Also, I just don’t want to do something that would make Rose hate me. However, I couldn’t give up without trying, so I told myself it wouldn’t hurt to ask and decided to talk to Miss Ayame.
I paid a visit to Miss Ayame’s shop on my own. Before I relayed my plan to her, I prefaced it with the notion that it was fine for her to decline. At first, she quivered like a small, cornered animal because she was uncomfortable with men, but her expression gradually brightened as I explained.
Then, when I said I wanted to commission an accessory with a flower motif to give to Rose, Miss Ayame nodded emphatically.
“I’ll do it! It will be my pleasure!” she exclaimed ten times louder than when she’d ushered me into the store. Her gaze usually wandered this way and that, but she was now looking at me straight in the eyes.
Her demeanor had changed so much that I questioned whether a different person had taken over mid-conversation. I was struck speechless.
Hiiragi was nearby, and he was used to this switch. He let out an exasperated sigh. “I saw this coming.”
“I apologize if I came off like I was trying to coerce you both, but I really don’t want you to squeeze me into your schedule if it’s too much,” I said.
“No, no, it’s fine. We don’t think that. I’ve observed you enough to know that you’re a considerate man—excessively so.”
At first, it sounded like he was brownnosing, but his expression betrayed his true feelings. If my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, I felt like I saw a vein faintly bulging on his forehead.
“I’m sorry for the hassle when you’re so busy,” I said apologetically.
Hiiragi’s expression softened ever so slightly. “Don’t be. The onus is on Ayame for making rash promises and me for not being able to stop her.” He looked down and said, in a resigned tone, “Besides, breaks are crucial. I think crafting a piece in the duchess’s image will be a good change of pace for Ayame. It’ll be two birds with one stone.”
“So, it’s okay for me to accept his request, right?” Miss Ayame looked up at Hiiragi, her eyes sparkling.
“As long as you understand that we won’t be postponing the orders that we’ve already accepted.”
She nodded and beamed at him. “I’ll work hard on those too!”
Hiiragi smiled wryly—it was an expression that came naturally for a sarcastic man like him. I felt like I’d caught a glimpse into their close relationship.
“Shall we get right to the details, then?” As I watched over them with a warm smile, Miss Ayame returned her attention to me, her expression eager. She pulled the paper and pen that were lying on the corner of the table toward her. “First, do you have an accessory in mind?”
“Would a hair ornament be possible?” It was the first thing that had come to mind when I’d been contemplating the kind of jewelry Rose could use on a daily basis that wouldn’t get in the way of her work. And, imagining my gift adorning her beautiful hair elated me so.
“Yes, of course. Are you set on a particular design?”
“The motif is roses. I’d like to leave the design and color to you, but since my wife isn’t fond of ostentatious things, my request is that the completed piece be muted.”
“Understood.” Miss Ayame’s eyes narrowed happily. However, her expression quickly changed. She wore a professional gaze as she wrote down the details of my order on the paper, and she began to rapidly mumble to herself. “A darker color would complement Lady Rosemary’s platinum-blonde hair. A black background with blue... No, maybe blue as the main focus would look nicer. Deep blue petals with a bright-green gradation and gold leaf scattered around... No, gold leaf is out of the question. If the colors are too strong, then it’ll have the adverse effect of being obtrusive.”
Am I supposed to say something? I hesitated. It doesn’t seem like she’s addressing me. I feel like she’s forgotten that I exist. But when she rambles like this in front of me, it makes me think I should reply.
“She’s talking to herself, so you can ignore her,” Hiiragi said, as though he’d read my mind. He sounded a little peeved. “When Ayame becomes engrossed in one thing, she loses sight of her surroundings. I always tell her to fix that bad habit of hers, but it’s easier said than done. I apologize for troubling you.”
“I don’t mind.” I returned a wry smile of my own.
“Ayame.” Hiiragi clapped his hands near her ear.
Her shoulders jerked up in tandem with the sharp noise. Eyes round, she scanned her surroundings.
“The design can wait. Send the customer off first,” Hiiragi admonished.
All the blood instantly drained from Miss Ayame’s face. She timidly looked up at me, trembling so hard that I felt bad for her. “I... I-I-I-I’m sor... My deepest apologies!” Her dignified presence ceased to exist, and she returned to the frightened baby rabbit state from when I’d first entered the shop. She faced me and bowed deeply.
“Please, raise your head,” I told her.
Despite my attempts to assure her that I wasn’t upset, her expression remained gloomy. “I know it’s a bad habit, but I just can’t seem to fix it... I’m so pathetic.”
“True, forgetting about the customer you’re taking care of isn’t particularly laudable.”
“Yes...”
“But you have an outstanding aide, so I’m sure he’ll manage.”
Miss Ayame blinked at me a few times, registering my smile. She looked back and forth between me and Hiiragi. Meanwhile, I couldn’t tell if Hiiragi was embarrassed or exasperated—his expression was difficult to read. He scowled at me as though to chide me for saying too much.
“If your business is done here, I’ll walk you to the door. Please watch your step,” he said.
I very well knew that he was telling me to go home. It would be unwise to incense Hiiragi any further. I should withdraw promptly. I stood up from my seat. Right before I was about to step out the door, I remembered an additional thing I’d wanted to say and turned around. “If anything happens, please contact me personally,” I said shyly, my cadence quickening a bit. “I want to keep this present a secret from my wife.”
Miss Ayame responded with an amenable “Understood,” but Hiiragi’s lips curled up into a mischievous grin, perhaps as revenge for earlier.
Laugh at me for being childish all you want. Go ahead. I think I’m childish too.