Don’t Remember Me

>I am scared of my aunt and grandmother, too.
So……”

“His Highness will be disappointed if he hears those words now.”

Rosé laughed and interrupted Flitta.
Flitta lowered her head, then looked at her.

“… Is father sad?”

“Of course, he is sad.
He might be even upset inside for not knowing his feelings.”

“…!”

Flitta’s eyes shook as she listened to Rosé’s words.
The child, who blinked her round eyes several times enough to show her surprise, opened her mouth.

But she just kept her mouth shut, and she couldn’t get her words out easily.
Rosé silently waited for her words.
Then she heard Flitta open her mouth a few more times before she asked in a barely whispered voice.

“Really?”

The child’s voice was very low.
However, Rosé could fully feel the anticipation contained in Flitta’s voice.
She nodded her head and replied affirmatively.

“Without a doubt.
His Highness loves Princess so much.”

“… Bu, but.”

“You can’t believe it?”

“… No.”

It was a positive change.
She looked at Flitta and her heart tightened.
She hesitated for a moment but the child finally expressed her feelings on her own.

Does he know?

He knew that a small change he had made such a big difference to the child.

“Well… Oh, why is Dad like that?”

Flitta twitched her fingers and she asked again.
Rosé smiled quietly, then opened her mouth.

“He must have been worried about the princess.”

“… Worry?”

“Yes.
Because he must have wanted the Princess to be at ease with him.”

“…”

Flitta closed her mouth and was silent for a moment.
Then she wriggled her hands and held them together.

“But… I have to say goodbye The nanny said that is being polite.”

“Of course, she said it was polite.
It is to welcome his guests to his house.”

At Rosé’s words, Flitta wept with a sullen expression.
She patted her, and Rose continued her words.

“But, for His Highness, the princess is the priority.”

“…?”

“It’s important to follow manners, but His Highness puts more importance on you, Princess.”

Haven’s decision might not be right, but it is important to teach children basic etiquette.
So, Rosé respected Haven’s decision unlike Nanny.

One could blame Haven for this decision.
If you unconditionally overprotect a child because she is a child, you could say that it would only lead to bad habits, or you could criticize him for raising a child weakly.

But she is only five years old now.
Five years old only.

Moreover, she grew up never feeling the love of her parents.
She never fell asleep in his mother’s arms to a lullaby, never laughed and played pranks on his father’s lap.

She couldn’t play with dolls or playhouse in the garden.
She would never have ridden on his father’s shoulders, too.
She wouldn’t have been able to sit on that strong shoulder and see the world from much higher than Rosé’s eye level..

Rosé’s eyes as she looked at Flitta wavered in pity.

Even a foolish mother can’t help it.
What is it like to be so overprotective of a young daughter who doesn’t know the tenderness of her parents? What if she grows up with no manners? Although Rosé hopes that she grows up spoiled, Rosé knows full well that a timid child cannot be like that.

So that fact makes her heart ache like this.

“Shall we draw a picture?”

‘… So, it’s okay, baby.’

Rosé swallowed the words she wanted to say to her child, then turned to her.
A child who had no way of knowing Rosé’s intentions looked at her in the eyes and smiled shyly with a nod of her head.
She laughed and pulled out her sketchbook and colored pencils.

* * *

A dinner for the Queen and the Duchess was prepared from early evening.
The table decorated with bright flowers was filled with dishes prepared by the chef’s skill.

However, no one touched the dishes.
Even Haven, who was sitting in the seat of honor, as well as the late Queen Dowager and Duchess Ferrante.

“Didn’t I tell you to call the princess right now?”

Instead, the Duchess’s fuming voice filled the table.
The butler fidgeted with a puzzled look on his face, then barely opened his mouth.

“Your excellency, I told you already that the princess is sick…”

“So, even if a guest comes, she will not come out to greet or to have dinner? Are you telling me to believe that right now?”

The Duchess sarcastically glared at the butler.
Then she turned her head and looked at her Haven.

“Haven, you tell me.
Not even a child from a humble family would commit this kind of rudeness.
But how much more does the grand duke’s daughter behave so rudely? Haven, this will also tarnish your reputation.
So, why…”

(TN: Why are you even interfering, dumb*** Aunt.
You’re the second b**** I’ll beat up.
Grr!)

“I told her not to come out of her room, aunt.”

Haven looked at his aunt, the Duchess of Ferrante, with his usual cold gaze and spoke his words.

“You told her not to come out?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Right after hearing her answer, which was so calm, made the Duchess’s mouth curved up.
She was speechless by the demeanor he was showing.