Chapter 75

“Ah, is that so?”

“Y-Yeah. That’s it.”

Only then did Reina understand and nod.

‘Now that I think about it, Sir Dean and I used to be together most of the time.’

When she was with Reina, there hadn’t really been a chance for him to warn Bonita directly to be careful.

But the atmosphere would be different when it was just the two of them instead of all three together, so she could understand his behavior.

“When she’s with Boni, she goes to the knight order or the training grounds a lot. He’s just worried. Swords are dangerous, you know.”

“Mm.”

Bonita nodded obediently to show she understood.

‘She’s such a good girl.’

Reina truly believed Bonita was the kindest child in the world. And she was certain she wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Anyone who saw her would think the same. Bonita was a sweet and lovable little angel.

Reina held back the urge to stop in the middle of the hallway and shower her with kisses, then led her to the room.

“Boni, come here.”

Once inside, Reina first put away the magic stones and magic tools, anything that might be dangerous or difficult for children to handle. Then she showed Bonita the items inside the box.

“Why don’t you pick what you want first?”

“Huh? I can?”

“Of course.”

Inside were candies wrapped in colorful paper, along with chocolates and biscuits.

There were all sorts of treats children would love, along with pretty glass beads.

Bonita’s pale lavender eyes sparkled as if enchanted.

She fidgeted with her hands, hesitating again and again over whether she should reach into the box.

“Is there nothing you like?”

“N-No. I like all of it.”

Even though she said she liked everything, she still couldn’t bring herself to choose. Reina looked at her curiously.

“Then what is it? There’s too much, so you don’t know what to pick?”

“N-No…”

Bonita pressed her lips together for a moment before speaking.

“I-I want to pick with you, My lady.”

“With me? You don’t want to choose first?”

“Th-Then I’d be taking the better one. Let’s pick together… I want to know what you like too.”

Saying that was better, Bonita clutched her clothes tightly and spoke in a small, halting voice.

Then she glanced up at Reina, watching her expression.

“Are you giving way to me?”

“…Yeah.”

Bonita’s cheeks were flushed red. She had been gripping her clothes so hard that deep wrinkles had formed in the fabric, and her eyes were fixed on Reina.

Reina looked at her quietly, then simply smiled.

“Our Boni is such a good girl. Who did you take after to become this kind?”

At that, the tension left Bonita’s hands.

Her lips, which had been pressed tight, slowly curved upward into a bright smile.

“I’m Mom’s daughter. I take after Mom!”

Before Reina knew it, Bonita had thrown herself into her arms. As Reina covered both her cheeks in kisses, the child burst into laughter.

Then she asked again.

“Mom, am I good?”

“Yes, our Boni is the kindest and prettiest daughter in the whole world.”

Reina didn’t hesitate for even a second before praising her. Still nestled in her arms, Bonita smiled more happily than ever.

* * *

Reina and Bonita headed straight to Lady Estelle’s room.

Estelle greeted them in her nightclothes, as if she had been getting ready for bed.

“I-I can pick too?”

When Reina showed her the contents of the box and told her to split everything evenly with Bonita, Estelle’s cheeks flushed pink with delight.

“Last time, the demon gave you candy and you shared it with me. So let’s share this too.”

Bonita answered clearly.

Estelle looked between Reina and Bonita with a deeply touched expression.

“I’m really so happy…”

Even after becoming a princess of the duchy, able to have countless dresses, dolls, and jewels, anything she wanted, Estelle had always reacted lukewarmly.

“It’s getting late, so we’ll head back after we divide everything. It’s almost time for you to sleep, My lady.”

“It’s okay. I’m so happy right now that I’m wide awake.”

The three of them moved to the round sofa and began dividing the items from the box.

Though everything was inexpensive for someone like Estelle, she gazed at even a single glass bead as if it were a precious gem.

As she held a clear bead up to the lamp, the bracelet they had shared before gleamed softly on her wrist.

“By the way, Boni, where did you put the bracelet I gave you?”

“I kept it in my treasure box so I wouldn’t lose it. I’m going to wear it on important days or good days.”

Estelle beamed at that answer.

“Then I’ll do that too. I’ll keep this bead with it. And the handkerchief Reina gave me.”

“It’s better to use a handkerchief though.”

“But you worked so hard to make it for me. What if it gets ruined?”

Estelle slipped on her slippers and pattered over to the drawer. From the first drawer, she carefully took out the neatly folded handkerchief.

