At that moment, his big hand stroked my head softly. He didnât say anything else. He just petted my hair for a long time.
Each time, it felt like the Grand Dukeâs warmth nourished my frozen and desolate heart.
Meanwhile, we were able to arrive at my room. Fortunately, Harris didnât show up while arriving here.
Cecilia, who had been following the Grand Duke and I just now, walked quickly ahead and entered the room first.
I wondered what he was doing, so I ran into the room.
Then, I saw Cecilia covering my motherâs bed with a wooden partition.
âCecilia, what are you doing?â
âI think itâs going to be noisy.â
I wasnât sure how helpful this would be, but itâs better than nothing.
Cecilia, who was placed near the bed whining about her height, laughed with sweat.
âItâs done. Please sit here, My Lady.â
In the midst of this, I nodded at Cecilia, who was worried about me.
âMy mom will like it when she opens her eyes. There are so many good people.â
âThatâs good. Thatâs what she should do. I hope your mother will like me too.â
Cecilia laughed so hard that her eyes disappeared.
I liked Cecilia, so I hoped she didnât leave.
âWhen I hated it so much⊠I would keep my distance, but now itâs funny to see myself like thisâŠâ
It was stupid to think of myself like that, but itâs okay to be stupid. Because of that, I couldnât take my eyes off her as she busied herself.
I sat next to my mother, hugged the penguin doll and poked my head around the partition.
Suddenly, I saw Cecilia open the door to the room.
As soon as the door opened as if waiting, clothes entered the room.
As if waiting, clothes entered the room as the door opened.
âLetâs all move quietly.â
In the meantime, Cecilia was afraid that it would be noisy, so she had to calm people down. Because of this, people entering the room moved almost silently.
In the meantime, the Grand Duke approached me.
âIf you need anything afterwards, let me know.â
âThis is enough. If you get too greedy, your stomach will explode.â
âYeah! Even right now, itâs too much.â
I was greedy even though I knew it was excessive, but I thought it would be okay because I would wear it someday.
âBut donât hide your desires.â
âBut you seem to really like that doll.â
âYes! Itâs a penguin. They only live in cold placesâŠâ
âWhy do you like it so much?â
It was then when the Grand Dukeâs gaze, who had been watching the people entering my room, turned to me.
âItâs my first time receiving a gift other than my mom or dad!â
ââŠItâs your first time.â
âWhen is your birthday?â
âAh! Cecilia asked me the same thing, but the day I came here was my birthday.â
After I said those words, regret filled his face.
âItâs okay. I⊠I donât like my birthday.â
âI canât believe you donât like your birthday. Usually, people like it since itâs the day where you can get a gift.â
âBut I donât like it.â
I hated my fifth birthday even more. It was the day when my mother passed away, and I had to go through it nine times.
âThatâs unique. I canât believe you donât like your birthday.â
âYeah. I hate that day. Especially⊠my fifth birthday.â
He might be wondering why I hated it so much, but he didnât ask anything.
I just looked at my penguin doll with regret and looked around the room.
Meanwhile, I saw the last few people enter the room.
âEverything has arrived today.â
And Elloine, who came inside with the last dress, approached Cecilia.
âThank you, Madame Elloine.â
âItâs fine. Feel free to tell me if you need anything. Next time, I will make the dress you want.â
Elloine, who had been talking to Cecilia for a while, approached the Grand Duke and I.
âThen Iâll get going today, Your Highness, Lady Bebe.â
âWe will deliver the dress you mentioned as quickly as possible.â
After saying that, Elloine went outside, and Cecilia, who was running around the dress room and living room, approached us as she was sweating.
The Grand Duke, who had been firmly next to me, only then moved around the partition.
âBoth of you worked hard. Iâll be off.â
âAre you going to go, Dad?â
âYes. Iâm busy with work.â
You pretended to be okay when I said you werenât busy, so I guess not.
He greeted as if he had been waiting, and quickly went outside.
At the sudden appearance, we stared at the door where the great force left.
âShe must have been worried about you.â
âRight. I think I came because I was worried.â
âYes. I think itâs because thereâs something going on with Lady Harris. I think you care a lot about the lady.â
It was the same word as before.