Chapter 66

* * *

After choosing one of the three proposals, Reina, Damian, and Peter left the room.

Peter led the way to where the two children were waiting. As Reina followed him, she spoke to Damian.

“Doing everything at the same time would be difficult, right?”

“That would mean splitting our manpower even further, so for now, it’s too much.”

“So with limited manpower, it takes time.”

“But we should still be able to produce some results before spring.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I wouldn’t invest in something that won’t work.”

For a moment, Reina thought, then does that mean I’ll be the first failure? She quickly shook her head.

If she wanted to change herself, she figured she should start letting go of thoughts like that.

‘Habits really are scary.’

Damian glanced sideways at Reina, who had once again fallen into deep thought with a serious expression.

‘She’s thinking about something strange again.’

Still, he didn’t point it out. He knew that saying anything now would only make her sink deeper into it.

“You’re not thinking about dying today, are you?”

Damian whispered so only Reina could hear. She jolted in surprise.

“T-That’s impossible.”

“That’s a relief. It’d be inconvenient right now.”

‘Right now?’

So there’s a time when it wouldn’t be inconvenient? Reina asked.

“Then is there a time when it wouldn’t be inconvenient?”

“There is. About eighty years from now would be appropriate.”

“…I’ll do my best.”

“Good.”

When they arrived at the lounge where the children were waiting, only silence lingered.

A servant who had been in the lounge greeted Damian and Reina.

“You came back sooner than expected.”

“Where are the children?”

“They got tired while playing and fell asleep.”

Estelle and Bonita were sleeping on a wide sofa. Each of them still held paper and crayons in their hands.

“Looks like they fell asleep while drawing.”

As Reina checked on the children, the servant beside her brought over a neatly stacked bundle of papers.

“I gathered the drawings the two of them made.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Reina bowed her head slightly and accepted the drawings.

Beside her, Damian leaned in with interest.

“I can’t tell who drew which.”

“This one’s Bonita’s.”

“…?”

“And this is Estelle’s. This one was done together.”

Damian casually took the drawings from Reina one by one and sorted them by who had drawn them.

“How do you know?”

“Aren’t they obviously different?”

Damian looked back at Reina’s puzzled expression with equal confusion.

“When your daughter spends time in my office, she draws a lot. If you see them every day, you can’t help but know. Haven’t you seen them?”

“Seen what?”

“In this context, obviously your daughter’s drawings.”

“…”

“You haven’t?”

“Not even once.”

At Reina’s answer, Damian’s eyebrow twitched.

“That’s strange. She took the drawings every time.”

“Took them?”

“Yes. All the drawings she made in my office. Except for one.”

Reina stared at the drawings Damian had sorted.

No matter how she thought about it, Bonita had never shown her any drawings.

“What was that one drawing of?”

“A picture of me and Estelle. There was one of you too. You didn’t know?”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

Reina had never seen a single sheet of paper, let alone a drawing.

Damian handed all the drawings to Peter, then lifted the sleeping children one by one.

“Maybe she just forgot to tell you. Talk to her when she wakes up after you get back.”

“Master, please give Boni to me.”

Damian had carried both Estelle and Bonita in his arms during the last Star’s Birthday as well.

But back then, they hadn’t been unconscious like this. No matter how small they were, the children were eight years old.

“How far is it to the carriage? It’s fine. And…”

Damian nodded his head toward Bonita in his left arm.

Bonita, still asleep, was tightly clutching Damian’s clothes.

“Seems like your daughter doesn’t want to be separated from me.”

“…I’m sorry because of my daughter.”

“No. I never said you were allowed to apologize to me. That means this isn’t a situation where you need to say sorry to me.”

“Then what should I say in a situation like this?”

“Didn’t you do well earlier? Say thank you.”

Damian set off with long, steady strides.

Reina trotted along behind him, admiring how he could walk so quickly with such long strides without waking the child.

When they stepped outside the building, the sun was already sinking low.

