Chapter 20
‘This is a dream.’
The moment Roje saw Heivan beside her, she realized she was dreaming.
『Hm? What’s wrong?』
Heivan turned to her, frowning slightly, and reached out his hand. His long fingers gently rubbed the corner of her eye.
『Don’t tell me you cried?』
『No.』
Though Roje felt her eyes grow warm at the heat of his touch on her skin, she shook her head quickly, pretending it was nothing. But Heivan turned completely toward her, cupped her cheeks with both hands, and gazed directly into her eyes.
『You definitely cried.』
His blue eyes examined every inch of her face, and it nearly made her burst into tears. But she had to hold it in.
Even if it was just a dream, she didn’t want to cry in front of him.
Roje placed her hands over Heivan’s as he held her cheeks. Even though she knew it was a dream, the warmth from his hands felt vividly real.
『Why are you acting so pretty today of all days?』
Heivan chuckled softly at her. Roje, on the verge of tears, broke into a bright smile and asked playfully,
『So I wasn’t pretty on other days?』
『You were always pretty. But today, you’re even more beautiful. No—you’re always beautiful, no matter the day. So much so that I wish time would stop, and yet I can’t wait for tomorrow with you.』
She felt the same. Every moment with Heivan felt precious, and she eagerly awaited a future with him.
Never imagining that what awaited wasn’t a future—but an end.
『Hmm. Roje, you’re acting really strange today. Are you sick?』
He looked at her with concern. Roje smiled and shook her head.
『I’m just happy. So happy, and so thankful.』
She couldn’t finish her words before pulling him into a hug, her arms wrapping around his neck. The tears she’d been holding back slipped out through her lips as quiet sobs.
『Roje?』
Startled, Heivan called out to her. But Roje didn’t respond, her face buried in the nape of his neck. Then, perhaps thinking he understood the reason, he embraced her gently and said,
『They say pregnant women are more emotional. I guess that’s true.』
Pregnant. Our baby.
Roje raised her head at his words, still holding onto him.
『Our baby, Heivan.』
『Yes.』
『Our baby’s name is Plita.』
Her voice trembled. Meeting his blue eyes, she spoke with quiet determination.
『I’m going to do my best. I’ll give everything I have—to Plita, and to you. Everything I couldn’t give before, I’ll give it all.』
She could feel it.
It was time to wake up from the dream.
Roje tried to keep speaking to his gradually blurring figure.
『So please…』
There was so much more she wanted to say. But his form faded. Heivan seemed to be speaking too, but she couldn’t hear it. Her own voice didn’t reach him either. Silently, she mouthed words, reaching out toward him.
The warmth she had felt just moments ago, the heat of his hand…
“……!”
Roje opened her eyes as she stretched out her hand. Her outstretched hand looked so lonely, as if grasping at nothing in the empty air. Pale blue dawn light passed indifferently through her fingers, drawing vague lines on the wall beside the bed. A meaningless tangle of scribbles.
She slowly closed and reopened her eyes, staring at the pattern. Her mind was still heavy with sleep, and everything felt hazy. Maybe that’s why… she had no idea where she was.
A strange room. An unfamiliar bed. An unknown view.
「Roje.」
Just then, a soft voice brushed her ear. It wasn’t a real voice. But to Roje, who hadn’t fully left the dream, it felt vividly real.
“Ah…”
And finally, she remembered everything. Where she was now. What kind of dream she’d just had.
Roje pressed her lips tightly together as she recalled Heivan from her dream.
Her lips quivered, as if she was about to cry. But instead of tears, she forced a faint smile and looked out the window.
The sky before dawn was still dim. A time when everyone was still asleep. Roje liked this stillness.
“I should hurry.”
Seeing Heivan in her dream had left her dazed for a moment. She lightly patted her cheeks and got out of bed. Now fully awake, her surroundings finally came into focus.
Her room. Still unfamiliar, but a little more familiar than before.
‘Come to think of it, it’s already been a week.’
