Chapter 35

“Would you like to change into something comfortable?”

“Yeah.”

She didn’t have the energy to walk around anyway.

While Sofia stepped out to fetch clothes, Estelle crouched inside the bathtub.

‘Still, it’s better than before.’

At first, she’d been nothing but anxious, afraid that something might be terribly wrong with her.

She’d been scared that if it turned out she wasn’t really this house’s young lady, all this kindness would disappear. But after staying in the ducal residence and receiving affection from so many people, she’d found a sense of stability in her own way.

‘I really am a child of this house.’

She’d never once seen the duchess’s face, but people often said Estelle looked exactly like her.

‘This is my home…’

Before leaving, the doctor had said the reason she’d been sick for so long was because the tension she’d been holding onto had finally been released.

Estelle thought that sounded right.

Soon after, Sofia returned with a simple cream colored dress.

It didn’t have many decorations, so it wouldn’t be uncomfortable even if she tossed and turned in bed.

After changing and returning to the room, Estelle noticed the bedding had already been replaced.

“The colors are bright and pretty, aren’t they? Everyone thought about it carefully while you were asleep. They kept wondering what colors you’d like.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty.”

The yellow toned blanket felt like spring.

Even though it was the middle of winter, spring had arrived in Estelle’s room.

Estelle felt deeply grateful to the maids who cared for her.

“His Grace will be here soon. I’ll stay with you.”

“Okay.”

Not long after, hurried footsteps sounded from beyond the door.

“Estelle!”

“A-Ah, Dad?”

Damian, who always knocked before entering Estelle’s room, forgot even that basic courtesy today and flung the door open.

More than his behavior, what startled Estelle was Bonita being held in Damian’s arms.

“My lady, are you okay?”

“B-Boni?”

Why was Boni in Dad’s arms?

That was the first thought that crossed Estelle’s mind.

“We were playing in Your Grace’s office, and when we heard you woke up, we came together.”

Damian set Bonita down.

Bonita, clutching a bundle of papers in her arms, walked up to the bed where Estelle was sitting.

“I drew this because I wanted you to get better soon so we could play together.”

Smiling brightly, Bonita showed Estelle the papers she was holding.

The drawing was clumsy, with shapes scribbled here and there, but in Bonita’s eyes, it was a picture of herself and Estelle happily playing in the garden.

“It’s nice.”

“Right? I told Mom and Your Grace too. When spring comes, let’s all go on a picnic together.”

Happy that Estelle had woken up, Bonita chatted away with a clear, cheerful smile.

Estelle just listened quietly to her chatter.

For some reason, this moment felt uncomfortable.

“My lady, I heard you woke up.”

At that moment, Reina and Peter appeared through the open doorway.

They looked as though they’d rushed over as soon as they heard Estelle had regained consciousness in the middle of a lesson. Behind them, several servants and knights were gathered, as if many people had been waiting for Estelle to wake up.

“Mom!”

“Boni, you were here too?”

“Yeah. I asked Your Grace if I could come along, and he said it was okay.”

Bonita handed Estelle the drawing she’d made, then ran over and hugged Reina.

The child smiled brightly, and although Reina looked a little tired, her face was filled with a gentle smile.

“My lord, I’m sorry. Has my daughter been any trouble?”

“It’s fine. She didn’t interrupt my work… and everyone seems to like your daughter more than they like me.”

“Haha… you’re joking…”

“I’m serious.”

“…”

“They kept coming in and out of the office nonstop, saying they wanted to give her something. I thought the office had turned into a marketplace.”

“…S-Sorry…”

“That was a joke.”

Estelle leaned back against the bed, watching the exchange.

‘It seems a lot happened while I was sick.’

Without her knowing, Damian, Bonita, and Reina seemed to have grown closer.

Estelle felt like she couldn’t fit into that space.

The people who had been worrying over Estelle smiled when they saw Bonita.

It was only for a brief moment, but Estelle didn’t miss it.

‘I…’

Because she was the duke’s daughter, everyone cherished and loved Estelle.

Even though she was the daughter of a duchess whose life or death was unknown, even though half of her blood was Finecke’s, she was still loved.

‘But I…’

Bonita was only Reina’s daughter.

And yet, so many people liked Bonita.

Estelle had never been loved as just Estelle, separate from being the duke’s daughter.

‘If I weren’t a young lady of the duke’s house… would they still like me?’

