Chapter 24:
At that moment, Flitta, who had been nestled in Roze’s arms, poked her head out and asked. She seemed calmer now, though a trace of worry still lingered on her face. Roze, gathering her troubled thoughts, forced a smile.
“Of course. Why would I be angry at you, Lady Flitta? You’re so brave.”
“Yep! I’m really brave!”
Flitta nodded quickly at Roze’s words. Roze gently stroked the child’s soft, pale cheek and continued.
“But isn’t it more fun when we eat together?”
“Huh? Umm…”
Flitta’s round eyes wavered from side to side. Roze smiled and placed a cup of milk into the child’s hands. Flitta took the cup with both hands and looked up at her.
“I think so too, my lady. Eating alone can be boring and lonely.”
“…Even you, Roze?”
Looking at Flitta’s widened eyes, Roze spoke in a gentle tone.
“It’s not because you’re a baby that being alone feels lonely. Grown-ups feel that way too.”
“…Mmm.”
Flitta blinked slowly at Roze’s words. Her light green eyes trembled.
“Nanny said not to act like a baby. She said… Dad won’t like me if I do.”
“He won’t like you…?”
Roze was momentarily speechless and barely managed to ask. The child hesitated before nodding. Roze could only suppress a sigh.
It wasn’t just the indifferent Duke Haven who was the problem — the nanny was, too. What kind of things had they been saying to a child who was only five years old?
Undermining her confidence, hurting her feelings.
It was no wonder Flitta watched others’ reactions and acted timidly, unlike a normal child her age.
Roze pressed her lips together.
Her initial wish had been simple — to see the man she loved and their child, even from afar, before she died.
That wish had already been fulfilled. No — she had been allowed to stay close to them, more than she could have ever hoped.
But now, in this very moment, Roze had a new wish — or perhaps a mission.
Before she left, she would bring Haven and Flitta closer together.
She would show Flitta her father’s love, and teach Haven how to love his daughter.
With that firm resolve, Roze opened her mouth again.
“That’s not true at all. Why would His Grace dislike you, my lady?”
“I’m… just a burden to him. Because my mom… was low-born…”
As she mentioned her mother, Flitta’s voice began to tremble. Roze pulled the child into a hug again and gently patted her.
“No parent in this world dislikes their own child, my lady.”
“But Daddy’s always scary. He never smiles when he sees me.”
“His Grace is just… awkward, that’s all.”
Roze smiled as she met the child’s light green eyes. Flitta tilted her head.
“Awkward?”
“He loves you, my lady. He just doesn’t know how to show it.”
“…Really?”
“Even adults don’t know everything.”
Flitta’s face brightened at Roze’s words. Seeing the child smile again, Roze reaffirmed her determination.
“…?”
The butler, on his way to the duke’s office, slowed his steps. Standing in the middle of the hallway, he squinted at the sight of a maid loitering just outside the office.
“Isn’t that the lady’s maid?”
He muttered to himself in confusion. There was no reason for the young lady’s personal maid to be standing in front of the duke’s office like that.
“Hmph…”
The elderly butler frowned slightly. Still, he quickly fixed his expression and cleared his throat as he resumed walking. Roze, hearing his approach, turned her head and hastily bowed when she saw him.
“Butler.”
“What brings you here? Did something happen with the young lady…?”
He responded to her greeting with a rapid-fire question. Roze quickly shook her head before he could finish.
“No, nothing like that.”
“Then why are you here? This is the duke’s office. Not just anyone can come here.”
His tone carried a hint of disapproval, assuming it was a mistake due to her unfamiliarity with the estate, as she had only been there a week.
But unlike what he assumed, Roze spoke in a trembling voice.
“I have something I wish to say to His Grace.”
“What?”
The butler furrowed his brow, thinking he must have misheard, and let out a stunned laugh before regaining his composure.
“Go back.”
“But…”
“His Grace isn’t here right now. And even if he were, he’s not someone you can meet just because you want to.”
His tone was stricter now. Roze opened her mouth again to explain, but just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the far end of the hall. Both she and the butler turned toward the sound.
“His Grace!”
There was no need to confirm who it was. Who else but the master of this estate would stride so boldly near the duke’s office?
Roze quickly stepped aside and bowed when she saw Haven approaching. He stopped in front of her.
His gaze settled atop Roze’s bowed head. Deep within his blue eyes, something flickered — an unrecognizable emotion even he wasn’t aware of.
As he looked at the woman bowing before him, his brow creased slightly. The butler stepped forward and spoke.
“Did you return from training, Your Grace?”
Haven turned his gaze from Roze to the butler and nodded shortly.
His damp hair clung to his forehead. It was wet not only with sweat but likely from the rain, which had started as a shower but now continued steadily.
“I’ll prepare your bath.”
“Please do.”
With that, Haven turned to enter his office. The butler gave Roze a look, gesturing for her to leave. Roze hesitated, about to speak again, but Haven spoke first in a low voice.
“Come in.”
“……!”
Roze’s green eyes widened in shock. The butler also looked surprised. Only Haven remained calm, looking at her as he added,
“You seem to have something to say.”
“……”
Roze blinked in confusion, unable to respond. Haven raised a brow.
“Was I wrong?”
“N-No!”
She answered quickly, her voice rising. The butler muttered about her tone being improper, but she had no time to worry about that.
Haven asked again, raising an eyebrow.
“So you didn’t have anything to say to me?”
“N-No, I mean… that is…”
Roze frantically shook her head, trying to explain, but her words came out jumbled in her rush.
And then—
She heard it.
A soft chuckle — from the man in front of her.
“……?”
A laugh that shouldn’t have been there in that moment.
But it was so familiar to her — a memory deeply etched in her heart. He had once laughed so much louder, so joyfully.
That must have been why Roze looked up at him without realizing.
‘…Ah.’
Her lips trembled, as if she were about to cry. The moment her eyes met those indifferent blue ones, she quickly lowered her gaze to avoid them.
A deep ache, like being carved from the inside, spread through her chest.
Truthfully, it made no sense for her to feel this way. A sense of loss? What was left to lose now?
She had already lost him long ago.
Him. And their child.
The man before her wasn’t the one she used to know. The man who used to smile so warmly at her — he no longer existed. And yet, foolishly, she had come back to linger at the edge of his world.
‘Don’t be greedy. Think of Flitta.’
Roze tried to shake off her sorrow, but Haven’s voice sounded from above her.
“If you have something to say, come in. If not, leave.”
“……!”
Her heart, which had just settled, stirred again. She quickly lifted her head.
Haven was already stepping into his office, having effectively given her permission.
Roze instinctively looked at the butler. He frowned disapprovingly but reluctantly said,
“What are you doing? His Grace has allowed you to enter.”
“Ah, yes! Thank you!”
Roze hurried after Haven into the office. The cool scent that seemed to follow him greeted her first.
As soon as Haven stepped inside, he absentmindedly rubbed his mouth and chin with his palm. Then, letting out a dry chuckle, he shook his head a few times.
“I must be losing my mind…”
He frowned, reflecting on his own behavior. Even he couldn’t understand it.
If someone else had witnessed it, they would’ve doubted their own eyes. The duke… smiling?
Haven rubbed his lips again. His hard expression hadn’t changed. As it should be.
“Then why…”
He tilted his head in confusion, unable to understand himself — when a faint presence behind him made him turn.
The presence of the woman who had followed him in.
Roze. That name’s—
[End of Chapter 24]
