Chapter 77

“The fact that you get heavier as you grow means you’ve lived through that much time.”

At Damian’s answer, Bonita looked completely puzzled.

“You and Mom both sometimes say really hard things.”

“Do we?”

“Yeah, you do…”

Then she snuggled her head against Damian’s shoulder.

“But I like it when you do.”

“Even when we say difficult things?”

“Yeah. When Mom and Your Grace say hard things, you both make really pretty faces.”

At that, Damian turned his head toward the window.

A faint reflection shimmered across the glass.

That stiff face he had grown sick of seeing, that cold and emotionless face, stared straight back at him.

The pink crown of the head resting against his shoulder shifted softly.

Damian, who had been staring through the window at his reflection, slowly moved again.

“What are you doing today?”

“Uncle Dean brought a different doll today.”

“A doll?”

“Yeah. Toto’s friend.”

“Toto?”

“Toto is the bunny doll Uncle Dean bought last time.”

Bonita added that she and Dean had named it together yesterday. Damian listened quietly before speaking.

“I didn’t know you liked dolls.”

“Dolls are cute.”

“But you like swords more, right?”

“…”

“You like dresses and sweets and dolls too, but Bonita Botn, you like swords the most.”

Bonita clenched her lips and darted her eyes around before hugging Damian even tighter.

“How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That I like swords the most… Mom doesn’t even know.”

“Well…”

Damian thought that it was obvious at a glance, but that wouldn’t be a good answer.

While he was thinking about how to respond, he could feel the child’s insistent gaze.

He slowly turned his head and met her eyes.

“Kids who are meant to become great knights like swords more than anything else.”

“…!”

“Even the legendary knight Burnett loved swords the most when he was young.”

“But I like Mom the most.”

“Hm. Those two things are different.”

“How are they different?”

Without realizing it, Damian lifted one hand and gently brushed Bonita’s smooth pink hair.

“Liking Reina Botn will be the beginning of your life and the path you walk, while liking swords will be your goal.”

“Hard words again.”

“Hm…”

Damian let out an awkward groan.

Bonita looked up at him with a sulky expression, then asked.

“Then did Felix like swords the most too?”

“Felix?”

Bonita nodded vigorously.

‘Felix…’

There was only one Felix Damian knew, and one Bonita would know too.

‘Not exactly someone a child should admire.’

A man who had possessed overwhelming strength and skill, yet fallen into arrogance and defied Bendicion.

Recorded in the scriptures, he was condemned as a villain since Bendicion was worshipped not just in the empire but across the entire world.

Adults even frightened children by saying that if they misbehaved, Knight Felix would come and take them away.

“You like Felix even though he defied a god?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

At Damian’s question, Bonita’s cheeks flushed red.

“If he was strong enough to challenge a god, that means he was the strongest of all people.”

“…”

Damian burst out laughing in disbelief.

How could someone as timid and cautious as Reina Botn raise a daughter like this.

‘I thought they were alike, but in this way they’re completely different.’

* * *

Damian safely walked Bonita back to her room.

“Thank you.”

Bonita bowed politely and didn’t forget to return his shoes.

“Alright.”

“Your Grace is really kind.”

Unfamiliar with the word kind, Bonita described Damian as nice.

Damian didn’t mind and simply tilted his head.

“Everyone says I’m bad, though.”

“But you’re nice to me.”

Bonita tilted her head along with his movement.

“Don’t you think I’m only nice to you and bad to everyone else?”

“Umm… you’re nice to Mom too.”

Seeing her copy his head tilt, Damian leaned his head even further. Bonita followed again.

“So you think I’m only kind to you and Reina Botn?”

“You’re kind… nice to My lady too.”

“That’s because Estelle is my daughter. Of course I am.”

Damian tilted his upper body as well. Bonita tried to copy him again, lost her balance, and toppled sideways.

Before she could fall, Damian caught her.

