TOYLCG 15 🍒

Chapter  — 15 

Colorful flowers filled the square, and streams of water shot up from the fountain in the center.

The water droplets reflected the light and formed rainbows, and children’s voices could be heard everywhere.

“It feels like people really live here.”

“The duke’s estate is also a place where people live.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Rosebell scratched her cheek and headed toward the blacksmith’s shop she had visited once before.

Even after a long time, the blacksmith’s shop looked the same. The clear sound of metal being forged rang out.

“I’d like to place an order.”

“Welcome—oh! Aren’t you the young lady of the ducal house?”

“Oh my, I’ve only been here once, yet you recognized me right away.”

“You look exactly like the duchess did when she was alive.”

At the blacksmith’s words, Rosebell simply smiled. On the other hand, Aren felt awkward and lowered his head.

“What I need is a small pair of scissors, but they must be strong enough to cut branches. Can you make that?”

“Small scissors to cut branches? Do you mean ones for flower arranging?”

“They’ll be used to cut tree branches. More precisely, for harvesting apples.”

Understanding her explanation, the blacksmith quickly sketched a pair of scissors and showed it to her.

“Would this be fine?”

“That looks good. But the workers might hurt their hands—could you add some cloth padding? I suppose that’s not possible here.”

“Ah… no.”

“Oh! Then could you put a spring between the blades? That should make it easier to use.”

“A spring?”

When the blacksmith didn’t quite understand, Rosebell took the pencil tucked behind his ear and drew it herself.

“Your drawing is really bad…”

“Aren.”

“Ah, sorry.”

“Saying whatever comes to mind is only acceptable for crying babies. You’re old enough—watch your words, okay?”

Her tone was sharper than usual, and Aren swallowed dryly. Did changing clothes and makeup really change a person this much?

He felt the distance between them growing.

“I’d like to order it like this. Is it possible?”

“Of course. How many would you like?”

“About fifty for now. I may place more orders later, so it would be good if you kept the design safe.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Send the bill to the duke’s estate.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Having completed the first goal of her outing, Rosebell left the blacksmith’s shop with light steps.

“Aren.”

“Yes.”

“I told you—you can speak casually when it’s just the two of us.”

“I’m sorry. I think I got too comfortable.”

“I am scolding you. I don’t mind, but if it harms my father’s reputation, that bothers me…”

“I understand.”

Hearing Aren’s stiff voice, Rosebell sighed. They were close, but this was still a society based on status.

It wouldn’t do for nobles to be seen as ridiculous by others. She didn’t deny their closeness, but social position couldn’t simply be ignored.

Unlike before, Rosebell slowly looked around the square and noticed there were more luxurious shops than she had expected.

“Is there really… anyone who buys things like this?”

“They may look fancy, but the prices are probably mid-range.”

“Really?”

“I heard the duke provided a lot of support.”

Rosebell tilted her head at Aren’s words. He spoke as if he had heard it directly.

“I picked it up from people talking on the street, before you took me in.”

“Oh…”

The more she talked with him, the more irritated she felt—almost as uncomfortable as her clothes.

“But where are we going now?”

“I told you earlier. To buy clothes for you. And just in case, let’s make you one neat outfit.”

“There’s no place I’d need to dress properly for.”

“Everything you say right now sounds argumentative, so stop it. I’m doing this for you—just accept it without complaining.”

In the end, it burst out.

She had planned to enjoy herself and go back in a good mood, but everything was getting tangled instead.

Rosebell even wondered if dressing up like this in the first place had been a mistake.

“…Alright.”

“Let’s get your clothes made first. Since we’re already here, we can order summer pants too—the same place as before.”

“You’re ordering those again?”

“It’s my choice. You’re used to them anyway, right?”

“Ugh…”

He couldn’t deny it immediately because they really were comfortable. Even in chilly weather, they stayed warm somehow.

“Do you know how warm quilted pants are?”

“Quilted?”

“Yeah. You stuff cotton inside and stitch it down. And it’s not a small amount of cotton either, so the warmth is amazing. You’ve felt it, right?”

“I know they’re warm, but do we really need summer ones too…?”

“I’ll make sure you survive summer in bright flower patterns, so don’t worry!”

Aren realized she was doing this on purpose. But he couldn’t complain.

Instead, he felt grateful that she was trying to reduce the distance he felt.

“Thank you…”

His voice was so quiet that others couldn’t hear. Rosebell smiled brightly at his shy voice.

The tightness from the corset squeezing her ribs suddenly felt like it disappeared.

As soon as they entered the salon, the designer hurried out.

“Lady Rosebell!”

“It’s been a while. Maria should have contacted you this morning.”

“Yes, I received the letter. The person getting clothes made today is… this… person?”

Seeing her doubtful expression, irritation rose inside Rosebell.

“What’s the problem?”

“Pardon?”

“He’s just tall, so his clothes became too small. What’s the issue?”

“N-no, not at all! P-please come this way.”

The designer looked uneasy at the presence of a man whose status she couldn’t identify. Aren was fairly well-known in the square.

He was even called “the cursed child.” While measuring him, the designer kept watching Aren closely.

“There isn’t only one salon in this city, is there?”

The designer froze at Rosebell’s words. Being told so directly that she had offended her left her flustered.

“Let’s go.”

“Lady Rosebell!”

“Cancel what we discussed this morning.”

Rosebell spoke firmly and stood up. The designer looked panicked, but she wasn’t foolish enough not to understand.

After leaving the shop, the two of them looked up at the sky at the same time.

“You’re annoyed, right?”

“I could endure it.”

“Why endure that? You’re not a zoo monkey—why do they keep staring at people like that? It’s annoying.”

“What do you mean by zoo monkey?”

“Ah—what I mean is! Why do they look at people like some strange object?”

Aren didn’t understand why Rosebell was angry. He was used to those looks.

He had lived on the streets around the square for a long time, and anyone perceptive would recognize who he was.

Of course, the rumors about him being ‘cursed’ were nonsense.

Still, Aren could understand their mindset. Things that were invisible, or different from oneself, easily created fear.

People who were used to seeing only similar hair colors would naturally react to silver hair.

What he couldn’t understand was being beaten simply because people called him cursed.

“Shall we ask another shop instead?”

“I’m sorry to ask this, but… you know this area well, right?”

“I don’t know if the shop is still open, but I can guide you.”

Walking ahead, Aren slipped his fingers between the buttons of his shirt.

The shirt wasn’t choking him, but returning to that place after so long made him nervous.

She was the only person who had ever shown him kindness when he was homeless. Even though she herself was struggling, she had given him dry bread.

“Were you close with that person?”

“I wouldn’t say close. She was simply someone who treated me kindly.”

“I see?”

“She could barely afford to give me even one piece of dry bread.”

“Then after you joined the ducal house, couldn’t you have gone back to see her?”

From Rosebell’s perspective, it was a natural question. But Aren couldn’t answer.

At the edge of the square, a modest little shop appeared. Aren couldn’t bring himself to step forward.

“Aren?”

“Ah… yeah…”

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No… it’s not that…”

Leaving the hesitating Aren behind, Rosebell took the lead. When she opened the door and went inside, a very thin woman greeted them with a bright smile.

“Welcome.”

“I’d like to order some clothes.”

“A dress, perhaps? I’m afraid our shop can’t make a dress suitable for a young lady of your status…”

Looking at the troubled woman, Rosebell still couldn’t understand why Aren had hesitated.