DHDF 08

chapter 08

“It seems I told you to get a good rest.”

As I held Arthur’s hand and climbed into the carriage, the Duke inside spoke. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he had seen me teasing Margaret.

I thought the trouble I had experienced was minor in comparison. Still, from an adult’s perspective, even that might not look good.

“I just had a bad dream…”

“Oh? What kind of nightmare was it?”

Arthur asked as he closed the door.

I paused for a moment. I wasn’t sure I could simply call that dream a nightmare.

It had brought a sense of emptiness, yes, but up until I woke, I had been genuinely happy.

“Just… something from the past.”

That was all I could say. The carriage fell silent for a moment.

It seemed the Duke assumed I had gone through all sorts of hardships at the orphanage.

It wasn’t entirely untrue, so I didn’t bother correcting him.

Perhaps noticing I was in a bad mood, the Duke silently summoned the driver through Arthur.

And that’s how I ended up at Valrosi’s finest dessert shop.

The walls, the tiles, everything was colorful, and as soon as I sat down, I couldn’t help but look around in wonder.

While I was distracted by the interior, Arthur had already placed the order.

“I heard the ice cream here is famous, so I went ahead and ordered some. I hope that’s alright, Miss Verjene?”

“Oh, yes. That’s fine. Thank you.”

I didn’t really know what I was in for anyway.

Thinking back, it seemed I hadn’t visited places like this in my previous life either.

Before long, a crystal bowl about the size of my two fists arrived, filled with ice cream.

“Uh… which one is mine?”

“All of it is yours, Miss Verjene.”

The problem was, there wasn’t just one ice cream in front of me.

For the Duke and Arthur, the waiter had only placed teacups.

“This seems like too much.”

By the color, I guessed they were strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla.

“Eat as much as you like, and don’t worry about leaving some.”

“Leaving some?”

“Don’t think about wasting it. Arthur and I can finish it if you don’t.”

Judging by his tone, it seemed he had always treated his sons this way.

I did want to try all the flavors.

‘I’ve had other desserts, but this is my first time eating ice cream.’

At the orphanage, snacks were only given once or twice a year on very special days. Cold foods like this were rare and expensive, so they were never provided. At best, we had cookies. Even the branch manager sometimes gave desserts, but ice cream was even more costly.

At first, I hesitated, worried about feeling uneasy since I wasn’t his biological child.

After a long internal debate that gave me a headache, I finally decided to accept the offer.

“Then I’ll eat it as neatly as I can. Thank you.”

Following Arthur’s recommendation, I took my first bite of the vanilla.

It was smooth and sweet. I had tasted similar flavors in cookies and cakes, but this texture was new.

I enjoyed the softness in my mouth, and before I knew it, I had finished the entire scoop.

“I accidentally ate it all.”

“Don’t regret it?”

“…A little.”

Instead of scolding, the Duke gestured at the other ice creams.

I scooped the strawberry and chocolate as well. I had intended just to taste them, but once again, I devoured them.

It didn’t feel overly filling, and the nuts and assorted cookies embedded in the ice cream prevented me from growing tired of it.

“It was definitely good to order a variety.”

“You ate it quite neatly.”

I smiled awkwardly.

It did lift my mood, but apparently, the Duke still felt it wasn’t enough.

Later, he took me to a toy store, a place all the orphanage children were curious about whenever they went out.

“Th-thank you, Your Excellency.”

I hugged a teddy bear as big as me. It was soft and smelled wonderful.

I had thought I wasn’t interested in dolls, but clearly, that wasn’t the case. I couldn’t let go of it.

Once back in the carriage, I carefully stroked its fur and stared into its bright, shiny eyes.

“Aren’t you going to name it?”

Arthur asked. I remembered Margaret calling her ragged doll “Bunny” long ago.

“I’ll have to think about it a bit.”

Perhaps exhausted both physically and mentally, I soon fell asleep. When I woke up, the sun had already set.

