Chapter 18

Sofia, stuck in the awkward silence, glanced at Dean and cleared her throat.

“Ahem, ahem!”

“…Ah. I’m sorry.”

“…No, it’s fine. Sir Dean Peronte?”

“Yes…”

“If you like her, why not just confess?”

At Sofia’s teasing suggestion, Dean’s face turned bright red, and he quickly shook his head.

“N-No, it’s not like that.”

“…Really?”

“…Yes. How could I possibly dare to like Reina?”

Even with his face flushed, Dean firmly denied having such feelings. He simply respected Reina.

Though Reina didn’t remember, Dean had once received a great kindness from her.

That was why, if Reina was okay with it, he wanted to give Bonita a gift as well.

‘I wanted to ask her about that…’

While sparring with the knights, the topic of Star’s Birthday had come up. Since Lady Estelle had returned this year, they said it would be grander than ever. At that moment, Dean had thought of Reina and Bonita.

There were only two children in this mansion, Bonita and Estelle. He worried that on Star’s Birthday, Bonita might feel discouraged seeing all the gifts delivered for Estelle.

After bringing up the traveling troupe, he had planned to ask whether, if it was alright, he could take Bonita to see the play while Reina was working. But he had failed.

He scratched the back of his burning neck. Even without looking in a mirror, he knew it must be as red as a boiled shrimp shell.

“…I’ll be heading to training now. Good work.”

“Yes. Good luck today.”

With a deep sigh that seemed to sink into the ground, Dean trudged off toward the training grounds. Watching him go, Sofia let out a sigh just like his.

“This is exhausting…”

* * *

This year’s Star’s Birthday would be the grandest celebration since Damian Winternight inherited the dukedom. It was the first one since Estelle’s return, and everyone poured their hearts into preparing it.

All the servants whispered about preparing gifts Estelle might like and even joked about betting whose gift would be the best.

The duke was certain he would take first place, yet he felt uneasy.

‘Is a vineyard too ordinary?’

He considered gifting Estelle the largest vineyard in the empire. The wine made from grapes grown there was a prized luxury traded not only within the empire but abroad.

He had once planned to celebrate her debutante ball with wine made from grapes harvested there.

‘But she’s still too young to understand wine…’

Perhaps a mine would be better. If so, which one? The most common diamond mine? Or ruby? Topaz might be good too…

Not knowing what Estelle liked most, the duke frowned and touched his lips thoughtfully.

“…Hm?”

Just then, he spotted Reina walking briskly down the corridor, her face slightly flushed.

“Reina Botn.”

“…Ah, my lord. Good afternoon.”

She stopped at once and bowed politely. Since he knew she wasn’t usually so expressive, he asked casually,

“…Something good happen?”

“Ah. I-Is it obvious?”

“…”

Obvious? Very much so. She looked more excited than he had ever seen her.

“I just thought of a gift for Boni for this year’s Star’s Birthday. But I’m not sure if it’s good enough. Since it’s for my most precious child, I keep overthinking it.”

“That makes sense. It’s that kind of festival. Though I don’t really believe in the god.”

“…?”

“What is it?”

“Oh, nothing…”

Reina had assumed that not only every citizen of the empire but everyone in the world believed in Bendicion.

“Star’s Birthday is meant to honor the first human Bendicion loved. So you can celebrate it even without believing?”

Reina herself didn’t particularly believe in Bendicion either, but it still surprised her that someone in this mansion, especially the duke, didn’t believe.

He answered calmly.

“It’s just an excuse for a child to be happy.”

“Ah, I see.”

Reina smiled more comfortably now.

The duke nodded, thinking of Bonita, who looked so much like Reina.

“What are you planning to give her?”

“Ah… I was thinking of taking her to see the traveling troupe in town.”

“A performance?”

Standing before a man who could obtain anything he wanted, Reina felt embarrassed to look so excited over something as simple as watching a play. Her cheeks turned pink.

“…Yes. When we went out last time, Boni said she wanted to see it… I know it might not seem like much to you…”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

“…?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. But she’d probably like it.”

Since childhood, the duke had never attended plays or performances unless for official reasons.

