Charlotte blinked.

Rather than wondering, Why is he laughing? she was first struck with admiration at the sight of his face as his eyes clearly curved into a smile.

It feels refreshing just to look at him.

Was it possible to feel a fresh, cool breeze from a person’s smiling face?

Apparently, handsome men—especially extraordinarily handsome men—could create miracles like this.

But that was that, and this bouquet with such an overwhelming presence was another matter entirely.

“Um, Mr. Bayen.”

“What is it, Lady Prairie? Could it be that you don’t want to accept my gift?”

Charlotte remembered how happily she had accepted the gift Ferris had given her earlier, and pressed her lips shut.

Raymond slowly lifted the corners of his mouth and said, “Seeing you like that, I can’t tell which one is the flower.”

“What?”

What did that mean?

Charlotte, who did not understand for a moment, rolled her eyes before realizing his meaning, and her face flushed bright red.

“Wh-why would you suddenly say something like that?”

Charlotte did not remember it, but Raymond had an amusing memory that he still did.

When they were young, she had pestered him so much to play hide-and-seek that he had gone along with it.

Two, one… I’m coming to find you now?

Okay!

Raymond, who had been leaning against a tree with his eyes covered, sighed and turned around.

Why would you answer? Now I know which direction you’re in.

Raymond slightly turned his head toward the direction the sound had come from.

But the moment he did, he found Charlotte lying flat in the garden flower bed.

Her large blue eyes were very busy glancing at him.

What is this?

Why had she hidden so carelessly?

Did she think that because flowers were blocking her own view, he would not be able to see her either?

How simple!

But what should I do now?

If he said he had found her right away, she would pout in disappointment.

In the end, Raymond had no choice but to pretend he could not find the child right in front of him.

But then the tactless Viscount Prairie appeared and waved at his daughter.

Hm? What are you doing here, my daughter?

Papa…?

Startled, Charlotte sprang up from her spot.

How did you know I was here?

Hm? Well, because I could see you…

You could see me?

Charlotte asked Raymond tearfully.

Internally resenting Viscount Prairie, Raymond hurriedly shook his head.

No. I couldn’t see you.

Then how did Papa find me…?

That’s because Viscount Prairie is amazing. I really couldn’t see you.

…

Horrified by Charlotte’s face, which looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment, Raymond shouted.

I really thought there were only flowers there!

It was such an embarrassing and absurd lie that even Viscount Prairie, who adored his daughter dearly, was flustered by it. But Raymond could not think of any other excuse.

Really?

Charlotte asked, her already large eyes growing even wider.

Did I really look like a flower?

Staring into those innocently sparkling eyes, Raymond answered.

…I said you did.

Charlotte’s cheeks flushed as she smiled brightly.

Hehe!

Delighted, Charlotte ran off excitedly, saying she would hide in the flower bed again and that he should try to find her. Viscount Prairie chased after his daughter, scolding, You mustn’t bother the young duke!

Raymond still remembered that scene vividly.

It had looked so picturesque.

Back then, she liked it. Now she gets embarrassed.

Her face, buried among the flowers, still looked as innocent as it had back then.

No, she truly was innocent and kind. That was why she did not even realize a man like Ferris was lurking around her with ulterior motives.

“Um…”

Charlotte, her face bright red, looked at Raymond with a troubled expression and started to speak.

Just then, a cart loaded with seedlings approached from behind her.

“Could you please move aside for a moment?”

“Ah, yes.”

Was it because she had moved in such a hurry? Or was it because someone’s teasing had left her flustered?

For only a few steps, her feet tangled.

“!”

Charlotte’s body pitched forward.

It was not enough to make her fall. Even if she looked a little ridiculous, she would surely have managed to steady herself on her own.

But Raymond could not help wrapping his arms around her.

It was a kind of instinct.

“Are you all right?”

His back and neck bent low as he looked down at the woman who had tumbled into his arms along with the flowers.

Beneath the shadow he cast, her face, faintly damp with sweat, looked as though she had no idea what to do.

“…Yes.”

Charlotte’s lips moved slowly.

Somehow, her breath seemed to carry the scent of flowers.

“I’m all right.”

Her blue eyes, as if trying to confirm where she was, looked here and there before finally lifting to him.

The moment Raymond saw himself reflected in those blue eyes, sparkling even in the shade, he inhaled sharply.

