TOYLCG 13 🍒

Chapter 13

Three days had passed.

Duke Efrian could not understand why something like this kept happening to his daughter.

“Your Majesty…”

“Aren, what I saw was real, wasn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

Aren felt that even if he were ordered to leave the dukedom, he would have nothing to say in his defense.

Because of her own limitations, Rosebell had pushed herself too hard. That fact alone weighed heavily on him.

Endless guilt flooded Aren’s chest.

Duke Efrian knew it was not Aren’s fault, but he still could not relax as he watched his daughter lying there, unable to open her eyes.

To be precise, it was only because of the two men’s exhausted state that Rosebell finally came back to her senses.

“Ahhh, I slept so well!”

While the two men were sunk in worry, Rosebell suddenly stretched and spoke in a refreshingly bright voice—then froze.

“Rosebell!”

“Rosebell!”

She blinked as two men rushed toward her at the same time. Feeling embarrassed, she slowly lowered her raised arm and wiped the corners of her eyes.

“Is something wrong?”

“I feel amazing!”

“…What?”

“Seriously, I feel so refreshed. I think I slept deeply for the first time in a while. Why do you both look like that, Dad?”

Rosebell glanced at their haggard faces, then checked the corner of her mouth.

For a moment, she worried she might have drooled in her sleep, since her body felt so light and comfortable.

“Rosebell, you were asleep for three days!”

“Ah… so that’s why I feel this refreshed?”

Duke Efrian was left speechless by her casual reaction.

Normally, anyone would be shocked after sleeping for three whole days. But Rosebell looked as if she had expected this, which made him even more at a loss for words.

“Rosebell… I’m sorry. I wasn’t strong enough…”

“What? You did everything you could. What’s there to be sorry about?”

“Still… because of me, you—”

“If someone saw me, they’d think I’d just come back from the dead,” Rosebell said lightly.
“I already had a rough idea of what happened, so I was fine. Though I didn’t expect to be asleep for that long.”

She spoke calmly, deliberately hiding her true feelings as she looked at their worn-out faces.

She herself had been surprised—but if she made a fuss now, the two of them would only worry more.

“And…”

Aren tried to say something, but Duke Efrian interrupted him.

“I saw what you and Aren did.”

“Oh no…”

Rosebell reacted dramatically, as if she had witnessed something horrifying—without even realizing it.

“What?”

“You… look surprised. But it’s probably nothing. Maybe—”

“Is it just me, or do you not look like this is ‘nothing’ at all?”

“Father, you’re hiding something, aren’t you? I had a feeling, but since you didn’t say anything first, I stayed quiet too.”

Duke Efrian let out a long sigh.

How did this turn out like this?

She was exactly like her mother.

“There was a reason I didn’t tell you.”

“I know. You didn’t want me to worry,” Rosebell said calmly.
“But Father, you always keep too much inside when it comes to Mother.”

“…That…”

Duke Efrian fell silent. Beside him, Aren swallowed nervously as he watched Rosebell press forward without hesitation.

Was it really okay for her to say things like this in front of an outsider?

“May I step out for a moment?” Aren asked cautiously.

“Don’t even think about sneaking away,” Rosebell said immediately.
“You’re hiding something from me too, aren’t you?”

She puffed out her cheeks when Duke Efrian turned his sharp gaze toward Aren, clearly unable to win against his daughter in words.

“It’s dangerous.”

“What?”

“Father, we’re not done talking yet. And like I said before, I already knew about Aren. I just didn’t tell you.”

Duke Efrian realized it would be impossible to continue this conversation if Aren stayed.

And Rosebell was right—she herself had been avoiding this topic for days.

He had been afraid of hurting his daughter unnecessarily… afraid she might misunderstand.

But knowing Rosebell, she would never see her mother as a monster.

Even her personality—after the head injury—was strangely similar to her mother’s, which only made things more unsettling.

“Get some rest first,” Duke Efrian said at last.
“We’ll talk once you’ve fully recovered.”

“Okay. Oh—and you stay,” Rosebell added quickly, pointing at Aren.
“I have something to say to you.”

