CH 2.17

“It’s done, Princess. Fortunately, the wound isn’t too deep, so I don’t think there will be any scarring.”

The therapist wrapped a thin cloth around Flitta’s knee and got her up. And the assistant who followed him organized the ointment and cloth and put them in his bag. Rosé watched the scene and asked the therapist.

“Then is the princess okay now?”

“That’s right. Ah, to add, you have to take care not to touch the wound for a while. You know what will happen if you do that, right?”

The therapist nodded and looked at Rosé after answering. There was a hint of curiosity in his gaze. He must have heard rumors about her already.

Rumor has it that she was a woman who saved the princess and luckily became the princess’s exclusive maid.

Of course, unlike the others, the therapist was not hostile to Rosé. Since he was probably not in the same employee position, he seemed simply curious.

“I will keep this in mind, therapist. thank you.”

Rosé bowed her head to the therapist. Then the therapist withdrew his curiosity and turned to pay respects to Flitta.

“Then Princess, I’m going to leave…”

“Rosé too!”

Before the therapist could finish saying his greeting and leaving, Flitta, who was sitting on the bed, exclaimed abruptly. The therapist blinked at the sudden action.

“… Yes?”

“Heal Rosé too. Here, look at her cheek.”

Flitta pointed at Rosé at the bewildered therapist, then pointed at her cheek. Understanding that, Rosé’s face turned red.

“No, Princess. I’m very all right.”

“Uh-huh, you mean to heal the Princess’s maid’s wounds.”

The therapist saw the bruise left on Rosé’s cheek and nodded as if he finally understood. However, he soon took on a questioning expression. Apparently, it doesn’t look like the princess slapped her maid, but someone else did…

‘Who dared to slap the princess’ maid?’

The therapist rolled his eyes to make an unconscious guess, then gritted his lips. How can many people hit the Princess’s maid recklessly?

‘What if it was someone higher than His Highness the Grand Duke… I don’t even want to think of it.’

The therapist shook his head. He had seen with his own eyes the former queen’s frequent visits to the grand duke’s residence, and he had also heard many things from the lips of the grand duke’s servants.

That’s why he didn’t know that she was pretending to be the grand duke’s mistress. In fact, she pretended to be his mistress, so it wasn’t surprising that she might be the one who did such a thing.

After all, the former queen’s remarriage partner would be the grand duke.

‘Honestly, who else will inherit the throne besides His Highness the Grand Duke?’

The therapist, who made an arbitrary guess, did not ask her where she was injured. He just applied ointment to Rosé’s cheeks as the princess ordered. That, in its own way, was the secret to working as a healer for a long time at the Grand Duke’s residence.

“It’s done, princess.”

“Already?”

“Yes, to heal a slap, I only need to get rid of the bruises and the swelling.”

The therapist said in an insignificant tone. However, Flitta cried as if the bruise on Rosé’s cheek hurt more than the wound on her knee. The therapist, who once again respected Flitta, left the room with the assistant.

Ha.

The door was closed with a gentle thud. And Flitta and Rosé were left inside the room.

Flitta was sitting on the bed, then came down and stretched out her hand towards Rosé. Rose quickly knelt down on her knees.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Flitta’s pale green eyes were filled with worry. The child caressed Rosé’s cheek with her small hand. She gently touched her fingertips as if she was afraid that her cheek would hurt even more.

“No. It doesn’t hurt at all, Princess.”

“But you’re bruised like this? Besides, there are wounds here.”

Flitta squinted her eyes and tried to cry again. She seemed to be referring to the marks from the lady-in-waiting’s ring. Rosé smiled and shook her head.

“Thanks to the princess, I was healed. The wound will heal soon.”

“… Really?”

“Of course.”

Rosé vigorously nodded her head. Then Flitta put on a relieved expression and wrapped her arms around Rosé’s neck. The warm child’s body temperature was transmitted intact.

“Haaam.”

Flitta’s soft yawn was heard in Rosé’s ear. Rosé laughed softly and carefully picked up Flitta, who was still in her arms with her arms around her neck and stood up.

She must have been tired just from playing to the fullest, but on top of that, she must have been very tired because she had been through this and that. Flitta must have also very surprised.