Perhaps that was why it had never occurred to him to take Estelle to one. He had heard she enjoyed fairy tales as well. Just thinking of Estelle made a pleasant smile appear on his face.

‘He’s smiling.’

Seeing him smile, Reina assumed he was thinking about Estelle again.

She asked,

“What are you planning to give, my lord?”

“I’m considering a vineyard…”

“…”

“I wonder if she’d like a vineyard.”

Reina felt dizzy at the sheer scale of it.

At that moment, a faint line from a novel surfaced in her mind.

[On the morning of Star’s Birthday, during breakfast, the Duke of Winternight handed Estelle a document.

“What is this?”

“…Just a small gift.”

It wasn’t small at all. He had spent days preparing it. Star’s Birthday gifts were always meant to be special.

“Thank you.”

Estelle had already heard from Peter that she would receive a gift that morning.

With a pounding heart, she opened the envelope and froze.

“The grapes grown there are delicious. When you’re older, the wine…”

“I-I’m happy!”

Estelle forced a smile.]

“…”

“Maybe the vineyard…”

“M-My lord!”

Reina, pale, interrupted his muttering. It might be disrespectful, but a future where both of them ended up hurt over a vineyard wasn’t ideal.

“What is it?”

He didn’t seem offended at being cut off.

“Would you… like to go see the play together?”

“What?”

“You, my lady… my daughter, and me. The four of us.”

His surprise was obvious.

Reina herself was shocked by what she had just said.

It was unlike her. No, it was reckless. To suggest going out together to her master. Yet Damian accepted her proposal.

He didn’t look displeased. If Estelle liked it and Reina and Bonita were comfortable, then he agreed.

Neither Reina nor the duke were the type to spread news around. Yet somehow, word spread through the mansion that on Star’s Birthday, the two of them would go out together with their daughters.

Many looked at Reina with mixed emotions of envy and jealousy.

After finishing all her tasks, Reina brushed Bonita’s hair and thought quietly.

All she had done was deliver a threatening letter, yet she had regained her daughter and was receiving such generous treatment. She was still a maid, but her quarters had changed, she had protection, and she could even have casual conversations with the duke.

When she thought about it, she realized she was being treated exceptionally well compared to others.

‘No wonder they’re envious…’

“Boni, no matter how excited you are, you still have to sleep.”

“Okay, okay.”

It was already the eve of Star’s Birthday. The mansion was decorated everywhere with star ornaments to celebrate the sacred day.

Estelle shyly smiled at the decorations and even helped the servants hang them.

In the room where Reina and Bonita stayed, a small wreath with stars hung on the door.

“Tomorrow we’ll watch the play and eat something delicious, right? If you don’t sleep now, you’ll miss all the fun.”

“But… my heart’s beating so fast. It might burst.”

“Oh no. It can’t burst.”

Dressed in pure white pajamas, Bonita pressed both hands to her chest and made the most serious face an eight year old could manage.

Reina set down the brush and gently held both of Bonita’s hands, stepping in rhythm as if they were dancing.

“If Boni’s heart bursts, Mom will be very sad.”

“Yeah, so I’m holding it in tightly so it won’t burst.”

Did she even realize what she was saying? Reina couldn’t help but laugh softly at her adorable words.

“That’s my girl. You’re the best.”

“No. I’m not the best.”

“Then who is?”

“Mom is the best. I’m second.”

This time Reina laughed out loud. Bonita’s words carried such seriousness, yet to Reina they were unbearably cute.

“I’m serious…”

“I’m not laughing because I don’t believe you, Boni. I’m just so happy. When you’re happy, sometimes a sound slips out like that.”

“…”

Bonita looked up at her with a slightly sulky expression. Reina sat her on the bed and rubbed the bridge of her nose against Bonita’s.

“Has Mom ever lied to you?”

“…No.”

“Right? I laughed because what you said made me very happy.”

Bonita mumbled something like, well, still… Reina kissed both her puffed up cheeks and laid her down. She turned off the lights and lay beside her.

When the room went dark, Bonita whispered as if sharing a secret.

“Are we not eating pancakes this year…?”

“No. We’ll do something even better than pancakes and eat something delicious.”

“…I see.”

Her voice sounded just a little bit disappointed.