To think Jayden would come toward him first like this.
Come to think of it, something similar had happened before, too.
He remembered the day Jayden had come to his study for the very first time in his life.
“…That woman dared to try to kill Viola.”
The way he’d looked, desperate, thinking only of protecting Viola.
He’d felt it then too, but it seemed Viola was someone who could make this boy overcome even his own fear.
“I, um, tried on the clothes…”
Shoulders visibly stiff with tension. He must have scraped together every bit of courage he had.
Cain was about to answer indifferently, as always, but he closed his mouth instead.
Something Viola had whispered as she brushed past him, not long after they’d entered the boutique, came to mind.
“Children are innocent, but they’re surprisingly simple, too. Sometimes just coming down to their eye level changes a lot of things.”
She’d probably said that for exactly this moment.
Cain slowly bent his knees and lowered his whole body down.
Not from an adult’s line of sight, but a child’s. Meeting his eyes gently, Cain answered quietly.
“It suits you.”
“…Huh.”
Jayden looked dazed, as though he’d never expected to be praised, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward, secretly pleased.
At the child’s first positive reaction, Cain decided to take it a step further.
“Jayden.”
At the quiet call of his name, the boy’s expression stiffened slightly with surprise.
What now? As the boy hesitated, a warm touch reached his back for a moment.
None other than Viola.
Glancing back, he saw her smiling brightly at him. As if to say he had nothing at all to worry about.
Really? Is it really okay?
Still doubtful, Jayden inched toward Cain in tiny, hesitant steps.
But the Duke, who had always seemed as massive as a mountain, was now at his exact eye level.
Only now could he see Cain’s face properly.
Silver hair and red eyes, just like his own.
He’d always felt too far away to notice before, but seeing him up close, Cain’s expression wasn’t as hard as he’d expected.
It was then that Cain reached out his hand, very slowly.
Flinching, Jayden still didn’t step back, only squeezing his eyes shut.
He felt some sensation near his collar, then it vanished, as if the hand had withdrawn.
Cautiously opening his eyes, he saw the collar around his neck, once standing straight up, now neatly smoothed flat.
“It’ll be easier to wear this way.”
With those words, Cain stepped back again.
“Wow, Young Master. Now it’s truly perfect! It suits you so well!”
Clap, clap, clap.
Beside him, Viola beamed and clapped her hands.
“Yes. It looks good.”
Looking in the mirror, a fine young gentleman stood there. Just as His Grace had said.
It really did suit him better this way.
Ahem. The corners of Jayden’s mouth twitched again. His fingers fidgeted without his noticing.
Whether it was embarrassment or something else, he wasn’t sure what this feeling was.
For the first time, Jayden thought:
Maybe, as Viola said, his uncle wasn’t such a scary person after all.
I watched Jayden and Cain, both looking bashful, with a warm gaze.
This much is a success for today, isn’t it?
It was more progress than I’d hoped for.
All I’d done was create the opportunity for them to spend time together.
Coming this far already means…
Neither of them had said so, but they’d probably secretly wanted a moment like this all along.
If I just keep putting the two of them together, little by little, someday…
Heh heh heh. I smiled slyly and worked out my future plans in my head.
It was then.
“Uu! Uu!”
Melody tugged at the hem of my skirt, then pointed her finger at an elaborate dress displayed in the middle of the shop.
“Mommy. Uu-uu?”
You try that one on too!
The child’s eyes sparkled.
Jayden joined in too, poking the back of my hand.
“That’s right, Viola! I think that one would look great on you! Won’t you try it on? Please?”
“Oh no, that’s fine. I don’t need to.”
What use would I ever have for such an elaborate dress, anyway.
Back when I’d been a marquis’s daughter, there’d been occasions to attend banquets, but that wasn’t true anymore.
All I did these days was trim and grind medicinal herbs; a dress like that would be a luxury.
And even setting that aside…
It’s too expensive!
I’d caught a glimpse of the price tag on Melody’s outfit earlier, and my eyes had nearly popped out of my head.
But Cain, as if it were nothing, had bought not only every outfit Melody liked but even ones the child had only glanced at in passing. However hard I sweated to refuse, he’d been so unyielding that it was more than a little troubling.
That dress will surely cost even more. Absolutely out of the question.
However generously Cain paid me, there was no way I could afford it with my own money.
Rather than that…
My eyes landed on a casual outfit hanging by the wall.
A neat blouse that looked easy to move around in, paired with a dark green skirt.
