3. Rumors

The next day, Nigel visited the Berthe mansion exactly at the promised time. He wore a well-fitted black formal suit, and with his hair neatly swept back, he emanated an even colder atmosphere than usual. He looked like someone heading to an extremely formal occasion.

In contrast, Rosia wore a light pink dress with calm yet cute lace ruffles. Today, instead of a bonnet, she had tied half of her curly hair with a large ribbon ornament. She held a parasol that seemed to match her dress like an accessory, but when standing next to Nigel, their attire seemed subtly mismatched.

Nigel looked as gloomy as someone attending a funeral, while Rosia appeared bright and cheerful as if she was going flower viewing, which particularly emphasized their contrast.

The two traveled by carriage for quite a while before arriving in the suburbs. Yesterday it was Lake Park, today it was a walking path full of wildflowers. Rosia felt excited by the well-maintained stone path and the fragrant flower scents wafting from various spots along the walking path. However, her mood would sink again each time she sensed the presence of the man beside her.

Though Nigel showed off his handsome appearance wherever he stood, Rosia thought none of these places suited him at all.

“I’ve made a reservation at a restaurant.”

Nigel suddenly announced while walking straight ahead. Rosia looked up at him, slowly blinking her naturally curled eyelashes.

“A restaurant?”

“I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”

Nigel again just said what he wanted to say. Rosia gave up asking further questions. He probably meant he had reserved a restaurant for dinner. She felt it would be easier for both of them to just understand it that way and move on.

Rosia walked a bit further ahead. She could clearly feel the stone path through her thin shoes. She lifted her head slightly and looked up at the blue sky. Pure white cumulus clouds created patches that repeatedly formed and dispersed.

It’s really spring now. Though Rosia loved all four seasons, she loved the moments just before the seasons changed the most. As she closed her eyes habitually and took a deep breath of the cool breeze into her lungs, her shoe heel suddenly twisted with a dull sound.

“Ah……!”

Just as Rosia was about to fall forward with a small scream—

“Are you alright?”

Fortunately, a firm hand caught and steadied her. She naturally looked to the side. Nigel was looking down at her with furrowed brows. Only then did Rosia realize she hadn’t fallen thanks to his catch. She quickly stood straight and expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“Your shoe is broken.”

Nigel released Rosia and pointed downward. The heel of Rosia’s shoe had broken off and was rolling on the stone path. Rosia wore a troubled expression as she considered for a moment. She couldn’t walk around in broken shoes. Moreover, her twisted ankle was already starting to swell. Then Nigel abruptly stated.

“I have no intention of carrying you on my back.”

“……Pardon?”

“I’m telling you not to expect me to carry you on my back at all.”

Rosia stared directly at Nigel with bewilderment in her eyes. What was this man talking about? She never had the slightest intention of being carried on the back of a Grand Duke, let alone this country’s prince. Though Nigel acted like a sharp man who could precisely read Rosia’s inner thoughts, he hadn’t gotten anything right so far. However, she couldn’t point out to the prince that he was being stupid, so she just bit her frustrated lips tightly. The weather was too perfect, and she didn’t want to ruin this good day because of Nigel.

“I wasn’t expecting anything like that from Your Highness. Not at all.”

Rosia muttered with a determined expression as she began removing her shoes. Nigel frowned, seemingly asking what she was doing. Rosia stood barefoot on the path. She held the broken shoe in one hand and the intact shoe in the other as she smiled brightly.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Shall we continue walking now?”

“What in the……”

Though Nigel spoke in an incredulous tone, Rosia pretended not to hear and walked forward. Rosia’s snow-white heels gradually moved away. Nigel stared at her moving lightly, as if she was walking on clouds, then began to follow a bit belatedly.

“You might get hurt.”

Nigel caught Rosia’s arm lightly with a faint sigh. Rosia slowly turned to look at him.

“It’s fine. It reminds me of when I was young, and it’s fun.”

Nigel’s eyebrow twitched.

“Are you saying you used to walk barefoot?”

“Were you born wearing shoes, Your Highness?”

Rosia asked back in a tone devoid of any particular emotion. Nigel let out a laugh of disbelief at her absurd words.

“Are you mocking me right now?”

“How could I ever be so disrespectful to Your Highness the Grand Duke?”

