Chapter 79

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 79

Chapter Title: To You, Whom I Couldn't Erase Even If I Tried to Forget (3)

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“I want to see flowers too.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Nanny will scold me.”

I’d gotten an earful from Nanny after our last trip into the woods. A real earful. I’d witnessed firsthand that a gentle person’s anger is all the more terrifying. Nanny didn’t raise her voice or hurl harsh words. She just gripped both my wrists and scolded me softly, steadily.

“Nanny’s scary when she’s mad.”

“Yeah. Nanny’s scary.”

Robert nodded gravely, his little face serious. A sudden sense of camaraderie welled up in me.

“Dummy. One more dummy.”

“……”

But I wished he’d drop that “dummy” bit. Just when I’d forget about it, Robert would call me that again.

Robert pointed at a white flower with its seeds clustered in round puffs and urged me to hurry. I squinted, scanning our surroundings, then grabbed his chubby cheeks and stretched them out.

“Honestly, young master.”

“Ow, eek!”

Robert flapped his arms. I pressed into the soft flesh, then pulled until the corners of his mouth curved up.

“Are you going to call me dummy again, or not?”

“Ugh, dummy!”

“Are you going to call me dummy, or not?”

“No, no, maa!”

“Are you going to call me dummy again?”

For a cheeky kid, a good pinch works wonders. But I couldn’t beat him or threaten to spank him like Nanny might. So after some thought on a safe way to warn him, I settled on tugging those plump cheeks.

Robert smacked at my hands as he swung his arms, but finally nodded reluctantly. I let out a breath and released his cheeks.

His round ones were flushed red. Robert clutched them, his eyes welling up. I crossed my arms defiantly, as if daring him to cry.

“I’m telling Nanny!”

“Go ahead. I’ll tell her too—that you tried sneaking onto the horse and fell off.”

“……”

“If Nanny finds out the horse rack hurt you, she’ll have it tossed out right away. Then you’d never see it again. Right now!”

In truth, Vincent would be the one tossing it. Maybe he was already planning to. Either way, someone would get rid of it.

My words hit home—Robert clamped his mouth shut. He looked sulky but couldn’t argue, so he must’ve been planning to climb up there again. As if I’d let that happen.

I resolved to keep an even closer eye on him from now on.

“Here you go, young master.”

Pretending not to notice his grumpy face, I picked another white flower with its seeds puffed in round clusters. Robert hesitated. He looked gravely torn, like a man wrestling with temptation. I shook the flower gently side to side, and his violet eyes followed the motion.

Soon, a small hand reached out tentatively and took it.

I chuckled and handed it over, then picked another and blew on it. The white seeds floated into the air, and Robert’s eyes widened as he blew on the one in his hand.

His vision filled with drifting seeds, and Robert beamed. His delighted giggles suggested his mood had lifted.

A breeze chose that moment to stir, sending the seeds swirling wildly. While Robert was distracted trying to catch them, I plucked some flowers blooming near the woods.

I shook off the dirt and trimmed the roots neatly. There weren’t many flowers near the woods. Without venturing deeper in, there were limits to making a bouquet. This spot in the heart of the forest had no garden either.

This should make three decent ones. The rest will have to be letters.

Robert perked up when I gathered the flowers.

“Me too! Me too!”

“Shall we make a bouquet together?”

“Yeah!”

He showed surprising enthusiasm. Before it faded, we started on the bouquet together.

I arranged the flowers I’d picked nicely, while Robert gathered them one by one with his small hands, clumsily forming a bouquet. The shape was a mess, of course.

“Who’s that one for?”

“Mommy.”

“Wow, it’s pretty. You’re doing great.”

I sprinkled in praise now and then. Robert smiled shyly.

His lush, colorful bouquet ended up bigger than he was. Ambitious little guy. He shook it this way and that, inspecting it, then swapped a red flower for a yellow one. His seriousness made him look like a master florist. It was so intense I had to stifle a laugh.

His second bouquet was just as big as the first.

“Who’s the second one for?”

“Nanny.”

“She’ll love it.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Nanny would be thrilled even if Robert handed her a half-eaten cookie. I tidied up the messy bouquet a bit.

“Will you give it to Nanny yourself, young master?”

Robert’s eyes went wide, as if to say Me? I nodded with a smile. He fidgeted shyly—he must’ve been embarrassed to hand it over personally.

I exaggerated that Nanny would be absolutely delighted, and only then did he nod faintly.

Time was getting late, so I made the last bouquet myself. It was for a girl named Carrot. With few flowers left, it wasn’t as vibrant as Robert’s, but I did my best. I combined red and pale pink blooms into something a girl might like.

Then a thought struck me.

“No bouquet for Master Vincent?”

“Nope. None.”

Vincent, no bouquet for you. I snickered inwardly.

