Chapter 6
Aaron, who had been letting out a low sigh between the mother and daughter, finally raised both hands in surrender.
“Then I suppose I’ll have to deliver this to His Majesty exactly as it is.”
He let out a dry laugh as he placed his hand on the ribbon-decorated tie and looked at the affectionate mother and daughter. But if he went to work like this, mockery was inevitable. Especially imagining the Emperor clapping his feet in delight made Aaron feel downright irritated.
“Oh! You’re supposed to unwrap a present yourself.”
Aaron’s hand paused as he was about to untie the ribbon Rosetta had carefully tied.
“Right.”
Rosetta, holding Emilia, quickly agreed, and the doting father immediately turned his gaze to Emilia. He clearly couldn’t bring himself to ignore the expectant look in the eyes of his own daughter, who looked exactly like him.
“Our girl. You should say goodbye to Dad.”
Leaving the tie as Rosetta had tied it, Aaron spoke to Emilia.
“Dad, have a good day.”
“Yes. Did you sleep well, Emilia?”
“Yes.”
While the father and daughter exchanged warm morning greetings, Rosetta stepped back and watched the two of them.
“Let me see! You’re especially pretty today.”
Aaron kissed Emilia’s forehead with a soft smack and set her down. Even with sleep still crusted at her eyes and her pajamas unchanged, he looked utterly content.
“Say that to Mom!”
Emilia demanded boldly, her eyes sparkling. Aaron hesitated, flustered.
“What?”
“Tommy says his dad tells his mom she’s pretty every single day!”
“Tommy’s family has three sons.”
Aaron rubbed his forehead. He looked half-dazed already, and it was barely morning.
“Oh! I see.”
Emilia nodded as if she’d understood something profound. Rosetta was intensely curious about what exactly Emilia had “understood,” but she kept her mouth shut.
“Alright then. Daddy has to go to work now.”
“Yes, Dad. Listen well to His Majesty, watch out for carriages, and enjoy your work at the palace.”
Still in her pajamas, Emilia placed her hands neatly over her belly and bowed politely. Aaron burst into laughter.
“Yes. You should listen to your teacher, watch out for carriages, and get along well with your friends.”
He gently squeezed her chubby cheeks, then kissed her again with a loud smack.
“What about Mom?”
“Hm?”
“You have to say goodbye to Mom too.”
At Emilia’s demand, Rosetta widened her eyes and stepped back. Aaron and Emilia stood side by side, staring at her.
“Emilia. We’re family now. Family doesn’t do that. Ah! And we already did earlier, right?”
Rosetta laughed awkwardly and glanced at Aaron for backup.
“That’s not true! Tommy says his mom and dad kiss several times a day…”
Rosetta sighed deeply. She never imagined she’d be compared to a friend’s parents. Emilia’s airtight logic left her no escape.
“Really? Tommy’s parents kiss every day.”
Rosetta’s reply was completely devoid of soul, but Emilia didn’t lose her smile. In fact, she seemed delighted that Rosetta was paying attention, her lively face glowing.
“Yes. They’re so close that Tommy is really worried.”
“Huh? Why would Tommy worry if his parents get along so well?”
Aaron tilted his head, curious, and met Emilia’s eyes. Rosetta, also curious despite herself, moved closer to stand beside them.
“Well… Tommy says they go to the cabbage field way too often.”
After that long sigh of an answer, Rosetta frowned. The sudden mention of cabbage fields made her step closer to Emilia.
“Cabbage field?”
Her round eyes were filled with curiosity. Emilia’s cheeks turned red, clearly pleased that Rosetta’s attention was focused entirely on her. With both hands on her cheeks, she looked like a well-steamed dumpling.
“Ahem.”
Having realized something, Aaron tugged lightly at Rosetta’s sleeve, but she just alternated glances between him and Emilia, utterly clueless.
“Yes. They keep bringing back little siblings from the cabbage field, and Tommy says it’s really, really hard for him.”
“Ah…”
Rosetta, who had been crouching to meet Emilia’s eye level, straightened up and stared blankly at Aaron.
‘Is this an issue of prenatal education? Parenting gone wrong? Or is this just what seven-year-olds are like?’
Aaron avoided her gaze and cleared his throat.
“I’m fine!”
“You are not fine, Emilia.”
Rosetta hurriedly covered Emilia’s mouth, already guessing what she was about to say.
“No, I really am fine. I want lots and lots of little siblings.”
“Damn it.”
Rosetta bit her lip.
“I see. Do you want to be an older sister, Emilia?”
“Both! I want to be an older sister and an older cousin too, Dad!”
Aaron stroked Emilia’s hair as she beamed, then quickly pulled out his pocket watch.
“Oh no, I’m late. You talk to Mom about siblings.”
“Yes, Dad. Have a good day.”
Emilia waved enthusiastically as Aaron hurried away.
