Don't Remember Me - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

“The young lady must have been quite frightened, given her age, but she is truly admirable.”

“… It was the maid who volunteered to be isolated with the child. She did a great deed.”

At the old noblewoman’s words, Haven thought of Rosé. She had been the only one to show courage in a situation where the risk of contagion was high. Without her, Haven couldn’t be sure that the child would have pulled through the illness.

“Did she choose to isolate herself with the princess of her own accord? Such loyalty deserves great recognition. The Duke should reward her generously.”

“… Yes. It is necessary.”

A mere 500 setena wouldn’t be enough. How could one possibly repay the act of saving his child with such a trivial sum? Therefore, whenever the opportunity arose, Heiven intended to repay Rosé for her kindness. Though, he knew she would likely protest if she heard of it.

“Hmmm… You’re checking the time again. I suppose you have another appointment?”

“Oh, no, it’s not that…”

Haven, once again checking the time unconsciously, flashed a sheepish smile at the old noblewoman’s remark. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she leaned toward him and asked playfully, 

“Could it be that you have a date with some lovely young lady?”

“Pardon? …  Ahaha, no, it’s not that.”

Haven chuckled softly at the noblewoman’s question, shaking his head to deny it. But she narrowed her eyes, observing him closely, and continued with a teasing tone.

“You can’t fool me, Your Grace. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart, I know more than anyone. You must remember, the love story between me and His Majesty, may he rest in peace.”

At her words, Haven smiled awkwardly, knowing she was referring to the scandalous affair that had once occurred between the late King and herself. That tale had been passed down through the generations, often told in whispers.

“Your Grace, you remind me so much of His Majesty back then.”

“… What?”

Haven, who had been smiling awkwardly, stopped in his tracks, his gaze meeting the noblewoman’s with a surprised look. She smiled playfully and continued, 

“His Majesty used to do the same thing. He never confessed his love, but would constantly hover around me, always checking in on me, asking: ‘Countess Duvellon, what are you doing? Countess Duvellon, shall we ride together? Countess Duvellon, I have some papers to review, come take a look.’”

Her words faded as Haven saw the nostalgic look in the old woman’s eyes, and he lowered his head, unable to say anything in response.

“No, that’s not it, Countess. I think you’ve misunderstood…”

Though Haven was not a man of many words, he could speak eloquently when needed. But for some reason, during this conversation with the noblewoman, he found himself at a loss for words. It should have been simple to clarify that there was no such intention.

“Misunderstood? Then why keep checking the time, Your Grace? Do you know how many times you’ve looked at your watch during our tea?”

“… Countess, it’s really not like that.”

Haven furrowed his brow, trying to explain, but the noblewoman, gleaming with mischief, was watching him with delight.

“You, who are normally so indifferent to everything, now look so flustered… Do you expect me to believe that there’s nothing going on? I almost want to bring a mirror to show you what your face looks like right now.”

“… What do you mean by that? Why do you keep teasing me?”

Haven shook his head in exasperation and rubbed his face.

“You look like a child waiting for a gift, filled with excitement.”

“… What?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a face like that. I remember the young Duke wearing the same expression when His Majesty bought you a horse for your birthday.”

“Ah… You mean Luke, Countess?”

Haven smiled bitterly at the mention of his beloved horse, Luke. He had received Luke as a birthday gift from the King when he was young. He could still recall the excitement of waking up early to see the horse for the first time.

… But Luke is gone now, just another memory lost to time.

“That was a great time. The young Duke full of energy, the calm and wise King, may he rest in peace, and…”

The noblewoman stopped, and Haven could sense the unspoken words lingering in the air. He noticed the longing in her gray eyes, and for a moment, he realized that despite everything, the love she had for the King had never faded.

Was that why?

She often treated him like a beloved grandson, speaking to him freely, making jokes that others wouldn’t dare to make.

Perhaps, that was why he found himself visiting her from time to time.

“What kind of woman could it be?”

Haven, lost in his thoughts about the noblewoman, looked up when she asked him a question with a playful glint in her eye.

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“The woman who has made you so anxious and constantly checking the time, just like His Majesty back then. I really want to meet her and give her a compliment!”

Haven couldn’t deny her words any longer. However, he didn’t fully agree with them either.

He looked at the noblewoman, wondering if his grandfather had felt the same way about her.

“That can’t be…”

He was confused, feeling a strange, unnamed emotion stirring inside him.

“… Me? Rosé?”

***

「“For now, I will prepare the medicine, but how effective it will be…”」

Rosé shook her head to dismiss the healer’s pessimistic words, pushing away the pitiful looks directed at her. She had grown accustomed to such responses.

Everywhere she went, people expressed their sorrow over her fate— young, and yet suffering from a terminal illness.

‘I should be used to this by now…’

She forced a bitter smile, trying to suppress the sadness in her chest. She had accepted her fate, resigned herself to the truth, and yet, the emptiness and fear still remained, gnawing at her heart.

If only someone could tell her she had more time to live. If only someone would give her hope, however false it might be.

But no such comfort was allowed for her. The harsh reality was the only truth that awaited her.

Each day, as her life dwindled, she was left trembling in fear.

‘How did I end up like this?’

She wanted to blame someone—if there was a higher power who decided her fate, she would shout at them. But she knew better than anyone that such anger was futile.

In that case, she should spend the remaining time with her loved ones, cherishing the moments she had left.

Rosé paused, her eyes shut tight. The fear, cold enough to freeze her heart, overwhelmed her.

She would never become accustomed to this fear. Until the very moment her heart stopped beating, she would have to face it, trembling in dread.

She thought of her child and Haven. The more time she spent with them, the greater the fear became. The desire to live grew stronger, and with it, the fear of losing everything.

So there’s no way she’ll get used to it. She won’t be able to get used to it. She’ll be struggling to not get used to it.

‘I want to live. I want to live a little longer with those I love…’

Rosé took a deep breath. At that very moment, she heard a voice calling her from behind her.

“Rosé.”

Her tightly shut eyelids fluttered. Before her mind could even recognize it, her body recognized the owner of the voice. Rose slowly opened her eyes and turned her body backwards. Haven was approaching her.

But why?

His expression as he walked toward her seemed complicated.

“…?”

Did something go wrong with what he was trying to do? Rosé’s face clouded with worry about him.

But that worry seemed meaningless. Haven, who had come close to Rosé, looked no different than usual, as if he had never made that expression before.

Rosé let out a small sigh, feeling relieved, and soon looked around. She had just realized something she hadn’t noticed because she was worried about Haven.

“Uh, the carriage…”

The carriage was nowhere to be seen. However, Haven answered Rosé’s question nonchalantly.

“Let’s go back later.”

“… Yes?”

Rose’s eyes widened at the unexpected words while he shrugged and continued in a calm tone.

“You came out all this time, so wouldn’t it be a shame to just finish your work and go back right away? On top of that, you gave up a week’s vacation to go out for a half-day, and you’re going back without even using up all that.”

Rosé understood Haven’s words. No, she heard them, but she had a hard time understanding what he meant. But what did that have to do with not seeing the carriage? Even if she was sad to just go back, what did that have to do with Haven?

“Shall we go shopping together?”