Don't Remember Me - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

The voice belonged to Rosé to which Haven’s gaze turned toward her. The fragile woman unwaveringly stood by the bed despite her looking as though she might collapse at any moment.

He looked at her for a moment, then slowly lowered his gaze. His eyes rested on the hand Rosé was using to support his elbow, as if to steady him.

“Ah, forgive me. I just… I was afraid you might collapse…”

Following his gaze, Rosé also lowered her eyes, and in her flustered state, she released her hold on his arm. Yet, the warmth from where she had touched him lingered, not easily fading.

Perhaps it was because of that – Haven found his thoughts steadying for a moment. With a tone slightly more at ease, he addressed her.

“Thank you, Rosé.”

“… Ah, it’s no problem at all.” 

Rosé looked up at him, then quickly lowered her eyes again, her pale face tinged with a faint blush. But as soon as she saw Flitta, feverishly suffering, her expression darkened once more.

Haven too turned his gaze away from her to look at Flitta. The little hand, searching for something, was twitching restlessly. Haven watched in silence before speaking softly.

“She’s looking for you, Rosé.”

“… Pardon me, Your Highness?”

“Flitta, I meant. She’s looking for your hand.”

Haven pointed subtly toward the child’s squirming hand. Rosé hesitated for a moment, then carefully took Flitta’s hand. The moment her fingers touched, Flitta seemed to recognize whose hand it was, and her tiny fingers clutched Rosé’s.

“… Your Highness.”

Rosé knelt down by the bed, bringing her forehead gently to the hand of the child she held. It was as though she were offering a silent prayer.

Haven watched the scene, and without realizing it, he clasped his hands together as well, imitating her posture, as if praying with desperate longing.

* * *

“I’ll leave the child in your care.”

“… Don’t worry, Your Highness. I will do my best to look after her.”

Haven glanced toward the interior of the room again, narrowing his brow. He had hoped to see Flitta waking up, but the child still showed no signs of stirring.

‘… What if she doesn’t wake up at all?’

He shook his head vigorously. His own dark thoughts, born of weakness, seemed only to worsen the situation. Just then, Rosé’s voice, soft yet resolute, reached his ears.

“Your Highness, she will definitely wake up.”

“…”

“She will. So, please, try not to worry so much and go rest. You look very tired.”

Rosé had noticed the redness in his eyes. He was more haggard than when she had last seen him a week ago. It was no surprise. How could a father, seeing his child suffer, remain unaffected?

Her gaze toward him was full of sympathy. She couldn’t help but imagine how alone he must feel—unable to lean on anyone, unable to share the burden of his worry…

‘You must be so lonely…’

She murmured these words inwardly when Haven’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“You look exhausted too.”

“…?”

“I’ll stay with the child for a little longer. Why don’t you rest while you can, even for a brief moment?”

“Yes? Oh, no. It’s fine. I’m really fine.”

Rosé’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly shook her head.

“Your Highness, you should go rest…”

“You should listen to me this time, Rosé.”

Haven interrupted her mid-sentence, turning his body to head back toward the bedroom.

“Your Highness! But…”

Before Rosé could stop him, Haven opened the door and entered the room. She hesitated for a moment, then followed him inside.

The doctor, who had been arguing outside the door, glanced at the two of them, then bowed his head again.

“I’ll stay with her tonight. Is there anything special you need me to do?”

“Nothing in particular. Fortunately, the young lady’s condition has stabilized a bit.”

It was a miracle. The most pessimistic outcome had been expected, but Flitta’s condition was slowly improving. The doctor answered Haven’s question, then cast a brief glance at Rosé, who stood behind him.

‘How strange…’

Flitta’s improvement had started right after Roze took the child’s hand. Though the girl was unconscious, it seemed as though she recognized Rosé’s touch, and the child slowly settled, finding solace in her warmth.

It was like… a baby cradled in its mother’s arms.

The doctor had witnessed something similar once, long ago, before he became the Duke’s personal physician. A newborn suffering from a high fever and convulsions had not responded to any treatment. But the moment the baby was placed in its mother’s arms, it calmed and found its breath.

