ITIWAFRBIAHS Chapter 19

"Rose, I seem to have made a mistake in the garden."

This is what my fiancé said with a troubled expression as soon as I came down to the first floor entrance hall after leaving the camera and lantern in my room. My fiancé was holding something in one hand. Looking again, it seemed like the tool the gardener was using to tend roses.

"I'm sorry. Could you check once?"

You didn't scold the kid and take away all his tools to send him back, did you? I don't think you used such extreme methods. Sunset would have cried… Subtle suspicion raised its head, but I decided to go to the garden together as my fiancé suggested without saying anything for now.

Throughout the move, Lord Moore seemed somewhat anxious, which amplified my suspicion.

Really made the kid cry and asking me to help comfort him…? Then just in case, I'll have a process of getting to know each other better with the sub-male candidates.

But as soon as I arrived at the place where I met the gardener earlier, I immediately knew that wasn't the reason my fiancé was flustered.

Several rose bushes are smashed to pieces. Branches are broken in all directions and the trunk is also covered with marks from being struck by something large. The roses are all crushed too. Since an elegant, old-fashioned corner of the garden was wrecked like this, it stands out more, making it truly miserable.

"Lord Moore…?"

This call means what the hell is this mess.

My fiancé hastily explained with a very embarrassed expression.

"Actually, I planned to send him back after persuading him through conversation. So I first tried to make the atmosphere softer through his interests by talking about the garden. In the process, I ended up receiving a trimming tool as a farewell greeting…… I tried operating it once as a test, but I was too clumsy and it ended up like this."

"……."

"I'm truly sorry. I'll restore it as quickly as possible."

Normally, I should have said something like 'Could you tell me exactly how many days this "as quickly as possible" means? No, not some vague answer—I mean the maximum timeframe you've set where you're certain it'll be done within that period.' That's the kind of response that should have come out.

But for that… it's too cute!

No, to have someone with such a neat, ascetic appearance straight out of a period drama—an incredibly gorgeous classic handsome man with a great physique—flustering about and getting embarrassed over his own clumsy handiwork while practically dying of apologies.

Ughhhk, this heart bombardment is too intense.

Still holding the tool in his hand, probably confused, waving his hands around trying to make excuses or something… really makes a person incredibly happy. I feel like I should give lines like 'Sheesh, it's all fine. It's fine. We can just plant more rose bushes, right? People originally learn work by making mistakes and such.'

So I actually gave them.

"Hahaha, well. We can just plant new rose bushes. More importantly, you weren't hurt, were you?"

"Yes. I'm fine. Ah, how about planting different trees instead of roses? If Miss Rose tells me what shrubs you want, I'll place the order immediately."

He was really sorry, as his answering tone was extremely serious. If I just mention it, he seems ready to completely overhaul the garden and plant new trees.

Of course, I wouldn't do such a thing out of waste, but planting new types of trees where it was damaged would be nice as a highlight. If I plant apple or peach trees, the smell would be killer each season, right?

"That sounds good too! I'll think about it seriously."

My fiancé seemed a bit relieved and finally smiled slightly. Keuuuk. Too good. Is this the taste of being a romance novel protagonist? I did about ten internal nose bleeds.

And I remembered the existence of the camera.

Oh my, I need to photograph this.

But it might be taken as teasing and make him feel bad, so let me ask carefully.

"Wait! Could we possibly take a picture together?"

"Pardon? A picture…… you mean. In the current situation, it would be a bit embarrassing."

As expected, my fiancé hesitated a bit then politely declined. I decided not to say things like 'Hey~ don't be difficult and let's take one picture!' like a civilized person.

"It is a bit, that way, isn't it? Ah. I didn't mean to photograph the damaged trees, I just suddenly thought of it. I thought it would be nice to take one of us together."

I want to appeal that I really had no intention of teasing!

"…Yes."

But surprisingly, my fiancé furrowed his eyebrows as if conflicted, then soon smiled and reversed his decision!

"In that case, one picture should be fine."

