Chapter 4.7

“Why on earth are you two here?”

Ryan stared incredulously at Jayden and Lucas, who were standing like statues. Wendy’s expression next to Ryan was not much different.

“To see the bazaar.”

Jayden’s nonchalant reply was even more unbelievable.

Thanks to him, Ryan and Wendy simultaneously voiced their complaints.

“You?”

“Brother?”

“It’s a charity bazaar to help the underprivileged. Can’t I do something good?”

“Then why not donate as usual instead of coming to a place you don’t usually go?”

Wendy eventually snapped.

It was clear they had come to interfere, but their feigned ignorance was maddening. They hadn’t cared whether Wendy met Ryan or not, but now they were starting again.

“Well, that’s Jayden. But Lucas, why are you here?”

“I was dragged along.”

“Willingly?”

“He said living well wouldn’t be bad.”

“…”

This guy was even more unbelievable. Lucas seemed to have been influenced by Jayden while away from the capital.

Ryan clicked his tongue.

“Even if you’re dissatisfied, there’s nothing you can do. I’m here as a guardian in place of Mother.”

“Mother is participating in the bazaar too.”

“But she’s not next to you.”

In fact, if the Countess were with Wendy, Jayden wouldn’t have needed to come. Ryan wouldn’t dare do anything strange in front of him, and he wasn’t a sinister guy, but Jayden didn’t like leaving Wendy alone with a man. Especially since Ryan was infatuated with Wendy.

“Anyway, please take care of us.”

Jayden placed a hand on each of Ryan and Wendy’s shoulders. Then he mischievously smiled and alternated his gaze between them.

“So, where should we start?”

“…”

Wendy coldly brushed off Jayden’s arm. She had no intention of accepting Jayden’s interference, especially with Lucas tagging along.

She intended to start fresh and have a proper first date with Ryan, but going around with the man she once had a crush on was unappealing even in thought.

“Come to think of it, isn’t this the first time both you and Lucas are attending a bazaar, Brother?”

Wendy’s voice was loud enough for those around to hear.

Though puzzled by her sudden raise in voice, Jayden answered obediently.

“Well, I guess? I’ve carried things at Mother’s request, but…”

“Then it must feel awkward? Unfamiliar?”

“What? Out of the blue.”

Jayden squinted his eyes.

He sensed an uneasy feeling from Wendy’s mischievous expression, overflowing with playfulness.

“Who will help Sir Jayden Rosewood and Duke Lucas Devon comfortably tour the bazaar?”

“I’ll help!”

“Me too. What do you need?”

Young ladies who had been glancing at Jayden and Lucas quickly gathered. Taking advantage of this, Wendy grabbed Ryan’s arm and pulled him away.

It was a method the Countess of Rosewood had used at a previous banquet. By speaking loudly, she had surrounded Jayden with young ladies. As a result, Jayden had no choice but to act as a courteous gentleman towards them.

“Enjoy the bazaar, Brothers! Remember, all proceeds from sales are donated! Buy a lot and do a lot of good!”

“Wendy! Wendy! Wait, ladies. Please step aside…”

Being gentlemen, Jayden and Lucas couldn’t be rough with the young ladies who had gathered. While answering questions from all directions, they searched for Wendy.

But Wendy and Ryan had already disappeared far away.

“Will they be okay? Leaving them like that.”

“Of course. You never know. One of those ladies might become a significant connection.”

Pleased with having tricked Jayden, Wendy chuckled playfully.

Seeing the childlike innocence she had seen in Wendy when she was young, Ryan felt glad and eventually laughed along. Having shaken off the interferers, Ryan felt relieved as well.

“Shall we go?”

Wendy and Ryan blended into the crowd.

***

“Are you hungry?”

“Yes, a little.”

“Let’s eat something. Jayden and Lucas will soon find us.”

Wendy and Ryan sat at an outdoor table in the restaurant at the edge of the bazaar. The sun was setting, and the twilight was spreading across the blue sky.

“Will Brother and Lucas find us well?”

“Don’t worry. They’re capable soldiers. They’re skilled in searching.”

Searching? It felt like being a criminal. But that was fun, so Wendy laughed briefly and looked at the menu.

Ryan, gazing tenderly at Wendy as she seriously read the menu with her chin resting, suddenly turned his head around. As the bazaar was winding down, people were busy packing up and leaving.

Then he noticed a girl wandering with a basket full of flowers as big as her body. Ryan casually got up and approached the child.

“Hello, little one. Are you selling those?”

“Yes. Will you buy one?”

The girl’s face brightened immediately, having been unsure whether to return home. To show him slowly, she placed the basket on the ground.

Since it was the end, selling even one flower would be fortunate, so the girl was proactive.

“Hmm. Which flower should I choose?”

Ryan seriously examined each flower in the basket. Until now, flowers to Ryan were just flowers, whether roses or chrysanthemums, without differentiating the type. So although there were various kinds, he only recognized roses.

‘Roses, since they bloom abundantly at the Earl Rosewood’s residence, might she not like them? What’s this ball-like one? A chrysanthemum? It looks similar, though.’

Wondering what great deliberation he was making, the girl squatted in front of Ryan, watching him intently with her chin resting on her knees and sparkling eyes.

“Who are you giving it to?”

