Don't Remember Me - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

“Your Grace, please come this way.”

Count Vhurel led Haven and Flitta to the most prestigious seats at the table. After they took their places, other nobles also found their seats. The dinner prepared by the count was impressive—almost too good for a hastily organized feast, especially since it was in honor of the Grand Duke.

“Your Grace, it’s been a while since we last met. I couldn’t see you at the memorial service…”

“Your Highness, I am McGrian. We’re developing a mine in our territory…”

Throughout the dinner, numerous nobles hovered around Haven, eager to engage him in conversation. Among them were both trivial chitchat and important business discussions. Yet, Haven found it hard to focus on any of it. His attention kept drifting to Flitta, sitting right next to him. With Rosé absent, he was the only one Flitta could rely on.

“Dad.”

At that moment, Flitta blinked her eyes while holding her fork, calling for him. The buzz of conversation fell silent as the nobles turned their attention to her. Haven leaned closer to the child.

“What’s wrong? Is the food not to your liking?”

“No, it’s delicious.”

Flitta shook her head emphatically, then rolled her pale green eyes before continuing.

“I can eat by myself.”

“Ah, you’ve grown up.”

Haven raised an eyebrow at her unexpected declaration, a mixture of disbelief and amusement washing over him. It was cute, yet also absurd to hear his five-year-old daughter proclaim she could eat alone.

But Flitta frowned slightly, as if she hadn’t said it for praise, and elaborated.

“Dad, you can talk comfortably with the others.”

“What?”

“I heard there’s a lounge for the male nobles over there. You can go there and have a nice chat.”

Haven was momentarily speechless.

‘Is this what a five-year-old is like?’

He suddenly wanted to ask Rosé, though she wasn’t here to answer him.

“Haha, the young lady is quite impressive. A daughter who understands her father’s heart! If our children had been this mature when they were little, we wouldn’t have had to endure so much.”

An older noble, gathered around Haven, chuckled and praised Flitta, and others chimed in with similar compliments.

“Indeed! How can she be so wise at such a young age?”

“It’s the blood of the Guenters. Noble blood doesn’t fade away.”

Flitta, likely unaccustomed to such praise, turned red. Haven asked her again while watching her expression.

“Are you sure you can be alone?”

“Yes, but I won’t be alone. I’ll play with the big kids over there.”

Haven glanced toward the group of boys and girls, a few years older than Flitta, who were gathered together.

“Hm… Alright, then I’ll step away for a moment.”

As he swallowed a sigh and rose from his seat, Flitta smiled gently to reassure him. Once he left, the noblewomen, who had been exchanging furtive glances, began to murmur among themselves. Naturally, the topics were not suitable for a child to join.

Flitta quickly finished her dessert, set down her fork, and stood up, moving toward the group of children as she had just told her father.

“Um…”

Adella, Count Vhurel’s daughter, was leading the conversation among the children. Although appeared young, they tried to imitate the adults and soon, they turned to Flitta.

“Oh my, Your Highness.”

Adella looked down shyly and greeted Flitta. The other noble children followed suit, but that was all—there was no invitation to play or chat, not even a suggestion to take a seat.

As a result, Flitta stood awkwardly while they continued their conversation, and she felt their mischievous smiles directed at her.

“Um, can I join you?”

With a fidget of her hands, Flitta mustered the courage to speak. The noble children exchanged glances before subtly shifting to make room for her. Flitta smiled with relief and took a seat.

However, sitting down didn’t change much. They remained engrossed in their own discussions. At first, Flitta listened intently, her face bright with excitement, but gradually it fell into a frown. Yet she didn’t give up; she wanted to show her father that she could be fine on her own.

“Um…”

Just as she was about to interject, one of the noble children glanced at her and asked,

“Your Highness, can I ask you something?”

“Oh? Of course!”

Flitta’s eyes sparkled with gratitude toward the child who spoke to her. But the child leaned in with a malicious smile and asked,

“Do you know what an illegitimate child is?”

“…!”

Flitta’s green eyes widened in shock, but the children only pressed her further, evoking an answer from her.

“You know what that word means, right, Your Highness?”

“Um… Well…”

Flitta struggled to find her words, but she couldn’t continue. Her clenched fists spoke volumes instead. The child smirked, tilting their head in exaggerated disbelief.

“Oh? That’s strange. I thought you would know. Isn’t that right?”

They glanced around, prompting giggles from the other children. The child turned back to Flitta, who looked small and vulnerable, tears welling in her eyes. The mischievous grin on the child’s face grew wider.

She was clearly an easy target. Though the title of ‘princess’ might have raised some caution, it hardly mattered now. A timid little girl like her wouldn’t dare speak to her father—the Grand Duke—about any of this.

Moreover, how could she even mention being asked if she knew what an illegitimate child was? After all, she herself was one. It was a great weakness of her father’s. For a naïve Flitta, she was the perfect victim for the cunning and cruel child. Despite Flitta’s noble status,  it does not change that she was a daughter of a commoner.

“Ah, so you’re too young to understand? Or maybe…”

Because you’re a half-blooded?

The child whispered; their voice low enough that the adults wouldn’t hear but loud enough for the other children to catch.

“You don’t want to talk about it, Your Highness?”

“No.”

Just then, a small voice escaped Flitta’s lips, trembling but steadying as she continued.

“My mother is not lowly. I’m not a half-blood person. I’m the daughter of my father and my mother. I’m not an illegitimate kid, I’m just… I’m their daughter.”

Flitta didn’t shed any more tears nor did she seek her father’s comfort. The child, who had been grinning wickedly, frowned instead. And just as they were about to retort, Flitta shot up from her seat.

All eyes turned to her, and some children exchanged anxious glances, clearly unsettled by her unexpected outburst.

“… To think you’re all older than me but are childish.”

Flitta parted her tightly pressed lips, choosing not to use any formalities. It might not have been very princess-like, but she didn’t want to show respect to them.

“Hey!”

As Flitta spat out her words and turned away, the child who had been tormenting her snapped back in surprise. But Flitta didn’t care to listen; she simply covered her ears with her hands and walked away.

‘I don’t need you all.’

She muttered to herself.

‘I don’t need friends like that. I won’t play with older children who are even more childish than me.’

“… I’m not lonely and sad at all. I have Rosé and Hayang.”

She began to murmur to herself, pausing mid-sentence as a soft breath escaped her. After wiping her reddened face, she took a deep breath.

She wanted to go back to her room to curl up in Rosé’s embrace, to grumble while enjoying the snacks she would feed her, and to roll around on the bed with Hayang.

Better than being here with those foolish kids.

“… I want to go to Rosé.”

Flitta murmured, her voice thick with emotion. She had held back her tears in front of the noble children, but the truth was, she was just a five-year-old girl.

In that moment, she completely forgot the promise she’d made to Haven about staying put, and her eyes began to search the room. She didn’t know how to cope with the pain; she was far too young for that. Flitta longed for the comfort of the one person she relied on the most.

To the point she wished she was her mother.

“Rosé…”