Chapter 57
Crackle, crackle.
The sound of burning firewood filled the room. Nearby, the soft breathing of a sleeping child could be heard.
“…Am I dreaming?”
Roze wandered through the darkness, thinking this. There was no way such a happy moment could be allowed to her if it weren’t a dream.
The warm air. The steady breaths of the child asleep.
…And the warm hand holding hers.
“…Someone’s hand?”
Her mind snapped awake. Just as Roze opened her eyes and tried to sit up, someone gently pressed her back down and spoke in a low voice.
“Don’t move recklessly. Your arm is broken, and your body isn’t fully recovered yet.”
“Wh-Who… Your Highness?”
In the pitch darkness, at first, she didn’t know who was speaking to her. No—she couldn’t recognize it due to panic, even though it was a familiar voice. But as her eyes adjusted to the dark, the figure speaking to her gradually became clear.
‘Haven.’
She blinked at him, sitting in front of her.
‘Why… you? Why are you here? Am I really dreaming?’
“…Tch.”
At that moment, Haven furrowed his brows and clicked his tongue.
“See? You moved too soon and it hurt. You even shed tears.”
It seemed that tears had flowed without her realizing it. That wasn’t important. But what he did next shocked her even more: Haven took a handkerchief and gently wiped away Roze’s tears himself.
“…!”
“Does it hurt a lot?”
Haven asked, looking at her with wide eyes, but Roze couldn’t respond. She stared blankly as if her mind had left her body.
Understandably, after experiencing such a major accident, her shocked mind hadn’t yet settled.
Satisfied, at least in part, with her state, he opened his mouth again. But before he could speak, Roze’s focus returned, and she asked:
“W-What about the princess? Is the princess safe?”
It seemed she had remembered now. Haven couldn’t tell if he should feel relieved or not that Roze’s first concern upon regaining consciousness was whether Plita was safe. He gave a faint, awkward laugh.
“Your Highness, the princess…”
“She’s safe. Thanks to you protecting Plita. She’s sleeping right here.”
Haven answered Roze’s repeated questions and gestured toward his lap. Following his gaze, Roze’s eyes fell on Plita, sleeping soundly on Haven’s lap.
“Ah… thank you. Truly, thank you.”
Her voice trembled with tears of relief, overwhelmed that the child was unharmed.
Roze tried to sit up again to check on Plita more closely.
“I told you to stay lying down.”
“But…”
Roze trailed off, frowning. Her throat was dry, and her voice cracked. Noticing her state, Haven spoke.
“Stay still. I’ll get you some water.”
Despite the commotion, he carefully lifted the sleeping child and placed her on the bed next to Roze. The bed was large enough for both of them comfortably.
‘No….’
Roze realized with a start, unable to even check on Plita, that this wasn’t her bed. Nor was it Plita’s bed. She looked at the back of Haven, who had gone to fetch water, and then around the room. Though it was dark, she could see this room wasn’t familiar—it wasn’t hers or the child’s.
It resembled the guest room where she had shared tea with Haven before: classic interior décor and a bed large enough for several people.
‘My goodness… is this his bedroom?’
Roze sat up in surprise, forgetting her pain. At that moment, Haven returned with a water bottle and cup, clicking his tongue at her.
“I told you to stay still, yet you don’t listen. Even more stubborn than Plita.”
“Y-Your Highness, why… am I… in your bedroom?”
Even though it was meant as a joke, Roze couldn’t laugh. She was too flustered to do anything but stammer. Haven watched quietly and poured water into a cup before handing it to her.
“Drink some water first.”
“…Yes?”
“Shall I feed you?”
Roze, who hadn’t reached for the cup, turned red as Haven spoke teasingly. She stretched her hands toward it, but the pain in her broken arm made her wince.
“Tsk.”
Seeing her tremble, Haven put the cup down and quickly moved closer, brushing down her back and shoulders without hesitation.
“Are you okay?”
“…Ye-Yes.”
Roze almost called his name instinctively but corrected herself mid-word. When they had lived together, whenever she was sick or in pain, he had done this—massaging her back and shoulders—and miraculously, the pain eased. She had even joked that his hands were “healing hands.”
Shaking off the memories, she gently pushed his hands away.
“I-I’m fine now.”
“Really fine?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Maybe my hands are healing hands.”
Haven retracted his hands and, absentmindedly, clenched and released his fists, still feeling the impression of her frail body.
‘Crazy man.’
How could he joke at a time like this? Embarrassed by himself, he resorted to his usual awkward humor. But strangely enough, instead of laughing, she looked at him with a blank stare.
“Healing… hands?”
“Why? Don’t you think so? You said you’re fine now, so it must be thanks to me.”
Haven forced a smile, hiding his embarrassment, and turned to pick up the cup he had left on the nightstand. He took a deep breath.
Thankfully, it was dark; his flushed face wouldn’t be seen. He could still feel it burning hot at this very moment.
“…Hoo.”
Haven let out a small sigh and turned back. Roze, catching his gaze, made him flinch slightly. Feeling oddly stirred, he cleared his throat and spoke casually.
“I’d better feed you myself.”
“No, Your Highness. I’ll drink it…”
“No. Your arm is broken. It’s my fault I didn’t pay attention.”
Haven stopped her from taking the cup, supporting her back with one hand and bringing the cup to her lips with the other.
“….”
Even in the dark, Roze’s face looked bright red, like a ripe tomato. But she no longer resisted and drank as he guided her.
He noticed her small lips moving and thought, ‘She has a small mouth.’
Feeling an itch in his side, he coughed awkwardly. After she finished, she wiped the water from her lips and asked worriedly:
“Do you have a cold?”
“No. It’s just… seeing your lips move made me cough.”
How could he admit such a ridiculous thing? He trailed off awkwardly and placed the empty cup back on the nightstand.
“You coughed when tending to the princess as well…”
Roze tried to cover Plita with a blanket but struggled, as her broken arm prevented her from pulling it properly.
“I’ll do it.”
Haven quickly reached for the blanket, and their hands touched briefly.
“Ah…”
An awkward silence fell. In the dim room, only Roze and Haven were awake.
“…Ah, I’m late in saying this. Thank you, Roze.”
Haven spoke to break the tension. Roze, still flustered, carefully pressed the blanket over Plita and looked at him.
“Thank you for saving the child.”
“Oh, no. I only did what I had to do.”
Roze looked down, unsure how to respond, her sincerity clear. She didn’t seek praise, nor did she want any reward through him.
She may have seemed naïve, but her sincerity made a smile naturally spread across Haven’s face.
“Not everyone would act as you did. And you can’t force them to.”
“….”
“I’ll reward you adequately. If there’s anything you desire…”
“No.”
Roze lowered her eyes shyly, then lifted her head, shaking her head firmly.
“It’s enough that the princess is safe.”
“But…”
“Really. I don’t want any reward for saving her.”
Roze gently touched Plita’s hair with a tender hand. When the chandelier fell, she had acted instinctively, without thinking.
The child was unharmed; that was enough. She couldn’t accept any reward for saving her, especially since she hadn’t been able to be a proper mother yet.
Then Haven’s voice sounded again.
“Don’t you think you should accept a reward for Plita?”
“…?”
“If you save the princess and receive nothing, people will think: ‘Ah, the duke doesn’t care for his daughter. He doesn’t love her.’”
“Y-Your Highness!”