It was an anomaly no textbook could explain, and it had defied all medical knowledge. The child’s symptoms had improved simply because of the mother’s embrace.

… Just like now, with Rosé.

‘I hope that’s the case.’

The doctor prayed silently that this would be one of those rare miracles. There was nothing more he could do; he had done everything in his power. Now, all he could do was pray for the miracle he’d witnessed once in his youth.

“Perhaps it would be better for Rosé to stay by the young lady’s side.”

The doctor had to speak up, though it pained him. But Haven furrowed his brow at the suggestion, and Rosé, though initially flustered, brightened up and spoke.

“Do you think it would be better if I stayed, Doctor?”

“I believe it might be. The young lady seems to rely on you quite a bit.”

“She’s still asleep, though, isn’t she?”

Haven interrupted their conversation, his tone hinting at annoyance. The doctor quickly glanced at his Master, unsure of how to proceed. It was clear Haven wanted to take over the care of his daughter himself, rather than leave it to a maid.

‘Well… I suppose it’s inevitable. Perhaps my thoughts were a bit too fanciful.’

The doctor bowed his head and stepped back, not saying another word. Rosé stared after him for a moment before turning back to Haven, her expression stubborn as she shook her head.

“I’ll stay here, Your Highness.”

“… Rosé.”

“I’ll stay here. I’ll feel more at ease if I do.”

Rosé closed her mouth after that, staring at him with a look of quiet desperation. Haven met her green eyes, sighed, then let out a small chuckle, nodding in agreement.

“You’re as stubborn as ever.”

「“You stubborn girl.”」

Somehow, Rosé recalled a memory from long ago when she was as stubborn as today. Back then, it was about trivial matters that she couldn’t clearly its details but she held her ground while Haven laughed, tapping the bridge of her nose.

Now, things were different. Back then, it had been a small matter, but now, with Flitta so ill, Rosé couldn’t help but insist on staying by her side. She was afraid—afraid that something might happen to the child while she was away.

… But the man who had once laughed at her stubbornness hadn’t changed. At least, not when it came to the tenderness of that smile.

And the warmth of that kindness… which comforted her even now.

Rosé held back the tears that threatened to spill as she sat beside the bed, wiping Flitta’s face gently with a damp cloth.

Haven watched the scene for a moment, then turned toward the sofa, a little distance away from the bed.

* * *

Whoo, whoo-oo.

The sound of an owl hooting drifted in from outside the window. Haven suddenly felt the air inside the room grow colder. He furrowed his brow and, without turning his head, glanced at the fireplace. The flames seemed smaller than before.

He quietly stood and made his way toward the fireplace. The logs inside were nearly burnt out. He nodded to himself, then glanced at the wooden box beside the hearth, wondering if there were enough logs to last through the night.

‘There aren’t many left.’

If he added more now, it wouldn’t last until morning. He should have stocked up on firewood earlier, but the mistake wasn’t his to own. It was Rosés fault for not preparing enough, and she knew it.

But Haven didn’t blame Rosé. He understood better than anyone that her mind hadn’t been clear, especially not with Flitta’s sudden decline.

He quietly placed fresh logs into the fire and turned around. Rosé was still sitting beside his daughter, her hand gently stroking the child’s head, her gaze tender and unwavering. She was so absorbed in the child that she hadn’t even noticed him.

‘I told her to rest for a moment…’

Haven clicked his tongue softly. It was clear that Rosé hadn’t slept a single wink, still tending to Flitta with that same devoted look. He found himself watching her in wonder. How was it that someone could be so selflessly dedicated, even when it wasn’t her responsibility?

The week spent in the annex must have been grueling for her. She had to do everything herself—cooking, cleaning, laundry… and nursing the child as well.

And it wasn’t as if she were in the best of health, either. Her body wasn’t strong, and she had the added burden of an injured arm…

“…?”

At that moment, Haven’s gaze landed on Rosé’s arm. More specifically, the arm that should have been in a splint.

“Why aren’t you wearing the splint?”

Haven’s voice was small, but the question cut through the silence. Rosé, startled, looked up from Flitta and turned to him. She blinked, clearly confused, as if she didn’t understand what he meant.

“The splint you had on your arm… When did you take it off?”