Falling To Paradise

Today’s dish, which Aiden concocted from memory, was “fried green tomatoes.”

 

Seeing the not-yet-ripened tomatoes placed on the windowsill reminded him of a dish he had once eaten in the barracks, so he decided to make it. Since it was a dish still uncommon in the Empire, he wanted Anje to try it as well.

 

Aiden returned the same compliment Anje had given his cooking as he put her dish in his mouth.

 

“The cornbread you made is delicious too. Its slightly dry texture pairs perfectly with the corn kernels.”

 

“Right? I really like this crumbly texture. It’s the best when eaten with milk.”

 

He slowly reached out toward her lips. After gulping down the cool milk, a white trace had been left on the right side of her lips.

 

“It’s so delicious that you’ve accidentally grown a mustache.”

 

Anje, who had stiffened upon seeing his approaching hand, barely came to her senses and roughly wiped the spot he touched with a napkin.

 

“Y-You could’ve just told me. I could’ve wiped it myself.”

 

“Your hands seemed busy eating.”

 

She avoided his gaze, staring intently at the tablecloth instead.

 

‘Why do I keep blushing like this?’

 

Just from his fingertips lightly brushing near her lips, she felt like a small bird was flapping wildly in her chest. He, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected, making her feel even more pathetic for being so easily shaken. To shake off her awkward feelings, she quickly changed the subject.

 

“You know the bird’s nest visible from my room? Did you know the eggs there have hatched?”

 

“I did hear some chirping sounds.”

 

“All three baby birds are great eaters, so the mother and father birds are busy carrying food back and forth.”

 

They had even come down to her garden a few times, taking earthworms wriggling between the soil.

 

Watching such small creatures, no more than a handspan in size, work so diligently for their babies fascinated her. Whenever she had time, she would grab her opera glasses and observe them.

 

Hearing her lively description, a smile naturally spread across Aiden’s face.

 

“They seem adorable. Can I come and take a look later?”

 

“To my room?”

 

At the mention of “room,” memories of what had happened not long ago naturally came to mind, and it felt like a large stag was wildly stomping on her chest.

 

She imagined feeding a leaf to the imaginary deer to calm it down.

 

“Of course. Feel free to come by. I’ll even lend you my opera glasses.”

 

Was that natural? It sounded natural, right? Surely it didn’t seem like she was being overly conscious, right?

 

‘Calm down.’

 

Aiden’s mention of visiting her room was certainly made without any ulterior motives.

 

As proof, he calmly transferred half of a soft-boiled egg to her plate, saying she should eat this too.

 

‘Surely, he’s not planning to come in and do something like that again. Don’t expect anything—no, it’s not like I’m expecting it… Let’s not imagine things.’

 

He cast a concerned look at her face. Once again, his large hand reached toward her and pressed against her forehead.

 

“Anje, do you have a fever? Your face has been turning red since earlier.”

 

“I-it’s just… today feels unusually hot. How about some watermelon for dessert? I feel like having something cool.”

 

“I’ll go to the field and bring some, so please rest for a bit.”

 

“Th-Thank you.”

 

Left alone, Anje slumped over the table, burying her head into it. She wanted to slap herself for how often her face flushed red.

 

‘We’ve lived together under the same roof just fine until now—so why am I acting like this all of a sudden?’

 

If she had been the “Princess of the Glasster Dukedom” of old, she would have loudly ridiculed herself for acting this way.

 

‘You see Aiden Fitzroy as a man? Have you lost your mind?’

 

There was an unbridgeable gap between her status and his. An illegitimate child with only a knight’s title and the only daughter of the Duke of Glasster.

 

In the empire, where distinctions of status were absolute, the idea of their marriage was inconceivable. That was why this union had become a scandal that brought disgrace upon the House of Glasster.

 

The imaginary “Princess of the Glasster Dukedom” folded her arms across her chest and said in a sarcastic tone.

 

‘Sir Aiden Fitzroy has neither high social standing nor vast wealth. Why would you ever lower yourself to fall for a man like that?’

 

Having been indoctrinated by her father, she had grown up believing that marrying someone of noble status and great wealth was her life’s goal.

 

People of Aiden’s low standing were… it was embarrassing to admit, but to her, they had been nothing more than furniture. Furniture that made life more convenient with a gesture or a word.

 

The current “Anje Fitzroy” spoke to the imaginary “Princess of the Glasster Dukedome.”

 

‘But Aiden… has so many other merits.’

 

Now that she had let go of worldly standards and preconceived notions, she could see them.

 

He possessed a heart far gentler and warmer than it appeared on the surface and possessed detailed knowledge about a world she had never known.

 

Most of all, he respected her opinions and showed consideration for her. This was in stark contrast to the men she had encountered in high society, her father, and even Philip.