“They must’ve fallen asleep while waiting. I didn’t even notice the time passing.”

“They did look like they were having fun.”

“Well, I don’t have magic power, so I wasn’t much help. I don’t really know much about magic either.”

“Self deprecation again?”

“That’s not self deprecation. It’s just the truth.”

“To me, it sounds like self deprecation. Peter, what do you think?”

“Why are you dragging me into your conversation?”

“So what’s your opinion?”

“…Honestly, Reina Botn does seem to have low self esteem.”

“There you have it.”

“T-That’s because Peter, you’re Master’s aide. Of course you’ll side with Master!”

Reina complained unfairly as she hurried along on her short legs.

“If it’s unfair, hire someone later who’ll take your side.”

“…!”

Even if that situation came, Damian would still be the duke.

He seemed fully aware of how few people would immediately take Reina’s side.

The three of them walked for a while and arrived at the carriage.

Since Damian was holding the children and couldn’t escort Reina, he signaled to Peter. But Reina didn’t understand their exchange at all and quickly climbed into the carriage on her own.

Peter hid his hand behind his back before it could awkwardly linger.

“Peter is someone who speaks his mind well. I like people like that.”

Reina first lifted Estelle and laid her down inside the carriage. Damian continued speaking.

“I want those under me to be able to speak their thoughts. You too, Reina Botn.”

“Anytime?”

“Yes, anytime.”

After adjusting Estelle so she wouldn’t slip, Reina turned around.

“Even a maid who only washes dishes in the kitchen or hangs out blankets is allowed to speak their opinion?”

“Reina Botn, weren’t you someone like that not long ago?”

Damian looked down at Bonita, sleeping peacefully in his arms.

“At least, I want my people to be that way. Of course, if they commit treason or cause harm, they’ll be punished.”

For a moment, Reina caught a glimpse of kindness hidden beneath Damian’s rigid tone.

Careful not to wake Bonita, Damian gently tried to loosen her fingers, which were tightly gripping his clothes.

“…Your daughter is strong. She’ll make a fine knight.”

“Do you really believe Boni will become a fine knight?”

“Of course.”

“She’s a girl, and she can’t even use aura.”

Damian, who had been lightly tapping Bonita’s fingers one by one, lifted his head and looked down at Reina.

“That sounds like you want me to deny the child’s potential.”

“…That’s not what I mean.”

“Your child has more talent to be a knight than anyone.”

“What kind of talent?”

“The desire to protect someone precious. Knights don’t fight to take. They fight to protect. And…”

Damian gestured toward Bonita, who still showed no sign of letting go of his clothes.

“She’s got a strong grip too. She’ll never let go of her sword. That’s also an important quality for a knight.”

Reina looked at Bonita sleeping in Damian’s arms.

“In some ways, you know her better than I do.”

“Don’t you know many sides of Estelle that I don’t? It’s the same.”

Reina thought it was different.

‘I’ve been by Boni’s side for years.’

Still, hearing that Damian, who had only looked after her for a few days, knew sides she herself hadn’t seen left her feeling strange.

“She really doesn’t seem like she plans to let go.”

“…Should I wake Boni?”

At Reina’s question, Damian hesitated for a moment.

“Uuung.”

Bonita rubbed her cheek against his chest and mumbled softly in her sleep.

Looking down at the small child, Damian spoke.

“She looks like she’s having a good dream. I can’t wake her. I’ll ride back in the carriage too.”

At Damian’s decision, Peter, who was standing behind them, widened his eyes slightly.

“Your Grace.”

“Bring the horses yourself, Peter. It can’t be helped. Reina Botn, could you step aside so I can get in more easily?”

“Yeees.”

Even as he boarded the carriage, Damian moved carefully so as not to wake Bonita.

He sat across from where Estelle was lying down, gently soothing Bonita before leaning back.

After confirming that everyone was properly seated, Peter closed the carriage door. As it shut, Damian closed his eyes.