I’d been noticing it out of the corner of my eye for a while now.
The design looked tidy, and it wouldn’t be bad to wear for work, either.
This much, I could probably afford.
But I soon let go of the thought. I’d already decided to spend the wages I’d been earning on other things.
“It’s fine! The clothes I have now are comfortable and good enough.”
I decided firmly and was turning to walk away when I found Cain standing right behind me—I had no idea when he’d approached.
He gestured with his chin at the outfit I’d been looking at and said quietly:
“I think that would suit you.”
“Hup.”
“Uu-uu!”
Melody tugged at Cain’s sleeve, then pointed at the elaborate dress in the center of the shop.
“Uu-uu?”
What about this one? she seemed to be asking.
“That would suit her well too, certainly. Have them charge everything togeth—”
“N-no! Not that! Melody? You mustn’t do that to His Grace.”
The mood was such that he seemed about to order the madam to have it all wrapped up, so I waved my arms frantically in a panic.
“I really am fine! I’d never have any occasion to wear a dress like that!”
“You never know.”
What is this Duke even saying…! Was he suggesting I trim herbs while wearing that gorgeous dress?
I should have known, from the moment he started sweeping up all of Melody’s outfits…!
Being the head of Asheln, said to command the greatest wealth in the empire, this Duke had a subtly extravagant streak.
“A dress would be so impractical for work… I really am fine! More importantly—”
At this rate, he really would end up buying it, so I had to change the subject somehow.
Buying clothes for me too would truly be a waste.
However much money Cain had, I couldn’t let him buy a dress that would get ruined after a few sessions of trimming herbs.
I glanced around and spoke up.
“Your Grace, I’m sorry, but would it be all right if I stepped outside for just a moment?”
“Where to?”
“Viola? Where are you going?”
“Uu?”
I’d only said one thing, and all three of them looked at me and asked at once.
“I think I left something in the carriage.”
“We’ll be heading back there soon anyway. Let’s all go together.”
In my haste, I seemed to have come up with a completely nonsensical excuse. Ugh. I really had no talent for lying.
What do I do now? But there was no taking back words already spoken.
Just make a run for it!
“N-no! Anyway, I’ll be right back!”
Leaving Melody and Jayden in his care, I headed straight outside without a plan.
Having taken care of the matter that had been bothering me, I returned to the boutique, and the four of us headed to the restaurant together.
Because we’d promised to eat out together.
The restaurant we arrived at, according to something Marie had once told me, was a famous place always crowded with nobles.
But…
“There’s no one here? I heard this restaurant was busiest especially in the evening.”
At the strangely déjà-vu-inducing situation, I belatedly realized it.
Don’t tell me, again?
Had he rented this place out too, right after the boutique?
Startled, I turned to Cain, but he simply brushed it off, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
…I’m never going to casually suggest eating out again.
Being a duke, I supposed—his standards were on a completely different scale from mine.
Without meaning to, things kept escalating.
The restaurant was a truly magnificent place. The beautiful chandelier on the ceiling and the colorful flowers on the tables made it feel like an elaborate banquet hall.
“Wow! Mommy! Uu-uu!”
Look at that! That, that!
Fascinated by the dazzling sight, Melody bounced and pointed at the chandelier.
“You’re right? It’s so sparkly.”
While I was glancing around the interior with Melody, a waiter came over and led us to our table.
Not long after we ordered from the menu, the food began arriving, one dish after another.
Every single dish looked delicious without exception, and Melody’s eyes sparkled.
“Waah!”
Looking as though she meant to devour it all, the child raised her fork and tried to stab at the food, but—whoosh—
Her fork kept missing, apparently struggling with the motion.
Oh, dear.
“Mommy will feed you. Melody, say ah!”
“Ahh~”
I rolled up some noodles and fit them to just the right size for the child’s mouth, and Melody took them neatly. Then she chewed away, cheeks puffed full.
Aww. She must have found it delicious, because her melting expression was adorable.
“Is it good?”
“Uu!”
While Melody was chewing, I was about to take a bite myself when—
“Viola, Viola.”
“Yes? Young Master? What is it?”
Jayden had set down his spoon and was looking at me with sparkling eyes. As if expecting something.
“Um… never mind.”
Something was clearly on his mind, but Jayden refused to say it out loud.
Surely he’s not asking me to feed him too…?
Just in case, I made a gesture toward Jayden’s fork, and the sparkle in his eyes grew stronger.
Oh?
