Chapter 78
“Shall we go shopping together?”
Haven’s mouth tugged into a small smile as he watched Roje’s bewildered face. When he casually said those words, Roje blinked and then tilted her head, as if wondering whether she’d misheard him.
He literally meant “together” — but she didn’t seem to understand. No, she must have decided she had misheard, since there was no reason for them to do anything together.
Seeing Roje’s reaction, Haven forced a slightly awkward smile, scratched his brow with his forefinger, and then started rambling for no reason.
“Um, I was thinking of giving a present to celebrate Plita getting better. Of course I already had her bedroom redone, but, hmm, how should I put it… apart from that, I wanted to give her something personally.”
“……”
“But I don’t know what children like, or where one even buys gifts for little kids. And there was no one to ask. I thought about asking Pedwin, but he probably knows even less than I do…”
The more he talked, the redder Haven’s face grew. It sounded like he was muttering excuses to her; it was unlike him.
That wasn’t to say he was lying. It was true that he wanted to do anything and everything for Plita once she recovered. And he genuinely wanted to give the child a present himself.
But he knew perfectly well that wasn’t all there was to it. That knowledge made him embarrassed.
“What kind of woman could make the Grand Duke so nervous and constantly check the time like this? I’m really curious,” Count Dvelon had joked to him once, and the remark popped into his head. If she could see him like this now, she’d probably laugh.
Haven stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth. He looked pathetic — he could see it himself. If he thought he looked pitiful, how pitiful must he appear to Roje…
“I could have just told her to come along,” he thought.
He only needed to give an order. There was no need to ramble excuses to justify his words. Just as Haven was about to sigh at his own pathetic behavior, Roje spoke.
“If that’s the case, of course I’ll help.”
“…?”
Haven looked up at her, hearing a hint of amusement in her voice. Roje nodded, looking noticeably more at ease.
“You should’ve said earlier that we’re choosing a gift for the Princess.”
Roje’s face flushed as if embarrassed. She felt ashamed that she’d mistaken his invitation for a shopping trip to buy something for herself. But she couldn’t stay embarrassed forever.
“Shall we go look for the Princess’s present, Your Grace? Um… do you have anything in mind?”
“No, not really. Hmm… I wonder what would be good.”
Haven frowned and rubbed his brow as he stammered at Roje’s question. It was pleasant to see him seriously considering a child’s gift. Roje’s eyes softened into a gentle curve as she looked at him.
“Then how about we just look around for now, Your Grace? If you browse a lot, you’ll find something you want to give the Princess.”
“Mm, let’s do that.”
Haven nodded at Roje’s suggestion and then looked at her with a curious expression. Of all the faces she’d shown him, she looked the liveliest now.
‘Is buying a gift for Plita that exciting?’
He watched Roje walk ahead with a little sparkle in his eyes and let out a small laugh. She was a strange woman. He hadn’t even offered to buy something for himself, so what could be so thrilling?
Anyway, the fact that they weren’t heading straight back to the mansion already felt like a success. The cheerfulness in Haven’s eyes faded a bit.
‘What did I even try to persuade Roje to do?’
He had to finish tea with Count Dvelon and hurry off in a carriage because the time he’d set with Roje was nearly up. As they neared the spot where he’d dropped her off, he impulsively stopped the carriage.
He simply didn’t want to carry her back to the mansion like this. No — being alone in the carriage with Roje while feeling all this confused emotion was uncomfortable.
He needed time. Time alone with her to sort out his thoughts. A little time to figure out what this confusion actually was.
It seemed like not such a bad decision. He’d gotten to see Roje’s bright expression like that, and also…
Just as he unconsciously took a step toward her with his face relaxed, Roje, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped and turned back.
“…Your Grace?”
She only realized they were a few paces apart. She had been so excited about choosing Plita’s present that she had walked straight ahead without matching his pace.
Feeling awkward, she adjusted the medicine package in her hand and waited for him to come over. Haven watched this and snorted softly, then glanced at the package in her hands. Since her arm hadn’t fully healed, the way she carried it looked slightly uncomfortable.
“Give me that packet. I’ll carry it.”
“No, Your Grace. It’s okay. It’s not heavy.”
Roje was startled by Haven reaching out and refused, shaking her head. She gripped the package tighter as if determined not to let him take it.
But Haven took the medicine package from her far more easily than her efforts deserved.
“I…”
“I don’t want to be a pathetic man who makes a woman carry things.”
Haven cut her off and shrugged. Roje couldn’t help but move her lips, then quickly bowed her head.
—woman. —man.
There was no special meaning in his words. They were just gendered terms. It was strange that she paid them any mind.
Still, her face heated up. Roje’s embarrassed expression didn’t have time to settle before Haven glanced into the package and frowned.
“You get medicine often. It seems like something you take regularly.”
The amount was too much to be just a temporary remedy like an antacid or a painkiller. It looked like a one- or two-month supply. Haven’s expression hardened.
“Is something wrong, Roje?”
“Ah… yes, um, it’s just…”
Roje, who had been looking down, raised her head at Haven’s question. But she couldn’t answer him straightforwardly and kept avoiding his gaze in a fluster.
The excitement she’d shown while picking a gift for the child had vanished; her face had gone pale and anxious, like someone being accused of a crime.
“It’s just… a little.”
She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t lie like before and say it was for indigestion — there was no reason to pick up so much antacid at once.
Unless it was a chronic illness.
Unable to answer, she chewed her lip nervously. Haven watched her, then abruptly asked another question.
“Are you afraid I’ll point that out and fire you?”
“…!”
Roje flinched at the question. Haven gave a wry smile at her reaction.
“Seems that’s it.”
“No, Your Grace. That’s not it…”
“Don’t worry, Roje. I won’t fire you.”
Haven spoke firmly to the flustered Roje as she was about to reply. She opened her mouth but then closed it. He looked steadily into her green eyes.
Anxiety.
And nervousness.
Her eyes were clear and so reflected her emotions plainly.
He didn’t like that. No, rather than dislike, he wanted… yes, he wanted to see her kind smile directed at him. The warmth and heat hidden deep in her gentle gaze…
‘I’m crazy! What on earth are you thinking!’
Haven slapped his hand to his forehead at his own thought and shook his head. Roje glanced at him and, surprised, reached out a hand.
“Are you all right, Your Grace? Is your head hurting?”
Roje’s hand touched Haven’s forehead. He opened his mouth to say he was fine but clamped it shut. Her touch made his forehead feel warm. Roje, sensing it as well, quickly looked worried.
“It seems you have a fever. I don’t think this is good, Your Grace. Maybe you should go back to the mansion today…”
“No!”
Haven raised his voice at Roje’s suggestion. Roje’s eyes went wide. He felt awkward under her startled gaze and took a small step back. Only then did Roje realize she had her hand on his forehead; she hurriedly pulled her hand away and also stepped back.
One step. Then another.
In an instant, distance opened between them. Haven frowned at the sudden space and smoothed his face with the hand that wasn’t holding the medicine package, then continued in a somewhat deflated voice.
“I’m fine. I don’t have a fever.”
“But…”
Roje still looked unconvinced and worried. Haven felt the warmth rise in him at her concerned look and changed the subject.
“Anyway, I don’t plan on firing you.”
