Chapter 5
The girl in front of her didn’t look nervous at all.
If anything, she was looking at her with bright, expectant eyes.
The corners of her small, tightly closed lips were slightly raised, making her already chubby cheeks look even fuller.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a child who isn’t intimidated by me.
In fact, she hadn’t seen one since her daughter was young.
Because of her strict and rigid nature, there wasn’t a single child who didn’t find her difficult.
Thanks to that, the Grand Lady’s irritated mood eased just a little.
I wasn’t planning to go on a walk…
But she couldn’t embarrass a child who had approached her so boldly.
The Grand Lady stood up and straightened her back.
“If you wish to walk with me, I suppose I can allow it. Come along. The garden path is this way.”
Naturally, she expected the bold little girl to follow her eagerly.
However—
“No! I don’t want to walk with you.”
Rowena’s response shattered everyone’s expectations.
A brief silence fell, and the Grand Lady’s face turned cold.
“…What did you say?”
Her patience had already worn thin that day.
Which meant she was fully prepared to be harsh—even to a child.
“Do you even understand what you’re saying?”
As her expression hardened, the teacher who had been flattering her moments ago turned pale and cried out.
“R-Rowena! What are you saying?! M-my lady, I’m so sorry. The child must be mistaken—”
“I’m not mistaken! I don’t want to go for a walk. I asked for a chance to learn your elegance.”
But Rowena was quicker.
She smiled sweetly, her round eyes curving, and skipped lightly to stand beside the Grand Lady.
“You see, I think your way of speaking is very elegant. So… I’d like to read a book to you!”
“…Read a book?”
“Yes! If I read to you, I think it would help me learn proper intonation. Would that be alright?”
Rowena looked up at her with sparkling emerald eyes.
“…Hah.”
At her eager expression, the Grand Lady let out a short laugh.
At that reaction, the teacher’s face turned even paler.
Just as the teacher was about to grab Rowena to stop her—
The Grand Lady raised her hand and spoke.
“Henry. Prepare a place inside where the child and I can read.”
“Yes, madam. Is there anything else you require?”
The Grand Lady’s cold gaze flicked briefly toward Rowena.
Looking at those shining green eyes, she added after a moment,
“Prepare drinks and snacks suitable for a child as well.”
Yes!
Rowena cheered inwardly.
***
Inside the mansion.
“Rowena, was it? Tell me. Why did you do that?”
At the Grand Lady’s stern voice, Rowena blinked her wide eyes.
“Huh? Do what?”
“Don’t pretend. I already know you didn’t truly want to read to me. You kept glancing at me—how could you focus on reading?”
“Ah… I thought I was hiding it pretty well.”
Did it show? Hehe.
As Rowena gave an awkward laugh, the grand lady’s lips twitched slightly.
“You were obvious from the tea party. Stop trying to deceive me. Why did you do it? Did you think I was easy to fool?”
“Of course not!”
Rowena waved her hands quickly, then lowered her voice and whispered.
“You’re sensitive to pollen too, aren’t you, Grand Lady?”
“…What?”
“When Martin sneezed earlier, you sneezed a little too. The garden must have been uncomfortable for you, right?”
That’s why you were lenient with him. And why the teacher’s flattery annoyed you.
The old doctor said that as people get older, their nose and throat get more sensitive.
For someone of her age, it would be harder not to sneeze in all that pollen.
The problem was that she cared deeply about maintaining her dignity.
“So I thought it would be better if we moved inside where you could be more comfortable! That’s all.”
“…So you were staring at me because you noticed that?”
“Well… not exactly…”
For the first time, Rowena pressed her lips together.
Then she lifted the book she was holding and covered her face with it.
Peeking over it so only her eyes showed, she asked quietly,
“Can I be honest?”
Even though hiding behind a book wouldn’t protect her from an adult’s anger, the attempt was so childish that the Grand Lady couldn’t help but chuckle.
“…Go on. Let me hear it.”
“I needed time alone with you.”
“With me?”
“Yes. There’s something I want to ask you.”
At that, the softened expression on the grand lady’s face hardened again.
“You… want to ask me for something?”
“Yes. Will you listen?”
“Ridiculous.”
Her face turned cold.
“A child trying to scheme and make requests? How insolent. Even the most influential people in this region do not dare ask me for favors—what makes you think I would grant yours? Be grateful I’m not punishing you on the spot.”
Not only was her response cold, she even picked up the bell beside her.
“Henry! Call the teacher and have this child removed.”
At her voice, Rowena’s heart dropped.
I didn’t expect her to agree right away, but…
She hadn’t expected such a harsh reaction.
What if she got thrown out and punished?
I don’t want to be locked in solitary!
And more than that—if she lost this chance, she might never get another opportunity to be alone with the Grand Lady.
No, she definitely wouldn’t.
She had worked so hard to get this chance!
Before she could even think, words burst out of her mouth.
“G-Grand Lady Hayworth!”
“What is it?”
“I-I mean…”
She had gathered the courage to call out, but facing the Grand Lady’s terrifying expression, her mind went blank.
In the end, only one thing came out.
“C-could you… let me kiss your cheek when we say goodbye in front of the carriage?”
“…What?”
“I-if I don’t, the teacher might scold me…”
I don’t want to go to solitary…
Please…
***
In the end—
Rowena succeeded in kissing the grand lady’s cheek.
The orphanage teachers were overjoyed that one of the children had gained her favor.
And the other children applauded Rowena, amazed by her courage.
“You’re really brave, Rowena!”
“I see you differently now!”
“Martin said thanks to you he avoided solitary, so he asked me to give you this apple.”
After the events at the Hayworth estate, Rowena became the center of attention everywhere she went.
She was receiving admiration and praise from all sides—
But the person herself was not doing well.
“…Should I just die…”
The reason was simple.
You idiot, Rowena! Out of everything you could say, you asked for a kiss?!
She regretted wasting her chance to speak with the grand lady.
As soon as she returned to the orphanage, she threw herself onto her bed and cried into her pillow.
I’m worse than a rotten apple! I wouldn’t even make good fertilizer!
She had wasted such an amazing opportunity!
Even if she ended up in solitary, she should have talked about her request!
She might never get another chance!
…But I still don’t want solitary…
Sniff.
What should she do now?
I hate the idea of dying even more than solitude.
No matter how much she thought, she couldn’t come up with a solution.
Eventually, she cried herself to sleep.
But the next morning—
After waking up with swollen eyes, she was met with shocking news.
“Rowena! Rowena! What are you doing?! Hurry and get ready!”
“W-what? But it’s still morning. We don’t have anywhere to go today—”
“No! The Grand Lady of Hayworth has requested you! Get ready immediately!”
The teacher warned her not to be late and stormed off.
Normally, Rowena would have grumbled.
But this time was different.
As she processed what she had just heard, a slow smile spread across her face.
“Long live the kiss!”
She was going to meet the grand lady again!
