Falling To Paradise

Anje, who had been lost in uncomfortable thoughts, shook her head vigorously.

 

“No. It’s not that… it’s just that the skin on my fingertips is peeling, and it bothers me…”

 

He focused intently, trying to read her emotions from her stuttering face. Lately, he felt that a part of her mind was always somewhere far away.

 

But Aiden, who prided himself on knowing Anje’s innermost thoughts better than anyone, now found himself uncertain of his abilities.

 

As his feelings for her deepened, his perception became both sharper and duller. Sometimes he saw hope in her voice and actions, and at other times he sensed endless despair.

 

He couldn’t tell if what he saw in her was false positivity or exaggerated negativity. He recalled something his grandfather had taught him about hunting when he was young.

 

‘For a hunter, the most important thing is to observe keenly and calmly. Don’t let emotions cloud your gaze. Fearful eyes will see an ordinary puddle as leopard tracks, and haughty eyes will mistake bear fur for squirrel traces.’

 

His eyes, however, were already mixed with other emotions when he looked at her.

 

So, he gave up trying to read her and instead suggested something he could do.

 

“There’s some grape seed oil in the first-aid kit. It’s good for rough skin. Here.”

 

“I can do it myself…”

 

“Didn’t you injure one of your hands?”

 

“It’s just a small cut, but you wrapped it up so much that I can’t use it.”

 

“So, it’s my fault in the end.”

 

Where was the man who said he would treat her coldly again? Even if she was injured, this was an excessive luxury.

 

Still, she was grateful that he didn’t frown or scold her upon seeing her bad habit, but rather showed concern.

 

‘I’m thankful… but don’t make me grow too attached like this.’

 

She looked down at the top of his head, which was diligently applying the oil. His rough hands touching her palms and between her fingers was so ticklish that she couldn’t help but giggle.

 

“Hehe, it tickles.”

 

“It’ll be over soon, bear with it.”

 

The combination of the right amount of warmth and oil made her hands, which were now smooth and sleek, smell good. Anje wiggled her hands and sniffed them before thanking him.

 

“Thank you. You’re really overdoing it for a minor injury. If you ever hurt your hand, I’ll help you with everything, from meals to anything else. Don’t refuse next time.”

 

He coughed hard as he swallowed wrongly while tidying up the first aid kit.

 

“Alright…”

 

Help with everything? Suddenly, he thought it wouldn’t be so bad to injure his hand a little.

 

Maybe he should go chop some wood later. It wasn’t necessary in the summer except for cooking, and they already had a lot stored…

 

While he seriously considered staging an injury, she returned to her previous thoughts, this time looking at her now smooth fingertips.

 

‘I know why I feel so uneasy.’

 

When she needed people to comfort her, all her friends turned their backs on her. If she left him alone in his current lonely and painful state, she would be doing the same thing.

 

She didn’t want to return the betrayal and anger she had felt to Aiden. He was a good person who treated her kindly, despite some misunderstandings.

 

‘Okay, the problem is simple. I just need to solve his issues before I leave.’

 

To lessen the uncomfortable feeling of imagining him left alone on the farm, there was only one way.

 

‘I’ll help him be okay without me.’

 

She would create friends for him other than herself. If there was one thing she was confident in, it was her social skills. She could easily bridge the gap between Aiden and the townspeople.

 

The seizures… were a problem because there was no cure. But what if she helped him practice facing his fears? Maybe he would gradually get better?

 

Going with him to crowded places like the town or the summer fair would be ideal.

 

She resolutely chewed on a soft, melting tomato. Now that she had a clear goal, she felt much more at ease.

 

“Aiden, is Mrs. Meg still outside?”

 

“Oh, yes. She said she was cleaning the fence because it was too dirty…”

 

In truth, it wasn’t that dirty, but Meg, hoping the couple would have some time alone, was still outside.

 

Aiden had seen her peeking into the kitchen several times through the window behind Anje, but he pretended not to notice.

 

TL/N: LOL.

 

Anje immediately set her newly formed plan into motion.

 

“She must be lonely eating lunch outside alone. Let’s invite her in to eat with us.”

 

They had made plenty of gratin and biscuits. If it wasn’t enough, they could pick some vegetables from the field to make a salad. The lettuce, in full harvest season, awaited their hands.