He folded his legs and sat down, holding Bonita by her sides and looking straight at her.

“Is that obvious?”

“Of course. Estelle is my daughter.”

“But you’re nice to me and Mom even though we’re not your family.”

“…”

“Uncle Dean said that when knights get hurt, you call doctors for all of them, tell them to rest, and even give them money to cheer them up.”

Bonita blinked.

“That’s because they’re the swords that protect Winternight.”

“The maid sisters can’t use swords.”

“Even without swords, there are many ways to protect something.”

Damian set Bonita upright, then stood.

Bonita slowly lifted her head as he rose.

“Mom says bad people don’t know how to be thankful, even when someone does something good for them.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. So that means Your Grace is a good person.”

“Even if other people say I’m bad?”

The question circled back again, and Bonita groaned softly.

She crossed her arms firmly.

“If you’re nice to me, then you’re a good person.”

“That’s clear and simple. I like it.”

Damian let out a small laugh and patted her head again.

“If playing with Dean Peronte gets boring later, come to my office.”

Bonita smiled faintly as she accepted the clumsy but gentle touch, then pulled her hand away at his suggestion.

She shook her head.

“That won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Mom said I shouldn’t bother you and that I should play with Uncle Dean.”

“What if I say I’m bored?”

“Uh…”

Bonita flinched, clearly not expecting that question, and fell into thought again.

“Th-Then play with My lady.”

“…Thorough.”

“It’s because I take after Mom.”

“Alright, alright.”

Damian ruffled her hair again, this time closer to messing it up.

“Still, if you get bored, come. If you think Reina Botn will scold you, say I gave permission.”

“Mm… okay.”

“Good girl.”

At being called good, Bonita’s eyes widened.

Then she smiled brightly.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Since you’re being good, do me a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Come with me and you’ll see.”

* * *

Sweet chocolate, adorable animal shaped plush dolls, fairy tale books drawn with ink made from melted jewels.

The wide space, large enough to combine two rooms, was filled with toys and sweets any child would dream of.

“What do you think?”

Bonita’s eyes went wide as she looked around.

“Wow…”

“I told them to prepare everything children like, but it’s all adults doing the preparing. I can’t tell if kids would really like it.”

“Is it for My lady?”

“…Not right away.”

“Not right away?”

Damian’s ears reddened. As if trying to hide his embarrassment, he cleared his throat and tapped his foot.

“…Estelle’s birthday is coming up.”

“…My lady’s birthday?!”

“Yes. It’s still a bit far off, but time passes faster than you think.”

Bonita wandered over to look at a jewel decorated rocking horse.

“It’s sparkly.”

Not yet understanding the value of money, the child simply liked how the jewels glittered.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s really pretty.”

“Then how about this?”

As Bonita laughed and gently rocked the horse with one hand, Damian proudly showed her a cushion embroidered with rainbow thread.

“Wow.”

“It’s soft. Try touching it.”

Each time Bonita laughed while looking at something new, Damian felt oddly proud.

“Is there anything missing?”

“Um, for My lady?”

“Yes. Estelle would say she likes anything I give her, so I can’t tell what would truly matter.”

Bonita pressed on a teddy bear with gem like eyes.

Its fur was dense and soft.

“My lady will really like anything you give her. She really really likes you.”

“Like how you like Reina Botn?”

“Yes.”

Damian handed Bonita a tin filled with cookies.

“I see.”

“Don’t you like Lady Estelle just as much?”

“I treasure her.”

“Then that means you like her.”

Bonita smiled brightly as she took the cookie tin. When she opened it with a click, a sweet buttery scent drifted out.

“This is a bribe. Keep it a secret.”

“What’s a bribe?”

“It’s a gift given because you want someone to grant a favor.”

At Damian’s explanation, Bonita held the cookie tin back out to him.

“Then it’s okay. Even if you don’t give me lots of cookies, I’ll still do what you ask.”