This thrilling reaction must definitely be due to the favorability accumulated so far. I dedicate this glory to all the K-romance novels I've read so far…

"Yes, then I'll go get it!"

"Rose? Slowly…"

Dash dash—I ran to the mansion and charged straight to my room in one breath. I'm confident it was movement that transcended the limits of physical strength. Fortunately, none of the working staff were in the corridor, so I reached my room without any collision incidents and grabbed the camera.

Through the window, I could see my fiancé with a slightly flustered expression beyond the garden. I lifted the camera with both hands toward the window like a monkey lifting a baby lion.

My fiancé's expression disappeared.

"Miss Rose, it would be dangerous if you jumped down."

"Hey, why would I jump down when there's a perfectly good entrance?"

"……."

That was a special emergency case where the entrance was too urgent and secretive. In a stable daily situation like now, there's no reason to do that. I shrugged and headed to the entrance with light steps.

My passion for photo books overflows!

But as soon as I raised the camera toward my fiancé in the garden, a question came.

"Weren't we taking it together?"

"Pardon?"

No, that wasn't… I didn't mean photographing us physically in one space, but sharing the moment of taking pictures, where I photograph you and if you want, you photograph me for a harmonious time, meaning something like that…

Why are you looking down with hurt eyes? Okay, I got it.

"Uh, then shall we take one together? But there's no one suitable to take it……."

"We can call a servant."

Yes. Then do that.

In the end, we were able to take a picture standing together with the help of a working person called all the way to the garden.

I had seen my fiancé's face up close before, but it's a face I can never get used to no matter how many times I see it, so I had to constantly try not to fix my gaze on him. The picture taken was probably as awkward as hugging an unfamiliar classmate in a graduation photo.

But my fiancé seemed satisfied, so that was enough. I was also satisfied having gotten another picture of my fiancé.

As soon as the photo session ended, the working person quickly handed over the camera, bowed silently, and went back into the mansion. Ah, seeing the working person made me curious about how well the gardener boy situation was resolved. My fiancé's nuance earlier was as if he destroyed several rose bushes but things ended well.

When I asked about the gardener boy, my fiancé answered confidently.

"Ah, I talked sense into that self-proclaimed gardener and sent him back. He won't appear secretly in the garden anymore."

"Oh, thank you! Did you happen to hear where he lives?"

"Well. I'm not sure about that."

Uh, that's a bit disappointing. After building up magic resistance, I was planning to challenge another conversation and ask more about Sunset. Plus, I had grown quite fond of him.

I felt a strange regret as if a hidden route had closed, but it seemed rude to show such feelings in front of someone who had helped, so I quickly dismissed the thought.

Instead, I decided to visit the police station while going to meet the detective tomorrow. Since I thought of Sunset, I should meet Hazel White (former maid Sunset). I hope I can meet his stepmother too if possible.

"Speaking of which Rose, I wanted to tell you about the pistol purchase."

"What about it?"

Could you have gotten one already? Nah, that wouldn't be it.

"I think it would be good to choose firearms that suit each individual. If it's alright with you, how about going to Roman Town to look at guns tomorrow morning or afternoon?"

Great! I was planning to go out anyway, and now I get to see a fiancé event and get weapons too. This is truly killing three birds with one stone.

"Oh! Good. I want to go out in the morning, is that okay?"

"Of course."

My fiancé smiled broadly.

"And I've looked into a good place for lunch. I think it will definitely suit Miss Rose's taste too."

Wow, this is really hard to refuse. He must have looked into it in advance. I made an apologetic expression and shook my head.

"Uh, sorry but I have a prior engagement for lunch."

"A prior engagement?"

My fiancé made a puzzled expression.

"May I ask what kind of prior engagement it is?"

I'd like to say I'm meeting a detective if possible, but I've commissioned an investigation into your family background… Today won't work. Sorry!

"I'm going to see a friend."

"A friend…"

Lord Moore smiled brightly.

"Yes. I hope you have an enjoyable time."