Falling To Paradise

The contents of her father’s letter kept resurfacing in her mind whenever she tried to forget them. And he’d ordered her, saying she should not grow attached to this place since she would be leaving someday, and to cut all her ties.

 

But she found herself liking this farm more and more, a place she hadn’t thought she could ever grow to like before.

 

She loved the animals, including Pa-Pi-Pu, Dancer, and Wind, and she loved the swaying plants and the blue sky. She loved the clattering laundry bin, the stove that filled the air with delicious smells, and the red tablecloth on the dining table. She loved the walking trail that was just wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and the secret hideaway they often used as a picnic spot. She also liked Mrs. Meg, who now felt like a relative, and her new friends, Jean and Mary. She liked the pastor who brought a holly seedling to the house, and the cute baby he was carrying.

 

‘And then, Aiden too.’

 

Every time she thought about the impending farewell to all these days, she felt as if a huge hole had been torn in her heart. Because the pain was so great, she consciously tried not to recall the memories. So, she threw herself into the air until her head spun and she was out of breath.

 

She pushed her inner darkness back down and chattered in a cheerful voice.

 

“I think I used to run faster because I used to run away from the maids when I was younger, but I haven’t run in over ten years, so my skills have deteriorated.”

 

Walking slowly no matter what happened was a virtue of a lady, and Anje didn’t know how many governesses she had made cry trying to learn this. It wasn’t easy to change the gait that had become so ingrained in her body.

 

“I’ll come with you―.”

 

“No! It’s okay. I prefer to do it alone.”

 

When she ran, her red face would be covered in sweat, and her hair would stick to her forehead and cheeks. Not wanting to show her ugly appearance, Anje flatly refused.

 

Aiden lowered his head and moved the crochet hook vigorously. This time, it was a snowflake motif.

 

“If I’m with you, we can go a little further than just around the house. I could show you a path with soft grass that’s great for running.”

 

Anje was about to put her index finger to her lips but stopped at the faint scent of oil. She had been applying the oil that Aiden had given her every day recently.

 

‘I was actually starting to get a little tired of the same old scenery.’

 

Would it be okay to show him her awkward side? He was someone who wouldn’t make fun of her or say anything bad about her no matter what she looked like…

 

More than anything, she didn’t particularly want to impress Aiden.

 

Absolutely, absolutely not.

 

She had snuck out in the morning just to… just to…

 

Her brain paused, unable to come up with a suitable reason.

 

“Then let’s do it together starting tomorrow.”

 

Aiden, who had been nervously pulling at his nose, grinned.

 

“But, I’m really slow. Don’t say anything, okay?”

 

“It’s fine. We can just run slowly and match our pace. I’ve been losing a lot of stamina lately―.”

 

“Don’t tell such obvious lies.”

 

Aiden losing stamina? That was like saying Pa-Pi-Pu had no appetite. He took care of countless tasks on the farm and still paid meticulous attention to her.

 

She guessed it was because he was worried she might fall or encounter wild animals while running alone.

 

She rolled her eyes.

 

“You’re too overprotective.”

 

TL/N: IN LOVE OF THAT TYPE OF OVERPROTECTIVENESS >,<

 

“I’d appreciate it if you’d call it chivalry.”

 

She stared intently at the dimples of her only bodyguard and stroked the newly completed motif.

 

“By the way, this is pretty. It’s a snowflake pattern, right?”

 

“Oh, yeah. This square… I think I’ve made too many of these already.”

 

If he connected the abundant square motifs, he could make anything, whether it was a tablecloth or curtains.

 

Aiden thought of asking Meg for help on how to join the motifs and subtly decorating Anje’s room with the finished products.

 

Did he really just come up with the design on the spot without a pattern? She was astonished watching the large man, who diligently extended the crochet hook.

 

She had thought needlework was for ladies, but this man was doing it so naturally.

 

He might have done much better than she did in the ladylike classes she so desperately wanted to avoid.

 

She imagined Aiden all dressed up in frills and ribbons, obediently taking embroidery lessons, and bit the inside of her lip.

 

It was so absurdly out of character, yet she desperately wanted to see it.

 

TL/N: ME TOO.

 

She cleared her throat and found a piece of paper and a pencil, sketching a simple design.

 

“Oh, Sir. Maybe you could make something like this too? A long chain of small doilies…”

 

It was a design she had just thought of while looking at the pile of motifs.

 

“I can make that, but… what are you going to use it for?”