She looked around the room with a strange sense of realization. It had been a week since she arrived at the Grand Duke’s estate. At first, everything had been awkward and unfamiliar, but she was gradually adjusting.
…And she had even found her favorite time of day.
This time—just before sunrise.
Immersed in her thoughts, she turned around. It was time to wash and change clothes. The sooner she finished, the more time she could spend with the child.
Roje didn’t knock this time—she carefully opened the door and stepped inside. The gentle sound of a child’s breathing greeted her. Unconsciously, she smiled.
A small child was buried in the blankets, fast asleep. Roje tiptoed quietly toward the bed, not wanting to wake Plita.
‘Looks like she didn’t have any nightmares today. That’s a relief.’
As she reached the bedside, Roje instinctively checked Plita’s face. She remembered how shocked she had been that first morning at the Grand Duke’s estate—seeing Plita’s face soaked with tears.
That was when Roje first realized: her daughter often suffered from nightmares. That she would wander in those nightmares alone, sometimes unable to sleep.
「Don’t tell Daddy. It’s a secret.」
And yet, instead of crying and asking for comfort, Plita had looked up at her with pleading eyes and asked her to keep it a secret.
She was at the age where, after a scary dream, she should run to her mom or dad. But Plita tried to hide it.
‘…Sweetheart. I’m so sorry.’
I should’ve been there for you. I should’ve held you during those bad dreams.
Roje knelt at the side of the bed and quietly watched her daughter. Her fingers twitched. She wanted to stroke Plita’s soft cheeks, run her hands through her shiny hair.
But instead of acting on impulse, Roje clenched her hands into fists and stood up again.
“…Mmm.”
Just then, Plita stirred—rubbing her face into the pillow and blinking awake.
Her pale green eyes peeked through sleepy lids. Roje’s eyes widened in surprise. Plita stared at her blankly for a moment, clearly still drowsy.
Roje smiled at her.
“Good morning, my lady.”
“……Roje!”
Plita blinked rapidly at the greeting, then suddenly sat up and reached out her arms. Roje quickly scooped her up, afraid she’d fall off the bed. A faint, milky scent clung to the child.
“Good morning.”
Plita gave a shy smile as she wrapped her arms around Roje’s neck. Roje gently set her back on the bed. The child’s eyes sparkled as she looked up.
“Did you have any scary dreams last night?”
“Nope! Not scary at all!”
Plita beamed proudly, nodding her head. Roje’s eyes curved in affection.
“I’m so glad. Well, shall we wash up and change into clean clothes?”
It was a bit earlier than usual, but as Roje hesitated, Plita hopped out of bed without protest.
“Yeah! And before breakfast, I wanna draw with you, Roje! Draw more bunnies! More than yesterday!”
“Yes, my lady.”
Roje smiled and answered. Yesterday, while they were playing with a sketchbook, Plita had asked her to draw bunnies, and apparently loved it. Roje chuckled again and quickly prepared the washbasin and picked out fresh clothes.
Truthfully, Roje wasn’t very skilled at being a maid. Unlike the other staff at the estate, who were thoroughly trained, Roje had only recently taken on the role. Everything was still unfamiliar, and she made mistakes. Even with a week of training behind her.
But Plita never seemed to mind. In fact, she often seemed thrilled—laughing and giggling happily. And today was no different.
Freshly washed, Plita swung her legs and grinned with a rosy face. Roje smiled at the sight and asked,
“Shall we go with a ribbon in your hair today? Or a headband? I think a ribbon would suit you best.”
“Then let’s do a ribbon.”
Plita looked at Roje in the mirror and answered without hesitation.
“How about a yellow ribbon?”
Roje picked a yellow one from the box and held it up against Plita’s hair to check. Plita rolled her eyes around, then nodded.
“Hmm… I like it.”
Plita had a gentle personality. She wasn’t picky, even when choosing things. Roje hadn’t seen her throw a tantrum even once over something like this.
Roje began to tie the yellow ribbon to the side of Plita’s hair—then suddenly paused. Her gaze drifted to the child’s reflection in the mirror.
(To be continued…)