“I loved it so much today that I kept touching it over and over. I’m worried it’ll get worn out at this rate.”

“My lady, everything eventually wears out.”

“It’s the first handkerchief I ever got from you. I don’t want to ruin it.”

To Estelle, it wasn’t just a handkerchief. It was something more, a form of affection and attachment.

Reina understood why the child treasured it so much and smiled gently.

“It’s okay. If you need more in the future, I’ll make as many as you want. There’ll be a second and a third.”

“Mom, you’ll keep making mine too?”

“Of course. If you or My lady need them, I’ll make as many as you want.”

Reina always spoke to the two children in a gentle tone.

To them, her voice was like a spring breeze, like the sweet scent that filled the air when cookies were baking.

That sweetness and warmth seemed to gather together and tickle their ears.

Before she knew it, both Bonita and Estelle were leaning against her.

“My lady, how was your day today?”

“It was good. The other maid sisters were kind… and Father invited a new tutor. He said they’ll be arriving soon.”

“Mom, Mom, His Grace said he’ll bring me a sword and training clothes soon. Then I’ll start practicing too.”

The thought that she wouldn’t be able to look after them as much now that she was busy weighed heavily on Reina.

Perhaps sensing her feelings, both children quickly assured her that they’d be busy soon as well, almost as if bragging.

Reina pulled them both into her arms and rubbed her cheek against their soft, warm crowns.

“I’m doing all of this for you two. So if you ever feel lonely, tell me. All right?”

* * *

After putting both children to bed and finishing preparations for the next day, it was nearly dawn.

“Mmm.”

Reina stretched her stiff body and got up from her seat.

Carrying a small lamp and wrapping her blanket around herself, she stepped outside.

“I’m tired.”

She held several books in her arms, fairy tale books she had read to Bonita a few days ago.

‘I’ll just put these back where they belong and go to sleep.’

She could have asked another servant to do it, but she didn’t want to give them extra work for no reason.

Though she was good at helping others, she was awkward when it came to asking for help herself.

It was a habit that had solidified over the years she had lived alone.

‘At this hour, everyone’s gone back to their quarters, so it’s quiet.’

Aside from the occasional sound of a patrolling knight’s footsteps, the mansion was silent. The only ones who would move around freely at this hour were…

‘The knights, Peter… and maybe my lord.’

Come to think of it, although she had often seen Damian looking tired, she had never once seen him asleep.

‘Of course, it would be strange for me to see him sleeping too…’

She had already fallen asleep in front of him several times.

Though in the very first case, it had been closer to collapsing than falling asleep.

‘Still, it would be strange for me to see him sleeping…’

A sudden sense of oddness struck her.

It felt strange that she was only realizing it now.

Damian… no, everyone around her except him had been giving her an excessive amount of consideration.

‘It’s not like everything will just go the way I want.’

Titania’s words surfaced in her mind.

She had never wished for things like this to happen, but if someone asked whether she liked it, she had to admit she did.

Everyone cherished Bonita, and she had been given a chance to live a different life. There was no way she could dislike that.

“But that’s exactly why I have to be careful.”

Murmuring to herself, Reina opened the door to the study.

“…Huh?”

On the desk inside, a lamp was flickering softly.

‘If there’s a lamp, that means someone’s here.’

Her eyes darted around before she stepped into the study. Though she had received permission from Damian to enter, she still found herself walking quietly like a thief as she approached the desk and examined the book there.

‘Magic circuits.’

Books about magic circuits were spread open, along with others explaining the theories she had read earlier in today’s report.

‘Who was reading these like this?’

She didn’t dare touch the pages, only tilting her head to read the contents from where she stood.

Beside the books were papers neatly summarizing the material in a way that made it easier to understand.

The handwriting was quite tidy.

“…”

Reina stopped herself from snooping further and moved toward the bookshelf to finish what she had come for.

She placed the fairy tale books back in their original spot on the shelf reserved for them, then glanced once more at the desk.

Rustle.

At that moment, she heard the sound of someone shifting on the sofa in the corner of the study.

“…?”

Startled like someone caught stealing, Reina flinched and looked toward the sofa.

There was more rustling, but it didn’t seem like the person had woken up. After a few moments, it grew quiet again.

After calming her pounding heart, Reina crept toward the sofa.

“…Ah.”

The person lying there asleep was someone Reina knew very well.

Of course, only a handful of people could come and go from the study freely, so it had to be someone she knew… but it was still unexpected.