Chapter 38
“It’s such a dark night. Weren’t you scared?”
“…A little. But I held it in!”
Flitta rolled her light green eyes, then said bravely. Roze looked at the child and smiled. Flitta seemed relieved by that smile, and her expression softened. But Roze quickly became serious again and spoke with concern.
“You mustn’t do this again, Princess. It’s dark, and you could have missed a step on the stairs and gotten hurt.”
“I was careful. Really! So don’t be mad. I just wanted to see you, Roze.”
Flitta looked up at her cautiously and clung to Roze’s arm, shaking it. Roze looked down at the girl for a moment, then straightened her knees and stood up.
“Then it’s time to go. I’ll take you back to your bedroom.”
“Aww, already?”
Flitta pouted and clung to Roze’s arm. Then she suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked down at the hand touching Roze’s arm.
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Roze, your arm is warm.”
“Huh?”
“Come here. Let me see your face.”
Flitta stood on her tiptoes and reached up. Roze, confused, bent down as the child asked. Flitta, now serious, placed her hand on Roze’s forehead.
“You have a fever! Your forehead is hot!”
Flitta pulled her hand back in surprise and began to stomp her feet in panic. Only then did Roze realize she had a fever. Her body hadn’t felt great earlier—it made sense now.
“I’ll go call the doctor right away—!”
“No, Princess! It’s fine. You don’t need to do that.”
Roze panicked and stopped the girl, who was about to run to fetch the royal physician.
“I just need a good night’s sleep.”
“No! If you have a fever, you need treatment. You’re sick!”
“It’s not like that. I’m just tired. That’s all.”
“…Really?”
Flitta looked up at her with teary eyes. Roze smiled more brightly and nodded.
“Of course. A little rest under a warm blanket, and I’ll be good as new. So, Princess, shall we go to your room now?”
Roze extended her hand to the child. But Flitta, still teary-eyed, looked up at her and hid her hands behind her back, shouting:
“No!”
“Princess.”
“No. I’m not going.”
She pursed her lips and shook her head firmly, then said with a determined expression:
“I’m coming into Roze’s room. I’ll help you sleep.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll help you fall asleep—pat, pat. If you sleep well, you’ll get better, right? I’ll pat you like you did for me.”
Flitta pulled out her hand and gently patted Roze around the waist. The gesture made Roze’s eyes sting. She was overwhelmed with affection and wanted to embrace the girl.
‘What should I do with this child, my baby… This sweet little heart…’
Flitta looked up at her earnestly. Roze couldn’t ignore that expression. Honestly, she also wanted to spend a little more time with the child. Holding back her tears, she hesitated, then said:
“Hmm… Just for a little while, then you must go back.”
“Okay.”
“You promise?”
“Promise! Pinky swear.”
The child held out her small hand like a maple leaf. Roze hooked her pinky with the girl’s, then opened the door to her room.
“Wowww.”
As soon as the door opened, Flitta ran inside. There was nothing special about the small, bare room, but she looked around excitedly, exploring every corner.
Standing on tiptoes at the window—“Wow!”
Leaning on the vanity-desk combo—“Wow!”
Rubbing her cheek on the blanket—“Wow!”
Finally, remembering her purpose, she straightened up and patted the bed.
“Roze, come lie down.”
Roze smiled fondly and approached the bed.
“Right here. Lie down on the bed.”
Flitta pulled Roze’s hand. With a small smile, Roze lay on the bed as the girl directed. Flitta tugged the blanket over Roze clumsily and started to gently pat her.
“Sleep well. Don’t be sick.”
Tears welled up again at the girl’s sweet words.
She felt both happy and sorrowful. Because no matter how much she tried, the desire still clung to her heart.
She wished she could spend just one night like this with the child. Cuddling together, telling bedtime stories, singing lullabies, and then falling asleep to the soft breathing of the sleeping child…
What was ordinary for others—just a night with a child—was an impossible wish for her.
‘I want to invite her onto the bed. Just for a little while. If it’s just between the two of us, no one would know…’
Roze squeezed her eyes shut to suppress the rising desire, then opened them again. Flitta looked at her with wide eyes. Roze forced a smile and said:
“Oh my, I feel much better now.”
“Really?”
Flitta climbed onto the bed, eager to check for herself. She touched Roze’s forehead, then tilted her head.
“It’s still hot though?”
“No, the fever has gone down a little. See? Doesn’t it feel a bit cooler?”
Roze exaggerated, placing her hand on her own forehead. Flitta tilted her head again, unsure, and felt Roze’s forehead once more. The touch of her little fingers tickled.
“Hmm… maybe. I think so.”
Still uncertain, the girl compared their foreheads. Yet she didn’t seem to suspect Roze of lying.
Roze’s heart ached from the trust the child showed. She smiled belatedly.
“Thank you, Princess. Your patting helped me get better so quickly.”
“Oh, um… Tell me next time if you’re sick, Roze. Don’t be sick alone.”
Flitta blushed shyly, then added proudly. She puffed out her chest and lifted her shoulders.
“Yes, I will.”
Roze smiled and nodded.
It had been a hard day. She was exhausted, physically and emotionally. If Flitta hadn’t come to see her, she might have collapsed into bed and fallen asleep immediately.
Yet despite not resting, she now felt full of energy. As if the exhaustion had never existed.
Because the child’s warmth and kindness were more effective than any medicine.
Roze threw off the blanket and sat up. Flitta, who had been lying awkwardly, also straightened.
“Then it’s time to keep your promise and go back to your room.”
“…Okay.”
Flitta’s eyes drooped. Roze gently comforted her and wiggled her pinky finger.
“You promised.”
“…I know. I’ll keep my promise.”
Flitta fiddled with her pinky, then reluctantly climbed down from the bed. Roze followed. As soon as she did, Flitta took her hand.
“Then let’s walk hand in hand to my room.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Roze smiled, taking Flitta’s hand. As they were about to leave, Flitta looked back and pointed at the bed.
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Huh? What—ah…”
Oh no. Roze frowned. The bracelet she had hidden in her maid’s uniform had slipped out while lying down.
“That’s… isn’t that Aunt’s bracelet? It is, right?”
Flitta asked in a small, scared voice. Roze gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“Yes.”
“But why do you have it, Roze?”
“Good question. I need to return it… Just a moment, Princess.”
Roze picked up the bracelet and walked to the small drawer beside the table. Flitta followed, still holding Roze’s hand, peeking curiously.
“Are you keeping it in there?”
“Yes. Until I can return it to Her Majesty the Queen Mother.”
“Why not now?”
“I told her it’s too much for me… but she insisted I keep it for now.”
Roze smiled wryly and closed the drawer with the bracelet inside. Then she turned back to Flitta.
“Well, now it’s really time to go.”
“…Sigh, okay.”
Flitta hesitated, let out a tiny sigh, and nodded. She looked like she was mimicking an adult. Roze smiled bitterly.
She was adorable—and at the same time, it made Roze feel sorry for her. But she couldn’t indulge the child’s wish. It was something she herself wanted too—but precisely because of that, it was something that couldn’t happen.
Not as long as she couldn’t openly claim her place as the child’s mother.
Roze held Flitta’s small hand and stepped out of the room. The hallway was quiet, as everyone was in their rooms. That was a relief. If Flitta had been seen by someone, rumors would have spread—and some of those words might have hurt the child.
Saying things like, “Of course, she’s of low blood.”
