Chapter 32

“Careful…!”

“Ah!”

Bonita managed to land her step into Damian’s footprint, but the problem came right after. She jumped with too much force and lost her balance when she hit the ground, her body tilting sideways before she tumbled into the snow.

“…It’s cold.”

“It’s snow. Of course it’s cold.”

Damian lifted Bonita straight up while she lay in the snow without any intention of getting up. White snow clung to the bridge of her nose and her hair.

“If you stay down like that, you’ll catch a cold.”

“I told you, I don’t catch colds. Ever.”

Damian recalled the first day he’d seen Bonita.

‘She had a fever.’

After suffering such a severe fever, she still boldly claimed she never caught colds. She really was an adorable little thing.

“If you keep lying in the snow, you’ll catch one.”

“It’s because you walked too fast, Your Grace.”

Before he knew it, she’d slipped past his guard and treated him with easy familiarity, pulling him into her own circle.

“Your Grace. Your Grace.”

Bonita called out to Damian, who still hadn’t put her down.

“What is it?”

“So what’s Your Grace’s present?”

“Didn’t you eat cake earlier?”

“That was something the chef made.”

“I’m his master, so that was my present too.”

“Then does that mean the chocolate and candy the knight uncles gave me were also your presents?”

“That’s different.”

“Mm…”

Bonita frowned, clearly not understanding.

“…Is there something you need?”

Thinking she might want something, Damian asked, and Bonita smiled brightly.

“Yes!”

“What do you need?”

“Play with me more!”

“…?”

Damian felt a slight sense of confusion at her answer.

“How?”

“Any way!”

Hearing her say any way only made his thoughts more tangled.

“Then…”

Damian recalled a childcare book he’d read long ago, back when his wife had been pregnant with Estelle.

“Like tossing you up high?”

But that book had been meant for infants, and Damian had never known moderation. Before Bonita could even respond, he threw her high into the air.

Using precise control, Damian caught Bonita safely as she flew far above. Her hair was a mess, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled as she shouted,

“Can you do it one more time?”

Feeling strangely proud, Damian replied,

“As many times as you want.”

* * *

“A few days from now, when His Grace goes to the neutral holy state for the Twelve Priests appointment ceremony, I’ll be going with him.”

As they were finishing up the lesson and tidying things away, Peter spoke to Reina.

“The Twelve Priests are right below the High Priest, correct?”

“Yes. They say the one being appointed this time is an unprecedented genius. Well, reaching the level of the Twelve Priests requires more than just talent.”

Reina nodded as she listened.

“So we won’t be able to continue lessons for a while. It’s a shame. You were a good student, Botn.”

“You’re flattering me.”

“I mean it.”

Peter handed Reina several documents, calling them homework.

“Around then, Count Elbron will arrive. He’ll be teaching Lady Estelle. Don’t worry too much. He’s served the previous duke and duchess, so he won’t pose any danger to my lady.”

“Does that mean he’s dangerous to others?”

“I can’t exactly deny that.”

Reina checked the books she needed to take with her.

‘Two thick ones, one thin one…’

The stack of documents she’d received as homework.

Looking at the heavier load than usual, Reina frowned and muttered,

“This is a bit much…”

“Yes, it is. Since His Grace will be away from the estate, we don’t know what the other retainers might do.”

“What?”

“What?”

Reina and Peter stared at each other with wide eyes.

“Ah, no. Please continue.”

“Ahem. Anyway, Count Elbron is a respected professor at the academy. He’s a perfect fit for my lady, who still lacks specialized noble knowledge. I’ll speak to him in advance, so if you have questions while studying, feel free to ask him.”

“Is that all? Is there nothing else I need to do?”

Reina asked while holding her heavy load, and Peter smiled.

“Good question. That time will be for rest. Once you finish your homework, there’s no need to study further. Until we return, focus on your main duties.”

‘That sounds backwards.’

Could returning to one’s main job really be called rest? That question filled Reina’s mind.

“You did well today. Your comprehension is so quick that I think we’ll finish faster than expected.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I was just following His Grace’s orders.”

Though Peter’s praise was sincere, Reina took it as hollow compliments.

‘Since my lady is sick and I can’t visit her, I can spend time with Boni today and tomorrow.’

Lately, she hadn’t been able to spend time alone with Bonita. Outside of studying, her time was filled with meals, sleep, homework, or caring for Estelle. Yet Bonita had never complained even once.

One reason Reina had started studying was because she didn’t want Bonita to face a future where she had to give something up or suffer. Still, sacrificing the present for a distant future felt backwards.

‘I wonder what Boni’s doing right now…’

After Peter left, Reina adjusted the load that was slipping from her arms.

Looking outside, the sun was still far from setting. Thinking she could enjoy dinner leisurely with Bonita made her smile.

She’d also read the book Bonita hadn’t finished last time, and listen calmly to everything she’d done today.

Thinking about those simple moments made her smile endlessly.

It was the unremarkable things that gave lasting happiness.

Deciding to head to her room first, Reina opened the door.

“Good work today.”

As she opened it, a gentle voice sounded, and the weight in her arms suddenly vanished.

“Sir Dean?”

Startled, Reina looked down at her now empty hands and the person who had taken the books.

“When did you get here?”

“Not long ago. I knew roughly when your lesson would end. But it seems your class time has been getting shorter each day, so I stopped by.”

“Is there something you wanted to tell me?”

“Ah, yes…”

Dean naturally escorted Reina toward her room as he continued.

“I’ve been assigned as the knight to escort you and Boni. It seems I was chosen because my son is close to the two of you…”

“Oh, that’s wonderful.”

“…If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have requested leave.”

After explaining, Dean scratched the back of his neck. Reina didn’t mind, but he clearly did.

“I think this is the first time I’ve heard you mention taking leave since I met you here.”

“Yes. I’ve never left the knight order until now. This time, though, it couldn’t be avoided. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”

“If that’s because of me and Boni, you don’t need to worry. We’ll be staying in the estate, so nothing dangerous will happen.”

“But the knight commander will be accompanying our lord. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“The knight order doesn’t fall apart just because the commander isn’t here. The Winternight knights are famous everywhere.”

“Still…”

If Dean had puppy ears and a tail, they’d surely be drooping right now.

Seeing him so dejected, Reina laughed softly.

“Thank you for caring so much. You’re really kind, Sir Dean.”

“Ah, no.”

At Reina’s praise, Dean’s ears turned bright red, something that happened often whenever she complimented him.

Watching Dean walk beside her, matching her pace, Reina spoke.

“Please give me the books.”

“I’ll carry them into the room.”

“But it feels wrong to make you carry something I can hold.”

“It’s fine. It’s my job.”

‘A knight’s job isn’t to carry someone else’s books.’

Reina was actually quite strong. Ever since being abandoned by her mother, she’d never avoided heavy work. As the head of her household, carrying heavy things had always been her responsibility.

She figured Dean acted like this because she was thin and small. Still, not wanting to make his kindness awkward, she kept quiet.

“And today as well, Boni visited the training grounds.”

“She didn’t cause any trouble, did she?”

“No. Everyone in the knight order likes her. We worry she might get hurt sometimes, but she’s a careful child, so that won’t happen.”

Dean laughed, saying it was a shame he couldn’t show her that sight.

“She received lots of snacks we prepared and said she’d share them with you, so she went back to her room.”

“Oh…”

Reina looked at Dean with a deeply moved expression.

‘Boni really did that.’

Reina knew well how much Bonita loved sweets. If she’d received a pile of her favorite treats, she would’ve been as happy as if she’d been given jewels. Yet instead of eating them right away, she’d thought of her mom.

Reina felt deeply touched.