 

Was she going to use it as a hair or waist ornament? His guess was completely off.

 

“I want to put a necklace on Pa-Pi-Pu.”

 

“A necklace for the pigs?”

 

Aiden looked at Anje’s serious face and suppressed his laughter. If he said something wrong about Pa-Pi-Pu, she would be so upset and hard to appease.

 

“They’re going to a competition soon. I want to decorate them to stand out from the other pigs.”

 

Even though she firmly believed that Pa-Pi-Pu would not lose to the other pigs, she wanted them to look even more adorable.

 

She imagined the three plump, shiny pigs wearing colorful decorations around their necks and found them even cuter.

 

Anje tried to gauge the circumference of the pigs’ necks with both hands.

 

“I think it would be more accurate to go to the pen and measure them with a tape measure.”

 

“I’ll give you a tape measure. But since all three are quite plump, or rather large, it might be better to make capes instead of necklaces. They’d be visible from a distance.”

 

Anje enthusiastically agreed to his suggestion.

 

“That’s a great idea. When Mrs. Meg comes, let’s ask her to teach us how to make a big and beautiful design.”

 

If the three of them worked together, they could finish making them quickly. And if possible, they should make three sets with different colors, but with the same design.

 

“Let’s look for more colored yarns in the attic.”

 

“Oh, I know where they are. Let’s go together.”

 

People in high society would likely gossip if they saw them. What was a gentleman doing crocheting, and what was a lady doing running?

 

‘But who cares.’

 

No matter how much noise and pointing there was in the capital, it would never reach Dilton Farm. She decided to enjoy this tranquility as much as she could while she could.

 

After a long discussion in the attic over the various colored yarns, they came downstairs with red, green, and blue skeins of yarn.

 

“By the way, speaking of Pa-Pi-Pu…”

 

Anje was about to say that they should probably start using the bath brushes she had bought, but when she saw Aiden pointing at the soap and brushes in the cupboard, she smiled.

 

He understood her well. Too well, perhaps.

 

* * *

 

“Come on, I said I’ll do it, didn’t I?”

 

“Please allow me to handle it, Wife.”

 

For Anje, the competition Pa-Pi-Pu was entering held great significance. It was not only an opportunity to showcase the work she had done since coming to the farm but also a chance to repay her debt to Aiden, even just a little. That’s why she intended to take care of the preparations herself, especially the difficult tasks.

 

However, an annoying intruder who clung to her side kept interfering with her work at every turn. Anje, still not quite accustomed to being called “Wife,” blushed but retorted boldly.

 

“Yes, I’m your wife. But shouldn’t you listen to what your wife says? Didn’t Auntie Meg tell you last time to listen to the ‘heavenly wife’?”

 

“Are you referring to yourself as ‘wife’ right now?”

 

Aiden couldn’t help but laugh. Taking advantage of the momentary lapse in his grip, Anje snatched the brush away.

 

“More than anything, this is about taking care of Pa-Pi-Pu. ‘My’ Pa-Pi-Pu.”

 

“This farm is jointly owned by us, so wouldn’t it be more accurate to say ‘our’ Pa-Pi-Pu?”

 

According to imperial law, the farm and its belongings were clearly the husband’s property, but neither of them bothered to bring this up. It wouldn’t be a big deal if they applied the unique laws of the Dilton farm to this small house and its surroundings.

 

“And what do you know about Pa-Pi-Pu to claim ownership?”

 

“I think I know enough.”

 

“Oh really? Then here’s question number one: which one of Pa-Pi-Pu has a tail curled in the opposite direction? Hold on, don’t look at the pigsty—no cheating!”

 

In front of the pigs, who were watching with curious eyes, wondering what their owners were up to, the two argued for a while over who should take on the tougher tasks.

 

“It’s more efficient if I handle the heavy lifting. The gruel stuck behind their ears or the mud stains on their sides—those won’t come off easily with your strength.”

 

“You’re too strong! What if you scrub too hard and hurt Pa-Pi-Pu’s skin?”

 

He raised his eyebrows and stared at his stubborn wife before letting out a sigh loud enough for her to hear.

 

“It can’t be helped then. How about this: under your supervision, you can use me as your assistant?”

 

“An assistant… That’s fine, I suppose.”

 

Washing the three fully-grown pigs one by one after taking them out of their pen was going to be hard labor. The pigs, having grown large, were in their natural state, never having been properly washed.

 

Generously, she decided to accept this somewhat unreliable assistant.

 

* * * *

 

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