Rosia looked down at her own feet. Her small feet were neatly placed on the stone floor. The stones, gently heated by the sun, radiated warmth. Then Nigel spoke in a calm, subdued voice.

“Let’s go back.”

Rosia’s eyes blinked slowly. Go back? Like this? Before Rosia could answer, Nigel spoke again.

“It would be troublesome if you got hurt.”

While it might have sounded like a very concerned statement at first glance, Nigel’s face showed discomfort. No, perhaps ‘displeasure’ would be more accurate. He even appeared annoyed. Rosia finally understood what he meant by going back. Nigel Gragford was simply bothered by an unexpected situation.

A woman continuing their first date barefoot because her shoe heel broke — that’s all she was to him.

“Yes, I understand.”

Having vaguely guessed Nigel’s true feelings, Rosia smiled and nodded. Nigel’s gaze remained fixed on her feet. A cool breeze rustled over his lowered eyelashes. He stood still for a while, lost in thought, before slowly turning around and starting to walk ahead. Rosia followed behind him barefoot, holding her shoes in both hands.

Soon, they saw the waiting carriage. Nigel opened the door and extended his hand to Rosia. It seemed like a natural gesture, perhaps out of habit. Rosia placed her small hand on his perfect, statue-like hand.

After she lightly climbed into the carriage, Nigel sat beside her. The carriage started moving as if it had been waiting for this moment. Though they had exchanged a few words before coming here, now there was complete silence. Nigel only stared out the window at the passing scenery, while Rosia fixed her gaze on the swaying carriage floor that almost made her dizzy.

The outside had already begun to be dyed in crimson sunset. Just then, the carriage stopped, and the coachman opened the door. Rosia quickly rose as if she had been waiting. However, Nigel exited through the opened door first and extended his hand to Rosia again. Rosia swallowed her slight resistance and lightly grasped his hand as she stepped down onto the dry dirt ground.

“Take care on your way back. I enjoyed today, Your Highness.”

“I’ll contact you again.”

Nigel, who had quickly boarded the carriage, answered curtly. Rosia nodded and curtsied slightly. Nigel looked down at her indifferently before averting his gaze. He looked at the empty space across from him and added in a low voice.

“And.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t test me so carelessly.”

The door closed with a bang. Rosia looked up at the carriage with round eyes. Test him? Before she could ask, the carriage started moving quickly. Hazy dust obscured Rosia’s vision. Rosia stepped back while coughing repeatedly. She still felt queasy, as if she were still riding in the swaying carriage.

＊＊＊

Nigel didn’t contact her for several days. While Rosia thought this was fortunate, she couldn’t help but feel concerned. She had to be. She picked up her brush after a long time to soothe her complicated feelings, when the letter she had been waiting for arrived.

The sender was Isaac Berthe, Rosia’s eldest brother. Rosia quickly opened the letter after wiping her paint-stained hands with a handkerchief. It wasn’t very long. A brief explanation about business, a few lines asking about her well-being, and the letter ended with hopes of seeing her again soon. There was no mention of returning anywhere in the letter. Her heart, which had been full of expectation, sank to the bottom in an instant.

Just then, the nanny, who had just finished cleaning, approached hurriedly with round eyes.

“Is that a letter from the young master?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Oh my! Where is he now? Is he healthy?”

The nanny’s voice rose slightly. Her dry eyes quickly turned red. Rosia nodded slowly while neatly folding the letter.

“He says he’ll continue doing business in the Southern Continent. He wrote not to worry.”

“B-business? Does the Viscount know about this?”

The nanny looked uneasy. Rosia felt the same way. How could they continue a business that had already failed? Her brothers weren’t usually this greedy. Though she didn’t know what had stirred their hearts, Rosia was sincerely worried.

Though called the Southern Continent, until just a few years ago, it had been nothing more than a barren desert. The fact that proper cities existed there and numerous people lived there had come as a fresh shock to the kingdom.

But that place was extremely closed off and harsh to outsiders. One wrong move could lead to being captured as a slave and living a humiliating life forever. They weren’t easily swayed and were resilient. Trading with people from such a country? Everyone thought the House of Berthe had gone mad. But Rosia couldn’t stop her father and brothers. She didn’t have that kind of power.