“Hmm? Oh.”

Ryan glanced behind him.

“Do you see the pretty sister over there?”

“Yes. Are you giving it to her?”

“Yes. Which one would be good?”

“Of course, a rose.”

The girl confidently answered. If giving a flower to a lover, a rose, with the flower language of ‘love,’ was perfect.

Without hesitation, the child picked a rose from the basket. It seemed red or perhaps orange, a half-bloomed rose. The two colors blended mysteriously, shining like Wendy’s turquoise eyes, which Ryan liked.

“Thank you.” 

Ryan cheerfully paid the girl for the flowers. However, the amount was too much. It was the amount he had asked about earlier, when he inquired about buying all of them.

The girl hesitated, looking up at Ryan with the money in hand.

“Um, well…”

“Finish today’s sales here and hurry home with this. Your family will be worried.”

Since the flowers would gradually wilt and couldn’t be sold again tomorrow, Ryan had decided from the start to buy them all and send her home quickly. Seeing such a young girl selling flowers away from her parents suggested her family situation might not be good. Sending her home before the sun completely set would be safer for the child.

“Thank you!”

The little girl ran off excitedly with the basket.

After a short distance, she turned back and waved, prompting Ryan to stand and wave back.

“You like children.”

Wendy, who had been watching Ryan while setting down the menu, murmured.

She had wondered where he was going, only to find him squatting in the middle of the road, chatting with the child. It was heartwarming and pleasant to watch.

Ryan turned around with his hands behind his back and met Wendy’s gaze. Flustered, he averted his eyes and cleared his throat before returning to Wendy.

“How long have you been watching?”

“Well, since you squatted in the middle of the road?”

“Oh.”

Had she seen me buying the flowers? She must have.

Ryan suddenly revealed the rose he had hidden behind his back.

“What is this?”

“I bought it. For you.”

“…”

“You said you didn’t like hairpins or ribbons, so I thought I’d at least give you this.”

“Oh…”

“Take it. I bought it quite expensively to send the child home quickly.”

“Thank you.”

Wendy gently accepted the rose. Though it was just a single stem without packaging or ribbon, it somehow stirred her heart.

She cautiously sniffed it. The scent wasn’t as strong as she expected but wasn’t faint enough to disappear quickly either.

“Roses are the most common flower in the garden of Earl Rosewood’s residence, but the little girl said they suit you best.”

“Ah.”

“What kind of flowers do you like?”

“Pardon?”

“Come to think of it, I never asked. Well, I wasn’t interested in flowers.”

“Oh, I like roses. They’re the most familiar and friendly.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Ryan smiled, both shy and reassured.

‘He’s different.’

Ryan was also Jayden’s friend and shared childhood memories.

But this is where he differs from Lucas. Ryan is curious about Wendy. He wants to give her things without reason. He wants to share everything with Wendy and do things together.

“Did you have fun?”

Ryan and Wendy simultaneously looked up at the voice coming from above.

It was Jayden, looking disheveled.

“What took you so long? I was starving waiting.”

“…”

“Have you lost your touch from being out of the field for so long? I didn’t expect you to be this late.”

Despite Ryan’s teasing jibe, Jayden only glared without responding. Lucas, standing behind Jayden, also looked extremely tired.

“What are you doing? Sit down.”

Though they glared as if cursing silently, Jayden and Lucas obediently sat down. Ryan called the waiter and quickly ordered food.

Since it was an outdoor restaurant with few menu items, the food soon began to arrive.

“How was it? Did you meet any nice young ladies?”

“Wendy, you really…”

Jayden clutched his head as if the mere thought gave him a headache. Next to him, Lucas quietly gathered utensils and placed them in front of Wendy. Though he was exhausted from avoiding the young ladies thanks to Wendy, he didn’t show his feelings as openly as Jayden.

While Ryan and Jayden bickered, Lucas quietly filled Wendy’s glass with wine—though he hesitated briefly about whether to serve her alcohol—and served her food first on her plate.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t do that again.”

“Okay.”

Seeing her smiling cheekily made Lucas’s desire to reprimand her disappear. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Eat. Who knows when those guys will finish their argument.”

“Okay.”

Wendy and Lucas began eating first, and after wrapping up their playful argument, Jayden and Ryan picked up their forks and knives.

Casual conversation flowed, and even some military talk emerged briefly, which Wendy couldn’t understand. While asking about the well-being of their families, Ryan suddenly turned to Lucas.

“How is the Dowager Duchess? It’s been a while since I saw her.”

“She’s healthy. Very lively.”

“Isn’t she coming to the capital?”

“Maybe next month?”

“Isn’t it a strange time? Why come to the cold capital before winter when she could stay in the warm southern region?”

“It’s obvious.”

Before Ryan could question further, Jayden answered.

“When spring comes, she hopes her grandson will marry, and during summer, she waits for good news. By autumn, realizing the year is ending without any events, she comes up during winter to push for next spring.”

“Why not just get married already? You’re the Duke of Devon; it’s not like you won’t.”

“I wish you’d stop worrying.”

“You’re cold-hearted. You don’t understand my sincere concern for a friend.”

Lucas glared at Ryan. He didn’t want to hear such words from someone who constantly irritated him for various reasons—reasons he couldn’t pinpoint, which made it more frustrating.