‘You jerk.’
Left alone, Rosetta felt Emilia staring straight through her. She forced an awkward smile.
“Shall we get ready for school now?”
“Yes, Mom!”
Thankfully, Emilia didn’t bring up siblings again.
And as Rosetta prepared Emilia for school, she once again seriously contemplated the separation of head and body.
“Mom, why are you suddenly praying?”
“I’m not praying. I’m repenting.”
“What did you do wrong?”
Looking into Emilia’s clear eyes, Rosetta smiled serenely, like a saint.
“I’m deeply regretting how I once judged other moms without knowing anything.”
“But Mom, you look sick. Your face is pale.”
Rosetta opened her eyes and unclasped her hands.
“Emilia.”
“Yes!”
“For Mom’s future and well-being, would you consider wearing only this sky-blue dress?”
At Rosetta’s earnest request, Emilia pouted. Seeing that, Rosetta blinked.
Emilia lowered her eyes, avoiding Rosetta’s gaze.
“But Elle dresses like this.”
“Mom thinks she’s not right in the head, Emilia.”
‘And I think I’m about to lose my mind too.’
The words she couldn’t say boiled up inside Rosetta.
Under Rosetta’s gaze, Emilia spun in a circle. With every spin, Rosetta’s thoughts grew more tangled.
She’d briefly forgotten amidst the whirlwind marriage to Aaron Biern, but marriage was reality, and childcare was hands-on combat.
“Isn’t it pretty?”
“I see.”
Strictly speaking, Rosetta’s praise only applied above the neck.
Pink hair and sky-blue eyes. She could pass for a doll.
The problem was everything below the neck.
“I hope my friends like it too.”
Seeing Emilia tense up and sigh nervously, Rosetta sighed deeply as well.
The nanny hovered anxiously nearby, unsettled by the mother and daughter sighing together by the window.
Looking at the nanny, who seemed ten years older after the morning struggle, Rosetta couldn’t bring herself to scold her.
‘Just wait, Aaron Biern.’
The reason Aaron—who had so strongly opposed marriage—had rushed into marrying Rosetta was simple.
Emilia Biern’s academy entrance.
“Emilia. Today is your first day meeting your friends, so—”
“That’s why I wore all the prettiest things!”
“…I see.”
Rosetta hadn’t anticipated that pretty plus pretty could equal disastrous.
“Duchess, if you delay any longer, you’ll be late for the entrance ceremony.”
At Betty’s words from behind, Rosetta staggered.
“Emilia. How about removing just five ribbons?”
Rosetta looked ready to grab scissors. Emilia shook her head firmly.
“No! It’s perfect like this.”
Her firm standards and confidence made it seem unlikely she’d ever be bullied.
“Duchess.”
At Betty’s call, Rosetta checked the time. If they didn’t leave now, they’d definitely be late.
“If it weren’t for that damn tie, I could’ve stopped this.”
Rosetta closed her eyes, then opened them, looking down at Emilia. Honestly, even if she’d gone upstairs herself, she wasn’t confident she could have prevented this outcome.
Still, regret lingered.
“Let’s go, Mom.”
Emilia grabbed Rosetta’s hand and pulled her along. The strength was weak enough to shake off easily, yet Rosetta let herself be dragged.
“Have a good day!”
Betty waved a tear-soaked handkerchief at Rosetta as she was dragged away. Rosetta glared back. Betty immediately ducked inside.
‘I’m jealous.’
She never thought she’d envy a maid after becoming a duchess. Sighing heavily, Rosetta ignored Emilia, who was singing a nonsensical self-composed song that twisted her insides.
“Please step in, Duchess.”
The coachman opened the door and smiled warmly.
Once the overdressed mother and daughter boarded the carriage, the staff of the mansion let out collective sighs of relief.
“They’ll be fine… right?”
The nanny murmured anxiously as she watched the carriage depart. The butler rubbed his face.
“All we can do is hope.”
Even inside the carriage, Rosetta didn’t stop trying to negotiate.
“Emilia, Mom really thinks it’d be perfect if you removed just five ribbons.”
“No!”
Emilia shook her head firmly, arms crossed, swaying her head elegantly from side to side. Rosetta felt her sanity slipping away.
“Mom, please.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. No matter what, I can’t give up my ribbons.”
By the time the academy came into view, Rosetta finally accepted the situation.
“Fine. Do whatever you want.”
Having surrendered completely, she waved her hand blankly.
“Mom, you’re really pretty today too, so don’t look so disappointed.”
As Rosetta slumped into the carriage sofa, Emilia tried to comfort her.
‘What is this? Some Snow White situation? Does she think I’m trying to steal her ribbons out of jealousy?’
“No, Emilia, that’s not what I meant.”
She hurried to explain—
“Duchess, we’ve arrived.”
Before she could stop her, Emilia opened the door and jumped down.
