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The little girl in front of her showed not the slightest sign of nervousness.
No — on the contrary, she was looking at her with eyes full of anticipation.
The slightly upturned corners of her small, pursed lips made her already plump cheeks look even more chubby — that was the proof.
‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a child who isn’t afraid of me.’
After her daughter grew up, she had never seen one, so it truly had been a very long time.
Because of Madam Hayworth’s characteristic strictness and sternness, there had never been a child who wasn’t intimidated by her.
Thanks to that, the heavy displeasure that had been weighing on Madam Hayworth’s mind eased just a little.
‘I wasn’t planning to go for a walk…’
But she couldn’t possibly make a child who had come all this way feel awkward, so there was no helping it.
Madam Hayworth rose from her seat and straightened her back.
“If you wish to walk with me, I suppose I can allow it. Come here. The walking path is this way.”
She naturally assumed that this bold-looking little girl would eagerly scamper after her.
However.
“No! I don’t want to walk with you, Madam.”
Rowena’s following words shattered everyone’s expectations.
For a moment, silence fell, and Madam Hayworth’s face hardened coldly.
“…What did you say?”
Her patience had already reached its limit today. That meant she was fully prepared to be merciless even toward a child.
“Do you even know what you’re saying?”
As Madam Hayworth’s face filled with anger, the teacher — who had been fawning just moments ago — turned deathly pale and shouted.
“R-Rowena! What on earth are you saying…! M-Madame, I am truly sorry. The child must have misunderstood—”
“It’s not a misunderstanding! I don’t want to go for a walk. I said I wanted the opportunity to learn your grace, didn’t I?”
But Rowena was one step faster.
Rowena curved her round eyes into a charming smile, then hopped over and stood right beside Madam Hayworth.
“I think your accent is truly elegant, Madam. So, what I’d like is — I want to read a book to you!”
“…Read a book, you say?”
“Yes! If I read to you, it might help you correct your accent. Would that be alright?”
Rowena looked up at Madam Hayworth, her emerald-like green eyes sparkling.
“…Hah.”
At that expectant expression, Madam Hayworth let out a short scoff.
Seeing her reaction of utter disbelief, the teacher’s face grew even paler.
Just as the teacher hurriedly reached out toward Rowena before things could escalate further.
Madam Hayworth raised her hand and spoke.
“Henry. Prepare a place inside the mansion where the child and I can read together.”
“Yes, Madam. Is there anything else you require?”
Madam Hayworth’s cold gaze turned toward Rowena once.
Those bright, shining green eyes.
After looking at them, Madam Hayworth added with a low hum.
“Also prepare some drinks and snacks suitable for the child.”
Hooray!
It was the moment Rowena cheered inwardly.
* * *
Inside the mansion.
“Rowena, was it? Tell me. Why did you do such a thing?”
At Madam Hayworth’s stern voice, Rowena opened her eyes wide and blinked.
“Huh? What thing?”
“Don’t play innocent. I already know perfectly well that you didn’t really want to read a book to me. Sneaking glances like that all through tea time, and then saying you want to read a book.”
“Ah, I thought I hid it pretty well.”
Did it show? Hehe.
When Rowena smiled sheepishly, Madam Hayworth slightly lifted the corner of her mouth.
“It was obvious from tea time onward, so don’t even think about fooling me any further. Why did you do it? Did you think I was ridiculous?”
“Of course not!”
Rowena jumped up, waving her hands, then lowered her voice to a whisper.
“Madam, you’re weak to pollen too, aren’t you?”
“…What?”
“When Martin sneezed earlier. I saw you sneeze a little too, Madam. The garden was uncomfortable for you, wasn’t it?”
That’s why you were lenient with Martin. And why you inwardly disliked the teacher’s flattery.
‘The old doctor grandpa said that as adults get older, their nose and throat become weaker.’
For someone as elderly as Madam Hayworth, it would be harder not to sneeze with pollen flying everywhere.
The problem was that she was a person who cared extremely deeply about appearances.
“So I thought it would be better if we went inside so you could be comfortable, Madam! That’s all.”
“Then you noticed that and kept sneaking glances at me?”