Rosé patted Flitta’s back and headed to her bed.

“Uhh…”

She must have been asleep from exhaustion, but when she tried to put her on the bed, the child whimpered slightly. Rosé stayed still for a moment so Flitta wouldn’t wake up, then she gently laid the child down.

‘… Flitta.’

Rosé’s eyes looking down at her child were affectionate. She stroked Flitta’s head. Her heart skipped a beat at the soft feel of her hair running between her fingers.

Rosé smiled bitterly, then slowly removed her hand from her child. Then, as she was about to get her body up and go out of her bedroom, she involuntarily opened her eyes wide.

“…!”

She doesn’t know since when he had been there, Haven was standing next to the open door and looking at her.

“… Yo, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

Rosé stared at him stunned, then came to her senses belatedly and hurriedly lowered her head. Haven was greeted by her and stepped into Flitta’s bedroom.

“Looks like she fell asleep.”

Haven immediately approached the bed where Flitta was sleeping. Then he looked down at his child and spoke in a low voice. Rosé cautiously raised her head and looked at him.

The man’s gaze, looking down at his sleeping child, seemed insensitive. However, she could see that his concern and affection for Flitta were hidden in his gaze.

‘Even before when the child was born, I promised him several times that he would be a really good father.’

Rosé smiled faintly at the memory that suddenly came to her mind. She vividly recalled the joy of holding a newborn baby in her arms, who had been in pain throughout the labor pain.

… I am longing for you.

She was also sad.

They were so close from each other. The distance between them right now were only a few steps forward.

Rosé’s lips, which had been smiling faintly, twisted before she knew it. At the same time, Haven turned his body towards her. She hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand and bowed her head.

She didn’t want to show him her expression like this. Of course, he wouldn’t notice anything because he had no memory of her.

“Treatment.”

She heard his low voice. Rosé answered right away with her head bowed without even having time to clear up her complex thoughts.

“A little while ago, the therapist visited here. Fortunately, the wound on her knee wasn’t too bad, so there won’t be any scarring…”

“Have you been treated?”

Before Rosé finished answering, Haven asked another question. But this time she didn’t answer the question right away.

“… Yes?”

She thought she misheard it. She raised her head and looked at him with suspicious eyes. Haven’s blue eyes slowly scanned Rosé’s face.

“Looks like you’ve been cured.”

Even in the dimly lit room, traces of ointment applied to the cheeks were recognizable. Haven nodded his head, not wanting to wait for her answer, then turned around.

“I…”

At that moment, Rosé called him and stopped him. Haven looked back at her as he was about to leave her room. However, when the woman who actually called him met his eyes, she was startled and lowered her gaze. She couldn’t understand why she had called him, and her embarrassment was evident.

“…”

Haven did not point out the rudeness of the maid. He also didn’t even turn around and walk out of the room. He didn’t do anything momentarily and only stared at her for a while.

Long time passed with that still.

Rosé, who was only looking down at her toes, heard footsteps in her ears. It was the sound of footsteps moving away from her, not approaching her.

Haa.

“Ha…”

The door was closed. Only then did Rosé sat down on the floor. She couldn’t even move one of her fingers.

***

As if the sky had no pity for the king who died at a young age, the rain continued to pour down from early morning. Haven stared blankly at the rainwater that soaked the tombstone which seemed not enough.

…The rainwater was somehow like his brother’s tears.

Pleading for an unfair death.

He slowly raised his gaze and looked across. He could see the former queen standing under the umbrella covered by the lady-in-waiting. Haven’s mouth twisted at the sight of her holding her handkerchief in one hand, blotting out her tears.

A cold anger welled up in his chest. False mourning was no different from insulting the dead.

His blue eyes twinkled. Haven’s hand, which was holding the umbrella, was also strained. Through the raindrops falling restlessly through the tip of the umbrella, not only the former queen but also other people came in.

They were people who faked their tears, wiping nothing from underneath their eyes.

No one felt sorry for the dead king. They did not grieve in front of his tragedy, who died absurdly at such a young age.

‘If this is the case, why are we having a memorial service?’

The handle of the umbrella creaked as Haven’s hand tightened. But he soon swallowed a laugh and forcibly removed the strength from his hand.