IMMCFC 42

Chapter 42

Jayden actually came toward me like this first.

Now that I think about it, something similar had happened before.

I recalled the day he had come to my office for the very first time.

“…That woman tried to kill Viola.”

He had looked desperate, driven only by the thought of protecting Viola.

I had felt it back then too—this boy seemed to see Viola as someone worth overcoming even fear for.

“I-I tried on the clothes…”

His shoulders were completely stiff with tension at a glance. It seemed he had squeezed out all his courage just to say that.

Cain, as always, was about to answer indifferently, but then stopped.

Suddenly, he remembered what Viola had whispered as she passed by him shortly after entering the boutique.

“Children are surprisingly simple in their innocence. Sometimes, just matching their eye level can change a lot.”

It must have been said for this moment.

Cain slowly bent his knees and lowered himself.

Not from an adult’s perspective, but to the child’s eye level. Meeting his gaze gently, Cain gave a short reply.

“It suits you.”

“…Ah.”

Jayden seemed surprised, as if he hadn’t expected praise, but the corners of his lips twitched upward in delight.

Seeing such a positive reaction for the first time, Cain decided to take a step closer.

“Jayden.”

When he called his name softly, the boy’s expression stiffened in surprise.

What should I do? As the boy hesitated, a warm presence suddenly touched his back.

It was Viola.

When Jayden glanced back, she smiled brightly at him, as if telling him not to worry at all.

Really? Is it okay?

Though suspicious, Jayden slowly, step by step, began walking toward Cain.

But the duke, who always felt like a towering mountain, was now at his eye level.

Only then could Jayden properly see Cain’s face.

Silver hair and red eyes—just like his own.

He had always felt so distant, but up close, Cain’s expression wasn’t as harsh as he had imagined.

Then Cain slowly reached out his hand.

Flinching, but not stepping back, Jayden squeezed his eyes shut.

A sensation brushed lightly around his neck—and then the hand withdrew.

When he cautiously opened his eyes, the stiff collar of his clothing had been neatly straightened.

“This will be more comfortable to wear.”

With those words, Cain stepped back again.

“Wow! Young master, it’s perfect now! It suits you so well!”

Clap clap clap.

Viola clapped brightly from the side, smiling widely.

“Yes, it looks good.”

When Jayden looked in the mirror, a proper little gentleman stood there. Just as the duke had said.

It truly suited him better now.

Hm hm. Jayden’s lips twitched again, and his fingers fidgeted unconsciously.

He felt embarrassed… or something like that. He didn’t really understand this feeling.

But for the first time, Jayden thought:

Maybe Uncle isn’t as scary as he thought.

I watched Jayden and Cain shyly interacting with a satisfied gaze.

“This is already a success for today, isn’t it?”

It was a much greater improvement than I had expected.

All I did was create an opportunity for them to spend time together.

“If we’ve already come this far…”

It seemed both of them, even if they didn’t say it, secretly wanted this situation.

“If I just keep gently bringing them together like this, someday…”

Heheh. I laughed suspiciously as I organized future plans in my head.

Then it happened.

“Uuu! U!”

Melody tugged at my skirt and pointed toward a flashy dress placed in the center of the shop.

“Mom. Uu?”

Try that on too!

Her eyes sparkled brightly.

Then Jayden joined in, poking my hand eagerly.

“Right, Viola! That would look great on you! Why don’t you try it? Please?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m fine.”

There was no reason for me to wear such a flashy dress.

Back when I was a noble daughter of a marquis, I might have attended banquets, but not anymore.

All I did now was process and grind herbs. Such clothes would be a luxury.

And even beyond that…

“It’s too expensive!”

I had glanced at the price tag on Melody’s clothes earlier, and I nearly jumped in shock.

Yet Cain had calmly bought everything Melody liked—and even items she merely glanced at.

Even when I tried to refuse, he was stubbornly insistent.

‘That dress must be even more expensive. There’s no way I can afford it.’

No matter how generously Cain paid me, I couldn’t afford something like that.

Instead…

A more casual outfit hanging on the wall caught my eye.

A clean blouse and a deep green skirt that looked easy to move in.

I kept glancing at it.

The design was neat, and it looked suitable for work.

‘I could probably afford that…’

But I quickly dismissed the thought. I had already decided how to spend my salary.

“It’s really okay! I like my current clothes just fine.”

Just as I turned away after firmly declining, Cain, who had somehow approached me, stood behind me.

He gestured toward the outfit I had been looking at.

“It would suit you.”

“Eek.”

“Uu!”

Melody grabbed Cain’s sleeve and pointed at the flashy dress in the center.

“Uu?”

As if asking, “What about this one?”

“I suppose that would suit you as well. We’ll take everything—”

“Ah, no! No, really! Melody? You can’t ask the duke that!”

I panicked and waved my arms frantically as it looked like he might order everything to be wrapped up immediately.

“Really, it’s fine! I don’t even have occasions to wear dresses like that!”

“Who knows. Maybe you will.”

What is this duke even saying…? Did he expect me to do herb work in a fancy dress?

‘I should’ve known when he started buying up Melody’s clothes…!’

As expected from the head of House Ashlen, the wealthiest family in the Empire, this duke had a subtle tendency toward extravagance.

“Dresses are uncomfortable for work! Really, I’m fine! More importantly—”

I needed to change the subject quickly before he actually bought it.

‘Buying my clothes would just be wasteful.’

Even if Cain had money, I couldn’t let him spend it on dresses that would be ruined while processing herbs.

Carefully gauging the situation, I spoke.

“Um, Duke… may I step out for a moment?”

“Where to?”

“Viola? Where are you going?”

“Uu?”

All three of them asked at once.

“I think I left something in the carriage.”

“You were about to head back anyway. We can go together.”

Ah. That excuse was clearly too suspicious.

I wasn’t good at lying at all.

What now?

But once spoken, words could not be taken back.

‘I’ll just run!’

“N-no! I’ll be right back!”

Leaving Melody and Jayden with him, I hurried out of the boutique.

After dealing with what I needed to, I returned and we all headed to the restaurant together.

We had promised to eat out.

The restaurant we arrived at was, as I had heard from Mary, a famous place always crowded with nobles.

But…

“…There’s no one here?”

A sense of déjà vu struck me.

Don’t tell me again?

I turned to Cain in shock.

As expected, he seemed unfazed.

“…Let’s not casually suggest eating out again.”

As expected of a duke, his sense of scale was completely different from mine.

Everything kept escalating unintentionally.

The restaurant was extremely elegant—chandeliers glittering from the ceiling, colorful flowers on the tables, like a banquet hall.

“Wow! Mom! Uu!”

Look! That! That!

Melody bounced excitedly, pointing at the chandelier.

“It is quite dazzling.”

As we looked around, a waiter guided us to our table.

Soon, dishes began arriving one by one.

Every dish looked delicious, and Melody’s eyes sparkled.

“Uwaa!”

She tried to stab the food with her fork, but it kept slipping.

“Oh dear.”

“Let Mom help you. Say ah.”

“Aah~”

I rolled up the noodles and fed her. She happily chewed with puffed cheeks.

“So tasty?”

“U!”

As she chewed, I was about to take a bite myself when—

“Viola, Viola.”

“Yes? What is it, young master?”

Jayden looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if expecting something.

“…No.”

He clearly wanted something, but wouldn’t say it.

‘He wouldn’t want me to feed him… right?’

Just in case, I pretended to reach toward his fork.

His eyes sparkled even brighter.

Oh?