“No, that’s not exactly it…”
For the first time, Rowena tightly closed her mouth, then buried her face completely in the book she was holding open.
Then, cautiously lowering it just enough to peek out with her eyes only, she asked in a small voice.
“Can I be honest?”
Even though hiding behind a book clearly wouldn’t shield her from an adult’s anger, the way she tried so earnestly was quite adorable, and Madam Hayworth unwittingly let out a soft laugh.
“Go on, then. Let’s hear it.”
“Actually, I needed some time alone with you, Madam.”
“Alone with me?”
“Yes. There’s one thing I’d like to ask you.”
At those words, Madam Hayworth’s previously softened face hardened slightly once again.
“You — asking something of me?”
“Yes. Will you listen?”
“Out of the question.”
Madam Hayworth’s face had now turned quite icy.
“A mere child scheming to make a request? How presumptuous. Even the most prominent figures in this region wouldn’t dare ask anything of me — what reason would I have to grant a request from you? Be grateful that I’m not immediately punishing you for your age.”
Not only was the response cold, but Madam Hayworth even picked up the bell beside her to summon the butler.
“Henry! Call the teacher and have this child sent out.”
At that voice, Rowena’s heart sank with a thud.
‘Of course I didn’t think she’d agree right away.’
But she hadn’t expected such a frigid reaction just from the word “request.”
What if she gets kicked out like this and punished?
‘I don’t want to be locked in solitary!’
Moreover, beyond solitary itself, if she missed this chance, she might never get another opportunity to be alone with Madam Hayworth.
No — she definitely wouldn’t.
She had finally seized this chance!
And before she could even think it through, a squeezed-out voice burst forth.
“M-Madame Hayworth!”
“What is it?”
“W-Well, um…”
She had gathered the courage to call out — that was good — but facing Madam Hayworth’s face, which was scarier than a tiger’s, her mind went completely blank.
In the end, the only thing Rowena could say was one thing.
“W-When we say goodbye in front of the carriage later… C-Could you let me… give you a kiss on the cheek?”
“…What?”
“I-If not, I might get scolded by the teacher…”
I don’t want solitary…
Please…
* * *
To get straight to the point, Rowena succeeded in giving Madam Hayworth a kiss on the cheek.
The orphanage teachers were overjoyed that one of the children had received Madam Hayworth’s favor.
And the other children gave admiring applause to Rowena for having hung a bell around the neck of a cat — no, a tiger.
“You’re seriously brave, Rowena!”
“I see you in a whole new light!”
“Martin said thanks to you he avoided solitary — he told me to give you this apple.”
Because of what happened at the Hayworth mansion, Rowena began receiving praise and envious looks wherever she went.
In other words, she was basking in the brightest spotlight.
“…Maybe I should just die…”
But the person herself was in terrible condition.
The reason was simple.
‘Rowena, you idiot fool! Was a kiss the only thing you could think of saying there?!’
She was simply too devastated at having wasted the precious chance to be alone with Madam Hayworth.
Thanks to that, as soon as she returned to the orphanage, Rowena threw herself onto her bed, pressed her face into the pillow, and sobbed loudly.
‘I’m worse than a rotten apple! Even if I were thrown into a field, I wouldn’t make good fertilizer!’
To waste such a perfect opportunity!
Even if it meant solitary, she should have at least talked about the “request” there!
Madam Hayworth would never give her another chance!
‘…But still, solitary is something I really hate…’
Sniff.
What should I do now?
‘I hate dying even more than solitary.’
No matter how much she thought, no good idea came to mind, so Rowena fell asleep while sniffling.
But for some reason.
The next morning, when she woke up with swollen eyes.
A shocking piece of news was waiting for Rowena.
“Rowena! Rowena! What are you doing, you little thing! Hurry up and get ready!”
“Y-Yes? But teacher, it’s still morning. There’s no outing scheduled today—”
“No! Madam Hayworth has ordered you to be brought to her! Prepare immediately!”
The teacher threatened that she would be in big trouble if she was late, then stormed out.
Any other time, Rowena would have grumbled, but this time was different.
As soon as she understood the situation, a smile slowly spread across Rowena’s small face.
“Kiss victory!”
She could meet Madam Hayworth again!
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
