Don't Remember Me - Chapter 72

Chapter 72

“Dad said to himself that I’d definitely get better. When we come back, we’ll return while holding hands – us three.” 

“… Ah.”

He recalled the words he had spoken. The day he had to send the child to the annex, those were the words he had said. They were words he had wanted to say to himself, full of desperate hope. That’s why, as soon as he heard Flitta’s words, it all came back to him.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“… And you made those words a reality.”

Haven looked down at the child with pride. The child beamed with a smile and extended the other hand toward Rosé.

“Please hold my hand, Rosé.”

Flitta’s small hand wiggled in the air. But Rosé couldn’t immediately go to the child. Haven was holding the child’s other hand.

“Go ahead, Rosé.”

“… But…”

Rosé hesitated, looking at Haven, who had easily agreed to the child’s request. Then Haven raised one eyebrow as if asking, 

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it… a bit strange?” Rosé stammered.

“Strange?” Haven asked.

“To others, Your Highness. It might be… misinterpreted… I’m afraid of unnecessary misunderstandings…”

Rosé trailed off, blushing. From an outsider’s perspective, wouldn’t it seem like a couple holding hands with the child in between? It would look like a happy little family.

That’s what she meant. But it was too awkward to explain clearly, so she could only speak vaguely, assuming he would understand.

“Misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding?” Haven asked, his face calm and curious.

Rosé, surprised by his nonchalant response, stammered again, unable to find the right words.

“Th-that… um…”

“Heh.”

It was then that a soft chuckle escaped. It was such a quiet giggle that it could have been easily missed. But Rosé, who had been intently watching Haven, caught it.

“… Your Grace?”

She looked up at him, startled. Haven avoided her gaze, looking embarrassed. And then, she saw it—a smile on his lips, the trace of a smile he hadn’t wiped away.

“… Did you just tease me, Y-your Highness?”

Rosé blinked, her green eyes wide. She couldn’t believe he was pretending not to understand her, as if mocking her. Yet, if she thought about it, the Haven she knew might do such a thing. But the man in front of her wasn’t exactly the same person she remembered.

“Ahem.”

Haven cleared his throat awkwardly, sensing her gaze, and turned slightly. Flitta, impatient, kept reaching out for Rosé’s hand. Rosé, still dazed, absentmindedly reached for the child’s hand.

“Hehe.”

Flitta giggled brightly and tightened her grip on Rosé’s hand. Only then did Rosé snap out of her trance and speak up.

“Ah! Your Highness, I should bring my belongings… I’ll stay and…”

“Just have someone else bring it for you.”

Haven cut her off, his voice firm. Flitta, still holding Rosé’s hand, nodded and then looked up at Haven.

“Flitta, too.”

“… Flitta?”

Haven frowned in confusion, wondering what she meant. Flitta pointed at a small flower pot on the window sill.

“That, the pot dad gave me. I have to bring it too. You should tell the servants to bring it for me.”

“Ah, hmm… How did you know it was a gift from me?”

Haven asked awkwardly, glancing at the pot. Flitta smiled brightly and nodded.

“Rosé knows everything so she told me.”

“… I see.”

Haven’s blue eyes shifted to Rosé. Rosé, feeling his gaze, lowered her head slightly.

It wasn’t a big deal, but she felt her face flush. As if he had remembered a past memory. Just like she had recognized it too.

… Just like that.

***

“Woof, woof!”

As soon as they entered the main hall on the first floor, a small white puppy dashed up to greet its young owner.

“Hayang!”

Flitta, holding hands with Haven and Rosé, immediately let go of their hands and ran to the puppy. But then she hesitated, remembering she shouldn’t be too carefree.

“Go ahead and pet him. Hayang missed you a lot.”

Instead of scolding her, Haven pointed to the puppy, who was wagging its tail energetically and rolling onto its back to show its belly.

“… Hayang.”

Flitta glanced at Haven for a moment, then, seemingly reassured, she knelt down to pet the puppy.

“Woof, woof!”

Haven watched for a moment as the child and the puppy played, then took a few steps forward. Rosé, seeing that, broke her gaze from Flitta and followed Haven a couple of steps behind.

As they walked through the line of servants standing at attention to greet the little princess, there were quiet whispers.

They must have been talking about seeing Rosé entering with Haven, holding Flitta’s hand.

“Ahem.”

The sound of the butler clearing his throat cut through the whispers, signaling the servants to quiet down. The only sound left was the puppy panting happily as it greeted Flitta.

“Your Grace, I sincerely congratulate you on the young lady’s full recovery.”

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

The butler’s formal greeting was followed by the head maid stepping forward and bowing deeply, followed by the other servants in unison.

Flitta, who had been playing with the puppy, stopped and walked back to Haven’s side. The puppy followed her, tail wagging.

“Lady, it’s such a relief that you’ve returned to full health.”

The butler bent his knee to match Flitta’s height and offered a heartfelt greeting. Flitta, shy, nodded back at him.

“Thank you, Grandpa Butler.”

His wrinkled face broke into a smile as he looked at Flitta. Then he added,

“As a celebration of your recovery, the bedroom has been completely redecorated.”

“… What?”

Flitta froze, looking up at the butler with wide eyes. The butler glanced at Haven, who gave him a small nod, and smiled.

“His Grace ordered it. I had to rush and prepare everything. It was a bit of a scramble.”

The butler, unusually jovial, seemed genuinely happy. But Flitta wasn’t as happy as he was.

Flitta blinked, understanding the meaning of his words, and her eyes widened in surprise. She tilted her head back to look up at Haven.

“… It’s a gift from me. I hope you like it.”

“Wow! Thank you!”

Flitta exclaimed, then quickly placed her hands on her stomach, remembering to bow in thanks. Rosé smiled, watching her and Haven.

She hadn’t known that he had redecorated a room for the child.

Of course, she couldn’t have known, since she had been in the annex and was unaware of the main house’s situation. But still, she didn’t think it was because of that.

If he wanted to take credit for it, he would have found a way to do so. He could have easily told her, just like when he placed the flowerpot with Flitta’s flowers in front of the bedroom.

But he said nothing. Even though he was the one who placed the flowerpot, he didn’t mention it. Perhaps he never would have, had the child not known and brought it up.

… That subtle warmth was so endearing. The way he was shy about his own actions felt like seeing the old him again.

At that moment, Rosé felt a lump form in her throat, and as she pressed her hand to her nose, she heard rapid footsteps approaching. Instinctively, she turned her head in the direction of the sound.

“…!”

Her eyes widened. Almost at the same time, Flitta’s bright smile faded.

“Your Highness! Huff… huff…”

The nanny, disheveled and panting, appeared. This wasn’t the calm, composed governess who always insisted on proper behavior.

“Lady Miguel, your vacation isn’t done yet…”

At that moment, the head maid stepped forward, furrowing her brows.

“Your Highness, the young lady was ill, so how could I rest easy? I took a few days off for personal reasons, but I couldn’t sleep at night, worrying if her condition would worsen. You know, I’ve raised her since she was a baby. What kind of nanny can rest while her child is sick?”

The nanny wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, then swiftly turned and hurried toward Flitta.

Flitta, startled by her sudden approach, took a step back and quickly went to Rosé’s side.

Seeing the child recoil, the nanny froze for a moment, then forced a smile and opened her arms to Flitta.

“My dear lady, I’m so relieved you’ve recovered. I was terrified, afraid something might happen. I couldn’t sleep, wondering if you might worsen. Although you’re fine now, you have lost a lot of weight.”