Although I had been still, the scenery seemed to move—I realized then that the Duke was carrying me as he walked.

My body tensed for a moment, then relaxed. It was okay for me to touch him.

“Your Excellency…”

“Speak.”

“What about my teddy bear?”

I heard a short laugh.

“Arthur is carrying it.”

“I see. I think I can walk from here.”

The Duke lowered me to the ground immediately, and I quickly got down. Looking up, I could see the grand mansion from a distance.

The steps bathed in golden light from the entrance, the towering spires behind, and the central fountain with its ornate sculptures.

“This is your home, right, Your Excellency?”

“Yes.”

I stared blankly at the mansion. A mix of unease and relief washed over me.

The Duke’s household was also a place to be wary of, but at least it seemed the reality wouldn’t be as dramatic as the storybook depictions, which gave me some confidence.

“Thank you for coming all this way.”

The Duke addressed a stern-looking old man standing in the hall as the butler.

“This is Miss Verjene, as I mentioned before.”

“Hello, Butler.”

I quickly bowed, and the butler faintly smiled.

“She is indeed a lovely young lady, just as described. The room has already been prepared. Rosalyn will assist you so that you won’t be inconvenienced during your stay.”

As our eyes met, the maid behind him winked.

Even without introduction, I could tell she was Rosalyn. Both of them were friendly, which reassured me that the Duke had truly not mentioned my ‘curse.’

“This will be the room for Miss Verjene.”

Following Rosalyn, I entered a bedroom five times—maybe ten times—larger than my orphanage room.

It was a bit overwhelming to think I would be using such a place all by myself.

“Aren’t you hungry? Should I bring you a light snack, or would you like to take a bath first?”

“I’m sleepy now, so I’d like to rest first.”

“Oh, then I’ll help you change.”

I couldn’t allow that and quickly declined.

“It’s okay. I can manage on my own.”

Seeing my firm refusal, Rosalyn hesitated but still brought pajamas before leaving.

It was a pristine white dress with neat pleats.

At the orphanage, I lived in worn donated clothes, so seeing something so white was a first.

‘Although the bare arms are a bit much…’

After feeling it in different ways, my eyelids grew heavy again, and I quickly changed.

I turned off the light and climbed onto the massive bed, closing my eyes, but something felt wrong.

‘…Why does my stomach hurt so much?’

It felt like someone was kneading my stomach with all their strength.

As I became aware of it, cold sweat ran down, and my stomach churned violently.

Still tired, I dozed off and woke repeatedly, sensing someone nearby.

‘Is that Rosalyn?’

When I struggled to open my eyes, I saw a boy about my age.

He gently lifted my damp bangs from my forehead.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“Yes…”

He leaned closer to meet my gaze. His eyes were a vivid blue that reminded me of the Duke.

“Rosalyn will be here soon. Just wait a little longer.”

When I opened my eyes again, not only Rosalyn but several unfamiliar people had gathered.

I answered their questions absentmindedly and followed instructions.

“It seems to be an upset stomach.”

The ice cream I had eaten during the day was the culprit.

I argued internally:

‘I didn’t eat that much.’

But there seemed to be no other reason for the pain. I caught a glimpse of Arthur sighing in the background.

The doctor brought something to my lips. It smelled strange.

“Take this and go back to sleep.”

“I don’t need medicine…”

At the orphanage, we could only rely on natural recovery. I had always managed even with a cold.

“It will help you recover quickly.”

They kept waking me and coaxing me until I finally took it.

It was so bitter that I gagged, yet I had to take two more spoonfuls.

“Now rest well, and we’ll check on you again in the morning.”

Finally, I was free.

Fortunately, the medicine worked quickly, and the pain subsided. I could sleep comfortably, though I woke again feeling strangely warm.

“…What’s this?”

The boy I had seen earlier was now lying beside me in bed, even holding me.