26
“It’s okay.”
Roze mouthed the words silently, careful not to make a sound lest the nanny hear. Sensing her meaning, Flitta burst into a smile but quickly hunched her shoulders and pretended to go back to reading her picture book.
“…Tsk.”
The nanny whipped her head around and clicked her tongue when she saw Flitta. She opened her mouth, about to say something.
Knock, knock.
But before she could speak, there was a knock at the door. The nanny frowned and gestured at Roze with her eyes. Roze bowed her head and quickly approached the door.
“Head maid.”
The moment she opened it, the head maid stood there. Roze greeted her and stepped aside. However, the head maid didn’t enter the room right away and instead looked at Roze for a moment.
“…?”
Wondering why she was being stared at, Roze tilted her head. Then the head maid looked away and walked past her into the room.
“What brings you here at this hour, Head Maid…?”
The nanny stood up and asked the head maid. The head maid glanced briefly at her and gave a nod of greeting, then spoke politely to Flitta.
“His Grace has asked to have dinner with you tonight.”
“…Huh?”
Flitta widened her eyes in surprise. She looked around and then turned to Roze, as if seeking confirmation of what she’d just heard.
But Roze couldn’t give her any answer. Not only was it not her place to speak, but she herself was also too startled.
‘Could it be… because of what I said?’
No, that couldn’t be. If the Grand Duke actually changed his behavior based on the words of a mere maid, wouldn’t anyone laugh?
Even so, Roze’s face began to blush. Though he had seemed indifferent, it appeared he had listened to her words after all.
He hadn’t dismissed her entirely just because she was a servant.
“D-Do I get to eat dinner with Daddy?”
At that moment, Flitta asked, blinking at the head maid as if to confirm. The head maid, uncharacteristically smiling, nodded.
“Yes, young lady. His Grace told me to inform you personally.”
“Wow!”
Flitta’s green eyes sparkled wide open. Only then did the nanny, finally snapping out of it, start flapping about in a fluster.
“Oh my, we can’t sit around like this. Young lady, you must get dressed again! Roze, what are you doing standing there like that? Hurry and bring the dress for the young lady to change into!”
“Ah… Yes! Right away, Nanny!”
Snapping back to attention, Roze hurried out of the room following the nanny’s orders. A faint smile lingered at the corners of her lips.
Grinning from ear to ear.
Standing beside him, the butler had a wide grin across his face. But Haven didn’t show that he noticed. He simply glanced calmly toward the dining room door.
“Ahem, hm.”
The butler let out a strange noise, trying to suppress his laughter, and cleared his throat. Haven’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Ah, Your Grace, I just…”
The butler quickly opened his mouth, trying to explain himself after seeing his master’s expression. But before he could finish, they heard the sound of small footsteps outside the door.
“Oh! The young lady must be here.”
With a relieved expression, the butler rushed toward the entrance. The moment he opened the door, Flitta appeared holding the nanny’s hand.
“Welcome, young lady.”
“Yes!”
Flitta bowed politely to the old butler and stepped inside. Haven’s eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the child.
She looked like a perfect young noble lady.
The memory of the colorful ribbons she wore in the morning was still vivid. He clicked his tongue without realizing it. Flitta drew in a breath.
Haven spoke in a low voice to the child looking up at him like a startled bunny.
“…You look different from this morning.”
“Y-Yes. Um…”
“This morning, I failed to pay enough attention and allowed you to look unlike a noble lady. I apologize, Your Grace.”
Flitta tried to answer hesitantly, nervously fidgeting with her hands. But the nanny cut in, interrupting her.
Haven’s blue eyes shifted from the child to the nanny.
As if proudly showing off her work, the nanny had a smug expression on her face.
“Even if she’s just a maid, I thought she’d have at least some sense of taste, but she’s clearly lacking…”
The nanny sighed dramatically and glanced sideways at Roze, preparing to continue. Haven shifted his gaze lightly toward Roze, then spoke to Flitta again with a detached tone.
“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“…Pardon?”
“That outfit’s too formal for dinner.”
Haven’s eyes shifted again toward the nanny. She opened her mouth, still full of pride, but then paled as she realized his meaning.
“Come here.”
Haven took his gaze off the nanny and gestured at Flitta. The girl rolled her eyes nervously, then timidly stepped forward.
“You’ll get indigestion like this.”
Haven’s hand reached for her dress, or more precisely, the button fastened tightly at her throat. He undid a few of them.
“U-Um…”
Flitta blinked and quickly lowered her head. Her cheeks flushed red. His touch felt unfamiliar, but she didn’t dislike it—in fact, her blushing cheeks clearly showed she was pleased.
“That’s better.”
Haven nodded after loosening the collar and looked to the butler. The butler immediately responded, understanding his cue.
“Then we’ll prepare the meal, Your Grace. Young lady, please take your seat.”
As soon as he finished, the waiting servants began bringing in the food.
“Hehehe!”
“Was it that fun?”
Roze asked with a smile as she helped Flitta change clothes. Flitta raised her arms and nodded vigorously.
“Yeah! Daddy talked to me a lot today! He even told me to eat more bread. Nanny always said not to eat too much or I’d get fat.”
Even without the nanny around, Flitta whispered as if still cautious. Roze smiled at the child, who was looking at her with sparkling eyes.
It was a small change. Nothing grand. Just a shared dinner and a little conversation. But for the child, that small moment became great joy.
‘…I hope it brought him joy, too.’
Roze suddenly found herself wondering about Haven. What was he thinking now? Was he happy after spending time with Flitta?
“Do you think Daddy likes me?”
After changing into pajamas and sitting on the bed swinging her legs, Flitta cautiously asked. Roze folded the dress she had taken off and turned to the child with a smile.
“Of course.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.”
Hope and excitement shimmered in Flitta’s green eyes. Roze walked to the bed, knelt in front of her, and the girl’s gaze lowered slightly to follow.
“You are the Grand Duke’s only daughter, young lady.”
“Mm.”
“No parent in the world dislikes their child. In fact, if they could protect their child even at the cost of their own life… they would do it without hesitation.”
Roze’s voice was warm, but trembled slightly. Flitta was too young to understand that trembling. The girl just asked innocently:
“Even Mommy?”
“…What?”
Roze’s eyes widened. For a second, it felt like Flitta had called her “Mommy.”
“Do you think Mommy loved me too?”
“…Of course. She loved you very much. I’m sure she still does.”
Roze fought back the tears threatening to well up and tucked the child into bed. Even as she hummed a song, Flitta was clearly still giddy from dinner and conversation with her father.
“It’s time to sleep now.”
“Okay! Goodnight, Roze.”
“Goodnight.”
Roze pulled the blanket up to Flitta’s chin and turned off the bedside lamp. The moonlight gently fell across the face of the now-sleeping child.
…My precious baby.
Roze leaned over Flitta carefully. Her fingertips brushed near the child’s hair and cheek, but she didn’t dare actually touch her.
Roze’s hand hesitated with aching tenderness again and again.
If only, just once, she could hold the child in her arms.
If only she could kiss her forehead, stroke her soft cheek.
A sigh escaped quietly with that wistful longing. She gave a bitter smile and whispered softly:
“Have sweet dreams, young lady.”
“Mm…”
As if in response, Flitta murmured and rubbed her face against the pillow. Roze watched with a smile, straightened her back, and glanced around the room once more before heading to the door.
She opened it quietly so as not to wake the child. The hallway lamps cast long shadows. Everything looked normal.
Except—there was another shadow overlapping hers.
“…!”
Roze turned silently to close the door, but when she saw the large figure standing right in front of her, she gasped and looked up.