Aren looked frustrated as Duke Efrian escaped the room without hesitation.

Rosebell stared directly at Aren.

He desperately avoided her gaze.

“So,” she said, “what were you trying to do?”

Aren mumbled like a child about to be scolded.

For some reason, Rosebell hoped it was just her imagination that his mental age seemed to be getting closer to hers.

“Do… do you have something to say?”

“Your hand.”

“…My hand?”

Aren tilted his head in confusion. He chuckled when he saw Rosebell holding her hand out firmly.

“What are you doing? Hurry and give it to me!”

“Shouldn’t you explain why first?”

“Your hands were really cold at the end. I was worried.”

At her words, Aren scratched his cheek and slowly reached out his hand.

Displeased by his hesitation, Rosebell grabbed it firmly.

“…It’s warmer than before?”

“I’m not made of ice! I’m human!”

“I know! But earlier, your hands were so cold I thought something terrible was going to happen!”

She had truly been scared.

She had wondered if she had pushed herself—and him—for nothing.

“I wouldn’t do anything that would kill me,” Aren said quietly.
“I just… like this place. That’s why I wanted to protect it.”

He avoided Rosebell’s eyes, his face expressionless.

“That’s good to hear. Then we have work to do.”

“…What kind of work?”

“I think someone is targeting our house. I don’t know what they want, but they’re definitely spying on us.”

Aren’s eyes widened for a moment—then sank deeply.

Rosebell felt as if she were staring into a dark abyss. His cool blue eyes were unreadable.

“But shouldn’t you have told the Duke about this earlier?”

“Oh… I forgot. I’ll tell him later.”

“No!”

“Anyway, he already got burned once,” Rosebell said firmly.
“So we need to train properly, in case he comes back.”

“I get what you mean,” Aren replied, “but the two of us can’t handle everything alone.”

“…Should I gather some soldiers?”

“Let’s not jump to dangerous conclusions,” Aren said.
“Leave that to the Duke. You and I should focus on training.”

“That’s true. The gnome kept complaining that he couldn’t sense either of us properly.”

“…What?”

Aren understood immediately.

It wasn’t about presence—it meant their strength wasn’t enough.

Spirit masters were rare. Unlike magicians, they couldn’t rely on simple mana manipulation.

Only those chosen by spirits could become one—and no one knew the exact conditions.

The only thing known was that spirits favored those close to nature.

“But didn’t you say what you met was a spirit?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you form a contract? Was it just a gnome who thought you were close to nature?”

Rosebell felt strangely offended.

“Do you realize how rude that sounded?”

“…Me?”

“The gnome said it himself! He said I’m pure!”

Even to herself, it sounded childish.

“…What?”

Rosebell glared when Aren looked at her as if she were talking nonsense.

“Can you please control your facial expressions?”

At her sharp words, Aren turned away and covered his face with his hand.

* * *

The weather grew warmer.

Flowers bloomed everywhere, and butterflies and bees filled the air, announcing the arrival of spring.

The orchard grew busy as well.

Workers who had rested through the winter returned to the duke’s estate, keeping both Duke Efrian and Rosebell constantly occupied.

Rosebell explained everything from start to finish. Those who had worked there for years nodded knowingly.

However, Rosebell’s appearance alone caused confusion.

The clothes she wore were hardly something a noblewoman would normally wear.

“Everyone might think I look strange,” she said confidently,
“but from now on, this is what you’ll wear while working.”

Duke Efrian and Aren both turned away, clearly having given up, and avoided the workers’ gazes.

“As you can see, the top and pants are loose enough to move comfortably,” Rosebell continued.
“Wouldn’t it be inconvenient for women to work in the orchard while wearing skirts?”

Most of the women nodded in agreement.

Skirts made it difficult to sit, stand, or even raise one’s arms properly.

“I’ll give each of you two sets. Change and come back out. Even if you wear them for just one day, you’ll feel the difference.”

Duke Efrian finally gave up trying to stop her and simply asked her to show him where the changing room was, which he had already prepared in advance.