She couldn’t imagine that at all.

White hair, pink eyes, Finecke’s blood.

Because of those things, Estelle had been hated again and again, so she couldn’t be sure that unconditional affection was something she herself could receive.

The fragile sense of relief she’d just found turned into anxiety in an instant.

“By the way, Estelle. You’ve only just woken up, but there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it, Dad?”

“I’ll likely have to leave the estate soon for work. While I’m gone, Count Elbron said he’d teach you.”

“…”

“It shouldn’t happen, but if he ever mistreats you, don’t hide it.”

“Okay.”

That anxiety whispered to Estelle.

If you become even a little bothersome, that affection will be worn down and disappear.

‘Yeah.’

Because you’re only loved since you’re a young lady of the duke’s house.

‘Yeah…’

You’re not lovable like Bonita.

* * *

“It seems the Mage Examiner will arrive at the estate around the time His Grace returns after finishing this matter.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Since we’ll be measuring Reina Botn’s magic power, we’ll examine Bonita as well.”

Peter said this to Reina as they finished the lesson.

“Bonita too?”

“Yes. I heard Bonita said she wants to learn swordsmanship from His Grace. Before bringing in an instructor, we should first check her aptitude.”

“Mm…”

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no. Nothing.”

Despite her answer, Reina’s face was filled with worry.

Reina was one of the rare people in the empire with absolutely no magic power.

‘Or maybe I just don’t know how to use it.’

“If I do have magic power, can I learn how to control it from then on?”

“Most imperial citizens have magic power, so that would be the case.”

‘Since this body is an imperial citizen too, maybe I have magic power as well.’

Reina wanted to feel the flow of magic at least once.

Magic tools that didn’t use magic stones could be operated with one’s own magic power.

But Reina couldn’t manipulate magic at all, so she hadn’t been able to properly use even the few magic tools in the place she’d lived before.

‘Boni always activated them for me instead.’

Even if Reina had no magic power, Bonita certainly would.

That alone meant Reina had avoided the worst case scenario.

“Sir Peter, is magic power inherited?”

“Generally yes, though there are exceptions. That’s why the Mage Tower is researching the principle.”

“I see…”

Reina nodded and submitted the assignment Peter had given her last time.

Peter said he’d probably review it in a few weeks and handed her another assignment.

Without checking the contents, Reina spoke to him.

“You’re leaving today, right?”

“Yes. We need to depart before sunset, so we’ll end today’s lesson early.”

‘Sir Dean left a few days ago too.’

Reina saw Peter off as he went ahead to load the luggage onto the carriage.

“Mom.”

“Reina.”

“Boni, my lady.”

Estelle and Bonita peeked out from Damian’s office and approached Reina.

After Estelle recovered, she’d learned that Bonita played in Damian’s office, and she’d said she wanted to join as well.

“You finished early today.”

“Yeah, I finished early.”

Seeing the two children say the exact same thing, Reina let out a small laugh.

‘They’re like twins.’

They looked completely different and had different personalities, yet what they said to her was always the same.

“Yes, we finished early. Today is the day the aide leaves for the holy state with my lord.”

“Oh right. I heard earlier from Your Grace. Didn’t you, my lady?”

“…Yeah.”

Estelle’s expression darkened slightly at the mention that Damian would be leaving the estate today.

Reina noticed the change immediately and spoke up.

“My lady, my lord will come back as quickly as he can.”

“…”

Estelle didn’t answer, only nodded.

‘She hasn’t looked this down lately.’

Ever since Estelle recovered her health, something had felt off.

‘Wasn’t she supposed to start trusting the household more after being sick?’

Maybe because Reina had made a different choice and stayed at the estate, Estelle’s story had changed.

Reina didn’t want that change to go in a bad direction.

Not because Estelle was the protagonist, but because she was a child.

“My lady. If you feel lonely or scared at night after my lord leaves, it’s okay to sleep with us.”

After a brief moment of thought, Reina offered.

Estelle widened her eyes and looked back and forth between the two.

“I-Is that okay?”

“Of course. Boni, is that okay with you?”

“Yeah.”

Bonita nodded, gripping Reina’s hem tightly.

“If Mom’s okay with it, I’m okay too. Our bed is big.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Reina looked fondly at her daughter and gently patted her head.

Then she took Bonita’s small hand and looked at Estelle. She hadn’t been able to take Estelle’s hand first.