 

“Oh, yes. I didn’t think of that. I was so worried about your injury that… I’ll go get her.”

 

Watching Aiden quickly disappear out the back door and then return with Meg, Anje smiled subtly.

 

Although Meg and Aiden were already on friendly terms, it would be good to strengthen their bond as neighbors. She should invite Meg over for meals or tea more often, even if it’s not a Monday.

 

Or, she could visit Meg’s house. It was an intriguing place for her, as she had never visited other homes in the area.

 

‘Thinking like this, I feel like I’m acting like a real wife.’

 

Managing her husband’s social connections and building relationships with new people… She chuckled to herself at her silly thoughts, then suddenly paused.

 

‘Once he is okay without me… I can leave without any regrets, right?’

 

She should be able to.

 

Her brief uplifted mood burst like a bubble and sank below the surface. But she gathered her strength and smiled at the approaching Meg.

 

“Welcome, Aunty.”

 

“Thank you for inviting me, young lady. You’ve prepared all my favorite dishes. Tomato gratin! Hmm, your cooking skills have really improved.”

 

Meg, bustling to take a seat, took a big bite of the gratin and couldn’t hide her admiration.

 

“It wasn’t me, it was Ai—”

 

“Anje made it. She even hurt her finger in the process.”

 

“Oh dear, you got hurt? You poor thing, you must have worked so hard”

 

All she did for the gratin was half-finish chopping some tomatoes, but he readily gave her the credit for the dish.

 

She nudged his foot under the table with her leg, but he only maintained a blank expression. Then he pressed the tip of his shoe lightly against the toe of hers.

 

“Since we made it together, it’s not wrong, is it?”

 

He made no sound, but she felt as though his words had reached her. She held back the laugh that was about to escape and enthusiastically started talking to Meg. Like seamlessly including a young lady left out of the conversation at a tea party, she deliberately brought up topics that Aiden could naturally join in on.

 

After they finished their meal, Meg brought out the dessert she had prepared with great ambition.

 

“It was truly a wonderful meal. And here’s a perfect dessert to go with it.”

 

“Wow!”

 

The peach, as big as two of Anje’s fists put together, was fully ripe and filled the air with its sweet aroma.

 

“You’ve never tried the peaches from our farm, have you? That’s why I wanted the first ones picked to be offered to you.”

 

“Thank you so much for being so thoughtful, Aunty.”

 

Anje held one peach in her hand, deeply moved. Unlike the cold, mineral-scented letters she had received from her father, the peach was warm and fresh, as if it had absorbed the sunlight.

 

How could her father not understand that even a gift this simple could evoke such deep emotion? For someone with so much wealth and who had met so many women, how could he not know the one word his daughter needed to hear?

 

She quickly blinked away the tears welling in her eyes and smiled brightly.

 

“Thank you. I’ll peel it right away—”

 

“I’ll handle the knife.”

 

She nudged Aiden’s foot lightly again. Overprotectiveness, even in front of Mrs. Meg, seriously.

 

She resolved once more that she must never let even a single drop of blood fall in his presence.

 

“By the way, Anje, By the way, Anje. Are you a firm peach person or a soft peach person? Aunty Meg and I were talking about it earlier, and we couldn’t agree.”

 

The peaches grown in the Fitzroy orchard were a firm variety suited to people’s general tastes.

 

“Well, it’s not a turnip. Sweet and soft peaches are better than firm ones.”

 

“Crisp, with a great texture that never gets tiring—firm peaches are definitely the best.”

 

Unable to narrow the gap in their opinions, Meg and Aiden both turned to Anje, subtly pressuring her.

 

“And What about you, Miss? Since you like sweet things, I’m sure our soft peaches are more to your liking.”

 

“All Fitzroy family members prefer firm peaches.”

 

“Uh…”

 

It was a simple question, but it felt like she needed to answer carefully. Anje began to think about what kind of diplomatic answer she could give so as not to offend either of them.

 

The art of getting along at the Dilton Farm was much more difficult than the social etiquette she had learned in society.

 

TL/N: FOR ME, I LIKE SOFT JUICY PEACH, THAT POURS ALL ITS SWEET JUICE IN ONE BITE!!! READERS, WHAT ABT Y’ALL??

 

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