Nanny returned a bit past dinnertime. She looked weary, as if she’d come straight from changing out of her outing clothes to Robert’s room. Normally, Robert would rush over yelling “Nanny!” the moment she opened the door, but today he didn’t, leaving her puzzled.

“You’ve used them all up.”

“Yes. Though there are quite a few.”

I handed over the thick stack of letters, and Nanny smiled happily.

“We made bouquets too. Young master made them.”

I passed over the two prepared bouquets as well. Nanny’s eyes widened. They were clumsily shaped, but Robert had spent the whole afternoon on them. Her gaze on the messy bundles was warm.

“For Madam and the Count?”

“No, for Madam and Miss Carrot.”

Nanny’s eyes widened again.

“Nanny, Nanny.”

Right on cue, Robert tugged at her skirt hem. Nanny bent down to meet his gaze.

“Yes, young master?”

“This is for you, Nanny.”

Robert held out the bouquet he’d hidden behind his back. A letter was tucked among the blooms—a surprise gift.

“Thanks, Nanny.”

Robert planted a kiss on her cheek.

Nanny startled as she took the bouquet, her eyes turning red-rimmed. “Thank you. It’s so pretty. How wonderful.” At her admiration, Robert shyly avoided her eyes, tapping his toes on the floor before darting away and burrowing under the bedsheets.

“Thank you. I’ll deliver the letters safely.”

“Yes.”

Nanny couldn’t tear her eyes from the bouquet Robert had given her. She gently touched the letter nestled in the flowers, unfolded it, and read. Her movements were careful.

I stared blankly at her tearfully smiling face.

“Oh? It’s colored?”

She asked, peering at the ink on the letter.

“Yes, colored ink.”

“My goodness. I didn’t know ink like this existed.”

“First time seeing it?”

“Yes, the first. I’ve only ever seen black before.”

Nanny examined the letter in wonder. Wasn’t it for sale? I’d never seen colored ink myself, except once in my past life, but that was fine for a commoner like me. Was it so rare and expensive even nobles couldn’t get it easily? Then where had Johnny gotten it?

“I wonder if we’ll get replies, though.”

“Pardon? Is something wrong?”

“Madam’s been busy again since yesterday, so it’s hard to see her.”

Her joyful face fell. I was baffled. What kind of person was she? All I’d heard about Robert’s mother was that she was busy—incredibly busy.

“Hmm, what should we do?”

Nanny murmured worriedly. I worried too. I’d promised replies would come. Imagining Robert waiting eagerly soured my mood.

Was there a good way to ensure replies?

Ah, yes. One way.

“What if we ask the Master?”

“The Count?”

“Yes. Maybe he could deliver them personally and bring back replies.”

It was the surest method, really. Nanny nodded faintly in agreement.

But why today, of all days...

As usual, I waited by the door to hand off the letters to a servant. The only difference was there were a few more today. But today, the servant wasn’t alone. Vincent stood right beside him, solid as a rock. I couldn’t hide my fluster.

“You have a lot in your hands today.”

“Uh... yes.”

I glanced at Vincent, then bowed deeply. I handed over the letters I’d brought first, politely. The servant took the four letters with a puzzled look.

“What are these?”

“Well...”

It was hard to spit it out. I kept flicking my eyes to Vincent’s feet.

Why had he come along today, of all days? After asking me to report Robert’s daily life, he hadn’t shown his face once. Honestly, he had no reason to seek me out. I’d been relaxing without him around, so his sudden appearance threw me off.

Nanny knew I was reporting Robert’s routine to Vincent. That’s why she hesitated to ask him herself, so I’d planned to request it through the servant on her behalf. It was the most reliable, accurate way. If I explained well, he’d likely agree, given his affection for Robert so far.

Of course, it was also the least welcome option. Nanny already felt indebted; she’d hesitated to impose further. I didn’t want deeper ties to him either.

But if Robert snuck onto the horse rack again and got hurt badly, I’d be punished as his attendant. To avoid that, I’d chosen the safest path—yet here I was, needing his help too. It was my doing, so I had to see it through; I couldn’t let it fizzle out.

I’d felt relieved it was just passing a message to the servant.

One of the four letters was from Nanny, requesting Robert’s letters be delivered. I’d thought handing it over would settle everything... but who knew I’d run into him directly?

I bit my lower lip and clamped my arms to my sides. Something rustled. Fishing in my pocket, I pulled out a few candies. Johnny had given them to me yesterday, stuffing them in despite my protests. They were pretty sweet, he’d said. Ah!

“W-would you like some candy?”

“Pardon?”

The servant’s eyes widened at my sudden offer. I held out the candies in my hand. Maybe sweets would put Vincent in a good mood.

The servant glanced between the candies and me, flustered. Behind him, Vincent’s face darkened sharply.