ve been taking it consistently.”
It was too much to be just a temporary remedy like antacids or painkillers. The quantity seemed enough for one or two months. Haven’s expression hardened.
“Are you unwell, Roze?”
“Ah… no, it’s just…”
Roze looked up, but she couldn’t answer directly and nervously avoided his gaze. Her previously sparkling eyes, excited for the child’s gift, vanished. Her face grew pale, and worry showed like someone being interrogated.
“It’s… just… a little.”
She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t make up an excuse about stomach troubles this time. She couldn’t have needed so much medicine unless she was sick.
Biting her lip, she remained silent. Haven suddenly asked another question.
“Are you afraid I’ll find fault and fire you?”
“…!”
Roze flinched at the question. Haven smiled wryly.
“Seems that’s it.”
“No, Your Highness. It’s not that…”
“Don’t worry, Roze. I’m not going to fire you.”
Haven spoke firmly before she could stammer, and Roze shut her mouth. He gazed into her green eyes.
Uneasy.
And anxious.
Her eyes were clear, revealing every emotion she felt.
He disliked that. Or rather… yes, he disliked seeing those negative feelings in her eyes.
He wanted to see her gentle smile instead. The warmth and hidden fire deep in her gaze…
‘I’m crazy! What am I thinking!’
Haven pressed his hand to his forehead and shook his head at the thought. Roze, noticing him, reached out her hand.
“Are you alright, Your Highness? Does your head hurt?”
Her hand touched his forehead. He wanted to say he was fine but stayed silent. The heat seemed to gather where her hand touched him. Roze’s expression darkened, sensing it.
“You seem to have a fever. This won’t do, Your Highness. It’s better if we return to the mansion today…”
“No!”
Haven raised his voice, startling Roze. Her eyes widened. He stepped back awkwardly, realizing she had been holding his forehead. She quickly withdrew her hand and stepped back as well.
Step by step, the distance between them grew. Haven frowned. Brushing his face with the hand not holding the packet, he spoke again, his voice slightly subdued.
“I’m fine. I don’t have a fever.”
“But…”
Despite his words, Roze still looked at him with a worried, doubtful expression. Haven felt heat rise again and changed the topic.
“Anyway, I’m not planning to fire you.”