His hand, which held her back, felt terribly hot.

Why is she so small?

He knew she was small.

When had Charlotte ever been big?

Even when he had held her hand in the carriage before, he had thought she was small, just as he did now.

But the feeling was a little different from back then.

Back then, he had simply felt sorry that she was so small and thin. So why was his heart trembling so much now…?

Was it because he realized his hand could cover her small back and still have room left over?

No, why would realizing that one thing be such a big deal?

…Her face has changed a little.

He knew that since she had grown up, she could not possibly look the same as she had back then. But seeing her this close made him feel the difference.

When she was young, her nose had been so small and round, but now, though still small, it had a delicate, prominent shape. Perhaps because she had not seen much sunlight, her skin was far paler than when she was a child, and the eyelashes protecting her eyes were denser.

Still, her slightly parted lips looked endlessly soft and tender, just as they had when she was young.

Was that why?

For no reason, he felt the urge to press them.

But then, looking at the soft line of her forehead and her slender neck…

…She isn’t a child.

He had known that too.

So why did it feel as though he had only realized it now?

It felt as if something layered over his eyelids had been peeled away.

“Oh dear, miss. Are you all right?”

The employee who had unintentionally caused the commotion spoke in a fluster.

Raymond’s eyes, which had been dazed as though under a spell until just a moment ago, snapped open.

“Yes. I’m all right.”

Charlotte said as she corrected her tilted balance.

In an instant, Raymond’s arms felt strangely empty. He awkwardly lowered them and said, “You should have come a little more slowly. That could have been serious. It is fortunate the young lady wasn’t hurt.”

“Exactly. I’m truly sorry.”

Charlotte spoke once more to the employee, who was bowing his head in distress.

“I should have been more careful. And I truly am fine, so please don’t worry about me and go about your work comfortably.”

The employee, who had been watching Raymond’s reaction, gave an embarrassed smile and nodded.

After he left, Charlotte spoke to Raymond, who was still glaring after him.

“I’m really fine. I didn’t hit anything. More importantly, are you all right, Mr. Bayen?”

“What reason would I have not to be all right?”

She had been so thin and small that it felt as if a feather had fallen into his arms.

“I’m sorry. It would have been fine if I had been more careful.”

“Ahem…”

Raymond covered his mouth with the hand that had been wrapped around Charlotte’s back only moments ago and cleared his throat.

Strange.

Even though her warmth had already left him, his hand was still hot.

“What should I do? The bouquet you gave me is ruined.”

Charlotte gave an awkward smile as she touched the bouquet that had been crushed tightly between him and herself.

“It’s only a bouquet. Don’t worry too much about it. I’ll give you something better later. I could prepare one for you now as well, but I don’t particularly like the flowers here at the moment.”

“No. You really don’t have to go that far.”

When Charlotte quickly refused, Raymond’s eyes narrowed.

“I have the right to give gifts as I please.”

Don’t I have the right to refuse…?

Charlotte smiled clumsily.

As if he could clearly see what she was thinking, Raymond turned around and said, “Even if we go farther in, there doesn’t seem to be much more to see. I’ll decorate the glass garden at the mansion far more beautifully than this place, so come see it then.”

“You’ll invite me?”

“Do you not want to come?”

“No. Of course not.”

Charlotte shook her head.

Raymond nodded and was about to turn his head forward again when he said, “Isn’t the bouquet heavy? Shall I carry it for you?”

“No!”

Charlotte hugged the bouquet tightly and shook her head even faster than before.

“I’ll carry it. You gave it to me, after all.”

“I wasn’t trying to take it from you. I would have returned it to you, of course.”

“I know. I know, but I want to carry it myself. The scent of the flowers is so lovely too.”

It was a slightly strange excuse, but fine.

If she wanted to carry it that much, then so be it.

Raymond accepted it.

Goodness, that was close.

In truth, Charlotte was pretending to be fine, but she was not fine at all.

Her heart kept pounding, her face was burning, and her fingers felt as though they might move on their own.

If she did not at least hold on to this bouquet, she would not be able to pretend she was fine.

But Raymond, who had begun walking ahead, was pretending to be fine too.

He felt as though he might go mad because Charlotte, who had been pressed against him, kept coming to mind.

What on earth is wrong with me?!