 

In front of Aiden, Anje was not a beautiful, delicate glass ornament meant to be quietly displayed on a shelf. She was a living, breathing human being and a companion.

 

If Aiden had been born a noble like her, not an illegitimate child…

 

‘Perhaps I…’

 

Wouldn’t she have fallen for him much sooner? If he had been the crown prince instead of Philip, it might have been even easier.

 

No, perhaps she had actually liked him for a long time. Maybe she had been too slow to realize it because the fog of prejudice had clouded her eyes.

 

“Anje, look at this! Isn’t this watermelon enormous? I’ve never seen one this big before.”

 

Seeing the man appear holding a watermelon much larger than his own face, Anje bit her lip lightly.

 

‘Does he like me too?’

 

The look in his eyes showed a desire to let her taste the delicious watermelon as soon as possible.

 

She calmed herself and smiled brightly, telling herself not to jump to conclusions.

 

“You must have had a hard time carrying such a big one all by yourself. I’ll go get the knife.”

 

“It’s not as heavy as it looks. I’ll prepare everything, so just sit and wait.”

 

Not wanting to leave all the work to him, Anje grumbled.

 

“I also want to try cutting a watermelon. I’ve only eaten it, but I’ve never cut it myself.”

 

At her very ladylike words, Aiden chuckled and pulled her toward the kitchen counter.

 

“Shall we cut it together then? Since the surface is slippery, you might accidentally cut yourself if the knife slips.”

 

Aiden wrapped his arm around her waist and held the paring knife handle with her. In a posture like that of a married couple cutting a wedding cake, Anje almost had to clutched her heart again.

 

‘If he’s this kind and doesn’t like me, isn’t that a crime?’

 

No matter how good of a person he is, could he really be so kind to someone he doesn’t even like?

 

The Princess of Glasster within her couldn’t hold back her frustration and yelled out.

 

‘Then just confess already, Anje Fitzroy!’

 

It was something the old, reckless version of herself would have said.

 

Well, after thinking about it for a few days, the only result I got was insomnia.

 

‘Aiden might like me too. No, it could be a misunderstanding, but he seems to like me.’

 

She carefully observed Aiden, who was standing very close to her. From below, his thick eyebrows and handsome facial features, illuminated by the sunlight, looked like a dignified statue.

 

He was about to stick the knife into the watermelon when he noticed her gaze and briefly glanced in her direction. Then, his ears reddened as he quickly turned his eyes away. Anyone could tell he was flustered.

 

“I-I’ll give you some strength, so make sure to hold the knife tightly so you don’t lose grip.”

 

“O-Okay…”

 

Anje also made a similar expression and lowered her head. She kept feeling a fluttering sensation in her chest.

 

‘I wish I had a little more confidence.’

 

Love is something that those who have experienced it before can recognize and receive well; for someone who has never received it, it was only unfamiliar.

 

It was like a person who had never seen snow wondering if what they were facing now was truly what snow is.

 

‘For now, let me focus on what I need to do.’

 

Thud—

 

The knife they pressed together slid smoothly into the watermelon. They both looked at the watermelon that was now split in half on the cutting board, hoping it would be filled with deep red flesh.

 

“Wo…ow?”

 

There was red flesh inside the green rind, but unlike a normal watermelon, this one’s inside was mostly green, with only a small part about the size of Anje’s palm being red.

 

Her eyes, full of expectation, froze for a moment. She put down the knife and covered her mouth with her palm.

 

“…Pfft.”

 

She herself was surprised, but when she saw Aiden’s dazed expression, she couldn’t stop laughing.

 

She had high expectations seeing its huge size, but when it was cut open, the edible part was just a handful. It was a comical situation, like a child opening an overly wrapped gift and being surprised by its contents.

 

Aiden seemed to feel the same way. His lips twitched for a moment, and after looking alternately at the watermelon and Anje, he finally burst into loud laughter.

 

Laughing heartily along with him for a while, Anje wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and asked.

 

“Do you think we could at least use this as food for Pa-Pi-Pu? It feels wasteful to just throw it away.”

 

“With this little flesh, I don’t think they’ll eat it. Those guys have become picky eaters because of you.”

 

Still, it might be useful as compost. He chuckled as he pushed the watermelon aside. It was the first time since the cod liver oil cookies that he had encountered something so utterly useless as food.

 

“Let’s go to the field together and pick a new one. This time, I’ll pick it.”

 

“Sure, it seems like my eye for fruit has fallen. I need you.”

 

How nice it would be if that ‘need’ really meant he needed her as a person. Anje once again agonized over whether or not she should speak up to him.

 

‘The fact that the inside of the watermelon is so disappointing must be a bad sign, right? Maybe today’s not the day.’

 

But still, she lacked courage or an opportunity.

 

‘I wish something special would happen that could change the situation.”

 

She absentmindedly wished, unaware of how her wish might come true.

 

* * * *

 

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