Chapter 22
Heivan looked at the child’s colorful ribbons, which were dizzying to the eye, and then turned his gaze to the head maid. Sensing the unspoken question in his eyes, the head maid quickly answered.
“Her Ladyship wanted to wear a lot of ribbons.”
“Hmph…”
Heivan let out a sigh, one that was hard to interpret. At the same moment, Flitta’s face turned pale. Perhaps she thought her father would scold her for looking untidy. The child, who had summoned all her courage before, now looked terrified and tugged at Rose’s skirt.
“Your Grace…”
Rose gently took Flitta’s hand and began to speak. She didn’t want to see the child worrying about other people’s reactions. That’s why she had done what she did. Even if it was a small matter, she wanted the child to make her own choices—to learn what she liked for herself.
“Your Grace, may I suggest reconsidering the matter of Her Ladyship’s personal maid? It would be far too presumptuous of me to even think of repaying the kindness Your Grace has shown. And yet, here I am, sullying the honor of House Guenters by whispering my vulgar tastes to Her Ladyship.”
At that moment, the nanny stepped forward with a triumphant look and cut Rose off. Heivan, who had been about to sit at the table, paused when he heard her words. The butler and the head maid both furrowed their brows ever so slightly.
But Heivan walked calmly to the table, expressionless, as if nothing had happened. The butler quickly composed his face and stepped forward to assist with the meal.
“Y-Your Grace?”
The nanny looked shaken by the unexpected lack of reaction. Just as she opened her mouth again, the head maid narrowed her eyes and shook her head. The nanny clamped her lips shut like someone who’d just been wronged.
“Please have a seat, My Lady.”
Ignoring the nanny, the head maid turned to the young girl. Flitta flinched, looked anxiously at the nanny, and then glanced back behind her.
As Rose leaned forward to gently reassure the child, a voice interrupted.
“The honor of Guenters, is it…”
It was Heivan’s indifferent voice, laced with what seemed to be sarcasm. Of course, he wouldn’t mock his own house—or the royal family—so it must have been a misunderstanding. Everyone, except Heivan himself, thought so.
“If our honor can be undone by a few ribbons, we’d be better off without it.”
“…!”
But it wasn’t a misunderstanding. Everyone could hear the sarcasm in his voice. The nanny realized her slip and turned pale, scrambling to explain.
“Your Grace, I… I wasn’t trying to insult the Guenters!”
Her voice rose, and Heivan’s brows knit. The head maid quickly grabbed the nanny’s arm.
“That’s enough. Why are you making such a fuss?”
“But, I—”
“Will you repeat something His Grace did not address? Even if it causes such a commotion?”
The head maid asked sharply, her voice low. The nanny bit her lip and lowered her head, trembling. The butler clicked his tongue at the sight.
“My Lady.”
The head maid turned her attention from the nanny to Flitta, speaking with gentle formality. Flitta, frozen in place, awkwardly approached the table when Rose gave her a small nudge.
Rose followed and pulled out the chair for her, helping her sit down.
Once both Heivan and Flitta were seated, food began to be brought to the table. A bowl of pea soup was placed in front of the child first.
“Uunngh…”
Standing behind her, Rose smiled as she heard the child’s small groan. She bent slightly and whispered in Flitta’s ear.
“Remember the story I told you yesterday about the pea fairy?”
“Mmm, but, Rose…”
Flitta, holding a spoon, pouted and looked back at her. Rose gave her a warm smile and whispered even softer:
“If you don’t eat your soup, the pea fairy will be very sad. She probably woke up early to make it just for you.”
“Hmph.”
Flitta let out a small whine but then dutifully scooped up the soup with her spoon and began to eat.
Over the past week, Rose had learned a bit about the child’s eating habits and discovered that she was a picky eater. One thing she especially refused to eat was peas.
So Rose wanted to help her overcome that. But she didn’t want to force her. Not because she was a noble lady—but because no one should be forced. Children, too, deserved the right to make their own choices.
That’s why Rose chose to tell stories. She carefully crafted tales that would interest the child, hoping they would help Flitta overcome her picky habits by her own will.
Perhaps the child had understood Rose’s heart.
Despite puffing out her cheeks and pouting, Flitta continued eating the pea soup. When Rose saw she had eaten almost a third of the bowl, she looked at her warmly and slowly straightened her back.
“…!”
As she lifted her head, her eyes met Heivan’s—and she froze.
How long had he been watching her?
His blue eyes were unreadable, but they were clearly fixed on her, not just glancing casually.
Even though she was clearly flustered.
Even though the butler, the head maid, and even the nanny noticed something strange and awkward.
“…Pea fairy, huh.”
After a long silence, Heivan finally spoke. And what he said was completely unexpected.
Rose’s face flushed red at the words “pea fairy” from his lips. She thought she had whispered quietly, but it must have reached Heivan’s ears.
But he said nothing else. He simply resumed his meal.
Even so, Rose kept her head bowed, her face burning, until Flitta finished her breakfast.
* * *
“…Pfft.”
Heivan chuckled as he skimmed through some documents. Startled, the butler, who had been pouring tea, flinched. The teapot in his hand wobbled, spilling some tea onto the desk.
“Ah! I-I’m sorry, Your Grace!”
“It’s fine.”
Heivan brushed off the apology and returned to reviewing the papers. As the butler poured more tea, he glanced cautiously at Heivan.
“…What? Do you have something to say?”
Heivan’s icy blue gaze turned toward the butler. It was his usual sharp look, but the butler smiled and spoke out of the blue.
“Her Ladyship’s face has become much brighter.”
“…”
Heivan narrowed his eyes. The butler smiled brightly and continued.
“Just this morning. Haha, I was so surprised to see her during breakfast…”
Heivan sipped from the teacup in front of him while listening in silence. The gentle scent of the tea seemed to soften his usually stern expression.
A breeze came through the open window, brushing his neatly combed hair.
As he took another sip and looked out the window, he noticed that, even though it was midday, the sky was gloomy. Dark clouds were creeping in, as if a storm were coming.
Tap.
And just as he suspected, a raindrop hit the windowsill.
“Oh dear, it seems a shower is coming.”
The butler trailed off and moved to close the window.
“Leave it, Yanik.”
Heivan spoke just before the butler shut the window. Then he placed the teacup down, stood up, and approached the window. His loyal butler stepped aside quickly.
Heivan stood at the spot the butler had cleared and stared outside. At first, only a few drops of rain fell, but soon the downpour intensified.
Shaa—
Heavy rain poured down. Heivan silently watched the gardeners and staff running to take cover.
His expression remained calm—until one figure entered his view. At that moment, his entire demeanor shifted. Even the butler standing a few steps away flinched.
That woman.
His child’s personal maid.
Heivan frowned as he saw Rose staggering through the rain, carrying a laundry basket. While everyone else had taken cover, she was out there, soaked, barely holding the heavy basket.
Tch.
Contrary to his amused thought, Heivan’s face grew even colder. He clicked his tongue while watching the woman, whose burden looked heavier than she was.
“…Your Grace?”
Reading Heivan’s displeased expression, the butler peeked outside with a puzzled look. But Rose had already disappeared into the building.
“…?”
Still confused, the butler watched as Heivan returned to his desk. Heivan picked up the documents he had been reviewing moments earlier.
His blue eyes scanned the page but quickly twisted in irritation. He tossed the papers aside and turned to the butler.
“Who’s in charge of assigning the maids’ duties?”
